Okay... AWB is gone, I have cash, and I want a threaded muzzle.  I have a number of friends in the machine-tooling industry and they could do it FOR SURE, but I need to be able to tell them exactly how to do it if i decide to go that route. So... if anyone can answer any of these questions, please do so.  Thanks, in advance.

1) What method should my buddies use?  Lathe?  A normal tap?  I don't know much about this...

2) What thread measurement is standard for an AR's muzzle?

3) How is the metal finished where the muzzle is threaded?  Blued or what?

4) If I decide not to have this done by a friend, who should I send it to and how much money am I looking at?

5) If there is anything else you think I should know, or if I have said something incredibly stupid , please tell me.  Thanks.

Send it to ADCO, they do this every day all day long. I think it costs $60.00 something dollars just for the threading and cutting. Check there shop services pricing on their web site though.

If it is a post ban you have to turn the end down on a lathe from .750" to .500" the standard  size and thread is .500" dia. x 28 threads per inch, I left my threads bare and did not blue them. A local gunsmith or machine shop should be able to complete it rather quickly, and it should not cost any more than 40 to 50 bucks including tear down and reassy.

I wouldn't expect the local gunsmith, and especially the local machine shop to have the proper tools to tear down an AR upper.  Unless they show you the proper tools needed, I would not let them touch your complete upper.

Any machinist worth his weight should be able to thread your barrel to 1/2X28TPI.  That's a high school machine shop exercise, for goodness sake.

ADCO seems to be the best place anywhere to send your upper for work like this.  I would not hesitate to send it there.

Wow, you guys are fast nowadays.  It haven't been on arfcom in a long while, thanks for the quick responses.

The only reason I am even considering allowing a friend to do this is to cut down the cost.  He'd do it free.  If I need gun parts I go to him.

Since it is only 60 bucks or so I'll probably go ahead and send it to ADCO.  I figure a mistake could cost me WAAAAAY more in the long run.

As for what I may put on the threads... Vortex.  I've never heard a bad thing about them.  If you have, let me know.