[hiredhand]

Ya know...the muzzle flash in your pic brings up a curious subject.

I read that during the design and engineering of the Colt AR series rifle, that the gas system (which I loathe) was engineered to operate with a 20" bbl, so long as the gas port to the tube was a "certain" diameter, and so long as the gas tube itself was a "certain" diameter, and a "certain" length.

Anyway....The conclusion was that unless the components of the gas system were altered along with a reduction (or increase for that matter) of barrell length, that problems due to heat and pressure could result.

Somebody was telling me at work (and I did NOT verify this) that the failure rate of the M4 (AR-15 carbine) is much, much higher than those rifles having 20" barrells, and that the precision rifles having target (bull) have a very low failure rate.

I'm amazed that the AR is as reliable as it is (which isn't saying much) given that there is a complete path from the gas port, STRAIGHT into the upper receiver! No gas piston...just hot air and propellant residue blowing right into the bolt, and out the vents on the side. SHEESH!

I better quit here or I'll start to rant. :-)

[AdamSelene235]

I'm amazed that the AR is as reliable as it is (which isn't saying much) given that there is a complete path from the gas port, STRAIGHT into the upper receiver! No gas piston...just hot air and propellant residue blowing right into the bolt, and out the vents on the side. SHEESH!

Yep, it craps where it eats.