Barrel Nut Stuck

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  • dwhaley929

    Well-Known Member
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    33   0   0
    Dec 14, 2016
    508
    43
    Baton Rouge LA
    I'm trying to swap barrerls on an AR10 reciever and the barrel nut is proving to be a bear. I've broken plenty of barrel nuts on plenty of barrels but this one is not breaking free. Anyone have any secret tricks you can share.
     

    AdvancedLaser

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    4   0   0
    Feb 15, 2021
    1,125
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    Covington, Louisiana
    Use Kroil.

    Make sure if its really stuck you dont use just a Reaction Rod style device, use a rod with a "sail" on top to support the receiver or you can break the index pin with enough torque.
     

    Bigchillin83

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    94   0   1
    Feb 27, 2012
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    Livingston
    Kroil, then heat it up with a torch or I have even used a paint heater or hair dryer in a pinch…. Doesn’t take much heat to loosen up metal and allow it to expand, which allows kroil to creep
     

    beauxdog

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    10   0   0
    Sep 18, 2007
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    Baton Rouge
    We have Kroil and if you give me a little lead time, we can probably have the reaction rod you are looking for. A friend has one and will bring it by the store so we can use it.

    Bryan
     

    jkingrph

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    Jul 2, 2007
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    Not ever having had that problem I would probably say apply some Kroil, have used it successfully on other stuck nuts/bolts in the past. As for a heat gun, would that not spread heat so much that it would also heat the more internal, male threaded parts and cause them to expand and also tighten the nut more, don't know. Maybe warming the nut with something like a soldering iron "might" be better, keep the upper receiver part cooler, mabe a wet rag even some ice inside it and warm the nut, still I would use kroil and then degrease it good before applying the armors wrench
     

    Bigchillin83

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    Feb 27, 2012
    6,190
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    Yea just enough heat, 30sec or so to get the barrel nut up to temp before it transfers to much heat to your upper/barrel, the barrel nut is super thin and won’t require heat for long to get it enough to expand .001” or more which makes all the diff in the world
     

    AdvancedLaser

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    4   0   0
    Feb 15, 2021
    1,125
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    Covington, Louisiana
    Keep in mind my earlier comment about the type of Reaction Rod you use. The standard rods, ie Geissele, is not the best for this condition. They are made for attaching flash hiders. The stuck barrel nut and using a reaction rod alone will transfer the twisting motion to the index pin and upper receiver. You risk damage. Use a rod with a "sail" on the top of it to limit the torque transfer. I have one at my shop if you need to see it.
     

    dwhaley929

    Well-Known Member
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    33   0   0
    Dec 14, 2016
    508
    43
    Baton Rouge LA
    I got a reaction rod but havent had a chance to try it yet. I'm heeding everyone's advice and am proceding slowly. I'll post results here.

    Thanks for all the advice.
     
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Mar 3, 2022
    23
    3
    US
    Hear and cool...light heat on the nut sometimes helped me break free a tough barrel nut. Good luck that can be nerve wracking

    Sent from my moto g power (2021) using Tapatalk
     

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