[3404speed]

Anyone running a exposed gas block on their ar? I have a 10.5” pistol that im going to be putting a 16” spiral fluted stainless barrel on with a carbine length gas system (not because of the brace rule lol). Im planning on making it sort of a light weight carbine build and want to do something a little different. I have ordered a fortis low profile stainless gas block that i plan to polish some to match the sheen of the barrel. It has a cool top and bottom taper in the front that i thought would look pretty slick peeking out from the hand guard. Any reason why this wouldnt look good?

I found a place that has a Odin Works O2 Lite 7.5” handguard for $100 that i think would work out perfect, as best i can measure the 7.5” handguard will overlap about 1/4” at the rear of the gas block

 

[3404speed]

If it does over lap the rear of the G B by 1/4" it should protect your gas tube enough that it shouldn't be a worry and that would be the only worry if it saw rough handling, the reason I even say that is I'm a klutz hopefully you don't share that affliction.

yeah im going to try and get a better meaurement but i have a 10.5” pistol barrel now with carbine gas system, measuring from the rear of the fore end out 7.5” it is just over the rear of the current gas block. Also will probably be putting a low profile hand stop at the front to keep the hand from touching the gas block

 

[3404speed]

It currently has a complete bca 10.5” side charging upper but i bought a stripped bca side charging upper with bcg and side charging handle so i can keep the 10.5” upper complete.

 

[3404speed]

My two concerns would be protecting the gas tube, and your grip. With a 16" barrel I prefer to reach out on the hand guard to extend non-dominate arm. With such a short hand guard you are going to have a lot barrel out past your grip.

yeah i thought about that too, this will mostly be a range toy/cool factor carbine

 

[3404speed]

Ok guys i got the bear creek arsenal stripped upper in and i got the fortis stainless low profile gas block in along with a carbine gas tube. got the gas block and gas tube polished to match the sheen of the barrel. Also got a couple stainless set screws to replace the steel ones that came with the gas block, the stainless set screws i got were 1/4” long but were a little too long and stuck out past the gas block so i had to trim the heads down a little and had to do each set screw individually since the rear goes a little deeper with a dimple in the barrel, took me a little while but got them to be just about flush with the gas block when tightened.

i took a dremel with a metal fine point bit and bordered the inserts to give the gas block a milled look.

Of course my ocd since the gas block is going to be exposed i had to have stainless set crews that are flush with the gas block

heres where im at with the measurement of the handguard. Im thinking of going with a 7.5” handguard. That would put the handguard just over the rear of the gas block, enough to hide the gap between the gas block and the barrel but short enough to expose the entire gas block. My only options are either 7.5” or 8” but there isnt many options

 

[3404speed]

What yall think, i dont think it will look bad, should i go full exposed gas block with a 7.5” handguard or half exposed gas block with a 8” handguard?

 

[3404speed]

Go 8" and if you don't like it, cut it down?

thats what i thought too but theres only a few 8” guards available, one from bcm and another from midwest industries, both are around $150-175. There is a samson manufacturing 7.6” handguard i can get for around $100 and works with a mil spec barrel nut

 

[3404speed]

Im glad you guys arent as negative, i posted on the ar forum as well and although most responses were positive i got a few that were negative, one guy asked why i didnt get a gas block long enough to fit the entire gas block journal and why do i want to run a handguard that doesnt cover it up lol

i assume he is talking about this

 

[3404speed]

Anyone have experience with griffin armament handguards? They are running a killer sale. 7.5” handguard for $95 shipped.

 

[3404speed]

They make a good product for the price point. I don’t remember ever seeing a bad review about there products. I’m sure there are some, but the search I just did showed only good reviews.

yeah thats what i found too, i ordered the 7.5” griffin handguard. $95 shipped. Seemed to be the slimmest cleanest looking handguard for the price. Deff wouldnt of bought it at normal price lol

 

[3404speed]

W T F i swear i cant win for loosing, got the griffin armament handguard in and somebody has drilled and tapped the side of the handguard. Seriously! I think QC is slacking, barrel nut and hardware was sealed, but handguard was wrapped in plastic. Box appeared to have original seal on it. Im betting someone returned it and some lazy ass didnt bother to look at it and just packed it up.

 

[3404speed]

I would contact them and return it for exchange.

i called and left a message since email says 24-48 hrs for a response. hopefully will hear back from them tomorrow, i just dont understand how the hole even made it in there, the holes at the bottom where the screws go look like nothing has ever been in them. Some of their other handguards have a qd socket in them, i wonder if one of these ended up on the wrong production line and got a pilot hole for the qd socket

 

[3404speed]

It's definitely not a factory drilled and tapped hole. You hit it on the head. Someone returned it and the repacked and sold as new.

apparently it is

 

[3404speed]

I told them that the hole looked horrible and the threads dont look that great, gonna see what they say

 

[3404speed]

Although the threads dont look the greatest the set screw does fit and screw in so im gonna go for it. The stainless barrel nut was heat treated and was a bronze color so i got it polished tonight. Plan on installing the barrel tomorrow, getting the barrel nut torqued and getting the gas block installed.
Here it is mocked up

 

[3404speed]

Have you picked out a stainless muzzle brake or flash hider yet?

ive been looking at a couple but havent made up my mind

 

[3404speed]

Got the barrel installed along with the gas block. I ended up drilling and tapping another hole in the handguard on the opposite side of the hole griffin drilled and tapped. Figured why not two set screws for anti walk. Had to file down some stainless set screws to sit flush. Got the handguard semi installed without loctite until i get my muzzle device on. Not sure if i wanna keep it stainless on the muzzle device or go black.

 

[3404speed]

Looks great!
Some good looking brakes that I think would pop.
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View attachment 284370

Ive came across a few of those as well, i actually have been looking at the vseven micro brake. Only 1.25” long