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AR15.COM
9/18/2019 9:01:05 PM EDT
I was reading this thread (https://www.ar15.com/forums/AR-15/FoldAR-Product-Updates-Release-/124-743568/) and i was shocked to see they have had rampant failures of the Faxon lightweight gas blocks. This is especially concerning to me because i just received my Faxon 14.5" barrel from AIM with the pinned gas block. This was to be my trust worthy go to AR and now im just not sure...

Please clarify.
9/22/2019 9:00:25 AM EDT
[Last Edit: FoldAR][Edited] [#1]
Originally Posted By JerDerv:

I was reading this thread (https://www.ar15.com/forums/AR-15/FoldAR-Product-Updates-Release-/124-743568/) and i was shocked to see they have had rampant failures of the Faxon lightweight gas blocks. This is especially concerning to me because i just received my Faxon 14.5" barrel from AIM with the pinned gas block. This was to be my trust worthy go to AR and now im just not sure...

Please clarify.
View Quote
We ordered a total of around 1,250 gasblocks from Faxon in late 2018 in batches of 250. These were the low profile non-adjustable version in .625 and .750 diameter.
It was only the last 250 of each the .625 and .750 that we had the cracking issues.
On all 1250 of them we saw stretch issues, which didn't necessarily lead to failure, but would require a properly dimpled barrel in order to really stay secure.
My best guess is that they outsourced the final batch we received (Nov/Dec2018) and didn't verify heat treat or material spec.
The way we distinguished between good/bad batches... bad ones had 10-24 threaded set screws and good ones had 10-32 threaded set screws.
The bad ones would sometimes crack in half simply by applying marginal torque to the set screws during installation. Some would crack in half after first found fired, some would crack in half before for 30 rounds, and some wouldn't crack in half after 30 rounds, but who knows when they might. We stopped using them as soon as we saw a trend.

I don't generally have a problem with Faxon products, but we decided to stop using their gasblocks and that was the only type of part we ordered from them for production.
I have had some barrels and BCGs from them for a few guns here and there and everything else has been fine, or above par.
9/23/2019 5:04:55 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote History
Originally Posted By FoldAR:

We ordered a total of around 1,250 gasblocks from Faxon in late 2018 in batches of 250. These were the low profile non-adjustable version in .625 and .750 diameter.
It was only the last 250 of each the .625 and .750 that we had the cracking issues.
On all 1250 of them we saw stretch issues, which didn't necessarily lead to failure, but would require a properly dimpled barrel in order to really stay secure.
My best guess is that they outsourced the final batch we received (Nov/Dec2018) and didn't verify heat treat or material spec.
The way we distinguished between good/bad batches... bad ones had 10-24 threaded set screws and good ones had 10-32 threaded set screws.
The bad ones would sometimes crack in half simply by applying margin torque to the set screws during installation. Some would crack in half after first found fired, some would crack in half before for 30 rounds, and some wouldn't crack in half after 30 rounds, but who knows when they might. We stopped using them as soon as we saw a trend.

I don't generally have a problem with Faxon products, but we decided to stop using their gasblocks and that was the only type of part we ordered from them for production.
I have had some barrels and BCGs from them for a few guns here and there and everything else has been fine.
View Quote
Thank you for the clarification! Ill check my gas block thread size and pitch and hope for 10-32. My gas block is pinned, so i only torqued to 17 in-lbs with loc-tite 246.

I wish someone from Faxon would speak up.
9/30/2019 9:25:30 AM EDT
[#3]
Originally Posted By JerDerv:

I was reading this thread (https://www.ar15.com/forums/AR-15/FoldAR-Product-Updates-Release-/124-743568/) and i was shocked to see they have had rampant failures of the Faxon lightweight gas blocks. This is especially concerning to me because i just received my Faxon 14.5" barrel from AIM with the pinned gas block. This was to be my trust worthy go to AR and now im just not sure...

Please clarify.
View Quote
The gas block issues were limited to one production run of low profile, three-set-screw, gas blocks. Gas blocks that go through AIM Surplus were not part of the production batch. The issue came about from an issue with our nitride suppliers leaving the blocks in the tank for too long and making them brittle. It was limited to one production run in December.

We have sold tens of thousands of these gas blocks and this was the first time ever seeing this issue. While unfortunate, we have replaced gas blocks at no cost for every Dealer, Customer, or OEM that has contacted us. Every Faxon product has a 100% satisfaction guarantee and will be replaced/refunded if one of our customers has an issue or is unhappy with the product they receive. We always recommend contacting a manufacturer for information like this, rather than trust a third party who may have ulterior motives for spreading certain information.
National Account Manager at Faxon Firearms
10/9/2019 8:59:50 PM EDT
[#4]
I have about 200 rounds through my new 14.5" Faxon build with the pinned gasblock and not a single issue.

Thanks Pat!

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