Remove staked buffer tube (PSA Blem Lower)

[RobGR]

UPDATED: SEE POST #21

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Original post.

Got a blemished complete PSA MOE lower recently and changed out the stock with a CTR stock today. When it slid into place, it went too far forward and locked awkwardly. I released it and discovered it didn't lock up close to the castle nut. Looked on the interior and discovered the "blemish", the buffer tube is not flush with the lower's extension tube threads and the buffer retaining pin is right at the lip.... Anyone have a lower like this? I don't like this at all, none of my lowers that I've put together are set up like this.

The issue is that the castle nut is staked. Anyone ever able to remove a staked castle nut?







Recommendations?

And happy New Years Eve, everyone, be safe!

[Over It]

Get a stock wrench and muscle it!

Edit- A vise and lower receiver vise block is advised. You can use a cheater bar or a mallet, but I've loosened a many stake castle nut using just a stock wrench.

[sffred]

Put it in a vise, and punch it out w/ a steel punch.

[RobGR]

Yeah, but have any of youse guys done that before?

That was my plan, but have never done it....

[Roland Deschain]

I removed the staked castle nut on my Colt 6920. Had to use a castle nut wrench, a breaker bar, and a rubber mallet. It sheared off the staked part and I tried to re-stake it once re-tightened (although no where close to the factory staking).



I notice you're in SD so if you want to borrow my wrench I'm happy to lend it, shoot me a PM

[m16]

That looks like the receiver extension wasn't threaded in far enough.

Put the lower in a vise on a vise block.

Use a mallet and smack the castle nut wrench to break it free.

If you don't have the right tools, I can do it for you if you ever come up to south OC.

I won't be back in SD until next week.

[Recon-01]

Little dremel work, vise and wrench it.

[RobGR]

Okay, thanks guys, good advise on how to tackle this effectively. Will do!

PS: Any other people who took advantage of the smoking deal on the blemished PSA lowers, check your buffer tubes, you may want to follow suit.

[G21Shooter]

You could also use a drill and carefully drill the staked material out.

[drifts1]

Ugh....that's why I never stake my castle nuts. A lil loctite and elbow grease works for me, never had one come loose

[Pryde]

NEVER MUSCLE IT.

I have seen many ruined buffer tubes with sheared threads caused by some smart guy "muscling" a staked tube. (Loctite is even worse)

[amd64]

Sometimes I "unstake it" with a spring loaded center punch; just push the displaced metal back into the end plate. I usually just grind the staking area off the end plate with a thin cutoff wheel and use a new end plate... I don't use expensive end plates with sling loops.

[Mud Eagle]

On the upside, looks like PSA nicely stakes their castle nuts on their assembled lowers, although I agree it looks like there isn't all that much overlap between the lip of the receiver extension and the buffer retainer.

Not so sure that is the source of the "blemish" in the lower, though. That's more of tolerance build-up between the threading on the receiver and the threading on the extension.

[jb octane]

Before you break the stake you might want to check if the threading will even allow a full rotation or if it would overlap the retainer. I would hate to spend the effort breaking it only to find it has to be in that particular spot.

[Junkie]

That's a valid point. Eyeballing it I doubt it would fit.