AR handguard too close?

[TripleDigitRide]

A friend of mine just built an AR. The free float handguard is so close to the lower receiver that it won't allow the lower to pivot. What's the fix?

Edited February 10, 2013 by TripleDigitRide

[dcloudy777]

It happens on tubes with indexing nuts.  (That looks like a Yankee Hill tube if I'm not mistaken.) Back the whole thing off a few turns, re-index the rails, then snug the index nut.

Edited February 10, 2013 by dcloudy777

[TripleDigitRide]

That's what I was thinking, but what to make sure there wasn't a missing space or something like that. Thank you very much.

[Dolomite_supafly]

The lower's ears are not in spec. They are larger than a standard lower. I have a free float tube that uses the same setup and mine is fine. If you compare the ears to another lower the problem will be obvious.

Not sure you will be able to clearance enough to pivot like normal. You might get it just enough to get the BCG out.

Dolomite

[Dolomite_supafly]

And the reason it needs the extra material is because that lower is cast, not forged. A cast lower tends to be weaker than a forged lower.

Not sure what "MAG alloy" is but that is the material used to cast the lower.

Dolomite

[TripleDigitRide]

And the reason it needs the extra material is because that lower is cast, not forged. A cast lower tends to be weaker than a forged lower.

Not sure what "MAG alloy" is but that is the material used to cast the lower.

Dolomite

Yeah, they're definitely not a lower I'd buy. There are far too many issues with these lowers. Very poor quality control.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I had honestly never heard of them before you posted. The pictures looked like typical cast but I had to look it up to make sure.

 

Dolomite

[TripleDigitRide]

I had honestly never heard of them before you posted. The pictures looked like typical cast but I had to look it up to make sure.

Dolomite

He purchased 2 of them. The one he built right away had a few problems. First of all, the finish isn't worth a damn. It's like cheap black spray paint.

The hole where the spring and detent for the pivot pin go was too low, causing the pivot pin to be maligned enough that it wouldn't go all the way in. He was able to use a drill to make the hole slightly bigger, enough to make the pivot pin work properly.

Once the upper and lower were mated and pins pushed in, you nearly need a hammer (no joke) to push the pins out. Never seen them so tight.

Then there was the issue I asked about when starting his thread.

I'm not sure now they justify the $169 price tag (pre-craze price), but I just don't see it. Edited February 10, 2013 by TripleDigitRide