Sterling Arms International R18 Mk3 Part 1 Review - Specifications and Initial Impressions
- Thread starter Bartok5
- Start date
Unfortunately, the door has probably closed on the R18 Mk 3 being able to dominate the Canadian Black Gun market at the sub-$2K price-point in the near future. That opportunity just died. Even if the Mk 3 is not on the list of 325 models that just dropped, it will most likely be captured in the follow-on list to be compiled by February 2025 for a 3rd Prohibition OIC. Were I a betting man, I now wouldn't expect JR Cox to launch the R18 Mk 3 before a change in government, just to avoid any false starts on the manufacturing front, etc.
Unlike the Canadian AR-180 derivatives, the R18 Mk 3 is a sufficiently advanced design of excellent manufacture that it can favourably compete with the AR15 or with any short-stroke piston system available on the market once our "privileges" have been restored. SAI can use the 10-month "time out" to Test and further tweak the current rifle in preparation for its launch just as soon as the OICs are rescinded by a Conservative majority government. I honestly think that if it is reliable and sufficiently accurate, the R18 Mk 3 will compete very favourably at the $2K price-point. Sure, the mass-produced AR15s may come in cheaper, but once everyone has an AR, then what? Variety being the spice of life, eyes will inevitably turn to an an AR alternative, and that is where the R18 Mk 3 comes into play.
The next election simply cannot come soon enough.
E.T.A. Written as the list dropped. Obviously the R18 Mk 3 will now not launch until the OIC has been rescinded by a Conservative majority government.
Unlike the Canadian AR-180 derivatives, the R18 Mk 3 is a sufficiently advanced design of excellent manufacture that it can favourably compete with the AR15 or with any short-stroke piston system available on the market once our "privileges" have been restored. SAI can use the 10-month "time out" to Test and further tweak the current rifle in preparation for its launch just as soon as the OICs are rescinded by a Conservative majority government. I honestly think that if it is reliable and sufficiently accurate, the R18 Mk 3 will compete very favourably at the $2K price-point. Sure, the mass-produced AR15s may come in cheaper, but once everyone has an AR, then what? Variety being the spice of life, eyes will inevitably turn to an an AR alternative, and that is where the R18 Mk 3 comes into play.
The next election simply cannot come soon enough.
E.T.A. Written as the list dropped. Obviously the R18 Mk 3 will now not launch until the OIC has been rescinded by a Conservative majority government.
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I guess we'll wait.... I was really into this one, if nothing changes could they re-brand it, mod it to only accept proprietary mags and be like the Crypto? I mean it did survive the list... and stang mags are probably getting ban in Q1 from what I'm reading...
There is no requirement to modify the R18 Mk 3 to accept proprietary Magazines. The upcoming Mag regulations will prohibit any magazine that is not PERMANENTLY altered to hold only 5 rounds, with a specific observation that Rivets will no longer suffice. It will become illegal to be in possession of such magazines. STANAG Mags won't be specifically singled out for prohibition, however STANAG Mags that are not permanently altered to hold only 5 rounds maximum will be prohibited just like any other inadequately-altered Magazine. I have 5-round STANAG Magazines put aside that are good to go under the forthcoming Magazine regulations, so they do exist....
5 rounds magazines are no longer needed since the guns are banned now.
I spoke with JR Cox today. The R18 Mk3 will go on hiaitus until the OIC is rescinded by a Conservative majority government in a year's time (give or take) at worst. If we get a spring election, then expect movement on the prohib file even earlier.
Once the OIC is rescinded, live-fire testing will recommence with the new bolts which were received literally days before the ban. The 25 pre-production test rifles are now in storage, ready to go the minute the OIC is cancelled. Limited live-fire testing was done prior to the ban, and I have seen slowmotion video of a 5-round string of fire. The rifle feeds, extracts and ejects just fine. Assuming it is reliable and adequately accurate, I predict that the Mk 3 will compete well against alternative AR15 platforms at the <$2K price-point. Will cheaper AR15s be available? Most likely, however not everyone will be satisified with an AR15 and nothing else. I believe that the Mk 3 will readily hold its own against competing short and long-stroke piston designs on the Canadian market.
I do not have visibility on SAI's plan for the R9. The fact that it is not on the current ban list is encouraging, however it would be less than ideal if production were to commence, only to be shut down if the R9 is on the next "Gap OIC" scheduled for Feb/Mar '25. It might be advisable to wait until the OICs have been definitively sorted out by a new Conservative Government. That will be JR Cox's next decision....
Once the OIC is rescinded, live-fire testing will recommence with the new bolts which were received literally days before the ban. The 25 pre-production test rifles are now in storage, ready to go the minute the OIC is cancelled. Limited live-fire testing was done prior to the ban, and I have seen slowmotion video of a 5-round string of fire. The rifle feeds, extracts and ejects just fine. Assuming it is reliable and adequately accurate, I predict that the Mk 3 will compete well against alternative AR15 platforms at the <$2K price-point. Will cheaper AR15s be available? Most likely, however not everyone will be satisified with an AR15 and nothing else. I believe that the Mk 3 will readily hold its own against competing short and long-stroke piston designs on the Canadian market.
I do not have visibility on SAI's plan for the R9. The fact that it is not on the current ban list is encouraging, however it would be less than ideal if production were to commence, only to be shut down if the R9 is on the next "Gap OIC" scheduled for Feb/Mar '25. It might be advisable to wait until the OICs have been definitively sorted out by a new Conservative Government. That will be JR Cox's next decision....
I love your optimism but there's no guarantee that the Conservatives will make rescinding these OIC's a priority. It could take years or never happen at all... It's not like they don't have a ridiculous amount of more pressing issues to deal with once they are elected. The country has much more serious problems that need attention.
Don't get me wrong I hope it's one of the first things they do... but I doubt it.
Well, the good news is that Pierre Pollievre need not do all of the work himself. Nor does he have to focus exclusively on that particular subject, even though it forms a good chunk of one of his "Pillars", "Stop the Crime". He will have a Minister of Public Safety backed by a full complement of public servants who will do as they are instructed if they know what is good for their continued employment under a new Conservative Government. Once mandate letters are issued, it will be apparent how much of a priority the Conservatives place on undoing the various prohibitions, but I don't see why it cannot occur fairly quickly, concurrent with many other Government initiatives such as Bail Reform under the Justice Minister. The first 100 days is not a bad target timeframe to get the use of our property back....
Slightly ignorant on this, but has it ever happened before that firearms have had their categorisation changed back to NR or even R after becoming prohibited? I feel it’s easy for things to slide down the slope of prohibition, but less easy for them to slide back out.
Cheers
Cheers
I find it funny that this time they just blanket banned everything semi auto, even most .22 rifles lol. Cuz you know there may be a mass shooting... (if you can get the squirrels to group together).
My guess is some things will be easier to justify reversing than others. What they need to do is scrap all firearms legislation and start over with a new framework that actually makes sense.
Yes, PM Steven Harper reversed the ban on the Swissarms Classic series (SIG 550) and the VZ-58 derivatives (CZ-858, etc).
It makes sense why the Gov is offering $70 per polymer mag to businesses now. Since polymer mags cannot be permanently altered to hold 5.
100-packs of PMAGs that I bought for around $1400 might be sold to the gov't for $6900
what a sick joke they're playing on us.
