Is Installing a gas block difficult?

[gl0ckc0ma]

On an AR, I have a front sight post gas block I want to replace with a low pro gas black due to optics.

As much as I love the look of the post, it just doesnt look right in front of the scope.

Any help and/or links would be appreciated.

Thanks

[cactus]

Its very easy.

[CIV Tactical]

^^^ it is very easy.
step1. Remove flash hider
step 2. tap taper pins out of front sight base and remove FSB
step3. install new gas block making sure your gas ports are aligned(very important) use threadlocker on the set screws.
step4. reinstall flash hider

step 5. have fun shooting
there are plenty of videos on the web that will show how this is done.
good luck. if i were closer I would help.

[Akers]

Use the right size punch and you will be just fine.

[SamsDX]

It's easy as everyone else has said, but there may be a few issues that you might encounter.

I've noticed this primarily with factory-built uppers, where the taper pins are installed very tightly making it difficult to punch out. Using one of these blocks (Brownells) and a little bit Kroil or PB-Blast soaking overnight, together perhaps with a little bit of heat from a heat gun would help loosen it up.

The other possible issue is that the taper pin hole is right where the low-pro gas block set screws are positioned. Ideally you would also dimple the barrel in alignment with the set screws, but if the pin hole is drilled through that location, there's no barrel material to dimple. Instead, you could opt to use a clamp-style gas block so you don't have to deal with that issue.

Still further, you could chop down the existing FSB and re-install it using the same taper pins. (Remember, the taper pins and the hole locations on the barrel and the FSB are specific to that particular combination of those parts, since the angle and position of the hole differs ever so slightly from one to the next). I'm guessing you don't have a free floated barrel if you have the standard FSB, but if you're contemplating new hand guards, a free-float type long enough to cover up the cosmetic imperfections of a chopped FSB might be worthwhile to consider. This way, you can also have the security of using the original pinned gas block.

[saki302]

If all you want to do is chop the original FSB, I'd leave it on. Just thickly tape up the surrounding area, cut slow, and clena up with a dremel or hand file.

If you do it right, it'll look like many of the low profile non rail FSBs they sell- as long as you never want to put a set of sights on it (a long enough free float handguard would probably cover it).

-Dave

[cactus]

Dont forget the gas tube pin. Personaly I usualy remove the fsb with the gas tube snd switch out the tube and pin on the bench.

[gl0ckc0ma]

Thanks for all the replies, I trully appreciate it.

Here is a pic of my AR, I really love the front sight post, but it just dont look right with a scope. What do you think, should I get a low gas block, or leave it the way it is?

The scope has since been changed from this Barska to a better Simmons and a Burris PEPR mount, but you get the idea.