Palmetto State Armory adjustable gas block

This bit of reporting came about because a guy tried a suppressor on his .223 AR15, and discovered things did not work right. No can, shot fine, put on the can, feeding problems.

For those not familiar with some of this, you know the AR design leaks some of the high-pressure gas from the barrel, through a gas tube, and into the bolt group to cycle the action. Most AR’s are overgassed: the gas port lets a lot more gas through than necessary, because “We know it’ll work this way.” However, when you put a suppressor into this, it causes back pressure due to it slowing the gas going out the barrel, so now it’s REALLY overgassed, and can drive the bolt group fast enough that things don’t work right, plus working the action harder than it should be.

The fix for this is to either use a stronger buffer spring, and/or maybe a heavier buffer, to slow things a bit, or get an adjustable gas block. It has a valve that lets you adjust how much gas goes through. You can set it to be just right either with or without the can, changing the setting if need be, or find a happy medium. He wanted the medium, so started digging for gas blocks so could adjust it with different ammo.

Have you seen the prices on some of these?

Wanting to try something less expensive for a experiment, he settled on this one from PSA.

Part was duly ordered, and arrived, and was put on. Which brings us to ‘How’d it work?’
As it was supposed to, so far, which hasn’t been very long. We’ll see how it holds up; in the meantime:

Pluses
Well made, good finish.

Fit snugly on the barrel.

Adjustment clicks you could actually feel.

The adjustment screw sticks straight out the front, just above the barrel. When I say ‘just above’, I mean it, so a regular hex key will give the easiest access. In a carbine-length gas system, might need a longer adjusting wrench.

The adjustment did not change while shooting with the locking screw not locked, so no 'lock it every time between shots'.

The locking screw is on the right side and small. It should keep that adjustment nicely.

Cons:

No documentation of any kind. So if you’re not familiar with working an adjustable block, some reading or talking to someone who is would be a good idea.

No hex key comes with it, so you’ll need one.  This was 3/32".

Depending on your handguard, you may have to take it off or move it to reach the locking screw.

General stuff
The locking screw was locked down tight when it arrived, you’ll have to loosen it to adjust the thing.

The two screws to lock the block to the barrel will need to be backed-off a bit for it to fit into place.*

Did not come with a new gas tube pin

There was only one review on the web page, saying it failed after 500 rounds. Dig around online and mixed. He’ll see how it holds up over time.

Before installing the owner cranked the adjustment down quite a bit**, then the ‘Load one in the mag, chamber, fire and see if the bolt locks back’ process began, with it not locking back first shot. Opened a couple of clicks, it worked, followed by several more to make sure it didn’t need more clicks open. After which it was fired with the suppressor, and worked.

Being the suspicious sort he shot it again the next day, with all working as it should. According to those ‘where the cases should eject toward’ charts ejection without the suppressor right in the middle of good territory, with suppressor about one position into ‘more gas than needed’ territory, which is where the locked the adjustment at.

So far, it works. I’m sure if the adjustment screw ejects itself downrange*** or something I’ll hear about it.

*No idea if they're all that way, not a lot of experience on them

**Before you install it, if you look at the back of the block on the inside, where it'll fit over the gas port, you can see just how far you're cranking it down, I'd suggested just leaving it a little open for the start.

***A guy in one online review said his did this.  Which would be Bad.