Changing muzzle device without tools

[jasonnorcal]

I just eyeballed it. 2 different Battlecomps. Got them very close to straight up. Now that Michulek brake with a jam nut might be a little more tricky

[Merc1138]

Please enlighten me.
I have installed and timed many brakes and other muzzle devices with the use of a $15 Harbor Freight bench vise and a level. I can't quite picture in my head how one is going to get correct alignment of your brake/FH with the rifle lying with a wrench clamped sideways torquing the gun.

I guess details just don't matter to some people

A level? For what? It's a brake, being off by a degree isn't going to wreck anything. Nevermind that even if the brake was level with the rifle, that doesn't mean your rifle will be level with the ground while shooting. If you're doing a permanent job, yeah you might want to be a bit more picky with it, but at the cost of a crush washer(should just use peel washers anyway), whoopdeedoo.

Plus, not everyone has room for a vice that may not be used very often.

[Pryde]

A level? For what? It's a brake, being off by a degree isn't going to wreck anything. Nevermind that even if the brake was level with the rifle, that doesn't mean your rifle will be level with the ground while shooting. If you're doing a permanent job, yeah you might want to be a bit more picky with it, but at the cost of a crush washer(should just use peel washers anyway), whoopdeedoo.

Plus, not everyone has room for a vice that may not be used very often.

I guess details just don't matter to some people

Yup.
I guess I'm just picky because I torque my barrel, rings and castle nuts to the correct spec, and level my scopes, free float rails and muzzle brakes. Whoopdeedoo

[ar15barrels]

Hi all. I recently built an AR (built lower + bought complete upper) and was hoping to switch out the flash hider with a muzzle brake.

I don't have a vise or sturdy table/workbench, and I was wondering if there's a good way to swap out the muzzle device without a vise or barrel clamp.

EDIT: I have an armorer's wrench, but no torque wrench. I am a little worried about over-torquing but, as I understand it, there's less chance of doing so with a lock nut.

You could put the rifle on the ground and back your car up on it.
That would hold it pretty steady.

[ar15barrels]

Anyone know a good gunsmith near DTLA? =)

I am about 17 miles from downtown LA.

[Merc1138]

Yup.
I guess I'm just picky because I torque my barrel, rings and castle nuts to the correct spec, and level my scopes, free float rails and muzzle brakes. Whoopdeedoo

Your scope not being level causes a serious problem when making adjustments. Your rail not being level causes a problem for whatever might be attached to it. Your brake? Doesn't matter. Again, you could simply use peel washers.

[ar15barrels]

Just PM Randall, he will do it right, which is more than I can say for most other gunshops in SoCal. I am sure he can also properly time your new muzzle device as well. His services are NOT expensive.

I usually do simple muzzle brake swaps for free as they fall into my "1 minute jobs are free" policy.
I do accept good glass-bottled root beer and skor bars for such jobs...

[FMJBT]

You could put the rifle on the ground and back your car up on it.
That would hold it pretty steady.

Might want to invest in a black Sharpie pen to fill in the scratches in the finish afterward.

[bulletblood]

go to harbor freight, buy cheap-o vice, cheap-o wrench, cheap-o work bench..good to go.

[jumbopanda]

Just get the proper tools or find someone who has them.

[Droppin Deuces]

Am I the only one who is weirded-out by people who own guns and don't know how to use tools/work on their own stuff?

[jasonnorcal]

^^^weird huh

[Mossy Man]

Am I the only one who is weirded-out by people who own guns and don't know how to use tools/work on their own stuff?

Thats half the fun IMO

[ar15barrels]

Might want to invest in a black Sharpie pen to fill in the scratches in the finish afterward.

KRYLON!!!

[umd]

Am I the only one who is weirded-out by people who own guns and don't know how to use tools/work on their own stuff?

I see this sentiment in every hobby I've been involved in. For the record, I like to work on my own stuff, but I understand that many people do not. You are clearly not alone as a lot of people think the way you do, but I think it smacks of elitism. It's a very prevalent mentality in cycling too: how can you not know how to do x; that's half the fun! Well, some people like to tinker, and some people like to just do the hobby and not deal with the tinkering.