Max 11/15 torture. Hey, beta testers...

[IndustrialRescue]

How many rounds consecutively can the factory barrel in the upper handle in a single mag dump? 100? 150?

Without a suppressor, and without overheating the barrel, or destroying the rifling, causing rounds to keyhole and hit at an angle to their flight path.

I destroyed several 16" 5.56 barrels in the past with a SlideFire stock, so I'd like to be cautious. Had a Korean 100rd drum back then, and it didn't kill the barrel on a DPMS Lite 16. BUT I wasn't throwing mags in right after.

17 magazines in a row as fast as I could change them definitely destroyed a Spike's. Duh. Was being dumb.


Obviously 30, 40, and 60 are fine, from the videos and reports. I believe I saw a few 100 round dumps from drums, and perhaps even the only Surefire in the world that actually functions.


Can it handle a 150 round drum? Or is that too much?

And, suppressed. Is a 100 round drum simply asking for trouble? I'd imagine the extra heat and pressure wouldn't be doing many favors.

The more I know, the better I can take care of it.

 

[Gaujo]

Opinions vary as do conditions, but here is a video using an m16 lower and a PSA AR upper being shot to failure with ongoing thermal imaging.

https://youtu.be/7cr9e3N6HEw?t=126

 

[sniperdoc]

Opinions vary as do conditions, but here is a video using an m16 lower and a PSA AR upper being shot to failure with ongoing thermal imaging.

https://youtu.be/7cr9e3N6HEw?t=126

That's a great vid, esp with the Thermal!
It's also important to note that the gas tube warped before the barrel have out, and the BHO quit working early on. (This prohibited air from entering the action and tube, which caused them to retain more heat during mag swaps)
There is also a vid (don't remember who did it) with a Suppressed M16, and Thermal.

 

[sniperdoc]

A lot depends on the barrel itself (material, diameter, handguard length vs barrel length, i.e. how much of the barrel is exposed to air vs how much is covered), how fast the mags are changed, if the bolt is held open between mag changes, etc
A few weeks back, there was a similar thread about this.

 

[IndustrialRescue]

I hope the barrel is higher quality than PSA.

I've seen plenty of AR torture videos. I want to know what I can do, in one continuous mag dump, with the Lage upper. Hence asking the beta testers.

None of the AR torture tests and videos out there show what the rounds are doing downrange. I guarantee they're hitting the target at an angle, if they're even hitting the target, LONG before the barrel fails, or even gets red.

Mainly just trying to figure out whether to buy the 150 round drum, or just a C mag.

 

[DistalRadius]

You'll be sending out wobbly bullets with partially melted jackets long before you burn the barrel. If accuracy is a concern, maybe steer away from magdumps and long strings.

I'd be more worried about the suppressor, they retain quite a bit of heat and contain very high pressure. Might pop.

:dunno

 

[lokifox]

The open bolt design “should” lend itself to longer component life even under mild abuse.

Chances are you will nuke the gas tube before you ever pop a barrel but it is possible with a piston retrofit or heavier gas tube IIRC.

I’m wanting to get a barrel for mine that is made for heavy use, doing some poking around now.

 

[A&S Conversions]

While I have never shot a Max-11/15, I have had extensive experience with the M16. My rule of thumb has been four 30 rd mags or a Beta C, leave it be. Of course with the M16 and the Tenko 10-16 Adapter, push two pins and switch out the hot upper for a cool one. As with any fixed barrel system, the barrel heats up, but there is no quick way to change it. The higher the temperature, the higher the wear per round down the barrel. So don't let the barrel get too hot and anneal the steel in the barrel, or beat on it and replace it.

If you want to beat on it, I would suggest switching to a piston system like Adams Arms. With direct impingement, the faster you put rounds down the barrel, the faster the gas tube heats up. Of course using the higher capacity mags the faster the rounds go down the barrel. Some where between the start of the third and the end of the third with a carbine length tube, it will fail. So do what you think is right.

Scott
Manager A&S Conversions L.L.C.