The factory muzzle brake on my Gen II RPR is mounted slightly crooked and i'd like to straighten it out if not a big deal. It only needs to be tightened about 5 degrees to be straight.
Question, Is the factory muzzle brake on the RPR a two piece design (brake and nut separate) or all one monolithic assembly?
If you have had to realign yours, was it as simple as loosening the nut, rotating the front portion of the brake 5 degrees to straighten, and then re-tightening the nut (i. e., two-piece design). Or is the nut and brake all one assembly and I need to try to turn the nut and muzzle brake another 5 degrees by simply tightening the nut?
For what it's worth, I can see there is still a bit of space remaining between the base of the nut and the shoulder of the barrel so it should be able to turn tighter... unless I am thread limited and it physically cannot be turned anymore.
What say you?
You've prolly figured this out already. You're on the right track. It's easy and not easy..Easy part: Put the barrel in a vise; get a long steel punch or screwdriver that fit through the middle holes in the brake body, put a 7/8" wrench on the jam nut. Now the Not Easy part, at least as far as other muzzle devices I've R&R'd: the nut can be super tight against the brake body. I'm talkin' lug nut tight. Heat the brake, nut, and end of barrel with a heat gun or torch until too hot to touch. You'll use the punch or screwdriver in the brake body to apply loosening torque while simultaneously turning the jam nut in the opposite direction, as if you were tightening it onto the barrel. Reverse directions with the punch and wrench and the nut will literally SNAP when the threads let go, There was no threadlocker on mine just a ton of preload, I estimate 50lb-ft to break the nut loose. Take the jam nut and brake body off, degrease the threads, reassemble with Rocksett or similar; it'll be easier to keep the brake properly aligned, or "clocked", while you tighten the jam nut. Interestingly enough, Ruger sells this brake on their website and the oroduct pic gives you an idea of how it goes together:
http://shopruger.com/searchprods.asp