AR Sponsor
Posted: 1/15/2017 12:07:51 AM EDT
| Are there any advantages of a 16" carbine length upper over a 16" mid length upper? Way would one choose one over the other? Other than a bayonet fits on the mid length. Also what buffer would you use on the Mid length? |
| You have slight gas timing differences between the two. Different "dwell" time. You can likely get by with the standard carbine buffer, with either. Serious differences may not be too noticeable. I'd suggest there are mainly more ergonomic differences. My opinion is that the 16" with carbine length gas system looks like an abomination with the long barrel and inability to mount a bayonet. It's a design primarily made to satisfy the ATF's NFA requirements. The same with the 16" midlength. If if wasn't for the ridiculous 16" requirement, the two designs probably wouldn't exist. But that's besides the point. |
|
Go with the middy, especially if using iron sights. The Mid-length gives you a couple more inches of sight radius over the carbine, and don't look ridiculous with all that excess barrel after the handguards. It should also shoot a little smoother, not really any advantages to go with a 16" carbine IMO. And to the poster above saying the 16" middy probably wouldn't exist without the NFA laws I highly doubt that. They make about every barrel length out there, 10.3,11.5,12.5,14.5,16,18,20 and more. A 16" middy is a very nice balance of everything and I prefer it over a 14.5" carbine mostly due to the excess sight radius. Nothing wrong with the 14.5" mid either I just got one of them this month, but I'd say the 16" is more optimal for that gas length system although both will work just fine. I figure if the NFA law would disappear tomorrow you would see a little more 14.5s sell then usual but the 16's would still be selling about as fast.
To the OP, if you are using a free float rail and no standard A2 FSB then it doesn't matter quite as much, but the Mid will still be softer shooting. I run the regular Carbine buffer in mine but many run the H1 and H2 depending on who the manufacturer is and how big the gas port hole is. |
AR Sponsor