Adjustable AR Gas Blocks.....Why aren't they Standard Kit

wouldn't it make more sense to build the gun with the correct parts the first time , rather than have to tune it? not like we have varying gas pressures from taking on or off the suppressor.

set the gun up right the first time and you dont need that crutch.

Totally agree. Correctly built ARs should only need adjustable gas blocks if you're experimenting with weird reloads.
 
Note to self.....Don't have Bolivar do gunsmithing on my firearms before a big match.....
I fail to see how an adjustable gas block screwed you over!

Relax man. I never said an adjustable gas block screwed me over. I was illustrating points were having an under gassed system causes signifigant problems.

For me personally, I wouldn't want to add in another potential failure point. If you want to lead a personal crusade to have all AR produced with adjustable gas blocks, fill your boots. Just don't get your knickers ina knot if others have differing opinions and concerns.

As for my gunsmith skills. Agreed, keep me away from your rifle. I'm a hazzard. :)
 
I am relaxed.....do I not look relaxed?

I have thought about this for the last week, and here are some of my thoughts:

1: I purely make the assumption, that an AR is over gassed, by how much my dot moves off target when i press the trigger. When I press the trigger, and the target completely disappears from the optic.....there is a lot of movement..in my estimation....we are talking a 12"x12" square gong at 100 yards!

2:I can feel and hear the spring and buffer in the tube when I shoot......the buffer slams against the rear.....it is almost 2 different things.....I feel the recoil, then the buffer hits the rear of the tube

3:I reload.....for the 3 gun matches, I use 2 different loads....quick and dirty cheap ammo, for close in shot; 100 yards and less, and reloads that I work up, that are good out to 330 yards. I am not so worried about using this gun to defend against Zombies, or insurgents...so it is not life of death for me....It makes more sense to be able to tune the gun for a specific purpose~

4:Reliability....there are a lot of military firearms on the market now....and in the past, that have adjustable gas systems.....I don't remember the FN I was issued having problems...seems to me that an AR with a well designed adjustable gas system would negate having to switch buffers....springs.....gas tube lengths etc......it would be a simple solution.....

5:I am a simple person....not an engineer
 
because an ar must go boom every time, and then boom again.... reliability over comfort I guess.

This! Exactly why it won't become STANDARD kit for ARs. 7.62 your examples of why you want it are for specialized gun sport applications, specifically excluding life and death situations where the rifle must fire and fire and fire RELIABLY.

I believe that You are talking about adjusting gas pressure actuating the action to minimize the effects of the BCG momentum. Basically limiting the gas so the rifle just barely cycles with no excess momentum in the BCG. Correct me if I am wrong.

This is fine in a controlled situation if your willing to take the risk that wear, fouling, temperature, variations in ammo etc etc may result in more stoppages.

However, most are not willing to take those risks. Certainly not people who actually use the platform for life and death scenarios. As such, I can't see them ever becoming STANDARD kit.

Certainly they are an option, and available. If people think they are a benifit, by all means use them and enjoy. Just be aware there are potentially increased issues with reliability.
 
Why aren't they standard kit? Because like pistons in AR's, they're a soluition to a problem that doesn't exist.

This doesn't mean someone can't or won't make a reliable piston driven AR with an adjustable gas system, it just won't be an improvement over a well built DI AR.
 
However, Colt seems to think there is merit in the adjustable gas block idea. Maybe you are on to something 7.62.

http://www.coltcompetitionrifle.com/Firearms/ColtProModelCRP-16.aspx

That's not Colt's. That's a separate company in Oregon that licences the name and buys a few parts like forgings etc. The Colt Competition guns are designed for match competitors to tune for specific hand loaded match ammo.

NATO standardized 5.56 x 45 mm ammo is very consistent as far as pressure and it is controlled and tested extensively. After firing billions of rounds through the M16 family, there is no need to add extra parts for a problem that does not exist.
 
They are very nice though. I checked out the entire line at SHOT and fired six of them at the range day. Talked with one of the engineers in germany specifically about the adjustable block.

I'd take one in a second - but I'm not sure I'd take one to war.
 
Last time I checked the US gov. was paying about $500ea for the basic service rifle.
Those grunt guns need to be produced as cheaply and simply as possible.
Adding extra doo-dads would cut into profit... The rifles shoot well enough for GI Joe so why bother..

We really can't compare standard issue gov. guns to our über cool tricked out high speed low drag competition rifles.
 
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