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Folks often ask us how to select a handguard length for a given gas system, or they ask what barrel length is needed to achieve a desired positioning of the muzzle device relative to the handguard. This post aims to help explain the factors involved and provide an easy guide to designing your dream setup.

Below you'll see an ordinary AR-15 Upper Receiver with a barrel and low-profile gas block installed:

The distance 'A' is from the Upper Receiver Front Face to the Gas Block Shoulder, and depends on the barrel's Gas System Length.  

Customer Greg writes in with his story and photo of a sweet zombie rig.

This is a 10.5" I just built for the coming zombie hordes - I wanted something 
short for close-in zombie death! I'm very happy with the quality of your parts 
and service - keep up the good work!

TNA parts used:

• Ambi charging handle
• Buttstock w/mil-spec buffer tube, H2 buffer
• Lower Parts Kit (without trigger)

You will be my first choice for parts on my next build.

Our customer John made a sweet pair of carbines

Some of the parts used:

MLOK Handguard (top rifle)

Folding Vertical Foregrip

TNA Buffer Tube Kit

Titanium Firing Pin

7075 Charging Handle

Have you ever wondered if there is a right or wrong way to install your Hammer and Trigger pins? It turns out there really isn't a wrong way but there is a way that is slightly better and easier for you during building your lower.

If you look at the pins, you will notice that there is a small notch in the middle of the pin and another one roughly halfway from the middle to the end but only on one side. The hammer pin will utilize the center notch and the trigger pin will utilize the one closer to the end.

The center notch will engage the tiny spring that you can see when looking through the pinhole on your hammer. The side notch is where the (external) hammer spring locks into the trigger pin to help it stay in position. For this reason it is important that you install your trigger before you install your Hammer when completing your lower. Mind you it would be quite difficult to install the hammer first and then the trigger but we have

Reddit/CGN user Neoconfection had a busy week and put together this fun gun with the help of TNA parts & tools

Neo writes:

 have the Keymod handguard, the shooting bag, and the jacket.

Overall I'm pretty happy with all of it. I recommend those who buy the shooting bag fill it with rice, not sand, because the sand will take moisture and leak through the seams.

The jacket turned out to be a pretty good buy as well. It seems well-built. Breathes, but keeps the damp out. 

Like it says on the website, it fits very small, so buy a size or two up. I wear a large most of the time and the 2XL I bought was snug with a light sweater underneath. I wore it to the range today (it was about 6C and sunny with some wind) and was quite comfortable with

Jaret put a Beaver Tail Grip on his Ruger Precision Rifle in .308.  It's not an AR-15, but that's the beauty of AR accessories, some guns are designed around the AR platform and can use those accessories. The beaver tail required 5 minutes of sanding to accommodate the RGR's folding stock.

The factory no longer tests these grips with live beavers. Thanks, PETA!

Jaret's got a sweet built-in gun bench!

Tim writes:

Hello, I was just checking out your website and shopping for some AR-15 upgrades. I have ordered a S&W M&P15 Sport II and wanted to start upgrading it. This is my first AR and want to make sure I am ordering the right parts and wondered if you could help. I am going to order a charging handle and ambi bolt release lever, which are both self explanatory, but I also wanted a free float rail. I was looking at this one on your website. I assume I need a low profile gas block as well. Are they all the same? Is there anything else I will need to install the rail? Any help you can offer would be appreciated.

-Tim

Zach of TNA writes:

Hi Tim, Congratulations on the gun purchase, great choice!

As far as compatibility, yes

Ay caramba! We just loaded up the spare parts rack and I couldn't resist taking a picture. We try to keep all parts in stock so when you need a new extractor or a spring launches itself across the room and disappears, we've got a spare for you!

Because our credit card processor had a policy against "weapons and munitions" we were kindly asked to find another provider. We have been set up a different, more gun-friendly provider and are back in business after a 72-hour hiatus.

Lots of other gun stores will sell you a Buttstock Kit, but usually you have to take the Buffer they give you - a Standard Carbine 3oz buffer. If you want to install a heavier buffer like H, H2, or H3, then you'll have to buy the buffer separately, and that buffer that came with the kit will sit in your parts bin, collecting dirt for years.

At TNA we don't want you to buy parts you don't need. That's why today we set up our Buttstock Kits so that you can Choose Your Own Buffer.

At the Buttstock Kit product page, simply pick the Tube Size (Mil-Spec or Commercial) and the Buffer weight (Standard, H, H2, or H3) and Add to Cart. If you pull the trigger and order that, then we will assemble a Buttstock Kit just for you, with the appropriate size Tube and Buttstock, and your chosen Buffer. And since you're buying a set of parts, we discount the Kit price by 20% or more compared to buying the parts separately. Choose your Own Buffer is available when buying a Buttstock Kits