Piston Conversions - Issues Resolved?

[TheExiled]

Yes, another AR piston conversion thread.

I have been planning another AR build with a 14.something and pinned FSC556 or Dragon, want to finally put together a piston gun (likely the AA kit). Have the issues Ive read about been resolved/fixes found? (carrier tilt, excessive upper wear, carrier bounce etc) Anyone with one that has fired a lot or preferably taken a class or two have any input to the reliability?

[calaveras]

This thread will be fun...

I have a factory produced AA upper. I have put around 2000 rounds through it in the year I have had it. The only issue I ran into was cam pin wear, which caused some short stroking the first 100 rounds or so. Since that break-in period, it has been absolutely 100% reliable. If I were to do it again I would install a POF roller cam pin before using it.

I have not noticed any carrier tilt problems, or excessive bolt wear. I have noticed that my rifle is very easy to clean. If you aren't shooting a metric ton of ammo through your rifle then I don't think you will have any problems.

My main complaint about my rifle is actually the weight distribution. It is quite front-heavy, which is the opposite of what I am used to with my trapshooting shotguns.

[TheExiled]

I have a factory produced AA upper. I have put around 2000 rounds through it in the year I have had it. The only issue I ran into was cam pin wear, which caused some short stroking the first 100 rounds or so. Since that break-in period, it has been absolutely 100% reliable. If I were to do it again I would install a POF roller cam pin before using it.

I have not noticed any carrier tilt problems, or excessive bolt wear. I have noticed that my rifle is very easy to clean. If you aren't shooting a metric ton of ammo through your rifle then I don't think you will have any problems.

My main complaint about my rifle is actually the weight distribution. It is quite front-heavy, which is the opposite of what I am used to with my trapshooting shotguns.

I build and am going to continue to build my own uppers as it saves me (sometimes marginal) money but I don't end up with any parts I don't want, it just gets how I want it the first time.

I was planning on a match grade LW or fluted stainles 14.something and adding a MI SS Gen2 or similar type LW FF tube and either getting one with a FSB cutout for the piston's GB or modding my own. Im planning on running it on a lower with a Magpul UBR to offset the front weight.

Wanting to see if they are reliable enough to justify it for the cleanliness and the novelty (I already have more than one DI gun)