Is The SAI Sterling R18 MKII Worth The Extra Cost?

I happen to think so, but it really depends on how much you value fit and finish, which (aside from a few features like a standard AR15 Left-Side Bolt-Catch as well as a Right-Side Bolt-Catch), is really what sets the R18 Mk2 apart from the competition. Accuracy, relaibility and durability all being being equal between the $2K Crusader Templar and the $2700 SAI R18, it is really down to the much finer fit and finish of the R18 to substantiate the $700 price difference. Does it do that? It does if you place a premium on the fit and finish of your firearm. I you value function over form, then perhaps not so much....

Quality-based beauty and its associated value are always in the subjective eye of the beholder....
 
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I heard from a gun smith that there is premature wear issues in the aluminum upper, where the bolt carrier rides (opposite ejection side rail/track). Anyone have issues with that after a couple thousand rounds?
 
HvacFridge Apprentice said:
I heard from a gun smith that there is premature wear issues in the aluminum upper, where the bolt carrier rides (opposite ejection side rail/track). Anyone have issues with that after a couple thousand rounds?
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They have a test rifle available on the range at TSE and TSE started a thread about it on their sub forum.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2230679-New-Range-Gun!!-Sterling-R18!!

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...ling-R18!!?p=18751680&viewfull=1#post18751680
 
Appreciate it man, a lot of pages of stuff to browse through.
Still doesn’t change the conversation I had with the gun smith…at tse…how many new uppers did they put on that range gun
Would love to see if ballistically speaking or anyone else has 1 upper receiver seeing larger round counts without unnatural wear from the bolt carrier
 
HvacFridge Apprentice said:
Appreciate it man, a lot of pages of stuff to browse through.
Still doesn’t change the conversation I had with the gun smith…at tse…how many new uppers did they put on that range gun
Would love to see if ballistically speaking or anyone else has 1 upper receiver seeing larger round counts without unnatural wear from the bolt carrier
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I wonder how many of these rifles the gunsmith has personally inspected?
 
HvacFridge Apprentice said:
I heard from a gun smith that there is premature wear issues in the aluminum upper, where the bolt carrier rides (opposite ejection side rail/track). Anyone have issues with that after a couple thousand rounds?
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I call bull on this particular Gunsmith. All aluminum AR15s show "premature wear" in their Upper Receivers where the Bolt and Carrier's Cam Pin settles into the Upper Receiver's Cam Track. Don't believe me? Look inside any AR15 Upper Receiver with a decent round-count and note the wear points down to bare aluminum. It is a perfectly normal wear pattern.

The R18 Cam Pin makes contact with the Upper Receiver's Cam Track at the front of the Bolt and Carrier's travel path, just like an AR15, This is perfectly normal and once the Cam Pin is worn in to the uppper Receiver the wear whould cease progression. There is no other point of contact between the Bolt and Carrier and the Upper Receiver of the R18 Mk2 besides the Cam Pin. The Carrier rides on those Stainless Stelel Guide Rods and does not contact the walls of the Receiver. My own R18 shows what I believe to be normal wear on the Upper Receover's Cam Pin Guide Rail and I am not the least bit concerned about it.

I really have to wonder if this Gunsmith you spoke to is familiar with AR-180 platforms and their normal wear patterns. Or did he just flinch over a typical wear pattern at the front of the Cam Track where the Can Pin unlocks? Is it possible to see some photos of the so-called "premature wear"? I am definitely curious to see evidence of a design flaw that is unique to the R18 Mk2 platform. Not saying that it absolutely could not happen, I just highly doubt that R18 is prone to wear that other AR180 pattern rifles are not. Everything mechanical wears where parts interact and impinge upon one another. That said, an AR180 Upper Receiver should last many thousands of rounds - just like the R18 Range Rental Rifles are currently doing at TSE and Target Sports.

I personally believe that this concern over "premature wear" is much ado about nothing. That said, I am certainly open to seeing evidence to the contrary....
 
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A lot of the scarring on the AR is from the cam pin, nothing a "roller cam pin" can't help with.

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I'm torn. Accuracy could be better, but it's not terrible. Seems to be picky with some mags (over insertion) but good with PMags. Worked fine with steel case ammo but the retaining pin shoulder on my firing pin started mushrooming after ~1000 rounds. Nice to see a proper 180 gas system, not the one piece WK/MCR or the ####-tier fix in the Templar. It's a bit chunkier than I'd like but not a huge deal - I think that's more a problem with the fact if we want anything NR it's gotta have a full length barrel. I think the biggest thing to watch over time will be the carriers and bolt lugs and the front lug on the upper - if you take the barrel out you'll notice there isn't a ton of meat there so I think these could be susceptible to the front lug snapping off like some of the Can 180s. Finish isn't terrible but isn't the most durable - lots of little nicks and dings on the shell deflector and on the lower from rubbing on the cobra buckle on my belt. The magwell machining on mine seems rough. The outside edges on the lower aren't sharp but they could use some more rounding in my opinion. They have issues with certain triggers like my Geissele. I think this has to do with the rounded hammer of some match triggers not being push down low enough by the bolt to be caught by the sear when cycling. I guess the Triggertech has a hammer with a profile where this isn't a problem.
 
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DaveMachine said:
I'm torn. Accuracy could be better, but it's not terrible. Seems to be picky with some mags (over insertion) but good with PMags. Worked fine with steel case ammo but the retaining pin shoulder on my firing pin started mushrooming after ~1000 rounds. Nice to see a proper 180 gas system, not the one piece WK/MCR or the ####-tier fix in the Templar. It's a bit chunkier than I'd like but not a huge deal - I think that's more a problem with the fact if we want anything NR it's gotta have a full length barrel. I think the biggest thing to watch over time will be the carriers and bolt lugs and the front lug on the upper - if you take the barrel out you'll notice there isn't a ton of meat there so I think these could be susceptible to the front lug snapping off like some of the Can 180s. Finish isn't terrible but isn't the most durable - lots of little nicks and dings on the shell deflector and on the lower from rubbing on the cobra buckle on my belt. The magwell machining on mine seems rough. The outside edges on the lower aren't sharp but they could use some more rounding in my opinion. They have issues with certain triggers like my Geissele. I think this has to do with the rounded hammer of some match triggers not being push down low enough by the bolt to be caught by the sear when cycling. I guess the Triggertech has a hammer with a profile where this isn't a problem.
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I got rid of mine. The R18 had too many unnecessary complexities that I do not want to deal with. I just want to insert a loaded magazine, chamber a round, and for the gun to go bang every time. I'm just a dumb infantryman who expects my C7A2 rifle to go bang every time. I could not expect my R18 to do that.
 
The gun is $2,500 plus you have to spend $500 on a stock. Basic Magpul thingy which is okay for cheaper guns like my BCL Bison but nothing I want on a gun for $2,500.
 
I have, but like you said for the price, and for how many service rifle seasons we likely have left, I don't feel like dumping more money in. On a related note, I have a Noveske stainless grendel barrel that's sitting unused, would have been nice to get a bolt for the Sterling to make the swap.
 
ever since the very 1st ar-180 copies were talked about I harped on about 6061 vs 7075......not sure what these uppers are made of but the wear and strength difference between these two alloys are miles apart....
 
DaveMachine said:
I have, but like you said for the price, and for how many service rifle seasons we likely have left, I don't feel like dumping more money in. On a related note, I have a Noveske stainless grendel barrel that's sitting unused, would have been nice to get a bolt for the Sterling to make the swap.
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They can't take a "typical" 180 bolt (like WK/WS, etc)? Cause then you could get a Grendel (or 7.62x39) bolt from TNA. An R18 in 6.5 Grendel (or 6 ARC) or preferably with a spare upper in said calibers would probably be quite nice.
 
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