muzzle brake timing

[TexasE]

Hello, New to this site and new to AR's.
I recently bought a new M&P10.
Seems like a very good piece but I have two questions.
1) The muzzle brake appears to be out of time (not clocked correctly. I am assuming the bottom of the brake is the area missing the window/slot and it should be at 6 o'clock. Mine is a few degrees off, say 6:30. Is this a problem? Should it be shimmed?

2) The takedown pin required a punch to knock out. Is this normal? I was under the impression it should be removable by hand.

In either case should this be sent back? I don't find service support email on the website.

Thanks for the input.

[JCampbell53]

I can't answer your brake timing question unfortunately.
The take downs will get easier with time and usage. The anti rattle buffers between the lower and upper create a lot of binding and that is why it's difficult to get the pin out. Mine was the same way and now is much easier.

[sgtsandman]

You want the closed bottom as close to 6:00 as possible but I don't think it will hurt anything to be a little off. Now a muzzle brake, especially one that depends on correct timing to fight muzzle rise, that could be a bit of a problem.

[TexasE]

Thanks for the info.