Canadian Made Swiss Arms AR Lower

Uses AR mags.

What is the main advantage of using AR mags? Is it availability of a wide array of aftermarket mags compared to Swiss Arms? Does the magazine insert and release the same way as the Swiss mags? Sorry if these questions seem lame. I dont currently own any rifles that use AR mags, and I'm curious as to what the appeal is.
 
What is the main advantage of using AR mags? Is it availability of a wide array of aftermarket mags compared to Swiss Arms? Does the magazine insert and release the same way as the Swiss mags? Sorry if these questions seem lame. I dont currently own any rifles that use AR mags, and I'm curious as to what the appeal is.


Sounds like you might not be the target audience then. Nothing wrong with that. But a lot of guys have ar's as well as the Swiss Arms guns.

This lower means a huge source of quality, affordable mags. And as mentioned above, the LAR mags mean 10 legal rounds instead of having a $75-100 mag pinned to 5.
 
Sounds like you might not be the target audience then. Nothing wrong with that. But a lot of guys have ar's as well as the Swiss Arms guns.

This lower means a huge source of quality, affordable mags. And as mentioned above, the LAR mags mean 10 legal rounds instead of having a $75-100 mag pinned to 5.

I understand the appeal now. Thanks for the clarification. I'm going to follow the interest in this thread to see how the new lowers work out.
 
It also allows the use of telescoping (or fixed) AR15 stocks, like the Magpul PRS (as shown in the pics) if you wanted to make a Swiss Arms 'sniper' type clone.

The swiss stock has a nice LOP but in changing conditions (like going from prone to standing, or wearing a heavy winter coat or plate carrier/load bearing vest, or just a T-shirt) the telescoping stocks allow for a different length of pull if you're using a magnified optic. (wouldn't be so much of a big deal if the factory Swiss Arms tele-stocks were more available!)
 
I prefer the Swiss Arms telescoping stock to the AR / Magpul whatever, when used with a Swiss Arms gun. If you haven't tried one, the telescoping Swiss Arms stocks are quite nice.

10 Round mags, that's the name of the game with this lower. I personally think the AR type stock will be a step backwards with the guns, but it will be cheaper.

Rich
 
10 rounds compared to 5 - that is the only advantage I can see.
With the knock-off mags Canada ammo has at $40 compared to the $35-40 for the LAR mags, the mag-cost issue is moot.
 
10 rounds compared to 5 - that is the only advantage I can see.
With the knock-off mags Canada ammo has at $40 compared to the $35-40 for the LAR mags, the mag-cost issue is moot.

In Canada.

this lower may very well cause some to give the 55x a second look, Rock and lock mags are a hinderance to sales. This makes a great gun even better.
 
I prefer the "rock and lock" mags. There are several advantages to them. Once seated they are secure. No bolt over-ride malfunctions from failing to seat a mag. You can also seat a full mag with the bolt forward or back. The mag is either on or not...no in-between. The mag is also held more securely than the AR 15 system. Less play with the mag once seated in the gun. With training the speed of reloading is not much of a disadvantage and the advantages may out weigh this minor disadvantage. If you are clamping mags together then the reload with Swiss Arms mags is faster than a clamped AR 15 set of mags.

When I used a Swiss Arms gun in 3 gun (pre 10rd mag days) with clamped mags, I never had a AR 15 shooter who could keep up to my reloads.

Having said all this I'd love a Swiss Arms lower that took AR Mags, just for the 10rd. factor.

Rich
 
In your opinion man.

we all have our opinions, my preference is for the SAN mags (not the knock offs, which haven't been subjected to the same rigorous testing as the factory mags), just saying there are times when the Stanag is the way to go. Having the option of being able to use both, makes a near perfect platform, nearer to perfection.
 
I have only original SAN mags and they can also have a high 50% failure rate. It seems to be hit and miss. I was using the same 4 mags every time I went to the range. 2, 5's and 2, 20/5's. All used the same amount. 1, 5 and 1, 20/5 cracked on the front in the same way. But the other two are just fine and continue to function without issue. Actually the cracked ones still feed they just don't drop free anymore and could have more problems in the future related to the cracks down the front.
 
50% failure rate? Whatever.

We have been using hi-cap Swiss Arms mags operationally in SG552's and SG551's for the past 4 years and have only ever broke one mag. And it was not when shooting or training but smacking the gun accidentally with something falling on it.

The mags can break but you have to really abuse them, I don't know what you're doing with them and I trust you're not using your system operationally. In that case, I'd never lend you anything of mine.

Rich
 
This firearm has only seen light range use. No courses with high fire rates or anything. Yet. Nothing has been bumped or banged that wasn't part of the normal operation of the firearm. And as I mentioned, the fact that the other mags show absolutely zero problems indicates to me that it is a quality control issue with the mags. I also have an HK MR-308 which also has plastic mags and I notice that they have a metal insert down the front of the mag which would probably prevent the problem I am seeing. The crack is coming from one corner of the front of the mag to the hole that is manufactured in the front of the mags at that point. This leads me to believe that it's a stress riser. Perhaps a bad batch of plastic at the factory? Even the best companies can have a glitch now and again.

Before I bought the CG I heard from other experienced people about the indestructability of these magazines. After this problem cropped up those same people did admit that this had happened to them as well. Though not often. To date only the two aforementioned ones have had an issue. All told I have about 10 assorted mags though only the first four mentioned were used regularly. Thats where I got my 50% ratio from. The other mags don't see much use therefore not included. As I mentioned the "cracked" mags still feed and I can and do still use them.

I will take some pics and post them shortly.

@ Rich LPS perhaps you have access to different than civi mags. It wouldn't be the first time that's happened with a company. Or if they are older mags it could be the quality control in recent times has slipped a little. Also would'nt be the first time that's happened with a company. Either way you should enquire more about the situation or know more about a person before you insult them. Hint people want to borrow my stuff all the time since it tends to stay as new longer than anyone else I know. And that's not just firearms.
 
OK so here are a couple of pics. I have included both the original 5'rs that came with the rifle so you can see that one is completely unaffected. The discoloration around the area of the cracks and the horizontal scuff marks is my attempt to stabalize the cracks using different epoxies and the subsequent sanding afterwards. Cracking or not the mags are extremely chemical resitant. The strongest epoxy I have is Cold Cure which I have glued micarta to stainless with and it didn't hold here. The side profile pic is just to show the markings and that the rest of the case has no undue blemishes.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk80/Gnomus2008/SANMag1.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk80/Gnomus2008/SANMag2.jpg
 
Just saw how to imbed the images.

SANMag1.jpg

SANMag2.jpg
 
Thanks for posting the pics, bud! As far as Rich LPS goes, I think some people are a bit too full of themselves.

Good on you. Not only for posting the pics and explaining yourself succintly, but also for not telling Richyboy to go fluck himself.
 
Thanks Peter. Wanted to defend myself but didn't want to flame anyone. The thing I like about this community is that for the most part people are great to talk to.
I really like the Classic Green, it's arguably my favorite of the rifles I own, but anything can have stuff go wrong occassionaly.
I just not that into the Koolaid and want to put some perspective to things for people unfamillier to Swiss Arms etc. :)
 
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