Changing Out Rails
- Thread starter warenm
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photoracer
Member
Rails or handguards which is it? No not on the 15-22. I left the tabs that stick out above and below the barrel in place. At least not yet.
Varangi
Member
After researching and watching the how-to utube video using Tacticool's adaptor barrel nut- I changed out my stock hand=guard for a Troy Alpha Rail-( NOTE- High end rails like the Troy Alpha or Noveske have specific mounting points in the rail- they do not slide back and forth on the barrel nut like the rail in the how-to video- installation location is dependent on the m4 barrel nut location.)
You need the proprietary barrel wrench for the take-off- find someone who already has one- you'll only use it once- Tacticool's barrel nut adaptor was a perfect fit-
Troy Alpha Rails use standard M4 barrel nuts that you have to get somewhere else. If you do not modify the m4 nut- the Troy Rail will sit 1/4" forward of the upper receiver- unacceptable in my world.
I had to modify the m4 nut- I had to remove the inside rim of the m4 barrel nut so that it could thread down over Tacticool's adaptor. I also removed both tabs on the upper receiver. Next time, I would not remove all the tab material at once- I would take 90% off then check the fit of the barrel nut and rail- using the remaining tab material as a pressure type washer to lock the m4 nut down- I was thinking about lock tight but not a good idea on a barrel nut. The Alpha locks into the m4 nut and has an anti-rotation notch on the rail. I ran this set-up in training recently and it is as robust and sturdy as my battle rifles.
The most important factor to consider- rail mounting- internal screw mounting or external friction mount-
Cheers
Mike
You need the proprietary barrel wrench for the take-off- find someone who already has one- you'll only use it once- Tacticool's barrel nut adaptor was a perfect fit-
Troy Alpha Rails use standard M4 barrel nuts that you have to get somewhere else. If you do not modify the m4 nut- the Troy Rail will sit 1/4" forward of the upper receiver- unacceptable in my world.
I had to modify the m4 nut- I had to remove the inside rim of the m4 barrel nut so that it could thread down over Tacticool's adaptor. I also removed both tabs on the upper receiver. Next time, I would not remove all the tab material at once- I would take 90% off then check the fit of the barrel nut and rail- using the remaining tab material as a pressure type washer to lock the m4 nut down- I was thinking about lock tight but not a good idea on a barrel nut. The Alpha locks into the m4 nut and has an anti-rotation notch on the rail. I ran this set-up in training recently and it is as robust and sturdy as my battle rifles.
The most important factor to consider- rail mounting- internal screw mounting or external friction mount-
Cheers
Mike
Varangi
Member
Member requested pics-
Pics show:
1. Position of stock m4 barrel nut threaded onto Tacticool adaptor.
2. Adaptor with moly gun grease to forestall seizing-different cooling patterns- steel vs. aluminum.
3. Pic of unmodified m4 barrel nut.
4 & 5. Position of unmodified m4 nut over adaptor- note 1/4" gap between upper receiver and nut.
more pics to follow--
Mike
Pics show:
1. Position of stock m4 barrel nut threaded onto Tacticool adaptor.
2. Adaptor with moly gun grease to forestall seizing-different cooling patterns- steel vs. aluminum.
3. Pic of unmodified m4 barrel nut.
4 & 5. Position of unmodified m4 nut over adaptor- note 1/4" gap between upper receiver and nut.
more pics to follow--
Mike
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Varangi
Member
Varangi
Member
Varangi
Member
tacticool22
US Veteran
Varangi. That looks great.
I designed the adapter so that the rifle would not need to be modified for a standard screw on free float hand guard. The back of the hand guard comes just up to the tabs and does not interfere with opening the upper.
If you want the end of the adapter to get closer to the upper, you need to machine the step deeper.
If you want the nut to go further down the adapter, you need to machine or remove the ring inside.
This is my 15-22 with an Olympic Arms 7 in Hand Guard
I designed the adapter so that the rifle would not need to be modified for a standard screw on free float hand guard. The back of the hand guard comes just up to the tabs and does not interfere with opening the upper.
If you want the end of the adapter to get closer to the upper, you need to machine the step deeper.
If you want the nut to go further down the adapter, you need to machine or remove the ring inside.
This is my 15-22 with an Olympic Arms 7 in Hand Guard
Attachments
Varangi
Member
Looks Good- Nice set-up. I run long top pic rails for different tac options- I needed to co-witness and index the rail- hence the "nut-to-butt" mod.
Your adaptor makes the mod easy- I know you're design is for the masses- maybe next gen. mod could include a slightly longer adaptor with a threaded sleeve that allows M4 barrel nut to thread down closer to the upper receiver w/out milling the m4 barrel nut. JMHO
Mike
Martimus
US Veteran
Although this thread has been quiet for the last couple of months, I have a question that directly relates to the what's presented in this thread.
I have a Troy Alpha rail on my M&P15-22 but that quarter inch gap is annoying me. I'd really like to eliminate it but do not have the facilities to remove the inner rim in the stock M4 barrel nut. Does anyone know of a barrel nut on the market that might work better in this application (ie., does not have this rim?)?
While it's not an immediate need I figure that I'm either gonna figure out how to get past this quarter inch gap; or I'm gonna invest in a TRX Extreme rail which still uses external friction fit. And I really don't want to invest in yet another rail...
I have a Troy Alpha rail on my M&P15-22 but that quarter inch gap is annoying me. I'd really like to eliminate it but do not have the facilities to remove the inner rim in the stock M4 barrel nut. Does anyone know of a barrel nut on the market that might work better in this application (ie., does not have this rim?)?
While it's not an immediate need I figure that I'm either gonna figure out how to get past this quarter inch gap; or I'm gonna invest in a TRX Extreme rail which still uses external friction fit. And I really don't want to invest in yet another rail...
photoracer
Member
For my speed steel PC model I chose the Nordic rimfire 1.62" diameter 13" modular handguard. I wanted to be able to hold and use it like my 3-gun Stag 3G. I love the Samson Evo handguards on the Stag. I want to put an extra Samson 7" on my other 15-22 but I need a stock AR barrel nut to go on Tacticool22's adapter and currently MidwayUSA is out of the one I want to use. Currently it also has one of the Nordic handguards on it.
photoracer
Member
As far as an AR-15 barrel nut I am also looking at that for a Samson Evo install on my #2 15-22. But if the nut is mil-spec it will have to have the same exact configuration. Best take it to a machine shop and let them turn it back. I may find I have to do something similar to install the Samson Evo.
Dattebayo
Member
Gopher Slayer
Member
Post some pics when you get it all done.
I want to put the 12" Rainier Arms Evo on mine to match my AR15.
DelFuego
Member
I found the Troy alpha to be a little too testy when trying to use it with the adapter. The TRX extreme was a much better fit using the supplied barrel nut from Troy. Here is mine next to his big brother.
I can't tell which one is the 15-22.
