Last night I swapped a barrel out for a longer one.. used a standard clamshell and a vice to remove the break.. well I lost most of my lights so it was kinda dark for the process..
I started wrenching on the break and it was rather tight so I gave it a quick jab and it felt like it broke loose, so I went in for another bight and noticed the gas block was sideways!?? Well I grabbed more light and realised I turned the whole Barrel! The barrel extension was held in place by the pin and notch in the upper.. so I sum what corrected the spun barrel by hand. It's now off by my eye an 1/8 th" or more. Is this a problem that can be fixed easily? Luckily it was the barrel to be replaced with a new longer version, so not down and out.
My guess the cheep steel break rusted it's self solid in the threads and I over did it! But it came off no problem after that.
Is there a better way to hold a barrel than the upper set up in a clam shell? I guess I could vice the barrel with some leather if things get bound up? Some breakes won't fit in some small handguards? Any thoughts?