Short Stroke Piston Vs DI

[chiroken007]

Since we are a No CAN state and it’s very unlikely to be shooting any volume of rounds in sand, grit or mud.

Is it worth the premium price for a piston system here in Cali versus the other benefits of a DI system?

We currently have an LWRC DI. Love it but not a fan of how much carbon deposits in the action and firing pin.

I am trying to rationalize one of the following in the distant future:

Sig Spear MCX
POF 415 Edge
VKTR V1
CZ BREN 3
LWRC IC

HK is way out of my league.

 

[SlowMoe]

Piston is cleaner, I built mine and enjoy it a lot

 

[JackRydden224]

I don’t think piston setups are worth it but I think an bufferless setup is worth it because you don’t feel as much force coming back to you from the buffer.

I’m not saying it’s a big deal out of a 556 but once you shoot bufferless setup like a scar or mcx you realize how much smoother they are compared to a traditional AR

 

[Gawernator]

no

 

[SlowMoe]

Piston is cleaner, I built mine and enjoy it a lot

I was also able to build a decent one with optics at about 1800 waiting for sales

 

[chiroken007]

I don’t think piston setups are worth it but I think an bufferless setup is worth it because you don’t feel as much force coming back to you from the buffer.

I’m not saying it’s a big deal out of a 556 but once you shoot bufferless setup like a scar or mcx you realize how much smoother they are compared to a traditional AR

Ideally I’d love bufferless such as Spear or CZ BREN 3.

 

[bonesurf]

It’s more about “after” for me. Piston clean up is like…..nothing. DI clean up is work.
Downsides of piston. Generally heavier. Generally more expensive. At least SOME of the parts are “unique”

Yeah it’s laziness, but once you get a piston, cleaning a DI gun is like…..PITA

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

Pistons will generally cause more wear on parts faster than DI in most cases.

 

[SilverEndless]

Check out a PWS Mod II uppers. Lightest piston I could find and almost no recoil.

Delete the forward assist and maybe look at a 14.5 pin and weld if you want weight savings

 

[Tere_Hanges]

I can see the benefits of piston ARs for military use like the M27 replacing the M249 machinegun as an automatic weapon. But for semiauto LE or civilian use its more of a solution in search of a problem. Piston ARs are also heavier.

 

[SlowMoe]

I can see the benefits of piston ARs for military use like the M27 replacing the M249 machinegun as an automatic weapon. But for semiauto LE or civilian use its a solution in search of a problem. Piston ARs are also heavier.

I mean my 16in bcm ar di is 8 lbs decked out, and my 11.5 pistol is 8lbs decked out. It is the same weight just smaller

Metal framed pistols are heavier than polymer framed, but I guess it all depends on use case

 

[Striker777]

Iv’e been running Adams arms p1 piston uppers on two guns for a while about 10 years now I even have a couple of kits (nos) ready if I build another gun or for parts if needed.
I think they run a bit smoother in overall function besides easier to maintain and they run a lot cooler.
But I generally shoot AK’s and the KNS piston kits for the AK’s are worthless IMO they don’t for me run reliable so never went that direction on a build, the AK needs to be left alone as far as internals besides a good trigger and springs installed.

 

[joefrank64k]

If you’re like me and you don’t clean your ARs, then it’s DI all the way, haha!! Simple and light.

My HK MR556 stays really clean, but man it’s heavy, so it doesn’t get much use.

I prefer my lightweight DI builds (even if I cleaned them).

 

[mbuss101]

You need to ask yourself what you’re setting the rifle up for exactly. IMHO if you have to ask strangers on the internet if a piston gun is worth it then you don’t need a piston gun

 

[chiroken007]

You need to ask yourself what you’re setting the rifle up for exactly. IMHO if you have to ask strangers on the internet if a piston gun is worth it then you don’t need a piston gun

With exception of competitive shooters such as 3 gun etc. it would be difficult for any of us to say one “needs” a piston rifle.

That’s a pretty reductive argument.

However, there is no harm in asking the pros and cons to piston rifles. Especially when most military forces (including the US now) operate on piston systems.

There must be tangible benefits. As a civilian the benefits are not necessarily the same.

It would be nice having a rifle that runs cooler and cleaner with less fouling from carbon deposits. Would also be nice to have a rifle with a smoother action recoil and doesn’t have a “Doinnggg” sound from the buffer spring.

 

[AR15barrels]

DI is hands-down the most accurate operating system in semi-auto firearms.
If the size of your groups while having semi-auto function is important, you need to be shooting a DI.

 

[Gawernator]

With exception of competitive shooters such as 3 gun etc. it would be difficult for any of us to say one “needs” a piston rifle.

That’s a pretty reductive argument.

However, there is no harm in asking the pros and cons to piston rifles. Especially when most military forces (including the US now) operate on piston systems.

There must be tangible benefits. As a civilian the benefits are not necessarily the same.

It would be nice having a rifle that runs cooler and cleaner with less fouling from carbon deposits. Would also be nice to have a rifle with a smoother action recoil and doesn’t have a “Doinnggg” sound from the buffer spring.

It's a question for you really, is the money and weight worth it to you or not. I considered the HK but just couldn't justify 4k for a rifle that won't really do anything different for me in real life outcomes.

 

[Striker777]

It's a question for you really, is the money and weight worth it to you or not. I considered the HK but just couldn't justify 4k for a rifle that won't really do anything different for me in real life outcomes.

Well got to let you know piston set ups in my world do not add nothing to weight... the front gas adjustable block weighs as much as a A2 front sight two springs and a light weight rod does nothing my guns are 1MOA all day with a piston upper.

If you know what your’e doing behind your’e rifle you are literally not going to see much of a difference in accuracy.

 

[newgen5]

Since m-lok came out and replaced picatinny rails, piston uppers are way lighter than they were 10 years ago. The barrel matters more than the operating system w/r/t accuracy.

 

[chiroken007]

The CZ Bren 3 is from 6.6-7.9lbs from what I hear. M556A1 is 8.6ish. The m556a4 just under 8

My current LWRC DI is 6.6. So the BREN 3 is comparable.