View Full Version : Anyone interested in a Hooded gas block FSB?
I've been working on this a while, because I personally don't like the winged blade front sight.
This is a crude prototype but if I make them in any quantity they will be cnc machined from 7075.
This unit compression clamps, for good reasons. It has M6x.75 threads for sight post so any AK/SKS post will work.
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Opinions wanted
Aluminum gas blocks plus threaded bolts holding said aluminum gas block in place is generally not looked at as durable or desirable. The hooded design is preferred by many shooters, but on a rifle where Optics are the norm and Iron sights are thought of as afterthoughts instead of the primary sighting system I'm not sure this will appeal to many folks, along with the aforementioned durability concerns.
Velocitas, Opprimere,
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I understand what your'e saying, and i took that into consideration at the beginning, 3+ years ago.
Then i kept seeing aluminum railed gas blocks, and aluminum A2 copies, and even Ruger's AR556 has an aluminum front A2 style sight.
The design is preferred for sure, it's a far superior sight than the winged post.
Hence the reason military rifles have used the front hooded post / rear aperture since the 1800s.
But still glass breaks and batteries run dead and in a SHTF scenario, or even competition where iron sights are the rule, it seems a better front sight for the AR15 platform would be accepted by quite a few. And then theres that EMP thing......
Got this prototype out for a test run of 120 rounds, and the gas system functioned flawlessly and the accuracy was great. The bottom left 10 shot group was the final 10 rounds of 120 / 1.2".
The gun used is a basic m4, basic m4 contour barrel, 1/9 twist, pmc 55 gr ammo and a cheap CAA rear carry handle sight.
65975
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Great-Kazoo
06-28-2016, 09:03
What's the number of units to make the run worthwhile / cost effective ?
What's the number of units to make the run worthwhile / cost effective ?
to be truly cost effective, i would buy extrusion and for the die and first run might be 1500.00+ but that would make a lot of them.
How hard would it be to make one that attaches directly to Picatinny M1913 Rail? The general trend in AR-15's is extended float handguards.
Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi
Great-Kazoo
06-28-2016, 15:23
to be truly cost effective, i would buy extrusion and for the die and first run might be 1500.00+ but that would make a lot of them.
That's a lot of inventory to have to worry about selling, depending on price point.
SA Friday
06-28-2016, 17:26
Aluminum gas block is a bad idea. We see them blow out all the time.
Aluminum gas block is a bad idea. We see them blow out all the time.
I was waiting for one of you guys to weigh in.
Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi
How hard would it be to make one that attaches directly to Picatinny M1913 Rail? The general trend in AR-15's is extended float handguards.
Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi
That's where i'm trying to be different. There are several flip up and non flip up rail mounted hooded front sights on the market.
That's a lot of inventory to have to worry about selling, depending on price point.
Yes it is, it's a 2-3k gamble really, that's why I wanted your opinions.
I've heard. What exactly do you mean 'blow', do they just blow apart or???
One reason I thought that may be a minor issue is Ruger and their new AR556 aluminum FSB. ???
SA Friday
06-29-2016, 10:02
I've heard. What exactly do you mean 'blow', do they just blow apart or???
One reason I thought that may be a minor issue is Ruger and their new AR556 aluminum FSB. ???
The blow a hole out the side. They all ablate near the gas port and eventually fail from the ablation if they don't rupture from the pressure first.
Well, since I'm a full leg in... The clamp won't work either. Al with steel screws as it heats up will loosen. Even the steel clamp-on blocks are problematic.
The blow a hole out the side. They all ablate near the gas port and eventually fail from the ablation if they don't rupture from the pressure first.
Well, since I'm a full leg in... The clamp won't work either. Al with steel screws as it heats up will loosen. Even the steel clamp-on blocks are problematic.
Clamp on is working fine on the SKS front sight i make all over US and Canada. It's the same basic design made from alum. extrusion and 2 8-32 socket head cap screws.
65987
But that's why I'm asking you guys....
Obviously the heat generated by an AR barrel and the gas heat combined may make it too much ?
Anyone having problems with the Ruger AR556 FSB?
It's alum. but it's pinned.
Still it's alum. and will expand more than steel.....
SA Friday
06-29-2016, 23:34
Clamp on is working fine on the SKS front sight i make all over US and Canada. It's the same basic design made from alum. extrusion and 2 8-32 socket head cap screws.
65987
These are just clamp on sights. What you have on the AR is a gas elbow that just so happens to have a sight on top of it. Heat transfer is totally different.
SA Friday
06-29-2016, 23:48
Anyone having problems with the Ruger AR556 FSB?
It's alum. but it's pinned.
Still it's alum. and will expand more than steel.....
Yes... The only two aluminum gas blocks on DI ARs I have not seen fail yet are on rifle length systems and are the JP adjustable and the one WOA uses on their heavy barrels. They both will show ablation if taken off and inspected after a couple thousand rounds, but the same on a carbine system will fail.
Make one. Install it like you have. Test it to failure and document what you find after disassembly and inspection along the way to failure. Should be interesting.
hurley842002
06-29-2016, 23:55
Make one. Install it like you have. Test it to failure and document what you find after disassembly and inspection along the way to failure. Should be interesting.
This is the best course of action IMO...
Sound like good advice guys, thanks
I'm going to make a new prototype with 1" thickness at the gas area and test, test, test....
FWIW this is a picture of Rugers plastic threaded delta ring. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160706/6ec285624b758387afddd58470fe33c8.jpg
Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi
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