I thinking of getting one of those piston change over kits from Brownells. Just want to know if any one had put one on and if it fires good or jam up...And if its worth the money to get it.
Gunsmithing Has anyone put a Piston kit on thier AR rifles
- Thread starter popeyecop
- Start date
Re: Has anyone put a Piston kit on thier AR rifles
Yes, I purchased the Adams Arms version which has a great reputation. I was disappointed to find it did not work with my 20" AR: just was not getting enough gas to cycle it properly. I'm sure I could have resolved this issue by enlarging the gas port. But my AR with Krieger barrel is super accurate and perfectly reliable just as it is. So, I sent the kit back for a refund.
I think the piston is a great idea for the SBRs, but a standard length AR has no problems that need fixing.
Also, which kit you get will determine how happy you are....do your homework.
Yes, I purchased the Adams Arms version which has a great reputation. I was disappointed to find it did not work with my 20" AR: just was not getting enough gas to cycle it properly. I'm sure I could have resolved this issue by enlarging the gas port. But my AR with Krieger barrel is super accurate and perfectly reliable just as it is. So, I sent the kit back for a refund.
I think the piston is a great idea for the SBRs, but a standard length AR has no problems that need fixing.
Also, which kit you get will determine how happy you are....do your homework.
Re: Has anyone put a Piston kit on thier AR rifles
This is my biggest problem with ANY of the piston guns, wether its a conversion or a complete gun non retrofit.
There is NO STANDARD, everyone uses their own proprietary parts and system.
If you buy a retrofit today and they company goes out of business tomorrow and something breaks ... what do you do?
Thats why I have no probs with DI guns .... if something breaks I just go buy a new piece to fix it.
And I would always ask the company that you are buying from who they suggest to install it. If you install it and it doesnt run, then its your problem, if they say have so and so install it and it doesnt run ... its whomevers problem at that point and not yours.
This is my biggest problem with ANY of the piston guns, wether its a conversion or a complete gun non retrofit.
There is NO STANDARD, everyone uses their own proprietary parts and system.
If you buy a retrofit today and they company goes out of business tomorrow and something breaks ... what do you do?
Thats why I have no probs with DI guns .... if something breaks I just go buy a new piece to fix it.
And I would always ask the company that you are buying from who they suggest to install it. If you install it and it doesnt run, then its your problem, if they say have so and so install it and it doesnt run ... its whomevers problem at that point and not yours.
Re: Has anyone put a Piston kit on thier AR rifles
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Outsydlooknin75</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is my biggest problem with ANY of the piston guns, wether its a conversion or a complete gun non retrofit.
There is NO STANDARD, everyone uses their own proprietary parts and system.
If you buy a retrofit today and they company goes out of business tomorrow and something breaks ... what do you do?
Thats why I have no probs with DI guns .... if something breaks I just go buy a new piece to fix it.
</div></div>
Agreed! DI parts are standard, plentiful, and cheap. A 20" AR does not have any problems to fix. Now a 14.5" M4.....that's a different story. That is a gun where a DI system does not work near as well.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Outsydlooknin75</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is my biggest problem with ANY of the piston guns, wether its a conversion or a complete gun non retrofit.
There is NO STANDARD, everyone uses their own proprietary parts and system.
If you buy a retrofit today and they company goes out of business tomorrow and something breaks ... what do you do?
Thats why I have no probs with DI guns .... if something breaks I just go buy a new piece to fix it.
</div></div>
Agreed! DI parts are standard, plentiful, and cheap. A 20" AR does not have any problems to fix. Now a 14.5" M4.....that's a different story. That is a gun where a DI system does not work near as well.
Re: Has anyone put a Piston kit on thier AR rifles
Hey Scooter,
when you put that thing together do you have to line up the op rod with the hole in the barrel so that there is enough gas to push that rod back to cycle.
Hey Scooter,
when you put that thing together do you have to line up the op rod with the hole in the barrel so that there is enough gas to push that rod back to cycle.
Re: Has anyone put a Piston kit on thier AR rifles
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: POPEYECOP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hey Scooter,
when you put that thing together do you have to line up the op rod with the hole in the barrel so that there is enough gas to push that rod back to cycle. </div></div>
Of course, do you take me for a peanut brain?
J/K. yes, I went through all the install techniques and called and emailed the AA folks. They completely did not respond to my emails, but I did get a monkey on the phone who did not know anything. Prior to that I had spoken to Jason and he was very knowledgeable. But, bottom line, their kit would not work unless I modified my barrel. It just was not worth it as I have a perfectly functional DI rifle that has not hiccupped in well over 1K rounds.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: POPEYECOP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hey Scooter,
when you put that thing together do you have to line up the op rod with the hole in the barrel so that there is enough gas to push that rod back to cycle. </div></div>
Of course, do you take me for a peanut brain?
J/K. yes, I went through all the install techniques and called and emailed the AA folks. They completely did not respond to my emails, but I did get a monkey on the phone who did not know anything. Prior to that I had spoken to Jason and he was very knowledgeable. But, bottom line, their kit would not work unless I modified my barrel. It just was not worth it as I have a perfectly functional DI rifle that has not hiccupped in well over 1K rounds.
