After long wait, i finally picked up my First AR. Plus extra 30rds Mags, and load of XM193 ball ammo
As advised, first thing i did was i took it apart to check the Gas Key staking, and i donno if this is good or bad.
can someone look the pic below and tell me if this is good staking ot not, and if not, what do I need to fix it?
It is not staked properly. You are welcome to send it to me for proper staking.
C4
darn… well, is it safe to shoot few rounds since i waited … well, i waited since 1996 to get one?
Or should I send it out and get it statked BEFORE shoot this thing?
Well we fired our dept. BM’s between 1000-2000 rounds before we started having issues with loose keys. This was back in 2000 and your keys look like they tried to stake em half arsed…ours were not even touched at all and worked ok for awhile.
Go ahead and shoot it and then send me the BCG.
C4
Does anyone have any pics of a properly staked gas key?
Here’s one example, this was done with a MOACKS tool (staking tool made by Ned Christiansen)
Here’s a Colt carrier (factory side stakes, two top counter stakes done by a P-MOACKS)
If I am not mistaken, the carrier key needs to be staked into the metal of the hex screws.
From the looks of the BM the carrier key is only touching the hex screws.
I remember when we had problems in 2002 BM service told us " No need to stake them just use loctite #271"…that held for about a year to 18 months depending on the weapon.
Mity2 and Whoever He Sends this to to Be Re-staked,
Could you do a favor in the pursuit of AR science? Instead of just dropping it in a MOACKS and staking it, could you remove the existing screws with a torque wrench and report back at what in-lbs / ft-lbs the screws gave way?
It’s clear that not nearly as much metal is displaced compared to a MOACKS, but the screw heads are knurled and it appears that even with this “weak” staking, that the key is engaging the knurled heads. I’m just very curious how much force it will take to break this stake job. If it’s a dollars thing I’ll even spring for replacement fasteners for Mity2’s key.
or just replace it with a Bravo?
I have a brand new Wiha inch/pound torque wrench JUST for doing gas key installations. If Mity2 sends me his BCG, I will be able to tell exactly how much torque it takes to remove the screws.
C4
Cool.
Mity2,
Take Grant up on his offer. I had him restake my BM carrier and the stakes are improved. I never had problems with the factory stake job, but just to be on the safe side I had Grant perform the restaking.
I think it would be very telling to see how much (or how little, I really have no idea how this would end up) force is required to remove the factory-staked screws.
I stake any carrier that comes through my shop if it does not look like a good staking job already.
I did a Bushmaster today that looked JUST like the one pictured above.
The MOACKS is your friend.
Just do it!
Looks like some staked mine with a hammer and nail. How much do you guys charge to properly stake.
Got a hammer ? Got a punch? The tool these guys are using are nice but they are doing alot of them and it makes sence but for a guy that has one to do a hammer and punch are all you need.
Heres what I do. I check it to make sure the bolts are tight then stake them. If it had come loose take the bolts out and clean the mating surfaces reinstall the screws and torque and then stake. Its really not that hard to do. Ten minute job.
$5 plus shpping back.
C4
Probably an automatic center punch.
i agree !! it would be nice to have a huge vise (mine is, 80lbs) and brass plates over the jaws, good center punch and a 2 lb. ball peen hammer, i have done 5or6 and they are in forever ! 
gotm4, thanks for the pics…