I am trying to remove the buffer tube from a Bushmaster lower.  The tube is for an A2 buttstock.  The stock has been removed, as well as the buffer and spring.  All that remains is the tube.  I worked with a buddy last night to remove it, and NOTHING would loosen the tube.  We tried using a wrench on the flat surfaces at the rear of the tube, we tried strap wrenches and we tried channel lock pliers.  NOTHING worked.  We could barely budge the tube.  At one point, we heard a sound very much like the sound made when a Loc-tite seal is being broken, but could not budge the tube any further.  I bought the rifle new, and the tube has never been removed before.

I called Bushmaster, and was told by the customer service rep that it should just unscrew with no need for excessive torque.  He told me that they have NEVER used a thread locking compound to install a buffer tube.  He seemed a little jumpy when I mentioned applying a bit of heat to soften the thread locker.

Have any of you had an experience like this when trying to remove a Bushmaster buffer tube?  Is there a trick I am missing?  I'm assuming that there is some kind of thread locking compound, but I just wanted to see if anyone else has run into this problem before I apply heat to the tube.  Thanks!

Edited to correct grammatical screw-ups.

Looks like there are already a couple of posts on this...  I'll try some of the suggestions out there.  Sorry about the redundant post.

Hey,

Not sure if you found any info that might help but I have a link that may help you.  There's a section on removing the A2 stock and installing a collapsible.

http://www.rbprecision.com/rb_precision_ar15_performance_tips_.htm

It was a bitch to remove the stock, you have to push down the buffer retainer down and then twist the tube counter clock wise.  It didn't take alot of force to twist off the tube then.  But becareful cause the the retainer and spring will shoot off.  Took me a good 45 minutes to find the sucker.  

I then lost it 5 minutes later hinking.gif hehe I hope that helps ya.

SLB -

Thanks for the info.  I tried pushing down the buffer retainer, but to no avail.  In the end, I used a propane torch to apply heat to the buffer tube.  Once I did this, the tube unscrewed with no problems.