An embodiment presents a rifle including an upper receiver, a barrel assembly connected to the upper receiver and a forend with an integrated barrel nut. The integrated barrel nut is connected to the barrel assembly such that the forend is directly connected to and aligned with the upper receiver. Another embodiment provides a method for assembling a firearm. The method includes inserting a barrel assembly into an upper receiver. The method also includes threading a forend with an integrated barrel nut over the outer surface of the barrel assembly. The method also includes checking an alignment between the upper receiver and the forend.