Dave DeLaurant
Member
I believe the Fightlite (formerly Ares) Sport Configurable Rifle was introduced around 2014, both as a workaround for some restrictive jurisdictions and an alternative for shooters wanting a semiauto sporting and defense rifle with less militant styling. There were issues with a heavy trigger and lack of a last round hold-open on early versions of the SCR, but those were addressed pretty early in production. The manufacturer changed names from Ares to Fightlight, and the buttstock styling also underwent modification. However improved though, the real issue with the SCR was that availability seemed nonexistent for years.
I had been kicking ideas around for acquiring a utility semiautomatic rifle with non-pistol gripped stock, and this made the SCR a compelling third choice to the M1 Carbine and the Mini-14. The use of STANAG 556 magazines was a particular attraction, so I decided to keep an eye out for one. Finally last November the website went from 'out of stock' to 'add to cart' on the SCR lower I was interested in. The lower goes for $750 at present, and with the cost of my chosen upper the total came to slightly less than the current MSRP on a Mini-14.
https://fightlite.com/scr-lwr-rp
My initial build was configured more as black rifle than a sporter because I found a fully-configured 5.56 cheesegrater upper without much fuss. This upper featured a 16" barrel with a threaded muzzle; fitting anything that might conceivably reduce the flash signature to the muzzle in California is problematic and the barrel is too short to cut back the threaded section, so I cut the front off a regular birdcage flash hider to serve as a thread protector. If anyone is curious what a gelded birdcage looks like, here's a closeup:
I also temporarily exchanged the laminated factory buttstock with a Choate plastic job intended for the Remington 1100, which will fit with very minor modification. The scope is a Weaver V1-4x in Warne QD rings.
The result for now is more functional than handsome to my eye, but I can live with it. At some later date I'll get a second upper that I can fit with a laminated wood handguard that matches the factory buttstock. Maybe something along these lines (note: these are photos of an early model sans bolt holdopen)
Until I have the opportunity to take it to the rifle range, I decided to install a CMMG rimfire adapter so I could use it at my local indoor pistol club. Ordinarily the CMMG unit is a drop-in replacement for the BCG. Because the Fightlite uses a relatively small-diameter angled buffer system, the squared-off rear plate on the CMMG unit does not allow the upper to fully close on the lower at the rear without a little extra contouring with a file.
The CMMG unit gave 100% reliable function during my first 60-round range session. I used a Black Dog Machine magazine with steel feed lips, which is much shorter than the CMMG mags and wobbles less in the SCR's magwell.
This rifle isn't exactly my usual cuppa, but I have to admit that it was fun to shoot and so far I am glad that I bought it.
BTW, you'll notice in the video that the lower-mounted scope makes access to the charging handle pretty cramped. Not a problem with some other sighting systems, such as iron sights or a forward-mounted scope or red dot.
I had been kicking ideas around for acquiring a utility semiautomatic rifle with non-pistol gripped stock, and this made the SCR a compelling third choice to the M1 Carbine and the Mini-14. The use of STANAG 556 magazines was a particular attraction, so I decided to keep an eye out for one. Finally last November the website went from 'out of stock' to 'add to cart' on the SCR lower I was interested in. The lower goes for $750 at present, and with the cost of my chosen upper the total came to slightly less than the current MSRP on a Mini-14.
https://fightlite.com/scr-lwr-rp
My initial build was configured more as black rifle than a sporter because I found a fully-configured 5.56 cheesegrater upper without much fuss. This upper featured a 16" barrel with a threaded muzzle; fitting anything that might conceivably reduce the flash signature to the muzzle in California is problematic and the barrel is too short to cut back the threaded section, so I cut the front off a regular birdcage flash hider to serve as a thread protector. If anyone is curious what a gelded birdcage looks like, here's a closeup:
I also temporarily exchanged the laminated factory buttstock with a Choate plastic job intended for the Remington 1100, which will fit with very minor modification. The scope is a Weaver V1-4x in Warne QD rings.
The result for now is more functional than handsome to my eye, but I can live with it. At some later date I'll get a second upper that I can fit with a laminated wood handguard that matches the factory buttstock. Maybe something along these lines (note: these are photos of an early model sans bolt holdopen)
Until I have the opportunity to take it to the rifle range, I decided to install a CMMG rimfire adapter so I could use it at my local indoor pistol club. Ordinarily the CMMG unit is a drop-in replacement for the BCG. Because the Fightlite uses a relatively small-diameter angled buffer system, the squared-off rear plate on the CMMG unit does not allow the upper to fully close on the lower at the rear without a little extra contouring with a file.
The CMMG unit gave 100% reliable function during my first 60-round range session. I used a Black Dog Machine magazine with steel feed lips, which is much shorter than the CMMG mags and wobbles less in the SCR's magwell.
This rifle isn't exactly my usual cuppa, but I have to admit that it was fun to shoot and so far I am glad that I bought it.
BTW, you'll notice in the video that the lower-mounted scope makes access to the charging handle pretty cramped. Not a problem with some other sighting systems, such as iron sights or a forward-mounted scope or red dot.
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