Dimpling an AR-15 barrel

[Kain]

Hey guys and gals. I'm working on getting my AR exactly the way I want it, and part of that is getting a low profile gas block. Unfortunately, for a .625 barrel, it looks like all my options are going to be screw-secured.

So, to keep my gas block from wiggling or twisting and futzing things up, I want to dimple my barrel. I see Rainier Arms has a tool to help with this, but its 40 bucks and I would prefer not to spend that kind of money on something I only use once.

It is for this reason I come to you, friends. Can anyone guide me in the process of doing this myself without screwing things up? Alternatively, can anyone recommend a gunsmith in the Portland/Vancouver area who could do it for me, quick and painless?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Edit: in case it matters, I'm looking at the Larue low profile gas block in .625

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[spengo]

Daniel Defense makes a pinned low profile gas block for .625 barrels.
<broken link removed>

I prefer to avoid the clamp-on gas blocks. A taper pin is much more secure.

 

[Capn Jack]

Had a problem with a quad rail gas block moving around on a 7.62x39 AR.

I took a center punch and ground 3/8" of the tip down to the diameter of the threaded
hole in the gas blockand used it to reach through and mark the hole positions. Then I drilled the dimples into the barrel. Don't for get to Loc-Tite the screws.

Jack

 

[madcratebuilder]

Go to Horrible Freight and buy a transfer punch. Align the gas block and mark with the punch, then drill your dimple in a drill press.

28 Piece Transfer Punch Set

 

[Capn Jack]

Hey Madcratebuilder,

Great idea, I would has saved myself a lot of work with those and they're cheap too.

Now to find a set of in expensive "Roll Pin Starter Punches"......Fat fingers and Bi-Focals are a PIA

Jack

 

[ruSSrt]

This is simular to what I'm looking for but a little different. I have "raw" barrel for m16a1. That already has gas port drilled but it needs a front sight installed and as you guys know m16a1 front sight has tapered pins. So I was wondering if you guys know a person who can drill those.
Thank you for your help!

P.s. I'm willing to ship my barrel with sight if they do a good job!

 

[Ryo]

For dimpling barrels, I would use marvin <[email protected]>. He does a lot of custom dimpling jobs.

 

[Ryo]

BTW how is dimpling suppose to help secure the gas block?

 

[wsu 5.9er]

You dimple the barrel where the set screws on the gas block contact the barrel. Keeps the gas block from moving around at all.

 

[Ryo]

Ah, that type of dimpling.. Nevermind my previous post then. I was thinking dimpling of the whole barrel, not a single dimple.