New AR Upper ... Middy or Carbine?

[Smith]

Getting a new AR upper and I can't decide between a middy or a carbine length. I know from my past middy's that accessories (ie Rails etc) can be a little more difficult to come by but that a middy is a little more reliable. What you think?

[Armed Aviator]

Carbine, cause I don't know what a middy is, and I'm building a carbine

[molonlabetn]

What are you using it for?

A mid-length AR isn't going to be noticably more reliable... it might cycle slower because the dwell is closer to that of the intended rifle-length gas tube, and that does make things run smoother. But really, I'd get a carbine and just run a heavy buffer.

[Mike]

Mid.

Lower gas pressures, slight increase in reliability, longer forearm, longer sight radius.

Mike

Edited September 14, 2010 by Mike

[Guest Armgdnman]

Carbine.

Put a put a mid-length quad rail on it. I have seen some really good deals on Troy free float rails on eBay in any length. Same amount of real estate and still have the shorter barrel.

[Daniel]

I was under the impression the barrel would still be 16" with just a longer gas tube and the FSB at a further position down the barrel? Am I missing something here. I voted Mid for more hand guard real estate.

[Kenstaroni]

A mid-length has a longer gas tube than a carbine, but shorter than a rifle...hence the term "mid-length". It still uses a 16" barrel instead of a 20" on a rifle. Both are going to be reliable, the differences are that the recoil will be smoother as the gas has a longer travel time to the bolt and forend will be longer giving you more room to mount goodies. It looks a lot better than a carbine in my opinon.

I love mid-lengths myself as I think the carbine gas system is a little violent, carbine's look funny b/c the barrel sticks out so far past the handguard, and the carbine handguard limits room for bipods and grips together.

[mikegideon]

I voted middy because I already have a carbine length. Real estate on the forearm is sparse, especially if you want to add a full length bipod adapter. My next one will be a free floated rifle length, or one of those Rightwinger bear guns

[Seaslug]

I vote middy, also. In my mind, the ONLY advantage a carbine has is the slight--and I mean VERY slight--reduction in weight.