I got the last of ten Dlask Derya TM-22 with a short barrel this week and I have identified an issue that could lead to damage. Because they used a short barrel Dlask was forced to remove the nylon barrel ring that goes in the handguard at the muzzle end. Other owners with an 18" barrel might be tempted to free-float their barrels by removing the nylon barrel ring so this applies to all TM-22s out there. Don't remove it!
I shot one Mapleseed match (120rnds) with a sling attached and the aluminum handguard started to deform around the barrel nut. The handguard aluminum is not that thick and the tension from a sling attached at the far end was enough to start it wobbling just slightly left and right. I noticed it immediately at the end of the match. Repeated use of a sling without the nylon barrel ring installed would eventually lead to a very loose hand guard.
Besides the tension from a sling, imagine what would happen if the gun was dropped on the handguard or aggressively put down on a bag. Without the nylon barrel ring the only support is around the barrel nut so the same thing would happen as with the sling tension, the handguard would deform and start to wiggle.
TO Dlask TM-22 OWNERS:
Because of the short barrel, I can't just put the nylon barrel ring back. Instead, I made a little donut ring that slips over the threaded barrel and rests on the shoulder. The Dlask compensator screws down on it and holds the donut tight. I have no wobble now and I feel it's safe to use the sling. I feel as though Dlask should fabricate some aluminum 40mm x 5mm donuts with a threaded 1/2" hole for those who bought their modded TM-22. It really needs that barrel ring for structural integrity.
The ID of the handguard is 40mm and it just so happens that my cheap Canadian Tire hole saw kit cuts out a perfect 41mm circle. I cut one out of 6mm acrylic sheet I had. After, I put a bolt through the center and chucked it up in the drill press. I ground down the edge with 180grit paper and test-fit it often until I had a tight fit. I then opened up the center hole to 1/2" to fit over the barrel threads.
So if you have an 18" TM-22 you may want think about the handguard before removing that nylon barrel ring. I really doubt not free-floating the barrel would make any difference in accuracy but if it does I will reply to this post about it.
I shot one Mapleseed match (120rnds) with a sling attached and the aluminum handguard started to deform around the barrel nut. The handguard aluminum is not that thick and the tension from a sling attached at the far end was enough to start it wobbling just slightly left and right. I noticed it immediately at the end of the match. Repeated use of a sling without the nylon barrel ring installed would eventually lead to a very loose hand guard.
Besides the tension from a sling, imagine what would happen if the gun was dropped on the handguard or aggressively put down on a bag. Without the nylon barrel ring the only support is around the barrel nut so the same thing would happen as with the sling tension, the handguard would deform and start to wiggle.
TO Dlask TM-22 OWNERS:
Because of the short barrel, I can't just put the nylon barrel ring back. Instead, I made a little donut ring that slips over the threaded barrel and rests on the shoulder. The Dlask compensator screws down on it and holds the donut tight. I have no wobble now and I feel it's safe to use the sling. I feel as though Dlask should fabricate some aluminum 40mm x 5mm donuts with a threaded 1/2" hole for those who bought their modded TM-22. It really needs that barrel ring for structural integrity.
The ID of the handguard is 40mm and it just so happens that my cheap Canadian Tire hole saw kit cuts out a perfect 41mm circle. I cut one out of 6mm acrylic sheet I had. After, I put a bolt through the center and chucked it up in the drill press. I ground down the edge with 180grit paper and test-fit it often until I had a tight fit. I then opened up the center hole to 1/2" to fit over the barrel threads.
So if you have an 18" TM-22 you may want think about the handguard before removing that nylon barrel ring. I really doubt not free-floating the barrel would make any difference in accuracy but if it does I will reply to this post about it.
