My DD CHF LW Middy 14.5" barrel is on its way, but it isn’t drilled for taper pins. What are my options for a front sight base? I really don’t want to put a low-profile gas block, rail and picatinny front sight on it because that adds a lot of money to this budget build.
Help, please!
ETA: Will this work for what I need? http://www.shop.dezarms.com/product.sc?productId=27&categoryId=8
That might work but why did you buy a stripped barrel? It’s going to cost the same or more (to have someone pin it) than getting a pinned FSB model from the start.
you can use that one and screw it but I’d have a smith pin it. make sure it’s F-height, like this one
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR15-Front-Sight-F-Marked-p/front%20sight%20base%20-%20f%20750.htm
Send it off to ADCO to have the FSB pinned in.
If I have it pinned, can I go to a low-profile block down the road if I decide to run a full rail on it?
I bought a stripped barrel for a couple reasons. First, because my NIB barrel was $100 less than the same barrel from DD with a FSB so I thought I was saving some money; and I picked up a FSB from the EE for cheap. Second, I didn’t even think about needing the FSB pinned/didn’t know the process, being my first build using a stripped barrel.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but it’s a learning process.
I would just cut down the FSB .
http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=61158&highlight=shaved
You’re not saving any money because to have someone competent do it you’re going to spend over $100 for the work and shipping.
Yeah, I just realized that ADCO charges $130 for pinning their FSB. Good thing I saved some cash on a lower 
Since it is going to cost $100 more to get it mounted, will it be fine to just run a set-screw FSB from DEZ for now? It’s for my girlfriend and she probably won’t be running it too hard. Eventually it will probably get a rail and low-profile block anyways.
That would make sense.
I would never use a screwed in type block, but that’s me. Since you are allowing money to dictate the build and you have already purchased stuff, there isn’t much else we can add.
It’s always a good idea to research and ask these questions before you buy it.
Sometimes its easier to just sell what you have and use the cash to buy what you want. In this case, you should have no issues in getting that barrel & FSB sold so that you can buy one complte with the FSB already pinned. Thats what I would do
Set screw clamp on type gas blocks tend to be the ones that cause leaks.
Im not talking about lo pro gas blocks with a dimple in the barrel and properly installed.
Yeah, it’s completely my fault for assuming I was doing it properly. Would it cause any trouble to run with the bolt-on now and save up to send it to ADCO?
Is there anything I can do with a clamp-on to decrease my chances of leaks? An epoxy of some sort around the ring of the FSB?
Wanna buy it? You would really fly through the PHA course with a LW barrel!
Do it right man…
Epoxy aint it…
I didn’t figure epoxy was what I was trying to say. What should I use?
Just post it all up over at Arfcom…it will sell quickly I promise.
Bolt on blocks work fine…for awhile. I would never trust one enough to spend my money on them though. You will save more by doing it the right way the first time.
If you are going to go clamp-on, torque it down properly, check it from time to time to make sure it hasn’t come loose. If the manufacturer calls for it, use a thread lock (Loc-Tite) on the fasteners. It’s not that it will automatically leak due to the fact it is a clamp-on block, it just has the potential to have the bolts/fasteners loosen over time due to the shooting stresses of heating and cooling along with the shock of recoil/concussion. (ETA: And simply just being banged around.) For the average recreational range shooter, it’s probably not as critical as someone whose life depends on the rifle. If you are in the latter group, don’t fool around, go with something pinned.