Why does innovation happen at such a snail pace in the firearm industry?
-qpq barrels and bcg...qpq has been used for over half a century on similar wear parts in other industries.
That is a materials example. An execution example is the mid and rifle length gas system on shorter than 20" barrels.
Anyone could see that a shorter gas system was more violent when it was introduced decades ago. Why has the 14.5" midlength taken so long to "figure out"? I remember when every experienced person on the forums pooppoed it. And now almost all of them love it. Why?
You have two variables...gas port diameter...system integrity. KAC figured out integrity a long time ago with press fit gas blocks, and many other manufacturers use thermal fit currently. It's again not that hard...then all you do is slow motion videography and drill...film and drill...film and drilll, until appropriate cyclic rate is achieved. Then you freeze the system to whatever temp is deemed cold enough to cover operating parameters...and do it again. It's maybe a week long process to dial in flawlessly including tons of beer and bs time. Yet it to on YEARS, and still some manufacturers don't seem capable of it.
Meanwhile, we have gone from carburetors to engines that shoot fuel directly onto the piston at nearly 3000psi and run at 13:1 compression on 87 octane....yet a hole in a pressurized tube can't get cut right? Why?