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Anyone have issues running a non-BA Hanson Gas Block on BA Hanson Barrel???? - Printable Version

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Anyone have issues running a non-BA Hanson Gas Block on BA Hanson Barrel???? - RattleAkAk - 03-04-2022

I have a 16" BA Hanson Midlength Gas 6.5 Grendel barrel that has always ran like a sewing machine since I got it. The rifle has gone through a rebuild and I replaced the pinned gas block that it came with, with a Geissele Super Gas Block. Took it to the range today and short stroke city, no lock back, refused to strip a fresh round from the mag etc. I swapped lowers, bolts, mags, ammo etc. to isolate the issue, its definitely being choked out. I am meticulous in my rifle building and am 100% confident that the gas block was aligned properly, gas tube installed correctly and not obscured. I broke the rifle down and compared the Geissele gas block with the BA Hanson one and the gas port on the Geissele is noticeably farther from the "shoulder" than the BA one. I have since reinstalled the BA Hanson gas block and will take it to the range ASAP. I just wanted to see if anyone else has had issues running a non BA Hanson gas block on these barrels. I have attached a crude illustration of what I observed, as I didn't write down the measurements I took with my calipers.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18708[/ATTACH]

UPDATE 3/18

So after swapping the Geissele Super Gas block out for the one that came on the barrel the problem got better, however the rifle would still not lock back. I had a Geissele H1 w/ Super 42 spring in it and tried a carbine buffer and spring and that didn't fix the problem. I was running a brand new Toolcraft carrier with a new JP Enhanced bolt. The only way I could get the gun to lock back was swapping back to the original Brownells BCG and carbine buffer and spring I was using before the rebuild. I ended up grabbing a .076 reamer and opened up the gas port. The gun runs like a sewing machine again with the Geissle H1 and Super 42 spring, as well as the Toolcraft carrier and JP bolt. Looks like I was another victim of an under gassed BA Hanson barrel.


Anyone have issues running a non-BA Hanson Gas Block on BA Hanson Barrel???? - montana - 03-04-2022

RattleAkAk Wrote:I have a 16" BA Hanson Midlength Gas 6.5 Grendel barrel that has always ran like a sewing machine since I got it. The rifle has gone through a rebuild and I replaced the pinned gas block that it came with, with a Geissele Super Gas Block. Took it to the range today and short stroke city, no lock back, refused to strip a fresh round from the mag etc. I swapped lowers, bolts, mags, ammo etc. to isolate the issue, its definitely being choked out. I am meticulous in my rifle building and am 100% confident that the gas block was aligned properly, gas tube installed correctly and not obscured. I broke the rifle down and compared the Geissele gas block with the BA Hanson one and the gas port on the Geissele is noticeably farther from the "shoulder" than the BA one. I have since reinstalled the BA Hanson gas block and will take it to the range ASAP. I just wanted to see if anyone else has had issues running a non BA Hanson gas block on these barrels. I have attached a crude illustration of what I observed, as I didn't write down the measurements I took with my calipers.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18708[/ATTACH]

If all things are equal it sounds like your gas block port and barrel gas port are not lined up. Some gas blocks are made to fit against the barrel shoulder and others to fit with the hand guard retainer. This is why gas block ports can be drilled differently.. In any case it is best to measure for proper port alignment. It is easy to get the measurement from the gas port to the barrel shoulder and the same for the inside gas block port to the outside of the gas block to get proper alignment. If the gas block port and barrel port are lined up and it continues to short stroke, then the barrel journal could be undersized for the new gas block or vise versa. The barrel journal and gas block needs a fairly tight fit to prevent gas leakage.. Leakage can occur with a different gas tube, the gas tube fit in the new gas block or the gas tube fit to the gas key..If your Geissele gas block is the screw type, I would recommend dimpling the barrel under the gas port for your set screw. SLR makes an excellent jig for dimpling the barrel for proper gas block alignment. You have to order the correct size for a standard .750 barrel journal or the .625 used in many pencil barrels.https://slrrifleworks.com/750-dimpling-jig/ If the new gas block uses a pin, then the pin channel in the barrel and gas block pin hole may be different. This can cause the gas ports to not align properly.. The best and sure way to verify port alignment is with a bore scope.


Anyone have issues running a non-BA Hanson Gas Block on BA Hanson Barrel???? - RattleAkAk - 03-04-2022

montana Wrote:If all things are equal it sounds like your gas block port and barrel gas port are not lined up. Some gas blocks are made to fit against the barrel shoulder and others to fit with the hand guard retainer. This is why gas block ports can be drilled differently.. In any case it is best to measure for proper port alignment. It is easy to get the measurement from the gas port to the barrel shoulder and the same for the inside gas block port to the outside of the gas block to get proper alignment. If the gas block port and barrel port are lined up and it continues to short stroke, then the barrel journal could be undersized for the new gas block or vise versa. The barrel journal and gas block needs a fairly tight fit to prevent gas leakage.. Leakage can occur with a different gas tube, the gas tube fit in the new gas block or the gas tube fit to the gas key..If your Geissele gas block is the screw type, I would recommend dimpling the barrel under the gas port for your set screw. SLR makes an excellent jig for dimpling the barrel for proper gas block alignment. You have to order the correct size for a standard .750 barrel journal or the .625 used in many pencil barrels.https://slrrifleworks.com/750-dimpling-jig/ If the new gas block uses a pin, then the pin channel in the barrel and gas block pin hole may be different. This can cause the gas ports to not align properly.. The best and sure way to verify port alignment is with a bore scope.

Thanks for the response. I think the Geissele's gas port is too far forward (towards muzzle) for this journal. Meaning I cant move the block far enough towards the receiver to get it to align correctly. I suspect part of the port was blinded , so I just swapped back in what I know works. I have one of those SLR jigs, they are pretty slick. I think you may be on to something with the Geissele's pin hole not matching the barrel. However even with the pin in, the gas block is butted up against the "shoulder" so I dont see how that was the culprit entirely. Either way, I went back to what I know works and will go from there. Ill report results as soon as I can get back to the range. Thanks again!!


Anyone have issues running a non-BA Hanson Gas Block on BA Hanson Barrel???? - montana - 03-04-2022

RattleAkAk Wrote:Thanks for the response. I think the Geissele's gas port is too far forward (towards muzzle) for this journal. Meaning I cant move the block far enough towards the receiver to get it to align correctly. I suspect part of the port was blinded , so I just swapped back in what I know works. I have one of those SLR jigs, they are pretty slick. I think you may be on to something with the Geissele's pin hole not matching the barrel. However even with the pin in, the gas block is butted up against the "shoulder" so I dont see how that was the culprit entirely. Either way, I went back to what I know works and will go from there. Ill report results as soon as I can get back to the range. Thanks again!!

Interesting, I have never seen a gas block that would not line up with the barrel's gas port. Without measuring we can only guess if the barrel shoulder or the gas block itself was defective.