AC_Rhino Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 Hi. I’m new to the whole AR platform, though I’m very familiar and own many M1 Garand’s, M1A’s, M700, R742, and R750 rifles. I’ve never been a fan of the AR because they just look cheap and chintzy and sort of like a star wars Stormtrooper blaster. I’m also not a fan of the 5.56 round, I prefer the 30-06. Now that being said I ran into an AR last week, it’s a DPMS LR-G2 in 7.62x51 (which I see is the same as .308) and it looked and felt nice. It had heft but wasn’t heavy, it had nice metal parts, and it didn’t have that overly tactical military look. Well it was either that or another Springfield M1A … so I left. Then I went back an hour later and bought the DPMS. Now being to new the AR platform I have some questions … and to be honest even though there are 10 billion webpages that use the term “AR” … I haven’t found much helpful. Additionally the dealer that sold me the firearm didn’t know too much about it … (which is typical) … and Panther Arms really sucks ass when asking questions and more or less don’t respond to customer questions. Well here I am to ask some questions. Just to tell you a little more about myself, I do restore old WW2 firearms American for sure but I know my way around German arms and some Japanese/Russian stuff. I also consider myself an amateur gunsmith and can do most anything on a lot of pistols and other firearm types. So first here are the pics of the rifle as you folks probably want to see it. I have optics on the way. My first question is in regards to the label “Caliber – Multi” on the lower stamped on the mag well. Now I have learned as much as this means I can use a different upper and change the caliber of round discharged … what I haven’t found out exactly would be what caliber of round I can use … what uppers are available, and do I need to use the same magazine and such. Does this only apply to the Winchester .308 family of cases? I thought I read somewhere that you can get use 9mm or a .50 BMG (which I can’t understand as it is a far longer round then the mag well). Anyway, if you guys can explain this to me or point me to a place that could that would be a big help. Pics below. My second question is in regards to removing things. I assume you push out the two pins at the front and rear of the lower on the side of the bolt catch and it comes apart to separate the upper from the lower. What I don’t know is how do you remove the hand guard? I want to know how to remove it just so I know how to remove it. I looks to me like you need to remove the gas block and gas tub (which I read was a pain in the dick) before you can do that. That gas tube seems to pass through some cylindrical thing with tiny holes drilled in it and it passes through one of the holes (sorry I don’t know what that is called). I’ve read that you need custom DPMS tools to do this (and they don’t respond to customers) and that you need to heat the poop out of it with a torch. Any thoughts. Pics below. Thanks in advance guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 So to answer your first question. There are basically 3 different types/sizes of AR receivers.The small format is the original AR15. It can be chambered in .22lr, 5.45x39, .223/5.56x45, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8SPC, 300Blackout, 7.62x39. It can also be made (with appropriate parts) to chamber pistol loads like 9mm and 45ACP, as well as large bore loads like .50 Beowolf, .450 Bushmaster and .458 Socom.The large format rifle is often called the 308AR, AR10, and LR308. Those are either misnomers or inappropriate vernacular. The large format was originally intended to shoot .308 and 7.62x51, but may also be chambered in .260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, .243 Win, 7mm-06, and I think I'm missing a few more. There are three basic "styles" that are most common, and areally often most distinguished by the rypeople ofor magainze rhey use. The DPMS variant, the Armalite variant and the third/rarer model that utilizes the HK G3 magainze.There are companies like BOHICA and SERBU who make bolt action uppers for the small and large format lowers. These can be chambered in anything, including .50BMG, .408Cheytac, .416 Barrett.There are even a crossbow and spear-gun uppers for the small format rifles.The last size is newer to the market, and usually VERY proprietary. The Magnum AR can normally be found in .300WinMag and .338 Lapua Magnum.There have been 30-06 and .270 rifles made, but none were successful in their marketing.A 12g and a 20g were attempted on the large format, but the company (Fidelis Arms) failed before the prototype ever got released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 Welcome to the forum from southern Wisconsin. As for removing the hand guard yes you need to remove the gas block, it's not so much a "pain in the dick" to remove but you just need to make sure you get it lined back up when you reinstall. Being that hand guard is carbon fiber (which is sexy!!) it's epoxied to the barrel nut. To remove the barrel nut you'll need an armors wrench and a vise block for your upper. And yes the upper separates from the lower by removing those pins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 For your second question. There's a bunch of videos on YouTube for removing that exact handguard. Heatgun+strap wrench+cussing= completion.An armorers wrench will make short work of the barrel nut once the handguard is removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 Welcome from Indiana brother,a few Garands damn I'm jealous.I love my Garand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC_Rhino Posted February 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 does removing that guard require loosening or removing the barrel then? does the barrel just pop out or is it screwed in like an M1? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 This may help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted February 7, 2016 Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 does removing that guard require loosening or removing the barrel then? does the barrel just pop out or is it screwed in like an M1?removing the handguard does nothing to the barrel. Removing the barrel nut will. Once the nut is off, the barrel should just slip out. There are no "screw in" barrels on the AR platform rifles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted February 7, 2016 Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 That type of Hand Guard is meant to be semi permanent, meaning not normally removed for normal cleaning of the Rifle . The Hand Guard & Barrel Nut look like they are one piece , the slots you see on the side of the nut are what appears to be for a Spanner Wrench , for removal/install . Why remove it if not needed , unless you want to replace it . That hand Guard looks real close to being able to pass that Gas Block , may not have to remove it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC_Rhino Posted February 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 I don't want to remove it, I just want to know how. Just like no one ever wants to change a tire in the rain, but you need to know how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaseFan9 Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I was going to suggest one of Mr. Raley's tech notes for reference at least, but for some reason it keeps saying I don't have access to them..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I don't want to remove it, I just want to know how. Just like no one ever wants to change a tire in the rain, but you need to know how. The Hand Guard is basically the Barrel Nut & it will screw off the same way , but I'll be willing to bet it is loctited on in some way , which is why heat was mentioned to help remove it . Or there may be a cinch nut holding the actual hand guard on & by removing it & the Hand Guard , the Barrel Nut can be seen & Removed . There isn't much on that Hand Guard , any where I looked , but my guess is its a one piece Hand Guard / Barrel nut . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I agree with SS. If you were so inclined to do so;remove the muzzle device with the appropriate wrench.remove the gas block and slide the whole gas assembly out of the upper receiver, with the gas tube still attached.using a spanner or strap wrench, loosen and remove the barrel nut, with the handguard still attached. replace with parts desired, and reassemble in reverse order.not too difficult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 The Hand Guard is basically the Barrel Nut & it will screw off the same way , but I'll be willing to bet it is loctited on in some way , which is why heat was mentioned to help remove it . Or there may be a cinch nut holding the actual hand guard on & by removing it & the Hand Guard , the Barrel Nut can be seen & Removed . There isn't much on that Hand Guard , any where I looked , but my guess is its a one piece Hand Guard / Barrel nut .when I was looking into carbon fiber hand gaurds I found they epoxy to the barrel nut like this: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/313249/dpms-free-float-tube-handguard-lr-308-rifle-length-carbon-fiber-mattethats how the dpms ones were when I was looking at them, now I see they make them with Allen machine screws too, but I'm betting yours is epoxied to the barrel nut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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