Anybody out there familiar with disassembling this RRA NM barrel?

[VaniB]

Of course I tried to order the tools I thought I would need in advance, and quickly discovered that this PRI wrench is useless for the disassembly because it will not slip over that free-float tube. (even if I remove the FSB)

Would any of you guys familiar with this RRA NM set-up advise me what brand or style wrench I should order next to remove the barrel nut? I'm hoping I can buy a half-circle style spanner wrench that will not require me to pull off the FSB.

Also how does that free float tube come off? It's hard to tell by just looking at it being it's already factory installed; I'm wondering if I only need to go unscrew the barrel nut, and then that FF tube will come off with it. (?)




I'm making great progress so far. I got the gas tube off...




And here's a close-up of the FF tube and the RRA barrel nut;



BTW....I do have an action block AND a delrin claw. But, they're not a lot of good until I get the right wrench that will slip on.

[The_Hammer_Man]

Sad to say hoss.. but you ARE going to have to pull your muzzle device and your FSB in order to pull that FF tube.

I've installed several of those on DCM rifles for customers and they're just like any other FF tube to install.

pull the muzzle device (ie unscrew your flash hider or muzzle brake)

push the pins in your front sight base and slide it off..

Unscrew the tube and slide it off...

now you're ready to remove the barrel nut. This can be done in a normal fashion using the appropriate barrel nut wrench. The one you have pictured will do the job AFTER you remove the tube.

Badabing.. Badaboom.. you're done

Edited to add: Yes I know it's a PITA to do it this way but the alternative sux rocks. IE, cutting the assembly lengthwise. Please don't ok? That tube is worth about a hundred bucks by itself and it's possible to sell/resell it.

[VaniB]

Thanks Mat. Well, I thought I was going to have to order another wrench and wait some more. I'll just have to look at the brighter side that I already have the wrench and can get right to work!

Yep, you're right that the RRA NM barrel and parts are worth a few bucks for resale.....and resale is what I intend to do with it. It was for this reason that I did NOT want to have to disturb the FSB. I did not want to try to knock the pins out and discover how easy or not so easy that the FSB comes off. (?...I've never done that before) I'm planning on buying that WOA SDM barrel I was discusing with you at that other forum. I will be putting a Danial Defense rail back on with a WOA 4 screw FSB. So, I was trying to leave this whole RRA barrel with original FSB and NM handguard assembly in pristine order for resale. But, if it's got to be done....then it's got to be done! However, unless the parts are a b*tch to remove, I'm very anal and very carefull how I work, and so hopefully when it's done the parts will still look very nice.

Can I use those same pins that I will be knocking out to put the RRA FSB back onto the barrel? (or do they become too loose to reuse?)

Will that free float tube screw off in the usual counter-clockwise direction if I put some kroil and a rubber strap wrench to it?

-Little Joe

(Randall)

[Iraqgunz]

Have you tried a military style wrench? It's got an open end and I believe that it will slip over the tube.

[nickdrak]

I've never seen one of those, but it looks like the tube is press fit between the barrel nut and the FSB restricting the removal of the barrel nut without first removing the FSB & tube?

[VaniB]

I've never seen one of those, but it looks like the tube is press fit between the barrel nut and the FSB restricting the removal of the barrel nut without first removing the FSB & tube?

Yep. From what Hammer-Man describes in the 2nd post, I think this is exactly what's going on.

[russellmn]

It's not a press fit, this is a Service Rifle free float tube, i.e. you can/do install handguards over it that look like factory stock handguards as issued to the military prior to quad rails. There is, or should be, enough room between the end of the tube and the FSB to slip a business card in. If you are stuck on keeping it together at all costs, I would look for an open ended barrel nut wrench like the Army issued one or, I believe, the DPMS AR combo wrench. You "might" be able to get it on the barrel nut without removing everything first, but whoever buys it from you will have to remove it all anyway to re-install on their upper...

[danpass]

I have one and I have never tried to remove the tube. Every time I look for a process to do so it invariably comes to needing a ridiculous amount of heat at the base end of the tube to melt the loctite they use.


Everything I've read says that they legitemately 'went plaid' with the application of loctite. You literally have to get it smoking to even try to strap wrench that free float off.

[The_Hammer_Man]

Irangunz is right in his choice of wrenchs.

An open sided barrel nut wrench will work nicely.
The DPMS wrench is what I personally use on these things. YMMV

RussellM is also correct in that whoever buys this from you is going to have to completely disassemble the barrel "group" in order to install it on his upper receiver.

A suggestion?

Sell the upper as is , ie complete, and buy a good quality upper receiver w/o a barrel
BCM,LMT,Noveske,Daniel Defense,etc are all good choices. If you look here on the For Sale forum and at Gunbrokers.com you can usually find good quality upper receivers for sale. (If anyone has a source that's cheaper please post!)

That way you'll have a "virgin" receiver to put your new barrel on.
Two things it will do for you.. one its WAY easier and TWO you'll have the knowledge that "you did that!".

Either way,,,,

Good Luck

[The_Hammer_Man]

I have one and I have never tried to remove the tube. Every time I look for a process to do so it invariably comes to needing a ridiculous amount of heat at the base end of the tube to melt the loctite they use.


Everything I've read says that they legitemately 'went plaid' with the application of loctite. You literally have to get it smoking to even try to strap wrench that free float off.

The tube and barrel nut are supposed to stay together as a single unit.

It was designed that way.

The only reason I can see to remove it from the barrel nut is if you're going to swap out the barrel. (which the OP is going to do.)

Getting the tube and the nut seperated IS going to be a stone B! So my best advice is.. don't.

Leave them together and just undo the barrel nut (after you remove your muzzle device and fsb) and slide it off.

And yes, you can reuse your FSB pins. The only reason you couldn't is if you boogered them up during the removal phase.

Note: the pins should be driven out from right to left.Use the correct tools for this and you won't mar it up.