User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
CO, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 10:29:10 AM EDT
[Last Edit: RustyBallz]
Hey guys.
I’m quite familiar with the DI world and I’m looking to get a piston set up going. I’ve heard mixed opinions on after-market retro-fit piston systems. Many sound valid. I am not making this build for casual use. This would be a self-defense/SHTF rifle. For those that have used a piston kit, would you trust it with your life? If so, what brand and why? |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 2:57:45 PM EDT
[#1]
Superlative arms
|
|
|
|
CO, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 3:02:12 PM EDT
[Last Edit: RustyBallz]
[#2]
Thanks for the recommendation.
I’ve heard great things. Would you trust their system with your life? And why? I don’t mean to be picky. Just really want to make sure. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 3:08:52 PM EDT
[#3]
I wouldn't trust any conversion for SHTF.
I'd stick to factory piston or a DI gun. |
|
|
|
CO, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 3:23:26 PM EDT
[Last Edit: RustyBallz]
[#4]
I am leaning the same way.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 3:29:19 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By -Obsessed-: I wouldn't trust any conversion for SHTF. I'd stick to factory piston or a DI gun. ...so you wouldn't trust your own build? Strange way to think. What's gonna happen if 'shtf' and you're forced to service the rifle for whatever reason? @OP weird follow on questions but yes. |
|
|
|
AK, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 3:44:44 PM EDT
[Last Edit: mobiushky]
[#6]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By hoody2shoez: Superlative arms I'll second Superlative Arms. But to add to the mix, I'd say the same about Adams Arms. If you install it right, no reason to worry. Why do I trust it? While I haven't taken them "down range", I will say that I've run both AA (Adams Arms) and SA (Superlative Arms) in competitions for years. Full disclosure, the AA was factory built. But the SA is my current rig going on it's third year. The main reason is because the all guns are mechanical devices. Mechanical devices fail. It may have a different type of failure, but DI can fail too. How do you prevent a DI gun from failing? Take care of it. Clean it, lube it, inspect it, replace worn parts. Do the same thing with a piston and it's gonna be solid. So far, the only parts I've broken on my piston guns were no related to the piston. Same parts that are on DI. The pistons have never had a hiccup. |
|
|
CO, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 3:47:54 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By hoody2shoez: ...so you wouldn't trust your own build? Strange way to think. What's gonna happen if 'shtf' and you're forced to service the rifle for whatever reason? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By hoody2shoez: Originally Posted By -Obsessed-: I wouldn't trust any conversion for SHTF. I'd stick to factory piston or a DI gun. ...so you wouldn't trust your own build? Strange way to think. What's gonna happen if 'shtf' and you're forced to service the rifle for whatever reason? Very legitimate point that I regularly think of |
|
|
CO, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 3:48:51 PM EDT
[#8]
Great take!
Thanks |
|
|
USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 5:52:22 PM EDT
[#9]
if you want built-like-a-tank confidence, might want to consider having the piston gas block pinned to the barrel. That's usually how factory piston setups are.
having said that, none of my Adams Arms piston gas blocks have ever even budged, once installed. have never loosened up. |
|
|
CO, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 5:58:31 PM EDT
[#10]
Definitely pinning all gas blocks whether piston or di
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 7:53:04 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By hoody2shoez: ...so you wouldn't trust your own build? Strange way to think. What's gonna happen if 'shtf' and you're forced to service the rifle for whatever reason? @OP weird follow on questions but yes. (Factory Piston) or (DI Gun) That more clear? I had a piston conversion. No, I didn't trust it. That's why I no longer own it. 
|
|
|
|
AK, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 8:10:05 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By -Obsessed-: I had a piston conversion. No, I didn't trust it. That's why I no longer own it. Just to be clear, you did a piston conversion and you didn't trust your own work? Or did I miss something? |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 8:22:56 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By mobiushky: Just to be clear, you did a piston conversion and you didn't trust your own work? Or did I miss something? You missed something. Piston conversions don't always operate as well as a factory gun. In fact they almost never do. Granted, I was running 300 BLK. So it's not exactly something prone to super high reliability to begin with. The dirtiness of 300 BLK would foul the piston cups to failure within 90 rounds. It's nothing I was interested in dealing with. I did the basic troubleshooting to try to improve reliability but at the end of the day they ran like shit in 300 BLK. If you were doing 223/556 it would probably be better. My HD build started life as a DD but the only thing factory left is the upper and lower receiver. I trust it 100%, as I have seen me put 600+ rds through it before cleaning without issue. But the piston, not so much. YMMV, and that's okay. |
|
|
|
FL, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 8:25:15 PM EDT
[#14]
MCX Upper conversion kit
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 8:40:05 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By -Obsessed-: You missed something. Piston conversions don't always operate as well as a factory gun. In fact they almost never do. Granted, I was running 300 BLK. So it's not exactly something prone to super high reliability to begin with. The dirtiness of 300 BLK would foul the piston cups to failure within 90 rounds. It's nothing I was interested in dealing with. I did the basic troubleshooting to try to improve reliability but at the end of the day they ran like shit in 300 BLK. If you were doing 223/556 it would probably be better. My HD build started life as a DD but the only thing factory left is the upper and lower receiver. I trust it 100%, as I have seen me put 600+ rds through it before cleaning without issue. But the piston, not so much. YMMV, and that's okay. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By -Obsessed-: Originally Posted By mobiushky: Just to be clear, you did a piston conversion and you didn't trust your own work? Or did I miss something? You missed something. Piston conversions don't always operate as well as a factory gun. In fact they almost never do. Granted, I was running 300 BLK. So it's not exactly something prone to super high reliability to begin with. The dirtiness of 300 BLK would foul the piston cups to failure within 90 rounds. It's nothing I was interested in dealing with. I did the basic troubleshooting to try to improve reliability but at the end of the day they ran like shit in 300 BLK. If you were doing 223/556 it would probably be better. My HD build started life as a DD but the only thing factory left is the upper and lower receiver. I trust it 100%, as I have seen me put 600+ rds through it before cleaning without issue. But the piston, not so much. YMMV, and that's okay. 300blk is weird with Pistons I've about 25k through my sup arms and have had zero issues. (556) |
|
|
|
AK, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 8:40:18 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By -Obsessed-: You missed something. Piston conversions don't always operate as well as a factory gun. In fact they almost never do. Granted, I was running 300 BLK. So it's not exactly something prone to super high reliability to begin with. The dirtiness of 300 BLK would foul the piston cups to failure within 90 rounds. It's nothing I was interested in dealing with. I did the basic troubleshooting to try to improve reliability but at the end of the day they ran like shit in 300 BLK. If you were doing 223/556 it would probably be better. My HD build started life as a DD but the only thing factory left is the upper and lower receiver. I trust it 100%, as I have seen me put 600+ rds through it before cleaning without issue. But the piston, not so much. YMMV, and that's okay. I can see where user installed kits may be less reliable especially given the vast range of technical skill of the average Joe. That said, I'm guessing something bigger was going on with yours. Not that it matters in life. No worries if you ditched the kit. I've got an AA kit on a .300BLK and haven't seen the issues you had. I've had thousands of rounds through my piston ARs and actually never have cleaned them. I'm considering actually cleaning my current competition/SHTF rifle only because it's an SA and the bleed off system (while AWESOME) is carbonizing the barrel in front of the gas block. I would say the install is subject to the user's skill level and attention to detail. I trust mine implicitly. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 9:57:37 PM EDT
[Last Edit: funnelcake]
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By hoody2shoez: Superlative arms ETA - I’ll second the above & add AA. I’ve seen their stuff tortured & abused with no issues. Including the clamp-on gas block. |
|
|
|
CO, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 10:23:36 PM EDT
[#18]
Thank you to all who responded!!
|
|
|
CO, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 10:24:21 PM EDT
[Last Edit: RustyBallz]
[#19]
Originally Posted By funnelcake: ETA - I’ll second the above & add AA. I’ve seen their stuff tortured & abused with no issues. Including the clamp-on gas block. IV8888 meltdown video was convincing. And I believe it would have kept going with a better hand guard |
|
|
CO, USA
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 10:25:52 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ar15joe: MCX Upper conversion kit Undoubtedly getting the x39 LT upper eventually |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/5/2023 10:47:41 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ar15joe: MCX Upper conversion kit Yeah, this. Ground up design is better, IMO. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/6/2023 9:18:01 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By RustyBallz: Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve heard great things. Would you trust their system with your life? And why? I don’t mean to be picky. Just really want to make sure. I wouldn’t trust any conversion with my life. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/6/2023 9:22:23 AM EDT
[#23]
Not a conversion but I have 3 Adams Arms piston uppers, two are 11.5 and one 16".
I have done two carbine carbine classes with one 11.5 and one class with the other, zero problems. |
|
|
|
NC, USA
|
Posted: 6/6/2023 2:43:48 PM EDT
[#24]
I'd pick a factory built, designed that way, piston rifle or upper if you plan on using a lower you already have. Personal experience with PWS MK110 as a duty rifle for 7 years almost entirely suppressed with no PWS specific parts breakage, along with a lot of SME feedback have shown they're dependable. That or a Sig MCX would be my top two choices. HKs and SCARs work obviously, but HKs are way overpriced and SCARs have no warranty once you shoot them suppressed.
|
|
|
TX, USA
|
Posted: 6/6/2023 3:37:09 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By spectre3: I'd pick a factory built, designed that way, piston rifle or upper if you plan on using a lower you already have. Personal experience with PWS MK110 as a duty rifle for 7 years almost entirely suppressed with no PWS specific parts breakage, along with a lot of SME feedback have shown they're dependable. That or a Sig MCX would be my top two choices. HKs and SCARs work obviously, but HKs are way overpriced and SCARs have no warranty once you shoot them suppressed. This, and would also add LMT to the mix. |
|
|
NC, USA
|
Posted: 6/7/2023 8:44:41 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By IPMan: This, and would also add LMT to the mix. Agreed. I forgot about LMT and LWRC when I was thinking of reputable options. |
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
