Gas piston operating system or direct gas impingement? In the world of AR-platform rifles, this debate continues to rage on. Proponents of the gas piston system relate the fact that it runs cooler and cleaner, allowing much less fouling into the action than a direct-impingement rifle. In the upcoming April 2014 issue of Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, author Scott W. Wagner test-fires a new piston-driven rifle, the Mark IV Tactical Elite in 5.56mm NATO from Huldra Arms.
Wagner writes, “Huldra rifles are manufactured exclusively by Adams Arms, and the all utilize Adams Arms’ proprietary gas piston system. In fact, no direct impingement guns are in the Huldra lineup. Adams Arms was one of the earliest producers of piston-operated guns, and it was the first manufacturer to offer a patented retrofit system to convert direct impingement guns to its gas piston system. The result is a line of rifles very appealing to the LE officer looking for a non-direct impingement AR for patrol duty.
“The Mark IV Tactical Elite itself is very nicely executed. Chambered for 5.56mm NATO, the Mark IV will also handle any of the lower-pressure .223 rounds available on the market. The 16-inch barrel (a 14.5-inch barrel is also available) has a 1-in-7-inch twist rate, which optimizes it for use with 62-grain or heavier loads. M4 feed ramps are used, and the barrel is of the government profile.”
To learn more about Huldra Mark IV Tactical Elite and whether or not it’s ready for duty, check out the April 2014 issue of Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, available on newsstands and digitally January 7, 2014. To subscribe, go to https://www.tactical-life.com/subscribe/guns-weapons-for-law-enforcement
