angryeyebrows
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Oscar Mike
Ok I'll lay it out. It is very easy to modify the AR, you just have to have the right tools. If you want to do it properly, you would need (at the very least) a punch set, barrel wrench, action block and vise. Remove the flash hider and the front sight block, wrench off the delta/barrel nut and install your new products.
The above method is only required if you want to save the delta ring assembly or your new rails use a special barrel nut. Some others mentioned cutting the delta off. That is fairly easy to do if you have a dremel. Then you'd simply remove the flash hider, knock off the front sight and install your low pro gas block and rails. The only down side is you'd have to get a new delta assembly if you wanted to go back. Also, your new FF rails have to be compatible with the factory barrel nut (Troy, MI, Samson etc) and not a special proprietary nut (LaRue, DD, Knight's).
Which ever way you go, you'll need to do something about the gas block. Cutting the front sight down was mentioned. This does give you the added security of having the GB pinned on but to be honest your rails will cover the new block anyway and protect it from any blows it may receive. The down side to cutting the FSB off is it takes a lot of work to make it look good and there is a lot of material to remove. Also if you ever wanted to go back to a FSB you would not be able to. All FSBs are barrel specific. None will fit the same.
My recommendation is to use a clamping style of low profile gas block as oppose to the set screw type. They are easier to install and do not require modification to the barrel. Vltor and DD make two good choices. After that what ever rails you choose, just make sure they have the features you want. Troy makes a decent, easy to install FF rail that uses the factory barrel nut. Great for a first try at gunsmithing.
