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Silentknight's AR15 Question

tomh.
"If im replacing a barrel do I have to worry about the headspace on a AR15? Or is everything already milled to specs. into the barrel and I just have to make sure to screw in the barrel all the way?"

He posted this earlier today on "General" and no one responded. Because of the way the barrel fits the receiver and is held in place with a nut, is there an adjustment? Or are we thinking about it the wrong way?
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • SilentKnight
    Thats the way I see it. Do you just slip the barrel in place and tighten the nut. Or do you have to worry about headspace etc?
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  • Laredo Lefty
    If the barrel already has the "barrel extension" in place, then you just need to torque the barrel into the rec to 31-35 ft lbs.

    Make sure you have the barrel snap ring, delta ring, and weld spring in their proper places. That should do it.

    "Never let school interfere with your education"
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  • vicg1
    yes, headspace still counts on AR15s... but, the receiver/barrel relationship has nothing to do with it... the bolt/barrel need to be headspaced. The bolt locks into the barrel via locking lugs... the receiver has nothing to do with it. So, torque the barrel to spec, then test headspace. If it is off, the you will need to adjust via filing of bolt lugs (or using another bolt, as is usually done).



    vipersig.jpg
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  • dheffley
    If everythings right, head space should be in tolerance, but it shouldn't be assumed. Proceedure calls for the head space to be inspected after assembly, and this step should not be bypassed.

    How you doin'!wolf_evil_smile_md_wht.gif
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  • rogerreloader
    IF YOU TIGHTEN THE BARREL NUT TO 31-35 FT.LB. I THINK YOU WILL BE SORRY. I THINK THE BOOK CALLS FOR IN. LB.
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  • mark christian
    31 to 35 foot pounds is the specification Uncle Sam uses and this has been plenty good enough for me for many years. 31 to 35 inch pounds would hardly even get you finger tight much less up to spec! I advise against applying the total 31+ pounds of torque in a single application, torque applied two times is better (or so a Marine Corps armorer told me along with several automotive mechanics).

    Mark T. Christian
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  • Boomerang
    The problem I have had in the past is deforming the barrel index pin while you are applying torque. This will cause the windage adjustments on the rear sights to not be able to overcome the set on the front sight. Usually the point of impact is off to the right to far. The front sights will be canted slightly to the left. Believe me it does not take much to do this. A suggestion is to have extra index pins around in case this happens.

    Boomer

    "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed"

    NRA Life Member
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