AR Pistol Gas Block / Rail Question

[bigdawg86]

So I have been building my AR pistol, and I am going to be using a 7.5inch raw stainless barrel /comp and hopefully raw stainless gas block. I was thinking about doing a shorty free float rail (undecided on brand) and having a railed gas block so I can actually see the stainless stuff.

When flipping through the AR pistol picture thread, I noticed that some gas blocks are the same height as the rail and some are not.

Is there a certain type of gas block that I have to use so I can have a continuous rail of the same height?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Munny$hot]

Rail height. You can also get a low profile gas block and get a rail that will cover it and just have the flash hider/brake stick out. Better looking IMHO. Also anything under a 10" barrel seem to have cycle issues. 11.5 is supposedly the shortest barrel that will fragment M193 out to 50 yrds IIRC

[wash]

I don't think I've ever seen a rail height stainless railed gas block.

It might exist but I haven't seen it.

In my opinion railed gas blocks are less than ideal, it's just an exposed piece that has sharp edges and can get really hot.

Of course I say that as a guy who has one (Adams Arms gas piston gas block, rail height but melonite coated steel, not stainless) on a 7.5" barrel AR pistol.

You probably will not get the rail of the gas block to match the plane of a quad rail, mine doesn't.

You may need to tune your gas system so I suggest a Kies, Sekins, PRI, JP or Syrac adjustable gas block under a carbine or maybe mid-length rail system. The best will depend on the rail setup you use.

If you want your upper to look really slick, a monolithic with the rail and upper joined as one piece will absolutely have all the top rail in the same plane.