This video is a good example of why I like Ballistic Advantage. No hype, no bull. Just straightforward and functional performance.

Great video but it would be helpful if you guys would dimple all barrels for the average builder.

Instead of setting up the camera at 10 feet away where we can see your face and glorious beard, maybe set it up at 6-8” from the gas block so we can see wtf you’re doing. Or maybe set up a second camera.

I use a piece of angel hair spaghetti to line up the block and port. Stick a piece in your gas port and break it off flush. Slide gas port on, look look down the barrel, and rotate. When you get to sweet spot where the piece of spaghetti will slide in and out of gas port you're lined up perfectly. Tighten your set screws and use a cleaning rod to break the spaghetti.

Love these videos. They have helped me get through multiple builds using BA barrels. Keep up the great work.

Love your straight forward no bullshit way of explaining things! Fantastic! Love your videos! Thank you!!

Great timing! I am getting ready to do this very thing to my BA Handson Premium .223 Wylde 14.5” barrel, with the awesome pinned gas block, that I just bought from you guys. Thanks for the info and the amazing barrel. I love to support local (Florida) companies and I can’t wait until it’s done.

Excellent breakdown of the install. I love the explanation of the why and how. Thank you.

I run your 13.9 Hanson midlength barrel and I love it. It has performed flawlessly. 🤘🏼

Videos like this make me feel good about the BA components I bought to build a BA AR15 14.5

Thank you for this instructional video. I'm building my very first Ballistic Advantage AR15 Carbine. This really helps me tremendously even though I've built a couple of Aeroprecision USA AR15's previously.

I bought one of BA's hanson profile uppers in 16 inch, and I love it. Accurate, simple, built with intention and checked all the boxes in my regards, for a great price too!

BA is the way! Great info and timing. Getting ready to install your low pro on a DMR build.

I think many over think this install. Common sense alignment and correct tightness of screws and you're good. I build several ARs month and never had one issue. I do use 243 loctite on screws.

Thank you, great tips! So grateful for the Hanson barrel with the pinned lopro

Brother I love all the videos really missed y’all keep up the great work both in videos and barrel making I have 2 and love them both

we want to see the next video, adding the gas tube... this is a cool series for everyone to learn... I know YT doesn't like these kinds of videos, but we appreciate them

it would be nice to see close ups of everything you are working with

I'm not even building a gun right now I just saw your video. Bro, you speak my language. I hope you do more tutorials for people, imma be looking your way

Thanks boss. VERY informative!

As long as you know hole spacing: SLR Rifleworks Dimple Jig, will work better than others as some shoulders are closer and you won't be able to use KAW Valley Dimple Jig, but Kaw has an ease of measuring hole spacing and comparing to your actual gas block. If you have Aero Precision adjustable gas block, it is 0.500 inches. Others may be different. Ballistic Advantage gas block I had on Hanson barrel was 0.500" as well.

Great knowledge! Thank you👍🏼

As a gunsmith and 1000yd benchrest shooter who cleans barrels constantly and is constantly using a bore camera to check for throat erosion/fire cracking. I use my bore camera to line the journal up with the hole in the block perfectly as the camera end viewing an angles mirror with an led light on it. That is the only way to be 💯 sure you are perfectly straight

Luv BA Barrels! extremely happy with my LR 308 build using a Hanson Profile premium lopro. Had some trials at first getting it to cycle. had to open up the barrel gas port a couple thousands, but it cycles flawlessly now and unreal accuracy with a 18" barrel. Word of advice - USE BA's BOLT. THE BARREL AND BOLT WILL MATE PERFECTLY and you wont be cussing yourself for blowing your hard earned money on a generic bolt - ask me how i know. Looking to build my next one now:)

Thank you. I actually learned something watching yt today.

THIS is why we do business with Clint and BA.

Most gas ports are drilled .295" off the shoulder, some gas blocks have a .265" spacing so there could be .030 between the shoulder and block and pushing it up to the shoulder could block part of the port. Also if whoever drills the gas port will spin the barrel in an indexer and drill a dimple in the bottom it makes it a lot easier on the home builder.

Great vid!

Great video.

Good info. I'm working on an AR Pistol in 8.6 Blackout/.308 for a few months now. Have the tools, just need an area with a vice and room to do it.

Oh thank god for the video I’m about to do my first one I’m so glad I went with BA parts

Great vid. Thanks for the info

I have a Hanson barrel with a slightly canted gas block. I inserted a bore scoop in the barrel to see up the gas port. I then inserted a fiber optic cord all the way inside the gas tube and illuminated it to see up inside the gas block. I was able to see a clean perfect circle. No gas port obstruction whatsoever. I have 1200 rounds through the rifle with zero issues. Runs like a champ.

Very Nice, thank you

Great video!

So excited to put together my BA AR I’m proud I went with BA

I miss Sarah

Great information

Damn fine explaining. Thanks.

awesome. thanks.

Thank You!

Thanks for the tips !! I would love to see the jig you use to drill the roll pin.

I just finished my 10.5 in 300 blkout build, the barrel is ballistic advantage, and boy oh boy, is she a straight, one of the best barrels I've ever shot out of. Just as accurate as my BCM 14.5. My only gripe, I didn't get a sticker with my purchase of it. Looking forward to building the 16 inch ballistic advantage in the coming weeks.

I just did my 308 with a longer Faxon barrel then upgrade my Rugger 556 with an adjustable block too. The hole in the gas block is bigger than the barrel hole. I used the spaghetti method. Works brilliantly.

Great vid

When I started building my own ARs, I bought an inexpensive gas block, drilled all the way through the block using the rear screw hole as a guide, then sharpened the rear of the drill bit so that I can use the bit to line up the gas block, snug up the front set screw and mount the barrel in my drill press vice. A couple light touches with the bit in the press starts the dimple just enough and it's dead straight, every time.

Your company makes the best barrels in the industry.

Outstanding

Really like the gun smithing videos

Great Build Tips. Would like to know which fixtures you are using to secure the upper to the vice.

Wish I saw this a week ago just put my first AR together and used a BA barrel, but I did struggle to get that gas block straight.

Thanks

Never had an issue with alignment. I always eyeballed the hole to make it’s in like with the picantiny on the receiver, then eyeballed inside the gas block and lastly eyeballed the gas block alignment. All my guns gas perfectly after said alignment style

Get a SLR gas block dimple jig, dimple the set screw under the gas block. Install gas block and tighten set screw.. Insert the coil pin and verify the gas ports are lined up with a cheap bore scope.. Remove set screw and apply Rocksett on both set screws and install set screws..Done.. Eyeing the gas block is a perfect way to clock the gas block, do it right with a simple dimple jig from SLR.. Fixing botched gas blocks is job security for AR gunsmiths lol..

Where is Sarah?

I would have so paid more to have you pin the blem gas block i just got. But Im gonna give it a shot. Looking forward to using your barrel soon

great content and tips and hints. I do have a question about the gas tub though. After everything is all aligned pinned, and tightened, should the gas tube be a tight fit, or should it have just a little bit of free play? The reason I ask is, because I have heard that if the gas tube is tight fit, with no amount of free play, that it could essentially effect the accuracy of your barrel during barrel whip. In short causing it not to be, a true free floated barrel.

...I used an old fashioned ruler and pencil to line up the gas holes and the fish tank airhose trick to make sure the holes are aligned...

Not responding to QC issues and not backing up your accuracy guarantee is why I don’t use BA anymore.

On my first build and kinda screwed up the process. I pinned the tube to the lowpro before mounting the block to the barrel. I had this aversion to tweeking the tube for the install. It was a BA Hanson barrel. While I was fairly sure I got the ports aligned after pinning the block, it still bugged me. So here's my tip. I got a little plastic tube, the same size hospitals use to run O2 through your mask. Turns out, with a drop of CLP in the end of it, it will slip right over the gas tube in the upper. Bingo! I verified full blow through, no different than when I blew through the tube before installing. Not bugged anymore.

locktite wont do anything because the barrel gets hot and thats how u defeat loctite but rockset is very hard to get out so i think just tightening them up is enough because u already have it pinned.great video as always.

Where have you been, dude? I (we) hope you find time to continue with the videos, again!

i have an MP sport 2 with delta ring drop in handguard and love it. really want to swap out the fsb for a low profile (and probably adjustable) gas block. will that be enough to retain the handguard cap, or should i just free float it in order to change the gas block?

Right on, appreciate the insider insights! Keep em coming. Love your barrels & the lowers that I own. I will add, the cat that mentioned a bit closer camera shot would be helpful is indeed on to something. Perhals with a bit more BA swag in thd background too. Keep that glorious facial fur in the shots too though! 😉🤘🇺🇸#ARJunkie #2ARights #RepealNFA

Just bought a Hanson barrel and chose the Superlative Arms Adjustable block instead of the pinned lopro. Wish you would have had the option to have the dimples drilled on the barrel.

: OUTSTANDING instructional information. 🐢 👍 🐢 😀

Does it matter much if the dimple for the gas block screw sets the block away from the shoulder just a little? I just installed an adjustable gas block on an 11.5 that I couldn't get the carrier to slow down enough with spring and weight alone...

Bought Rosco in the past, really wanting a BA barrel for my next build

Or you can line it up using the rear set screw hole then take a pencil and draw a T-shaped index mark on the barrel. The will show you how far to push it in into the journal and where to line up the gas tube. Not sure how the video would show you to install the gas tube when you've got the block in place first. Another way that's not quite as precise but still works is to plug the chamber and muzzle then slide the block/tube assembly on. Use a can of compressed air and short squirts to give where the block is lined up with the port- you'll be able to tell by the sound. One the air is flowing, tighten the set screws.

My BA 16" 5.56 hanson is short stroking like an sob. Not, the buffer, spring, gas obstruction, bcg or any of its components so I hope this helps. Why go through the trouble of drilling the barrel for a pin if it can still be canted? Just dimple it.

Newb first-time builder here, the BA barrel I bought with the block already installed, do i need to do this? Fully acknowledge this is likely a stupid question. Thanks BA!

Miss Sarah!

I don't have the setup to pin mine, but I do have a dumpling jig. Is it normal to just have 1 dimple as opposed to 2?

Chris - what vise block are you using to assemble that upper? My flimsy Brownells upper vise clamp isn't cutting it

I have several of these Hanson barrels, and why? because all gas blocks need to be pinned. BA offers a number of barrels with pinned gas blocks and FSBs. It's the one operation that you can't do at home without a high risk of failure and having a mess on your hands, especially with the hardened surfaces that barrels have now. Great value.

Pushing the gas block tight against the shoulder when there’s supposed to be a front hand guard cap would not be a good idea. You’re going to effectively cut off the amount of gas being pushed back. Running a suppressor? Might work. Other than that, having the gas port holes align perfectly is best.

What would be great is if you guys could gas a .308” barrel accordingly. 16” modern series midlength is ridiculously overgassed. I had to close my adjustable block halfway just to get it to respond. I had already dimpled the barrel for .450” and the adjustable block was .475” Makes a guy a little pissy

Great info. I have always been curious as to why when the gas port is drilled in the block, it isn't drilled all the way through the the block? As this would allow indexing of the block using a pin gauge or other means during installation, eliminating the need for the coil pin. It also should not leak as the gas tube itself would obstruct the orifice. It seems like this would eliminate alignment issues potentially without adding any additional steps to the manufacturing process?

What tool do you use to secure the receiver?

Hey man, where did you get the vise block?

I have never measured or gave a gas block much attention and I have never had a issue. Anyone else?

@BallisticAdvantage Do you guys test fire your barrels (individually wrapped/sold BA barrels, not installed)? If so, are they test fired 1pc per sample lot (if sample testing, what AQL level is used?), or are all barrels test fired (100% testing)? And if so, what are some criteria are being evaluated in the test fire sequence? The reason I ask concerns my considerations on cleaning the barrels prior to installation and larping around the house lol, and potential small amount of lead exposure for around children and others in the house.

Question??? I installed a Ballistic barrel,put the gas block against that shoulder and had a malfunction every shot,moved the gas block to line up with the gas hole slightly forward of the shoulder and no malfunction....So how did you say that it doesn't matter if you're up against the shoulder or not?????

so we went from put it on upside down to see holes lined up to tightening set screws…. did you just rotate gas block 180?

So how to do choose a gas tube and how far should get go into the receiver?

Why do you keep the screws if your gas block if it's pinned? I took my screws out after I installed the pin.

for the low price of 30$ and a hand drill, you can spend the same amount of time installing a dimpling jig, drilling a dimble, and installing your gasblock both perfectly square and center, and even more bomb proof.

Who is this Nordic Viking looking guy? Looks like Clint from Ballistic Advantage!... But he dissapeared years ago!? It must be THOR, the Hammer God of Lightning! 🌩

Against Milspec to no gap a gas block. Thermal expansion means it pops the gas block.

The goal is simple. Get the gas port to align with the gas block port hole. Eye balling it will almost always result in misalignment between the two. The seal between carrier key and gas tube is not improved by seating the tube deeper by way of setting the block against the shoulder. The lack of close ups in this video make it tough to see what you're doing but hey they might be for the better in this case.

I wish you guys and Aero would actually dimple the freakin barrels that don’t come with pinned gas blocks. Like the late Larson told Aero.

What tool do i need to adjust

R like the barrel I have from ballistic advantage no gas port

If I'm working on the barrel, installing a muzzle device, gas block, etc, I'm securing THE BARREL, in the vise using polymer V blocks in the vise jaws to hold the barrel securely and not mar it. I think it's a bad idea to work on the barrel by holding the upper in a vice and even have the chance of introducing too much force/torque on the upper/barrel interface.

The gas blocks I am finding do not have a hole for a pin, to pin it to the barrel. Where can I find one?

Just curious; how deep is the slot BA cuts into the barrel for the pin? Love you guys and own innumerable BA barrels in every available caliber. 👍

Help, this is my last hope I've got a barrel that is not drilled for the did system please help.

So why does BA recommend against dimpling the barrel for gas block set screws?

BA Hanson Barrels with the Low Pro makes install a breeze. The barrels are very accurate and durable. Dimpling and pinning is not necessarily hard if you have the rights jigs but at the price point of the BA Barrels it does not make much sense..

So do you install your gas tubes after the block is on the barrel and do it that way? Or if my barrel/block isn't pinned , should/can I install my tube to gas block then install the block & tube onto the barrel? is one better?