Barrel nut not loosening enough

[geargrinder]

The recoil lug should not have to spin with the barrel to remove the barrel. That's why it has a pin in it to begin with.

The recoil lug should be able to spin freely around the barrel threads.

As said above by Robinhood, something is wrong and you are working very hard to make it worse.

[NicfromAlabama]

The recoil lug should not have to spin with the barrel to remove the barrel. That's why it has a pin in it to begin with.

The recoil lug should be able to spin freely around the barrel threads.

As said above by Robinhood, something is wrong and you are working very hard to make it worse.

Ah, OK. I was not understanding the problem. Joseph, do you have a scope base installed on the receiver? If so, a long base screw protruding into the receiver may be binding against barrel threads.