Good Morning All, I have finally gotten my hands on all the parts that I wanted after saving a little hear and a little there for the last year. I started out with a RRA LAR-8 and then after playing around and not liking the pitiful accuracy I sold it and purchased what the LGS guy said was a phenomenal “lightweight black rifle.” :suicide: The bushmaster Carbon 15.:suicide2: Then I found M4Carbine and sold the crap I had and have never regretted it. Anyway, I have been lurking and learning for over a year and finally am assembling my first full custom build. My parts are as follows.
Lower:
Noveske Gen 2 Stripped Lower
Magpul PRS (already had one so I figured “what the heck”)
Vltor Rifle length buffer assembly
MIAD Grip
DD LPK
Upper:
Vltor MUR1
White Oak 18’’ SPR Rifle Length gas
Noveske 16.7 NRS
Surefire Muzzle Brake
BCM BCG
Raptor Charging Handle
Syrac Ordinance adjustable gas block
With that I have a question, or rather a problem. My gas block will only go onto my barrel about 2 inches before getting stuck. It is the correct size for the barrel which is .750 However no amount of encouragement will make it slide down to where it is supposed to go. In fact I am a little pissed because trying to make it fit I would up gouging my barrel some. Just to be clear I did not force it down. I met resistance and applied some encouragement thinking that it is supposed to be tight. But not so tight that it does not fit at all. Any advice? And yes, the set screws were unscrewed, in fact I took them out completely before trying to assemble. If I can get some advice and get it compleated this weekend I will post some pictures and a range report.
Well I have seen a lot of recomendations on here about putting things in the freezer to shrink them a bit. Might try putting the barrel in the freezer overnight if you have a chest type. Then it just might slide on.
I use the viltor clamp on style gas blocks. You can open them up a little to get them on the barrel. Of course I am always taking things back apart just because that is what I do and I want it as easy as possible.
Don’t bother with the freezer. The barrel isn’t going to shrink that much, its walls are very thick.
Heat the gas block in the oven at 450 degrees. The walls of the gas block are much thinner. Open oven door, put in gas block. When the preheat light indicates the temp is at 450, try to drop it on. You can use a heat gun if you have one around.
Get something that isn’t going to mar the finish (I used a block of wood) and just tap it down with a hammer until you get it into place.
For future reference, since this thread is probably about to get locked, post questions in the AR General Discussion and save this for actual build posts.
Thanks for the advice about heating the gas block. And thanks lahunter, I had read the sticky for the custom build forum but I had forgotten the part about it being a functional completed build. I will post pics and a range report shortly.
WOA barrels can be very difficult with standard gas blocks. I built an SPRish gun with the same barrel you used and the Badger low profile gas block I was going to use would barely start on the barrel. No amount of pounding was going to get it in place. I went with a Ranier match grade gas block which they make slightly oversize for match barrels. It fit the WOA like a glove.
I used the Badger on a pistol build this week. It was tight on the pistol barrel also, but not like the WOA. I used a socket just smaller than the ID and chucked it in my drill. Wrapped with emery cloth and a few turns got it just right. Go slowly and be patient. I left it snug, but still was able to position where I wanted it.
I have not found the need to freeze or heat parts to get them to go together. (EDIT: Did not mean to imply that heating the gas block is not a good or valid option)
OP, do you really need an adjustable gas block on this build? The Ranier Match Low Profile Gas Block is made for barrels like your WOA and should not be difficult to install.
Description:
Rainier Arms Low Profile Match Grade Gas Block was designed to fit the match grade barrels in the market place. Many of the LP gas blocks in the marketplace to day are designed to fit service grade barrels. If you have ever tried to install a VLTOR or Stag style gas block on a Match Grade Stainless Steel barrel, you know that many times, the gas blocks are just too tight and will either seriously mar the barrel or sometimes, you have to hone the gas block to a larger inner diameter .755.
Our new LP Match Grade block was purposely made .005 larger to fit better on match grade barrels.
