Stupid question of the week: how expensive/difficult is it to thread an AR15 barrel?

[1KPerDay]

I have been given a bushmaster A2 HBAR type with a plain barrel/muzzle. I’m opposed to non threaded AR barrels on general principle but how big a hassle is it? Should I send it somewhere to get threaded or should I try it myself?

Or should I actually just shoot it and not worry about it.... but what’s the fun in that

 

[WestKentucky]

Turn the muzzle down on a lathe, then cut threads on the lathe. Not really a huge task. If it has to be cut shorter you have to cut it and recrown it in addition to those steps, still not a huge deal.

 

[1KPerDay]

It is if you don’t own a lathe...

 

[GBExpat]

I have a Bushmaster XM15-E2S that I bought 18 years ago (my first AR purchase) that sports a 20" target-crowned HBAR barrel. Sounds like you may have one akin to it. ?

Do not try the operation yourself.

If you just have to have the barrel circumcised, I would suggest first removing the barrel so that it is ready to be worked on ... and there would be no need for it to be Booked, if that came up.

 

[Blue68f100]

I've done it on a few guns. I setup the lathe and align with the bore before I start any machining. I've seen several factory barrels where the bore and threads do not align on the same axis. One was off enough it left copper marks on the break

 

[WestKentucky]

It is if you don’t own a lathe...

Can also be done on a swing arm drill press if you do some extra work to make sure everything is nice and rigid. I have seen 1 done that way. Supported from both ends and a cutter held rigid with a screw feed. That one got threaded with a die instead of a thread cutter. It was a bubba idea but was performed flawlessly.

 

[hk940]

Unless you have a lathe and know how to cut threads, you would be better off sending it out. Is this for a surpressor or just a flash hider.

 

[BBBBill]

ADCO is as good as it gets. They do it for a living every day.
https://adcofirearms.com/shop/gunsmithing/arstandard-barrel-threading/

Disassemble the barrel from the upper before sending it or there will be an upcharge for that service.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Average cost to cut and thread a barrel around here is around $75.
A new barrel can be picked up in the $100 range.
You could sell or tread the barrel.

 

[1KPerDay]

Yeah. After shipping probably cheaper to just buy a different barrel. I guess I’ll see how it shoots. Not that I’m any real judge of rifle accuracy

 

[1KPerDay]

Can also be done on a swing arm drill press if you do some extra work to make sure everything is nice and rigid. I have seen 1 done that way. Supported from both ends and a cutter held rigid with a screw feed. That one got threaded with a die instead of a thread cutter. It was a bubba idea but was performed flawlessly.

Don’t have one of those either... hand tools are about as sophisticated as I get.
Wait I do have a compound mitre saw.


*cough*actuallyit’smywife’s*cough*

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I agree with gunny. Leave it and shoot it, or just buy a new barrel.

 

[WestKentucky]

Don’t have one of those either... hand tools are about as sophisticated as I get.
Wait I do have a compound mitre saw.


*cough*actuallyit’smywife’s*cough*

With an abrasive blade and about 18000 swipes you might manage something with that mitre saw.... of course by then you have used so much electricity that you bill outweighs the cost of a gunsmith job.

I saw my gunsmith friend today at work. He said that he quotes people $100 but normally bills it at $75 if the gun is clean. He said he waits until he has a few to do and does several at once too so sometimes folks get a break based on bulk. Odd rifles that are hard to disassemble or hard to chuck for some reason are special cases and sometimes cost a bit more if he has to make or buy a tool in which case he charges a fraction of the cost of the tool or the normal $100 whichever is more, that way he is more capable next time but is still affordable.

 

[troy fairweather]

It would be cheaper to just buy a bca barrel.

 

[AlexanderA]

It is if you don’t own a lathe...

...or know how to use a lathe...

 

[1KPerDay]

...or know how to use a lathe...

Or how to spell lahthe...

 

[748]

Buy a threaded one next time they go on sale at palmetto state armory.
Probably won't cost much more to get a new upper than to get one threaded.

I guess you bought one during the awb days?
If so consider it your patriotic duty to cut threads on the muzzle.

 

[1KPerDay]

Hence this thread (pun intended)

 

[Varminterror]

Sounds like you have an inexpensive barrel, or would be satisfied with one. In that case, threaded barrels are readily available. $75-150 for threading a muzzle is pretty common, should be on the lower end for an AR barrel if shipped alone. Shipping could eat up some cash, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a local Smith with the ability to thread.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have a Bushmaster Dissipator that I purchased during the 94 "ban". As soon as the "ban" sunset came I sent mine out to be be threaded. At that time (about 16 years ago) the total cost, including shipping, was under $30. It has been so long I don't even remember who did it, but they said that they had no lack of business at that time.

 

[BBBBill]

CDNN has 16" chrome lined 1/7" and 1/9" barrels with front sight/gas block, barrel nut, handguard cap, and bayonet lug for $100 right now. Stripped 1/8" for $50. That was from an email this morning. They might have 18" and 20" barrels if you go to the website and look.

 

[1KPerDay]

Sounds like you have an inexpensive barrel, or would be satisfied with one. In that case, threaded barrels are readily available. $75-150 for threading a muzzle is pretty common, should be on the lower end for an AR barrel if shipped alone. Shipping could eat up some cash, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a local Smith with the ability to thread.

Would I most likely need to remove the FSB for someone to thread the barrel?

 

[1KPerDay]

I have a Bushmaster Dissipator that I purchased during the 94 "ban". As soon as the "ban" sunset came I sent mine out to be be threaded. At that time (about 16 years ago) the total cost, including shipping, was under $30. It has been so long I don't even remember who did it, but they said that they had no lack of business at that time.

You sure this wasn’t 1894??

 

[Varminterror]

Would I most likely need to remove the FSB for someone to thread the barrel?

At the smith’s discretion, but probably not. Shouldn’t be a terrible task for either you or the smith to remove and replace either way though.

 

[Sistema1927]

You sure this wasn’t 1894??

I may be old, but not that old.

I was absolutely shocked at the quote, and shipped it off before the shop got the idea to bump up their prices. When it came back an A2 flash hider went on perfectly, and has remained to this day.