Quoted:
I have found that too many times starting at 30 positions the next gas tube slot nearly a whole slot away. So then getting that next slot to align is probably way past 30. I say "way past" because i don't use a torque wrench past this point, but a breaker bar and a tight fitting wrench and then not looking back. (We had to make wrenches like this when we replaced every M16A1 barrel in the 1st Marine Division in my Ordnance Shop after VietNam) to ensure every rifle had a chrome bore and chamber.
Of course if you have extra parts around you can mix and match as that's always the better course of action.
In my experience, barrel nut loosening over time is not because of low torque, but thousands of rounds down the barrel "stretching" the thread fit between upper receiver and barrel nut. I remember many times in the mid-70's inspecting well used M16A1's with barrels so loose you could rotate them by-hand to the limits of the gas tube passage hole. And then once the gas tube was removed, you could loosen the barrel nut the rest of the way by-hand!!!!
Now how the hell did that happen with a gas tube passing through the barrel nut....?

Quoted:
I have found that too many times starting at 30 positions the next gas tube slot nearly a whole slot away. So then getting that next slot to align is probably way past 30. I say "way past" because i don't use a torque wrench past this point, but a breaker bar and a tight fitting wrench and then not looking back. (We had to make wrenches like this when we replaced every M16A1 barrel in the 1st Marine Division in my Ordnance Shop after VietNam) to ensure every rifle had a chrome bore and chamber.
Of course if you have extra parts around you can mix and match as that's always the better course of action.
In my experience, barrel nut loosening over time is not because of low torque, but thousands of rounds down the barrel "stretching" the thread fit between upper receiver and barrel nut. I remember many times in the mid-70's inspecting well used M16A1's with barrels so loose you could rotate them by-hand to the limits of the gas tube passage hole. And then once the gas tube was removed, you could loosen the barrel nut the rest of the way by-hand!!!!
Now how the hell did that happen with a gas tube passing through the barrel nut....?

Quoted:
I have found that too many times starting at 30 positions the next gas tube slot nearly a whole slot away. So then getting that next slot to align is probably way past 30. I say "way past" because i don't use a torque wrench past this point, but a breaker bar and a tight fitting wrench and then not looking back. (We had to make wrenches like this when we replaced every M16A1 barrel in the 1st Marine Division in my Ordnance Shop after VietNam) to ensure every rifle had a chrome bore and chamber.
Of course if you have extra parts around you can mix and match as that's always the better course of action.
In my experience, barrel nut loosening over time is not because of low torque, but thousands of rounds down the barrel "stretching" the thread fit between upper receiver and barrel nut. I remember many times in the mid-70's inspecting well used M16A1's with barrels so loose you could rotate them by-hand to the limits of the gas tube passage hole. And then once the gas tube was removed, you could loosen the barrel nut the rest of the way by-hand!!!!
Now how the hell did that happen with a gas tube passing through the barrel nut....?