To be getting checking all the way up to the gas port indicates to me they were really dogging the piss out of that particular barrel for only 10K rounds.
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To be getting checking all the way up to the gas port indicates to me they were really dogging the piss out of that particular barrel for only 10K rounds.
Anyone consider a replaceable insert within the gas block, similar to the gas control screw used on the SCAR? It would allow tuning the amount of gas based upon gas port erosion, assuming the barrel was still serviceable by all other measures.
This is why I prefer mid lengths.
It appears this particular barrel has been abused. You can see the "Alligator hide" cracking all the way up the barrel around the gas port hole (which starts at the throat).
A quick google brings this up:FACT: Erosion/gas corrosion starts on ANY rifled barrel with the first round, period. 10,000 rounds can be a long service term for any gun -- add "Mag dumps" and you are deliberately shortening useful service life.Quote:
The (BCWA3F) 5.56mm/.223 Rem. caliber 16" barrel is chrome lined in both bore and chamber for long wear life and ease of maintenance."
Section M16 barrels used at Benning or Jackson for recruit training and you'll find chrome peeling off the shoulder of the chamber; the throat; and the highest parts of the lands for at least two inches down the bore, depending on how many trainees have used that particular weapon. Most will be serviceable for years given the Army's general qualification standard and huge E-type silhouette target to 300 Meters.
ALL barrels wear. They'll NEVER remain pristine no matter how slow you shoot them (they'll last longer, but still wear). The magic of modular construction and assembly is a barrel change shouldn't take longer than half an hour, tops, with a cup of coffee. Anyone who has mechanical ability and the proper tools can do it on their own workbench.
I am endlessly amazed that some rifle owners don't think barrels and brass are consumable items.
I know that Andrew has been running a battery of tests on different ARs for these past couple of months. In fact, one of my friends in AZ met up to help him with these mag dumps and whatnot. Friend in question said he fired 7000 rounds in one day.
I can't wait to see the reports.
I badgered him for an answer on Facebook but he would not tell. He said wait and see the results when he gets the write-up finished or something to that effect.
This. And good rest of the post too.
I suppose I don't really get it when people look into custom length barrels, custom gas port work, in custom profiles, then send it off to be melonite or ion bonded coated, then pin and weld a muzzle brake on it. The return on investment is definitely not going to happen, in 10-15k no matter how much you sank into it, it may just be time to replace.