On a gas-operated rifle like an AR-15 or AR-10, the addition of a silencer often increases the system’s gas volume and pressure beyond what it was tuned for. This can lead to the action cycling excessively hard and gas blowback causing a nuisance (e.g. eye watering) for the shooter. The best way to mitigate that is with an adjustable gas block that’s properly tuned for the specific firearm, ammunition, and suppressor combination.
What we’re shooting for here is the minimum reliable gas setting. Enough gas to reliably cycle the action, but no more than that.
Check out the video above for some tips on how to find that precise gas setting and optimize your rifle for shooting suppressed!
TL:DR version:
- Start with the gas block turned down real low. Not off, but close.
- Load a single round in your magazine, insert the mag, chamber the round.
- Fire the gun.
- Your rifle shouldn’t lock back on empty at this point. It may not even eject the empty case. No worries, this is what we want to see.
- Add a little more gas to the system. Load another single round in the magazine and fire it. Did it lock back on empty? Probably not yet.
- Repeat this process until the firearm succesfully locks back on the empty magazine.
- Add another click or another ~10% more gas to ensure it’ll cycle fully even with some ammo variability and a little dirtiness in the action, etc. This is what I’d consider the minimum reliable gas setting.
When I need to adjust my gas block, I blame it on the dog.
😁