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SR-556 carrier tilt

5K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  Spike12 
#1 ·
I've been considering parting with my old Colt AR in favor of a new SR-556 (not sure which model just yet - I kind of lean towards the FB).

I've been reading a lot about the gas piston systems vs. direct impingement. It seems like gas piston is the way to go with one possible exception.

In my reading I keep running into a problem referred to as 'carrier tilt'. It seems to affect Rugers and all other gas piston ARs. Some of the unusual wear photos on the buffer tube look pretty bad and could cause read damage to the rifle. Apparently the piston causes the bolt carrier to tilt a bit and strike the edges of the buffer tube.

Does anyone know if ruger has made any factory mods to the bolt carrier that might help to eliminate carrier tilt? I'm thinking that I may hold off on purchasing an SR-556 if this is a real problem and it hasn't been addressed by the factory.

Thanks for any advice you can give.
 
#3 ·
They have. You can check their website for video clips. In the carrier tilt clip they state if wear shows it will even out. My SR has a faint wear like in their video. Time will tell. I don't think any manufacturer eliminated carrier tilt completely.
 
#4 ·
I haven't seen any examples of carrier tilt in person or any good pictures either.

Seems to me that either in DI or piston guns you have something pushing aft on the top of the carrier. Further it seems that Ruger and anybody else has changed their carriers to deal with it, what ever *it* is.

I have a Stag 8 (piston) and if the carrier wears out after a few bazillion rounds I'll just buy another one. Things wear then you replace them, no big deal.
 
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