AR Sponsor
Posted: 5/25/2006 4:15:09 PM EDT
Didn't use a barrel wrench though.. My dad was looking at it and said he had a tool that would work just fine. He's a jouneyman machinist, retired 25 years. Had some brass looking wrench thing he said they used to remove bearing retaining fixtures on turbines.. Worked like a charm! Also used regular militech grease on the threads. No torque wrench, followed the instructions in the tacked thread.. You like? |
a big +1 on the K.I.S.S.
|
Lessons learned.. 1. Tape the face of whatever tool you use to tighten the barrel nut as it will marr the delta ring front edge, I didn't tape it up and although you cannot see it it did minor cosmetic damage to the front edge when turning the tool. 2. Use the proper tools. I was lucky that my dad has a bunch of jigs and stuff for rigging things into a vise but the action block would have been better and the tool he used although adequate only engaged the barrel nut at 2 opposite points. This made it marr the nut a bit and looks like the teeth were deformed some. 3. Make a trial run. The threads tighten up quick and you really can over tighten. What I did was find that spot were it got tight and went to the next gap in the teeth of the nut and stopped.. 4. Have someone with you who knows a bit about stuff. Again, I had a journeyman machinist there. He never built an AR but knew enough to know what would work and where to be careful, etc. Overall, I am thrilled! Now I want to build another but an M14 clone is calling me. The experience showed how damned simple these rifles really are. Everything is so easy to put together and take a part. You could use a pipe wrench, claw hammer and a nail setting punch to build one and toss the upper in a wooden jig of 1x4 pine and be just fine. It's that easy.. Anyone who has a half decent set of simple tools can do it. Like I said though, if planning to do more than one, get a barrel wrench and a block. If you had a buddy with strong hands I would bet that you could even do without a vise and action block.. Really there isn't much to it.. And the best of all is you can change it up when ever you feel like it! Maybe this summer I'll put a DCM freefloat tube on it. It'll keep the A2 look but help me a bit when using a tight sling.. And knowing how they go together.. I'm gonna put a flat top upper on my M4gery now. I doubt I will ever buy another complete rifle again.. |
why?
AR Sponsor