Cannot torque barrel nut

[itzjere]

Having a problem torqueing the barrel nut onto my receiver. I have two different armor wrenches and tried with a total of 3 different barrel nuts and it seems like as I'm torqueing it, the wrench slips off.

I'm paying close attention to make sure it remains perpendicular to the nut but it still slips off. It's almost like trying to use a 11mm socket on a 10mm bolt. It engages and torques at 30lb, but any higher it starts slipping. It is rounding off the teeth on the nut and I can tell the wrench is only engaging 3-4 teeth. It seems to me the wrench is oversized? Both of them if that's possible.

Am I doing something wrong or missing a specific technique?

[Carsgunsandchics]

How are you holding the upper? Is it moving around while being torqued? I'm in North Highlands and have a two piece upper clamp and a armorers wrench.

[itzjere]

Upper is held in a dpms upper vice block. Does not move. Vice is secured on a work bench that is bolted to the wall into the studs so very secure.

[NewbieDave]

If we ate talking about a regular barrel but that goes over s delta ring, and assuming your barrel but is within spec... its probably you wrench. Unless you rounded off some teeth already... your wrench should engage more then 3-4 teeth.

dpc

[Barryt]

Im a CATM guy in the AF and I guess would be a armorer in the Army, but this is common. If you are using a standard GI wrench then you need to put all your body weight into the "lugs" and it should be fine to torque to the proper amount.

[1911su16b870]

Hard to see what is happening but sounds like you need to push the wrench into the barrel nut with your support hand while torquing with your other and to ensure the wrench maintains full contact with the teeth on the barrel nut. The hand guard retainer/spring wants to push the wrench off the barrel nut otherwise.

[bruss01]

If it is rounding off the nut then is it possible it is an inferior barrel nut?

I use the Tapco Armorer's wrench and Core 15 barrel nut. Didn't have any issues.

You may want to take off the damaged nut before it becomes too mangled for you to get enough grip to get it loose again. Start over with a new nut that you know is beyond reproach.

[anti]

If it is rounding off the nut then is it possible it is an inferior barrel nut?

I use the Tapco Armorer's wrench and Core 15 barrel nut. Didn't have any issues.

You may want to take off the damaged nut before it becomes too mangled for you to get enough grip to get it loose again. Start over with a new nut that you know is beyond reproach.

This ^^^ and make sure to use the proper lube and maybe some anti-seize if you aren't already.

[itzjere]

I have plenty of grease on the threads. Don't think it's an inferior nut cause its doing it on all 3 from different manufacturers.

I got my hands on a DPMS wrench and it works! There are no gaps between the teeth of the nut and wrench. Looks like I have two inferior wrenches.

Thanks everyone for the comments!