LP Gas Block on "A2" barrel.

[.Scarecrow.]

Couldn't think of any other way to describe it. I have a DD barrel that has slots drilled out because it came with a pinned A2 front sight. If I put a low-profile gas block onto the barrel, will the set screw in the rear be alright for retaining the gas block if it is screwing directly into the slot that was drilled for the rear pin?

Thanks!

 

[Sam1911]

As long as driving that screw into that slot locks the gas block exactly where it needs to. If that makes the block sit too far forward so the barrel port is partially obscured, then that would be bad.

Not sure if it could sit too far back. If the barrel and gas block are milled to allow the front hand guard retainer to sit between them, then it could be a tiny bit too far back, but maybe that wouldn't matter.


Pics?

 

[.Scarecrow.]

Sorry, I can't do pics right now. I may just spend the twenty something just to find out if it'll fit.

 

[rskent]

You might try locktiting the pins back in and grinding them flush. Then install your gas block.

 

[fireman 9731]

Or you can just chop your A2 sight and profile it to fit whatever you need it to. Thats what I recently did. You get the benefits of low profile, plus its pinned on correctly.

 

[gotigers]

+1 for shaving the fsb and reusing the pins.

 

[Zerodefect]

Yup, again. Grind down a pinned front sight base into a low pro gas block. Nothing works better than those pins.

 

[.Scarecrow.]

Grinding down the FSB is personally not my style so much. What if I were to insert one of the pins from my A2 into the barrel, and file it down enough to fit a low profile block around. Then the set screw would have something to drill into.

 

[.Scarecrow.]

Okay yeah I might just grind down my FSB. Then no major work has to be done, and if I burn my barrel out someday, I can buy one without pin slots.

 

[Zerodefect]

Exactly. Nothing wrong with putting the pins in, grinding smooth and putting a set screw block on. Except we're making more holes and dimples in a perfectly good barrel.

You already have the hard part done if you knocked out the pins and have the FSB off.

 

[rjrivero]

Shaving the FSB is definitely the way to go. You're going to put a rail over it anyway, most likely, so who cares what it looks like.....

 

[Sam1911]

If you're interested, I did a short write-up on shaving a front sight block down just like this.

It doesn't have to look unsightly or unprofessional at all!

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=758773

 

[.Scarecrow.]

Wow Sam1911 that looks really great, yeah I am going to go this route now. I don't have to buy a new gas block and that looks pretty light weight too. I like that I get to use the pin slots my barrel was made for, and it's a very strong lock-up. Also, Zerodefect, the front sight was taken off a long time ago by a smith when I bought a folding front sight gas block, then I went for the 12" handguard thing and this is where I am now. So looks like I'll be going this route now, thanks guys.

 

[fireman 9731]

I finished mine with high temp stove paint. It turned out great.