The time has come for me to finally buy a rifle - my first I might add if you didn’t already pick up on that. I have narrowed the choices to five rifles that are pretty well known (with one exception).
All of the rifles are piston-driven systems as opposed to the M16/M4 gas impingement system. I’m not looking for the ever-present argument about what system is best, so please do not attempt to talk me out of these five. I’m pretty set on these brands so I would appreciate user feedback, whether you own them or not (maybe you have handled one, or shot a friend’s… thoughts?).
Now, I’ve accepted the fact that I’m probably going to have to drop around $1500-2000. I wouldn’t like to go over that, but I recently handled a LWRC in a local shop with Vltor eMOD stock (NICE!) and a lower-line Magpul grip. It didn’t have any sights or anything else and it was running $2400 out the door - OUCH!
With the Bushmaster/Magpul coming with proposed price tag of $1500, it’s tempting to wait and hold off… but what about you-know-who Mr. President-Elect. Personally, that scares me $-less. I feel I can’t wait, so LMT is at the top of my list so far, although the Robinson XCR is very appealing. I haven’t heard much about POF lately…
What do you think… please give me as much possible information as you can.
I really want to make the right decision here. Also, please spare me about the “It’s a personal opinion and you’ll have the make the choice for yourself” and “I tell you to buy this one.” I just want fact and feelings. Like telling me how the test drive was, and giving me your thoughts.
I’d say that the LMT and LWRC should be at the top of your list. I own a LWRC in 6.8 SPC and it is so far flawless with ~1000 rounds. Both weapons have reasonable trade-offs and both can be had for ~$2K if you look. There is a serious backlog for LMT. I may give a ever-so slight edge to LMT for the MRP rail and quick-change barrel.
I do have a XCR and it too has been flawless. However, it is very different than an AR in terms of controls, weight, cheak weld, etc. Like LWRC, Robinson is a smaller company and the XCR is a new platform. I feel that the last year’s batch of XCRs have been solid with most of the teething issues having been worked out a couple of years ago.
POF makes a reasonable weapon, but I do not own one.
The ACR will not be available for at least 8-12 months (if ever), so I would not put it on your list.
The XCR isnt an AR15. It isnt even close, as the two almost have nothing in common. Its more AK if anything. I would take it over anything else on your list.
LWRC is very slick as well. It would be my 2nd choice. However I do own an XCR and LWRC
As for the rest, I personally would not bother. I dont have much faith in the puny, unsupported, unregulated oprods featured in many of the AR15 piston designs out there, and for sure I wouldnt bother with a conversion.
Here is my XCR
And here is my LWRC
And here is just an all around cool pic of the XCR
if you HAVE to get a piston i would go with ADC and then LMT. i like the “pads” on the carriers of these systems and they seem like really well engineered designs. good luck finding either.
do you plan on running full auto, a short barrel or suppressor? you seem to have made up your mind that pistons are teh awesome. do you really have a need for one? i’m not asking if its better or not. i’m just asking if you need it. if you don’t need it, then you are wasting money; adding more parts to break as well as weight for no reason.
its your money, but i would go DI middy, especially as a first rifle. you will see no appreciable difference in reliability.
dont forget you will want to invest in about 30 magazines, several thousand rounds of ammo, a sling, a light and maybe an optic, so work that into your budget.
I don’t understand why ADC is not on your list? No way I would take the LMT Gas Piston over an ADC. ACR is not even out yet and that’s an option. The ADC is out and can be had immediately.
I bought the LMT and am completely happy with it!!! I did a lot of reading and asking questions before I bought it and I really like the options it gives me.
I can change barrels and the BCG and have their DI version anytime I want. I can also change calibers with the same minor switch. Their solid upper MRP is very stout and you can mount any optics/lights/accessories you need. It is truly a complete package.
there is another piston upper that has very little attention right now, in fact only a few people know of it’s existence, it is made by JP Enterprises, Inc.
Also, some of you said that the XCR is totally different than the AR and is more like an AK… is this bad? Will I like the XCR if I get it (in theory of course). I would like an improved AR, so is the XCR an improvement?
I weighed the exact same options as yourself. I even looked into the Sig 556 and the ADC conversion. After reading as much as I could I ended up with the LMT MRP CQB. A no brainer IMO. I have a Defender 2000 with thousands of rounds through it without a single problem. LMT stuff works great and is top notch and any sweeping bans will cause a lot of the marginal firearms manufacturors to go out of business. LMT has the staying power to provide future support and I can change out the caliber easier on it than any of the others, and go back to DI if I need to. So many pluses, so few negatives. I waited 9 months for it – I ordered directly from LMT.
If the ACR ever becomes available I would like to pick one up too, but I am not holding my breath.
I’ve been running an MK18 style build for a couple of years. I made the switch to an LWRC upper over LMT a month ago after re-evaluating LWRC for about 10 months.
I swore of LWRC for awhile, but was won over in the end
Curious to hear if you’ve had any negative experience with the piston systems, particularly the LMT. Or is it a case of not having enough positive experience to justify the extra moolah over a good DI system (Colt, Noveske, etc)?
No way I would take the LMT Gas Piston over an ADC. ACR is not even out yet and that’s an option. The ADC is out and can be had immediately.
