I took my barrel and all upper parts to the LGS a few weeks ago so they could cerakote the barrel and assemble it all for me. They called me on Saturday to tell me they finished cerakoting and when they went to assemble everything, the tabs on the handguard bent up.
I don't really know what that mean, but they asked me what I wanted them to do. They need to put my undamaged handguard on and return it to me assembled.
They guy was going to talk to the owner of the shop, who wasn't around at that time, and call me back. They're closed Sunday and Monday so I'm hoping to get that call tomorrow (Tuesday).
So, I ask you all...
On my Midwest Industries SSK-Key Mod Series One Piece Free Float Handguard, what *might* these tabs be? What do you think I should do?
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They're probably referring to the anti rotation tabs that lock into the barrel nut grooves. If they're bent and they try to straighten them, they'll probably snap off.
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6061 has a better chance of bending back than 7075.
They may be able to Dremal/file file he bent tabs. The tabs are probably mostly for alignment.
The clamping screws probably do most of the holding.
Have them try to fix it, and if it isn't to your liking, they should replace it.
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05-06-2014, 01:33 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-07-2014, 03:17 AM by Apparition.)
I installed one a month ago. Not sure how you'd bend them doing any normal work. They must have dropped it off a table or something.
Something other than normal installation had to occur, unless the MI handguard was defective. I've installed a lot of MI SS Gen II handguards with that attachment method, and I don't see how you would screw it up. You would really have to do something out of the ordinary.
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I could see this happening pretty easily IF they did not loosen the clamping screws sufficiently and rocked the hand guard back and forth to take it off and or put it back on.
quis posuit in mea ocreis bologna!
I offered to give them the barrel nut wrench that came with the handguard but they said they already had one.
Hopefully they give me a call tomorrow. I may have to drive in to talk to them in person and try to get everything straightened out.
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Could they have really meant the ears for the trigger guard?
Very rarely does LGS = competence at dealing with AR15's. It's hard enough finding rifle shops that know what they're doing, to be honest.
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jfornelli Wrote:I offered to give them the barrel nut wrench that came with the handguard but they said they already had one.
Hopefully they give me a call tomorrow. I may have to drive in to talk to them in person and try to get everything straightened out.
The barrel nut wrench should have no impact on the tabs on the handguard. Once the nut is installed the handguard slides on and then you clamp it in place. Unless they used the handguard as the nut wrench.
I had too many meetings today so didn't get a chance to call until they were already closed. I'm going to call them tomorrow and possibly stop in for a face to face...
This shop does gunsmithing, cerakoting, handguns, long guns, parts, etc. They market themselves as a shop geared towards the tactical crowd.
Update:
I went in to the shop today, ready for a battle. It ended up being the owner that approached me and asked if I needed any help.
When I told him who I was and the situation, he was fully versed on it and said they're ordering a replacement and will take care of everything. It did end up being the tabs that go into the barrel nut. They've installed several of these and have a lot of experience with builds and even have their own line of some products.
So, all in all, their intentions are good with me so I'm happy (though it will be just that much longer before I have my build complete).
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Good they are standing behind their mistake. inconvenient for you, Yes.
They will probably send the damaged one back and get a replacement anyway.
All parties happy, happy, happy.
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Glad to hear that your LGS has shown their integrity. Always good to know. One of the LGS's here screwed up my hand guard while getting too enthusiastic and never once suggested it would be on me. I actually came out ahead, because they asked if I wanted the same one (fluted free float tube) or something else. I asked about a quad rail and before I knew it, poof! A $50 upgrade! I am still a regular customer.
There are very few people who I would personally trust to do work on my rifles. There are almost no manufacturers who I can trust to even line up a reamer square to the bore.
You basically have to pay a rare and quietly reputable custom shop to make a rifle for you if you want just basic things done right.
Glad to hear these guys are owning their work.
