Crush washer on muzzle brake

[Spearhunter]

I have the Neit Arms brake that came with a crush washer. I tightened it by hand and then with a wrench. Because I needed the ports to be horizontal, I couldn't tighten it too much. After about a hundred rounds, the brake loosened itself so I had to stop shooting.

In order to properly tighten the brake, I figured I will have to do a full rotation from where the brake sits tightly on the muzzle. I know crush washers are designed to be crushed so I guess I'll apply full force.

Question is: Which part of the upper can I clamp on a vise and be able to take the torque required?

 

[blackacres]

It's odd that the brake was not threaded to align better, a full rotation after it was fairly tight using a single crush washer seems like a lot.

However, if you need to position the brake in one direction and with a single crush, and you feel you need another full turn, you may want to consider using a shim washer along with a crush washer.

First though, I would suggest contacting Neit Arms to find out what they feel is the best way to install their brake, and how to secure the upper when tightening the brake.

Good luck.

 

[rivetc78]

You MUST turn it at least 90 degrees. And no more than 450 degrees...that would be 1 1/4 turns.

Crank that #####, it's called a crush washer for a reason. Make sure the cupped side faces the muzzle device, not the barrel.

 

[Bolivar]

Back to the OP's question, I believe the proper way is to have a receiver block clamped in a vice. Then you fit the upper over top and pin in place.

I don't have one so I would be more inclined to hold the upper and lower between my legs and twist. YMMV

 

[johNTO]

I Couldn't find a crush washer to align the ports properly so I used a little red locktite with some shims. So far so good...

 

[Clobbersauras]

You can get crush washers from Dlask or One shot tactical. As Rivtec said, you need 90 deg of "crush". You don't need a vice, I just put my rifle on my work bench and hold it down with one hand, wrench with the other.

 

[enefgee]

You could use a peel washer to time it correctly, under the crush washer.

 

[CarbineOne]

Red loctite will not hold, the muzzle gets hot, fast.

You need to have it 'crushed' against it, or very tightly timed and shimmed.

 

[Armedsask]

Clamp the barrel, not the receiver.

 

[Dietz]

Clamp the barrel, not the receiver.

It's even better if you have a standard FSB.

 

[Spearhunter]

Thanks all. I'll give it a go on my vise. I do have a crush washer and standard FSB so we'll see how it goes. Hopefully I could get in done properly as I'm headed to the range in the afternoon.

 

[2katz]

It's odd that the brake was not threaded to align better, a full rotation after it was fairly tight using a single crush washer seems like a lot.

In order for this to happen, you would need the threads of the barrel timed with the specific device that you would be installing. Not practical at all, that is why the crush, peel and shim washer are available.

You would need to clamp the barrel to do this properly, that way no stress is applied to the upper.

 

[CarbineOne]

You would also have to start the threads at the same 'time'. Pointless when you want a crush washer anyway.