Let's discuss the PWS long stroke piston AR.

[Podmonkey]

I am bored of politics, let's talk about GUNS!


I have made no secret of my disdain of piston driven ARs in the past but I do like the PWS treatment. It seems to solve many of the problems inherent in piston AR conversions.
The long piston enclosed in a gas tube seems like it would really limit carrier tilt and I like the way they setup the buffer tube:


See the extended lip at the bottom leading edge? That is designed so that the rear of the BCG sits atop it while in the forward position. Any residual carrier tilt will just wear out the buffer tube first and that is easy to replace. Clever I think.


MK111 MOD 2-M Pistol .223 Wylde

That is the one I would want. For a handy HD tool.

 

[fnfalguy]

I looooove my PWS upper. Er, I mean if I had guns. My bad.

 

[Podmonkey]

I looooove my PWS upper. Er, I mean if I had guns. My bad.

Remove the muzzle device and have the FFL weld a cap on and its a NY legal upper.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

Is it a pistol or rifle? The picture looks like a pistol but the specs say carbine and the"velocity" implies carbine. Also what's with the stock? Or is it a brace?

 

[Podmonkey]

Is it a pistol or rifle? The picture looks like a pistol but the specs say carbine and the"velocity" implies carbine. Also what's with the stock? Or is it a brace?

The one pictured is, I believe a 10.5" but I think they now do a 11.5".
The, uh, "stock" thing is a hot potato to be dropped toot sweet for an SBA3 brace.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Joining In to read and hopefully add something after work

 

[Edwardteach72]

The limited research I've dived into for piston ARs lead me to 2 conclusions PWS has figured the whole concept out better than any other option.. and pistons are great for suppressed shooting, and the PWS is great with cans

 

[Calculon]

Interesting. I was just reading a long post on FB from "School of the American Rifle." I'll try to embed the link to his discussion of Piston vs DI rifles. To summarize he's not a fan based on reliability, wear and tear and lack of milspec commonality among manufacturers.

 

[Podmonkey]

Interesting. I was just reading a long post on FB from "School of the American Rifle." I'll try to embed the link to his discussion of Piston vs DI rifles. To summarize he's not a fan based on reliability, wear and tear and lack of milspec commonality among manufacturers.

S
Wow, I agree with all of that. Execpt perhaps adding that in very sandy or dusty conditions running the rifle dry is called for. I am going to copy that for use in future arguments as I have long championed the Stoner Internal Gas Piston system.
I still think the PWS is a nice rifle. Of all the piston setups I think this ones does the best job of mitigating the drawbacks and their ratcheting castlenut setup for the receiver extension is a nice idea. But it doesn't really add anything over the standard design in terms of capabilities. In the other hand price is in line with other top range factory ARs.
The gentleman's point about interchangeability though is precisely why I like my Daniel Defense so much. High quality rifle but not a single proprietary part on it. Easy to fix and maintain.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Interesting. I was just reading a long post on FB from "School of the American Rifle." I'll try to embed the link to his discussion of Piston vs DI rifles. To summarize he's not a fan based on reliability, wear and tear and lack of milspec commonality among manufacturers.

I saw this prior to this thread and I didnt have time to run back and find it. Thank you for sharing it lol

 

[Edwardteach72]

Piston ars have their place. And if someone already has a good to great "DI" then hell yes PWS.... but I dont think a piston ar is a good beginner's learning AR

 

[Calculon]

Other than the “runs cooler and cleaner” mantra what is better about a piston AR? I’m not seeing it. Why complicate a mechanism that works and introduce potential failure points?

 

[Podmonkey]

Other than the “runs cooler and cleaner” mantra what is better about a piston AR? I’m not seeing it. Why complicate a mechanism that works and introduce potential failure points?

Well you gotta admit, the PWS is pretty simple.

 

[Calculon]

Have to watch the video I guess.

 

[Podmonkey]

This thread has me thinking I should get a BRN180 upper instead.

 

[Podmonkey]

Have to watch the video I guess.

It's a long stroke gas piston system.

 

[Calculon]

Superlative Arms makes a retrofit kit. Haven’t seen it but I have a couple of the gas blocks that bleed off the excess gas like a turbo. Very happy with them. I called them a while back to ask a question and the owner picked up and chatted with me for a while.

.750" Adjustable Piston System - Mid Length - Solid - Melonited - Low Pro - AR15

 

[Podmonkey]

The things he says about the "DI" system is of course nonsense, but give him a break- he needs to market his product. Does offer some insight to the gas system and a few other niceties. That buffer tube ratcheting nut should be standard on all ARs!

 

[Forum_Person_1234]

The stoner 63 and K2 use a long stroke piston with an ar15-type bolt head and seem to work.