UTAS xtr12?

[WestKentucky]

A coworker has a UTAS XTR12 12 ga AR with some extras that I’m considering trading for. I have 4 ar15s and he wants an AR15 and about $300 boot which is sensible considering his extra mags, optic, etc. I know it has some issues cycling Unless using heavy loads and running it wet with a light oil, but it’s also a straight up AR10 lower so I would buy another upper when the panic pricing eases up. I have an AR I’m not in love with and would let it go, and I want an AR10. Why should I not do this deal?

 

[Mk-211]

What kind of support does it have, being that it's made in Turkey? How hard is it to get parts if something breaks?

Are there no other companies (in the U.S.) that make an upper in 12ga for an AR-10 lower?

Anyway to change the gas block, that might make it run better on light loads.

 

[WestKentucky]

What kind of support does it have, being that it's made in Turkey? How hard is it to get parts if something breaks?

Are there no other companies (in the U.S.) that make an upper in 12ga for an AR-10 lower?

Anyway to change the gas block, that might make it run better on light loads.

I’m not at all concerned about the lower as it’s a dpms pattern lower, and parts are easy to source. As for the upper, I know it works with heavy loads, and it cycles by hand with lighter loads. It’s heavy so I will not be using it as a hunting arm, at least as a shotgun. From the description I’m getting from my coworker, it sounds like a simple issue that needs to be found, and he is not one to rip the gun apart to find and fix. I suspect a burr or scarf somewhere in the gun causing some binding, but it may just be really dirty or tight.

As for the gas block, it looks pretty massive from what I have found online. Massive enough that replacing handguards can be problematic in a hurry. Based upon that I’m going to assume that it’s a proprietary deal, but I do know that it functions, and reading reviews it sounds as if the issue being described is pretty common.

I don’t know of any US based companies doing a 12ga AR10. There may be, but I haven’t seen or heard of one. The way I traded into the AR15 that I will be giving him I traded way up in value so realistically I will only have about $600 tied up in the UTAS, and could likely sell the upper and get most of that money back if I chose to do it.

 

[Reinz]

Courtesy photo

 

[JTHunter]

Could the cycling problem be the result of dirt or residue blocking the ports in the gas tube?

 

[Demi-human]

Why should I not do this deal?

Because I doubt the accuracy of this statement...

as it’s a dpms pattern lower, and parts are easy to source.

Usually the only thing compatible is the furniture. I have never seen one switch uppers and shoot .308.
My VR-80 is awesome, but it doesn’t swap lower parts.
The 12 gauge shells are just too massive. Or there would be a section of uppers for LFARs at Palmetto.
The hammers don’t reach, the mag release isn’t wide enough, the bolt must travel an extra quarter inch to get the 3” ejected when they are opened.

I also wouldn’t trade a functional standard AR for a niche, running-impaired AR, plus $300...(at this moment in time that’s $1500!)

There’s a brand new VR-80 down at Dunham’s right now. I’ll buy it and sell you my fully functional black one for the six hundred I have in it. (I’ll add two hundred more to it and get the burnt bronze one!)

I took mine out rabbit hunting this February. Super fun!


I would ask to look it over first.
Some of the Xtr12s are rough. Some are smooth but put together wrong. It may be a number of things together that thwart its’ proper function.

I have heard the Utas is not adjustable and is designed to run 1 1/8 ounce loads at 1280fps.
That was my deal breaker. Mine is just for fun and sees only target loads. I haven’t even used the heavy load gas ring yet.

Definitely look it over. My Turkish Delight outruns my friend’s SPX4, and will actually fire all the shells all the time...

 

[hso]

Shoot it before committing. Reviews have been negative on breakage.

 

[WestKentucky]

I got to check it over this morning. The gun comes essentially like new with box, original receipt indicating purchase about 3 months ago, and I could see nothing “wrong” after reading about these I suspect that a lot of the issue comes from trying to use a gas piston setup on a shotgun. The tube type setups on most gas shotguns works, but trying to use a tiny piston setup to do the same thing is a bit wonky. Still, everything I see about these indicates that the lower is an unmodified DPMS pattern lower. I like the looks of this gun a lot, and again I have an AR15 that is serving me no purpose. I think I’m going to do the deal. I have until after work to make the decision.

Where we are with negotiation is my AR worth about 600, 100 rds of am and 2 extra mags for his XTR12, 2 extra mags, and a small pile of high brass 12ga. Dollar for dollar it’s not too far off, and the thing is neat.

Assuming I make the trade I’m going to be looking at reduced weight springs or other options to see if its possible to use the lighter loads and be easier on the gun. Only issue there being that there has to be enough pressure in the barrel to operate the piston to unlock the bolt. I can’t imagine Walmart cheapo bulk packs having the pressure to damage the gun, whereas the AA super handicap trap loads have a lot more potential to cause damage. Bulk pack loads may not have the oomph to unlock the bolt though.

 

[Demi-human]

Still, everything I see about these indicates that the lower is an unmodified DPMS pattern lower. I like the looks of this gun a lot, and again I have an AR15 that is serving me no purpose. I think I’m going to do the deal. I have until after work to make the decision.

That would be awesome. We’ll be waiting!

 

[WestKentucky]

I made the trade. I will try to get some pics in tonight... might be tough between bottles, diapers, baby baths, etc. the gun is nice enough, but the black paint isn’t the grandest thing ever.

Edit- the paint is fine. My coworker had sprayed some kind of oil inside of it and as it dried it looked funky. I need to rip it apart and really clean it. It smells like wd-40, but it doesn’t look right. I will hose it out with gumout and then spray it with remoil as I reassemble. I don’t like remoil, but it’s what I have and it will be a decent fit for this thing.

 

[WestKentucky]

That would be awesome. We’ll be waiting!

No time for measurements, but...

yes it’s a crappy cell phone pic. I need to take my case off and clean it.

 

[Demi-human]

Sa-weet!
I hope it works out great for you!

Now, get back to swabbin’ them bottles, Dad!
You’ll need to make some time to give us a range report!

 

[WestKentucky]

I finally got a chance to shoot the gun this morning. It gave me fits of FTE, FTF, and just was strange with its intermittent failures. I tried without the mag and the gun was absolutely flawless for function, but with magazine it is finicky as all get out. Seems like there is significant interference, and I can’t tell whether it is interference from the magazine itself or from the rounds dragging on the bolt. Either way it’s a mag issue so now I have less things to chase. I have 3 mags so next time I will bring all three and see if I can make it work better with slight modification.

 

[Demi-human]

Dang. Sorry to hear that.
At least I know you can make it work.