Accu-Washer® System Gunsmith Kit

Crush washers are perfectly acceptable to use on any open aperture muzzle device, such as the standard A2 birdcage flash hider. However, our opinion is they should never be used on any baffle style muzzle device where the clearance hole is only slightly larger than the bullet. Firstly, crush washers come to a knife edge on both mating surfaces - it is likely for this reason that a muzzle device is already misaligned just sitting on the crush washer before it is even torqued down. More importantly, it relies on the principle that the washer will deform uniformly while it is being crushed. This requires that the material is uniform and that you apply a perfectly pure torque load normal to the bore. This is very unlikely (for anyone who has installed one) when you're putting all your might into the 30-60 ft-lbs of torque they often require. The consequence of this misalignment is a baffle strike causing bodily harm at worse and impaired accuracy at best.

On average, each pack will get you about 9 installations before a single replenishment shim is needed. Instead of increasing the price on all muzzle devices to include the Accu-Washer Alignment System, it makes more sense for a user to buy one pack separately and use it across multiple installations.

First, make sure the threads on your barrel and muzzle device are completely clean and free of all debris. Any contamination can limit the rotation. Next, applying a moly-grease or CLP-type lubricant to the threads on the brake and barrel will provide further rotation for the same torque. We suggest you apply generously, then run the brake on and off the barrel a couple times to work it in, then wipe up any excess. The coefficient of friction between the threads is what limits your rotation, cutting this coefficient in half with grease can give you twice as much rotation. You may also apply some lubricant to each side of the shim as there is friction in the works here too. Lastly, a little elbow grease. Since the Accu-Washer shims are used to adjust your brake in discrete intervals, it is inherent that the torque required for proper alignment will fall in a range. The torque load specified in the instructions is merely the minimum required so your device does not rattle free, however you will need to continue to apply torque beyond this to achieve alignment. Higher torque installs may require holding the rifle in a barrel vise.