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Posted: 12/27/2008 11:28:12 AM EDT
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Hello. I have read in several discussions here on AR-15.com about the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of the various length gas systems. Much of it is centered around the advantages of the Mid-length gas system over the others. The two most commonly sited advantages of the Mid over the Carbine is that you have a longer sight radius (which I agree with), and longer service life of the rifle with the Mid-length gas system (which I am not sure of). So then I have two questions:
1. Are there any advantages of the Carbine-length system over the Mid-length? Are there any functionality or mechanical advantages? 2. Has anyone ever worn out components in their rifle with a Carbine-length gas system as compared to a Mid-length gas system? Has anyone ever done any comparison testing in this regard? Thanks. |
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Quoted:
Hello. I have read in several discussions here on AR-15.com about the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of the various length gas systems. Much of it is centered around the advantages of the Mid-length gas system over the others. The two most commonly sited advantages of the Mid over the Carbine is that you have a longer sight radius (which I agree with), and longer service life of the rifle with the Mid-length gas system (which I am not sure of). So then I have two questions: 1. Are there any advantages of the Carbine-length system over the Mid-length? Are there any functionality or mechanical advantages? 2. Has anyone ever worn out components in their rifle with a Carbine-length gas system as compared to a Mid-length gas system? Has anyone ever done any comparison testing in this regard? Thanks. The carbine system is shorter and therefore useable with shorter barrels - other than that, assuming you're running a 14.5" or longer barrel (my new midlength is 16"), the midlength system is hands-down better, simply because the action cycles more gently, to put it in simple terms. I personally can't shoot well enough with irons to discern a difference in accuracy between the two systems, and really doubt that most other people can - besides, I only have 1 AR with irons-only on it, and rarely shoot it for accuracy. I've never personally worn out anything on either system, but everything seems to indicate that bolt failure is slower on midlength systems due to the less violent operating cycle. |
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Quoted:
1. Are there any advantages of the Carbine-length system over the Mid-length? Are there any functionality or mechanical advantages? Gas system length should be correlated to barrel length. If you're running a 11.5" barrel, carbine length is a better choice than midlength. If you're running a 16" barrel, midlength is a better choice. With common 14.5 and 16 inch barrel lengths, the only advantages of carbine gas are the very slight difference in weight and balance from the shorter handguards, and generally greater selection in parts and accessories. At a functional level midlength gas is a better choice for those barrel lengths. 2. Has anyone ever worn out components in their rifle with a Carbine-length gas system as compared to a Mid-length gas system? Has anyone ever done any comparison testing in this regard?
Lots of people wear out or break parts. It's a matter of percentages, a less-correctly matched system with overall higher pressure operation increases stress and wear on parts and those parts fail earlier/more often. Here's a whole recent thread on bolt failures for example, with a link to a .mil presentation also discussing the problem. General carbine v. midlength discussion repetitiveness: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=405205 http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=12&t=411843 |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Much easier to find add ons for carbine length. Such as? Alot more railed forearms are made for carbine than middy. Middy forearms are out there but for every middy you find there will probably be 5 different carbine forearms. Everybody that I know of makes midlength rails. Larue, Daniel Defense, KAC (sort of), Midwest, Troy, Samson, YHM. |
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