Making the leap from M1A to AR...

[netsecsys]

After many years of M1A worship, I plan on testing out the AR realm..but not just the typical AR platform; I am looking at piston platform 7.62nato battle rifles.

I am a huge fan of the M1A for it's reliability and simplicity but have the itch for a CQB platform that will perform in adverse conditions, shed a couple of pounds and give me the ability to swap uppers depending on the task at hand. Having shot M16A2s in the suck, I will not be considering a DI platform as no one can convince me that sending hot gasses and carbon to the BCG is good for reliability. I cannot tell you how clean I kept my weapons but still had many failures in adverse conditions (mine was not the only one). If I were getting a range weapon, DI would be fine for me. I'll eventually build a DI but not as my primary "battle rifle".

Anyone here have any recommendations on a reliable Piston driven 7.62Nato platform? Have looked at: POF, REPR, PWS, HK, and SIG. I am leaning very heavily towards the PWS MK214 so far.


Thanks in advance for your input.

- Netsecsys
Semper Fi

[alxone]

ar-10 is also on my list of builds , sill wishing they made an ar in 30.06

[nynco]

The rail on the PWS looks like the dumbest idea I have ever seen. Its not free float, in fact its worse than no free float, its reinforcing the barrel only at the center point. Harmonics are going to be strange on that barrel. Then there is the fact that there is no heat guarding for your fingers. Plan on touching the hot barrel. Seriously, who designed that? Epic fail....

[Hoosier]

I only mention this because you said CQB in 7.62

http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/rifles/rfb/

All of those other guns are going to be standard configuration with a minimum 16" barrel, which is a whole lot of length hanging out past your front-hand-hold, and makes working through or around door very difficult.

I don't see how you can really do rifle calibers with a 16" barrel for CQB without a bullpup design... but that's just me.

Another gun to consider (if you haven't already) is the FN SCAR 17

H.

[Hoosier]

Oh, there's an episode of the show Factory Made on Discovery Channel where they show the manufacture of a REPR in 7.62

H.

[netsecsys]

The rail on the PWS looks like the dumbest idea I have ever seen. Its not free float, in fact its worse than no free float, its reinforcing the barrel only at the center point. Harmonics are going to be strange on that barrel. Then there is the fact that there is no heat guarding for your fingers. Plan on touching the hot barrel. Seriously, who designed that? Epic fail....

I hear what you are saying. I plan on using a vertical grip on the shorter barrel upper and a bipod on a 20" upper. I'll have an opportunity to test out a MK214 in a few weeks. I think PWS's main focus in the SBR market. The diablo is pretty bad ass...

[netsecsys]

I only mention this because you said CQB in 7.62

http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/rifles/rfb/

All of those other guns are going to be standard configuration with a minimum 16" barrel, which is a whole lot of length hanging out past your front-hand-hold, and makes working through or around door very difficult.

I don't see how you can really do rifle calibers with a 16" barrel for CQB without a bullpup design... but that's just me.

Another gun to consider (if you haven't already) is the FN SCAR 17

H.

I initially started out looking at the SCAR-H but the lock of availability of mags and spare parts (I like to have many spare parts for my weapons) is a huge issue for me. It is pretty much entirely proprietary (though it is 82% compatible with the SCAR 16). Not a big fan of the bullpup and pretty much proprietary as well.

Thanks.

[nynco]

All piston 308 are proprietary by nature. If you want to least proprietary, buy a Mega Arms MA10 upper and lower and build. This will be a gas system though.

[Cman]

Have you thought about a GAP-10? They're supposed to be very accurate and reliable.

[netsecsys]

All piston 308 are proprietary by nature. If you want to least proprietary, buy a Mega Arms MA10 upper and lower and build. This will be a gas system though.

Will look into it. Thanks.