AR15 canted low profile gas block - potential problem?

[stephewc]

I just received a new upper with a rail system and noticed that the gas block was slightly canted towards the 1 o'clock position. I don't have a picture of my upper, but I found one on google that represents what I am seeing:



NOTE: above is NOT my upper, but what I'm noticing is similar.

The rail is perfectly aligned and flush with the upper receiver. The barrel feed ramps are also aligned perfectly with the upper receiver. Gas tube seems to be straight as well. The only thing a bit off is the gas block cant.

Just wondering if this is something to worry about. I haven't shot it yet and will wait for feedback before I do. I've also emailed the company that I bought it from, but would like other people's thoughts.

[Munny$hot]

It should be ok but it is an easy fix if your upper doesn't cycle

[jbooker9]

You need to pull the rail off and align the gas block with the port. Who knows it may still cycle the way it is but is not ideal

[Voo]

It might be off center enough to not allow "sufficient" gas to come back thru the tube.. This may or may not be a problem when you go out and actually shoot it

If you want to fix it, you can pull the rail and reposition the low pro GB. Depending on how ur GB is actually mounted this may or may not be easy remedied.. If it's been pinned with a taper/cross pin then that will need to be re-drilled otherwise the GB will just get pulled off center again when you drive the pin in

Same possibility if it's mounted via set screws and the barrel was dimpled/drilled for the screw. If the drilled hole is off-center then it could pull ur gas block off-center when you tighten it.

If its just clamped then have at it.

If it were mine, I'd send it off to be centered and the holes to be redrilled properly.. Definitely a minor fix and it may not even be effecting the gun but it would bug me knowing that it might be cutting off the gas supply...

[Whiterabbit]

I'm no expert, but this is common sense talking:

IF you take it to the range, and everything cycles fine, you will learn something. No action needed, and you'll be fine.

IF it doesn't not cycle with absolute 100% perfection, you might decide to troubleshoot the cycling issue. This canted block may have NOTHING to do with the problem. But you will lose sleep over it, and you will take the time to ix it for no other reason than it COULD be the issue.

Then maybe you'll fix it, go back out, still have issues, and learn that it was something else afterall. That the canted block was never an issue.

Maybe.

That's a tough spot to be in, unless it always cycles just fine.

[Mossy Man]

Where'd you get it? Could also be the gas port was drilled canted so the block could be in fact correct.

Shoot it and go from there; keep an eye out for ejection pattern.

[2zero9]

Might be poorly installed like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUfJVuLN8MM

[stephewc]

Might be poorly installed like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUfJVuLN8MM

Definitely wasn't installed that poorly. I feel bad for the owner of that upper. As I said before, there is just a small, but noticeable cant. Everything else is perfect.

[CK_32]

Shoot it. If you see problems with feeding or ejecting fix that. If not leave it as it sits.

Also look for gas leak and bad fouling from that spot. If you see that also fix. If not leave it

[Kerplow]

Mine was pretty much the same way because of the dimple index. It works fine so I see no need to change anything.

[ar15barrels]

I just received a new upper with a rail system and noticed that the gas block was slightly canted towards the 1 o'clock position. I don't have a picture of my upper, but I found one on google that represents what I am seeing:

The amount of cant shown above would not cause an issue at all.
You would need to get almost 10 degrees off before you start impeding the gas flow.
The hole in the gas block is around 0.150".
The hole in the barrel is around 0.070"
You can usually move the gas block 0.040" in any direction before you start impeding gas flow.

[strongpoint]

if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[stephewc]

The amount of cant shown above would not cause an issue at all.
You would need to get almost 10 degrees off before you start impeding the gas flow.
The hole in the gas block is around 0.150".
The hole in the barrel is around 0.070"
You can usually move the gas block 0.040" in any direction before you start impeding gas flow.

Thanks for providing the specific numbers. I'll just shoot it and see if there are any issues that come up. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to cause any damage before I go out.

[beastie050]

Might be poorly installed like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUfJVuLN8MM

wow, that's a piece of work!

[coryhenry]

You would be surprised how forgiving these are...shoot it.