Barrel torque

[arnie19]

Is there a rule to follow concerning barrel torque on say an AR15 compared to a DPMS 308 and a 6.5 Grendel ? Or are they all pretty much the same and what would the high and low specs be ? Arnie

 

[velillen]

I believe they are all a min torque of 30ft-lbs and a max (recommended) of 80ft-lbs. Quick google search listed the same for a 308 barrel. 30ft-lb isnt really that much. its hand tight plus a little bit more from what i remember. Its when you start getting up to 65-80 you notice it I have heard of people going up to 120 ft-lbs but seriously have no idea why they would and how they couldnt get the nut to line up properly at a lower torque.

I do know on the two uppers ive built, the 300 blackout barrel nut took 75ft-lb's to line up the gas tube properly. My second on, a 223 Wylde White Oaks barrel lined up at either 35 or 40. (could have gotten away with 30 but no reason not to go a bit higher)

Just remember the grease and to properly torque them (torque, back off, retorque) Tons of guides on google on how to do that portion


Thats my experience. Im just a internet gunsmith though so hopefully someone can confirm it for you

 

[cmh2007]

One of my uppers took 84 lbft before the barrel nut lined up right

 

[Ballista One]

Grease and pre-stress the threads, torque to 30 ft lbs and then tighten to the next notch in the barrel nut and you'l be fine.

 

[DavidAR10]

I believe they are all a min torque of 30ft-lbs and a max (recommended) of 80ft-lbs. Quick google search listed the same for a 308 barrel. 30ft-lb isnt really that much. its hand tight plus a little bit more from what i remember. Its when you start getting up to 65-80 you notice it I have heard of people going up to 120 ft-lbs but seriously have no idea why they would and how they couldnt get the nut to line up properly at a lower torque.

I do know on the two uppers ive built, the 300 blackout barrel nut took 75ft-lb's to line up the gas tube properly. My second on, a 223 Wylde White Oaks barrel lined up at either 35 or 40. (could have gotten away with 30 but no reason not to go a bit higher)

Just remember the grease and to properly torque them (torque, back off, retorque) Tons of guides on google on how to do that portion


Thats my experience. Im just a internet gunsmith though so hopefully someone can confirm it for you

Your 223 Wylde White Oaks barrel wouldn't have been seated properly at 30ft/lbs. That you say the final torque reading was @ 35-40ft/lbs says it all.

Barrel Torque runs exponentially higher from "almost properly aligned but not enough" to "next slot is the answer".

 

[arnie19]

Thanks guys .I will check out the Google site next.

 

[velillen]

Your 223 Wylde White Oaks barrel wouldn't have been seated properly at 30ft/lbs. That you say the final torque reading was @ 35-40ft/lbs says it all.

Barrel Torque runs exponentially higher from "almost properly aligned but not enough" to "next slot is the answer".

Sick and early morning isnt the best time for me to think. The 223 wylde was torqued 32-34 range. Not sure what i was thinking when i said 35-40 lol. but i do like the "almost properly aligned but not enough" to "next slot is the answer" as that fits it perfectly