I really like my SBI LPC so far

[55recce]

This was so much fun when I posted my like of my Siberian I thought I would do it again (am I a masochist?)

My what? Spectre Ballistics International Light Practical Carbine (Canadian straight pull AR replacement receiver).




Am I worth listening too? Well I have 55 years plus shooting experience civilian and military with an extensive collection. But I have only taken this to the range a couple of times and put several hundred rounds through it. Its not a long term torture test and review and I don't ponce around in cammies chucking hand fulls of dirt in to it.

What I don't like:
- As the "buffer tube" is attached to the upper receiver and the bolt can only be removed by unscrewing the bolt handle it can't be field stripped (but unlike an AR it shoots cleanly so its not such a big deal)
- Slots in the upper receiver for the bolt would allow crap to get inside the receiver (but I am no longer charging around Petawawa, Shilo and other beauty spots so its not a big deal for range shooting)
- the heavy barrel means its not so light, and muzzle heavy and I would prefer a MLOK handguard rather than Keylock to be consistent with my other firearms (but the whole thing was $750 shipped to my door)
- the nagging feeling that I would rather be shooting one of my ARs currently in the Liberal sin bin

What I Like:
- No failures at all, works like a charm (but I am not using a tame gorilla with a sledge hammer to ensure that the magazine is firmly seated)
- Exceeds my accuracy needs (less than 2 inch 5 shot group at 100 yards, can hit 4 inch gong every time at 200 yards). Suspect that a better shot with a higher power scope and a careful choice of ammo would do better
- Non restricted and can use some of my AR parts, accessories, mags
- No recoil spring twanging away next to my earhole
- the straight pull vs semi auto is not such a big deal with the type of shooting I do

!!!! If you do respond please !!!!
- Clearly state if you have hands on experience or just giving an opinion
- Be respectful, we are supposed to be a community of firearms enthusiasts
- Stay on topic and not make this another anti Liberal rant or tell us how you intend to break the law (if you were going to speed to the nearest bank to rob it would you email the police first in case they want to help?)

 

[OkayShooter]

223? Caliber, Ammo and barrel length used would help give an estimate of its accuracy.

How easy is it to operate the bolt? And the force required is comparable to? Is it like a AR with the gas system removed? To operating the bolt?

I assume it uses a AR180 style bolt?

 

[55recce]

223, winchester white box 55 grn fmj, 16 inch barrel

bolt is easy to operate, there is no recoil spring so it is easier to pull back than an AR, requires a firm but not hard push forward to chamber a round and lock the bolt
it is like an ar with no gas system

it uses its own bolt but its like a truncated ar bolt rather than an ar180

out of production at the moment https://spectreballistics.com/

 

[terBC]

I picked up two of the blemished receiver sets in the spring when SBI was clearing them out.

I sent one of the receiver sets and a handguard to Black Box Customs for Cerokate and received it back this week.



It's a Ballistic Advantage Modern Series Government Profile 55.6 11.5" barrel
12" BCL Handguard
Manticore Arms Afterburner Linear Compensator
Hiperfire EDT Sharpshooter Trigger
Hera Arms selector
Ambidextrous "norgon" style mag release
SBI Carbon Fibre Grip
Minimalist Stock
Bushnell Lil'P 1x Prism Scope
The other attachment on the receiver is for a feyachi brass catcher which is why I run the bolt on the opposite side of the ejection port.

I haven't shot this configuration with the 11.5" barrel as both the barrel and the receiver set arrived two days ago.

Previous to this configuration, this used to be a 8.5" barrel with a Magpul MOE Fixed Carbine stock with the PRS Extended Rubber Butt-Pad, 0.80" and an Ultradyne Athena Linear Compensator. The over all length on this configuration was 670mm.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

With the cost of ammo these days; Who can really afford to be blasting away in semi-auto?
And if you were going to be taking slow deliberate shots anyways, these aren't much of a step down from an actual AR.

Also the fact that you can have a short barrel and remain non-restricted is a nice bonus of this platform.

 

[55recce]

Agreed that it does keep the rate of fire down a little and makes me take a little more time over each shot. When I first considered buying a straight pull I wondered if having to cycle the rifle every time would be onerous. But honestly it was not such a big deal for the type of shooting I currently do.

 

[Geoff B]

I converted (temporarily) two AR rifles to the SBI LPC receivers. The first was a Norinco M4 clone in 5.56 and the second was NEA -15 in 7.62X39. In the AR original state both worked well with no problems. Both had several hundred rounds or so and I liked them.
As straight-pull rifles they were not the same.
The Norc worked well but the nuts holding the carrying handle sight cut my hand because I had the charging handle on the left. A red dot sight should fix this issue.

The NEA was awful. The lacquered steel cases would bind up after three or four rounds. Copper-washed surplus would allow 15 or so before gumming up.
I swapped the 14" 7.62x39 barrel and bolt for a NEA 10.5" in 5.56 and all was well. These straight-pull guns don't extract fast enough for the surplus stuff. Save it for the SKS rifles while we still can.