AR Barrel nut question?

[urustyone]

Hello, I am trying to put a quad rail on a brond new Rock River upper. Has anyone had any experiance with the barrel nut not coming loose? I bought a tool and it just does not want to budge. I heat safe? Thanks for any help!!

Rusty

 

[Cwood]

Are you using a vise and upper receiver block to hold in the vise? Mine was hard to come off without stabilizing it in a vise.

 

[shooter521]

Having a vise, upper receiver blocks, and a quality armorers/barrel wrench (many of them are garbage) is critical. It should come off with just pressure; no reputable AR builder should be using a locking compound on the barrel nut threads...

 

[4PWW9]

The barrel nut is torqued to at least 30 ft lbs at the factory but may be as much as 80 ft lbs if additional alignment was needed to get the gas tube installed properly. You may want to try some additional leverage on your barrel nut wrench. I would not apply heat.

 

[urustyone]

I do not have receiver blocks. However, stabilized the upper in a vice with pine blocks and a towel. The tool I puchased is from NcStar and I am not very happy with the way it fits the nut. I am trying to find someone close with blocks. Thanks Everyone!!

 

[shooter521]

I do not have receiver blocks. The tool I puchased is from NcStar

Well there ya go.

 

[urustyone]

Does anyone local have blocks and willing to help?

 

[cosermann]

Sorry, not local, but I recommend this one if you can't find anyone who can share. It doesn't mar the finish as some of the clam shell style ones can do sometimes.

Upper receiver "claw" type vice block:
DPMS Panther Claw for AR15

You may also find you get a better purchase on the nut if you can find a barrel wrench with the scallops all the way around to engage the nut on multiple corners (instead of the mil type with the 2 pins).

Wrench example that engages the nut all the way around:
Armorer AR15 Wrench

Hopefully, the mfg of your AR put the appropriate moly grease on the threads when your rifle was assembled or you could have a VERY difficult time getting that nut off (depending on how old it is).

The proper grease for the barrel nut. Don't go cheap on the grease or you may be sorry. Don't use a grease containing graphite as it can react w/aluminum in the presence of moisture.:
AeroShell Grease 33MS (14 Oz. Cartridge(, Extreme Pressure (EP) Grease, MIL-G-21164D* The largest selection of Aircraft parts and Pilot Supplies.- SkyGeek.com

 

[urustyone]

Thanks for the good info cosermann. I hate to buy blocks for one use. The tool I have is as you explained and wraps about 60% around the nut.

 

[zsm]

go to the accessories page, and ask if anybody close to fort wayne has a barrel wrench and a vise block for you.

If you can't find someone, I could ask VUPDblue and see if he'll loan out the tools, and we could meet up a little bit south from there (i live close to marion/noblesville)

 

[pftraining_in]

RRA uses red Loctite on their barrel nuts. A friend had to apply heat recently to his upper barrel nut to remove it. Their was enough Loctite that a quality barrel wrench became useless and the nut was still in place. A torch was required to provide adequate heat.

 

[shooter521]

RRA uses red Loctite on their barrel nuts.

In lieu of doing it correctly, I guess.

 

[Cwood]

I own a RRA and it did not have loctite on the barrel threads.

 

[pftraining_in]

I own a RRA and it did not have loctite on the barrel threads.

This has been witnessed on two current rifles with various amounts applied. RRA is spotty in their builds and each rifle that comes off the line is assembled differently by each builder. When you handle multiple RRA rifles you find loctite on some parts, red or blue and find no loctite on another rifle.

 

[urustyone]

If heat becomes necessary is there any upfront warnings other than not to get burnt?

 

[urustyone]

Good news! I got some great help tonight from some outsiders. It appears all you need is the the correct tools. After putting the upper in some vise blocks the barrel nut broke loose and there was no loctite on the threads. Thank you everone for all the responses!!

 

[Cwood]

Glad to hear that it worked out for you. Amazing what the right tools can do.

 

[GlockRock]

RRA uses red Loctite on their barrel nuts. A friend had to apply heat recently to his upper barrel nut to remove it. Their was enough Loctite that a quality barrel wrench became useless and the nut was still in place. A torch was required to provide adequate heat.

I've been through the Rock River Armorer's course and they told us to never use loctite on the barrel nut.

 

[cosermann]

Tip: Use the correct grease when you put it back on. See previous post.

 

[OneBadV8]