Adjustable Gas Block

J

jimmy

Member
Rating - 100%
8   0   0
Hi I am looking at putting a free float rail on my AR and was told I should look into getting an adjustable gas block. But I don't really know anything about them and was hoping to get some advice from you guys that use them... What kind do you suggest? I have been looking around and it seems like they are anywhere from $60 to $200..

Thanks in advance for any suggestions
 
I installed a Superlative Arms adjustable gas block on a buddy's rifle. Click adjustable.
Seemed very well made and worked perfect.

Cost $170 in hand......but the dollar was a little worse when it was ordered so might be a skootch cheaper now.
 
*MALICE* said:
I installed a Superlative Arms adjustable gas block on a buddy's rifle. Click adjustable.
Seemed very well made and worked perfect.

Cost $170 in hand......but the dollar was a little worse when it was ordered so might be a skootch cheaper now.
Click to expand...

Could have bought it in country from CTCS for $130+ tax...
 
Jefro said:
Could have bought it in country from CTCS for $130+ tax...
Click to expand...

It was $162.29 (I rounded up to $170). And when you add tax and shipping to $130..........($130+ $15? shipping + tax = $163.85).
And CTCS only had the set screw type, not the clamp on he wanted.
And I had other stuff to order from brownells.
Etc, etc, etc.....

;)
 
Thanks Guys, that is what I was looking for the one with the set screws.. I will take a look at the one you suggested
 
Why would an AR need an adjustable gas block? :confused:
Is this a "new trend thing" or has it been around for a while? I can't think of a single time I've ever fired an AR15 on my own time or in the military where I was thinking "if only I could over/under gas this thing right now"
 
Travis Bickle said:
Why would an AR need an adjustable gas block? :confused:
Is this a "new trend thing" or has it been around for a while? I can't think of a single time I've ever fired an AR15 on my own time or in the military where I was thinking "if only I could over/under gas this thing right now"
Click to expand...

Primarily used on competition rifles. It's all about speed and keeping the rifle on target for fast follow-up shots. An adjustable gas block is not meant to over/under gas the gun, just give it only enough to cycle reliably, no more, no less. Also, it's a requirement if you want to use a lightweight carrier to further reduce recoil.
 
Travis Bickle said:
Why would an AR need an adjustable gas block? :confused:
Is this a "new trend thing" or has it been around for a while? I can't think of a single time I've ever fired an AR15 on my own time or in the military where I was thinking "if only I could over/under gas this thing right now"
Click to expand...

Handy with a 300blk too; switching from light supersonic ammo to heavy subsonic.
 
Travis Bickle said:
Why would an AR need an adjustable gas block? :confused:
Is this a "new trend thing" or has it been around for a while? I can't think of a single time I've ever fired an AR15 on my own time or in the military where I was thinking "if only I could over/under gas this thing right now"
Click to expand...

A lot of ar15 barrels come waaay overgassed these days (usually due to wanting the gun to be able to run cheap underpowered ammo, or by complete ineptitude/incompetence by the manufacturers) and it can have the side effect of beating up the gun real bad and causing premature parts wear/breakage.

Not so much an issue if you barely put 1000 rounds a year through it........but if you put hundreds of rounds a week through the gun, every week.........
 
*MALICE* said:
A lot of ar15 barrels come waaay overgassed these days (usually due to wanting the gun to be able to run cheap underpowered ammo, or by complete ineptitude/incompetence by the manufacturers) and it can have the side effect of beating up the gun real bad and causing premature parts wear/breakage.

Not so much an issue if you barely put 1000 rounds a year through it........but if you put hundreds of rounds a week through the gun, every week.........
Click to expand...

I'm not buying the "beating up parts" gimmick. I've seen Norc AR's go through crates and crates of hot loaded Norc 5.56mm FMJ over reltaivley short periods of time with zero issues or parts failures.
Likewise with my personal Franken-built AR's. Thousands of rounds through my primary with no failures or parts damage of any kind.

I can see it it for bench shooters maybe/competition shooters tweaking handloads for optimum precision I guess.
I had simply never heard of an Adj Gas Block for an AR. I honestly had to look it up in the interwebs after seeing the thread!
 
Travis Bickle said:
I'm not buying the "beating up parts" gimmick. I've seen Norc AR's go through crates and crates of hot loaded Norc 5.56mm FMJ over reltaivley short periods of time with zero issues or parts failures.
Likewise with my personal Franken-built AR's. Thousands of rounds through my primary with no failures or parts damage of any kind.

I can see it it for bench shooters maybe/competition shooters tweaking handloads for optimum precision I guess.
I had simply never heard of an Adj Gas Block for an AR. I honestly had to look it up in the interwebs after seeing the thread!
Click to expand...

I repair AR15 rifles that run 10-25,000 rounds a year. I've seen just about every parts failure you can think of, and a couple 'never seen that before' issues too ;)
When they were running Norc ammo, that's when they had the most parts failures.

A small to moderate amount of overgassing, honestly, the adjustable gas block is probably a waste of money, especially, if like I said, you're only running 1-2k rounds a year. On the other hand, people waste lots of money buying heavier buffers to try and solve overgassing issues when they should be fixing it right at the gas port.

But when you have guns ejecting at 12:30-1:00, things break prematurely, and I've seen lowers battered so hard the hammer/trigger pins wallowed out enough that the hammer/triggers would do bad things.

The most overgassed barrel I've ever seen was a brand new S&J .........worse than the 125k+ Norc barrel it replaced. An adjustable gas block solved the problem when S&J wouldn't even return an email.
 
I have adjustable gas blocks on two of my rifles, a AR15 & on my Modern Hunter. They can definitely fix a over gassed barrel, or let you tune the gas so you just engage the bolt catch on the last round fired. They are also pretty much a requirement with a lightweight BCG. Another benefit is you can shut off the gas and hand cycle the action while bench shooting, so you don't beat up your brass. Also good if you shoot surpressed, or so I have read on the internet.

Both of my adjustable gas blocks are SLR Rifleworks, they a click adjustable and easy to use. One of mine did fail though, after about 2000 rounds of norinco ammo it seized up and could no longer be adjusted. I guess you are supposed to take them apart & clean them every so often. After a day st the range I now adjust them a few clicks each direction to at least brew up the carbon.

I noticed a big improvement on my MH, with the muzzle brake it makes it very light shooting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom