How Assembling an AR Is a Lesson in Patience, Precision & Pride
“This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.” - Rifleman's Creed
You can’t help but look at a firearm differently when you’ve built it yourself. Holding the fragments of a powerful tool like the nuts and bolts of an antique hot rod create a delicate sense of power. By fashioning it together with your own two hands, you have more control over this machine with the knowledge of its inner workings. Every minuscule spring, detent, and screw requires the right placement for this device to function and you know exactly where they should be. I wonder if the creator of the AR-15, Eugene Stoner, knew the effect his designs would have on the firearm industry and that gun hobbyists all over the country would one day take classes on building ARs of their very own.
Up until a few weeks ago, I had only ever purchased firearms and the only gun assembly I’ve experienced was putting said firearms back together after cleaning. I took the opportunity to build an AR-15 at DCF Guns in Castle Rock and I left with more knowledge of the semiautomatic rifle than I ever expected. I had shot ARs plenty in the past and knew their history as one of the service weapons of the Vietnam War, but had never assembled one from scratch.
After completing my background check, paperwork, and paying for the parts, it was time to begin the class. I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous to assemble an AR bit by bit, with many of the pieces no larger than a grain of rice. The instructors, two former servicemen, were beyond patient with me and my lack of experience in gunsmithing. Using tools like Kelly forceps and a hammer and punch, I quickly realized that putting together an AR required the same razor-sharp precision as that of a NASA engineer.
The instructors explained in detail how all the parts worked and walked us through each step of the assembly process. While some of my classmates had to go on a scavenger hunt for jettisoned springs and detent pins that had made their way onto the carpet, in just a few hours we each had a new, range-ready AR rifle.
After having put an entire box of .223 ammo through my AR, I took it home, dismantled it for cleaning, lubed it up and put it back together, all while marveling at how earlier that day it was just a box full of metal pieces. Proud of this new creation, I began to make plans for a perfectly-customized AR, getting personalized magazines, ambidextrous charging handle, a custom leather sling, and a red-dot scope.
As well as being a shooter, I’m also a hunter. I have an immense feeling of satisfaction after eating the deer I harvest. I feel the same connection with a dinner of wild game, as I do with the rifle I built. It’s a humbling experience to build and customize your own firearm, and one I look forward to doing it again one day.
