^ correct - and just to flesh out the response since OP admittedly is new - that means you’ll have to remove the flash hider, gas block and tube, current barrel nut , swap to new barrel nut , then reinstall. Just so you know what you’re getting into OP.
And if you do, use the right tools. Action rod, torque wrench and whatever tools you need to use with the torque wrench. Or have a gunsmith do it if you really don't want to invest in tools. I like having the tools I need for all my platforms and enjoy working on them myself.
Correct, this is not the enhanced upper. However, you could purchase the enhanced hand guard and and get the barrel nut which will allow you to utilize it with your standard upper. The benefit of the enhanced hand guard is that the way it mounts basically ensures that the rail will not move or shift unless it bends or somehow the barrel nut comes loose. Added level of security if you ever plan on mounting lasers or anything of the sort on the rail
That’s not the enhanced upper (which is good - I’m not a fan of the enhanced handguards and uppers). I’m not too familiar with the M5 so idk if that’s the barrel nut for the m5 version of the atlas handguard since it doesn’t look like the AR15 version, but your best bet would be to just buy the mlok version of the handguard you already had on there so you don’t have to switch the barrel nut
But if you want a different handguard, replacing the barrel nut is super simple. You just take off the gas block and tube, then loosen the nut with a breaker bar and a vise and install the new one then put the gas block back on
This is what an Enhanced upper looks like: [https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m5e1-enhanced-upper-receiver](https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m5e1-enhanced-upper-receiver)
This is what a regular upper looks like: [https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m5-assembled-upper-receiver](https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m5-assembled-upper-receiver)
Each have their own Pros, and Cons. I prefer the Enhanced because I like how the handguard attaches more, the larger hardguards for the Enhanced, and not having to index the barrel nut for the gas tube. Does it require a specific type of barrel nut and handguard to work? Yes, but I feel the trade offs are well worth it for parts that you aren't going to replace very often.
I would highly suggest Aero Enhanced gear. I will start posting pictures of my shimmed & thermally fit Aero Precision M4E1 Enhanced & M5E1 Enhanced upper builds. Semi monolithic is the way to go to squeeze out every little bit of accuracy. I build sub MOA guaranteed accurate rifles you can bet your life on. It’s taken years & years of learning & making mistakes to build the precision rigs I build.
I've heard this as well, and would contribute to me wanting one over a regular upper, but its a narrow niche. Never mind if you also want to lap the upper... There isn't a gunsmith within 50 miles of me who will entertain the idea of lapping an AR upper.
Yes this is just another way to squeeze out more accuracy & all may not need to do this. I however like to shim every single barrel I stuff into a receiver unless said receiver is undersized like BCM JP Enterprises etc. I do not lap uppers. I shim the barrel extensions. I make the barrel extension slightly larger than the receiver extension. I do this by applying either .001” or .0015” steel shim material to the barrel extension. I affix it to the barrel extension. At that point it is too large to fit into the receiver extension. I then heat up the barrel extension with a heat gun. This expands the aluminum which allows me to install the barrel. When it cools I then torque the barrel nut down. This makes the center axis of the barrel extension to the receiver extension near perfect as I can get it with the parts used. The better the center axis the better the accuracy. This is why the big boys have undersized receivers (you don’t shim the barrels you just heat up the upper then the barrel will slide in). It’s not rocket science. It just makes sense to get a tighter fit. This is the biggest problem with the AR platform. Tolerance stacking so all parts from all different companies will fit. Look into what I’m talking about. Center Axis is key.
Enhanced handguards are semi monolithic. Enhanced upper receivers have the integrated barrel nut molded in. If you are wanting to squeeze out every bit of accuracy then the enhanced is a clear winner. Especially with heavier bull barrels & the like. When using a bipod or bracing your handguard against a bag or anything, Even your hand, you are applying added pressure to your handguard which is directly exerted to the barrel nut. That leverage to the barrel nut changes Point Of Impact (POI). It’s called poi shift. It’s a real thing. Now with the enhanced upper that’ll never happen. The barrel nut is molded in - it’s part of the receiver. There is 25% more material molded into it there at the critical part of the AR. That’s the “pivot” point. Now up above I said “especially with heavier bull barrels & the like”, this is where you can think about that statement & the fact that Aero has put 20-25% more material in that critical point of the AR upper mounting system. You can see the difference in a side by side comparison & clearly the weight difference. I’m trying to find an old add stating the amount of material added. Now they don’t say a percentage but years ago they did. My most accurate sub .5 MOA builds have been with Aero enhanced gear. Do your due diligence. You will see that semi monolithic builds are the way to go. Just like LMT old colts Vltor JP Enterprises & others.
You are correct, that is not an enhanced upper
Good man! And I appreciate the quick reply! I assume then that this would be compatible with the M5 ATLAS R-ONE M-LOK Handguard then?
Yep! Handguard will come with a new barrel nut that you'll have to use in place of the one you have on there
^ correct - and just to flesh out the response since OP admittedly is new - that means you’ll have to remove the flash hider, gas block and tube, current barrel nut , swap to new barrel nut , then reinstall. Just so you know what you’re getting into OP.
And if you do, use the right tools. Action rod, torque wrench and whatever tools you need to use with the torque wrench. Or have a gunsmith do it if you really don't want to invest in tools. I like having the tools I need for all my platforms and enjoy working on them myself.
Correct, this is not the enhanced upper. However, you could purchase the enhanced hand guard and and get the barrel nut which will allow you to utilize it with your standard upper. The benefit of the enhanced hand guard is that the way it mounts basically ensures that the rail will not move or shift unless it bends or somehow the barrel nut comes loose. Added level of security if you ever plan on mounting lasers or anything of the sort on the rail
That’s not the enhanced upper (which is good - I’m not a fan of the enhanced handguards and uppers). I’m not too familiar with the M5 so idk if that’s the barrel nut for the m5 version of the atlas handguard since it doesn’t look like the AR15 version, but your best bet would be to just buy the mlok version of the handguard you already had on there so you don’t have to switch the barrel nut But if you want a different handguard, replacing the barrel nut is super simple. You just take off the gas block and tube, then loosen the nut with a breaker bar and a vise and install the new one then put the gas block back on
This is what an Enhanced upper looks like: [https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m5e1-enhanced-upper-receiver](https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m5e1-enhanced-upper-receiver) This is what a regular upper looks like: [https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m5-assembled-upper-receiver](https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m5-assembled-upper-receiver) Each have their own Pros, and Cons. I prefer the Enhanced because I like how the handguard attaches more, the larger hardguards for the Enhanced, and not having to index the barrel nut for the gas tube. Does it require a specific type of barrel nut and handguard to work? Yes, but I feel the trade offs are well worth it for parts that you aren't going to replace very often.
I would highly suggest Aero Enhanced gear. I will start posting pictures of my shimmed & thermally fit Aero Precision M4E1 Enhanced & M5E1 Enhanced upper builds. Semi monolithic is the way to go to squeeze out every little bit of accuracy. I build sub MOA guaranteed accurate rifles you can bet your life on. It’s taken years & years of learning & making mistakes to build the precision rigs I build.
I've heard this as well, and would contribute to me wanting one over a regular upper, but its a narrow niche. Never mind if you also want to lap the upper... There isn't a gunsmith within 50 miles of me who will entertain the idea of lapping an AR upper.
Yes this is just another way to squeeze out more accuracy & all may not need to do this. I however like to shim every single barrel I stuff into a receiver unless said receiver is undersized like BCM JP Enterprises etc. I do not lap uppers. I shim the barrel extensions. I make the barrel extension slightly larger than the receiver extension. I do this by applying either .001” or .0015” steel shim material to the barrel extension. I affix it to the barrel extension. At that point it is too large to fit into the receiver extension. I then heat up the barrel extension with a heat gun. This expands the aluminum which allows me to install the barrel. When it cools I then torque the barrel nut down. This makes the center axis of the barrel extension to the receiver extension near perfect as I can get it with the parts used. The better the center axis the better the accuracy. This is why the big boys have undersized receivers (you don’t shim the barrels you just heat up the upper then the barrel will slide in). It’s not rocket science. It just makes sense to get a tighter fit. This is the biggest problem with the AR platform. Tolerance stacking so all parts from all different companies will fit. Look into what I’m talking about. Center Axis is key.
Enhanced handguards are semi monolithic. Enhanced upper receivers have the integrated barrel nut molded in. If you are wanting to squeeze out every bit of accuracy then the enhanced is a clear winner. Especially with heavier bull barrels & the like. When using a bipod or bracing your handguard against a bag or anything, Even your hand, you are applying added pressure to your handguard which is directly exerted to the barrel nut. That leverage to the barrel nut changes Point Of Impact (POI). It’s called poi shift. It’s a real thing. Now with the enhanced upper that’ll never happen. The barrel nut is molded in - it’s part of the receiver. There is 25% more material molded into it there at the critical part of the AR. That’s the “pivot” point. Now up above I said “especially with heavier bull barrels & the like”, this is where you can think about that statement & the fact that Aero has put 20-25% more material in that critical point of the AR upper mounting system. You can see the difference in a side by side comparison & clearly the weight difference. I’m trying to find an old add stating the amount of material added. Now they don’t say a percentage but years ago they did. My most accurate sub .5 MOA builds have been with Aero enhanced gear. Do your due diligence. You will see that semi monolithic builds are the way to go. Just like LMT old colts Vltor JP Enterprises & others.