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How to Install a McFarland Gas Ring

The AR-15 has been designated as the M-16. Its civilian version operates as a semi-automatic weapon. It is a bolt-action rifle, but the shooter does not have to manually operate the bolt before each shot. After a shot is fired, hot gas from the bullet forces the bolt back and ejects the spent cartridge. The AR-15 has three gas rings that need to be intact gas to push the bolt back correctly. The McFarland gas ring is a single replacement for the three rings. The bolt must be removed from the rifle before installing the McFarland gas ring, so rifle owners should be comfortable with disassembling their weapon before performing this modification.

Things You'll Need

Flat-head screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Insert a flat-head screwdriver into the gap in the rearmost gas ring and pry one end up over the edge of the ring groove. Pry the other end of the gas ring up over the edge and remove it.
- 2
  Repeat the previous step with each of the next two gas rings.
- 3
  Slightly expand one end of the McFarland gas ring. Use a flat-head screwdriver, if necessary.
- 4
  Slide the end of the new gas ring over the edge of the ring groove.
- 5
  Hold the spring steady and rotate the bolt toward the interior of the gas ring. It is a short coil of metal, almost like a flattened key ring. You can also rotate the ring itself around the bolt.
- 6
  Continue to rotate the bolt. The new gas ring will work its way completely into the ring groove.

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