Removed Muzzle brake and ?

[Iron Worker]

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When my rifle was completed I had the gun smith install his own muzzle brake. So cleaning rifle I went to remove ( muzzle brake) had to use a braker bar to unscrew it and white stuff starting falling out as I unscrewed it off ? Looks like it could of been plumbers tape ? I screwed it back on with out ? Do I need that stuff on there ? Could it have an effect on the rifles harmonics ?

[jimbires]

I don't think it will cause any harmonic change . I would say it was used as a bond breaker , just something to keep the brake from seizing to the barrel . Jim

[rscott5028]

The threads should be a good enough fit that there isn't room for plumber's tape.

I like a little anti-seize on mine like jimbires points out.

[bigngreen]

It was most likely loc-tite, if you don't heat it and force it of you get a white, blue or red powdery type stuff. I've been using a little never seize on my installs and just hand tighten.

[Iron Worker]

That's very interesting.

[Broz]

Originally Posted by bigngreen

I've been using a little never seize on my installs and just hand tighten.

Good advice here. A brake that is over tightened can squeeze the end of the barrel and make a tight spot that will copper up.

Jeff

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by Iron Worker

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When my rifle was completed I had the gun smith install his own muzzle brake. So cleaning rifle I went to remove ( muzzle brake) had to use a braker bar to unscrew it and white stuff starting falling out as I unscrewed it off ? Looks like it could of been plumbers tape ? I screwed it back on with out ? Do I need that stuff on there ? Could it have an effect on the rifles harmonics ?

As stated by others ,It is probably Lock tight.

I have seen this before and it is used for several reasons.

If the break didn't time perfectly, it is there to hold it in place(After cleaning it up, if it goes a little past the timing that's what it was used for. And you will probably have to use lock tight every time
you remove it.

Some breaks should be removed when cleaning the rifle and cleaned.(Like the Vias). Other brakes
like the Holland do not need to be removed when cleaning because they have the large ports and
can be cleaned easily.

The smith may have just forgot to tell you that you did not have to remove it if it was that kind
of break.

With Good fitting threads and a good shoulder breaks do not need Lock Tight and can be removed
many times before re-indexing is required.

If the break does not require indexing then the choice to use Lock Tight is yours.

J E CUSTOM