Texas SOT

Ruined a Barrel

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Texas

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • Big Green

    In Christ Alone
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Mar 5, 2018
    4,640
    96
    College Station
    Was trying to remove barrel but from PSA PA-10 and I think I broke the indexing pin. At first I was using just a barrel but wrench, then added heat, then added breaker bar to wrench. And then the whole thing turned. I was using a reaction rod type tool and though it's not recommended I figured I'd give it a shot, oh well. At least it's PSA's cheaper 308 barrel.

    Guess I'll clamp barrel in vise now and try to remove barrel nut.
    Guns International
     

    Big Green

    In Christ Alone
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Mar 5, 2018
    4,640
    96
    College Station
    I think it's just the pin. The whole thing moves; barrel, nut and receiver. I'll cut it off shortly to confirm. Now I have to get another barrel nut from PSA.
     
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 5, 2012
    18,591
    96
    HK
    Post some pictures. I have no idea what you're doing by your description. Brother, it's not the pin. You didn't have a long enough cheater bar. More then what you did.

    Pictures, my man. We'll get it sorted out.
     

    Big Green

    In Christ Alone
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Mar 5, 2018
    4,640
    96
    College Station
    image.jpeg
    Tried something different and got the nut off.
     
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 5, 2012
    18,591
    96
    HK
    How in hell was the pin cut by a barrel nut spinning that's not physically attached to it? The only contact is that machined step and the threads of the upper. Where the did the mechanical force come from to snap that pin?
     

    Big Green

    In Christ Alone
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Mar 5, 2018
    4,640
    96
    College Station
    Receiver looks good aside from some marks during attempted removal and if you look at the index pin slot you can just barely tell if had some force applied to it before pin snapped.

    I knew I was risking it using a reaction rod but I figured it wouldn't happen to me. I know for next time and I'm ordering a jig or clam shell to complete my 6.5CM build.

    I'll probably send this barrel to ADCO and have a new pin installed.
     

    SQLGeek

    Muh state lines
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Sep 22, 2017
    9,591
    96
    Richmond
    I learned something today. I akways thought the reaction rod was for installing or removing a barrel. Evidently it's not. Huh. Shows how much thought I put into that.

    Do the threads look galled? Wonder if they installed the nut dry and overtorqued it.

    So how did you get the nut off?
     

    Big Green

    In Christ Alone
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Mar 5, 2018
    4,640
    96
    College Station
    Threads look good. As far as dry, lots of opinions out there concerning dry, anti seize or loctite. These looked dry and that's the same way I assemble all mine.

    After realizing I'd messed up yesterday I starting looking around online for ways of securing the upper and reading through threads where others had also sheared a pin. When I couldn't cut though today I decided to clamp just the upper in the vice and try again, it spun right off. Using the picatinny rail and bottom of upper between the pins I clamped it down and went to work. I actually used this method on a 15 upper to install a barrel tonight too.
     

    ed308

    Well-Known
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Dec 31, 2013
    1,764
    66
    DFW
    I always thought the reaction rod was for installing or removing a barrel. Evidently it's not. Huh. Shows how much thought I put into that.

    Thats what they're designed for. But they can be used to secure the upper while you work on it. I don't use my for muzzle device work unless going low on the torque value.
     

    ed308

    Well-Known
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Dec 31, 2013
    1,764
    66
    DFW
    I knew I was risking it using a reaction rod but I figured it wouldn't happen to me. I know for next time and I'm ordering a jig or clam shell to complete my 6.5CM build.

    The jigs, clams or any other device can also cause damage. You need a torque wrench when when installing or uninstalling a barrel. The highest torque I've needed for an AR barrel was for my 6.5 CM barrel. Had to go 80 lbs to get it tight. For AR15 barrels, usually only 40 lbs. And if I can't get it off, I use a heat instead or torque.
     

    SQLGeek

    Muh state lines
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Sep 22, 2017
    9,591
    96
    Richmond
    My guess is the pin was out of spec or weakened from being overtorqued. And I'm not surprised to hear it was dry. 33ms is in the TDS for a reason. ;)

    At any rate, sorry this happened but thank you for sharing. I wasn't aware of there being issues with pins shearing with the reaction rod.
     

    xsefan

    Member
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Oct 25, 2022
    140
    11
    Whitney
    Pin was incorrectly heat treated. Ill bet if you try and drill the pun it just wipes out drill bits. Psa should warranty that. Dsa had this problem they fixed it quickly by replacing the barrel
     
    Every Day Man
    Tyrant

    Support

    Latest posts

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    116,108
    Messages
    2,952,946
    Members
    34,935
    Latest member
    LandenR
    Top Bottom