Ok, so I went and did it now.

[KOPBET]

I dropped one of my bolt carrier groups on the floor. Bent up the gas key a bit, and I'm sure it will never be the same again. Kind of makes it a friction fit with the gas tube now. Not good.

So, I can buy a replacement gas key, that's no problem. But I don't have an India stone nor an $80 staking jig, so I'll be left kind of left holding an incomplete item. Any recommendations for someone in the Tulsa area to complete the key installation task (properly) that will be fairly inexpensive? Or should I just buy a new carrier group and be done with it?

 

[HoLeChit]

I’m no gunsmith, but any other staking in the world that I know of can just be done with a punch and hammer. Just gotta make sure you deform the metal enough to lock the fastener in place.

 

[swampratt]

Sounds like you will not use the dropped one.
SOOOO If it was me I would get the hammer out and some steel rods and find one that fits inside the hole and Tap Tap Tap and try to fix it.

You are considering it junk at the moment anyway so ya can't break it.

 

[KOPBET]

I’m no gunsmith, but any other staking in the world that I know of can just be done with a punch and hammer. Just gotta make sure you deform the metal enough to lock the fastener in place.

Easier said than done on a round piece of metal.

 

[KOPBET]

Sounds like you will not use the dropped one.
SOOOO If it was me I would get the hammer out and some steel rods and find one that fits inside the hole and Tap Tap Tap and try to fix it.

You are considering it junk at the moment anyway so ya can't break it.

I tried that a little bit, didn't work too well, but I don't have adequate sized rods.

 

[swampratt]

No nails outside in a fence post you can sand down or welding rod you can chuck up in a drill or drill press and take a file and sandpaper and custom size it???

Just trying to think of stuff for you.

Or drill bits turned around backwards

 

[Shinneryfarmer]

No nails outside in a fence post you can sand down or welding rod you can chuck up in a drill or drill press and take a file and sandpaper and custom size it???

Just trying to think of stuff for you.

Or drill bits turned around backwards

Made many a pins in the field over the years out of Screwdrivers. Cut the handle off chuck up in a drill, file close to size, then finish with sand paper and cut to length. If they need braded, drill a hole in each end about 2/3 rds of pin size. This will allow them to roll over on the edges.

 

[KOPBET]

No nails outside in a fence post you can sand down or welding rod you can chuck up in a drill or drill press and take a file and sandpaper and custom size it???

Just trying to think of stuff for you.

Or drill bits turned around backwards

Thanks. Drill bits are either too big or just too small. A tapered nail set seems to work pretty well physically. I'm going to experiment with that for a bit.

 

[264killer]

Goolee a nice drill bit set should have one thats just to fut

 

[rc508pir]

Who made it? I have dropped plenty on the ground and never had a gas key bend or deform. Sounds like it wasnt heat treated properly, unless you dropped a 20lb weight on it after it hit the floor