I've never staked one. I've taken a couple of staked ones off. On some I've used a small amount of low strength threadlocker.

Anyone tried the PWS ratchet lock design?

Yes, stake with hammer and punch, no loctite for me.

I never staked in years past and never had any issues, but the last few I did I staked just because the "net told me I was supposed to".

One of my officers had one come loose on his duty rifle. Found out that it was originally staked, then he messed with it and never re-staked it.

Re-tightened it, couple of hits with a center punch and he was good to go. No loctite, center punch.

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
auto center punches are for putting a little ding in a piece of metal so a drill bit doesn't wander when you start drilling.

For staking a castle nut, you want to move a significant amount of the endplate metal into the notch in the castle nut.

An auto center punch, held at a slight angle towards the cutout in the castle nut, and used 2-3 times in the same spot, displaces plenty of metal.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
auto center punches are for putting a little ding in a piece of metal so a drill bit doesn't wander when you start drilling.

For staking a castle nut, you want to move a significant amount of the endplate metal into the notch in the castle nut.

An auto center punch, held at a slight angle towards the cutout in the castle nut, and used 2-3 times in the same spot, displaces plenty of metal.

Yup, 3-5 times and you have a nice circle punch and plenty of metal in the cutout.

I stake it, lightly.

Maybe my auto center punch is junk.

I stake also. Primarily because that was how I was taught.

On my SBR is used the Impact Weapons QD end plate. I don't know what those are made of. But holy crap they are sturdy.

I took a punch and went from hammer.... to mid sized hammer... to Big F'ing hammer. Barely scratched it. So just put a single drop of loctite and snugged it up.

I used quality parts so doubt I'll ever have to undo it.

I have never staked one

I bought one of these, from PWS




https://www.joeboboutfitters.c...t-p/pws-4btrlpb1.htm

The one I would use were I ever to be in a combat situation is staked. The range guns I built are not staked.

quote:

Originally posted by David W:
Anyone tried the PWS ratchet lock design?

Its what I use. Excellent product. Not cheap but excellent.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/p...ing-mount-plate.html

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I've considered it- inquired about the right punch to do the job- but no, I've never staked one.

And while I guess there's no harm about it, I wouldn't use Loctite. That just seems wrong.

Ditto on both counts!

I've tightened mine with a castle nut wrench and they've always been a b!tch to get off, but never staked it ... but mine are range toys.

Never for my own, almost always for those I build for folks.
I ask before they deliver parts.
They do their research (or not) and tell me what they want.
I'm happy to charge them twice the cost of a castle nut 30 days later when they return & what to change things around.


I've not staked mine but if it's a service / contractors rifle , absolutely.

John Q. Public ? Only if I'm told to as civilian life of range visits don't stress them enough.
That said , If you're going to do multiple AR courses I would .


My ¢.02

I never used to but the last pistol (with a brace) that I built loosened up after a match.
So I will be staking every one that I build now.
A center punch and hammer is what I used on the pistol.
Worked well to displace metal into the staking notch.

I wish someone would just make a simple staking tool (that produces factory style stakes)so that people can just shut up and do it already.

I stake mine. Just a simple center punch and hammer. Never any issues. I've actually never done an AR that I haven't staked. Same with pinning the gas block. Everyone I own has either come pinned already with the barrel or I've pinned it when I put it together. Doesn't take much time, and provides some piece of mind.