Sparks, NV — S.W.O.R.D. International’s Defense division has announced immediate availability of the Piston Upper Receiver Group-Enhanced (PURG-E). The PURG-E, which is designed to address problems identified by warfighters with current weapon systems and the M855A1 round. The PURG-E integrates with Mil-Spec lower receivers and was engineered and manufactured to provide a cleaner, highly reliable, and extremely durable operating system.
“The M855A1 has a number of characteristics in its design that make it an effective tool for the warfighter, some of those characteristics such as the increase in chamber pressure and cartridge design make it a liability for existing DoD weapon systems. We designed our PURG-E upper to solve these accuracy, reliability, and durability issues. The PURG-E upper converts existing MIL-Spec lowers to the right system for the M855A1 cartridge. The PURG-E also allows for use of the readily available cartridges such as M855, Mk-262 MOD1, and COTS ammo.”
-Jeremy Elrod, President
New Upper for New Ammo
Created in response to direct feedback from those who have worked in the field, the PURG-E reduces fouling, gas blow-back, identified after adopting new M855A1 ammunition. The PURG-E is an upgrade to the M-4 Carbine, redesigned yet compatible with current issued M-4 Mil-Spec lowers having semi-only or select-fire systems.
Enhanced Features
PURG-E features are centered on the rotating bolt, which is built with added material and radius where it counts most. Other improvements include:
• A driving band ride surface and lubrication groove to minimize the flex seen with a standard ring style bolt configuration.
• A newly designed, incredibly durable ultra-lightweight bolt carrier that substantially reduces unlocking and recoil impulse.
• Enhanced materials used in carrier, bolt, and operating system to increase strength and reliability.
• Proprietary enhanced gas piston system to allow for use of traditional rounds and M855A1
These enhancements make the PURG-E a far more effective tool in the hands of warfighters while maintaining the tried and true proprietary, self-regulating, short-stroke gas piston system.
Specifications
Weight: 4.2 lbs
Overall Length: 23.5”- 25.5”
Height: 7 ¾? Rear sight to bottom of pistol grip
Barrel Length: 12.5”-16” Cold Hammer Forged
Caliber: 5.56 x 45 NATO (M855A1)
Mode of Fire: Safe, Semi-Automatic, Fully Automatic
Feed Mechanism: Magazine 10/20/30/60 Round
Operating System: Short stroke gas piston and pushrod system Rated action spring (Included) Hydraulic recoil damper (Included)
Coatings: Bolt/Extractor Titanium Nitride, MPI tested Carrier Black Nitride
For more information visit sworddefense.com/purge.
I don’t see how a piston upper provides any advantage for use with M855A1 over a DI gun engineered to perform for ammo at that pressure. The increased wear and tear of M855A1 is the mostly on the shoulders of the barrel and bolt (and extractor) not the gas system.
While it’s kind of cute that PURG-E rhymes with URG-I I feel like, at best, this is an answer for a qusestion that was half-answered in an official capacity by NSWC and Geissele/Surefire/ DD etc. One could point out that the BCG for the URG-I is still built to the older spec but the newer Geissele RE-BCG is the missing piece for M855A1.
It’s good to see more options for running M855A1 but it almost feels like no one is really enforcing that too strictly as a requirement to begin with.
I look forward to seeing a review.
I have fired 10s of thousands of rounds of a1 though issued uppers and had no issues. I have seen 100s of thousands, if not millions with comparable results. Around 2015-17 some bolt heads were breaking and there was some chamber erosion, but that is no longer an issue. scrutineer, you hit the nail on the head; urgi was already tested with a1 in mind.
Tens of thousands of rounds… as a LCpl?
More choices are always welcomed and it’s especially nice to see piston based ARs and other dedicated piston carbines being produced.