is there a picture tutorial or video on how to replace the gas rings on the bolt and what tools may be needed anywhere here or on the net?Thanks
You can do it without a tutorial. Just pluck one off at at time by prying the old rings off one at a time.
You just need a tiny screw driver or something similar. Pry the open end apart enought to get one of the ends out of the ring groove and work it off like mounting a tire on a rim.
Repeat for the other two rings and do the process in reverse for installing the new ones.
Found this video here.
He finally gets to the gas rings about halfway through.
If you’re going to the trouble of replacing your gas rings…replace them with a McFarland single piece gas ring. You can get them at Brownells for under $4. Last gas ring that you will buy for that bolt. 
It’s also part of the new SOCOM reliability package, FYI.
I personally recommend McFarland rings and use them on all of my bolts.
moved
Thanks guys gonna order a few sets from Bravo Co
How do you kow they are McFarlands? I ordered rings from Bravo Company a while back to have spare parts. I have not needed to instal them yet. I have a set that seem a little loose though. How do you know when they need changing? About how many rounds?
PB,
I know they are McFarlands because they are the only makers of 1 piece rings. As has been discussed before there is no magical round count number. Which is why it is important to do the gas ring check test. Using a clean BCG, you extend the bolt away from the BCG, and then stand it on a flat surface with the bolt face downwards. If the BCG collapses onto the bolt then the rings are worn and you need to replace them.
I will say this. Since I started using Weapons Shield, I have noticed wear on my gas rings has gone way down.
Iraqgunz, thanks mucho man, you always have quick concise info.
Resurrecting this thread to ask a question in regards to the check. I am at about 2,300 rounds at the moment, and I just did a thorough cleaning. I lubed my bolt up so it was wet to the touch, and re-assembled the BCG after everything was clean. I did the gas ring check, and the bolt slowly collapsed into the carrier.
Do I want to do this check on a wet lubed bolt? Or should I repeat the test after I wipe the bolt down a bit???
I figured it may be time for new rings, and I wanted to do a search before I posted this this question to the boards. This seems like a relevant topic to pull up for my question.
The bolt will always fall if it’s well lubed. I’ve also seen plenty of guns that run for a lot of rounds that ‘failed’ the gas ring test…so YMMV.
I was just reading the Army manual on the the M16/M4 rifle, and it notes to test the gas rings by putting the bolt in the carrier and seeing the bolt will fall out on it’s own, via gravity. That seems like a much “looser” test, since there’s no weight from the carrier pressing down against the rings. That also seems to dovetail with what others have noted, that “loose” gas rings will still shoot fine for quite awhile.
YMMV…
Pretty cheap insurance to be worried about if it’s a good enough test if you ask me. Regardless of the parameters, have some on hand, they’re cheap enough to throw a few sets in a range bag without breaking the bank.
The bolt will always fall if it’s well lubed.
Not really.
I have 2500 rounds on an LMT that has the factory rings. In a clean BCG and oiled my rings will still pass the test.
love the one pc rings