What makes the short barrel M4 fail and how to fix the problem?
More metal = more heat and weight....but if I'm hearing this right a number of problems are offset by the long-barrel M16 anyway. Quick theory: colder vapor is heavier because it carries the most contaminate. If debris is sucked in the gas tube by the end of the gas vapor trail maybe on a long barrel the muck will collect in the gas tube before it gets to the bolt assembly and more easily cleaned with a brush.
Application is the rule because change is never its own motivator especially when the media is hyped as much as it is. Internet junkies will never hear about the difficulties of operating an AK-47 from the other side. US forces have to stick with what they know which is a system of doctrine and equipment perfectly capable of solving the problem when used properly, or accept defeat, which is unreasonable.
