Earnhardt wrote:So with a rifle length gas system, are guys drilling a certain size gas port?
A one size fits all of sorts when it comes to load variability?
Or are some guys installing adjustable blocks if they start mixing up load/bullet combos?
With my Creedmoor it's pretty easy to tame and tune any load with the turn of the gas valve on the adjustable block.
I spent a day running back and forth between home and the range trying to get my gas port size to where it would cycle on fast, lighter bullets. The emphasis was
Go Slow opening the port up. Basically one numerical drill bit increment at a time. IIRC, my barrel came from the factory drilled like it had 5.56 gas pressure (much higher than 450b) something like .078. Wildcatter was still in circulation and we corresponded during the process. Again, IIRC, I wound up needing to go up to .113 or .116 before it would cycle flatter shooting, 200gr FTX bullets, across the range of velocities I ran them at (2200-2500fps). Wildcatter said that he had to open up some Corvette jobs he did, greater than .120 before they cycled. I recall him saying that tighter chambers required more gas than looser ones. Reamers only last for x amount of cuts before wear makes them out of tolerance. New ones cut looser chambers and as they wear down, the chambers get tighter, then they get tossed. So, now its not just whether your rifle was made on a Friday, but whether it was chambered with a new reamer or old. The barrel I spoke of in not so glowing terms was made on the last day of the work week, going into a long holiday weekend, while the boss (small shop) was off for surgery. Lucky me
Hoot