111 LRH Muzzle Brake Problem

Hello. New to the forum. Just picked up my 2nd Savage in .300wm. The 111 has the adjustable brake. It had got buggered up by the previous owner and in talking to Savage about whether or not it would harm accuracy they offered to replace it under warranty. Great customer service for something that was 100% not their issue. Anyway I got the new muzzle brake but can't seem to get the old one off. Anyone know any tricks? I've tried small screw driver and Allen wrench thru the holes and just bend them. Can't get it to break free. Would soaking it in something help?

I had to remove my brake and couldn't so I called Savage.

Savage told me the brakes are ONLY hand tightened by their gunsmiths. However, when I finally got my brake off (tons of torque) it appeared loktite was used.

From some reason I can't upload a picture of the crown after I removed the brake. You can see there was an adhesive used.

If it is that tight you may need to put the barrel in a barrel vise to hold it in place. Soak the brake threads with Kroil. Then you should be able to apply enough torque to get it off with beating on something like a drill bit through the holes. If that doesn't work apply large pipe wrench to brake.

Use a propane torch to get it hot and don't get it glowing or anything near that and use a pipe wrench because you are throwing it away anyways.