I bought a car. I wont share the brand or model, so as to avoid that debate. I bought it hoping it would be reliable…but unsure. 100k + miles and 3 years later, and it has indeed proven reliable. I also have figured out the correct PM for various parts. Based on actual wear and experience. I feel very comfortable with the car, but also understand that it is a manmade, mechanical thing. I suggest you do the same thing with your 6920. Drive it for 100k miles and see what you see.
Moreover, i shoot steel. Many courses involve steel. M855 wears it out faster, and costs more. Dont pay to be a dick.
Good point. A lot of courses won’t even allow it.
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How many of you 6920 lovers are running a stock one as your primary? Yeah I thought so, I agree that it makes a good foundation rifle but that FSP is so limiting I think you are doing a disservice to novices by pushing it. I used to like the FSP but nowadays feel a slim 13.5 mlok rail as optimal, this post here shows one option, look at post 8 and 9.
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?209496-My-latest-M4-gery
To the OP’er, do what you want, but be aware that some are pushing a 1980’s upper configuration as the way to go and we have come quite a ways since then. And all this worry about switching or pulling barrels, it has been done literally millions of times, even the SOCOM URG-1 is being supplied as a barrel/rail kit to be installed on existing military uppers. If you do it just confirm function afterwards.
Define “stock”. If you mean “Don’t even change the furniture”, then no I’m not.
No one is telling SouthwestAviator to buy a 6920. He already has one. No one is telling him to not modify his 6920. We’re telling him to shoot his 6920 before spending money switching gas systems, barrels or buying a new upper for reliability. His 6920 is already reliable. SouthwestAviator is concerned about the reliability of the carbine gas system of his 6920. We’re telling him there are no concerns. Nothing more.
Shoot Before Modifying. Ammo Before Accessories.
His concern is the reliability of the carbine gas system of his current rifle, not the ergonomic layout. To which most of us agree, his current 6920 is very reliable, and should serve him well for a long time.
I think you should shoot the rifle you have and discover if has things about it that in practice might make you prefer a different rifle, rather than obsessing about things that you think might, someday, theoretically make the rifle fail to meet your needs or expectations. You are massively overthinking the issue.
And don’t fall off of a mountain… I have a friend in Alaska who was out hunting for mountain sheep. He got one, cut it up and put the meat in his pack. He then went to return home but in the process fell off of the mountain. He landed on his rifle which broke two things; his hip and the rifle. A bear happened along as they do in AK and there he was with a broken rifle and his pistol was in his pack which landed nearby. The bear knew a good thing we he saw it and took the pack of meat and the pistol. Support your right to arm bears.
To the OP, years ago I took the advice you’ve read here and bought a Colt carbine and Aimpoint Pro. In 7 years both have never failed to function and lately they’ve been getting a good workout with 2 gun matches. I’m on my second battery in the Aimpoint and the first still worked it was just getting old.
Good analogy. I’m going to buy another 2,000 rounds to put through it. If it can get through that with no stoppages, I’d have quite a bit more faith in it. I wouldn’t be shooting all 2,000 at once or in one range trip, and there’d be regular cleanings in between.
As far as the ergonomics, so far it seems to fit my needs very well. Worst case scenario I could have the FSB filed down to low profile if it bothers me that much once I have an optic, but I actually like having the fixed front sight base gas block. I’m going to put another 2,000 rounds through it before I determine whether I need to modify it. So far all it’s got is a BlueForce sling and it’s served well. As of yet there’s nothing that really jumps out at me that needs changing, other than putting on an Aimpoint, except maybe the handguards. But even those, with the double heat shield, have done an amazing job at managing heat.
I’ve considered a LMT Enhanced BCG, but I’m wary of unintentionally “enhancing” my rifle into having stoppages.
The reason I was considering only shoot M855 for practice is because I figure that’s what the M4 was designed to shoot and would prove the most reliable. But I’ve shot a good bit of M193 without any problems. Neither would be what I keep in it for defense. I plan to get some Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw for that.
The M16 was actually designed in conjunction with M193.
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How many rnds have you put through it? While there’s various reasons other brands may be superior, reliability is not likely one of them to that Colt. So buy another AR. Problem/OCD solved. Is a BMW M3 a nicer car then a Honda civic? Yes. Is it more reliable? Nope. It’s kinda like that.
The LMT e-carrier will not gain significant benefit versus the Colt BCG that came with the rifle. For the cost of an LMT E-BCG, your over halfway price wise to the mid length upper you seek. My $.02.
You need to stop nukeing this and go shoot. When I started building my guns years ago I wanted to use my own at work. The armorer told me to shoot 1,000 rounds and then come talk to him. I did and he asked how many malfunctions I had. Zero. He said that’s what I figured but I wanted you to know the rifle and have confidence in it. I’ve used that formula for any build that was going into harms way and it hasn’t let me down. So go put a thousand rounds through it and then see if your concerns are still there. I’ll wager they’re not. Go shoot the gun, a lot, with good training while you’re at it.
You need to stop nukeing this and go shoot. When I started building my guns years ago I wanted to use my own at work. The armorer told me to shoot 1,000 rounds and then come talk to him. I did and he asked how many malfunctions I had. Zero. He said that’s what I figured but I wanted you to know the rifle and have confidence in it. I’ve used that formula for any build that was going into harms way and it hasn’t let me down. So go put a thousand rounds through it and then see if your concerns are still there. I’ll wager they’re not. Go shoot the gun, a lot, with good training while you’re at it.
Just ordered 1000 rounds. Gonna put it through it’s paces some more.
As far as lubricant, I’ve been using Safariland (formerly Breakfree) CLP. Is this the best CLP to use for cleaning and lubrication? I’ve read that the G96 CLP is the current mil-spec one, and that Safariland CLP no longer is milspec. I’ve also read that if Safariland CLP and G96 CLP mix, it creates a glue-like substance. I was considering switching to G96 but if that’s the case maybe I should just stick with Safariland.
I think you made a sensible choice. You really don’t need to be concerned with carbine over midlength anymore than the unnecessary concern with a DI over a piston system imho.
I’ve used Eezox for years and
Mil-Comm TW25B “Grease” with great results but your likely to get many different suggestions including even using motor oil. To each his own
Keep the lube you have, it’ll work fine.
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I’m a casual reader and rare poster here, and I know I don’t likely shoot as much as most others on this page, but here’s my 2 cents on the matter: The first AR I bought for myself was a LE6920, circa early 2011, after browsing this forum quite a bit. Since then I’ve built a number of rifles in various configurations, as well as buying another 6920 a couple of years ago. (The wife has one and I have one situated for what we each prefer.) Recently I bought a KAC SR-15 Mod 2, and it has spoiled me for all others, to be perfectly honest. (Although I put an Ergo grip on it, in place of the A2 that came with it.) Over the next few weeks, I’m going to buy another one (18" LPR version) and start parting out my builds to friends and family. Everything but the 6920’s, I’m hanging on to those. Do not hesitate to shoot yours a lot, it’s a fine rifle and should hold up well. There are better rifles, and things you might do to make it better than it is now, but take the time to see what needs to be changed before guessing at what might be better. I assure you, your money was not wasted, so let go of the buyer’s remorse, you could have done so much worse.
My current main ‘home defense’ gun is the later 6920, a model that came OEM with Magpul SL furniture. I added a light, a PRO, an ambi CH, a sling, and a QMS trigger. Those are all preferences I gained from shooting the first 6920 a lot and then tinkering with things I thought would make it perform better, a philosophy I learned here. The light, optic, and sling are obvious no-brainers, and I’d even say an ambi CH (or at least one with an enhanced latch) is a close 4th. The only reason I switched out the trigger (did the same on the other one) is because I’d heard there were problems with the notched hammer that comes on the rifle. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a real case to support that fear, but as it turns out the QMS feels better than the stock triggers, at least with the two I have.
Nice carbine, jet66!
Very nice set up. I find it interesting that your main home defense gun is the 6920 instead of your KAC. Is this just because you want a relatively basic carbine for that role, or because you don’t want to risk the KAC being taken in as evidence in the event you have to use it? I’ve always just been attracted to the more basic carbines for ARs without bells and whistles other than a sling, light, optic, etc. Part of why I got the 6920 in the first place, to have a tough-as-nails basic carbine with maximum reliability.