I am a 71 yr old female with advanced arthritis in my right hand. I want to thank you for this youtube video. It gave me a good sight picture of what needed to be done with great verbal instruction. Replaced my dust cover this morning even with my physical issues. sv
+SnareMan New to shooting as of last fall and love it. Purchased a Glock 19 and the AR-15. I have added a red dot to my (our) AR and still learning much. Only wish I had discovered this hidden love many years ago. Thank you again for your video. PS Dust cover from my instructor ... I believe one he used in the military.
Sue, I have the utmost respect for you!! Love that you enjoy shooting! Big hugs and keep enjoying life and the thrill that shooting an AR (or guns in general) does for you!!
Years later and your video is still helping people. Thank you! With this video I had the confidence to tackle it myself. I did as instructed and was questioning the tape and boy am I glad I listened. That rod is JAMMED in there TIGHT. The replacement dust cover i had purchased came with a new rod but that rod didn't have the retention clip. This video gave me the confidence to use the OEM rod and retention clip as SURELY its better than not having one with the new rod. ANYWAYS, thanks a ton! This video seemed to stretch on forever but once I was IN your shoes I'm glad it did. The process was super easy and clear to follow. Cheer brother :)
Nice! I have done this before, but it's been a while. With all the various calibers running around for the AR platform, I decided to mark all of my uppers with caliber specific dust covers. After receiving a number of dust covers in the mail, I checked out your video to refresh my memory on how to knock these out. About 20 minutes later, they were all done, thanks to your helpful video.
Take a small flat screwdriver. Rotate the E clip so the open side faces the receiver. Put the tip of your screwdriver under one of the "slots" in the E clip and then rotate the screwdriver. That will pop the clip right off without any pulling or damage to the finish. You can put a rag over it before you pop it off so it doesn't fly across the room. Easy. Pushing on the clip is a sure fire way to scratch the finish when your tools slip off.
Great instructional video. Helped me get it done in 10 minutes. As a previous poster stated, the hardest part was nothing the little C clip and spring. Well done sir.
This is definately the best video on changing out the dust cover I've seen and because of this, you've convinced me to do it for my daughters rifle. Thanks. You are the only one that really discusses and shows how to deal with putting the spring back on. Great video.
The spring was a bit of a pain, this is definitely the best video I've come across on RU-vid. The bar itself was challenging to clear the lower part of the forward assist, it took me about 20 minutes to do the whole job.
Thanks for your expertise into this video. I have a PSA AR-15 in 300 blackout. It was very difficult and time consuming process. PSA must push their dust cover pin on a press machine, because it was very close to the medal forearm. I couldn't even get a exacto blade in between to push the pin out a little bit. I had to use a brass punch rod with a hammer to get it to move. It was a pain in the wazzoo!!! Thank you So much for this very instructional video.
Yes I grew up with my dad refusing to pay anybody to do something he could figure out. Of course I was right there holding the flashlight and tools. Always funny when you finally figure out the easy way. We broke a lot of things finding out the secret "tab" or hidden screw. Cheers!
First time changing a dust cover and was able to do this in about 10 minutes with the help of this video. Excellent stuff. Only thing that's missing is putting the c clamp back on, ended up being the hardest part. I suggest using tweezers and pushing it into the groove until it's sort of stuck on there. Then take a small flat head and push down hard on the top of the clamp. Should click in.
2024, this video came out as 1st displayed. I'm fighting getting the c clip back on my 2nd install, lol. 1st one went easily. # 2 is being a bee - yotch. Nothing like taking a break and watching how easy you get it done... now to find tweezers. Thanks 👍👍
Great instructional video. I just picked up a used Bushmaster upper missing the dust cover and thought the handguard ring needed to be removed, which meant the entire gun was going to have to be disassembled. Thank gawd I found your video.
I knew this was going to be a beast. After about 30min of failing i remembered that i bough my wife a micro screwdriver set. Used the very small flat head and another that just came to a point. Three tries and that little C clamp flew off to never be seen again, haha. Forgot someone suggested putting ointment on it so it wouldn't fly away. I bought a UDC ultimate dust cover so I don't have to worry about this again. Thanks for the video. It really helped. Happy 10th year Anniversary!
I actually found it was easier to point the opening of the C-clamp toward the upper and pry up on it. It went flying but I was in a controlled environment and recovered it right away. Awesome video man. That was easy!
You sound like someone I'd regularly hang out with on any given day doing any old activity. You sir, sound like a friend I've had for years that I sadly rarely see anymore.
@@SnareMan in a sense yes, as we are all 1in the same, just shattered into countless fragments experiencing itself but never knowing how to fully reassemble itself. And in a less like existential viewpoint I mean maybe we are maybe we have been at some point in this life and just maybe maybe you are. If you ever hung out with some weird funny white dude in the Southwest desert of the United States it could be me.
I've never tried to replace my dust cover before. It didn't seem very complicated when I watched your video and it took me a whole 2 minutes maybe to complete the swap. I'm guessing from the comments that it has been a problem for alot of people so thanks for the great video. First try = perfect success..
Thanks so much for making this video! I replaced mine in under 15 minutes...never have done it before. I think the toughest part was getting that little bugger of a clip back on without losing it! Thanks again!
Have a new dust cover and wanted to watch a video on how to replace. Your process was the best and easiest overall. The C clamp only flew on the floor once. Good job on explaining the small details it does help when you have never done this before.
Thanks for doing the trial & error for me. After seeing it done once, I swapped my cover and think that was the easiest change I've ever made on my AR.
great method, successful on my first attempt, took less than 3 minutes start to finish, with no marred finish thanks to the electrical tape...much appreciated! :)
Looked at a few videos for this. This was by far the easiest!!!!! Replaced two covers in the amount of time most videos spent looking for their needle nose pliers. Had some small flat end tweezers that fit over the pin and just pushed the c clip right off. Thanks for the video !!
So, I did mine in literally 5 minutes. Instead of using tweezers for the c clamp, use the flat tab of a cheap bic pen cap. Worked on the first try with ease!
Took me all of 7 min to do it. I watched your intro and was done by the out takes. Great video. For the tape use masking tape and fold it in half to fit. Its thick enough to slide behinf the guide rod and stay in place. Also it will catch the c clamp. I used a small flat head screw driver and a paint can opener to femove the clamp. Came off easy. Then used a pair of pliers with masking tape on the tongs to pull the guide rod. No scatches. And my AR15 "DANIELLE" now has her famous catch phrase "CASH ME OUSSIDE ....HOWBOW DAH!"
Yooooooooooooooo this made my life so much better. I lost the c clamp from watching another vid. Had to wait to get more, and then I found this vid and BOOM💥! Perfect!
Coming from the RC hobby, I am very familiar with E clips. Usually they fly off into the abyss, so be careful with that. Great video, thank you for sharing :D
Thanks man! You saved me a lot of heartache! Less than 5min process....and most of that was putting the c clamp back on! [Note do this over a hard surface...not carpet! Trust me ;) ]
Although old, still very helpful. Thank you sir for providing this info as I am working on a 300 Blackout build and wanted to know the process of adding a custom cover. Thank you once again...
This video really helped. After watching this I literally changed mine in three minutes using a pair of fingernail clippers and a pocket knife. Thanks for the vid.
Good work on the video. This is the only tutorial I watched for swapping the ejection port cover and it was a snap. Had two of them changed out in 20 minutes or less. Thanks.
Thanks for posting, it helped me out. That C clip was a pain, glad I did not have to reinstall it. The new dust cover was spring loaded and snapped in place easily.
thanks for the video it really helped me fix my spring without disassembling the entire thing... I almost lost the c clamp when i was putting it back in. Looked down and it was such a good thing that it had clp on it...it stuck to my shirt thankfully...
Thanks alot for this video. Me and my friend were stripping some hydro dip off my ar15 and he didn't put the spring on correctly. I was thinking I had to take the barrel nut off again. This saved me a hassle. 🖒🖒🖒 thanks again friend!
Amazing how such a tiny piece requires 2 tools to work with it! 😆 I know the frustration as I just did my very first one yesterday! A booger it is for sure! And I really like that sharp needle nose tweezers you have! I need to find a pair like that. Looks like they come in very handy! So I can testify that in addition to those "precision" tools, this "simple" procedure does require patience, persistence and 2 STEADY HANDS!! WELL DONE!!!😊👍
Thanks so much for this awesome video! I just did one dust cover and have to do another. I actually ordered a dust cover kit in case I lost the C clamp but with your help I didn't need to use it.
Great info!! Used your technique and had my old cover off and the new dust cover on in less than 5 minutes. Wow, I agree that could have been a real nightmare if I had tried it without seeing your video. Thanks a bunch!
Tip. The next time you manage to miraculously remove that horrible C Clip without destroying your gun, throw the clip in the trash! Secure the rod in place as follows. Simply obtain a small ZIPTIE, cinch it down tightly at the same location where the C Clip used to reside. Trim the ZIPTIE down as far as possible and you’re done. The ZIPTIE lock will be barely noticeable, allow free rotation of the rod and be easily removable by simply trimming it away. SCREW THAT C CLIP. Or option 2 is to simply buy a Strike Industries Billet Dust Cover which takes 5 seconds to install or remove. PEACE!
Watched this video and learned so much.... mostly the fact that Armalite completely covers this with its lengthy Handguard which is over loctited, so my local gunsmith should have a field day when I make him do it instead
I don’t know how you made it look so easy to put back on. I lost the clamp the 4th time I dropped it. Broke the second clamp. So decided to just slightly bend the distal part of rod. #RipJerk
Thanks alot!.i watched this video before my cover came in the mail so i was ready when i got it. it took me less than ten minutes using your trick ,thanks for sweating it out to show us tubers a better way!
Good video. I'm planning on changing the dust cover on my rifle. This gives me hope that I won't screw it up too bad. I never underestimate my ability to foul things up. 🤷♂️
Late to the game, I used those small 3d printer pliers/cutters since they have a flat side, set the clip like you had and pushed, then it created a small gap which you can use a pocket knife tip to get in the space and pry out. Also It helps if you have a flashlight on your head to see the black on black, heh.
nice video and thanks for sharing. Strike industries has a polyurethane dust cover c-clipless install. Strike's hinge rod/Bar is retractable. When compressed simultaeously, the rod pops into the front and rear boss. Amazing
Thanks! Until I figured out what I was doing with this install it was a bit painful as you saw. :-) That's why I seemed so elated in the first half of the vid, which was after I'd toiled for quite some time! Thanks for the sub btw! :-)
Excellent video! I was thinking I would have to remove the barrel to replace a broken cover spring! Sure glad I came across this video had it replaced in under 10 minutes!
Great video. My AR for some reason didn't come with the retaining clip on the bar so the bar would back out over time. Well it finally came out and I guess un-wound the spring making the dust cover not function properly. It had no spring action. After watching this I saw what I had to do to get it working right again. Thanks for the information.
+SnareMan Hard to tell. I had the gun for several months before I noticed the bar backing out. I never took the dust cover off so either the clip was never there or it somehow fell off or broke.