I built my own Schmeisser AR15
I am a nerd. I always need to know everything in detail, and I like to immerse myself in a topic or an activity so that I forget everything around me. I am very interested in technology and am a skilled craftswoman. I love working with my hands, creating something, building something. Talking about creating something with my hands… Did you check out my shop yet, where I sell my handmade pottery? Anway. Back to topic: Just shooting guns does not make me happy. I want to know how they work, how they are built, what pieces they are made of. December 13, 2024, I had the opportunity to assemble my own Schmeisser AR-15 at the Swiss Shooting Range and learn more about the technology in a Schmeisser AR-15 and getting to know my own gun better. The Schmeisser AR-15 is a particularly easy-to-handle and lightweight semiautomatic rifle that is rather popular among shooters. Depending on the model, the rifles can be upgraded with various accessories, i.e. red dot sights, weapon lights, match triggers, muzzle brakes, silencers, etc. The participants of the event at the Swiss Shooting Range could select an available Schmeisser AR-15 model in .223 Rem. or 9×19 caliber in advance on the Swiss general importer's website, which we assembled and shot under expert guidance at the Swiss Shooting Range.
The weapons were assembled with the permission of Schmeisser GmbH: Peter Streit Sr. and Peter Streit Jr., the certified Schmeisser experts of the Swiss Shooting Range, accompanied and supervised us participants during the assembly of the AR15 and supported us with their expertise, provided advice and assistance and gave valuable tips on the maintenance and cleaning of the weapon.
Peter Streit jr. at Schmeisser GmbH, Krefeld, Germany
In March 2024, the two Peters visited the Schmeisser GmbH in Krefeld, Germany, where they were trained several days to become certified Schmeisser experts. The company Schmeisser GmbH bears the name of one of the most innovative weapons designers of the 20th century: Hugo Schmeisser, whose weapons technology developments twice fundamentally changed infantry tactics. Founded by Thomas Hoff and Andreas Schumacher, Schmeisser produces, among other, AR15s for the civilian market and fully automatic M16 rifles for the police and military markets in Germany and abroad. Schmeisser GmbH is one of only four licensed NATO and Bundeswehr handgun suppliers. The Swiss Shooting Range appreciates the high quality and robustness of Schmeisser weapons. The AR-15 in .223 caliber with a 10.5-inch barrel is one of the most popular rental weapons at the Swiss Shooting Range. The maintenance and cleaning of these weapons is carried out at the Swiss Shooting Range by Peter Jr. and Peter Sr. Thanks to their training at Schmeisser, they have specialist knowledge of all the weapons and accessories that Schmeisser GmbH develops and sells. During their training at Schmeisser GmbH, they got to know the operational processes, gained interesting and exciting insights into the research and development of Schmeisser weapons and learned how to assemble, maintain, service and properly clean the weapons from the manufacturer and developer himself.
Schmeisser AR15 S4F Black 10.5″ caliber .223 Rem disassembled.
The participants of the Schmeisser event at the Swiss Shooting Range benefited from the extensive expertise of the two Peters and were able to work on their own Schmeisser AR-15 under expert supervision and ask individual questions. Before the assembly of the AR15 began, there were refreshments and a brief introduction to Schmeisser GmbH and its products. Finally, we moved on to the practical part: Each participant had their own workstation, and the necessary tools were provided. The guns were spread out in their individual parts. The experts explained and demonstrated the single working steps by using an example weapon and its individual parts, demonstrating and visually showing what the participants had to do. At the same time, they described how the various parts work. I first assembled the bolt head and then the entire bolt. During the process, I received valuable tips, such as how I can test myself whether the gas rings in the bolt head are correctly positioned and still functional or how the gas pressure can be readjusted.
The two Schmeisser experts showed me how to assemble the upper receiver more easily so that I may clean the gun more efficiently in the future, after shooting it. The experts explained to me which parts of the gun are best cleaned with and which parts should be lubricated and if yes, how much lubricant to use. At the end, each participant received a cleaning kit from Brunox.
The next step was to assemble the lower receiver and trigger. The assembly of the adjustable stock was not easy, but in the end, I successfully managed with some support of the two Schmeisser experts. After the buffer spring and the buffer retaining bolt were fitted, I also installed the trigger, seeing the sophisticated technology that goes into a trigger. Finally, my optics and weapon lights were installed on the M-LOK handguard.
After the work was done, I went downstairs to the shooting range, where I could shoot my new AR15 under the expert guidance of instructor Quirino Fierro. By making a drawing for me, he first explained to me the trajectory of a bullet, which is important for the correct adjustment of the red dot sight. I finally learnet how to adjust the sights correctly. Quirino accompanied me through the process of shooting until all the hits were in place.
At the end, we met again in the restaurant for an aperitif, where the participants had the opportunity to ask the experts questions.
AR15-trigger disassembled.
Thanks to this great event at the Swiss Shooting Range, I now know how to disassemble and reassemble my AR15, how to clean it and how to adjust optics in the future. If I ever have a problem, I can always bring my AR15 to the Swiss Shooting Range to one of the two Schmeisser experts for inspection and maintenance.