Opinion: Jim Grant shoots, and vary critiques the FightLite MCR belt-fed higher for AR15 lowers.This wonderful article first appeared on AmmoLand Information in December of 2022 and seems right here now with recent updates.
I really like all bad-ass belt-fed weapons just like the FightLite MCR; They’re simply so rattling cool. Positive, you might argue {that a} magazine-fed rifle is extra sensible, lighter, and compact, however for those who’ve ever seen the look on Animal Mom’s face in Full Metallic Jacket, you understand precisely the way it feels to wield one.
The truth is, my expertise with belt-fed weapons is proscribed to a Russian PKM and an FN M249, and whereas each had been near-religious experiences, I by no means anticipated to realistically have one myself until I hit the lottery. In any case, a transferrable M249 (or possible a Minimi)- when you may truly discover them – is north of $500,000! This truth and the worth of military-issued M249 SAWs are the possible impetus for the FightLite MCR’s growth.
However the MCR is greater than only a funds SAW, so let’s take a better look and see what makes it so particular.
Stay Stock Value Checker
The FightLite MCR is a light-weight, closed-bolt, belt-fed, short-stroke piston-driven semi-or-fully-automatic higher receiver for the AR-15. Each the total and semi-auto variations are appropriate with any semi-automatic AR decrease, however operate in solely semi-automatic mode until the shooter has a transferrable full-auto set off pack or a registered lighting hyperlink. (The hyperlink solely works within the semi-auto-only model that includes a bolt provider reduce to Colt SP01 specs.)
One of many cooler options of the MCR is the way it’s not only a modified AR higher, however a purpose-built SAW substitute. This is the reason each variations can feed from both a typical M249 SAW belt or a STANAG journal. It’s additionally why the gun incorporates quick-change barrels that enable shooters to swap them out throughout prolonged firing classes the place the gun can overheat whereas offering suppressive hearth.
To exchange the barrel, a shooter wants solely to clear the motion and lock it open by holding the bolt launch whereas charging the motion. Then press the barrel launch tab simply ahead of the receiver prime rail, and at last pull ahead (in direction of the muzzle) on the barrel swap deal with. Putting in a substitute barrel is solely the identical process in reverse.
Putting in the MCR
Though my time with belt-fed firearms is considerably restricted, adapting to the MCR was pretty simple and have become second nature fairly shortly. One factor that was somewhat surprising, was the set up course of for the FightLite MCR higher. I had initially assumed that like practically each different AR higher receiver group, the set up consisted of coming out two takedown pins, changing the higher, and reinstalling mentioned pins. However there’s truly somewhat extra difficult than that.
To begin issues off, a shooter ought to substitute their present AR-15 decrease’s recoil buffer and spring with those offered by FightLite with the MCR. Doing so could be very simple and doesn’t require any instruments. The opposite step is harder and requires a shooter to exchange their bolt catch with a proprietary prolonged one.
Whereas most AR consultants make the most of a punch and a bit of cardboard and even material to guard the decrease receiver whereas driving the roll pin in, I simply took an previous furnishings nail and floor off the tip – however I additionally wrapped it in an previous piece of holster leather-based since I ended up putting in the catch on a good friend’s very costly transferrable M4 decrease.
After that, merely put the MCR on prime of the host AR decrease, and also you’re nearly able to roll!
Loading the FightLite MCR
Anybody who has ever run an M249 SAW can load the MCR of their sleep – the handbook of arms could be very related. However for these of you with out set off time behind a belt-fed beast, right here’s the short and soiled model.
To load the FightLite MCR, first push the tray cowl launch ahead towards the muzzle, then flip up the tray cowl. Visually test to verify there are not any apparent indicators of malfunction or injury, then draw your ammunition belt throughout the fed tray and align the forwardmost spherical to the chamber earlier than closing the tray cowl.
This requires somewhat finesse, however for those who’re utilizing a polymer lead that goes on the top of the belt, you may simply drop the complete factor throughout the feed tray and be carried out with it.
As soon as the spherical is aligned and the tray closed, cost the MCR’s motion or launch the bolt. The gun is now loaded and chambered.
FightLite MCR Efficiency and Verdict
For the take a look at, I ran the MCR on each a good friend’s SBR decrease and one other good friend’s transferrable, select-fire M4 decrease. Throughout some 1,000 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition (800 rounds of 62gr inexperienced tip and 200 rounds of 55 gr FMJ), the MCR encountered round 5 malfunctions with out cleansing. All of those points stemmed from the gun being highly regarded and solely occurred after the primary 500 rounds had been fired, main me to consider they had been attributable to a mix of warmth and carbon build-up.
Relating to accuracy, the gun might squeeze out two-MOA teams with both barrel utilizing military-grade ammunition. Which means that if a shooter needed to run match rounds by a belt fed and burn cash quicker than Bloomberg shoving undesirable gun management down the American individuals’s collective throats, they might achieve this for a rise in accuracy. However personally, I don’t see the purpose.
General, with an MSRP of round $8,000, the Fightlite MCR is under no circumstances ‘low cost’. Not in value and definitely not in development or construct high quality. Reasonably, it’s a purpose-built LMG or belt-fed semi-auto that does precisely what it got down to do: beat the M249 SAW when it comes to each value and general weight. Positive, it’s not low cost, but it surely’s extremely extra inexpensive, coupled with a registered drop-in auto sear when in comparison with a manufacturing unit transferable belt-fed machinegun.
About Jim Grant
Jim is likely one of the elite editors for AmmoLand.com, who along with his mastery of prose, can wield a digital camera with skilled finesse. He loves something and the whole lot weapons however holds firearms from the Chilly Conflict in a particular place in his coronary heart.
When he’s not reviewing weapons or capturing for enjoyable and competitors, Jim will be discovered climbing and looking along with his spouse Kimberly, their son, and their canine Peanut within the South Carolina low nation.
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