• If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership  The benefits pay for the membership many times over.

AR pin & weld, headspace check

M

Mark L

Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Messages
1,090
Likes
1,312
Feedback: 2 / 0 / 0
Finishing up my AR build this weekend, I'm going to need to get the muzzle brake pinned and welded, and would like the head space checked. What's a reasonable fee for such work, and where would I go within 25 mi of Pepperell for a quality job?
 
Why pin and weld seriously who's going to check that if your really worried use locktite and some grey modeling clay it will look and do the same so I've heard......
 
Mark L said:
Finishing up my AR build this weekend, I'm going to need to get the muzzle brake pinned and welded, and would like the head space checked. What's a reasonable fee for such work, and where would I go within 25 mi of Pepperell for a quality job?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, I can't give a suggestion for a place within that distance of Pepperell, but I'd say that $60-70 is a decent price for that. I sure wouldn't go the locktite and modelling clay route.
 
jkelly1229 said:
Why pin and weld seriously who's going to check that if your really worried use locktite and some grey modeling clay it will look and do the same so I've heard......
Click to expand...

"Do the same thing" You mean that locktite and modeling clay will make it legal? Gee I wish I had known that. And all this time I've been silver soldering them on. Boy do I feel foolish.
 
Ok I'm going to ask the noob question: Permanent locktite typically is removed by heating the part first. What stops the barrel heating up from degrading the seal from the locktite?
 
AR pin & weld, headspace check

Drix said:
Ok I'm going to ask the noob question: Permanent locktite typically is removed by heating the part first. What stops the barrel heating up from degrading the seal from the locktite?
Click to expand...

I don't think the barrel will get hot enough to break red loctite. I believe you need a temp of 550F or something to break that seal if it's applied properly, and your barrel temp probably won't get anywhere near that the muzzle end.
 
pretty sure loctite does NOT constitute a permanent attachment. I was considering doing that myself until I researched it, but I don't have the cite handy.
 
jpm said:
pretty sure loctite does NOT constitute a permanent attachment. I was considering doing that myself until I researched it, but I don't have the cite handy.
Click to expand...

As far as I know MA law is silent on what constitutes "permanent," but the ATF does provide some guidance in their NFA guide.

https://www.atf.gov/file/58196/download
The ATF procedure for measuring barrel length is to measure from the closed bolt (or breech-face) to the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device. Permanent methods of attachment include full-fusion gas or electric steel-seam welding, high-temperature (1100°F) silver soldering, or blind pinning with the pin head welded over. Barrels are measured by inserting a dowel rod into the barrel until the rod stops against the bolt or breech-face. The rod is then marked at the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device, withdrawn from the barrel, and measured.
Click to expand...

Any decent gunsmith (or anyone with basic skills*) should be able to do a simple pin and weld job. Drill a blind hole, insert pin, weld over the hole. I've done them myself a bunch of times, but these days I generally just swing by Northeast arms and have Steve do it for me. If he's not busy he can usually do it while you wait. Takes about 15 minutes.

(*It is probably considered "gunsmithing," so in addition to having basic skills, the person doing it should probably be a licensed gunsmith. At least in MA anyway.)
 
Last edited:
AR pin & weld, headspace check

Call Steve at northeast arms. They'll likely be able to do it while you wait at a cost of 40 bucks
 

Similar threads

Headspace and reloading
Replies
28
Views
468
PatMcD
PatMcD
Fact Check: Brady Campaign Falsely Claims Guns ‘Are Rarely Used Successfully in Self-Defense’
Replies
0
Views
37
Reptile
Reptile
Blue AR parts?
Replies
8
Views
235
Coda
Coda
Did you install the Cajun trigger pin on your Shadow?
Replies
1
Views
137
LittleCalm
L
Dealer selling complete AR-15 - Upper has flash hider - Can a person swap to a compliant upper until original upper gets pinned and welded?
Replies
21
Views
712
Reptile
Reptile
Back
Top Bottom