Adams Arms Piston AR-Update W/Range Report & Pics

[Darrell]

Bud's Gun Shop has Adams Arms piston AR 16" carbines, cosmetic blems, on sale, ~$589. MSRP on these is $994. I'd been curious about the guns for years. A friend asked me about ARs that are steel cased ammo friendly, I ran across the AA guns while doing some research. I may have bought the last one. I've read nothing but good things about them; anybody have personal experience? Like I need another AR...

I will post a range report once I receive and test it.

[Steamforger]

I have a 11.5" Evo blem I got from them. Still trying to make it to the range with it, but the only noticeable blem was the A2 flash hider. Easy part to change and everything else looks brand new.

[First Shirt]

The problem I have with piston-type ARs is that there's no consistency from one version to another.

Generally speaking, any DI-type AR's parts are interchangeable from one to another, even from different makers. But there's quite a few of the piston versions that are "proprietary" to the maker. And looking at it from a SHTF perspective, that can't be a good thing, can it?

Or is this a case of "I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain!"

[rightisright]

Curse you! I do NOT need another AR!

[Darrell]

The problem I have with piston-type ARs is that there's no consistency from one version to another.

Generally speaking, any DI-type AR's parts are interchangeable from one to another, even from different makers. But there's quite a few of the piston versions that are "proprietary" to the maker. And looking at it from a SHTF perspective, that can't be a good thing, can it?

Or is this a case of "I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain!"

That was always a major concern for me, FS. Looking into the AA concept, as near as I can tell it's a pretty standard mil-spec AR, with the exception of the bolt carrier and piston/gas assembly. Hickok45 takes a look at the gun here:

https://youtu.be/l3-pkqAv6Xk

One other gun I found interesting during my search: the Ruger DI AR. It's a basic, but full-featured gun, also going for around ~$590.

[toad]

There is a tendency to buy after market buffers that have a small protrusion that fits into the back of the carrier to prevent bolt carrier tilt. Also people will buy the POF roller bearing cam pin for the bolt Some report good results just by install a higher power Wolff after market recoil spring. What you will need if anything, seems to vary from gun to gun. The Adams Arms complete rifles do better than the adapter kits.

[TabascoKid]

Bought one last year when Bud had them on Blem Sale. My FFL and I looked over it really hard, trying to spot the blemishes and could not find any that we thought justified the deep discount. Best we could find was a light 2" scratch on the side of the mag well.

It shoots just as well as the M16A2 I last used at Fort Hood in 1996. I like it. If I hadn't just bought a blem Rossi M92 in .357 from Kentucky Gun Company, I might have gone in on another one. I refuse to buy non-piston semi-auto rifles bigger than .22. Too many flashbacks to cleaning all the crud from the BCG and other internals after qualification during my Army days.

[rightisright]

One other gun I found interesting during my search: the Ruger DI AR. It's a basic, but full-featured gun, also going for around ~$590.

Local MoD just got in a bunch of these for $610 each. Might be a worth it to buy a couple and sell them for $2000 ea next time the unprepared get scared. #NeedMoreSafeSpace

[Darrell]

I took possession of the gun today. The insta-check only took a few moments. I'll be darned if I could find a blem of any sort, but hey, I won't argue the price. Nice looking, I'll try to put up a range report this weekend.

[TabascoKid]

I'll be darned if I could find a blem of any sort, but hey, I won't argue the price.

Told ya!