BFG-50A Gas System Oddity!

Published on May 23, 2023
Duration: 8:57

Mark Serbu discusses the development of a piston system for the BFG-50A, moving away from direct impingement due to alignment issues. He highlights the challenges of a stuck, corroded original piston system and introduces a new, smaller piston design. The video also showcases unusual bolt carrier bounce and hammer behavior observed during testing of the piston system, even without a return spring.

Quick Summary

Firearms designer Mark Serbu discusses the BFG-50A's piston system, developed to overcome direct impingement alignment issues. He highlights the challenges of a stuck original piston and introduces a new, smaller piston design. Testing revealed unusual bolt carrier bounce and piston rod movement, even without a return spring.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & BFG-50A Piston System
  2. 00:26Original Piston System Overview
  3. 00:58New Piston System Design
  4. 01:09Disassembly of Old Piston System
  5. 03:48Comparing Piston Diameters
  6. 05:08Gas Hole Size Adjustments
  7. 05:29Unexpected Piston System Behavior
  8. 06:10High-Speed Video Analysis
  9. 06:25Bolt Carrier Bounce & Hammer Impact
  10. 07:06Piston Rod Bounce Phenomenon
  11. 07:31Discussion of Piston System Anomalies
  12. 08:06Call to Action & Channel Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Mark Serbu develop a piston system for the BFG-50A?

Mark Serbu developed a piston system for the BFG-50A to move away from direct impingement. The direct impingement system had alignment issues between the gas tube and bolt carrier, which caused drag and operational difficulties.

What are the key differences between the original and new piston systems for the BFG-50A?

The new piston system for the BFG-50A features a significantly smaller piston diameter compared to the original. This reduction in area impacts the force generated by gas pressure, requiring adjustments to the gas port size in the barrel.

What unusual behavior was observed with the BFG-50A piston system during testing?

During testing, the BFG-50A piston system exhibited unexpected bolt carrier bounce and incomplete closure. High-speed video also revealed the piston rod bouncing, even in the absence of a return spring, defying initial physics expectations.

How does the smaller piston diameter affect the BFG-50A's gas system?

A smaller piston diameter reduces the surface area for gas pressure to act upon. Since force is pressure multiplied by area, this smaller area results in less available force, necessitating a smaller gas port to regulate the gas flow effectively.

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