Small Arms Solutions video on lineage of modern piston ARs/Caracal 816

[Greg Bell]

The only time I've found hard-chrome lining to come into play was shooting surplus 5.45x39 and literally not maintaining the AR. Just had to handle it like an Ak and add oil every time I grabbed it until the extractor broke around 10k rounds (I bought a pallet of it).

You'll probably be fine if you don't have a giggle switch.

True, but it isn't like I actually need this upper either.

[LittleLebowski]

True, but it isn't like I actually need this upper either.

Oh, you need this upper. It’s the piston upper that isn’t heavy, isn’t bulky, and recoils like DI. @Sensei needs it too 🤣

[LittleLebowski]

We need more Caracal 816 owners!

[RealSelf]

These 11.5" models are super tempting, anybody else running them at this point have any experience good/bad worth sharing? Thinking it would pair well on the suppressed gas setting with something like B&T Rotex. Do we know if the suppressed setting is for full backpressure cans only? I believe something like the Rotex is a lower back-pressure design but not anywhere near the current flow through designs like B&T's SRBS, Flow556, RC3, etc.

[LittleLebowski]

These 11.5" models are super tempting, anybody else running them at this point have any experience good/bad worth sharing? Thinking it would pair well on the suppressed gas setting with something like B&T Rotex. Do we know if the suppressed setting is for full backpressure cans only? I believe something like the Rotex is a lower back-pressure design but not anywhere near the current flow through designs like B&T's SRBS, Flow556, RC3, etc.

Mine runs great with a YHM Fat Cat on suppressed setting. Zero complaints.

[fatdog]

When I was looking at their website to learn about these 816's I stumbled into their "pro" program and my NRA Instructor number got me a crazy good discount on an upper. It arrived today, I will report once I have given it a few good workouts. My can is a 15 year old YHM Phantom, but .30 cal so I probably have enough flow through that I don't have as much back pressure as a 5.56 can would.

[YVK]

Didnt watch that video and can't find easy answer: does 816 have a firing pin block like 416?

[Suvorov]

Didnt watch that video and can't find easy answer: does 816 have a firing pin block like 416?

No. That was eliminated with the Sig516.

[RealSelf]

No. That was eliminated with the Sig516.

If I'm not totally mistaken what I recall hearing was it allowed for the bolt compatibility with the AR-15 that was not a feature of the 416.

[Suvorov]

If I'm not totally mistaken what I recall hearing was it allowed for the bolt compatibility with the AR-15 that was not a feature of the 416.

Yes. My 516 bolt is indistinguishable from a standard AR bolt, Even has the non-needed gas rings.