Question about my barrel.

[voola]

B"H

Hello guys, how is everyone doing? I have 3 questions regarding my rifle.
My rifle is a smith and Wesson m&p15.

1) What is that box which is surrounding the barrel? It has a green arrow pointing at it in the picture. the link to the picture is below.

http://berura.angelfire.com/b/index.album/2?i=1&s=1

2) Do i need to clean that "box" after shooting? If yes how do i clean it?

3) Do you need to ever take down the hand guard and clean inside?

Thank you for your time and information

[Advocate]

that's your gas block, and while some say to clean it with a pipe cleaner... i've seen even more say "leave it alone!"

and that's what i do, and i've never had an issue that traced to to the gas tube/block.


*edit*
it's also the rail mount location should you choose to add BUIS (backup iron sights)

[voola]

B"H

Thank you for your reply. could you please answer question # 3 also?

[Legion_Prime]

3) Do you need to ever take down the hand guard and clean inside?

Thank you for your time and information

The average civie? probably not. If you ever want to though just pull back the delta ring and the halves will separate. If you do however don't mess up the gas tube, bending it will cause it to become misaligned with the gas key on your BCG and will cause problems either immediately or down the line. It's no problem if you need/want to clean in there (the occasional coat of lube on the barrel isn't a bad idea) just make sure you mind the gas tube.

[knight0334]

As mentioned above, its your gas block.

Unless you're having cycling problems that can be directly attributed to it, leave it alone. The use of some cleaning solvents and oils that doesn't evaporate cleanly will cause buildup at a much faster rate and cake the passage ways and the tube back to the upper receiver.

[mojo]

As others have mentioned ..

1. Gas block ... Basically, The gas from the barrel goes through the gas block, into the gas tube, into the upper receiver, then hits the BCG.

2. Nope
3. Nope, you really shouldn't have to unless you run it hard in a class or get it dirty

[24/7dude]

You should invest in a free float tube. I hear the help the barrel during rapid fire and will be less likely to get hot and warp or something. Lets be honest, we all like to see how fast we can pull that trigger 30 times. but you should still clean it. With a free float that has lots of holes in it for cooling you can even clean it without taking off the hand-guards, mostly.

[Legion_Prime]

You should invest in a free float tube. I hear the help the barrel during rapid fire and will be less likely to get hot and warp or something. Lets be honest, we all like to see how fast we can pull that trigger 30 times. but you should still clean it. With a free float that has lots of holes in it for cooling you can even clean it without taking off the hand-guards, mostly.

The holes are mainly to reduce weight. Their main contribution to accuracy is that the barrel is freefloated, meaning there is no pressure from a bipod/sling/anything on the handguard acting on the barrel. The barrel is going to get hot after a couple of rounds no matter what (within reason) a FF tube being made of Al will act as a heatsink for the chamber helping to disperse the heat of combustion and helping reduce throat erosion.

[mojo]

You should invest in a free float tube. I hear the help the barrel during rapid fire and will be less likely to get hot and warp or something. Lets be honest, we all like to see how fast we can pull that trigger 30 times. but you should still clean it. With a free float that has lots of holes in it for cooling you can even clean it without taking off the hand-guards, mostly.

I would not be able to clean my barrel without taking my FF tube off. Well, maybe if I wanted to clean it with about 400 Q-tips, I could. After the problems getting that damn thing on, I will not take that thing off!

[24/7dude]

there are a pain in the arse to get on. even the "drop in easy instal ones". Thats why I was thinking of getting a DD Lite instead of the drop in one. I'd rather just have to take it off with a wrench. And when I get one, that'd be the only time I ever clean my barrel. haha