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Thread: Carbine benefit

  1. #1
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    Carbine benefit

    It seems as though everyone (lots of people) are moving towards mid length rifles, what benefit do carbine length serve? What's their best application?

    I've got a 16" carbine, just ordered a middy and now am considering converting my carbine. Should I leave it as is? Thanks

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    By mid length do you mean the gas system or the barrel length?

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    The car will wear bolts and springs faster... how much faster? I'm not sure. Also, some say the middy *MAY be more reliable. Now, that's not to say a car can't be trusted because they can. My LMT was one of the best shooting and most reliable semi autos I've ever owned.
    Acta Non Verba

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    Weight and balance are a major plus for the carbine. I made the switch to mid length and I am having doubts that I made the right choice. It really hits home when I fire my ex's carbine I built for her and then go back to my lead sled.
    "Oh, its a wonderful day! My sun is shining, my birds are chirping, my humongous chicken defeated Elmo." Huxley

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    At this point, to me, the main "benefit" of a carbine gas system is that it allows you to run shorter barrels, like 11.5 and 10.5"...

    For 14.5 and up, the mid-length makes a real nice shooter.

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    AFAIK you can't necessarily "convert" a carbine length gas system to a mid-length gas system. At least it wouldn't be affordable to "convert" your existing upper. You'd be better off just buying a whole new upper receiver assembly.

    Of course maybe I read your post wrong?

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    Quote Originally Posted by pilotguyo540 View Post
    Weight and balance are a major plus for the carbine. I made the switch to mid length and I am having doubts that I made the right choice. It really hits home when I fire my ex's carbine I built for her and then go back to my lead sled.
    This is why I haven't really delved into the mid-length myself. I've never handled a mid-length because it's a special order item at my local shop, but I have concerns that it won't be as handy as the carbine.

    On another thread a poster was comparing BCM to DD middies and made the statement that BCM had more experience with gas port sizes, etc. I'm not disputing that fact nor am I wanting to start a contest between BCM and DD, but that poster's statement says to me that there is still some experimentation going on with the mid-length system.

    I do see advantages to the mid-length system, but I still have reservations that it hasn't been fully tested.

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    To me the carbine gas system is for the 14.5", which I have (LMT 14.5" upper), I don't understand why anybody would buy a 16" carbine instead of a mid-lenght.

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    Quote Originally Posted by pilotguyo540 View Post
    Weight and balance are a major plus for the carbine. I made the switch to mid length and I am having doubts that I made the right choice. It really hits home when I fire my ex's carbine I built for her and then go back to my lead sled.
    Personally I don't see how moving a gas block a few inches forward could affect the balance given otherwise identical rifles? Its not like the gas blocks and the slightly longer mid length gas tubes weigh much...especially the small low profile gas blocks.

    In a 16" barrel, I can't see any benefit for the carbine gas system vs mid. My current rifle has the carbine system....but after having shot some middies, my next barrel will have the midlength system. The difference isn't that much, but the middies are softer shooting and better for follow up shots, IMHO.
    Last edited by SA80Dan; 01-12-11 at 12:46. Reason: sp
    Dan

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    Quote Originally Posted by pilotguyo540 View Post
    Weight and balance are a major plus for the carbine. I made the switch to mid length and I am having doubts that I made the right choice. It really hits home when I fire my ex's carbine I built for her and then go back to my lead sled.
    Are you saying that moving the FSB two inches forward noticably changes the weight/balance?

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