Which is better in an AR-15 - Direct Impingement vs. Gas Piston Operation?

In this discussion video I express my personal thoughts and opinions on the two most popular type of operating systems for the AR-15: Direct impingement (DI) or Short Stroke Gas Piston. I give examples of both and what I think are the pros and cons of each as well as which one I think is the better system for the rifle.
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[@petee454]

I own both. To me, DI is a great range gun. For serious use, piston all the way. My Sig 716 piston runs clean all day and is extremely accurate as well as my LWRCI piston 556. I am interested in the PWS. There are no, zero, new weapons being developed for the military that are DI guns that are not AR based platforms. That tells me something. DI has been refined to be much better than it's orginal introduction, but it's still DI. Most people get it because it is cheaper than a piston gun. They are both cool in the end.

[@thetexasgunvault]

I agree and they both have their pros and cons.

[@petee454]

@@thetexasgunvaultyou are a cool dude with great videos. I am a new subscriber. Thank you.

[@Rebel-Forces-Earth-007]

Heat, excessive wear, and fouling is exactly why I went with a gas-piston rifle when I got out of the military.

[@thetexasgunvault]

I totally understand why those are huge advantages.

[@kalebdiaz7384]

Great video very helpful just learning about the different systems further in detail

[@thetexasgunvault]

Glad it was helpful!

[@irishjohn1066]

Great explanation. Thank you!

[@thetexasgunvault]

You are very welcome!

[@tacticalcombatwombat9694]

DI with good internals that have been well tuned is the perfect cheat code.

[@thetexasgunvault]

I agree

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

I agree..sorta. My problem is with the word “tuning”. Most people tune their AR’s to shoot smoother which is nice for a competition gun or range gun but an overgassed system is way more reliable.

[@randomhouse708]

When we got to Nam in 1967 they took our M-16s and made a small hole facing toward the rear on the back corner of the front plastic hand guard around the barrel. In this hole we inserted our cleaning rod, the handle of which reached the stock, and we put a thick rubber band to hold it tight against it. When we got into fire fights if the rifle jammed we had to pull out the rod and push it thru the end of the barrel to eject the casing that had gotten stuck in the chamber. We lost people because of this problem because it diminished our firepower.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Wow, that is a very interesting story. It is sad that men died because of that issue.

[@clutchboi4038]

DI shits where it eats and that's a good thing. It will blow debris out of both receivers where a piston gun will just pack it into the receivers until it malfunctions. With the np3 coating on my BCG, carbon wipes off with a rag. Its less complicated and more reliable. Also if they ban braces I still would like a buffer tube that I can cheek wield with or even just shoulder. DI keeps paying off in every scenario IMO.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Great points

[@hnguye22]

Piston all the way. I convert all uppers years ago. Shorter time of cleaning and less maintenance. Downside, more small moving parts. It's doesn't add more weight. Unless, furnitures are added.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Nothing wrong with loving the piston uppers.

[@Rangergeo85]

The best one is the one you train with and know inside out!

[@thetexasgunvault]

Absolutely

[@siopaoman37]

awesome!!!

[@thetexasgunvault]

Thanks!!

[@jbcustom3745]

my 1st AR was a DI but few years later I actually prefer pistons. Only thing I hate is having to buy a new BCG for the piston system

[@thetexasgunvault]

I agree. The price is something people need to think about.

[@shaunspies1108]

Since it's inception, the Piston has always reigned supreme, ask the Russians, Chinese, Israelies, South Africans, VC, Afghan's, or any other terrorist group. For reliability, there is no other system that can compare. As a Boer, that used the R4 combat rifle for a number of years since 1986, during the Angolan border war and after, nothing will change my mind. God bless you Patriots, and the USA. Great, honest video.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your input and sharing your experience.

[@ottoman5713]

You forgot the U.S as head and financier of all terrorist groups

[@HK33E]

Both systems are great. I still have my personal bias towards short stroke piston system over DI.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Nothing wrong with that

[@JA-ox7hm]

I think what every your preference is. I have always owned piston rifles. M1A, SR556 etc. I built a AR10 in 6.5 Creedmoor DI..........I love it. My other AR's that I built are all piston. My 7.62x39 is piston and it runs like a top once I got it tuned. The Piston help with the tuning as well as a larger gas port. If it were DI, I am not sure I could have fine tuned it to the point I have.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Very good point and I can see it from that perspective.

[@hnguye22]

I bored gas hole too for my 7.62x39 upper. Modified mags, too, due to feeding issue. The round didn't feed into correctly due to taper casing.

[@JA-ox7hm]

@@hnguye22 I had the same issue, but with the Adams Arms Piston, enlarged gas port, and Duramag, those issues went away. Also a stronger bolt from Young Manufacturing helped too!

[@denvercyclist]

I think you're right DI is usually the way to go. Unpopular opinion I think the lightweight system that Adams arms uses in their newer designs is a good compromise between them both. I also hope you get a wolf upper which is probably the best bang-for-the-buck in terms of piston guns these days. RIP the SIG 516

[@thetexasgunvault]

I would like to try those wolf uppers and see if they are what they claim to be

[@karltang9590]

Bought a PWS long stroke for fun but I constantly go back to my DI guns. The PWS has less gas to the face and a little cleaner but that's about it. My BCM/Centurion DI is lighter, thinner, and probably more accurate as well than a piston system. Yes, piston systems are less accurate just because of the design.

[@thetexasgunvault]

I hear good things about those PWS systems

[@karltang9590]

@@thetexasgunvault Yes it is good in terms of reliability, cleanliness, and it's a cool system (pun intended). However, for civilian markets DI is cheaper, lighter, easier to repair, less recoil, more accurate, and probably quieter suppressed.

[@wyoung8]

Like both equally

[@thetexasgunvault]

They both have pros and cons.

[@pkia898]

I have a Wolf A1 upper on a rifle lower and it is rock solid. It is heavier than my DI 16 inch carbine and its recoil impulse is more stoudt. And neither has extras on them. Like and will keep both.

[@thetexasgunvault]

That is great and it sounds like you have some nice rifles there.

[@spikesforge9000]

Military philosophy is ounces = weight, weight = pain

[@thetexasgunvault]

I like that

[@VulcanXIV]

I think it's ounces = pounds, pounds = pain

[@nesseihtgnay9419]

no i like your opinions.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Thank you!

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

I like them both. But, my LWRC piston is one I feel I can take anywhere and not worry about durability/reliability.

[@thetexasgunvault]

I agree. But yes, they are both great.

[@Kevin.odonnell]

If mechanical simplicity is the preference then you should accept the AK platform as the pinnacle of simplicity. Not sure why that’s an argument when fouling of the moving components will be a far bigger time suck!

[@thetexasgunvault]

I can see that.

[@joeyd2715]

Narrator says the posting system has a LOT more parts. I don't know the design differences but I'm going to find out. I'm guessing like maybe 10?

[@thetexasgunvault]

That is still a lot when it comes to guns.

[@IMABEAST191]

Yes DI is the way to go in my opinion. DJ former development group guy actually talked about this on one of his videos. He said they had issues with the 416 to point where they dropped it early on and just stuck with DI rifles.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Wow, interesting

[@chaoticcaninejb]

I ran a 416 for many years. Suppressed I prefer it, but it's heavier, accuracy is ok, but when it goes down, your done. DI can be up and running in no time. A good gassed DI with a good suppressor is superior to me for many reasons. 416 is only popular, not for anything other then it's nostalgia for those who ran them. Haven being one of those guys, I agree with you Jason.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Great points! I think for some it is just wanting the latest trends.

[@chaoticcaninejb]

@@thetexasgunvault 👏 and no true knowledge of the how or why? Let alone proficient in such platform

[@cccalifornia7206]

I disagree.... PISTON is far more reliable and a far superior Firearm system!!! It's proven over and over to be a FACT!!😉😆🤣👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@boygonewhoopdataZZ]

A blown gas tube is not something you can replace on the field but a gas piston system that flew out is easily fixed by using a spare gas plug and rod.

[@chaoticcaninejb]

@@boygonewhoopdataZZ lol

[@arberr340]

Well I own both, and their are great and better than nothing. In my opinion I prefer the Piston over DI. The Piston isn't much heavier, as to be noticable, Di clean up will be, also the dissipate of heat on the barrel and magazine section is concerning on long firing operation operation. But as said it's what ever floats your Boat! 😂😊😂😊😂 😊

[@thetexasgunvault]

I agree. I am glad both are being offered.

[@FreddyGonzales1986_]

What barrel is that on the first AR?

[@thetexasgunvault]

14.5 in Colt SOCOM

[@boygonewhoopdataZZ]

If you're not planning to dump 1000rnds in span of thirty minutes go DI.

[@thetexasgunvault]

I think you are completely right about that

[@calebclark6739]

Tough to beat Pws

[@thetexasgunvault]

They are great

[@paulbaurichter7228]

How often does the piston system need cleaning? Common sense tells me that piston systems only moves the problem of exhaust/cleaning from one place to another. Surely the exhaust/cleaning doesn't magically disappear.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Yes you are right. I think it needs to be cleaned about as often as you would normally clean your rifle.

[@guskiworks5976]

Di

[@thetexasgunvault]

The original and the best

[@hairydogstail]

The cause of the powder problem in Vietnam was the use of excessive calcium carbonate used to neutralize the acids in the old ball powder they were using from recycle old artillery shells when they switched from stick powder..They still use ball powder today, but it can not have anymore than .5% calcium carbonate.. The AR is not a true DI but is an internal piston..The reason it is more reliable than any external piston is the design itself..When any ingress gets into the ejection port, the gases will blow it back out, where the external piston type allows it to enter the action..Test have proven over and over the carbon in the internal piston creates no less of a reliable gun than the external..The carbon just collects in a different area..If you want a more expensive, less accurate, less available parts, a heavier rifle and have more felt recoil, then go with the external piston..

[@thetexasgunvault]

I agree.

[@EdwardSparrow-dt8mh]

Regardless of "proprietary" components or more dollars spent, the piston system is still better as a system. If every company only historically made one system, the piston system works better. Stoner "improved" the AR-15 with a piston system later on. (And his original design also didn't include a forward assist btw) Just buy whatever you like.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Fair points.

[@bronzeguy9839]

Love my DI guns and will never sell them. But I ventured into piston guns and it’s definitely a different world. Piston better for shooting suppressed, IMO. Have a couple PWS, Adams Arms, Wolf A1, and a Sig 516 upper. Wish the Wolf upper gas blocks were adjustable because they’re overgassed. Definitely use an H2 or H3 buffer.

[@thetexasgunvault]

Yes, I do agree about piston with suppressors. It is so nice to not have as much gas in your face.

[@juncapulong1911]

Buy an extra bolt carrier and change the bolt carrier after 800 rounds in the battle. Problem solved.

[@thetexasgunvault]

That's still more stuff to carry around though.

[@joemorganeatmyshortschannel]

im a di guy

[@thetexasgunvault]

I think most are

[@Gchang54]

Same, di gang