AK47 Gas tube vented or no?

August 24, 2020, 07:30 PM

I have an SLR95 and want to replace the stock gas tube with an ultimak railed tube.

Advantages/dis of vented vs non-vented?

Silent

August 25, 2020, 07:14 AM

19tass

I have heard that a vented tube results in less residue/crud buildup inside, since some of the debris is vented out. Makes sense, though I have no direct experience.

August 25, 2020, 08:29 AM

RogueJSK

A vented gas tube isn't needed on most AKs. Most are vented at the gas block, just forward of where it mates with the gas tube. The vented gas tube is for models without gas block vents.

Early pattern AKs, including many Chinese AKs, have non-vented gas blocks and therefore need vented gas tubes. But most AKs, including your SLR-95, use the later AKM pattern with vented gas blocks.

Note the vent holes on the top of the gas block towards the left side of the SLR-95 image below:

quote:
Originally posted by 19tass:
I have heard that a vented tube results in less residue/crud buildup inside, since some of the debris is vented out. Makes sense, though I have no direct experience.

No. On a properly set up AK, gas is being vented either way, through either the vented tube or the vented block.

The only way that you'd get excessive residue/crud buildup inside is if you were to install a non-vented tube on an early pattern AK with no gas block vents. Then the gas would be venting into your receiver, since there would be no gas tube vents or gas block vents through which it could escape first.

It's not a matter of "some vents are good, so more vents must be better". You just need vents, either on the gas block like most AKs, or on the gas tube if your rifle happens to not have a vented gas block.

August 25, 2020, 11:12 AM

19tass

quote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK:
A vented gas tube isn't needed on most AKs. Most are vented at the gas block, just forward of where it mates with the gas tube. The vented gas tube is for models without gas block vents.

Early pattern AKs, including many Chinese AKs, have non-vented gas blocks and therefore need vented gas tubes. But most AKs, including your SLR-95, use the later AKM pattern with vented gas blocks.

Note the vent holes on the top of the gas block towards the left side of the SLR-95 image below:

quote:
Originally posted by 19tass:
I have heard that a vented tube results in less residue/crud buildup inside, since some of the debris is vented out. Makes sense, though I have no direct experience.

No. On a properly set up AK, gas is being vented either way, through either the vented tube or the vented block.

The only way that you'd get excessive residue/crud buildup inside is if you were to install a non-vented tube on an early pattern AK with no gas block vents. Then the gas would be venting into your receiver, since there would be no gas tube vents or gas block vents through which it could escape first.

It's not a matter of "some vents are good, so more vents must be better". You just need vents, either on the gas block like most AKs, or on the gas tube if your rifle happens to not have a vented gas block.

Great info - thanks!

August 25, 2020, 01:57 PM

bigwagon

Here's a shot of a Chinese Polytech showing the non-vented gas block and vented gas tube.

August 25, 2020, 06:33 PM

Silent

Thanks much! I very much appreciate the helpful information.

Silent

August 25, 2020, 09:05 PM

bolo4tom

you've got a fantabulous base rifle....return it to all its intended glory like I did...much more than just a stock swap but soooo worth it.

August 25, 2020, 11:15 PM

Silent

Due to the current unpleasantries I decided to get my SLR95 rifle up to speed. Replaced the thumb hole stock with a veltor rear stock; installed an alg trigger; now working on optics.

Silent