Anyone know how this works exactly?
The odd thing is that the instructions listed in the page below make the following statement, and I quote:
“insert the Torque Tool in the back of the receiver until the teeth lock into the locking lugs in the receiver extension, and apply torque with the torque drive through the Tool to tighten the barrel nut.”
-This sounds like they want you to come in from the REAR of the upper receiver? I’m not sure I get it.
Just trying to figure out if this would be good for DISASSEMBLY of factory M4 uppers, in preparation for new FF rail installations, since I rarely ever use the stock M4 bbl nuts for ASSEMBLY purposes.
Can’t quite wrap my head around how it works just yet.
Anyone?
It seems fairly straightforward. You clamp your barrel nut wrench in the vice. Then put the upper receiver/barrel assembly into the barrel nut wrench. Stick this thing in through the back of the upper receiver so it engages on the locking lugs. Attach a torque wrench to the brownells tool and tighten it down.
If you picture it, the upper receiver would be rotating and the barrel nut would be stationary. I imagine the idea would be that nearly all of the torque is concentrated on the barrel extension and barrel nut, rather than flexing the receiver.
So what are you suppose to do? Suspend and balance the entire barrel/upper assembly in the air on the barrel nut wrench while you put torque on this round tool?
Uh, no, not really. It doesn’t seem TOTALLY straightforward, and here’s why.
Based on the quote I have shown above in my first post (and have posted again below), Brownells is apparently saying this new tool is to engage “THE RECEIVER EXTENSION”, and you are saying it is supposed to engage the “BBL EXTENSION”
BIG DIFFERENCE my friend.
I think Brownells is trying to refer to the bbl extension (where the bolt locking lugs and chamber area are located), but they mistakingly called it the “receiver extension”, which, as we all know houses the buffer/spring, and also acts as the mount for the stock of the weapon.
RECEIVER EXTENSION and BARREL EXTENSION = two TOTALLY seperate parts of an AR.
I also agree with ScottRyan, that it would seem a bit awkward to use. Of course, I’d have to use one personally to be sure.
Quote from Brownells page:
“insert the Torque Tool in the back of the receiver until the teeth lock into the locking lugs in the RECEIVER extension, and apply torque with the torque drive through the Tool to tighten the barrel nut.”
Cool,
Glad to hear it gotm4. I’m interested in hearing back on your thoughts. I was wondering the same thing in regards to keeping pressure off the pin, and if it does indeed, then it may earn a place in the toolbox…
I think the idea of turning the barrel extension (actually the entire barrel assembly and dragging the upper receiver with it) and securing the barrel nut actually sounds like a good idea.
BUT, does it actually secure in the vise and hold the barrel extension while you turn the barrel nut?
Either way you avoid risking torquing the receiver, which has to be good.
edit:Just double reread the thing from Brownell’s and it does appear that they intend you to hold the barrel wrench in the vise and turn the whole thing with the new tool.
I think I would try to hold the tool vertically in a vise and place the receiver/barrel/barrel nut assembly down over it so muzzle is pointed up and turn barrel nut with wrench the old way.
exactly… i liked it the second i clicked “enlarge image” and saw the barrel extension teeth…
pressure on the tool will keep the whole mess together, i don’t think it would be too difficult. bbl nut wrench goes into the vise, left hand holds barrel/nut/receiver assembly in place on the wrench, right hand slides in the back and engages lugs… so long as you keep a small degree of pressure on it, you can now take your right hand off the receiver and work your torque wrench two handed, keeping it centered.
The problem is you are going to fight the resistance from the delta ring spring with one hand and keep the assembly on the barrel nut wrench with the other.
You will then need a third hand to use this new tool.
Looks like a postive step forward, although I would rather put this tool in a vise and put the torque on the barrel nut - that way I could ensure positive engagement on the teeth and not worry about stripping them out because of an alignment issue.
Not sure I follow you.
What I am thinking is mount this thing teeth up.
Put barrel in upper and start barrel nut.
Then put assembly on this tool.
It’ll just sit there.
Then stabilize with left hand and pull wrench with right hand.
Use a torque wrench if you like.
And cheaper than an upper vise block.
Somebody was thinking; great idea, I think.
EXACTLY.
That’s what I’ve been saying all along. The Brownells instructions posted thus far are FAR from straightforward. They suck totally.
You would think Brownells would have a better explanation. They can’t even differentiate between a bbl extension and a receiver extension.
