I purchased an M&P 15 T and wanted to replace the rail with a VTAC alpha rail. This involves removing the barrel nut and replacing it with a standard AR barrel nut. The problem is... once I took the rifle apart, I noticed smith uses a taper pin on the gas block along with hex screws. I cannot get the taper pin to move. If I recall correctly smith instructs to remove the pin from right to left and it appears so when looking at it. This pin will not budge. Anu suggestions on how to loosen the taper pin aside form beating the crud out of it.

On my OR, I used the proper size punch with cup end and carpentry hammer. Small hammer did not work for me. Take your time.

and you tapped from right to left, confirm? Thank you

Yes, I did tapped right to left. I placed a block of wood with a hole underneath the gas block. The hole was for
the pin to fall thru.

Tap from the small diameter end of the pin not the large diameter end.

__________________
NRA member since 1974

I have a 15T too and when I went to change out my gas block for same reason, I had to pound the living crud out of the pin with a mini maul to get it to break loose. Once it was loose, it came right out. It had me heated, trying to get that sucker out.

__________________
15T,15-22,5946 & some not S&W

just heat it up. not red hot or anything. after about 20 seconds w/ a propane torch it practically fell out after 2-3 taps.

Grymmfrost; "Just heat it up" "20 seconds with propane."
Just lock and load, drive it hard and get busy with that punch.
JUST KIDDING! The heat is good advice.