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Piston vs. Direct Impingement
Navybat
Member Posts: 6,849 ✭✭✭
Is it just me, or have we not had any good discussions about how piston ARs are far superior to DI, or that pistons are a "solution to a problem that doesn't exist" in a LONG time? I think we're due!
I myself am on my second piston AR, a Barrett REC 7 and an Adams Arms Tactical Elite, both 16" in 5.56/.223.
Far less cleaning required, far less lube required, incredible accuracy and gorgeous lines, totally reliable. The accuracy and lines can come from any high end rifle...but the lube and cleaning requirements are complements of the gas piston design. I know DI guns are reliable "as long as you just keep them cleaned and lubed"...yeah yeah. That's the POINT.
Ok, I've stirred the pot. Who wants to smack me? I'm just in a good mood! [:p][}:)][:D]
I myself am on my second piston AR, a Barrett REC 7 and an Adams Arms Tactical Elite, both 16" in 5.56/.223.
Far less cleaning required, far less lube required, incredible accuracy and gorgeous lines, totally reliable. The accuracy and lines can come from any high end rifle...but the lube and cleaning requirements are complements of the gas piston design. I know DI guns are reliable "as long as you just keep them cleaned and lubed"...yeah yeah. That's the POINT.
Ok, I've stirred the pot. Who wants to smack me? I'm just in a good mood! [:p][}:)][:D]
Comments
AND I know the argument has been discussed ad nauseum.
I'm asking however for advice since I've decided not to go with the KRISS Vector and instead buy an AR as my first tactical rifle.
I'm torn between piston models which run $1200-1500, and DI models which run $600-1400. THEN I have to buy the scopes, bipods, foregrips, lasers, etc. I know about the parts availability, the chromed barrels, the twist rate, etc. I just want to know about the issues with each type.
Here's the question:
Do any piston owners here have experience with piston failures? Do the DI owners here have experience with excessive fouling and heat? Those are the main arguments AGAINST each type. I just want to hear anyone who can verify that it is, indeed, something to contend with.
Dirt, water, sand, etc in the gas tube of a DI AR can cause catastrophic failures...kabooms. If you are not putting your AR into the position of having to worry about that than a piston is only going to make cleaning the ar receiver a little easier.
The only other reason for using a piston, as I see it, is if you are building a particularly short barreled ar. Anything under 10 1/2" barrel (car legnth tube) is far more prone to feeding issues. That seems to be the magic number for legnth of the tube. A piston on a super short AR15 eliminates that issue.
Piston-Never craps.
I mean, c'mon now! How many AKs are there worldwide vs. AR-type rifles? Even the venerated M1A uses a piston.
Direct Impingement-Craps where it eats.
Piston-Never craps.
I mean, c'mon now! How many AKs are there worldwide vs. AR-type rifles? Even the venerated M1A uses a piston.
I always suspected that my first wife, and an economics professor I had for comparitive economic systems; never crapped.
They were both worse for never having done so.
They used to tell people not to oil their M16s because they had space age lubricants in the metal. The gas contains graphite because there's not enough oxygen to burn the graphite which the powder is coated with. It gives conventional ARs a self-lubricating action, though oil is probably superior.
See? THIS is why I wrote this thread. This post is hilarious!
I think there is still work to do on the piston guns in general, probably some very fine guns, but to early to tell yet.