I'm having a hard time with this thing. I need to remove it to install one provided by YHM. Is this something that can usually be removed by a little muscle? I have a wrench for it.

Barrel nuts are torqued on to a 35# to 80# spec.

What you need is one of the clamshell receiver holders and clamp it in a solidly mounted vice. Then it should pop loose without too much trouble.

When installing the new barrel nut torque it to 35#. Loosen it, retorque. Do once more, only no need to loosen it this time. Remove the torque wrench, install a breaker bar and continue tightening until the gas tube will slide in. Use a good wheel bearing grease on the threads.

Quoted: Barrel nuts are torqued on to a 35# to 80# spec. What you need is one of the clamshell receiver holders and clamp it in a solidly mounted vice. Then it should pop loose without too much trouble. When installing the new barrel nut torque it to 35#. Loosen it, retorque. Do once more, only no need to loosen it this time. Remove the torque wrench, install a breaker bar and continue tightening until the gas tube will slide in. Use a good wheel bearing grease on the threads.

Excellent advice, very concise and correct... (like BB_B needs approval from someone like me )

- AG

I had a factory installed barrel nut on a Bushmaster upper that was torqued to much more than 85 ft lbs.  I had to give the nut wrench a wack with a hammer while applying pressure on the breaker bar to break it loose.  Luckily the threads on the receiver weren't buggered up  and the new barrel went on ok.

Quoted: Quoted: Barrel nuts are torqued on to a 35# to 80# spec. What you need is one of the clamshell receiver holders and clamp it in a solidly mounted vice. Then it should pop loose without too much trouble. When installing the new barrel nut torque it to 35#. Loosen it, retorque. Do once more, only no need to loosen it this time. Remove the torque wrench, install a breaker bar and continue tightening until the gas tube will slide in. Use a good wheel bearing grease on the threads. Excellent advice, very concise and correct... (like BB_B needs approval from someone like me ) - AG

Hey! Don't listen to me.

Yesterday I installed a barrel on a receiver and as I was in somewhat of a hurry, and a bit tired, I tried to do too many things at once. So with a handful of tools I loosened the vise. The barreled receiver did a flip with a half twist and landed on the unprotected threads. Upon closer examination there's now a nick in the brand new crown (it's a postban barrel that had no threads).

So this morning I took the barrel back off and tomorrow it'll go back to the 'smith for a new crown. Again.

So learn from my mistake. Use TWO hands to remove the barreled receiver from the vise.

Thanks guys, I finally got that bugger off.