I will start this by saying that I am definitely not a gunsmith. I am, like most of you who are reading this, a gun enthusiast. I enjoy shooting firearms and trying out all the different accessories that go with them. I also like to tinker around and figure out how things work mechanically.
In the beginning of my experience with firearms, I relied on armorers and gunsmiths to work on every aspect of my guns. I simply did not have the knowledge base and did not trust myself to do any kind of work whatsoever, fearing that I would permanently damage them and render them unreliable or useless. Firearms, or at least the higher quality ones, are expensive. They are also self-defense tools that you rely on to protect yourself and your loved ones.
I treat most, if not all, of my firearms as tools. Therefore, I don’t get too upset if they get scratched or dinged during use. I know there are gunowners who treat all of their firearms as museum articles and would have a meltdown if their gun’s finish got scratched. That’s definitely not me; I try to run my guns as hard as I can. This gives me the confidence to know that they will work when I need them to.
As my knowledge and experience grew while using firearms, I started to get more comfortable, little by little, with doing some work on my guns. It started with accessories, such as optics, furniture, lights, and sights. I would go to my friends and local gunsmiths to do things that I didn’t have enough experience in and watch them work, and I would ask a lot of questions.
Back then, I didn’t have all the great videos on YouTube that you have today. I also did not have the right tools to do a lot of the specific tasks when it comes to firearms. I would buy a very specific tool at the gun store or online for a certain task that I was planning on doing.
After a few projects, I had a random collection of certain tools that were thrown into a tool bin with no organization whatsoever. The AR15 platform is the one I am most familiar with. I have more AR-15s than any other platform in my collection. There is a very good reason why it is one of the most popular platforms out there and why I have so many. It is very modular, able to fit a multitude of purposes and tasks.
A huge portion of the products I have reviewed over the years are related to the AR15 platform. You can make an AR15 into almost anything to fit your needs, and it’s not very difficult to build one yourself — but it’s exponentially easier when you have the right tools to get the job done. Otherwise, it can be a very frustrating journey.
The Kit
Real Avid is a high-quality manufacturer of tools made specifically for firearms. You can buy their tools separately, or get one of their kits — I specifically requested the Armorer’s Master Kit – AR15.
It has everything you need to build your own AR15. All you need is a work table and a table vise grip, and you are good to go. It has specific tools that will make building your AR15 as easy as possible, less stressful, and help keep your finish intact without marring or scratches. Everything conveniently fits neatly and stays organized in the hard plastic case. The case is flat and has a carrying handle, making it easy to take with you.
I have learned a lot through watching my friends and gunsmiths work on my guns, as well as watching videos on the internet. YouTube has been a great source, though a lot of how-to videos are getting banned.
With all of the trial and error through many projects, I can now build the majority of an AR15 by myself. Before I had this kit, I would have to dig through my bins of tools I’d collected to find the ones I needed for a specific part of the build. When I couldn’t find what I needed, I’d often go buy another one to replace it. It was a very disorganized and frustrating mess.
I’ve built several AR15s with the Real Avid Armorer’s Master Kit, and it made the process a much more pleasant experience — it minimizes the amount of cursing and swearing I’d normally do in the middle of a build. Some parts of the process are tedious, and at certain points it feels like you need three or four sets of hands.
What’s in the Box?
This kit is very thorough and well thought out. In the months I’ve had it, I’ve only used a fraction of the tools inside to get my builds done. The tools are well made, easy to access, and easy to put away. So what’s in the box? In short, a lot. I’ll go over what’s included in sections, based on how they’re organized in the kit.
The kit includes a step-by-step guide for the top 18 AR15 modifications, which is very helpful for most of the tasks that you may have to do on your AR15. I’m starting with the bottom half of the kit and moving from left to right, then moving up to the top half.
Every piece is held in place by the case with tabs. You have to pull each out with a purpose. It’s nice not to have any tools becoming loose and bouncing around, or falling out when you open the kit. Each tool is labeled on the case so it’s easily identified.
Tool-by-Tool Breakdown
Pivot Lock: This will keep the upper in place on a lower receiver or block when there is no pivot pin.
Safety Flag: This is a clear green plastic chamber flag that gathers light into the chamber so you can visually look down the barrel safely to check for any issues.
Smart-Fit Vise Block: Insert this into the magwell of a lower receiver and turn the bottom red dial to the right (clockwise) to expand the tool to grab onto the magwell. Then you can place it into a table vise. Now you have a stable platform to work on your AR15 as it is held in place.
Master Bench Block: This has a slot for every part you would need to safely punch pins through. It is very detailed and tells you which size pin punches to use.
Front Sight Adjuster: This tool has both 4- and 5-prong ends to adjust your front sight and has good knurling in the center for grip.
Pivot Pin Tool: This is by far my favorite tool. I have lost several detents while installing the pivot pin, and this tool makes it very easy to install without any small parts flying off into oblivion. I never found those detents, ever.
Armorer’s Master Wrench: This is a very well thought out multi-tool. It has both Castle Nut and Barrel Nut wrenches and can be used in conjunction with the Torque Wrench to get the correct torque specifications. It also functions as a mallet with two sets of three types (copper, polymer, and rubber) of heads that screw on — one set screws into the grip of the wrench, and another set screws into the case.
Lug-Lok Vise Block: Holds the barrel in place when installing the Barrel Nut.
Torque Wrench: This works in conjunction with the Armorer’s Master Wrench. It has torque specifications for the Muzzle Brake, Castle Nut, and Barrel Nut on the torque gauge.
Handguard Removal Tool: For the removal of A2-style handguards, by holding down the Delta ring on the AR15.
Pin Punch Set: This includes two sets of pin punches that cover every aspect of pin installation and removal on the AR15 platform. Some are cut to give extra room for certain jobs like bolt catch pin installation or removal.
Pick Set: The last set of tools — red polymer picks to assist with holding parts in place or for cleaning.
Final Verdict
Every single piece in this Armorer’s Master Kit is high quality and well thought out. If you own AR15s, this kit is a must-have. It’s a great investment and value, all placed in an organized hard case that is easy to move and transport. It has everything you need to work on your current AR15s and for future builds.
It will save you money and headaches in the long run — it’s honestly easier to have everything in one place than to purchase each piece individually and risk misplacing them.
I highly recommend this kit and all the tools from Real Avid; they are some of the best available. They also have a YouTube channel with step-by-step instructions that are explained well and easy to follow.
