Worth the time and money for a new handguard?

[Shprockets]

I want to change out my handguard but because of Massachusetts the brake is welded on, so I can't get the gas block off which means I can't get the barrel nut off. Does anyone have any recommendations of places that don't charge an arm and leg to remove a pinned muzzle brake, swap out to a new handguard and then weld a new muzzle brake on?

I looked at Parker Mountain Machine and they charge $300 to do it, at that price I'm just leaving it alone.

 

[Snora]

edit: I’m dumb.

 

[Radtekk]

Go see Vinny at Shawsheen Firearms in Billerica. No idea what he'd charge but he did some nice work for me when I lived in MA and he has a shop attached to his shop so machining should be easy enough.

 

[mac1911]

I want to change out my handguard but because of Massachusetts the brake is welded on, so I can't get the gas block off which means I can't get the barrel nut off. Does anyone have any recommendations of places that don't charge an arm and leg to remove a pinned muzzle brake, swap out to a new handguard and then weld a new muzzle brake on?

I looked at Parker Mountain Machine and they charge $300 to do it, at that price I'm just leaving it alone.

So what is your price point?
Is there a upper out there that fits your needs?
Take what you would pay for the work + what you could get for your upper and see what that can buy you.

or just buy a dremel with the metal cutting discs. Grind off the weld and change out your parts.
Find local shop to zap a weld on the brake.

 

[SJan]

There are some handguards that are made for this application, use original barrel nut and will fit over a muzzle device. Daniel Defence Omega is the one that comes to mind, but im sure there are others out there

 

[Shprockets]

So what is your price point?
Is there a upper out there that fits your needs?
Take what you would pay for the work + what you could get for your upper and see what that can buy you.

or just buy a dremel with the metal cutting discs. Grind off the weld and change out your parts.
Find local shop to zap a weld on the brake.

Im leaning that way, wish I knew how to weld!

 

[Shprockets]

Go see Vinny at Shawsheen Firearms in Billerica. No idea what he'd charge but he did some nice work for me when I lived in MA and he has a shop attached to his shop so machining should be easy enough.

I work close to that place, I'm going to stop by and check it out. Thanks

 

[DW357]

Steve at Northeast Arms in Peabody can probably help you out.
@sschevy

 

[Mountain]

$300 for the hand guard and the work? Maybe not so bad if parts included but does seem high if not.

Pullman in Worcester does a great job and always for reasonable $.

 

[wmass]

What is the barrel nut? There are handguards that utilize the factory nut.

 

[Radtekk]

I work close to that place, I'm going to stop by and check it out. Thanks

Tell Vinny I (Lee) said hi Check the website first for hours and check to see when he's there. It's his shop, he's the Smith, not sure what his hours are.

 

[Shprockets]

$300 for the hand guard and the work? Maybe not so bad if parts included but does seem high if not.

Pullman in Worcester does a great job and always for reasonable $.

I would have to buy the handguard, PMM has a price for machining services to remove old brake and weld a new one on. I have a lot of parker muntain machine stuff and they are great, but for $285 I could buy a new barrel and brake.

 

[appraiser]

is it welded or soldered?

 

[ISOTOX]

I would have to buy the handguard, PMM has a price for machining services to remove old brake and weld a new one on. I have a lot of parker muntain machine stuff and they are great, but for $285 I could buy a new barrel and brake.

seems like you answered your own question...

 

[ISOTOX]

[QUOTE="mac1911,


or just buy a dremel with the metal cutting discs. Grind off the weld and change out your parts.
Find local shop to zap a weld on the brake.
[/QUOTE]

Now there’s a disaster waiting to happen...

 

[PappyM3]

There are some handguards that are made for this application, use original barrel nut and will fit over a muzzle device. Daniel Defence Omega is the one that comes to mind, but im sure there are others out there

This is a great solution. They come in both 7” for carbine gas systems and 9” for midlength, and are now available in picatinny, Keymod, or MLOK. The picatinny version is battle proven, and I imagine the keymod/MLOK is sturdy too.

OP, the Daniel Defense Omega rails are free float and use the mil spec barrel nut and delta ring. And the rail is two piece so there is no need to remove the barrel or even the FSB.

 

[Shprockets]

This is a great solution. They come in both 7” for carbine gas systems and 9” for midlength, and are now available in picatinny, Keymod, or MLOK. The picatinny version is battle proven, and I imagine the keymod/MLOK is sturdy too.

OP, the Daniel Defense Omega rails are free float and use the mil spec barrel nut and delta ring. And the rail is two piece so there is no need to remove the barrel or even the FSB.

thanks, I’ll check them out.

 

[Rick O'Shea]

Steve @ Northeast Arms,.. his muzzle device pin jobs are usually $80

 

[teamRR]

I would just go for a new barrel, various places now sell them with pre pinned muzzle breaks slim enough so anything needed will pass over. Then you got a spare barrel when it's all said and done too.

Edit: or even a new complete upper. You can spend the same changing things around versus just buying what you want sometimes.

 

[steve8140]

Dremmel off the weld and change to your hearts content. When you’re done just “permanently” re attach the muzzle device.

It doesn’t say how, just needs to be permanent.

 

[teamRR]

Seems crazy to me to be unpinning a barrel over the cost of a new pinned barrel and gas block.

 

[mac1911]

Im leaning that way, wish I knew how to weld!

Harbor Freight has 120v welders cheap. One good zap , done. Return welder or not.

 

[mac1911]

[QUOTE="mac1911,


or just buy a dremel with the metal cutting discs. Grind off the weld and change out your parts.
Find local shop to zap a weld on the brake.

Now there’s a disaster waiting to happen...
[/QUOTE]
Depends on the "ability" of the user really.

 

[sschevy]

Steve @ Northeast Arms,.. his muzzle device pin jobs are usually $80

$40 for pin and welds , always have been

$80 if we take one off and put another back on , it’s honestly more work to get them off than to put them back

 

[ISOTOX]

Now there’s a disaster waiting to happen...

Depends on the "ability" of the user really.
[/QUOTE]


OK

 

[mac1911]

Depends on the "ability" of the user really.

OK
[/Q

I would have to buy the handguard, PMM has a price for machining services to remove old brake and weld a new one on. I have a lot of parker muntain machine stuff and they are great, but for $285 I could buy a new barrel and brake.

shop around you could get a new upper !

 

[mac1911]

Depends on the "ability" of the user really.

OK
[/QUOTE]
Really , If someone cant manage to figure this out with all the youtube and forum info to grind enough of a weld off to get a pinned brake off .....im getting more worried each day.

 

[Chevy 2 65]

Dremmel off the weld and change to your hearts content. When you’re done just “permanently” re attach the muzzle device.

It doesn’t say how, just needs to be permanent.

Unless it's all one unit. Nothing is permanent.

 

[ISOTOX]

OK

Really , If someone cant manage to figure this out with all the youtube and forum info to grind enough of a weld off to get a pinned brake off .....im getting more worried each day.
[/QUOTE]

OK

 

[fshalor]

I would probably go new BCM upper for that much chowder. Save the one you have as a backup.