Greetings members. This pertains to the initial post which I wrote regarding my Spikes Tactical M4 rifle. I am having difficulties installing the free floating handguard for my rifle. I ordered it from the same manufacturer (Spikes Tactical) hoping that I would not have a problem installing it. It turns out that I have not been able to remove the barrel from the receiver. I ordered a holding block made out of a polymer and a weird dented looking tool from Bushmaster arms. Although these tools took almost a century to arrive, I decided to use them. The dented tool slips out of the dented nut when I try to unscrew the barrel from the receiver. The block is holding the receiver to my vise properly but the dented tool (wrench?) keeps on sliping out of the dented nut. After busting an index finger against my vise, I am at a loss. Is the barrel attached to the receiver by an unseen pin which may prevent the barrel from turning? I do not want to apply too much pressure to the tool in fear of damaging the receiver, any other component, or marring the weapon. The front sight has two pins which I tried to remove using a brass punch tool to no avail. Despite carefuly hammering the tool, this removed the paint from the pins but did not move them a fraction of an inch. Would somebody please help me with these issues? I wonder if Spikes Tactical has an M4 101 link in their website for those of us who have depended on the "For Dummies" publications for too long.

Regards.

Akira Kurosawa

Try knocking out the FSB pins from the other side. And for the barrel nut removal, pictures would help so we can provide some guidance.

Sent from my HTC Evo

You've stumbled onto why most people should leave tasks like this one up to an experienced gunsmith or armorer.

The barrel nut is tightened with a torque wrench...so you're gonna need to really work at loosening it. It's best to increase your leverage by slipping a piece of metal piping over the end of your barrel wrench and pushing downward on the end of your "extension". Also remember, "lefty loosey, righty tighty".

The pins in your front sight base are taper pins. They only go in and come out one way. As your looking down the barrel towards the muzzle, the pins go out from left to right. At a minimum you need a front sight base block to place the front sight base and barrel in for the pin removal. Then you need a solid punch, a big hammer, and somebody else to hold the barrel on the ground in the FSB block as tightly as possible. Be prepaired to hammer a lot until they come loose. It's best to soak the pins first with Kroil oil.

All that said, judging from your first post (and please don't take this personally) you might be better off getting an experienced AR mechanic to work on your rifle for you.

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Triple Bravo

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