Tack14

PS: Hypothetical person does not have the AR15 pin confused with the AR10 pin. They are colored differently on purpose and they are obviously not the same diameter. 🙂

Once upon a time not many moons ago, a hypothetical person bought a 5D Tactical Router Jig Pro Multiplatform AR15/AR10 kit, and discovered that the takedown pin supplied with the kit is just a little too big to go into the front pivot pin holes of his American Made Tactical 80% lowers. It almost gets to the end of the "entry taper", but not quite, and doesn't even make it to the point where the spring loaded detent ball in the pin supplied with the kit meets the front pivot pin hole in the right side of the receiver before it stops. Even after applying oil to the pin and the holes, it is obvious the pin is just a little too big to go in without force. Although the actual front pivot pins from all of the hypothetical person's KAK LPK's will go in and through the holes of both ears of their lowers just fine (so hypothetical person knows the problem is the diameter of the pin supplied with the jig kit, not undersized holes in the receiver). Hypothetical person does not feel comfortable trying to use a rubber mallet or other impact-driven means to force the takedown pin from the 5D tactical kit into/through the front pivot pin holes in his lowers for fear that it will damage the receiver or enlarge the holes, which cannot be undone, and skeptical that they should need to, either. The hypothetical person, noticing 5D Tactical seems to greatly prefer email-based support rather than telephone based support, since support is only open 2 hours a day, sends multiple emails to 5D Tactical support email address posted conspicuously in multiple places on the website, describing the problem and requesting advice or replacement of the takedown pin in the kit, but receives no response. Not in days of waiting, and even still to this date. Hypothetical customer understands 5D is very busy selling more Router Jig Pro kits and other products right now but is also ready to get the lower work done. And decides after a few days without response to his emails to call instead. It takes a few minutes to convince the person on the phone the problem really is the takedown pin is too big around, because any of his LPK's' actual front pivot pins will go into and through any of these lowers' front pivot pin holes fine, albeit slight snug but not requiring more than slight gentle taps, nothing unreasonable, but also understands it is going to take more than a couple love taps with a rubber mallet and a nylon punch to get the 5D takedown pin into any of these lowers. But the person at 5D Tactical does acknowledge they have heard of this happening before and agrees to send a replacement takedown pin. Although they could not seem to find any of hypothetical person's emails, they were able to confirm purchase of product, and the hypothetical person's orders to confirm correct address to send the replacement to, and stated the replacement would be sent out by the end of the week. The week passes, and no replacement pin is sent. So hypothetical person calls 5D Tactical again, gets the same 5D Tactical support person after a much shorter hold time than the week before (2-3 minutes, versus 35-40 minutes) and asks if they recall the previous week's conversation, which they do. Hypothetical person is still polite and understanding, apologies are made by 5D Tactical staff on phone and assurance that the replacement pin will be sent by end of business day, shipping address is confirmed again, and 5D staff tells hypothetical person they will get an email with tracking number when the replacement part is shipped. 5D Tactical is also having a sale on the multiplatform router jig pro kit, incidentally. But the next day, they shut down their phone support altogether, as seen at the bottom of every page on their website. Calling the number results in a recording without option to leave a message and a hang up. After two days have passed since speaking with 5D Tactical, still no email with tracking number is sent and hypothetical customer now has no way to contact 5D Tactical other than email, which they have yet to see a reply to. Hypothetical customer would even consider BUYING the replacement pin even if they had to pay the shipping to send it here, but there is nobody to talk to about that now, there isn't a clicky clicky to buy replacement this replacement part (or many others) on their website. Hypothetical customer very well understands the times, perhaps a little too well, but loses patience after spending $450 on the highly vaunted 5D Tactical Router Jig Pro kit plus spare sharp rotary parts, and the appearance that 5D Tactical is so busy and focused upon taking people's money and processing orders that they don't have time or inclination to support the customers who already bought their flagship product but can't use it because a $1 (at the very most) pin with a pull ring and a spring loaded detent ball is just a little too big around to fit where it is supposed to be used, and is now trying to figure out how they could possibly reduce the diameter of said pin without lathe, bench grinder, etc. and without fookin the one pin they have up trying to make it go without hammers or excessive force. Because by the time a replacement gets sent, if ever, it may be against bullshi7 law to complete an 80% lower. Hypothetical person would be quite thankful for any suggestions how to gently and with precision in mind reduce the diameter of the pin they hypothetically have, probably no more than a couple/few thousandths of an inch so the pin will go into their AMT 80% lowers, just in case 5D Tactical never sends the replacement, or the one they do send is equally too big or even worse. The spring loaded detent ball seems like it would really be a pain (in the way). Ideas considered thus far are, a felt polishing/buffer bit on a drill, or a dremel, perhaps while rotating the pin itself in a drill with some polishing compound. But that spring loaded detent ball on the pin.... or perhaps if a bit longer than usual actual front pivot or rear takedown pin could be located, long enough to fit and stick out the other side, it could maybe work? Any suggestions would be actually appreciated!

Yep, I hope we see more things too. For example, the wording of the state law in texas about pistols basically refers to ATF's definition and with all the fervor about banninating AR pistol braces, changing definition of pistol, rifle, SBR etc I would really like to see Texas shoot the federal government a 1-finger salute. ATF doesnt even have a constitutional right to EXIST.

There are also a couple places like Primary Arms who sells their LPK's and other parts at lower price. Sometimes considerably lower. Primary Arms has some great sales sometimes on KAK stuff. KAK has some good sales soemtimes on their website too. They had a 15% off coupon code a couple/few weeks ago I missed out on, should have waited a little longer to order the stuff I ordered. :)

haha.. wow thanks BigNate that is really good to hear and I am glad SAI is turning out high quality M1A's these days. Nice to hear a current "range report" and solid word from a good m14 NM armorer who knows what they're talking about. I won't pretend I am. And I also hear you about nationally respected national match armorer.. it is surely nice to know of some and thank you for the info on Phil Arrington. I'll spare everyone the details but I got bitten really, really bad by a has-been bullshi7 artist with a good reputation around the piss-ant military town I grew up in and the range I was shooting at just about every weekend in those days. One of the life lessons that little experience taught me is that sometimes the reason people have a good reputation is not because they are good at what they do or even care about the quality of the work they put their name on, but rather because the people they surround themselves with are morons or just trust whatever they're told. :) I decided next time I wanted an M14 I would build it my damn self. I figured if I could completely disassemble (well, leaving the barrel on the receiver and leaving the oprod guide on the barrel), blast, clean, prep, re-park, and reassemble an M14 successfully and it still drive tacks afterwards then a few more M1/M14 tools would get me the rest of the way there, not needing anybody else to do it for me. Got the tools for the most part. Hope to get situated again someday where I can mess with that stuff, I'd quit my day job in a heartbeat if I could... Also hear you on the affordability of wearing out the rifle, haha. :) Thanks Big Nate! Great stuff!

It can be found in portable document format also, easy peasy

Gosh I just read back over my re ply and realized it sounds like I am really dumping on current Springfield M1A's. They are probably just fine.

Yeah my first love in rifles is/was an M14 and you know what they say about your first love. 🙂 I have not seen or handled any recent Springfield specimens, but I've read and heard they were made better in years past. I don't think they're using a lot of USGI parts these days (a lot of the inventory of USGI m14 parts has dried up) but that may or may not be important to you. If you dont mind waiting there are places you can get em built with all or nearly all USGI parts. But I also understand the "should I jump on this" aspect, ie, I can get this now. 🙂 The first M14/M1A I actually fired was a Polytech (chinese knockoff) at a range. I liked it but what really stuck out to me was, he was trying to sell the Polytech so he could buy a Springfield. I could have gotten his Polytech cheaper but thought long and hard, and decided I would wait and buy a Springfield. I got one a few days later. 🙂

Yes it does. Big time. To such a degree that, well, nevermind. "birds of a feather flock together".

Saw this hit my email - they are doing a 15% off today only flash sale on their bump and ballistic helmets - coupon code SGTPECKER15

BRD Engineering makes jigs and fixtures related to front sight post barrel drilling and alignment for AR15 and 308 too. https://brdengineering.com/t/front-sight-base-tools I was looking into this kind of thing for an AR15 build and ended up letting John Thomas at Retro Arms Works do the front sight base pinning for me, John did an excellent job with fast turn around. They also sell a set of alignment rods in carbine, rifle, and mid lengths, I could surely be wrong but these ought to work with .308 too? Not sure but the center rod is adjustable so seems like it would probably be able to work.

The FBI, Southern Poverty Law Center, etc. have been making the same kind of claims since the 90's about the threat of white supremacist groups, militias, etc. Nothing new. Propaganda. Word to the wise: Assume ALL national organizations are honeypots, co-opted, or infiltrated. Most VPN's are honeypots too.

yep. And Waco happened in Texas almost 30 years ago. let freedom ring.

And to think the Boston Tea Party happened over a 1/2 percent tax

Some very nice other 1911's here thats for sure. 🙂

Have a double-stack Para from years back, not fancy, but my pistol of choice. I won't knock a Grock or any of the modern day go-to's, have shot some of them and they're nice but I do love 1911. There used to be a lot of aftermarket parts for them as they were popular to customize for racegun but I kept mine pretty stock mainly because the budget wasn't there back in the day, was spending it all on my .30cal long gun habit. 🙂 Wish now I had gotten some of those parts. I did put a full length guide rod and an extra power spring on it but that is about it.

Yep, all good points. Just because a law is on the books doesn't mean it will get enforced. Sometimes laws only get enforced selectively, too. Seeing an awful lot of that around here lately in the greater DFW metro area. In a word, "lawlessness". There was a part of US vs. Miller I had not been aware of until I read a book many years ago called Unintended Consequences. It was a novel but had a lot of historical facts in it. The entire NFA act had already been shot down by a lower court, but nobody ever told the defendant (ie, Miller) the govt was appealing the lower court decision where he was exonerated up to the Supreme Court. He was poor so had he even known, he probably wouldn't have been able to afford the legal representation and other expenses to be there anyway. So nobody was there to argue for the defendant's (and thus, the people's) side of the case before the Supreme Court. And the argument they used to overturn the lower court ruling was the most ridiculous bullshizzle that any amateur attorney would have been able to shoot it down. They actually still believed back then that the 2nd Amendment was intended (as clearly expressed over and over again by the founding fathers) to guarantee the rights of ordinary US citizens to keep and bear arms that have use/value for military service. ie, that ordinary citizens have a 2nd amendment guaranteed right to own military weapons. Because, after all, the founding fathers having all come from Europe knew that standing armies were the bane of liberty and created this country such that We The People ARE the military. The govt attorneys basically argued that the Fed govt had the authority for NFA based on (drum roll...) interstate commerce, and that no shotgun of that make, model, serial number and specific length of barrel Miller had cut his down to had ever been issued to our armed forces. And they went for it. And that is how defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory. So yea, the same bullshizzle has been going on for a long, long time. NFA should have been shat upon almost 90 years ago. Now look what we have.... No illusions about Texas, either. Quite a book, by the way. Author John Ross (RIP).

ROFLMAO

Yep. But they won't go after the losers with guns that are burning our cities down, starting riots everywhere, and terrorizing law abiding citizens. Many of which are convicted felons.

Yeah I thought it was neat when I read about that piece of legislation. I hope it is but the first of many steps taken to un-infringe the 2nd Amendment and return the authority back where it belongs. (hint: 10th Amendment) Reading about it the other day did make me wonder briefly who manufactures quality suppressors in Texas. Maybe if this and a few other necessary steps happen, the artificial scarcity factor will go away (at least in Texas) and they will become more affordable. Personally I'd like to see a real 2nd Amendment protection act in Texas. One that says something to the effect of, any law that contradicts the clear text of the 2nd Amendment is hereby declared to be null and void, and any person or agency which acts or conspires to deprive, bureaucratize, or infringe upon the 2nd Amendment rights of legal Texas citizens shall be held personally liable and subject to (very serious fines, imprisonment, or other very serious penalties as appropriate). Hey while I'm dreaming I might as well dream big. 🙂

Hi djn720 - I read back over some of the other items in your OP - not sure if this will help or not but it might be worth trying one of KAK's LR-308 LPK Conversion kits (link in my previous post above) -- it comes with the 308 specfic mag catch, threaded mag/bolt catch pin, and the 2 308-specific pins (front pivot pin and rear takedown pin).

KAK Industry sells the longer mag release, has extra threads on it. It doesn't come as part of an LPK because you don't always need it but apparently there are even AR15's (probably billet ones...?) that the standard one isn't long enough. Here's URL: https://www.kakindustry.com/lr-308-parts/308-lower-parts/308-lpk-parts/special-extended-mag-release-arm I picked a few of these up assuming that I would need them, along with a few of their LR-308 LPK conversion kits, they contain the 4 parts that are different from what comes in a standard AR15 LPK that you need to build a 308 lower.

Makes sense.

Definitely... nice looking gear! I'd say that gal cleans up pretty nice there Black_Sheep. I have been a bit distracted from my 308 AR stuff the last couple weeks chasing AR15 parts around.

Welcome BrianK from Texas! (and sorry for belated welcome)