Help removing a barrel from an M1/M1A1

[PS99]

A while back I purchased a torch cut nose piece with the barrel and grip mount bar still installed with the hope of removing the barrel to get the grip mount. Unfortunately, Mr. Richardson no longer had his barrel removal tools available. I purchased the strap wrench sometimes seen on ebay, but even with a .022 brass shim, I was not able to snug the wrench sufficiently to remove the barrel.

 

So I'm wondering if the members here could recommend someone who can remove the barrel and grip mount for me in a reasonable amount of time, hopefully within the next month or two. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Edited May 3, 2017 by PS99

[TD.]

Boardmember reconbob (Bob Bowers) at: http://philaord.com would be my choice!

[1952HRA]

What parts are you trying to save? If you don't want to save the barrel weld a bolt or a nut to the end and put the nose section in a vice and use a impact gun to remove the barrel, if you want to save the barrel the you could weld a nut or bolt into the nose section you would just need a barrel vice or something to hold the barrel so it won't move. You might need to cut a relief cut on the barrel close to the receiver to get it out. I have done this multiple times and it always works but the ones I did it on had saw cut barrels so I did not save the barrel

[Adg105200]

If it is a barrel stub, or you are not trying to save the barrel. Do like 1952HRA listed above. Although there have been ones that I have not been able to save the grip mount as the only way I was able to remove the barrel stub was to have a relief cut all the way around the barrel between a 1/16 and 1/8 inch away from the nose section. 2 things that can help are heat on the nose, and soaking in kroil, WD-40 specialist or some similar penatrating oil. Use a impact gun on the nut you weld on. It definitely works the best.

 

Andrew

[laurencen]

if you are just trying to save the grip mount use a saw and cut flush with the receiver face thro the barrel, its the flange on the barrel that holds the grip mount,

[1952HRA]

I forget to mention if are saving the nose section use brass blocks between the vice and nose section, if you put leather, cloth or even paper between the nose section and the brass you won't have to clean off the brass marks from the nose section later

[gijive]

Forget the relief cuts, welding and impact guns. Send it to reconbob and save all the parts.

[Adg105200]

Forget the relief cuts, welding and impact guns. Send it to reconbob and save all the parts.

Agreed, if the barrel is good and not just a worthless stub, send it to Bob to save all 3 pieces.

 

Andrew

[Frank Iannamico]

Weld a nut on the stub and spin it off with an impact wrench.

[reconbob]

We have done a zillion of these and some of them are so tight that they cannot be removed

with any standard set-up. Even the Richardson tools are not good enough. (And we have all of

them). We do this by clamping the barrel in special holding blocks in a hydraulic press, then we

have a 24" wrench and we put a 3 foot pipe on the handle for extra leverage and still sometimes

you have to really hang on it before it breaks free. I can do this for a flat fee of $35 plus return

shipping. None of the parts will be damaged.

 

Bob/Philly O

[PS99]

Thanks very much to everyone for the quick responses and all the information you provided. I appreciate it very much. I would prefer not to destroy anything in the process of removing the barrel so I will contact Bob today. Thanks again for the help.