Please relate to me your perception of piston-gun recoil impulse.

This is pure curiosity on my part. My time on piston guns is limited to the Ruger SR556 and the H&K 416, though I’ve tossed a couple thousand rounds through each. I own neither.

To me, the SR556 impulse was, on the whole, no worse than any standard M4 platform I’ve shot, but it FELT mechanical. Specifically, I could distinctly feel three separate impulses, clink-clink-clank, which made up the whole. In my mind, I likened it to what it feels like when you unfold an aluminum lawn chair. Was put off by the weight of the gun to begin with, especially since it didn’t seem to dampen the effect.

The 416, on the other hand, felt like a single, distinct, crisp impulse. It felt somehow cleaner. I liked it and could better concentrate on shooting because it didn’t feel like a couple of skeletons screwing on a tin roof.

To those that have shot or own these and other piston guns, especially those who have experience shooting more than one brand, be it factory-made or an after-market conversion, how do these guns hit you when you hit the trigger?

Again, pure curiosity; I ain’t buying one of these things, so please remember, this is an exhibition, not a competition. Please…no wagering.

My MRP piston definitely shoots softer than my issue M4. It is a mid-length piston system and a heavier rifle…don’t know if the softer is more “piston” or weight related? Probably both…

Most piston guns to me = harder punch to the shoulder but with little muzzle lift.

DI guns to me = lighter punch to the shoulder but with more muzzle lift.

On both types of ARs there are things that can change how they feel. Brakes/comps, sound suppressors, heavier barrels, different buffers, heavier stocks etc will effect how they feel.