benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
I would suggest that it *doesn't* take special care relative to most firearms to keep it running (just lubrication every 500-1000 rounds, perhaps, which is no more than you'd do with a pump shotgun or a pistol). That is, if you get one using decent parts, make sure it was put together properly, and use good magazines.I've always wanted a carbine but I've watched them jam too many times. Perhaps it's operator error but isn't it a design flaw when it takes special (relative to most firearms) care to keep it running?
That was the point of my first post upthread---that a lot of the (false) reputation for AR unreliability comes from low-grade or improperly assembled frankenguns and guns using worn-out magazines. If you set up your car with loose or missing lug nuts, don't blame GM if you lose a wheel, and if you set up your AR with an unstaked gas key or worn-out/off-brand magazines, don't blame Eugene Stoner if the rifle short-strokes or fails to feed.
Having said that, some configurations (rifle length and midlength gas systems) are easier on parts than others (carbine length gas systems, suppressed guns). But I'd point out that the gun in the OP was apparently running a carbine length gas system and it still went 16K rounds without breaking or being cleaned.
I'm not sure who first said it here on THR, but it is entirely true that the AK platform is far more accurate than it is given credit for, and the AR platform is far more reliable than it is given credit for.
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