Sterling Arms R18 MK3

Bartok5 said:
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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I know it is going to cost more for more stuff and JR really empathize in all those videos I have seen. It is nice to have charging handle but if it isn't ideal for the company and profit and etc... I don't blame them. Most importantly to me is that rifle it is successful, aftermarket support, reliable and great design and accurate for what it is.

I don't purchase guns based for left handed guns or completely feature with ambi controls. I own every gun with that is right handed control and features. As long there is aftermarket parts that made for lefty that is all it matters to me; I don't like to be a burden to others. I would assume this MK3 can take AR15 selector switch.
 
Bartok5 said:
I should have a test rifle in-hand for evaluation in a few weeks time. In addition to providing my feedback to Sterling Arms, I will be providing a CGN Initial Impressions Review and an Intial Shooting Report (Reliability, Accuracy, Perceived Recoil, etc). The long-term, high round-count reporting will be provided by The Shooting Edge, based on one or more Range Rental rifles.

Some readers will have undoubtedly noticed that the MSRP is $1000 (30%) less expensive than the R18 Mk2. How did Sterling Arms International achieve such cost savings so that they could pass them on to the Canadian consumer? The "Magic" was to move the manufacturing of major components off-shore, where labour is far less expensive for ISO-quality manufacturing capacity. The winner is the end-user, who reaps the benefit of a far less expensive rifle which is actually of higher quality than the R18 Mk 2. For instance, the R18 Mk3 features Type 5 Hard-Coat Anodized T7075 aluminum Receiver halves, whereas the Mk2 utilized the less expensive (and softer) T6061 alloy.
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Yes they moved the parts production to Akdas out of Turkey, so I've heard. They're only assembled in Canada now.
 
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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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The main problem is type 3 stoppage aka bolt partially forward IA.

The IA is to pull the charging handle to retract bolt to the rear, use bolt catch to lock bolt. Rip mags out - clear

Think about this or try it out, retract charging handle to the rear - now how to lock bolt to the rear? unlike SCAR16, the charging handle is farther down range - when it is fully retracted it is designed such that thumb can engage bolt catch

SAI MK3 has ambi-bolt release so it is not a problem. Any other designs without ambi bolt release combined with a push button mag release it is impossible to do this ( like XCR ) as well. Think about this or try it out, retract charging handle to the rear - now how to lock bolt to the rear?

With AK type of guns and paddle mag release, it is possible to use right hand to pull charging handle while left hand is still supporting the rile, prop it on the shoulder/floor/wall and rip the mag out with the left hand.

Now, if you have a right side charging handle like the original AR18 and the newer style ambi mag release, it is possible to do it like the AK.

So here is the punch line - left side charging handle must have ambi bolt release using AR mags
 
And also adding to people who want a folding charging handle - IA for "dead click" is to seat the mag and rapidly charge the rifle again.

If the charging handle is folded, it needs to be unfolded for this IA.
 
greentips said:
And also adding to people who want a folding charging handle - IA for "dead click" is to seat the mag and rapidly charge the rifle again.

If the charging handle is folded, it needs to be unfolded for this IA.
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I don't remember that being an issue with the C1A1.
 
All this talk of different configurations.
They need to make one model of rifle, and one only.

Don't end up like the Lockhart rifle that has endless custom options.
That's an absurd way to produce anything.
 
Dexter Morgan said:
All this talk of different configurations.
They need to make one model of rifle, and one only.

Don't end up like the Lockhart rifle that has endless custom options.
That's an absurd way to produce anything.
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That is exactly the plan. Recommended upgrades will be implemented prior to the roll-out or as rolling changes. Optional, user preference items that would drive up the unit cost such as a folding Charging Handle will most likely become aftermarket, user-install items.
 
Most aftermarket is born from a need or desire to improve upon a known issue or fault.

With the exception of items that have an already massive aftermarket presence (like barrels, stocks and triggers) L.T. has more or less sewn up the aftermarket on their product and rolled it into their production of the Raven.
Having a design that can be tailored and modular isn't absurd, it's brilliant.
 
greentips said:
The main problem is type 3 stoppage aka bolt partially forward IA.

The IA is to pull the charging handle to retract bolt to the rear, use bolt catch to lock bolt. Rip mags out - clear

Think about this or try it out, retract charging handle to the rear - now how to lock bolt to the rear? unlike SCAR16, the charging handle is farther down range - when it is fully retracted it is designed such that thumb can engage bolt catch

SAI MK3 has ambi-bolt release so it is not a problem. Any other designs without ambi bolt release combined with a push button mag release it is impossible to do this ( like XCR ) as well. Think about this or try it out, retract charging handle to the rear - now how to lock bolt to the rear?

With AK type of guns and paddle mag release, it is possible to use right hand to pull charging handle while left hand is still supporting the rile, prop it on the shoulder/floor/wall and rip the mag out with the left hand.

Now, if you have a right side charging handle like the original AR18 and the newer style ambi mag release, it is possible to do it like the AK.

So here is the punch line - left side charging handle must have ambi bolt release using AR mags
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Correct me if I'm wrong here, XCR has bolt release near the trigger guard. I would assume it also act like bolt hold, if that case then it not to difficult. For me to do IA on MK3 is not complicated based on design, I could imagine it. I still like having top charging handle, would make everything easier.

If you handed me a classic/legacy ar15, I can do all the drills but ambi charging handle makes it doing much easier, I don't have to do rotation and wrist play on my left arm all day. Any charging handle on right side is saviour to me, piece of cake.

Just to make sure here, I'm not punching SAI, it's their rifle and design. I hope it successful and make lots of orders for us peons until we are able to get ARs back.
 
Until the government changes, the Raven can provide an option for rear-charging lovers. After the government changes, all bets are off, and TSC can sell the AKDAL SAM the next rack over from the R18 MK3 in their store.
 
Yuu said:
...... I hope it successful and make lots of orders for us peons until we are able to get ARs back.
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The idea behind the SAI R18 Mk3 is to provide a NR alternative to the AR, not a substitute until such time as our ARs return to ranges. The Mk3 takes the self-regulating Gas System and Bolt Catch/Release of the HK 416, and combines them with the Operating System of the SIG MCX with its captive, spring-loaded Bolt Carrier Assembly and Firing Pin Safety. The R18 mk3 takes all of these features and systems and wraps them up in an attractive and well-finished package with mil-spec Type 5 Hardcoat Anodizing for corrosion protection. The R18 takes some features from the
$4000 HK and blends them with the operating system of the $3500 MCX to produce a competitive, feature-rich rifle costing less than $2000.

So what's not to like about the Mk3? Minor improvements like a Folding Charging Handle, Tool-less Handguard Bolt, Folding Buttstock and an HK-compatible Barrel Nut will either get sorted by SAI or the after-market.
 
Bartok5 said:
The idea behind the SAI R18 Mk3 is to provide a NR alternative to the AR, not a substitute until such time as our ARs return to ranges. The Mk3 takes the self-regulating Gas System and Bolt Catch/Release of the HK 416, and combines them with the Operating System of the SIG MCX with its captive, spring-loaded Bolt Carrier Assembly and Firing Pin Safety. The R18 mk3 takes all of these features and systems and wraps them up in an attractive and well-finished package with mil-spec Type 5 Hardcoat Anodizing for corrosion protection. The R18 takes some features from the
$4000 HK and blends them with the operating system of the $3500 MCX to produce a competitive, feature-rich rifle costing less than $2000.

So what's not to like about the Mk3? Minor improvements like a Folding Charging Handle, Tool-less Handguard Bolt, Folding Buttstock and an HK-compatible Barrel Nut will either get sorted by SAI or the after-market.
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Maybe I missed it somewhere, but height over bore is that of an hk416 at 1.59”?
 
garett87 said:
Maybe I missed it somewhere, but height over bore is that of an hk416 at 1.59”?
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The best that I could do was to measure from the bore's approximate center-line to the top of the Rail, and then to the tip of an installed Foresight. The height from the bore to the top of the Picatinny Rail is approximately 1.5" measured at the front of the Handguard. The height from the bore center-line to the tip of an installed foresight is approximately 3" even. I then measured the same dimensions on my HK MR223 with the Geissele URX installed. The measurements were pretty much identical, so I would say yes - they share the same Height Over Bore.....
 
Bartok5 said:
The best that I could do was to measure from the bore's approximate center-line to the top of the Rail, and then to the tip of an installed Foresight. The height from the bore to the top of the Picatinny Rail is approximately 1.5" measured at the front of the Handguard. The height from the bore center-line to the tip of an installed foresight is approximately 3" even. I then measured the same dimensions on my HK MR223 with the Geissele URX installed. The measurements were pretty much identical, so I would say yes - they share the same Height Over Bore.....
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Interesting! Should open up some aftermarket options
 
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