Crusader Arms Backland Hunter Competition - NR AR ergonomics in a definitely-not-an-AR platform

CobraGT

CobraGT

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I'm surprised there isn't already a thread here in "black and green rifles" about this one. Almost surely not as good as a Carmel, probably not as good as a Makasi.... but unlilke those, it's here NOW.

For those of you who haven't seen the dealer thread(s) about these, it's basically a Backland Hunter with a more AR15-esque ergos and magwell. Still takes Crypto mags, but that's easy enough to fix.

Checked out one of these at International in Surrey last week - surprisingly smooth, and surprisingly decent looking machining and finish. Anodizing wasn't purple! Overall.... not bad.. Honestly, better than I expected.... though built by Crusader, so who knows what the longer-term reliability will be like. Crusader's not exactly known for the quality of their builds....

Anyone have one yet?

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If I was just starting out and owned nothing, though, I'd consider one of these


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Don't have one but this is the real sleeper IMO. Appears to be the same barrel as the pre-built Crypto, which is a modern tapered lightweight barrel based on the Faxon gunner profile. If crypto reviews are legit then it's a solid 2 MOA gun with bulk M193.

Takes all AR parts except BCG and stock. If you have any problems it's a lot easier to deal with than a Makasi or Carmel.

I'd rank it above all the 180 variant coperods tbh.
 
Honestly? It's probably the best Benelli M4 style stock for a rifle. The Panzer arms stock has a cheek rest that's parallel to the bore, like an actual AR stock. IMO nicer for indexing compared to the other M4 style stocks that have a sloping cheek rest.
 
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Deathrawt said:
The original configuration is pretty decent with the hunting style stock
I just wished it didnā€™t use the Turkish shotgun trigger assembly
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Yeah that is a problem for me too. The trigger is your "interface" with the gun and a crappy one doesn't work for me.

I seem to recall the Comp model in this thread takes AR15 triggers? If so that is a massive step forward.

The best combo for me would be the new Comp with the old traditional buttstock.
 
Anyone order the new ceratoke colours. Iā€™m really tempted by one of these but canā€™t seem to pull the trigger because of all the bad reviews of previous models.
 
I don't have one of these myself, but I have been two (2) local gunstores, and while they sell the Backland Hunter, they told me in whispers that there are some QC problems with it (one of the stores told me if it was up to the owner, they wouldn't even stock it). Since then I have been watching some reviews on it, and I thought that the "Redneck Preppy" (Canadian channel) multi-part review was very honest and did not hold back punches (TLDR - he had to send it back for repairs and even then there were still problems).

I have never had a Crusader Arms product so I have no personal experience with their products. If this was the only SA sporter left in Canada, MAYBE I would consider getting it. But the price point is fairly high, and with other options still available, with two very sought after rifles landing soon, it is nice to have some options, in this climate.
 
1ABNDT said:
Since we are talking Comp


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Well boyos I fell for the krooooosader shills and bought the rifle this guy used in the video.

Initial impressions are not great. Magazine fitment is EXTREMEMLY wobbly both side to side and front to back compared to proper STANAG specs. But that might be because of the uneven dremel job.

The carrier gas key is staked in this totally jank pattern. There's a bunch of weird peening in many places like the charging handle slot and back of the bolt carrier, and the tip of the bolt carrier rat tail. Indicating some possible dimensional interference.

One of the rear pins for the upper receiver fell out and had to be glued back in. Idk how long it will hold.

The back of the lower receiver right behind the safety selector is unchanged from the original backland hunter variant. Problem is that it's too wide and needs to be filed down to keep it from interfering with actual proper actuation of the safety. In one of the posts from crusader's instagram page you can see the back of the receiver that's been ground down with a dremel.

The adjustable stock is basically a lie. In the fully collapsed position the length of pull is similar to a M16A1, the notches on the buffer tube are weirdly spaced and the next position makes it way too long. Look up videos and pictures of the backland hunter comp. Everyone runs it fully collapsed. Which begs the question, why not just have a M16A1 style fixed stock instead of the turkish snagmaster 8000?

Anodizing on the receivers is thin and fragile, which when combined with the 6061 aluminum construction makes it significantly less durable than a typical 7075 aluminum MSR receiver with a quality hard coat anodizing (type III hard coat is harder than underlying aluminum).

The magazine well is already showing significant wear from just regular reloading. Magazine catch that comes with the rifle is a UTG ambi mag catch that pivots against the outside of the receiver. It has already worn through the anodizing and is digging into the raw aluminum just from normal use. The bolt catch is a strike industries bolt catch, but the bolt catch slot is too wide and bolt catch roll pin needed to be shimmed with a washer to keep it from wobbling like crazy.

Also idk where kroosader got the charging handle from, but it came had a steel latch. Which is NOT proper spec and causes accelerated wear of the charging handle locking lug, especially with 6061 aluminum and thin anodizing. Mil-spec and quality commercial charging handles have aluminum latches.

This is an initial impression. Went to an indoor range just to function test and rough sight-in on paper. Haven't had a chance to run it too much yet. The rifle is...functional? It feeds and goes bang. But the whole thing just seems jank not gonna lie.

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I have a Backland Hunter Elite.. about 800 rounds in .. was thinking to sell it and get the comp version for the Ar trigger.. anyone tried the different? Is that worth it
 
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