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How to Install an AR-15 Three Piece Gas Ring

The gas rings on AR style rifles may wear down or may be damaged in the normal operation of the rifle. These can be replaced with either another standard three-ring set or with a single-ring configuration. Replacing the three gas rings requires disassembling your rifle. Have your owner's manual on hand. The rings have to be staggered to ensure a tight seal on the bolt assembly. If the rifle short-strokes, or fails to fully cycle the round out of the chamber, the gas rings probably need to be replaced.

Things You'll Need

Small pin
Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

Instructions
- 1
  Remove the magazine by depressing the magazine release on the side of the magazine well. Pull the charging handle to the rear, lock it back, and visually check to ensure that the chamber is clear. If the chamber has a round in it, remove the round, and pull the handle back again to verify that the chamber is empty.
- 2
  Separate the lower and upper receivers by depressing the take-down pin as far as possible, push the receiver pivot pin, and separate the upper and lower receivers.
- 3
  Pull the operating handle partially out and remove the bolt carrier. Remove the firing pin retaining pin and lock the bolt into the carrier.
- 4
  Turn the bolt carrier down, so that the firing pin drops out of the carrier, and then rotate the cam pin one quarter turn to remove it.
- 5
  Remove the bolt assembly from the carrier and examine the tapered side with the three gas rings. Check for wear and check that each open portion on each ring is offset from the other. To remove them, use a pin to pull each ring off, one at a time; you my open them using a pair of needle-nose pliers.
- 6
  Replace the new rings by slinging them on one at a time; do not open the new rings. This should be relatively easily done. Use a small pin to turn each of the rings so that they're offset from each other.

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