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Posted: 10/8/2006 6:26:37 PM EDT
| Brownells now sells a tap and die set to thread AR barrels. I would like to add a flash supressor, or brake, to my 16in V-Match. Is this something that a caveman can do, or should I have it done professionally? Any tech advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. |
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To be honest, the die that they sell is for "cleaning" existing threads. It will cut new threads too, so dont get me wrong. The problem comes in when yopu have to have the muzzle machined down so the die will go over it and be able to cut the threads. Your best bet is to send your upper to one of the many fine shops that thread barrels. Of course, I do this work, but ADCO also does A LOT of business on this site and sort of specializes in this work too. I charge 45$ plus shipping back to you to thread a barrel. I am not sure what ADCO charges, but rest assured it is a fair price. Hope this helps, Targethunter |
I agree 100% with that. Send it off and get it done right. I don't think I have ever seen anything negative about the work ADCO does. |
I'll 3rd that. send it off. I tried the threading myself once. Too easy to mess up your barrel. |
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Adco and ar15barrels.com do excellent barrel threading with fast turnaround. I have the brownells die and it has been a great thing to have for cleaning up the threads after removing pinned brakes from post-ban barrels but even then you have to be very careful or you can screw up the barrel. Besides, even with the die you'd have to get the outside diameter of the muzzle down to 1/2 and that means a lathe os you might as well cut the threads at the same time. |
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Just for fun you might want to buy a small die and a matching "standard bolt" with a shoulder. http://www.boltdepot.com/hex-bolts.aspx#Style8 "A standard bolt has a hex head and a smooth shoulder area beyond the standard amount of threading. Shorter lengths are fully threaded."  Spend an enjoyable afternoon "adding" threads over the shoulder and you will get some idea of just how unlikely you could thread a barrel with a DIY die. Not to mention the barrel would need to be turned down to the proer diameter before the die would even begin to work. Dies are best used to clean existing threads. best regards, mike |
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Has anyone successfully used the Brownells Die to cut threads after turning down to 1/2"? I work in a large factory with several Tool Makers that could turn down the OD and run on a die pretty easy. I'm wanting to do this to a CZ 22LR barrel and trying to keep the cost down. Thanks, Mike |
I've done barrels several ways, all with a lathe though. Depending on the lathe I have at hand I: Turned the barrel to the major thread diameter and cut a thread relief groove at the shoulder then run the die in a tailstock die holder. Then i reversed the die to get the last thread cut sharp. Same thing, turned to the major thread diameter, then with a single point tool cut shallow threads and cleaned and finished them with the die. Single point threaded the barrel using my old business partners Monarch Tool Room lathe. That was a SWEET machine. But no, you really can not thread a barrel with out SOME lathe work. efxguy |
This is what I had in mind except I'm not sure I understand this part "Then i reversed the die to get the last thread cut sharp" Thanks for the replies guys. I'm just trying to keep it simple since I'm bumbing help from the Tool Makers. The Brownells 1/2" x 28 die is ~$13 -$14 if I remember correctly. Seems cheap enough? |
I'll see if I can make this clear: If you look at a threading die, you will see that the die is marked "start this side". The cutting teeth on that side have a taper, that is they are shallower to allow the die to start cutting into the work. So if you use a die to thread to a shoulder, like on a barrel, the last thread or two will not be cut to full depth. So once you have run the die all the way to the shoulder the "correct" way, you then clean the die and the treads, relube everything and then start the die from the "wrong" side. And very carefuly and slowly manually run the die all the way to the shoulder again. This will cut the last few treads to full depth. If you are not very carefull here, you could break teeth from the die. IM me for further details. efxguy |
Thanks, efxguy That's what I thought but you cleared it up for me. I will give this a try for ~$14. |
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