Gunsmithing Tools For the Layman

DrawbarFlats

I'm no gun expert but it would be interesting to read about the tools you folks use for general gunsmithing as well as tips of the trade. 

Big Al1

Start with a good set of screwdrivers, some good cleaning supplies, torque wrench for scope mounting.
Brownell's is a good source of gunsmithing books for the beginner to pro.
Midway had some good videos.

Jay

I'm definitely no gunsmith. But like many here, I love tinkering with guns and have been an armorer at work for quite a few years. I've learned a few things here and there.

One super simple thing I can share is, hockey pucks.. Those things can come in really handy. I ordered a pack of 6 of them on Amazon for $13. You can drill different size holes in them, "machine" slots or shapes in them and they just work nicely for punching pins in and out and stuff like that. Cheap and easy to modify and a good way to tap on guns without damaging the finish.

Over the years, I've collected some tools and definitely will collect more. Like many amateur gun tinkerers, I used to use some regular tools out of my toolbox for working on guns. There really is no place for tools like that when working on guns. A good set of screwdrivers and/or bits made for working on guns goes a long ways toward avoiding damaging screws and parts. Honestly, most of my stuff is Wheeler from Midway. Not the greatest in the world and definitely not professional stuff, but it works well for my amateur playing around. A few other tools that are really good to make part of the kit are brass, plastic and rubber faced hammers, brass and steel punches, an inch pound torque wrench for tightening scope bases, rings and other screws on guns, scope leveling tools, and a set of dental picks.

I also have a few specialized tools, such as a couple of AR armorers wrenches, a vice block for AR uppers and a magazine well block for lowers. If changing barrels regularly is in the plans, I honestly recommend a 1/2' drive barrel nut socket rather than using an armorers wrench. But personally, I don't do it often enough and have been able to get by just fine with armorers wrenches. I did spend a good chunk more on one of them simply because the barrel nut part of the tool is FAR better than any of the cheap ones, so I'd at least go that route after having bought a cheap one first when I should have just got a nice one to start with. For barrel swapping, a good "field" and "no-go" gauge can be pretty handy for assurance that headspace is good. I have those at work, so I haven't had to buy any yet for myself. A 1/4"x2" clevis pin from the hardware store works perfectly as a pivot pin installation tool. Cheap piece for anyone who assembles AR lowers to have in the kit. A set of roll pin punches, starters and finish punches, comes in very handy, but is not mandatory. Just makes the job much easier.

I have more than that, but that's a start.

zorba

I'm no 'smith, but a good set of gun "punches", aka drifts is a good start. A chapman set is also very handy.

Gene L

Good advice from all.  A GOOD set of gunsmith screwdrivers is something you'll never regret.  A bit pricey, but money well spent.  And a set of hex wrenches. I had a torque driver set but I only mount scopes every couple of years or so and even then, I don't torque them down, so you might consider your needs and elect to spend your money on something used more frequently.  I have a set of punches/drift pins and use them quite often.  Along with the punches from Lyman came a hammer, one side brass the other nylon and I use it a lot as well.  Those are general to all gunsmithing (I'm not a gunsmith) and there are specific needs for specific guns that I'm not thinking of.

Six-Gun

Just remember: every tool is a hammer, except for chisels; they’re screwdrivers.

Diver43

Six-Gun said:

Just remember: every tool is a hammer, except for chisels; they’re screwdrivers.

You read the same manuals as my wife.  Shoes are the best hammers, stagger the drawers as you pull them out, they are a step stool. If you don't have a chisel, a butter knife makes a great screw driver.
Gun tools?  All I know has already been said.

DrawbarFlats

Gene L said:

Good advice from all.  A GOOD set of gunsmith screwdrivers is something you'll never regret.  A bit pricey, but money well spent.  And a set of hex wrenches. I had a torque driver set but I only mount scopes every couple of years or so and even then, I don't torque them down, so you might consider your needs and elect to spend your money on something used more frequently.  I have a set of punches/drift pins and use them quite often.  Along with the punches from Lyman came a hammer, one side brass the other nylon and I use it a lot as well.  Those are general to all gunsmithing (I'm not a gunsmith) and there are specific needs for specific guns that I'm not thinking of.

Thanks for the info, Gene. I have a 58 pc. Brownell's screwdriver set. Liked it WAY better than the Wheeler set I looked at. Had to pass on the Wheeler -  didn't seem to be very good quality and some of the bits had burrs and very rough looking bits not to mention it was Chinese made. Also have the Henry Grace Firearms Set as it has screwdrivers fitted for the tiny buckhorn sight adjustment screws and comes equipped with a brass drift punch and some other small punches. Definitely want to get the torque set and a good quality gun mount/rest to secure firearms while doing work. All in all I'm building up my tools and having fun doing some scope mounting and trigger replacements. Lot's to learn for sure.    

DrawbarFlats

Diver43 said:

Six-Gun said:

Just remember: every tool is a hammer, except for chisels; they’re screwdrivers.

 If you don't have a chisel, a butter knife makes a great screw driver.

LOL!!! I've lost count of the times I've seen the butter knives being brought out by the In-Laws for the kids Christmas morning toy assembly. 

DrawbarFlats

Jay said:

I'm definitely no gunsmith. But like many here, I love tinkering with guns and have been an armorer at work for quite a few years. I've learned a few things here and there.

One super simple thing I can share is, hockey pucks.. Those things can come in really handy. I ordered a pack of 6 of them on Amazon for $13. You can drill different size holes in them, "machine" slots or shapes in them and they just work nicely for punching pins in and out and stuff like that. Cheap and easy to modify and a good way to tap on guns without damaging the finish.

Over the years, I've collected some tools and definitely will collect more. Like many amateur gun tinkerers, I used to use some regular tools out of my toolbox for working on guns. There really is no place for tools like that when working on guns. A good set of screwdrivers and/or bits made for working on guns goes a long ways toward avoiding damaging screws and parts. Honestly, most of my stuff is Wheeler from Midway. Not the greatest in the world and definitely not professional stuff, but it works well for my amateur playing around. A few other tools that are really good to make part of the kit are brass, plastic and rubber faced hammers, brass and steel punches, an inch pound torque wrench for tightening scope bases, rings and other screws on guns, scope leveling tools, and a set of dental picks.

I also have a few specialized tools, such as a couple of AR armorers wrenches, a vice block for AR uppers and a magazine well block for lowers. If changing barrels regularly is in the plans, I honestly recommend a 1/2' drive barrel nut socket rather than using an armorers wrench. But personally, I don't do it often enough and have been able to get by just fine with armorers wrenches. I did spend a good chunk more on one of them simply because the barrel nut part of the tool is FAR better than any of the cheap ones, so I'd at least go that route after having bought a cheap one first when I should have just got a nice one to start with. For barrel swapping, a good "field" and "no-go" gauge can be pretty handy for assurance that headspace is good. I have those at work, so I haven't had to buy any yet for myself. A 1/4"x2" clevis pin from the hardware store works perfectly as a pivot pin installation tool. Cheap piece for anyone who assembles AR lowers to have in the kit. A set of roll pin punches, starters and finish punches, comes in very handy, but is not mandatory. Just makes the job much easier.

I have more than that, but that's a start.

Wow, Jay! Some really good info there. Thanks. 

Justsomedude

My most used piece of equipment. 

GunNut

.... and sometimes you need the BFH... 😁

Diver43

GunNut said:

.... and sometimes you need the BFH... 😁

Some people call that a boot

For real,  Jay covered everything very well.  His skills are way above mine so I will sit back and pay attention 

Jay

Oh, there's definitely plenty of folks here who are far more advanced and knowledgeable than I. I just mentioned a few of the things that have made things easier for me. The kit is always changing, being added to and upgraded. 

One thing about torque wrenches, they aren't just for mounting scopes. Being able to accurately and consistently torque action screws is arguably just as important as properly mounting a scope. Taking a barreled action out of a stock to change the trigger or any other task that needs doing, then torqueing it back to the same specs on reassembly is a good thing. I also have a larger foot pound wrench for torqueing barrel nuts.

Like I mentioned, many of my tools like screw drivers and bits and other hand tools are Wheeler. They will eventually get upgraded. I kinda have two groups of gun tools. Some for the man cave and some for the portable kit that goes to the range with me. As I upgrade tools, the old stuff goes in the traveling kit and the nicer stuff stays in the man cave.

Some things I'd like to add to my kit as I move along; quality screwdriver set, a set of pin gauges, better measuring tools (calipers and micrometers), and at some point down the road as I start looking at retiring, a mill and a lathe... 

Linefinder

Justsomedude said:

My most used piece of equipment. 

That's one nice looking lathe! All of my lathe work nowadays is done on a CNC lathe, but I kind of miss our ancient manual lathe. It was so old and worn it wouldn't hold much tolerance, so we gave it to the first person that would come pick it up. It wasn't worth refurbishing. And although you can use a CNC as a "manual", it just doesn't feel the same. 

Mike

Justsomedude

Without reading through all the previous comments, ill add a few that I feel are absolutely necessary to the list.
A good solid mounted vice with both soft and hard jaws.
A good punch set.
Hollow ground screwdriver set.
Magnetic bubble levels (make sure both are accurate with one another.
Hammers with good control and appropriate faces.
Armorers block.
Wood blocks also come in handy waaaay more often than they should. 
Compressed air.
Acid brushes.
I could go on all day but I have a shop filled with more than I need.

bullsi1911

GunNut said:

.... and sometimes you need the BFH... 😁

When building an AK you use a hammer.  The tool you want is a BIGGER hammer.

When building an AR, you use money.  The tool you want more is MORE money!

Zee

Aside from the mundane hand tools already mentioned, my bench vice and Wheeler torque wrench (or Fix-It Sticks) are high use items. Both invaluable. 

Michakav

This thread is costing me money! Have most of it but held off on the Wheeler TR. Not sure why, but i just fixed it.

Varmintmist

A decent set of gunsmith screwdrivers ( I have a Brownells magna tip set), a set of punches, set of roll pin punches, ball **** hammer, needle files, AR armors wrench's, AR vice blocks upper and lower, AR takedown pin installation tool, torque wrenches, sand paper wet and dry, steel wool, tung oil, pick tools

DrawbarFlats

Thanks for the feedback, Gentlemen. Also, any recommendations for a decent quality gun mount for the work bench? Looked at a few different brands here in town but both seemed a bit chintzy. 

Zee

What is a gun mount?

Linefinder

Zee said:

What is a gun mount?

Gun vise, I would assume. I have a really good one. but I'll have to go check it to see who made it. It was semi-custom, so no telling if they're still in business.

Mike

ilove22s

start with a hammer.  Dont make a difference on what type.

but once you start using the hammer you should get a good idea really fast that you need something else.  If not, then the hammer is just right for you.

bullsi1911

One thing to notice- out of novices, experienced tinkerers, and actual professional gunsmiths not one person said to get a Dremel.

take that to heart.  Do not use a Dremel for Gunsmithing.  

Zee

Oh, I’ve used one. Just not often. Mostly for polishing a ramp or sharp edge and routing out a stock a little. 

Japhy

Reading this forum usually gives me serious gun envy (GunNut) Then I see Dude’s setup and I have serious shop envy. If it’s not one thing it’s another. 

Bigslug

Good screwdrivers.

Punches:  Short, stiff starter ones that are less likely to bend and break; longer ones to finish the job; brass ones for non-marring, and chunks of Delrin rod for bashing on tight dovetail sights.

ROLL PIN punches and starter punches.  Long and short versions for same reasons as above.

Two Glock armorer's tools - one with a hole drilled in the handle so it can permanently live on on a QD ring with the rest of your keys.

Counter to Bullsi, a Dremel is a useful thing, but it's one of those limited application/extreme caution, choose your bits and application carefully kind of things.

FILES:  You'll need different sizes, shapes, coarsenesses, and smooth-on-one-side versions.

Much beyond that, you're into specialty tools for working on specific guns, heavy lathes and mills for making things, and heat-treat kilns. 

Zee

Linefinder said:

Zee said:

What is a gun mount?

Gun vise, I would assume. I have a really good one. but I'll have to go check it to see who made it. It was semi-custom, so no telling if they're still in business.

Mike

In that case, I’d recommend he get the biggest bench mounted vice he can afford that fits the practical use of clamping barrel blocks, receiver blocks, holding rifles for cleaning and other general vice work. As mentioned earlier, soft and hard jaw clamps are a must in my book. 

I use my vice ALL THE TIME and wish I had a bigger one. 😢

Justsomedude

I dont think people realize just how important a good, solid mounted vice is. Theres guns that id never get the sights off of without having it secured solid in a pair of soft jaws. And there's sights that are actually too tight for my sight pusher and require sharp blows from a hammer and shop made aluminum punch.

DrawbarFlats

Justsomedude said:

I dont think people realize just how important a good, solid mounted vice is. Theres guns that id never get the sights off of without having it secured solid in a pair of soft jaws. And there's sights that are actually too tight for my sight pusher and require sharp blows from a hammer and shop made aluminum punch.

Any recommendations on a good quality vice, preferably American Made?