Flash hider removal

[rimfire22]

To anyone reading this and contemplating removing their flash hider, I would make sure you clamp the barrel tightly. That was my problem - the barrel would turn as I tried to loosen the barrel nut. My vise was free standing so I was holding the vise down with one hand while tightening the vise jaws with the other hand. Yeah, dumb. And definitely couldn't tighten the vise jaws enough with this retarded method. After mounting the vise, I tightened the vise jaws using both hands and voila, FH broke free.

My suggested routine to making sure you get it off without any drama:
1. Optional: Put a drop or two of liquid wrench (or similar) on the flash hider nut and let it sit for a few hours. You can get it off without this, but it won't hurt anything and might make it a little easier.
2. Clamp the barrel really tightly (using aluminum, polymer, wood for vise jaws). If the barrel spins when loosening the FH, it's not tight enough. If you are like me and have your vise free standing, bolt it down to a bench or some wood (if the latter, get a friend to hold the wood and vise down while you turn the handle).
3. Optional: Heat up the FH nut with a heat gun if you have one. Again, may not make a difference, but won't hurt anything.
4. Use a hammer to tap the wrench. Impacting the wrench will break the nut free more readily than applying steady torque.

 

[subbyc]

Hey there, thanks rimfire22, I had the same problem trying to remove my flash hider. I had padded the barrel with soft wood but that twisted in my vice and has scored the finish on the barrel so I will have to re-finish it, probably with krylon paint as it is under the fake suppressor anyway. I ended up using hard wood pads in the vice, a blow torch, wrench and hammer. I couldn't believe how tight the vice had to be as well but it came unstuck eventually. I don't think there is any need for the flash hider to be that tight though. All is good now though

 

[tomcatt51]

I had padded the barrel with soft wood but that twisted in my vice... I ended up using hard wood pads in the vice...

My vise blocks are just 2 pieces of pine 2x4, clamped together and a 5/8" hole drilled for the barrel to sit in. A .625" hole seems to have about the right crush on a .670" barrel. Worked great, my flash hider was a tight one. If it's not enough in the future I'll make another set of blocks from hardwood.

 

[subbyc]

I guess the problem I had was that my wood didn't have a slot for the barrel to fit into so the friction between the wood and the barrel was only along a narrow line. The grove or slot would allow for a greater surface area which would make for an easier job I guess. Lesson learned. The soft wood was really soft and split/twisted in the vice when I applied pressure with the wrench, hence the score in the blue ��

 

[tomcatt51]

I guess the problem I had was that my wood didn't have a slot for the barrel to fit into so the friction between the wood and the barrel was only along a narrow line.

Yes, you need an undersize hole so it deforms and gets a really good "bite" on the barrel. The hole is drilled across, not with, the woods grain. I much prefer wood blocks over the aluminum V blocks.