Tap on it a few times with a rubber mallet, maybe you can break it loose. That guide rod looks too far forward like Mike mentioned.

Makes sense. I'll give that a try. Many thanks, gents!

Update 1/4 7am EST:

The mallet got us most of the way back - to within 3/8"-1/2" or so which makes the barrel link seem to be the culprit (well, it's actually the stupid owner that's the REAL culprit).

I've already gotten an early-am e-mail from the sales rep at Nighthawk and he said that this happens quite a bit with first-time customers due to their very tight tolerances. That makes me feel much better. Hopefully a conversation with one of their tech people will get me back on track. Now just have to pray for no idiot scratch.

Thanks again for all of the advice!

Look in the link I posted and do the Wilson notch. You'll never get an idiot scratch

Big Sigh of Relief!
 

I spoke with Bob from Nighthawk. Nice guy. Patient, too. We're back in business. I really thought that it was going to be a shipment back to Arkansas.

It seems like the key is...when all else fails, tap on the end of the barrel.

Life is good again. Hopefully, I can get out and shoot the darned thing now. and, hopefully, get it stripped, cleaned, and put back together again when I'm done.

I'll look into the Wilson notch, Mike. Thanks for the tip.

And thanks to everyone for their input.

That's great news! Range report expected.

what our Cuban cockroach is saying is, beat hell outta it until it's fixed or busted :p

Ah, finally someone who speaks my language.

Now all I need to do is find the time to actually GET to the range!

Still waiting on a range report.:D With pictures for pig.