AR-10 barrel/ brake ?

jjciii · January 9, 2019, 12:07 PM

Hello,
I have what I believe to be an older Armalite AR-10. I say that because the muzzle brake has 4 set screws on it (I took them off), which makes me believe the brake is not pinned? And having 4 set screws to remove anything from a barrel end now days, makes me say - it is pre-ban. But really don't know.
In any event, I am not sure how to proceed because it does not just fall off. I have read about pinned brakes here and I would need to 1) find the pin 2) grind down to flat and then unscrew the brake - if it is pinned. But again, is mine pinned and has 4 set screws?

The whole purpose of this is to put on a threaded different break with external threads. At this point, I am not sure if I have threads.

I want to know how to proceed before I just start clamping down and twisting the brake (clockwise) to try to remove it.

AND-
if I don't have threads, then I would be looking at buying an approx. same length barrel, but lighter. Dame this thing is heavy!

Mobuck · January 10, 2019, 09:30 PM

I have an older "post-ban" AR that has this combination.
My guess is there's a cut just behind the muzzle that the set screws tighten into. After removing the set screws, a few light taps with a non-marring hammer should pop the brake off.

**4V50 Gary** · January 11, 2019, 01:09 PM

Any pins visible? None? Then tap it forward with a rawhide mallet and if you don't have one, a piece of hardwood.

jjciii · January 11, 2019, 03:02 PM

thanks for the info. I will try the malette.
here is the photo
-well that did not work. photo to large and I don't see how to get it smaller. I will have to research this.

jjciii · January 11, 2019, 03:15 PM

here is the photo
you can see two of the 4 set screw holes

January 9, 2019, 12:07 PM	#1
jjciii Junior Member Join Date: January 8, 2019 Posts: 3	AR-10 barrel/ brake ? Hello, I have what I believe to be an older Armalite AR-10. I say that because the muzzle brake has 4 set screws on it (I took them off), which makes me believe the brake is not pinned? And having 4 set screws to remove anything from a barrel end now days, makes me say - it is pre-ban. But really don't know. In any event, I am not sure how to proceed because it does not just fall off. I have read about pinned brakes here and I would need to 1) find the pin 2) grind down to flat and then unscrew the brake - if it is pinned. But again, is mine pinned and has 4 set screws? The whole purpose of this is to put on a threaded different break with external threads. At this point, I am not sure if I have threads. I want to know how to proceed before I just start clamping down and twisting the brake (clockwise) to try to remove it. AND- if I don't have threads, then I would be looking at buying an approx. same length barrel, but lighter. Dame this thing is heavy!

January 11, 2019, 01:09 PM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	Any pins visible? None? Then tap it forward with a rawhide mallet and if you don't have one, a piece of hardwood. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

January 10, 2019, 09:30 PM	#2
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I have an older "post-ban" AR that has this combination. My guess is there's a cut just behind the muzzle that the set screws tighten into. After removing the set screws, a few light taps with a non-marring hammer should pop the brake off.

January 11, 2019, 03:02 PM	#4
jjciii Junior Member Join Date: January 8, 2019 Posts: 3	thanks for the info. I will try the malette. here is the photo -well that did not work. photo to large and I don't see how to get it smaller. I will have to research this.