Topic: AR barrel nut a PTA!

[InBound556]

  I'm trying to take off my LMT 14.5" barrel to give to my buddy, but so far it's winning.  I've got a DPMS action wrench, a Brownells receiver block and a 5" vise.  Is WD-40 or silicone spray a good idea to loosen the nut from the threads?  It will hinder my SBR process if I have to buy a complete upper receiver.  Thanks, Travis

[Jeff]

You shouldn't need too (and I doubt it would help).  Your action whench should have a hole for a 1/2" ratchet.  I've used that with a breaker bar for the tough ones.  You need to use that hole for a torque wrench when you put it back on too.

Just in case, you did remove the gas tube, right. 

[InBound556]

  Hahaha... oh you have to take that off? j/k!  Let me tell you, it's F'n on there, I've tried using a 3' piece of conduit on the the end of the Action wrench and it won't budge.  When I took the barrel off of my 20" upper I had no problem, but this one has myself and two of my friends uttering curse words.

[High Wall]

I haven't one tough enough to need to try it yet, but I understand putting the upper in the freezer for a couple of hours works.  The aluminum upper contracts more than the steel nut.

[NGO]

Place wrench onto barrel nut.

Gird loins.

Double check direction of planned wrench turning.  Righty tighty, lefty loosey, right?  But is that if I'm standing in front or behind the nut?

Drum fingers on desk.

Grab a bottle of Dew from the fridge, unscrew cap.  Screw cap back on, unscrew cap.  Screw cap back on, unscrew cap.  Hold bottle horitzontal in line with barrel...

Got it.   

[Shortmag]

Grab a bottle of Dew from the fridge, unscrew cap.  Screw cap back on, unscrew cap.  Screw cap back on, unscrew cap.  Hold bottle horitzontal in line with barrel...

Got it.   

Be sure to drink the Dew before you try this or you'll end up with dew all over the table and said PITA AR.

this concludes Shortmag's tip of the day. 

SM

[Spiff]

InBound, did you install this barrel yourself? If not, it's possible that someone has thread locked it. You might try a *little* bit of heat on the nut.

[InBound556]

  It's a factory LMT 14.5" upper.  I've tried a little bit of heat, but I'm going to try the freezer.  When I bought my Troy rail about a year ago I couldn't it the nut to come loose, so I cut the Delta ring and Assem. off.  Now I've taken off and installed several AR barrels between my rifles and my friends.  Thanks for the input, and I'll let you know how the cold treatment works.

[InBound556]

  The cold is a no go.  It appears to make it tighter as both the steel barrel nut and aluminum receiver will contract at cold temps making it tighter.  I'm a little disappointed  with the DPMS action wrench as it gives very little surface area contact.  It tends to fall off the barrel nut faster than I can put it back on.  Any other wrenches out there, or house hold tools that might be worth a try?  Thanks

[High Wall]

  The cold is a no go.  It appears to make it tighter as both the steel barrel nut and aluminum receiver will contract at cold temps making it tighter.  I'm a little disappointed  with the DPMS action wrench as it gives very little surface area contact.  It tends to fall off the barrel nut faster than I can put it back on.  Any other wrenches out there, or house hold tools that might be worth a try?  Thanks

I've never had to try the freezer trick myself.  The theory behind it is the aluminum receiver contracts more than the steel nut.  It may be one of those things that sound better in theory than works in practice. 

Your DPMS wrench reminds me of the Bushmaster wrench I used to have.  It had some kind of coating on it that prevented full engagement of the teeth on the barrel nut.  The one I have now says J & T on it.  It allows full engagement of the teeth on the barrel nut, and has worked well for me.  Accuracy Speaks sells a wrench that engages the nut all the way around, but it looks like the FSB has to come off to use it.

[InBound556]

  Thanks, I finely got the thing off.  I took a closer look at my receiver vice, and it turns out my LMT upper has a thicker side wall in front of the dust cover.  I used a knife to relieve the area inside of the vice and reapplied heat to the barrel nut.  There was too much play between the upper receiver and the vice, but now I know, so thanks to everyone for the input.