Are pinned gas blocks taper pinned?

[chazthebiker]

Call me stupid, but I have to ask. The barrels I have that have pinned gas blocks are Noveske SS Recon barrels. They came to me with the gas blocks pinned. When I put my rifles together (before going monolithic and using just set screws) the pins were a heck of a problem getting back in. Same thing with my WOA barrel.

Tonight I noticed a tool at Rainier Arms for sale that is used to drill the "taper pin" hole for pinning a Vtlor gas block.

This has me worried because I have always had to beat the crap out of a pin to get it back in. Now I am wondering if it is because they are taper pins and maybe I have been starting them backwards? I understand they should fit real tight... but they are a real booger!

So, three rifles later I ask... What say you?

[TripleBravo]

The Noveske gas blocks are pinned using straight pins, not taper pins.

The taper in a taper pin is pretty obvious...I think you'd notice it right away if you held the pin in your hand.

[chazthebiker]

The Noveske gas blocks are pinned using straight pins, not taper pins.

The taper in a taper pin is pretty obvious...I think you'd notice it right away if you held the pin in your hand.

Thanks. That's what I thought. With all the effort and after seeing the tool at Rainier Arms billed as a tool for drilling a taper hole for the Vtlor low profile gas blocks I had to wonder, "Hmmmmm is each end a thousandth or two different?"

Mind you, the tool is not for the FSB taper pins, but states it is for taper pinning the Vtlor gas blocks.

The other strange thing about this is that I had Rainier Arms pin a Vtlor gas block for me on my WOA barrel.... I don't believe it to be tapered either. Maybe it is a mistake on the website.

Weird.

[TripleBravo]

Chaz...the tool you're referring to is a jig used to drill a hole for either a straight pin or a taper pin. There is a link to detailed directions with photos on the product page for the jig on Rainier's website located here: http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=1398 just click on "Download Installation Guide" at the bottom of the product description.

I have one of these jigs from Rainier that I modified slightly so that it fits around other low-profile gas blocks. I use it regularly. The jig allows you to drill the initial hole through the gas block and barrel...which is only the first step. Next take the jig off and ream the hole for either a straight pin or a taper pin depending on your preference. I have used both straight pins and taper pins. Using a taper pin takes a bit more time, because you have to ream a little, then test fit the pin.

Here a few not so great photos of an upper I did using a taper pin...

The BRDE jig from Rainier Arms...
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/gasblockjig01.jpg

The barrel and low-pro gas block in the jig mounted in my drill-mill set up with a #31 drill bit for the initial hole...
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/drilljig01.jpg

With the initial hole finished, you remove the jig, line the new hole up with the #31 drill bit, then replace the drill bit with a 2/0 taper pin reamer...
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/Taperpinreamer01.jpg

You ream the hole slowly and fit the taper pin...and you've got a pinned gas block.
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/taperpin01.jpg

[TripleBravo]

In reference to Noveske specifically...IIRC, they use a slightly modified VLTOR gas block than is available commercially. Theirs has only one set screw in the front and the straight pin they use goes through the gas block to the rear where the second set screw would normally be located.

I’m sure they use a more sophisticated method for drilling and pinning the gas block too.

[chazthebiker]

In reference to Noveske specifically...IIRC, they use a slightly modified VLTOR gas block than is available commercially. Theirs has only one set screw in the front and the straight pin they use goes through the gas block to the rear where the second set screw would normally be located.

I’m sure they use a more sophisticated method for drilling and pinning the gas block too.

Excellent! That is great to know and thank you for taking so much time to explain. The photos really helped. That is exactly what I was referring to. Thank you sir!