02-01-2012, 05:41 PM
A short-stroke piston requires more cleaning than any of the operating systems I have used, when you look at DI, long-stroke op-rod, & short-stroke op-rod. Allowing carbon build-up on the piston head in a short-stroke system is synonymous with reliability problems in some guns, like the FAL, SVD, SVT-38/40, SKS, M-14, & definitely the M60.
What's funny is that the AR with DI continues to run dirty, as long as it is lubed, contrary to everything we heard in the military and gun rags. Guys in the unit told me about running their M4's suppressed all month long with no cleaning, just lube, with no issues.
As a SAW or M60 gunner, that piston head was one of the main things that was cleaned first, and the SAW is a long-stroke system that should be relatively immune from carbon fouling in that area.
What's funny is that the AR with DI continues to run dirty, as long as it is lubed, contrary to everything we heard in the military and gun rags. Guys in the unit told me about running their M4's suppressed all month long with no cleaning, just lube, with no issues.
As a SAW or M60 gunner, that piston head was one of the main things that was cleaned first, and the SAW is a long-stroke system that should be relatively immune from carbon fouling in that area.