[BKENNEDY]

I recently took the flashhider off my M1A just to see if I could do it Well, when I went to shoot the next time, I had to adjust the rear sight approximately 4 clicks to the left to get it hitting where I wanted. The thing seems like it would only go on one way. Why is it so far off now and how the heck do I make it right? :roll:

 

[m14dan]

Did you loosen the front sight at all? If you did then that's probably the problem. Overtightening the castle nut bends commercial made flashhiders out of whack. Can do it to gi ones too. Dirt or anything between the muzzle and seating surface on the FH can put it out of whack just as good. Did it go on tight? Idealy they should be a TIGHT fit. If it just falls on then that could also be the problem. I like ones that have to be driven on. If it is reel loose it might need the splines peened.
I always recommend to people never remove the flash hider, gas cylinder or GC lock unless absolutely needed for repairs. None of it is necessary for routine cleaning.

Oh look for streaks of copper inside the exit end of it too. I doubt that is your problem but the bullets may be hitting it on the way out.

 

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flashhider

Actually, I didn't loosen the sight at all. What happened was that after I put it back on, a day before a match, it went on pretty tight. At the match, I could've sworn I had just shot my best match ever until I walked down and looked at the paper; it was all over the place! The guy next to me said he thought he saw one of my shots hit the dirt! Anyways, I went home with my tail between my legs, and when I went to lean it against the wall I felt the flashhider move So I hammered it down with a rubber mallet and tightened it as much as I could without tearing something up. It's definitely not to loose. Later I took it to the range and got it sighted in, but it's way off to the side. But there aren't any copper marks on it, I checked. It still groups really well, it's just not zeroed anymore.

 

[m14dan]

Sounds like it may have bent then. I hope not but without seeing it that's all I can come up with. You can check with an alignment gage but you probably don't have one do you. You could just rezero by centering the rear then moving the front but I'd check it when you can.
When I put a flash hider on a rifle I choose one that fits tight then I tap it down like you did but the castle nut wrench never touches it. That's how they get tweeked! When the castle nut is finger tight I see if a slot is lined up for the set screw and sometimes tighten it and sometimes loosen it, whichever way is closer, to line up a slot. Then I put the screw in till it's just barely in the slot and put a drop of locktight on top. It won't go anywhere.
If you got it seated with the hammer then all the castle nut wrench did was make something move or bend that shouldn't have is what I am getting at. The two thin sections of it above and below where the castle nut is are relatively weak and they can distort if not treated nice. GI ones aren't so bad but aftermarket ones can be.
If you have a spare to use for now either me or warbird can check your flash hider for you and probably fix it. That is if it is bent. Maybe you can PM him too and get his thoughts on it.

 

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flashhider

Thank you very much, I think I'll do that. I do have an extra, but it has the evil bayonet lug on it :twisted: Actually, I'd been meaning to put it on anyways. I don't consider it to be illegal. I consider the Assault Weapons Ban to be illegal. Anyways, Warbird, are ya reading this?

 

[Kevin P. Paul]

What tool did you use to tighten the castle nut?

 

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flashhider

Wrench-7790493 Rifle M14 GI castle nut pliers

 

[m14dan]

You should see the muzzle brakes I got in my drawer from an anonimous source that were ruined by one of those. :lol: One is bent so bad that my alignment gage won't even go in the bore but 1/4 inch or so. Now that I know you are so close to me we are gonna have to get together and find some hogs or something to practice on. Have you ever heard of lake Allen Henry? That place is over run with hogs. Lubbock owns it and gives out day leases on the part below the dam. You'd love it there!

 

[BKENNEDY]

flashhider

I've heard of that place, not too far from here, right? I'm waiting on a case of '06 right now, but when it gets here, count me in.

 

[m14dan]

It's about halfway between us. Last time we went about a month ago I was playing sniper up on the ridge and my son and another man were in the river up to their ears in reeds. I could see hogs running all around them and scooting up the banks to safety. My boy had his bayonett fixed and everything. Boy what a sight! He is one tough 10 year old. Noone ever had a safe shot at anything but we sure had a ball. Next time I think we take dogs and give them hogs something to worry about! My dog is 15 years old and pretty worthless for hunting anymore so I'll have to find someone that has some.

 

[bravo2]

FH question

How much of the tines you should see with FH on if you got douglas barrel. I put mine on same way most have,lol. I did not hammer it on,think I might of tapped it but its been a while and i did tighten it with gi pliers snug. Its a sa inc NM Fh too. But its been dead on when shooting it and no copper touching FH. Did i get lucky installing it? I see 1/8" of tines left behind FH,is this where it should be resting? My FH was snug and then tight as it went on on since its a douglas barrel which its post to be tighter than the gi from what i understood. I will do my second one the way you guys say to do it,thanks wish i new this months ago,lol.

 

[fubar]

just the torque on the flash supressor can change your point of impact. watch for posts by gus on jouster.com ever now and then someone asks for details on this. unfortunately their setup doesn't save posts past about 30 days. but the topic will come up again.

 

[m14dan]

With flash hiders a little experimentation is the best. Mine likes the castle nut loose. Before with the gi barrel it liked it one more notch. They are tunable much like a boss system but not exactly. My barrel is a douglas heavy too. Just make REAL SURE it can't get out of alignment and cause a bullet strike. If the FH don't fit the barrel tight then snug it as you always have.
FWIW the 3 I have installed from DPMS have been REALLY tight. I like them.