Any AR 15 Gunsmiths here?
- Thread starter antknee985
- Start date
The Best online firearms community in Louisiana.
Member Benefits:
Fewer Ads! Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership Discuss anti-gun legislation Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses Discover free outdoor shooting areas View up to date on firearm-related events Share photos & video with other members ...and so much more!
Member Benefits:
I've never done it but from what I've seen it looks like a relatively simple swap. The pins that hold the FSB on are tapered so you knock them out from one direction put the new FSB on and re install the block. IIRC the hardest part is removing a stubborn gas tube.
SpeedRacer
Well-Known Member
It is a fairly simple process, however getting the new gas block to line up perfectly over the gas port can be a royal pain in the ass. And you won't know if you got it right until you're at the range.
If you do decide to have a gunsmith do it, I'd recommend having the barrel dimpled and a set screw installed. I personally have zero faith in clamp-on gas blocks, though it's not a huge deal if it's just a range toy.
If you do decide to have a gunsmith do it, I'd recommend having the barrel dimpled and a set screw installed. I personally have zero faith in clamp-on gas blocks, though it's not a huge deal if it's just a range toy.
I'd like to be able to use a flip up front sight. I dont have a quad rail.
SpeedRacer
Well-Known Member
If that's the case, I would just use an integrated flip up sight/gas block and skip the middle man.
charliepapa
Clandestine Sciuridae
YHM makes them with and without the bayo lug.
hhmmm, that would work.YHM makes them with and without the bayo lug.
thanks guys.
SpeedRacer
Well-Known Member
I had terrible luck with the YHM flip-up gas block on my first AR. Terrible clamp design IMO, but YMMV.
Has anyone tried to flip up the front sight that is attached to a ridiculously hot gas block? I have on a LWRC M6A3. Its annoying. Save the money, shave down your pinned gas block and get a FF Rail. Taper pins are a much better attachment system.
Sin-ster
GM of 4 Letter Outbursts
Goteron's concerns about a hot gas block/integral flip up are very valid. (Ask me how I know...)
There has always been a lot of concern over a clamp on block in place of a pinned one, and for good reason. Simply put-- most people don't install the things very well, or select a block that's bound to give them problems. However, if done properly, you can torque the barrel extension out of the receiver before the gas block will budge.
Avoid aluminum at all costs. As the barrel and block heat up, they will flex and expand at different rates when they're constructed of such different materials. Steel, steel, steel-- that's the single most important thing to avoid movement, slippage and subsequent failures. You also want horizontal locking screws, as opposed to vertical. They have consistently fewer problems, even in not-so-perfect installations.
Once you're sure the gas port is lined up, torque the **** out of the thing. "Permanent" Locktite is your friend-- the one that resists heat the most. (Just know that if you ever change your mind... it's going to be a nightmare to remove!) It helps to have a tool that'll align the block with your pre-aligned quad rail (which you won't have), as it not only ensures no cant to your flip up, but will actually help hold the block in place as you're tightening the sucker down.
It's been suggested (although untested) that a multi-collar block is more sturdy than a single wrap around piece. I still don't fully understand why, but that's the consensus from the guys actually building and testing these things.
Now, all of that said-- shaving the FSB and covering it with a rail is not only the easiest option, but also the hardest to screw up. You completely avoid any concerns of slippage, misaligned ports or off-center installations. You can also skip the concerns over barrel size, gas port size and angle, gas tube alignment, and flip sight height (rail vs gas block).
There has always been a lot of concern over a clamp on block in place of a pinned one, and for good reason. Simply put-- most people don't install the things very well, or select a block that's bound to give them problems. However, if done properly, you can torque the barrel extension out of the receiver before the gas block will budge.
Avoid aluminum at all costs. As the barrel and block heat up, they will flex and expand at different rates when they're constructed of such different materials. Steel, steel, steel-- that's the single most important thing to avoid movement, slippage and subsequent failures. You also want horizontal locking screws, as opposed to vertical. They have consistently fewer problems, even in not-so-perfect installations.
Once you're sure the gas port is lined up, torque the **** out of the thing. "Permanent" Locktite is your friend-- the one that resists heat the most. (Just know that if you ever change your mind... it's going to be a nightmare to remove!) It helps to have a tool that'll align the block with your pre-aligned quad rail (which you won't have), as it not only ensures no cant to your flip up, but will actually help hold the block in place as you're tightening the sucker down.
It's been suggested (although untested) that a multi-collar block is more sturdy than a single wrap around piece. I still don't fully understand why, but that's the consensus from the guys actually building and testing these things.
Now, all of that said-- shaving the FSB and covering it with a rail is not only the easiest option, but also the hardest to screw up. You completely avoid any concerns of slippage, misaligned ports or off-center installations. You can also skip the concerns over barrel size, gas port size and angle, gas tube alignment, and flip sight height (rail vs gas block).
Sin-ster
GM of 4 Letter Outbursts
Pshaw. Where are these deals when *I* need something?
Staff online
-
thperez1972ESSAYONS
Members online
- thperez1972
- utman97
- Mbrocato
- mikelee
- Savedbygrace
- Denisbl0
- gwpercle
- N4sir
- tekkaman_tnt
- rm2092
- highstandard40
- jht1980
- navops
- Lnw2
- RichKes
- don_mac
- Drake
- Mikeyy504
- Aurellevi
- SwampyDog
- firesafety3
- AndyG
- Scott5.0
- Kipp Castaing
- Mel633
- xobelkcat
- OEN
- DBMJR1
- Todd44
- Radar55
- Brballistics
- Comrade Fish
- machinedrummer
- Huntingman7799
- Blue03Cobra
- Jiggy205
- Sainte70
- Bravo-13
- Rodog
- Bigchillin83
- T-boy
- 70mikenike70
- Pfarley
- scooterj
- Idontknowwhatimdoing
- Slave-1
- SeaZast
- ArtieD
- burntgumbo
- sailem
