Adjustable gas block for a 16" carbine length rifle

[trvsAR]

Was curious of your guy's take on running an adjustable gas block on a carbine length rifle to simply cut off alittle gas to a rifle that is considered by most to be slightly over gassed?

Would you guys call this unnecessary fiddling with something that isnt broken? (honestly the response im most expecting lol)

A half decent idea considering mid length guns are much more popular these days?

Or something in between?

Thanks

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[kirkland]

If the gas port is sized right then it shouldn't be a problem.

[MistWolf]

I would do it simply for the experience. I learned a lot while experimenting with tuning my AR.

[1168]

Google “M4c sentry 7” or take a look at Black River Tactical’s offerings. I just ordered one of their EZTune gas tubes so I wouldn’t have to add moving parts to a gun I want to choke down a bit.

[markm]

I would definitely do it... assuming you don't have a fixed front sight base. Adjustable gas blocks work really well. You'll usually find only one setting that gets the gun running nice before the next lower setting starts to impact function. But that one setting is worth it.

[RobertTheTexan]

I’ll be that guy. I started out using SLR Sentry 7 and Wilson Combat adjustable GB on my SBR’s and precision AR’s. They work great until they don’t.

Since then my opinion on “go-to” rifles or HD/SD rifles is that an adjustable gas block introduces another point of failure that doesn’t exist with a low pro GB for example. If I had a fun, built only for fun - a range toy so to speak, then that might be different. I would agree that there is something to be learned from adjusting a gas block and seeing the impact the volume of gas has on type of bullet, .223 vs. higher pressure 5.56 for example. Or the impact it has on what happens on empty mag lock back, or when the bolt fails to extract. Definitely a learning opportunity and kinda neat to get your AR shooting as soft as possible. However I no longer view that as practical.

Ultimately, I have learned using a combination of things like barrel choice and an A5 buffer system can improve recoil impulse. Someone also taught me running a bead of high temp RTV along the “horseshoe” of the charging handle is a very inexpensive but efficient way to direct gas away from your face, when shooting suppressed, if that’s one of your goals.

I’ve shot one of BRT’s reduced port gas blocks. Shot it on a DD 11.5 (gassy SBR) and I won’t lie, that thing shot so flipping smooth it was like shooting a different rifle altogether.

So for me, it’s not worth it. There are possible some exceptions, but all my AR’s now use standard low-pro GB’s.


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[Nocalsocal]

Okay, I’ll bite .
What kind of failure did you experience? I know some adjustable gas blocks aren’t rated for full auto. Should I be worried if I strictly shoot in semi?



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[trvsAR]

Thanks for all the replies guys

It seems i should have specified some stuff

The rifle in question hasnt been malfunctioning and its not a go-to rifle in any way

I was thinking of installing a long rail on it anyways to try it out and see how i liked shooting a rifle set up that way

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[Clint]

Just to clarify a few concepts that are often conflated...


Proper gas drive and Optimal gas system configuration are two separate, but related things.


For example, a 16" CAR isn't necessarily overgassed; that depends on the gas port size.

But even if the gas port is correct, it will never be an Optimal configuration because the gas system is too short relative to the barrel length.

The only ways to make a 16" CAR barrel totally correct are to extend the gas system or shorten the barrel length.

Was curious of your guy's take on running an adjustable gas block on a carbine length rifle to simply cut off alittle gas to a rifle that is considered by most to be slightly over gassed?

The rifle in question hasnt been malfunctioning and its not a go-to rifle in any way

I was thinking of installing a long rail on it anyways to try it out and see how i liked shooting a rifle set up that way

[markm]

I’ll be that guy. I started out using SLR Sentry 7 and Wilson Combat adjustable GB on my SBR’s and precision AR’s. They work great until they don’t.

You've had Adjustables fail???