I did a search and found nothing, but someone has got to gone through this before. I’m trying to removed the handguard on a DPMS G2 Recon in .308. I’ve tried a strap wrench with no luck and I’ve applied heat with no luck. I don’t care if I have to destroy the handguard, but I want to remove it so that I can replace it with something else. If anyone knows what DPMS did to make this thing stay on the upper receiver and has some suggestions about removing it I’d love to hear about it. I’ve reached a point where I’m tempted to use my machine tools to remove it, but I don’t want to risk damaging the upper receiver.

https://www.ar15.com/forums/AR-15/AR-Variants/121/

Pics would help.

That just takes me to another forum. Do you have any information that would be of some help?

Mine was held on by some white crap I was told was dissolvable in water.  Hot water was better?  Letting it soak over night was better?  Just couldn't see setting the barreled upper receiver in a tub of water all night.

That was the handguard on the barrel nut.  The barrel nut wasn't "glued" to the receiver with that crap.  Just the flash hider to the barrel and the handguard and locking ring to the barrel nut.

Rocksett someone called it.  I didn't use any of that shit when I put the new handguard on it and darned if it didn't stay in place/tight all on it's own.

And yes, I busted up my handguard getting it off.  Those little holes the wrench grabs just split/busted and I ended up using a strap wrench.

For the flash hider I bought that special socket that fit into the slots on the flash hider.

Is it the carbon fiber hand guard? If so, I used a hair dryer on hot to heat all the way around the handguard at the barrel nut and eventually i could work it off by hand.

Possibly missing the first step for removal. Begin at approx 4:30 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a15XkfL5CDc&t=288s

No, it’s a quad rail.

Thanks, it seems like DPMS glued, loc tired and/or rocksett everything in place. I’m changing out the handguard and barrel, so more fun ahead.

At one time I had made a how-to post on removing this hand guard, but the post has long been archived and the pictures aren’t showing up anymore. I just tried to post them here but can’t get them to show up. Anyone know how I can post pictures directly on here?

You need to create an account with a free photo host like ImgBB or any place like that. Upload your photos to that site then copy & paste the link to the photos here.

What are your plans with the old barrel and nut?

The old barrel and barrel nut are going up for sale, at least I think so. I’m not sure if I’ll need the barrel nut with the new handguard and barrel or not, I’ll look it over once I get the thing apart and see what I have, but I don’t think that I do.

So far I haven’t had any luck getting the damned handguard off. It was easy in the video. Next step will be soaking it in water for a bit and see if that does anything. I’ve never had anything that was this difficult to take apart. Putting together I’ve had a few doozies.

Let me add, due to the force I figured it would take to break that sucker loose I was afraid to try to hold the upper receiver in a vise block/mount, etc. like some people do.  I bought that adaptor that clamps on the barrel in a vise and then broke things loose.  I figured the barrel was less likely to twist than the upper might be to crack/twist some.  Not saying I was right, just saying that's what seemed right at the time.

I *think* that is the wrong approach.

Not to be contrary just for the sake of being contrary, I believe I destroyed an extension by using barrel blocks instead of the receiver to tighten a barrel nut.

If my thought process is correct, trying to remove a handguard stuck to the barrel nut with the same process, is likely to have the same result. Maybe if you aren't trying to salvage the barrel/extension you'd be fine?

I thought I felt something give when I was swapping a barrel, and I believe it was the alignment dowel on the barrel, which changed headspace.

I agree though that I feel the upper may have broken as tight as everything else was, had I clamped via the receiver. The barrel blocks were invaluable removing the incredibly stuck on flash hider.

Thanks for the tip about ImgBB.

First step is to remove the gas block. Mine had a fair amount of threadlocker and I ended up twisting the Allen key before it finally broke loose.



Next, you’ll need to loosen the lock ring by turning it clockwise. I used the flat edge of my DPMS AR Multi-tool and a hammer to tap it.


Now, you’ll need to rotate the hand guard counter-clockwise. I initially used my multi-tool wrapped in a hand towel to prevent marring, but the rail was on so tight that it actually cut through the towel. I then folded up some cardboard and that held up well enough for me to rotate it loose without denying or marring the rail. There was a ton of threadlocker on the nut so it required quite a bit of force the whole way.






Make sure before you remove the barrel nut that the dust cover rod isn’t in one of the barrel nut holes. I didn’t pay attention to this and put so much torque on the nut that I broke the rod. Luckily this was before DPMS went out of business so I could order another one for like $2.





Weight of the OEM rail/barrel nut vs weight of SLR rail.



Weight of a G2 BCG vs LR308 BCG



Weight of the G2 Recon barrel


After high temp black spray paint

Thank you very much, especially the pictures. Now it’s time to get back on this thing.

I got the handguard off, so that’s progress. I was about to remove the barrel but ran out of time. That thing had some kind of unknown compound on, it was a bitch to get off. I’ve had the gas block off for some time, I sat it aside as “that project” but I don’t remember it being difficult to take off.

Now it’s on to the barrel nut tomorrow.

It’s almost 2 months later and by way of procrastination and cussing I have everything off of it except the barrel nut. That thing is on there. The wrench slipped once I buggered it up a little. I’ve decided that my best bet is to remove the muzzle brake and then use a barrel wrench that slides down the barrel and goes 360 degrees around it, get a friend to hold onto it and force it into the barrel nut while I place with a breaker bar. I did try the muzzle brake, and of course it’s glued on there in some fashion.

I swear that DPMS could have built this upper without any threads, just their magic glue, and it would have never come loose under any condition!

Just sacrifice the barrel nut, use a pipe wrench and get it off and toss it.

Those style are the jankiest HG's ever developed and I think I've only ever gotten a couple off intact. I think DPMS forgot to apply lube to the threads on most of these that they build.

If you are hell bent on saving it, use a paint stripper heat gun to get that goofy ass nut hot. Using a paint stripper will get it hot enough to expand and help break loose any crud in there but isn't hot enough to damage the aluminum.

These barrel nuts aren't exactly easily replaceable.

Actually OP I may be interested in the old one if its not too $ and not too messed up.

I am looking for a lighter handguard. I have the PX10, but any Gll one should work. I need a new barrel nut for it as well though.
Any Ideas?
I contacted SLR, and they never did get back to me ( they emailed that they would) I also tried Midwest Industries ( they said they no longer make one that fits)

I think I have a couple spare MI G2 handguards.

I haven’t updated this n awhile, mainly because it had become my Moby Dick, the thing that I kept in the vise and dreaded looking at but knew that I had to get it done regardless. So today I finally managed to get the barrel nut off of the upper and the barrel separated fro the upper receiver!  Thanks UncleverUsername for your in-depth set of instructions through pictures. So the barrel is finally separated from the upper receiver and no the upper receiver and the barrel are none the worse for wear, more than I can say about the barrel nut or the handguard.

Now it’s finally time to attach the 12.5” barrel and make an SBR, especially since I paid for the tax stamp which was approved some time ago. Now you may ask, why in the hell would anyone want a SBR in .308, the honest answer is that I want one because I don’t have one. I have a .308 with a 17” barrel  and a couple that are over 20”, but I wanted a short and handy .308.