Things to know before you buy a gas piston AR15

Watch this video for helpful info on gas pistons vs direct impingement AR15's

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• gas piston AR15
• AR15
• M16
• M4
• Stag Arms
• Ruger SR556
• PWS
• LMT
• LWRC
• SIG516
• SIG556
• SIG SWAT
• Bushmaster
• Colt
• DPMS
• RRA
• DelTon
• Double Star
• BCM
• Spikes Tactical
• Daniel Defense
• Palmetto State Armory

[Scottyl35]

Nice video. I'm a new gun owner.I bought a glock 19 last year and I enjoy shooting. I was interested in getting an AR-15 for sport shooting. What gun would u recommend for a first time ar buyer?

[mixflip]

@Scottyl35 Thats a tough question to answer. If you dont ever plan to do any hard core competition shooting or carbine classes or combat, then you could be served well with almost any mid level AR15 for general purpose use. You could get a basic top end AR for about $800/$900 nowadays like a BCM, Spikes or Daniel Defense. Or a mid level M&P15, Stag, DPMS, DelTon for only $600. Then there is the legendary Colt for $1000 and up that has a great resale value.

[Scottyl35]

@mixflip OK, thank you so much for your help. I decided on the s/w M&P for like 650.00.

[mixflip]

@Scottyl35 Thats a very good AR15 for the money. Many police officers use them as patrol rifles just fine. You will be happy Im sure. Heck, I'd like to own one myself.

[Andy152R]

@mixflip There is a problem with some of the brands. Colt, for example, uses different sized pins for some of their parts so you have to pay the extra for their replacement parts. I know for a fact that Rock River uses a 2 stage trigger system which the hammer and disconnector is prone to breaking. I recommend a 1 stage system, which can be adjusted if you find the right armorer with a set of stones to do so. Some also have features such as an anti-creep screw in the lower.

[mixflip]

@Andy152R True, I always advocate basic stock mil-spec triggers. They may be heavier and less refined but they usually work in tough conditions and heavy use. The fancy customizable triggers are nice but they arent really what I want for a fighting gun. They seem more like target triggers than combat triggers in my eyes. As with any complicated machine a tiny $1 part can shut it down if it breaks and the AR15 is not immune from that fact thats for sure.

[Andy152R]

@mixflip Not to mention, if you have the skills, time and the stones, any mil spec trigger can be refined to desired features. I've seen horrible examples of disconnectors, hammers and triggers in just about every brand of complete lowers. Every manufacturer is going to have a few bad apples in the barrel. I agree, failure in things like the firing pin retainer, gas rings if direct impingement, and other parts can make that 1 dollar difference.

[rednecklowlife]

I love my BUSHMASTER m4 old school! Runs like a sewing machine!

[kevinjgrant4255]

Thanks for that info, it is very very helpful. I bought my first direct AR a year ago. Before i bought it i spoke to my armorer buddy and he said with home defense use there is NO difference between the two but price. I had another buddy tell me that you don't have to clean it. That's when my armorer says well the carbon has to go somewhere and where do you think that is so back to no difference for me.

[mixflip]

@juggaknot93 Unfortunately there are more than one piston system you can chose so this means there might be limitations on which upper you can run it on and limitations on which can be free floated? Your best bet is to contact the company who makes the upper you want to build on.In the past most piston systems were not free float capable but now there are a few more companies that do make free float piston guns. LWRC, and ADCOR to name a few.