A carbine will work just fine. Although if I were you, I would experiment with heavier buffers such as H1,H2 or H3. I wouldnt go heavier than a H3 on a 18" midlength. The heavier buffers will slow your action down and reduce some recoil allowing for more accurate fallow up shots. The downside is.... If you go to heavy, your rifle won't cycle correctly when it comes to ejecting cases and the bolt not staying open after your last round. Usually this will happen with the weaker loads such as Tula. If you end up going with a H2, I would run two mags of military issue 5.56 and two mags of Tula. If it cycles everything then you're good to go. You can then sell your carbine buffer. If it doesn't cycle properly then sell the H2 and get a H1.
I have two mid-lengths both running on 16" barrels. On both, I run a H2 buffer with a Blue Sprinco spring. They both cycle everything including cheap steal case.
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