The Arms Guide
  • Home
  • AR-15
  • Rifles
  • Handguns
  • Reloading Gear
  • Gun Safes
  • Gun News

How to Build an AR-15 Lower Receiver: Magazine Catch

Building an AR-15 - Magazine Catch - thearmsguide.com

June 18, 2017 by Nate Schultz (nsz85) 7 Comments

Building your AR-15 lower receiver? If you have all the tools and components, I’ll walk you through the process, starting with installing the magazine catch. I have included a video (see above) of me showing and explaining how to build your AR-15 lower receiver, and I will be placing time stamps with each step in this guide that will match up to the corresponding content in the video. If you like, you can fast forward the video to that specific time to watch me install that part. Believe it or not, there are only 10 steps to building a complete lower.

Disclaimer

Remember, you are 100% responsible for double checking the federal laws and regulations as well as your local state laws and regulations pertaining to building, possessing, and owning a firearm. You are also responsible for any malfunctions, breakage, or injury that you may cause.

Also, please make note that the instructions I am providing here will be explained using the tools that I listed earlier in this guide, so your experience may differ slightly if you’re not using the same tool set.

Now let’s get started.

Step 1 – Magazine Catch

Place the AR-15 lower receiver vise blockamazon into the bench viseamazon and then place the lower receiver onto the vise block. Grab your magazine catch, button, and springamazon.

Place the catch into the left side of the lower receiver so the long part that has threads is going into the receiver. Now take your magazine catch spring, and install it from the right side of the lower receiver, sliding it over the threaded portion. Place a finger over the magazine catch on the left side of the lower receiver to keep it from being pushed out. Now spin the magazine catch button clockwise until it catches the threads of the magazine catch. It can be tricky because of the spring providing resistance, but just be patient and you will get it.

Building an AR-15 - Magazine Catch - thearmsguide.com
Here is a still from the above video showing how I use the pencil eraser to push the magazine catch button.

After the button has been spun a few times, you will feel as if you have run out of room. This is where the pencil comes into play. Using the rubber eraser end of the pencil, push the magazine button from the right side of the lower receiver so the magazine catch protrudes on the left side. While maintaining pressure with the pencil, spin the magazine catch clockwise until you just feel it make contact with the pencil eraser. Make sure you take your time here as you could scratch that lower receiver if you’re not careful when spinning the magazine catch.

Building an AR-15 - Magazine Catch - thearmsguide.com
This is the way the magazine release button should look when completely installed.

Now for a functions check. Just install an empty AR-15 magazine into the magwell of the lower receiver and confirm that the magazine catch does what it is supposed to do. Did it catch it? Good. Now press the button and make sure the magazine is properly released.

The next step I’ll cover in this “how to build an AR-15 lower receiver” series is: how to install a trigger guardamazon. Stay tuned!

Filed Under: AR-15, How To, Rifles Tagged With: AR-15, AR-15 lower receiver, build, Colt, how to, lower, magazine catch, mega, receiver, rifle build, stag, upper

Related Posts

  • Best Grendel Barrels Featured
    6 Best 6.5 Grendel Barrels – 2021 Review
  • Best 6.5 Grendel Uppers For Your Next Build Featured
    5 Best 6.5 Grendel Uppers For Your Next Build
  • Best 308 Muzzle Brakes Featured
    4 Best .308 Muzzle Brakes for Accuracy

About the Author

Avatar for Nate Schultz (nsz85)

Nate Schultz (nsz85) Nate Schultz is employed within the field of Law Enforcement, is an avid shooter, firearms enthusiast and hobbiest gunsmith. When he is not writing for The Arms Guide, he is producing content for his YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/nsz85

See All Nate Schultz (nsz85) Articles

Comments

  1. Avatar for Nate Schultz (nsz85)TimCoriell says

    July 17, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    Appreciate the series, looking forward to seeing the rest.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Nate Schultz (nsz85)Nate Schultz says

      July 18, 2013 at 5:46 pm

      TimCoriell Thank you, Tim. I hope you are finding it helpful thus far 🙂

      Reply
      • Avatar for Nate Schultz (nsz85)TimCoriell says

        July 18, 2013 at 7:41 pm

        Nate Schultz TimCoriell   Definitely!  I’ve shot M-16s/AR-15s but never put one together myself.  I bought a polymer lower and will be tackling this soon.  Great timing!

        Reply
  2. Avatar for Nate Schultz (nsz85)ecs5298 says

    July 17, 2013 at 9:41 pm

    Video really helped clear a couple things up for me.  Now all that’s left is to be able to find all the parts!  Can’t wait for the next installment!

    Reply
    • Avatar for Nate Schultz (nsz85)Nate Schultz says

      July 18, 2013 at 5:47 pm

      ecs5298 Great! I am glad you found it helpful. Finding all the parts can be an exhausting task, but keep searching online and you will find them 🙂

      Reply
      • Avatar for Nate Schultz (nsz85)ecs5298 says

        July 18, 2013 at 6:03 pm

        Excellent info at AR15.com regarding where to by parts. The have a whole forum dedicated to who has what in stock. Really close to pulling the trigger on a Spikes Punisher stripped lower for $105.

        Reply
  3. Avatar for Nate Schultz (nsz85)gregd268 says

    February 14, 2015 at 1:00 am

    Thanks for the video! Very instructive and very clear! Again thanks!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

In Case You Missed It

Best .357 Revolvers Featured
Handguns

The Top 8 Best .357 Revolvers in 2021

March 2, 2021

Best Grendel Barrels Featured
AR-15

6 Best 6.5 Grendel Barrels – 2021 Review

March 2, 2021

Best Beginner Revolvers Featured
Handguns

5 Best Beginner Revolvers – 2021 Review

March 2, 2021

Best 6.5 Grendel Uppers For Your Next Build Featured
AR-15

5 Best 6.5 Grendel Uppers For Your Next Build

March 2, 2021

© Copyright 2021 Thearmsguide · All Rights Reserved.

  • Contact Us
  • Comms Check
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.