Newtown Firearms' Infinitely Adjustable Gas Piston System
Tagged with a name that reminds me of continuously variable automobile transmissions, Newtown Firearms of Siler City, North Carolina have announced an “infinitely adjustable” gas piston operating system:
Siler City, N.C. – Following their move from Placerville, Cal. to Siler City, N.C., Newtown Firearms has launched the NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System (Superior. Modular. Adjustable. Automatic. Rifle. Technology.), an infinitely adjustable gas piston system for use in all AR-15 platforms.
With 48-position tuning capabilities, the NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System allows shooters to make adjustments not only for atmospheric conditions but for variances across ammunition suppliers. Using the 48-position adjustable knob, shooters can easily make on-the-fly adjustments to any pressure level within the AR-15 platform producing minimum felt recoil that allows for faster target acquisition while at the same time maintaining all of the typical benefits of a piston driven system, including cooler operating temperatures and easier cleaning.Newtown Firearms NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System comes with a Nitromet coating and is compatible in all AR-15 platforms with a medium contour .750 barrel. An upgraded physical vapor deposition (PVD) or diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating is available for those that desire ultimate friction reduction at even lower operating temperatures while increasing the overall performance and lifespan of the NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System.NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System
- Universal gas piston system with one-piece carrier
- Infinitely adjustable to any pressure level
- 48-position adjustable knob
- Available in Nitromet, PVD or DLC coatings
- Patent No: US 8869674
The NF-15 S.M.A.A.R.T. System is available through Country Arms, a division of Newtown Firearms, and may be purchased separately or as part of a complete AR-15 rifle by calling (919) 663-0864 or online at country-arms.com.
The title image makes it pretty clear how the system works: The regulator has a tapered extension, and is threaded. As the regulator is screwed in, the tapered segment increasingly interrupts the flow of gas to the short-stroke piston, while a simple spring clip keeps the regulator in position.
48 positions seems excessive for a gas regulator, though it is possible Newtown Firearms had a specific problem in mind when they designed the SMAART system.
Nathaniel is a history enthusiast and firearms hobbyist whose primary interest lies in military small arms technological developments beginning with the smokeless powder era. He can be reached via email at nathaniel.f@staff.thefirearmblog.com.
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Another reason for me to pay a visit to Siler City now.
I can see something like this for a match gun, where you can tailor to a specific load and dial out as much recoil as possible. But for a working gun, less is more. Three or four positions plus an "off" position should be the max.