I have been using a McFarland gas ring for the past 500 rounds without a problem; I have heard since boot camp “never let those 3 gaps in the gas rings line up otherwise you will have problems”…5 years using standard 3 gas rings and never had a problem.
I would like to acknowledge that many of you know a lot more about this subject than me.
Can anyone tell me if using the McFarland has downfalls or any other negative effects?
Thanks,
Dave
I don’t have any experience on the McFarlane rings.
I will say that the alignment issue is bullshit, and I have successfully fired hundreds of rounds in succession with only two rings on the bolt…don’t know where that third ring went. 
We had some professional user guns that had the McRings installed, they did not run well. We did a once over and replaced the rings with 3 piece unts and all was good. I have an SP1 Carbine that I ran the crap out of when I was young, well before I knew what gas rings were, when I finally got around to replacing them they were sharp half moons…totally worn, gun still ran well though, I call BS on the alignment issue.
i tried them years ago, and they were very tight, and caused some problems when dirty (bolt not going into full battery), which didn’t happen with regular rings. didn’t loosen up much even after half a case of ammo. ditched them and went back to regular gas rings.
Please wait: Ditching has Commenced - ditching MF gas ring complete.
Thanks for all the info,
Dave
As Pat Rogers pointed out in a recent SWAT article and here (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=31)
The carbine will run with one gas ring
I am not impressed that McFarland perpetuates that rumor in their advertising
Colt Armorer Instructor Dean Caputo makes the same point in his class: all three spaces lining up lining up is a non-issue as it will run on one ring.
“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” Mark Twain
We all know that a weapon will run with only gas ring. What I like about the McFarland rings is that quality of the materials and that I don’t have to change them out like I do standard gas rings.
I don’t have many rounds downrange with them installed (yet), but so far so good.
C4
So what material is the McFarland ring made from?
Never had much use for them… The Stock 3 rings always worked well.
If some one gave me a few for free … but for me to pay for them… Homie don’t think so…
Homie, you’re cheap!
Submariner,
You make your own gas rings don’t you. 
No, I buy them like everyone else. Just because something costs more doesn’t necessarily mean it is better. I learned how to tell when the rings need to be replaced in Dean Caputo’s class and follow his counsel. He recommends standard gas rings. He also thinks the standard Colt action spring is sufficient. (Some here think it’s “cheap.”) The fifty Colt Commandos he cares for in his department even use standard weight carbine buffers.
Just as an FYI, they are the same price as standard gas rings.
C4
They are the same price or cheaper, so your incorrect in your ASSumption.
There are lots of things that are “sufficient”, but who wants that? If we did, we would all be running Model 1 AR’s.
C4
Did you stop reading after the first sentence? His department seems to think Colt Commandos with standard buffers, Colt action springs and gas rings are sufficient for their needs. They don’t use model 1 products. They also don’t see the need for H, H2, H3, 9mm buffers, CS action springs or McFarland gas rings. People other tham me asked these questions in class (except for the CS spring issue which I asked in class.) Why? He said they tested these things and found out what worked made those carbines run best.
Sorry, missed your question. They are made out of 300 series, heat treated SS.
Standard gas rings are made out of stamped sheet metal.
C4
That’s funny, as Colt Commandos come from the factory with H2 buffers (if I remember correctly). Interesting that they removed that buffer and put a lighter one in.
As far as PD’s go, they generally barely have any money to even buy the weapons, let alone upgrade springs and such.
I have been talking to Dean the last couple days and will ask him why they switched from the FACTORY INSTALLED buffer to the lighter one and IF they have ever tested ISMI buffer springs. I imagine they have not and were most likely looking at some lower grade CS springs (if at all).
C4
Gas rings? Oh you guys must still be using DI uppers. Gotcha.
Grant,
With respect to CS springs, the claimed benefits are pretty well understood. Then it’s up to a user to decide whether or not these claimed benefits are truly beneficial for their application and whether or not to pay the added premium.
Having said that, what’s the benefit to the McFarland gas ring? I understand the design differences, continuous one piece vs three pieces, but what is the benefit? Better gas seal? Longer term relaibility?