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5/20/2010 7:46:25 AM EDT
I am thinking about converting my carbine to a piston driven. I am looking at the Adams Arms kit.

BEFORE YOU POST. Please dont make arguements on some other kit that is better than this. I have already looked at all the kits and decided on this one, but I want to here from the current users. All I want posted is any malfunctions that have occured while the AA kit was installed on a rifle. If you have, will you please post what build you have. I just want to see if anyone is having problems out there. Thanks.
5/20/2010 8:29:01 AM EDT
[#1]


None. Completely reliable so far with my 16 inch built upper. No carrier tilt to speak of either.
It's the best system out there right now to me. It makes no sense to me why people still pay more for a LWRC, LMT or POF piston AR with the Adams system out there and the various handguard options you can get comparatively using it.


5/20/2010 9:13:45 AM EDT
[#2]
I put one on my AR pistol.  It runs great, but there was a VERY SMALL burr on the back of the carrier that beat up my buffer pretty good.  I sent pictures of the carrier to Adams Arms, and they exchanged it for me.  I was going to take a stone to the carrier to remove the burr, it wouldn't have taken much to get rid of it.  However I was concerned with compromising the finish, and the folks at Adams decided to just replace the carrier.  Didn't effect the fact that it runs like a raped ape.
5/20/2010 11:50:35 AM EDT
[#3]
I've had a very good experience.  I put the AA kit on my 10.5" SBR.  Never had a malfunction in 1400 rounds.  I've shot it at angles, horizontally (facing up and down), and few times I've run three mags through it as fast as I could (it's a semi-auto).  The barrel was literally smoking.  No problems.
5/20/2010 12:12:39 PM EDT
[#4]
Over 100k rounds between 5 weapons, with no issues..  I hope that helps!


That includes full-auto and suppressed full-auto..
Mike
Tactical Coordination
5/20/2010 12:37:49 PM EDT
[#5]
No issues on mine either.  16" carbine kit with bolt carrier.  I would recommend to anyone looking to suppress or just clean less.

The only troublesome spot that you might have is when you install it you have to align your barrel nut so the rod doesn't cant and rub against the teeth.  If that is done right, you shouldn't have any issues with the kit.  I took the barrel off to install my kit twice and I had to torque the nut a little to get it perfectly lined up.  My accuracy got better with 50 grain Federal bulk pack ammo.  It shoots between .75" to 1.25" regularly.
5/20/2010 1:37:11 PM EDT
[#6]
I have the AA on 18" SS BCM barrel, standard car buffer and 6 position stock. Runs great, mix of 5.56 and 223 over 500rnds. However it doesnt seem to like the wolf classic military. The wolf ammo seems a little underpowered and inconsistent. I can actually feel the difference when firing between the rounds. Federal, Winchester, LC ammo no problems.

Back to the AA,,, runs smooth, no tilt issues. I also have the POF roller cam with about 100 rounds on it. No wear I can see. I modded a Samson free float to work with the AA,,,

Oh,,,and its a lot easier to clean,,,,,
5/20/2010 9:57:52 PM EDT
[#7]
I haven't had problems with Wolf Military Classic.
5/21/2010 3:32:20 AM EDT
[#8]
I've had some short-stroking w/ Wolf ammo too.  Put it over the chrono and the reason is apparent though.

I have two AA kits, midlength on a Sabre 18" fluted barrel w/ AA Samson foreend and a rifle on a DPMS 20" HBAR w/ Troy (modified) foreend.



5/21/2010 4:10:30 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
I haven't had problems with Wolf Military Classic.


+1

Mine eats it like candy.


5/21/2010 5:23:42 AM EDT
[#10]
I love mine, problems with carrier tilt, then got the AA one piece bolt carrier no problems now.

5/21/2010 7:53:31 AM EDT
[#11]
No problems, Just had to dial in Piston clearance for Full Auto with my 10.5 SBR.......... Runs like a fine machine.
5/21/2010 9:27:41 AM EDT
[#12]
Just a question for those that installed the AA kits:



How does the gas block clamp to the barrel? Just 2 screws/bolts? Did you do anything special to keep the bolts secured?



My CMMG gas block has 3 bolts and during rapid fire - about 7 mag dumps within a few minutes (as fast as I can pull the trigger) the red threadlocker loosens up or the block expands/slips and the gas ports misalign, causing short stroking or failure to feed. It seems the AA kits don't suffer from this problem but clamp to the barrel in the same manner.
5/21/2010 10:23:08 AM EDT
[#13]
i used no thread locker, just tourqued it down
5/21/2010 12:05:05 PM EDT
[#14]
This has well over 2k no issues!
5/22/2010 6:12:19 AM EDT
[#15]
Have had 500 rds so far on my 11.5 SBR, had a couple hick-ups (Double Feed) the first 100rd but once it ran in a bit more - not a single problem.  Mind u its a complete new upper, forgrip and barrel.

Now its my SHTF primary, it used to be my HK MR223!!!!!!!

Just go ahead, but make sure you will install it properly.

5/23/2010 2:55:32 PM EDT
[#16]
To Stukas87 man thats a small carbine hell you could probably carry that under a suit jacket with no noticeable buldge..damn its tiny I love it
5/23/2010 5:05:19 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
To Stukas87 man thats a small carbine hell you could probably carry that under a suit jacket with no noticeable buldge..damn its tiny I love it


And it runs like a raped date!
5/23/2010 6:08:13 PM EDT
[#18]
I have two 16" middies, one a 6.5 Grendle.  No malfunctions at all, in fact the Grendel I built works better than a 24" DI upper built by Alexander Arms the Grendel developer.  They are both very new, so round count is low, probably <250 on the 5.56 and about 100 on the Grendel.  Both are very accurate, especially considering I am using an Aimpoint with 2MOA dot.  the 5.56 is the better, but it has a White Oak match grade barrel vs a standard grade on the Grendel
5/23/2010 6:45:05 PM EDT
[#19]
I run an AA kit on my RRA 10.5" SBR, best upgrade I've ever done on the AR15/M16 platform!!!!! Going to be picking up one of the new AA Tactical uppers soon as well.
5/23/2010 9:42:30 PM EDT
[#20]
Quoted:
I've had a very good experience.  I put the AA kit on my 10.5" SBR.  Never had a malfunction in 1400 rounds.  I've shot it at angles, horizontally (facing up and down), and few times I've run three mags through it as fast as I could (it's a semi-auto).  The barrel was literally smoking.  No problems.




+1

Put one on my 10.25" DD upper. Runs great.

5/24/2010 4:09:26 AM EDT
[#21]
Im guessing you guys are using the "pistol" conversion kits on the 10-12" SBRs?
I want to build a 5.45 11.5" upper with the piston, just not sure what route to go.


nice looking weapons guys
5/24/2010 4:19:09 AM EDT
[#22]
Have any of you guys used your system extensively with WOLF and/or Silver Bear?  Any issues with torn off rims, etc?
5/24/2010 4:32:54 AM EDT
[#23]
i have had no issues running wolf, silver or brown bear with the carbine conversion and its been about 1000 rounds of that and another 1000 of surplus 5.56
5/24/2010 4:56:51 AM EDT
[#24]
I installed one onto my 10.5 SBR.  Have only shot a few hundred rounds of WWB Q3131A1 without any issues.

After twenty-five years of cleaning AR15's andM16's, these piston kits take only five minutes to clean after shooting!

Buy with confidence,

Prib
5/24/2010 5:55:50 AM EDT
[#25]
No I used a carbine on my 10.5
5/24/2010 12:56:02 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted:
Im guessing you guys are using the "pistol" conversion kits on the 10-12" SBRs?
I want to build a 5.45 11.5" upper with the piston, just not sure what route to go.


nice looking weapons guys


Those 10" and longer go with Carbine Kits.  Pistol kits are for the real Shorties. 7.5"
5/24/2010 1:20:24 PM EDT
[#27]
I have a question:

I have a AA upper and I have three fully functioning FA Lowers.

I have yet to fully dump 2, 30 round mags. It runs FA some and then stops on an empty chamber....

Any advice out there?
5/24/2010 2:00:31 PM EDT
[#28]



Quoted:


I have a question:



I have a AA upper and I have three fully functioning FA Lowers.



I have yet to fully dump 2, 30 round mags. It runs FA some and then stops on an empty chamber....



Any advice out there?


I had that problem with my CMMG kit. It sounds like it is short stroking and is probably due to a misaligned gas port. Ensure your gas block port sits over the barrel gas port and that the gas block doesn't move during FA fire.



I dumped about 200+ rd downrange within a few minutes to heat up the barrel and my CMMG gas block shifted big time causing short stroking/failures to feed (stops on an empty chamber or worse).



 
5/24/2010 3:22:57 PM EDT
[#29]
Quoted:
I have a question:

I have a AA upper and I have three fully functioning FA Lowers.

I have yet to fully dump 2, 30 round mags. It runs FA some and then stops on an empty chamber....

Any advice out there?


What kind of ammo are you running is the first question?

Mike
5/25/2010 4:12:15 AM EDT
[#30]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Im guessing you guys are using the "pistol" conversion kits on the 10-12" SBRs?
I want to build a 5.45 11.5" upper with the piston, just not sure what route to go.


nice looking weapons guys


Those 10" and longer go with Carbine Kits.  Pistol kits are for the real Shorties. 7.5"


Thanks for the reply
5/25/2010 5:02:04 AM EDT
[#31]
Quoted:
I have a question:

I have a AA upper and I have three fully functioning FA Lowers.

I have yet to fully dump 2, 30 round mags. It runs FA some and then stops on an empty chamber....

Any advice out there?


On my 10.5 I had to take the feeler gauge and get the clearance set perfect when the piston is not under spring tension and resting on the carrier the correct clearance between the gas block and the piston is about 2 business cards  this does make a difference on FA when I got that dialed in it runs 100% on FA with an H H2 and H3.
5/25/2010 5:58:12 AM EDT
[#32]



Quoted:



Quoted:

I have a question:



I have a AA upper and I have three fully functioning FA Lowers.



I have yet to fully dump 2, 30 round mags. It runs FA some and then stops on an empty chamber....



Any advice out there?




On my 10.5 I had to take the feeler gauge and get the clearance set perfect when the piston is not under spring tension and resting on the carrier the correct clearance between the gas block and the piston is about 2 business cards  this does make a difference on FA when I got that dialed in it runs 100% on FA with an H H2 and H3.


Can you describe this in more detail?

I can't see the clearance because the bolt carrier is in the way. How would one adjust the piston clearance? By moving the gas block?



 
5/25/2010 7:19:09 AM EDT
[#33]
Sure with the weapon empty take off the upper. Remove the piston from the front take off the spring and spring stop. place rear of Upper with Bolt carrier group locked in on a flat table with barrel facing up close dust cover ..
Now put the piston back in the front of the gas block till it slides back into the BCG..


Now look at your Gas block there should be a space of about 2 bussiness cards thickness between the bottom (toward the receiver) edge of the gas block and thetop (towards the barrel ) end of the piston.,. if there is not loosen up the gas block and realign till you get the space. Only put in the Piston not the gas spigot that feeds the  piston to check this.. This is outlined pretty good in the install CD.

This makes a huge difference in the full auto function.
5/25/2010 7:37:01 AM EDT
[#34]
Thanks.



It sounds like you want a slight amount of clearance between the piston rod end and the bolt carrier nub, and not have the carrier nub slam into the piston and forcing it forward when the bolt is closed. Does this sound right?



 
5/25/2010 1:33:42 PM EDT
[#35]

Any of you AA owners having a problem with the piston rod sticking to the gas plug?
After 15 or so rds and a few hours of sitting, the piston rod will stick to the gas plug. It takes quite a bit of effort to separate the two.
This is after removing the piston rod and gas plug as one (stuck) piece.
I don't use any lube on the rod or plug.
5/26/2010 11:02:12 AM EDT
[#36]
I've only encountered that if I forget to clean the piston & spigot after a few trips to the range.
just clean them in Hoppes #9 of your favorite cleaner real good now & then. I've gotten spoiled
on all three of my AA kits ( 2xMiddies & 1xCarbine ), by only needing to boresnake them a few
times & wiping down the bolt, then a re-lube. I've had to change over to a complete cleanup once
a month, because of a guilt complex I've developed by hanging out with a marine friend.

The only problems with an AA kit I've every encountered, have been caused by ME. Usually a
mis-alligned Gasblock or piston clearance not properly adjusted. Both are totally my fault
( overconfidence ). I'm getting ready to build a 10.5" SBR with another AA kit ( just waiting on my
paperwork to comeback ).

Ty Hoeffer
Palmyra, VA
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