Enfield flash hider

[matchgradeindustries]

In the process of removing a flash hider from and Enfield, I've encountered a few problems. By all appearances, the hider is affixed to the barrel by means of two pins. After driving one out, I noticed that the pin was of a markedly softer steel, if indeed steel at all, than the first. As such, I miked the diameter of the first pin, set the barrel up in the mill, and drilled out the 'pin'. The material I cut through was incredibly soft, almost solder-like, and came out quite easily, exposing the same shoulder cut into the barrel for the pin as in the first hole. Then, after applying some careful heat, I attempted to knock the hider off with a brass punch, but to no avail.

My press isn't quite tall enough to accomodate the barreled action, nor am I particularly keen on pressing on the crown with something in order to push the hider off the barrel, even though the old hider is expendable. I'm especially not keen on trying to pull the barrel off and turning the hider off.

Am I egregiously wrong in my thoughts on how these are affixed, or am I just not putting enough elbow grease into driving this thing off?

 

[dfariswheel]

I've never seen soft pins in a Lee Enfield #5 flash hider, they were all at least mild steel.

The hider is pressed on really TIGHT. Trying to drive it off runs a fair chance of deforming the hider and this can cause the hider to lock even tighter on the barrel.
If you have to drive it, make sure to drive all around the hider not just on the top side.
I recommend using a BIG brass drift. I made drifts for hard jobs from brass bar stock 1"x1/2" stock.
Make sure to tape up the barrel to prevent denting it with the drift.

I'd suggest making a thick copper or brass disk that you can drop into the hider so it rests on the muzzle. Then press the hider off.
The disk will prevent any damage to the muzzle.

Another option for a expendable hider, is to slightly round off or dull the cutting edge of a cold chisel.

Working on the thinnest part of the hider, cut a groove across the hider length-wise. This will actually stretch the hider and allow you to pull or drive it off much easier.
The idea is not to actually cut into the hider very deep, just enough to cut part way through and stretch it at the same time.

This works very well on Ruger Mini-14 factory sight when installing a M14 type flash hider.

 

[matchgradeindustries]

Excellent advice. I'm going to make a quick fixture with a hole that's the diameter of the barrel, set it in there, braze a piece of brass onto the end of a punch that can slip into the end of the barrel, and try to press it off. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[rcmodel]

Take the flash hider of a Jungle Carbine??
Yikes!!!

Shirley, you jest!!

You know how scarce & expensive those things are anymore?

rc

 

[matchgradeindustries]

The current one that's on it had the lug ground off the bottom of it. I'm replacing it with another one.

I just do what they ask me to do, man.

 

[bbrownie]

I thought those flashhiders were screwed on. I could be wrong, was wrong once before!