help me choose between two gas piston AR's

I think you will find a better response for information at the piston forum at ar15.com. It's a specific forum for exactly what your asking about.

For most of us, it's asking us to choose between two obscure brands, based on modifications to the AR. Unfortunately, there's more here to derail a discussion than to help choose.

Basically, it's deciding which is better at replacing the existing piston in the bolt carrier with one on the barrel. It's been discussed elsewhere, that's fine for suppressor use, in daily shooting, the $400 surcharge isn't documented to offer anything in superior performance, reliability, or longevity as a class of rifle. That's dependant on the skill of those offering the assembled parts and what engineering and budget tradeoffs they accepted.

It's going to be pretty difficult to pin down an exact "Which is better?" answer simply because so few exist - there's nothing more than the willingness of owners posting on the internet to reveal how they are working out.

No box for "niether" or "other"?

I couldnt comment from any experience on the two you listed but I'm pretty fond of the long stroke PWS system but haven't fired one. I believe Adcor uses the same system?

"No box for "niether" or "other"? "

I think the first sentence explains that this is not a DI vs piston thread:
"I've decided on getting a gas piston AR..."

I'd Still say neither/other. If I am going to get a piston gun. I will spend some money Because(money was not an issue).
I would pick a bigger manufacturer LWRC, LMT, Noveske, and maybe POF-USA.
You could even go SCAR.

I know the SCAR doesn't fall under gas piston AR but the others do. One thing I've learned doing all my research I spend the money and do something right, once.
Rather then wrong till I figure it out.

I personally know LMT piston guns and they don't seem to fall off the chart on accuracy as many others do. I don't like piston guns because of the accuracy but if that is what you want...try and LMT...get out your wallet but they are top quality.

I'd say neither, also.
PWS has been around a while, but for some reasons, I don't see much feedbacks on it.
Adcor BEAR is brand new, so, leave it to the beta testers.

I would pick a bigger manufacturer LWRC, LMT, Noveske, and maybe POF-USA.
You could even go SCAR.

Click to expand...

Noveske doesn't make a piston gun or have any plans to do so. Someone else recently posted a link to an interview with Noveske in another thread.

LWRC products don't seem to get respect outside of LWRC ads.

POF makes a decent product but the professional trainers report frequent failures, based on various trainers I have talked to. OTOH friends of mine have two POF rifles, one .223 and one .308, and both are quite nice.

LMT's piston gun is probably one of the best existing piston setups on an AR platform. However LMT will admit they did not make it due to any technical need, only due to customer demand.

I would get a SCAR if I wanted a piston-operated .223/5.56 carbine. Or maybe an ACR or an FS2000.

I would get a DI from LMT, Daniel Defense, BCM, Noveske, Colt, or possibly others if I wanted a high quality AR15 carbine.

Z-Michigan- Your right about Noveske (my bad, I knew that and I said it like and idiot).

I could tell by the way you kinda tore through my comments that you were a DI guy, which you confirmed In your last sentence.
Remember that the Original Poster wants a Piston gun.He chose 2, smaller? companies and my only advice was to go with a more mainstream more reliable piston system.
Recently, in my research I have learned of the value of a DI gun but that is not what he asked and what I responded to.

But to who ever continues reading Z-Michigan is correct In his description of the piston rifle companies I named.

I could tell by the way you kinda tore through my comments that you were a DI guy, which you confirmed In your last sentence.
Remember that the Original Poster wants a Piston gun.He chose 2, smaller? companies and my only advice was to go with a more mainstream more reliable piston system.
Recently, in my research I have learned of the value of a DI gun but that is not what he asked and what I responded to.

Click to expand...

I was actually the first poll voter and didn't then comment because I saw the OP's statement and knew he didn't want to hear "why DI?". But I figured I would discuss some specific brands once raised.

I'm not really a DI guy, just a "best, or at least it works" guy. Some of the piston conversions just won't hold up in significant use. For someone who must have a piston AR15, I would go as mainstream as possible, which I believe would be either LMT or Ruger, with LMT definitely being the better of those two. Neither is on OP's list. The BEAR is probably fine, but it's completely new and untested, so anyone who buys is a beta tester. Usually not a fun thing to be. The PWS seems slightly more tested, and I haven't heard anything negative about it.

FWIW, my favorite design of all is the FAL, a piston design. But obviously not an AR or even a .223.

Neither.

If your stuck on pistons that are on the barrel instead of in the carrier, then look towards:
Bushy ACR (if you can even find the good expensive 1/7 version)
FN Scar
Robinson XCR
Sig 556
FN FS2000

Not a goofy modded AR with worse swing weight and a wobbly carrier.

I'm happy with my Ruger SR556 and CMMG piston upper. They really stay clean, although they get hotter up front by the hand guard, but stay much cooler around the mag well and ejection port.