What Kind of Gas Piston Kits Are Available for the AR 15?

The AR-15 is a civilian version of the battle proven M-16 used by armed forces around the world. More than 40 years of continuous refinement have made it one of the best semiautomatic rifles you can buy. Whether you want the flexibility of a short-barreled carbine or the accuracy and range of a heavy-barreled hunting rifle, the AR-15 can do it all and do it well. With a gas piston kit, your AR-15 can use gas from fired rounds to push a piston and transfer rod against the bolt. This design keeps your receiver cool by extracting spent shells while keeping their gases at the front of your rifle.

  1. ARS Gas Piston Kit

    • ARS (AR-15 Solutions) sells a gas piston kit that replaces the AR-15's standard DI (direct impingement) spent shell extraction system. This kit comes with a modified bolt carrier, double-railed gas block, gas regulator, single piece operating rod, hand guards and a hand guard cap. You also get detailed installation instructions with photos of each step. When AR15Armory.com fired 490 rounds through an AR-15 modified with an ARS gas piston, its receiver stayed cool to the touch. This is a real benefit of gas piston systems since lower temperatures equal better performance and longer life. The ARS gas piston kit can also keep you on target with less shooting fatigue by making recoils smoother and less violent. It's available for $380 to $420 depending on the version you need.

    Adams Arms Piston Kit

    • Adams Arms makes a gas piston kit that's reliable and low-maintenance, according to TheGunSource.com. You can also install it without a gunsmith's help, and it fits most standard foregrips. This easy-to-install kit is used by the U.S. Army, weighs only four oz., increases your accuracy by reducing recoil 30 to 40 percent, improves your AR-15's reliability by keeping hot gases out of the receiver and cuts down your cleaning time. You can also adjust its gas pressure for normal fire, suppressed fire and firing single rounds. The Adams Arms piston kit sells for $200 to $380.

    Osprey Defense OPS-416 Gas Piston System

    • Osprey Defense claims its OPS-416 is the only gas piston kit you can buy that installs without modifying your gun in any way. This kit doesn't have springs, screws or valves and it doesn't use any adhesives. In fact, it's so simple you can install it in four minutes without changing your AR-15's original configuration, according to GasPiston.com. The OPS-416 is designed for short-barrel carbines, but Osprey Defense also sells an OPS-418 for midlength barrels and an OPS-420 for full-size barrels.

      Osprey Defense claims its gas piston systems will make your AR-15 five times as reliable and let you go five times longer between cleanings. Osprey Defense also machines its OPS gas piston kits from 416 stainless steel. The OPS-416 is available for about $300.