Poll - Favorite Assault Rifle

[HorseSoldier]

M4A1 or similar. Pretty much the industry standard for professional gunfighters.

Though I'd feel well enough armed with most anything on the list that I'm actually familiar with, and don't doubt I'd feel okay with the rest given some range time to learn how they ticked and how to run them at speed and fight them.

[Spoe]

The SIG 550. Marry AR ergos (except the mag change) and precision to what's pretty darned close to an AK's internals. What's not to like?

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Spoe

The SIG 550. Marry AR ergos (except the mag change) and precision to what's pretty darned close to an AK's internals. What's not to like?

I've heard it called the world's finest-made AK. Sounds good to me.

[jester]

The Piston Driven ARs made by Sig and S&W seem pretty cool these days.

[Spoe]

Originally Posted by jester

The Piston Driven ARs made by Sig and S&W seem pretty cool these days.

Have they managed to do something about the carrier tilt problems that affect most of these piston conversions?

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Spoe

Have they managed to do something about the carrier tilt problems that affect most of these piston conversions?

It also seems to me that pistons would get gunked up sooner or later, and that cleaning the piston assembly might not be so user-friendly. Any truth to that?

Come to think of it, the AK does use a type of piston...

[Spoe]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

It also seems to me that pistons would get gunked up sooner or later, and that cleaning the piston assembly might not be so user-friendly. Any truth to that?

Not to my knowledge. Cleaning the pistons on my AK and SKSs isn't that difficult.

Come to think of it, the AK does use a type of piston...

FWIW, so does a DI AR-15. The bolt basically does double duty as a gas piston.

[HorseSoldier]

Originally Posted by Spoe

Have they managed to do something about the carrier tilt problems that affect most of these piston conversions?

Not especially. Except for units that need to run very short barrel lengths or suppressors on their AR type rifles, the piston driver AR-15 isn't necessary. They're mostly marketed to the civilian sector as a solution to the "problem" of internet hype.

[Spoe]

Originally Posted by HorseSoldier

They're mostly marketed to the civilian sector as a solution to the "problem" of internet hype.

That's pretty much where I'm at. Heck, even the 10.5" DI SBR I built has been dead reliable for me. To it being, particularly for civilian uses, a solution in search of a problem, add in that the AR recoil system wasn't designed to have the operating force applied offset from the bore axis. This is what leads to the carrier tilt issues seen with the piston conversions.