Is the ARMALITE M-15 Competition brake pinned?

[carbonbased]

So, I bought an ARMALITE M-15 COMPETITION 18” when I found it for $899 here (not that price anymore):

https://palmettostatearmory.com/armalite-m-15-competition-223-wylde-5-56-semi-automatic-ar-15-rifle-m153gn18.html

The damn brake is ON there, man. Scared I will eff something up if I go full-retard on it. Don’t have a barrel vice nor any vice that is accessible (long story, garage is full of remodeling material).

My brother swears it’s pinned, as he had a gunsmith remove his on the exact same model. I don’t really believe him, as he isn’t exactly a gun guy. And I don’t see anything about pinning the brake on any sales pages for just the brake, which obv you can buy separately.

Don’t see any physical evidence that it’s pinned, either.

I would see zero reasons to pin a brake on an 18” barrel, but hey, I am not Mr. Semi Auto. More of a bolt guy.

If it isn’t pinned, my plan is rosin on barrel, apply strap wrench to barrel with wrench on brake.

I’ll contact Armalite, but obv they aren’t open on the weekend.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

I've handled a couple of the 18" guns and none of them showed any evidence of pinning.

 

[Ernest 5.56]

This article mentions

"A 13.5-inch barrel 5.56mm variant with pinned muzzle brake is also available"

Https://smallarmsreview.com/armalite-m-15-3-gun-rifle-a-competition-based-all-around-performer/

 

[carbonbased]

This article mentions

"A 13.5-inch barrel 5.56mm variant with pinned muzzle brake is also available"

Https://smallarmsreview.com/armalite-m-15-3-gun-rifle-a-competition-based-all-around-performer/

Yeah, but that’s to make the barrel a 16” non-SBR legal length.

 

[Ernest 5.56]

I'm aware but it's a review of the 18 and no mention of a pnw on the brake

 

[carbonbased]

I'm aware but it's a review of the 18 and no mention of a pnw on the brake

Oh I see. Thx. Hmmm all this supports my original thinking. Thanks guys. Time to start mixin’ up some rosin.

 

[carbonbased]

Got ‘er off with rosin, a strap wrench, and a wrench. Took a while as needed a bunch of rosin. Barrel was very slippery!

Thx guys.

 

[Ernest 5.56]

I have never handled an ArmaLite what's your overall impression of quality?

 

[sparky702]

I have never handled an ArmaLite what's your overall impression of quality?

Everybody has their own opinion's I can only speak for my own experience . some people will say they are not the same as the original and they don't have the lion roll mark . My personal experience so far has been it's an excellent rifle . I bought a 6.5 creedmoor armalite with a 22 inch barrel . I know nothing about the history other than it has changed ownership . the rifle it's self functions perfect I have not had one single issue . It took me less than 10 minutes to set up the adjustable gas system to the correct ejection pattern . I have not had any malfunctions of any kind , the rifle will shoot , I shot a 10 shot group using hornady American gunner 140 grain bthp that measured 1.3 inches at 100 yds . I picked the gun up for 1299.00 and at that price I think it's a bargain .

 

[carbonbased]

I have never handled an ArmaLite what's your overall impression of quality?

Basically my brother has had the same experiences as @sparky702. He has two 18” versions. As a side note, his have minimal slop between upper/lower.

I haven’t shot mine yet as I hate brakes. Mine has more slop than his (still acceptable), but that turns minimal once upon my chosen lower, a PWS.

I know slop isn’t a big deal but it bugs me. I had a RRA once that I should’ve kept as that thing felt like it was made out of one single piece of aluminum.

 

[oldrifleman]

Note I have recently seen some places that depending on destination (places that ban muzzle threading) will offer muzzle brakes that are pinned and welded

 

[carbonbased]

Figured I’d bookend my thread.

I shot the Armalite for 100yd groups this eve. Real quick groups off an x-shaped sandbag, as I was mainly testing how it worked with a suppressor. Used my PWS lower as I like that more than the Armalite’s. Also put in a Geissele Hi-Speed National Match two stage trigger.

Color me impressed…the PWS has basic stock that I could barely use a rear squeeze bag with… and still.

Best 5 shot group was with FGMM 77gr (I kept on writing “FGGM” on the target haha) at 1.11 MOA. Had a four shot group at .44 MOA with it as well. I imagine that was a freak occurrence.

It didn’t like 69gr FGMM or Black Hills 77gr TMK as much, but like I said, I shot pretty fast and didn’t build my position on the bench very well as I was rushing before the range closed. Obviously didn’t try to refine a zero for each ammo (or any ammo lol…there’s a number of random holes on the paper as I was getting it near-ish).

And I’m pretty inexperienced with shooting semiauto centerfires! Anyway, there you have it.

 

[JR1200W3]

I have an 18" M15 Comp. Bought it for 3G and shot it for a couple of years in stock mode. It always shot well, better than it should have tbh. SubMoa with 55gr Hornady SP and 60gr Vmax. 100% reliable. The Timney SS trigger it comes with is great. Never really understood the LuthAR buttstock it comes with. Last year I swapped the stock and handguard with a standard no frills mlok and put a VLTOR A5 buffer system and Magpul stock on it. Great rifle for the money.