Question about the buffer tube and the castle nut

[jpx0123]

I got a question. What happens if you build a lower receiver and don't loctite or stake the castle nut?

[DarkSoul]

If you tighten it down pretty good, nothing. I have built probably 10 personal AR's over the past few years, and have not staked, or used thread locker on any of them, and have never had one come loose.

[tal3nt]

If you torqued it tight and nothing else, it'll probably loosen after roughly 1,000 rounds. I draw a small line/dot with a Sharpie in between the castle nut and the end plate. That way I can check from time to time if the castle nut is loosening (the Sharpie marking will be mismatched)

Just use blue loctite. You only need a drop. I have some; feel free to stop by if you're in the OC area

[Devilmonkey89]

I did not torque my castle nut, just added black permatex adhesive silicone and hit the castle nut with a screwdriver and hammer, after 600 rounds its still in place

[jkody]

I stake mine after test firing.

[davidb]

i forgot to torque my castle nut, just kinda hand tight and it lasted 150 rounds before it worked loose

i cant think of anything catastrophic happening

[jpx0123]

Thanks all. Sounds like it'll be fine as long as I keep an eye on it.

Tal3nt. Like the idea of the sharpie. I am in the oc area but I think I'll just get some blue loctite later when I get a chance. Thanks for the offer. Very nice of you.

Thanks again guys

[jpx0123]

By the way. If I torque it, what do I torque it to?

[tpat663]

Don't use any lock tight, there's really no set ft lbs or inch lbs just put it on nice and snug and shoot it. I do stake mine but that's because I run them hard, for your average sit / stand shooter you'll be good to go.

[Bonedeval]

i just put a drop of blue loctite.

[pharazon]

A spring loaded punch is so cheap, why not stake it?

[ky2970]

Thanks all. Sounds like it'll be fine as long as I keep an eye on it.

Tal3nt. Like the idea of the sharpie. I am in the oc area but I think I'll just get some blue loctite later when I get a chance. Thanks for the offer. Very nice of you.

Thanks again guys

Paint pen/Sharpie works great for making sure it's not backing out. I torqued mine down but did not loctite/stake it. I personally wouldn't loctite because I've heard of nightmares of using too much and destroying the threads/permanently sticking the castle nut. Wanting to stake but it keeps slipping my mind.

Haven't had problems with not using either method but I completely understand wanting the reassurance of knowing it's not going to back out. Just check on your sharpie marks every time you clean and tighten if needed.

[jpx0123]

I've heard there is a loctite that is not as sticky so to speak. Which is stronger the blue or red loctite?

Yeah for now I think I'll just check it at each cleaning. I may loctite or stake later. But for now I only put between 100-200 rounds on a heavy range trip so I should be good.

[ky2970]

I've heard there is a loctite that is not as sticky so to speak. Which is stronger the blue or red loctite?

Yeah for now I think I'll just check it at each cleaning. I may loctite or stake later. But for now I only put between 100-200 rounds on a heavy range trip so I should be good.

Red is for permanent applications and blue is for semi permanent. If anything, just use a tiny dab. It'll get spread around when you rotate the castle nut over it.

Yup, I've put well over 800 rds since undoing the staking to put on an ASAP plate and it hasn't budged at all according the marking.

[ZER0_]

I've heard there is a loctite that is not as sticky so to speak. Which is stronger the blue or red loctite?

Yeah for now I think I'll just check it at each cleaning. I may loctite or stake later. But for now I only put between 100-200 rounds on a heavy range trip so I should be good.

The red loctite is the stronger of the two. If you're going to use loctite, use the blue one.

I have neither applied loctite or staked the nut. I haven't ran into any problems at all. I snugged it up once and it hasn't moved.