Here’s a little something that goes hand in hand with my recent thread regarding my SR556C at the 5,000 round mark. Making these short videos is what helped put me at that mark.
The camera used is a little Panasonic FZ100. The camera doesn’t get very good reviews on most photography boards but I’ve been happy with it. I’m especially pleased with the camera’s video capabilities.
Anyway, here’s what I’ve got. A Ruger SR556C upper on a Colt select fire lower.
I like the ejection pattern, it’s different from the DI AR, 10 to 15 inches to the right and a little forward, shooting to your right means I won’t end up with a hot casing down my neck :laugh:
Wow, that’s some really inconsistent ejection in video #2. It’s all over the place.
Mark: That’s what removing an integral carry handle will do for you. Now the question is does the increased flex contribute to increased parts failure or malfunctions in any tangible way…
My understanding from those who have tested such things is that the additional rigidity from an integral carry handle was significant, while a removable carry handle made little to no difference.
That would be cool of course… but the buffer system in the lower can make a big difference in cyclic rate. I can get my 14.5 middy to run about like a BAR with the A5 buffer.
I don’t know if anybody’s really flogged a Ruger to see what combo works best on an F/A lower but I have had some timing issues with the gun on standard gas setting (#2) and a standard carbine buffer. No issues at all on the #2 setting with an H2 buffer. I need to try an H3 and see what that does to the cyclic rate. I also need to try some hotter ammo, like XM193, on setting #1 and see how that runs.
Here’s the new Ruger SR556E upper on the Colt lower with my full-auto bolt carrier in place.
This is with an H3 buffer and the gas setting on the wide open (#3) setting. We tried a few rounds on the #2 setting but couldn’t get the bolt to lock back on an empty mag. The gun short strokes on setting #1 (lowest gas setting) with the H3 buffer in place.
As you can see, the cyclic rate is pretty high. I’m hoping an H2 buffer will allow the gun to work properly on setting #2 and help lower the cyclic rate.
Here’s the SR556E upper with the H3 buffer in place. Gas setting is on #2. Note that the cyclic rate is more reasonable but the gun doesn’t have enough oomph to lock the bolt open on an empty mag.
We ran the SR556E upper this morning with a standard weight and an H2 buffer in the lower. The gun runs fine on the lowest gas setting on semi- but would not run reliably on any gas setting with the light buffer in place. Next, we tried the gun with an H2 buffer and got good results.
