Armalite SPR Mod-1 barrel question

[Serekithegreat]

Hello fellow gun owners, I have an Armalite SPR Mod-1 midlength carbine in 5.56. It has a free-floating barrel, which I just recently noticed that it moves up and down fairly easily.

I know that free-floating barrels are supposed to be separate from everything else for greater accuracy. Does anyone know if the barrel on this particular carbine is supposed be this loose?

I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.:banghead:

“No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full.”

-Sulla

 

[HOOfan_1]

The barrel should be perfectly tight in the upper receiver....it is the handguard it should not touch.

Is it the handguard wobbling, or the barrel?

 

[Serekithegreat]

Thanks for responding Hoofan. It's only the barrel that moves up & down (not side to side) if I physically move it with my hand. I recently had a new muzzle brake put on it and the guy who was installing it asked me if the barrel had always been this loose.

That's when I really started to notice it. I just thought that all free-floating barrels did that. I hope it's not a huge issue since I've only had the rifle for about a year and have only shot it maybe 7-8 times. The rifle cost me $1557.00. Do I need a gunsmith? Let me know what your thoughts are. I appreciate it.

 

[HOOfan_1]

The barrel extension locks into the upper receiver and then the barrel nut is tightened down to 30 to 80 ft-lb. If you are holding the upper receiver and you can wiggle the barrel around, then either the barrel nut is not torqued down, or something is wrong with the extension. I would call Armalite about it.

 

[Serekithegreat]

Thanks Hoofan. I've already emailed them and will call them tomorrow. Thanks for all of the help.

 

[MtnCreek]

I assume the guy that installed the muzzle brake was not a gunsmith, correct?

When torqueing the barrel nut down, it's recommended to snug it up, back it off a little. Do this several times before setting to required torque. This helps settle everything in the right spot so there is nothing in a bind that will loosen up later.