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Posted: 4/22/2004 4:50:02 PM EDT
| I'm looking ahead to the expiration of the Assault Weapons Ban (hopefully) and planning what to do with my Bushmaster 14.5" (with mini-Y comp permanently attached) if the AWB does expire. Does anybody know a gunsmith who can remove the compensator and replace it with a vortex (assuming the AWB does sunset)? If so, who does good work and is reasonable on price? I would like it to be attached the same way Bushmaster did it, pinned and welded I think. Thanks. |
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I don't know Bushmaster's current practice, but my early 14.5" "heavy machinegun" barrel (which I had privately turned to M4 profile) has the Vortex pinned and silver soldered. The pinning is so well done it took me a long time to find it. Looks like a pin inserted at right angles to the bore, so just a small round head shows. Check yours, it may be pinned too. -- Chuck |
| After looking at it, I think mine is also pinned. It looks like there is a pin at the very bottom of the muzzle brake. It looks like the pin also may have been solidered or welded over and then parkerized, because the parkerizing in that area is a slightly different color. Is your's this way also? When they silver solider them, do they just silver solider over the pin, or do they put silver solider on the threads also? Thanks. |
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Bushmaster does NOT silver-soldier anything. When a muzzle device is permanently attached, they use a hardened steel pin, and the pin is welded over. The barrel goes back on the lathe to have the weld turned down smooth, and then it is refinished. In order to remove such a device, you'll generally destroy it, but you will have usable threads underneath. I don't recommend attempting to remove it yourself, though. Kurt at KKF or the folks at ADCO should be able to help. I'm sure there will be lots of machinists offering this service when the time comes. -Troy |
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Barrel still has to be 16" long, the only reason I can think of to permanently mount a Vortex or whatever on the muzzle. Replacing a muzzle brake on a M4 barrel with a flash suppressor will may not be cost effective considering the labor involved. On a carbine or rifle barrel, maybe. -- Chuck |
| After the ban expires I was thinking of having a Vortex or some other flash suppressor permanently attached to my son's 16" light barrel. Maybe having the barrel cut back to around 15" and permanently mounting the f/h so the overall length is still 16", coupled with the light weight of the barrel, would make his rifle even handier than it already is! |
Short answer, no. Not any more legal than they are now. It will still be considered a SBR, and subject to the NFA laws. U can have oen but u have to pay ATF a $200 tax and ask their permission and what not. With a permanent Vortex or Phantom it will be legal. |
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I have Bushmaster's official do it yourself instructions on postban installation. Drill 1/8 inch diameter pilot hole through Muzzle Brake and barrel .300 from centerline of bore down (.350 back from end of barrel). Ream hole with 2/0 taper reamer until supplied taper pin fits snugly. Remove taper pin and brake from barrel and degrease both barrel end and inside of brake. Apply Green Loctite #680 to barrel. Install brake and taper pin and wipe off excess Loctite. http://www.loctite.cl/english/products/680.htm Grainger has it for about $15.00 for small bottle. |
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Bushmasterfans method IS NOT an ATF approved method to permanently attach a postban muzzlebrake if the barrel is threaded. You need to either silver solder (1100 degree plus) or blind pin and weld. The method he describes would only work for a 16" or longer non-threaded barrel with a slip on muzzlebrake... and those do not need to permanently attached anyway (thus all the set screw types). Scot |
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