Bushmaster gasblock question

[prproulx]

I took the handguards off my Bushmaster carbine and found the gas tube goes to a gas block under the handguards, not the front sight post. The front sight post also seems to be a gas block.
Is this normal or have I missunderstood what a gas block is? Could I get shorty hand guards and get rid of my front sight?

See what I mean about needing to take a course? :?

 

[BattleRife]

You have a Dissipator model. Although some other makers may be copying it now, for a long time this configuration was unique to Bushmaster.

The idea of the Dissy is to have full length handguards on a carbine length barrel. A carbine length barrel requires a carbine length gas system, which means that full length handguard run right over the gas block. So Bushmaster came up with a system that uses the front sight base strictly as a front sight base, then puts in a second gas block to actually run the action.

Yes, you could switch to carbine handguards and get rid of the front sight. You would likely need to pop off the gas block to get a forward handguard ring installed, though.

 

[prproulx]

Thanks! I could have sworn I put this in the black rifle forum. Mods can move if you want.
Pat