AR gas blocks

[CMP]

So I want to get a gas block with a rail but I want to keep my 2 piece quad rails, Do the gas blocks have to have the hand guard caps already on them or what?
I want something like this but with the hand guard cap

 

[CMP]

Anything?

 

[marktx]

The hand guard cap is a separate piece from the gas block and you can just use your old one. The barrel is contoured so the cap is just held between the contour of the barrel and the gas block. It's real easy to understand once you take it apart.

 

[CMP]

See, thats how I thought it was but I was told otherwise, so it just claps inbetween the block and the barrel right?

 

[MrCleanOK]

The handguard retainer is a separate part held between a shoulder on the barrel and the gas block. You can use any railed gas block you want, and still use the handguard retainer.

[Edit to add] As far as gas block attachment methods go, "taper pins" are better than "straight pins" are better than "set screws" are better than "clamp". The one you have pictured is what I would call a "clamp" type. I wouldn't go with anything weaker than set screws.

 

[Bobarino]

DPMS makes a 4 rail version so you can hang even MORE stuff off your AR! i have one on mine. the retaining cap is a separate piece.

 

[CMP]

Really? set screws are the way to go? well anyway I plan on getting these sights one I get the gas block.
either MI or if Troy is worth it...troy then

 

[Bobarino]

oh i don't think it matters if it's held in place with set screws or it clamps on. either will work just fine. i like those sights. the rear one is very similar to the Troy on mine and i like it a lot. i definitely like being able to fold the sights down and out of the way of the optic. i find co-witnessing distracting.

 

[Zach S]

[Edit to add] As far as gas block attachment methods go, "taper pins" are better than "straight pins" are better than "set screws" are better than "clamp". The one you have pictured is what I would call a "clamp" type. I wouldn't go with anything weaker than set screws.

Unless I'm mistaken, the clamp style gas blocks have the screws going the through place the straight/taper pins do.

Set screws can have flats or divots milled or drilled into the bbl for extra security. If I couldn't use pins, that is the direction I would go.

If your two-piece quad rails are FF, you could simply get a rail-mounted front sight, cut the tower off of your FSB, and touch it up with paint.

I dont know of any FF forends that retain the HG cap, but I dont know them all.

 

[Howard Roark]

Unless I'm mistaken, the clamp style gas blocks have the screws going the through place the straight/taper pins do.

They do not. The screws go under the barrel.