I was upgrading a few things on my lower this weekend and I accidently tipped the lower over and some sort of a detent came out. It's plastic and kind of thick. Now one of my takedown pins came completely out and the pin fits pretty loose. Should I assume that the detent goes into the hole where the takedown pin goes in and out? If that's where it goes are there any ideas on how to put it back in? Sorry for no pics. Late night, frustrated and tired.

Were you putting a new grip on at the time? Did a spring come out too?

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LE6920 M&P 15-22 M&P 9 10-22TD

that is the takedown detent. like cxwrench said, you gotta look for the spring that goes with it.

There are two springs and detents under the grip. The front one is the safety selector detent and spring. The rear is the one that fell out on you.

When you put it back in, put your takedown pin in with the groove facing down. Insert the pointy end of the detent in the hole first. Follow that with the spring. It won't work if you can't find it. Not sure if the AR springs are the same length or not.

Take a look at these

Wheaton Arms 15 22 upgrade installation - YouTube

M&P 15-22 Instructional Video Series

Grip replacement

I think everyone does that at least once. Welcome to the club.

I haven't done that but did one better. While removing the pin from the 10 round long magazine, I completely lost track of what I was doing. So I simply slid the base plate off without thinking, and thank God that huge spring didn't take off my face as it flew past. I was doing this in my warehouse & later found the spring 50 feet away.

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FIDELITAS ET FORTITUDO

I've got 2 springs. The one that I got with the ambi safety and the other one. The other one is really tiny. I took the Hogue grip off to do the ambi safety of course. The really tiny spring is what I put into the grip. Any pics on how to put the detent and spring in would be great as I'm quite foggy in the head today.

Am pleased you guys are doing such a great job talking through and posting VT on this topic.

Will be doing my own grip change shortly so lots of tips to be picked up. Thank you.

After that, maybe ambi safety swap out!!!

I might even eventually get it finished. Can't wait, only thing to buy then will be ammo. Lots and lots of ammo.

Until next upgrade or switcheroo comes along.

Keep up the good stuff!!!

Rob (Mark)

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Utrinque Paratus

Pics or video??

You not play the video above? SimpleWeaponSolutions posted it for you.

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FIDELITAS ET FORTITUDO

Wheaton Arms?

Did you play the video? Yes...that one.

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FIDELITAS ET FORTITUDO

Yes. Back to taking the grip off and messing with those dang springs again. Sheesh.

Don't get upset. This is a learning experience. Take the time to learn how all the little parts work together on the AR style of rifle. That is a big part of the fun for me. I am amazed at how much a "normal" person can do without needing a gunsmith.

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FIDELITAS ET FORTITUDO

Yeah I know. So small spring in the rear then drop the black detent if I'm understanding of which I'm probably not. At work while going through the video.

The larger spring with the black plastic detent is for the safety selector. It is installed in the hole closest to the front of the barrel, directly inline with the safety selector. If you are installing the Battle Arms safety then you need to use the metal detent that comes in the kit. The plastic one will not last long.

The smaller spring and brass/gold color detent are installed in the rear hole for the takedown pin.

If you are installing a new grip, it will not have a hole for the take down spring because on the AR15 it is located in the rear of the rifle.

This is pgamboa's picture from the thread I linked to earlier.

Okay tried to install detent and springs. Plastic detent and big spring no problem. Small spring and metal detent big problem. What's the harm in putting the small spring in the hole first THEN the detent versus the detent then spring? I have a Hogue grip and there is no way that spring is going to crunch down enough without breaking it somehow.

If you put the pin in first it works, if you put the spring in first it doesn't.

Springs compress. It's what they were designed to do. It'll be fine.

Not at all. I've put Hogue grips on three 15-22 with no problem with the springs.

And yes, the detent MUST go into the receiver first, then the spring. Otherwise there will be nothing to retain the safety or takedown pin.

I put the spring in first and it works perfectly. Checked the safety and takedown pin and it works. Are there any suggestions to get this small spring to compress enough to put it in the correct way since the Hogue grip I have does not have a hole for the small spring?

Eventually that spring is going to get caught and deform. The detent is there for a reason - to prevent that.

The lack of a hole doesn't matter.
Turn the receiver upside down
insert detent
insert spring
Place grip on the lower
Insert grip bolt
tighten down bolt
The spring will compress as the grim bolt is tightened

It takes longer to describe that to accomplish. Do it right in the first place and save future problems. It's not all that hard.

How do you suggest keeping the spring straight on the flat surface while tightening down the Hogue grip? The detent does not go far enough down to provide a ledge. Is that normal?

Go back and reread my instructions.

Turn the lower receiver upside down.

When you do this, the spring(s) will be upright and stay in place on their own while you lower the grip down on top of them.