Extra tools do job extra fast.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dear Editor,

We've found adding a few extra tools to our Avenger tool kits can make repair jobs go extra fast.

The drill used for replacing inserts in the Avenger's turret is difficult to get into tight spots, which makes the job sometimes exasperating. So we put together a kit for replacing inserts with these tools:

* Dremel XPR 400 and six 5/16-in drill bits

* Dewalt DW423 random orbital sander and Bosch 1297D palm sander. Both need dust collection pouches so you don't breathe in the dust, which can be hazardous.

* 50-ft extension cord

* 10 sheets of 60- to 80-grit sandpaper

* 15 paper cups and 15 tongue depressors (NSN 6515-00-324-5500 brings 100 depressors for $1.99) for mixing the compound

* 10cc syringe for injecting the compound. You can probably get these from your local medical people.

* 6 A inserts, 8 W inserts, and 12 X inserts from the Avenger repair kit

With these tools and materials, you can quickly replace inserts. Most of these items can be purchased at home improvement stores.

It's a bit different with the small arms tool kit. It has more tools than you need to repair and maintain the Avenger M3P machine gun. Instead of carrying around the whole tool kit, we made up our own M3P-specific tool kit with these tools:

* the standard pliers, wrenches, punches, files, stones, and jeweler's screwdrivers

* a caliber bar for boresighting

* the M3P headspace and timing gage

* the feeler gage

* .032- and .051-in lacing wire

* a breaker bar

We added a crowfoot attachment, NSN 5120-00-229-2773, to torque the breech lock cam nut and a set of calipers with a 6-in dial.

Both tool kits can be kept in one of the standard tool cases made by companies like Pelican.

CW2 Anthony Harding

3-4 ADAR

Ft Bragg, NC

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Editor's note: Thanks for the tool suggestions, Chief. Avenger units that spend much time replacing inserts might want to spend the extra money for these tools.