[SV1KSteve]

So, was at the range, noticed that my gas plug was loose and tightened it up without the proper barrel wrench which I don't have. Now I am stressing that I torqued ed my barrel. Now can I tell?

Thank you

Steve R

 

[hardheaded]

The gas plug being loose happens a lot to people
The barrel receiver threads are a little harder to loosen while shooting to check
Just make sure your front sight is straight up in relation to the receiver

 

[Ted Brown]

The spec for barrel torque is that it should not unscrew with 85 lbs. or less torque applied. The gas plug spec is 15 foot pounds. If the barrel is factory installed it should be fine. Some custom builders will use less barrel torque, but we try to stay above 55 ft. pounds. I have worked on a couple of rifles, built by others, that had the barrel unscrew while attempting to remove the gas plug or castle nut on the flash suppressor. This is not a good situation.

 

[Earthquake]

I was trying to loosen the muzzle brake on my Steyr HS50 .50 BMG rifle once with a 12oz plastic hammer, I gave it a good smack and it spun and I thought great when I went to unscrew the brake the barrel unscrewed from the barrel bushing. I freaked out, I made a bushing for my barrel vice and bolted it to my mill table, a 2" opened end wrench fit over the barrel bushing with a index card shim and I torqued to about 200lbs, It has never moved since.

Casey