MattTheHat
Member
I'd never pay the going rate for one of these (about a K bill at most places) but my local dealer was running them for $300 off during their spring clear out last week. I couldn't resist.
Seems to be a standard upper, save for two diagonally drilled roll pin holes and a slot milled for a tab that engages a spring loaded ejector pin and rides in a recess milled in the BCG. Also appears to be a standard lower, save for the weird safety that goes SAFE-FIRE-SAFE. I was originally planning on selling the lower to recoup a couple of hundred bucks, but there's something charming about an AR lower marked 36 Cal.
The charging lever and forward assist buttons are both made of some type of composite plastic, as is the front sight/fake gas block. A big piston assembly can be seen under the carbine length hand guards. They also offer a model with rifle length hand guards.
The bolt carrier group is very interesting. In addition to the spring loaded ejector pin mentioned before, there is no carrier key. It appears the firing pin rides inside a spring. Comparing it to an older Olympic/Rhino 10mm upper I have, I find all the non-standard bits to the gas piston and BCG to be far superior in design, execution and function.
It's a very interesting little shooter. I had a few feeding problems, but I'm guessing I'm going to find there are flavors of 2-1/2" shells that simply don't want to feed as well as others.
Looks to me like a standard 20 round AR magazine could be used as-is to hold 10-12 shells, but I haven't tried yet. Reforming the feed lips a smidge would certainly allow one to work. I was able to load 15 shells in a 30 round AR mag, but the curvature was too great to allow them to feed correctly.
YMMV, but so far, I'd certainly recommend the gun for the fun factor alone.
I'm thinking I might replace the upper with a flat top version just for the heck of it. Cross drilling the pin holes for the ejector drive tab wouldn't be a problem, but milling a slight slot for it might present a challenge.
I hadn't shot an AR with a rifle stock in over 25 years. I'd guess I'd forgotten how natural feeling they are compared to M4 stocks with pointy edges and rails hanging every which way.
-Matt
Seems to be a standard upper, save for two diagonally drilled roll pin holes and a slot milled for a tab that engages a spring loaded ejector pin and rides in a recess milled in the BCG. Also appears to be a standard lower, save for the weird safety that goes SAFE-FIRE-SAFE. I was originally planning on selling the lower to recoup a couple of hundred bucks, but there's something charming about an AR lower marked 36 Cal.
The charging lever and forward assist buttons are both made of some type of composite plastic, as is the front sight/fake gas block. A big piston assembly can be seen under the carbine length hand guards. They also offer a model with rifle length hand guards.
The bolt carrier group is very interesting. In addition to the spring loaded ejector pin mentioned before, there is no carrier key. It appears the firing pin rides inside a spring. Comparing it to an older Olympic/Rhino 10mm upper I have, I find all the non-standard bits to the gas piston and BCG to be far superior in design, execution and function.
It's a very interesting little shooter. I had a few feeding problems, but I'm guessing I'm going to find there are flavors of 2-1/2" shells that simply don't want to feed as well as others.
Looks to me like a standard 20 round AR magazine could be used as-is to hold 10-12 shells, but I haven't tried yet. Reforming the feed lips a smidge would certainly allow one to work. I was able to load 15 shells in a 30 round AR mag, but the curvature was too great to allow them to feed correctly.
YMMV, but so far, I'd certainly recommend the gun for the fun factor alone.
I'm thinking I might replace the upper with a flat top version just for the heck of it. Cross drilling the pin holes for the ejector drive tab wouldn't be a problem, but milling a slight slot for it might present a challenge.
I hadn't shot an AR with a rifle stock in over 25 years. I'd guess I'd forgotten how natural feeling they are compared to M4 stocks with pointy edges and rails hanging every which way.
-Matt
thing in?
By the way very nice gun Matt.
