So I'm deciding on installing one of those drop in gas piston conversions such as the OPS-416, the only problem is I cant seem to find any info on which Free float quad rails it will fit under. Also was looking at LWRC they have a nice setup going but do they have a conversion kit? I have a A.R.M.S. #41-B Silhouette, so getting a new gas block is not gunna happen. Any thoughts?
AR-15 Gas Piston Conversion
- Thread starter Ryder0001
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Osprey has all of the information regarding handguards on their website. I really like the system, but getting that hardened steel pin into the gas block to hold the assembly in takes a knack and getting it out, once it's been carboned over is nearly impossible. I've taken to using a piece of drill rod in place of the pin that comes with the Osprey kit. It's easier to get in and out.
Zerodefect
member
You're better off staying DI, saveing some dough that way. Chop your front sight down so you can reuse your pinned sight/gas block as a low pro gas block and then choose a long rifle length rail.
That's what I'd do though.....
If your keeping the Arms flippy sight/ gas block stock, then just add the rail system of your choice, I like Larue, and forget about the piston conversion. Too much of a pain mantaining a piston trapped under a FF rail. And nothing is wrong with DI, in fact I prefere DI and seek it out on purpose even with .308 rifles.
That's what I'd do though.....
If your keeping the Arms flippy sight/ gas block stock, then just add the rail system of your choice, I like Larue, and forget about the piston conversion. Too much of a pain mantaining a piston trapped under a FF rail. And nothing is wrong with DI, in fact I prefere DI and seek it out on purpose even with .308 rifles.
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Man, the guy is asking for some input on a piston conversion that he wants to do. I don't understand why all of these sorts of posts inevitably wind up being addressed by the guys that want to advise against it and then try to talk the OP out of it.
Piston systems have their advantages and as I said, I like the Osprey setup.
The advantages that I've seen include LESS maintenance, because you no longer have to worry about things like the rings going bad on you and cleaning the receivers almost becomes a thing of the past. As for maintaining the piston system, I may have over looked something, because I've never had to do anything with the ones that I've run.
I will, however, admit that I have gone back to DI. The advantages aren't worth the extra cost of the piston system, in light of the fact that a maintained DI rifle is just as reliable as a piston rifle, from what I've seen.
Piston systems have their advantages and as I said, I like the Osprey setup.
The advantages that I've seen include LESS maintenance, because you no longer have to worry about things like the rings going bad on you and cleaning the receivers almost becomes a thing of the past. As for maintaining the piston system, I may have over looked something, because I've never had to do anything with the ones that I've run.
I will, however, admit that I have gone back to DI. The advantages aren't worth the extra cost of the piston system, in light of the fact that a maintained DI rifle is just as reliable as a piston rifle, from what I've seen.
JustinJ
Member
The fact is we are likely to never again see a DI system combat rifle and there is obviously a reason for that. I'm still waiting for one of the DI Defenders to explain why that is. Am i saying DI ARs are junk? No, as i own several. But i am saying the system is problematic and inferior to piston driven in terms of reliability (the most important thing for a weapon IMO) and probably durability. The gap is much smaller in semi auto than select fire but there is still a gap.
Anyways, the biggest problem i see with gas piston ARs, ecspecially short stroke, is that the carrier does not travel on rails. As most know the carrier travels through a tube shaped channel in the upper receiver. Because of this and the uneven force caused when a piston strikes where the gas key would have been the rear of the carrier is pushed down by the force and allowed to tilt down because of gun's design, causing uneven and premature wear. Certain carrier designs do appear to reduce this effect although i dont know that any actually eliminate it.
A long stroke piston system, such as those of PWS or ADCOR, may actually not cause carrier tilt because there is no hard single blow to the carrier top and the piston may act as a guide to keep the carrier even during travel. I really like the ADCOR design but I personally would prefer to let it mature before i jump on board. Unfortunately i dont believe either system is available as a conversion kit. PWS used to do conversions for people but i don't know if thats still the case.
If i had to go with a short stroke system i'd probabld just do an Adams Arms as they do seem to have a good reputation. I also like the adjustable gas block. The osprey looks pretty nice too although i havent read enough reviews to make me comfortable with its long term durability.
Anyways, the biggest problem i see with gas piston ARs, ecspecially short stroke, is that the carrier does not travel on rails. As most know the carrier travels through a tube shaped channel in the upper receiver. Because of this and the uneven force caused when a piston strikes where the gas key would have been the rear of the carrier is pushed down by the force and allowed to tilt down because of gun's design, causing uneven and premature wear. Certain carrier designs do appear to reduce this effect although i dont know that any actually eliminate it.
A long stroke piston system, such as those of PWS or ADCOR, may actually not cause carrier tilt because there is no hard single blow to the carrier top and the piston may act as a guide to keep the carrier even during travel. I really like the ADCOR design but I personally would prefer to let it mature before i jump on board. Unfortunately i dont believe either system is available as a conversion kit. PWS used to do conversions for people but i don't know if thats still the case.
If i had to go with a short stroke system i'd probabld just do an Adams Arms as they do seem to have a good reputation. I also like the adjustable gas block. The osprey looks pretty nice too although i havent read enough reviews to make me comfortable with its long term durability.
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HavelockLEO
Member
I proudly own both types and am not disappointed with my Adams Arms piston conversion, theres no noticeable weight difference, clean up after firing is a cinch, it runs with minimal lube, and accuracy is just as good as when the rifle was DI.
I say to each his own, but I recommend the Adams conversion from experience.Oh and I forgot, the S&W M&P piston guns have the Adams system on them as standard equiptment, and the Adams conversions are made by S&W
I say to each his own, but I recommend the Adams conversion from experience.Oh and I forgot, the S&W M&P piston guns have the Adams system on them as standard equiptment, and the Adams conversions are made by S&W
This "problem" has been grossly overstated.
If the short stroke system is correctly installed, there is no "sharp blow" to the carrier because the carrier and the piston rod are in contact when the bolt is in battery. The only real difference between the two types of systems (other than the possibility of bending the op rod in a long stroke system) is that the long stroke system pushes the carrier through the complete recoil motion where the shrot stroke system relies on the inertia of the carrier to complete the extraction and ejection.
I have an Adams system on a carbine that was being very finicky as a DI. It is married with the rail that Samson makes specifically for the Adams system. Maintenance is very simple since all you have to do is rotate the gas adjuster and remove it and the piston from the front of the gas block. The self regulating nature of the piston system makes it more tolerant of differences in ammo and it has been very reliable since the conversion was done.
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