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Old September 23, 2017, 06:16 AM   #1
simonrichter
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Can you operate an AR platform "manually only"?

Just out of curiosity: Is it possible to kind of shut the gas port and opterate an AR rifle as kind of a bolt action?
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Old September 23, 2017, 06:22 AM   #2
armoredman
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They do in England, have special bolt action ARs.
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Old September 23, 2017, 06:41 AM   #3
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Sure. I had one set up for NATO spec ammo. I shot a match with TULA and it was a single shot.
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Old September 23, 2017, 07:24 AM   #4
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I don't know why you'd want to do it, but, if you wish... remove the handguard, and then remove the gas block and tube. I wouldn't suggest obstructing the tube at the level of the chamber only since it would be unpredictable and could be quite dangerous.


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Old September 23, 2017, 07:25 AM   #5
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Remove the gas key?
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Old September 23, 2017, 09:13 AM   #6
HiBC
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Many match shooters load 80 gr + bullets and the length of the round exceeds the magazine box length.
They single load. I don't have or use one,but there is a "sled" device that facilitates this.

So you drop a round on the sled,hit the bolt release. Round is chambered and locked.Squeeze off. The round ejects and the bolt carrier stays to the rear,empty mag. Drop in another.

No modifications,full function. Seems like a workable system.
Advantage,you remain in shooting position.

I'm sure you can get an adj gas block or mod one to have a valve.

But you get more out of position to use an AR op rod.And,sling shotting your op rod causes wear .Easing it forward is not good,either.
Function is best using the bolt stop/release.

There are the Tubbs type rifles that are AR pattern bolt action rifles,but they are not truly AR's. They are bolt rifles configured as ARs

Last edited by HiBC; September 24, 2017 at 04:55 AM.
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Old September 23, 2017, 09:40 AM   #7
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Some guys use an adjustable gas block that includes an "off" position. It can be especially useful when shooting a suppressed AR. It eliminates the action and port noise.

Basically turns it into a straight pull bolt action
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Old September 23, 2017, 09:48 AM   #8
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Yep! when you eliminate the gas system it is a straight pull bolt action.
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Old September 23, 2017, 10:09 AM   #9
rickyrick
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Would be more convenient with a side pull bolt handle
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Old September 23, 2017, 07:41 PM   #10
Mobuck
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"Remove the gas key?"

Don't try this-really, really bad idea. 50,000 PSI coming down the gas tube into the receiver won't be fun at all.
Either remove and reverse the gas block or just move it far enough to occlude the gas port.
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Old September 24, 2017, 10:15 PM   #11
FrankenMauser
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I have an upper set up for manual cycling, using a barrel that was not intended for such.
I installed a gas block in a manner that seals the gas port. Now it's a straight-pull repeater, rather than a semi-auto.
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Old September 25, 2017, 01:22 PM   #12
hdwhit
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Quote:
simonrichter wrote:
Is it possible to kind of shut the gas port and opterate an AR rifle as kind of a bolt action?
A standard or normal AR-15 does not have an adjustable gas port and there is no valve in the arrangement that returns some of the propellant gas to the bolt to operate the action. So, no, there is no way to simply "shut" the gas port and make it a single shot rifle.

If shooting single shots is something you want to do, however, there are many ways to hobble the rifle to varying degrees in order to accomplish it. Most of these things, while possible are potentially dangerous and are not recommended.
  • Remove the gas block (not recommended).
  • Move the gas block so that it blocks the gas port.
  • Remove the existing gas block and install an adjustable one with a valve.
  • Get several magazines, load one round in each. After each round, the bolt will be held back and you can switch magazines before releasing the bolt.
  • Remove the gas tube (not recommended).
  • Block up the gas tube (not recommended).
  • Remove the gas key (not recommended).
  • Block up the gas key (not recommended).
  • Remove the piston rings from the bolt (not recommended).
  • Buy a bolt carrier specially modified to not cycle.
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Old September 25, 2017, 03:22 PM   #13
FrankenMauser
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Just to ease my mind, I wanted to make a point:

It isn't a single-shot, unless it is ONLY capable of handling one round at a time.
If it will still take a magazine, but doesn't automatically cycle the action, it's a manual repeater.
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Old September 25, 2017, 03:50 PM   #14
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If you have an adjustable gas block then you can shut it all the way and manually cycle it. without too much trouble you could take out the gas tube, drill and tap the gas block (when its removed from the barrel), and put a small bolt in it to keep gasses from coming out. or machine basically a gas block without the hole.


just ideas. not really useful ideas.
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Old September 25, 2017, 04:04 PM   #15
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I have made some 300 Whispers with no gas tube or gas port. They are 100% manual.

Put an extended Charging handle on them and they are about as fast as a good bolt action to reload. Leave the buffer and spring in, and the bolt closes itself.

Easy and fast
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Old September 25, 2017, 07:48 PM   #16
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My Adams Arms piston upper has an "OFF" position.
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Old September 25, 2017, 09:55 PM   #17
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I'm not an AR guy but I was watching GunGuyTV and a modified bolt catch would be the cheapest option.

Here's the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXfpkvjOv50
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Old September 26, 2017, 11:49 AM   #18
ocharry
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yep my ruger sr556 piston has an off position ,,,and a 1 AND 2 position also,,,,and with hornady 52gr ELD bullets it is way under min. accurate,,,,kinda all shots touching each other ragged hole accurate.....lol....just sayin...lol

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Old September 26, 2017, 12:02 PM   #19
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all this talk about removing gas tubes and gas keys ect.... Here's a much quicker solution . drive out the gas tube roll pin....rotate the gas tube 180 degrees...put the roll pin back in.
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Old September 26, 2017, 03:06 PM   #20
FrankenMauser
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Only specialty gas tubes are straight. In probably 99.999% of ARs, the gas tube has a dog-leg in it. If you flip it at the gas block, it interferes with the barrel at the other end.
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Old September 26, 2017, 04:20 PM   #21
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Troy makes pump action AR's, seems alot more efficient than pulling back the charging handle for each shot.

Cool feature on the Yugo SKS I just picked up is the gas shutoff switch. By switching it off it turns the gun into a single shot rifle and squeezes a bit more accuracy out of it.
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Old September 26, 2017, 08:28 PM   #22
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$40 solution.
https://tier5solutions.com/collectio...bolt-catch-mbc

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Old September 26, 2017, 11:27 PM   #23
O4L
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenMauser View Post
Only specialty gas tubes are straight. In probably 99.999% of ARs, the gas tube has a dog-leg in it. If you flip it at the gas block, it interferes with the barrel at the other end.
A buddy of mine managed to reinstall his gas tube 180° out of whack recently. It didn't interfere with the barrel but it sure looked funny.

He definitely had a single shot until I noticed it and told him what the problem was.
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Old September 27, 2017, 01:05 AM   #24
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I have 2 Ruger SR series rifles. A 556 varmint and a 762 AR-10. They both have adjustable gas systems that can be turned totally off. When off, it basically becomes a straight pull bolt action rifle where I would have to work the charging handle to extract, cock the hammer, and load the next round.

I have tried it just for kicks, but no reason to do it otherwise
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Old September 27, 2017, 06:29 AM   #25
Mobuck
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" Here's a much quicker solution . drive out the gas tube roll pin....rotate the gas tube 180 degrees...put the roll pin back in."
"Only specialty gas tubes are straight. In probably 99.999% of ARs, the gas tube has a dog-leg in it. If you flip it at the gas block, it interferes with the barrel at the other end."
"A buddy of mine managed to reinstall his gas tube 180° out of whack recently. It didn't interfere with the barrel but it sure looked funny."
I have to agree with FM on this, it's virtually impossible to install a dogleg gas tube 180* off. If bent enough to enter the hole in the upper, the gas key would hit the end of the tube.
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