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One of the best parts about owning an AR15 is that you can completely customize the rifle, whether you built it from the ground up or bought it straight from a manufacturer. While you can swap and replace many AR15 parts without needing any specialized gunsmithing tools, some of the more advanced upgrades will require some help. Even if the tools aren’t specifically necessary, they can speed up the process and make it much easier and safer, protecting both you and your investment. Thankfully, we sell all the gunsmithing equipment you’ll need to make your changes come to life, and here are a few of the tools we recommend all AR15 owners should have near their workbench.
1. Bench Vise
When it comes to swapping out parts, few tools are as useful as a high-quality bench vise, and getting one that mounts directly to your workbench can save you from a lot of future headaches. Unlike vise grips, which you still have to hold with your hand, a gun vise locks down the firearm so that you can move around, change pieces, and adjust settings without holding it still. There are even vise blocks that are specifically made for locking just the upper receiver or the lower receiver, but for most issues, a standard bench vise should work. It is particularly useful when swapping out muzzle devices, especially those that come standard on an AR15 from the factory. The problem stems from the fact that a muzzle device must be attached seamlessly to the end of the firearm, so factory muzzle devices are usually tight. A bench vise helps you solve this issue by keeping the firearm stable while you use vise grips or channel locks to slowly unscrew the device from the barrel.
However, one issue you may encounter is when the manufacturer pins and welds the muzzle device to the end of the barrel. This is most commonly seen with A2 Flash Hiders, as it is an easy way to get around the requirement that a rifle barrel must be at least 16 inches long. By pinning and welding a flash hider to the end, this essentially permanently installs the flash hider and makes it an extension of the barrel itself. This loophole allows companies to sell rifles with barrels that are technically less than 16 inches but over that threshold when including the “permanent” muzzle device. Unfortunately, if your AR15 has a pinned flash hider, a bench vise isn’t enough to remove it. Instead, you’re better off replacing the AR15 barrel, as it is both cheaper and easier.
2. Barrel Nut Wrenches
Since we’re on the subject of swapping out barrels, you’ll also need a reliable set of barrel nut wrenches. Traditionally, most rifles used the same type of nut to secure the barrel to the rest of the firearm, even among AR15s. However, this is not the case anymore, as there are countless styles of handguards, upper receivers, rifle barrels, and manufacturers, so many of them use proprietary or different nuts to secure their components. One of the best ways to get around this issue is by buying a set of armorer’s wrenches. When shopping, prioritize sets that match the brand you plan to use when replacing the barrel or handguard or sets that have a variety of wrench sizes.
Most barrel nuts are still around 30mm, but there are plenty of different sizes available too, so getting wrenches that are both slightly smaller and slightly larger will help you prepare for future upgrades. Additionally, high-quality barrel nut wrenches will also have a square hole for a torque wrench so that you can use extra leverage on tough nuts. Also, if possible, make sure your set has a castle nut wrench. This nut aligns and secures the buffer with the lower receiver, ensuring the recoil transfers smoothly through the rifle and keeping everything together.
3. Roll Pin Punch Set
For most firearm issues, the standard tools you have in your garage and workshop will work just fine. However, for the more delicate parts, you need specialized tools, and a roll pin punch set is one solution. If you’re new to owning and working with an AR15, you will eventually learn that many of the parts are held together with pins of various sizes. Some, like the takedown pins, are large enough that you can push them through the connected holes with your fingers or a screwdriver. These pins hold the upper receiver and lower receiver together, and since they are large and easily accessible, they make taking the firearm apart and cleaning it much easier. On the other hand, there are many more pins that are much smaller throughout an AR15, particularly around the gas block.
The pins securing the gas block are no less important than takedown pins, but they are much harder to work with and access. Much like the issue with proprietary barrel nuts, manufacturers use different sizes of roll pins for their parts, so it’s helpful to have a punch set that features multiple sizes of punches. These tools are designed to carefully insert or remove pins from your AR15 without damaging surrounding components. The gas block system is precise, so any extraneous movements or seemingly superficial damage can lead to gas inefficiencies and shooting issues.
4. Master Armorer’s Kit
While getting individual tools or small sets based around a specific type of tool is useful, there are countless other parts and issues you may experience when shooting your rifle and working on it regularly. It’s impossible to predict everything you might encounter, so preparing beforehand is one of the best ways to mitigate issues. While you could wait and buy each individual tool as you diagnose the problem, this is time consuming and frustrating, so most shooters opt for buying an armorer’s kit. Some of our most popular options are the various Real Avid AR15 Armorer’s Master Kits.
Each level of this kit comes with slightly different tools inside, but the general idea is that each one contains everything a normal shooter could need to fix, replace, and upgrade their AR15. For example, they all come with a gunsmithing hammer that utilizes interchangeable heads to give you options when it comes to force, control, and hardness, ensuring you can pick the perfect combo for the job. They also have a variety of pin and alignment tools, as well as a ring retractor for handguards and receiver vise blocks. Plus, everything comes in a portable, durable case to keep everything together, making it easy to throw in your range bag and bring with you when you’re training.
Build Your Perfect AR15 Today!
No matter what your next build looks like, our team at OpticsPlanet is here to help you turn it into reality. That’s why we carry gunsmithing equipment from top industry brands like Midwest Industries, Geissele, Fix It Sticks, and more. If you’re looking for easier upgrades for your brand new AR15, check out our collection of red dot sights and rifle scopes to take your accuracy to the next level. Or, if you’re finished tinkering and want to get back out to the range, stock up on plenty of .223 ammo or 5.56 ammo to make sure your mags are filled and ready.
