Posted on 12/21/2013 1:10:11 PM PST by Wingy
Well folks, I've got an AR-15 Colt Match with HBar and I'm thinking about changing it from a gas system to a piston and rod system. I don't plan to use a suppressor.
Added to the bang list. Sorry I can’t help. I have never tried what you’re asking about. Good luck.
Unless you plan on firing it in full auto or dragging it in the mud , I would keep the DI system, the AR piston systems are highly over rated.
If you decide to convert, buy an entire dedicated gas piston upper so when you discover that it’s heavier, more complex and less accurate you can sell it to some one else.
Pinging the Gun Talk List to the discussion.
Some piston ARs have trouble running steel cased ammo.
I wouldn’t convert. Conversions are expensive.
Like the other guy said, get a dedicated upper and run them both. That way you don’t lose anything.
The real reason I’m considering this is cleanliness around the bolt area. I’m thinking that in the long run, being cleaner will result in less wear.
Unless you will be operating in dusty Iraq, why convert?
Even then, why convert?
Cleanliness? How many rounds do you plan on firing between cleanings? I heard that the zombies won’t arrive for another year or two at the earliest.
My opinion is that you’d be better off spending that money on ammunition and range time.
Keep that AR clean, invest in some spare parts, and then practice, practice, practice. Turn that cash into ammo, and that ammo into skill.
Just my two cents. YMMV.
I have one too.If it Ain’t Broke;Don’t”Fix”it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go with rdcbn advice.
I personally shoot the M1A Springfield and was going to purchase some Garands next year from Garandguy.com.
He can chamber in what I want. The rifle only costs $1,500 with an extraordinary guarantee warranty.
I’m going to convert two of them to AR. One in .308 and the other 30-06.
Ain’t nothing going to stop them from operating and I like bigger bullets.
Understood, but anything you convert to will be a retrofit so inherently less dependable.
If you want a dedicated piston gun, there are plenty out there; granted, none of them have the AR ergonomics, but you can't have everything.
“Some piston ARs have trouble running steel cased ammo.”
Why is that? Trouble with extraction?
I bought a Huldra Mark IV 5.45x39 Carbine Base Rifle with the piston system from http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/huldra-mark-iv-5-45x39-carbine-base-rifle/0000000069728
I bought it because I have a lot of commie 5.45x39 steel cased, corrosive primer ammo.
I haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet.
I think as other posters have said, buy a complete upper. I am a big fan of piston driven systems from the AK to FAL to my latest project where I swaped the 10” 5.56 barrel of a Sig p556 to a 300BLK. I do live in a very dusty environment and have yet to experience any failure on any of the piston systems. Accuracy is not reduced. Good luck!
Wear? Your gonna have to shoot more than 20,000 rounds to get appreciable wear.
By then you’d wanna swap out the barrel $300 and maybe look at some smaller parts to replace but, you should be purchasing extra things like a trigger group, pins, rollers...
As for cleanliness...really?
I put 10,000 rounds through my Springfield M1A over the last 4 years. I only recently took it completely apart.
Don’t ask me why I did it. The reason was stupid and as I found out completely unecessary.
The bedding looked completely clean. Ran a rag through it and Nada.
trigger group didn’t even have lint on it.
The oil on my spring was clear and viscuous. Oh well, I was there any way. Brake Free and oiled.
I’m not taking it apart ever again.
For your gun just follow the standard cleaning instructions. Easy Peasy and done in 10 minutes or less...
I think humblegunner has one of those kits for sale.
Amen to that.I also shoot an M1A and a HK 91.If things get crazy I’m going with the bigger bullet.
Get that cheap 5.45x39 while you can.
Prices are rising fast on that ammo.
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