Is carbine length better than mid-length?
Is carbine length better than mid-length?
Since carbine- and mid-length gas systems measure similarly, bear in mind that you’ll get better operation when the barrel length is closer to the middle of the functional range — a mid-length setup will better serve an 18-inch barrel than the carbine variety.
How long should a handguard be for a mid-length gas system?
Most low-profile gas blocks are about 1″ long, so assuming you want the handguard to completely cover the gas block, then your handguard needs to be at least 1″ + 7 5⁄16″ = 8 5⁄16″ long. The nearest commonly-available handguard size is 9″, so you need to shop for a 9″ or longer handguard.
How long should a handguard be for a rifle length gas system?

15-inches. Intended mostly for rifle-length gas systems, it’s perfectly usable on any standard length gas system. Generally, these will only be used on barrels that are 16-inches or longer and are probably the most common length for handguards.
What is the difference between rifle length and mid-length gas system?
Barrel Length, Port Size & Dwell Time Gas systems are measured in terms of how far the gas port in the barrel is from the chamber. For a Rifle length gas system, the gas port is roughly 12 inches from the chamber. A Mid-length system’s gas port is roughly 9 inches from the chamber.
How long should a carbine handguard be?
Carbine gas tubes are approximately 7.5 inches long, which means the handguards are approximately 6.5 to 7 inches long.

Can you put a mid length handguard on a carbine?
Correct Handguard Length But if you use a low-profile gas block, it is possible to put a longer handguard on a shorter gas system – such as a carbine handguard on a pistol gas system, or a mid-length handguard on a carbine gas system.
How long of a gas tube do I need?
What is the Correct Gas System Length for my Barrel?
System | Barrel Length | Port Distance |
---|---|---|
Pistol | Less than 10 inches | 4 inches |
Carbine | 10-18 inches | 7 inches |
Mid | 14-20 inches | 9 inches |
Rifle | 18 inches or more | 12 inches |