Looks like the Ruger American barrel nut can’t be removed without getting it boogered up. Is there an aftermarket replacement option? I’m thinking of having a Predator in 223 punched to 223AI or 224 Ruger. I may just lengthen the throat and use 2.55” AICS mags. Either way I’m thinking a new barrel nut will be needed. Thanks

Why did they design it this way??

They are cheap. The factory does not intend for you to ever remove it, which is why it is designed smooth. The factory does not support nor endorse barrel removal, modification thereof, nor barrel replacement other than by the factory.

Here's one that appears to be a custom length. But, they claim - only fits their barrels.

https://patriotvalleyarms.com/...-american-sako-m595/

They sell the nut and wrench for the RPR which I think has the same threads as the American; the nuts are threaded the same as the receiver so they will fit any barrel. Out of stock though. However, with a lathe you can just make any nut you want; little inside threading. Mill flats on it. Spanner hole, whatever you want.

Doesn't Savage use a smooth nut in one of it's models? I wonder if it would work on the Ruger?

Yes they do; I have used them. and I have also lathe turned off the grooves on the standard ones too.
However the threads on the Ruger are 1x16 and Savage, isn't. 1.055 standard and 1.0625 for the big one.

You know, this reminds me of the earlier days of computers.

I have been building my own since the original IBM PC.

In those days, it was a pain in the posterior trying to get the right parts to work with others.

Now they are all standard.

Only choice one has to make is the motherboard, whether for INTEL or AMD CPU.

The rest all fits together.

Makes life so much easier for all concerned.

The number of times someone comes here with a broken rifle part, and he is unable to get a replacement.

We have to make it here.

True. But if a firearm maker made everything interchangeable then people would not be forced to get the unique parts from him.
Unlike computer chips, which all come from the same factory in Taiwan (saw that on 60 Minutes last week). No one else in the world knows how to make the best ones, with a billion circuits per square inch or something like that; I know nothing about micro chips.

FWIW, My buddy has built several Ruger American rifles w/o using the nut and just facing action and the barrel shoulder like a normal rifle re-barrel.

I can get more info from him if anyone wants.

Zeke

Of course when you make a new barrel you can fit any receiver without using the nut; the nut is for existing barrels, Which the OP wants to re-use. There is no reason to use the nut outside the factory, except when using an original barrel which has no shoulder.
I never use the nuts when fitting new barrels to Savages, etc.
It's just like any other barrel then.

Here a lock ring wrench for like $50.
https://www.littlecrowgunworks...rench-LRW-p106089776

We get a lot of CZ rifles here to replace barrels on.

The 527 have barrels that do not have a shank to sit against the action.

The front of the action is round.

We square the front of the action, and make the new barrel diameter larger after the thread.

It fits against the action, similar to Sakos for instance.

Works great.

Saeed,

Wild guess - less time needed to headspace by rotating the barrel instead of reaming the chamber?

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Why did they design it this way??

Not a guess; you got it; that is the reason for the nut; so the factory can put a minimum gauge in the chamber and screw the barrel on, then tighten the nut. More accurate and much faster than reaming and you always get minimum correct headspace.
I assumed the question to be, why a smooth nut?

Who knows why. To make it a Ruger and not copy anything from a Savage? Here's an idea to save the factory nut from damage is to use a barrel clamp with a copper insert to back off the lock collar while using another one to hold the barrel. Copper seems to be much grippier than steel and it might be more forgiving on the surface.
If it was mine. I'd run it by the Tech department at Douglas barrels.

Two reasons; it is cheaper to make the nut smooth.
It is faster and more precise to fit barrels that way. Guys and girls who shoot them do not care how they look.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
Who knows why. To make it a Ruger and not copy anything from a Savage? Here's an idea to save the factory nut from damage is to use a barrel clamp with a copper insert to back off the lock collar while using another one to hold the barrel. Copper seems to be much grippier than steel and it might be more forgiving on the surface.
If it was mine. I'd run it by the Tech department at Douglas barrels.

Thanks!