AR Rifle: Comparison Between Piston-Driven and Gas Impingement Systems

Comparison between the gas impingement and piston-driven AR rifles ...

• Piston-driven firearms operate cleaner.
• Piston-driven firearms operate cooler.
• Piston-driven firearms are less accurate, generally, than gas impingement systems.
• Piston-driven firearms cost more.
• Suppressors work better with the gas impingement firearms, especially those with an adjustable gas block that allows control of the amount of gas directed back through the gas tube.
• Both systems are reliable.
• Parts for gas infringement system rifles are easier to find and less expensive.

Gun Digest photo

The gas piston system funnels the gas from the barrel to drive a piston that works the action.

The gas impingement system diverts the gas from the barrel through a tube and back into the upper receiver to operate the action.

If you own a gas impingement AR rifle and want to convert it to piston-driven, just purchase a piston-driven upper receiver. You can alternate between both systems by just changing with the lower receiver.