Quoted:
Quoted: Also, excellent "insider information" about not using the wrench at all. What book or video is going to suggest that?
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I know that many (including Mongo ) don't believe in using torque wrenches, but I believe that they are necessary. Your arm isn't a very good measuring device for torque settings. Overtighten that barrel nut and at the minimum you will cant your barrel and at the maximum you will damage the slot in the upper receiver that the barrel extension pin fits into. If you undertighten it, the barrel nut will loosen up and bind the gas tube, not to mention your accuracy will suffer.
The specs call for 30-80 pounds. 99% of the time, if the minimum 30# doesn't align a notch in the barrel nut for the gas tube, tightening it until you do get clearance will not exceed the 80# maximum.
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M4's right, I don't use a torque wrench, but using torque wrenches is part of my routine at work. I use one probably at least weekly. The last thing I torqued was to 800ft/lbf, but that's another story.
Anyway, here's a little tidbit of info for some of you to relate to. We have a torque tester at work, for checking the accuaracy and function of torque wrenches. My friend and I, both are pretty strong, tried to see how much torque we could apply using just a 1/2" drive ratchet. The best that either and both of us could do is 75 ft/lbf and that was pulling as hard as we individually could - hernia producing, forehead vein popping pulling I might add.
What I am trying to say is that a standard armorer's wrench is about the same length as a 1/2" drive ratchet, give or take some. If you are pulling with what I would consider "normal force", you are probably pulling somewhere in the middle of that 30-90 ft/lbf range. Start popping some veins and you are getting near or maybe exceeding the range, but you got to be pulling pretty hard. Stand on it, add extra people, hitting it with a hammer, etc. and you are on your own and could break something. That is why I don't worry about not using a torque wrench. The effective length of the armorer's wrench is limiting me to a reasonable amount of torque, if applied within reason.