I posted thid in other forum but got no response. Hopefully I will have better luck here.....

Two of the three have the normal size gap. One is huge. I tried to take a pic but I couldnt get it to come out good. The dark area on the top ring is how wide the gap in the ring is. I have never seen one like this. It is my first stime cleaning this rifle after firing it for the first time today. I have sent a message to the manufacturer as he is one of the site sponsors I dont want to mention his name yet. Please tell me if this is a big deal. The rifle worked flawlesly all day. I noticed the issue with the ring when cleaning after coming home.

I think a ruler and measurements would have been more help than that picture!

No, the gaps should all be the same - about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen.  I'm afraid to guess this but does the ring with the wide gap look like one edge is ragged at all, like it was sheared off or torn or something?

I had one like that on a brand new bolt that I found after the first time using it. I just pried it up and pulled it off and replaced it with a new one. No big deal. You should always keep at least some basic parts on hand and that includes new gas rings.

I guess a ruler would have been nice if I had one. The dark shadow that you can make out is the size of the gap. You can kind of get an idea by comp[aring it with the size of the bolt. Anyway I will talk to the manf. bout it some more. I have already got an email from them regarding it. I was mainly asking the question here for others experiences. I was also concerened about safety. It shot great though its first time out today. How hard is it to replace those rings?

I know it's a shitty picture but tat dark gap on the top is how big the gap in the ring is.

That ring is broken.  All three rings, if new have the same small gap.

With gas rings use this method:  When in doubt, replace.  Cheap insurance.  Keep spares!

Quoted: With gas rings use this method:  When in doubt, replace.  Cheap insurance.  Keep spares!

Yes, and if your bolt will fall out the carrier inverted, (cam pin removed) replace the gas rings. Remember to stagger the gaps.

Don't ask me how I know all this.

Danny

Is it easy to replace the rings. Ive never done it before. Kind of sucks to need this done on a brand new rifle.

Quoted: Is it easy to replace the rings. Ive never done it before. Kind of sucks to need this done on a brand new rifle.

Yes, I used my fingernails and plucked them right off, one at a time.

Then, start the new ones on one side and work them around, one at a time. Don't try and open them like a snap ring.

You can do it.

Danny

Quoted: Quoted: With gas rings use this method:  When in doubt, replace.  Cheap insurance.  Keep spares! Yes, and if your bolt will fall out the carrier inverted, (cam pin removed) replace the gas rings. Remember to stagger the gaps. Don't ask me how I know all this. Danny

Sorry man , but I have read this before and I really don't know why , but I would really like to know why.

Quoted: I tried to take a pic but I couldnt get it to come out good.   memimage.cardomain.net/member_img_a/659075_17_full.jpg

Looks like you have one broken ring .

As for the Picture . Next time make sure the subject has more light on it then the background . You may also want to use a plain background , like a piece of cardboard so your auto focus camera won't lock onto the higher contrast background like it did in your pic .

Gas rings create a seal that helps bolt unlock when gas from fired cartridge is vented through carrier key.
If they were lined up, gas would escape without enough pressure to move bolt.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: With gas rings use this method:  When in doubt, replace.  Cheap insurance.  Keep spares! Yes, and if your bolt will fall out the carrier inverted, (cam pin removed) replace the gas rings. Remember to stagger the gaps. Don't ask me how I know all this. Danny Sorry man , but I have read this before and I really don't know why , but I would really like to know why.

If the rings are all lined up the gas may pass through too quickly not creating enough pressure to properly cycle the weapon.

Why do you use tupperware to keep ammo?

nothing seals in the freshness of copper plated lead like TupperWare!

Quoted: Quoted: With gas rings use this method:  When in doubt, replace.  Cheap insurance.  Keep spares! Yes, and if your bolt will fall out the carrier inverted, (cam pin removed) replace the gas rings. Remember to stagger the gaps. Don't ask me how I know all this. Danny

It is suggested in the military repair manual to check for worn gas rings.

TURRICAN: contact the mfg'r of rifle and make arrangement from them to get another set of gas rings. They should just send it to you.

Ahh I see . Thanx guys.

So how does a one peice ring fix this?

Quoted: If the rings are all lined up the gas may pass through too quickly not creating enough pressure to properly cycle the weapon.

Um, I would have thought this thread would have finally put that one to rest.  Did you read Turrican's first post especially this sentence:

The rifle worked flawlesly all day. I noticed the issue with the ring when cleaning after coming home.

The rifle didn't miss a beat even though it was missing at least 1/4 of one of the rings.  

Are we done?

One piece gas ring.     AR-15 MCFARLANDTM BOLT GAS RING  




Perhaps it's a solution without a problem, but for many, reassembling an AR-15 involves aligning the gaps in the gas rings to make sure they are as far apart as possible. We do this to avoid all sorts of problems and malfunctions. Finally, there's a solution that eliminates the need to adjust the rings' alignment, and lessens the chance of jamming.

How It's Supposed To Work
Upon firing, as the pressure of the gas generated by the burning propellant drives the projectile down the barrel and past the gas port, a small quantity of the gas is bled off through the gas port, gas tube, and bolt carrier key into the cylindrical section in the bolt carrier where it expands and drives the bolt carrier rearward. During the first rearward travel of the carrier, the bolt is rotated by the cam pin acted on by the bolt carrier cam slot. This rotation disengages the bolt lugs from the barrel extension lugs and so the bolt is unlocked. The carrier then continues rearward with the unlocked bolt. At this point, the gas used to drive the bolt carrier rearward is allowed to bleed out through two holes on the right of the bolt carrier.

The Problem
In order to install the rings on the bolt, they must be split and thus a "gap" on each ring is unavoidable. The problem arises because these gaps can become aligned, and cause too much gas to escape too early in the cycle. This can result in short-stroking and possibly jamming the rifle, so manuals and instructors enforce the proper alignment of the rings when reassembling the AR-15 rifle.

The Solution
The McFarland one-piece gas rings solves the problem of "aligned" gaps by eliminating the gaps. As a one-piece helical ring, you are guaranteed to never have the problem with the gaps.

Replacement
The 3 individual rings can be removed one at a time starting with the rearmost ring first. Lift one end of the open ring up and over the edge of the ring groove (towards the rear of the bolt) and then work the other end over. Repeat this for the remaining two rings, and you should be able to remove them without damage. As a single piece of metal, the McFarland ring is wound onto the groove on the bolt's rear. Start one end over the edge, and then work the remainder of the ring over that edge; the easiest way to accomplish this is without trying to turn the ring itself.

Ordering
If you're interested in trying these out, the McFarland rings can be ordered from Competition Specialties and are $1.75 for 1 - 4 quantities, $1.50 for 5-10 quantities, and $1.25 for 13 and up quantities. The shipping is included in the price. These prices are for the US sales only, outside the US you must call for shipping quote.

At those prices, every AR-15 should have the one-piece ring installed, and it's owner should keep a couple of spares around. While I have never experienced the dreaded "gap-alignment" syndrome, the theory appears sound and a little extra insurance can't hurt (at least I no longer have to worry about aligning, or mis-aligning, the rings each time I assemble the rifle!).

For more information or to place an order check out:

Competition Specialties
105 E. Cass, PO Box 451
Osceola, Iowa 50213
515-342-2011
800-369-4481
[email protected]
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Quoted: nothing seals in the freshness of copper plated lead like TupperWare!

+1 I use them also.

MN

Quoted: One piece gas ring.     AR-15 MCFARLANDTM BOLT GAS RING   Perhaps Obviously it's a solution without a problem, [snip rest]

I fixed it for ya.

Quoted: Why do you use tupperware to keep ammo?

I use all kinds of containers for different batches of reloads. After I fill the ammo cans I go to the tupper ware and when really desperate ziplock bags! I dont keep it around for very long.