Chad from School of the American Rifle has produced a video for ARBbuildJunkie about firing pin retaining pins shows you a very simple trick that you can use overcome issues that people have with re-inserting them.
What can I say, I am a retired Marine and never had an issue my entire career, but lately it's has been a real issue with a few of my ARs and my CMMG PCCs. Your "trick" worked immediately, YOU ARE THE MAN. Thank you..
I've got the old USMC M16A2 manual and it only tells you to insert the pin. It doesn't mention what to do with recalcitrant pins. That's why I came to this site. His technique worked like a charm.
I was a grunt and private sector after the Army. And still this has been kicking my ass for about a half hr tonight. This video solved it quickly. Lol comes to show. No one knows all.
I just got out the military & I personally never had a problem putting my M4 retaining pin back into place... I get home & start cleaning my AR & didn’t know what to do cause the pin wouldn’t go in😂 Thank you so much, literally spent like 20 mins trying to put the damn pin back into place till I finally gave up & watched this vid😂🤦🏽♂️
Hmh, all the retaining pins on the various M16s I had in the service were splayed worse than this. I always thought it was their natural condition. He explains exactly how I used to wrangle them into position.
I did the same exact thing, lol. Never had any problems, then bought an Aero BCG. I couldn't figure out what the heck I was doing wrong, lol. after 45 minutes wrestling with it, and doing all the things he says NOT to do in this video, I finally ventured onto RU-vid feeling somewhat defeated. Found this video, I was able to get it in 10 seconds after that. Regardless, I decided to just replace the cotter pin with one the correct size. I can get the other one in, but for $1 it's totally worth it.
Same here. Been shooting and cleaning the M16 from ‘83 to ‘97 and never an issue. Get an AR Ruger and the first time taking it apart and bam....the pin problem. 😲
I was almost in panic mode after tearing down my new AR for it's first cleaning and lube before hitting the range. All good now after this tip. THANK YOU!!
This worked like magic. I thought I was going to have to get a replacement FPRP until I came across your video. Thank you for sharing your expertise and experience.
You, sir, are a lifesaver. My retaining pin is extremely picky on if it decides to cooperate or not. Found this video, and this simple trick, now it's never an issue. No more headaches and cursing!
BROOOOOOOOOOOOO 3 HR TRYING TO GET THAT DAMN THING BACK IN .... 3 MIN VIDEO AND ITS BACK IN THANK YOU SO MUCH....and this is coming from a 15 year military and 15 year police officer .... never had any issues ....until my last 3 builds .......thanks again
Echo Pat Worthington. I broke down my relatively new AR and hit a wall trying to insert the firing pin retainer. After 20 min, I went to bed because I wasn't going to force it. Got up this morning to search "fixes" and came across this vid. I sat back at my desk after watching and BINGO. I slid right in. Thanks so much.
What a lifesaver. 20 minutes struggling with needle nosed pliers (just like you say in the video LOL) and 10 seconds after this video it slides right in. Thank you for taking the time to make this video!
I have been working on AR rifles since the late 70's. This is the first time I have heard of this method to install spread firing pin retaing pins.. Excellent information, I keep learning something new about the AR rifle every year...
I have messed around with AR10 & 15 rifles for a good while (6yrs) and own 10 of them equally split between 1p & 15's. I have never had such difficulty reinserting the firing pin retainer as I did today. Usually if it balked a bit I chucked it and replaced with a new one. Well happens I am moving my gun area to my newly finished basemeny and my fairly deep selection of repair/wear parts is not found. I dicked around wiyh it for a good while and then thought You Tube. I found your video and 10 seconds later I was in. Just wanted to thank you for an informative video that really helped a fellow out.
Man. Sooooo glad I found this! Just got my first AR...decided to be adventurous and read the manual and break it down (haven't even fired it yet). Could not get the damn thing back in to save my life (or fingers). Spent the last hour (more if I'm being honest) until I saw this. Worked like a charm. Thought I was going to be "that guy" going back to the dealer to fix my newbie "user error". Thank you so much!!!!
literal life saver I spent 15 minutes and was about to grab a hammer. Got it on the first go with your trick. that's a new subscriber for you well deserved👊
This video has been extremely helpful. I was very frustrated that the retaining pin would not go in, and it appeared to be slightly bent. Your tutorial worked great!
counting the numerous comments, this has to be the most common issue for noobs when reassembling your bolt carrier after cleaning. I struggled for about 30 minutes before searching and finding this vid. Thank you AR Build Junkie!
You are a life saver, In getting the hang of stripping it but I’ve always struggled with this and I’d try breaking out the tweezers. You literally just saved me about 20 minutes of frustration, thank you!
Today was my 1st time cleaning my BCG, took it apart and then got to entering the pin. I fiddled with that dang thing for 40 minutes - I began to panic. I looked up this video and BAM, job done. Thank you so much!
Never had this issue until this morning. Been using these since I’m 14 and now I’m 55, and it’s the first time I could not get it in. Tried your trick, and it went right in. Thank you!
This video was a lifesaver. I was having problems installing the retaining pin on my BCGs. I wanted to check the head space on new builds. After watching this video it is so easy now. Thanks.
I wish I'd seen this video 5 minutes earlier. I just ordered some more pins because I couldn't get the factory pin in. Now it's in. Thanks. I'll have spares for the future and probably never need them.
Holy cow! I've been trying for way too long, hurting my fingers and about ready to get a hammer. I knew I shouldn't force it. First attempt in as soon as I heard your trick! Love you! Thank you 1000 times for this video!
Never had this problem before with any other AR's - bought a new one lubing it up and ran into this problem and knew there had to be a solution. thanks!!
lol i literally had a hammer and pliers sitting on my desk as @AR Build Junkie says, "Some people will have difficulty... so they'll break out a hammer, they'll break out needle nose pliers." I am glad to not be part of the "some people" group any more as you've taught me something today. Thank you.
You're a lifesaver. I just bought a used m&p 15 and it's been a nightmare. The a2 sight pins were in backwards and this retention pin was exactly how you just described.
Just took my AR apart for the first time and I ran into this problem, I was thinking of putting in a vise to flatten a bit but I said to myself look up on RU-vid, thanks so much really work with no trouble, never forget this!
Like everyone else, thanks SO much for uploading this. All the the other AR cleaning vids I watched just showed them inserting the firing pin retaining pin like it was as easy as could be, but I had the exact problem you described here. After futzing around with it for a few minutes, and then finally tapping lightly on it with a soft face mallet, all to no avail, I knew there had to be a better way. Thanks again for sharing this; it worked like a charm.
Perfect! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this video together. I was having a hard time trying to replace the retaining pin, and I thought I was going to lose my mind. - Your instruction worked perfectly, on the first try! Thanks again for saving me from so much grief and frustration. Much appreciated.
AWESOME!!! I JUST bought 5 pins from a local gun shop here in Dallas. The retaining pin I had was spread out like the one you used for the tip. I didn’t look at the 5 I bought before leaving and got home and they were gapped too….. But thanks to your OLD video I was able to get the ORIGINAL pin back in and now I have 5 spares just in case. At $1/ea I’m not upset about it. LMAO
Thank you so much for posting this video. There was about 500 rounds worth of carbon I wanted to clean out of a 7.62 x 39 AR-15 bolt assembly. After taking bolt assembly apart I could not get it back together because of the cotter pin. After watching this video I got it reassembled again. Thank you!
You have no idea how much you helped me! It’s my first time doing it and spent 1/2 hour trying to get it back in. Went in smooth as silk when I followed your tip. Thank you!
This is a brilliant tip! I was frustrated by a retaining pin that would not seat. Tried a plastic hammer but I made the legs of the pin even more spread apart. I finally was able to get the pin back in the beveled hole and applied downward pressure as directed in the video and it seated home immediately! I think my retaining pin is "jacked up" via my abuse and I plan to replace it, but as a result of this tip I reassembled my bolt and was able to shoot right now. Thanks Chad!
Chad, I took down my M&P Sport 2 for the initial cleaning post purchase and everything went well up until when I had to reinstall that retaining pin. Luckily, I came across this vid and your solution was spot on! Looking forward to viewing more of your channel. Subscribed.
Saved my bacon. Thanks!!! PS, I found that my pin even preferred a particular "spoon" position of the two possibilities: it didn't want to go, but I flipped it 180 and then it went just like you demonstrated 🎉.
No fucking way, just spent the last 30 wondering my retaining pin wouldn’t fit. Was about to give up and go to a local Turners. Just saved me a trip, thanks Sir!
Unbelievable how freaking easy this was!! I was literally in panic mode when I broke down my new AR to clean it prior to going to the range for the first time, I struggled with this single issue for a good 40 minutes, but finally got the stupid pin back in! Man I wish I’d seen this video back then. Well one thing’s for sure... I won’t have this issue again! Thanks for sharing this short, but VERY useful little video Chad! 😁👍🏻
Been fighting this retainer pin for the last 45 minutes only to find SOTAR has a quick fix for it 😂 thanks for making the video, it worked like a charm
I’m a new owner and I’ve been taking my time learning about my rifle and going through disassembly and what not over the last couple of weeks. I just took the bcg apart and couldn’t get the friggin’ pin back in so here I am. I thought I was going to need a new pin before even firing the thing but your method worked somehow. I don’t understand why it works but I’m sure glad it does.
AR platform new to me and this was first hangup on initial takedown and reassemble. LOL. I didn't get upset, just didn't understand. After watching this it made more sense and then 10 seconds at my bench and it was back together properly. Thanks. The start of the learning curve is to ask someone else that is knowledgeable. I'm sure I will watch more of your channel.
You're video is by far the best one on getting that pesky cotter pin back in. I put a small drop or two of lube on the pin and tilted it upwards a little and it went right in. I used the Hornady ultrasonic cleaner get all the carbon build up off. The hardest part was getting the pin back in. I will order a few pins for spares.
I also have to add my praise, this is the best video ever. I added it to my favorites playlist so that I can easily find it, because I had trouble with this the first time I disassembled my BCG to clean it, found this video, worked first time. So I come back to review it each time I clean my AR. I don’t do this often enough for it to stick out in my memory yet, but someday it will, and until then, thank you sir for this video.
Thank you for this. Buddy took my ar apart and couldn't get the pin back in and was telling me I had to get a new one but I found this video and got it back in myself in 30 seconds. Thank you again
I'll be damned. I've never had this issue once until today. I purchased a new Faxon BCG from a very reputable online merchant. This and one other house brand BCG were shipped in a box too small for the retail packaging which was cracked and broken. As a result I disassembled both to make sure it was just cracked plastic packaging, which it was, but could not get the retaining pin to fully seat on the Faxon BCG. Tried rotaing the pin while installing. No good. Found this video and I'll be damned if this technique didn't allow it to slide in with very little pressure. This is the difference between someone who is very proficient with a platform (myself) and a true expert. Thank you so much for making this video.
Thank God for this clip! Spent a good hour or so plunging the cotter pin into place and it just wouldn't sit in my CMMG Banshee BCG. A little downward pressure was all it take! Thank you very much.
You are a Rock Star!!!! Did not want to break it or use any metal tools on it, this is my first AR and first cleaning. tried pushing with the handle of a screw driver and it did not budge. Figured there was a trick. Search RU-vid and saw your video!! Amazing, went right in!
Thanks so much for this! I wasn’t doing it hard, but I was using my hammer to get it in. Your trick is so simple and it worked the first time I tried it. So glad I decided to check RU-vid before I really decided to force that thing in. It just didn’t wanna go. Your trick is so simple. Thank you
