I wouldn't get too wrapped up in trying to sort out a loose handguard. There's supposed to be movement or you'll crack the wood in the handguard when the rifle heats up. Too tight a handguard also affects accurracy. The match guns have the upper handguard fastened to the band so they float and don't touch the gas cylinder at all. They can't be stripped in the normal way though. How does it shoot in the first place?