AK-47 barrel installation help

[Juicymeat]

Hey guys I was wondering if anyone in the San Diego area has experience installing AK barrels and the barrel pin on a Romy G kit. I've tried installing it on my own but have snapped 3 threaded rods trying so the barrel is about halfway installed and I just don't have the time between work and school starting to work on this build as much and would like to atleast get the hard part out of the way. Hopefully at the most I'm asking is to borrow a press or a recommendation for a gunsmith that works on AK's. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[oakland1067]

What's the condition of the back of the barrel and the trunion? Did they get scored or are they smooth, or any rust? You may want to try and polish or hone this area so it's smooth. Have you been using grease when you install? Go slow. I heard that you should freeze the barrel for about 6- 12 hours before you install so that it is a smaller diameter.

[Trench Broom]

Good advice from oakland1067 - definetly make sure your parts are clean & burr-free before installation. I had problems when I initially installed the barrel into the front trunnion with the threaded rod when both parts were at room temperature. The barrel went in about 1/3 of the way before it became very tight and started jumping ( or chattering ) every couple of turns when tightening down the nut on the rod. Took it back apart and used the freezing method instead ( which worked great! ). Get your receiver/front trunnion assembly set up in a vise, then put the barrel & barrel pin in the freezer overnight. Next day, use a heat gun to warm up the front trunnion to a couple hundred degrees, then go get the barrel out of the freezer. The trick in assembling is to work quickly, before the temperatures on the two parts equalize. Coat both the inside of the trunnion and the outside of the rear of the barrel with anti-sieze paste, then get both parts set up on your threaded rod assembly and push the barrel in - it should go in much easier. Check the alignment for the barrel pin hole when you get close as you don't want to go too far. Same method goes for installing the barrel pin. Heat up the front trunnion, take the pin out of the freezer, coat both with anti-sieze paste, then install with a press or hammer. Also, make sure your threaded rod is grade 8 hardened steel, not the grade 2 they sell at Home Depot and hardware stores as that stuff will snap under the pressure. Use several nuts on each end of the rod and brass washers to protect the chamber face and muzzle. Good luck!

[SJgunguy24]

Use a press, if you don't have one. Find somebody who does.
Life is much easier with the right tools. Head space while your pressing the barrel. Do it once and do it right.

[SJgunguy24]

x 1000. nuff said. no need to freeze to make it smaller, just lube and insert.

Thats what she said........................... Bada BING!!!!!