Ares Defense drop in piston

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Ares Defense drop in piston

Posted: 9/12/2014 7:33:57 PM EDT

I had one in my bushmaster since 2008. About a year ago it started to have
Failures to feed. I went to the range earlier this week and used American made and
Tula ammo. The Tula failed. The American ammo worked great.

I decided to return it to gas impingement. Shot it today with Tula, Wolf and American made ammo.
No failures to feed. No jams. A mag that is used that would not work with the piston in,
Worked perfectly with all three ammos.

I am out $400 clams. What a mistake.

The conversion unit was the ones that Bushmaster sold. Bushmaster does not sell the kits
anymore.

Posted: 9/12/2014 9:48:26 PM EDT

[#1]

I don't know much history of Ares Defense but I take it you are talking about the kit Ares Defense makes with the A-Frame style gas block? This is also the same Ares Defense that produces the Shrike and MCR beltfed upper receivers? If so I had thought about picking up a Shrike or MCR upper from them, however I'm not sure what their customer service is like given I had some questions prior to purchasing and had sent them a few emails more than a couple weeks ago and all with no reply or any luck of hearing back from them. I always prefer good'oL old-fashioned contact by phone but sadly the female rep who answers the phone is always unable to give tech assistance or answer technical questions, and she said it'd best to send an email with my questions to get accurate answers. Oh well as of current their still in the air about their service and product given I still have not heard anything back from them, and nor do they have phone support / service.

Posted: 9/12/2014 9:56:07 PM EDT

[#2]

Yes, the piston that goes into the front sight block.

I know. Live and learn. This lesson I am only out $800. I purchased two. My first
Marraige cost me thousands.

Then pistons do work with the right ammo and mags. I called bushmaster for support
They told me to lube it up good. I did, but it seems to be ammo and mag sensitive.

I will send Ares an e-mail, maybe they can help me out better than Bushmaster.

Posted: 9/12/2014 10:43:06 PM EDT

[#3]

I never knew Bushmaster sold Ares Defense or other manufacturer products. Do they sell it under the original manufacturers name or is it Bushmaster branded? best of luck with email Ares Defense for support as they never replied to me as of current, and after two or more weeks I'm not holding my breath on them.

Posted: 9/14/2014 1:36:17 AM EDT

[#4]

I have one of the bushmaster drop in pistons and two from ares no problems out of any of them. I would not make any judgements based on Tula ammo. It can cause the same problems in a DI gun as well.if it ran fine with brass and only short stroked with Tula your problem is with the ammo not the weapon. Just my opinion.

Posted: 9/15/2014 12:11:36 PM EDT

[#5]

Check the op rod to make sure it isn't bent, and check the roll pin. Also chk for carbon build up in the spigot. In my experience, DI has a greater tolerance for ammo variances than piston guns.

Posted: 9/16/2014 6:12:59 PM EDT

[#6]

I agree on the tula ammo. I had problems on with my bushmaster retrofit piston kit upper. Yet running the same ammo on my A2 is fine.

Posted: 9/16/2014 8:26:10 PM EDT

[#7]

Rod is straight. Spigot needs cleaning. It ran great with American made ammo.
I am waiting for a response from Bushmaster to see what ammo they recommend.

While Cleaning the Bushy with the DI re-installed, I realized why I spent
400 clams to get a piston. Cleaning a DI gun sux.

I guess I am spoiled, the AK runs great with all types of ammo.

Posted: 9/17/2014 4:27:15 AM EDT

[#8]

One more thing, how oiled was your gun? I found if tula isn't cycling my rifle, it needs some oil.

Add a suppressor to the end of your rifle. You will be more then happy.

My bushmaster retro fit kit was the best 125 bucks I could have spent. I don't get gassed running suppressed. On my DI rifle, I can barely breath.

Posted: 9/17/2014 8:18:25 PM EDT

[#9]

Wow $125. That's a deal. It was well oiled. I never had a jam with or failure to feed with the DI.
I am doing another build , I will use the kit for it.

Posted: 9/21/2014 2:34:01 PM EDT

[#10]

Does your system come with the gas cyclinder brace that keeps the gas cyclinder in place on the barrel its like a brace that goess on a shotgun barrel/mag tube for support that type of set up.

Posted: 9/21/2014 7:56:28 PM EDT

[#11]

Yes.

Posted: 9/23/2014 10:36:24 AM EDT

[#12]

If the brace is too tight it can effect piston rod movement.

Posted: 9/23/2014 12:50:02 PM EDT

[#13]

I have been using an Ares kit in one of my rifles for about 5 years now. In approximately 5000 rounds I have had only one malfunction. The op rod became unseated from its socket just behind the piston. Popped it back into place and no more problems. Op rod must align properly with the upper receiver bushing and the piston housing to assure freedom of motion when firing.

Here's a pic of the kit installed. Note: It will fit under a MI Gen 1 FF handguard.

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Posted: 9/23/2014 8:28:47 PM EDT

[#14]

I will loosen the brace and then test it. Prior to last year, I had no problems with the piston.

Posted: 9/30/2014 12:46:58 AM EDT

[#15]

Bushmaster piston system is very familiar with the Ares system.
It should be working with all manufacture.223/5.56 ammos. I have both systems and they're great.
Give Ares a try. You'll not disappoint it.

Posted: 9/30/2014 10:12:39 AM EDT

[#16]

Delete Post. Quoted wrong person.

Posted: 9/30/2014 10:13:43 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have been using an Ares kit in one of my rifles for about 5 years now. In approximately 5000 rounds I have had only one malfunction. The op rod became unseated from its socket just behind the piston. Popped it back into place and no more problems. Op rod must align properly with the upper receiver bushing and the piston housing to assure freedom of motion when firing.

Here's a pic of the kit installed. Note: It will fit under a MI Gen 1 FF handguard.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/IMG_5333_Large_.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/IMG_5333_Large_.jpg</a>

View Quote

you got any pics with the cover on? this makes me a lot more interested in picking up one of these kits if the standard M4 handgaurds fit directly over it without any modifications needed.

Posted: 9/30/2014 9:15:32 PM EDT

[#18]

That isnt going to happen. My bushmaster kit came with a set of m4 handguards notched for the op rod.

Quote History

Quoted:

you got any pics with the cover on? this makes me a lot more interested in picking up one of these kits if the standard M4 handgaurds fit directly over it without any modifications needed.

View Quote

Posted: 9/30/2014 11:11:11 PM EDT

[#19]

is it a whole new molded piece or was the notch cut by the factory? would love to see some pics.

Posted: 10/1/2014 4:39:39 AM EDT

[#20]

Handguards were notched.

Quote History

Quoted:
is it a whole new molded piece or was the notch cut by the factory? would love to see some pics.

View Quote

Posted: 10/4/2014 6:44:48 PM EDT

[#21]

Handguards from my bushmaster Ares kit.

Top cover has only one heat shield.

Posted: 10/7/2014 12:30:24 PM EDT

[#22]

Bushmaster's tech support stated in an e-mail, to only use brass cases ammo.
It does not function with steel cased ammo.

I will just have to shell out the extra cash for brass.

Posted: 10/8/2014 4:31:21 PM EDT

[#23]

Since my last post, I went back to the range. I didn't have any problems with steel case tula. This time around I had changed to an H2 buffer and extra lube.

Posted: 10/8/2014 5:08:47 PM EDT

[#24]

Mine would blow the roll pin out on a regular basis. Ended up putting a solid pin in and no problems since.

WDS

Posted: 10/15/2014 12:39:22 AM EDT

[#25]

The m4 looking handguards that come with the Ares kit are not stock M4. The heat shields have been modified for clearance.

Posted: 10/15/2014 1:11:13 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
I had one in my bushmaster since 2008. About a year ago it started to have
Failures to feed. I went to the range earlier this week and used American made and
Tula ammo. The Tula failed. The American ammo worked great.

I decided to return it to gas impingement. Shot it today with Tula, Wolf and American made ammo.
No failures to feed. No jams. A mag that is used that would not work with the piston in,
Worked perfectly with all three ammos.

I am out $400 clams. What a mistake.

The conversion unit was the ones that Bushmaster sold. Bushmaster does not sell the kits
anymore.

View Quote

Something to be learned about Tula ammo here.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Ares Defense drop in piston

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