I need the Norc fan club to help me out with my M305. It's new to me and the serial number starts with 2009, I bought it off the EE and have put 40 rounds through it thus far. All is well but I bought it as a tinker project and that's exactly what I've started doing.
My to do list (it already has a NM spring guide, a USGI rear sight, a USGI fiberglass stock, and I believe the gas system has been "unitized"):
1) I really don't like the rough / pitted metal finish on the gas block so I've decided to take that with some emery cloth and a dremel. You can see the results of my efforts in the pictures. My question: Is it possible to get this metal looking nice or is it just poor quality steel? I've since given it a coat of black Krylon to see if that will help make it look better. I'm waiting for it to dry as I type this.
2) I'd like to tighten up the NM flash hider as it is a tad loose but I think I've figured out how to do this as I removed the flash hider to Krylon the barrel and Norc front sight.
3) I now have discovered a problem: the nut at the end of the gas block (that I assume closes up the gas block and allows access to the piston) will not come loose, even with a ratchet. Is this normal?
4) Is it a stupid idea to go ahead and emery cloth the rest of the action (not the bolt) in the hopes of smoothing out the rough metal and tooling marks? The pitting is only on the gas block and on that second block attached to the barrel that acts as a guide for the op rod.
Thanks!
Pics:
My to do list (it already has a NM spring guide, a USGI rear sight, a USGI fiberglass stock, and I believe the gas system has been "unitized"):
1) I really don't like the rough / pitted metal finish on the gas block so I've decided to take that with some emery cloth and a dremel. You can see the results of my efforts in the pictures. My question: Is it possible to get this metal looking nice or is it just poor quality steel? I've since given it a coat of black Krylon to see if that will help make it look better. I'm waiting for it to dry as I type this.
2) I'd like to tighten up the NM flash hider as it is a tad loose but I think I've figured out how to do this as I removed the flash hider to Krylon the barrel and Norc front sight.
3) I now have discovered a problem: the nut at the end of the gas block (that I assume closes up the gas block and allows access to the piston) will not come loose, even with a ratchet. Is this normal?
4) Is it a stupid idea to go ahead and emery cloth the rest of the action (not the bolt) in the hopes of smoothing out the rough metal and tooling marks? The pitting is only on the gas block and on that second block attached to the barrel that acts as a guide for the op rod.
Thanks!
Pics:

