I recently bought my 2nd M&P15T and noticed that the gas key on the Bolt Carrier was not staked.

I've read that MilSpec calls for it to be staked. Some say that it's an important element and others say that it's just another MilSpec redundancy, and properly torqued gas key fasteners should never loosen. I tend to believe more is better in this case and had it staked by a local gunsmith.

At first I thought that it may be one of those things S&W is doing (like the change from 1:8 to 1:9 barrel twist on the Sport) to cut costs. But the serial number on this 2nd M&P15T indicates that it was made prior to my earlier M&P15T.

Thoughts?

Both of mine are staked. Yours could be aftermarket or just plain missed during production.

Redundancy or not, mil-spec or not, I want mine staked.

I would get it staked. Properly torqued or not, that key takes some abuse and as far as I know, there is no reason to remove it.

Battle rifle production requires better QC than that.

My sport is staked so I would think any model above it should be staked as well.

My Sport is also staked, I looked last night.

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Still carrying my S&W 642

My Sport is staked, too, FWIW. Just got it today, and didn't even know what that meant, until I did some research on it. Once I figured it out, I checked mine, and it is...

My Sport has a staked gas key, and a staked castle nut. Sounds like a QC problem. I'd contact S&W.

Or do what I said I did in my first post and have it staked by a local gunsmith. I would have done it myself if I had the tools as it's pretty simple. But I had it done at no charge the same time I had a Magpul ASAP put on.

Maybe I should have contacted S&W to test their Customer Service, but it seemed the hassle was going to be more than it would have been worth. I'd rather be at the range than waiting at the mailbox.