How difficult to thread a barrel or add a bayonet lug?

[Mulliga]

I'm dying to get a Bushmaster rifle transferred this summer from AIM surplus:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Bushmaster_Rifles.html

However, the AWB sunset is hopefully coming this September, so I'm definitely conflicted.

Should I buy the rifle now, or wait until the sunset?

How hard / expensive is it to thread a barrel? Add a bayonet lug?

Thanks in advance.

 

[natedog]

I think threading costs about $50 from a good smith. The bayonet lug is part of the front sight base, so adding one should be as simple as changing out the front sight base. Note: You can't attach a bayonet to a 16" AR-15 even if it has a bayonet lug.

 

[Wildalaska]

Sorry Nate, costs way more to thread an AR 15 than $50..

Herre is the process (assuming no pinned and welded brake that adds boocoo $$$)..

Remove barrel from receiver...15+ minutes...
Set barrel up in lathe, index properly...30+ minutes...
Cut threads...15+ minutes
Reinstall barrel 15+ minutes..
Install flash hider...5+minutes...


All assuming everything goes right...

Thats $150 where I come from..ya want it cheaper, you can have Joe Garage put it in the vise and use a pipe threader


WildtakinreservationsAlaska

 

[Redlg155]

Check out Kurts Kustom for a good threading and flash supressor/muzzle brake installation job. There is a lot of demand for his work, so you might have to wait a month or so for the job, but he is one of the best out there.

Here is one he did for me. 9mm barrel cut from 16" to 14.5" and a KKFA3 muzzle brake installed. It cost me under $100 to have it done, that's including the price of the brake. Sorry it looks a bit dirty, but I took the pic after a range session.

Actually I think Kurt is in your neck of the woods, if I'm not mistaken, Bushnell, FL isn't too far from you. As for adding a bayo lug, he would most likely have to take off your FSB anyway for the threading, so fitting a new FSB shouldn't be that much more.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[DMK]

Buy now. Get a pre-ban but get the bayo lug shaved and have a thread protector blind pinned on. In Sept. drill out the pin and thread on the FS.

Save your receipts and if they impliment a new ban, then yours will be a pre-ban with receipts to prove it.

 

[Bainx]

Buy now. Get a pre-ban but get the bayo lug shaved and have a thread protector blind pinned on. In Sept. drill out the pin and thread on the FS.

Sorry but, I simply can not follow your "logic".

 

[DMK]

Sorry but, I simply can not follow your "logic".

If you blind pin a thread protector on the barrel, you can legally assemble it and use it now. In Sept. you can drill out the pin and put on a FS.

If you wait until Sept to have it threaded, you may have a difficult time finding a shop to do the work that doesn't have a backlog until the next year.

 

[444]

If it was me, I would buy the rifle now and leave it the way it is.
I even have "post-ban" uppers on my pre-ban lowers.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Set barrel up in lathe, index properly...30+ minutes...


I turn much larger stuff at work and it's never taken 30 minutes to dial in a part on a four jaw chuck. for piddly tiny stuff like a barrel, five minutes, max.

 

[Wildalaska]

I turn much larger stuff at work and it's never taken 30 minutes to dial in a part on a four jaw chuck. for piddly tiny stuff like a barrel, five minutes, max.

Ill mention that to our machinists (one of whom has been machining for 35 plus years), maybe if they do it faster they can finally mess sumpin up (which hasnt occured in 6+ years) After all, why do it perfectly if you can just blast thru em, hide the flaws later

WildperfectionistAlaska