Thread protector on AR

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

I'm running a featureless OLL build. The upper is a DPMS, chrome lined, 1:9, etc. I'm not 100% sure, but I think I bought it with the flash hider removed, with just exposed threads. I've used it like this for a while. But the exposed threads are just so ugly and definitely not tacticool. I then bought a thread protector. You know, looks like a nut that threads onto the barrel, cept no flats. Got it from Schuster Mfg, www.schustermfg.com. 1/2"-28tpi. It says:

"This Thread Protector is made of high-grade parkerized tool steel. Fits all 1/2-28tpi threads. Screw onto exposed muzzle threads until it stops. Do not tighten with any tools other than your hand. No washer needed."

Okfine. I went to thread it on, and it was a ***** to try to tighten. It was seriously difficult to crank on it by hand. Sooo not long ago I got a tap & die from KBC tools in Hayward. This morning I brought my rifle down to work (where the tap and die holders are) and ran these over the threads on both the thread protector and on the barrel itself. The idea I had was that the factory threads were a bit tight, and once I run a tap and die over them, they'll clean up nice and the thread protector will install much more easily.

Wrong.

It's still a ***** & 1/2 to try to screw this thing on, about the same as before. WTH! It says just to run it on by hand, without any tools, but even still, I can't find my strap wrench anyway.

Any suggestions?

[MonsterMan]

All of mine just screwed right on. I really don't know what to suggest to help you out. Maybe some of the others can come up with a suggestion.

Good luck.

[supersonic]

When doing "involved" bore cleaning, I always remove my FH's & muzzle brakes (whenever possible-USB & JB are a sonofabeach to clean out of all the "nooks & crannies" in a muzzle device), and I have several of those Schuster protectors you are using. Never had a problem hand-threading them on my AR BBLs. It sounds to me, per your detailed explanation of what you did, like the thread protector itself may have arrived to you ALREADY jacked-up. Check the (inside) threads. Call the place where you purchased it (let me guess: Brownell's? Midway?) and they'll send you out a new one immediately. In most cases (at least in my experiences), when you are dealing with such a small/cheap item, they'll usually just take your word for it & send you a new one for free, without you having to send the defective one back. Oh, BTW, I would absolutely suggest AGAINST shooting your rifle w/ the T.P. mounted. If you want a GREAT alternative (while still being evil-featureless) these are unbeatable, plus they serve a functional purpose:http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=421459

[bwiese]

Hmm, are you running a 6.8SPC? Those have different bbl threading than 223s for the obvious reason (don't wanna put on the narrower flash hider/brake!)

Otherwise one or the other item is screwed up.

My late friend Parag had a Schurter thread protector on his CMMG bbl and it worked fine - came loose on occasion even when hand tight, so a dab of Glyptol thread lock helped out.

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

It's 5.56. And I already ran a tap through the thread protector. Also already ran a die over the barrel threads. Still real tight. Part of me thinks DPMS's barrel just has tight threads on it and running the die over isn't really cutting anything down. No chips really from the die on the barrel, but tight, not a quick spin. I suspect the parkerizing is going to dull my die before it lets the die cut those threads deeper. Did actually make some chips running the tap through the thread protector, but there was no feeling of threads messed up, just tight.

ETA: Anybody in Contra Costa want to try to see if my thread protector screws onto your barrel threads easily?

[supersonic]

DPMS is notorious for their out-of-spec parts getting past QC, but barrel threads???? You might try measuring & comparing both the BBL & protector with a thread pitch gauge. You'll probably get the answer to what the problem is right there!

[drsteve]

When doing "involved" bore cleaning, I always remove my FH's & muzzle brakes (whenever possible-USB & JB are a sonofabeach to clean out of all the "nooks & crannies" in a muzzle device), and I have several of those Schuster protectors you are using. Never had a problem hand-threading them on my AR BBLs. It sounds to me, per your detailed explanation of what you did, like the thread protector itself may have arrived to you ALREADY jacked-up. Check the (inside) threads. Call the place where you purchased it (let me guess: Brownell's? Midway?) and they'll send you out a new one immediately. In most cases (at least in my experiences), when you are dealing with such a small/cheap item, they'll usually just take your word for it & send you a new one for free, without you having to send the defective one back. Oh, BTW, I would absolutely suggest AGAINST shooting your rifle w/ the T.P. mounted. If you want a GREAT alternative (while still being evil-featureless) these are unbeatable, plus they serve a functional purpose:http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=421459

supersonic,

I'm new at this so bear with me.

Why do you absolutely suggest AGAINST shooting with the T.P. mounted?

And why does MIDWAY recommend installation of the compensator by a qualified gunsmith. Doesn't it just screw on?

Thanks for the information.

Steve

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

Where I'm at tonight:

I left work before reading the suggestion about a thread gauge. However, I mated the threads of the tap and the barrel together, they're a match. Tonight after I put the kiddos to bed I just sat at the computer, browsing calguns, and running the tap through the thread protector, back and forth, over and over. It's to the point where it just about spins freely. And remember, this tap spinning freely in the thread protector, and also meshing perfectly in the barrel threads means the pitch matches.

SO. Where I'm at right now is I'm going to run the die over the barrel threads a bunch. I also didn't think to bring home a die handle from work, I was in a hurry to get home. So we'll see how that goes. Also, the die is in the freezer for a little while to get as minimum a diameter as I can try for.

[X-NewYawker]

I wanna know about the "don't shoot it with the thread protector on" part.

[supersonic]

I wanna know about the "don't shoot it with the thread protector on" part.

Why add the aggravation of a VERY, VERY TIGHT thread protector from the bullet exit rotation & expansion/contraction constantly being put upon the T.P. from the sheer heat that is encountered (sometimes many times, depending on lapses of time between shot strings). These are much thinner/less "solidly-built" than a MB or a FH, which are designed to work with rifle fire. These are only designed to cover the threads. Also, and maybe of MOST importance: there are no flats on which to get a good "bite" with a correct wrench.

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

So, you're saying it can work itself loose?

I can handle it.

Doesn't seem like a problem for shooting it...

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

Lunchtime update:

I could of course adjust the die smaller with a die holder, so I did that and ran it over the barrel threads OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER. Finally I got it to where I could, by hand but not easily, thread it on all the way.



I didn't put it on backwards, did I?

[Tumerboy]

LOL there is no backwards with threads.

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

I know better than that...

One side has a bevel, the other side is cut flat. You can kind of see it in this photo:


Going by this photo I think I'm doing it wrong. I'm gonna switch it real quick here...

ETA: actually, there is "backwards" with threads. A friend of mine who is a machinist, well, I guess he wasn't fully awake yet that morning. He made some custom part for a customer with left-handed threads, and ended up having to redo the whole part.

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

Too lazy to use a tripod.


Beveled end:




Flat end:



In the photo a couple posts up, I screwed it on with the beveled end out. It's going to be a little bit of a ***** to pull it off and switch it around. Maybe I'll use the opportunity to run the die over the barrel threads a bunch more. The thread protector pretty much spins freely on the tap now, so no problems there.