What about the ejection pattern? What direction ('o-clock') is it flinging the cases and how far now? With the rifle lower and now, with the carbine lower?
FWIW, I'm running a 20" rifle-gas upper, barrel is from Ballistic Advantage, one of their "Premium" DMR stainless versions. I may have mentioned the gas port diameter on this barrel in an earlier thread of mine. I'll try to look. VASCAR2's .094" sounds right to me though. The lower has an A1 stock, standard rifle buffer and spring. Rifle shoots fine with all the 120+ gr ammo I've tried (Hornady Black and my own handloads).
However, it did not cycle the Federal Am. Eagle 90 gr TNT ammo very well. Didn't exactly short-stroke with this stuff as I recall, meaning to the point where it wouldn't chamber the next round. It simply didn't lock back on the last round. I don't recall the ejection pattern. the info on this 90 gr loading is anecdotal since Rusty hasn't even tried this ammo yet in his upper. Just FYI.
A bore scope is nice to have; I got one through Amazon. It was maybe $40? Worth the money. I think you can find cheaper ones too.
FWIW, I'm running a 20" rifle-gas upper, barrel is from Ballistic Advantage, one of their "Premium" DMR stainless versions. I may have mentioned the gas port diameter on this barrel in an earlier thread of mine. I'll try to look. VASCAR2's .094" sounds right to me though. The lower has an A1 stock, standard rifle buffer and spring. Rifle shoots fine with all the 120+ gr ammo I've tried (Hornady Black and my own handloads).
However, it did not cycle the Federal Am. Eagle 90 gr TNT ammo very well. Didn't exactly short-stroke with this stuff as I recall, meaning to the point where it wouldn't chamber the next round. It simply didn't lock back on the last round. I don't recall the ejection pattern. the info on this 90 gr loading is anecdotal since Rusty hasn't even tried this ammo yet in his upper. Just FYI.
A bore scope is nice to have; I got one through Amazon. It was maybe $40? Worth the money. I think you can find cheaper ones too.