Upper handguard/gas tube assembly

steel · 09-06-2005, 11:56 PM

Is it easy to remove the handguard from the gas tube?

Also, are the various upper handguard/gas tube assemblies interchangeable? For example, if I have, say, a SA-M7 Classic and a SA-M7 carbine, can I interchange the assemblies? Or do the different types of gas chambers prevent this?

Lastly, what are the pros and cons of the gas tube with vent holes as opposed to the gas tube without vent holes?

Thank you for any information you can provide.

KernelKrink · 09-07-2005, 05:59 AM

To remove the handguard from the tube, clamp the flat part of the tube at the rear in a paddeed vise. Twist the handguard 180 degrees and it will come off. Easy or not depends on the individual fit.

Dunno about the spacing on the examples given, but other than the AMDs, Yugos, and Krinkovs, the upper tubes appear to be mostly interchangeable.

The vent holes do not matter as long as the "correct" combo is used. Early Ak47s used a solid gas block and drilled vent holes in the tube itself to keep excess gas from blowing back in the tube/receiver. At some point they went to the system where the tube is solid and the vent holes are in the gasblock. They both work.

steel · 09-07-2005, 09:02 AM

Thank you.

shift1 · 09-14-2005, 10:30 PM

Amd65 tube and lower handguard are shorter, not sure about the 63. I too have interchange the vented / non-vented tubes works okay either way. If switching tubes, some minor fitting may be required to make the tube lock / release work as designed

graveman · 09-29-2005, 02:15 AM

Gas tube with holes designed for gas block without holes ( AK-47 pattern, milled receiver ).
Gas tube without holes designed for gas block with holes ( AKM and AK-74 pattern , stamped receiver ).
Holes on both tube and block = insufficient gas entering the action = possible FTF/FTE if your recoil spring and the ammo is weak enough rifle might not even cycle
No holes on either tube and block = excessive gas entering the action = increase in recoil and faster wear on the rifle
Even if the combination is wrong, the rifle will still work, just not optimally. After all, it's an AK ! it can take more shit than any other weapon and still operate .

09-06-2005, 11:56 PM	#1
steel Member AKaholic #: 4322 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 44	Upper handguard/gas tube assembly Is it easy to remove the handguard from the gas tube? Also, are the various upper handguard/gas tube assemblies interchangeable? For example, if I have, say, a SA-M7 Classic and a SA-M7 carbine, can I interchange the assemblies? Or do the different types of gas chambers prevent this? Lastly, what are the pros and cons of the gas tube with vent holes as opposed to the gas tube without vent holes? Thank you for any information you can provide.

09-07-2005, 05:59 AM	#2
KernelKrink Curio & Relic AKaholic #: 2036 Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,558	To remove the handguard from the tube, clamp the flat part of the tube at the rear in a paddeed vise. Twist the handguard 180 degrees and it will come off. Easy or not depends on the individual fit. Dunno about the spacing on the examples given, but other than the AMDs, Yugos, and Krinkovs, the upper tubes appear to be mostly interchangeable. The vent holes do not matter as long as the "correct" combo is used. Early Ak47s used a solid gas block and drilled vent holes in the tube itself to keep excess gas from blowing back in the tube/receiver. At some point they went to the system where the tube is solid and the vent holes are in the gasblock. They both work. Last edited by KernelKrink; 09-07-2005 at 09:08 PM.

09-14-2005, 10:30 PM	#4
shift1 Member AKaholic #: 4372 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 35	parts Amd65 tube and lower handguard are shorter, not sure about the 63. I too have interchange the vented / non-vented tubes works okay either way. If switching tubes, some minor fitting may be required to make the tube lock / release work as designed

09-07-2005, 09:02 AM	#3
steel Member AKaholic #: 4322 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 44	Thank you.

09-29-2005, 02:15 AM	#5
graveman Member AKaholic #: 4298 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 210	Gas tube with holes designed for gas block without holes ( AK-47 pattern, milled receiver ). Gas tube without holes designed for gas block with holes ( AKM and AK-74 pattern , stamped receiver ). Holes on both tube and block = insufficient gas entering the action = possible FTF/FTE if your recoil spring and the ammo is weak enough rifle might not even cycle No holes on either tube and block = excessive gas entering the action = increase in recoil and faster wear on the rifle Even if the combination is wrong, the rifle will still work, just not optimally. After all, it's an AK ! it can take more shit than any other weapon and still operate .

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