How To Install A BAR Barrel Nut

Kirk at Aero Precision walks us through installing a BAR Barrel Nut on your threaded milspec upper so that you can mount an Aero Precision Enhanced handguard to your AR15.

[@cryhavoc38]

The AP Bar Barrel nut three hole positioning is not compatible with a good number of standard armorer's wrenches. I wish they would post a link to all wrenches that are compatible and let the buyer chose which one to use. I bought one that is suppose to work (based on customer feedback) but the three pins did not align, so I just used two pins. Not the best solution but I have yet to see an official recommendation from AP on compatible wrenches

[@arnelflandez3260]

Thank you for creating this video on installing a BAR Barrel Nut since I have an Aero Precision milspec upper but want to mount an Aero Precision Enhanced 15" handguard to it.

[@TheFirstBubbaBong]

Looking forward to installing the barrel nut on my EPC10 in 8 years.

[@The10thManRules]

An M4E1/BAR system is so easy to mix and match barrels and handguard lengths. All my uppers are Aero Precision. Zero regrets or envy of other brands.

[@BuffaloSoldier-]

You guys are the best!

[@JerrBearTactical]

Great information 😉👊👍🇺🇸 ... Aero Precision for Life 🇺🇸

[@paule815]

Fascinating

[@michaelw.urbansr.8617]

Hey bud i have one of those barrel nuts as a while back i figured id start to build my own ARs lol boy its been fun learning. In any case i was wondering if this is a proprietary nut? Or can use this with any handguard?

[@seanflanagan578]

can you give a link to the armorers wrench that fits this nut?

[@1999C2996]

I chose the wrong hand guard for a lightweight build...that barrel nut is a beast

[@evanacey1414]

It’s aluminum lol

[@saoirse5308]

I think for 1st time builders you need to explain a) what you are "Indexing" and why b) Why you "Season" the barrel nut It's like when you 1st show your child where the dipstick is, and a week later they ask if there should be oil on the end of it. We take for granted people know the why of things.

[@philincaundo]

Poorly planned and unfinished. The Aero way.

[@shadyp-zv3uf]

what about aluminum anti seize?

[@testos2701]

Why it says that these shims don't work with the mil-spec barrel nuts?

[@ThePatriotParadox]

My anti seize says alumina anti thread lock... I imagine that means it's safe and or made for aluminum, right !.???

[@AustinV1st]

Doing an Aero build now, standard upper with this barrel nut on their enhanced quad handguard with an Aero barrel as well, all I can say is what a pain in the ass have used every shim they gave and its still no where near lining up with nut and the tube port, i need to call and order another shim kit.

[@throttleaddiction5243]

Did ordering the shim kit get it taken care of? Im having same issue

[@BurnerJones]

I didn't expect this amount of mouthbreathers in the comments needing handholding to screw a nut down lmao

[@leadmuffins7565]

Who the fuck has barrel shims lying around? They should've come with the handguard.

[@86steventura]

I was taught to never use the torque wrench to loosen, but it’s not a high torque value. It should be ok lol.

[@blyatmancyka]

Does the BAR add length to the handguard? As in, if the handguard is 12.7" long, does attaching it to the BAR make it extend further past 12.7"?

[@AeroPrecision]

No it does not. The length is measured from where the handguard picatinny rail meets with the upper receiver picatinny rail. So regardless of the handguard design, the measurement we state is consistent with how far it extends from the upper or over the barrel.

[@brandontucci4605]

@@AeroPrecision why are you avoiding questions about the BAR barrel nut???? Why is there no tool recommended they are impossible to find?? Why is it not included with the handguard????

[@-kepha8828]

​@@AeroPrecisionthis is not true. Why does aero precision continually get things wrong about their own products? Aero Precision lists the gen 2 handguard as being 12" long. But it is actually 12.5 inches long. This could ruin someone's build planning. How hard is it to measure something aero precision?

[@samueljohn7746]

I'm a lefty doing my first build with the Aero gen 2 picatinny handguard and bar nut and Stag upper. . I'm here because I can't figure out why when I try (about 40 tries) to install the barrel nut it's not lining up with the hole in the upper receiver for the gas tube. Is that what the shims are for? And why don't you guys include shims with the bar nut when bought with a handguard? I just looked on your website and the shim is $6.88 w/tax + $11.19 for shipping (cheapest shipping option) Now that's plain stupid. So stupid I don't even want to use the dam thing. The only reason I'm still trying with this is because I bought the M4E1 lower and a bunch of other Aero parts.

[@motolzrdfz2281]

The shims are to make sure you have enough thread to torque the barrel nut without running out of threads. I’m guessing that you are using a milspec nut, the one that looks like a sprocket. If so this is the reason there is such a huge gap in the torque spec. 35-80 FtLbs. Start out at the low end of the spec, if a tooth interferes with gas tube alignment just put a little more torque on the nut until it lines up. Hope this helps and for your own safety do some more research.

[@evanacey1414]

It normally comes with the shims

[@cptjockitch]

This barrel nut should come with a tool. These armorers wrenches are a pain to find. I had to buy 3 from Amazon till I found one. 1 of them came with the wrong order so in reality I had to buy 2. Just include the tool and charge extra for it. I went to bass pro and 1 other gun shop and non have the tool. Also Home Depot doesn’t have any tool. Lowes nothing. Harbor freight has nothing.

[@TN_vigilance]

I just bought Aeros enhanced quad rail handgaurd and it takes the barrel nut shown here. unlike the last m lock I bought it didn’t come with a tool. So now I’m on the hunt for a three prong. It has crossed my mind to Jerry rig and adjustable spanner wrench and make it fit my torque wrench

[@TonySmithJr]

@@TN_vigilance This is insane to not include an adapter, or info on an exact tool because the two AR armorers wrenches I do have, don't work/line up with this nut. I'm just sick of aero at this point and can't believe I ended up buying another product from them. Lesson learned

[@TN_vigilance]

@@TonySmithJr pure ridiculous. I found an armorers wrench on optics planet that claimed to fit the Aero BAR nut. It didn’t I had to modify it 🤦🏻🤦🏻

[@TonySmithJr]

@@TN_vigilance My neighbor had a cheap armorers wrench that I borrowed.. I actually had to beat the prongs into a different shape to get it to fit but was finally able to install it. I even just saw they are doing a promo for a free tax stamp if you by any of their .30 cal cans.... I can't do it. I just know it will be garbage after finally getting it.

[@TN_vigilance]

@@TonySmithJr more than likely, I don’t want to spend the money to find out

[@codybaker2135]

If you're building an EPC 9, you don't have to index the barrel nut, right?

[@joelbuck5033]

I'm not saying this from experience with Aero EPC 9 but from building several I can say, there's no gas tube so indexing should not be an issue, just torque to spec

[@chrissutton3043]

Seems you would need to index it somewhat so that the handguard attachment screws line up.

[@BUSHhoehh]

The armorers wrench in question is a tapco, which is currently out of stock

[@easbreid9879]

Theres a ton of others that will fit, or your can just order Aero's barrel nut wrench

[@planchik]

@@easbreid9879 will magpul armorer's wrench fit? also, what is he indexing?

[@easbreid9879]

@@planchik give me a little bit, i have an extra BAR barrel nut and i magpul armorers wrench, let me see if it fits. If i remember correctly, i believe on the Aero site it says no

[@planchik]

@@easbreid9879 thank you

[@easbreid9879]

@@planchik the magpul armorers wrench will NOT work because the other pins on the wrench get in the way. What ive always used for the BAR barrel nut is the wrench from Aero, its cheap and goes on a torque wrench or breaker bar

[@evanacey1414]

Getting this barrel nut timed proved impossible irrespective of the number of shims used.. Incredibly frustrating process.

[@ryanhansen7150]

Agreed, mine doesn’t line up with any of them

[@-kepha8828]

I fear this is going to be my issue as well.

[@christopherspindler6328]

Unfortunately, this barrel nut doesn’t work with a Midwest industries Armorers wrench or the Magpul Armorers wrench… ask me how I know… I am just going to return the whole setup and get the ATLAS. It comes with a wrench included.

[@leadmuffins7565]

It absolutely works with the Magpul armorers wrench I just installed it with one.

[@christopherspindler6328]

@@leadmuffins7565 interesting, there was no way at all to align the wrench I got with the nut I received. Maybe I got o bad nut because I exchanged it for the ATLAS and it worked like a champ.

[@slayerofkong3195]

Definitely don’t use a torque wrench to break threads.

[@alanmeyers3957]

Not true if it happens to be a reversible torque wrench, have you considered that before making your statement?

[@cliffordrandell735]

Great video 👍 But gov contour barrels are so silly.

[@travistaliaferro5542]

Had to order more shims. So annoying 🙄

[@2010GT500]

Why not just create a barrel nut and hand guard system that doesn’t need shims… also aluminum barrel nut???

[@AndyOamo]

Don't set your torque wrench up like this. The force that is being applied to the barrel wrench isn't actually torquing the barrel nut, because the torque wrench isn't in line with the barrel nut or wrench.

[@williamray8000]

Need to work on presentation of these videos. I like Aero Precision but all of the videos I have watched are poorly produced. Lighting on the Aero Precision videos is poor. Why didn't you show the installation of the barrel and discuss the rings or washers you added. Audio is too fast and at time inaudible. Could barely understand the torque values you were using.

[@andyscherer6446]

Slightly annoying and inconvenient that the barrel nut only has 4 holes to line up for your gas tube. I would recommend ordering an extra set of shims with your barrel nut... Now to wait a week

[@NoWr2Run]

4 HOLES, WTF ?

[@58harwood]

The proper way to use a torque wrench is to always do 2 clicks minimums! Always! And 3 or 4 clicks won’t hurt!

[@Chef-James]

Huh? Sure about that?

[@58harwood]

Positive.

[@wastedmymind5463]

M5 torque? Enhanced upper

[@johnbud3809]

Why do you think a reaction Rod is good because if you are an actual gunsmith you would not think that it was good they do not hold the receiver you're talking the barrel nut to the receiver the only thing you're holding is the barrel

[@danprice3603]

I don’t get it either. It’s simple logic to figure out what is actually twisting and taking the applied force when torquing on a barrel nut. Spoiler alert! It ISN’T the barrel lugs. I heard from a friend that is definitely not me that he uses the VISM vise block and the top piece of the plastiXrevolution vise block. Doing that grips the bottom, top, and inside the receiver. He, definitely not me, bought one of the basic clamshells but wasn’t too impressed with it. The Wheeler clamshell looks like it might be a good system because of the gas port rod attached but I’m not sure if it goes all the way through the gas port and if you have a barrel nut that has to be timed to the gas port.. then probably won’t work? If I had the resources I would make and sell one that was similar to the VISM block but was also a clamshell. Then it would be practically idiot proof. Reaction Rods should only be used for muzzle devices.

[@alanmeyers3957]

Correct, using a Reaction Rod is an expensive way to shear the locater pin, I prefer to clamp the Receiver and always lubricate the threads.

[@nynoah]

When using a torque wrench on a armor wrench like that it’s better to have them both inline with each other. Compound angles like in the film mess with the torque spec.

[@nicclandry8592]

If the torque wrench is inline, don't forget to account for the longer momentum arm. Personally, I use the 90 degree method, but positioned on the other side of the armorer's wrench.

[@mikegarvin9925]

@@nicclandry8592 listen to nicc! Inline will lengthen the wrench and you will have an incorrect torque. Putting the torque adapter or armor wrench at a 90° angle keeps the torque setting correct because the length from your hand to the nut stays the same. 80% of people working in auto shops don't even know how to use a torque wrench right it seems but it's pretty important to do it correctly.

[@Chef-James]

No.