Can barrel nut material affect accuracy?

[Layton]

Was wondering and can't find much via searching. I would guess not but was just wondering if the different properties of each under heat and tension can affect accuracy in an AR? Off the wall questions I know. What happens when I get too much time on my hands. Thanks.

L

 

[Cegorach]

Re: Can barrel nut material affect accuracy?

I would love to hear a response to this as well. I have been looking for the best option for a very long and heavy barrel.

 

[Zebra644]

Re: Can barrel nut material affect accuracy?

If one over tightens the barrel nut and casues the steel index pin on the barel extension to bend the u shaped aluminum slot it fits into by over tightening, then yes. You will notice when running iron sights your rear sight will be far left or right and will not co witness with an optic such as eotech or aimpoint ect. The dot or image will not line up with the front sight post.I dont see how the material its made from can have an effect.

 

[MontanaHick]

Re: Can barrel nut material affect accuracy?

It would take careful engineering analysis, but if the barrel nut and the barrel have two different coefficients of expansion under heat, the barrel is still sooo much larger and more resistant to outside forces than the barrel nut that unless the barrel nut is working loose (yikes!) I can't see how it would do much. Any M.E.s in the house bored enough to run a SolidWorks thermal analysis on this for us?

 

[Layton]

Re: Can barrel nut material affect accuracy?

Thanks guys. I don't really have a reason or need for asking this. It was just something I thought about when handling a couple the other day and couldn't find an answer to. As someone pointed out there are some high end tubes with aluminum nuts and the military spec is steel so my first guess is it doesn't have a play with accuracy. Unfortunately I'm not a ME.

L