Swapping to a free float handguard

[BigWaylon]

I’ve built all my AR lowers, but have always bought complete uppers. If I was to buy an upper with a standard handguard like this:



And then bought a free float handguard that comes with a barrel nut. Is it a fairly straightforward process to remove one and replace it with the other? Or am I gonna need to find one of you with a special tool (something about a delta ring) to help me?

...and the gas block isn’t (or at least shouldn’t be) an issue. It’s a blowback upper and it’s just there for a front sight. So I was gonna remove it and use a longer rail. I’m assuming the barrel won’t have a port, but I won’t know that until I have it in hand.

 

[LeeMajors]

That front "gas block" has to come off to remove the handguard ring behind it other than that its straight forward I have the wrench for the delta rung barrel nut if you need to use it.

 

[Jerzsubbie]

As long as you have the tools and a vise, it’s pretty simple.
I’ve got the delta ring tool, vise, vise block, and everything else you could need to do the swap in only a few minutes. Lmk if you want to swing by one day.

What handguard are you installing?

 

[BigWaylon]

What handguard are you installing?

https://www.masdefense.com/MAS-12-SQUADRON-p/mas00106412b.htm

 

[Jerzsubbie]

https://www.masdefense.com/MAS-12-SQUADRON-p/mas00106412b.htm

Cool. It says their barrel nut uses a standard armorers wrench, so all good if you want some help.

 

[BigWaylon]

Cool. It says their barrel nut uses a standard armorers wrench, so all good if you want some help.

Yeah, I saw that before I bought it. The size (length and ID) and price on it was perfect for what I needed.

I’ll let you know once it’s all here, and I’ve test fired it in it’s factory condition.