Adams Arms. AR15. cycling.

[vujade]

Hello,

 

I'd like to tap into TGO's collective experience and know-how here. 

 

So I picked up an Adam's Arms 14.5 Piston Upper (1/7 Twist)  and went to the range today to give it a try.  I had about 100 rounds (I know, I was in a hurry).   Most of them were my reloads (load details below) which, at least for other guns, performed well (accurate (2MOA with iron sights)) and reliable (no failures) (Stag, PSA, S&W and a Troy). 

 

On the AA upper (dropped it in a standard PSA lower), accuracy is about the same 1-1.25 inches (5 shot groups) at 50 yards with iron sights (front benched).

 

However, I was jamming round after round. Spent round would eject but the next round would have difficulty chambering.  When firing a single round, it would fail to lock on an empty mag.  Spent casing were ejecting at 4-5 oclock.

 

This went on for about 50-60 rounds.  I also shot some Fiocchi and Wolf ammo (those failed to lock the slide back as well) The last 40 rounds (reloads) were much improved.  It started to lock the magazine at each empty (i would only load 1 at a time to test) and when I would fire strings of 5, no jams.

 

Questions:

 

  1. Is there normally a break in period for reliability for Piston guns?

 

  2. Maybe I just load too lightly?  Federal or Hornady cases.  50grain amax, 55 grain vmax and 55FMJ and 62 FMJ + 22.3-22.6 grains of WC844 (h335). 

 

  3. Does a full auto BCG or piston require hotter loads than DI?

 

  4. Using irons only, should I expect better groups from my guns?  (I know, i probably should get a scope to really test accuracy).

 

  5. Is it your experience that piston guns are less accurate than equivalent DI counterparts?

 

and I know, I need to try some varget or h335 and I need to get a chrony but it's at least another week until I can get to the range. 

 

Or do I stop worrying about it - 40 rounds without issues is a good sign that I'm good to go and I just need to keep shooting the same.

 

 

(if this should go in the reloading section, let me know.  At one point, i'm thinking the upper has an issue so I figure I start here).

Edited April 19, 2015 by vujade

[Oh Shoot]

Short stroking for the most part, seems. No adjustable gas control for the piston on that model?

 

- OS

Edited April 19, 2015 by Oh Shoot

[vujade]

There are only 3 settings.  OFF (turns it into a single shot)  Suppressor and "Normal".  The Adams rep said pretty leave it on Normal. 

 

I think my loads may be super light so I'm upping the charge a bit.  I'll also buy some *gasp* store ammo to test it.  I think I have a box of 556 around somewhere as well.

[Oh Shoot]

There are only 3 settings.  OFF (turns it into a single shot)  Suppressor and "Normal".  The Adams rep said pretty leave it on Normal. 

 

I think my loads may be super light so I'm upping the charge a bit.  I'll also buy some *gasp* store ammo to test it.  I think I have a box of 556 around somewhere as well.

 

Any rifle that can't run standard commercial .223 like Fiocchi and Wolf isn't right IMHO -- or,  indeed if it's spec-ed not to be able to on purpose, would certainly not be in my arsenal.

 

- OS

[LawEnforcementSalesTN]

Little information about the upper...

 

1) Did you buy it new? Assuming you did given the break-in question.

 

2) Is it a complete AA assembled upper or just a piston add on kit?

 

I rank AA up there in quality.. it's not a tier 1 piston system but definitely in the tier 2 platform easily.  All of mine have shot well.  The casings should be knocking off the deflector a little more aggressively.

 

Accuracy is no different on DI or Piston, or shouldn't be.  I'd try to swap whatever you could spare - buffer springs, buffer, etc..  if the upper didn't come new be sure someone didn't put gas rings in on the bolt - hey seen it before ;o)

 

Good luck

[vujade]

Hello; thanks for the replies.

 

I believe it was a combination of a new/needing some break in (my friend who bought another (only in 16 inch) at the same time also experienced some issues his first 40 rounds)).

 

The lower I had also had a stiffer buffer/spring.  I compared to 2 other ARs and it was definitely stiffer.  I swapped a different lower and it was flawless for the next 50-60 rounds. 

 

I'm only getting about 1.25-1.50 inches at 50 yards using factory 55grain ammo (sandbagged) and really horrible 2 inches at 50 yards using my reloads that usually produce .50 to .75 inches at 50 yards with my other guns.  (sights are on tight) (50-55 grain hornady + 22.5 grains of 844).  I may do more load development but hope the accuracy is on par.

[whiskycut]

When you purchase a weapon from a company, they should stand behind there products, call them, I know if I made that kind of investment, I'd be pissed. AA makes a good rifle, shot several, I believe they will make it good

[jcluff]

My new Adam arms upper doesn't like Tula steel. Even now, after having put nearly 200 rounds through it, it seems to be not happy with the steel ammo. However, it has been flawless with brass after the first 40 rounds or and a small application of hornady zero shot.

As for accuracy, 1-2 moa for various 50g and 55gr loads. Most of my 77gr haven't faired really well either. However, 69gr has done very well, with 69gr fgmm making two small holes with 5 rounds and coming in at .64moa. If I can make a load that closely mirrors that performance, I will be a happy man.

Probably time I invest in either varget or rl-15.


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