SLR15 AR-15 / M-16 / M-4 / AR308 Armorer Course
When: May 9-10, 2019
Where: TacOps West in Las Vegas NV
We conducted a 2-day (16-hour) AR-15 / M-16 / M-4 / AR308 Armorer Course at the TacOps West Conference in Las Vegas NV. This was our fourth time time teaching at this conference, and we look forward to many more. The conference training room offered plenty of table space, decent lighting (though conference rooms could be brighter, which helps people to see small parts), a projection and screen system that allowed us to project powerpoint & detailed pics of the weapons systems and parts, especially when looking at finer detail things like machining, stress cracks & wear.
This class was a mix of Law Enforcement Officers from Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, California, and Colorado.
Rifles represented in this course were SLR15, Colt, American Defense Manufacturing, LWRC, Primary Weapons Systems, Bushmaster, LMT, RockRiver, Sig Sauer, DPMS, Wyndham Weaponry, Bravo Company, Daniel Defense, Aero Precision, Palmetto State Armory, Springfield Armory Saint, and a few custom builds.
Day-1 started the day by going through the course manual that all students are given. Students were supplied with their own set of basic tools that are necessary to do 95% of the work on their rifles (short of restocking and rebarreling, of which wrenches and sometimes fixtures are necessary), Slip2000 "EWL" Extreme Weapons Lubricant and #725 Cleaner Degreaser, etc. A short session of nomenclature was covered, at which time covered every feature and exterior piece of the rifle to include all the hidden design features that most people are not aware of, and everyone prepped the rifles for disassembly work. Everyone was taught the procedure series of checks that we recommend.
Everyone was taught our recommended way to field strip a rifle, and why we do it this way so as not to cause damage, premature wear or stress on anything. We covered maintenance of where and what to clean, and what needs lubrication to keep it running. We showed why not to use the firing pins as tools. We showed everyone our recommendation of how to remove fouling and why, and everyone got to use our methods.
The entire bolt carrier assembly was covered, to include inspections, maintenance, upgrades, 3 types of gas rings, and differences in finishing and machining. carrier key (gas key) installation and staking, ejector systems, etc. Everyone was introduced to the different types of gas rings. We went through what each types does, and their proper installation order.
Note: We went through proper carrier key staking. Upon inspection several people found their gas keys were lightly staked, where the staking wasn't touching the screws on a Bushmaster, Springfield Armory Saint, and a Colt. We supplied everyone with a MOACKS and Sully Gas Key Staking Tools, and people put them to good work. Several people took advantage of the staking tools, and a few didn't even though we suggested it over several days.
We got into the lower receiver assemblies, starting with the fire control group (trigger group). We teach this in a building block format, starting with baby steps of getting things out and in, then build into how things work. Everyone learned how to install and remove things so you don't cause damage. We went through detailed inspections of all the sear engagement surfaces, spring types, single stage, and two stage trigger systems. At the end of the day everyone put their rifles back together, making sure that everything was in proper working order.
Day-2 started with a review of everything that was covered on day-1, with some greater details and myths covered. We then went back into trigger groups in great details, covering single stage, 2-stage, good and bad triggers, differences and options in spring systems, diagnosing problems when semi-auto turns into burst, and showing the differences in quality of triggers that are on the market. Once done with semi-auto trigger systems, we went into select fire trigger groups covering full-auto and burst trigger groups, to include replacement and diagnosing and repairs when experiencing malfunctions.
After trigger systems, we went through the rest of the lower receivers. Everyone in this class had collapsible stocks. We covered the proper mounting & gauging, and proper castle nut staking. Everyone stripped their lower receivers, which allowed a chance for further inspections, and we went through a session on troubleshooting. Once everyone was comfortable with the entire lower receiver assembly, the were put back together, inspected, and made sure everything is in proper working order.
We then got into a session on the timing. This is where we cover proper cycling, covering what effects timing, and how & what happens when it is out or proper time, dwell time, suppressor issues, etc, and how to get things into proper timing. This also led us into piston systems. One Officer brought a Sig Sauer piston rifle. We covered how the piston system works, break down and maintenance of the system, how to properly adjust for timing changed, and trouble shooting.
Note: When we got into the session on timing, we covered short barreled rifles and our recommended barrel length on an un-suppressed rifle being no shorter than 11.5". We had several Officers who had 11.5", 10.5", a 10.3", and one 8.5". Some reported that their 10.5" and 10.3" rifles had issues running reliably. One Officer said his 10.5" worked flawlessly (Though when questioned, he had not run it at any type of higher elevation, in very cold weather, or ran it hard with lots of rounds). The Officer who had the personally owned 8.5" also perked up into the conversation, stating he had not seen reliability issues, but questioned did stated that after 2-3 magazines he had experienced issues with heavy amounts of fouling, this is due to lack of barrel length so there is time for all the gunpowder to get burnt up, and had notices the huge amount of sandy like fouling inside the rifle when it wouldn't run for more that the few magazines he had put through it, so he admitted that he hadn't put a lot of rounds through it yet, but did have some issues with it getting very heavy fouled. Two other Officers who had 10.5" barrels had experienced issues with lack of barrel length (dwell time), and the Officers who had the 11.5" barrels stated that they had great reliability with no issues in running their rifles in all field conditions from high altitude, cold weather, etc.
The last half of day-2 was spent on the upper receiver assembly. We covered barrel removal, mounting, fixturing, gauging & inspections. We show numerous ways to fixture a barrel into a vise, and our preference as to which fixtures/methods to use when and how. We showed how to mount, then properly torque and gauge the barrel system, which ensures it is in proper working order.
At the end of the day everyone put their rifles back together, everything was inspected and gauged to make sure it was in proper working order. Everyone did chamber inspections, checked & gauged the four gas seals, firing pin protrusion, trigger press, and headspace.
Here is a brief overview of a few things that were covered:
History of the Weapon
Cycles of Function
General Disassembly & Assembly
Identification of Common Problems and Parts
Nomenclature
Identification of Group Components
Semi, Burst, and Full Auto Parts and Conversions
Complete Armoring Disassembly / Assembly
Barrel Replacement
Cleaning and Maintenance
Sight and Distance Considerations
Ballistic Issues
Barrel: Twist, Length, and Profiles
Gas Systems & Piston Systems
Parts Interchangeability, including Brands
Headspace
Firing Pin Protrusion
Trigger Systems
Chamber Inspection and Issues
Troubleshooting, diagnosis & repair
Gauging, Inspections, Stress & Interval Issues
Accessories and Customizing
Tool Options and Selection
SOP/MOD Accessories and Additions
CY6
Greg Sullivan "Sully"
SLR15 Rifles
TheDefensiveEdge.com
(763) 712-0123
When: May 9-10, 2019
Where: TacOps West in Las Vegas NV
We conducted a 2-day (16-hour) AR-15 / M-16 / M-4 / AR308 Armorer Course at the TacOps West Conference in Las Vegas NV. This was our fourth time time teaching at this conference, and we look forward to many more. The conference training room offered plenty of table space, decent lighting (though conference rooms could be brighter, which helps people to see small parts), a projection and screen system that allowed us to project powerpoint & detailed pics of the weapons systems and parts, especially when looking at finer detail things like machining, stress cracks & wear.
This class was a mix of Law Enforcement Officers from Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, California, and Colorado.
Rifles represented in this course were SLR15, Colt, American Defense Manufacturing, LWRC, Primary Weapons Systems, Bushmaster, LMT, RockRiver, Sig Sauer, DPMS, Wyndham Weaponry, Bravo Company, Daniel Defense, Aero Precision, Palmetto State Armory, Springfield Armory Saint, and a few custom builds.
Day-1 started the day by going through the course manual that all students are given. Students were supplied with their own set of basic tools that are necessary to do 95% of the work on their rifles (short of restocking and rebarreling, of which wrenches and sometimes fixtures are necessary), Slip2000 "EWL" Extreme Weapons Lubricant and #725 Cleaner Degreaser, etc. A short session of nomenclature was covered, at which time covered every feature and exterior piece of the rifle to include all the hidden design features that most people are not aware of, and everyone prepped the rifles for disassembly work. Everyone was taught the procedure series of checks that we recommend.
Everyone was taught our recommended way to field strip a rifle, and why we do it this way so as not to cause damage, premature wear or stress on anything. We covered maintenance of where and what to clean, and what needs lubrication to keep it running. We showed why not to use the firing pins as tools. We showed everyone our recommendation of how to remove fouling and why, and everyone got to use our methods.
The entire bolt carrier assembly was covered, to include inspections, maintenance, upgrades, 3 types of gas rings, and differences in finishing and machining. carrier key (gas key) installation and staking, ejector systems, etc. Everyone was introduced to the different types of gas rings. We went through what each types does, and their proper installation order.
Note: We went through proper carrier key staking. Upon inspection several people found their gas keys were lightly staked, where the staking wasn't touching the screws on a Bushmaster, Springfield Armory Saint, and a Colt. We supplied everyone with a MOACKS and Sully Gas Key Staking Tools, and people put them to good work. Several people took advantage of the staking tools, and a few didn't even though we suggested it over several days.
We got into the lower receiver assemblies, starting with the fire control group (trigger group). We teach this in a building block format, starting with baby steps of getting things out and in, then build into how things work. Everyone learned how to install and remove things so you don't cause damage. We went through detailed inspections of all the sear engagement surfaces, spring types, single stage, and two stage trigger systems. At the end of the day everyone put their rifles back together, making sure that everything was in proper working order.
Day-2 started with a review of everything that was covered on day-1, with some greater details and myths covered. We then went back into trigger groups in great details, covering single stage, 2-stage, good and bad triggers, differences and options in spring systems, diagnosing problems when semi-auto turns into burst, and showing the differences in quality of triggers that are on the market. Once done with semi-auto trigger systems, we went into select fire trigger groups covering full-auto and burst trigger groups, to include replacement and diagnosing and repairs when experiencing malfunctions.
After trigger systems, we went through the rest of the lower receivers. Everyone in this class had collapsible stocks. We covered the proper mounting & gauging, and proper castle nut staking. Everyone stripped their lower receivers, which allowed a chance for further inspections, and we went through a session on troubleshooting. Once everyone was comfortable with the entire lower receiver assembly, the were put back together, inspected, and made sure everything is in proper working order.
We then got into a session on the timing. This is where we cover proper cycling, covering what effects timing, and how & what happens when it is out or proper time, dwell time, suppressor issues, etc, and how to get things into proper timing. This also led us into piston systems. One Officer brought a Sig Sauer piston rifle. We covered how the piston system works, break down and maintenance of the system, how to properly adjust for timing changed, and trouble shooting.
Note: When we got into the session on timing, we covered short barreled rifles and our recommended barrel length on an un-suppressed rifle being no shorter than 11.5". We had several Officers who had 11.5", 10.5", a 10.3", and one 8.5". Some reported that their 10.5" and 10.3" rifles had issues running reliably. One Officer said his 10.5" worked flawlessly (Though when questioned, he had not run it at any type of higher elevation, in very cold weather, or ran it hard with lots of rounds). The Officer who had the personally owned 8.5" also perked up into the conversation, stating he had not seen reliability issues, but questioned did stated that after 2-3 magazines he had experienced issues with heavy amounts of fouling, this is due to lack of barrel length so there is time for all the gunpowder to get burnt up, and had notices the huge amount of sandy like fouling inside the rifle when it wouldn't run for more that the few magazines he had put through it, so he admitted that he hadn't put a lot of rounds through it yet, but did have some issues with it getting very heavy fouled. Two other Officers who had 10.5" barrels had experienced issues with lack of barrel length (dwell time), and the Officers who had the 11.5" barrels stated that they had great reliability with no issues in running their rifles in all field conditions from high altitude, cold weather, etc.
The last half of day-2 was spent on the upper receiver assembly. We covered barrel removal, mounting, fixturing, gauging & inspections. We show numerous ways to fixture a barrel into a vise, and our preference as to which fixtures/methods to use when and how. We showed how to mount, then properly torque and gauge the barrel system, which ensures it is in proper working order.
At the end of the day everyone put their rifles back together, everything was inspected and gauged to make sure it was in proper working order. Everyone did chamber inspections, checked & gauged the four gas seals, firing pin protrusion, trigger press, and headspace.
Here is a brief overview of a few things that were covered:
History of the Weapon
Cycles of Function
General Disassembly & Assembly
Identification of Common Problems and Parts
Nomenclature
Identification of Group Components
Semi, Burst, and Full Auto Parts and Conversions
Complete Armoring Disassembly / Assembly
Barrel Replacement
Cleaning and Maintenance
Sight and Distance Considerations
Ballistic Issues
Barrel: Twist, Length, and Profiles
Gas Systems & Piston Systems
Parts Interchangeability, including Brands
Headspace
Firing Pin Protrusion
Trigger Systems
Chamber Inspection and Issues
Troubleshooting, diagnosis & repair
Gauging, Inspections, Stress & Interval Issues
Accessories and Customizing
Tool Options and Selection
SOP/MOD Accessories and Additions
CY6
Greg Sullivan "Sully"
SLR15 Rifles
TheDefensiveEdge.com
(763) 712-0123