M14 Gas block sights - Machining one...Is there a slope?

emilio613

emilio613

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Hey folks, so I am having a custom muzzle brake made for my m14 norinco shorty (by a friend in a machine shop).

I may ask him to machine a gas block Front Sight for me, however, I then started researching and read that APPARENTLY the sight has a slight SLOPE to it?

Is this correct? As in, would the gas block sight have to be machined slightly leaning, like an Itallic Letter "I" ( like so: I versus I)?

If so, HOW much of an angle? Anyone know? ( I feel that would be too much work for my friend, trying to figure out the incline etc)

SO the next question: (if the machining is not an option)

Are there any inexpensive front sights (gas lock mount), that i am unaware of? Everything is around $80-100.... Heck, even $65 seems like too much for something that looks like 3 fat washers put together! haha (No offense to anyone who works in machining, I know there are overhead costs, labor costs etc. I just mean realistically, once you have everything setup as it should be, material wise and the work, it's not really $100 worth in my eyes!)

***note I am talking about the round, navy style one, not the dove tail one that requires more labour!

So does anyone know what I can do? Should I attempt to have my friend make me one? It's not hard for him, it is just an issue with the Slant/Slope

I have no idea what the slope is, don't want to have issues with the spacing/shimming etc.

Ideally, I'd like to buy one!

PS: LET'S BE CLEAR. I AM NOT trying to start a discussion about pricing, machining jobs, costs of labor etc. THAT IS NOT the purpose of this post. PLEASE refrain from that. I am merely asking about the ANGLE for machining, and then if there are any cheaper option out there, not necessarily Brand Name, so I don't pay for the "premium" of having letters stamped into my sight!

THANKS!
 
If you calculate average cost of running machines and paying for north american labour, you quickly realize that 100.00 is really not a lot of money ;)

But to answer part of your question,
There is no slope, other than a standard front blade sight has a sloped top. This will not apply with a Gas Lock front sight as a post is used, not a blade.
Your challenge will be to achieve correct post and hood height in relation to barrel length and front sight position.
Have fun with your project ;)
 
hahah Thanks for the first line of insight, re: labour ;) There's always one... haha kidding.

Thank you for the feedback, though. I didn't think there is a slope. Seems like there would be no point to a slope, and it would complicate production.

Good to know. The height and whatnot, I think I can get that, it's just a matter of finding the right Post to thread in there (as in the actual sight). Nothing too pricey! (I have seen posts going for $35...what is that all about? for a threaded piece of steel, about 7mm long?!)
 
when marstar sold out a while back , the supply dried up.
another outfit going by the name Volters also did a production run a couple years ago and the product was made very well and i think around 65.00 if i remember right.
BUT here's the rub....
Chinese gas cylinders are not all made the same and often , while they work just fine, are so far off spec as far as how they sit on the barrel, both rotationally and side to side from center of boreline. this leads to a situation where once the sight is tightened onto the barrel and sitting vertically true to the bore/sight line, it becomes impossible to install the gas plug. Those managing to install the gas plug, often observe a sight that is tipped to one side or the other and often mistake this condition as a barrel index issue. Once folks started to realize this situation, the popularity of the gas lock front sights on chinese barrels/gas cylinders sort of died off. when Volters realized this issue was a common thing with these rifles, i believe they stopped marketting/selling thier product. Marstar also has not restocked "glfs" units in a lonnnng time now. Dlask makes a popular version but not the hooded kind. For chinese barrels, that's about it i think.
this issue i outline above does not apply to U.S. "dimension" barrels/gas cylinders/gas lock sights, just the chinese stuff
 
You think it would make sense to invest in a US navy gas block? (like the whole unit). Assuming one pops up at a good price?

Or just buy the sight anyway, and just assume it will be close enough? (I will PRIMARILY be using a scope, the sights are just back ups, and I only need the gas block sight, due the the Muzzle Brake I am having made :) )


45ACPKING said:
when marstar sold out a while back , the supply dried up.
another outfit going by the name Volters also did a production run a couple years ago and the product was made very well and i think around 65.00 if i remember right.
BUT here's the rub....
Chinese gas cylinders are not all made the same and often , while they work just fine, are so far off spec as far as how they sit on the barrel, both rotationally and side to side from center of boreline. this leads to a situation where once the sight is tightened onto the barrel and sitting vertically true to the bore/sight line, it becomes impossible to install the gas plug. Those managing to install the gas plug, often observe a sight that is tipped to one side or the other and often mistake this condition as a barrel index issue. Once folks started to realize this situation, the popularity of the gas lock front sights on chinese barrels/gas cylinders sort of died off. when Volters realized this issue was a common thing with these rifles, i believe they stopped marketting/selling thier product. Marstar also has not restocked "glfs" units in a lonnnng time now. Dlask makes a popular version but not the hooded kind. For chinese barrels, that's about it i think.
this issue i outline above does not apply to U.S. "dimension" barrels/gas cylinders/gas lock sights, just the chinese stuff
Click to expand...
 
You wouldn't by any chance... have one to... um... donate? hahah

Yea I think I will just deal with it. I am doing this on a budget here, so I can't blow too much money into a $400 norc shorty. lol What I want MORE right now, is a vortex 2.5-10X44, a good cantilever scope mount (for the the UTG tri-rail), and I think I am good.

I will just get my friend to make the brake and the sight... see what happens!

45ACPKING said:
in many cases, swapping to a u.s. sourced gas cylinder did solve the rotational alignment issue
Click to expand...
 
Why not get the dlask one???
P1030820-1.jpg

Save your money on the optic and call it a day. Cheaper than getting a scope and a mount plus if you were wanting to shoot groups or long range hunting your probally going to choose your bolt action rifle any ways right?
Plus with iron sights and medium sized game at 300 meters or less it is easy with pratice to hit the vitals.
 
Crack Feather said:
Why not get the dlask one???
P1030820-1.jpg

Save your money on the optic and call it a day. Cheaper than getting a scope and a mount plus if you were wanting to shoot groups or long range hunting your probally going to choose your bolt action rifle any ways right?
Plus with iron sights and medium sized game at 300 meters or less it is easy with pratice to hit the vitals.
Click to expand...

Pretty, but at $129.99 + tax + shipping, I can't afford it. Plus I sold my bolt action recently, and can't afford another gun, so I just want an m14 that is good to 300m, with decent groups. (vital hit size groups lol)

Trust me, I'd LOVE the Dlask one... just can't afford it.
 
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