Sorry if this is stupid - I'm new to the platform.

I have been doing my homework and I see all kinds of how-to videos from reputable sources like Midway USA and Brownell's on assembling an upper receiver. In both videos, they show the barrel with the front sight base/gas block already assembled.

I have searched around and I can't find too many barrels with the gas blocks already installed. I found a High Standard barrel for $200 unchromed,  $250 chromed, I am comfortable with that price point, but there are no reviews that I've seen one way or the other.

Is it a trivial task to mount and pin the gas block in the correct place? Seems that aligning the front sight base/gas block with the index lug on the barrel, as well as lining up the gas tube and gas port would be precision work to be done with jigs, not some guy working in his basement doing it by eye and pencil marks (even if he is a handsome fella like me)

Am I overthinking this?

Thanks in advance,

Pubb

This. The port in the gas block is bigger than the port on the barrel to allow for some slight misalignment. Aligning them up is no big deal. Not all gas blocks need pinned. I am a big fan of clamp-on gas blocks myself. Trust me, it is not difficult.

You can typically eye ball a gas block for install and it will be fine. you can also use a dimple jig to dimple the barrel to use the dimple to get it right on, for set screw gas blocks.

Clamp on you're pretty much going to have to use eyeball or a straight edge.

Ballistics Advantage sells their Hanson series of barrels with a low pro gas block already pinned on the barrel.  Depending on the length, they range from $189-$220 and they are supposed to be a good barrel. Aero Precision recently bought them or has invested in the company.  They have a barrel of the week deal but this week it is a 7.5in barrel.

I'm assuming you are using a low profile gas block and not a front site base since you are refering to it as a "gas block"  The screw screws gas blocks can be done by a novice.  Buy a cheap $10 ebay gas block and use that as a jig, line it up and to dimple the barrel which can be done with a drill press or hand drill.  Alternatively some barrels are factory dimpled.  Rock Sett on a dimpled barrel is reliable.  Pinned it is still better.  BA Hanson barrels through Androcorp (forum sponser) or Faxon's barrle through Aim Suplus are pinned and very good deals.

Installing a gas block is not "rocket science" and is quite easy.  Here is a nice youtube video by NSZ85. Check out all his videos about AR building he has some good ones.


Vince

I believe faxon sells a bunch of theirs with Blocks or alot of companies will pin them for you


for instance Rainer Arms will pin a block on for you for like 30 bucks.

^^^This^^^

You're over thinking it.  After you've built one or two or a dozen, you'll look back and wonder why you worried about it at all.

FYI, after firing just a few rounds out of it, you can take it off and see from the carbon markings, just how far off you were.  But like they've already said, the gas block hole is bigger than the gas port in the barrel, so it won't matter if you're off a few degrees.

Was just gonna come in and say this.  Fantastic barrel.  You can email them and request they don't pin it just for the experience.  Their barrels are pin-ready and easy to work with.

That video made it seem pretty easy. I will give mounting the gas block (or FSB, if I go that route) a try. Worst case scenario, I bring it to a gunsmith and he laughs at me while taking my money.

Many thanks to those who advised.

P

I read somewhere to attach a rubber tube to the end of the gas tube and to verify it is lined up, blow air through it.  Tried it and like it.  It worked and have used it to line up new small gas block.

Lead Foot

My Noveske barrel came shipped w gas block pinned.