Anyone remember when AR comps were pinned?

[Rembrandt]

In the dark recesses of my memory I kinda remember a time when AR comps were drilled and pinned to prevent removal, perhaps during the Clinton AWB. After installing the pin they were machined and polished so as to disappear. Problem I'm having is with an Armalite AR10 from that time period. Wanting to change out the forearm and cannot seem to get the comp off. It wiggles just a little but then it hits a hard stop whether going clockwise or counter clockwise. Don't think its put on with locktite. Any suggestions?

 

[Rembrandt]

Upon closer inspection, I'm pretty sure it's pinned. So how to remove it and save the comp ?

 

[Kp321]

Carefully center punch the pin in the center then use a #0 center drill in a milling machine to drill into the pin until the countersink section of the center drill removes the remaining weld. Then use a rare earth magnet to pull the pin out. Might have to wiggle the brake while pulling the pin.

 

[Rembrandt]

Update: Center punched and used a #2 center drill in the mill. While it was centered in the pin perfectly, I'm thinking the pin may have been a press fit. and not welded. Could not get it out without damaging the threads. In the process of shortening barrel (about 1/2"), re-crowning, and re-threading for a new JP comp. Scratching my head wondering who did it (Armalite) and why on earth they would have attached it like that.

 

[BBBBill]

Scratching my head wondering who did it (Armalite) and why on earth they would have attached it like that.

To eliminate one evil feature that would place it in the assault weapon category circa 1994. Clinton AWB.

 

[jmorris]

The “permanently” blind pin welded ones I have seen most often were with barrels that were under 16” without the muzzle device attached. Making them not removable made it so you didn’t have an SBR.

 

[GBExpat]

Anyone remember when AR comps were pinned?

Only most of us who frequent THR ... lots of higher-mileage folks here.

 

[Zerodefect]

All my defensive quality carbines are pinned and welded.

14.5" is why. Cut the barrel down to 14.x and weld something on to get to 16.1".

 

[BBBBill]

During the AWB the evil features for semi auto rifles were - pistol grips, folding/collapsible stocks, detachable magazines, bayonet lugs, and threaded muzzles/flash hiders. So with a detachable mag and two or more of those you had an assault weapon. Barrel length was not specified as a feature. The barrel threads were nullified as a contributor to assault weapon status by pinning and welding a muzzle brake (not a flash hider) on.

 

[Rembrandt]

Got the barrel threaded and re-crowned, new comp looks much better than the original that came from Armalite. Don't think this was pinned to be in compliance with the 16" barrel rule.....it's an 18" barrel.

View attachment 835839

 

[Rembrandt]

 

[sota]

remember? I'm still required to have a pinned/welded brake (no "flash hiders" allowed, either)
and all of mine are pinned and welded over, and not smoothed out and made pretty. I want to be able to find the damn thing when the time comes after I move.
I consider the brakes to be sacrificial at this point, though.

 

[BBBBill]

Don't think this was pinned to be in compliance with the 16" barrel rule.....it's an 18" barrel.

No it was pinned out of an abundance of caution because of the '94 AWB and possibly because of additional legislation that might have affected its legality in some states. Your rifle would have had three "evil" features (pistol grip, detachable mag, and threaded muzzle) making it an illegal assault rifle if the brake had just been threaded on and not pinned and welded. Looks good. Clean install.

 

[Blue68f100]

Good looking break. I like the side gas ports. I shoot at night and the side gas ports disperses the gas so you can for a second shot without waiting fro the smoke to clear. The first time I fired at night with no break I had to wait what seamed like 10 sec for the smoke to clear to see if hit my target.