Causes of broken gas rings?

[izzy]

I've never had these break nor have I ever replaced them. Is this a typical part that people replace every few thousand rounds? I've got rifles with well into the 20k (probably more) round count and have never replaced a single part on them.

[Mazin]

I've never had these break nor have I ever replaced them. Is this a typical part that people replace every few thousand rounds? I've got rifles with well into the 20k (probably more) round count and have never replaced a single part on them.

I also over the years have never replaced a set but I know guys that do it every 10-15k depending on how the rifle is acting or the amount of carbon build up that is in the Carrier.