Patent ID: 8453364

Claim:
A semi-automatic or automatic rifle, comprising: an upper receiver; a barrel removably connected to the upper receiver; a cap coupled to the barrel; a removable hand guard section extending over and generally surrounding the barrel, the removable hand guard section being removably connected to the receiver via a locking assembly at a rearward end and the removable hand guard section having a locating feature at a forward end configured to engage with the cap and locate the hand guard relative to the cap, wherein the removable hand guard section has an integrally formed upper rail associated therewith; and wherein the locking assembly comprises a locking collar rotatably secured to a barrel nut so that the position of the locking collar relative to the barrel nut is selectably variable and wherein movement of the locking collar with respect to the barrel nut secures a portion of the removable hand guard section between a flange of the barrel nut and a surface of the locking collar, wherein the removable hand guard section is not directly secured to the barrel, wherein the locking collar is further lockable relative to the upper receiver via a spring loaded pin configured to engage a feature of the locking collar.