A
barrel nut
assembly for use on a variety of firearms is provided. The
assembly is made up of a
barrel nut, generally cylindrical in shape with a threaded central bore, and an externally threaded
locknut which is used in conjunction with the
barrel nut to secure a barrel to a firearm upper
receiver. The barrel nut has an integral
bushing on its exterior constructed to support either the gas tube or
piston of the host firearm's
operating system. The barrel nut is configured so that it may be independently and non-rotationally held within a vice or other fixture during installation of the barrel and while the
locknut is tightened to a preset torque to hold the barrel in place. The barrel nut
assembly affords the user a method and apparatus that aligns a central bore in the
bushing with the opening in the upper
receiver that receives an
operating system component of the firearm while the barrel nut is independent of the torque applied to the
locknut to properly secure the barrel to the upper
receiver.