When replacing the receiver extension, is there a trick to keeping it lined up while torquing it down? I’ve done it a few times and each time I end up a tad off and have to redo it. Tighten, eyeball, torque, growl, un-tighten, offset, torque, growl…the process continues.
Has to be another way or a trick to doing it right the first time.
Besides putting the stock on and locking it under my arm while I torque it down and giving it the eyeball afterwards, is there another way of getting it lined up and keeping it that way through the process?
A quick search wouldve saved you some trouble. See attached thread, post 33 in particular. To add to post 33, hand tighten, install stock to verify alignment and provide something to grasp to keep it aligned, then torque to spec. Some, like to clamp the RE rail itself between the padded vice blocks and grasp the lower. Either method works fine IMHO.
Most of the time there is a little side to side play, depending on the size of the indexing lug and the RE groove width this play can be significant enough to require keeping the RE/lower aligned while torquing down the castle nut.
Once you are ready to tighten it, I suggest tightening the nut by hand. Then verify the alignment of the tube and endplate.
Put your wrench (Hammerhead works best) on the nut and lightly snug it. Then put your stock on the tube and hold it with the opposite hand you are tightening the nut with. Hold the stock firmly and then slowly apply downward pressure to the nut. Once it is tight then stake it.