14.5 upper gas tube. Mid length or carbine?

[stormvet]

Has the debate been settled yet, is the mid length gas system now recognized as better on a 14.5 then a carbine length.

Use to be said that a mid length while offering lower recoil and less wear on parts was also spotty with lower charged rounds.

Haven?t heard that in a while, but still see lots of 14.5 uppers for sale with carbine gas tubes. Actually more than with mid length, was expecting the opposite.

Would like to hear other?s opinions on this.

[JWHuey]

I have a spikes chf 14.5 mid length with a pinned vortex fh, and it has been 100% reliable, thru many thousands of roundsw.
With ammo from 55 gr garbage steel case, to 77gr otm.

No issues

[stormvet]

That’s what I was thinking and expected to see, but while looking at various 14.5 uppers for sale was really surprised to see the majority still had carbine length gas tubes.

[kriller134]

I?m running a mid length on my 14.5. I?m not a fan of carbine length. The recoil impulse on the mid is so much better IMO.

[C.G.]

I was wondering the same thing some time ago and ended up deciding on a middy, never had issues. I also never had a chance to shoot a carbine one, so I am not sure how they compare.

[SSOUNN]

I personally like a 14.5 Middy, along with a Spikes T2 Buffer, and SureFire Close Tine FH.. Pretty soft n smooth

[ar15barrels]

Has the debate been settled yet, is the mid length gas system now recognized as better on a 14.5 then a carbine length.

Use to be said that a mid length while offering lower recoil and less wear on parts was also spotty with lower charged rounds.

Haven?t heard that in a while, but still see lots of 14.5 uppers for sale with carbine gas tubes. Actually more than with mid length, was expecting the opposite.

Would like to hear other?s opinions on this.

With real 5.56 spec ammo, most 14.5" midlengths run great.
It's mostly PMC Bronze 223 or Steel cased 223 that causes them to hiccup but that's universal across most other midlength and rifle length barrels too.

If you want to use a bayonet on a 14.5" barrel like the military, you gotta go with carbine length to have the bayonet lug in the correct spot.

[SigSauerP226]

I only have a few hundred rounds through my 14.5 mid, but zero issues so far.

[stormvet]

All my AR’s are older, newest upper I have is 8 years old the others are 10 to 30 years old. Before the middy really became a thing, I have two 16” with the carbine gas tube. They both work great but the added recoil can be felt compared to my two rifle length uppers. No it’s not excessive but it’s there and can be noticed while running speed type drills.

I also have two piston uppers a 16 and a 14.5, they are both over 10 years old. Run great, I do like piston ARs. But like carbine gas tube guns you get more recoil with them.

Wanting to get a 14.5 DI upper with the latest in tech, M-lok instead of pic rails etc. Based on the replies so far I’m thinking my initial interest in a mid-length is the way to go, thanks everyone.