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What's a GAS BLOCK on an AR-15?

mljackso
I am totally new to AR-15s. What the hey is a GAS BLOCK? Its Purpose is _______________________. Thanks for helping, all you AR-15 gurus.....
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • fastcarsgofast
    It's the part that syphons gas from the barrel to go down the gas tube to cycle the action.
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  • mljackso
    Is it that object just past the forearm, wrapped around the barrel? (See pic below.)

    pix143982593.jpg
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  • asphalt cowboy
    Cant tell by your pic. The section with the rail on top may be it, or the one in front of it. It'll be the one with the stainless steel tube entering the back of it.
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  • shoff14
    yes
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  • nmyers
    Also known as a "front sight base".

    Neal
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  • mljackso
    All: your help is much appreciated....
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by nmyers
    Also known as a "front sight base".

    Neal


    Well, just to be absolutely clear, on STANDARD AR-15 type guns the gas block is part of the front sight base, but this is not true of every AR-15 type gun.

    Many "flat-top" AR-15 types don't have a front sight base at all because they don't have a front sight.

    A few AR-15 types do have a front sight base that is entirely separate from the gas block.

    As mentioned, the gas block is just that, its a blocky piece of metal that wraps around a hole in the front of the gun barrel, and its function is to channel gas from the barrel into the gas tube, to cycle the guns action.

    Here are a few pictures of gas blocks to give the idea:

    ar15_gas_block_1210_large.jpg

    freefloat24b.gif

    STAG%20ARMS%20gasblock.jpg
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  • quickmajik
    As Beantown says a gas block and an FSB(front sight base) are two sepreate things.

    front sight base
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=158660268

    folding front sight base
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=158079027

    Picatinny gas block
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=158826792
    Low profile gas block
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=158902351

    the the last two are gas blocks because they are not sights.

    the PGBs require an add on front sight.

    the Practical uses of LPGBs is to be as close to the barrel as possible so that you can A)mount long sight radious micrometer match sights/ B)put a long free floating tube over them.
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  • mljackso
    I think I am going to get a lot of enjoyment out of ARs. They are so easily customizable! When the wealth redistributors show up, I will be ready....ha....
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  • drobs
    quote:Originally posted by mljackso
    I think I am going to get a lot of enjoyment out of ARs. They are so easily customizable! When the wealth redistributors show up, I will be ready....ha....


    [8D]
    Barbie_for_Men.jpg
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