Covered or uncovered gas block?

[Greywolf]

Looking at a 14.5" DD mid-length lite barrel on my wife's lightweight build. Trying to keep the weight down and am going to use either a Troy TRX Extreme 9" handguard or 11" - the 9" would leave the gas block exposed while the 11" wouldn't - but I gain 2 ounces of weight.

Yeah, I know, 2 ounces aint much, but they eventually add up - LOL.

Any reason to go with a covered gas block vs. leaving it exposed?

 

[TonyAngel]

If you go with the shorter hand guard, you'll know if you made the wrong decision the first time your wife burns her hand on the gas block. I like to run the Bushmaster rifle length tube on my rifle. It covers the gas block and most of the barrel and is light. It also has nice vent slots cut into it for some circulation.

This is on a 16" barrel, but it should be about the same length as a 14.5 with a pinned muzzle device, so you'll get a good idea of what it will be like.



This barrel has a mid length gas system too. You can see the gas block in the forward vent cut outs. The full length tubes are really comfortable too.

 

[Greywolf]

Ah, cool - I'm thinking of going with the longer handguards now as a result.

 

[C-grunt]

I agree with above. Cover the gas block.

 

[taliv]

i have several of each. never been a problem either way

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I've got a 9" rail now and wish I had a 10" or 11" so I could push the AFG out further. As it is now, I can't push the light far enough forward to get the AFG forward to its optimum position.

On the plus side, I prefer that my front sight be attached to the barrel rather than a rail; but it is a minor difference since using irons past 300yds isn't all that practical for me anyway.