Brownells Gun Tech™ Steve Ostrem takes us step-by-step through installation of a Volquartsen Lightweight THM Tension Barrel on a Smith & Wesson M&P15-22. THM barrels have an outer sleeve of carbon fiber that maintains consistent tension on the stainless steel inner barrel. This results in a barrel that is both lightweight AND extremely accurate. Steve starts by securely clamping the M&P15-22’s upper receiver in a bench vise to remove the handguard plug, flash suppressor, and finally the barrel itself. Brownells doesn’t have a vise block for this upper, so Steve shows us how to secure it in the vise by the handguard without damaging it. The threads on the M&P15-22 barrel are very fine, and there are a lot of them so you’ll spend most of your time unscrewing and re-screwing the barrel nut! When you’re done, your already accurate .22 LR AR-15 will be even more accurate AND it’ll actually weigh less.
Items used in this video:
Volquartsen THM Tension Barrel for S&W M&P15-22 (#930-000-161)
Tacticool22 S&W M&P15-22 Barrel Nut Wrench (#100-015-709)
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my flash hider is so friggin tight I'm scared I'm going to break the upper!
Good video, but he never explains the reason for the barrel change in the first place. (I assume accuracy, but mine shoots wicked good with the stock barrel).
So where do i get one
Will it improve accuracy? The stock barrel sucks, I can do tight groups with any ammo on my 10/22 but it’s everywhere with the 15-22
How much more accurate does that make it?
Thanks Steve / ya know , because of your helpful videos i have ordered parts from you guys even when i could have got them cheaper elsewhere . To me you guys and Midway are very helpful and i appreciate it a lot = worth the extra small difference in savings !
Video is very good, but because i am hard of hearing the background music is very annoying,but no disrespect intended thank you.
So the barrel is just floating at the end. Surely it would be better to support it like the other barrel had the support piece?…
But the bench doesn't tighten and crumple the plastic part of the upper ?
What?
Thank you. 🙂
I would like to see the test fire on that one.
Like i from brazilian brownells!
You should use masking tape over the exposed portion of the barrel so your barrel nut wrench doesnt mar the new barrel. Its a very simple piece of insurance.
Looks like putting some electric/scotch tape on the barrel at wrench end would be a good idea to avoid scratches
Nice