What Tools Do I Need To Change My Muzzle Device?

One of the most common questions we get, right behind “what Muzzle Device do I need?”, is “do I need a tool to change my muzzle brake or flash hider?”  While some firearm modifications can seem a bit daunting, changing a muzzle device requires very little effort or resources.  With a few simple tools (you probably already own), and a couple minutes, you can perform this upgrade to your own bolt action, AR-15, AR-10, or short barrel rifle.

Now, if you are feeling unsure about performing this operation yourself or perhaps you do not have some of the basic tools, this is a common job for nearly any gunsmith. Most of them should charge a nominal fee and have a quick turnaround time.

If you are ready to remove and install this yourself, you want to be sure about just a few things.  In this article, we are going to discuss:

• Basic Tools needed to change your muzzle brake or flash hider
• Specific tools Precision Armament Armorers use
• Steps to take when changing your muzzle device
• Tips to help you through the process

Basic Tools Needed to Change Your Muzzle Brake or Flash Hider

A muzzle device change does not really require any fancy or particular tools that a firearms owner should not already have.  A basic bench vise, barrel block, and at the very least a good adjustable wrench is all you truly need.  We recommend a proper armorer’s wrench, which is usually a more effective decision, as it is made to fit exactly what you need and feature additional features you will need down the road.  Much like a muzzle brake, you make an investment once for a lifetime of use.  Additionally, most of them feature a socket for attaching a torque wrench for proper installation.  

Specific Tools Precision Armament Armorers Use

When it comes to what tool to use for removal, there are a few that we like best in our armory.  We are big fans of the:

• Magpul Armorer’s wrench
• Brownells AR-15 Armorer’s Wrench
• Midwest Industries – MI-ARAW Professional Armorer’s Wrench
• Real Avid Armorer’s Master Wrench

These will all work well to remove any A2 birdcage, muzzle brake, 3-prong flash hider, or almost all other muzzle devices.  If you do not have one of those, even a good adjustable wrench will work. Whichever tool you decide to use, the longer the handle is, the easier it will be to torque your device properly.

Steps to Take When Changing a Muzzle Device

First, one of the most important things when doing this is to make sure that the barrel is secure.  On an AR-15 platform, excessive torque on the barrel can cause damage to the index pin or even the upper receiver itself.  We like to use vise blocks that actually seat inside the barrel such as:

• Magpul BEV Block
• Geissele Reaction Rod

This is because on these platforms, we like to have the handguard as far forward as possible, so clamping the barrel usually is not an option.   With a bolt-action rifle, the majority of the time there is plenty of barrel exposed, so your best bet is to clamp the barrel itself using a barrel clamp.

Double check that everything is secured and solidly in place. 

Second, using the wrench or tool of your choice, index on the wrench flats of the muzzle device and use reasonable effort to break the hold.  If you find yourself using excessive force and it is not budging, stop and reevaluate.  Determine if perhaps the muzzle device was installed with a thread locker, maybe it has a locking collar, or maybe has a large amount of carbon build up holding it in place.  There could be a number of things going on to prevent it from rotating.  If you need additional help, reference the instructions for your current muzzle brake or flash hider, reach out to Precision Armament for assistance, or take your firearm to a qualified gunsmith.  Once your device has broken free from its timed position you can simply remove without the use of your tool.    

Finally, now that your muzzle device is off, check the shoulder of your barrel.  If your old muzzle device was using a crush washer, remove that as well and dispose of it.  TIP: Crush washers should never be reused (and are not a great choice to begin with).  Now is a good time to clean and lightly lubricate the threads.  If your new muzzle device needs timed - which most of them do - we recommend doing so with our Accu-Washer Alignment System to avoid having to over torque or stack shims to get it right.  If your firearm utilizes a jam nut, that is just fine, keep on using that.  When you have got your installation figured out go ahead and thread your new muzzle device on. Then using your armorer’s or other appropriate tool, tighten the muzzle device to about 25-30 ft. lbs of torque.  Something to note; there are muzzle devices that use specific tools for installation - sometimes required, other times just to assist - such as our Hypertap and M41, which feature their own spanner wrenches for installation.

This quick rundown will cover the majority of your installation needs.  As always, you can reach out to us with any additional questions you have and we would be more than happy to help.