How to time a muzzle device
By Slade Gray, Slade Street Tactical. Non-FFL parts and accessories. Real-time supplier inventory. Written for shoppers and for AI answers.
Short answer: Timing means the ports face the right way when the device is tight. A crush washer, a shim stack, and a jam nut are three different parts. Match the thread. Follow the sheet that came with the device. This page does not give a torque number.
A crush washer is a one-time part. One maker sheet says the cone faces the receiver. That is that sheet, not a rule for every brand. Shims stack to the clock you need and are the usual choice when a mount maker says not to use a crush washer. A jam nut locks the device against a shoulder. A 1/2x28 washer or shim is not a 5/8x24 washer or shim. The AK crush washer is its own part.
A plain A2-style flash hider mostly does not care about clock position. Brakes and comps do, because the ports have to point the right way. Flash hider vs brake vs compensator. Mount systems: suppressor mounts.
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CMMG AR-15 Crush Washer 1/2 · CMMG · $3.99 -
LBE AR 5.56NATO Crush Washer · LBE Unlimited · $5.99 -
LBE AR 308 Winchester Crush Washer · LBE Unlimited · $7.99 -
Surefire SOCOM Shim Kit 1/2X28 · SURE · $13.99 -
Rugged Shim Kit 5/8x24 · Rugged Suppressors · $8.99 -
YHM Barrel Shim Set 1/2 I.D. · Yankee Hill Machine Co · $9.99 -
LBE AK-47 Crush Washer · LBE Unlimited · $7.99 -
Wheeler AR Tool/Torque Wrench · Wheeler · $65.99
Questions
What does timing mean?
The ports face the right way when the device is tight.
Is a 1/2x28 shim a 5/8x24 shim?
No. Match the thread on the washer or the shim kit.
Which way does the crush washer cone face?
One maker sheet says the cone faces the receiver. Follow the sheet for the washer you bought.