The experience of most here is that a properly built and maintained AR is as reliable as the day is long.
What was your personal experience with ARs in Iraq?
Did you experience any malfunctions?
How was your weapon used and maintained?
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OP, how do you feel about the M14?
When? Vietnam? Currently? Nothing wrong with the design. Poor ammo, poor maintenance, lack of lube, etc are really the culprits for it not running.
The BEST piston AR ever designed (HK 416) has people that strongly do not like it (.Mil guys). With that said, no retro fitted piston gun is going to be as reliable as a BCM, Colt, etc A4. So if you are not buying a 416, I would say pass on the piston design.
C4
Regarding Vietnam, not only did the initially issued M16s not have the proper (per stoner's design) chrome lined bore and chamber, but the rifles weren't even issued with a cleaning kit. The scuttlebutt was that the rifles were self-cleaning and didn't require regular maintenance/cleaning etc. Amazing that a greater % of the rifles didn't fail with that kind crap floating around.
AR is junk. Throw that thing in the trash and get a Mosin. Thats what the troops did in Korea when the piece of crap AR failed them.
Andrew can articulate this better than I can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2z8LL9mLEE
Well this one certainly is dying a slow death....
Are not piston systems proprietary systems? I get the feeling reading different read's that some people do not know what it will mean down the road when something breaks. Am I wrong. Vern