I’m building a 16" middy. This is my first time using the VLTOR A5 Kit and buffer tube. Could there be any benefits to using the A5 system with an adjustable gas block? Or does the A5 buffer work best with a non adjustable gas block?
Thanks in advance for the replies!
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The A5 will function just fine without an adj. gas block. I don’t use adjustable GB’s on any of my builds any longer. When I did it was more about the rifle itself and what I was trying to do with the adjustable gas block, the gas port size of my barrel and the A5 really did not factor into whether I used one or not. My point of view as I’ve made on some other threads is that the adjustable GB introduce a potential failure point that a non-adjustable gas block doesn’t have. So I wouldn’t use one. Out of curiosity, do you happen to know the gas port size?
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Whether or not an adjustable gas block will be useful has nothing to do with the buffer & spring. It’s entirely dependant on gas port diameter. If the gas port diameter it’s too large, an adjustable gas block will be useful. If the gas port is the right size or smaller, an adjustable gas block is as useless as teats on a boar hog.
The A5 is a great buffer system, but is not a replacement for proper gassing.
Do your research before buying the barrel.
Choose a 16" with the correct gas port and that will eliminate the need for an adjustable gas block.
Since you’ll need to buy a gas tube anyway, you can always go with one of Clint’s EZTune gas tubes as an alternative to an adjustable block.
Clint, is .076 the recommended custom tune gas port size for a 16" Wylde Mid? I have a lot of match grade .223 ammo to shoot but plan to shoot 5.56 too. All of it will be brass.
I should know tomorrow what the gas port size is.
Sound advice. Also, depending on the rifle’s purpose, less adjustability may be a feature and not a bug.
Ports flow a little better, so 073 is the standard recommendation.
I’m not sure what you mean by ‘ports flow a little better’. You mean non adjustable ports?
The specified gas port diameter on my Lothar Walther 16" mid is .076". If the actual turns out to be true to that number would you still recommend one of your inserts for only a 3 thousandth difference?
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This right here.
PB
I’m going against the grain here. Silly me. Not that anything said here isn’t true. On the contrary, it’s great info.
Now, for me, I’ll shoot a lot of different loadings and, if it’s hot 5.56 I’ll dial things down a tad and the rifle stays pretty tame. If it’s milder .223, I’ll up it a little and it maintains reliability. Again, for me, this is the merit of an AGB. However, things can get a bit fiddly when it comes to maximum reliability, so take that into account for your intended shooting environment. Just about the dumbest thing to do is install a $100+ gas block only to leave it wide open because that’s the only way your weapon will run. YMMV.
Thanks for all the replies. My take aways is that installation of the VLTOR A5 buffer kit doesn’t negate the need for an adjustable GB. If the gas port is the correct size or smaller then I should go with a non-adjustable GB and reserve an adjustable GB (or one of Clint’s port reducers) for those barrels with enlarged ports.
Only question I have left is who/what dictates the correct port size for a 16" 0.750" diameter barrel chambered in 223 Wylde and a mid-length gas system? I’m guessing there’s no definitive answer.
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Custom Tune ports flow a little better than the same size port in the barrel.
For any given size barrel port, the Custom Tune port needs to be a little smaller to get the same flow.
The 076 is a good size and should work as-is, especially with the A5.
The bottom line is:
The correct port size produces enough Gas Drive to reliably cycle a variety of ammunition in a variety of conditions.
Almost nobody else knows how to calculate this, so it falls on testing to determine what size to use for each gas system configuration.
Different manufacturers provide a range of wide range of sizes, for a variety of reasons.
A couple specific configurations have “mil-spec” sizes that were determined through extensive .mil testing, but only a handful of manufacturers actually follow those.
K.I.S.S.
I.
S.
S.
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Roger. PM incoming on recommended Custom tune gas port size.
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This is a rule of thumb I go by to determine if a barrel is AGB eligible. If it will reliably cycle the weakest ammo you shoot, and you plan to shoot something hotter, an AGB might be advantageous. If it only cycles with hot ammo, you will most likely have to run the AGB wide open and it would be a waste. IMO, I would try a simple and cheap non-adjustable GB and go from there. If your long-term plan is to lighten everything up (buffer, carrier, etc.) then an AGB is a must.
What barrel are you going to use?
Your screen name is making my brain play the Jenny song, lol.
Medium weight version of this:
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