Actually it is, especially if your gas is compromised in any way.
SOCOM did not request a .083 and I have no idea where you got that. The MILSPEC for a MK18 is .071 or .070 depending on who you ask. DD MK18’s were purposely overgassed for the commercial and LE markets to accommodate a wide variety of non-MILSPEC ammo which is what many companies have done in the past.
There is no standard for a midlength gas system, regardless or whether it is 14.5" or 16". The sole exception may be for the Geissele URG-I which uses a DD barrel and whatever gas port they established.
I got that directly from a Daniel Defense customer service representative.
Pretty much this, because I have the parts on hand and it is interesting to tinker sometimes.
Because the EBCG was primarily made to “tame” (if you will) the 14.5" carbine length gas system of the M4. It does so by delaying the unlocking of the bolt, thereby allowing pressures to drop before doing so. The smoother recoil impulse of a mid-length gas system, coupled with the ever-so-tighter gas port of the Hodge barrel could tame things a little too much, causing short-strokes or failure to lock back on an empty mag.
Although not mentioned, the “odd man out” in this (and any fighting rifle’s equation) is performance in extremely cold weather. A weapon that runs hunky-dory in a normal temperature range may not do so in extreme cold. There was a thread on it a while back on here. This is another whole issue but alas it is May in Tennessee so arctic-like conditions testing will have to wait!
The DD representative was incorrect.
Very true! .074 is lean as hell for a 14.5 middy… I’d get it reamed to .076. To Gunz’s point… even at .076" 14.5 middy, I’ve had issues when gas was leaking at the key/tube junction. And I run an H buffer to lighten up the weight from an H2.
I did some testing with an SLR adjustable gas block. I tuned the gas block so it would eject, but not lock back with Federal 55 gr 5.56 ammo, H buffer and Colt carbine spring. Changing to a lighter CAR buffer made no difference.
I then opened the gas block one click so the AR would lock back on an H buffer. The AR locked back on a CAR, H & H2 buffer.
I then tuned the gas with a H buffer and LMT E-carrier to the minimum required to achieve lock back. Then, using the same gas setting, I tested a standard full auto carrier. It would eject, but not lock back. To achieve lock back with the standard AR carrier, I had to open the gas block one click compared to the setting for the E-carrier.
Well he is wrong, sorry.
Which barrel?
1 data point for you.
14.5" mid-length, BA Hanson, gas port .076", shooting XM193 to Mk.262
Running standard carbine spring and 1 tungsten/2 steel weights in the buffer.
Smooooth, but reliable. “Flat” shooting if you know what I mean, in the recovery.
I try to take care not to knee-jerk with tuning to more buffer weight because balancing that with spring weight is also a consideration; they interact. I want that thing to also be able to return and no-BS lockup again. I don’t shoot for pretty piles of 4:00 brass. It reliably functions with 2:30-3:30 ejection & lockback from +5°F (so far) to normal summer temps.
What H-level does that equate to?
The cold temp info is also relevant. Basically if all runs well at normal temps then a “cushion” should be allowed for extremes, namely cold or fouling. Kind of like the FN FAL gas setting: find the setting where it feeds and ejects then back off (or “open” more) two clicks for adverse conditions. In the case of the AR it might involve dropping the buffer by one, i.e. from an H to a carbine buffer.
Not sure of the formulaic method people use for H numbers. I “call” it an H1 - and I could be mistaken, open to enlightenment. An H for me is just a regular carbine buffer, 3 steel weights. Then get a pack of tungsten weights & experiment to roll your own. (Midwest Tungsten Svcs sells 'em in 3 packs, that’s where I got mine.) But that setup works really well on both my mid-lengths. By contrast I also have a PSA carbine gas gun that needs an H2 with a Sprinco Blue Spring.
I’m with you on allowing that cushion for performance when things go south, or of long duration off the square range. Cold ammo=less pressure, or long fight=filthy gun; one can take their pick. Like I said I don’t tune the gun per se to toss brass in some magic direction. But running with less than optimum conditions present is important, to me anyway. I was musing awhile back about how the level of knowledge available to someone who runs one of these things nowadays is light years ahead of what passed for working knowledge when I had one 50 years ago, lol. 'Course reasonably clean & well-lubed wasn’t always happening either with some people.
:L
The buffer weight nomenclature is:
CAR - 0 steel, 3 steel
H - 1 tungsten, 2 steel
H2 - 2 tungsten, 1 steel
H3 - 3 tungsten, 0 steel
You da man! Thanks!
There is a distinct difference between a carbine buffer and an H buffer. Probably 90% of all the standard AR’s on the market will function reliably with at least an H buffer.
Thanks for that, really. Now I have the correct naming convention. 
Oh that’s absolutely correct. Between the internet and technology the understanding of an AR is eons beyond what you reference. Hell, it’s eons beyond what I experienced carrying one for Uncle Sam in the mid-80’s (which was an M16A1, probably not much different than you had). Of course with a full-size rifle not much has changed tweaking-wise, but carbines? Katy-bar the door! Buffer weights, port sizes, A5 buffers, enhanced power springs, a shit-ton of different ammo/bullet weights, enhanced BCG’s, etc. Oh yeah, the plethora of tweaking options blows away the past.
For instance, port size over-gassed or a little on the tight side? Up or down with buffer weights, regular or extra-power spring, maybe an enhanced BCG. Then there’s the A5 thrown into the mix as a possibility. This can be kind of fun stuff to play around with to find the “sweet spot”.
Of course the downside is the complication of things…50 or 35 years ago it was 55gr with 20" barrel and rifle buffer. That (generally speaking) was it, period. Having said that, I like a challenge! 
It’s an 11.5" SS carbine length barrel I got from PSA. I don’t recall the original port size.
When I say the buffer weight made no difference, I mean it made no difference operationally. Both buffers functioned fully on the same gas setting. Both buffers would eject but not lock back when the gas was closed one click. Same when the H2 buffer was tried. But buffer weight made a significant difference in how the recoil felt. Recoil was uncomfortably sharp with the CAR buffer. It was softest with the H2 buffer.
Good info.
The different gas system configurations can act a little differently.