Gunsmithing How to get off handguard that was thread locked on?

[Iamero]

Hey guys, bought a DPMS LR-308 locally off a guy and I am glad I got it cheap. I brought it to Tuebor Precision to get it threaded for my suppressor only to find out that there was no freaking way to get the gas block off. After tapping, more tapping, and more fierce tapping, he concluded that the owner must have used devcon or something similar to "bed" and "accurize" this rifle.

Well i brought this home and cut the block off (figured I needed an adjustable one for my suppressor anyways) only to confirm they were absolutely right. That shit was coated on the inside of the gas block and on the barrel.

So now to remove the handguard....right. Needless to say I think the idiot put devcon or whatever he used on the receiver threads too (the DPMS handguard is all one piece with barrel nut attached).

Is there any way to heat this up or anything to get it to release or am I as good as f*cked?

Also in the process of trying to tap the block free with a hammer and punch, I shifted the entire gas block and barrel about 10 degrees to one side, and then knocked it back straight. Did I shear off the barrel pin or take some of the receiver off? Am I ok to get a new gas block and put the thing back together and say screw threading the barrel?

I can't move the barrel to the left or right by hand and it isn't going anywhere without something very persuasive. I just wondered if I might have screwed with how the bolt will line up. I put it back in the receiver and it closes just fine with no resistance, but I want to know I'm safe on the range before I start shooting it.

With that in mind, does anyone have a new gas block? Haha.

 

[supercorndogs]

I wouldn't fire it until I got that barrel off to see if that barrel pin was sheared. That is one of a very few ways for an AR rifle to fire out of battery. I don't know what kind of heat a receiver will take, but that would be my first instinct as well. That and cold. Are there any solvents that are particularly hard on epoxy?

 

[Iamero]

That's what I thought I remembered hearing. Problem is short of chopping off the handguard I am not sure how to get the barrel off. I'll wait to see what others have in mind.

I almost think i damaged the upper receiver because when I pounded it back center it stopped which implied the pin is still there.

 

[Duc]

Industrial heat gun if it's thread locker. Hate to recommend a torch because people get carried away. Spray with Kroil Oil and let it penetrate for a day or two. Handguard and barrel nut are likely junk

 

[GH41]

Industrial heat gun if it's thread locker. Hate to recommend a torch because people get carried away. Spray with Kroil Oil and let it penetrate for a day or two. Handguard and barrel nut are likely junk

If he turned the barrel in the extension the barrel IS junk. If he was holding the receiver when doing all of this twisting there is a good chance it's junk too. Might be a good time to throw it all away and start over.

 

[Iamero]

Yea I don't know what can be salvaged at this point if anything. Might just have to sell the scope, pull the BCG, and cut my remaining losses and rebuild this thing with a new upper.

 

[Iamero]

Well I locked that action in my vice block and took a pipe wrench to the handguard and snapped it loose. Unbelievably the only thing in the whole process that was damaged is the gas block I cut in half.

The receiver and the pin pin were both intact which is insane! That sucker was on there so tight with that thread locked that when I was tapping the gas block it was actually loosing the collar by the breach!

Well i got really lucky with that one and I am only out a $20 gas block I was going to replace with an adjustable one anyways!

Public service announcement: don't bed your fricken AR, especially with devcon or black loctite or whatever the hell this guy I bought the gun from used!