The LMT enhanced carrier choked up Pappabears LMT 10.5. It's not supposed to run in a shorty like that.
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That's why Grant's success with it had me scratching my head. But the enhanced carrier with a regular bolt was key to getting his shorty up and running the way he wanted it-
Grant's thread is a gold mine of informationQuote:
...How can the LMT Enhanced Carrier make this big of a difference??? Remember that the gun would NOT EJECT the casing at ALL with the standard BCG, but with the Enhanced Carrier I could run all the way up to an H3 buffer and it would eject and pick up the next round...
I think the variable that made Grant's work was the addition of the can. Running a plain, unsuppressed shorty with the LMT enhanced can be problematic.
Extremely familiar with 50 LMT 10.5's with several thousands of rounds through them. I run one full time. I also have tens of thousands of rounds via 10.3" Colt variations without issue also. The LMT and Colts ran H buffers and a variety of ammo types without issue.
I've used the LMT enhanced carrier in three different 10.5" uppers without a single issue suppressed or not. That said, I can't really say it's something you need. The important thing, as mentioned, is getting the gas feed tuned in if it has a huge gas port to start with. While the adjustable gas blocks are nice, I've been trying out a LP gas block that comes with a small port you can drill out to whatever size you need. It requires a little work and a numbered drill bit set, but the block is only $20 and unless you plan to constantly adjust the gas I think it's a better way to go.
I prefer 11.5 over 10.5 for 5.56 if I have the choice.
The little bump in velocity and stabilization helps. Not tremendously, mind you, but the advantage is there.
They also seem to be a little easier to run interchangeably with and without a suppressor without needing to change buffers/springs.
12.5 is ok, but starts to get really close to 14.5 as far as handling.
Bear in mind that I am comparing longer handguard equipped 11.5s to Mk18 type 10.3/10.5 guns, so I'm not really working with an apples to apples comparison in the handling/accessory mounting category.
For .300 BLK, I like a 9.5 barrel, but deviating from 5.56 is not always worth the squeeze.
Quite the opposite-
The enhanced carrier allowed Grant to use the smallest gas port needed to get the shorty running where the standard carrier would not. Keep in mind that Grant used a standard bolt. If I recall, the enhanced bolt proved to be problematicQuote:
With the suppressor off, I loaded one round into the mag and fired the weapon. No brass came out. Hmmm. I pulled back the CH and ejected the spent casing. I removed H3 buffer and installed an H2 and tried it again. No joy. Removed the H2 and went to an H buffer. Still no luck. Removed the H and installed a Car Buffer. Again, no luck...I removed the Fail Zero BCG and installed the LMT Enhanced Carrier and Standard Bolt. I kept the SS buffer spring and Car Buffer. The suppressor is still off the weapon. I loaded one round and fired the weapon! VICTORY! The casing ejected from the weapon!
Grant's has an adjustable block though... critical difference. Pappa's gun was a stock LMT 10.5. He texted me all crapped out because it wouldn't run for shit.....
After thinking on it for a bit and remembering that I'd read the E carriers were not designed for shorter carbines, I got back at him and sure enough... he'd put one of those turds in the gun. Swapped it out and problem solved.
I would say with the MK18 these days its almost necessary to have an adjustable gas block if your even thinking about running a can. But they do eat all sorts of ammo with the port size unsuppressed. Like Jack, I also choose the 11.5's. Longer handguards are a factor for me also.
Get an 11.5". I have enhanced carriers in my 11.5" upper and 12.5" and they run 100% suppressed and unsuppressed.