Issue link: http://lawandordermag.epubxp.com/i/238697
FOCUS LMT Monolithic Rail Platform Tactical Charging Handle is standard on the MRP. LMT Tactical Charging Handle takes stress of the roll pin and extended latch improves manipulation. Roll pin is weak point in standard AR charging handle. LMT Enhanced Generation 2 SOPMOD buttstock and original ERGO Grip with ERGO Gapper is standard on MRP. LMT Ambidextrous Safety Selector is an option. LMT tactical sights permit instant transition from optics to irons. The LMT Tactical Rear Sight was selected by Crane for the CQBR / Mk 18 Mod 0 carbine felded by Naval Special Warfare. The MRP comes with LMT's new Tactical Charging Handle. It features a newly designed tactical latch for easier manipulation of charging handle. The latch is large enough for ease of use, but not so large as to become a snagging hazard. The new design transfers all forces applied to the latch to the body of the handle and off of the roll pin, a source of weakness in standard AR charging handles. The standard LMT MRP 5.56mm barrel is manufactured from cold hammer-forged machine gun-grade chrome-moly vanadium steel. The barrel has a 1-in-7-inch RH twist with six lands and grooves. A military A2 fash hider is standard. The barrel and receiver have M4 feed ramps. The barrel on the LMT DI systems has a low-profle gas block and a straight gas tube. The straight tube resists bending and provides better alignment with the carrier key. An angled gas port reduces barrel erosion for increased barrel life. The 16-inch barrel has a midlength gas system. Shorter LMT barrels utilize a carbine-length gas system. The 16-inch barrels with a carbine-length gas system have a longer dwell time and are thus generally over-gassed, resulting in a sharper recoil impulse and increased wear on the parts over time. We used Black Hills 5.56mm 77-grain OTM for functioning and accuracy testing. This is the commercial version of the 5.56mm Mk 262 Mod 1 ammunition that Black Hills is the sole source provider LMT MRP allows easy caliber conversions, such as the 300 AAC Blackout. The 300 AAC Blackout 125 gr. polymer tipped, left, compared to 300 AAC BLACKOUT 125 gr. match, 300 AAC BLACKOUT 220 gr. subsonic, 5.56x45mm NATO, and 7.62×39mm Russian. Photo: Silencertalk. 26 LAW and ORDER I January 2014 of to the U.S. military. Mk 262 Mod 1 ammunition has earned a well-deserved reputation for excellent accuracy and superior terminal performance, making it the preferred round of many SOF operators. Hard target penetration is slightly decreased with Mk 262 Mod 1 compared to M855. Black Hills OTM ammo is loaded with the 77-grain Sierra MatchKing HP. It features Mil-Spec brass, sealed Mil-Spec primers, temperature-stable military propellent and is loaded to U.S. 5.56mm pressure limits. Velocity is 2750 FPS out of a 16-inch barrel. Fiveshot groups from the standard 16-inch LMT chrome-lined barrel averaged 1.27 MOA. LMT's stainless-steel match barrels are reportedly capable of sub-MOA accuracy. While the rife was kept well lubricated, it was not cleaned during my evaluation. Five hundred rounds were fred. There were no malfunctions. Standard GI magazines (with green anti-tilt followers) were employed. In summary, the LMT Monolithic Rail Platform takes Gene Stoner's design to a new level. The LMT CQB Defender 16 5.56 we tested has an MSRP of $2,100. Eugene Nielsen provides investigative and tactical consulting services and is a former offcer. He may be reached at eugene.nielsen@live.com. LaO Post your comments on this story by visiting www.lawandordermag.com The CQB MRP® Defender Model 16 features a CQB MRP® upper receiver with 16-inch chrome-lined 1:7-inch twist 5.56 barrel, standard semi-auto bolt carrier group, tactical-charging handle assembly, Defender lower with SOPMOD buttstock and standard trigger group. Photo: Lewis Machine & Tool Co.