I seem to be stuck and I’m looking for advice. I’ve got a 15-22 pistol that I’d like to remove the flash hider so I can run it suppressed. Since there is no exposed barrel to clamp onto, I need to remove the handguard. I can’t remove the handguard because the handguard end cap won’t come off with the flash hider on it. Is the only solution to cut off the handguard end cap and then remove the barrel nut/handguard in order to clamp the barrel and remove the flash hider? If that’s the only way I’ll do it, just wanted a second opinion before I cut it. Thank you!

You really don’t need to remove anything, I got my flash hider off without needing to disassemble my pistol.



The only reason I remove my end caps on all my 15-22s is just for a more realistic free float.

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Hold my beer and watch this!

I can do that, but the cap can’t move because the flash hider is a hair in front of the handguard on the pistol version. It can’t slide over the flash hider....which is what I’m trying to remove.

Do you have a Dremmel tool? You can trim the 'tabs' off of the end cap.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

It's necessary to clamp to the barrel to remove the flash hider.

Having made a 4.5 inch 15-22 SBR and knowing that clamping to the barrel is more difficult, I can tell you that you may need to improvise a barrel clamp tool that fits through the handguards to secure the barrel. It was easier with the old larger hole handguards. The new, thinner slotted handguards will require a narrower tool. I hope Tacticool could make and sell these tools.

I also had to improvise a barrel nut tool that had holes in it so I could clamp the barrel while the barrel nut tool while is tightening the nut.

I was wondering what S&W was using? If the barrel twists in the barrel clamp, the barrel will spin inside the receiver and the ejector will bend. That may be why we're see so many extractor alignment problems in the other NEW 15-22 Pistol Announced thread.

Edit:
Here's how another member removed the flash hider back in 2016. It's a good visual resource. It's very good except the part where he says to clamp on the handguards to tighten the barrel nut. Don't do that without clamping on to the barrel through holes in the barrel nut tool. It's kinda difficult so I'm sure that is why S&W made fine threads on the barrel nut.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachm...9&d=1487708410