Has anyone installed a barrel into an upper using a Magpul BEV Block?

 

The reason that I'm asking is that I'm mating a BCM upper with a BCM 16" barrel and the fit between the two is extremely tight. My plan, when the time comes to install the barrel, is to follow the advice on the BCM website and put the barrel in the freezer overnight and to heat the upper with a hair dryer, as well as coat both pieces with a thin film of moly grease. 

 

Here's the real question...

 

What's the best way to use the BEV block in order to get the barrel properly seated into the upper once I've got the barrel extension mated with the BEV block? Is there anything wrong with using a block of wood and dead blow hammer on the back of the upper to mate the two pieces or should I just try to "man juice" the thing on, hoping that the heat and grease will allow the barrel to seat itself properly? 

My BEV block just showed up today from Midway. It looks like I'm going to be the "test monkey" for using it to do a complete build unless anyone can weigh in between now and the weekend.

The BEV block isn't for seating the barrel it's to take torque off of the extension pin and transfer it to the lugs.

Mate the barrel and receiver then mount on BEV block and tighten barrel nut.

Stand the receiver up on end ( use a folded towel under it )and tap the barrel down till its seated

I don't feel you will have that much of a problem fitting the barrel to the upper receiver.  Heating the upper is the way to go.  I have seated many a barrel to the upper and only a few times did I have to heat the upper for a little more room, never have I chilled a barrel.  A little moly and some heat and it will slide right in.  Do not go pounding things, bad things can happen.  If you have to, you can use a Scotch Brite pad on the receiver and barrel extension to slick things up and remove any burr, etc.  Remember to tighten and loosen the barrel nut about three times to have the barrel nut and threads pre-stretch, to stop and possibility of the barrel nut loosening up after you start shooting it (35-80 foot lbs). Make sure your upper receiver barrel face where the barrel extension seats down to is square before mounting the barrel.  Good Luck.  

Thanks for the tips. I'll post an update when I've got the barrel installed

 

 

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I installed my barrel yesterday using the BEV block. It was a super tight fit between the BCM upper and barrel, even after heating the upper with a heat gun for one minute (as per the BCM website) and putting some grease on both the barrel extension and the upper. 

 

I got the barrel installed about 90% of the way by hand without using the the BEV block. For the last 10% of the way I locked the barrel extension into the block and then pushed the upper onto the extension (being extremely careful not to bend anything).

 

This was the first time that I've installed an AR barrel so I've never used any other block; however, I'd give the BEV block a solid "C" in terms of making the job easy.

The bev block has nothing to do with getting the barrel into the reciever. It's purpose is to take stress of the reciever when torquing down the barrel or installing a muzzle brake.