Wednesday, March 18, 2009

AGI Technical Manual & Armorer's Course for the AR15

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

You know, they say that the best investment you can make, is one that you make in yourself. And in these uncertain times, it is absolutely more true than ever. With the investment that many of us have made in our firearms, don't you think that knowledge is cheap insurance? With AGI you get to invest in your skills and education at very reasonable prices. These are home education courses that have a real practical value.

When I received AGI's AR15 Technical Manual & Armorer's Course, I eagerly tore the plastic off the DVD case and popped the disc in my computer. I have been looking forward to the opportunity to view American Gunsmith Institute material for a very long time, and when the opportunity to do so came, I jumped at it.

After spending ten minutes trying to get Windows Media Player to work right, I finally got to watch the DVD. Windows... Sheeeesh...

First things first, the DVD is digitally remastered from VCR tapes. So you will find that the weapons themselves are a little dated. You won't find rails or lasers and lights on these tutorials. But other than stylistic changes to the AR15/ M16, there are no functional or mechanical differences between an A1 and M4. Bob Dunlap gives a very detailed and educational lecture along with a demonstration of working with and gunsmithing the AR platform. Bob is a down to earth type of narrator and instructor, so you won't get bogged down with jargon and technical discussions.


The course is divided into:
  • History of the AR15: Bob delves into the history of the AR15, Armalite and Eugene Stoner.
  • Design and functions: Bob displays and explains how all the inner workings operate both individually and in concert with others.
  • Complete disassembly and reassembly: Bob tales us through a complete disassembly, from the bolt and gas tube, to the very last pin.
  • Proper cleaning and lubrication: AGI's own cleaning method is used and explained. Don't worry, it's not proprietary and I will be writing a post specific to their method, with a comparison to traditional methods.
  • Trouble shooting and repair: Bob covers all the usual suspects, and a few you might not be aware of.
  • Tuning Tips: Magazines, ramps, and barrels, extractors and ejectors; tips that you can use and perform easily.

Even if you are intimately familiar with the AR15 or the M4, an astute observer will pick up enough information to make his next AR that much more reliable and accurate. Those of you that follow the tactical trends will find plenty of tips and tricks applicable to your latest Hi Speed wonder gun.

The beauty of the DVD type courses is that you can refer back to a section with nothing more than a click of the mouse or remote control. Need to see how the bolt is assembled? Just go to that section and play it again. Forgot which spring went where? Check the included schematics.

AGI has their Bulletproof Guarantee:

All of AGI's courses are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with any AGI video or product purchased directly from AGI, you may return it up to 90 days from the purchase date for a full refund (less shipping). The only question we will ask is "How did we fail you?"

How can you beat that?

I was pretty impressed with AGI's Technical Manual & Armorer's Course, I learned quite a bit, to the point were I feel confident that I could take a box of parts, and put together a fully functional AR. I would rate this course a solid, definite buy for any AR owner.


And remember, it's made right here in the United States of America!

AGI

AGI Technical Manual and Armorer's Course AR-15
MSRP: $39.95

This review is also available at The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles AGI Armorer's Course

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some of these items that we receive from companies can be very informative. I personally like it when the give you a demo cd. You can always go back more often to help remember important items.

Gun Slinger said...

This is more than a demo, it covers the disassembly and reassembly, and other gunsmithing stuff. I am definitely going to get it.

Thanks,
GunSlinger