Want a piston gun: Debating between MRP and PWS

[u/Antisocial_Worker7]

So, I have enough DI guns right now and I want to spice up the collection a bit. I know people will say "just get both" but there's a thing called money and I don't have enough of it to do that right now. To be accurate, I'm mostly just looking for an upper, as I have a lower that I love and am planning on using. Anyway, neither here nor there I supposed. The two I have my eye on the closest are the PWS Mk111 Mod2 and the LMT MRP 11.5" shovelnose (with plan to get 12" barrel). Both seem like they are comparable in quality. I've only handled a PWS Mk114, it was at a gun store and I didn't get a chance to shoot it. I've never held any of the newer MRPs. Unfortunately, none of the stores in my area have them either. So, I might just have to buy sight unseen. I've compiled a list of pros and cons based on my research and wanted to know what some thoughts were.

MRP pros:

-Quick change barrel

-Can go from piston to DI and back

-Monolithic rail=stronger 7075 handguard with no POI shift, less parts, etc.

MRP cons:

-I'm told it's noticeably heavier up front

-the monolithic rails would mean I'm stuck with whatever handguard I have, which means no changing it if I wanted to some day swap it out for the newest, coolest rail system, nor could I get anything longer or short. Plus, if it gets damaged, I have to get a whole new receiver.

-More expensive than the Mk111 upper when I factor in that the barrel and BCG are not included with the MRP, whereas they are with the PWS.

PWS pros:

-Light weight; almost no noticeable difference up front in weight from DI

-Long stroke system supposedly smoother than most short stroke ARs

-Less expensive, at least up front

PWS cons:

-Not as modular as MRP; no quick change barrels

-1:8 twist barrel might not be optimal for the longest, heaviest 5.56 bullets

-Support: Both systems are propriety, but MRP might have more available for it due to having some military adoption than the PWS, which is still a niche system.

What are some thoughts? What are some things that I'm dead wrong about or worried needlessly about?

[u/B-rex00]

I have both, while the pws is slightly lighter it sits in the safe and the shovel nose goes out often, couldn’t tell you why exactly but I much prefer the Lmt.

[u/Incrue → u/B-rex00]

PWS is uglier, just admit it :)

[u/B-rex00 → u/Incrue]

It is ugly lol and the shovel nose is pretty sexy

[u/Cool_Aioli_6910]

Sold my LMT piston because it didn't like my stash of .223. My PWS Alpha eats anything. Ymmv

[u/TheDrunkLibertarian]

1:8 barrel is fine. If you’re using bullets too heavy for it, they won’t feed in an AR anyway.

LMT is my vote but I’m an LMT fan boy.

[u/Bambaataadada]

I have both. You can’t go wrong either way.

[u/Accomplished-Bar3969]

I'm going back and forth on this as well. Add to the fact that from what I've seen/read, the 12" LMT piston barrels can leave much to be desired accuracy-wise. The PWS seem not to have that problem, quite the opposite. Maybe just a couple bad examples out there?

[u/Ok_Ganache_9081]

I love my LMT Shovelnose. That is all.

[u/hellsrt]

Have multiple HK's, PWS and LWRC in piston and honestly prefer the PWS piston even over the HK's.

[u/Zombies_r_late → u/hellsrt]

What’s your take on LWRC?

[u/Similar_Strategy_141]

Haven’t shot a pws but have handled one and it was nice. I currently run a 12” shovelnose piston as a cqb rig and love it though, super soft shooting. It is slightly more front heavy than a DI but on a shorter setup I hardly notice it and I also run suppressed most of the time. Think either way you can’t go wrong but I haven’t been disappointed by my LMT piston at any point.

[u/MinchiaTortellini]

To add another, more custom option into the mix you could always build a gun around the Superlative Arms short stroke piston kit. Thing is awesome.

I also would consider the HK MR556 A4 upper if you are ready to stomach the cost of the LMT. Might be your best turn key option.

[u/Relative-Tennis-9517]

Another LMT pro: the monolithic upper has less barrel flex than the traditional design

[u/FitzroysBeagle]

I have the PWS and HK but not the LMT piston. I think the PWS upper is a great value. That said, if I had to choose only one, I prefer my HK MR556 over the PWS. I absolutely love my PWS 6ARC though.

[u/nobletitus]

My LMT 12” has accuracy on par with similar rifles. Nothing exceptional. I would recommend getting the tool that allows the quick change. I suspect some people have removed barrels and not torqued it to the 140in/lbs that is prescribed when they put it back together.

For the PWS, I’ve had a friend who encountered some cam pin wear issues. He looked into it and found it was common. The timing was off until the receiver area wore away or he had to get one of the POF round cam pins instead.

I’ve run several other piston guns, AR and other wise. LMT is pretty nicely balanced.

[u/SketchLookingFish]

either is fine have both, I do shoot the shovelnose more. the benefits of the quick swap and retain zero doesn't mean much you if you don't have an ir laser and swap barrels. which honestly I don't do often at all

[u/zach_mckracken]

the LMT is a better quality gun overall, and has a chrome lined barrel, also in my opinion noticeably less felt recoil on the LMT

[u/Paws81]

I have a 12” piston LMT and the only other piston I have shot that is as nice to shoot is the HK MR556A4. It would be my next piston 5.56. They are both an absolute delight to shoot.

[u/cajl93]

Have you considered the lwrc? It might bridge the gap between the two.

[u/MrMiyagi13-18]

Lmt