A manufacturer that is developing into a noteworthy force in the US for all firearm categories, albeit sporting, competition, tactical or personal defense, is Sturm, Ruger & Co. This epiphany was caused by the recent introductions of AR style rifles, a .300 Blackout Mini 14 and most recently the bolt action Precision Rifle. This bolt action is unlike any other offered by Ruger. The Precision Rifle is Ruger’s take on creating a highly accurate long range bolt action detachable magazine rifle; all the while keeping it affordable.

The Ruger Precision Rifle will surely be considered by any department or individual pondering a precision bolt action tactical rifle; its reasonable price will only reinforce this. It is available from the factory in various calibers, .308Win (tested herein), 6.5 Creedmore, and .243Win. The Precision Rifle arrives with many notable features including fully adjustable folding rear stock, threaded muzzle, Picatinny rail running along the upper receiver out to the end of the forend, and Ruger’s adjustable Marksman trigger. One thing that distinguishes the Precision Rifle, functionally and aesthetically is the ability to accept multiple types of detachable magazines. Ruger has devised a patented Multi-Magazine Interface (MMI), allowing them to greatly increase magazine compatibility beyond only one type. The Ruger Precision Rifle can use DPMS, M110, SR25, PMAG, AICS and some types of M14 magazines. Two 10-round Magpul PMags arrive with the Ruger Precision Rifle.

The Precision Rifle evaluated herein is chambered .308Win with 6.5 Creedmore and .243Win available. Many are already salivating at the thought of a long action version chambered in .300WinMag or even .338Lapua appearing in the future. The Precision Rifle is centered on a modified Ruger All American bolt action. Overall length is 38.25 to 41.75 inches with the 20 inch hammer forged 4140 chrome-moly steel free-floated medium profile barrel (.75 inches at muzzle) featuring 5R 1:10RH rifling. According to research for this article 5R rifling places a land opposite each of the barrel’s grooves, resulting in less aggressive upset and distortion of the bullet as it engages the rifling, thereby aiding in accuracy. The 5R rifling also features less sharp edged lands than those present in conventional-style rifling, reducing powder fouling and jacket failures. The company further optimized the Precision Rifle’s accuracy by utilizing the tightest possible chamber while also taking extra care to ensure a centralized chamber and minimal headspace. The muzzle is 5/8×24 threaded. A Ruger provided thread protector can be removed to make room for installing other muzzle devices. The Precision Rifle weighs in at 9.7 pounds when empty.

The Precision Rifle’s lower magazine well is machined from aerospace-grade 7075-T6 aluminum Type III hard coat anodized for maximum durability. The upper receiver and bolt are CNC-machined from pre-hardened 4140 chrome-moly steel. The upper receiver has an integral 20 MOA Picatinny rail secured with four, #8-40 screws for increased long range elevation capabilities. The three lug full diameter All American bolt has a 70 degree throw along with dual cocking cams. A bolt disassembly tool is stored in the bolt shroud. The bottom bolt lug is ideal for stripping rounds from the detachable magazines. Ruger decided to go with an oversized threaded on bolt handle for easier rapid working of the action; after all you have a high capacity magazine worth of ammunition available. If a user so chooses, a different bolt handle can be installed.

Ruger has chosen a different path from typical bedded stocks or even the chassis systems that seem to be gaining in popularity. The Precision Rifle utilizes a linear in-line recoil path to maximize accuracy potential by directing unwanted movement and vibration straight back into the buttstock. This minimizes impact on barrel harmonics when the rifle is fired; the key here is consistency during the firing impulse. The stock is threaded into the rear of the receiver in effect becoming a part of it.

The AR influence is hard to escape for any rifle nowadays-even bolt actions. Any AR style stock can be used over the buffer tube like projection if a user feels the MSR stock is not to their liking for some reason. The Precision Rifle’s barrel can be easily changed using techniques and tools common with AR15 rifles. Ruger is using a 15 inch free floated Samson Evolution KeyMod AR handguard. As with the buttstock most AR style forends can be used if a user wants to retrofit with one. The same can be said of the AR style pistol grip and fire selector switch.

The 1:10 twist hammer forged barrel gets the most out of the various wide ranging .308Win loads on the market i.e. 147 grain to 175 grain. The Precision Rifle’s relatively light weight, compared to other precision rifles on the market, gives improved portability and above average handling characteristics for a precision tactical bolt action rifle. Many tactical rifles, while accurate, resemble boat anchors when it comes to handling due to weight and stock configuration; not the Ruger Precision Rifle.

One has to be impressed with Ruger’s design work in getting the Precision Rifle to accept and feed via popular detachable magazines. Reliability is something that can not be compromised. The oversize bolt and smooth passage of the bolt in the raceway allows for minimal disturbance of the rifle when the bolt is worked. The Precision Rifle’s oversized bolt handle and detachable magazine are features that lend themselves to performing in a tactical environment and serve to maximize the Ruger’s potential.

Many will wonder what is the purpose or niche for the Ruger Precision Rifle. Why not just use a tuned semi-automatic AR in lieu of the bolt action Precision Rifle? The answer lies with individual or department preference for a bolt action. This could be based on cost, public perceptions, or myriad of other reasons. Ruger has designed a rifle that is rock solid with characteristics making it conducive to accurate shooting from a variety of positions. The forend handles bipods or sandbags with equal aplomb. The Ruger Precision Rifle is not exclusively designed for shooting from the supported prone or bench position. The stock allows for offhand and other types of supported fire if needed. Think hood/trunk of a squad car or other field expedient positions. The ergonomics of the adjustable length of pull Ruger MSR buttstock allows for a comfortable, repeatable cheekweld. This is combined with a Magpul AR pistol grip making hand placement conducive to pulling the Ruger Marksman trigger smoothly to the rear.

The first requirement of a tactical rifle is precise accuracy. A Leupold Mark IV 3.5-10x50MM scope with mil dot reticle was mounted on the one piece Picatinny rail above the Precision Rifle’s receiver via Leupold Mk IV rings. It has the typical great Leupold reliability, clarity, and image quality with a near perfect variable power range for a precision .308Win rifle. Importantly, Ruger provides the Precision Rifle with an integral Picatinny rail to that optics can be mated right up to the action for a solid zero maintaining connection between rifle and optic. Champion tripod front rest and sandbags were used to support the Ruger Precision Rifle during bench testing phase of evaluation in conjunction with bipod.

Various .308Win loadings from Black Hills Ammunition, Federal, Winchester, and Hornady provided the basis of accuracy tests. The Black Hills Match loads tested consisted of 168 grain Match bullets. The Federal chambering was the venerable 168 grain Match load that still serves as the benchmark for performance. 168 grain TAP from Hornady along with Winchester 168 grain Match was also used. The Precision Rifle’s 20 inch barrel produced velocity in the low 2600 feet per second (fps) range with the 168 grain loads. The Precision Rifle’s 20 inch barrel maximizes portability and handling while maintaining .308Win ballistics and terminal performance. As to be expected with quality ammunition, velocity figures within the different loads deviated very little from round to round as witnessed shooting over a RCBS AmmoMaster chronograph. The Precision Rifle produced MOA or smaller groups with several different ammunition brands—an important logistic consideration. The accuracy figures are based on firing five five-round groups and averaging group sizes.

Steel targets were smacked with ease out to 320 yards using field expedient rests at Echo Valley Training Center’s Range #1 stepped berm system. While by no means rivaling a semi-automatic for pure fire power, the detachable magazines were handy to recharge the Precision Rifle after the last empty case was flipped out on the ground. The Precision Rifle’s action was “slick” and smooth as it emerged from the box. The Magpul magazines that arrived with the Ruger Precision were used as well as the recently introduced Brownells’ AR 308 20-round magazine. The Precision’s bolt would function over the Magpul follower when the magazine was empty; however not with the Brownells due to follower configuration. This is not a criticism of either magazines or rifle. Just an observation so that different user’s can explore on other magazines they choose to use. This does not impact use of the rifle as laying cartridges in the raceway to single feed rounds did not work no matter magazine used. It is required to first click the rounds under the magazine’s feed lips for chambering properly.

The Ruger Marksman trigger is a huge part of the phenomenal accuracy to cost ratio factor derived from the Precision Rifle. The Marksman trigger is just as important to accuracy as the Ruger bolt action and quality barrel. A rifle’s trigger is the interface between shooter and rifle and must be right or accuracy will suffer. From the box it measured just below 4 pound pull weight. Ruger Marksman trigger is externally adjustable with a pull weight range of 2.25 to 5.0 pounds. Conveniently, Ruger has stowed the trigger adjustment tool in the bolt shroud with the previously mentioned bolt disassembly tool. This allows the Marksman trigger to be adjusted by the user without having to resort to an armorer. Without going into minutia, the Marksman distinctive “trigger blade” release lever in front of the trigger proper is the secret to maintaining minimal trigger weight, without creep, while keeping the system safe. The “trigger blade” must be activated (i.e. moved rearward into the trigger) before the sear will move firing the cartridge. A sudden drop or impact will not do this, even if the safety is off. The Marksman trigger’s contribution to precise accuracy can not be overemphasized.

In an effort to demonstrate the Ruger Precision Rifle’s flexibility in use, a Yankee Hill Machine Phantom flash suppressor was threaded on. The YHM Phantom flash hider allows for easy mounting of the YHM 7.62 Phantom suppressor. YHM’s Phantom 7.62 Sound Suppressor is a .30caliber suppressor utilizing Mike White’s Sound Technology Inc.’s patented baffle design. The Phantom 7.62 Sound Suppressor is manufactured from Chrome-Moly steel and features a matte black Parkerized finish. Its overall length is 8.5 inches with a diameter of 1.6 inches and weighs 25ounces. Hand tightening is all that is needed with the Phantom Flash Hider to hold the suppressor firmly in place. Conversely the suppressor can easily be removed via hand pressure when no longer needed. The Phantom Flash Hider supports the suppressor in two places helping to ensure bore alignment. A patented gas seal keeps the Phantom Flash Hider threads clean so the suppressor will not bind when removed from a weapon no matter how many rounds are fired.

Some time ago Engel Ballistic Research (EBR) subsonic ammunition was discovered as a primary source of quality sub-sonic ammunition due to the variety of calibers and loadings offered. Another reliable source for .308Win sub-sonic loads is Corbon. The Ruger Precision Rifle combined with YHM suppressor and Engel Ballistic Research or Corbon sub-sonic .308Win loads is eerily efficient out to 100 yards. Furthermore tactical modification of the Precision Rifle into a lowlight/dark role is satisfied by mounting an American Technologies Network ATN PS22 Night Vision device in front of the Leupold scope. This multiuse ability keeps day scope constantly zeroed, yet allows for quick adaptation night use. The PS 22 is attached or detached with no impact on the day optic’s point of aim and parallax is not an issue. Another benefit of the PS 22 is that a scope’s reticle does not need to be illuminated or IR compatible for it to be visible when using the PS 22. This differs from NV products that mount to the rear of the scope. These kinds of uses are outside the realm that most user’s require from a weapon.

The ability to adjust the Ruger MSR stock in a myriad of ways further supports its accuracy potential. Length of pull (LOP), check riser height, even cant of the buttpad is adjustable to user preference. The ability to fold and lock the Ruger MSR stock eases transport. An Eberlestock G2 pack proved a natural companion to the Precision Rifle during T&E. The G2’s combination of being a top loader pack and accessible front panel means that the main compartment is hassle free to access. There’s no digging and wrestling with your pack to free an item–its quick at hand. It’s a great combination. If you carry your weapon on your back, you’re much more agile and effective than if it’s stuck in your hands or on a shoulder sling all of the time; simply no better way to move about in an organized fashion. By having the pack carry the rifle, your hands are free for all of the things you need them for when you are traversing terrain. Further more, Eberlestock makes it so that you can get your weapons off the pack without having to un-strap everything that you’re wearing. Most importantly the pack must be comfortable considering all the time spent with it out in the field. The Gunslinger II (G2) has all these characteristics. It’s a mid-sized pack with a full-width scabbard to better accommodate weapons with larger cross-sections or bulky optics; weapons up to 60 inches long can be accommodated. Eberlestock’s “Control Clips” at the top of the G2’s Backscabbard compartment are used to segregate the scabbard and also to securely hold a rifle. The Control Clips are also used to hold the top cover onto the scabbard locking your gun into the pack. The G2 offers 2,700 cubic inches of space measuring 22 inches high, 10 inches wide, and 8 inches deep. The G2 can be generalized as a Three-Day pack in terms of what it can carry afield. The G2 is waterproof with the 1000d Cordura Nylon material polyurethane coated.

Even though a bolt action and imminently qualified to serve a precision tactical weapon, the Ruger Precision Rifle should not be pigeon holed into solely a sniper rifle role. There many jurisdictions and/or private users that will appreciate its non-assault rifle bolt action persona while maintaining its high capacity capability. Misconstrued prejudices may arise when it comes to Ruger Precision Rifle stemming from elitist sentiments based on price. Some individuals, not to mention industry competitors, will want you to believe that the moderately priced Precision Rifle, $1399 MSRP, must somehow be deficient when compared to rifles costing two to three times more. The Ruger Precision Rifle takes a back seat to no rifle in terms of repeatable accuracy, ergonomics, reliability, trigger, and capacity.

SITES OF INTEREST

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc
www.ruger.com

Black Hills Ammunition
www.black-hills.com

Winchester Ammunition
www.winchester.com

ATK/Federal Cartridge Company
www.federalpremium.com

Echo Valley Training Center
www.echovalleytrainingcenter.com

Leupold & Stevens Inc
www.leupold.com

HornadyMfg.Inc
www.hornady.com

LWRCI is a recognized industry leader in the development and manufacturing of short-stroke piston operating ARs. LWRCI’s entire reason d’être is the short-stroke piston and the improvement it offers over the original gas impingement design – especially when incorporated into short barrel platforms. It is no secret that the AR is not only the best selling civilian and law enforcement rifle in the U.S., but also gaining popularity around the world with the U.S. equipping/training so many armed entities. This has caused many manufacturers to jump on the AR bandwagon in recent years by offering their versions. Of late, the most attention seems to be on “improving” the AR platform via developing piston-driven ARs in lieu of Stoner’s original gas impingement design. Whether or not piston-driven ARs are superior to their gas impingement brethren often generates heated discussion. One thing that is not debatable is the number of manufacturers rushing to create piston-driven ARs even if traditional AR models already exist in their production line-up.

LWRCI offers numerous models ranging from LE/military-only select-fire versions, various barrel lengths/profiles ranging from 7-inch barrel UCIW model to 18-inch barrel M6A3 DMR. Other unique models include the M6A4 IAW that fires from a closed bolt on semiautomatic then goes to open bolt function on automatic fire and then ultimately the 7.62×51/308Win REPR. The REPR is quickly finding favor in U.S. law enforcement and military special operation communities. Another LWRCI model, and the one focused on in this article, is the PSD – Personal Security Detail. The PSD is one of LWRCI’s smallest, dimensionally speaking, contributions to the AR field. A LWRCI PSD upper was obtained for testing in lieu of a complete rifle. The flexibility of the AR platform is hard to beat considering one moment an 8-inch barrel PSD upper is fitted to NFA registered lower – if a civilian or LE – and the next an 18-inch heavy barrel DMR upper is installed if mission dictates it. This does not even get into the myriad of calibers that are coming on line for the AR ranging from 5.7 to .50 Beowolf with many stops in between.

LWRCI literature clearly lays out the thought process behind the development of the PSD. The 8-inch barrel PSD 5.56mm is designed for CQB and personal security detail (PSD) operations. It is best to view the 8-inch barreled PSD through the lens of a PDW or SMG weapon versus a rifle. The 8-inch barrel produces approximately 2,400-2,500 fps velocities when firing 50gr-62gr 5.56mm loadings. The PSD is also available in 6.8 SPC chambering; in fact it was the original chambering in the PSD product line. However, the decision was made to also chamber the PSD in 5.56mm based improvements in the 5.56mm cartridge in terms of bullets and powders. This re-evaluation is based on 5.56mm performance being greater than any pistol caliber combined with the compact dimensions of the LWRCI PSD rivaling a SMG. It only made sense from a business standpoint considering the vast number of individuals, departments, agencies, and units intimately familiar with the 5.56mm round and existing number of magazines/ammunition already in the supply chain.

The PSD utilizes LWRCI’s patented self-regulating, short-stroke gas piston operating system, ensuring reliability in the harshest theaters of operation. LWRCI literature points to several industry leading technological innovations incorporated in the PSD. LWRCI has sought to engineer a complete solution to the deficits found in the direct impingement AR family of rifles and carbines and was an early innovator in the AR gas-piston surge. The principal improvement comes from eliminating the venting of hot, carbon-laden gases into the receiver and bolt carrier group. This reduces the cleaning requirements associated with direct gas impingement ARs. It also means the bolt carrier group and associated springs are not subjected to the searing heat of the tapped gasses; this being one of the major causes of small parts failure. The LWRCI PSD utilizes cold hammer forged barrels made out of 41V45 steel alloy and treated with NiCorr surface conversion technology. NiCorr surface conversion has proved more lubricious, harder wearing, more heat and corrosion resistant than the hard chrome-lining normally used in a service rifles’ bore. LWRCI advertises its barrels as being able to handle 20,000 rounds before replacement, as compared to 6,000-10,000 rounds with standard chrome lined barrels. The bolt carrier of the PSD is coated with a proprietary nickel coating that nearly eliminates corrosion while providing greatly increased lubricity. This coating provides permanent lubrication to the moving parts and is similar to that being used by the U.S. Army Research Lab and USSOCOM to extend the service life of their weapons systems.

The PSD’s ARM-R forend’s top rail is easily removable and reinstalled without effecting zero of any sights or target designators. Cleaning methods for the LWRCI are familiar to anyone with experience with the AR-15 with the operating rod mechanism easily accessed thanks to ARM-R design. The ARM-R rail allows for mission specific configuration with lights, lasers, target designators, and other items. As benefiting a rifle in the PSD’s price range and intended LE and military audience, the PSD comes standard with folding BUIS open sights that proved able to co-witness with a variety of optics mounted on the PSD. The PSD upper installed on a lower weighs slightly over 6 pounds and has an overall length of 24.5 inches with LMT SOPMOD stock collapsed and approximately 28 inches extended. The LMT SOPMOD is a favored stock type and the type affixed to lower mated with LWRCI PSD upper for a large portion of this T&E. The PSD’s 8-inch barrel features 1:7 twist and comes with an A2 style flash hider. The 8-inch barrel maximizes portability and handling while maintaining a ballistics and terminal performance superior to any pistol caliber carbine or SMG.

The key with the LWRCI PSD is having an 8-inch barreled AR that works at the same reliability level as longer barrel ARs. This is where the LWRCI short-stroke piston comes into play. Instinctually, piston driven ARs appeal too many by the very fact that hot gases and powder residue is not dumped into the action as in the original direct impingement (DI) design. Hands on experience of LWRCI bolt carrier being handled soon after long strings of fire and merely wiped down compared to their DI cousins reinforces this. The ability of the gas piston ARs to operate with barrel lengths below the generally accepted 14-inch barrel threshold of DI ARs reliability adds further legitimacy to the piston ARs. Do not take this as lampooning of the gas impingement ARs. The DI rifles are more robust than most give them credit for and sub-14 inch barreled rifles are possible with attention to detail by the manufacturer in terms of gas port sizes and timing of the ejection process.

LWRCI utilizes a piston design made up of three components. A piston cup fits over the gas plug located at the front of the PSD handguard with an intermediate rod placed between the piston cup and operating rod that acts on the bolt carrier group. The LWRCI push-rod system is self cleaning in that any excess gas is vented out of the handguard just behind the gas block. The gas cup has grooves that act as scrapers as the action is worked to prevent carbon build up in the gas cup. The rear of the gas-piston rod is what smacks against the bolt assembly’s integral strike plate operating the action. LWRCI’s pioneering work with the AR piston system has led to the use of an integral strike plate in lieu of a staked version. This is based on concerns of metal fatigue and not wanting to take the chance of a staked strike plate failing. Along these same lines the LWRCI’s bolt body features radial grooves that serve multiple functions; such as anti-tilt for the bolt assembly along with providing a certain amount of built-in tolerance against any debris that may find its way into the LWRCI’s action and buffer tube area. LWRCI’s short-stroke piston use of a “tappet” system to impart force to the piston driving the bolt carrier to the rear minimizes heat build up not only in the weapon’s action, but also along the weapon’s forend due to gas being confined to the gas plug/piston cup located behind the gas block; thus preventing hot gas from transmitting down the length of a gas tube ala direct impingement or long-stroke operating method.

C.R. Newlin, Echo Valley Training Center owner, generously allowed access to his select-fire AR lower for testing with the LWRCI PSD upper supplementing a registered semi-only lower already on hand. Range testing commenced with functionality test consisting of dumping multiple magazines at several targets in rapid fashion once sight zeros were verified. Any fighting rifle must be reliable to be worthy of further consideration. The importance of quality magazines can not be overstated in terms of impacting a weapon’s reliability. The majority of malfunctions in a select fire, or even semi-auto rifle, can be traced to a faulty magazine. Brownells’ AR magazines are primarily used for most T&Es for this reason, though random magazines are mixed into testing at times. The LWRCI’s short-stroke gas piston operating rod system proved its worth in keeping the bolt carrier group cooler and cleaner compared to direct impingement AR rifles. While not trying to be unrealistic or overly harsh, the LWRCI PSD was exposed to multiple magazine dumps at various times of the T&E. The method was not mindless ammunition wasting, but rather wanting to confirm beyond a doubt that the PSD delivered as advertised under the most extreme circumstances of operational functioning. It was quickly noticed how little heat was transmitted not only to the PSD’s action, but also into the PSD’s quad rail forend with shooters able to grip the weapon without resorting to gloves or installing a vertical forward grip. Anyone with experience with AKs or direct impingement ARs know how fast forends can heat up with only a few magazines worth fire.

It was decided to take full advantage of the PSD’s flattop upper by accessing multiple optics for use during testing. A Trijicon RX30 Reflex was mounted on the PSD with it sharing time with a Leupold Prismatic. A Hi-Lux/Leatherwood Optics CMR 14×24 was also employed to ascertain the PSD’s accuracy potential via 4x magnification capability. The CMR scope was designed for when a shooting situation gets up close and personal. The CMR (Close Medium Range) has 1x-4x magnification based on a compact 30 mm tube. The relatively short 30 mm tube scope does not add a lot of weight to the rifle, and thanks to the large diameter of the scope tube, it lets in a lot of light for a bright target image. Hi-Lux/Leatherwood literature points out, “…an extremely practical circular reticle that aids in quick target acquisition by drawing the attention of the shooter’s eye to the center of the scope. Along these same lines, to insure that the target is fully visible, the reticle has only a horizontal crosshair, with a partial vertical lower crosshair. The upper half of this reticle leaves the scope clean and uncluttered. Plus, the lower crosshair features short bar aiming points calibrated for standard .223 and .308 service ammo, which are very precise out to 600 meters. The center dot and the small circle of the reticle are available with either green or red illumination.” It was discovered that the PSD’s rear flip-up sight had to be removed to provide clearance for the CMR to mount properly, which would be a negative for many considering the PSD’s likely CQB role in the field.

The optic types intended to be left on the LWRCI PSD after accuracy testing would be the Trijicon RX30 Reflex or Leupold Prismatic; though some may be inclined to leave the Hi-Lux/Leatherwood CMR mounted. The Trijicon RX30 and Leupold Prismatic sight offer the capability to engage multiple targets in rapid sequence compared to open sights, while at the same time providing adequate accuracy out to a couple hundred yards. As many “maturing” shooters can attest to, a single focus plane is easier to shoot accurately than coordinating front and rear sights. The 5.56/.223’s flat trajectory aids in making hits out to 250 yards without having to compensate excessively for bullet drop even with the short 8-inch barrel.

A 150 yard zero provides for +2 inches at 100 yards, -5 inch at 200 yards, and -13 inches at 250yds.

The PSD was evaluated at Echo Valley Training Center (EVTC). EVTC is fast becoming a major provider of training on the East Coast with multiple organizations conducting courses onsite. The private facility has multiple 100 yard bermed enclosed bays capable of handling numerous students conducting “square” range drills or more dynamic/fluid types of training. In conjunction with the individual training bays, Echo Valley Training Center features multi-stepped target berms that are strewn with reactive steel MGM targets, fluid drained automobiles, and moving targets at ranges varying from 150 yards out to 350 yards.

Ammunition tested with the PSD was a combination of Black Hills Ammunition 55gr FMJ and 50gr TSX, Winchester Ammunition 55gr FMJ and Federal Premium Law Enforcement 55gr Triple Shok and 62gr Bonded SP loads. Loads evaluated chronographed between 2,400-2,500 fps; which was a pleasant surprise considering the short PSD barrel. The PSD kept all loads tested at 1 inch or better at 50 yards with the Federal Premium 55gr Triple Shok and Black Hills 50gr TSX producing near MOA groups out to 200yds. Overall, the accuracy level was more than acceptable considering the barrel’s profile. Most bulk range firing utilized the Winchester and Black Hills Ammunition 55gr FMJ. Ammunition such as the Black Hills 50gr TSX and Federal 55gr Triple Shok and 62gr Bonded loads elevate 5.56mm terminal ballistic performance and barrier penetration across the board; especially in short barreled rifles such as the PSD.

AR ergonomics are hard to beat even on a full size AR with the compact PSD even handier and easier to wield in tight quarters. Drills moving around barricades and training evolutions involving firing and evacuating from vehicles clearly bore this out. A short barrel rifle like the LWRCI PSD is what individuals will choose to work with in such an environment where the trade off in size is worth any loss in bullet performance due to reduced velocity. Prior training experiences with Suarez International, Tactical Response, and Storm Mountain assisted in providing a baseline foundation of what qualities are desirable in a fighting rifle along with proofing ancillary gear such as BlackHawk chest rig for carrying magazines and BlackHawk single-point sling in case the PSD needs to be slung freeing up use of both hands. The PSD’s performance is superior to any SMG and it does not take a backseat to full-size rifles in the sub-200 yard arena, which is what was what the PSD was designed for by LWRCI.

Sites of Interest

LWRC International, LLC

Cambridge, MD. 21613
Phone: (410) 901-1348
www.lwrci.com

Leatherwood/Hi-Lux Optics

3135 Kashiwa St
Torrance, CA 90505
Phone: (310) 257-8142
www.hi-luxoptic.com

Black Hills Ammunition

PO Box 3090
Rapid City, SD 57709
Phone: (605) 348-5150
www.black-hills.com

Leupold & Stevens Inc

14400 NW Greenbrier Pkwy
Beaverton, OR 97006
Phone: (800) LEUPOLD
www.leupold.com

Echo Valley Training Center

251 C Prosperity Drive
Winchester, VA 22602
www.echovalleytrainingcenter.com

Trijicon Inc.

49385 Shafer Ave
Wixom, MI 48393
Phone: (248) 960-7700
www.trijicon.com

ATK/Federal Cartridge Company

900 Ehlen Drive
Anoka, MN 55303
Phone: (800) 322-2342
www.federalpremium.com

Winchester Ammunition

427 N. Shamrock St
East Alton, IL 62024
www.winchester.com

Lewis Machine & Tool, Inc

1305 11th W
Milan, IL 61264
Phone: (309) 732-9527
www.lewismachine.net

LaserLyte Introduces the K-15 Kryptonyte Green Laser

The LaserLyte K-15 Kryptonyte Green laser is a modern military styled laser for the modern rifle. The K-15 Kryptonyte is designed for use with the modern rifle, carbine or any weapon with three-inches of Picatinny or weaver type rail. It is constructed of aircraft grade 6061 aluminum with T3 hardness. The entire aluminum body is black anodized with Level 2 hardness. The concise laser engraved markings clearly display the user-friendly features. The K-15 Kryptonyte is fully adjustable with hex drive screws protected by sealed turret caps. The offset design of the laser aperture allows for more flexible mounting options. The recessed activation selector can be changed to off, constant on and momentary on. The momentary on feature is used with the 10-inch long tape switch that can be mounted with provided Velcro strips. The bright green dot makes target acquisition fast and efficient. The green laser can be seen in daylight up to 100 yards and at night it can be seen up to a mile away. Powered by one CR-123 battery, the K-15 Kryptonyte offers 1.5 hours of continuous on. The unit measure 3 inches in length is 2.43 inches wide, 1.37 inches high and weighs 5.4 ounces. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $249.95. For more information you can contact them at LaserLyte, Dept. SAR, 101 Airpark Road, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. Phone: (928) 649-3201. Fax: (928) 649-3970. They are on the web at www.laserlyte.com.

Ultimate Equipment Introduces Their M1911 Folding Knife

For the past 100 years, the Model 1911 pistol has been trusted for its durability, simplicity and reliability. Using these tried and true principles, Ultimate Equipment is proud to introduce the M1911 Folding Knife.

The M1911 Folding Knife by Ultimate Equipment captures the spirit of the classic Model 1911 firearm. By using military standard grips, this knife delivers an authentic touch and feel of the M1911 pistol in your hands. It is sturdy, durable, and most of all reliable. Every M1911 Folding Knife is manufactured with standard 1911 pistol bushings, grip screws and grip panels. As a result, grips from the knife and those from your 1911 pistol are interchangeable.

Forged in American CPM S30V stainless steel, the M1911 knife is one tough tool. Ultimate Equipment’s workshop skillfully heat-treats and hardens the blade to HRC 59-61 rating providing wear and corrosion resistance second to none. The modern Particle Metallurgy process also creates a very refined grain microstructure with evenly dispersed Vanadium Carbides allowing the steel to take a fine consistent edge that stays razor sharp for a much longer time. The M1911 Folding Knife is also offered with a more affordable 440C stainless steel blade.

Ultimate Equipment has also added the innovative patent pending “Hammerhead Lock” to the M1911 knife. Being an ergonomically designed and ambidextrous locking mechanism, it enables smooth one-hand operation, while at the same time providing the most rock solid structure for a folding knife.

The knife comes in an attractive box that includes the knife with the blade and grips of your choice, a hex key for grip removal, left and right pocket carry clips and a sheath to carry the knife on your belt.

The M1911 Folding Knife can be ordered with the blade made of 440C or CPM S30V steel with Mahogany (Rosewood) or Ebony (Blackwood) grips. The M1911 folding knife with 440C steel blade has a MSRP of $99 with the Mahogany grips and $115 with the Ebony grips. The M1911 Folding Knife with the CPM S30V steel blade has an MSRP of $139 with the Mahogany grips and $155 with the Ebony grips.

For more information on these classic and sturdy knives, please contact Ultimate Equipment, Dept. SAR, #122 – 2498 West 41st Ave., Vancouver, BC, V6M 2A7, Canada. Phone: (604) 889-0981. Fax: (604) 909-1981. Email: terry@ultimate-equipment.com. Web site: www.ultimate-equipment.com.

SIG Sauer Introduces P522 Pistol

SIG Sauer, Inc., the leading manufacturer of commercial, law enforcement, and military firearms, has introduced the P522, a pistol version of the SIG522 rifle. The P522 brings the look, feel and excitement of the widely popular P556 Pistol to the rimfire community in a .22 LR blowback, semiautomatic package with a 10-inch barrel. The P522 pistol features a lightweight polymer lower receiver with ergonomic pistol grip, ambidextrous safety lever and ambidextrous magazine catch. The upper receiver is machined from 7075-T6 aircraft grade aluminum and given a black hard coat anodize for durability. The upper receiver features an integrated M1913 Picatinny rail for mounting a wide range of accessories. The P522 features two sling attachment points and has a built-in storage compartment hidden beneath the realistic looking “gas valve.” The 10 inch barrel features a standard 1/2x28TPI thread for industry standard flash hiders and sound suppression devices. An A1 type flash suppressor is standard. Available in two models, one is the SWAT version and features an alloy quad-rail forearm for attaching lights, lasers and other tactical accessories while the standard model utilizes a Swiss-type polymer hand guard for the clean retro look of the SG 550: the rifle that created the worldwide demand for precision Swiss arms. The P522 is shipped in a hard carry case with one 25-round magazine. Ten-round magazines are also available. The P522 SWAT has an MSRP of $643. The standard P522 model, with a Swiss-type polymer hand guard, carries an MSRP of $572. For more information contact SIG Sauer, Inc., Dept. SAR, 18 Industrial Drive, Exeter, NH 03833. Phone: (603) 772-2302. They can be found on the web at www.sigsauer.com.

New .223 62 Grain TSX Load from Black Hills Ammunition

Black Hills Ammunition has added a .223 load featuring the 62 grain Barnes TSX bullet. This new load joins the extensive Black Hills lineup of .223s which includes the 55 grain TSX added in 2009. The Barnes .223 TSX bullets are designed for high weight retention (typically 100%). This ammunition provides incredibly effective terminal performance. The projectile opens up immediately upon impact to over .45 caliber diameter but still penetrates deeply (approximately 20 inches in ballistic gelatin. Velocity is 3,100 fps from a 24-inch barrel or 3,000 fps from a 20-inch barrel. The 62 grain bullet works well with twist rates of 1 in 7, 1 in 8 or 1 in 9 inch barrels making it suitable for currently made semiautomatic rifles in this caliber. This is the optimum .223 load for use in hunting, self defense or police patrol rifle use where a hard hitting, but deep penetrating bullet is desired. This load is the optimum for police situations requiring a “Barrier Blind” projectile for maintaining effectiveness through intermediate barriers. This ammunition line is available in the Black Hills “New Ammunition” line and is not available as remanufactured ammunition. For more information on this as well as their extensive line of quality ammunition, please contact them at Black Hills Ammunition, Inc., Dept. SAR, P.O. Box 3090, Rapid City, SD 57709. Phone: (605) 348-5150. Fax: (605) 348-9827. Website: www.black-hills.com.

New Single Point Bungee Sling from Elite Survival Systems

The new Single Point Sling from Elite Survival Systems offers an internal bungee layer for enhanced comfort and support, plus a quick-release attachment for convenience or emergency detach. The SPS02 has an internal bungee layer on one side only to offer enhanced comfort, yet minimize bounce and stretch. The sling is constructed of 1.25-inch heavy-duty nylon webbing with heavy-duty hardware. It attaches to the firearm with an interlocking attachment ring that prevents accidental release. The heavy-duty quick release buckle allows the attachment ring to remain connected to the firearm for quick and easy connect and disconnect. The sling is available in one fully-adjustable size and connects to any rifle with a connection ring. For information on this produce or any of the extensive line of nylon related gear, please contact them at Elite Survival Systems, Dept. SAR, 310 West 12th Street, Washington, MO 63090. Phone: (636) 390-8360. Fax: (636) 390-2977. Visit them on the web at www.elitesurvival.com.

Taurus Unveils New Polymer Judge Public Defender

Taurus has just unveiled their revolutionary new Judge Public Defender Polymer. This scaled down model of everyone’s favorite combo gun, the Taurus Judge, still gives the ability to fire the shooters choice of both .410 and .45 Colt ammunition – now in a size that fits in most pockets – also in a lighter, polymer body frame with new updates for improved handling and accuracy. Just like its big brother, this little gun delivers amazing versatility and devastating firepower for self-protection. New features include an adjustable rear sight, body styling that conforms to the shooters grip for secure hold and a new target style hammer and trigger. The Public Defender Polymer is available in blued or stainless steel finishes and weighs only 27 ounces. Capable of chambering both 2.5 inch .410 shotgun shells and .45 Colt ammunition, this amazing 5-shot combo gun is ideal for short distances – where most altercations occur – or longer distances with the .45 LC ammunition. The rifling has been finely tuned on this small frame revolver to spread the shot pattern at close quarters or to guide the bullet to the target. All Taurus Judge models include a fiber optic front sight as well as Taurus’ ergonomic Rubber Grips. Additionally, like all Taurus handguns, the unique Taurus Security System allows users to securely lock the gun using an inconspicuous key-lock. Contact them at Taurus USA, Inc., Dept. SAR, 16175 NW 49 Avenue, Miami, FL 33014. Phone: (305) 642-1115. Fax: (305) 624-1126. Website: www.taurususa.com.

The AR-15/M16 platform is one of most prolific black rifles ever developed. In the early years there was, without doubt, a love/hate relationship by those who used it. Most of the problems were related to the powder used in the cartridges, not the rifle itself. The early powder used was not the powder the gun was designed to use and besides being extremely “dirty” causing severe internal fouling, it caused the rifle to cycle differently than it was designed for: resulting in a rifle that had different cleaning issues in the field, and was subject to extraction problems. The damage was done in the minds of many soldiers, who marked the rifle with a bad reputation. In later years, with improved powders and advanced machining techniques, it evolved into one of the most used rifles of all time, second only to the AK series. With the use of a cleaner burning “ball” type powder, chrome lined bores and chambers and a strict cleaning regimen the problems were solved and has become the highly reliable rifle that it is today. But even with the new advanced rifles and ammunition they will still get dirty and, if left long enough, will stop firing because of fouling built up in the bolt and upper receiver area. The design of the rifle is, after all, gas operated. Propellant gases are vented from the barrel, into the gas block, through the gas tube and into the bolt carrier key along with any unburnt powder and carbon deposits.

Today, the piston driven AR seems to be the way design changes are heading. Piston driven AR-15/M16s are not a new idea. In the mid 1980s, Walt Langendorfer introduced what he called the Rhino System. The system was a retro-fit kit that included a front sight unit, gas piston, spring and bolt carrier key. Although the system worked fairly well, there were issues with the spring in the unit. It just could not take the heat and would fail prematurely. Now the piston driven AR is not only accepted, it is sought after.

There are several manufacturers now making complete piston driven rifles or piston driven upper receiver units that will retrofit the existing AR-15/M16 series of rifles. These are high tech marvels and bring with them a high price tag. Not that these rifles are not worth the money, they are. A lot of R&D and expense went into developing the uppers. But what about the average guy that can’t afford to spend between $1,600 and $2,200 dollars for just a complete upper, let alone an entire rifle. Maybe the guy that has spent his entire “gun money” budget on his existing gun setting it up just the way he wants it with all of the best accessories and making it shoot perfectly.

There is now a way to have a piston driven gun at a very competitive price. Adams Arms is now producing a complete kit that will fit your existing rifle. The kit changes a standard gas operated AR-15/M16 rifle or carbine into a piston driven gun. The kit comes with everything you need and anyone can install it. You don’t have to take it to a gunsmith or do any machining. Just remove some of your existing parts and install the new ones. Installation takes only about 10 minutes from start to finish.

Installation

As is always the case when starting work on a gun, remove the magazine, check the chamber and make sure the gun is unloaded. Take the bolt carrier out of the gun and set it aside. Remove the existing flashider and lock or peel washer, remove the handguards, remove the front sight/gas block assembly with gas tube and remove the front handguard cap. If your existing gas block is the standard front sight assembly type you may have to drive out the two taper pins (look at the pins and drive from the small head side). The only other thing left to do is to remove the standard bolt carrier key. Most of these are staked in but can still be removed easily. Just be sure to have an Allen wrench that fit the screws tightly. The correct size is 9/32.

Once all the standard parts are removed it’s time to install the piston drive kit. The kit consists of a 440C stainless steel gas block, sleeve/drive rod, gas plug, sleeve/rod compression spring, bolt carrier key, a modified front handguard cap and a set of modified M-4 handguards. The upper handguard of the set has been notched slightly to accommodate the conversion’s gas plug.

Start installation of the new kit by setting the new carrier key onto the bolt carrier. The new carrier has a locating pin on the bottom that fits into the gas hole in the top of the carrier. Use red Locktite on the screws and torque them to 40 in/lbs. This is an important step. If you do not Locktite and torque them they may come loose. Next, install the bottom half of the new handguard into the delta ring then slide the handguard cap onto the barrel. Slide the new gas block onto the barrel with the gas plug groove facing toward the muzzle. As it becomes tight you may have to turn the gas block from side to side as you push it back. A rubber dead-blow hammer might be needed to nudge it into place. Be sure you line up the handguard to go into the handguard cap. This sounds like it takes three hands to do but it actually goes together very easily. Push the gas block as far as you can towards the receiver making sure that it is up against the handguard cap, straight up and down and aligned with the gas port hole in the barrel. As long as it is straight and the top of it is level, it will be aligned properly. The host rifle this kit was fitted to had an A3 flat-top upper and a level was laid across the upper and the gas block and eyeballed. You then tighten two hex bolts in the gas block to lock it on the barrel. Install the spring on the back end of the sleeve rod and thread it through the gas block, through the barrel nut, delta ring and spring and into gas tube hole in the front of the receiver. Insert the gas plug into the gas block by lining it up with the machined cuts in the front of the gas block. Push the gas plug back until the detent button on it hits the face of the gas block. Make sure it enters the sleeve on the front of the drive rod. Push the detent button in while you push the gas plug further back and rotate it 90 degrees. Install the top half of the M4 handguard and the installation is complete. The gas block on the unit tested had a Picatinny rail machined into the top. This works great if you want to install a front BUIS as it is the same height as the flat-top rail on an A3 upper. Adam Arms will also be offering a “low profile” gas block without the rail.

The upper that the kit was installed in was a mix of several manufacturers’ parts. It consisted of Model 1 A3 upper receiver, a Stag Arms .556, 1 in 9 twist, 16 inch M4 barrel with DPMS bolt, carrier and charging handle. Two different lowers were used, a semi-auto DPMS and a Colt full-auto lower.

Testing

The initial testing of the kit consisted of firing over 500 rounds of various types of .223 ammunition that included Black Hills 77-grain Match Hollow Point, Black Hills 69-grain MatchKing Hollow Point, Remington 50-grain Jacketed Hollow Point, XM855 green tip and some reloads with 55-grain FMJ bullets. This provided a wide variety of ammo types and bullets weights. Black Hills ammunition was mostly used as it has been found to be the most consistent and reliable thus eliminating any function problems related to ammunition. As it turned out, ammunition brand and type was not an issue. The new piston driven upper digested anything we ran through it. At the start of the test the fourth and sixth round fired and ejected but the gun failed to pick up the next round either time. It is suspected that it might have been because the drive rod spring was not seated completely against the delta ring/barrel nut. It happened while using the XM855 ammunition, which might also have been the culprit. Whatever the reason, we never had a single malfunction after that.

The testing was conducted in both semi and full auto with probably about half the testing done on full-auto. Cyclic rate was checked with a PACT timer with Rate-of-Fire option. Rate of fire was checked on the rifle before and after installation of the kit and ran right at 635 rounds per minute with a full stock on the rifle. Installing a collapsible stock on the gun raised the rate of fire to 675, which was to be expected.

Magazines used during the test included a US GI 30-round, Beta C-mag 100-round drum and the excellent new MagPul P-Mag 30-rounders. The P-Mag is a highly reliable polymer magazine that features a light weight magazine body with textured gripping surface, stainless steel corrosion resistant spring and anti-tilt follower. They are also available with a clear window in the sides to verify remaining round count.

Since this kit has no effect on accuracy it was not really a factor in the testing. Although the accuracy was normal for this type of rifle, there was no noticeable difference after the kit was installed.

During the test, one of Advanced Armament Corporation’s M4-2000 .556 suppressors was installed. It is small, light, installs fast and is capable of handling fully automatic fire. This was tried as an added test because suppressors are known for generating higher back pressures and increased cyclic rates. Over 100 rounds with the suppressor attached, in addition to the initial 500+ unsuppressed rounds, were fired. The kit ran perfectly with zero malfunctions while using the suppressor.

Conclusion

At no time during the testing was any lubricant of any kind used on the rifle. It was run completely dry. The rifle was broken open several times and parts were inspected. There was no premature wear on anything. The inside of the upper receiver around the carrier, bolt and locking lugs remained very clean with no unburnt powder or carbon present in either the upper or around the fire control parts in the lower. This is the most noticeable feature of a piston driven gun. They remain very clean and can run without lubrication. Probably the other most valuable and noticeable feature was that very little heat was transferred back into the bolt carrier and upper receiver compared to a regular gas system. During the test, 100 rounds were run through the gun with a Beta C-Mag. The gun was opened and the bolt pulled out. The bolt was cool enough to hold in your bare hand. A gun that runs cooler will have a longer service life with the advantage of fewer heat related parts failures.

The unit tested was a pre-production unit in bare stainless steel. Production units will be finished in a flat black Melonite to match the finish on most AR’s. Melonite is a thermochemical treatment for improving surface properties of metal parts. It offers improved heat and wear resistance. The drive rod return spring will have “caps” on each end to give it a more finished look and keep it from binding on the front of the delta ring. The spring will also be “detented” to the drive rod so that there is less chance to lose it when the unit is disassembled. Other improvements on the production units will be the knurling of the front of the gas plug to aid in removing it and a slot added to the front face for turning it with the rim of a shell if need be. The unit comes with M4 handguards but can also be used with several of the Picatinny rail forearms that are available. As of this writing forearm rails that will work with the system are the Predator, Midwest Industries and Daniel Defense. Others might possibly fit but have not yet been tried. Contact Adams Arms for a full list of compatible rail forearms. The kits will be available in different models for barrel lengths from 7 to 24 inches and for barrel diameters up to 1 inch. Retail price of the kit is between $550 and $600 depending on the model.

The unit is covered with lifetime money back manufacturers warranty. In other words, if it breaks they will replace it: period. Jason Adams has come up with a product that works as advertised, is well built and an economical way to have a piston driven AR-15/M16.

Adams Arms Retro-Fit Kit Update

Since this original article was written on the Adams Arms Retro-Fit kit there have been several very helpful changes that have been incorporated into the final production unit. Most noteworthy is that now the return spring is held captive on the sleeve/drive rod so that is doesn’t fall off or fail to stay in place as you’re disassembling the unit or putting it back together. This is a must, especially when using the kit on a weapon that has a rail system handguard. On the pre-production unit, the spring could easily slide off the drive rod and fall into the depths of the handguard or rail system handguard not to be seen again until you disassembled the handguard. The spring is still able to be removed from the drive rod by pulling it off forcefully but it now stays in place as it should as it is detented on to the drive rod.

There is also the addition of a stainless steel bushing on the end of the spring that rests against the Delta ring. Previously, the spring itself rested against the Delta ring and could catch on the spring when removing the unit from the gun. This resulted in the situation described above and also required removing the forearm to retrieve the spring.

Another addition is a stainless steel bushing that fits into the gas tube hole of the upper receiver. This bushing eliminates any wear that could occur to the upper receiver by the drive rod moving back and forth through the hole. Without the bushing the wear would only occur after several thousand rounds but is now prevented from happening. The bushing is easily pushed in place from the rear of the receiver with a wooden dowel or metal rod.

The last improvement involves the gas block and gas block plug. The plug itself now features knurling on the front outside edge. This allows for a much better grip on the plug making it easier to remove for cleaning or turning for adjusting as the production unit now features three adjusting positions. The first one is the standard full flow gas position. The second one cuts the gas flow down when using the unit on some short barreled guns or guns that have excessively large gas holes in the barrel. Some manufacturers seem to do this to their guns so that they can make their shorter barrels work. The third position completely shuts off the gas. This works great for that single suppressed shot. It is quite impressive by how much noise is eliminated when the bolt does not cycle.

Adams Arms has strived to make one of the best piston-driven AR kits that there is. The Adams Arms Piston Driven Retro-Fit kit has now evolved into one of the most well-made, reliable and easy to install units that is available today.

Sources

Adams Arms
Dept. SAR
32018 US Hwy 19 North
Clearwater, FL 33761
(727) 424-8240
www.adamsarms.net

Black Hills Ammunition
Dept. SAR
P.O. Box 3090
Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 348-5150
www.black-hills.com

Advanced Armament Corporation
Dept. SAR
1434 Hillcrest Road
Norcross, GA 30093
(770) 925-9988
www.advanced-armament.com

L-3 Communications-Eotech
Dept. SAR
3600 Green Court, Suite 400
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734) 741-8868
www.eotechinc.com

MagPul Industries Corporation
Dept. SAR
P. O. Box 17697
Boulder, CO 80308
(303) 652-8301
www.magpul.com

The Beta Company
Dept. SAR
2137 B Flintstone Drive
Tucker, GA 30084
(770) 270-0773
www.betaco.com