Gunsmithing Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

[dlxcupid]

I just got my MA-TEN build done. Shot it for the first time today and I believe it's short stroking. It won't cycle at all. Shot 1 round at a time and it won't eject. I've checked my marks and the gas port should be lined up with the gas tube.

It's a LW-50 barrel @ 18" with rifle length gas. I don't really have a way of measuring the gas port but I stuck a 1/16 allen key in there and it's snug, if my math is correct, it's about .062" - .063". I've read that I need to be closer to .100" for a 18" barrel with rifle length gas.

Can anyone recommend me a smith who will work on a LW-50 barrel and have a decent turnaround time?

I'm in the St. Louis area if that helps. Thanks in advance!

 

[Jeff Crissman]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

Allen keys are measured across the flats, from corner to corner it will be larger, about .069 to .070

Do you have an adjustable gas block ?

 

[dlxcupid]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

yes, .750 JP low profile adjustable. I started with their recommended setting at 2 turns from closed. I back it out half turn at a time to where I only had 2 threads left. There was a point where I had a stovepipe. That was the most action I had. I used a JP captured spring buffer, then swapped out with a regular rifle length buffer spring and rifle buffer, no difference.

 

[toygunner]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

You need to be around .080-.085 on the gas port, in my experience.

 

[smschulz]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

The gas port is .093 (3/32) in both my rifle 223 and rifle length 308 Shilen barrels ~ both 20"
Use the blunt end of a drill bit and see how it fits.
Just drill it out.

 

[dlxcupid]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

My Google-fu leads me to believe that JP and Barrett uses .104 on their 18" barrels and WOA uses .108? Most people are reporting .093-.097. Regardless, my gas port being under .070 is not enough.

I ordered the barrel straight from Lothar Walther. I'm hesitant to send it back to them, I don't want to wait another 8 months to get my barrel back. Besides, from my experience with Woody over there, I probably wouldn't want to deal with him again.

Can anyone actually recommend me a smith that will do the work? Anyone ever dealt with ADCO?

 

[mattsnuked]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

Call Scott @ Specialized Dynamics

http://www.specializeddynamics.com/

 

[stockdoc]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

+1 on Specialized Dynamics. Scott is good people and will treat you right

 

[normbal]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

Two words: Drill press.

This is an easy fix. Tap out sight pins, pull sight, hand guards, clamp gun in drill press vise, use correct size drill bit to enlarge port. Go slow, mark drill bit with tape at proper depth, it's a ten minute job.

 

[dlxcupid]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

I thought of Scott but I hear he's swamped and I'd like to get it back fairly quick.

I do have the urge to drill it myself but I'm not too comfortable doing so, not my field so I don't know what I can fuck up. I've been a auto mechanic for about 10 years now and I'll drill into a block and heli-coil the headbolts because I know what I can get away with. I'm not gonna risk the chance of ruining a $500 custom ordered barrel when I know it can be done for about $50, again, I don't know enough about it to do so. Best leave it to someone who's done it a million times IMHO.

 

[Goin'Hot]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: normbal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Two words: Drill press.

This is an easy fix. Tap out sight pins, pull sight, hand guards, clamp gun in drill press vise, use correct size drill bit to enlarge port. Go slow, mark drill bit with tape at proper depth, it's a ten minute job. </div></div>

This really is the simplest answer. With your mechanical background and the fact that you have an adjustable block, you almost can't screw it up.

Good luck no matter which way you go.

 

[dlxcupid]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

You guys are killing me! I have all the tools to do it myself but unchartered territory scares me. I have an idea of how to do it the right way but uncertain if it is. It sounds like a simple job but not having done it before, ass cheeks are already puckered up just thinking about it.

 

[theogre_52]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

If you are nervous you might see if Brux will open it up for you. They are in WI.

I have no experience if they will or will not do it but it might be worth a try, I know they make ar barrels.

 

[smschulz]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dlxcupid</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You guys are killing me! I have all the tools to do it myself but unchartered territory scares me. I have an idea of how to do it the right way but uncertain if it is. It sounds like a simple job but not having done it before, ass cheeks are already puckered up just thinking about it.</div></div>

It's just drilling a hole ~ it doesn't get much simpler than that. 10 year mechanic ought to be able to do this.

 

[Bibs Machine]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

You could put the barrel in a vise to hold it,then put a cleaning rod or a alluminum rod that is close to the bore size in the barrel and leave it in the barrel while you ream out the hole.To ream the hole use a small hand held tap holder and start with a drill bit one size larger than the hole is now and go up one size at a time untill you get the size you need.Just go slow and use some cutting oil,the bit will follow the hole.Or you could use a drill press but you have to make shure that the hole is lined up straight up with your quill on your drill press,or it will break your drill bits.easy as pie!!

 

[normbal]

Re: Need a gas port opened up, recommend smith please.

Discupid, I didn't mean to give you a hard time over this.

I had a similar problem about 12 years back with a finicky upper on an M16. I had tried a hydraulic buffer, buffer with a sliding weight, different springs, even a pigtail gas tube - adjustables hadn't been invented or generally available yet - I finally figured I couldn't hurt the value of the gun if I fucked up the barrel. In my case, I could have bought another 11.5" barrel for under $100 so I just went at it with the method I - and several others - mentioned here, and fixed the problem. Eventually sold the gun.

It gets easier.