Changing upper handguard on AK74

Azlonegunman

I bought a Tapco folding stock and handguard set for my AK74 and can't figure out how to get the old upper hand guard off of the gas tube without sawing it in half. Even then if I did get it off, I don't know that I'd be able to get the new one on. Anyone have any suggestions as to how to remove the wooden handguard without destroying it and the gas tube at the same time? The wooden ones get ridiculously hot during firing so the aluminimum lined Tapco is a no brainer, I just want the upper and lower handguards to match.

haroldchrismeyer

The wood part is not retained by anything except itself. You have to have strong hands, and you rotate it out of the gas tube.

n/a

TRy putting it in the freezer (to shrink the metal a little) and pulling it off.

mr_floppy

http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/furnitureremoval.htm

4th picture down ....... use a wrench to hold the metal or vice and twist. 180 degrees

5mmgunguy

It just twists off. If I remember correctly it is counterclockwise you twist it. It just twists right out...not really actually took both hands to get it to start moving, once it starts it comes fairly easily.

Azlonegunman

Thanks guys. I got a couple of different answers here locally, but decided to just cut the thing off and the saw how it came off. It's amazing how much easier it is to see how things work if you can actually see the whole picture. Once I got the old one off, I was able to get the new one on without any problems. I did have to trim a couple small nubs on the bottom of the handguard to get it into place.