Norinco M4 Barrel nut stuck on

Rufferto

Rufferto

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Hello SFRC and everyone else,

I just received my 14.5" Norinco M4 upper (from SFRC) and I am trying to install a free float forend but I am having a hell of a time removing parts.

I had to cut off the front sight 'cause I couldn't punch out the pins and now I can't even budge the barrel nut. I've soaked it in WD-40 and even used a torch without success.

Are these issues common with the Norinco's or am I just special?

I am afraid I am going to totally wreck the upper.

Any suggestions?
 
Gas block are generally red lock tightened in requiring the proper vice an tools to work on ARs. You also need special tools to install a free floating rail. I would suggest stopping now and taking it to a gunsmith
 
Special tools to install a FF rail?! Yeah, it's called a standard armourer's wrench! Seriously, if you have to take an AR to a smith to change a barrel or install a new forend, you probably shouldn't have one. To the OP, yeah, I found the gas block to be impossible to remove the pins on, so a hacksaw fixed that. I didn't have much trouble with the barrel nut, though. Assuming you have the barrel nut wrench, maybe try a snipe on the wrench, just be careful.
 
Thanks gabrielguitars,

I have a nice armours wrench and I've removed a barrel nut (and installed a FF rail) before without any issues.

I'm going to try a cheater bar on the wrench but if that doesn't work, I guess I'll just have to cut the barrel nut off as well. A new one is around $25.
 
DPMS sells upper vice moulds that might help your situation. They run about 40 bucks and an be ordered off their website or from your local gunshop. Use of a cheater bar on the wrench helps a lot too. Even then, you should have gotten it off using the torch so hopefully it all works out.
 
I had troubles with the Front site and cut it off, the Barrel nut didn't give me much trouble but it was TIGHT- like 85 ft/lbs according to my torque wrench. However My 2 ft long torque wrench attached to a multi-tool did the job.
 
did you take the gas tube out? :p
Click to expand...

Ha! I like that one! (you did, didn't you?). Rufferto, you have to realize that they may have torqued it in pretty good to line up the gas tube port, so a lieberal (!) application of force may be required and not uncommon. I myself noticed that the finish on the Norc nut was rather rough compared to the NEA off my other upper, so I changed it out. Considering the finish and extra umph required to remove it, you might want to replace it after.
 
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