AR-15 barrel nut torque

[Zerodefect]

I've never used a torque wrench on an AR build.

30 pound will feel like very little. Going past 80 in a jig with the usual Ar wrenches will feel like murder.

Really it's now big deal. Just put the nut on three times, slightly tighter than snug. You'll figure it out. Just use grease!

 

[Tirod]

It's not a nuclear weapon, it's a firearm. Suggesting that nuclear weapons level armorers need the exact force specifications for tightening the barrel nut is ludicrous.

Further, the firearms engineers know their business. I suspect they don't sharpshoot YOUR procedures, or the level of education necessary to accomplish nuclear weapons duties. They write instructions for their audience, not nuclear weapons specialists. They knew what they were doing - greased thread torque values with an extension. That in no way means the actual value of torque generated is 30 or 80 foot pounds.

It is an INDICATED SETTING on the wrench. The translation of torque value was already accomplished, there is no sense wasting an armorer's time wading through a page of tables to calculate the working setting. The setting was never intended to communicate an actual torque value at the thread level. Frankly, its too much information, no one really loses sleep over it. The M16/M4 has been assembled that way for 45 years and more.

Be self righteous if you will, the actual torque value at the thread is obviously not 30 or 80 pounds. The specified value is to set the tool only, and it works. It didn't need nuclear weapons specialists to figure that out.

 

[TonyAngel]

Yeah, this actual applied torque is not important. What is important is that you at least meet the minimum, so that things don't come loose, and that you don't exceed the maximum torque value and start to warp or gall the metal.

In any case, I seriously doubt that you'll be able to get to any exact torque value anyway. Once you get the nut tightened, you still have to line up the notch for the gas tube. Just set the wrench for 30lbs or so. Tighten until you get to that, then go to the next available notch to line up for the has tube. If you can't get it to line up, without over torquing, either try another nut or lap the receiver.

 

[lencac]

Hi guys:
Here's a couple of pics of the finished product. Keep in mind this is your basic AR carbine. I have no idea of how it will shoot yet. My goal was to see how cheaply I could build a real AR for
However, I have a total of $500 in it as you see it here
The other AR's I've had were all Match H-bar's. I really like how light and mobile it is. It's like a toy. I think an AirSoft AR would weigh more.
Putting it together was a breeze. The barrel found the right spot at 38 ft/lb. with the tool at 90 degree of the torque wrench. Right at 2 hrs. for the first time. Next time less than an hour.

 

[jsimmons]

I'd heard that anything more than 40 foot-pounds will negatively affect the accuracy of the rifle.

I go to 30 and then, if necessary, tighten to alignment.