I see this "properly staked" designation on all kinds of AR's and AR bolt carriers. Im relatively new to the AR platform and was just curious, what is this referring to. I get that there is a proper way and an improper way to do almost everything, but why is it so necessary to list "properly staked" on EVERY bolt carrier... are there that many out there that aren't?
What is an "improperly" staked AR bolt carrier?
- Thread starter pavmentsurfer
- Start date
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjq4uDLTsbY
Info you asked for starts about 3:20ish in the video talking about the gas key and staking the key to the carrier! As for why they state that is some companies do a poor job at staking the gas key. The video has examples of about 5 carriers with good to poor staking.
Info you asked for starts about 3:20ish in the video talking about the gas key and staking the key to the carrier! As for why they state that is some companies do a poor job at staking the gas key. The video has examples of about 5 carriers with good to poor staking.
I haven't come across ''improperly staked'' gas keys. They usually are or aren't staked. An ''improperly staked'' gas key would be a gas key who's bolts aren't sufficiently staked to permamently fix the bolts in place. Or, the staking could interfere with bolt operation in some way.
Gas keys are staked to prevent the bolts from loosening over time.
Gas keys are staked to prevent the bolts from loosening over time.
I remember some of them wiggling loose
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
IIRC a few people had the gas key come loose and jam the BCG because of it and I think some NEA rifles got out with not just light staking but none at all. I remember there was quite the debate about just how much staking is really necessary with lots of pics from lots of different manufacturers - some were pretty and some were not but as has been said, the important thing is that metal is displaced enough to prevent the bolt from turning under normal conditions.
Throttle_monkey1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
As others have said staking helps prevent the bolts/screws from backing off. If you're really paranoid and want to ensure that the bolts will never loosen, get an unstaked carrier key, install the bolts to the proper torque and mark them on each side with a paint pen. The remove them and grind a small flat on each side of the bolt head where you marked them. Reinstall to the proper torque and then stake. They will be very difficult to remove after that.
So much so that you might have to do some grinding if you want to remove the gas key in the future.
So much so that you might have to do some grinding if you want to remove the gas key in the future.
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island
Yes
oops, my bad. there were a few cases indeed. such an easy thing to fix, and would be hard to miss in QC inspection
The mil-spec ( oh the dirty word! ) only specifies the maximum amount of vertical material displacement allowed in the staking. It does not specify how the gas key should be staked. In other words, the mil-spec only cares if the displayed material of the staking will not interfere with the charging handle.
So...as long as the staking does not come off in the 6000 rounds allowed in spec like Mil-C071186 ( M4 spec) and create more malfunctions than allowed, all is good.
Of course, Colt is a good example because they probably have figured out what has been working well for them in the last 40 years. On the other hand, it also does not mean other staking methods are not proper either.
So...as long as the staking does not come off in the 6000 rounds allowed in spec like Mil-C071186 ( M4 spec) and create more malfunctions than allowed, all is good.
Of course, Colt is a good example because they probably have figured out what has been working well for them in the last 40 years. On the other hand, it also does not mean other staking methods are not proper either.
Here's a photo I stole from someone else showing a DD carrier on the left vs a DPMS on the right.
That's exactly how my DPMS looked on the right...maybe even slightly worse. After Josef had a go at it, it looks more like the DD job.
