All,

I seek the wisdom of the OB. I would like to free float the barrel of my Colt LE6920 SOCOM AR15. It does not look that hard but to make sure I don't miss anything, could someone suggest what replacement parts I need? I picked up the front site block and know I will need a new gas block. Beside the punches, what else might I need to make this work? Does anyone know if the Knights Armament quad rail will work with this change or will I need a new rail.

Thanks for all the help.

Punches, vice, vice blocks, barrel nut wrench and a torque wrench

Free floating that rifle is pointless. Modifying the upper is going to decrease its value. If you want rails, throw a Knight's RAS on it and be done.

Free floating will only provide measurable results for you if:

1. You are using match ammo
2. You have a match barrel
3. You have a match trigger
4. You are shooting off a rest, with a magnified scope

If you are wanting more accuracy, I would suggest buying a dedicated precision upper. You rifle wasn't designed to shoot tiny groups.

[This message has been edited by Log (edited 6/14/2013 2:43p).]

Log, Thanks that makes sense. You just saved me some money. Now I can blow it on something else.

If you want a good hand guard, check out Midwest Industries SS Drop-in. They are great. Have them on both my rifles. No wobble and thin!

http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=1030

Modifying the upper will decrease its value? Maybe to a hardcore "colt is the only gun I'll shoot, they're the best, all I'll shoot etc etc".

And floating the barrel on the rifle is worthwhile without 100% match shooting, and certainly does not ONLY show results off a rest with optics.



[This message has been edited by Ag_of_08 (edited 6/14/2013 6:49p).]

I just picked up a Fortis handguard from Aim Surplus...really impressed.

It mounts on the standard barrel nut, so you could be free floated and done in two minutes with no tools... I got the 14" version for my 3 gun rifle, but you would use the shorter on worth a look.

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Modifying the upper will decrease its value? Maybe to a hardcore "colt is the only gun I'll shoot, they're the best, all I'll shoot etc etc".

And floating the barrel on the rifle is worthwhile without 100% match shooting, and certainly does not ONLY show results off a rest with optics.

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Yes. Go crawl back in your hole, and leave AR mod recommendations to those of us that have been around the block a few times. Feel free to jack around with any other brand of AR every day of the week and not negatively impact the value of the rifle. But the fact remains that Colt's hold value that other AR's don't. If you own a factory Colt and start jacking around with the original configuration, the value is going to plummet. No question whatsoever.

Floating the barrel on a fighting carbine is useless and a waste of money. Building a precision upper for an existing lower has merit. Hence my recommendation to buy/build a dedicated upper. He'll spend/lose less money in the long run that way.

Log, you're always good for a laugh. I've heard the same lecture, but with a different brand name, many times before. But please, keep lecturing me...

I used a hacksaw and cut down my front sight and I sanded it with a dremel. By doing that, you will have factory gas block. Check out the YouTube videos. It's easy. I put on a Yankee Hill quad rail over it. I really like it.

Hmmmm, who should I listen to on the validity of a freefloat rail? Log, who says they're useless, or people like Kyle Lamb, who has measured much shift you can get by properly using the sling on a non floated rifle from prone position. It was about 4 moa.

Your average weekend warrior, like most of us here are, isn't quite on par with Kyle Lamb.

My A2 in the Marine Corps was not free floated. I could punch holes in human sized silouttes at 500 meters during annual rifle qualifications just fine with iron sights. The new A4s may be free floated with the knight's armaments rail systems. I have no idea, I kept my A2 instead of switching to a new rifle before our trip to the sandbox.

Sirdeofwood- that sounds like a great idea...and much cheaper

How about a DD omega that is a free float drop in? No mods needed.

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Hmmmm, who should I listen to on the validity of a freefloat rail? Log, who says they're useless, or people like Kyle Lamb, who has measured much shift you can get by properly using the sling on a non floated rifle from prone position. It was about 4 moa.

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Log, the weekend warrior.

Dude, you love to show your ass.

Get a free float b\c it looks better, not b/c of 1/2 MOA drift.

BTW.... I have 3 real affordable ones on the OB.

Lost in all this...Texas A and M, thanks for your service.

Log: nice dodge. The fact that I, and most shooters out there, will never come close to his level of skill doesn't change the fact that there are valid reasons to want a freefloat rail on an AR. Even one with a little pony the side.

Deats: where did I ever call anyone a weekend warrior? Where did anyone mention a half moa shift? Are you sure you can be trusted to identify who's showing their ass? You seem to have everything else in your post wrong.

OP are you wanting to get rid of the front sight post?

So if I freefloat a Seekins, Vltor, or Sun Devil rifle does it lower the value? I'm lost on this one.

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Log: nice dodge. The fact that I, and most shooters out there, will never come close to his level of skill doesn't change the fact that there are valid reasons to want a freefloat rail on an AR. Even one with a little pony the side.

Deats: where did I ever call anyone a weekend warrior? Where did anyone mention a half moa shift? Are you sure you can be trusted to identify who's showing their ass? You seem to have everything else in your post wrong.

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No, you said a 4 MOA which is laughable under normal conditions unless you are trying to distort the barrel. Log called himself a weekend warrior, which is hilarious.

Lately, I can't be trusted to do much of anything...

You should free-float so the changes in humidity don't make your wood furniture affect accuracy.

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Log: nice dodge. The fact that I, and most shooters out there, will never come close to his level of skill doesn't change the fact that there are valid reasons to want a freefloat rail on an AR. Even one with a little pony the side.

Deats: where did I ever call anyone a weekend warrior? Where did anyone mention a half moa shift? Are you sure you can be trusted to identify who's showing their ass? You seem to have everything else in your post wrong.

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A NASCAR driver has their engine completely rebuilt between each race. There is sound logic behind such an undertaking.

Because Jeff Gordon does that with his engine, are we to presume that we should rebuild our car engines at every oil change?

Log was providing some pretty sound logic - that free floating a barrel on a rifle that was never designed, manufactured or intended to produce MOA shots is kind of a waste of money, especially when there are lower hanging fruit to address that will produce immediate and measureable results with the platform the OP has in hand.

If you actually read what he said in reference to the rifle in the OP, a logical person would agree with what he said.

Deats, again, I didn't say that, I'm just passing on info from a book by Kyle Lamb.

Schmellba, nope. Stating that freefloating a rifle is pointless is not something I will agree with. The op asked about how to freefloat the barrel of his ar. He did not ask what the most effective use of his money would be or what log thought was an acceptable way to treat his precious colt. I find it kind of laughable someone got so worked up about a person modifying a rifle that has been sold by Wal-Mart.

ETA: hope sh**** aggie didn't finish all his popcorn.

[This message has been edited by NRH ag 10 (edited 6/16/2013 11:01p).]

How about a VLTOR system that leaves everything intact, so the front sight and delta ring stay, and you can put the original handguards back on at a later date? Get a free float, simple mod, reversible maintains original weapon integrity:

http://www.vltor.com/casv-el.htm

rhtexfish - Yes, that is one of the reasons was to get rid of the front sight since I am running a Nikon M-223 scope on it. It does not affect anything in regards to shooting but part of the fun of AR's is how you can modify and change the look. It would not be a huge amount of money.

Was plinking at the range this weekend and had fun with just the way it is. Might consider a trigger just because I can.

If I really want to get into marksmanship, I might start with a different platform such as a Remington 700. Not sure about the caliber but since I already have 308, might continue there.

I totally understand, I'm a big fan of a rail or tube over a low profile gb