Brief AR horror story

[Tucci454]

My buddy called me today, says he broke his AR. My response: "how the hell did you do that?"
Trying to change the foregrip to a floater.
Luckily the shop around the corner had a upper in stock, so come on over. We'll fix it.
He had all the right tools. Vise block, wrench, everything.
When he got here , I put the wrench on the barrel nut. Oh my God was it tight.
Nothing a Snap-On PH-2050 couldn't handle though. HAHA!
Here's some pics of the carnage. There was no thread locker on the barrel nut threads.
Ruger AR-556.

 

[Tucci454]

Once he cracked the upper, he went full caveman. That's what the warping is all about.

 

[Geezer]

Don't think I've ever seen that before.

 

[NCFubar]

Hmmm ... a steel barrel nut on an aluminum upper?

 

[Tucci454]

Yup. Definitely took a little impact to break it free...
New gun too, just a couple months out of the factory. Probably 300 through it.
Wish he came to me first,. Probably would have saved him the $60 for the new upper....

 

[NCFubar]

Any sign of an anti-seize lube (AeroShell or such) from the factory?

 

[Tucci454]

Any sign of an anti-seize lube (AeroShell or such) from the factory?

Looks clean as hell. The threads could have been cut cleaner is the only thing I can see. It was just like it was torqued to 1,000,000 Ft lbs or lb ft if you prefer....

 

[JRHorne]

I'd bet not.

Any sign of an anti-seize lube (AeroShell or such) from the factory?

 

[Gear Head]

Makes me feel good about using aeroshell on my builds

 

[Tucci454]

Makes me feel good about using aeroshell on my builds

That's what it was put back together with.

 

[maven]

This is a good example of why a Geissele Reaction Rod is worth the money.

 

[Catfish]

I betcha he would have done damage with one of those too. Who assembled that upper?

 

[Djstorm100]

This is a good example of why a Geissele Reaction Rod is worth the money.

When used correctly, yes. Not for removing muzzle brakes or installing.

 

[Ikarus1]

meh. Uppers are cheap. I got a Nitride BCG and a stripped upper from Alpha for around $89 shipped....

Never mention threadlocker and barrel threads in the same sentence however. Always use Aeroshell or at the very minimum, Permatex antiseize.

If you're going to use a Loctite product while installing the barrel, use 620 retaining compound on the barrel extension where it enters the upper.

 

[Tucci454]

I betcha he would have done damage with one of those too. Who assembled that upper?

Ruger.

 

[Ikarus1]

Ruger.

I bet that barrel chamber is unusually tight also. Will it run any type of steel ammo?

 

[muskrat]

A little heat has always worked for me if I ran into a tight one. Just till you see a little oil (or thread locker) bubble out, then get on it quick.

 

[Tucci454]

I bet that barrel chamber is unusually tight also. Will it run any type of steel ammo?

Not sure. I picked up some Tulammo 62 grain we're both going to try this weekend. I have an Anderson, so I'm pretty sure I'll be OK....

 

[Tucci454]

A little heat has always worked for me if I ran into a tight one. Just till you see a little oil (or thread locker) bubble out, then get on it quick.

He came to me after it was already cracked. I just gave it a quick push with the pneumatic hammer, came right off. Drama free. But there was absolutely nothing on the threads. i tried to break it with a wrench first just to see how tight it was. It was tight.

 

[muskrat]

Heat will expand the nut regardless of anything on the threads. Just don't let it soak in heat.

 

[USMC6094]

Heat will expand the nut regardless of anything on the threads. Just don't let it soak in heat.

Also heat the threaded area of the upper to seat the barrel into the upper, it may not be needed, but a few ten thousandths of expansion won't hurt