piston driven?

[BadKarmaZeroSix]

What advantages are there to converting to piston driven, other than cleaning and heat? Accuracy? Kick? Anything? Anyone done this to an MP15, and if so, why did u do it? Bro has a ruger AR piston driven and swears by it, but i think its mostly just because its somethin mine isnt...we are fairly competitive...lol...

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Do ya'll measure when you whip'em on the table or is it just a visual comparison?

 

[TDI Brad]

One advantage I've read about for piston vs DI systems is if you use a suppressor blowback is not an issue on piston guns. That's all I have to contribute.


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[beemerphile]

If Stoner had wanted the AR to be piston operated like those cheap commie rifles he would have designed it that way!

No seriously, I have both and I have come to prefer the original direct impingement design for simplicity unless it is a suppressed SBR. DI is simpler, lighter, no worries about carrier tilt, and it works fine. I can clean my rifle occasionally.

If I wanted a piston, I would get a factory built piston upper, not a kit to convert a DI gun. LWRC and LMT are two that I have good experience with. There are many others.

 

[flyer91]

I have two Adams Arms piston uppers, and other than the advantages that you've already covered ...... it allows you to switch from full gas (unsuppressed) to partial (suppressed) and to off (suppressed, no cycle).

But ...... you 'can' still do this with a DI upper by using something like the Noveske Switch Block gas block, or if you don't mind a nebulous setting of an analog device ..... the JP adjustable gas block.

I have not had mine long enough to be able to report on what issues I might have, and to be honest ...... bought them cuz I wanted to see first hand what it was all about, and I just like to buy in pairs if I can swing it.

As far as cleaning, I suppose if you just had your bolt and carrier NiBo coated (about $110 from WMD) that might go quite a distance to even out that field.

Sorry about the edits guys ... it took me a few tries to get WMD and their price right.

 

[KEN L]

The major problem with shooting suppressed with a GI system is action fouling, The GI system has dirt built into it. Add to it, excessive heat & condensation and you get a black liquid mess. The gas piston system is MUCH cleaner and cooler, therefore much more efficient, IMHO!

 

[Smitty357]

Dont fix an AR that isnt broken.

I have built a few piston systems to run suppressed and of course i'll admit they work great in this area. But other then that, i'd much prefer the ole tried and true GI system. A well maintained GI system will out last a piston system any day of the year. There is a reason the GI system is the longest serving military rifle system to date and i promise you its not because it isnt dependable or accurate, lol

As Col. Jeff Cooper would say "The piston system is just an ingenious solution to a nonexistent problem."

PS: Truth be told, piston systems in fact produce more felt recoil.

 

[weyerbacher]

My Bushmaster match rifle was purchased in 1999 and easily has 15000 rounds thru it. I clean it as needed and it is still very accurate. I see no reason to go into the whole piston AR thing. I've heard from friends who have them that the accuracy is a bit less. Which kind of makes sense as there are more moving parts. If I had a lot of money I'd probably get a Sig 516 just to see. But I don't, so I won't.

 

[BadKarmaZeroSix]

Ok thanks for the input...oh, wilson, when we whip em out, i win...lol...no, i was just curious, we are both always comparing toys (guns, cars, etc)...not often we get to act like kids, but we try... i just didnt know if there was an actual ADVANTAGE there, always trying to improve...no need for supression, and i clean my weapons religiously, so no piston for me!

 

[flyer91]

Dont fix an AR that isnt broken.

There is a reason the GI system is the longest serving military rifle system to date and i promise you its not because it isnt dependable or accurate, lol


PS: Truth be told, piston systems in fact produce more felt recoil.

Actually the SKS is at least a decade older than the AR , and the base design for the AK47.

Also saying the recoil of any AR with a DI (Direct Impingement) is more or less than a piston AR is moot, because either can .... and do, have gas port, carrier weight and buffer systems variations, as well as different muzzle brakes that negate such a statement
It's like saying "is it warmer in the mountains or did you pack a lunch".


As far as military people saying anything, when I was in Viet Nam Gen. Westmoreland told us we were winning .......

 

[rojodiablo]

The one, true and real difference would be firing a rifle that was completley submerged and immediately fired after coming out of water. The piston unit will vent the water from its' ports.
The DI rifle will create it's own water vent port the instant you pull the trigger......
But- as we were taught how to deal with this issue (Actually has to use the rifle in those conditions) All you do is point the barrel down, and pull the charging handle back a bit and the water dumps instantly and you let go of the CH and are in business.
Suppressed fire takes an awful lot of shooting to really **** out the gas tube and action. And it is easily washed away with a can of spray cleaner. But for a day at the range, you will have no issues with the rifle, and for hunting, it will be a non issue also.
Ran a suppressed unit in a course 2 weeks ago. About 400 thru the rifle. I did one spray cleaning, no brushes, just open chamber, blast, roll on its' side, and run it some more. No issues.
And I wish I had these as an option here where I am. It was a lot quieter when all 11 of us had muzzles on our gear. Was nice....

 

[Baddog]

Do ya'll measure when you whip'em on the table or is it just a visual comparison?

Can I get a 2 minute warning before you guys start throwing your junk on the table, baddog will sit on the porch during this display of manhood.

 

[Maddmax]

I'll let you know next Spring/Summer ??? I ordered the M&P X that is piston driven from my LGS just before he left for the show out East and he put in an order out there. "Might" be here Spring/Summer ??? But it's ordered. The M&P X will be going up against my M&P T and Sport.

 

[BadKarmaZeroSix]

i will look forward to that review...i got the mp15t...not really sure how it stacks up against the others in mp15 series...

 

[rodell]

I put an Adams Arms kit on my M&P and never looked back. I was spending an inordinate amount of time cleaning, and now it is much easier. I don't notice any real difference in recoil.

I've got a S&W piston upper on order through the web site. Even though it was ordered before the Sandy Hook episode I haven't seen it yet.

 

[Maddmax]

i will look forward to that review...i got the mp15t...not really sure how it stacks up against the others in mp15 series...

From what I saw in the new S&W catalog at my LGS,I think it might hold it's own quite well. If it wasn't for this stupid "mad dash" for everything,I was hoping to get a Ruger SR556 and a new RR Carbine this year too. But NOT at these prices.

 

[BadKarmaZeroSix]

my bro has the ruger sr556, and i have fired it, but not side-by-side with mine, it's been prob 7 months since i fired his so i don't think my comparing them from memory would do either justice...when he comes up this summer i will get the chance to fire my 15T next to his and compare the features and actions of each