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Thread: a couple of questions about AR15's

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    a couple of questions about AR15's

    I want to install a FF hand guard and gas block. My AR has an A2 sight/gas block. Should i replace the gas tube also?
    I also would like to build a 450 BM. Will i need to get a new bolt carrier? Or can i just replace the face on the carrier?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    Rcmaveric's Avatar
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    No need to replace the gas tube unless you replace the barrel with a differen gas port length/ distance. Just replace the gas block.

    You can just replace the bolt if needed. No need to replace the entire bolt carrier group. All bolt carriers are the same except in the case of piston vs gas or if you wanted a fancy coated one.

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  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
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    On the 450 question-- if I were to build a second upper for an AR, I much prefer to have it complete with its own bolt carrier group as opposed to swapping boltheads and using the same carrier with multiple uppers. It's only money.

    Having swapped a few gas tubes when I had a battalion armory; sometimes they come out easily, other times you destroy the tube removing it. To ensure ease of removal and reuse, have a new gas tube and pin on hand. If you do this you will have one to sit on the shelf and gather dust; if you don't Murphy will show up and you will find yourself ordering parts.

    Robert

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
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    You can use just a bolt head, but as said, you will get tired of swapping parts. And the big bores wont fit thru a standard ejection port, so would have to be opened up on anything sold as 5.56. I made a bolt, opened the face on a lathe, most will just have to buy one.

    Do yourself a favor, buy a couple extra roll pins for the gas tube, they get lost real easy and not something you can buy at a hardware store.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master gnostic's Avatar
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    I shaved my mil spec gas block with a Dremel tool, so it's forged steel and pinned on like original. I don't like the set screw types for the obvious reason and the gas block fits nicely under the handguard..

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master popper's Avatar
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    The BCG is like an engine piston/cylinder, use a complete assy, don't just change the bolt. Plus I don't like replacing the cotter pin either.
    Whatever!

  7. #7
    Boolit Bub
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    May 2016
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    Ocala, FL
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    Quote Originally Posted by gnostic View Post
    I shaved my mil spec gas block with a Dremel tool, so it's forged steel and pinned on like original. I don't like the set screw types for the obvious reason and the gas block fits nicely under the handguard..
    i did the exact same thing. It works perfectly. There are youtube videos on how to do this.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check