How is that even possible? The Reaction rod’s splines secure the barrel extension from turning. There is no turning force to pass through the index pin into the receiver.
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This will be good. A classic chicken or egg pissing match! I am on the RR or BEV side for R&R of the barrel nut. Bets are off for a stuck muzzle device. Ask me how I know.
OP- I've been very happy with ALG's rails. Sounds like you are building a fast handling upper. I went with the BEV block based on price. The BEV block and ALG's rails have worked well for all four uppers I've build. While I'm not married to the BEV block by any means, I'd CERTAINLY do the ALG rail again. I don't hang anything more than sights and a light off my mid-length carbine, and I don't hang anything at all off my spr, so ALG's rails have been a home run. I don't honesty know if there's a different rail I'd like more for the direction I went with, and it was nice not having to buy a torque wrench.
OP, I just built much the same upper as you (BA 14.7" pencil bbl and shaved FSB) and the ALG V2 rail has to be the cleanest handguard around. I'm seriously thinking about pulling a brand new SLR off of my pistol built and swapping it out.
I borrowed a buddy's Wheeler action vice to do the build. Worked well, with no marring (but I'd put some index card in there next time just for cheap insurance). I found that a little anti-seize grease on the nut goes a long way.
Sent from 80ms in the future
Much peace
Jimmy
Looks fine, but I don't see a BCG which is the heart of an AR. Don't go cheap with the BCG. The BCG has more to do with the reliability of your rifle than ANYTHING except for magazine.
I guess you have already had the gas block pinned? Because that is tricky without the right jig and drill press.
As far as vice blocks go. I have a Brownells version of a Reaction Rod and a DPMS vice block which works very well. www.midwayusa.com DPMS Action Block. I use the Vice block for barrel installs and the Reaction Rod deal for muzzle devices.
If you use the DPMS block, you put the block in and the pins through, then you turn the receiver on its side and clamp it into the vice with a protective block of wood on the top rail side and the DPMS block on the other. So you are squeezing the receiver between the top of the receiver and the bottom of the receiver. This makes for a very secure working environment that doesn't put as much pressure on the receiver pin holes.
As far as the ALG rail is concerned you might want to give the EMR V1 another look. The V2 looks good but ALG put the M-Lok slots at weird angles. There are no slots at 3 and 9 O'clock IIRC. I have a rifle with a EMR V1 M-Lok, and I'm happy with it.
Good luck.