A2 to A1 Muzzle Brake

[Oldmandan]

I have a couple A2 muzzle brakes inbound for some retro builds I’m doing. I’d like to turn them into A1 brakes

https://www.aimsportsinc.com/a2-muzzle-brake-5-56-cal/

Has anyone ever seen how the slots are cut on the A1/A2?

Maybe a modified t-slot cutter?

[HibikiR]

https://retrorifles.com/m16a1-birdcage-flash-hider-4-options/

Scroll down the drop-down menu and get the closed end one (ignore the "break/brake" mistake)

Probably better to sell those and get one that is already set.

[Oldmandan]

https://retrorifles.com/m16a1-birdca...der-4-options/

Scroll down the drop-down menu and get the closed end one (ignore the "break/brake" mistake)

Probably better to sell those and get one that is already set.

[HibikiR]

https://northerngunparts.com/ar-15m-16a-25slotheattreated-3-4.aspx

Try this then?

[ar15barrels]

I have a couple A2 muzzle brakes inbound for some retro builds I’m doing. I’d like to turn them into A1 brakes

https://www.aimsportsinc.com/a2-muzzle-brake-5-56-cal/

Has anyone ever seen how the slots are cut on the A1/A2?

Maybe a modified t-slot cutter?

It's a rounded form tool that cuts the slot.

A1 flash hiders have 6 slots equally spaced.
A2 have 5 slots from 9:00 to 3:00.

You can cut 3 more slots on an A2 but it won't look like an A1.

Why not just buy an A1 flash suppressor and weld a washer inside the front to make it a brake if you refuse to buy one of the factory produced A1 brakes?

[Oldmandan]

It's a rounded form tool that cuts the slot.

A1 flash hiders have 6 slots equally spaced.
A2 have 5 slots from 9:00 to 3:00.

You can cut 3 more slots on an A2 but it won't look like an A1.

Why not just buy an A1 flash suppressor and weld a washer inside the front to make it a brake if you refuse to buy one of the factory produced A1 brakes?

Hmm, I did not know that they were spaced differently. I thought I was gonna mill an extra slot in the bottom and be done, I guess not...

I thought about welding a washer in there, but milling the slot out seemed like less work

It’s not that I refuse to buy a factory produced one, only that I refuse to buy 1 from retrorifles and couldn’t find another source.

Thanks for the info, BTW I’ve got a couple barrels coming to you next week

[Oldmandan]

https://northerngunparts.com/ar-15m-...eated-3-4.aspx

Try this then?

[Oldmandan]

Randal,
2 questions...
If I buy the A1 brake with the large through hole and weld it shut a little, would you be able open it up to .25”, or would the strength of the weld destroy your tool?

If I decide to go the route of welding a washer on there, does it need to be a hardened washer? Seems to me, that a regular mild steel washer would erode from the blast rather quickly?

[ar15barrels]

You typically want 1mm over the bullet diameter for muzzle device clearance so I would go to 17/64", not 1/4".
The welding will typically anneal a good portion of the washer so it would be better to post heat treat the whole muzzle device.
I would use a barrel scrap from a 4140 or 4150 barrel as it will take heat treatment.

[Oldmandan]

I do have some Tantal remnants laying around, I’ll have to experiment a little. If it works out, I’ll send it to you with the barrels to face and open it up to 17/64”