Sweet!
One of the problems with the AR-15 platform is that the gas tube can get dirty very quickly. This will result in failure to feed problems if the weapon isn’t cleaned regularly. This design issue (commonly called it eats where it shits because the gas tub comes in at the bolt, where ammo is fed) can also lead to carbon build up on the bolt and carrier, spring issues, unnecessary heat build up, and more.
Because of this, DSA and POF USA teamed up to create the P-416. This upper, while pricey at $975, operates on a gas piston system and features a ton of extra goodies. Excellent. Arms Tech has had one for a while but is so backed up with military contracts that there are no civilian sales.
March 30th, 2005 at 10:33 am
IIRC, the Barrett M468 is also a gas piston system, but only comes in 6.8 SPC. Not sure how much just the upper costs.
March 30th, 2005 at 9:01 pm
This is something I have never understood about guns — don’t consumer protection laws apply at all? if this was a similiar problem with, say, a car’s fuel injectors, they would be required to do a recall. How can gun manufactorers get away with this crap?
March 30th, 2005 at 10:44 pm
Kev, for the gun novices, I should have specified that very quickly actually means several thousand rounds.
It’s not that it’s crap, per se. It’s rather like an engine in that an 8 cylinder is superior because it doesn’t work as hard as a four cylinder. However, the 8 is pricey and expensive to feed.
With regular cleaning, the guns with the old system work fine for us recreational shooters. However, if you’re a troop in the desert who may not have time to clean a gun, something that eliminates that is better.