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Gunsmithing Compensator has a smaller diameter than barrel diameter. Fixes?

Shazmataz

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 14, 2014
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I just got a new rifle with a 1.1 inch barrel diameter, but the compensator I got for it (needed for my suppressor) has diameter of only .85" so there is a kind of lip on the end of the barrel that I don't want exposed, if that makes sense. Is there any way I could get a shim or something with a diameter of 1.1-1.2" to cover the end of the exposed barrel.
I've been looking for solutions to this for a few days and got nowhere so any help would be greatly appreciated.

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As you can see in the first two pictures the compensator is smaller and I don't want the edge of the barrel to be exposed any pointers or advice will be greatly appreciated. I'm not looking to to do any machining or anything. I'm looking for something more like a shim to cover it or something.
Thanks in advance.
 
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Just get a piece of heat shrink tubing and use a hair dryer to fit it over the seam, it will accomplish what you wish, look as good as any bolt on solution, and be temporary so you can remove it at will.
 
I wouldn't sweat it one bit. It is purely a cosmetic issue that will not, in any way, shape or form, have any impact on how the rifle performs (unless the shoulder on your barrel is too large to permit your suppressor to properly attach to the brake's mounting points/lugs).

If it really bothers you that much, you can have the barrel turned down/recontoured/reprofiled, but again...don't sweat it.
 
Thank you for the advice. I know it is cosmetic and in no way will affect the accuracy of it. I think I am going to just shim it to align it properly and then use the heat shrink tubing to make it look better and provide a little protection. Again, thank you everyone for the advice.
 
Be very careful with any shims between the barrel shoulder and compensator, especially with a silencer. If your shim/washer isn't truly perpendicular to the bore centerline, you risk canting your silencer and adding an extra exit hole to the end. Now if you machine a specifically tapered, "parallel sided" spacer, you're probably fine.
 
I just bought some advanced armament 7.62 shims, you think those will be ok? I thought the point of a shim instead of, say a crush washer, is that it will keep the compensator true so it won't cause problems with a suppressor. (obviously aside from aligning it)
 
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Thank you for the advice. I know it is cosmetic and in no way will affect the accuracy of it. I think I am going to just shim it to align it properly and then use the heat shrink tubing to make it look better and provide a little protection. Again, thank you everyone for the advice.

If it ain't broke...

Just saying...you may be creating more problems than you'll be solving if you start messing around with slapping shims and other nonsense onto the barrel shoulder behind your suppressor mount muzzle device just to make it "look better" in your eyes. There really is nothing to "protect" which seems to be at least one big worry for you. It isn't as if your barrel threads or crown or [fill in the blank] are exposed and subject to damage. If anything...all that might happen is that area of your barrel might get an extra scratch or scrape or rub in the finish...but it'll be as purely cosmetic as there is nothing critical there to protect. Furthermore, with the can installed...nobody's going to pay any attention to that exposed, larger barrel shoulder anyway. Spend your time shooting and your money on ammo and don't sweat the small stuff like that! ;)

As for the AAC 7.62 shims...you can try them and see what you end up with, but I really think you are all worked up about nothing when it comes to this issue.