Well there are very few of the same model guns available in both piston and DI. It seems like a relevant discussion. And I would hardly call it a slug fest. I think properly designed piston guns are at the very least interesting and quite possibly superior, at least equal to there DI counterparts. My issue is dismissing the DI guns as dirty, POS unreliable guns as its simply not true..
The Ruger SR556 retails for $1995. The AR556 for $749
The SR piston gun weighs 7.9 pounds, the AR DI gun 6.5.
My view is why would you spend over twice as much for a gun that weighs 15% more and takes non standard parts? Because all the cool kids are?
The DI M-16 is the most accurate and reliable duty rifle ever issued by the US military. I read that on the internet so it must be true.
SWAT magazine has a project rifle they call "Filthy 14" It is a AR that currently has over 40,000 rounds though it, Its been cleaned once at 26K rounds. In that time they have replaced less than $100 worth of wear parts (springs mostly but they did break a bolt) That is not an anomaly, That is what a little bit of oil does to the rifle. The AR DI platform is solid, The piston hype is a solution in search of a problem. There is nothing wrong with a piston gun, Its just not necessary to have a reliable rifle and thinking that it is somehow required to turn the AR platform into a reliable platform is asinine
I think Ruger coming out with a DI gun that is less than half the cost of the SR556 is a great move. It puts a Ruger logo on a rifle more folks can afford and I suspect that it will outsell the SR series over time.
All pretty much right on. The SR556 E model is a bit over 1K in the right place.
I like the DI and would not disparage any of them. THe biggest point I like is the quiet smoothness and the coolness of the bolt and receiver with the Piston. A BIG difference there.
I don't think the DI will ever go away, and I don't think the Piston will ever become as prolific as the DI.
It is a proven action and it performs.