Brownells – Changing An AR-15 Barrel

One point to make . One the torque wrench you must calculate the correction for the extension of the barrel wrench. Before you complete the front end you need to check the go/no go for the bolt assy. Not what one would expect from Brownells.

No 33ms/aeroshell 64 and improper angle of the torque wrench..my god,I expect that from an average builder but not a brownells gunsmith. some might say It’s minor mistakes but I’m tired of seeing vids of people giving advise as a pro and are teaching people the wrong way.to install a ar15 barrel isn’t difficult at all but their are a few rules to follow.another one he didn’t do was season the threads,on his particular rifle it didn’t need done but when you’re teaching you need to explain that a new receiver/barrel will need the threads seasoned.when u are seasoning the threads don’t use the torque wrench to back off the nut

@mrgunsngear

Sorry but damn those pre bans are so ugly..

If anyone can answer this question who knows, please post a reply. I started building. 03’s, M1 Garand’s and M14’s, (M1A’s) in the early 1980’s for NRA High Power shooting. It would be a mortal sin to ever install a barrel without finish reaming, and/or checking for head space. How can he just pop one on, and test fire without headspacing?

Does he know he over torqued it? 90 degrees dummy.

torque should be 90 % to

Never will I ever use a vise block for the upper! It twists the upper and puts a lot of stress on some thin aluminum! Use a reaction rod. Puts ALL of the stress on the barrel where it is intended to and designed to be. All these wonderful videos on how to build the most inaccurate ar-15.

torque wrench should be 90 degrees with your adapter to get proper torque specs

No grease? 🤔

can you change a 16" barrel to an 18" I have a Bushmaster n wanted to know if I could use a brownells 18"

This is an older vid.  I do not know the reference to pre and post ban barrel.  However, the reference to the torque setting is not correct, Monty used a number without any correction for the length of the tool on the torque wrench, which has a mechanical advantage.  Some would say no-big-deal, however it is not correct.  Brownells today say that torque starts at 28ftlb.  Several comments below ………..  Also, Monty is no longer with Brownells and they do no gunsmithing.

one tip to get the forward gas block level with rear rail is to set receiver upside down on a long level and loosen the set screws on the gas block, both rail on gas block and rail on receiver will level on the level then re tighten the set screws on the gas block and your set, a lot easier than trying to eyeball a bubble level.

If swapping to a shorter barrel does the gas tube need to be cut or swapped out as well?

I notice you didn't use lithium grease or anti seize on the barrel nut. Is this just for demo purposes without the grease?

240p, we meet again…

he doesn't even know how to use a torque wrench correctly, you're supposed to have the nut 90 degrees to the wrench.

This video is like Brownells customer service and shipping – HORRIBLE…..

If this is who Brownell's employs as a gunsmith, remind me to never go there to have them work on my gun. This guy does a lot of things wrong. Oy vei!

Head space check on AR-15 with standard barrels is not required

changed the barrel and no head space check?

No anti seaze or lubrication used……

Came for the video, stayed for the calculator watch.

Yup…possibly over torqued it!

Would it be better to pin the tube into the block then slide it into place before the final installation ??

I had that same Casio wrist-watch back in 1995!

There's nothing you need to put on the threads to keep it from seizing?

Wow so glad to see so many of you caught his total f-up with that torque wrench. Not to mention why not just set it at 80 and move on. Bad practice to constantly change torque when you have a range.

You are so correct. Extension must be 90 degrees or torque is added by length

When you add a wrench type tool to the end of a torque wrench it makes the torque wrench longer and changes the math regarding your torque settings, there is a formula available with most torque wrenches to compensate for this. Failure to do the math will result in incorrect torque. This can also be corrected for by setting the wrench you are attaching to the torque wrench at a 90 degree angle to the length of the torque wrench, this will not change the math and your torque be correct.

I love how in the wide shot when he is seating the gas tube pin the barrel is unsupported, but when we punch into a closeup the orange FSB tool is supporting the barrel… Nice product placement! It's useful even when mounting a low-pro gas block! A multi-camera shoot will eliminate flubs like this… I'm here for you whenever you want to hire me… Sincerely, the experienced filmmaker who is a big customer in need of a FSB tool…. PS THANK YOU for all the awesome videos. I've learned so much

does this work with my airsoft?

When torquing with an attachment that extends away from the torque wrench drive, be sure it's perpendicular to the torque wrench handle while tightening. If not, you are over torquing.

So if I buy a colt factory m4 14.5 barrel and have the flash suppressor pin weld mod did to make it non-sbr legal, which the 14.5 comes on the m4a1's and the le6921's. Would it be a straight swap, I know nothing about headspacing, but from what i seen you do, and my mechanical knowledge I can swap a barrel. I have a le6920 with a 16.1 barrel. The upper and lower is pretty much identical on the le6920 and le6921, except for the le6921 is considered a short barrel rifle.

I have to gas piston ar15's of different brands both the same length. Is it possible for me to switch the barrels from one to the other?

@joshhw1982 The fitment between the barrel and barrel extension determines the headspace. If you get your assembled barrel and bolt from a reputable manufacturers, you should have no problems. Firing pin protrusion and lug phasing in battery are more critical.

is the barrel/chamber self headspacing?