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Page AR-15 » Maintenance & Cleaning
AR Sponsor: bravocompany
Posted: 7/8/2017 9:01:54 PM EDT
Having finally fired my A2 enough to have bad deposits on the crown inside the muzzle device, I have a question or two.

How much torque should be required to get the flash hider off?  A mag well block in a vice will be a safe way to anchor the rifle to do this?

I don't see it being productive to try cleaning with the muzzle device in place.
Link Posted: 7/8/2017 11:25:55 PM EDT
[#1]
No magwell block.

Drill a hole axially thru 5 inches of 2x4, cut the block in half (splitting the hole you bored), and use that to clamp the barrel in the vice.

Using a magwell block for that will likely distort everything aluminum, and could easily shear the barrel pin that locates it in the upper.
Link Posted: 7/8/2017 11:55:31 PM EDT
[#2]
Thanks, that makes more sense, especially if it's tight.  I also forgot to ask if it;s L or R hand thread.

I don't care about a little grunge, but I'm sure at some point this stuff will affect accuracy.
Link Posted: 7/9/2017 10:18:35 AM EDT
[#3]
Right hand thread.
Link Posted: 7/11/2017 5:01:38 AM EDT
[#4]
One of my rifles has a TON of crap built up. Still shoots 1 MOA 10-shot groups. Chrome lined barrel.
Link Posted: 7/11/2017 11:38:25 AM EDT
[#5]
Yeah, I don't want to fix something that's not broken, but I thought at some point, something will have to be done.


I doubt that troops in the field mess with it.
Link Posted: 7/11/2017 5:41:53 PM EDT
[#6]
If you remove the flash hider you'll have to buy a new crush washer each time.
Crush washers are a "one time" use item and should be replaced.

I like to keep my rifles very clean and I've seen AR's with a muzzle bright green on the face from a build up of copper that corrodes.
So, I made a simple scraper from a section of brass rod shaped to allow me to scrape the muzzle face.
It has a front face shaped like a chisel to form a scraping edge.
This gets almost all of it off.
Link Posted: 7/11/2017 6:02:04 PM EDT
[#7]
I doubt your a good enough shot for this to make any notable difference in accuracy. No offense, I'm sure your probably a sniper for a swat team just like everyone on ar15.com.
Link Posted: 7/12/2017 12:26:58 PM EDT
[#8]
A typical torque spec is in the ballpark of 20-30 ft/lbs for a muzzle device, but yours could be significantly harder especially if loctite or rocksett have been applied. Use the 2x4 jig mentioned above, add some heat before you even start- and you should be OK.

When reinstalling just add a fresh crush washer and tighten by hand to contact with the crush washer then go for another complete 1.5-2 revolutions with your wrench.

With all of that said, I wouldn't sweat detail cleaning a flash hider unless it is the mounting point for a QD suppressor. I wrap mine with a lint free cloth and rubber band it around the hider and soak the cloth in bore cleaner while I clean the BCG and rest of the rifle. When that is done a brass brush or a touch of steel wool clean the remaining carbon handily.
Link Posted: 7/13/2017 10:15:00 AM EDT
[#9]
I never bother with cleaning the muzzle.
If you do, you run the risk of scratching the crown, which is a concern.
Link Posted: 7/13/2017 10:25:45 AM EDT
[#10]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I never bother with cleaning the muzzle.
If you do, you run the risk of scratching the crown, which is a concern.
View Quote
Me neither, on any of my rifles, and have never noticed a loss of accuracy.

No need to take off the MD off but if you do you will likely see a shift in POI when you re-time it.
Link Posted: 7/13/2017 9:23:48 PM EDT
[#11]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I doubt your a good enough shot for this to make any notable difference in accuracy. No offense, I'm sure your probably a sniper for a swat team just like everyone on ar15.com.
View Quote
That's for sure I can assure you.  It's just an OCD thing and the possibility that it could matter.  I wouldn't like that crud on any other rifle I own.

Some good reasons in this thread to either leave it alone, or do an in place cleaning with non marring tools.
Page AR-15 » Maintenance & Cleaning
AR Sponsor: bravocompany
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