It came disassembled in a cardboard box, so the first thing I did was put it together. It was not an easy task even with help from the trouble and strife but we managed it with luck more than anything else.... Anyway today I decided I would need to learn to take it apart and reassemble it by myself. I removed the handguard retaining nut and the wiggled the handguard witch resisted my attempts to get it off without swearing, I found it impossible without a couple of donald ducks, and that's all it took. The next thing was to separate the upper receiver from the lower but I did not have the strength to pull them apart using my arms alone. I found the way to do it is to grasp the barrel with both hands and pull it upwards with my right foot on the pistol grip, it then came apart.
After half an hour trying several methods, I found the best way to get it back together again was to hold the lower pointing downwards with the left hand, while keeping the bolt held backwards with the right hand and feeing it all together at the same time as making sure everything is perfectly aligned. and all of a sudden there was a satisfying click as everything settled into place. Everything was in place apart from the final 1/4 of an inch that the upper receiver needed to go back, I did not have the strength to push it together again. I solved that bashing the butt against the floor. The handguard went back on with a bash from the heel of my hand.
I know I will eventually perfect the technique, but am pleased to know I can at least put it together again without assistance next time I take it apart.
The gas system is a substantial affair, it's the same as used on the M4 shotgun.
The handguard has a spring loaded rod that acts ad a detent to stoop the retainer nut from coming lose, the instructions say to use this to tighten the gas assembly retaining nut. It's possible to use it for that purpose but it's very awkward .
A hex key or something similar will do the job far easier.
