Several advantages go with the gas piston design. Whether or not they are appreciated by ALL of the buying public is moot.
[1] The chamber temperatures will be lower which will improve or enhance the life of the springs in the bolt head.
[2] A cleaner chamber also makes for a statistically improved reliability. How much? I have no idea as each shooting event will vary and cannot be controlled.
Are there any disadvantages? In theory, yes, same with the advantages listed above. Will they occur with a frequency to make them significant? Time will tell.
[1] More parts equal a greater chance for failure. But when we see a bolt carrier sans carrier key, two screws, loctite and staking and no gas rings ( 8 parts including staking exercise ) I don't think we have an increase in parts at all. BUT THE PARTS ARE DIFFERENT AS WILL BE THE FAILURE MODES.
[2] There is a slight increase in felt recoil - okay, not a reliability/durability issue but is something that is unique to the design and even though it's slight, it's noticeable and not for the better, ultimately.
[3] Proprietary parts. That, to me, is the potential killer as is the next disadvantage
[4] Carrier Tilt (ouch!)
[5] Price.
I, too, am a degreed engineer with a BSME in Thermal Science and 14 yrs experience in Vibrations and Acoustics and 7 yrs experience in high temp and wear resistant coatings. The Gas Piston CONCEPT is *THE* way to go, period. Whether or not any of the current AR-15 adaptations represent decent execution of same remains to be seen.
P.S.
If anyone wishes to "unload" their ill-performing (even in their mind's eye, only) DGI or GP AR-15s just drop me a line. Since they are "flawed" I'll require a hefty discount.![]()




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