I’m looking to break down my AR15, although I have most of the tools required, but, I’m thinking that I need a specific AR TT punch/tool to take out the takedown pins to take upper receiver off of the lower receiver. Any suggestions on what will work other than a specific AR TT tool?
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Are you trying to fully disassemble the rifle or just break it down for cleaning?
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Im not breaking it down entirely, Im just looking to take the upper receiver off to have something changed on the barrel. The business im having it done at just needs me to give them the upper receiver, not the whole rifle.
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An AR TT tool seems like a fancy punch and overkill if you simply want to remove the upper receiver. A good set of punches will do the job. A punch to push out the pivot pin is all that’s needed to separate the upper and lower. If you need to remove the handguards on a traditional AR (i.e., one that has the shell-style handguards), then a special tool might be helpful.
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Thats actually what I was thinking, but wanted to ask anyway. Just need to pop out the two pins, pivot and forward part of lower receiver, so was thinking a simple punch set. Awesome, thank you very much for the info!
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Welcome to the community @Harold75 and @Michael1144
As @Mark697 stated a simple punch will do to get the upper off the lower. I’ve used a small screw driver when I didn’t have a punch handy. Though you risk scuffing up the pin a little doing that.
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Yep, thanks. Yeah, was going to try to stay away from taking a chance on damaging the pins, so that just gives me a good reason to hit the hardware store, lol.
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I must not be understanding the discussion … to separate the upper from the lower I just push the two pins with my finger enough to grab the head of the pin between a thumb nail and finger nail and pull the pins out far enough to remove the upper from the lower.
Skip the 1st minute of this video to get to a visual of what I’m talking about: Basic Disassembly of the AR-15 - YouTube
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I must have the kid’s version of an AR15, but all I ever need are my thumbs. Never needed anything more to pop the pins out removing the upper from the lower, completely.
This is as far as I go for a cleaning after a day at the range!
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I just push the non mushroomed side with my fingers, the pull on the mushroom head side. Not sure if I’m missing something here, but got 7 lowers, 9 uppers and no tools required to separate them. Pix are last to first steps…and no, I don’t need a response from the safety police 
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Yeah I should have clarified. I have one AR that I can do that with my finger. The pins on my other one are stiff and are easier to get off with a little tap by a pointy object.
Was assuming the original poster was having an issue getting them out.
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Dang, that’s the same cleaning I do…some years 
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That’s my weekly ritual, I love the smell of Hoppes in the evening!
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Well, it would seem I must have the kid version also, just used fingers. A couple, actuallt the couole videis I watched, they all usea a takedown tool. Well, thats what i get i guess, but was trting to be careful. Oh well, learn something new every day. Thank you very much for the info, video and pic. Much appreciation to all who responded.
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Imo, that’s a main attraction of the platform. Ease of maintenance and standardized specs…glad you found the “easy button.”
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Welcome
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Welcome If you have a rifle with an accuracy bushing it makes the removal of the pins tougher, this helps a lot
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And for people that don’t know what accuracy bushings are they make the upper and lower receiver tighter so there is no play between them
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Thanks for the info. Already got the pins out, but the information is very much appreciated. Thinking even though i didnt need any tools, more than likeky going to still pick up one of those TT tools and a cheap punch set. Thanks for the good information.
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