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Posted: 2/20/2004 3:27:13 PM EDT
| How hard is it, and what do I need to drill and tap a DPMS free float upper for a bipod stud? Is this something I sould have a gunsmith do? |
| Its fairly simple. All you need is a drill, good bits, and a tap/die set. However, most free float tubes are non-indexable, meaning that they are just screwed on as far as they will go, without regard for "up" or "down", etc. Thus, if you were to do a barrel swap, the stud in the tube will probably not line up. |
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The stud I used in mine is the Bushmaster swivel stud. There was plenty of meat in my DPMS ventilated free float tube to take plenty of thread and hold the stud. Down side with this stud is you need to tap it 5/16 x 32. The only place I could find the tap was Brownell's. It uses a 9/32 drill bit. By the way, tape off the tube, mark, center punch, drill with a 1/8 bit, 1/4" bit, then clean up the hole with the 9/32 inch bit. Then tap. If you try to hog out the hole with the 9/32 bit right off the bat, you can get less than a clean cut especially if not using a drill press. Also, buy new bits; don't use old half worn-out bits laying in your tool box that walk, wobble, and throw up flashing on the inside of the handguard. [url=http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/bmas/yhm-9469.asp]Bushmaster BMAS 360 degree swivel stud[/url] |
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