DIY: Upgrade Your AR Handguard!

We all love our ARs because they are completely customizable, and most of the changes can be made without having to go to a gunsmith. Knowing that everything can be swapped and having the confidence to swap it are very different things — especially when you’re talking about making adjustments to the barrel. Let me show you how simple it actually is to change the handguard and the tools you’ll need to do it.

I’m swapping from one free-floating handguard to another. If you have a different style, you may need different tools, but the process is very similar.

I wanted to upgrade my handguard to a custom low-profile design from Unique-ARs. Their handguards are easier to hold and more modern than my old short version with Picatinny rails all the way around. (Learn more about Unique-AR products in this article.)

Tools You’ll Need

• Vise or clamps with blocks
• Adjustable wrench
• 1/16″ punch and light hammer
• Allen wrenches for your handguard
• Armorer’s wrench for your barrel nut
• Blue Loctite thread locker (optional)
• Gun cleaner

Remove Muzzle Device & Optics

Start by removing your muzzle device. The gas block won’t slide off the barrel with it on. If you have a fash hider, you can probably use an adjustable wrench to remove it. Also, remove any optics.

Remove Handguard & Gas Block

You’ll probably remove the handguard first, but if your gun is like mine was with an A2 sight and gas block combined in one piece, then you need to remove the gas block first. If so, see this article for full instructions on removing the A2 sight/gas block.

Use the Allen wrenches to remove the bolts that hold the handguard tight to the barrel nut. Your gas block may also be held in place with Allen screws. If not, use the 1/16″ punch to remove the two pins that keep the gas block in place. The pins push through from the left side of the weapon to the right side. Be sure to place some blocks to support the weapon and the barrel as you tap the pins out.

The gas tube goes from the gas block back through the barrel nut into the upper receiver. It looks like a rod, but it is a hollow tube. Slide the gas block and tube off the front of the barrel — give it a little wiggle.

Separate & Secure Upper Receiver

You’ll need the upper receiver to be locked down in a vise in order to replace the barrel nut with the new one. Separate the upper from the lower receiver. Remove the bolt carrier group. Use wooden blocks to pad the upper and help you secure it in the vise. Position it in the vise with the barrel nut as close as possible to the jaws so that it doesn’t rotate down as much when you put weight on the wrench.

Be careful not to smash the receiver in the vise. Don’t put it in the vise in its natural orientation — instead, turn it 90 degrees so the top rail and the bottom edge of the receiver are being squeezed. If you squeeze it with the Picatinny rail on the top, you can easily deform the receiver.

Remove Barrel Nut

The upper receiver has a threaded extension and the barrel fits flush against it. Then the barrel nut goes over the barrel and threads onto the upper which pulls the barrel tight against the upper. Another way to do it is the way Unique ARs does it. The barrel nut goes onto the upper, then the barrel is pulled into the receiver using a castle nut which threads into the barrel nut.

This is where the armorer’s wrench comes in. There’s just no other tool you can use that won’t ruin the barrel nut’s threads. Some new barrel nuts include flat surfaces so you can use an adjustable wrench, and I think those are great. But, for the barrel nut on my gun and for the castle nut from Unique ARs, an armorer’s wrench is necessary.

You can buy cheap wrenches for about $20 from Amazon or eBay. You’ll see reviews that say they are garbage and reviews that aren’t specific but give 5 stars. The 5-star reviews were paid for and the person probably didn’t use the wrench. Pay attention to the reviews that say the wrench was cheap metal that bent and wasn’t usable. If you pay about $60 you can get a quality wrench from someplace like Brownell’s. Or, you can borrow your buddy’s wrench (as I did here).

Use the wrench to remove the barrel nut. It can be very stiff. I had to get my entire weight behind it to break it loose. Remember to keep an eye on the vise and make sure you don’t deform the upper. Once it breaks loose, it’ll come off with your hand.

Clean It Up

Now you can pull the barrel off the upper. It’s a good opportunity to clean the barrel extension and the barrel. Also, clean grease or oil off the threaded upper receiver extension. You can use Loctite on those threads, but it won’t work if it’s greasy.

Attach Barrel Nut

Now you’re ready to assemble the gun. The barrel nut goes onto the upper first. Thread it on and off once or twice to make sure the threads are clear and smooth. Also, make sure it’s going on in the right direction so the handguard can slide on.

The thing to pay attention to is that the hole in the nut for the gas tube has to line up with the gas port in the receiver. Making sure the two holes line up is called timing the holes. On mine, I screwed the nut on and the holes lined up just right when it was very tight using only my hands. If the holes don’t line up for you, put it on as tight as you can, then back it up until the holes line up.

This step is not totally necessary, but it will help keep the holes aligned when you secure the castle nut. Unscrew the nut and add a drop of blue Loctite to the threads (Loctite comes in different colors for different uses–blue can be more easily removed for service later). Tighten the nut back into place so the gas port holes align. Allow the Loctite to dry for at least a couple of hours, maybe even a whole day.

Attach Barrel

Now you can attach the barrel with the castle nut. Remember, the barrel has a key peg on the top that aligns with a slot in the upper receiver. Put it in place and slide the castle nut down into place. I applied another drop of Loctite, but it’s probably not necessary.

It’s important that you keep the gas port holes aligned. Use a punch or an Allen wrench in the holes to keep them aligned as you torque the castle nut on.

Use the armorer’s wrench to tighten the castle nut. There’s a square hole in the wrench for a torque wrench. Check with your owner’s manual, but most barrels are torqued somewhere between 30 and 80 ft-lbs. The range of torque allows you to twist until the gas ports align in some designs.

Attach Gas Block

Now put the gas block and gas tube back in place. Remember, if your gas block attaches with pins, push them from the left side to the right.

Attach Handguard

Now slide the handguard over the barrel and align the holes on the barrel nut. Unique-ARs’ handguard comes with Allen screws and a small Allen wrench. Put the screws in loosely to align all the holes then tighten them starting with one, then tightening the one opposite, like a car wheel. The screws have thread locker applied, so you don’t need to crank down really hard on the screws.

Unique ARs’ handguards have threaded holes for attaching accessories. Orient these holes to fit your needs.

Attach Muzzle Device

Reattach the muzzle device and pay attention to the timing so the ports align properly.

Go Shoot!

After you reattach the lower receiver, you’re done! You’ll need to zero your optics at the range, but you’ve got your new handguard in place and you’re ready to rock. I like the well-machined feel of the handguard I put on my rifle. It is so well-made that it feels almost soft and is extremely grip-able.

Once I got my old handguard off, I was surprised to find that it and the Unique ARs both weigh 10.2 ounces. Those Pic rails on my shorty really added up. Also, the weight of the Unique ARs is dependent on the design and how much material is removed. Your mileage may vary.

The most important thing is to get out there and put some lead downrange. Practice and become proficient with your new tools.

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