Superglide
Regular
- Location
- somewhere with a lot of standoff
I, like most of us, have a lot of time on my hands now, so here is my MDI SLR build experience, hope this helps someone building an SLR, enjoy.
Perhaps others could post their SLR build here as well, maybe post a few pictures and helpful SLR build tips.
Part 1
So like most of us who like black rifles in Canada, we all long for a holy grail of black guns in Canada, and that is the NR AR15. Proof of this is over the last couple of years we have seen alot of companies trying to make this happen, Wolverine Supplies, ATRS, MDI, Kodiak, BCL, RWA, and Stag to name a few. So with all the spare time we have on our hands, here is my review of my MDI SLR build and shooting experience with it so far. I have had experience shooting AR15's for years, as well as been fortunate to shoot pretty much all the NR 5.56 options on the can market with the exception of the new Wolverine WS-MCR or the RWA 180. I decided to do a build on a MDI SLR. For those of us currently serving and veterans MDI does offer a discount, and the availability of the SLR is pretty good right now. I don't necessarily think the SLR is superior to other options out there, that said it is certainly not inferior, and based on reviews of all the wannabe AR 15/180's they all have some minor issues. However let's remember these are not AR15's and never will be, but let's be thankful for all the companies that have brought these rifles to market. These rifles are by no means cheap to put together but I did my best to keep the cost reasonable with what was readly available in stock, with the least amount of orders placed to keep shipping cost low.
Parts
-MDI SLR receiver set ( Gen 2, the latest generation) purchased from MDI Cerakoted at RDSC w/ Elite series cerakote.
- CNA 20 inch 1:7 twist gov profile barrel, 5.56mm (TNA)
- A2 Flash hider (TNA)
- Low Profile .750 steel gas block (TNA)
- Rifle length gas tube (TNA)
- Super MLOK 15 inch handguard easy install (TNA)
- Tool craft BCG DLC (TNA)
- Colt Canada charging handle (nordicmarksman)
- Ambi mag catch (nordicmarksman)
- Ambi selector lever (nordicmarksman)
- Colt Canadatrigger assembly (nordicmarksman)
- Bolt Catch (TNA)
- Buffer retainer/spring (TNA)
- Magpul MOE grip (TNA)
- Magpul CTR stock (TNA)
- Buffer tube/buffer/spring (nordicmarksman)
- Ejection port cover (TNA)
Second Upper 6.5 Grendel
-MDI SLR upper receiver ( Gen 2, the latest generation) purchased from MDI Cerakoted at RDSC w/ elite series cerakote
- Super MLOK 15 inch handguard easy install (TNA)
- 6.5 Grendel Bolt (TNA)
- Rifle length gas tube (TNA)
- Odin works 20 inch 1:8 twist stainless DMR barrel (Reliable)
- A2 flash hider (TNA)
- Odin works tuneable stainless steel gas block (Reliable)
- Ejection port cover (TNA)
Everything went together pretty easily, only thing I noticed was my safety selector did not fit as the hole in the receiver was crazy tight! However I tried a second safety selector that a friend of mine had purchased from nordic marksmans and it fit perfectly? So was the receiver or the selector out of spec? I think it was my selector lever to be honest, as the one from nordic marksman was much higher quality. I also noticed that the gas tube hole on the front of the upper receiver seemed kind of large with the gas tube installed, but once assembled there has not been any issues, it just seemed strange. This was the same on both uppers. The Cerakote job done was flawless, and we will see how the elite cerakote holds up. The upper and lower are super tight and have no play whatsoever. Anyone who has ever assembled an AR15 will have no issues with this, however there are some good youtube videos with regard to the SLR specific parts like the trigger box that are worth watching. As for the latest generation SLR, the trigger box selector hole does not need to be drilled out like on the first generation receiver sets, and the same can be said for the roll pin hole for the bolt catch. So all in all, assembly was simple and straightforward with no real fitting issues. I would like to add that dealing with Wyatt at MDI was a pleasure and I do recommend dealing with them.
Range day number one (just before the lockdown) I managed to get to the range just before the craziness and was able to function test and group and zero the 5.56mm upper, I didn’t measure group size, that will be next time (it was really cold out) nor did I get to test the Grendel upper as I did not have ammunition at the time. The 5.56mm upper is set up for 3 gun and is sporting a Holosun HS403R red dot and flip up BUIS. Long story short is it functioned as it should, no issues at all. I tried some cheap winchester 55gr, and American eagle 62r ammo and it cycled both perfectly. I only put 200 rounds through it but so far so good. The rifle is now zeroed and I was able to effectively shoot steel targets out to 300m. When the lockdown is over I will do some accuracy testing with different types of ammo and bullet weights from 55 to 77gr and see what happens. I will also do the same with the Grendel, as I would like to turn it into a long range rig and deer slayer!
More to follow...
SG
Perhaps others could post their SLR build here as well, maybe post a few pictures and helpful SLR build tips.
Part 1
So like most of us who like black rifles in Canada, we all long for a holy grail of black guns in Canada, and that is the NR AR15. Proof of this is over the last couple of years we have seen alot of companies trying to make this happen, Wolverine Supplies, ATRS, MDI, Kodiak, BCL, RWA, and Stag to name a few. So with all the spare time we have on our hands, here is my review of my MDI SLR build and shooting experience with it so far. I have had experience shooting AR15's for years, as well as been fortunate to shoot pretty much all the NR 5.56 options on the can market with the exception of the new Wolverine WS-MCR or the RWA 180. I decided to do a build on a MDI SLR. For those of us currently serving and veterans MDI does offer a discount, and the availability of the SLR is pretty good right now. I don't necessarily think the SLR is superior to other options out there, that said it is certainly not inferior, and based on reviews of all the wannabe AR 15/180's they all have some minor issues. However let's remember these are not AR15's and never will be, but let's be thankful for all the companies that have brought these rifles to market. These rifles are by no means cheap to put together but I did my best to keep the cost reasonable with what was readly available in stock, with the least amount of orders placed to keep shipping cost low.
Parts
-MDI SLR receiver set ( Gen 2, the latest generation) purchased from MDI Cerakoted at RDSC w/ Elite series cerakote.
- CNA 20 inch 1:7 twist gov profile barrel, 5.56mm (TNA)
- A2 Flash hider (TNA)
- Low Profile .750 steel gas block (TNA)
- Rifle length gas tube (TNA)
- Super MLOK 15 inch handguard easy install (TNA)
- Tool craft BCG DLC (TNA)
- Colt Canada charging handle (nordicmarksman)
- Ambi mag catch (nordicmarksman)
- Ambi selector lever (nordicmarksman)
- Colt Canadatrigger assembly (nordicmarksman)
- Bolt Catch (TNA)
- Buffer retainer/spring (TNA)
- Magpul MOE grip (TNA)
- Magpul CTR stock (TNA)
- Buffer tube/buffer/spring (nordicmarksman)
- Ejection port cover (TNA)
Second Upper 6.5 Grendel
-MDI SLR upper receiver ( Gen 2, the latest generation) purchased from MDI Cerakoted at RDSC w/ elite series cerakote
- Super MLOK 15 inch handguard easy install (TNA)
- 6.5 Grendel Bolt (TNA)
- Rifle length gas tube (TNA)
- Odin works 20 inch 1:8 twist stainless DMR barrel (Reliable)
- A2 flash hider (TNA)
- Odin works tuneable stainless steel gas block (Reliable)
- Ejection port cover (TNA)
Everything went together pretty easily, only thing I noticed was my safety selector did not fit as the hole in the receiver was crazy tight! However I tried a second safety selector that a friend of mine had purchased from nordic marksmans and it fit perfectly? So was the receiver or the selector out of spec? I think it was my selector lever to be honest, as the one from nordic marksman was much higher quality. I also noticed that the gas tube hole on the front of the upper receiver seemed kind of large with the gas tube installed, but once assembled there has not been any issues, it just seemed strange. This was the same on both uppers. The Cerakote job done was flawless, and we will see how the elite cerakote holds up. The upper and lower are super tight and have no play whatsoever. Anyone who has ever assembled an AR15 will have no issues with this, however there are some good youtube videos with regard to the SLR specific parts like the trigger box that are worth watching. As for the latest generation SLR, the trigger box selector hole does not need to be drilled out like on the first generation receiver sets, and the same can be said for the roll pin hole for the bolt catch. So all in all, assembly was simple and straightforward with no real fitting issues. I would like to add that dealing with Wyatt at MDI was a pleasure and I do recommend dealing with them.
Range day number one (just before the lockdown) I managed to get to the range just before the craziness and was able to function test and group and zero the 5.56mm upper, I didn’t measure group size, that will be next time (it was really cold out) nor did I get to test the Grendel upper as I did not have ammunition at the time. The 5.56mm upper is set up for 3 gun and is sporting a Holosun HS403R red dot and flip up BUIS. Long story short is it functioned as it should, no issues at all. I tried some cheap winchester 55gr, and American eagle 62r ammo and it cycled both perfectly. I only put 200 rounds through it but so far so good. The rifle is now zeroed and I was able to effectively shoot steel targets out to 300m. When the lockdown is over I will do some accuracy testing with different types of ammo and bullet weights from 55 to 77gr and see what happens. I will also do the same with the Grendel, as I would like to turn it into a long range rig and deer slayer!
More to follow...
SG
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