Stake the castle nut?

[gigag04]

I'm about to install a Magpul ASAP on my new LMT and I'm curious whether or not to stake it the castle nut. Currently my rifle is setup like that, but some people in know have said they just use blue loctite. My concern is that for the average shooter that may be fine. But if I'm running mine through the paces of Patrol Rifle schools, qualifications, and getting banged around in my car, would I run the risk of it backing out down the buffer tube over time?

I'm leaning towards doing it because what does it hurt? But I've heard it's a pain to get off.

[jeeperbryan]

I don't think I'd stake it just because it's more permanent. I'd use blue locktite and tighten it down with an armorers wrench.

[flintknapper]

Blue L/T.....it won't go anywhere.

[Master Chef]

+1 on locktite

[McKnife]

3 years back, I had owned a Stag AR15 rifle for about a year and a half with about 2,000 rounds through it.

I went hog hunting in the middle of Seguin and it was wet and humid. Several hours later, I went back the the trailer to catch some sleep, I held the rifle by it's sling and placed it on the table, when I noticed much more rattle than usual. The castle nut had come so loose that the bolt would not function properly. I just barely touched the castle nut and a spring shot out! I have no idea what would have happened if I had fired it.

I sold the stag for something MUCH better.

I would locktite it AND stake it.

[MoJo]

There is one other locktite you hear very little about. BLACK if you use it nothing moves - - - ever - - - heat, solvents, nothing will break it. Blue should do the job for you.

[ELB]

This guy, a police officer, wrote a series of posts on AR-15s for cops. I found it interesting as it explained a lot terms related to the AR-15 that I had heard but didn't know or understand fully. You have to dig down a few posts but eventually you find out he is opposed to staking the castle nut. You can read his reasons at the thread.

The thread is here: So you want to buy an AR-15, huh?

Me, I don't know and don't care. I bought an AK instead.

[gigag04]

I would locktite it AND stake it.

Tack-weld? :)

I think I may go ahead and have it staked. With the more frequent use of it, and constantly being slung/unslung and switching side for bldg clearing, I think the added pressure and demands of work on a patrol carbine would call for a staking. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Well, I supposed I could lose the time of jacking with it trying to take it apart..but I know people.

[The Annoyed Man]

We staked ours when we assembled our carbines, but only because a gunsmith said to do it. Blue Loctite would have been easier. That said, my son recently had to loosen his (I forget the reason why), and it wasn't that hard to do, and neither was restaking it when he was done. The staking job doesn't have to be massive; just enough to keep the nut from turning.

If you're that concerned about it, you could try safety wiring it. I used to have to safety wire lots of different items on my racebikes. It's not very "tactical," but if it will work to hold an A-10 or F-15 together, or to keep motorcycle brake caliper bolts from vibrating loose at 165 mph, it will hold the castle nut on an AR.

[Syntax360]

We staked ours when we assembled our carbines, but only because a gunsmith said to do it. Blue Loctite would have been easier. That said, my son recently had to loosen his (I forget the reason why), and it wasn't that hard to do, and neither was restaking it when he was done. The staking job doesn't have to be massive; just enough to keep the nut from turning.

It's not that hard to break free a staked castle nut. Hell, do both. Castle nuts are like $3 a pop if you end up having to get ugly with removal later, but I would be very surprised if it came to that.

[tb7475]

Blue loctite should be fine or red loctite it if you think blue is not good enough.I tight mine with armorer wrench after apply blue loctite till now that nut hasn't move a bit.

[jeeperbryan]

I just installed the Magpul ASAP plate and the instructions state in bold "DO NOT USE LOCTITE OR OTHER LOCKING COMPOUND ON RECEIVER EXTENSION THREADS". I had loctite on previously so I'm wondering what the issue is.

[rm9792]

How would the buffer tube back out? The receiver end plate is keyed and the only thing might be if the nut backed out far enough to turn the whole buttstock and lose the spring and detent pin for the receiver pin in the back. The buffer tube cant twist unless the whole stock twists. I have had castle nuts loosen but even a hand tighten allowed me to finish the course.

[jsimmons]

I just installed the Magpul ASAP plate and the instructions state in bold "DO NOT USE LOCTITE OR OTHER LOCKING COMPOUND ON RECEIVER EXTENSION THREADS". I had loctite on previously so I'm wondering what the issue is.

I think they meant the threads that actually thread into the lower receiver. Once it's threaded into the receiver, you can use the loc-tite on the threads where the castle nut is run up to meet the end plate.