A method of hydraulic actuation that includes positioning a piston within the chamber of a cylinder body, the chamber including a gas region and a fluidized region, the sidewall of the piston including at least one sealing surface for engaging the sidewall of chamber; and traversing the piston between a portion of the gas region and a portion of the fluidized region, wherein a distance of travel within the chamber that the piston traverses between the gas region and the fluidized region is less than a length of the sidewall of the piston. By increasing the length of the piston sidewall and decreasing the distance of travel for the piston, the method eliminates or substantially reduces fluid carry over in accumulators.