M48 Front barrel band stuck

[Koauke]

I just picked up a Yugo M48 recently and I'm trying to strip it down to clean all the cosmoline/grease out of it and I'm having difficulty removing the front barrel band. I even tried clamping the retention spring and knocking the band with a rubber mallet. Its on there pretty good. Maybe dried grease or something?

Suggestions?

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[Aragorn243]

Make sure the retaining spring is fully depressed. Use a wood block along with the mallet and make sure you are hitting the band at a good angle. They can be stubborn.

[Koauke]

Tried it with the wood block, just eats up the wood block as well....grrrrrrr....

[WarPig1976]

Heat the band up with a heat-gun or hairdryer throughly. The aim is to liquify the cosmoline underneath the band which is acting like glue. Use the block and mallet, should come off.

[cipherk98]

I had to do what WarPig did on my Greek Mauser, in my case it was a combination of old grease and a little light rust. Worked perfectly. Note your hand guard might also get stuck to the stock, preventing you from pulling the receiver out of the stock. It can be freed up the same way.