Standard Products Gas Nut
A question Guys. I went out to shoot my newest carbine today and when I got home and cleaned it, I noticed the Gas Nut was a little loose. How tight and do any of you use loctite? like maybe locktight Blue. Is this necessary or just torque it down real tight. Gun shot perfectly, very accurate, no jams no fouls, nothing but bullseye. I just went to a Gun Show yesterday and eyeballed one and told myself, no I dont need it yet. Should have, and I guess I'll order one.
I would just take it down to a point where it feels snug
The nut usually finds where it was originally by bumping into the carbon build up at that point. They are often not even close to being fully seated and attempts to do so just risk thread damage. The goal is good function and if you have that, don't push the issue. I would advise replacing the nut with a new one simply to have straight fresh threads to work with. I also would NEVER stake the nut, using maybe some permatex or loctite instead. I personally wouldn't hesitate to remove the nut and clean the piston area as long as you are very careful when replacing the nut and avoid cross threading (use little quarter turn increments and back out an equal distance before resuming the tightening, this way any deformed threads are dressed by the nut as if it were a tap). Don't just slap it in and start screwing it down.