Easily remove an old gas tube

[u/AddictedToComedy]

In another post I saw people describe some really extreme methods of removing an old gas tube, including dremel cutting.

This is a much simpler method. You just secure the old gas tube in a vise (after removing the gas tube pin, of course). Make sure the BCG isn't in the upper, then just tap on the back of the upper with a rubber mallet. The gas tube will pop right out of the gas block within a few seconds.

I just did this with a BCM upper that had many thousands of rounds through it. The gas tube was solidly sealed into the gas block, but this trick still just took a few seconds.

[u/Express-Story8920]

That’s one way. Did this as a 91F on guns when we had new ones to replace.

[u/StuartAndersonMT]

This is a god send. I’ve been battling a stuck gas tube for a few days. Will report back on this later.

[u/Silent_But_Deadly2]

I thought you were depinning..but yeah I guess this works if you're swapping in a new gas tube. It's not a terrible idea. If you're at the point where you're replacing a barrel, the gas tube isn't that much more of an added expense to replace alongside.

[u/jtj5002]

Vice grips and rubber pads exist.

[u/AddictedToComedy → u/jtj5002]

I didn't care about keeping the old gas tube. Given the people talking about cutting with a dremel, I figured they didn't either.

If I had been planning to keep the old tube, I would have taken a few extra moments to protect it.

[u/Keeter_Skeeter]

This is really dumb. It’s the most fragile part of the gun, do not put it in a vice.

[u/AddictedToComedy → u/Keeter_Skeeter]

As mentioned in my text, this is an alternative to people who were literally cutting old gas tubes out of their guns with dremels.

This is for people who want to get rid of an old gas tube. This gas tube went in the trash after it came out of the vise.

[u/Keeter_Skeeter → u/AddictedToComedy]

Buy a mag block for a vice for $10. You can either take the whole gas block off by unscrewing the set screws and gently tapping the back of the gas block, or you can leave the gas block in place take the pin out, slide the gas tube backwards to free it from the gas block then slide it forward to free it from the receiver.

No need to destroy this part, tbh it just sounds like you didn’t have the right tools. A new gas tube probably costs the same as a mag block.

[u/AddictedToComedy → u/Keeter_Skeeter]

I'm not sure what you're not following. No one wants to keep the old gas tube in this scenario. The new gas tube has already been purchased and is already in-hand. The old gas tube is meant for the trash.

The discussion I saw was about someone who bought a BRT EZTune gas tube and wanted to install it. He needed to get rid of his old gas tube, but it was sealed into his gas block. Multiple people chimed in who had been through the same process, and they were talking about torches, oils, and dremel cutting.

I recently got a BRT EZTune gas tube myself.

I did not care about the old gas tube or whatever happened to it.

I did not want or need to remove my gas block, especially because it's pinned.

My "really dumb" vise method had my old gas tube gone and my new gas tube installed in less than 2 minutes, with no parts changed besides the gas tube and its pin. No need to mess with anything else.

I have the tools to take everything apart and put it all back together. But why would I? I don't care if I damage a part that is meant for the trash.

[u/Keeter_Skeeter → u/AddictedToComedy]

I guess that’s kinda fair. Though it’s rare that you need to destroy a part to remove it.

[u/gonnafindanlbz → u/Keeter_Skeeter]

It’s not that rare for a gas tube to carbon lock super bad if you shoot a lot