Who has reliability issues? Have you owned one? I own them, have built them, and as long as you have an inkling of how to tune your gas system vs. buffer, there's no problem. My latest build is a 7.5" barrel. Has no fireball because it has the Noveske KX3 on it. It is loud, but again with the KX3 all the noise is mainly down range.
To the "can't do what it's supposed to do" people. What's yours "supposed" to do? We've shot mine at 100 yards and have no problem hitting a 12" steel plate. No, the ballistics won't be what a 16" barrel with a carbine gas system would be, that's common sense. But mine was built to have fun with, and it does exactly that. Would I take it to a battle? Well that's a silly question, that's not what it's for. Is it fun, reliable, and accurate at 100 yards and a little further? It sure has been. So, no...it may not punch through cinder blocks at 200 yards. If you want that, a pistol build isn't for you. But to make claims that they aren't reliable based on what you've heard or read on the interwebz isn't right.
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