Removing FSB on Ar15... What's the secret?

[Wingshooter]

Ok. I have a Bushmaster bbl with a standard front sight gas block. I want to remove it, but it looks easier on Brownell's website than what I am experiencing. I mean, those taper pins are not even budging!

#2 roll pin punch on the left side, correct?

Is there a trick to this?

HELP...

[strickj]

Have you tried a BMFH?

Other then that, I dunno!

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I'm doing one right now. It's a Bushmaster. I have to go get another punch. One came out with a lot of persistence, but the other one isn't budging. I have to get another

punch now. Correct. The left side. I'm going to make a wood cradle to rest the FSB in

before I try anymore. It's hard to stabilize it to hit. I'm sure there are tools that make it easier.

[Wingshooter]

Have you tried a BMFH?

Other then that, I dunno!

I just got back from Home Depot with a bigger punch for the big hammer

[Wingshooter]

I'm doing one right now. It's a Bushmaster. I have to go get another punch. One came out with a lot of persistence, but the other one isn't budging. I have to get another

punch now. Correct. The left side. I'm going to make a wood cradle to rest the FSB in

before I try anymore. It's hard to stabilize it to hit. I'm sure there are tools that make it easier.

Sounds like we are doing the same thing. I just got back from Home Depot with some heavier punches. I drilled a 5/8" hole in two 2x4 blocks then cut them in half for a cradle. I sandwiched the barrel in between the blocks and clamped it to the bench. I also put a block under the front sight for support.

I still can't get the dumb pins to budge.

[Wingshooter]

I don't think my pins are going to come out. I traced the FSB onto a block of wood. I chiseled it out to make a nice sturdy cradle.

I think my punch will bend first. Arrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

[Wingshooter]

SWEET VICTORY!!!!!!!

I dropped the hammer of Thor on those bad boys. Out they came and no damage to me or the AR. I just had to get mad.

[Rightwinger]

You just had to put some "ass" into it.

That or switch over to vise grips.

Congratulations!

(did anyone tell you that putting the pins in your new gasblock are always twice as hard and getting the old ones out?)

[Guest bart_p]

I was a bit too late (seeing as how you already got it), but for future reference if you were doing it on a work bench then that was your problem (unless your workbench was thick industrial grade). I've found that most common workbenches give a bit, and usually that's just enough to absorb the mallet strikes (as opposed to your intended target). I had the same problem and when I put that sucker on a concrete floor, they came right out.

Bart

[Wingshooter]

(did anyone tell you that putting the pins in your new gasblock are always twice as hard and getting the old ones out?)

I'm glad I read that AFTER I put them back in or I might have given up. The dumb thing is, the only reason I needed to remove the FSB is because my bbl wrench is not open-ended. Once I got everything put together, I put the original FSB back on. Nothing like extra work. Good experience though.

I was a bit too late (seeing as how you already got it), but for future reference if you were doing it on a work bench then that was your problem (unless your workbench was thick industrial grade). I've found that most common workbenches give a bit, and usually that's just enough to absorb the mallet strikes (as opposed to your intended target). I had the same problem and when I put that sucker on a concrete floor, they came right out.

Bart

Good advice. I tried the concrete floor and the bench. I almost hated those taper pins.

Edited March 20, 2010 by Batman

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Yep. We seem to be doing the same thing except I didn't get mad enough before I got called to work:D Glad to see you were successful.