.22 compact thread adapter coming loose

[digitaleagle12]

Just got my .22 compact back from S&W and had the barrel replaced. I took it out to the range and it shot straight this time.

When I brought the gun home to clean it, I notice the thread adapter on the front of the barrel coming loose. Apparently, they did not tighten it enough at the factory? I know most people have trouble removing them, but mine was already loose. It screwed off easily but when threaded on about 3/4 of the way there was a lot of resistance. I didn't have the proper wrench to tighten it down so I wrapped some cloth around the adapter and used a vice grip to tighten it down. That worked without marring the adapter.

I just ordered an EWK arms thread adapter for a silencer. (In case I ever decide to use one) I thought this would be easier to tighten down and remove as it uses a 1/4 inch hex bolt to remove and tighten down the adapter. I like the idea of this.

I was wondering if this actually lengthened the barrel at all or does it just allow attachment of a silencer? If it doesn't add any length for bullet travel, I'll probably just use the regular adapter that came with the gun. (Until I buy a silencer)

I suppose I will have the problem again of the original barrel adapter coming loose unless I use some lock tight on it.

Do you guys have suggestions on what type of Locktite I should use to keep it from coming loose, but still allowing me to remove it when I want to use the EWK adapter?

 

[gonerydin]

Use 242 loctite (blue) don't need a lot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[digitaleagle12]

Sorry - should have posted this to the Semi Auto forum.

Not sure if there is a way to move the thread.

My apologies.

 

[digitaleagle12]

Thank you!

Use 242 loctite (blue) don't need a lot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[richardw]

Any extension of the barrel that is not extreme will allow the explosive gas to expand more fully. Adding a suppressor is a way to decrease noise level and increase velocity. Just watched a USMC training video directed to infantry Marines being issued suppressors for their rifles. It shows that bullet velocity increases because of the added barrel length. So even a small amount of increase should increase velocity to some extent.

The Corp recently equipped and entire battalion with suppressors to test the theory that it is better than ear protection. It would allow Marines to hear commands in battle without having to remove ear protection. After the test period the Corps want to suppress all rifles and machine guns.

I wear two hearing aids. Might have been partly caused by three decades of being exposed to small and large arms fire.

I have no idea about how to secure a threaded fitting.

 

[MichiganScott]

Try anti-seize compound. It will allow you to crank the screw protector down but allow easy removal when needed. There is a reason that shotgun manufacturers recommend it for their screw in chokes.

 

[jim46ok]

Big difference in "adding barrel length" and adding a muzzle device. Velocity increase (at times) is increased when the BORE length is increased, as it lets the powder burn longer before exiting at the crown. There are optimum lengths for different calibers, loads, bullet weight, etc.

A suppressor, for instance, may add velocity by confining the expanding gasses thereby giving a little "boost" to the bullet on it's way out. Different way, but results similar. They may add accuracy, as well.

 

[rbuzz]

I don't understand why anyone would want to use any form of thread locker on the adapter. The adapter has to be removed every time you clean the firearm.
Just take the tool that came with the pistol and tighten down the adapter (it doesn't take much force) and you should be good to go.
I've got a 22Compact and that's what I do.

 

[digitaleagle12]

Well, first of all I never got a tool with my Gun from S&W. Second, the barrel adapter keeps coming loose every time I shoot the gun. My only choice was to crank it tight again using a vice grips as I found no wrench size that would fit it. Thanks S&W!!! That's great engineering there!

So, if I'm going to keep the original barrel adapter tight on the gun, I see no other way but to use locktite.

At least with the EWK adapter - you an tighten it down with a hex wrench, which makes it much easier, but then, if I'm not using a supresor, I have to take it off every time I clean the gun.

I don't understand why anyone would want to use any form of thread locker on the adapter. The adapter has to be removed every time you clean the firearm.
Just take the tool that came with the pistol and tighten down the adapter (it doesn't take much force) and you should be good to go.
I've got a 22Compact and that's what I do.

 

[digitaleagle12]

Because every single time I shoot the gun, the barrel adapter comes loose and has to be tightened back down again.

I don't understand why anyone would want to use any form of thread locker on the adapter. The adapter has to be removed every time you clean the firearm.
Just take the tool that came with the pistol and tighten down the adapter (it doesn't take much force) and you should be good to go.
I've got a 22Compact and that's what I do.

 

[digitaleagle12]

Since the EWK barrel adapter has a hex hole in it to tighten it down, I wasn't sure if this actually allowed the gas to expand further - giving the bullet a little more velocity. It seems to be a pretty wide opening vs. the barrel itself due to the 14 inch hex opening.

I ordered one anyway, as I'm getting sick and tired of having to use a vice grip to tighten down the original adapter after every range outing.

I will probably call S&W and see if they can send me one of their barrel adapter tools.

Big difference in "adding barrel length" and adding a muzzle device. Velocity increase (at times) is increased when the BORE length is increased, as it lets the powder burn longer before exiting at the crown. There are optimum lengths for different calibers, loads, bullet weight, etc.

A suppressor, for instance, may add velocity by confining the expanding gasses thereby giving a little "boost" to the bullet on it's way out. Different way, but results similar. They may add accuracy, as well.

 

[hostler]

I didn't want to have to remove the thread adapter every time I disassemble the gun, and I don't yet have a suppressor, so I bought a thread protector. Screw it on tight and forget about it until I get a suppressor.
A thread protector (or barrel nut) is around $10.
If I was concerned about velocity I wouldn't have gotten a "compact".
Have you contacted S&W about getting your adapter wrench back and about the issue with the resistance at 3/4 down? That seems like the most logical course.

 

[digitaleagle12]

Hi: Yes, I just contacted S&W today and they are going to send me out their barrel nut wrench.

I was able to tighten the nut back on the last few turns using a vice grip and some cloth around the nut, (which was hard to tighten), so I don't know if they sent me my gun back from replacing the barrel with the nut being loose , (and I didn't notice it) or if it got loose from firing a couple hundred rounds at the range.

Now that it is tight again, I will see what it does after my next range visit and if it comes loose again, I'll have the wrench this time to tighten it and will put some locktite Blue on the threads to keep it from happening again.

I don't plan on using a suppressor with it in the future.

I cancelled the EWK order I had placed and Eric at EWK said the barrel suppresor adapter would have no impact on barrel length or velocity.

Thanks for the input.

I didn't want to have to remove the thread adapter every time I disassemble the gun, and I don't yet have a suppressor, so I bought a thread protector. Screw it on tight and forget about it until I get a suppressor.
A thread protector (or barrel nut) is around $10.
If I was concerned about velocity I wouldn't have gotten a "compact".
Have you contacted S&W about getting your adapter wrench back and about the issue with the resistance at 3/4 down? That seems like the most logical course.

 

[hoc9sw]

If your .22 compact comes with just the thread protector cap (is not suppressor-ready as some later models), there is no need to ever remove it.

The EWK adapter (I have and use one) is only needed for non-suppressor ready models, and yes, it must be removed to remove the slide for cleaning.

And yes, there was a wrench supplied, but it was inadequate. I also purchased the EWK wrench, which does the job.

 

[Dad_Roman]

Replaced mine with an adapter too.
.
I just snug it after every mag