WS-MCR - Ongoing Impressions

Just why is it so hard to get something like this that costs twice what a Norinco AR used to cost to perform even 1/10th as reliably? I was hoping that by now WS would have fixed the roll pin firing pin issue...

I'm not making excuses for anyone but I can address the difference. A Norinco AR is a mass-production firearm that's sold all around the world in staggering numbers, hence the low cost. The MCR and WK are locally-made in tiny numbers from the ground up, so of course they're a lot more money, even with glaring faults. I'm sure the markup is quite high as well, but so is the markup on any Norinco AR. Again, not making excuses for them, I'm just addressing the price difference.
 
I think I have a solution to the firing pin retaining pin. I made a new pin out of a piece of 3/32 308L welding rod.
I bent the ends over so that it can't come out of the bolt carrier. It took a bit of filing to give clearance between the bolt carrier and the receiver. AR-15 cotter pins didn't work in my rifle because they kept walking out.

The firing pin didn't come out once over the course of 300 rounds of rapid fire.
 
Is it relatively easy to take the new pin out for cleaning/maintenance?

I think I have a solution to the firing pin retaining pin. I made a new pin out of a piece of 3/32 308L welding rod.
I bent the ends over so that it can't come out of the bolt carrier. It took a bit of filing to give clearance between the bolt carrier and the receiver. AR-15 cotter pins didn't work in my rifle because they kept walking out.

The firing pin didn't come out once over the course of 300 rounds of rapid fire.
 
I'm at a bit over 700 rounds with mine now. After replacing the stupid roll pin I haven't had any other spectacular failures. I suggest people take the Hunting Gear guys suggestions. My castle nut came loose today as I hadn't staked it yet. I just reefed on it with an AR tool and it's tight but I will stake it before next use. Havent' checked gas block but I always AR loctitie gas block set screws so I will do that too.

Will see how it holds up as it approaches 2,5, 10K round counts. I would like to see a source for replacement parts like recoil springs and bolt assembly parts.
 
I'm at a bit over 700 rounds with mine now. After replacing the stupid roll pin I haven't had any other spectacular failures. I suggest people take the Hunting Gear guys suggestions. My castle nut came loose today as I hadn't staked it yet. I just reefed on it with an AR tool and it's tight but I will stake it before next use. Havent' checked gas block but I always AR loctitie gas block set screws so I will do that too.

Will see how it holds up as it approaches 2,5, 10K round counts. I would like to see a source for replacement parts like recoil springs and bolt assembly parts.

I am curious to see how the mcr will hold up with high round counts!
 
Not really. The bolt doesn't get caked with carbon build up like an AR-15 bolt so there isn't a real need to take it apart. If you're shooting corrosive ammo it could be a problem.
 
I'm at a bit over 700 rounds with mine now. After replacing the stupid roll pin I haven't had any other spectacular failures. I suggest people take the Hunting Gear guys suggestions. My castle nut came loose today as I hadn't staked it yet. I just reefed on it with an AR tool and it's tight but I will stake it before next use. Havent' checked gas block but I always AR loctitie gas block set screws so I will do that too.

Will see how it holds up as it approaches 2,5, 10K round counts. I would like to see a source for replacement parts like recoil springs and bolt assembly parts.

Brownell's sells a spring kit for their BRN-180 rifles. I don't know if they're compatible with the WS-MCR.
 
The upper receiver is starting to wear on mine.

The takedown pin holes are starting to deform at both the front and back of the upper receiver. Enough so that there is now considerably play between the receivers.

Also, the back takedown pin hole is starting to crack where the hole is drilled for the detente that keeps the takedown pin in place.

This is for the 224 Valkyrie upper after about 300 rounds.
 
The upper receiver is starting to wear on mine.

The takedown pin holes are starting to deform at both the front and back of the upper receiver. Enough so that there is now considerably play between the receivers.

Also, the back takedown pin hole is starting to crack where the hole is drilled for the detente that keeps the takedown pin in place.

This is for the 224 Valkyrie upper after about 300 rounds.

Wow I'm out.
 
The upper receiver is starting to wear on mine.

The takedown pin holes are starting to deform at both the front and back of the upper receiver. Enough so that there is now considerably play between the receivers.

Also, the back takedown pin hole is starting to crack where the hole is drilled for the detente that keeps the takedown pin in place.

This is for the 224 Valkyrie upper after about 300 rounds.

That seems beyond normal wear and tear. I would contact Spectre LTD to see if it could be covered on warranty.
 
Range day with the MCR shooting steel at 200 yards. Working flawlessly and fairly accurate, but not as good as I have had in this caliber. I am not a fan of the squared off receiver (spoiled by the AR’s) as it is uncomfortable when reaching for the safety. The smallish safety has a pronounced crisp engagement which I like.

The handguard is adequate however the thick barrel does tend to make this rifle front heavy. I have changed out the grip, stock and went to a Hyperfire trigger. One thing I noticed is due to the thicker receivers the trigger doesn’t protrude into the guard as much as an AR. It doesn’t hinder functionality.

The dual recoil spring system appears to be more tame then an AR even tho the 5.56 has very little to begin with.



 
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Range day with the MCR shooting steel at 200 yards. Working flawlessly and fairly accurate, but not as good as I have had in this caliber. I am not a fan of the squared off receiver (spoiled by the AR’s) as it is uncomfortable when reaching for the safety. The smallish safety has a pronounced crisp engagement which I like.

The handguard is adequate however the thick barrel does tend to make this rifle front heavy. I have changed out the grip, stock and went to a Hyperfire trigger. One thing I noticed is due to the thicker receivers the trigger doesn’t protrude into the guard as much as an AR. It doesn’t hinder functionality.

The dual recoil spring system appears to be more tame then an AR even tho the 5.56 has very little to begin with.




I agree, the recoil seems to be extra mellow compared to an AR. I guess I would call it "smooth." Somewhat similar to how a rifle length gas system feels smoother than a carbine system.

What optic are you using?
 
Yea, that's the plan. Its an awesome gun, and I started reloading the 224 Valkyrie because of it. Hopefully get it sorted out.

Out of curiosity, what bullet are you running and how fast is it going in your Valkyrie? I had an idea of building one before this OIC bull#### and am curious about real world numbers in an 18.6" barrel. I was hoping to push 75s as close to 2900 as possible, for what it's worth.
 
Out of curiosity, what bullet are you running and how fast is it going in your Valkyrie? I had an idea of building one before this OIC bull#### and am curious about real world numbers in an 18.6" barrel. I was hoping to push 75s as close to 2900 as possible, for what it's worth.

I've tried several bullets including Hornady 75gr ELD-Match. It performed well at the maximum load recommended on the Hodgdon site using CFE223 which claims 3013ft/s out of a 24" barrel. I'm relatively new to reloading and unfortunately do not have a chronograph yet. Was more just testing things out. Hopefully I can do some serious tests with a chronograph once I hear back from wolverine on the issue.
 
I shot mine for the first time a couple weekends ago.
Everything operated normally (besides some FTF), and was pretty accurate once dialed in. I tried a combination of .223 and 5.56 ammunition, I experienced failure to feeds on each type from both the steel mags provided, as well as some LAR-10 mags.

After a while it seems like the FTFs were less and less and it was more reliable after ~150-200 rounds. Maybe something needed to be broken in a bit, no idea.
 
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