12.7 group buy Faxon gas block troubles

[Kswhitetails]

Heh, no worries, I never measured mine either. I was excited it was such a tight fit, that meant I didn't need to bed it. What was fun was the first time I put it on, I used red loktite (hereafter:LT), and just dropped it in the hole. When I screwed in the set screws, it hydraulically forced the red LT between the barrel and block. Okay, I thought, even better fit. Good.

15 mins later: (&^%#$^%%$**&^) - I forgot to put the hand guard nut on first! OOOOOPH. Let me tell you, this was devastating. You thought it was tight before? Hydraulically press some adhesive between it, and see how you do... ROFL There are now marks in the GB that seem to say, "WTH man, you can't install a GB without tearing it up?!?"

https://www.larue.com/products/larue-tac...dtn-panel7 - check out the pics. Notice there are two pieces, the handguard nut, AND the barrel nut, - oh and the spacer, OH and the keeper... heh, instructions, who needs em??

(The LaRue hand guards are a fun one, guys, seriously strong, but make SURE you put all the necessary peices on before you LT ANYTHING)

I can laugh about it now, but I was actually considering using a dotco and a wheel to slit the GB at the set screws... I FNG'd it bad! I wound up using a heat gun to putty the LT, and a rag and a pipe wrench to turn the GB off. It wasn't going to slide. It took an hour, and lots of sweat and cuss words. I am ashamed. But on the up note, that journal is still lew looking. Like, no lie, the finish is brand new. I can't believe it. I'm sold on QPQ done right.

Here's a pic from last night, when I measured the journal, see the pretty tool marks?

Untitled by ., on Flickr

The Dotco may still come out at some point. On the fourth installation of said GB (don't ask) The rear screw finally gave up and went to heaven giving up in the allen hole. (The allen was seated, I'm positive of that. The pieces that broke off did so all the way down into the bottom of the hole, and show fatigue - that's what I get for using a cheapo GB i guess - freakin chinese screws...) I immediately tried to back it out with a screw remover, but failed. The GB was still warm from the previous oops, and now it resides firmly on the barrel with a nasty ability to shrug off attempts and cackle me as I think about making another attempt at removal. Guess I don't have to worry about it ever coming off on it's own...

Next time I want it off, I'm going to by buddy at the machine shop to beg him to let me use his end mill... --- 2% rule?