AR gas tube problem?

[LouisvillePatriot]

My AR is throwing a flash or spark from under the forward handguard. Picatinny railed forearm, carbine length gas tube. You can occasionally see (and feel) a flash or good sized spark shoot out from in there somewhere.

What's going on here? Any thoughts as to what would cause this? Problem with the gas tube? Can tell b/c it happens so fast and is gone.

Functions ok except for getting a stuck Wolf case every now and then. Brass cycles great.

 

[sgreen3]

Did you remove or replace your gas block?

 

[LouisvillePatriot]

nope. Haven't touched it. Have about 3k - 4K rounds through it.

 

[sgreen3]

Sounds to me a new gas tube is in order. Others may chime in but thats the way id be leaning to. Remove your handgaurd an see if the tube is loose or has holes or ne thing in it

 

[Fordtough25]

Yea remove your handguard and maybe you will be able to see where it's really coming from for sure.

 

[LouisvillePatriot]

That's what I was afraid of. And of course I don't have an extra carbine length gas tube just laying around. Strangely though I have a midlenth tube but no gun to put it on.

 

[LouisvillePatriot]

Ford, just tried to PM you but it tells me i need at least 15 posts first. So, PM incoming in a few minutes. Let me work on this post count.

 

[LouisvillePatriot]

So, anyone have experience with a gas tube doing this? Is it going to blow up if I keep shooting it or just start having malfunction problems?

 

[Lock n Load]

So, anyone have experience with a gas tube doing this? Is it going to blow up if I keep shooting it or just start having malfunction problems?

Eventually enough gas will escape and you will have fuctioning issues, ie short stroking, FTE etc...... its an easy replace, and a cheap part (under $10), order it with a few other small items (spare firing pin, springs, armorer tools etc...) to save on shipping.

They even sell a tube removal tool that does come in handy, especially if you want to pull one (w/o bending it) and want to reuse it.

HTH,

 

[excursion12]

What is your front gas block? Standard FSB or did you run the rail out over it and use a low profile one?

 

[LouisvillePatriot]

Its a low pro four sided pic rail sight block. This is ridiculous. I'm going back to my AK as my primary.

 

[Lock n Load]

Its a low pro four sided pic rail sight block. This is ridiculous. I'm going back to my AK as my primary.

Like any other weapon, its only as good as the sum of its parts, the assembler/ builder and the maintenance performed.....

Its an easy fix, dont give up.... was this purchased new or used with this gas block? Definately remove the handguards and see where the carbon is building up, that will show where the gas is escaping. Ill be surprised if its not at the gas block, maybe its just loosened after time, maybe the tube is fine.