Thanks for the input guys. The initial objective was to have the FIRSH completely cover the gas block. This was to be a scope-only gun, so no irons were in my plans. But then I saw that keeping the front sight was do-able, and actually looked pretty good - to me. (All the pics of members' midlengths must be influencing me subconsciously.)
Good point about keeping everything solid. Now that you've mentioned it, using one pin to secure the front sight does sound mickey mouse. On the other hand I'm certainly no operator (the range IS my field [:D]). Nonethless, if I decide to go this route I'll be sure to have another hole drilled.
As it is now, I would have to completely remove the "hypotenuse" side of the front sight to mount both it and the FIRSH. This may prove to be impossible, since there would be no way to drive the rear pin in with the FIRSH in place.
Sorry I didn't say so, but the barrel uses a standard carbine gas port. I possibly would be making a barrel with a midlength sight radius (almost), and a standard carbine gas system - a CAR/Midlength Hybrid, if you will. "CMH", that's what I'll call it! You heard it here first!
Does the milled front sight base/gas block fit inside the inside diameter of the FIRSH with clearance?
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Yes.
So basically the end of the FIRSH is at the middle of the gas block? It fits, just hangs out more than you want?
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Yes.
The only thing about getting the rifle length FIRSH is that it is going to be 4 inches longer than what you have now.
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The main reason I wanted the midlength FIRSH was aesthetics. I wanted something different that I hadn't seen before (now I know why!). But if I can't find a workable solution, and one that's not ugly, this will be the last option.
The part I'm still unsure about working is the halved gas block. Shouldn't I be able to chop it anywhere in front of the gas tube pin hole? I'm sure a single taper pin is enough to secure this "semi-block" to the barrel and safely contain the gas pressure, right?