This afternoon I took my rifle in to the gunsmith to have my gas key staked…no biggie right? I took the advice of many on here to do so. When I told the gunsmith what it was I wanted done he kind of looked at me a little weird. He then said ok…took the BCG in the back and staked it. When he came back he had some interesting comments on how it didn’t really matter whether or not it was staked. Unless I intended to run 1000s of rounds through it weekly. Now I know everyone has different points of view and I respect that. I try to educate myself as best I can. What was interesting was he mentioned he didn’t stake his keys because he replaces them from time to time. Also he mentioned if I plan on shooting 1000s of rounds to upgrade my key and gas tube. It was a higher concentrated steel or chrome perhaps (I really can’t remember) for the tube and key, but he said you can remove them for cleaning and boil them to get the carbon and crud out. He wasn’t condesending so I felt more informed by a different point of view and thought I’d share with everyone on here. Those of you who stake your keys do you replace parts from time to time and restake? Seems like a lot of wear and tear on the BCG.
He may be the nicest guy in the world but when it comes to the AR, he is as wrong as two boys fv%(ing.
Seriously, he is way full of crap.
Don’t listen to him.
I’ve had a Colt SP1 and an H-Bar since the early 1980’s.
Each has countless thousands of rounds thru them.
I never had a problem with either Bolt/Carrier or Key.
Both are staked properly.
All they need is routine cleaning. Just stick a pipe cleaner
in the gas tube entry hole to clean the inside.
I am never ceased to be amazed at how gun shop guys (most, don’t want to generalize) seem to just have to try to trump EVERYONE that might toss an opinion or idea they have never heard of and disagree with it, just because they are on the other side of the counter.
The last straw was when I called a guy about 6920’s and he proceeded to tell me that he just had Bushmasters and that they were the best since the military switched to them for all their M4’s. I was speechless.
There is NO need to clean the gas key or gas tube. The pressure that the gases blast through these parts keeps them plenty clear.
Inspect the “bell” end of your gas tube (the male end that inserts into the gas key) occasionally to make sure it still has its “bell” shape. If it looks worn out, replace the entire gas tube as it can cause cycling issues relating to a loss of gas pressure at the gas tube/gas key interface.
Well i accomplished what I set out to do today…stake the key…which is good…I always read posts about shop owner indifferences concerning what should or shouldn’t be done…this time it happened to me…lol 
maybe I’ll just buy the Moacks and my own tools for future
yea, he’s not an institutionalized smith… might be a great guy, and might even have tons of “experience” with his and friend’s and customer’s ARs- but that doesn’t mean his perspective is better than the professional industry at large- his experience doesn’t refute the literally MILLION-rifle test sample of the DoD… the key should be staked.
The only time I have replaced the actual key itself is when the lips got damaged from an improperly aligned gas tube or someone dropping it or other shenanigans. Otherwise they should last a long time. And yes, you should have it properly staked.
Most “gunsmiths” can work on 10/22’s and Joe Bobs 870 but haven’t a clue when it comes to the AR FOW.
I’ve sectioned a couple carriers, probably 4-5 gas tubes, and several carrier keys. Never saw any buildup in the tubes. Maybe just the tiniest ridge of caked-up stuff in the key right where the tube stops when it telescopes into the key, what I would describe as the area that is not in the direct stream of gas. This minimal buildup does not in any way restrict flow. It all does appear to be “self cleaning” in these areas. I don’t see any need to clean either the tube or the key, although I will admit that your humble writer, Mr. Obsessive Gun Cleaner, does usually manage to get the inside of both soaked in whatever is being used at the moment.
Most everything you were told was either false or not needed to be done.
To date, I have only seen ONE gas key that needed to be changed out. What that means is that the gas key needs to be staked so it NEVER comes loose.
Remember that there are at least 4 different type of AR shooters. They are:
- Plinker
- Safe Queen
- Competition
- Tactical
Only one (maybe two) of these groups look at the AR and realize that it is a defensive tool and it not going bang (because their gas key came loose) is UNACCEPTABLE!
Your gunsmith does not fall under the the one group that holds reliability above all else.
C4