November 07, 2018, 02:37 PM
craigcpaPiston upper manufacturers - who are they?
Other than Sig and Adams Arms, who else makes and sells piston uppers?
November 07, 2018, 03:58 PM
creslinoff the top of my head..
barret
stag
lwrc
November 07, 2018, 04:11 PM
Mike SPWS or LWRC would be my choice.
November 07, 2018, 06:07 PM
12131POF
LMT
November 07, 2018, 06:27 PM
808I was going to say Rock River Arms.
But a check of their site and it appears they no longer make any piston driven rifles or uppers.
I know they did in the past.
https://www.rockriverarms.com/...isplay&category_id=6November 07, 2018, 08:54 PM
ARMT Guyquote:
Originally posted by Mike S:
PWS or LWRC would be my choice.
Same here.
November 07, 2018, 09:17 PM
WARPIG602quote:
Originally posted by ARMT Guy:
quote:
Originally posted by Mike S:
PWS or LWRC would be my choice.
Same here.
Ditto. Plus LMT.
November 07, 2018, 09:47 PM
craigcpaThanks guys, those all are great suggestions. Does anyone know if Colt offers them? My Google-fu isn't too sharp tonight and all I see is a 6920 variation.
November 08, 2018, 11:43 AM
Black92LXHK
November 08, 2018, 11:47 AM
RHINOWSOColt DID offer a piston AR but discontinued it. Hence a decent number of Colt lowers marked “PISTON AR” on the market.
I think that the 5.56 piston AR market is a dead end, except for niche weapons (HK416) and purpose built weapons.
November 08, 2018, 01:56 PM
lymanS&W also made a piston AR for a short time,
November 08, 2018, 02:47 PM
fritzquote:
Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
I think that the 5.56 piston AR market is a dead end, except for niche weapons (HK416) and purpose built weapons.
Uncertain with this, but I think there is a much bigger market for DI AR-15s.
I have one piston upper, an LWRC that I won in competition. I strongly considered selling it, but decided to keep it. My thoughts were to use it as a high-volume training upper, for close-ish distance drills while suppressed. After a lot of ammo accuracy testing, that's exactly what this upper will be good at. The piston system is great for keeping the BCG clean.
The LWRC piston system produces a little sharper recoil than my DI rifles. Not a huge difference, but enough that I notice it in accuracy from barriers and unsupported positions. At first I found it bit more challenging to keep sights exactly on target all the way through the recoil cycle. I'm pretty certain my AR shooting technique has improved -- in order to shoot the piston system as well as my DI systems.
LWRC has a reputation for accuracy, but in all honesty my 14.5" 1/7 twist fluted barrel is way more finicky with ammo than any of my three 16" barrels from Wilson combat. The retired Wilson had a 1/9 twist, the current ones are 1/8 twist. I never did find a 73-77 grain factory load that shot up to my standards in the LWRC. I really only obtained great accuracy from loads with 69 grain SMK bullets -- Federal, Aussie Outback, and Copper Creek. However, once I realized the 69 SMK was good to go, I have a high-volume beater upper that shoots well to 500 yards. FGMM 69 has produced 5-round 100-yard groups from .65" to 1.15", with six of those groups under .95". Copper Creek's range from .53" to 1.52", with four groups .96" or less. This is from a 2-10x scope, not an uber-powered Hubble-class optic.
I can't see myself buying another piston AR-15 upper. I just don't think they're in the accuracy league of my DI uppers. While the piston uppers certainly require less cleaning and lube, I have never had my DI uppers malfunction in practice, training, or competition.
For most shooters, I think a piston upper should work just fine. Cleaning is definitely a plus. Downsides include a little more weight to the upper (for most models) and generally a proprietary operating system. Probably a little higher cost, too. Marginally more difficult to shoot with precision & accuracy.
November 08, 2018, 03:36 PM
rscalzoSig's MCX but finding one as an upper is difficult if not impossible.
November 08, 2018, 04:11 PM
12131quote:
Originally posted by 808:
I was going to say Rock River Arms.
But a check of their site and it appears they no longer make any piston driven rifles or uppers.
I know they did in the past.
They still do.
https://www.rockriverarms.com/...splay&category_ID=19November 08, 2018, 04:12 PM
tatortoddI have had a CMMG piston (CMMG M4LEP PISTON AR-15 QUAD RAIL) for 9.5 years. I don't see piston uppers or complete guns on CMMG's site today.
November 09, 2018, 08:41 AM
henryaz A bit off the subject of piston uppers only, who makes a good 6.8 SPC II SBR upper (8"-12") that will work with my LMT CQB Defender registered lower? I find most of the 6.8 uppers to be in 16" (or longer) bbl length. LMT has one in the CQB line, I know, but it is pricey.
November 09, 2018, 10:29 AM
smschulzPWS would be my choice.
November 09, 2018, 07:43 PM
henryazquote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
PWS would be my choice.
Do you have a link? I don't see a single upper (or complete rifle) in 6.8 SPC on their site.
November 11, 2018, 07:23 PM
10X-ShooterWolf