Question for JT how is my pre-ban muzzle brake attached?
I have two pre-ban kits that I bought from ya'll back in the "bad old days" of the AWB. I want to get rid of the noisy brakes and attach flash hiders to both of them. How are the brakes attached? Can I just heat them up and twist them off? Is the muzzle threaded, or, not?
If they are muzzle brakes that have been permanently attached, they are pinned & welded. You should have a competent machinist perform any following steps. If done incorrectly, you can scrap your barrel! We are not responsible for any damage, loss, or injuries resulting from attempting to follow the following information. Attempt removing the brake at your own risk! Please read all steps in full prior to starting the process. Now that the disclaimer has been issued, the following is for informational purposes:
There is a blind hole drilled in the brake, catching part of the barrel, a pin installed in the hole, the pin hole welded over, then ground flush & finished. There should be a slight blemish near the bottom of the brake that should be the weld spot. On that spot if you mill away a very small portion of the brake at the weld spot, you should expose the pin. Once exposed, you should be able to mill away the area around the pin, allowing one to grab the pin with a set of channel locks and extract it. If the pin cannot be extracted in this manner, the next step is to carefully drill out the pin. BE VERY CAREFUL OF THE ANGLE or else you will drill deeper into the barrel, and possibly compromising the strength of the barrel wall. If that is done, the only way to save the barrel is to cut down the barrel to a shorter length, re-thread and re-crown the barrel, then permanently attaching a longer flash hider to bring the OAL to 16.1". The only two ways I am aware of that are currently approved by BATFE for permanently attaching is 1100 degree silver solder or to pin and weld, in the manner that the brake was originally attached. Please contact BATFE for verification prior to attaching a brake permanently.
Thanks,
Jesse
