I just went for a LaRue 7" ff rail. I’m planning on getting a front sight bench block and an upper receiver vice block as well as an armorer’s wrench to install the rail. I found some installation videos and instructions, seems pretty straight forward. For anyone who has experience installing this rail, are there any specifics you suggest?
I just did this rail on a build.
Id recommend the following is you haven’t bought the tools yet:
DPMS Panther claw upper receiver block
Brownells Front Sight block (if you are removing/reinstalling a FSB)
PRI barrel nut wrench ( the armorer tools usually only have 2 or 3 tabs for the barrel nut, the PRI has 5 and less chance for slippage)
Strap wrench for the lock nut of the handguard
I find the armorers wrenches do everything mediocre. I bought a DPMS one long ago and have since bought tools specific to each job. All depends on how many rifles you will build.
Thanks for the advice, the DPMS vice block and brownells sight block are exactly what I’m going for.
Is it possible to install the hand guard without removing the fsb? I had an AK rifle awhile back with a canted front sight, I absolutely could not get the pins out, so that is the only part I’m dreading.
I’ve also heard the front sight bench block may need trimmed when putting the fsb on after installing the hand guard, not a big deal I guess, just wanna do the job right.
Not with a LaRue rail.
Didnt need to on mine. And as said above you have to remove the FSB.
What barrel are you using?
BCM 16" Standard profile
Ive heard some BCMs can be stubborn, others have suggested soaking the taper pins in kroil or something similar first.
not a bad idea. I’ll probably try pb blaster since I can get it locally. Also the rail won’t be here for a few days, so It’ll have plenty of time to soak in. I’ll keep you guys updated.
Alright, my stuff from brownell’s should be here tomorrow. I also picked up a punch set from sears. I had an old bottle jack laying around so I welded a bolt to it, attached a drill chuck and rigged up a minority engineered press. I have more confidence in this than a hammer.
Absolutely get the 5 pin PRI barrel nut wrench for LaRue and similar barrel nuts!
Thats the one I got 
Let someone else put it together?
Builds are better left to people who do it for a living.
Everyone’s gotta start somewhere.
Anyway, I got the rail installed without much trouble. Very little marring on the fsb. It was nerve-racking but with buddy system, the pins were easy to get out. I was also surprised at how much a crush washer crushes. I learned a lot, plus I have some new tools for future projects.
Before the pins were removed, there was about 3/32" overhang on the small side. After knocking them back in, I could only get them to about 1/16" overhang. The fsb is solid, no movement. Think I got em good enough?
Ive had the same issue when Ive reinstalled taper pins. Never had a FSB walk off on me.
Did you put the same pin back into the SAME hole?
In other words, did you mark the pins (front/back) when you removed them?
It doesn’t happen often but,sometimes when fsb pins are installed they become “position specific” and need to be replaced/reinstalled in the exact same holes they came out of.
This might explain the variances.
Yes I did put the pins in the same hole they came out of. I’m used to putting bolts back in the original holes when doing a top-end rebuild on a motor so I figured it would be a good idea here too.
Thanks for the help guys