Crusader Arms Sentinel 5.56 Info, Feedback, and Builds, made by Spectre LTD

Ustauk said:
Thanks! Others have said the fit and finish of the Sentinel is a bit rough. How is the finish on yours? What are your visual and tactile impressions? Thanks!
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There's definitely some visible machining marks. Lots around the Crusader shield logo and a few just above the trigger on the lower. The actual finish on mine is very good. Consistent colouring and I don't see any flaws. I'd say the overall build quality is comparable to the $850 AR I bought back in 2019. That sounds bad but NR Tax is real so I see it as neutral. Take down pins were super tight and needed a rubber mallet to get in.

Visually it looks good in hand. It looks far better in person than on video. Definitely has that tactical tuna thing going on though. I would prefer it to be more svelte.

It handles comparably to most of what I've held before. It's heavy but nothing wildly out of whack. Bolt release is small and needs more texturing but fine enough. I feel like the charging handle should be thicker. I do really like the HK hold back cutout. Can definitely HK slap it which is great.

I guess in summary, it's totally decent for the price. It's not amazing but worth the price of admission relative to other offerings.
 
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Thanks for the feedback!

It would be cool if they took some if the parts and made an upper upgrade kit for the MCR, with a bigger hole for the wider piston upper, barrel, and mid length piston system, so you could keep the MCRs more conventional layout.
 
What they should do is just offer a Crusader .223 upper for the WS-MCR. If you compare both uppers it would be such an easy mod to add the WS upper rear takedown pin, swap the guide rod end plate for a WS one and remove the part that the Crusader’s rear pin goes through. A guy could do it himself with hand tools save for boring the hole for the spring and detent that makes the upper pin captive.
 
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Good suggestion! They may do that if the MCR doesn't get OICed; I think they're still have a vague hope the Sentinel may avoid getting named as a 180 variant, since it's both quite new and currently an alternative upper for a 9 mm PCC lower. It is unlikely this fig leaf would protect it, but you never know...
 
After having a day of handling it more my real gripe with it is the charging handle. It's just not very comfortable. Really should be larger and/or have some sort of texturing/rubberizing as it's basically an aluminum claw currently. It doesn't look like it's going to come off or break (like the WK/MCR) so kudos there but it's fundamentally flawed in my view. 100% I'd buy an aftermarket replacement if one becomes available.

Everything else as more or less stated above is fine.
 
nelsonm64 said:
anyone heard anything about the Crusader Arms Templar? they showed it briefly on range day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR9r22BEuHk

1:55 mark
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I asked Crusader/Spectre LTD on Instagram if I could start a discussion here on it. They said the Templar is still very much in development mode, and requested I hold off posting until they are closer to being ready for production. I can respect this, as we don't even know of the government will even give enough time for the Templar to be properly born, and there are Sentinels in the here and now ready to go to peoples' hands that can help finance it's eventual creation.
 
Unless I'm missing something, the Templar looks like a Sentinel with an ACR stock and they've fixes the crappy charging handle. Looks identical otherwise.
 
Morc said:
Unless I'm missing something, the Templar looks like a Sentinel with an ACR stock and they've fixes the crappy charging handle. Looks identical otherwise.
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Magwell angle is AR-15 style as well. Looking forward to discussing it further when it's ready!
 
Ustauk said:
I asked Crusader/Spectre LTD on Instagram if I could start a discussion here on it. They said the Templar is still very much in development mode, and requested I hold off posting until they are closer to being ready for production. I can respect this, as we don't even know of the government will even give enough time for the Templar to be properly born, and there are Sentinels in the here and now ready to go to peoples' hands that can help finance it's eventual creation.
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ok cool, good to know. thx
 
Finally had the chance to get the Sentinel out to the range.

Shot about 100 rounds through it with zero malfunctions. None of the metal parts came loose or moved in any way. I don't see any wear marks or damage.

It handled Pmags, MFT, various metal and plastic LAR. No issues locking them in, feeding or dropping the mag. Definitely not drop free but whatever.

Nice smooth recoil pulse. Gun stays on target easily under rapid fire. Handguard didn't heat up on me at all but we do only have low mag limits so I can't say how it would do under 30 round rapid fire.

Accuracy is totally acceptable for what I'd expect out of it.

Very consistent ejection pattern. Throws the rounds maybe 2 metres forward and right. Tried PMC, Winchester and Federal ammo both 556 and 223 and worked fine.

One thing that was odd is that the default MFT stock that came with the thing would retract itself under recoil pretty consistently. If you had it pulled all the way out it would retract one step each shot. Strange but the MFT stock is garbage and I'd always planned on getting rid of it.

My gripes from before stay true. Charging handle is crap but not really a problem with gloves. A bit too heavy for what it is.

Overall a perfectly competent Canadian made 180. No regrets purchasing it.
 
I handled the Templar and was very impressed. The gun is front heavy but for positive reasons. I say go to the gym or remember the longest stage to hold a rifle is usually 3 minutes. For those that would bush it ah well it's great exercise. So long as it runs as well as the WS-MCR I'd say it's the best 180 bang for the money, whatever they reasonably release it at.
 
forwardsh said:
Straight from their site and ACR Stock MilSpec. I decided to be an antiquated boomer veteran and I figure since my old CAFSAC team competed at international competitions with milspec triggers and did just fine I don't really need the triggertech. I am buying a box of 500 rounds and putting it all through it day 1; I won't be making a big writeup but I will share my experience with you guys here concerning groupings, failures, things I like etc. I would really like to know if the barrel is chrome lined and how the piston is removed but they've been busy at that big convention and haven't replied.
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If you have ordered the Templar, please update that thread as well when it arrives. Thanks!
 
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