Gas Block/Shoulder, Lilja Barrel, and an Old Gunsmith

[pwsamiam]

I had Lilja and an old gunsmith set me up with a 22ARC 24" 1:8 bull barrel and so far the rifle shoots great without any problems at all (yet?) The 12 shot Lilja breakin produced 2ea 1 hole 3 shot groups at 50yds and all subsequent 100yd groups were 0.3-0.9. Very happy. But...

When I asked the old gunsmith about a +1 gas tube, he replied that he will make the rifle upper with a standard rifle length gas tube. A little perplexed, I wondered why, and he insisted that people were reporting problems from the range using a +1 tube. The gunsmith put my gas block an the chamber side of the journal vice the muzzle side, thus the standard rifle length tube.

Ejection is excellent, well within the 3-4oclock zone with 75gr and 62gr 22ARC from Hornady. No feed or lock-back issues.
Also, note he AR15 rifle is not suppressed, just a crown with no muzzle device at all.

You guys are the experts. Am I screwed down the road with this placement of the adjustable gas block???? Or is it much ado about nothing.?
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."????

 

[TonyAngel]

I'm sorry. I'm not understanding the question and am having trouble picturing what you’re trying to describe. Although I didn’t see it stated, I assume that the center of attention is an adjustable gas block.

Are you saying that you bought a Lilja barrel with the gas port drilled in a rifle length +1 position? Are you further saying that the gas block was somehow installed backwards to allow the use of a standard length gas tube? Is it now such that gas adjustments are made from the breech side of the gas block, rather than the muzzle side? Or is it collar adjustable? Which gas block are we talking about?

A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[Redlion]

I'm sorry. I'm not understanding the question and am having trouble picturing what you’re trying to describe. Although I didn’t see it stated, I assume that the center of attention is an adjustable gas block.

Are you saying that you bought a Lilja barrel with the gas port drilled in a rifle length +1 position? Are you further saying that the gas block was somehow installed backwards to allow the use of a standard length gas tube? Is it now such that gas adjustments are made from the breech side of the gas block, rather than the muzzle side? Or is it collar adjustable? Which gas block are we talking about?

A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[pwsamiam]

I'm sorry. I'm not understanding the question and am having trouble picturing what you’re trying to describe. Although I didn’t see it stated, I assume that the center of attention is an adjustable gas block.

Are you saying that you bought a Lilja barrel with the gas port drilled in a rifle length +1 position? Are you further saying that the gas block was somehow installed backwards to allow the use of a standard length gas tube? Is it now such that gas adjustments are made from the breech side of the gas block, rather than the muzzle side? Or is it collar adjustable? Which gas block are we talking about?

A picture is worth a thousand words.

---------------
Should have posted this pic initially and saved us both some typing. Adjustable gas block is clearly on the chamber side of the journal. It's a low profile block, but I have to dig thru email to see what he called it. I think he kinda screwed me, but as long as its working and if "it ain't broke, don't fix it", then I can live without my usual Superlative Arms block as I usually use on my other rigs. Probably, not of much concern, just odd.

 

[TonyAngel]

Sorry bud, I don't get what you mean by the gas block being on the chamber side of the journal. Either you ordered a finished barrel with a 2" journal from Lilja or your gunsmith spun you up a barrel and chose to go with a 2" journal.

Your gas block appears to be exactly where it's supposed to be (over the gas port) and in the correct orientation. I don't see why you couldn't put a SA gas block on there. There's nothing weird about that setup, although you don't see too many long journals anymore. Most barrels aren't cut to accept a long gas block or fixed front sight these days.

I don't see how you would be screwed down the road. If you ordered a barrel with a +1 gas port location from Lilja and they sent you that, then your issue is with Lilja. If your gunsmith ignored your request and ordered a barrel with a standard port location, then you can either choose to be upset for not getting what you wanted or defer to his expertise (which seems to have gotten you an accurate and good shooting rig.

You do know that just adding a +1 gas tube won't transform the rig into a +1 gas system, right? The +1 doesn't refer to the gas tube. It is a reference to the port location on the barrel.

 

[msgriff]

Your barrel maker didn't screw you. That looks like the standard 1.92" long gas journal, and although designed for an FSB like on an M16, it will work fine with the shorter low profile gas blocks/AGBs. And the gas port location looks correct, 0.295" - 0.300" from the shoulder (sometimes 0.275" for a "no cap gap" install). The shorter 1" long gas journals are becoming more popular, but can also limit you for some non-FSB "low profile" gas blocks/AGBs, which are longer than 1", like some of the JP Enterprises models. Your gas journal length would only be an aesthetic issue with the gas block/AGB that you have, and typically won't be noticed under a handguard.

 

[River44]

personally I think your gunsmith screwed you.