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Posted: 1/2/2009 9:55:15 PM EDT
| i used permatex anti-seize to fasten my barrel to upper. heard the graphite (less than 10% concentration per msds) could cause the threads to fail with time. Do i need to take apart and clean. Never gave it thought before. |
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The talk is that the use of graphite can cause/allow galvanic action between the aluminum upper and the steel barrel nut. Graphite is conductive and it is between dissimilar metals.
There have been a couple threads about this exact subject here lately. I posted asking if anyone has any personal knowledge of deteriorated threads that can be attributed to the use of a lubricant containing graphite. So far, I haven't heard of any such damage to anyone's rifle. If you have barrel tools handy and are comfortable in their use, I might be inclined to pull the barrel and clean the anti-sieze off the threads. Reassemble with basically any grease that does not contain graphite. Most automotive wheel bearing greases would be OK as well as something like white lithium grease. Personally, I think this whole scare might be overblown. I'm sure from a purely scientific viewpoint, there could be an issue with the use of graphite in this application. From a practical standpoint, I'm not so sure it's a real problem. |
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Graphite can be bad when used between aluminum and ferrous metals. If you are planning on keeping this gun for a long time, maybe handing it down to your kids, then I would pull the barrel and clean the threads on receiver and nut well with brake cleaner. I'd clean and reinstall the barrel using moly paste the -23 calls for.
Might not cause a problem today or 2 years from now. 20 years from now, who knows. |
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