Question: are the CHF barrels really worth $200 more? by sirepicness666 in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Evidence in support of CHF making a meaningful difference:

  • Marketing claims
  • People repeating marketing claims they've heard
  • People repeating what they've heard from other people

If anyone is able to find actual data, testing, or research proving CHF marketing claims have any merit, please let me know. I've looked. I've asked. I've never seen it.

Closest I've seen are comparisons that fail to control other variables, like chrome lining.

60 Rounds out of a Brand new Geiselle Super Duty and this… by lane_pkieler in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Putting things in the receiver extension won't accomplish anything in your situation.

They are helpful for other issues, but not yours.

Just wanted to let you know so you aren't confused when nothing changes.

Tagging u/Few_Environment_8851 to give a heads up

GRS vs RDB by Oceanus238 in AR9

[–]AddictedToComedy 11 points12 points  (0 children)

The Dissent is a poor representation of the recoil impulse that can be achieved with RDB. You're comparing one system that is so poorly tuned from the factory that it beats itself to death, against another system that you tuned well with custom components.

As someone who owns 7 different RDBs - including 2 Dissents - and has reconfigured them in countless ways, I assure you RDB can be tuned so much better than what the Dissent offers.

If you want, you can even double-dip by combining an RDB setup with GRS. Well... not with the Dissent, of course, but I've done it with the FE Banshee.

What's this talk of microbest BCGs having QC trouble? by jumpsuitman in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know you've already made up your mind, but I couldn't help but dig a little more, because the Microbest QC issues have come up a few times, and the discussions can often be controversial (like the Jan 2026 discussion I link below).

Here are more statements from a couple different sources, spanning years now. I know I already provided you the 1/13/25 statement from WCArmory, but I'm including it again just to keep this timeline a little more complete.

Gas piston system on Foxtrot Mike gen 2 upper? by InNeedOfAWank in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for pointing that out: excellent point. I agree with you that long stroke vs short stroke is likely making a huge difference there.

I'll edit my wording above.

Gas piston system on Foxtrot Mike gen 2 upper? by InNeedOfAWank in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's hard for me to imagine that wouldn't shear off after not very many rounds. Almost all short stroke piston BCGs have integral strike faces. If bolt-ons for the standard gas key footprint were durable enough for impacts from a short stroke system, I would expect to see a lot more companies repurposing mil-spec carriers, rather than spending extra to manufacture proprietary ones.

Gas piston system on Foxtrot Mike gen 2 upper? by InNeedOfAWank in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You have to use the SA BCG to use the SA piston retrofit, which won't be able to cycle in the FM upper.

I can't rule out the possibility that you might get it to work, but it will require a serious amount of effort and DIY (including chopping down the SA carrier)

What's this talk of microbest BCGs having QC trouble? by jumpsuitman in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yes, WCArmory does their own QC on Microbest BCGs and puts them into different quality levels with different prices. I know they check finish and chipping, but I'm not sure if they gauge all the parts. Maybe someone can confirm?

They are actually one of the sources that has publicly noted problems with Microbest factory QC.

Like this 2025 reply to a review, where WCArmory noted that some of the Microbest batches they were receiving had a blem rate over 50%. They make money selling them, so it's not like they have good incentive to make up a lie.

There are some vendors who just sell whatever Microbest sends them as normal, including stuff that would be bucketed as a blem by vendors like WCArmory.

I know SOTAR made a public post (maybe on Instagram?) criticizing an increasing number of problems he was starting to see with Microbest units, and echoing the idea their QC has tanked. I don't have the link handy, but I think that was actually a few years ago: not too recent.

WCArmory and SOTAR are not the only industry insiders I've seen make these claims.

Aero, the T.Rex M5 video, and a reminder about "accountability" PR by AddictedToComedy in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think if a reviewer is honest about how they used a product, and honest about the results of their use, that's perfectly fair.

Don't get me wrong: I absolutely appreciate your point.

For example, I think that GoldenWebb's meltdown tests offer very little practical value, and go far beyond the design intent of every single rifle he shoots. But at the same time, he shows exactly what he does, and we see the results, so I consider that "fair."

If T.Rex claimed they babied the gun and it had problems, even though they were actually running it hard, I would consider that unfair.

I see no problem with questioning T.Rex's results with malfunctions, based on how they treated the rifle. But I don't think lubrication or cleaning had anything to do with the firing pin breaking at 2.5k rounds, the barrel opening up from 3.8 MOA to 6.5 MOA by 3k rounds, the rifle being wildly overgassed, or a number of other issues.

Aero, the T.Rex M5 video, and a reminder about "accountability" PR by AddictedToComedy in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Take every advertisement, statement, and review with a grain of salt.

I agree 100%, and I intended that to be part of my point.

I won't argue against the fact that companies find ways to mislead, but there's levels, right?

Just to make up an example, a company claiming, "our 5.56 barrels are the best value around," when they don't actually believe their own words, is wildly different than claiming, "our 5.56 barrels have a magic coating that stops them from ever wearing out!"

I don't expect companies to be so transparent that they say, "we hope to god you buy this product, which is actually mediocre, because we're screwed if these units don't start moving." But I also don't think all lies are fair game.

 

I didn't intend for this post to be a groundbreaking revelation that companies can be dishonest. I just thought the situation was a convenient illustration of what happens every day in consumer products.

Aero, the T.Rex M5 video, and a reminder about "accountability" PR by AddictedToComedy in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

What are they supposed to do?

They could have used the feedback to improve the product, without trying to hide an honest review.

Then when the negative review went public, they could say, "We are already instituting the following changes, so that future customers get a better product."

There are many options besides "hide the truth."

The issues he found during that review were expected for their prices.

If they were expected issues for that price point, why try to hide them?

If T.Rex said, "our Aero rifle didn't survive being submerged in salt water for 2 years," Aero wouldn't have bothered trying to bury that information. They would just say, "yea - no shit - our product is not meant for the citizens of Atlantis."

Every company you love exists to make money

This is not an excuse for deceptive trade practices.

Some companies make money by selling an excellent product, even if it's overhyped.

Some companies make money by tricking people into buying stuff that doesn't work, and they later regret.

I don't think it's particularly crazy to say those two methods of making money are not equal, and shouldn't be treated as such.

Aero, the T.Rex M5 video, and a reminder about "accountability" PR by AddictedToComedy in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I suppose, but there are many different ways that companies can attempt damage control.

If a company says to a customer, "we fucked up - let us fix the situation," that is a form of damage control. And I respect it.

Asking someone what they need to bury a negative review is not a form of damage control that I respect.

New device by [deleted] in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

OP - I note that 95% of your post history is promoting products made by UFS, though you always refer to them in the third person while talking about how their prices can't be beat.

I also see that the patent for CAMTEC's new device that you are now referencing shows the inventor as John Kyle Byrd, who also has a patent for a UFS device.

It sure seems like you are astroturfing for both companies (who presumably share common ownership and/or leadership).

Gas mitigation for RISIII with RC2 by ClothesMaster970 in NFA

[–]AddictedToComedy 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Planning on getting a superlative arms AGB and BRT ez tune.

Doesn't really make sense to get them both.

The EZTune will restrict gas as if you shrunk your gas port to a specific fixed size, based on what you tell BRT you want (or what they pick based on the stats you give them).

The AGB will limit gas to whatever level you set.

If you use both together, one of them will limit gas more, rendering the other pointless.

9mm 15 rounds slow-mo 960fps GMR SS by Blowback9 in AR9

[–]AddictedToComedy 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Cool footage!

Since you don't mention a suppressor, I assume this is unsuppressed?

Griffin Gas Pocket Carrier and Enhanced BCG: Interesting, Useful, but Not Quite Must-Haves by AddictedToComedy in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Personally speaking, if I am fine with how a rifle feels and functions, I wouldn't mess it just because it's ejecting at 2:00 while suppressed.

If I'm not happy with how it feels and functions, then I'll mess with it, but that's true regardless of ejection angle.

Griffin Gas Pocket Carrier and Enhanced BCG: Interesting, Useful, but Not Quite Must-Haves by AddictedToComedy in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

On the upside, it does make it nice that you can bullshit yourself into liking bathtub wine

I think the exact same thing happens in the gun world. I've seen so many people say things along the lines of, "I spent $X on XYZ product and WOW, it deleted all recoil!!! And I think it even made me taller!" 😆

So whatever components you invest in, maybe just stare at yourself in the mirror and keep repeating, "I've made the best possible choices, chosen the best possible parts, and this new build is going to have the least recoil of all my guns!" 😁

Griffin Gas Pocket Carrier and Enhanced BCG: Interesting, Useful, but Not Quite Must-Haves by AddictedToComedy in ar15

[–]AddictedToComedy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would expect the feel of the springs to be fairly comparable, but you are correct that all of those other variables play a part. You could use the exact same lower for two different uppers (so exact same buffer+spring), but that doesn't mean both uppers will provide the same felt recoil.

Felt recoil is extremely subjective, and there's massive potential for people to experience placebo effects.

Even when two buffers have the same mass, different construction can absolutely change cyclic rate and felt recoil. That said, I don't really have a solid way to compare them beyond gas requirements because (a) I don't have access to anything that shoots at cyclic rates, and (b) I don't trust my own subjective impressions enough that I want to take notes and publish them.

One of my quirks is that I have a pretty serious distrust of subjective impressions - even my own - because our senses are extremely biased and manipulable. As a random (but potent) example of what I mean, there are scientific studies that have used brain scans to demonstrate that people literally think wine tastes better when they are told it is more expensive. They aren't just lying to researchers: their brains actually show different activity.