fastpat
09-13-10, 16:03
One of the final additions to my AR 6.5 Grendel rifle.
I installed a 9 inch Daniel Defense (DD) Lite rail on my AR Carbine (mid-length gas system) yesterday, pretty much went without a hitch.
I used this armorer's wrench to remove the OEM barrel nut and delta ring. I had to use a 12 inch cheater (cast iron pipe) on the wrench to break the OEM nut free. I also used a Brownell's upper receiver action block to hold the upper in my vise.
http://images51.fotki.com/v750/photos/5/41655/8174037/M16_armorers_wrench-vi.png
And this special crowfoot wrench from DD was used to torque the new barrel nut to specs (75 ft. lbs.). The small machined clamping piece goes on before the new barrel nut, but remains loose until the free floating handguard is bolted to it via six Allen-headed cap screws.
http://images116.fotki.com/v715/photos/5/41655/8174037/DD_Lite_wrench-vi.png
I did have to remove the flash hider and YHM front sight base and reinstalled both without issues.
The DD Lite 9 inch rail handguard.
http://images53.fotki.com/v53/photos/5/41655/8174037/DD_Lite_9_inch-vi.png
Actual weight of the DD handguard with all fasteners..........12.85 ounces
Actual weight of OEM (mil-spec) components removed........10.35 ounces
Net weight gain on rifle.....................................................2.50 ounces
Weighed on Ohaus CS2000 digital scale after zero.
All in all, I think this is the best, certainly one of the best, rail systems out there. I think it is one of the lightest too.
I'll post photos of the handguard on the rifle later.
I installed a 9 inch Daniel Defense (DD) Lite rail on my AR Carbine (mid-length gas system) yesterday, pretty much went without a hitch.
I used this armorer's wrench to remove the OEM barrel nut and delta ring. I had to use a 12 inch cheater (cast iron pipe) on the wrench to break the OEM nut free. I also used a Brownell's upper receiver action block to hold the upper in my vise.
http://images51.fotki.com/v750/photos/5/41655/8174037/M16_armorers_wrench-vi.png
And this special crowfoot wrench from DD was used to torque the new barrel nut to specs (75 ft. lbs.). The small machined clamping piece goes on before the new barrel nut, but remains loose until the free floating handguard is bolted to it via six Allen-headed cap screws.
http://images116.fotki.com/v715/photos/5/41655/8174037/DD_Lite_wrench-vi.png
I did have to remove the flash hider and YHM front sight base and reinstalled both without issues.
The DD Lite 9 inch rail handguard.
http://images53.fotki.com/v53/photos/5/41655/8174037/DD_Lite_9_inch-vi.png
Actual weight of the DD handguard with all fasteners..........12.85 ounces
Actual weight of OEM (mil-spec) components removed........10.35 ounces
Net weight gain on rifle.....................................................2.50 ounces
Weighed on Ohaus CS2000 digital scale after zero.
All in all, I think this is the best, certainly one of the best, rail systems out there. I think it is one of the lightest too.
I'll post photos of the handguard on the rifle later.