Tag Archives: 308

The Fix by Q

Q

Our firearms industry is filled with folks from different backgrounds and walks of life, but few have made as much fuss or broken so many molds as Kevin Brittingham’s Q. Today we will be looking specifically at one of Q’s rifles; The Fix, chambered in 308 Winchester.

The Fix with the Riton Scope, YHM Nitro Suppressor, and Harris bipod

If you are unfamiliar with the ungoverned attitude of “the other” gun company from New Hampshire… You might be a little a bit surprised when you come upon their marketing and their products. Q has their own creativity that is aggressively portrayed in their designs, and The Fix is certainly a result of that creativity. Like many of their other offerings, The Fix goes well beyond conventional designs.

The Fix

At a glance, you might think The Fix was some kind of AR-10/bolt-action hybrid with some lightweight design thrown in for good measure. But The Fix is more than that.

Designed to fit a niche in the market ,The Fix fills a compact and lightweight spot. The Fix is made from a one-piece receiver, sort of like an AR upper and lower that have been molded as one piece. It utilizes a light-weight free-float handguard that attaches to the front of the receiver, and a monolithic picatinny rail is attached across the top of the whole assembly.

The Fix Features

A skeletonized folding buttstock is attached to the rear, with very minimalist design. The buttstock is fully adjustable for length of pull, recoil pad height, and features an adjustable cheek riser. And with a firm press downward, the buttstock is released and can be folded to the side of the rifle.

Perhaps the most cunning part of The Fix is the bolt, the round bolt-body houses the majority of the mechanical parts of the trigger. Like most rifles the bolt-head engages into the barrel extension to lock into battery, but it only requires 45 degrees to do it.

With the bolt-body and bolt-handle connected within the bolt-shroud, which covers the whole back end of the action. Additionally it moves with the bolt when operated. This shroud rides on a rail on either side of the receiver to keep it aligned, and prevent it rotating with the bolt assembly.

Curious Craftsmanship

Curious craftsmanship is one way to describe the two stage trigger, with a fairly light take-up. It breaks clean and is reset with each stroke of the bolt. There is an ambidextrous safety that will feel very familiar for those who shoot AR type rifles. The Fix runs on Pmags in the SR-25 pattern, this makes a lot of easy decisions for you. For those shooting AR-10 type rifles the magazine release button will also be familiar.

In addition to all this, The Fix uses Q’s proprietary Q-sert accessory system on the handguard. Think of something more robust than M-Lok, and easier to install or move as well.

The Fix also uses Q’s tapered barrel shoulders for attaching their muzzle devices like the included Cherry Bomb, or one of the many suppressor options Q offers. Tapered shoulders allow better alignment of suppressors and their assorted mounts. Preventing baffle strikes is a noble mission, and one I endorse fully.

The tapered muzzle of the Fix barrel

Out of the Box

The buttstock hinges to one side to reduce the size during transport

As I lifted The Fix from its box, I was temporarily time-warped back to SHOT Show a few years back, when I picked up The Fix for the first time. Just as I did then, I was surprised by the impressive light weight of the rifle. Q’s website lists it a mere 6.3 pounds.

I folded out the buttstock and shouldered the rifle to get that first feel for it. An amazing balance is one way to describe the rifle, and so easy to maneuver. I reached for the bolt-handle to run the unique bolt and check the chamber.

An incredibly short bolt lift is borderline distracting, the first few times you feel like you only half-lifted the bolt and there is more to go. Its minimalist bolt handle is quite petite. For sure it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if it was a bit bigger for better purchase and to avoid missing it entirely.  After playing with The Fix for a bit, it was time to get it prepared for the range.

Outfitting The Fix

A good scope mount is a must

For my testing purposes, the rifle would for sure need a scope, and mount. Probably a decent bipod, and a few boxes of ammo. I have several scopes laying around but I chose to mount one of the newer ones to The Fix. A Riton Primal 2-12X44 would be a great companion to the little Fix, I mounted it using an AADland Engineering 20 MOA one-piece mount.

After an evaluation of installing the one Q-sert pic rail section that came with the rifle. Fitting perfectly at the front to use as a bipod mount for one of my Harris bipods. I also took the time to break loose the Cherry Bomb from the muzzle, because I wasn’t about to go shoot this rifle without a suppressor in my pocket.

To the Range

I gathered a few boxes of my favorite 308 Winchester ammunition on the way, I’m a big fan of 175 Sierra Match Kings when shooting 308’s. I also shot some admittedly cheap ammo from The Fix, and it also shot pretty good groups.

At one hundred yards the rifle was shooting sub MOA groups with ease, this made it much more interesting for sure. Getting used to the bolt took a minute, but it actually became very easy to shoot the rifle keeping my thumb rested on the bolt knob. This ended up making the process of running the bolt even easier and faster.

The rifle’s lightweight would surely increase the felt recoil, so I was ready for that going in. But even through the recoil it was easy to shoot The Fix well. And as you might imagine packing the rifle around was fantastic.

Continue Reading About The Fix Here

A typical three-shot group from The Fix

Shop for your Fix at Firearms Depot

LWRC REPR 7.62X51

History

If you were around back when the various SASS rifles hit the market, you may remember it was an exciting time for those of us who love precision shooting auto-loaders. It seemed like everybody made their submissions for the project, but not all of them were destined for adoption. Lucky for enthusiasts like myself, these rifles made their way into the commercial market where hungry aficionados waited for just such an opportunity. The REPR (Rapid Engagement Precision Rifle) from LWRC was one of those rifles, and many were the nights I creeped the internet forums and webpages longing for a REPR. The ebb and flow of life wouldn’t deign me the capital to buy such a gem for my modest collection, but life’s current has brought the white whale back into port.

The LWRC REPR

The REPR is a semi-automatic precision rifle chambered in 7.62X51, it is of obvious AR heritage and yet distinctively it stands alone. The REPR functions near the same as every other AR style rifle except for it’s short stroke gas piston operation and side charging handle. The controls of the rifle closely mimic everything you already know as far as mag release, bolt catch, safety, etc.

The REPR features a non-reciprocating side charging handle on the weak side of the rifle, as well as an ambidextrous bolt-catch that can be operated with either hand. The rifle is available in a few different barrel lengths, but this one is a twenty-inch barrel with a one-in-ten twist. At the loud end of the rifle you will find a two position gas block with a setting for normal and suppressed, something I intended to test thoroughly. The 5/8-24 threaded muzzle came with LWRC’s Ultra muzzle brake that uses three horizontal ports on each side to vent gas pressure and reduce recoil. The handguard features screw holes to attach an assortment of picatinny rails wherever you might need them, as long as it’s three, six,  nine, and twelve o’clock. The REPR comes with factory Magpul furniture. The MOE grip and PRS buttstock make an excellent interface with the triggerman, and are easily adjusted. Last but certainly not least, the rifle comes from the factory with a Geissele® SSA-E 2-Stage Precision Trigger which together with all the above mentioned features makes this rifle smooth and sexy without losing its sturdy and potent performance.

REPRoducing my dream

Its not often I go twenty-four hours without shooting a new gun, and I dang sure wasn’t going to break that tradition with this beauty. I spent a great deal of time playing with it, getting familiar with its differences and similarities. With a Leupold CQBSS 1-8 scope mounted in a Larue SPR mount, I grabbed some ammo and my tool kit and made my way to the cold and snowy mountains nearby.

 

Once there, I installed a bipod for some supported shooting while I zeroed the rifle. The ammo I started with was Hornady 155-grain match ammunition, True Velocity 168-grain Match, Underwood .308 Controlled Chaos, and finally some Desert Tech 175-grain Match. I have used all of these in other 1:10 twist rifles, so I expected it would do the same here.

Testing at 100 yards showed the 155-grain ammo to be the best choice, but the 175-grain would be the better performer at the significant distances I intended to reach. Accuracy for the Hornady ammo was around 1 MOA on average, while the Desert Tech load produced more along a 1.2-MOA average.

In outward appearances and functions, the REPR offers an an AR-style package

It could be that my shoulder wasn’t feeling it that day and shot the lighter recoiling ammo better. The .308 Win is not known for its high velocity, but I have used it for nearly my entire shooting career to distances many would consider irrational.

With the rifle zeroed and accuracy established, I immediately succumbed to my desire to stretch every rifle I ever shoot to as far as it will reasonably go. I picked out the exposed tips of stones protruding from the snow on the opposite side of the canyon for targets. The puff of rock and vaporized bullet are easily seen, and, if you miss, you can see it in the snow.

I pushed the REPR out to 1000 yards, which is arguably about as far as I ever really need to shoot. Repeated, easy hits between 400 and 800 yards gave me great confidence in my abilities behind the rifle, it just begged to be shot more.

Range target for LWRCI REPR
A typical group from the REPR. I believe the vertical stringing was caused from shooting the sub-freezing rifle and gaining velocity as it warmed up

IT’S HEATING UP AND SHOOTING SUPPRESSED

I also removed the muzzle brake to see how the rifle shot with a suppressor installed. Using primarily my Yankee Hill Machine R9, along with a few other cans I had laying around, I fired the rifle to see how the reduced gas setting would affect its cycling. The various suppressors did cause differing back pressures and feels, but they were all acceptable as a general observation. The accuracy seemed to tighten up a little bit with the suppressors, be it the additional weight added to the platform or a cleaner release of the bullet from the muzzle, and the rifle shot even better.

LWRCI REPR .7.62x51 Rifle
The rifle boasts a two-position gas block to help run a suppressor
 LWRCI REPR .7.62x51 Rifle
The groups actually tightened up while shooting the REPR suppressed

This anomaly was also accompanied by some additional recoil. Whether it was the lack of the muzzle-brake or the added gas pressure from the suppressor, the rifle seemed to jump a bit more. It also could be a combination of the two. Either way, I think the REPR could benefit from one more setting on the gas valve with just a touch less gas pressure.

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

 

LWRCI REPR .7.62x51 Rifle
Here you can see the two-position gas block, not to mention the fine machining work on the rifle

Evaluating the REPR for exactly what it was built for brings us back to the Army’s Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System program, which was meant to refine the semi-auto sniper rifle into something more compact, light, and lethal. It also had to do this without standing out too much from the other rifles in use. As tested, this rifle comes in at just under 10.5 pounds naked, which isn’t exactly light. But with the shorter-barreled version of the rifle, you can get the weight down to 9 pounds or less. These shorter barrels will obviously make it more compact and easier to maneuver as well.

The REPR meets those requirements very well, and the civilian market isn’t nearly as rigid as Uncle Sam. The rifle is very well built, and the intricate machine work and innovative designs are sure signs of outstanding American craftsmanship. The smooth operation of the action is extremely satisfying, as is the crisp break of the trigger. Little touches, like a built-in anti-wobble pin to keep the lower and upper receiver snug and high-quality coatings of both internal and exterior surfaces are certainly doing their part to justify this rifle’s starting price of $4,233.

LWRCI REPR .308 Rifle

Since this is an evaluation, I’d be careless to not include my negative marks for those looking to knit pick. The 20-inch version of this rifle isn’t light, and most of the weight is way out front. I think I might have liked the 16-inch version a little more, but obviously this point is for each to decide.

The machine work on the receivers is immaculate, but I did find that the aluminum bosses surrounding some of the controls can inhibit good purchase. The mag release and bolt releases seem to be somewhat protected by the receiver. This may just be a reconditioning of the fingers, but I found that I’d frequently miss when blindly stabbing at the controls.

Lastly, I don’t consider myself a trigger snob, but I did find myself wanting to polish the first stage of the Geissele trigger. It wasn’t bad, but I could frequently feel a couple of steps of movement before hitting the second stage. This was a minimal issue for me, and certainly didn’t inhibit the hits from coming downrange, but I thought I’d mention it.

Continue Reading Here…

CONCLUSION

The LWRCI REPR is everything I dreamed about years ago. Only you can decide if it’s worth the price for your purposes. I think it is an outstanding rifle for anyone who wants to put heavy .308-sized hits on many targets at various ranges quickly. Or, if you just want a bunch of holes in something, it fulfills that purpose, too. High-quality American-made performance is what you can expect from the REPR. I’m happy I finally landed my white whale. Now if only I could afford to keep it.

-CBM

Yankee Hill Machine R9 Suppressor :A great first or fifth can

Introduction to suppressors

One of the biggest questions when buying a suppressor, is selecting one out of the hundreds of options. I’ve been through a bunch at this point in my life, so let me shed some light on the subject for you. What caliber? what configuration? Today we will take a look at the Yankee Hill Machine R9 suppressor.

Many other questions you’ll be asking yourself. With so many options how can you pick one that is best for your purposes? The right answer is that there are always too many good choices to pick only one.  Today we are going to look at the subject as a first time suppressor buyer, and a suppressor that might just cover all your bases.

The Yankee hill machine R9 suppressor mounted to the Browning X-bolt McMillan chambered in 6 creedmoor and trijicon ten-mile 5-50 riflescope
The YHM R9 mounted direct on a Browning X-bolt 6 Creedmoor

Why the YHM R9?

What makes the YHM R9 a perfect can for an NFA Greenhorn? I’ll get right into it. Todays gun owners come from every walk of life. Our modern world has given them overwhelming opportunities for firearms and accessories.

That said, there’s a good chance that most firearm enthusiasts looking into a suppressor probably have an Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR) of one kind or another. That rifle is probably chambered in the extremely popular 5.56.  Or one of the other calibers that are growing in popularity like 300blk, 6.5G, 6 ARC, etc.

The R9 from YHM is ideal for using with any of these calibers. It can suppress large frame cartridges too, like the 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Winchester. It is rated to suppress pretty much anything under 308 Winchester really, even with limited amounts of full auto. But Wait! There’s more! The R9 is also a perfect fit for a 9mm pistol or carbine. It’s stainless construction is more than enough to retain pressures generated by the cartridge, and other 9mm rifle cartridges like the 350 Legend.

As I see it, it is pretty damn likely that your apprentice level prospective suppressor purchaser would benefit greatly with an R9. One could swap it back and forth from various rifles. Or install a booster and run it on their Glock  or other handgun as well.

The R9 is ideal for the Desert Tech MDRX and its assorted calibers

Adaptation

YHM is one of many manufacturers that has embraced the uniformity of threads. The threaded rear end of the R9 can be fitted with a direct thread cap (1/2-28 or 5/8-24). It can also fit a Nielsen booster assembly and run with one of various piston manufacturers. It doesn’t end there, it can also use YHM’s Phantom QD system. The system allows rapid swapping of the suppressor from various YHM muzzle devices.

Further still, the can uses the same threads as other major manufacturers like Dead Air and SilencerCo, so you could also install those devices.  All three options are used for my R9, I have both thread caps that I use when shooting the R9 on my precision guns.  I also have the QD mount so I can swap it back and forth on my carbines as well. I run a Rugged suppressors piston inside my Nielson Booster assembly, which makes my Canik TP9 quiet and smooth as ever I could ask.

Yankee Hill Machine’s R9 is only threaded on the breach end, the rest of it’s construction is solid baffles welded together making it simple and no non-sense. All the provided tools allow the user to tighten down the various assorted mounting options.  Or perhaps more importantly disassemble them after being used.

Shooting with the YHM R9

Some of the very first shots I fired through the R9 were with my pistol. It was the first mounting adaptor in my possession so I went straight to the range to try it out.
The R9 tamed all the sounds produced by my pistol, adding of course its due weight and a bit of added backpressure. But the heavier muzzle sure made the pistol smooth and even more controllable. Shooting the pistol in closed quarters was very tolerable. Sound reduction was everything I’d hoped for, and the function was flawless.

The R9 seen mounted direct on my SRS M2 6mm GT

Shortly thereafter I received the 5/8-24 direct thread adaptor, and the R9 went straight to my Desert Tech SRS M2 chambered in 6mm GT. There it stayed for quite some time, hundreds of rounds sent through the R9 from fifty to seventeen-hundred yards. Accuracy of the rifle was if anything enhanced by the presence of the R9, this is typical in my experience. Cartridges like the 6mm GT were easily suppressed by the R9, making precision even more pleasant.

Using the QD mount for the R9 is perfect for running the suppressor back and forth between rifles. I ran the Phantom flash hider on my 308 carbine threaded 5/8-24. and on my 5.56 chambered carbine I use the Phantom Turbo 556 muzzle brake. Which made it easy to swap the R9 back and forth between the two rifles, both of which sounded great when suppressed with the R9. With the gas turned down a notch on both rifles, they functioned perfectly without gassing me out at the breach.

Carbines like this 350 Legend are a perfect host

First or Fifth suppressor?

Ya, I said first or fifth. The reason I put it that way is because even though I have a dozen or so cans at any given time, the R9 is still an excellent addition to my collection. A modular suppressor like this is very useful on better than half of my gun collection. With an MSRP of only $494.00 it is pretty economical compared to many other cans.
I’m at a point in life where I seldom go places without a rifle, and much of the time I have two or three rifles. Having an additional suppressor that will fit most of my rifles makes it an easy choice for me.

Conclusion

If my positivity is hasn’t been obvious enough about my feelings about this little suppressor, let me make it clear; I think this is the perfect suppressor for a first time NFA victim. It has everything most people need, multi-caliber, adaptable, tough as nails, and all at a very reasonable price. If I had to say something about the R9 that I dislike, you’d really have to force it out of me. The only issue I’ve ever had was keeping the thread caps tight, this was almost certainly due to me not tightening them on using the supplied tools as I’m a lazy ass. But I wouldn’t put that at the feet of the boys over at YHM.

So there you have it, the R9 is nearly a flawless purchase in my opinion. Short from needing magnum capabilities or a bunch of machine guns you need to suppress, this is an excellent suppressor for your typical firearms consumer. Best get yourself one.

-CBM

Suppressed Weapon Systems MISB 308Win for the Desert Tech SRS

I swore off shooting unsuppressed long ago, and I only do it occasionally by choice. The suppressor bug bit me hard many years ago, and I have never vanquished its effects. With that in mind, I am always thinking about better ways to hush the noise of my favorite pastime. Who would have thought that an idea I had depreciated would turn my jaded eye.

One of my most favorite rifles of all time, is my old Desert Tech SRS A1. I have run countless barrels through it, I currently have somewhere between ten and fifteen barrels of assorted different calibers. Factory, custom, and even a few specialty barrels. Even with all those options, I still love my old 16” 308 Winchester Covert barrel. The calm and consistent performance of the 308 is like an old friend, so when I got the opportunity to try yet another great 308 Winchester option for my favorite rifle, I jumped at it.

Suppressed Weapon Systems has been in the suppression business for some time. They specialize in the integration of suppression technology directly into the firearm, instead of making the suppressor just a muzzle device. Their MISB (Monolithic Integrally Suppressed Barrel) is available for many different firearms, including my dearest SRS. The modularity of the SRS family of rifles makes it ideal to pair with technology like the MISB, and with a durable cartridge like the 308, it would last for some time.

I’ve often tinkered with the idea of an integrally suppressed barrel for my SRS, but I was always worried about spending the money on an NFA item that would get burnt out and need to be replaced. A valid concern I had always thought, but the MISB is constructed in such a way that the tube can easily be removed and installed on a new barrel/baffle stack. So with my main concern assuaged, I dove in with both feet.

The Suppressed Weapon Systems MISB for the SRS is manufactured from a Bartlein Barrel blank, well known for great quality and precise shooting. The muzzle is cut at a determined length, in my barrel’s case, around sixteen inches. But the remainder of the barrel blank is then cut into the suppressor baffles. The length of the barrel to the breach of the muzzle is fluted, and drilled, I assume to decrease weight but also to add an expansion chamber for venting high pressure gas.

The outer tube of the MISB is a good fit, but not entirely tight, this was a bit of a concern for me at first but I later learned it was necessary to free-float the barrel. Having the outer tube captured and tightened with the barrel would add stress and torque to the overall structure. The tube is sealed at both ends with what appears to be Viton high temp fluoroelastomer O-rings. The muzzle end of the MISB has a threaded cap also sealed with the O-ring, it is knurled and has cuts for torquing it into place with a tool. Its an impressive example of machining design and ingenuity.

I couldn’t wait to get the barrel mounted in my rifle chassis, and test its performance. As soon as I got home with it, I hurried to my basement man-cave and installed it into my SRS. I found the fit to be a bit snug, perhaps more-so than any other barrel I’ve tried. Its easy to get a burr on the shank of SRS barrels, one must be careful. But that was not the case with the MISB, it was simply just a bit tight. Perhaps a slightly smaller diameter would help, but I found it to be consistent, so it was a minor inconvenience. It was the same when I mounted it in my SRS A2.

Once mounted, I headed for the hills to get the rifle zeroed with this new barrel. As usual, it was an easy process. Most SRS chassis will change POI with a different barrel, but it is rarely off by more than a few inches. So a quick re-zero on my scope was easy, and in no time I was using the rifle to shoot steel at 710 yards.
SWS guarantees sub MOA accuracy for three shots with their MISB system, but suggests that 1/2 to 3/4 MOA is expected more often than not. I found my barrel to be consistent with that.

The suppression quality of the barrel was on par with what I expected. The first round pop was significant, but quickly forgotten with successive shots. The slender barrel looks very handsome in my A1 with the longer handguard. A few inches longer than a standard twenty-two inch barrel which pokes just out of the handguard. When mounted in my Covert A2, it was a few inches longer than the standard Covert sixteen-inch barrel when fitted with the DTSS Suppressor.

Conclusion
I think the SWS barrel offers a great option for those looking for a slender and inconspicuous barrel to keep things quiet. At $2200 for a barrel, it is no small investment. But it’s also not much different than a good barrel fitted with a suppressor would cost you, and SRS owners are gluttons for dropping coin on good barrels. And the fact that you can reuse the tube on a new barrel blank having no interaction with the Federal agency everyone loves to hate makes it even more appealing. I look forward to using it even more in the future.
-CBM

The Desert Tech MDRX

Modern Bullpups

Advancing technologies have made every part of the firearm and shooting industry better, with new materials, better production equipment, and a growing competitive market all driving forward it is no wonder that so many new and exciting products are available today. Desert Tech has been pushing those limits since its inception in 2007, and this year they have released another great product that follows the Desert Tech adage Tomorrow’s Weapons.

The MDRX is the next generation rifle from Desert Tech, it builds on the already popular MDR rifle they released in 2016. The MDRX is a short-stroke piston operated semi-automatic bullpup, for those who don’t know already, a bullpup is a rifle configured such that the action, magazine, and firing mechanics are all located behind the trigger. The purpose of this design gives the MDRX a shorter overall length than conventional rifles of the same barrel length. When you add in the other additional features of the MDRX the difference becomes even more apparent.

Features

All Desert Tech rifles are designed with modularity in mind, and as such, they are all available as multi-caliber chassis and barrel combinations. The MDRX shares that same heritage, as it stands at the moment it is available in four different calibers from the factory; 223 Wylde, 308 Win, 300 BLK, and 6.5CM. All four of these barrel conversion kits can be interchanged in the same chassis, making the MDRX one of the few modern sporting rifles to accept both large and small frame calibers. All this from an SBR sized weapon without the stamp.
But if you are a stamp collector like many of us are, you can also get the SBR conversion kit for the MDRX. The 11.5 inch barreled Micron conversion kit makes any MDRX into one of the shortest and compact rifles available. All these conversion kits make the MDRX an extremely adaptable rifle, to whatever mission specific purpose you need.

Being a semi-auto bullpup adds some challenges when it comes to universality, these challenges were overcome with ingenuity. The MDRX is completely ambidextrous, all of its controls are mirrored on both sides of the rifle for both right and left-handed shooters. In addition to the ambi controls, the rifle has a forward ejecting system that sends spent brass casing forward away from the shooter. Previous bullpup designs eject brass to the right side, which in a bullpup is a bad thing if you are left-handed. The MDRX can be fired from the right or left side with no concern of catching hot brass to your face. And if you are a dedicated left-hand shooter, you can swap ejection from forward right to forward left in just a few seconds.
The MDRX comes standard with a compensator made by Desert Tech called The Ratchet, the compensators are caliber specific to provide the best performance in recoil reduction and to stop muzzle rise.

Various MDRX accessories make it an extremely versatile platform

One of the major challenges with bullpups is creating a good clean trigger pull, this is due to the linkage required to connect trigger shoe to the sear pack. This is another challenge that was overcome with design ingenuity, and the resulting trigger feel of the MDRX is widely accepted as great. Of the many people who have pulled the trigger on an MDRX, the common consensus is that it is a good trigger, not just for a bullpup, but a good trigger period.
The MDRX has a six-position adjustable gas valve allowing the operator to tune the rifle to whatever ammunition they might use, as well as use the rifle with a suppressor and a lower gas setting.
The MDRX’s aluminum/polymer chassis construction features full-length upper Picatinny rail, M-LOK slots for accessories and flush-mounted QD sling cups on the rear of the receiver. It is also designed to accept most AR-15 style magazines, and for large frame calibers, it uses SR-25 pattern mags. The rifle ships with caliber appropriate P-mags from Magpul.
The various caliber conversions for the MDRX feature popular twist rates, and standard barrel thread for adding muzzle accouterments. There are also both sixteen-inch, and twenty-inch barrels available in several of the assorted calibers, giving shooters different performance options. And with different barrel lengths, there are two different handguard lengths to go along.
The ambidextrous charging handles of the MDRX are non-reciprocating, they are normally locked to the front in a spring-loaded detent. They can also be locked to the rear by pulling them back and up, the release is as simple as slapping either of the handles down, and the bolt carrier closes into battery. The gun locks open upon firing the last shot from the magazine, the bolt release is centrally located right behind the magwell. This allows for very quick reloads by simply extending the thumb when seating a fresh magazine, thus closing the bolt on a fresh round. This actually can make reloading faster than most AR-style rifles due to fewer steps in the reload process.
The forward ejection system is perhaps the most curious of all the MDRX’s features. The open-faced bolt extracts the spent case and carries it to the rear, as the carrier travels it engages the ejector with a dovetail lug on either side. The momentum of the carrier then pulls the scissor-like ejector out, and it swipes across the open bolt face pushing the spent case off and into the ejection chute opposite. There it is retained by a spring-loaded pawl until the bolt carrier again travels forward where a protruding lug pushes the spent case forward and out the ejection chute. It’s a very interesting system, the only flaw I found with it is that when unloading an unspent cartridge from the rifle, it does require a firm stroke of the charging handles to get the cartridge seated firmly in the ejection chute. This is not so much a flaw as much as it is a training practice needed to be followed. The ejection system is designed to be used on either side of the rifle, both the ejector and chute can be swapped from one side to the other in seconds.

The MDRX SE utilizes a standard side ejection system

Also new for 2020 is a new side ejecting MDRX, for those who prefer a simpler, more traditional ejection pattern. The side eject is available in. 223 Wylde only, and can also be swapped from right to left side ejection. There is also the added benefit of a lighter overall weight, and a less expensive price tag.

On the Range

With several barrels in hand, I took the MDRX into my mountain hide to test its function. I started out shooting with the sixteen-inch 308 Win barrel, and loaded with Fiocchi 150 Grain FMJ ammunition at one hundred yards. After zeroing the sights, I fired a few five-shot groups, which ended up being around two MOA in size.
I continued firing the rifle at several additional targets to see how it ran. I found the recoil to be much softer than the previous similar rifles I had shot, this surely had much to do with the Ratchet compensator. The trigger was very clean and crisp, the reset is quite audible, I attribute that to the highly conductive poly receiver who’s hollow construction makes a very resonant chamber. I fired several additional groups using additional ammunition types as well, American Eagle XM80 as well as some 168 Grain match ammo from both Hornady and Federal. The match grade ammo certainly provided better groups, they averaged right around one MOA.

The MDRX seen with 20 inch 6.5CM barrel and longer handguard

So with several hundred rounds through the rifle, and a respectable shooting and zeroed rifle, I figured it was time to test the metamorphosis of this multi-caliber gifted rifle. The barrel is removed from the MDRX using a five-millimeter hex wrench, the rifle comes with one, but I prefer to use the suggested eighty-inch-pound torque limiter. After removing the handguard via two loosened screws and one take-down pin, the barrel is released by loosening the two barrel clamp screws by about one turn, and then disengaging the barrel lock 180 degrees to allow the barrel to slide out the front of the chassis. The bolt must be locked open to the rear to complete this operation. I then installed the twenty-inch 6.5 Creedmoor barrel, seating it firmly towards the breach. The process is then reversed, turning the barrel lock 180 degrees, and then torquing the two barrel clamp screws to 80 inch-pounds with a torque limiter. Followed by re-installing the handguard, which I had swapped out for the longer one. The rifle had just transformed from a sixteen-inch 308 Winchester into a twenty-inch 6.5 Creedmoor, and I was excited to see the increased performance. The point of impact would not be the same from one barrel to the next, but it was on paper at one-hundred yards, so it only took some minor corrections.
The 6.5 Creedmoor shot very well, with 140 Grain ammunition from both Hornady and Desert Tech, the groups averaged much better, in the sub to half MOA realm. With this kind of accuracy, I couldn’t wait to take the MDRX out to more significant distances.

For several hours the rifle neatly piled up brass right in front of my shooting mat, the rifle never malfunctioned, and just kept eating magazine after magazine of ammunition. I also fired some S&B 140 grain ammo through the rifle without any problems, I would have liked to try some lighter loads like a 120 grain, but I didn’t get the chance.

A typical 5 shot group from the MDRX 223 Wylde 40 Grain Fiocchi (100 Yards)

The rifle is easily swapped to smaller caliber barrels as well, the 223 Wylde and 300 Blackout do require a little more though.
A change of the bolt, a magwell spacer, and a swap of the ejection chute are required in addition to the barrel change.
The 223 Wylde shot just as good as the 6.5 Creedmoor, sub MOA groups were easy when shooting good ammo.

The great performance of the MDRX was hard to deny, it is a very compact rifle, with incredible reach, and good accuracy. Desert Tech has upped the game with this rifle, and they stand behind all their rifles with a lifetime warranty. It would be a great rifle whether you are hiding in a tree stand, need a behind the seat truck gun, or anywhere you’d need heavy firepower in a compact package. Its larger calibers are certainly useful for big game hunting and some distant shooting, while the smaller calibers are great for quick target shooting in a 3-gun style competition or varmint hunting. The MDRX carries a higher than average price tag, but that is because it brings so much more to the table. The multicaliber option alone actually saves money by consolidating your training, and less money spent on optics and accessories. You literally could do almost every American shooting activity with this one rifle. Whether it is a home defense rifle or a suppressed ranch rifle, the MDRX is a do-all rifle if ever there was one.

-CBM

ES Tactical 6.5Creedmoor Barrel for the MDR

Just when I thought I was up to my ear’s in MDR, Eric Smith from ES Tactical found it expedient to dump another huge helping of MDR in my lap. It wouldn’t take long to figure out which way this would go.

As a guy with too many irons in the fire already, I took the 6.5 Creedmoor barrel with a grain of salt (I know you all feel my pain). Had it not been for my stellar experience with Eric’s work, I might have even backburnered this project. But instead, I took the first opportunity to stab my MDR with this latest addition to the pile.

Ive shot the MDR quite a bit, some might even say more than anyone else. The MDR is a multi caliber bullpup rifle. The rifle was first available in 308, it will soon be available to the public in 223. But for those of you that already have the gun, you can wet your multi caliber whistle without waiting by ordering a 6.5 Creedmoor from ES Tactical. I shot quite a bit of 308 in the beginning, and I loved having so much power in such a little package. With the 308 barrel installed, the MDR can put down a serious amount of hate and anger. But it is still quite capable of MOA accuracy, and at distance as well. Just a short while ago, the 223/556 conversion was made available to me. In the short time I spent with it, I became very enamored. The minimal recoil, and outstanding accuracy made the compact MDR even more desirable, you can read more about that here.

So you can imagine my excitement when the option came to try out the Creedmoor in my beloved little rifle. The Creedmoor offers the same accuracy as the other cartridge options, but less recoil than the 308, and a better envelope for distance as well.

I couldn’t resist the appeal, so I hurried up to my local shooting hole, and warmed up my trigger finger. Upon arrival I ran a few magazines of 223 through the rifle, just to get my trigger finger into shape, then set to swap the rifle over to the Creedmoor.


The MDR as seen with 223rem barrel (installed with YHM Turbo) Sixteen inch 308win, and the ES Tactical eighteen inch 6.5CM barrel

Since the 6.5 and the 308 share the same boltface, magazine, and a few other parts, there is only a need for a barrel assembly should your rifle be a 308. Since my rifle was currently a 223, I had to swap bolts, remove the magwell block and switch the magazine catch.
To see how the MDR is converted from one caliber to another click here

It took a few minutes, and I was ready to make some noise. Except I wouldn’t. I hate shooting without the proper muzzle accoutrements, so I attached one of my favorite suppressors, the Silencerco Hybrid. The barrel assembly from ES Tactical came with a six position gas key, allowing for refined tuning of the rifle. I found it quite unnecessary to figet with, as the rifle functioned flawlessly, it consumed and expelled everything I fed it.

Speaking of diet, I tried a few different things. I started out with Desert Tech munitions 140 grain match, I have always had good luck with it, and today was no exception. I also tried some of the more popular brands, such as Hornady 120 Grain Match As well as the gold standard Federal Gold Medal Match 130 grain And the very popular Prime 130 Grain Match

The accuracy results from this fine selection varied slightly, the DTM, and Hornady gave the best results. Both of them printed groups that were mostly hole, and little paper. The Prime and Gold Medal were not too far behind, it is my guess that the Berger and Norma 130 grain bullets used may perhaps be a bit more finicky with seating depth. Which may explain the larger patterns. DTM shown in blue, Hornady in red, Federal in yellow, and Prime in green

As you can see in the groups the stringing is horizontal on the better ones, it seemed to follow the heating of the barrel. The first three or four shots in each group were either touching or stacked. It was usually the fourth, fifth or sixth shot that were the outliers (I may have lost count a few times, I was enjoying myself😌). The lesser groups didnt seem to have any particular pattern. I only ran a chronograph on the DTM 140 grain ammunition, the average over a couple magzines worth of ammo showed 2610fps. I was quite pleased with the velocity from this 18 inch barrel, with a MV like that, coupled with MOA or better accuracy, this thing would be very useful for anything inside 1000 yards.

Being as familiar as I am with the platform, I have gotten used to it’s quirks and folleys. This familiarity has helped me avoid some of the little things that cause malfunctions, so it didn’t surprise me at all that I experienced no failures. I did note that the brass was coming out pretty dirty but otherwise fine, I suppose I could have dialed down the gas pressure a little after all.

The thread protector, threads, and crown of the ES Tactical 6.5Creedmoor barrel

In total, I shot probably 80 or so rounds (not counting the 223 appetizer). It was smooth shooting, the recoil was very mild, and with the suppressor mounted up, I could shoot all day. This setup would be awesome for a threegun carbine, it’d also make the perfect truck gun, or patrol rifle. So many possibilities, I doubt it will be long before the next flavor MDR comes along.

Should you find youself in need of a Creed for your MDR, give Eric a call over at ES Tactical, and dont forget he cuts awesozme barrels for your SRS, or just about anything else you might want too.

-CBM

Here is the video: