I’m looking for an aluminum NM style free float tube for handguard mounting. That particular style is also the barrel nut with “sprocket.” The current ones are all steel and weigh a pound.
I’ve searched, they don’t seem to exist in aluminum. But they should! Anyway, why not fabricate one? One issue I see is the lack of a sprocket, star, or whatever to index for the gas tube.
Well, what is the heck is that, anyway? ( in comic Steve Martin voice )
I’ve used AR’s in the service for 22 years, never heard of one loosening, but of course, the sprocket seems to be the reason it wouldn’t. And nobody wants it too, my goodness, that would be bad. Of course, the lug nuts on my cars don’t have locking sprockets, but we have heard of wheels falling off, too.
So, keeping an open mind, I’m brain storming an aluminum tube, thickness, diameter, material spec TBD, with 1.25 x 18 threads, to secure the barrel and mount the handguards. Why not drill a hole and install a roll pin vertically to stop against the tube, FWIW? No fussy sprocket. Torque to spec, drill, pin.
As for using aluminum, POF does it on theirs fluted to the max. And Colt’s video of extended destructive firing seems to show it’s not a problem area.
Other challenges aside, I see this as a workable solution.