skifast 2 Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 (edited) I have heard that the AK is overgassed. Would it make sense to change out a non-vented to a vented gas tube? If so, any problem with drilling a few holes in the non-vented one? My thinking is that it will reduce felt recoil and muzzle rise. Edited January 24, 2015 by skifast Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imarangemaster 315 Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 (edited) Long ago, I became a proponent of vented gas tubes. There was a video posted here about 2007 or 2008 where the guy ran an AK without the gas tube, just piston. It worked the action fine. Modern AKs have vents on the gas block, but time was when East Germans and Chinese (and a few others, IIRC) used vented gas tubes periodically. I run a vented gas tube and recoil buffer on my AK, While not a scientific study, I notice less recoil and bolt slam with the vented tube. It makes common sense that allowing excess gas to blow out the vents rather than slamming the bolt back is beneficial. I watched a video taken at dusk where the vented tube's effect was clearly visible. If it had not gone out the vents, it would have travelled backwards, eventually ending up in the action. I also see less fouling in the action since I switched to a vented tube. Edited January 24, 2015 by imarangemaster Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Inebriated 31 Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Get a good comp and keep the drill in its case... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shandlanos 1,470 Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 No point in running a vented gas tube on an AKM - there are already vents in the gas block. On original milled guns there were no vents in the gas block. The gas tube isn't really a gas tube - it's just a piston guide, makes sure the head of the piston slides neatly back into the gas block. After the piston has passed the vents in the gas block, no appreciable gas pressure is applied to the piston - there's nothing approaching a gas seal in the gas tube, gas readily passes around the head of the piston. What rangemaster said about carbon fouling makes sense. Blowing more gas out of extra vents instead of allowing it to blow back all the way into the action would make cleaning easier. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spacehog 2,218 Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Ever shot an AK with a solid gas tube off a sandbag or range bag? You will find that it will make Swiss cheese of your rest via the gas that is escaping from the gas block/gas tube interface. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SGL 530 Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 (cringe as his tactical duct tape starts to fail) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imarangemaster 315 Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 While not by any means scientific, I notice a reduction in felt recoil of the bolt hitting the rear trunnion when I run a vented tube. I am sure it is not a big deal, but between the vented tube, the recoil buffer, and the Tactical TriDelta brake, it shoots more like my AR15 than without the refinements. YMMV, though.... AT the very least, it can't hurt anything, since the gas impulse pushes the piston and the gas tube is essential a piston guide more than anything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skifast 2 Posted January 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Thanks for the advice. I do have a good brake, Manticore Nightbrake. I ended up drilling some holes. It won't hurt anything, took 5 minutes and cost nothing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nailbomb 10,221 Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Vented gas tubes are only needed if you don't have a vented gas block. You can have either or both vented without issue. Do what you want for cosmetics, and the most insignificant weight savings ever. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alfred788 0 Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 I'll be damned. I wish I would have known that a few years ago when I swaped out the vented one on my Mak for a non vented one when I was changing the furniture. It only has about 500 rounds through it with that gas tube, but it has run great. Can I assume that I am wearing out my rifle faster since it cannot vent the extra gas when it cycles? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SGL 530 Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 It's still venting the gas, just into your receiver. I don't think your wearing out the gun any faster, it just might be a little dirtier than it would otherwise. The gas does all of the its work on the piston while it's still in the gas block, so the way I see it, the speed at which it is sent back is determined before any gas even has a chance to escape from the vents. The gas tube is actually more of a piston guide to make sure the piston head seats into the block than sealed system like on an AR. Anything that leaks or doesn't leak after the piston has started traveling should be irrelevant to cycling. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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