This is why some people shouldn't own tools...

[codygjohnson]

If it's REALLY hard to remove a compensator from a 15" barrel...it just might be pinned guys:

More for my to-do list at work... This would've been a much simpler task if he'd have just brought it in instead of trying to remove it himself.

I'll follow this up with a "how to" for blind pinning you can do in your garage if I can actually remember to take some pictures of the process.

 

[shooterfpga]

is that silver soldered? i didnt see any pin recess.

 

[codygjohnson]

It was pinned perpendicular to the threads, just dimpling them slightly. That's the same way I pin FS, but I'll usually use a setscrew, dimple the threads, tighten and weld over the head. Easy enough to remove with a dremel or an angle grinder with cut off disk if need be, but can't be turned off.

 

[Rum Runner]

It was pinned perpendicular to the threads, just dimpling them slightly.

I am interested in this topic, but you might as well be speaking greek. Care to elaborate for those of us that probably would have just forced it off like they did? Seems like its geared for people like me, yet I have no clue what any of that means.

 

[TxDad]

Ive never seen the build process, just from what I have read. At first glance I thought it was crossthreaded.

 

[codygjohnson]

I am interested in this topic, but you might as well be speaking greek. Care to elaborate for those of us that probably would have just forced it off like they did? Seems like its geared for people like me, yet I have no clue what any of that means.

The FS was put in place, then a hole is drilled through the FS and just barely into the threads. A pin is put in place, the hole is welded over, then the weld is sanded smooth and refinished.

Over 9000 hours in MSPaint:

 

[Acera]

So what you are saying is there is no way to determine that the device had been installed with that pin after the job was done properly? Well until you try to remove it, and then find out it's stuck, and it's up to you to then know why? For it to be permanently installed (as to get barrel length legal) does it have to be this well hidden, or is that just a bonus? Personally I would rather it not be like that, and able to see if it has a pin I need to remove prior to un-assembly.

(Beginning to wonder which person should not own tools now, the first guy who did it that way, or the second guy who got it off.)

 

[shooterfpga]

So what you are saying is there is no way to determine that the device had been installed with that pin after the job was done properly? Well until you try to remove it, and then find out it's stuck, and it's up to you to then know why? For it to be permanently installed (as to get barrel length legal) does it have to be this well hidden, or is that just a bonus? Personally I would rather it not be like that, and able to see if it has a pin I need to remove prior to un-assembly.

(Beginning to wonder which person should not own tools now, the first guy who did it that way, or the second guy who got it off.)

most guys already KNOW their barrel is pinned. most guys recess the flash hider and use a setscrew to countersink and then weld over the top leaving a spot weld exposed so you can visually and physically feel its been pinned. some guys care that its been pinned and want to remove any appearance of it by sanding it flush and refinishing it. if youre buying used or new its up to you to ask if its been pinned or not.

 

[Davetex]

That is very handy to know. Thanks.

 

[Acera]

Other than to meet the minimum standards of length is there really any reason to pin it on?

Have there been problems with those things coming unscrewed?

Most every barrel I have bought new did not come with the muzzle device installed, so it's new to me on that. I can see your point, just hope I never get one by mistake, or the seller not know that it's pinned.

 

[shooterfpga]

Other than to meet the minimum standards of length is there really any reason to pin it on?

Have there been problems with those things coming unscrewed?

Most every barrel I have bought new did not come with the muzzle device installed, so it's new to me on that. I can see your point, just hope I never get one by mistake, or the sell not know that it's pinned.

i can think of no reasons to pin outside of OAL requirements. your device should not come unscrewed if properly torqued. if it does, nothing blue locktite cant fix.

 

[fuelfather]

Other than to meet the minimum standards of length is there really any reason to pin it on?

Have there been problems with those things coming unscrewed?

Most every barrel I have bought new did not come with the muzzle device installed, so it's new to me on that. I can see your point, just hope I never get one by mistake, or the sell not know that it's pinned.

The only requirement to pin is to meet barrel length requirements.

On legal barrels some people will use a crush washer and/or grub screw to help keep FH from rotating off.

 

[shooterfpga]

The only requirement to pin is to meet barrel length requirements.

On legal barrels some people will use a crush washer and/or grub screw to help keep FH from rotating off.

all of mine have come with crush washers. only one or two required peel washers or shims to index.

 

[codygjohnson]

This was a Wilson Combat factory gun. The only reason to pin a flash suppressor or comp is to meet barrel length requirements.

 

[Acera]

This was a Wilson Combat factory gun. The only reason to pin a flash suppressor or comp is to meet barrel length requirements.

Ok, so it's not a common issue. My point is don't be so hard on the guy that removed it. The vast majority of guns out there are not this way, and you said they try to hide it as best as possible. So why would he expect it? I would not expect any of my guns to have been pinned. If I were to buy one that needed a pinned on hider, I would hope to know where that pin was in case I wanted to remove it. The idea of guessing it is there somewhere and then grinding all around to find a spot of metal, digging out the covering metal so I could unscrew a set screw seems like a lot of work.

I just don't think the guy did anything that bad. A lot of others would have done the same thing.

 

[M. Sage]

Ok, so it's not a common issue. My point is don't be so hard on the guy that removed it. The vast majority of guns out there are not this way, and you said they try to hide it as best as possible. So why would he expect it? I would not expect any of my guns to have been pinned. If I were to buy one that needed a pinned on hider, I would hope to know where that pin was in case I wanted to remove it. The idea of guessing it is there somewhere and then grinding all around to find a spot of metal, digging out the covering metal so I could unscrew a set screw seems like a lot of work.

I just don't think the guy did anything that bad. A lot of others would have done the same thing.

I'd say that he should have realized it was a 14.5" barreled upper, which is going to have a pinned muzzle device.

 

[shooterfpga]

I'd say that he should have realized it was a 14.5" barreled upper, which is going to have a pinned muzzle device.

agreed. unless it says nfa/sbr/pistol, you should expect it to be pinned.

 

[Renegade]

I'd say that he should have realized it was a 14.5" barreled upper, which is going to have a pinned muzzle device.

+1

And it does not take much effort to get off if it is not pinned. So once he encountered resistance, he should have checked for a pin.

 

[piledriver]

Those threads can be cleaned up. Use a FH like Wilson makes that does not use a crush washer. I think it's called a Vortex? It keeps it self tight by design. The last remaining threads shout be enough to keep it tight.

I'm not a expert on the shorter barrel law but I'm pretty sure the FH needs to pined or welded to meet the 16 inch rule.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Ah ain't the brightest bulb in the string, but when ah'm takin' sumthin' apart an' it fights me, it's time to stop and think!