922 Compliance Question: Muzzle Brake

Hi there,

I don't know if this is in the right part of the forum, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

I have a Norinco NHM with a 16" threaded barrel that I've recently decided to modify. I've replaced the trigger group stock and pistol grip with US made parts, but still have a foreign (Leapers) handguard. In order to make it 922 compliant I've also purchased an AK-74 muzzle brake from Tapco.

My question is: My original muzzle brake was the standard "pipe" threaded brake that came with the rifle, however, it was never welded on. When I inquired about this rifle on another forum, someone informed me that this particular rifle must have been imported right before the ban, and though it has it's bayonet lug ground off, they didn't weld the brake as it was sort of "in limbo."

If the original brake was not welded, and the barrel is 16", do I need to weld the new brake on to make it legal, or can it remain held in place only by the spring loaded pin under the front sight?

It doesn't need to be welded. The barrel should be long enough. Some of those rifles had the retaining pin turned upside down and jammed , bent in the hole to prevent removal of the muzzle brake exposing the threads. Does the front sight block have a spring loaded pin to retain the muzzle brake?

It does indeed have the spring loaded pin, and the spring functions quite well: it moves back forth with ease. It holds the Tapco brake on pretty solidly, though I can still depress the pin and unscrew it.

922(r) mods need not be permanant. (are you going to weld the fcg axis pins?) bayonet lugs and threaded muzzles ceased being an issue with the sunset of the klinton ban. 922(r) is about having LESS THAN 10 LISTED IMPORTED PARTS. see the sticky on this subject.