The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Tactical Rifle & Carbine => Topic started by: Dakotaranger on April 03, 2009, 01:31:51 AM

Title: Installing a Tactical latch for the charging handle
Post by: Dakotaranger on April 03, 2009, 01:31:51 AM
I just received my Tactical latch for my AR-15's charging handle and I was trying to install it (I get how it is supposed to go together).  Bent the latch pin.  My question is:  Is there a trick to getting everything to line up and drive the pin in with only two hands?
Title: Re: Installing a Tactical latch for the charging handle
Post by: Big Frank on April 03, 2009, 07:11:52 PM
Put a punch through the holes to hold everything in place, then drive the pin in from the other side. It would be easier with 3 or 4 hands but I managed to do okay by myself. I use my vise to hold things too. It's my 3rd hand.
Title: Re: Installing a Tactical latch for the charging handle
Post by: m25operator on April 03, 2009, 07:26:33 PM
Like Frank said, use a slave pin to hold things loosely together, and I use a pin punch, most of you will not have them, but you might have something like them. A pin punch has a hole in the end about 1/8" deep to hold a pin of various sizes by magnetism. If you have a tamper proof torx bit set, these can used to good effect. Before anybody asks, a torx is the newish star looking drive screws, the tamper proof ones are like what are used on a lot of phone equipment, the star has a post in the center to prevent a standard torx to fit, so the corresponding bit, has a hole in it. This bit in magnetic screwdriver becomes a decent pin starter.
Title: Re: Installing a Tactical latch for the charging handle
Post by: Big Frank on April 03, 2009, 07:59:16 PM
I use parallel jaw pliers to start pins. One jaw has a V-groove in the middle so the pin doesn't roll around and the serrated jaw on the other side has a good grip. I can push the pin half way in with the pliers and then hammer it in the rest of the way. My pliers also have a wire cutter on them like the 2nd and 3rd picture.