I've never had any complaints about the direct impingment system on a standard AR15, but new products manufactured from quality materials always get me
interested. At a recent 3 gun match, I picked up an Adams Arms piston retro fit system off the prize table.
The kit comes with a new gas block, drive rod, spring, bushing, one-piece carrier, M4 style handguards (modified to work w/ the piston), handguard cap, and installation dvd. Installation takes about 20 minutes, and the only difficult thing about it can be taking off your old gas block. To install, remove the existing handguards, gas block, gas tube, and muzzle device. The bushing supplied with the kit is driven into the upper receiver in the gas tube hole. (If you decide after installing the bushing that you want to return the rifle to DI, the gas tube fits through the bushing, so you don't have to worry about removing it.) The gas block is installed over the barrel and clearance spaced according to the directions, which are also available at Adams Arms website. Drive rod is inserted through the front of the gas block. Your existing bolt is removed from the old carrier, gas rings are stripped, and the bolt is installed in the new one-piece carrier w/ a spring that supposedly eliminates cam pin breakage. I did not like the size of the M4 handguards, so I bought a Samson rail from Adams Arms that has been modified to work w/ their system. Their website lists handguards that will work without modification. Not all handguards can be used with this system though.
With the system installed, the operation of your AR15 is very similar to a FAL. The gas block has a three position valve that allows for full gas, half gas (for running a suppressor), or off. The fourth position allows the valve and drive rod to be removed from the front of the gas block for cleaning.
I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but I really like the way it looks and handles. The gas block is robust, but I doubt the complete system adds more than a couple ounces to rifle weight. The one piece carrier is of slightly larger diamter at the rear to minimize carrier tilt and buffer tube wear. I installed the system on an 18" Sabre fluted barrel. With this optic and mount, I estimate the rifle w/ empty mag weighs around 7.5 lbs.
The kit comes with a new gas block, drive rod, spring, bushing, one-piece carrier, M4 style handguards (modified to work w/ the piston), handguard cap, and installation dvd. Installation takes about 20 minutes, and the only difficult thing about it can be taking off your old gas block. To install, remove the existing handguards, gas block, gas tube, and muzzle device. The bushing supplied with the kit is driven into the upper receiver in the gas tube hole. (If you decide after installing the bushing that you want to return the rifle to DI, the gas tube fits through the bushing, so you don't have to worry about removing it.) The gas block is installed over the barrel and clearance spaced according to the directions, which are also available at Adams Arms website. Drive rod is inserted through the front of the gas block. Your existing bolt is removed from the old carrier, gas rings are stripped, and the bolt is installed in the new one-piece carrier w/ a spring that supposedly eliminates cam pin breakage. I did not like the size of the M4 handguards, so I bought a Samson rail from Adams Arms that has been modified to work w/ their system. Their website lists handguards that will work without modification. Not all handguards can be used with this system though.
With the system installed, the operation of your AR15 is very similar to a FAL. The gas block has a three position valve that allows for full gas, half gas (for running a suppressor), or off. The fourth position allows the valve and drive rod to be removed from the front of the gas block for cleaning.
I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but I really like the way it looks and handles. The gas block is robust, but I doubt the complete system adds more than a couple ounces to rifle weight. The one piece carrier is of slightly larger diamter at the rear to minimize carrier tilt and buffer tube wear. I installed the system on an 18" Sabre fluted barrel. With this optic and mount, I estimate the rifle w/ empty mag weighs around 7.5 lbs.
