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Officially it's 38-42 ft lbs in the M16/M4 Tech Manual.So I'm so close to finishing my first build. And I'm not sure how to make sure the castle nut is on tight! How do I know if it's tight enough (but not too tight)? Is there a specific tool I can purchase?
I just use a pneumatic center punch to do a clean, tidy stake on all of my castle nuts. Easy peasy!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KXKRF1...&pd_rd_r=a74a62ac-699e-11e9-94bd-393e388bbf8d
I usually stake and loctite castle nuts.
I have 2 castle nut tools, but both are kind of crappy.
Buy a good armorers wrench with an open end castle nut wrench. That way you can hold on to the stock to keep everything square as you tighten it.
Respectfully ...
Do not stake. Use an adequate amount of Blue Lock Tight. Torque up until very snug. No more. For that matter no staking anywhere in the build.
Reasoning based upon vast experience. (?) Why ding up parts to keep them. This includes the carrier key screws. Use RED Lock Tight there AFTER the key and gas tube have been perfectly aligned with the barrel nut. OEM parts.
Sometimes the GI manuals are wrong. Yep.
Respectfully.
Hundreds of AR15 builds. Uncounted M16 rebuilds. All long ago and far away. Now old. Yikes!
If you even MIGHT want to try out different buffer systems like A5 or Super 42, PWS also makes it easier to swap those. (My "ideal" tail-swap would be a LAW sidefolder and spare back ends for it, but LAW never responded to my suggesting the idea and asking for an estimate.)
Respectfully ...
Do not stake. Use an adequate amount of Blue Lock Tight. Torque up until very snug. No more. For that matter no staking anywhere in the build.
Reasoning based upon vast experience. (?) Why ding up parts to keep them. This includes the carrier key screws. Use RED Lock Tight there AFTER the key and gas tube have been perfectly aligned with the barrel nut. OEM parts.
Sometimes the GI manuals are wrong. Yep.
Respectfully.
Hundreds of AR15 builds. Uncounted M16 rebuilds. All long ago and far away. Now old. Yikes!
Me too. Some guys get uppity when they hear that some of us use a little thread locker.. but then I go on to tell them I have a few $30-$50 QD end plates on certain builds I don't want to stake.I didn't want to stake mine. I used red thread locker.
That's right, Stoner designed the endplate and gas key as expendable parts.Its a 4 dollar part on a gun that coukd save your life. Who cares about dinging it!