I have more Time than Money, but sometimes I have more Money than Brains..AR question

[minmax]

Looking through the latest Brownel's AR catalog at all the cool toys.
They have been pushing 16" barrels with mid-length gas systems. Adjustable gas blocks, Extra or enhanced buffer springs, reduced buffer springs.
A multitude of different weight buffers. And for competition extra lite bolt-carriers. I under stand how the AR platform works.
In Patrick Sweeney's books he states if you gun "works" there'e no need to do anything. Than again he get's 1000's a rounds of factory ammo.
donated to him each year.

When is too much when playing around with all of the above options?

I bought a 16" 300blk barrel with a carbine length gas tube. long before the craze. I liked the idea of only having to change the barrel. Plus casting .30 cal boolits is a lot easier than little .22's. However during that time, it seems they have found it better to have a pistol length gas system with an adjustable gas block. If you want to shoot both super and sub-sonic. Hornady and Remington have both been able to get their ammo. To reliably shoot both lite and heavy weights bullets. In a S&W MP15 300. with a carbine gas tube.

I would like to shoot both heavy-subs and supersonic I bought a N.E.M.O. .300 Blackout carbine buffer spring.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/receiver-parts/recoil-parts/recoil-springs/300-blackout-carbine-buffer-spring-prod56149.aspx

I just hope it won't have problems shooting supersonic. At least it is an easy change. I also bought it because I did need a new buffer spring and it was comparable in price.

I also have an 18" .556 1/8 barrel with a mid length gas tube. I am going to put an adjustable gas block on it. So that I can play around with different loads lite and heavy, fast and slow.

any input would be great!!!

[dddoo7]

If it won't cycle Subs and you have an adjustable gas block you can always open up the gas port.

I use 300 blackout exclusively for subsonic. I don't see a super sonic application for me at this point. If I'm gonna shoot supers I'll grab a 223 instead.

[pilot]

You would be surprised what you can do at higher velocities with a 16 inch barrel. I'm using 110 grain V-max bullets over 296 and getting 2350 feet per second. I will try the 125s on deer this year.

[Gtek]

My brain made me build one of each, one for this and one for that. That's how my brain beats up my wallet. And IMHO the adjustable gas block is a worthy expense.

[bhop]

the seekins adjustable block is top quality for around $55-$65.

[minmax]

That's the block I bought I got it for Around $45 at primary arms.

[dddoo7]

I also use seekins gas blocks. For the price they are great.

[rockrat]

My 300 BO has a carbine length gas port and an adj. block. I use a standard buffer. No problems with any loads so far.

[Colohunter]

I have an older 300-221 Fireball barrel (Off brand 300 Whisper from before the 300 Blackout came out.) It has a standard buffer and carbine length gas with a regular gas block. I run supersonic just fine out of it and with some load tweaking I have found subsonic loads using 220gr HPBT, 150gr FMJ and the Lee 230 gr Blackout bullet. I have had the Lee mold for about a year and really like it. I've loaded them with LLA and powder coated. Using range scrap lead and about 10.5 grains of 1680 it makes for a very inexpensive load.

I have been thinking of switching to a 300 BO barrel so that I can use factory ammo if I want. If I did I would consider a shorter gas system and adjustable gas block.

[Gtek]

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2012/11/5/shades-of-gray-300-whisper-300-aac-blackout/