The AR has a small gas tube that runs from the sight block back into the receiver, and it will glow red from prolonged firing, and will often burst once it gets hot enough.
Agree, to the fact that it was the handguard that caught fire. Definitely a poor handguard design. I’ve destroyed a couple of barrels on a M249 on purpose, but have never set the handguards on fire.
There are several guys with “burning brand X” rifle vids online. mostly it is done on purpose.
My Grand Father managed to get his M1 Garand to smolder while teaching street fighting in N.Afirca before invasion of Italy
He poored water on it and then went back to shooting.. The M1 was (and is) stout!
The AR has a small gas tube that runs from the sight block back into the receiver, and it will glow red from prolonged firing, and will often burst once it gets hot enough.