AR Gas block question

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Hillbillyz

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I recently purchased one of the PSA M4 complete uppers, and put a red dot sight on it. I don’t like the way the front sight gets in the way when I look through the red dot. Would it be possible for me to take off the front sight and replace it with a low profile gas block, or is it more complicated than that?
 
You can use a railed or low-pro gas block. If you are using the drop-in handguard, I would recommend either a clamp-on block, or dimpling the barrel for set screws. But, if you are certain that you will never want a front sight, I would instead remove the muzzle device, remove the taper pins holding the gas block (they only move one direction), cut the sight portion off, staying above the gas system, and reinstalling. This is the most secure method, though non-reversible. If you decide to do something like a railed gas block and flip-up front sight, be sure to use a metal sight...
 
Hillbillyz said:
I recently purchased one of the PSA M4 complete uppers, and put a red dot sight on it. I don’t like the way the front sight gets in the way when I look through the red dot. Would it be possible for me to take off the front sight and replace it with a low profile gas block, or is it more complicated than that?
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Depends how handy you are with a roll pin punch.

I don't think it's too complicated, and I'm not a particularly skilled wrench turner. I do respect that some people consider it out of their league though.
 
Front sight/gas block assemblies are normally attached using tapered pins so are a little tricky to get off. I have run into some, possibly PSA, that also have a set screw under the sling swivel. To save time and money, you can hack saw or Dremel off the sight tower right above the gas tube. When cleaned up and cold blued, it looks fine. In fact someone sells a gas block that looks exactly like that.
 
Well I do like simple, Kp321 your idea seems like a good one. Thanks for all the help.
 
I've seen the "just cut the top part off" a few times. It can look pretty good if done with a little care. Dress the cut with a file and paint it afterwards and it'll look fine.
 
kp321 is right. knocking those taper pins out can be tricky. make sure you are hitting them the right direction (one side is bigger than the other) and use a good punch. I've done 2. one came off easily. The other was.....challenging.

cutting off the tower and grinding is down works, and you wind up with a very good gas block, (I've done, it, and it took more work than I expected) but personally, I'd get a clamp on adjustable gas block like seekins or wojtek. most Ar's are way overgassed, and restricting that lessens recoil and saves wear and tear on your gun.
 
A.R.M.S. makes a traditional-looking front sight tower / gas block that folds down. It's held on by clamping screws, so you don't have to worry about taper pins. It's expensive, though.
 
+1 foe the ARMS sight. I have installed hundreds of them. They are very robust and still maintain the traditional look of the original sight. Make sure to use red loctite on the screws. A bit spendy but well worth it.
 
Put on any old gas block. No need to bother replacing the taper pins, and the pin bores will be covered by the new block. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Whacking off the front sight tower with a hack saw is pretty damned simple, though.
 
Before going out an buying a new gas block, please do check on how the muzzle device is attached.
The welded-on devices can vex a simple task like a gas block.
There are solutions for that, but, knowing you need the work-around first can save considerable time.
 
Hillbillyz said:
I thought about the higher mount but this is for a small sized lady, so I think the tall mount would be too high for her.
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But you don’t know. Install an RDS on a lower 1/3 co-witness mount and let her try it. I’ve never had small sized people- male or female- complain about sight height shooting an AR.
 
Yeah, the women that I've had shoot my AR's like the 1.93 height red dots. They don't have to slump to see the dot.
 
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