Pick your ideal 16" AR set up for suppressed use

[MadAngler1]

The title says it all. In conjunction with a 5.56 Surefire SOCOM 2 suppressor, I am thinking about:

1. Buying a Knights SR-15 with a mod 2 gas system. I believe they use a carbine length buffer

2. Build my own mid-length upper (probably daniel defense) with a VLTOR A5 buffer system

3. Noveske gen 3 with a switchblock (either carbine or A5 buffer system)?

I guess the ultimate question is what's more important? The gas system or the buffer system? I intend to use this set up for serious use (courses).

thanks

[bp7178]

For something I didn't care much about cosmetically, would get used hard and needed to be reliable, I would get a Colt 6920 OEM. Buy the rail/furniture of choice, and run it with a Sprinco Blue with a H2.

[SeriousStudent]

For something I didn't care much about cosmetically, would get used hard and needed to be reliable, I would get a Colt 6920 OEM. Buy the rail/furniture of choice, and run it with a Sprinco Blue with a H2.

This man has given you good advice. You can find a Colt OEM on sale for under $800 with some web searches.

[MadAngler1]

So what you two are really saying is that I am no better off with a mil spec Colt with a carbine length gas tube and buffer tube (with H2 buffer) than I am with one of the other solutions listed above? That would definitely be a money saver, but so much time and effort has been dedicated to this porblem using other systems. Thoughts?

[docsherm]

For something I didn't care much about cosmetically, would get used hard and needed to be reliable, I would get a Colt 6920 OEM. Buy the rail/furniture of choice, and run it with a Sprinco Blue with a H2.

I also agree. I have a similar set up and no complaints at all. Take the money you save and invest in a good optic.

[Jwknutson17]

Im going to disagree with the buy the 6920. Why run a car gas on a 16" rifle when you don't have to?

Option 1. Buy it. Put On a Vltor A5 tube with a A5H3. Run it.
Option 2. Also a good one. Get a barrel that's ported conservative or adj gas block or port insert. Tune it to your liking on an A5H2 or 3.
Option 3. Switchblocks are a good for suppressed / non suppressed system but I like options 1/2 better personally.

[tom12.7]

Depends on what the OP intends to do? A 16" 6920 variant is going to take more action mass than the H2 if dedicated to that can to keep the cyclic rate of function in a more desirable range.

[Jwknutson17]

Depends on what the OP intends to do? A 16" 6920 variant is going to take more action mass than the H2 if dedicated to that can to keep the cyclic rate of function in a more desirable range.

Bingo!

And I would take that RC and put it on a SBR and buy a mini for a suppressed 16 rifle.

[BufordTJustice]

Get a 16" barrel like the BRT Optimum series with intermediate length gas system and conservatively sized port, use the Vltor A5 system, use either an adjustable gas block or a gas port insert.

Running a 16" barrel with Carbine gas is unnecessary in light of current market options, and not recommended with a can.

Just an absurd amount of dwell time with the can on. It's nearly akin to having a 20" barrel with Carbine gas.

[tom12.7]

Forget the gas port insert if it is used as a primary gas restriction, way too many negatives there. It is a good idea if the base gas port restriction is matched to a dedicated port in the barrel to maintain a cyclic rate with wear.
I would tend to look for a barrel that compromises well for a 50/50 rifle that has the ability to match action mass to a desired condition. An extension of the gas system with dedicated porting can really help here. Using a dedicated mass for either with without a can. The rifle like action or A5 can really help out here.