Some day I’ll get it right. On my first attempt, some months ago, I had a few problems. After some thought, and after picking up another barrel nut, I did it right.
Now, on my second try, I have misaligned the nut by going slightly too far. After installing the nut, which put alignment about 1/2 notch off, I worked the threads about five times to finally get, by my eyeball, right on target, but the gas tube would not properly align with the gas block/FSB, being off about 1/4 inch to the left of the gas block hole (when looking at the gas tube from the rear of the upper). Current torque is about 50 ft. lbs.
Putting on my thinking cap (a bit late), should I:
(a) Back off the nut the few degrees to get alignment;
(b) Get a new barrel nut and start over; or,
(c) Try to get alignment with the next slot by working the threads a lot more?
Back it up and try it again, and again, till it aligns. If it doesn’t, for whatever reason, dremel off the offending tooth and finish the job. FWIW I’ve only had to dremel if off one time in probably 50-60 barrel installs. I also don’t use a torque wrench anymore. Feel is good, I can tell you exactly how many foot pounds of torque it takes to scratch vs. tear the skin off my knuckles!
Thanks, guys. I backed off completely, started from threading the barrel nut. Got the nut up to a few lbs. over 30 ft. lbs. and alignment was adequate. FSB pins are solid, gas port roll pin is in, field gauge won’t close. BUIS is on …
Too bad I won’t have time to go to the range until later this week.
Glad you got it to work. After several bad experiences and bad luck with barrel installations, I am now keeping at least three extra barrel nuts on hand to make sure shit lines up within torque. That and just keep working it back and forth.
You’ll get it.