Coal Dragger
member
Anecdotal evidence of one Colt having issues is far outweighed by the ample posts on this forum of cheap AR’s having a lot more issues.
Now could it be that there are maybe a few thousand cheap AR’s out there for ever Colt that is out there.Anecdotal evidence of one Colt having issues is far outweighed by the ample posts on this forum of cheap AR’s having a lot more issues.
I never once shot a Colt AR and thought "God I wish the gas tube was 2" longer"....
I wonder how today’s $500 jobs stack up to what the military was using up into the 80’s.A sub $500 AR is usually garbage.
Not unless you're just looking for an excuse to buy another AR. I definitely prefer midlength gas for 16" guns, but I wouldn't spend money changing an otherwise good running carbine just to get the slightly gentler operation.
As for .mil users and the mid length take note that USASOC (US Army Special Operations Command) is running an upgrade program on tethering M4’s. A Geissele MK16 rail, and Daniel Defense 14.5” cold hammer forged mid length barrel are the major component changes, along with a Geissele Airborne charging handle. The hammer forged mid length barrel was found to put up with the idiocy that is M855A1 ammo far better than the previous button broached barrel.
Carbine gas on a 16" barrel is more apt to run with significantly underpowered ammunition
It's a great choice for a new gun, but probably wouldn't mess with an existing gun unless I was all good with changing top ends
Now could it be that there are maybe a few thousand cheap AR’s out there for ever Colt that is out there.ild their rifles.Anecdotal evidence of one Colt having issues is far outweighed by the ample posts on this forum of cheap AR’s having a lot more issues
But let’s not turn this into a Colt Fanboy discussion.
How significantly underpowered? What about cheap .223 brass case?
I have to point out that my buddy considered his barrel worn out when he started getting the occasional keyhole. When that happened, he was still getting 2 - 3 MOA. The Army considers a barrel worn out when it starts keyholing. Obviously, competitors consider a barrel worn long before it starts keyholing!For comparative reference - most Service Rifle competitors consider their AR barrels to be worn out somewhere between 2,500 and 5,000 rounds (cut vs. button rifling does make a difference).
A sub $500 AR is usually garbage.
I never once shot a Colt AR and thought "God I wish the gas tube was 2" longer"....
Great advice. Just go enjoy it! I picked up a Colt AR15 HBAR Match in the early 90’s. 6,000 rounds later it still shoots MOA. Changed the trigger, because it was mil spec like a chisel on a stone, but that is it.Blue, the Colt barrel will last you a good long time. Just about any modern barrel is going to last you a good long time. A friend of mine replaced the barrel of his full auto AR after more than 20,000 rounds suppressed and he wasn't particularly kind to it. He also had to have the suppressor rebuilt as it was loaded with carbon.
I just paid $0.31 a round for Federal 5.56x45 55 gr ammo. 20k x 0.31 = 6,200. That means it will cost you at least $6,200 to wear out your Colt barrel. After spending $6,200 to wear out your barrel, you'll spend roughly another $300 to $400 for a replacement barrel and bolt. What's $300 - $400 after spending $6,200 or more on ammo?
Get a sling and an RDS. Get a snotload of MagPul or Lancer magazines. Get a couple of mag pouches. Get a BIG pile of ammo. Go shoot your rifle.
Once more- Shoot Before Modifying. Ammo Before Accessories.
Go in peace, brother. You have a righteous rifle.
Conversely, I have never shot an AR and thought "Heavens, I wish the gas tube was 2" shorter."
This past Christmas I took a new to me DPMS carbine out to the desert and ran a case of ammo through it. Interestingly enough, I actually DID wish the gas tube was 2" longer... to accommodate a longer forearm so I wouldn't keep burning my fingers on the gas block of the shorter carbine gas system. As an aside, I fully expected to have problems of some sort with the DPMS... it's one of the cheapo Oracle carbines... but aside from barrel deflection when slinged up, it ran 100% through 1000rds, and I'm not kind to my AR's.
That's what the MagPul Slimline handguard is forThis past Christmas I took a new to me DPMS carbine out to the desert and ran a case of ammo through it. Interestingly enough, I actually DID wish the gas tube was 2" longer... to accommodate a longer forearm so I wouldn't keep burning my fingers on the gas block of the shorter carbine gas system.
I have to point out that my buddy considered his barrel worn out when he started getting the occasional keyhole. When that happened, he was still getting 2 - 3 MOA. The Army considers a barrel worn out when it starts keyholing. Obviously, competitors consider a barrel worn long before it starts keyholing!
You can have any length forearm you please, slap a free float on there.
That's what the MagPul Slimline handguard is for
Now, stop obsessing and go shoot!