TerryF

D-E-Man, The forend came with a barrel nut, handguard and several three-inch 1913 rail sections w/screws. No instructions, however, which resulted in my cry for help to 308AR.COM. This community is awesome. One of the things I like about this item is that the diameter of the new handguard is much less than the stock DPMS LR-308-B part and it has vent holes. The part seems well made, but I have not subjected it to hard use yet. Terry

In case anyone is interested, the 12-inch free-float quad rail hand guard is sold by Barrier Defense in Orlando FL. I have no idea who made it. They shipped fast from Gunbroker and charged me $109.00 complete. Terry

OK, the job is complete. I did NOT find thread locker on the barrel nut. I did find thread locker on the threads that join the two parts of the hand guard. I used a DPMS barrel nut wrench, an 18-inch 1/2-inch drive breaker bar and a Harbor Freight heat gun. The upper was held secure by a Brownells upper receiver block held in a five-inch bench vise. The barrel nut came loose quite easily. Thank you all for your kind assistance and encouragement. Terry

Thanks, you guys are awesome. I did a little more research on my own and found that I have the DPMS LR-308 barrel nut wrench. I simply had no idea that the wrench engages those flimsy aluminum gas tube holes to pull up to 80 ft-lbs of torque. I ordered a DPMS upper receiver block from Brownells to hold on to. I watched the Brownells video for the AR-15 and like the robustness of the holding fixture that grips the exterior. All I could find was the interior block for the adult-size ARs. Thanks again for getting me on the right path. I plan to photograph and post, assuming DPMS ever sends the new gas block and assuming I don't trash my gun. Terry

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the quick response. I have a DPMS barrel nut wrench, however I may have the wrong wrench, as I can see no way for the wrench to attach. No flats, notches or holes except for the gas tube clearance. You are probably right about the Loc-Tite, as the forward part of the handguard had white gunk in the threads. Any idea on the torque spec? The Brownells video says 30-80 ft-lbs for the little AR-15s. Terry

I have a DPMS LR-308B. I love the accuracy and dependability. I replaced the A2 buttstock with a Magpul ACS and topped it with a good 1-4 x scope. I like to run a bipod with a rifle this heavy, but when I use the short stock forend, it leaves no space for my hand. I purchased a new longer free-float handguard off GunBroker that is purported to work with the LR-308. I have a low-profile gas block ordered from DPMS to fit under the forend. I have removed the gas block, gas tube and most of the stock free-float forend. I was able to get the larger piece of the forend unscrewed by using a heat gun to break it loose. The part I have left is about 1-1/2 inches long with the same diameter and external finish as the rest of the hardguard and has a zillion gas tube holes in it. I believe this has to come off also, because my new tube has a part that has the same number of gas tube holes and the threads do not match. My issue is that the remaining forend/barrel nut thing is refusing to come loose. I can't budge it with a strap wrench and I can see no other way to get hold of it. No flats or notches or anything. Can somebody give me a hint or something? Terry