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Posted: 6/27/2012 3:20:35 PM EDT
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I'm trying to remove the castle nut on my AR-15 in an attempt to change butt stock, clean, etc. Problem is, even with my handy dandy universal AR-15 tool, it won't seem to budge...at all! I've done some research and don't see any blue, red, or green (anything to indicate Loctite) and I'm a few attempts away from stripping the nut. Anything you can recommend I do to remove this bad beast? If I do end up stripping the nut, what can I do to remove it to replace it? Hopefully a trip to a local smith isn't in order. Any assistance with this is greatly appreciated!
FYSA, Working with a Smith & Wesson M&P 15, original owner, never removed the castle nut prior to this attempt. |
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Quoted:
I'm trying to remove the castle nut on my AR-15 in an attempt to change butt stock, clean, etc. Problem is, even with my handy dandy universal AR-15 tool, it won't seem to budge...at all! I've done some research and don't see any blue, red, or green (anything to indicate Loctite) and I'm a few attempts away from stripping the nut. Anything you can recommend I do to remove this bad beast? If I do end up stripping the nut, what can I do to remove it to replace it? Hopefully a trip to a local smith isn't in order. Any assistance with this is greatly appreciated! FYSA, Working with a Smith & Wesson M&P 15, original owner, never removed the castle nut prior to this attempt. If it's staked, see if you can bump back the stakes a bit with a punch, then re-try. If it's not staked, then they probably used Loctite. Put some heat to it and re-try. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I'm trying to remove the castle nut on my AR-15 in an attempt to change butt stock, clean, etc. Problem is, even with my handy dandy universal AR-15 tool, it won't seem to budge...at all! I've done some research and don't see any blue, red, or green (anything to indicate Loctite) and I'm a few attempts away from stripping the nut. Anything you can recommend I do to remove this bad beast? If I do end up stripping the nut, what can I do to remove it to replace it? Hopefully a trip to a local smith isn't in order. Any assistance with this is greatly appreciated! FYSA, Working with a Smith & Wesson M&P 15, original owner, never removed the castle nut prior to this attempt. If it's staked, see if you can bump back the stakes a bit with a punch, then re-try. If it's not staked, then they probably used Loctite. Put some heat to it and re-try. It's staked actually...never knew that had that big of a purpose! I'll take it by my shop tomorrow and see if our CATM guys can get this thing off for me. Thanks for the input! |
| I had the same difficulty. Mine was staked. After receiving a new nut in the mail, I used a dremel cut off disk to grind into the nut and smooth out the staking. Slight cosmetic damage to the buffer tube, but in my opinion, the fight wasn't worth breaking a tool over. |
| Well thank you for your responses! I ended up damaging a little bit on the buffer tube and will end up having to probably replace the castle nut. Not an expensive fix though. I was able to get it off with a well placed vise and some help from my local maintenance guys but I've got just what I need now and am able to press from here. Again, thanks for the responses! |
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Well thank you for your responses! I ended up damaging a little bit on the buffer tube and will end up having to probably replace the castle nut. Not an expensive fix though. I was able to get it off with a well placed vise and some help from my local maintenance guys but I've got just what I need now and am able to press from here. Again, thanks for the responses! When dealing with these stubborn castle nuts, it's important to restrain the receiver in a way that will protect it when the necessary torque is applied to the castle nut. No mag well blocks. Here's a cut from the Colt TM.... 
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DD posted some good info. The USGI type wrench works, but something like the HammerHead works better. It engages all four notches on the nut and is easier to control, with the user having two points of contact on the wrench. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/AR15forme/Tools/IMG_8333.jpg Definitely something I'll look into especially if I plan on taking my ARs apart more often. Even though I don't want to spend the $$ for a similar tool, having a single reliable one would save me from having to buy replacement parts I've damaged. |
| Let us know if you CATM folks help you. Mine did not know how to func check a semi AR or how to torque a BBL nut. Seems they send many things off to be worked on these days. They can headspace using a field gauge for safety. They quickly volunteer to do it here. They enjoy there work though. |
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Let us know if you CATM folks help you. Mine did not know how to func check a semi AR or how to torque a BBL nut. Seems they send many things off to be worked on these days. They can headspace using a field gauge for safety. They quickly volunteer to do it here. They enjoy there work though. Yea my CATM guys were a big help. Most of them are career CATM from when the career field was separate. Good bunch of guys and gals that will do anything for a six-pack! |
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