Just got a Bushmaster M17S, good rifle but heavy, what's on muzzle?

[AirPower]

THe M17S is a very nice rifle. Bushmaster can have a winner if they would somehow use the gas piston to their AR line, like what HK is doing. When I first saw the M17S in person, I can't believe how compact it is, 21" of bbl in a 30" package. If someone chops off 4" of the barrel, it'll be just the legal length 26", and a super compact carbine. One problem is that it is one heavy sucker, 8lb of heavy steel barrel and aluminum housing. I've read much about KKF modding on the gun, but the one best thing that can be done to it is to turn down the barrel to M16A2 or A1 Gov't milspec. The current barrel is Hbar and way too much for the little 223. Does anyone know if the barrel is threaded? I'm very sure this is a postban gun, but there's this short muzzle nut. I wonder what I'd find if I unscrew it.

 

[Ian]

There's a sleeve covering the part of the barrel that extends out of the handguards. Those two nuts hold it in place.

You might be able to take off the nuts and replace them with a flash hider; I think the threads are a standard type.

 

[Domino]

The threads are the standard AR-15 threads and will accept standard AR flashiders/muzzle breaks. You can either make a tool to take the lugs off or you can get a FAL Gas Tool which is waht I use and is the perfect size for removing those lugs. It is a bit tricky though, I might have to buy new lugs if I remove them again ($5.00 a piece) so I won't unless I have too.

As far as actually taking off the lugs and putting a flashider on the barrel, it has been done but Bushmaster advises against it. Take at look at THESE commonly asked questions about the M17s. I only took of mine so I could completely dissasemble the rifle if I wanted to, and to inspect the gas system as Bushmaster claims that it never needs to be cleaned. They are appparently right.

Enjoy your rifle, and do not destroy its accuracy. I have been very impressed with mine as it produces Sub MOA groups if I really do my part. Even then 1-2 MOA is pretty typical with almost any ammo.