Flash Suppressor Alignment
The Flash Suppressor serves other purposes than reducing the flash, It serves as a front sight platform, place for the bayonet, protects the muzzle, reduces the recoil some 30%, and helps stabilize muzzle, it is lest effective in doing what it was named for, but FS is a great name.
To assume the FS is correctly installed because the bullet passes without tipping is incorrect and may be preventing you from realizing the full potential of you rifle.
The three features that align the FS are the face of the barrel muzzle and the barrel muzzle seat in the FS being brought together by the castle nut. The splines are for stopping rotation and have little to do with alignment.
The FS should slip fit on the rifle freely or with very little finger pressure, this message is not intended for the match rifle, however much is the same. The castle nut should be turned to lock up with some pressure but not heavy handed, when things line up, screw castle nut lock screw in until it bottoms only, than rotate castle nut back against lock screw.
With all the new barrels the above is sometimes not possible, the biggest problem is the over size barrel collar where the back ring of the FS lives, It drags on the inside of the FS rear ring surface, this drag, if more than just lightly touching can cause barrel stress. The other problem is the muzzle not being square, flat, or the muzzle seat inside FS not being squar, flat, or both.
As I have mentioned before, these "DO It Yourself Suggestions" are for all you shooters, that like to improve your rifles, and have the skills to attempt doing just that.
Here is how to attack the alignment problems.
Check the muzzle for damage or nicks or bumps. Rework the muzzle using an oiled stone, rotate it around the end of the muzzle, keeping it flat, use gentle pressure, work it slowly and produce a fresh smooth surface.
Make yourself a round hardwood tool to slip fit size, that will fit into the FS to engage the muzzle seat, make it as flat as possible. Soak it in oil, put a thin layer of 600 grit compound on the muzzle seat inside the FS,,, NOT ON THE TOOL,,, this is important, if you put it on the tool it will transfer to the side purchase areas where you don't want it. Use firm down drive pressure, rotate, removing and high spots or dings, clean out completely when satisfied.
Using a black felt pen or dykum ink, cover all the surfaces on barrel where the FS lives, get it down in the groves also. Now slip fit the FS on without CN, just by hand, if it takes pressure to seat it will remove the ink, these are spots where metal will have to be removed either on barrel or FS. You can stone the spots down or if you have a lathe its quicker. Repeat until there is no drag or very very little. You should be able to slip a .004" shim under the rear of FS ring until the shim touches the splines inside the FS, rotate it around the entire
area under the FS ring."This is a lost procedure from the alignment of the FS," This collar area can cause more loss of full potential than any other feature on the Match and standard M1A/14.
By Art Luppino
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