Most accurate & lightest AR piston upper

Airborn_69

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Been out of the loop on this for a while, with all the new models coming out, does anyone know who makes the best overall piston upper on the market, especially in the 16'' area?

I know of ADR & PWS but the PWS 12.5'' upper is almost 5lbs.

Any news on the Ruger model?
 
Sig Sauer USA made 516. Very difficult to get in Canada, there are 2 up here. Much lighter barrel than the German made gun. In many respects better than the HK 416 system. One of the lead designers of the 416 was hired by Sig Sauer USA to head up the 516, and he did a great job.

Rich
 
I didn't know the SIG516 has a free floating barrel until I just read the specs. Piston system with free floating barrel. I was only aware of the ADCOR BEAR AR that had a FF barrel with a piston system. Cool!

Too bad we can't get the cheaper priced USA version of the SIG516 here. Tac Imports claim they can get the German version but comes at a premium, basically double the price.
 
With a pig of a barrel that isn't chrome lined. In many ways the US version is better and I've examined / shot both.

Rich
 
Been out of the loop on this for a while, with all the new models coming out, does anyone know who makes the best overall piston upper on the market, especially in the 16'' area?

I know of ADR & PWS but the PWS 12.5'' upper is almost 5lbs.

Any news on the Ruger model?

Why? Stay with DI.
 
Probably because DI's where cool in the Vietnam war.

LOL! nice...
DI is a proven system:

Lighter rifles
Less stress on the barrel during firing, therefore more accurate..
Parts are easy to find, and less expensive.
Parts for piston guns> good luck.

Piston guns and kits are all the rage because manufacturers need to keep selling new stuff to guys willing buy into it.

Piston AR's work, and maybe I will own an upper, maybe not. DI is still a proven system that works. BTW, DI guns are piston operated too...
 
great... another thread started to answer a simple question goes sideways over "DI vs piston"

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Sig Sauer USA made 516. Very difficult to get in Canada, there are 2 up here. Much lighter barrel than the German made gun. In many respects better than the HK 416 system. One of the lead designers of the 416 was hired by Sig Sauer USA to head up the 516, and he did a great job.

Right... How many folks would take a Sig 516 over an HK416 or HK MR556? I think not...
 
I had both indepth conversions with Colt Canada and KAC about piston vs. DI. Both state the piston is more of a fad thing, but there is more wear and tear on a piston based design. It's harder on the rifle.
 
blaxsun,

I would have said the same a while back but owning both, I'm beginning to question it. Give it some time, there might be quite a few more 516 end users coming out of the wood work. Check out some of the youtube videos of Sig Sauer demo-ing the 516 to the Thai's, very impressive. I currently drink HK coolaid and always have. Word has it that the 516 is being pushed hard on US Navy SOF and they are looking hard.

Rich
 
I had both indepth conversions with Colt Canada and KAC about piston vs. DI. Both state the piston is more of a fad thing, but there is more wear and tear on a piston based design. It's harder on the rifle.

I was shooting the latest C8's last weekend, and I can tell you this the Piston system is not a fad by any means or stretching of the words. That is my experience, I think most armorers would take the piston system over the Di in a heart beat.

As for the 516 I have no experience with it at all...but it does look like i could be better than the 416, but really who knows or who really cares at this point.
 
I would have said the same a while back but owning both, I'm beginning to question it. Give it some time, there might be quite a few more 516 end users coming out of the wood work. Check out some of the youtube videos of Sig Sauer demo-ing the 516 to the Thai's, very impressive. I currently drink HK coolaid and always have. Word has it that the 516 is being pushed hard on US Navy SOF and they are looking hard.

The thought of Sig actually making a decent rifle is still hard to believe, but maybe I've been drinking the HK kool-aid too long as well... ;) I do have to say that HK really paved the way for all these piston systems, and I still think the HK416/MR223 is still the best piston gun out there.

So what's your preference: HK MR223 or Sig 516?
 
Well, My MR223 is a bit more accurate and I like to shoot service rifle.
That being said the 516 is way lighter and handier and has lots of parts that are standard AR (I don't care but it seems to be a deal breaker for some shooters).

Before owning the 516 I would have agreed that Sig Sauer had issues with building rifles, look at the quality control issued with the 556. I didn't find that at all with the 516, in-fact it is one of the highest quality AR's I've ever examined.

If you were suppressing full time, 516 hands down. Target shooting, maybe MR223.

Rich
 
I think the piston guns work well with a wide variety of ammunition. I know they are great with cans. I know the ones we sell are by all reports, working very well. Finally, I know my 8R runs like a swiss watch, and is an interesting beast. I like it a lot.
 
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