AR gas tube removal

alpineman · March 14, 2008, 02:39 PM

I've owned my Bushy AR for several years now, and I'm trying to get the hang of disassembly (beyond just stripping it for cleaning.) Right now I'd like to remove the gas tube and barrel from the upper receiver. I'm using the Bushmaster DVD as a guide. I've removed the roll-pin that holds the gas tube in place, but the tube won't budge -- it's like it's stuck in the front sight housing. I've tried dripping oil down the outside of the tube & wiggling it around to loosen it up a bit to no avail. I don't want to damage the tube by torquing on it too much, so time to stop and ask for help...

On the video, when the upper receiver is being assembled, the tube slides right in. I've put God knows how many rounds through it since having the tube replaced a few years ago. Could fouling have it stuck in place? Is there something I have to do other than removing the roll pin? What am I missing?

wjkuleck · March 14, 2008, 03:02 PM

Yup, it's "glued" in place by carbon. There's no delicate way to get it out, unless you have one of those gas tube tools from Brownells. You'll have to figure out how to grab (with pliers, Vise-Grips) the tube, wiggling and pulling rearward. Eventually it will come out. You may damage the tube, but the only reason to remove it is to replace it, right?

Regards,

Walt
—who's written a lavishly illustrated book on this as well as everything else involved in the AR-15/M16's assembly.

10-96 · March 15, 2008, 02:44 AM

Walt,
While we're on AR gas- lemme ask you this. My 6.8 Rem SPC 16" short strokes something awful with Hornady 115gr ammo. I realize this is less potent than the Rem ammo, but now I'm stuck with 180 rnds of the stuff to either fire single shot or to pull apart and reload with RS Exterminator(?) powder. I don't think I want to have my gas port opened up- Is there another way around this, such as swapping buffers or springs with a standard .223 AR? Can I remove one of those floppy things (weights) from inside the buffer?

gdvan01 · March 15, 2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

—who's written a lavishly illustrated book on this as well as everything else involved in the AR-15/M16's assembly.

Yup, have that one and the one for the Garand. Thanks, Walt!

Rottweiler · March 15, 2008, 08:40 AM

If you REALLY want to remove the gas tube. Spend the 20-30 bux and get the gas tube wrench from Brownells. Dang near impossible to hurt a gas tube with it. It looks more like a screwdriver with a "growth" on the tip than a wrench

March 14, 2008, 02:39 PM	#1
alpineman Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 227	AR gas tube removal I've owned my Bushy AR for several years now, and I'm trying to get the hang of disassembly (beyond just stripping it for cleaning.) Right now I'd like to remove the gas tube and barrel from the upper receiver. I'm using the Bushmaster DVD as a guide. I've removed the roll-pin that holds the gas tube in place, but the tube won't budge -- it's like it's stuck in the front sight housing. I've tried dripping oil down the outside of the tube & wiggling it around to loosen it up a bit to no avail. I don't want to damage the tube by torquing on it too much, so time to stop and ask for help... On the video, when the upper receiver is being assembled, the tube slides right in. I've put God knows how many rounds through it since having the tube replaced a few years ago. Could fouling have it stuck in place? Is there something I have to do other than removing the roll pin? What am I missing? __________________ Alpinespew http://www.alpinespew.blogspot.com/

March 14, 2008, 03:02 PM	#2
wjkuleck Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 1,220	Yup, it's "glued" in place by carbon. There's no delicate way to get it out, unless you have one of those gas tube tools from Brownells. You'll have to figure out how to grab (with pliers, Vise-Grips) the tube, wiggling and pulling rearward. Eventually it will come out. You may damage the tube, but the only reason to remove it is to replace it, right? Regards, Walt —who's written a lavishly illustrated book on this as well as everything else involved in the AR-15/M16's assembly. __________________ Author, NEW! The M1911 Complete Owner's Guide The M14 and M1 Garand Complete Assembly Guides The M1 Garand Complete Assembly Guide The AR-15 Complete Assembly and (New 4th Edition) Owner's Guides

March 15, 2008, 02:44 AM	#3
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	Walt, While we're on AR gas- lemme ask you this. My 6.8 Rem SPC 16" short strokes something awful with Hornady 115gr ammo. I realize this is less potent than the Rem ammo, but now I'm stuck with 180 rnds of the stuff to either fire single shot or to pull apart and reload with RS Exterminator(?) powder. I don't think I want to have my gas port opened up- Is there another way around this, such as swapping buffers or springs with a standard .223 AR? Can I remove one of those floppy things (weights) from inside the buffer? __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

March 15, 2008, 08:40 AM	#5
Rottweiler Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2001 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 391	If you REALLY want to remove the gas tube. Spend the 20-30 bux and get the gas tube wrench from Brownells. Dang near impossible to hurt a gas tube with it. It looks more like a screwdriver with a "growth" on the tip than a wrench __________________ Texas - envied by lesser states since 1845

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