AGW LINEAR MUZZLE BRAKE

ALLEN GUN WORKS (AGW) Linear Muzzle Brake installed and ready for the range. I'll be honest one of the easiest things you can do on an AR/AR Variant is replace the flash suppressor/hider for an after market one. Now installing a new muzzle brake or flash hider involves some very simple tools if you haven't done it before.

STARTING OFF -  I opened this little white box and find a small ziploc bag with one well made muzzle brake in packing oil/grease. Right away I love what I see, it's not over sized, or overly ornate with a tactical bevel or serrated bezel. The finish is exceptionally clean, not a bur or deformation or blemish to be found. The gas ports and projectile hole are smooth and perfectly beveled. The threads were clean with no burs or deformation. So I removed the original milspec style flash suppressor ensuring I didn't damage the washer/ring that sits between the muzzle brake and the barrel (to reuse it) and threaded the AGW Linear Muzzle Brake on. One thing I did notice was the tolerances for thread was very tight, not so much that I couldn't do it by hand but it did take a second to properly line it up and get it on (this is a good thing). Something I really like is the AGW Linear Muzzle Brake is the perfect size to fit inside (most) a free floating handguard/quad rail. I'll put money on it working with 90% of those on the market if not more.  It adds a nice clean finish to the look of the rifle and once we've had a chance to break it in we'll let you know how it stacks up.

QUICK CHANGE -  Now there are two way to do this that will not damage your fire arm. First of all mounting the rifle in the vice securely without damaging it. You have a few options here. If you have access to a magwell block, you can lock it into the vice place the whole rifle on it and do the work. More preferred is a good set of soft jaws (rubber padded aluminum jaws) that fit over your vice.  Soft jaws have a channel just the right size that if you remove your hand guards you can safely clamp the barrel tight enough without damaging anything. The positive thing about this is you can apply the little bit extra torque. Now with a muzzle wrench/AR tool or a regular wrench that fits remove the muzzle device (brake or hider). Once you have done this make sure you inspect the crown of the barrel, the threads, and the new device to ensure there is no damage or irregular wear. At this point if I have it I like to use anti-seaze on the barrel threads and muzzle devise's threads. I do this because if I need to replace the break at any time or simply service the parts I don't have to worry about the parts fussing together from carbon and age.  Now I'll use the muzzle wrench/tool and a torque wrench to place the muzzle break on. Now if you don't get instructions with your parts go back to the manufacturer for recommended torque spec's be cause the last thing you want to do is fire $100.00 down range in pieces or having the firearm imbedded in your face.  Now as a general rule a minimum of 85 lbs of torque usually dose the job (ie German torque spec = Good-n-tight). Lots of forums will recommend just putting it on as tight as you can, the only down side is you can stretch the threads. Last thing I recommend you do (if you have one) is to slide a barrel straightness gauge through to insure everything lines up properly (again parts down range or in you face are bad).

Now if you don't have soft jaws of a magwell block an old metal magazine that you don't intend to use ever again can be clamped in the vice and used.  It's not perfect but it works.  If you don't have an AR tool or a muzzle brake/flash hider tool a good adjustable or fitted wrench will work.  Just remember your working with metal/aluminum and the weakest parts will fail first if you monster parts on.  And if you want to buy the specialty tools, guess what?  AGW makes those as well.

"I highly recommend that if you are unsure or, don't know what you are doing that your take your firearm to a shop or a smith and have them do it as picking parts out of your face, your friends or watching money get blown down range sucks."