Just like how you need to keep your motorcycle perfectly tuned to get the optimum performance out of it, you need to tune your AR’s gas system for it to function the way it is meant to. But before we look into how to tune the gas system, let us see why you should do it in the first place?
Why should you tune the gas system in your AR?
Tuning the gas systems is aimed at getting the best performance out of your AR & to enhance its reliability by improving the capacity of your rifle to feed, extract and eject a round. With all these advantages you can expect a reduced recoil and muzzle rise.
Now that we have discussed the importance of tuning the gas systems in your AR, let’s peep into the working of your AR gas system in a nutshell.
The gas system in an AR
Those who own an AR might already be aware that ARs are gas-powered direct impingement weapons. For those who are still in the dark, here’s the system in a nutshell.
In simple terms, the gas system is responsible for firing the bullet out of your ARs chamber. You load, aim, pull the trigger and the bullet fires. What’s happening in the background is the gunpowder in the bullet casing igniting causing an explosion inside the chamber. The gas which is produced as a by-product of the explosion projects the bullet out through the barrel.
The gas formed following the explosion reaches the gas port which is a part of the gas block. This gas port leaks some gas through the gas tube which is then shot back into the receiver. It thus forces the bolt carrier group backwards, extracting and ejecting the fired round out of the chamber while cocking the hammer.
The bolt carrier group on travelling back to the recoil buffer compresses a spring which on hitting its apex pushes the bolt carrier group forward picking up the next round from the mag and pushing it to the chamber. All these happen in a split of a second.
What are the components to be tuned in your CAR's gas system?
- Gas Block
The gas block is the most important and the very fundamental component to be tuned in an ARs gas system. The gas block in an AR is designed to control the amount of gas that is flowing black into the chamber.
Though it is an important component that determines the performance of an AR, its working is rather simple. To adjust the amount of gas that is allowed to pass through the gun, a small screw is assigned which on rotation either increase or decreases the amount of gas that is entering back.
If your AR comes with a standard gas block, we recommend that you invest money in buying an adjustable block. Know that an adjustable gas block is a necessity and not a luxury. Having an adjustable gas block will help you adjust the gas flow improving the reliability as well and the recoil of the gun.
But how do you actually adjust the screw for optimum performance? The right screw position depends on factors such as muzzle device, barrel length and the type of ammo used. In short, the right adjustment depends on your rifle & its intended purpose.
- Bolt carrier group (BCG)
The heart of the BCG is your rifle. If you were to upgrade your ARs BCG, you need to focus more on its weight than its finish as weight is a decisive factor in its functioning. For instance, a BCG with lower weight moves less backwards helping you reduce the ARs recoil.
Lighter BCGs have their disadvantages too. For instance, the lighter mass of a BCG makes them more susceptible to damage over time. You can’t expect it to last throughout the thousands of rounds that you expect to fire from your rifle. Ideally, you should be choosing a BCG with a good balance between recoil & weight.
- Recoil buffer
When it comes to tuning an AR, the recoil buffer is often the most ignored component. But know that you need to adjust the recoil buffer to make the gas block and the BCG work the way they are intended to. Like in the case of BCGs, the weight of the recoil buffer has to be the decisive factor here.
A lighter buffer will help reduce your ARs recoil but you will have to compromise on the momentum/accuracy. Whereas, a heavier buffer improves the rifle’s accuracy by ensuring a better extraction but it increases the recoil. In short, choosing a recoil buffer has to be done solely based on your requirement.
Our recommendations for tuning an AR
As said, the choice of the BCG, recoil buffer & gas block has to be made based on your requirements. Here are our recommendations for two common requirements.
- Competition
If competition is your goal, you have to tune your AR for lesser recoil and muzzle rise. You have to compromise on longevity here and concentrate on the shorter gains like reduced recoil. You also need to install a compensator or a muzzle break before the tuning.
Adjustable gas blocks and Titanium BCGs are must-have items, though they are expensive. Once you are done with the installation, you should tune it to the rounds you are going to use at the competition by adjusting the gas block.
- Home defence
You should have a reliable weapon in your hands if you are looking for home defence. Since accuracy is not needed for home defence, you should focus on increasing the momentum of the bullet.
We recommend that you have an adjustable gas block since you don’t have to adjust the gas to control the recoil, a standard or a nickel boron BCG, and a heavier buffer to ensure proper ejection and extraction.
To sum up
Whatever be your purpose be it competition or home defence, you need a reliable supplier who serves the best components in the market. We present to you the collection of tacticallink, offering the best gas tubes for your AR-15. They are known in the business for their pre-sale and after-sales services and customer care.
