Finally made it out to the range today with the JR Carbine...9MM of course!
Also brought along my, just recently returned from the smith's, CX4 Storm carbine...The trigger pull had gotten heavier and heavier over time to the point it wouldn't function! It was discovered that some of the (metal, not plastic!) trigger parts had worn, and it required some sleuthing to find the cause and then some skilled TIG welding and filing to correct!
The JR Carbine retailed for $899 plus tax at Ellwood Epp's and is classified as non-restricted on the basis of barrel length. They are supplied in the States with 16" barrels, which would make them restricted here.
I though it was reasonable to compare/contrast the two as I have had my Storm converted to non-restricted with a barrel swap done by Epp's.
I forget what I paid for the Storm in the first place, but the conversion cost around $500, and I got the original barrel back in the bargain.
The JR Carbine utilizes a straight blowback system, as per the Storm, and one of it's biggest selling features is that it uses stock Glock magazines.
The gun ships with one , 10 round factory Glock mag.
First a couple of measurements....
Weight with an empty magazine, including a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot on the Storm, and Troy BUIS as well as an Aimpoint micro in an American Defence mount was pretty close...7 pounds for the Storm vs. 7.5 for the JR.
Length on the fixed stock Storm was 33.75" and on the JR it varied from 33.5" to 37.25" with the four position AR style stock collapsed to fully extended.
(The stock comes pinned in the fully extended position, but it was pretty straight forward to get it working just as the Great AR Maker intended.
Just insert a drill bit small enough to fit into the roll pin, drill it out to the other side of the stock, and then 'back drill' the hole big enough to allow the roll pin to be driven out.)
Barrel length, including chamber, was 19.75" on the Storm vs19.0" on the JR.
The JR carbine is fully ambidextrous, with the controls being identical to an AR, apart from the magazine release...
No wonder, it utilizes an AR trigger system grip, buffer tube (commercial), buffer (~85grams), buffer spring and stock.
The only control that cannot be changed out is the single sided (left) safety.
I would presume that an aftermarket ambi safety could be fitted.
It has the capability to switch calibres...9MM, 40S&W, and 45ACP, by changing out the barrel, bolt head and extractors, as well as the mag well.
The rather comprehensive owner's manual indicated that the gun should be taken down and cleaned...using dry lubricant...before firing.
This was the first indication that the takedown for servicing was a little more than needed for the Storm, which requires no tools, and the simple pushing out of a 'pin' which allows disassembly for cleaning and control swapping.
With the JR, the first action needed is the removal of the stock, requiring an AR style stock wrench. Once the stock is off, and the bolt handle is removed (requiring a 9/64" hex wrench), the bolt and bolt carrier is withdrawn through the back of the action.
It easily twists apart, allowing servicing of the spring loaded firing pin and one of the twin extractors. The other extractor is captured within the action.
The four sided, railed handguard is held on by a large locking ring ( drift + hammer) and the barrel is held on with an AR style nut.
I used Sentry Sytems Tuf Glide, a dry lube, on the bolt and carrier, and the barrel was cleaned with Gunzilla.
Range Report
5 degrees and pi**ing it down ( but it sure beats -40 with the wind chill!) and I sighted the JR in using Remington 147Gr. FMJ factory ammunition.
The fifty yard range was almost submerged, so I stuck to the 25 yard range for this evaluation.
It only took 10 rounds or so to get the irons on for a six o'clock hold, and the the Aimpoint was co-witnessed with the dot on top of the front sight post.
I utilized the factory supplied 10 round magazine, as well as a couple of 17 rounder riveted to 10.
It was possible to seat the fully loaded mags on a closed bolt, which was a pleasant surprise!
I started just doing some CQB drills...alternating head shots on two targets, Mozmabique technique, etc..., just to see if the gun would function well.
And function it did..with no failures to feed or eject, using the two types of magazines, and the factory Remington ammunition.
If you're familiar working the controls of an AR, you'll have no issues..EXCEPT....for magazine changes.
Being right hand dominant, I had the magazine release set up on the left side as was the bolt handle.
There is no hold open on an empty mag, ala AR's, without placing the bolt handle back and down into it's detent (opposite to an MP5) and so the drill became...click (empty?)...work the mag release with the left thumb while stripping the mag out...pick up and insert mag (slight forward angle instead of straight up) and then pull back and release the bolt handle, also with the left hand.
It definitely got quicker, with less fumbling, with practise, and wasn't appreciably slower, or more difficult, than the Storm.
You would have to work on developing a different set of failure drills...
If no Bang with trigger pull...ensure mag is seated....pull back and release bolt handle....Bang!
If no Bang....then strip out mag..replace with new one...work the bolt handle..Bang!
If still no Bang...assume case stuck or double feed....lock back bolt... inspect the chamber.....finger f**k the action....And Pray!
Anyhooo....you get the idea...
Accuracy
Using the mounted red dots, at 25 yards, both guns would put 10 rounds into a Toonie sized group....no appreciable difference.
Obviously, there may well be some separation of these two units at greater distances, and using different ammunition.
I didn't try different weights or bullet shape/types, and this may be where there could be some issues...
Impressions...
The JR Carbine should appeal to shooters comfortable with the AR family of firearms....with the exception of lack of hold open on an empty mag, as well as the different manual of arms required for magazine changes.
You still get that same old 'sproing' sound of the spring working by your ear, something that I almost missed when shooting the Storm.
The barrel length, although not very appealing visually, did nothing to compromise the handling qualities during multiple target engagements.
The only issue I had was a sore trigger finger! I couldn't figure out why my finger felt raw at the end of shooting, until I inspected and found that there was a very sharp edge on the trigger itself, something which is radiused on all of my other AR's...not a big thing, and easily addressed with a little, judicious use of a file.
The only other bone to pick was having to drill out the stock to make it adjustable...not the manufacturer's fault....and the need to take off the stock everytime the firearm requires cleaning. I would be tempted to just run a boresnake with solvent down the barrel, and only take it down completely every second or third range trip....assuming that it was functioning well.
The only variable that wasn't explored today was using different types of ammunition....factory vs reload, light vs heavy bullets, flat points vs rounded tip, etc., and I plan on doing that on my next range trip.
Overall, if someone was looking for a pistol calibre carbine, particularly non-restricted, I wouldn't have any issues recommending the JR Carbine.
It would kind of defeat the purpose of a (not so)'cheap and cheerful unit', but with all of the AR parts used, an owner could certainly customize to their heart's content.
Am I in a big hurry to dump my Storm on the EE after today's outing....?
I guess you'll just have to keep an eye on the ads!
http://gallery.me.com/inmans/100928
Also brought along my, just recently returned from the smith's, CX4 Storm carbine...The trigger pull had gotten heavier and heavier over time to the point it wouldn't function! It was discovered that some of the (metal, not plastic!) trigger parts had worn, and it required some sleuthing to find the cause and then some skilled TIG welding and filing to correct!
The JR Carbine retailed for $899 plus tax at Ellwood Epp's and is classified as non-restricted on the basis of barrel length. They are supplied in the States with 16" barrels, which would make them restricted here.
I though it was reasonable to compare/contrast the two as I have had my Storm converted to non-restricted with a barrel swap done by Epp's.
I forget what I paid for the Storm in the first place, but the conversion cost around $500, and I got the original barrel back in the bargain.
The JR Carbine utilizes a straight blowback system, as per the Storm, and one of it's biggest selling features is that it uses stock Glock magazines.
The gun ships with one , 10 round factory Glock mag.
First a couple of measurements....
Weight with an empty magazine, including a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot on the Storm, and Troy BUIS as well as an Aimpoint micro in an American Defence mount was pretty close...7 pounds for the Storm vs. 7.5 for the JR.
Length on the fixed stock Storm was 33.75" and on the JR it varied from 33.5" to 37.25" with the four position AR style stock collapsed to fully extended.
(The stock comes pinned in the fully extended position, but it was pretty straight forward to get it working just as the Great AR Maker intended.
Just insert a drill bit small enough to fit into the roll pin, drill it out to the other side of the stock, and then 'back drill' the hole big enough to allow the roll pin to be driven out.)
Barrel length, including chamber, was 19.75" on the Storm vs19.0" on the JR.
The JR carbine is fully ambidextrous, with the controls being identical to an AR, apart from the magazine release...
No wonder, it utilizes an AR trigger system grip, buffer tube (commercial), buffer (~85grams), buffer spring and stock.
The only control that cannot be changed out is the single sided (left) safety.
I would presume that an aftermarket ambi safety could be fitted.
It has the capability to switch calibres...9MM, 40S&W, and 45ACP, by changing out the barrel, bolt head and extractors, as well as the mag well.
The rather comprehensive owner's manual indicated that the gun should be taken down and cleaned...using dry lubricant...before firing.
This was the first indication that the takedown for servicing was a little more than needed for the Storm, which requires no tools, and the simple pushing out of a 'pin' which allows disassembly for cleaning and control swapping.
With the JR, the first action needed is the removal of the stock, requiring an AR style stock wrench. Once the stock is off, and the bolt handle is removed (requiring a 9/64" hex wrench), the bolt and bolt carrier is withdrawn through the back of the action.
It easily twists apart, allowing servicing of the spring loaded firing pin and one of the twin extractors. The other extractor is captured within the action.
The four sided, railed handguard is held on by a large locking ring ( drift + hammer) and the barrel is held on with an AR style nut.
I used Sentry Sytems Tuf Glide, a dry lube, on the bolt and carrier, and the barrel was cleaned with Gunzilla.
Range Report
5 degrees and pi**ing it down ( but it sure beats -40 with the wind chill!) and I sighted the JR in using Remington 147Gr. FMJ factory ammunition.
The fifty yard range was almost submerged, so I stuck to the 25 yard range for this evaluation.
It only took 10 rounds or so to get the irons on for a six o'clock hold, and the the Aimpoint was co-witnessed with the dot on top of the front sight post.
I utilized the factory supplied 10 round magazine, as well as a couple of 17 rounder riveted to 10.
It was possible to seat the fully loaded mags on a closed bolt, which was a pleasant surprise!
I started just doing some CQB drills...alternating head shots on two targets, Mozmabique technique, etc..., just to see if the gun would function well.
And function it did..with no failures to feed or eject, using the two types of magazines, and the factory Remington ammunition.
If you're familiar working the controls of an AR, you'll have no issues..EXCEPT....for magazine changes.
Being right hand dominant, I had the magazine release set up on the left side as was the bolt handle.
There is no hold open on an empty mag, ala AR's, without placing the bolt handle back and down into it's detent (opposite to an MP5) and so the drill became...click (empty?)...work the mag release with the left thumb while stripping the mag out...pick up and insert mag (slight forward angle instead of straight up) and then pull back and release the bolt handle, also with the left hand.
It definitely got quicker, with less fumbling, with practise, and wasn't appreciably slower, or more difficult, than the Storm.
You would have to work on developing a different set of failure drills...
If no Bang with trigger pull...ensure mag is seated....pull back and release bolt handle....Bang!
If no Bang....then strip out mag..replace with new one...work the bolt handle..Bang!
If still no Bang...assume case stuck or double feed....lock back bolt... inspect the chamber.....finger f**k the action....And Pray!
Anyhooo....you get the idea...
Accuracy
Using the mounted red dots, at 25 yards, both guns would put 10 rounds into a Toonie sized group....no appreciable difference.
Obviously, there may well be some separation of these two units at greater distances, and using different ammunition.
I didn't try different weights or bullet shape/types, and this may be where there could be some issues...
Impressions...
The JR Carbine should appeal to shooters comfortable with the AR family of firearms....with the exception of lack of hold open on an empty mag, as well as the different manual of arms required for magazine changes.
You still get that same old 'sproing' sound of the spring working by your ear, something that I almost missed when shooting the Storm.
The barrel length, although not very appealing visually, did nothing to compromise the handling qualities during multiple target engagements.
The only issue I had was a sore trigger finger! I couldn't figure out why my finger felt raw at the end of shooting, until I inspected and found that there was a very sharp edge on the trigger itself, something which is radiused on all of my other AR's...not a big thing, and easily addressed with a little, judicious use of a file.
The only other bone to pick was having to drill out the stock to make it adjustable...not the manufacturer's fault....and the need to take off the stock everytime the firearm requires cleaning. I would be tempted to just run a boresnake with solvent down the barrel, and only take it down completely every second or third range trip....assuming that it was functioning well.
The only variable that wasn't explored today was using different types of ammunition....factory vs reload, light vs heavy bullets, flat points vs rounded tip, etc., and I plan on doing that on my next range trip.
Overall, if someone was looking for a pistol calibre carbine, particularly non-restricted, I wouldn't have any issues recommending the JR Carbine.
It would kind of defeat the purpose of a (not so)'cheap and cheerful unit', but with all of the AR parts used, an owner could certainly customize to their heart's content.
Am I in a big hurry to dump my Storm on the EE after today's outing....?
I guess you'll just have to keep an eye on the ads!
http://gallery.me.com/inmans/100928
