Flash hider removal

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atticus

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I know this gets asked a lot, and I also know there are several videos out there on how to properly do this.

HOWEVER, I just wanted to see how many people have actually achieved this without the proper tools.

I have castle nut pliers, and have loosened the castle nut. It's the 2 spot welds that are giving me a headache. I don't have the right tools (a barrel vice for example) to crack the welds, and I don't feel comfortable hammering around there with punch and a hammer...

Any suggestions? Anyone in Vancouver know how to do this quickly that doesn't mind helping?
 
No amount of hammering would take mine off. I ended up having to drill the spot welds out.

M
 
I look at how slender the barrel is toward the muzzle, and get nervous about how much brute force can be safely applied. The blows are close to being linear, but are offset to one side. No harm in giving it a good crack or two. But if it doesn't break free, a little grinding burr or drill bit applied to the spot welds might be an idea.
Hungry would be the one to ask about how to best apply force, and how much.
 
Use a large, heavy hammer and really give it a smack. Multiple if need be and don't be afraid to really have at it.

Mine broke coming off at the clinic, no damage to barrel at all. Quick file to clean the welded area up and some cold blue and she is good to go.
 
It doesn't need multiple hits, it needs one strong blow, I finally held a ball peen against where the bayonet lug would be, then popped it with a 3 pound club hammer.
I leaned this the hard way and my barrel has the scars to prove it :ang a couple of wraps of cloth Will Not suffice to protect from a regular vice.
Oh ya don't try this while trying to quit smoking.
<--Anyone still wondering why I chose my Nick?
 
I have taken off about 10 of them with only a punch and a large hammer without any damage to the rifle or flashider .
As said before you have to give it a good whack to get it broken free in some cases.
Remember to remove the allen screw first and once the flashider starts moving keep undoing the castle nut as you go.
Some of the new Shortys arn't spot welded at all.
 
When I did mine I didn't use a vice, I just hung the receiver over the end of my trusty wooded work bench and then wailed away on it. We did a bunch at Hungry's workshop here in Halifax and it goes a whole lot easier with someone else helping by holding the barrel/receiver steady and constently turning the castel nut off while the other concentrates on the hammer work.
 
Just lay into it with purpose, seems strange but you really cant pussy around doin this, and the barrel is about a million times stronger than the FH. Dont need a vice just a big ass hammer and a punch or a brass drift.
Best thing is..........ya only have to do it once :)
 
Lost...again said:
Just lay into it with purpose, seems strange but you really cant pussy around doin this, and the barrel is about a million times stronger than the FH. Dont need a vice just a big ass hammer and a punch or a brass drift.
Best thing is..........ya only have to do it once :)
Click to expand...

So, I was successful eventually. It took a couple big blows and the FH came right off. It was a very uncomfortable thing to do though! :p

Thanks for all the tips! I also tried grinding down the welds but that didn't really do much.
 
I drilled out a 2x4 a little smaller than the OD the barrel then cut it in half, put both sides round the barrel, clamped it into the vise.

had to drill out the spot welds, but FH came off with no other issues.
 
tiriaq said:
Hungry would be the one to ask about how to best apply force, and how much.
Click to expand...

"Put down yer purse and give that hammer a really big swing!" ha ha ha

Seriously if I don't reign in my laughter, I'm gonna choke on my false teeth. Say that at my funeral! :D

After 5 weeks and 10 clinics this summer on the road out West, I encountered only ONE flash hider that was so stubborn, the imported hardwood (stole/ I mean borrowed birch firewood) from an anonymous gun club's wood pile; was rendered useless. That rifle and flash hider will have to be addressed with the hammer/cold chisel method on a VISE. The rest of the numerous flash suppressors we knocked off (I can't even begin to count) at my clinics is lost on me. :cool:

BTW, that was at the Dundurn, SK M14 clinic , for the record!

So go at 'er! Now you can truly determine what day your high school shop class put your M14 together! Yuk yuk yuk yukl

Cheers,
Barney
 
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