Quick Tip: The Right Way To Stake an AR-15 Castle Nut

[@CalebSavant]

LocTite has destroyed more receiver extensions than staking. Change my mind....

[@William_Charles_Baker]

Caleb, I have no desire to change your mind because I'm not an expert. But please tell us how LocTite has destroyed more receiver extensions than staking.

[@johnadams673]

@@William_Charles_Baker because staking has broke zero.

[@shadyp-zv3uf]

is that a SOLGW lower, loving the M16 cut receiver

[@johnadams673]

@@shadyp-zv3uf wut?

[@animalmother556x45]

@@William_Charles_Baker Well, I personally watched someone bend a lower receiver trying to break a Rock River Arms castle nut free that was held with red loctite. RRA was known to do this in the early 2000s, and maybe they still do. If you need a breaker bar to do anything on an AR15, you are doing it wrong.

[@C_oprator89]

Punch starter from harbor freight. No more “missed-stakes” aka mistskes haha I’m here all week folks

[@reaper106]

so my head hurts now xD

[@SoloRenegade]

The best instructional content never makes assumptions about the audience's level of knowledge/understanding, and explains each item, defines all terms, doesn't skip steps or take bits of knowledge along the way for granted. Videos like this are a great help to people and much needed to ensure people are getting the correct reference material.

[@Dan-di9jd]

ok

[@therealone8725]

⁠@@Dan-di9jdok

[@aaronskuse2207]

All this talk of Stake, but not once did I see A1 sauce. What a bunch of culinary savages.

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

A real savage puts steak sauce on steak.

[@yourface3154]

@@Heywoodthepeckerwood I tend to agree, but if A1 is around I'll use it, I could drink that shit.

[@barryd.thomassr.9156]

Ketchup for the win!😂

[@huh0123]

@@Heywoodthepeckerwoodnah bruh, it tastes good in moderation, to accent the flavor, not overwhelm it.

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

@@huh0123 I am willing to bet you’ve never had a properly cooked steak if you believe this.

[@jeffjacobs5537]

SAFETY GLASSES would be highly recommended! 30+ years as a Tool & Die Maker and I can assure you the flying debris in the eyes comes mostly from grinding and pieces coming off of a center punch.

[@tonystreetman8209]

20 years for me in the same trade, and I 100% agree.

[@jeffccr3620]

Wire wheels are no bueno

[@thisissparta8884]

Safety goggles. I have been to the ER twice to get metal removed from my eye. I was wearing glasses one of those times. The debris can and will get around glasses.

[@onpsxmember]

@@thisissparta8884 If I know that the chances are higher than usual that lots of small harmful particles are around working with some tool, I go for goggles that have a rubber lip all around. I currently have some from uvex cause they don't fog up. I gladly sweat a bit for not having someone burn a bit of metal out of my eyeball.

[@CarlPapa88]

​@@thisissparta8884 Face shield & approved glasses the 2nd time it happened from a flap wheel.

[@GickelsGaming]

Legend says that Caleb is still staking his castle nut

[@johnjohnalmand]

Been running an un-staked un-torqued buffer tube for as long as I can remember. I'm glad I found this video 😂. It doesn't take much movement at all to lose that spring and pin for the take down pin retention. If there's even a 1/16 gap ive had that spring fly out.

[@Solly-ow4od]

About 3 to 4 shots with an automatic punch does the trick for me. Thanks Caleb.

[@jairorodriguez8959]

Bought an automatic punch after seeing your comment and works like a charm. No need to put on a vice neither. Thanks!

[@johnnydhillon70]

I'm glad to see you showing people the right way to do it, so many of my friends didn't even know that it needed to be done and the nut came loose at the range! I always carry tools with me just in case of this reason

[@Chewedbacca]

If you tighten your shit down like a man, you don't need to stake.

[@animalmother556x45]

@@Chewedbacca Yes you do. There’s clearly a reason government contract guns are staked (as well as any competent manufacturer)

[@TUKByV1]

What happens when they come loose?

[@animalmother556x45]

@@TUKByV1 The 'best case' would be: your receiver extension is now loose, meaning your stock is also loose and can rotate side to side. The 'worst case' would be: your receiver extension rotated far enough to allow the rear takedown detent and spring to leave the gun, meaning there is now nothing holding the rear takedown pin in place, so it could walk itself out and your upper and lower are no longer held together in the rear.

[@johnnydhillon70]

@@TUKByV1 my friends stock twisted to almost 45 degrees while he was shooting at the range

[@michaelshanahan4965]

I’ve been watching Brownells videos for years, always really good and this kid keeps getting better.

[@calvins4084]

Bought the exact tool you guys said to buy, did exactly what you said and it ended up cracking my end plate. Magpul endplate. Edit: It was because I started the punch process too close to the middle of the end plate I would definitely do a closer to 1/3 to a 1/4 from the side, worked night and day better for me and got a perfect stake. super easy.

[@jcbbb]

Bit of common sense aint it

[@JLR77]

Ive assembled hundreds of lowers and I use a center punch. It works well and you dont have to worry about hitting yourself with the hammer! 😅

[@Dan-di9jd]

It's also pretty good at punching some of the pins in without using a hammer.

[@skyraider2021]

Would be nice to see you show the best way to remove a staked part, ie: gas key, buffer tube nut, etc.

[@ArgolasBowmaster]

I second that because something tells me the method I use isn't great if you're looking to reuse parts...thankfully I always end up swapping the standard plate for a qd mount so theres that I guess lol

[@joshuajohnson6018]

just try to push the metal out of the slot and break the castle nut free, but sometimes it might be really stubborn, plan on at least losing your backplate. I like to use a spare brass drift punch to turn the castle nut or a spanner wrench

[@joshuajohnson6018]

@@ArgolasBowmaster just try to push the metal out of the slot and break the castle nut free, but sometimes it might be really stubborn, plan on at least losing your backplate. I like to use a spare brass drift punch to turn the castle nut or a spanner wrench

[@ArgolasBowmaster]

@@joshuajohnson6018 i always wind up replacing it anyways. I was just hoping to find a way to maybe salvage it

[@DieselRamcharger]

with a wrench

[@kauboy9816]

For recent "reasons", I had to do an extension swap on my AR pistol, which I had staked in exactly this fashion. A good armorer's tool and some leverage will still undo the work, so don't worry about this making anything too permanent. Staking the castle nut is always advised. That said, I suspect future court rulings to negate recent events, and I chose to not re-stake the nut upon reinstallation in anticipation of doing this work again sometime soon. If/when a final install is made, it will be staked again exactly as Caleb shows here, as this is the only good method I've seen.

[@jdogi1]

I hope you're right about undoing recent events. The courts always seem able to surprise me with their lack of haste.

[@yzrippin]

Lol this douchebag is compliant

[@kauboy9816]

@@yzrippin You seem well adjusted...

[@sixoffive]

Is this a “To Whom It My Concern” statement in which you are making a legal declaration and notification regarding the alteration of and function of said castle nut? Response is not required, thumbs up indicates yes. I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice. You are solely responsible for your actions and outcomes of those actions. Best regards.

[@kauboy9816]

@@sixoffive No, staking a castle nut has nothing to do with legality in any way. I provided backstory for why I recently encountered a staked castle nut. Readers are free to disregard the backstory entirely. But stake your castle nuts, people.

[@survivetheattack]

Good job! I do two stakes, as per mil-spec. The reason my fellow builders commenting here haven't had an unstaked castle nut back out on them "ever" is because those rifles have never been in the hands of an infantryman for a 12mo combat tour. Range and home defense guns don't need staking. Militia, military and law enforcement rifles need to be staked. Only time I've ever removed a buffer tube is to install one folding stock adaptor, and I was able to crank the staked castle nut off, no problem (replacing it with a new one, so I could re-stake.) 👊🏼🇺🇲👊🏼

[@Moppup]

I’ve dropped, smashed and dinged my rifle on more things than I can count. She took a beating for sure.

[@pache2112]

Grunt-proofing

[@zionscreations]

Thank you! New to building and your channel is a life saver 🙌

[@BootStrapTurnerVideography]

Caleb, always appreciate your expert demonstrations.

[@ShooterMcGottem]

Own 10 ARs i have built myself of various calibers from 556 to 308 and built dozens of other rifles and never staked a castle nut. Never had one come loose either.

[@oneofthoseguys2019]

Drop it on the buttock

[@gierhedd75]

Same. But still a good tip for the toolbox, I guess.

[@ShooterMcGottem]

@@gierhedd75 true.

[@jimjab3631]

Me either, but if you're out and about, you'll be miserable with it loose. Only takes a sec.

[@NoNameTesla]

Probably don’t shoot enough

[@jessecaldwell6776]

Just want to say thank you ! Love the spread of knowledge

[@bigevlwhtman2967]

The Bob Ross of staking ar's

[@Fly4aWhiteGuy]

He would just make those mistakes into trees.

[@Fister_of_Muppets]

In my experience, a random "MILSPEC" LPK usually has a butt-plate that is easily workable with a good angled punch. However, I swapped in one of those Magpul QD butt-plates, and that was considerably harder steel to move. Using a good quality hard punch is key. If you don't have one, get one.

[@grahamhawes7089]

Going to do this for an old lower I never bothered to stake. Also, love you guys - I called the tech line with a very specific question about installing a muzzle device on my BRN-180S, and got someone helpful in like 5 minutes. Thanks for providing that service.

[@acat6000]

Make sure you torque it down good beforehand👍

[@John_D67]

Excellent instructions as always. Made the task a breeze. Went for two, came out perfect. 👍🏻

[@fredstevens129]

This is a great video and the host is excellent.

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

I stalked mine twice. After watching how little it took to break loose a stake even after being properly staked. I used one of my smaller masons chisels and hammer. The many coats of paint help hold mine too. lol.

[@garyh9039]

My first build I used a Primary Weapons System ratcheting castle nut. No staking needed. My second build, which I just completed, I used the standard castle nut. I have not staked it yet, but after watching the video I think I will go back and do it.

[@gunnshotts9892]

Do your self a favor and throw that silly "ratcheting castle nut" away. You'll thank me later.

[@bonvivant869]

Thank you! I never knew about staking a castle nut and always wondered why mine worked loose. Just staked my SBR build.

[@dfabove9108]

I love your delivery ! Have a Blessed Day !

[@Tula1940_LB]

I just find it funny how there's so much drama over this. Meanwhile there's people building AKs off of flats they have to heat treat themselves.

[@spookyindeed]

Reject modernity. Return to monke

[@ThePatriotParadox]

Steel sheets, heat treat and then fold and press rivets???

[@Samos900]

I’m sure there are plenty of people getting into snobby arguments over the AK. Perhaps something about clone correct or properly milled parts

[@jhutch1470]

@@Samos900 Hey hey hey. Whoa whoa whoa. Just kidding.

[@davidgearardo1788]

that’s a fact I’ve put together 5 from start to finish and seriously any one can do this. literally anyone. you don’t even need many tools. yet some people just don’t have the confidence to put them together themselves.

[@G2niverse]

Spring loaded center punches work even better. Don't need a vise, can do it right on the workbench.

[@IRISHERETIC]

These are guys that keep me from going to ranges. "There's only my way of doing things or you'll get made fun of".

[@KeepTheGates]

Because there is only one way, and you deserve to be made fun of if you aren't staking your castle nut.

[@IRISHERETIC]

@@KeepTheGates I rest my case

[@josephnevil8476]

Just did a build for a customer with a .300 BlkOut Roscoe Barrel and with that Dimple installation was a breeze!! 😎

[@MrMech-oj7iy]

I have never staked a castle nut. Never had an issue. I like easier disassembly for swapping out parts.

[@JenkinsStevenD]

???? Spend a lot of time swapping out buffer tubes? You guys....so funny. I've NEVER swapped out a buffer tube. If you swap it out....99% chance you are swapping it out with an IDENTICAL part. There really isn't a good reason to not stake it. It isn't "permanent", it is more secure, and you are likely never going to replace it anyway.

[@choke666]

​@JenkinsStevenD yeah? I've seen both way's work. I've made both choices for different reasons over the yrs. I'd guess it comes down to personal preference.🤔 Caleb here was teaching the proper way to stake IF YOU CHOOSE TO.😉🫡💥💥💥

[@JenkinsStevenD]

@@choke666 My comment was advocating for staking. The Internet these days....

[@rifleshooterchannel208]

Spend more time shooting and less time playing fashionable parts swapping and you will see the benefit of staking the endplate.

[@jcbbb]

@@rifleshooterchannel208 truth right here

[@eddiexoc8430]

Straightforward explanation. Thank you.

[@michaelj1098]

I like to use those "self hammering" center punches. Seems like it puts less stress on the lower reciever but still moves metal great! No vice block necessary with those type punches either...

[@tmaddrummer]

Greatly appreciate it Brownells and Caleb. Thanks and Blessings!

[@Pewpew45]

Always watch these guys when I need help. Great videos!

[@ChrisHirner]

I picked up an automatic punch that does a darn good job. It takes about 15 strikes but it looks factory clean.

[@Planeiron]

I ground down a nail set and made a nice lookin stake with eggs n toast...Great Vid 👍👍👍👍🎯🎯🎯🎯

[@Fly4aWhiteGuy]

Plenty of iron.

[@robertowens2142]

I just subscribed to your channel today. I like that your videos are short and to the point, when I watch KZbin I'm not looking for a documentary. Keep up the good work 👍

[@William_Charles_Baker]

First, I have nothing against staking a castle nut. But as others have mentioned, I take things apart often and like to be able to easily disassemble. So I use blue Loctite, which Caleb says never to do, and it works just fine for me.

[@foxsquirrel3038]

Amen brother. Works fine and holds for more rounds than one can afford

[@paullinkins8121]

Ditto. And if that nut comes loose with a collapsible stock you'll know it before it induces a failure during firing.

[@themdrnsamurai]

Agreed... a small drop of blue works fine, holds up well and with a little heat can I have never had a problem with removal.

[@MichaelAMyers1957]

​@@themdrnsamuraiI've never once had to use heat to get something off that's had blue used. Blue isn't permanent, it's not supposed to need heat.

[@americanmilitiaman88]

I use the automotive spring loaded center punch purchased from the harbor freight no hammer needed just press it striaght down then tilt it and press down a few more times to move material into the notch. No vice needed. Professional staking every time. Think its not needed think again. Prior to our Afghan deployment my buddy wanted to put a qd end plate on his M4. The gunners mates put it on but did not stake it as they were going to take it off after. Halfway through the castle nut came loose. Luckily at a time when it was not critical but could of very well happened at the wrong time

[@monsterman2u]

Good video...I have a 2X4 wood stand with a plastic conduit ring attached to the top of it. It's cut to the right height to the level of my vice and bench block. It slides over the buffer tube and stands on the bench to support the rear of the buffer to take out the wobble from the bench block while staking the castle nut. Cause I'm always nervous of damaging or deforming the lower receiver in any way. 😊

[@dougsnavely847]

If I'm understanding your description, that really makes sense...if you're bored, I love a picture of that 2x4 wood stand.

[@edfarler1109]

I appreciate your build videos, they're my go to when I have a question

[@JerrBearTactical]

I use a Starrett Steel Automatic Center Punch on every build I've ever done. It does a much better job moving the metal IMO and have been complimented by many gunsmiths and armors for having perfectly staked castle nuts. Mine look just as good as yours😉👊👍🇺🇸

[@theericslagle]

Which diameter? I see a few on Amazon.

[@andrewxyz24]

size?

[@jocool562]

That just for marking metal for your drill bit pilot. Recommended by AVE, use the auto center punch to accurately make your mark, then follow up with a big beefy hammer and normal center punch. If you give it one solid hit, it shouldn't move from that previous mark

[@max796428]

Best video on the subject right here.

[@timrobinson6573]

I use a nail set and I filed the tip to be same as a staking tool. The only downside is that ever since Caleb said to stop doing that my AR's explode when I try to stake it. Thanks alot Caleb.

[@trailertrashtactics]

God samn that's a beautiful stake. I was making the mistake of going at an angle and botched a couple. Makes perfect sense about the path of least resistance

[@IonLok]

Oh yeah 🤔I can use a nail or a deck screw, it's very sharp tip. Thanks for the tip man. To bad Brownells don't sell any nails. I'm gonna use a wood block to place directly underneath the castle nut so there's no bounce. 😮

[@ArturBruch33]

Caleb is the man.

[@bw33511]

I am in the process of learning how to assemble my first AR. This is a great piece of info that I will definantly use. Appreciate the video, Thanks.

[@JimNobles-gv4ky]

My first time. Very informative and useful:)

[@justanotherinternetexpert7743]

3:10 So what EXACTLY is the difference between a nail punch and a Staking tool, other than the fact that Brownels gets an extra $10 bucks from me for buying a tool I already own?

[@funnylandproductions]

I didnt even know this was a thing but its extremely useful, thank you!

[@ilikedirtx22]

I stake all castle nuts. However, I do not stake them when the lower is in the vise. I lay the installed castle nut/endplate assembly on a piece of wood on the floor and hit with a Starrett 117C. I lay on the piece of wood as to not put loads of torque on the receiver. Some end plates are strong and you have to whack it pretty hard

[@beminsterify]

When he says that his way is the correct way, I believe him.

[@deaneliot8230]

Thank you Caleb, now I know the correct way to stake a castle nut.

[@ryanlukens9280]

you mentioned a vice block that holds the receiver extension. I found a decent one on Etsy for under 15 clams. Makes torquing the castle nut less stressful for.

[@chad9166]

Did Steve do that first stake job? 👀

[@BenRivered]

Thanks for all the education Caleb!!

[@bertfriedman]

I like to use a 4x4 from table to under extension to take pressure off the Lower Rcvr. That way you have less strikes also.

[@stevehastey2886]

My favorite video ever. I asked my coworker gunsmith to stake my un- stakable and he laughed. Sometimes gunsmith can just be you know like whatever other times they're completely right.

[@94twentytwo76]

Excellent video! 👍🏻

[@schutendohkji548]

A punch can also b used to loosen that lock nut too where the castle dimples are at.

[@mrshort2379]

what is wrong with firearms community is, when it come to building firearms, like Caleb, people should be "helping each other" instead of insulting someone for doing something incorrectly.

[@mikefields1776]

Or you could just find another hobby community that panders to your delicate sensibilities. 😆

[@PeculiarTendencies]

@Mike Fields It's people like you that have isolated and misled youth away from misunderstanding firearms. We wonder why youth are against firearms.

[@KeepTheGates]

They are helping by making videos like this. Anyone with a 3 digit IQ tells everyone to stake their castle nut. If people choose to do things the wrong way and keep being ignorant, they deserve to be made fun of.

[@handlesaredumb1]

​@mikefields1776 Based on your profile pic, you are unhealthily overweight and need to eat/exercise correctly. You're doing it wrong tubs.

[@halfinchholes88]

Again, the AR platform? Here we go, now we're beating metal into a groove on a castle nut, just to stake parts from coming loose? Last time I did this, was replacing the wheel bearings on my truck. Keep in mind, all this hammering/center punching to tame a .223, maybe a .308 cartridge? Funny, I've never had to 'move metal into a castle nut' on any of my many rifles. Just sayin', maybe a detent design for the castle nut?

[@99taws6]

My automatic center punch works perfectly for this. I can click it once, then move it to a slight angle and 1 or 2 more times it pushes the material where I need to be. No hammer needed.

[@kansasgardener5844]

Automatic punch, no hammer needed. 👍

[@alexmason1387]

Until it slips and scratches the customers parts

[@vuduong173]

My cousin certainly angered our local gun shop, but it was not his fault... apparently BCM staked at 4 places for the one my cousin bought, and our local gun store had to use a torch to get that thing out LMAO

[@calebdoner]

Thank you!!!! I wish you had this video out two years ago when I thought it was a great idea to loctite my castle nut.

[@jhutch1470]

You did fine. Staking is 1960's stuff. Things do progress. Loctite works.

[@Rockhurst22]

Good point, how do you remove a staked castle nut?

[@ryanthorne5432]

You can move some of the metal in the castle nut notches out with a punch to make getting the nut off easier.

[@spookyindeed]

Even with a very good stake, you can still just take it off with a wrench; the metal of the backplate is very soft and will just bend out of the way.

[@kevinroberts781]

I never stake them. Never had one come loose

[@TacticalBuffoonary]

Me either’ I do check them every once in a while during cleaning and never found one loose. Im not in combat and I don’t larp in the desert. 😂

[@dv7768]

Even the M4's and A2's we had I do not recall seeing a stake. A Buddy of mine was a company armorer and he never talked about having to stake. Maybe I was a sleep during the countless hours of clean my weapons...

[@bigmikestan]

Thread locker is all u need i would think

[@KeepTheGates]

You've never had one come loose because your guns live in the safe. They're designed to be staked.

[@kevinroberts781]

@@KeepTheGates actually my AR stays by my side. I don't even own a safe.

[@herknorth8691]

I've helped several people do builds or modifications and they're always horrified that I suggest staking the castle nut. "You want to dent my gun?!" It's really bizarre. One thing I've started doing is bringing a black paint pen with me and after staking I blacken the bare metal. It seems to sooth the gun's owner if the stake is somewhat concealed with a bit of paint.

[@NA-ck6cz]

I've found that staking with a regular flat punch straight down with a single solid whack leaves a nice pretty black half cirlce. No marker needed

[@GrippinTheGauge206]

“Why would you stake it, it’s not goin anywhere”

[@EnergizerTX]

What is the recommended way to removed a staked castle nut? Also, is it really necessary if tightened? And why is loctite not recommended? I think my colt A1 tube was fully loctited onto the receiver.

[@randyc5650]

Thanks, Caleb. I would also like to see the correct way to remove a staked object. Just wrench on it till it gives? Thans has been my method in the past but I would like to know if there is something better.

[@CalebSavant]

Yeah, just unscrew it like normal. It takes a bit more torque but it will break the stake without breaking anything else.

[@strangebrew2853]

🤪🤪 glad i saw this video. I was about to use lock tight 🤣🤣 it's my first build..

[@terry5008]

I tried doing that with a Magpul back plate and the back plate metal was harder than the punch. So I've never staked a buffer castle nut and I've never had one come loose. I just torque them down to MMF! ft-lbs. No stake, Loctite, or welding.

[@LuvBorderCollies]

I got into the AR15 world in the ancient days of 1977, with tubs of parts/accessories from constant swapping & experimenting on many lowers. I've never staked a castle nut and never had one come loose. For collapsing stock tubes I face the notches THE WRONG WAY...!! I didn't like snagging my skin on the notches plus the notches facing the receiver add a little bite to stay. I don't understand all the angst over this. Use some muscle. This is not rocket science.

[@matthewtE]

I usually use those rubber-toothed cannon plug pliers to avoid scratching parts. I wonder if it'll work with unscrewing that nut? 🤔

[@Taters-lg7yx]

@brownells, funny was just in your shop looking for a new punch, one of your older employees told me, I don’t do that, I just use loctite 😂

[@KeepTheGates]

That employee is an idiot

[@gusm2752]

What’s your opinion on the ratchet style castle nut. ? I’ve used them on my ARs to avoid having to stake. Seem to be ok.

[@Splattertube]

I used the same on mine, just because. So far, so good. I have backup, standard castle nuts, just-in-case.

[@Havdollarwillbrawl]

The ratcheting style castle nut seems fine to me,I wanted to test these on something short too see if it’ll hold,so I threw them on a couple of 10.5s and a couple of 14.7s and they’ve been doing great still no slippage and they have been ranned in some weird environments so yes they are great

[@gusm2752]

@@Havdollarwillbrawl Thanks sir. No issues on mine so far. I have them on 3 but not a lot of rounds yet 🇺🇸

[@KeepTheGates]

They're garbage.

[@ray32245mv]

Well... I put a Magpul ASAP Ambi Sling Mount back there and... I wrecked it. Used a centerpunch, and I've staked a lot of stuff in the automotive world with no problems, but OMG; I've got a piece of metal hanging off into the notch on the castle nut, but it ain't worth sh- , the nut/tube can still turn.. I mean, as long as I don't let the tube make full a rotation I guess it's ok? I've been shooting it like this, seems ok. I dunno.. I should've watched this vid first I guess, but you did what I did, and what I've always done. I'm not sure what went wrong, honestly.

[@20020x]

Where can I find Caleb's credentials? Just want to know the background of his expertise. Thanks

[@Ecosse57]

an official bio would be cool but i'm pretty sure he's mentioned in a video that he worked as an armorer in the military. hope someone can chime in.

[@s0nnyburnett]

He killed fitty men in Korea, that's all you need to know.

[@ClayGravil]

COME AND STAKE IT CALEB!

[@JohnDoeEagle1]

I have a oak dowel rod I slide in the buffer tube for support and lay the receiver down flat on my lap and leg. Whacking on it as shown made me cringe because that's a lot of unnecessary force torquing on it. I start in the middle of the end plate with a automatic center punch to get it started and going. I then move to a carbide center punch and do some light taps with a hammer to open it up displacing more steel into the slot. I have another carbide center punch that I custom modified carefully on a belt sander chucked into a drill. You have to go slow a little at a time and keep quenching in water so you don't turn it blue/purple and remove the hardness. It's ground into a dome or rounded cup shape after you are done. A few taps with that and it is a perfectly round hole that looks like it was machined with a ball end mill. After I get it looking the way I want I use some de-greaser either alcohol or Gun Scrubber and clean the area before I touch it up with some cold bluing on a Q-Tip. I then wipe off the excess and apply some CLP or gun oil to neutralize the cold bluing and protect it. Mine look better than most factory jobs and hold as well or better.

[@chipcook6646]

Very well done besides some of these stupid comments. People get a life. He was showing you how with less tools. I have not seen your videos. Monday quarterback is all you are.

[@rickypickles2219]

Ive staked a few....honestly a big fan of the lantac RPS now...never had any issues. better than the PWS

[@saltyturtle1051]

During my time, I have never staked one of these but I might start now…

[@Airsoftforall]

My rifle has never been staked since 93. It's still tight and secure. I'm guessing this is user optional?

[@JohnDoeEagle1]

I'm from the same era in the 80s and 90s. Back then many weren't staked and were traditional A1/A2 configuration rifles. Us guys who had ARs and AKs back then were very very serious "gun guys" (no ladies). It wasn't for hunting and it wasn't for target shooting. It was the ultimate self defense battle/combat rifle when the handguns weren't making it and aren't enough. After 2005 or so now everybody has one, even soccer moms, which kind of takes away from the allure of the whole thing. The rifles of today look nothing like a M16/AR15 and are Frankenstein custom builds usually. I still regularly grab and prefer my older rifles to my new ones. I know how to shoot properly with irons and forgo the red dot optic a great deal of the time as well. The same can't be said about our modern counterparts. Take away the red dot and they can't hit the broadside of a barn with the thing.

[@Thirsty_Tree]

Why not just use blue loctite..? Too many times have I dealt with terrible staking jobs or too many stakes in the castle nut that when a lower needs to be serviced, it's such a pain to get around. I've never seen an issue using a little blue thread locker to get the job done where it's still servicable.

[@JimYeats]

Totally fine too. Nothing bad will happen and it will work great. Threadlockers weren’t readily available or very good when the “mil-spec” was created.

[@foxsquirrel3038]

Blue loctite works great! Holds for more rounds than one can afford and comes apart just fine.

[@CalebSavant]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYeng2B3p9qtg7M thats why.

[@BlazingGex]

Nail punch, do you mean like a center punch? I love using my center punch for this.

[@adamb2619]

Great video! But how do you unstake that to change buffer tubes?

[@JRTRAPP1]

A wrench will apply enough torque to spin the nut off. Not really a big deal.

[@JimYeats]

Comes off easier than blue loctite.

[@adamb2619]

Thanks! I hadn’t realized it was rather easy to unstakr

[@charleswilson577]

Coming from Brownell a decent close up would be nice.

[@vaqueroaleman]

My question is: How do you keep the buffer tube from twisting while torquing the castle nut?

[@marshallfelter2414]

Built an entire AR in the amount of time this guy took to stake the castle nut 😂

[@brownells]

Things take a bit longer when we take our time to explain things, but that's to be expected.

[@gunnshotts9892]

Dude. This "guy" has probably forgotten more about building and maintaining firearms than you'll ever dream to know. And he does it without a single hair EVER moving from its place. The gel game is strong with Caleb.

[@benthayer6557]

This video was information gold and the comments were platinum. Seems I should not have used blue loctite on my romeo7

[@darkrai9671]

Hi! I’m curious, would it work fine if I just used a very small amount on the buffer tube threads, as well as the castle nut threads? Or would that be prone to friction welding from all the movement and energy transferred through the firearm

[@actionjksn]

Why is it bad to use thread locker? I am planning on upgrading my buffer and tube with an expensive one so I didn't stake it yet, it's really the only cheap part on this build. I did use some thread locker and nothing bad has happened yet. I'm sure it will be easier to remove than a staked castle nut.

[@sydecarnutz972]

There is nothing wrong with blue or green Loctite in this application. I prefer green as it penetrates and is applied after tightening the nut. It gums it up nicely after penetrating and you can still apply your wrench later to remove it if needed. Good for scope mount fasteners too. That piece stays at ambient temperature, so it is a fine application for it. If anyone can explain WHY it's a bad idea with real engineering terms, I'd be happy to listen and learn. But don't just start ranting about words like "proper" and that all the operator guys on the forum said so. That is religious belief, vice engineering. ;-)

[@AppleJack76]

From a long automotive background, I've never had a thread locked fastener come loose, even on an old Harley Davidson. Caleb maybe a "good" gun smith, but he isn't an engineer. I have attended presentations from engineers at Henkel and heard the science of how thread lockers work and their vast applications. "Staking" was used in the 1960's because the chemical science of thread lockers wasn't readily available to military armorers. My personal choice is blue for non permanent applications. Red is for permanent. Most greens is for bearing/bushing retainment, not threads (some are made for threads when you need to seal the threads from a fluid.)

[@actionjksn]

@@AppleJack76 Yeah notice he didn't explain the technical reason why you should never apply thread locker to the buffer tube. The key to making thread locker work most effectively is to clean and degrease the threads on both pieces. Acetone or brake cleaner both work really well. The better the product sticks the better it will hold so having it clean really helps. I still believe staking properly is going to be the most effective if you are not planning to upgrade later. Or maybe blue loctite and one light staking. If I'm going to war with that thing then I would be staking the shit out of it honestly. Since I'm not going to war I'm not that worried about it but I still want it securely attached.

[@JimYeats]

Totally fine to use blue threadlocker. Staking is just the military “spec”. It’s difficult for some folks to realize that in the 20, 30, 40, 50+ years the AR platform has been used there might be a few new areas where deviating from mil spec is ok.

[@KeepTheGates]

It won't be easier to remove, it's weaker than staking, and you've done nothing other than secure the nut to the tube. Staking locks the receiver to the extension.

[@disturbedmaynard3873]

Now that you showed the proper way to stake the castle nut, now you will have to show the process for removing that castle nut. I am guessing more ARs have been damaged trying to remove a staked nut than staking one.

[@JimYeats]

They come off easier than blue Loctite. Promise. That tiny bit of metal just slides out of the way if you need to remove it.

[@brownells]

They come off just fine but require a bit more torque. LocTite has destroyed far more receiver extensions than staking.

[@AlphaMachina]

I use an automatic punch to make sure I'm in the exact spot I want to be in to move just the right amount of metal (using the hammer punch on the first go can be a lot less accurate), and then I come back with the hammer punch and move it the rest of the way. This just starts you at a perfect location.

[@Whiskey.Tango.Actual]

I just use a mix of 1:1:1 red locktite, vibratite, and rockset. Never staked one and had it come loose.

[@gg9xfrx4m30]

What if you need to remove it?

[@Whiskey.Tango.Actual]

@@gg9xfrx4m30 my comment was satire. 😁

[@CalebSavant]

I got it lol

[@gg9xfrx4m30]

@@Whiskey.Tango.Actual Sorry, I'm a dum dum lmao

[@Whiskey.Tango.Actual]

@@gg9xfrx4m30 hahaha no you're not. Be kind to yourself. Cheers man!