1. RealAvid’s Master-Fit 13-Piece AR15 Crowfoot Wrench Set contains a durable and comprehensive set of tools to take your armorer skills to the next level. Titanium-coated, stainless steel construction provides tight tolerances for a solid fit and uncompromising purchase/manipulation of mil-spec and freefloat barrel nuts, muzzle devices and castle nuts. When not in use, a hard case keeps the components organized. MSRP: $299.99; realavid.com
2. The Tango Uniform Echo Zulu Castle Nut Armorer’s Kit goes beyond standard castle-nut installation by enabling users to securely anchor the nut in place with the included bi-directional staking guide, which indexes with most endplates. Its straight-wall staking punch is spring loaded and works in tandem with the unique EZ castle nut design—creating a solid, consistent bond while simultaneously minimizing the likelihood of damage to other rifle components. MSRP: $83.34; gotangouniform.com
3. An ideal second hand for the assembly, disassembly and maintenance of an MSR, the Wheeler Armorer’s Bench Block is designed to safely hold the lower receiver, upper receiver, front sight or charging handle, allowing you to work smarter, not harder. Once the larger components are safely anchored in place, installation of those pesky detents, pins and springs becomes much easier. MSRP: $39.99; wheelertools.com
4. The Smith Enterprise Armorer’s Wrench is made from 17-4 stainless steel and is a heavy-duty option for working on barrels. It features slots for receiver extensions and tightening or removing flash hiders and includes a half-inch square torque-drive opening. If you’re considering building your own AR-15 upper receiver, this is a must-have addition to your toolkit. MSRP: $69.99; brownells.com
5. Tipping the scales at a mere 2 ounces and packed with functionality, the AR-Takedown Tool is a collection of nearly a dozen of the essential gunsmithing implements for takedown, fieldstripping and cleaning/preventative maintenance, disassembly and assembly of your AR-pattern rifle. Specifically, it eases the manipulation of trigger pins, buffer spring, detents, magazine release, bolt, takedown pins and more, all in a handy multitool. Its shaft even contains a spring rated for 5,000 psi that replaces the need for a conventional hammer. MSRP: $39.99; artakedowntool.com
