AR-15: Making an Hbar into a Free Float

[HMMurdock]

I'm thinking about obtaining a beautiful Bushmaster AR-15 at my local shop. It has a heavy barrel, but it is not a free float barrel. If I wanted to make it a free float barrel, what would I have to do?

Change the whole barrel? Swap out for a new foregrip and gas block? Can I do nothing at all?

 

[cracked butt]

I'm not entirely sure, but I'm looking to do the same.

I do know that you have to remove the front sight tower/gasblock and possibly the flash suppressor, but I'm not exactly sure what happens with the mysterious things under the delta ring.

Someone around here will certainly know....

FWIW, if you are going to upgrade your rifle to have a free float tube and possibly a better trigger, you might as well buy a Bushmaster DCM rifle right off the bat- for about the same price as doing the upgrades on the HBAR rifle, you'll also get a better barrel- at least that's the route I wish I would have taken.

 

[Doug b]

you might check at www.ar15.com

 

[rcmodel]

There are several different mounting methods used with different brands of free-float tubes, but in general, this is what you will have to do.

You will need to strip down to a bare barrel. (flash hider, sight & gas tube off.

Using an action block, vice, and barrel nut wrench, you remove the barrel nut & delta ring, and front & rear hand-guard rings.

Using a special nut wrench for your brand of FF tube, put the tube nut back on in place of the original barrel nut.

Once the gas tube notches align and the nut is torqued properly, put the gas block & gas tube back on.

Re-install the flash hider.

Slip the free-float tube over the whole mess and tighten with a strap wrench, or properly sized spanner.

Tighten set-screws.

It is basically the same whole nine yards you go through to rebarral one.

For a one-time install, I would send the upper off and have the FF tube put on.

rcmodel

 

[MacPelto]

There are a couple that don't require removing the barrel for installation. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is the VLTOR

http://www.vltor.com/casv.htm

but there are more. There's also one that requires cutting the delta ring off, but not removing the barrel or FSB.

 

[Jimmie]

I just pulled a mid-length free float tube off a heavy barrel Varminter. It's for sale if you're interested. $45 shipped. It's everything you need if it's the length you need.

 

[mbpautz762]

check out the Free Float rails by Midwest industries and Troy Industries - those are both 2-piece free float rails that do not require removing the FSB or flash hider. From what I hear, they are both rock solid and have zero roatation.

Midwest Industries: MCTAR-20 (carbine length), MCTAR-21 (Midlength), and MCTAR-22 (full rifle length)

Troy Industries: Tactical freefloat carbine length (7"), Midlength (9"), and Rifle length (12")

These models bolt to the existing barrel nut and are very simple to install. you will have to cut off your delta ring though. there is a good how-to on AR15.com. hope this helps!

 

[DnPRK]

Click the link and scroll down about a third the way down the 1st page. Pictures and detailed instructions are provided. How to install a free float rail

 

[McGlockster]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=137590&t=11082005

 

[madcratebuilder]

If you DIY, the two piece is your best bet. More than likely, your FS is pinned and welded, a pita to remove, and to be legal well need to be re-pinned and welded.

 

[tsidorus]

the legal bit would depend on the state you live in...

-tsi

 

[HMMurdock]

I live in Indiana at present, but I will be living in Nevada in about two weeks.