ar15 gas rings question

[norcal.xd]

hi i have a question about my ar. i was cleaning my ar and noticed that the gas rings on my bolt were spaced really close. i was wondering if anyone could tell me how far apart i should space the gaps in the rings? thanks

[slomofo]

When you say gaps, do you mean like how people gas the piston rings on their cars?

[Ahhnother8]

how far apart i should space the gaps in the rings?

120 degrees, no more, no less!!

[norcal.xd]

120 degrees, no more, no less!!

ok thanks.

[Ahhnother8]

ok thanks.

I was joking. It really does not seem to matter. Buy a one piece (3 coils) ring and then you never have to even worry about it.

[Merc1138]

I was joking. It really does not seem to matter. Buy a one piece (3 coils) ring and then you never have to even worry about it.

Aww come on, now you've got the poor guy sitting with a protractor trying to measure the angles to make sure they're all 120 degrees apart, heh.

[brando]

When I was a young lad going through basic training in the 80s, they told us to rotate the rings so that the gaps were evenly spaced. Some years later I learned that it really didn't make a difference and was more about giving Joe something to do.

[norcal.xd]

lol thanks

[trautert]

Make sure the gaps in the rings are equidistant. Now assemble the rifle, fire a couple of hundred rounds. Take the bolt out and check the rings. That's where they belong.

[Bentot]

As long as the gaps are not lined up, you'll be ok.

[supersonic]

I was joking. It really does not seem to matter. Buy a one piece (3 coils) ring and then you never have to even worry about it.

^^100%. The absolute "fool-proof" method (and the part that I put in ALL my customers' BCG's upon upgrade) is the McFarland Ring:http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=4...0001257_d_2504
...I have them in all my AR's as well. Tens of thousands of rounds later, zero problems. (Although most of us believe that "gapping" or "spacing the gaps" between the GI rings is unnecessary).

[thetaxman]

As long as the gaps are not lined up, you'll be ok.

Urban myth. Makes no difference. We've tried to induce failure and never could.

[Sydwaiz]

I had one fail not long ago. I have no idea how they were space though. It was on a DPMS titanium nitrided assy. My gun froze and I couldn't retract the bolt by hand. I finally saw a little piece of one of the rings sticking out one of the vent holes in the side of the carrier. Finally just yanked on the CH really effing hard and was able to free it up and get it fixed. Luckily I had extras with me. I guess one of the rings was lined up just perfectly with the vent hole and decided to try and escape from the pressure. IIRC it was the most rearward ring where the gas hits first.

[ADAM]

colt tech told me you have to change the rings once a year or 10.000 rounds always have some spares