SASS barrel not centered under handguard

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13 years 1 week ago #9465 by amstel78
SASS barrel not centered under handguard was created by amstel78
Was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to correct? This isn't a problem when scoped, but when irons are used, the fact that the handguard's top rail isn't directly over the bore will lead to problems.

My SASS originally came with the barrel nut being slightly torqued past TDC resulting in the HG also being canted so I had to adjust it. The top rail of the handguard is now level with the receiver's top rail. Sighting down the top from the buttstock however, you can see the HG leaning towards the left. Using a micrometer from the barrel end, the distance between each side of the barrel to the handguard also shows that it's not centered. I have confirmed that the barrel is square in relation to the receiver so there's something wrong with the HG. I've loosened, wiggled and retightened the quad rail and retaining ring several times but the lean is still there.

I sent an email to TR over at Armalite and he suggested removing the barrel, re-seating it, then re-torquing the barrel nut. Is that my only option or does anyone else have a suggestion?

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13 years 1 week ago #9472 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Re: SASS barrel not centered under handguard
I'm a terminal DIY'er so I would personally try to fix it myself. Maybe resulting in more issues and greater expense, but I gotta be me.
However, considering the barrel nut was already over torqued from the factory, this is one I would send back to Armalite. After all, It could be something not easily resolved, like out of square machining.

something I have observed over the years, quite a few FF tubes do not center perfectly. Some of it is due to tolerance stacking, other times it is warped or distorted from manufacturing or use & abuse. Add to that how easy it is to flex a handguard and that is why I don't think they are suitable for mounting sights & such. They just aren't stable enough in my opinion.

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13 years 1 week ago #9475 by amstel78
Replied by amstel78 on topic Re: SASS barrel not centered under handguard

13fcolt wrote: I'm a terminal DIY'er so I would personally try to fix it myself. Maybe resulting in more issues and greater expense, but I gotta be me.
However, considering the barrel nut was already over torqued from the factory, this is one I would send back to Armalite. After all, It could be something not easily resolved, like out of square machining.

something I have observed over the years, quite a few FF tubes do not center perfectly. Some of it is due to tolerance stacking, other times it is warped or distorted from manufacturing or use & abuse. Add to that how easy it is to flex a handguard and that is why I don't think they are suitable for mounting sights & such. They just aren't stable enough in my opinion.


Thanks for the reply. I am a terminal DIY'er myself so I know exactly where you're coming from. In this case, unless the FF tube itself is warped or out of spec, or the receiver's face isn't completely square, then this should be something I could fix. I will take the barrel off this weekend to re-seat and re-torque the barrel nut. Perhaps that might solve the problem although I do believe the barrel is perfectly perpendicular to the receiver. If after that it's still off, then I have no choice but to send it back to Armalite.

FWIW, when I first noticed that the barrel nut was past TDC and the FF tube was rotated slightly, all I had to do was back it out by maybe 1/50". I don't think the nut was overtorqued; from feel it's somewhere between 55-65 ft lbs.

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13 years 4 days ago #9533 by BUILDING MY SASS
Replied by BUILDING MY SASS on topic Re: SASS barrel not centered under handguard
For what it is worth gentlemen...it seems to be the "Norm"....with the AR-10....I had to "adjust" my barrel nut on my A4CB...to install my Drop-in hand guard and I know a few others did as well...
I would think (or HOPE) that ArmaLite would take this into consideration on the "Newer Models" and make sure the Nut is centered Properly....
Just to add...I am not "Hashing" on the Home Office...merely making a "point"...
I wouldn't trade my AR-10 for anything...well maybe a date with :S :whistle: ...
Nah..not even that... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
BMS

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13 years 3 days ago - 13 years 3 days ago #9535 by amstel78
Replied by amstel78 on topic Re: SASS barrel not centered under handguard
The barrel nut being not exactly TDC is fine and an easy enough fix to bring a quad rail back into level with the receiver's top rail. My problem however is that the whole handguard tilts to one side that no finagling with the retaining ring or barrel nut is going to fix. I went so far as to remove the barrel yesterday and re-seat it into the receiver. I torqued 3 times, finally centering at about 50 ft lbs. Reinstalling the handguard still shows it leaning towards one direction, and when you rotate the handguard 90 degrees, the tilt follows. This confirms to me that my handguard is out of spec and not the receiver or barrel.

At this point, I'm not exactly thrilled with my purchase. First cosmetic issues which really isn't a big deal (but on a 2300 dollar rifle?) and now this. Combined, I'm starting to have buyer's remorse. I'll give Armalite the benefit however to try and correct the problem. I've emailed Armalite and have requested a replacement HG. Let's see what they say...
Last edit: 13 years 3 days ago by amstel78.

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13 years 3 days ago #9537 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Re: SASS barrel not centered under handguard
That is rough brother, but try not to lose faith in what is truly one of the amazing weapons on the market. I'm sure armalite will take care of it. a good day shooting usually cures ill feelings.

...and no, I can not imagine a woman I'd trade this weapon for.

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12 years 11 months ago #9668 by cliff
Replied by cliff on topic Re: SASS barrel not centered under handguard
I have followed your post on your sass fit and finish, I'm an old guy, and like you expect quality and craftsmanship in your purchase, I have been a master tech at a local ford dealer out here in Colorado for the past 30 plus years.I have to stand behind my work, and expect the same from others.I own 2 other wilson combat rifles. and their pretty much flawless. when I purchased my AR1OT the store had a few in stock,so I inspected a few and all were flawless,,Point being,,I would contact Armalite and send it back,, you should not have the issues you are experiencing...they should have contacted you by now if anyone at armalite read these boards, due to the negative feedback,,, At the WILSON COMBAT web site Mr, wilson himself responds to concerns on product quality and invites any displeased owners to send back their purchase for review at his expense. you shouldn't expect any less..

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12 years 11 months ago #9670 by mlotziii
Replied by mlotziii on topic Re: SASS barrel not centered under handguard
Have you sent your rifle off to ArmaLite yet?

On your other post about Fit and Finish ARMALITE TR asked you to call the office for an RMA to sent it back.

After seeing some of the videos about FedEx and UPS around Christmas who knows what happened to it between the time it left the factory and reached you.

On the free float rifles I do not recommend having a sight mounted on the handguard at all. In that situation I'd put your front sight on the gas block. The whole benefit of the free float handguard is that it is independent of the barrel (not just because it looks cool).

Good luck with it! I'm sure ArmaLite will make it right if they have not already done so.

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12 years 11 months ago #9677 by LebbenB
Replied by LebbenB on topic Re: SASS barrel not centered under handguard

On the free float rifles I do not recommend having a sight mounted on the handguard at all. In that situation I'd put your front sight on the gas block. The whole benefit of the free float handguard is that it is independent of the barrel (not just because it looks cool).

I must respectfully disagree with you here. One of the fringe benefits of having a railed free-float sleeve is that it opens up a wider variety in front sight selection, since both sights will be on the same sighting plane. Additionally if the sleeve is off true center, mounting and zeroing/boresighting a laser range finder at 3 or 9 becomes problematic, since the mounting surface will not be truly perpendicular to the rifle. Should the shooter decide to put a bi-pod on the rifle, the feet of the 'pod will be uneven as well. The last is a minor inconvenience, I admit, but there's a whle host of second and third order effects that come into play if the sleeve is off true.

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12 years 10 months ago #10616 by fraserbrianp
Replied by fraserbrianp on topic Re: SASS barrel not centered under handguard
Being a machinist and metal fabricator for 32 yrs. I can state unequivocally that dimensionally speaking aluminum is not a stable material. The thermal elongation of aluminum is astronomical when compared to steel. Not to mention the fact that most free float tubes that I've seen are not thick enough at the base.
The following user(s) said Thank You: OleCowboy

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