Now that my M4E (economy) is wrapped up, including the six-pound trigger pull, I thought it was time to go over some of the M16/AR-15 tools I use to get through these projects with my sanity more-or-less intact. Here are the main ones, with the "must haves" on the bottom row, and the "nice to have" on top.
On the left is a plastic lower receiver vise block that locks into the magazine well. Inserted like a magazine, it lets you put the entire rifle into the vise, if needed.
This might also be a good time to say that you need a biiiiggg vise, the bigger the better. With the upper receiver removed, you can insert the block from above, and work on things upside down.
This plastic block will work with just about anything that uses an M16 magazine, even if you have to file a bit here and there. I even tweaked it to work with the magazine wells of the Colt/Walther M4-22 and the Sig P522. In both cases their magazine wells are slightly undersized to prevent anyone from attempting to insert a real M16 mag into them (people do try), so I just took a tiny bit off so I can use it on the .22s, too. Great all-around tool to give you an extra set of hands.
The upper receiver uses an aluminum vise block, instead. To clamp things right-side up, use the push-pins to lock it into the block, and them clamp the lower surface (minus the thumb screw) into the vise.
If you have a flat-top receiver, you can clamp the other side to the rails, letting you work on the upper with it upside down in the vise.
The last vise is the big elephant-gun model. It's a mammoth piece of hinged plastic, with a plastic filler to replace the bolt carrier. Its sole purpose is to support every square inch of the upper receiver so you don't crush it like a beer can while doing barrel work.
This is one tool I've never used, and never hope to need. But in the interest of completeness, I decided to include it.
Beyond all these vise blocks, there are a number of smaller tools in the "nice to have" category. Here's a plastic fixture that lets you install or remove the two taper pins and the roll pin for the gas tube on front gas blocks. You can sort of hold stuff off the bench and punch out the pins, but this is sooooo much easier, quicker, and non-scratch.
It has two sets of holes so you can work from either the left or right side, and the other end has no holes, so you can seat the pins back properly. This works with all types of gas blocks, and not just the GI tower-type.
Of course, in my rush to take lots of pictures, I left out a few. The top row also has a bolt takedown fixture, which lets you compress the ejector enough to punch out the roll pin and take things apart and put back together again.
And two items I omitted from the bottom row. The white plastic block is a dry-fire block that protects the hammer and receiver from cracking each other from "unprotected" dry firing. It locks into the magazine well from the top, and the protruding plastic absorbs the impact. Next to that is a M16 multi-tool, of which there are dozens of variations. This one can work on free-float tubular handguards, flash hiders, something-else-or-another, accept a torque wrench. The one thing I use it for, and it earns its keep doing, is using the stock spanner to loosen and tighten the lock ring that is used with telescoping stocks. I must have used it dozens of times already, and it's a real life saver.
All of these tools are available to Brownell's, and other suppliers. Some are unique, which the multi-wrench comes in about a dozen variations, and a wide range of prices. A $50 tool might not sound like a good deal, until it saves you a $100 gunsmithing bill, or banging-up a $1000 rifle.
My last quick (under $100) visit to Brownell's also turned up some totally useless, but oh-so-cute items for your AR-15.
First for me are three oversized mag release buttons, American-flag variety.
I'm passing on the engraved takedown pins, mainly because the images are tinier. Both are by Tactical Supply Depot.
And from Harford Engraving Services comes a line of M16 dust covers with various messages engraved on the inside of the cover, so they aren't seen until the cover pops open, which is probably a good idea. They have about 10 different versions listed, but most are already sold out, despite appearing on their web site just a few days ago. I ordered one of these (still in stock) as a test before I consider ordering others. I'll also have to ask Jeff, the owner of Highest Honor, if he'd like to add something like this to his product line.
Build a better mousetrap, or ejection port cover, and they will come.