PrecisionFirearms Wrote:We use Red or Blue Locktite on gas blocks. YES we have tested and found Locktite does help with accuracy. Has to do with Barrel harmonics or bolt unlock dwell times due to more consistent gas pressure. Either way we do it on all precision rifle builds. In over 8000 upper builds, we have not had one report of a set screw gas block coming loose. Why not when it costs so little and no negatives in doing it?
Just had a customer email me his group. 3 shots measuring .3 inches but done at 300 yards. Says it will do it every time he does his job. Tongue in cheek: It has the gas block Locktited!
Why not glue the gas block?
1. Because it's a hassle pull apart whenever you ever want to change parts.
2. Because most systems are overgassed anyway.
Is it more accurate?
Needs proper testing, so far I see anecdotal evidence from precision firearms with an aleady good barrel and everything else tickety boo. It is convenient to point to a glued block as the reason for its accuracy but let's face it, it's probably a good barrel, good shooter, good optics, good ammo and good weather conditions. What would solve this debate is to convincingly isolate the block as the variable that caused the group to be better than it otherwise would.
Harmonics? Hmmmm (see above)
Dwell time. In a system with short lengths beyond the block and/or internal ballistics with steep time/pressure curves (i.e. low pressure after the block) like an SBR...Sure, you need all the dwell time you can get (or you could just get a heavy-duty extractor spring and/or those expensive 'D Fender's. In other guns, maximizing the pressure during dwell time is not an issue. And in some there can even be too much dwell time so an unglued block might help.
Knights supply a little bottle of Rockset with their muzzle breaks. Very nice of them but to be realistic it's not in the manufacturers interests that their part ever comes loose. And why would anyone want to replace a Knights brake with another manufacturers break anyway?! Or, a PF block with someone else's?
Take pause guys, I am just playing Devil's advocate here. Does gluing your block really tighten the groups? Or is it just another affectation from aficionado's who like to tinker with every aspect of the platform? Searching for the Holy Grail of accuracy from something that is after all, an AR15.