Anyone have a high round-count with a factory BCM set screw gas block?

[ABNAK]

One of the blocks installed by BCM, not one you did yourself. Curious how they hold up over time and a few thousand rounds.

[Jwknutson17]

I have a few factory BCM 11.5 uppers in the 4-7k range. No issues. With the higher round count they become even harder to remove.

[ABNAK]

I have a few factory BCM 11.5 uppers in the 4-7k range. No issues. With the higher round count they become even harder to remove.

The carbon must cement them on there.

Good to know your experience. Thanks.

[jcalvert86]

I've had two uppers with 2500-3k rounds on each, no issues.

[Iraqgunz]

Please tell me that this is some kind of cruel joke?

[ABNAK]

Please tell me that this is some kind of cruel joke?

Actually I believe you guys (Sionics) use a similar technique from a conversation I had a while back with one of your people. It is simply a question regarding long-term/higher round count outcomes on gas blocks not pinned but instead dimpled, with knurled screws, and red Loctite applied. I've seen it mentioned here (likely as a matter of personal preference) that one's "go-to" gun should have a gas block pinned. I figure if there are enough guns out there with beaucoup rounds downrange set up in the [properly] non-pinned fashion then pinning may not be a prerequisite for a serious duty weapon. BCM is the best large vendor example of this, although Sionics is also a good reference.

[methical20]

SOPMOD II rifles (10.3" and 14.5") see a fair bit of abuse and have set screw gas blocks.

[seb5]

I've wondered the same thing. Both my go to carbine's uppers started as BCM's with standard FSB. I ground and contoured them and painted before putting on a 12" rail. I went this route because I knew they would stay in place and just didn't have enough experience with the others.

[Defaultmp3]

FWIW, from a conversation from Dave over at Defensive Creations:

If you don’t mind me asking, why are you pinning gas blocks? I know it seems to have become the norm but unless the weapon is going to be seeing seriously hard use (Full Auto) I personally think it is a bit overkill.

As long as a gas block is properly installed and the gun is maintained from time to time I personally have never seen one come loose. I have even gone as far as experimenting with aluminum gas blocks to shave a few onces of weight and never had one come loose.

I have been averaging between 8-12k a year in training and my rifles just run a double set screw gas block. Just an fyi.

[Wake27]

Was the filthy 14 not set screw?