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I finally got my workbench cleared off enough that I could begin a build project. I decided to start with putting together a manual loading AR pistol. This pistol will utilize my quick change barrel idea on a left side charging upper receiver and buffer tubeless lower. I bought the assembled left side charging upper receiver from Bear Creek Arsenal and it has a 10.5 inch 350 Legend heavy barrel on it.
The handguard on this upper is one of the older styles that requires timing and uses six allen head screws to secure the HG to the barrel nut. All of the handguard screws were very tight. 5 screws came out without issue but the last one was extremely stubborn. I ended up breaking the head of my Husky brand hex key tool off in the screw and ultimately had to grind off the head of the screw with a dremel bit. Of course I marked up the handguard in a couple of spots while grinding
I removed the gas block (five screws) and gas tube assy. That came off easy. Then it was time to remove the barrel. I have a plastic vice block made for standard upper receivers but it would not fit correctly on the billet BCA upper receiver. I made an attempt to use it anyways and the barrel nut was very, very tight. I was using an adjustable wrench to remove the nut and finally got it to break free. The upper slipped a little inside the vice block at one point while I was putting half my body weight on the adjustable wrench but it doesn't appear to have damaged the metal of the upper receiver. It did mar the finish a little. A high quality crow foot wrench and breaker bar would have made the barrel nut removal job easier.
Now that the upper parts are taken down I need to bring them to work and clean out all the grinding dust left from my grinding the screw off, it got everywhere. After that I will be reassembling the barrel with an Aero Bar nut (hand tight only) and installing a gas block backwards or upside down to block off barrel gas port. I expect to have it ready for test firing next weekend and I will check the barrel nut for loosening after each shot. I will bring my tapco ar wrench with me in case the nut needs a little more than hand tightening but I do not want to have to use a vice to tighten the barrel nut or that will defeat the idea behind a quick change barrel set up. I am going to run the pistol with out a handguard. When setting the pistol on a rest for shooting, it will be similiar to setting a long barreled revolver on a rest.
I will stick with shooting this off a rest to sight it in and once I am confident that the accuracy is there, I will try some free hand shots. Next step will be to load up my pistol length 5.56 and 300BO barrels with the same BAR Nut set up so I can change barrels at the range or out in the field.
Running the lower without a buffer tube will require a fix for the detent/spring that is held behind the endplate. Any ideas?
The handguard on this upper is one of the older styles that requires timing and uses six allen head screws to secure the HG to the barrel nut. All of the handguard screws were very tight. 5 screws came out without issue but the last one was extremely stubborn. I ended up breaking the head of my Husky brand hex key tool off in the screw and ultimately had to grind off the head of the screw with a dremel bit. Of course I marked up the handguard in a couple of spots while grinding
I removed the gas block (five screws) and gas tube assy. That came off easy. Then it was time to remove the barrel. I have a plastic vice block made for standard upper receivers but it would not fit correctly on the billet BCA upper receiver. I made an attempt to use it anyways and the barrel nut was very, very tight. I was using an adjustable wrench to remove the nut and finally got it to break free. The upper slipped a little inside the vice block at one point while I was putting half my body weight on the adjustable wrench but it doesn't appear to have damaged the metal of the upper receiver. It did mar the finish a little. A high quality crow foot wrench and breaker bar would have made the barrel nut removal job easier.
Now that the upper parts are taken down I need to bring them to work and clean out all the grinding dust left from my grinding the screw off, it got everywhere. After that I will be reassembling the barrel with an Aero Bar nut (hand tight only) and installing a gas block backwards or upside down to block off barrel gas port. I expect to have it ready for test firing next weekend and I will check the barrel nut for loosening after each shot. I will bring my tapco ar wrench with me in case the nut needs a little more than hand tightening but I do not want to have to use a vice to tighten the barrel nut or that will defeat the idea behind a quick change barrel set up. I am going to run the pistol with out a handguard. When setting the pistol on a rest for shooting, it will be similiar to setting a long barreled revolver on a rest.
I will stick with shooting this off a rest to sight it in and once I am confident that the accuracy is there, I will try some free hand shots. Next step will be to load up my pistol length 5.56 and 300BO barrels with the same BAR Nut set up so I can change barrels at the range or out in the field.
Running the lower without a buffer tube will require a fix for the detent/spring that is held behind the endplate. Any ideas?