Gas Piston vs Direct Impingement for the AR-15: Pros & Cons?

[Kingjamez]

"real" gun folks hate piston AR's. Fortunately for me, I'm not a real gun person apparently. I have an Osprey conversion kit on my AR and really really like it. It shoots just fine and I've never cleaned the bolt or upper receiver... NEVER. My least favorite thing about AR's is cleaning the upper, and now I don't have to worry about it. If that makes me an ignorant fool for buying into the hype and destroying a perfectly functional weapon... I'm ok with that.

-Jim

 

[lx1x]

I'm not even going to comment.


Just watch and wait for the inevitable.

i was going to link your .. eer.. nevermind..

 

[clarksvegas]

Maybe the flamethrowers are out of town this weekend.

Haven't owned one, it's somewhere on my list to get. I think the first true AR with a piston is the HK416 which was a couple of years back. I wanna say G36 is basically AR based with the piston added.

Haven't heard of Bushmaster offering one yet. Ruger sells the SR-556 and a few other companies make em but I don't know off the top of my head.

 

[rj1974]

Your paying $1000 extra to fix a problem that didnt exist . Get a DI clean it oil it just as you should any firearm and you will be fine . Replacement parts are readily available for DIs piston parts are proprietary and if the company folds your screwed .

My father bought a LWRC . Its a great rifle but my DIs shoot just as well and are half the price .

Just my opinion

 

[LostSoul]

I've always viewed piston AR's as an unnecessary "bell/whistle" to the rifle. It has its advantages, such as cleaner and cooler bolt carrier group, and suppressor use. But it has its drawbacks also, such as carrier tilt, theoretically less accurate, more difficult to source spare parts, more EXPENSIVE, etc... I'm a proponent of "Don't fix what ain't broke!"

 

[NathanJ]

D.I. No moving parts.Less to go wrong.

 

[jonnyl]

From an AR noob who until the last couple months had only read about how dirty DI AR's get...

I couldn't believe how UN-dirty my AR was after shooting for the first time! The bolt was a mess, but I was used to cleaning my 1911, and the crap was in every nook and cranny!

I'm sure other rifles are cleaner, I just expected to need to clean it with a hose and was pleasantly surprised

 

[BradMacc82]

i was going to link your .. eer.. nevermind..

That's fine by me, all anyone needs to know is that issue was with a very well-worn lower with a weak buffer spring, swapped in a new buffer spring, it's run like a top since.


I said I wouldn't comment, but screw it... - I own a piston gun, it's not a LWRC or P.O.F., just a standard Stag Model 8L, bought it on a whim.

Accuracy-wise - I can still hit quarters at 100 yards (while using an EO-Tech mind you), so it may give up just a touch to D.I., but not THAT much.

Recoil - Again the D.I. gets the nod for being smoother. Cleaning - either one, neither is that difficult, but the piston does leave the bcg just slightly cleaner.

Yes, the piston runs cooler on the bcg, I'll do a few hundred rounds and pull the bcg just for sh@t's and giggles, and yes, it'll be cool to the touch.

D.I. is lighter and has a better balance, won't argue that. D.I. also has parts availability in spades.

If I had to do it all over again, do I regret buying a piston AR - No, but I'd probably have spent that money on more toys/ammo for my D.I. upper.

I'm done, Chad can flame away now.

 

[Kingjamez]

D.I. No moving parts.Less to go wrong.

Not true. The "piston" is just moved inside the bolt carrier in a DI gun.

 

[NathanJ]

Not true. The "piston" is just moved inside the bolt carrier in a DI gun.

Excuse me, LESS moving parts.

 

[sixfivesavage]

To be As fair as possible...I say get whichever one you desire and form your own opinion on the issue. Only do so if you are able to finance a good piston gun, meaning lwrc, HK or the lmt. Everyone is quick to point out the whole answer looking for a problem line, and the issues associated with some of the piston guns. Most people won't admit that those problems are pretty much non existent with the upper end piston guns. Those same people don't admit often that the legacy AR had it's own issues when they were being developed and that they too were an answer looking for a problem to some extent. Any advancement in technology of any sort is going to have growing pains...it's your job to be smart and do your homework and go with a good manufacturer. Yes they will be heavier, like was already said...grow a pair and suck it up, it still ain't as heavy as a garand or m14. Maybe don't put as much shit on the gun as what some people do. Accuracy...? It's a combat weapon and designed to be run as such, you're not gonna see a difference in normal use. Maybe if you bench them but even then a top tier piston gun is gonna be right there with the di gun. Any semi auto is more dependent upon the operator for accuracy than a bolt gun. I own a piston lmt, honestly the only reason I do is because the di version I went to get was sold before I got there and I'm impatient so I got the piston. Not much of a price difference really and not heavy enough to notice a difference in my hands, it balances nice so maybe that's why. Another thing...if you go di because it is "more super accurate" why does everyone still put a 2 Moa red dot or holographic sight on top? Ultimately it's your decision and take what everyone says with a grain of salt, haters and praises both. I don't regret mine at all and I have a lwrc waiting on the ok from ATF. So I guess I'm a moron for taking the bait twice.

 

[straightsilver3]

http://www.defensereview.com/the-bi...pingement-gas-system-makes-the-m4-unreliable/ I'll post this again since the subject came up Bushy sells a conversion kit Lord Chad would tell you the only Piston AR to have is LWRC wow 784 posts and you never seen this debate

 

[04RWon]

Just say you need to shoot underwater...us di guy are sol

 

[browning guy]

ok at this point Lord Chad is just toying with us!

 

[BradMacc82]

He's going to come thru like an angry cross-dressing hurricane, I just know it.


Unless he's finally gotten tired of saying the same thing over and over and over and over again.

 

[Russ D]

Hitting quarters at 100 yards with an Eotech?

 

[BradMacc82]

With a 3x magnifier, to be fair it took me a few shots before I got to it, I was also trying out my first batch of handloads.

It's a winging shot, but it's a hit nonetheless.

View attachment 50990

For an EO-Tech at 100 yards, I'm happy with that, ecstatic since it's also a Piston AR.

 

[clandestine]

Yes get one. It will be great.

I have some nigerian money orders I need cashing too.

 

[sixfivesavage]

Oh geese...here he comes...

 

[BradMacc82]

Yes get one. It will be great.

I have some nigerian money orders I need cashing too.

Fixed it for ya!


A little bit subdued, but entertaining still.


I think Lord Chad needs a hug..., where's Garrett..., I know better than to get that close.