How are these installed on Bushmaster barrels specifically? Process/permanent installation method?
Ive read some alarming comments on how these permanently attached flash hiders are installed.
Is any of this true?
I’m a newbie, but I’ll take a stab at this, AFAIK…
No. If done correctly, the pin barely gets into the threads on the barrel, and it’s done far enough back from the crown that that’s not a concern.
Only if it’s done grossly incorrectly should it poke through into the barrel or screw up the crown.
No. I don’t think that this puts much more heat on the barrel than normal firing.
No. The muzzle attachment is screwed on normally, then pinned or welded.
Ben
Thanks for your post!
I take it youve seen izzy breaks taken down and replaced before?
Next couple of questions…
Id really rather not re-do the permanent FS as they now come with the Phantom 5C1 which dont really look all that bad. Sooo…
What’s an “izzy brake?”
I don’t know about BM, but CMMG (for example) will permanently attach whatever muzzle attachment you want (assuming it’s long enough).
It’s a half-inch or so, I think.
None that I can think of. They seem to be well regarded, from what I’ve seen. I’m about to order a 14.5" with a Phantom…
I believe blind pinning, and silver soldering are two different options for a permanent attachment. Doing both would be overkill.
Silver soldering would be too hot for my comfort level when it comes to a barrel.
I don’t know how bushmaster does there’s on factory jobs, but I understand your concern over their quality.
Yup, unfortunately. Still quite partial to BM though. I like the 1/9 twist and the larger gas port size. It’s probably the safer and less painful choice for tuning – accepting and efficient F/A cycling, both NATO and low powder rounds. Just my 2 cents. Might now be the best rationalization, in which case, Id like to hear other’s.
One of the 2 permanent muzzle devices used by BM prior to the Phantom currently available.
Really? That big a difference??
One of the 2 permanent muzzle devices used by BM prior to the Phantom currently available.[/QUOTE]
Isn’t it also just a muzzle break and intended to be post-ban compliant?
I’ve got one which is pretty close to shot out, and I now use it just for CQB drills. Its got a heavy round count through it, and has lived most of its life as a beater/ training weapon. I’m satisfied with how its held up.
Same here. I much prefer the 1/9. I’ve had great luck with bushmaster barrels. It’s some of their assembly that has been iffy from time to time.
I’m guesstimating. Somewhere there was a long thread here or at ARF.COM about this… It’s enough that a Phantom easily does it (gets to 16.1"), and an A2 FH isn’t even close. If you want an A2 on your 14.5", then you can get one of the extended ones, you know…
Ben
I’ve got a Bushmaster 14.5" M4 upper with a permanent Phantom 5C1. It’s been a workhorse since late 2004.
blind pin and weld is my preferred method.The amount of heat is not significant.
Since the barrel is threaded you can’t get is misaligned.
None of the methods has anything to do with the barrel crown
Mike
Yup, that’s what I meant.
Ya, it seems to be everyone else’s preferred method as well.
Sorry guys… Just to be clear, the blind pin and weld is the method used by BM and not the silver soldering method?
I just emailed Bushmaster the other day. This is the reply I received…
Hello,
Our records indicate that serial number has a 14.5" barrel with
permanently attached muzzle brake for 16" legal length.
Subject: Muzzle Brakes & Flash Hiders, permanently attached.
Bushmaster muzzle brakes and flash hiders that are permanently
attached are done so in the following manner ; The unit is threaded
onto
the barrel, blind hole drilled in two places into the threads, holes
are
pinned, pins are welded over, welds are ground flush and the complete
barrel assembly is then sent to finish.
Free float handguards that replace the barrel nut can not be
installed on these barrels.
In order to remove the unit without damaging the muzzle the pins
must be drilled or ground to below the threads before removal of the
unit. This will usually damage the flash hider or brake so that it can
not be reused. The threads of the muzzle may still have some damage
that
would require chasing with a die before replacing the flash hider or
brake.
In order to bring the barrel back to legal length the
replacement flash hider or brake must be long enough to bring the total
length to 16" or longer overall length. It must also be permanently
attached according to BATF standards by high temperature silver
soldering or pinning and welding. An A2 bird cage is not long enough to
do that. The Phantoms and Izzy flash suppressors are long enough.
Bushmaster is not set up to do individual piecework on barrels
so it would need to be done by a gunsmithing shop or a machine shop.
This shop http://www.adcofirearms.com/shopservices.cfm is one
that offer services to replace the brake with a flash suppressor.
Thank you,
Jim Eden
Technical Support
Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC
Office: 1-800-883-6229 ext. 277
Fax: 207-892-8068
On a customers gun I recently did a ‘shave’ on a FSB on a Bushy 14.5" Izzy so that I could install a 10" Troy rail. I refinished it with black Norrels. So even if you have this setup it’s not a deal breaker to add a rail longer than 7" as long as you use a Troy rail.
After the ‘shave’ and sandblast.
After refinishing with Norrels.
Awesome job on the FSB. Really clean. I didnt realize it was a shaved down FSB until I took a close look at your photos. 
One question, since you took out the Izzy brake, did you check how deep the hole went into the barrel/thread surface?
I never removed the brake for the work.