Removing Flash Hider?

[Slick]

I just located and ordered up a DPMS MK12-SPR upper with the 18-inch barrel. I'm going to be using a fixed-length stock and "monster-man" grip. Once I get rid of the flash hider and replace it with a muzzle-brake, I'll have a "featureless build" - which means I can use removable magazines of any capacity.

I'm just curious if flash hiders on AR-15's are typically "super-tight"? I'm hoping to get the thing removed without having to remove the handguard..

Anyways, I'm stuck using only 10-round mags in my Noveske AR-15, so it'll be nice to be able to use the magazines that I bought up on before the ban. 44mag.com sells "rebuild kits" to folks in California, so I plan to update my beat-to-crap mags with new bodies, chrome-silicon springs and the 3rd gen Magpul followers. I'll have to see about getting the old floorplates re-anodized to make them look decent.

I'm specifically going featureless on this build so I don't have to just "look at" my mags. Unfortunately, the hi-caps are better suited to use in the short-barrel rifle - but I'll have to wait until I leave CA to remove the magazine lock or use anything that holds more than 10 shots..

[GUNRUNNER5150]

ive never removed mine as of yet, but i will have to when my suppressor comes home so i guess i should give it a shot and see how tight it is.

[weaponizer]

Slick,
The flash hider is held on by several ways, depending if it had to be oriented, one is with a crush washer, the other is with a peel washer, either could be removed with the proper wrench...Also depending if you bought it new or from a state that requires that it be permently mounted, which would be either silver soldered or pinned and welded... If its one of the pinned and welded here is a link to what to expect, scroll way down...
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782

[Phalanx]

Thats fine unless it is a Vortex ,they do not use a crush washer .as you fire the gun they just get tighter.

[Kali Komrade]

Should be no sweat is it a custom or is it an A2 or A1 flash hider... They remove quite easily for the most part Slick... You should have no problem...

[Slick]

Thanks guys! I'm thinking that it should be OK - since I'll be removing it from a brand-spanking-new upper. It's 18-inches - so it's not pinned & welded like FH on my Noveske.

It was kind of a "dumb" question, but I still have nightmares about removing the FH from a 25+ year old Steyr FAL (with reverse threads). :banghead:

I hate to say it - but I think I'm gonna "punk-out" and just go with the Miculek brake (since it would actually work better than the Ops unit). The Mic is ~$50 vs. $180 for the Ops and I don't see myself getting out of CA for at least another year to get a can (due to medical / legal issues), so I might as well plow the extra money into saving up for a SIG 556, a PSL and a PTR91 & maybe.... an AR10. :peep: They should all make great investments should obama get elected. In fact, I will step-up on selling other things to buy more guns (if he get's elected) - since a ban will drive prices WAY up.

[weaponizer]

Nice List Slick, great minds think alike, lol...Here is a couple of shots of my MK12, and Sig556, i used a Primary Weapons FSC556 muzzle brake on the Sig, and it's the only brake that has given me almost 0 muzzle rise, i know its $95 , and it was a little hard to justify, but when i first shot it, i felt it was worth every penny, and as a plus the Primary weapons website has a letter from the ATF that you can download that confirms thats it only a muzzle brake....But it sure hides the flash also...:green:

[Slick]

Great pix! Thanks for sharing them Weaponizer.

I should have my Mk12 upper sometime this week. I've already got the LaRue SPR-E mount with a Millet DMS-1 and a LaRue QD-mount Harris bipod for it. It's going on my second STAG lower and once I get my "monster man" grip mounted and the Panther flash-hider swapped out - I'll be able to use detachable magazines! :green:

That SIG or a PSL are next on my list. I may lean towards the PSL - since it's less expensive and that will permit me to stock up on more 7.62x54R ammo. I currently only have only 2 cases - one heavy ball and the other light, so I definitly need to get more while it's still fairly cheap.

[fantacmet]

As long as it's not pinned in place and you have either a barrel block or an upper reciever block(I plan to get the latter, it's better for removing the barrel among other things), and an armorers wrench(pricey but worth their weight in gold for usefullness), you sohuld be fine. However, if it is pinned, you'll have some other things you need to do, but I found a tutorial for removing a pinned flash hider.
http://www.ar15armory.com/forums/Flash-Hider-Installation-t5446.html
Last I checked the pics were intact, but this time they are not, but I'm not running my normal system, I'm running one I built a few years ago and it's only running halfassed so it could be an issue on my end. The worded instructions are pretty good though. IF yours is pinned hopefully that helps.

[Slick]

As it turns out, I canceled my order for the DPMS MK12 18-inch upper. The place I ordered it from kept telling me “it would be in next week”. After a month of hearing that, I wound up saving up enough extra cash to buy a custom-built upper from LaRue Tactical. I got the 18-inch heavy barrel, 13.2-inch extra long free-float rail guard, and a DNTC compensator.

Here’s a pic of it along side of my 14.5-inch Noveske N4 Light->

http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk445/snot-rocket/ARS.jpg

Sorry – this is a “repost” as I had posted it in another thread

[fantacmet]

Ah ok. Well if you ever need it, that link is there. :)