ar15 gas block

rhs77430 · February 25, 2012, 08:39 PM

hey so i have a DoubleStar StarCAR heavy barrel 16" carbine. I was wondering what gas block i could replace the a-frame front sight with. i want a low gas block with rails, or just a gas block without rails, but no front sight. suggestion? I don't know what diameter i need either. is it .937" .750" or .625" ? also, I need to know how to install it once i get it. or how much i should expect to be charged for installation by a gunsmith?

gunmoney · February 25, 2012, 10:19 PM

Larue, Troy, PRI, Yankee Hill, and it is most likely .75.

DnPRK · February 25, 2012, 10:26 PM

Measure the barrel diameter where the existing front sight based is pinned.
I like clamp-on gas blocks.
http://www.egwguns.com/gas-blocks/ar...picatinny-top/
or
http://www.egwguns.com/gas-blocks/ar-gas-block/

rhs77430 · February 26, 2012, 03:33 PM

so clamp on is better than set screws?

ihctractor · February 26, 2012, 04:07 PM

Yes, clamp on tightens around the whole barrel vs. set screws that tighten in one spot. Clamp on holds better and won't leave set screw marks in the barrel.

Mobuck · February 26, 2012, 08:51 PM

Cut the sight tower off the current gas block, grind to contour, smooth the edges, and blacken the bare aluminum with a sharpie=15 minutes with a Dremel and a marker.

rhs77430 · February 27, 2012, 12:34 AM

can i do that? that seems ghetto as ****

Ridge_Runner_5 · February 27, 2012, 12:42 AM

You CAN do that, but I'd advise against it. If you decide to change your mind, you can put your factory one back on no problem. If you cut it down, you might need to get the holes reamed for a new gas block.

rjrivero · February 27, 2012, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobuck

Cut the sight tower off the current gas block, grind to contour, smooth the edges, and blacken the bare aluminum with a sharpie=15 minutes with a Dremel and a marker.

Front sight block isn't aluminum. Should be forged steel. You can cut it down, and smooth it, and then cold blue or even Rustoleum oven paint it. A rifle without iron sights isn't really worth much, in my personal opinion.

rhs77430 · February 27, 2012, 01:05 PM

it will have iron sights, i'm going to put a quad rail on it, it will be slightly shorter sight radius, but going to put flip up front sight at front of rail, buis on back of rail, eotech in between, and vertical grip on the quad rail

thesheepdog · February 27, 2012, 01:21 PM

the daniel defense clamp on is the best I have used to date.
Get some rocksett too to hold the screws in.

Destructo6 · February 27, 2012, 02:53 PM

I cut down my front sight base to fit under some free-floating 10" handguards. Used a Dremel cutoff whell for the major work, then a file and Dremel sanding drum for most of the final work. A Dremel buffing wheel finished it off smooth. Finally, I sandblasted the whole deal.

I refinished the sight base and barrel with a bake-on finish from Brownells or such.

This worked extremely well and the price was right.

Crow Hunter · February 27, 2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

it will have iron sights, i'm going to put a quad rail on it, it will be slightly shorter sight radius, but going to put flip up front sight at front of rail, buis on back of rail, eotech in between, and vertical grip on the quad rail

So why take it off at all?

You are removing the most durable/repeatable front sight out there and replacing it with a folding front sight with a shorter sight radius?

I could see it if you were going with a magnified optic or getting exended (rifle) handguards that will go way out over the front sight and give you an extended sight radius, but an Eotech and a carbine handguard?

Why do you want to remove your front sight? With an Eotech you are going to have a "lower 1/3" cowitness anyway, so your dot will be over the front sight base.

Before you get carried away, you should probably try it out 1st.

You should be shooting with both eyes open looking at the target, and just putting the dot on the target. Unless you have some type of wierd eye problem, you won't even be able to see the front sight if you are doing it right. Just like putting your right hand over your eye with both eye open, you "see through" your hand.

I have a standard FSB with my Aimpoint, and I don't even notice it.

As a matter of fact, I have a fixed Larue rear sight.

I find it is very useful to drop down a little bit and verify that my "dot" still matches my sights.

(The same thing with that forward grip, you will probably realize it is extraneous as well.)

DnPRK · February 27, 2012, 10:52 PM

If you plan to install a free floating rail, you will need to completely remove the front sight base to swap the barrel nuts. This means the existing front sight pins will have to be driven or drilled out. Failing that, you'll have to cut the sight base off.

rhs77430 · February 28, 2012, 12:20 AM

eh, i hate being able to see the front sight in the sight picture of the eotech, i know it sounds whiny but i just don't like it. And im not dead sure about the eotech either might go with a magnified option. either way, i just dont like having a front sight that is in the way, rather have it as a backup, but not always in my sight picture

February 25, 2012, 08:39 PM	#1
rhs77430 Member Join Date: February 21, 2012 Location: warrensburg, mo Posts: 16	ar15 gas block hey so i have a DoubleStar StarCAR heavy barrel 16" carbine. I was wondering what gas block i could replace the a-frame front sight with. i want a low gas block with rails, or just a gas block without rails, but no front sight. suggestion? I don't know what diameter i need either. is it .937" .750" or .625" ? also, I need to know how to install it once i get it. or how much i should expect to be charged for installation by a gunsmith?

February 27, 2012, 01:21 PM	#11
thesheepdog Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2010 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 1,996	the daniel defense clamp on is the best I have used to date. Get some rocksett too to hold the screws in. __________________ Krav Maga/Judo Qualified Rifleman/Marksmanship Instructor/Lic. Medic "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" Romans 8:1

February 27, 2012, 02:53 PM	#12
Destructo6 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 1999 Location: Nogales, AZ USA Posts: 4,000	I cut down my front sight base to fit under some free-floating 10" handguards. Used a Dremel cutoff whell for the major work, then a file and Dremel sanding drum for most of the final work. A Dremel buffing wheel finished it off smooth. Finally, I sandblasted the whole deal. I refinished the sight base and barrel with a bake-on finish from Brownells or such. This worked extremely well and the price was right. __________________ God gave you a soul. Your parents, a body. Your country, a rifle. Keep all of them clean.

February 25, 2012, 10:19 PM	#2
gunmoney Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2005 Posts: 381	Larue, Troy, PRI, Yankee Hill, and it is most likely .75.

February 25, 2012, 10:26 PM	#3
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	Measure the barrel diameter where the existing front sight based is pinned. I like clamp-on gas blocks. http://www.egwguns.com/gas-blocks/ar...picatinny-top/ or http://www.egwguns.com/gas-blocks/ar-gas-block/

February 26, 2012, 03:33 PM	#4
rhs77430 Member Join Date: February 21, 2012 Location: warrensburg, mo Posts: 16	so clamp on is better than set screws?

February 26, 2012, 04:07 PM	#5
ihctractor Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 78	Yes, clamp on tightens around the whole barrel vs. set screws that tighten in one spot. Clamp on holds better and won't leave set screw marks in the barrel.

February 26, 2012, 08:51 PM	#6
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Cut the sight tower off the current gas block, grind to contour, smooth the edges, and blacken the bare aluminum with a sharpie=15 minutes with a Dremel and a marker.

February 27, 2012, 12:34 AM	#7
rhs77430 Member Join Date: February 21, 2012 Location: warrensburg, mo Posts: 16	can i do that? that seems ghetto as ****

February 27, 2012, 12:42 AM	#8
Ridge_Runner_5 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,925	You CAN do that, but I'd advise against it. If you decide to change your mind, you can put your factory one back on no problem. If you cut it down, you might need to get the holes reamed for a new gas block.

February 27, 2012, 01:05 PM	#10
rhs77430 Member Join Date: February 21, 2012 Location: warrensburg, mo Posts: 16	it will have iron sights, i'm going to put a quad rail on it, it will be slightly shorter sight radius, but going to put flip up front sight at front of rail, buis on back of rail, eotech in between, and vertical grip on the quad rail

February 27, 2012, 10:52 PM	#14
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	If you plan to install a free floating rail, you will need to completely remove the front sight base to swap the barrel nuts. This means the existing front sight pins will have to be driven or drilled out. Failing that, you'll have to cut the sight base off.

February 28, 2012, 12:20 AM	#15
rhs77430 Member Join Date: February 21, 2012 Location: warrensburg, mo Posts: 16	eh, i hate being able to see the front sight in the sight picture of the eotech, i know it sounds whiny but i just don't like it. And im not dead sure about the eotech either might go with a magnified option. either way, i just dont like having a front sight that is in the way, rather have it as a backup, but not always in my sight picture