Disassembly

Safety First!

Always wear safety glasses when working on firearms!
Springs may unexpectedly be released and cause severe eye damage.

Most component parts are identified using ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
Prior to disassembly, we recommend a thorough examination of the position and relationship of each part found in the diagrams on pages B4–5.

Disassembly

1. Clearing Your Rifle:

Never attempt to clean or disassemble your rifle until you are certain that it has been cleared!

Point in a SAFE direction.
Place the SAFETY LEVER on SAFE.

If the rifle is not cocked, the Safety Lever cannot be rotated to the SAFE position.

Press the MAGAZINE CATCH BUTTON and pull the magazine straight down to remove.
Lock the BOLT CARRIER ASSEMBLY open by pulling the CHARGING HANDLE rearward while pressing the bottom of the BOLT CATCH.
Allow the Bolt Carrier Assembly to move forward until it engages the BOLT CATCH.
Return the CHARGING HANDLE to forward position.
Confirm that the SAFETY LEVER IS ON “SAFE”.
Thoroughly check the RECEIVER and CHAMBER to ensure there is no ammunition in the rifle.
Look away from the rifle and then check the Receiver and Chamber again.

With the SAFETY LEVER on SAFE, allow the BOLT CARRIER ASSEMBLY to go forward by pressing the upper portion of the BOLT CATCH.

2. Separate Upper and Lower Receivers

2-1.

Remove the SLING. Push the rear TAKEDOWN PIN inward as far as it will go
(it will not push out completely) and tip the MUZZLE down and pivot the UPPER RECEIVER as shown below.

2-2.

Push the FRONT PIVOT PIN in until it stops and separate the UPPER and LOWER RECEIVERS.

Some Older Models (not shown)

Remove the cap screw located on the left side of the RECEIVER PIVOT PIN using a screwdriver.

Push the RECEIVER PIVOT PIN out towards the right.

3. Bolt Carrier Assembly and Charging Handle

3-1

Pull back on the CHARGING HANDLE and BOLT CARRIER ASSEMBLY until it stops.
Pull the Bolt Carrier Assembly out of the RECEIVER.

3-2

Lift the CHARGING HANDLE upward and remove it out of its track in the RECEIVER.

The rifle is now “field-stripped”.

1.

Using a small tool like a dental pick or similar, remove the FIRING PIN RETAINER PIN
(Do not open or close the split end of the pin.)

2.

Using your thumb, push the BOLT rearward and into the locked position.

3. Continued: Disassembly of the Bolt Carrier Assembly

3.

You can now remove the FIRING PIN from the rear of the BOLT CARRIER ASSEMBLY.

4.

Rotate the CAM PIN 1/4 turn and lift it out.

5.

Remove the BOLT from the front of the ASSEMBLY.

Extractor, Ejector, and Bolt Carrier Key

The following steps should only be attempted if necessary for replacement or repair:

6. Ejector

Sliding a fired or inert cartridge case into the BOLT face to hold the EJECTOR
will aid in removing the EJECTOR ROLL PIN.

The EJECTOR SPRING is under tension, so restrain the EJECTOR
while drifting the EJECTOR ROLL PIN out in either direction.

7. Extractor

The EXTRACTOR should be checked for proper function
by pressing inward on the rear of the Extractor.

The EXTRACTOR SPRING is under tension,
so restrain the Extractor while drifting the Extractor Pin out in either direction.

Your AR-15 may have a sleeve or insert around the Extractor Spring.

8. Bolt Carrier Key

The BOLT CARRIER KEY is held by two Allen head screws
that are staked in (peened edges).
Removal should only be done by a competent gunsmith.

Buffer Assembly and Action Spring

THE ACTION SPRING IS UNDER TENSION.
Be sure to restrain the BUFFER ASSEMBLY while depressing the BUFFER RETAINER.
Carefully remove the BUFFER ASSEMBLY while easing the tension on the ACTION SPRING.

You may need to depress the Buffer Retainer a few times as it will snag on the Action Spring.

Handguards

Unless you really need to remove HANDGUARDS for repair or replacement,
the HANDGUARDS need not be removed.

They are removed by placing the rifle on the BUTTSTOCK
and pressing down on the grooved DELTA RING.

Hopefully you have a buddy around that can help you slide and pull each of the two HANDGUARDS out one at a time.
If not, a steel handguard removal tool is well worth the investment.

All Other Disassembly

Complete disassembly should only be done by a competent gunsmith.

Disassembling firearms could render your firearm inoperable or make it dangerous to fire.
You should skip any of the following steps when it is not necessary for repair or replacement.

This Gun-Guide® does not cover removal of the: - BARREL - GAS TUBE - HANDGUARD SNAP RINGS - BUTTSTOCK ASSEMBLY - FORWARD ASSIST

Special tools such as an Armorer’s wrench and others
should be used to properly remove and reassemble some of these components.

⚠️ Caution

Removal of the PISTOL GRIP SCREW will also release the: - SAFETY PLUNGER - SAFETY PLUNGER SPRING

Remove the PISTOL GRIP SCREW and LOCK WASHER to remove the PISTOL GRIP.

1. Hammer

TIP: A Bench Block is a very handy fixture to hold and support your RECEIVER
while disassembling and reassembling your AR-15.

While restraining the HAMMER with your thumb or index finger,
pull the TRIGGER and slowly release the Hammer to the fired position.

Drift out the HAMMER PIVOT PIN in either direction.
Remove the Hammer and attached Hammer Spring.

2. Disconnector

Drift the TRIGGER PIN just enough to remove the DISCONNECTOR.

This may cause the DISCONNECTOR SPRING to separate from the TRIGGER.

3. Safety Lever

Place the SAFETY LEVER halfway between its two positions.
Using a brass or nylon punch, carefully push and wiggle it out from right to left as shown.

4. Trigger

Finish drifting out the TRIGGER PIN and lift the: - TRIGGER

TRIGGER SPRING

Attached DISCONNECTOR SPRING

…out of the LOWER RECEIVER.

Use a Slave Pin to hold the Disconnector and its Spring into position during reassembly.

5. Magazine Catch

Depress the MAGAZINE CATCH BUTTON as far as possible,
then unscrew the Magazine Catch (counter-clockwise) and remove it toward the left.

The MAGAZINE CATCH SPRING and BUTTON will be released from the right side.

6. Ejection Port Cover

First, notice the orientation of the EJECTION PORT COVER SPRING (refer to pages 4 and 7).
Protect the RECEIVER from being scratched by placing two pieces of duct tape or similar.
Rotate the EJECTION PORT COVER HINGE PIN SNAP RING to access the opened area of the “C” shaped ring.
Using two small screwdrivers (or similar), gently push outward and downward to slide the RING off the EJECTION PORT COVER PIN.
A magnetic tipped screwdriver is helpful for retrieving the ring.
Remove the PIN toward the rear using your fingers or small pliers. This will also release the Spring.

7. Trigger Guard Assembly

TIP: Countless AR-15 Lower Receivers have been destroyed
simply by not supporting the lower “ears” of the Trigger Guard
while removing the rear Trigger Guard Pivot Roll Pin.

Use an Armorer’s Bench Block or similar under the Receiver
to ensure that you do not break or crack these fragile ears.

The TRIGGER GUARD ASSEMBLY is removed by drifting out the rear TRIGGER GUARD PIVOT ROLL PIN.

On the reverse side, swing the ASSEMBLY downward.
Depress the FRONT SPRING-LOADED DETENT and remove the assembly.

8. Bolt Catch

TIP: Place a piece of duct or masking tape on both sides of the BOLT CATCH
to avoid scraping tools against your Receiver.

The BOLT CATCH, BOLT CATCH PLUNGER, and BOLT CATCH SPRING
are held into position by the BOLT CATCH ROLL PIN,
which may be drifted out in either direction.