L1A1 gas regulator setting

L1A1 with Entreprise commercial receiver. Have been shooting Russian Brown Bear ammunition with gas regulator adjusted to five. 100% functioning.

Picked up some Radway Green. Very accurate in my rifle. During zeroing have adjusted the gas regulator to 11 which leaves the gas exhaust port wide open. Rifle still functions 100%. Brass is ejected about 6-8 feet away.

Rifle was clean when I started with the Radway. Recoil springs are fairly new.

Is it normal for a rifle to function with gas exhaust port wide open?

my friend has one and his operates with the gas port wide open.

It's great when they do but I found that this occurred with the well worn ones. Not necessarily a worn barrel, but well worn/run-in breech block and carrier.

Just so long as there is sufficient gas to blast the piston back 2" and you're home and dry. It's strange that while this makes for a perfect rifle, just the smallest split in the gas cylinder, up at the gas block end and it won't even operate properly with the gas post closed.

GREAT rifles

"...with gas exhaust port wide open..." No, but if it works don't fix it. How old is the ammo?

Sunray,
The Radway Green is dated 95.

Radway Green will consistently have higher velocities than most other surplus, but it will also require more gas. Maybe they use a smaller amount of faster burning powder. Do a test with SA or FNM.