Sorry if this was previously posted.  A search did not show this suggestion before.

I had to remove carbine handguards to install a GG&G UFIR rail.  I noticed the commercially available tool to depress the delta ring looked similar to a pair of Channel Lock pliers with rubber-coated handles.  

I adjusted the pliers handle spacing to be a little smaller than the delta ring.  Put the handles on the delta ring and push down.  Works like a champ.  I tried it on a SP1 ring and worked the same way.  It makes handguard removal a one man operation.  Try it.

I can just imagine asking my DI for a handguard removal tool back in my army days...he would have laughed so hard he would have had to go to the hospital. I just don't see the need for them.

Thanks for the tip!  Hopefully it will save members from departing with their hard-earned dollars for that thing ($27.50 on Bushmaster's site! )  

I just curse and grunt and do the bare hands thing.

After a few tries it always works.

Sometimes I have to psych myself up like a ninja.

I just use my hands. I dont find it to be hard enough to require a special tool

I built one out of a piece of 1/4" steel bar, as is discriber on the MAryland AR15 shooters site.

Well worth the $1.50 for the metal and 10 minutes of my time!

I push down with both hands, and have my wife remove the handguards. PITA!

I absolutley love my handguard removal tool. I don't remove them often, but when I do it makes it soooooo much easier.

HAHAHAH wow, i just lauged so hard at the "Sometimes I have to psych myself up like a ninja." bit there. most random thing i have ever read in my life! ROFL thanks for the laughs! just what i needed on my study break!

-Dagger [still laughing]

GREAT, great tip, what a nice idea, it worked like a charm.  Thanks Rockdoc.

I found the pliers handle works well too! if pliers aren't available long rubber coated screw drivers for eletrical work can get the job done

No one knows were my thoughts come from.

Rockdoc:  On a different, but related note, how do you like the GG&G UFIR?  I was thinking about getting one.

Kind of a waste of money IMHO.

To remove handguards easily:
Depress the Delta ring, Bite down on a small allenwrench while hooking it in one of the handguard holes and pull. WAA-Laah.

WTF are you guys talking about? Special tools to remove the handguards? Why?

Sit down in a chair.

Place the butt of the stock on the ground with either side of the rifle facing you; the muzzle should be facing straight up.

Use your thumb and middle finger to place downward pressure on the delta ring making sure that they are directly opposite of each other so the ring moves evenly.

Use your other hand to pull either the upper or lower handguard out.

I do it so often that only takes a couple seconds for me now. (People always ask why the rifle is so heavy, so I pull off the upper handguard and show them the massive chunk of steel known as the HBAR)

**edited to add that I just tried it again and apparantly I did that in a dream or something, because it wasn't that easy.  [slap]

I did however manage to reliably get the lower handguard off within a few seconds using [u]both[/u] of my thumbs and middle fingers(i.e. both hands).

After fully depressing the delta ring the lower handguard pops slightly out for me(might have something to do with the bipod attached to it?) and then I can easily remove it by maintaining downward pressure with one hand and using the other to pry the handguard out.

Made mine.

I've seen the tool online for as low as $12.