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Re-barreling and Installing a Float Tube on a
5.56mm Service Rifle - AR-15, etc. - Page 3
The
barrel was mounted in a mill and four "flats" were cut using a
3/16-inch end mill.
Above are
the "flats", two on each side.
The
floating assembly is slid over the barrel, the upper is held in the
holder/clamp in the vise, and the barrel nut, now a part of the floating
assembly, is tightened using a homemade hook wrench. Brownells wanted $40 or so for a
wrench.
The
sight was installed and the lower screws snugged up. The rifle was test fired
and sighed using the four #8 set screws to adjust windage.
Once windage was correct, all set screws were
tightened. Above you can see where the old swivel "ears" have been
removed (the shiny place on either side of the right-hand screw) and the new
"ears" on the floating tube. Although it looks like one piece, the
front sight/barrel is not touching the end of the float tube. The barrel is
free floating inside of the tube. The strain from the sling is transferred to
the tube, and not the barrel.