Gas block alignment has become a bit of a convoluted process as low-profile gas block proliferate. Some barrels and blocks are designed to seat on the shoulder while others need to be set off the shoulder by the thickness of a handguard cap. On top of that, gas block alignment dimples are still not the norm on most aftermarket barrels which leaves the builder to eyeball the alignment. That usually works… Usually.
ODIN Works has taken a somewhat novel approach. They mark their barrels and their gas blocks with a machined witness mark so the user needs only to align the marks at installation. The block and barrel are setup so the block can sit directly on the shoulder. There is no guess work with this setup.
Have you ever had difficulty aligning a low-profile gas block? Would you prefer a dimpled barrel or a witness mark solution as shown here?
Both?
If I can only choose one, I guess is prefer to have an alignment mark on the top of the barrel. I generally prefer clamp on gas blocks over set screw blocks.