Adjustable Gas Block?

[fredhorace77]

I am in search of a good quality adjustable gas block for my AR-15. I am wanting to be able to control how far/hard the brass is thrown. Any recommendations...with or without a weaver rail is fine...just looking for a good quality and something that is easily adjustable.

 

[Jeff A]

I'm very happy with mine from JP Rifles.

 

[fredhorace77]

thanks for the reply...thats one of the ones ive been looking at....to my understandind adjustments are made via allen wrench, correct? In the event i switched loads I would likely have to make adjustments wouldnt I? What im getting at is would I have to carry an allen wrench with me all the time...does anyone make an adjustable block with a knurled knob that can be adjusted by hand in the field without any tools?

 

[jonbearman]

I havent seen one yet.I carry the wrench taped to the stock for now.

 

[Jeff A]

thanks for the reply...thats one of the ones ive been looking at....to my understandind adjustments are made via allen wrench, correct? In the event i switched loads I would likely have to make adjustments wouldnt I? What im getting at is would I have to carry an allen wrench with me all the time...does anyone make an adjustable block with a knurled knob that can be adjusted by hand in the field without any tools?

I have only changed loads once and that load had the the barrel time as my normal load. The rifle functioned normally. I carry a small Allen in my MIAD grip.

 

[Steve Blair]

Back in the early nineties, I developed a gas operated, caliber .50 BMG, semi-automatic rifle while working at a Southern California company and was showing the prototype at an ADPA Small Arms Systems Division Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. Gene Stoner stopped by and asked me to disassemble it. I did, he examined the mechanism and made a few comments. He eyed the user-adjustable gas block with distaste and asked if he could offer some advice. This was Eugene Stoner, designer of the M16, Stoner System, founder of Ares Intl. and a legend in small arms. [br]
I nodded and said, "Yes, sir, please do." [br]
Stoner told me, "Get rid of the adjustable gas system. The first thing users will do is turn up to full. So, you might as well just make it work that way." [br]
I followed Stoner's advice and eliminated it. Reduced the part count by three and seemed to make no functional difference. This anecdote does not apply to your reason for wanting adjustability but thought you'd get a kick out of Stoner's take on adjustable gas systems.

 

[BigDMT]

I'd like to get an adjustable system for my 6.8 SPC's. I haven't fired one of them, but the one I have fired seems to be throwing the cases too soon and leaving unburned powder in the barrel and chamber that causes the next round to jam. Of course it's throwing the cases really far too.

I haven't hand loaded for it yet. Only fired about half a box of cheap HSM factory ammo with those results. So the could just be the cheap ammo.

I have the dies and a few hundred brass. I suppose I should give her a whirl with handloads to see if the problem continues.

Any thoughts on that? Do you guys think an adjustable gas block could make a difference? ???

 

[Scott Harris]

I played with a couple adjustable gas blocks, now I just have standard ones. To control how your cases get tossed, you can trim the ejector. I also highly recommend David Tubbs Carrier Weight System, it softens the BCG action and makes my ARs purr.

I did not like the adjustable gas block because their only seemed to be two states: working and not. I had an infinitely adjustable one: used a set screw......found it to be worthless.

 

[Jeff A]

I did not like the adjustable gas block because their only seemed to be two states: working and not. I had an infinitely adjustable one: used a set screw......found it to be worthless.

Interesting. I have a JP unit and when the set screw is turned in, no gas, so a single shot. It took 4 1/2 turns out to achieve bolt lock back on the last round. In between these extremes, there was a definite difference in operation with the different screw positions. With this gas block the action is less harsh, brass is damaged less and the action stays cleaner. YRMV.

 

[fredhorace77]

hmmm. thanks for all the replys. got me thinking now. I definately don't want to waste money on a new gas block. just wanting to tame the brass ejection down. I will be doing alot of shooting from my truck and don't want to bust a window like one of my fellow shooters did. and I'm definitely not putting a bag on the side of this thing. those are uglier than that barrel nut on savages

 

[SteveNC]

SLR Rifleworks makes a good click adjustable gas block.

 

[M4Builder]

hmmm. thanks for all the replys. got me thinking now. I definately don't want to waste money on a new gas block. just wanting to tame the brass ejection down. I will be doing alot of shooting from my truck and don't want to bust a window like one of my fellow shooters did. and I'm definitely not putting a bag on the side of this thing. those are uglier than that barrel nut on savages

Then it's not going to be a gas problem so much as a ejector. They're made to throw brass like that for a reason. Don't want weak extraction and ejection causing jams. One way to avoid breaking a window if you are shooting out of the window of your truck is to get an upper receiver with out a brass deflector. Without that, the brass will go almost straight back into your shoulder.

 

[markr]

Me thinks you would be far better off adjusting/have adjusted your ejector......than fooling around with an adjustable gas block.

 

[fredhorace77]

I think playing with the ejector might be a good place to start. If it doesn't work its a cheap fix to bring it back to factory

 

[PDS]

You could try a David Tubb Carrier Weight System (CWS). It's not very adjustable, but it has worked well in my AR's controlling the brass ejection.

 

[racesnake]

If you want to adjust your ejector force, start by trimming the the ejector spring. It's simple and you don't have to resort to adjusting gas port pressure which is problematic at best.!