I think I broke it...

AR/M4 AR Technical Discussion
1

What do you think?

Haha… Just kidding, but seriously, I need help with this problem:


And yes, that’s the new Grip Pod, arrived this afternoon.

The Larue Handguard isn’t square with the rest of the rifle, so the top-rail on the handguard is offset slightly to the right. Not good, since the only sights on it as of now are the Troys. Imagine this, it shoots right. HARD Right…

Can someone help me with this issue? Detailed explainations and/or pictures requested. I’m still kinda scared of taking anything apart with it. BTW, I definately am going to build my next rifle for myself. Probably be a .22LR though…lol

2

what happened? that’s not really supposed to be possible… looks like its threaded all the way, so your pins are obviously still in place… does it spin at all/have any play?

3

If the barrel nut is out of alignment, the rail will be too.

4

I’m so glad that I went with the CASV-M.

5

How did it get like that? Take it apart. The screws that hold the anti-rotation device look jacked up. If they are bent, your gas tube will be too.

Looks like user error to me.

6

I read your other post. Did you buy the rifle like this or did this happen while you had it? It this a factory rifle or a frankengun?

7

It’s difficult to tell from the photo, but it doesn’t look like the keeper is flush with the upper receiver. If it were me, I would loosen handguard nut and barrel nut, and make sure that the keeper is flush with the upper receiver, make sure the the spacer is correctly installed, make sure everything is aligned correctly, re-tighten the barrel nut, and re-tighten the handguard nut. In other words, re-install the handguard.

I use a drill bit in place of the gas tube to ensure that everything is aligned. If you need to, get a second person to help keep everything aligned while you tighten things up. When you tighten the barrel nut, even with light torque, the handguard can move a little. The handguard isn’t really secured until the screws are tightened in the keeper.

If that doesn’t work, give Mark a call. :smiley:

8

I’m thinking I might be better off taking it back to the person I bought it from… let them make it right. Today was the first time for me shooting it, so it had to come that way. I only put 40 rnds through it just before supper. I am not very comfortabe taking anything apart quite that extensively. I thought it was a grand achievement on my part to remove the upper from the lower…lol

Is this a serious issue? Most of your responses sound alarmed, kinda scary…

9

Heh, frankengun. I like that term. It started out as a basic Star-15, the Free-float is AM, as well as sights, stock, etc.

10

No, it doesn’t spin or move at all. I almost tried just twisting it forcefully, but chickened out. I didnt think it could be that simple.

11

What does that mean that the handguard is AM? Is it a LaRue knockoff?

What is a Star-15? Is that a Double Star?

I don’t intend to be obnoxious, but don’t buy any crappy guns or crappy gun parts, and do not buy an AR from your local gun shop, unless your local gun shop is G&R, ADCO, Virginia Arms, etc.

We need a “before you buy anything” thread.

12

“after market,” was my assumption.

larue tactical isn’t crappy… and the only two parts the handguard touches are the barrel and receiver… both of which cant be so crappy that you cant install a good handguard.

OP- if you send me the upper, i’ll investigate and fix it for free (so long as fixing doesn’t cost a new handguard, barrel or receiver). i REALLY want to know how that happened.

13

No, LaRue makes excellent parts. I have three carbines with LaRue handguards. I didn’t know what AM meant. I assumed that if he had a LaRue handguard on the carbine, he would have referred to the handguard as a LaRue handguard. Obvioulsy, the handguard is a LaRue or a knockoff, and IIRC, there were knockoffs.

Nice offer to fix it for him.

14

Yes, this is a serious issues as the person that put the upper together SHOULDN’T BE!

C4

15

I would have that whole rifle looked at by a qualified, competent gunsmith or return it for a refund. If it was put together by a gunshop employee who couldn’t see that the handguards weren’t aligned, who knows what else could be wrong with it.

16

I don’t think you are being obnoxious at all.

By AM, I did in fact mean Aftermarket. It is a Larue free-float quadrail tactical handguard. The Troy BUIS are real as well. And for my purposes and money availability, I don’t think Double Star is a crappy brand made with cheap parts, but they are a more economical choice for casual shooters such as myself. Plus, they are assembled a mere 20-ish miles from my front door, so I like to think I’m buying local at the same time.

Sorry for any misconceptions in my previous posts.

17

I really appreciate the offer. Would you rather me send it to you first, or take it back to him and see what his explaination is for this issue? I’m only worried that if I take too long getting it back to him, he may not honor my word on that I didn’t do it, but bought it that way. You know where I’m coming from? I can’t afford to throw away the money already invested in a previously stated “piece-of-crap”…

But I would love to know how and why this has happened. I did put a few rounds through it, but I have a picture taken the day I bought it (Pre-usage) that shows the same condition. It cycled cheap Wolf ammo perfectly, but failed to lock-back on the empty mag. Using NEW PMAG’s (20 rounder’s)(pictured).

How much COULD it cost me to have it fixed properly if he won’t accept it back?

18

My first thoughts were that this is a knock-off. Too bad it was painted, makes it harder to tell.

So was the rail aligned like this before you shot it?
I’m afraid you may have something like this on your rifle :frowning:
http://www.ebairsoft.com/ar15-handguard-tube-p-2496.html

19

You aren’t asking me, but IMO you should deal with the seller before bringing a 3rd party into it.

20

That was the issue! I took it back to the original BUILDER of the rifle, and when he saw it, he told me to leave it with him and come back in an hour. He would fix it. The person that painted the rifle had simply slapped it back together without much attention to detail apparently, and the barrel nut was not aligned properly. But, I got her fixed and I’m going shooting again today! Need to paint the Grip Pod though… :wink: