The background:
I'm in Germany and contemplate a replacement for my HK SL8. Compared to 2003, when I bought my SL8, there is a growing supply of service-style semi-auto rifles. Naturally the HK41 has seen a revival in Germany, being made by a few small manufacturers (just not HK). There's a new AR-15 maker every year (SIG, Schmeisser, HK,...) and not just OberlandArms, which started it. We can even get FALs, M1As or Dragunovs.
And after considering a patriotic HK41-clone and the actually better designed FAL, I think I'll get an AR-15 after all.
Why?
Because what applies to cars that you plan to use everyday for a long time, also applies to guns:
Don't buy something exotic. Exotics are for collectors, not users. Get a volume model with a common engine from a large OEM. A model-engine-combo that, if they screwed something up during development, would hurt them really bad. Something that bores the mechanic. With lots of aftermarket accessories and cheap spare parts, 'cause it's just one of a million (and not one of 6500 as my current car
).
And because the AR-15 in .223 is becoming the VW Golf TDI of the semi-auto rifle world also in Germany, it's the one offered with the most variety.
My choice for a base gun is an OberlandArms OA-15 Black Label A4. It features:
- direct impingement (or more properly, gas-piston in the bolt-carrier)
- 20" bbl
- fixed stock
- fixed front sight carrier
- detachable carry handle
The question:
Can the conversion of an 20" AR-15 with a rifle-length gas system from a fixed rifle stock to a collapsible carbine stock configuration cause reliability issues?
I read the carbine buffer tube comes with a separate buffer spring and a short buffer.
Thank you!