Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Tell me about this barrel nut

What kind of wrench do I need to remove this nut? Other nuts I've seen like this have flats for any old open end wrench, but I don't see any way to get purchase on this besides the bigger round holes?

If it has no flats for the box end wrench, you’ll probably need a strap wrench.

Although, I see some milled flats across the bigger holes, which should be enough for a purchase - unless it’s Uber tight torqued or Locktighted on.

It looks like UTG barrel nut, or a knock of the same type. It’s probably a softer steel - go slow and get tight on the flats.

Back off if you feel it slipping, and reset your wrench.

That one has the flats for a crows foot wrench which fits on a torque wrench or breaker bar. You just need to find the correct size.

It is not a UTG as I have a few, and their nut uses a wrench that is supplied with their handguards,

Another note, your type will need shims to get the nut clocked correctly.

Where the larger holes are, look like flats to me. Maybe not?

Yeah, I think you're right, not sure why I didn't notice that before. It's just going to be an odd sized wrench. Thought I had some open end wrenches bigger that 1" but apparently not.

And I do see a shim in there now that you mention it.. Maybe I like this barrel more than I thought!

Strap wench was the right answer… if you want a universal solution

I'd try a piece of leather and a channel locks. Then I'd spend some $$ fixing what I tore up

Large crescent wrench & with maybe a pipe extension if it's really tight.

Not ideal but will work in a pinch on that nut.

MM

Inconveniently, that flat is slightly narrower than the jaws of my 12" crescent wrench. Have to examine the crows foot idea some more. Or I might look into the availability of an inch and a quarter open end wrench, or consider the leather/vice grips option. Or leave it be. But thanks everyone for the ideas.

Looks like it's set up for a spanner wrench.

I've installed barrels with that type nut. You have to find a "Crescent" wrench with thin jaws. If I remember correctly, my 10" Craftsman worked. (It may have been my 12" Craftsman.) You could also use an open end/box end wrench with the open end thinned by grinding.

Serious wuestion from a dumbass.

Would a pipewrench Functionally damage it?
It it hardened so that one wouldn't bite?

I know that if it's not hard, a good pipe wrench will make it turn.


And obviously, it's gonna cut groves into it.
Which would likely be covered by the handguard.

I hate to even suggest such a thing, but since we have already
resorted to Cresent wrenches?

What brand is it? That’s step one in figuring out what you need most likely

Some require a proprietary barrel nut wrench. Some use the small holes as the purchase with a pin or two in the barrel nut wrench. I believe geissele and maybe Daniel defense do this on some

Some you can use a spanner or crows foot

Nothing wrong with using a crescent. The jaws of a pipe wrench will potentially fu ck up the small holes and threads for the retaining screws. If you can't judge torque while using a crescent wrench, take it to someone that can. The torque range is pretty wide.

After further study, it seems that a Tekton crow foot wrench (made in USA) will fit on those narrow lands. If I get that far I think that's the direction I'll go.

I deliberately omitted the brand as I suspected it wouldn't really help. It's a small company out of CA called Titan Ballistics, their website went down a couple weeks ago, but it wasn't a real wealth of information anyway, and they were never responsive to prior requests for info. I really like the handguard though.

Noveske nsr wrench may also fit that

I found a crows foot online, but had to grind the sides down to fit. Was not an issue for me since I have a grinder.

My son's AR has that type of nut. You will have to play around with the shims to find the right one or combo so the nut clocks so that the handguard lines up with the receiver.

I had to grind an open end wrench down on width to fit a nut like that. I use dial calipers to get the right size and off to the grinder. Lucky for me a had a cheap wrench that I got in a box of old tools from somewhere that was the perfect size so I did not have to grind on my Snap On stuff.