Sterling Arms R18 MK3

Ustauk said:
Any plans on selling the MK3 to the States? I could see it being sold beside AKDAS SAM, for those who prefer either side or rear charging, as a budget MCX/Spear alternative, especially when a big-boy .308 is released. Best of wishes to all the Canadian manufacturers out there, its been fun watching the wild ride!
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Yes. We will eventually make our way to the USA and far more International destinations. We need a change of government as getting export permits is very difficult with the liberals.
 
TSE JR said:
Two reasons:
1) we needed to keep close to the R18MK2
2) additional costs

Every $1 at the shop floor adds at least $2 to the retail price

One of our main goals was to achieve as close to H&K, B&T, CZ, DD level of quality as possible while staying under $2k (CDN) retail. This is no easy feat.

The new Spectre WK180 Gen 3 is now $1899… only 5 years ago Wolverine launched it as a $1000 rifle. How times have changed.

This is our 5th and 6th rifle (SAI 102, SAI TSR, SAI Sporter, SAI R18 MK2, SAI R18 MK3 and the R9 MK1). We think we keep going from strength to strength.

Our philosophy in working on this project was also to make rifles that would survive the removal of the rifle OIC: These rifles are stand alones
; with great features and benefits.
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I hope Bartok's review is going to be positive. What caught my attention is there data release for barrel, I hope IBI does do one or any other great CDN company. If it even in par with CZ in certain aspect, I'm looking forward go sell my Bren 2.

Just unfortunate about the charging handle, it would be cool though.
 
Clvland said:
I haven't seen it mentioned either but since the bolt and gas system appear to be chrome I would guess that. Also since they state numerous times that they are making it to international standards Chrome makes the most sense as that is still the military standard.
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Not chrome unfortunately. Stainless
 
TSE JR said:
The rifles at TacCom were and are our pre-production rifles for us to beat up before making final tweeks for our production rifles. Better to make 25 full rifles, shoot the crap out of them and then go into mass production once issues are identified; we didn’t and won’t use the client as the beta tester.
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How about a sample to do a SR shoot?
 
greentips said:
My guess is that Sterling arms contracted out the engineering and manufacturing to DAS.

Which is a good thing - this looks like a real small arms factory with design capability. I cannot embedded Reel but a link to their promotional video

https://www.facebook.com/reel/768267811965895

https://www.akdassilah.com/
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Your guess is partially correct, in that SAI contracted out SOME of the manufacturing of selected components to AKDAS. Other components are fabricated in Slovenia, Canada and elsewhere. The went to AKDAS with a mature design, so the need for engineering expertise (aside from determining fabricationi efficiencies) was minimal.

As JR Cox has stated, AKDAS was a successful Grenade Launcher manufacturer prior to SAI's involvement. It was the R18 Mk3 that turned AKDAS into a rifle manufacturer as well, since their rifle is based directly upon the SAI design.
 
Yuu said:
I'm curious and nick picking, but is there a reason not to include a charging handle style along with side handle? I assume it might be extra cost and maybe in the future add on?
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I would like to have a top charging handle only - I never like the side charging handles of ANY design including XCR. Rifles having a handle sliding on external rails like on folded metal MG receiver is not my cup of tea
 
greentips said:
I would like to have a top charging handle only - I never like the side charging handles of ANY design including XCR. Rifles having a handle sliding on external rails like on folded metal MG receiver is not my cup of tea
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And I would like a pony of my very own. Unfortunately, I fear that we will both be very disappointed!
 
Bartok5 said:
Too bad. Side-charging is here to stay as it was a key design feature of the source rifle (AR180B). There is always the Lockhart Raven for you guys that can't abide a side-charger....
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Mark, do you know if a folding charging handle will become available later? My concern is that the current fixed one will be very uncomfortable if the rifle is carried on a 2-point sling behind the back. AK/Type-81 and the like have their fixed charging handle on the right side of the rifle, so it is not going to poke the user in the back in this case. This one being on the left side of the rifle looks like it will be sticking right into my spine. Or may be I'm wrong and it's not a problem at all, would be good to know as well.
 
firebat said:
Mark, do you know if a folding charging handle will become available later? My concern is that the current fixed one will be very uncomfortable if the rifle is carried on a 2-point sling behind the back. AK/Type-81 and the like have their fixed charging handle on the right side of the rifle, so it is not going to poke the user in the back in this case. This one being on the left side of the rifle looks like it will be sticking right into my spine. Or may be I'm wrong and it's not a problem at all, would be good to know as well.
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To my knowledge, there is no Folder in the works. If there is sufficient demand, I would expect SAI to design.and market an upgraded Folding Charging Handle at an additional expense for the consumer, but the demand will have to be there first. Call or write to SAI if that is what you want..
 
greentips said:
I would like to have a top charging handle only - I never like the side charging handles of ANY design including XCR. Rifles having a handle sliding on external rails like on folded metal MG receiver is not my cup of tea
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Same, the only reason why not add both is because I'm a lefty but I would compromise with people who likes them. Because, if I were to purchase this rifle I would have to change my way to charge the rifle. I am not into ambi everything, but ambi charging and safety is my preference.
 
Yuu said:
Same, the only reason why not add both is because I'm a lefty but I would compromise with people who likes them. Because, if I were to purchase this rifle I would have to change my way to charge the rifle. I am not into ambi everything, but ambi charging and safety is my preference.
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JR Cox, the Chief Designer of the R18 Mk3 has spoken, and the verdict (for now) is Left-Side Charging only, in keeping with the original AR180B and R18 Mk2 designs. As has been pointed out elsewhere, to change the Mk3 to more closely resemble its twin the Turkish AKDAL SAM with Top Charging, would cost considerably more in terms of machining. Every 1$ of extra cost on the factory floor translates to $2 more on the MSRP. The intent is to keep the Mk3 affordable by moving to offshore partnerships for component production.

Some people are already complaining that $1800 is too much money, even after the price of the rifle was reduced by 33%!!! There is simply no pleasing some people and there is definitely no pleasing everyone at the same time.

If you really want to see a Top-Charging model, all I can suggest is that you write to JR Cox at The Shooting Edge and lobby for the change. Who knows? Maybe he will produce a special run of pricier Upper Receivers with a Top-Charging system just for Left-handed firers and those who insist on that ambidextrous feature. You never know - money talks....
 
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