Titanium Nitride is almost as hard as a diamond. The piston is coated so carbon does not stick to it. Remaining carbon acts like sandpaper and wears out the cylinder. A TiN piston will give your cylinder longer life and retain accuracy longer.
Why the TiN coated Gas Piston?
Just wondering, what’s the point of the TiN coated Gas Piston over standard USGI?
I am also curious what TiN is and how it is applied. Is it more durable than hard chrome?
Thanks, Chris
I am also curious what TiN is and how it is applied. Is it more durable than hard chrome?
Thanks, Chris
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Gas Piston!
Well I just ordered one myself from Sadlak Industries,I needed a gas piston anyways and a standard was $19 so i figured I would spend a few more and get what seems to be a BETTER one.They were on sale for $27 and no shipping for the month of June anyways. I was going to go with a standerd one but after pulling mine out for the first time after 5,or 600 rds it looks pretty rough already with a couple spots on it wore and showing signs of erosion!
I'll give the NM Coated one a try and let ya know how it holds up.
Well I just ordered one myself from Sadlak Industries,I needed a gas piston anyways and a standard was $19 so i figured I would spend a few more and get what seems to be a BETTER one.They were on sale for $27 and no shipping for the month of June anyways. I was going to go with a standerd one but after pulling mine out for the first time after 5,or 600 rds it looks pretty rough already with a couple spots on it wore and showing signs of erosion!
I'll give the NM Coated one a try and let ya know how it holds up. I thought I read somewhere that the coated gas piston will actually wear the gas cylinder out faster than a standard. I was looking into this at one point and then I read that information and backed off the idea.
Here is where I got the info. www.zediker.com/articles/m14_2.1.pdf
I would love to hear from those who have experience with these.
Here is where I got the info. www.zediker.com/articles/m14_2.1.pdf
I would love to hear from those who have experience with these.
If that is what it says, it goes against everything the Army, Navy and Marine Corp found. Experience within the military was it retained accuracy due to less cylinder wear and longer cylinder life.
After reading it, look carefully. It mentions it as "unnecessary". I agree it is an option. Another factor is the writer says regular cleaning will prevent build up. True, but in the military regular cleaning may not always be possible in a combat situation. In civilian life cleaning is not big deal, your aren't sleeping in the rain or dust with your rifle.
Keep in mind he is writing based on civilian requirements. The military has different requirements. The choice is yours, you can have a fine shooting rifle without it. If I were going into combat I would take a TiN piston anyday.
After reading it, look carefully. It mentions it as "unnecessary". I agree it is an option. Another factor is the writer says regular cleaning will prevent build up. True, but in the military regular cleaning may not always be possible in a combat situation. In civilian life cleaning is not big deal, your aren't sleeping in the rain or dust with your rifle.
Keep in mind he is writing based on civilian requirements. The military has different requirements. The choice is yours, you can have a fine shooting rifle without it. If I were going into combat I would take a TiN piston anyday.
Mr. Ricca , your opinion and experience is held in high reguard. Looks like I will be getting myself one of the TIN pistons.
How come in all my time in the navy carrying an M-14 on a pretty regular basis and working on them and shooting in matches I never heard of one in our rifles or saw one? If they are that good You would think we would have had them in the stock system. We didn't. The ships I was on went by the school of thought developed by the marines, that you find a piston that shoots best with whatever load you are using and stick with it. We would shoot for groups and keep swapping pistons till it was best then we were set. Our rack rifles didn't get this treatment but the few match rifles we had did. I usually used my own rifle for matches but it stayed in the armory and was treated the same as the match rifles we had when we were at sea. I did try a tin coated piston once and wasn't happy at all with it. I had serious failure to function problems due to the fact it was oversize and wouldn't slide freely in my cylinder. I know that was probably a fluke but I just never used one since. Not when the gi ones have lasted so well for me. In fact I have never worn out a piston or a cylinder and I got a LOT of rounds through my rifle.
Crane purchased them by the hundreds. I guess your ships did not get them, but the pistons in both types, standard TiN and Silenced TiN were purchased by Crane.
Actually only the Navy purchased the Silenced TiN pistons, the Army and Marine Corp did not. I do not know who the end users were but I am sure Brookfield knew.
If you experienced an oversized TiN it wasn't a Brookfield. Back when BPT was making pistons they compensated for the coating, which was very thin. Somebody started to compete by using standard commercially made pistons (which were of awful quality) and coated them. They sold for a few dollars less. I saw them at gunshows in the east, so I am sure they got out heavily in the market. In the 10 years of selling the pistons I never experienced even one quality issue by a customer. That includes the Spring Guide, Scope Mount, and Piston.
Actually only the Navy purchased the Silenced TiN pistons, the Army and Marine Corp did not. I do not know who the end users were but I am sure Brookfield knew.
If you experienced an oversized TiN it wasn't a Brookfield. Back when BPT was making pistons they compensated for the coating, which was very thin. Somebody started to compete by using standard commercially made pistons (which were of awful quality) and coated them. They sold for a few dollars less. I saw them at gunshows in the east, so I am sure they got out heavily in the market. In the 10 years of selling the pistons I never experienced even one quality issue by a customer. That includes the Spring Guide, Scope Mount, and Piston.
Right on Bill. The TiN coating shouldn't add over .0004 of an inch to the diameter of the piston. Anyone that would like the coating added to their GI pistons should be able to find a source on the Internet.
The problem is nobody can do just one at a time. Brookfield used to pay around $3.50 each doing them 500-1000 at a time, and that was 10 years ago. From what I have heard there are only two US companies left doing that type of plating.
I bought two TiN coated pistons from SADLAK on Bill Ricca's recommendation, the ones I received fit better than the USGI one I had. I actually had to clean the gas cylinder to get it in, after that it slid back and forth fine but I was impressed the tolerances were that close. If I need another TiN piston SADLAK is where I'm going. Too bad they're not making more of the hollow op rod spring guides, glad I got two while I could...
I got one of the Sadlak's about 4 months ago and put it in My Fulton Bush Barrel M14. After about 1000 rounds it still looks great, no buildup and slides just fine.
:lol:
:lol:
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
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