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AR10 cleaning gas tube

bigdaddyjuniorbigdaddyjunior Member Posts: 11,233
edited August 2003 in General Discussion
How do I get the top end apart to clean the gas tube. The rifle will push the bolt back far enough to eject and load a new round ,but not far enough to re-cock the trigger.I think some dried cosmo or something is inhibiting the gas flow just a little. I can remove the flash suppressor and the metal barrel shroud, but the front sight ain't budging.This is the old AR 10, but it is very similar to an M16.
I'd appreciate some help.

Big Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems

Comments

  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bigdaddy it has been decades since I handled a REAL AR-10 but I know that there was an actual gas tube bush made for this purpose. This was a long and very thin snake-like brush which was pushed through the gas tube in order to clean it. Your actual problem may well be solved by simply adjusting the gas regulator. Look at the left side of the front sight base and you should see a round dial like device-- this is the gas regulator. There are three opening: Normal, Medium, or Large and these are marked using three slits on the regulator; the normal opening shows just a thin line, the medium slightly wider, and the maximum opening is indicated by a very wide marking. You may be currently on the normal opening and you can go up one larger to medium without damage to the rifle. The largest opening is reserved for adverse field conditions seldom encountered in civilian life and should not be used for extened periods as it will cause a strain on the rifle and damage the action at some point.

    To adjust the gas regulator simply insert the point of a bullet in order to depress the spring loaded detent lock. There is a hole next to the detent for this exact purpose. You can then rotate the the regulator to the desired opening. If you wish to remove the regualtor completely and clean it, you can rotate it to the point where a flat spot on the regualtor is at the 12 o'clock position in the front sight base when viewed on the right hand side of the rifle. This also provided an entry point for the special brush which could be pulled completely through the tube with the regulator removed. This adjustment may solve your problem. If not I am sure that JudgeColt will come along with the REAL scoop on getting an AR-10 to fuction like a Swiss watch! I also appreciated very much your compliment to me about the subject of gun writers, that was very kind of you and encourages me to FINALLY get around to writing my book on U.S. Service Rifles.

    Mark T. Christian
  • bigdaddyjuniorbigdaddyjunior Member Posts: 11,233
    edited November -1
    Mark, I expect an opportunity to purchase a signed copy when the time comes. No thanks are necessary I just call 'em as I see 'em.
    There is an opening on the front of the sight base with a round object with two small holes in it's surface. I made a tool that will fit in these holes and was able to rotate it. As I turned counter clockwise it came closer to the face of the sight{out} but did not look as if it could fit out of the square hole. Perhaps it has a flat side that I'm not seeing. Originally it was turned in about 3/4 of the way.I'll head out to the shop and see about the side of the sight base. I hadn't thought to look there. Thanks, be right back.

    Big Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems
  • bigdaddyjuniorbigdaddyjunior Member Posts: 11,233
    edited November -1
    Yes the regulator is what I was looking at on the front of the site base. Ten click adjustments. Doesn't seem to be any easy way to get it out so I'll start at five clicks and decrease the amount of bleed off until it cocks when cycling.As close as it is coming to correct operation I suspect it will only be a matter of one or two clicks. Sure like to have the bayonet and whatever threads onto the flash suppressor.This gun has grown on me since our first conversations reguarding it's origins.I'm glad you and Judge Colt convinced me to keep it.

    Big Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems
  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It sounds as though you have things well in hand now Bigdaddy. The threads in the flash hidder are for a blank firing attachment which looks something like a flat disk with serations around its edge to aid in grasping with the fingers. There were two small holes in the adaptor to allow for gas to bleed out. Bayonets for all variations of the AR-10 are very difficult to locate, although there may well be some out there for sale if you work hard enough to locate one. One of the rarest AR-10 accessories is the original Delft scope from Holland which are nearly NEVER found today. Back when the AR-10 parts kits were first imported in the 1980's a very few of these Delft scopes came in from Angola, which was then a colony of Portugal (who's military used AR-10's in small numbers). I have not seen these scopes for sale in over a decade.

    Mark T. Christian
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