NIGHTLORD40K
Member
The longer your gas tube, the less gas pressure gets sent to the bolt, the bolt stays locked longer, chamber pressure is lower when the bolt does unlock, and you have less violent cycling. This in turn results in less perceived recoil and is easier on the bolt lugs, extractor, etc.Why is that?
BTW. the first thing to break on any AR is often the bolt and/or extractor. Granted, it usually takes many thousands of rounds, but they are wear items. An AR bolt can even continue to function with one or two missing lugs, but it will happen eventually. Firing pin breakages are rare, but its recommended to have a spare bolt and pin on hand just in case. Magpul actually makes a carrier for these parts which slips into their pistol grip!
Seperated case heads are rare, but a longer gas tube makes them less likely as well.
My daughter has an 18" with a middy tube and it is one sweet, soft shooter. That said, the vast majority of 16" guns have a short "carbine" length tube, and run just fine for a long, long time.
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