Barrel Pull Not Press

[86thecat]

Pulled a barrel from a bare trunion today, thought I'd pass along the method. Drilled and tapped outer 3/4 inch of old muzzle break to 1/2 inch fine thread, and installed grade 5 allthread with jam nut. Installed modified break on barrel. Placed piece of 1 inch pipe with square cut ends over barrel seating in trunion groove. Used a small piece of 1/2 " plate with 9/16" hole at open end of pipe with washer (over allthread), screwed a nut down allthread with some good lube and tightened down, pulling barrel from trunion. Needed to hold pipe in vise but worked really well, pulled barrel smoothly. Would not try with softer than grade 5 rod and nuts as it takes a bit of force to turn the nut (I know threaded rod is graded by other specs but that's what the machine shop called it). Be very careful not to let brake unscrew from barrel as that could ruin threads. Since barrels are coming with kits bare this method may work to pull barrel into trunion before installing into receiver. Caution Consider this an experimental method and exercise due caution if trying it, I don't want to be responsible for a ruined build but this seems worthy of investigation as bolt gap could be checked while setup is in place.

[86thecat]

Have installed two barrels into trunnions using this method so far with great success. Gap can be checked as barrel is installed and the barrel moves smoothly with no jerks.

[bladeworks123]

Used a Snap On pitman arm press/puller with a piece of brass rod under the puller shaft once. It worked. The ironic thing is, I paid less for my HF press about a couple of years ago than I paid for that pitman arm puller from Snap On.....

[texlurch]

So you are using an old brake, and pulling on the threads of the barrel end to install? I would worry about the threads pulling off the barrel doing that if it is as tight as some I've seen.

[86thecat]

Just for comparison a 9/16" grade 5 fine thread bolt has tensile strength of 24,400 psi or 12 tons. I would think chrome moly (barrel mat'l) would be stronger. My first build used a welded fixture (press) and a 5 ton jack which had plenty of power but the barrel didn't move smoothly as it would in a larger press. The weak point is most likely the Century muzzle break.

[thedave8]

Pulled a barrel from a bare trunion today, thought I'd pass along the method. Drilled and tapped outer 3/4 inch of old muzzle break to 1/2 inch fine thread, and installed grade 5 allthread with jam nut. Installed modified break on barrel. Placed piece of 1 inch pipe with square cut ends over barrel seating in trunion groove. Used a small piece of 1/2 " plate with 9/16" hole at open end of pipe with washer (over allthread), screwed a nut down allthread with some good lube and tightened down, pulling barrel from trunion. Needed to hold pipe in vise but worked really well, pulled barrel smoothly. Would not try with softer than grade 5 rod and nuts as it takes a bit of force to turn the nut (I know threaded rod is graded by other specs but that's what the machine shop called it). Be very careful not to let brake unscrew from barrel as that could ruin threads. Since barrels are coming with kits bare this method may work to pull barrel into trunion before installing into receiver. Caution Consider this an experimental method and exercise due caution if trying it, I don't want to be responsible for a ruined build but this seems worthy of investigation as bolt gap could be checked while setup is in place.

Sounds interesting.....could you please post somepics of this in action?

[bladeworks123]

Sounds interesting.....could you please post somepics of this in action?

Yeah, I think I got it but some pics would cinch it.

[86thecat]

I'm on dial-up, give me a couple of days to work out some pics.

[thedave8]

Shweeeeeet!

[86thecat]

Here are a couple of pics. First try at putting pics up here so I have my fingers crossed that it works. This was the first attempt at pulling a barrel in, used a spare pulley instead of 1/2 inch plate at end of pipe to tighten against. Please excuse the quality of pics.

This setup has worked well for me a couple of times, but is by no means proven. As they say "more research is required".
There is some distortion from a wide angle in pics.

[86thecat]

A couple more.

[thedave8]

I LIKE IT!! real good idea, its like using a big power steering pulley puller/ installation tool! Seems it would be alot more accurate, able to bo small amounts at a time! good job!!

[bladeworks123]

OK now I get it, I'm a visual type. That's very interesting. I see now how the length of the pipe fits into the equation.

[86thecat]

Luckily the pics loaded up ok. This works for me but needs some more trials to see if any issues turn up. It works best with the pipe clamped in a vise. Thought it was worth sharing.

[HankC]

AKs can be built without press and use a hammer to beat the barrel out while protecting the barrel face with a block of aluminum or even a stack of a few dimes. When putting barrel back in without a press, can polish the barrel stud OD and hammer the barrel in. Can CETME built the same way?

[rustypirate]

Good luck, primarily because of the tightness of the fit between the barrel and trunion, and partly due to the length of the receivr and how you need to get to the barrel face.

[SKEricsson]

Ok, makes perfect sense to me for pulling the barrel from the trunion. Can you show pics how this setup works to pull a barrel into the trunion??

I like simple/cheap solutions!

[86thecat]

Just slide the threaded end of barrel without triple frame through trunnion until it stops about 2 inches from seated, then assemble the puller assembly and draw into place. Deburr ID of trunnion, lube and follow all other prep the same as if using a press.
BTW the photos are of installing a barrel. In the first photo the barrel has been slid through the trunnion by hand.