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Posted: 10/29/2014 12:03:52 PM EDT
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Backstory:
During the "panic" I purchased one of the last of what I would consider "decent" rifles I could find on a shelf within 50miles of me. A Smith and Wesson M&P15OR. You may know the OR has a railed gas block. I wanted to install a low pro gas block so I could install a DD rail. Removal of the factory smith gas block proved impossible. Tried everything I could think of. Torch, lube, press, etc. (and yes I was attempting to hammer it out the correct direction). I ended up taking a cutting wheel to the gas block and cutting it off, I then used a grinder to grind the pin down flush with the barrel, leaving it in place. I now have a clamped on DD gas block and a DD rail protecting it. I had to adjust the gas block initially because it didn't cycle properly on my first attempt, but I got it adjusted and have put a few hundred rounds through it in the last two years that I've had it without any issue. My issue is that I'm not sure I trust just a clamped on gas block. This is currently the only fighting rifle I have. I don't have a lot of cash to work with, so I would like to avoid spending more money if I can. Initially I was just going to buy a used barrel with a pinned standard front sight post and then just install it and cut off the front sight post. However some reading has me wondering if I could get by with my current set up if I just tweaked it a bit. I did not loctite the clamp screws, so I will use red loctite on those, and I have heard of people bedding the gas block with a small touch of green loctite to mate the gasblock to the barrel (but this doesn't add up because heat breaks down loctite and green loctite is only good for about 400 degrees IIRC) Looking for advice or suggestions from people with more experience than me. |
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I am noob in this area. Talk to me like I'm Joe Biden. Rockset is a substitute for loctite on the clamp screws? Or use rockset to bed the gas block? |
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as with AlabamaPaul, I've had no issues with them loosening. I just wanted to let you know that there is an alternative to loctite that can take the heat.
I would try it as a bedding. but, if you ever want to remove it. I would use just a tiny drop on the screws if any. because they are so small |
| I can't honestly say: no reason to worry. Murphy's law and all. closest thing to sure, would be pinning it. ADCO provides this service. but like I said, I would try bedding it with the Rocksett. I may still do it to mine. they sell a larger bottle of it at that link |
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A LOT of clamp on gas blocks have been sold, installed, used..
you would know if there were issues with them by now if there were any. that being said, I prefer set-screw type of gas blocks used in conjunction with barrel dimpling. I have never pinned a gas block myself, but several of my off the shelf barrels have had pinned gas blocks. (which is my default option if it's "easy" when I'm purchasing a barrel.) my order is: pinned then set screw then clamp on but again, if there were issues with clamp on gas blocks.. you would have heard about them by now.. (on the market for MANY years and probably tens of thousands of them in use) |
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