All, I have always been taught that the way to test the gas rings on a bolt is to stand it on its end after you reassemble it. If it collapses, it's time for new rings. If not, you are good to go.
Is there another method? Am I wrong in thinking I need to replace them if they fail this test? I ask because the brand new BCG I have in a custom build failed this test after only about 500 rounds. The morning of the second day of Pat McNamara's TAPS class I decided to clean the BCG and re-lube just to be safe. It failed the test that morning. I had an extra BCG with me, but decided to run the "bad" one until it died. It continued to run (though the 2nd day was mostly handgun).
I contacted the manufacturer and this was the response I got:
"I have never heard of the test you describe as being a reliable way to test gas rings. We purchase our bolts from a government contractor so I wouldn’t think they would be defective. We do not make them. We pressure test our carrier assemblies at 150 PSI before we ship them out. If you have access to an air compressor you could pressurize the gas key to see if it functions the bolt in the carrier. You will need one of the air guns that have the rubber end so it seals in the end of the gas key. As always make sure the ring gaps are not lined up. If you don’t have this equipment all I can say is shoot it with one round in the magazine. The bolt stop should hold the bolt open on the face of the bolt and not the bottom of the carrier. Hope this helps."
I'm ordering new rings, but found it odd that they had not heard of this simple test, and that they perpetuate the myth that the rings need to be misaligned.
Thoughts?


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