Gas Piston
Complicating the Army search for higher reliability in the M4 is a number of observations of M4 gas piston alternatives that suffer unintended design problems. The first is that many of the gas piston modifications for the M4 isolate the piston so that piston jams or related malfunction require the entire weapon be disassembled, such disassembly cannot be performed by the end user and requires a qualified armorer to perform out of field, whereas any malfunction with the direct-impingement system can be fixed by the end user in field. The second is that gas piston alternatives use an off-axis operation of the piston that can introduce carrier tilt, whereby the bolt carrier fails to enter the buffer tube at a straight angle resulting in part wearing. The third is that the use of a sound suppressor results in hot gases entering the chamber, regardless of a direct-gas impingement or gas piston design choice. The gas-piston system also causes the firearm to become proprietary to the manufacturer, making modifications and changes with parts from other manufacturers difficult. The argument for a gas piston is that it would reduce fouling; while the argument against it is that it would increase weight and reduce accuracy.
Despite arguments defending the traditional direct-impingement system, the Enhanced M4 uses an articulating link piston operating system.
Read more about this topic: M4 Carbine, Performance
Other articles related to "gas piston, gas, piston":
... Moreover, the gas piston operation of the AR-18 proved much more resistant to carbon fouling than the direct gas impingement system of the earlier AR-10 and AR-15 rifles, as it did not vent gas ... The AR-18's action was powered by a short-stroke gas piston above the barrel ... The gas piston was of 3-piece design to facilitate disassembly, with a hollow forward section with 4 radial gas vent holes fitting around a stainless steel gas block ...
... The Saiga uses the same type of gas system that the AK-47 rifle uses a gas piston ... This gas piston is pushed by the force of the gases from the firearm when a round is discharged, and it keeps powder residue and carbon from gumming up the action of the Saiga ... This piston is located inside the gas tube ...
... shots fired, a heavier barrel, and possibly replacing the direct impingement system with a gas piston system ... be replaced after reviews are done comparing the direct impingement system to commercial gas piston operating system to find out and use the best available operating system in the US Army's improved M4A1 ... The Army announced also to have open competition for the newly designed M4 bolt carrier and gas piston operation system, which will be fitted to the newly bought M4A1 carbines ...
... It is long-stroke gas operated, using the gas from the barrel to push a piston attached to the bolt carrier, thus operating the action ... The gas tube is fairly large and is visible above the barrel with ports or vents to allow the excess "dirty" gas to escape without affecting the action ... The M16 uses a direct impingement (DI) gas system, similar to normal gas operation in principle, but unique in operation ...
... He designed a gas piston system in an effort to convert the AR-15 (M16) rifle to a more reliable operating system than the standard direct impingement system ... More recently, the US Asymmetric Warfare Group purchased the Gas-OperatedHK 416, a M4/M16 type rifle made by Heckler Koch using the short stroke gas piston system after intensive tests ...
Famous quotes containing the word gas:
“Man moves in all modes, by legs of horses, by wings of winds, by steam, by gas of balloon, by electricity, and stands on tiptoe threatening to hunt the eagle in his own element.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)