i can't take my ar-15 handguards off to save my life!

[againstthagrane]

is there some special way to do this that i'm not aware of? i've been trying for about 20 minutes now with no progress. i just can't hold the delta ring down and life and separate the handguards at the same time. is there a special tool out there for this application?

 

[brian923]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=664260&t=11082005


you can find these at a lot of online stores. (maybe not exact modle, but they all look the same.) i have never used them, i just grunt away until the handgaurd comes out. you can use a screwdriver to pry out the handgaurd, but then you run the risk of damaging the finish on the rifle and the handgaurd themselves. and then, what if you cant get them back in?!!? if you cant get them, get the tool, or find someone who can. what type of Ar is it?? pics?? brian

 

[mgregg85]

did you try getting some help with it? Pull the delta ring down and have someone else pull the handguards off.

 

[againstthagrane]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=354325

pics can be found there. thanks for the tip though. i wonder about how well that tool actually works though.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Good thing is it will get easier each time as you weaken the spring a little.

 

[tntwatt]

if you have someone to help, put the but of the weapon on the table, get 2 wooden spoons, place the handle of one spoon on each side of the delta ring and pull down, then the other person should be able to pull the handguard off with no problem

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

 

[againstthagrane]

i think i'm just going to order that tool. it seems to be getting great reviews from people who have used it.
thanks for the help guys. i'm loving this forum.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

run a length of paracord thru the hand guards vent holes
loop it back out and tie it together

push down on the delta and use your teeth to pull the cord

 

[Onmilo]

Ouch!
Get a handguard removal tool from Brownells
http://www.brownells.com
They have a couple different offerings available.

 

[jrfoxx]

I had trouble with mine the first time I tried to do it too, even with the wife's help. I could get the ring down, but she couldn't separate the handguards. So we tried switching jobs. No go, she couldnt hold the ring down. Eventually got it myself by pulling the ring down with my right hand, and slipping a putty knife blade between the handguards to separate them a little.Part of the problem was the handguards were just kinda stuck together.Once I had them separated a hair, they kept the ring from moving up at all, so I could easily pull down the last little bit with my hand, while separating the gaurds a little more, until the ring was all the way down, and the guards now far enpugh apart to hold it there.Then I could use both hands on the guards and they popped right off.

The second time was a lot easier, as I knew how to do it, and the guards separated easy as they werent stuck together any more. The tool is probly easiest and fastest, and is pretty cheap (but so am I, so I havent bought one )

 

[wideym]

My cousin had trouble removing the handguards from an old, used Bushmaster carbine he had bought. It had the old small carbine handguards and the reason they would not come off was that they were melted at the front. We had to pry them apart with a screwdriver and were useless afterward, but I had an extra set of Glasierguards I let him have.

 

[Ash]

Make you really appreciate the FAL method of handguard retention.

Ash

 

[Kind of Blued]

I'm going to offer no helpful advice and instead simply resort to calling you a "sally"...

 

[chucksmooth]

i've never been able to do it myself. IMO, its a two person job

 

[SSN Vet]

+1 on it being a two person evlolution.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Lift some weights Nancy.


Just kidding.

It was a bear to get mine on and off when I first assembled my rifle. It is easier now that I have cycled that spring a few times.

 

[Evil Monkey]

Oh, I see.

The hand guards are JAMMED!!!!!

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

I've found that compressing the delta ring even just a dozen times softens it up a little.


Either that or my fingers got much stronger


I could do it even when new, but it was quite difficult. Now, it's not easy, but easier.

 

[Snipe315]

Wimps...



I never had any problem removing handguards by myself in the USMC. And some of those were hard to remove.

Try removing one at a time.

 

[ny32182]

I've taken them on and off myself before, but its not easy. Pull the ring with one hand; pull one half of the handguard with the other. If the spring isn't broken in yet, you'd better have strong hands, or a lot of patience if taking this approach. Better solution is to get a friend to help you.

I've never tried the tool before.

 

[LiquidTension]

I broke down and bought the tool. I'm a firm believer in having the right tool for the job and I wasn't disappointed. Even only using it on two rifles it was worth the money.

 

[41magsnub]

You could try dropping the rifle muzzle first from your roof onto the driveway. That might pop them off. I'm not going to try it myself, but if you do please post pics!

 

[Redheadedstranger]

Maryland AR-15 Shooters website

This website has a lot of good info and useful tips/tricks for ARs. I ran across info on their on how to make your own handguard removal tool for just a few bucks. I haven't done it yet, but it looks pretty simple.

 

[pgeleven]