Flash Hider not coming off - Knight's SR-16
 

I am not the original owner of this gun and I'm not sure what was done to it in the past.

It seems to be a typical TM m-16 flash hider and I've removed the screw that usually holds it in place. That said, the bastard won't come off. I think it is possible that it is glued in place, but I'm not 100% certain. Here are a few things that I've tried:

- Brute force: first thing I tried, using a pair of pliers.
- Heating: I put the flash hider in boiling water for 10 minutes and then tried to wrench it off.
- Super lubricant: I oiled the flash hider using this super Boeing A7 (or whatever) lube, left it on for an hour and tried to wrench it off using a vice grip, no luck.
- Alcohol: a few bottles of beer for my own frustration, then I let the barrel soak in rubbing alcohol (70%) for a few hours. I tried to wrench it off, but no luck.

Now, I'm certain that it must come off; why else would there be a removable screw otherwise? Also, I can see the threading at the bottom of the whole where the retention screw goes...

I want this flash hider off. I've got a sweet suppressor I want on there and I will entertain any ideas you guys might have, so long as it will not damage the threading.

Thanks for any help you can provide me.

You sure you are turning in the right direction? TM threads are 14mm -ve.

I had the same problem with a CA m16 a few years ago. The flashhider was pitted from the locking pliers. I ended up leaving it as is i think.

RE turning the in the direction, here's what I'm doing:

Holding the gun on my lap, barrel pointing right. Holding with my left hand and turning the flash hider TOWARDS ME with my right hand. Is this correct?

I've tried turning the other direction a bit too, but not as much.

That doesn't really make sense to me.

Are you turning CLOCKWISE or COUNTER-CLOCKWISE? The threading is measured from the outside in, so if you're looking down the barrel which way are you turning?

If you are holding the gun like you are going to shoot it (staring at the sights), take your left hand, fingers pointing right, wrap them around the barrel, and turn counter-clockwise (knuckles rolling left). This is the proper direction to loosen it.

Edit: The way you describe it, you are turning it the wrong way. Since you've been tightening it, you'll probably need a little bit of force.

okay, based on what you're saying, I have been turning the wrong way. I will try the other way and report back.

Alright, I have tried turning COUNTERCLOCKWISE, the way you described and this has yielded no results. I'm meeting the same amount of resistance as before.

Just to confirm, you are holding the stock like you would normally if you were about to shoot. Then you are using your left hand and turning counter clockwise. This is actually clockwise when staring down the barrel, which is what you want and what most people describe when they describe the threading of the barrel. On a stock barrel, this should be working. Keep in mind, you did quite a bit to tighten it (heating, etc.).

Disassemble the outer barrel/front sight/flashhider assy. and stick it in the freezer for like an hour or so, then try again (might wanna use work gloves). Heating expands the metal and makes it tighter != good.

Clockwise == turn from left towards the right
CCW == turn from right towards the left

You want to be turning CCW.

I've done this successfully on a lot of overtightened stuff.

If you really must, wrap the FH in a towel and use a vise grip on the "flat" parts at the base of the flash hider. That'll give you more torque. Combined with freezing it should come off, unless it was epoxied in place or something.

This is some of the funniest shit I've ever heard in my life. Figures considering his location.

For stuff that's stuck, I prefer to use a rubber strap wrench, available at your local Ukrainian Tire for $4 or so. Much better grip than a towel IMHO. I use it on the barrel extension for the OPS silencer on my M733 all the time.

Thanks for the replies, guys. The purpose of soaking the barrel in rubbing alcohol was to help weaken any potential glue that might have been holding the flash hider in place. It's unclear whether or not the flash hider was glued in place, and if so, what was used. If it's just something like locktight, it won't be a huge deal, but if it's metal epoxy then it's a whole 'nother matter.

As it stands, I've tried turning it CCW, but I only used a simple wrench; I haven't had the chance to use a vice grip.

The freezing is actually a pretty good idea, though it's possible it was epoxied in place. The thing is, I don't have a tech schematic for the gun, so I'm a little reluctant to take the barrel apart if I'm not certain I can put it back together afterwards...The guns previous owners are also not quite sure what, if anything, has been done to the flash hider, and if it's epoxy, it probably won't help.

Any more thoughts on stuff I should try?

Way to be offensive, jerkoff. How about you take your helpful comments somewhere else?

You know about the HEX screw right? You have to loosen that before trying to remove. I haven't read all the post, so flame me if i missed one mentioning it.

You're not suggesting the people from Newfoundland are slow are you? :shock:

i have a spare outter barrel taken off a new SR16 if you need one.. that would solve your problem :)

hahaha, I thought clockwise was self explanatory....use a little more force mate! I think you're baby'ing it

Well, CW and CCW are self-explanatory, but what isn't is which way you should be holding the gun while you make your CW or CCW turn, since one way is actually the reverse if you hold the gun the other way. Looking down the sights, turning the barrel left to right is clockwise, but looking down the opposite direction, that's counterclockwise. Does that make sense?

But you're right, perhaps more force is in order :D

RE Hex screw: yeah, that's the first thing I removed before trying anything.

well it may just be me, but I approach it like any other screw, you face the head (down into the barrel) and its CCW to unscrew a bolt or w.e. but if I recall correctly its CW to remove the flashhider. Don't take my word for it as its been a while. I saw grab a wrench and give it a good twist!...doesn't the outerbarrel stop the flashhider from tightening too much anyhow? (so your threads are safe)

No, that's not correct. Turning it the way you've described TIGHTENS the flash hider.

Roger that! you prob tightened the shit outta it before you knew it was a reverse thread. Pardon me for the insult. Here's a good way to solve your prob. Pertend the gun is a beer and the flashider is the cap.........turn that bitch the opposite way from opening the beer.

Two vice grips, lots of elbow grease and about a half hour later, the fracking p.o.s came off.

Thanks for the help guys.