Norinco M14 flash hider welds - subtle or not?

Dark Alley Dan

Dark Alley Dan

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Folks:

I'm gradually getting to know my new M14. Here's my latest mini-mystery...

There's been much said on this board and others regarding the dreaded flash hider welds. My flash hider looks unwelded. I won't know for sure until Brownell's sends me my castle nut pliers and I get to wrenchin' on 'er, but tell me this - are the welds on these really overt, or are they so carefully finished as to be invisible? I'm really curious, as I'd like to avoid farting about with a drill press if I can help it.

Thanks, as always, for the benefit of your experience, gents.

Dan
 
Dark Alley Dan said:
Folks:

I'm gradually getting to know my new M14. Here's my latest mini-mystery...

There's been much said on this board and others regarding the dreaded flash hider welds. My flash hider looks unwelded. I won't know for sure until Brownell's sends me my castle nut pliers and I get to wrenchin' on 'er, but tell me this - are the welds on these really overt, or are they so carefully finished as to be invisible? I'm really curious, as I'd like to avoid farting about with a drill press if I can help it.

Thanks, as always, for the benefit of your experience, gents.

Dan
Click to expand...

Dan, I believe I just read like a week ago that someone got the Brownells fh nut pliers and they broke the first time they tried undoing the castle nut. Very important to find the little set screw and undo it before trying to undo the nut. Possibly using a punch on the flats of the nut after that screw is out? Then take a block of wood or similar and as you undo the nut tap the hider off.

Maybe you're lucky and there's no weld.
 
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The Brownells Castlebut pliers are crap.The "teeth" are too soft.

I tested a set of Repro pliers GG&FB aquired and they were as good as the USGI version.

Not sure where he got them from.

Underneath the FH you should be able to detect to spot welds (they can be difficult to see).

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Follow the instructions in the FAQ post I did up.

SKBY.
 
I've yet to have to grind or drill the welds on any I've done. As stated here and other threads, undo the set screw, tap the castlenut loose, as far as possible, I use a small brass drift. After you have it loose a few threads, or up against the front of the flashider, take a wood or fibre block and place it against the lug on the botom of the FH. Use about a 1 lb ball peen or similar and a couple of sharp cracks on the wood block and it should be loose and broken from the welds. I haven't found any that were very strong. If it doesn't work, you'll have to drill them as shown in the FAQs, but try break them first. That way you won't damage the FH.
 
tbloggins said:
I've yet to have to grind or drill the welds on any I've done. As stated here and other threads, undo the set screw, tap the castlenut loose, as far as possible, I use a small brass drift. After you have it loose a few threads, or up against the front of the flashider, take a wood or fibre block and place it against the lug on the botom of the FH. Use about a 1 lb ball peen or similar and a couple of sharp cracks on the wood block and it should be loose and broken from the welds. I haven't found any that were very strong. If it doesn't work, you'll have to drill them as shown in the FAQs, but try break them first. That way you won't damage the FH.
Click to expand...

I have seen the rear of the FH "tear" at the weld from trying to just "tap" it off without drilling the welds.You run the risk of buggering up your FH if you don't drill the welds first.IF you are not going to reuse the Norc FH, then it doesn't really matter.

Every Norc FH I have encountered has not been welded consistently.Some are barely "tacked" on and will tap off easily (Like the first of my Norc M14s), and some required drilling/dremeling and then tapping to remove them.

Even one Norc I owned had the holes drilled for welding, but they never welded it!!!!!:D

Afterwards I just masked off the underside of the FH wear the drill holes were and filled with JB Weld.Filed down the outside of the JB and refinished the FH. Couldn't even tell it was drilled.

SKBY.
 
The tackwelds are very subtle. They grind down whatever is there and then touch up the finish. If you don't see two holes on the underside of your flashhider, you are probably looking at a couple of tackwelds.
 
Well.....just so we can all see the welds I took a picture !

Here is the under side of a Norinco flashider.....two weld rings are clearly visable.
For once the picture is perfect......the rings on your M14s may be very hard to see in comparison....so look close.



DQIVG-IMG_3941.JPG


GG&FB

PS.....SKBY you might want to add this photo to your sticky on FAQ's
 
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Hi guys, I just removed my flash hider, mine has the weld ring (2 of them) I simply removed the set screw, loosened the castle nut then wack it, it removed very easily,
whack
unscrew the castle nut
whack
unscrew
whack
Done.
With a block of wood and an hammer

But My main concern is about the set screw, it looks pretty soft, what will happen if I strip it? It will be stuck there forever? :p
 
godgab said:
Hi guys, I just removed my flash hider, mine has the weld ring (2 of them) I simply removed the set screw, loosened the castle nut then wack it, it removed very easily,
whack
unscrew the castle nut
whack
unscrew
whack
Done.
With a block of wood and an hammer

But My main concern is about the set screw, it looks pretty soft, what will happen if I strip it? It will be stuck there forever? :p
Click to expand...

Take it to a fastener shop and see if they can give you a new better one in the same thread...if not you could retap the hole in a standard thread that you can get set screws for easily...
 
cantom said:
Take it to a fastener shop and see if they can give you a new better one in the same thread...if not you could retap the hole in a standard thread that you can get set screws for easily...
Click to expand...

I would take option #2. The non-standard Norc threading/sizing drives me crazy.:runaway:

Gonna grind down a hex wrench and try and take my flash hider off. With my luck I'll have it tear in two...
 
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