How To Install the Daniel Defense MFR Handguard
How To Install the Daniel Defense MFR Handguard
The MFR Rail System is a full-length, free-float, M-LOK® handguard for the AR-15 from Daniel Defense. The MFR’s mounting system is pretty similar to other Daniel Defense handguards, but it requires a few tricks. Brownells Gun Tech™ Caleb Savant shows us exactly how to install it. The MFR is designed to fit a standard mil-spec AR-15 upper receiver. It will also fit a machined billet upper that is cut to mil-spec dimensions at the front (Caleb shows us where).
TOOLS: You’ll need the (1) barrel nut wrench, (2) ball-tip hex wrench, and (3) tube of thread-locker that came with the MFR Rail. You’ll also need (4) a bench vise, (5) an adjustable torque driver, (6) the Midwest Industries Upper Receiver Rod or similar device to hold the upper receiver in the vise, and (7) Brownells Action Lube Plus® or similar high-quality gun grease.
PHASE 1: Use the Upper Receiver Rod or a vise block to clamp the receiver securely in the vise. Put a little Action Lube Plus on the barrel extension, slide the barrel into the receiver, and put a dab of grease on the barrel extension’s front shoulder. Get the mounting plate that has tabs protruding from one side and insert the bolts through the holes from the tab side. Slide the plate over the barrel, with tab side facing TOWARD the receiver. Apply some lube to the threads of the barrel nut, slide it over the barrel, and hand-tighten it onto the receiver. Tighten the barrel nut the rest of the way using the Daniel Defense wrench and your adjustable torque driver set to about 35 ft.-lbs.
PHASE 2: Slide the other MFR mounting plate over the barrel with the INLETTED side facing the bolts (flange side toward the muzzle) and press it up against the first plate. The bolts will go through the holes in Plate #2. Install your gas block and gas tube. You’ll know you have the MFR plates properly oriented if holes line up to allow the gas tube to slide into the receiver! Slide on the handguard up to the bolts. Put a little thread-locker on each bolt. Use the hex wrench to snug up the bolts. Don’t tighten them all the way yet……
PHASE 3: Check for gaps between the handguard, the mounting plates, and the front of the receiver. If everything’s snug, tighten the bolts the rest of the way. There’s no specific torque setting. Just make ’em tight enough so the MFR is securely anchored with no wobble or play.
DONE: Your Daniel Defense MFR Rail System handguard is properly installed on the upper receiver. It’s time to add your chosen muzzle device and whatever accessories you want to put on the MFR!
NOTE: Products in this video are to be used only for lawful purposes, including hunting, self-defense, and competitive or recreational shooting. If you purchase any of them, you are responsible for understanding and complying with all federal, state, and local laws that apply to the purchase, possession, and use of these products.
Can you reuse a gas block and gas tube from one bill to another?
Install? Not on youtube for kids. Might have to consider content uploads to Rumble 😂
Starting to look like a LaRue upper. Interesting.
Wow. Brutal comments🤣
Excellent tutorial as always. Thank you for reminding everyone that when it comes to Loctite, a little goes a long way. Same can be said about anti-seize compound. Also not to over torque. Interesting how smiths seem to be split on the position of torque wrench on barrel nut wrench. Some say 90, some say in line. I have done both and haven’t seen a noticeable difference.
Good vid, pos product
Clean is the way 👍
What QD studs do you recommend for the DD’s QD points?
Thanks for the video, I recently purchased a DDM4v9 , and quickly discovered that my iron sites would not co-witness to The HWS without adjusting windage all the way to one side, after watching your video I decided to loosen the hand guard and basically reinstall using the star pattern as shown paying close attention to the alignment with the muzzle end of the barrel which solved my problem , now everything lines up perfectly. Thanks again
Do you guys have a Ruger precision rifle 6.5 barrel in stock.
They look good, but DAMN! I’d need a monkey, a dead hooker, and a bottle of rum to install that thing!
awesome content very educational: what ever happened to the larger inner diameter Mlok handguards. the newer slim mlok handguards suck. especially for those of us with a larger grip
That rail is a MFR to get on.
Will y’all be making a rumble channel soon?
Good video, but that handguard is too big.
Wish the mk18 uppers were in stock from you…
Is this legal and morally ethical to watch such witchcraft?
Please start a class action suit when you get the boot!!!! Love your channel a lot 💗!!!
So I do have a question about the handrail. What is the part number for the one used on AR-10?
These handguards are extremely difficult to be aligned up/down left/right with the stripped upper. Even if you use a tool or a scope mount to bridge the upper and handguard. If you are using ironsights you will never have them aligned enough to where the rear peep sight is in the middle of the sight. Always end up either way to the left or to the right.
And add a rag to the needed tool list.
Other than that minor oversight, Great How-to video.
These videos are so relaxing… gun asmr
Caleb can build an AR in 5min 30 secs flat, from the aluminum stock to hammer forging the barrel
YouTube auto-subtitles seems to think your torque wrench wasn’t made in America.
cut in half
DD would not send that out like tbat
That handguard would look good in Wolf Gray Aluma-Hyde
Every pro… "That torque wrench part was very questionable."
Nicely done. Wish this had been available when I installed this handguard.
No dimple? No pinned gas block?!
You forgot the most important tool of them all, a angle grinder because DD makes their low profile gas blocks impossible to remove from the factory
Hi,
You didn’t mention or discuss anything about the Barrel Install Head Spacing??
Ty
Top rail of the hand guards a tad low compared to the upper and left to right is off
What a marvelous how-to video. Multiple points were important for me. The receiver rod – had never seen one before, and after all my struggles trying to secure a firearm for barrel/handguard work . . . This hand guard is a MUCH smarter design than that one that came with my extra expensive Wilson Combat rifle (pre-COVID). That barrel nut had to be torqued a ridiculous amount of get the next opening for the gas tube to line up.
Just remeber kids… If at first it don’t fit?! Break out the Bastard File, and go to grinding! Get’r done!
Is it just me or does everything in this video look like it’s from 1970
Seems a bit over complicated.
You have to install that qd point over one of the existing holes for it to be usable. This makes all the other points unusable, unless you buy more of the qd points, and they are never in stock.
Nicely done. Thank you. And nice manicure.
I noticed you didn’t set the head space.
Good. Stick with this stuff and forget the fru fru crap….
Thanks!
Caleb is the quintessential pro. I am the quintessential doofus. Without his guidances, I would have never attempted this mod.
Thanks Brownells. Thanks Caleb.
They named it the mothereffer? 🤣😭
Is there a reason why you didn’t season the threads while installing the barrel nut?