Another loose barrel found.

[shooboy]

Both are fine wrenches and used by a great many 15-22 owners here.

If manufactures wish to discuss their products with each other they can do it via PM.

You're absolutely correct Phil and I apologize for not contacting Jody directly through a PM. That has been done and all is well, thank you, Randy

 

[emsemt911]

I think I have a lose barrel nut. I dropped mine off at gun smith. It is easier for me to let some one else fix it while my Nikon scope is off for warrantee repairs or re-placement

 

[Majorlk]

I think I have a lose barrel nut. I dropped mine off at gun smith. It is easier for me to let some one else fix it while my Nikon scope is off for warrantee repairs or re-placement

Make sure your gunsmith knows that you can't clamp a 15-22 receiver in a vice to tighten the barrel nut. You must clamp the barrel. If he clamps the receiver, the odds are that he will strip the barrel seat in it, necessitating a trip to S&W for a new one.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

It is easier for me to let some one else fix it while my Nikon scope is off for warrantee repairs or re-placement

It is only easier if you don't have the tool. I'm of the belief all should have the tools to disassemble the rifle. You can either make your own barrel nut wrench or can purchase one... as I did from Tacticool22.

I have used mine many times, including when I switched around barrels when deciding which barrel length I wanted as well as when I changed handguards. However I find the greatest use for when I clean. There are so many nooks & crannies where the barrel mates to the receiver that are extremely hard to get to. I have found it is much easier to clean with the barrel off. When you take the barrel off you will find all these areas that you missed with normal cleaning. Other advantage is you always know that the nut is on properly... not too loose & not too tight. I doubt if all gunsmiths understand the specs when attaching to a polymer receiver. As the Major said, it has been documented here where gunsmiths have ruined 15-22s. Since it looks like an AR, some treat it as such... and that ain't a good thing.

 

[MIKE2013]

the nut on my rifle was so lose i didnt even have to Turn it hard to remove it i need to check my brothers nut soon to make sure its not lose asell

I Dont need to worry about the Nut Thing anymore i just Finished a Free Float Handgaurd Mod for my Rifle

 

[stonecutter]

Hi

I went through all kinds of mental dilemmas trying to work out what was up with mine and why 3 shots would go within mm of each other and one would go an inch away...after i tightened my 'loose' barrel nut....the only fliers i get now are purely down to the operator

I have a feeling that I may have the same problem .
While testing some ammo recently, I had the guns forend resting on sandbags I noticed the groups changed depending on how much downward pressure I used. Cheers

 

[BigWaylon]

I have a feeling that I may have the same problem .
While testing some ammo recently, I had the guns forend resting on sandbags I noticed the groups changed depending on how much downward pressure I used. Cheers

Do you still have the end cap installed on the handguard?

 

[stonecutter]

Hi

Do you still have the end cap installed on the handguard?

Hi yes its still just on the the forend, I have added some goodies to the gun but but not touched the front end. Cheers

 

[GhostMutt]

Hi yes its still just on the the forend, I have added some goodies to the gun but but not touched the front end. Cheers

As far as i am aware you can remove the endcap without it having any effect on the gun at all, it is to stop 'mud' and 'stuff' from entering the handguard (i think) which of course happens on a daily basis when crawling around in the jungles of south east asia.
The endcap touching the barrel with pressure i think could effect barrel harmonics which could result in fliers but if you are going to remove the endcap then get/make a barrel nut tool and give that nut a tightening. It can only help and is a useful tool to have anyway.
After tightening mine and finding an ammo that my 15-22 liked, my fliers are my fault.

 

[stonecutter]

As far as i am aware you can remove the endcap without it having any effect on the gun at all, it is to stop 'mud' and 'stuff' from entering the handguard (i think) which of course happens on a daily basis when crawling around in the jungles of south east asia.
The endcap touching the barrel with pressure i think could effect barrel harmonics which could result in fliers but if you are going to remove the endcap then get/make a barrel nut tool and give that nut a tightening. It can only help and is a useful tool to have anyway.
After tightening mine and finding an ammo that my 15-22 liked, my fliers are my fault.

I guess I will have to get a barrel nut tool & vise jaws & have a go at it. Cheers

 

[tacticool22]

And keep the hand guard end cap in your parts drawer.

 

[capx28]

ordered a wrench myself from tacticool as i feel i might have the same problem. I noticed on lmy last range trip that the groups opened up. I would get some nice tight groups then a few fliers. then a nice tight group but off (zerod scope again) and the same pattern of tight flyers then tight but off center.Was wondering how tight should the barrel be? I don't want to over tighten it.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

Was wondering how tight should the barrel be? I don't want to over tighten it.

I don't use a torque wrench but just tighten using 2 fingers. As you said, you don't want to over tighten.

IMO, if you tighten so much that you need to put a wrench on the end of the barrel nut tool to get it loose again, then you've gone too far. I can firmly grab the end of the wrench with my hand to loosen my barrel nut. That may seem too loose for some but I've never had the barrel nut back off any after prolonged shooting.

 

[Fire75]

So someone jumped in my post about a new barrel. Saying S&W needs to do it for headspace.

How can everyone take their barrel out if the guy is right in my thread?

 

[RedNeck Jim]

So someone jumped in my post about a new barrel. Saying S&W needs to do it for headspace.

How can everyone take their barrel out if the guy is right in my thread?

Question is, is that guy correct? All kinds of info online... some correct, some wrong. Guess you need to figure out who is correct.

 

[Fire75]

Question is, is that guy correct? All kinds of info online... some correct, some wrong. Guess you need to figure out who is correct.

Thats kinda what I am asking. I think he is wrong. But it would be nice to hear from all the people that have taken their barrel out.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I'm not here to say anyone is wrong. Just know ARs & 15-22s are made to be user disassembled. My barrel has been swapped out, removed for cleaning & removed for getting cut down... all told multiple times. I've never heard of headspace issues when putting these barrels back on.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I just hand tighten mine.... no vice.

A bit of historical trivia---

Before Shooboy and Tacticool22 were offering proper steel wrenches, we were using PVC and cutting out the fingers to fit in the barrel nut. A bit crude, but necessity is the mother of invention, right? Anyway... I think most folks found that the barrel nut isn't torqued too much from the factory whatever spec (if there is a spec) might be.

 

[tacticool22]

The closest thing I have gotten for a "factory spec" is 20 foot pounds.
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Head space is determined by the cutout in the bolt for rim fire.