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Front sight base installation.

9 on the floor9 on the floor Member Posts: 1,606 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited June 2012 in Ask the Experts
I've got a new Daniel Defense AR barrel that I need to get a standard front sight base installed on.

Barrel is lightweight and .625 at gas port. I have a new .625 FSB and taper pins, but need to get the base and barrel drilled/reamed correctly for it.

Any outfits you guys would reccomend for this project?
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Comments

  • armilitearmilite Member Posts: 35,431 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why didn't you just get the correct front sight base for the barrel you bought. Having to cut the barrel to fit your front sight base is just the wrong way to go about it. I'd just sell the front sight base you have along with the taper pins and buy a clamp on front sight base. Why incur the extra cost and the hassle of having to take it some where or send it out. You could have put it on yourself.
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  • 9 on the floor9 on the floor Member Posts: 1,606 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks, armilite for the advise.

    It is the correct sight base for the barrel. .625 OD barrel at gas port and.625 bore on FSB.

    The problem is that new barrels are not grooved at the bottom for the taper pins and that new FSBs are not drilled for them.

    I've assembled several ARs with clamp-on or set screw type gas blocks with no problems but this one needs the correct taper pin installation for my project.

    It's not a big job, but it has to be right, and I'm just not set up to do it.
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  • armilitearmilite Member Posts: 35,431 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 9 on the floor
    Thanks, armilite for the advise.

    It is the correct sight base for the barrel. .625 OD barrel at gas port and.625 bore on FSB.

    The problem is that new barrels are not grooved at the bottom for the taper pins and that new FSBs are not drilled for them.

    I've assembled several ARs with clamp-on or set screw type gas blocks with no problems but this one needs the correct taper pin installation for my project.

    It's not a big job, but it has to be right, and I'm just not set up to do it.



    It is the correct size for the barrel but technically speaking it is wrong. The correct sight base would be a clamp on base. No sense in creating extra cost and work, but it's your rifle so it is your decision. Since I don't know what specific reason that you would use that exact front sight vs a clamp on is beyond me JMHO.



    EDIT quote:quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
    Sounds like you need to clamp the front sight base in a vice, and drill the pin holes to proper size, then put it on the barrel, and drill the barrel. What is so hard about that.

    You say that is the proper sight base? How is the one that is currently on the rifle attached? It either has to be pressed and pinned, or clamped, or set screw.

    I suspect this rifle, will not be actually doing combat, just that the operator wants to think that option is open. IMHO, I think a pressed and set screw would suffice, for most practical options.

    Best



    TSR that was the point I was trying to make. He said he had the correct sight base for the barrel. The correct sight base on that particular barrel doesn't have the cuts for the base he has. While he has the correct sight base diameter wise, he has the wrong sight base (attachment wise) for the barrel he has. The point I was trying to make was that he would be fine by just using a clamp on base saving himself some money. If Daniel Defense wanted cuts in the barrel for the front sight base they would have put them there. I seriously doubt that anyone here is going into combat with their AR15 so the dropping of the gun and having it land of the front sight base is a pretty moot point. Probably somewhere down the line it will have a scope on it anyways. I've got 4-5 AR's now with clamp on bases and none have ever gave me a problem.
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  • 9 on the floor9 on the floor Member Posts: 1,606 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks again for the input, armilite.

    The correct FSB is the one I have, and the correct method of installing it is by drilling, taper reaming, and pinning it.

    I would no more put a clamp-on FSB on this barrel than I would put a Ramline stock on an M1 Garand.

    I only asked for recommendations for a good shop to do the work.
    I have since been directed to one by a helpful member at another site.[;)]
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  • wpagewpage Member Posts: 10,204 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Many options in todays environment.,,

    With the many super polymers why not bond it?
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    9 On The Floor, a clamp on fsb isn't a good combat arrangement as it's too easy to get knocked askew if the rifle is dropped. They wouldn't fly with the US forces.
    I would find a good machine shop or toolmaker as I don't trust gunsmiths with this kind of work. See that they drill, ream and pin from the correct direction.
    You need to first align the fsb fore and aft and laterally and punch witness marks. You can compensate with windage adjustments but a cockeyed fsb will bother you. AKs are notorious for cockeyed fsb's.
    Take measurements on pin locations from other ARs and center punch the fsb.
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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sounds like you need to clamp the front sight base in a vice, and drill the pin holes to proper size, then put it on the barrel, and drill the barrel. What is so hard about that.

    You say that is the proper sight base? How is the one that is currently on the rifle attached? It either has to be pressed and pinned, or clamped, or set screw.

    I suspect this rifle, will not be actually doing combat, just that the operator wants to think that option is open. IMHO, I think a pressed and set screw would suffice, for most practical options.

    Best
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  • 4440rk4440rk Member Posts: 495 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would also use a clamp-on block. That being said if I just had to have the FSB with taper pins I would send it to ADCO. Google it they do lots of these and are very good.
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  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,931 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    9 on the floor,

    We sometimes get ahead of ourselves trying to give the best advice based on our opinions but skipping the original question. This often occurs because we're lacking some background to that question. That's why we can never have too much information upfront.

    "Any outfits you guys would recommend for this project?"

    There are tons of small or one-man shops that could handle a project like this in a heartbeat. There are also big name, high profile shops that will take this on but it will be in line behind all the rest of the projects they have in house.

    Try contacting these folks:

    http://cgwgun.com/AR15-General-Gunsmithing.aspx

    If they can't help I'll run a short list of shops I know first hand.

    Best.
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  • 9 on the floor9 on the floor Member Posts: 1,606 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the input, everyone.

    The barrel I have had no FSB. It was purchased as a plain, 16" lightweight midlenth from DD. First one I have bought like that.

    I assumed, like an idiot, that it would have the pin grooves already cut for a standard FSB. It did not.
    I also assumed that when I bought the .625 FSB, it would be drilled for taper pins and I could simply slide it on, mark the holes with a transfer punch, and do it myself. But the base was not drilled.

    I wanted a Milspec FSB installation, and when I realized I couldn't do it correctly myself I asked the experts.

    My barrel is currently on it's way to ADCO to have this work done as reccommended by someone at another site and by 4440rk here.

    Thanks again for all the help.
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