Muzzle Break Issue

[[email protected]]

I have a Savage 110BA 338 Lapua, that I have had for about 15 years.
I recently took it in to a gunsmith to have the muzzle break taken off for the first time.
It was too tight for me to remove.

After I got it back I wanted to reinstall the muzzle break and do some shooting.

When I went to reinstall it I could not get it on to where it was before, there was about a 1/4 inch of thread still remaining.

I'm thinking there may have been loctite on the threads of the barrel when I bought it new, and after all these years it is so gunked up that the muzzle break won't go on all the way without some wrenching.

2 Questions:

1. What is the best way to clean off the threads on the barrel and on the inside of the muzzle break to remove the loctite or other substance ?
2. Does the muzzle break have to be in the original position (screwed all the way in) and aligned in a specific way, for the the rifle to shoot accurately ?

Thanks

 

[Aftermath]

Likely the threads in the brake are either fouled or fucked.

Clean the barrel threads thoroughly and don't be afraid of using a wire brush. Use carbon fouling remover. There are many that work fine.

Figure out the threads and buy a tap and a die.

Use any of several commercially available carbon removers and soak that brake. Rinse it and scrub it as best you can. I use bore brushes that are near the diameter. Spin that brush. Don't be afraid to chuck it up in a drill.

Soak it again. If you have an ultrasonic cleaner, use it. If not, Harbor Freight sells them cheap. Again, rinse and scrub.

Soak it again, scrub it and lube it and run the tap in. Rinse, scrub and soak it again. Tap it again, rinse scrub, lube, tap it yet again.

Lightly lube it and see where it lands when you try to screw it back on.

I would not shoot it if the brake is not tight against where it was before removal.

Some brakes are not critical where they time on the barrel, others are. The radial types are typically not critical to time. Those that direct blast up or down, timing is more critical.

 

[Maggot]

What he said.

If the threads in the break are ruined or you cant clean them, after 15 years its time to let the moths out of your wallet, call Eurooptic, spend $120, and get a APA 'Fat Bastard' muzzle brake. On that 338 you'll thank me. Everyone whose shot my 7 PRC with the FB goes out and buys one. Its 'self timing' and easy to get right, check them out,

Gen 3 Fat Bastard Self Timing Muzzle Brake​

American Precision Arms
https://www.americanprecisionarms.com › products › ge...




The Gen 3 Fat Bastard can handle magnum cartridges. Available in 6mm, 6.5mm, .308 (7mm) & .338. Available in 5/8X24, 3/4x24, 18x1 & 18x1.5 thread patterns.

 

[Aftermath]

BTW...don't be afraid to shoot it without the brake unless the recoil is going to create physical or mental issues.

 

[D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷]

I put an area419 brake on my 338 and it’s a totally different rifle.

 

[[email protected]]

UPDATE:
I cleaned the muzzle break with brake cleaner
I cleaned the threads on the original barrel, and the muzzle break only goes on half way as it did before

I have a brand new barrel, so I took the muzzle break off and tried it on the old barrel and it too only went on half way
I took the old muzzle break and screwed it onto the new barrel and it goes all the way on with no issues

So this tells me my issue is the old barrel threads.

One thing I did not say previously is that the gunsmith that took the original muzzle break off the original barrel had to heat them both up to separate them.

So the next question would be how to I fix the threads on the old barrel ?

I could just install the new barrel but I don't have that many rounds down the old barrel and would like to keep using it

 

[Mike_in_FL]

UPDATE:
I cleaned the muzzle break with brake cleaner
I cleaned the threads on the original barrel, and the muzzle break only goes on half way as it did before

I have a brand new barrel, so I took the muzzle break off and tried it on the old barrel and it too only went on half way
I took the old muzzle break and screwed it onto the new barrel and it goes all the way on with no issues

So this tells me my issue is the old barrel threads.

One thing I did not say previously is that the gunsmith that took the original muzzle break off the original barrel had to heat them both up to separate them.

So the next question would be how to I fix the threads on the old barrel ?

I could just install the new barrel but I don't have that many rounds down the old barrel and would like to keep using it

Get someone to recut the threads.

 

[D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷]

Run a die or take it to a smith.

 

[Baron23]

take it to a smith.

 

[[email protected]]

thanks will do

 

[Aftermath]

Run a die or take it to a smith.

I would avoid the smith that took the brake off.