Looking for some input here from people that have lots of time behind suppressed AR’s: I got my stamp back on my M4-2K about 2 months ago. At first, most of my use was in an indoor range with eyepro and I didn’t notice anything. I then ran it outdoors without eyepro and noticed some annoying blowback into my eyes. Then, I put the upper (10.3" DD factory MK18) on a Post-Sample Colt M16 lower and couldn’t get through more than 3 or 4 round bursts without my eye reactively closing due to gas blowback. I’m using a Gunfighter Mod4 charging handle, and it’s the new style, which I though was supposed to work like a PRI gas buster.
Now, the upper runs 100% with a variety of ammo and full-auto/suppressed, so even if it may be a little over-gassed, I don’t really want to mess with it. Does the silicon on the charging handle help that much? LMT Enhanced carrier? Any other remedies or is this just the way these things go?
According to USMC03 and RetreatHell, the silicone treatment works great. I’ve shot suppressed guns both with and without, and have to agree that doing the silicone adhesive treatment is unquestionably preferable, regardless how how much gas any given CH does or does not bust.
I’ve not had an opportunity to use anything with the Enhanced carrier, so I’ve no idea if that helps with anything spitting out the back end.
NOTE: They say right there in the blurb and at the bottom of the page that it makes the FA…not FA any more, so if one uses that thing, that vent’d be a no-no.
I can’t speak to the efficiency of the RTV handle, but the enhanced LMT carrier does help. I have yet to shoot a suppressed SBR or other AR that didn’t give some gas love. One thing I have noticed is that certain types of lubricant will enhance the gas effect.
The RTV silicone trick helps mitigate gas though I haven’t found anything that works better than an adjustable gas system (you’ll still get some in the face, however).
Consider using a heavier buffer when running suppressed… if you’re overgassed enough you’ll beat your hammer and trigger pins as well as your disconnecter and the back of your hammer. This I’ve seen with 6933s.
I don’t know how much it helps but some people have removed the forward assist to hopefully allow that to be another exhaust port away from their shooting side… assuming you’re shooting right handed.
No real mystery. Certain products get hot and burn more than others and exhibit more gas. I can tell the difference when I use Froglube for example over stuff like Slip2000 or other similar products. My SBR’s are pleasurable to shoot and I can’t complain much about the gas at all.
This. I have a lot of time behind cans, and the biggest gas-reducer had nothing to do with the charging handle or silicone (though they do help and are worth exploring in my experience). The biggest effect I saw was the LMT E-carrier, I’m guessing because its extra vent holes help eject a lot of the excess gas that would otherwise puff into one’s face.
Side note: I’ve also seen a lot of other beneficial effects from the E-carrier on suppressed weapons, including reduction of overgassed weapon effects like extra recoil and flinging the brass to 1:00.
