HydraMGI’s QCB-D

A quick-change barrel gun you can actually get barrels for.

by David M. Fortier QCB-D

Review. At the time, I resided Change Barrel for Fabrique Na- here. The barrel is free-floated by in Mid-Coast Maine, Jeff was tionale, high-capacity 75- and an aluminum 1913 rail system. in the Northern part of the state 90-round magazines for MWG This features rails at 12, 3, 6 and and MGI’s home at the time was Company and the Counter Poise 9 o’clock for attaching acces- Bangor. Jeff facilitated a first look system with Jim Sullivan. Even- sories. A flattop upper receiver at this very interesting design. I tually, he developed the Hydra is standard. Riding inside was can remember being impressed . Today MG Industries is an M16-type bolt carrier with by the concept, but I did not feel run by his son, Mack Gwinn III. a properly staked gas key and a that production techniques were Like his father, Mack Gwinn III “CM”-marked bolt. Fitted inside fully mature. Fast-forward to served in a U.S. Special Forces the lower is a standard trigger today, and the I have sitting unit and has a practical knowl- group with a heavy and crunchy in front of me looks like a well- edge of fighting . break. An -style col- made production piece. My time with the MGI Hydra lapsible stock and A2 pistol grip The ability to change maga- For those of you unfamiliar QCB-D seen on these pages began are standard. Inside the receiver The standard AR-15 zine wells is an interesting with this interesting rifle design, with a phone call from our editor. extension I found a standard well will they’ve been out how long? Stop accept a variety feature of this design that let’s first take a quick look at He asked if I’d be interested in weight buffer. Everything looked and think about that. There’s not increases its flexibility. of cartridges. the company that developed reviewing a Hydra, seeing as I’m nicely machined and finished, But it can also be even smoke on the horizon. it. MG Industries was founded originally from Mid-Coast Maine but in a way, it actually looked swapped to allow MGI’s Hydra may look like AK-47, AK-74, M3 According to Greek mythology, by a veteran of the U.S. Special and was familiar with the compa- rather…boring. At first glance it Grease Gun and vanilla at first glance, but there’s there was an entrance to the Underworld beneath the waters Forces named Mack Gwinn Jr. ny. I agreed, and he shipped me a just appeared to be a plain-Jane other magazines to a lot more to the lope under the of the lake of Lerna in the Argolid. However, if an adventure Gwinn spent part of his youth rifle he’d received for testing. Out AR carbine. be utilized. hood than a fouled plug. This should take you there you’d find it guarded by a fearsome as a member of a Special Forces of the box, MGI’s Hydra QCB-D When we talk about modular design offers quick and easy many-headed chthonic water beast called the Lernaean Recon Team in the jungles of looked quite good. I received a rifles with quick-change barrel barrel swaps, no tools required. Vietnam. His service in South- standard 5.56x45mm model with systems, the first two that come To accomplish this, remove the Hydra (Λερναία Ὕδρα). Facing the Hydra in mortal combat With the handguard east Asia would have a profound a 16-inch Government profile to mind are FN’s SCAR and Bush- magazine and verify the rifle is was enough to make even the most valiant warrior soil his removed (four effect on his view of and barrel. This features a 1:9-inch master’s ACR. Both of these are unloaded, and lock the bolt to the armor. Even if you were a man of courage and smote one screws) you can see the two locking their design. After he left Spe- twist, is not chrome-lined and is modern, sexy and eye-catching. rear. Next, unsnap a U-shaped of its many loathsome heads, you’d find two more grow in pieces operated by cial Forces, he founded Gwinn topped with a standard A2 flash Unfortunately, neither FN nor spring steel retainer located be- its place. This multitude of regenerating, poison-belching the two rotating le- Firearms, which evolved into suppressor. A traditional Stoner Bushmaster actually offers neath the handguard. Then slide heads was simply too much for anyone but the Son of Zeus vers. These securely lock the barrel into Bushmaster Firearms in the carbine-length gas system is uti- different barrels or caliber con- the rectangular keeper forward, to prevail against. Or so the story goes. place. early 1970s. He eventually sold lized, so no fancy piston system versions for their designs. And exposing two levers. Rotate these While the Hydra of Greek my- this company and worked on two levers 90 degrees away from thology had many heads, today’s a number of projects for other the barrel. You can now pull Hydra is a beast of many calibers. companies. His work includes the barrel assembly out of the Produced by MG Industries, the designing the .50-caliber Quick receiver. Installing a barrel is Hydra is a very interesting design merely the reverse. With the bolt that raises the modular concept locked back, it only took me six a notch above the expected. It seconds to remove a barrel and accomplishes this by not only 13 seconds to install one. So yes, easily switching between bar- it’s very quick and simple. Plus rels, but also magazine wells. In the Hydra accepts standard AR a matter of moments a rifleman barrels. No proprietary parts re- can swap out barrels, changing to quired. Any standard AR barrel a different length in the same or will drop right in. even a different caliber. The mag- While the quick-change barrel azine well is also easily changed feature is slick, the interchange- to accommodate a caliber better able magazine wells will make fed from an entirely different you go hmm. A close examina- magazine design. Better still, no tion of the lower receiver will tools are required. reveal it’s not a standard piece. I first learned of MGI’s Hydra a While the Hydra of Greek mythology, seen Unlike a standard receiver, the here locked in mortal combat with Heracles, number of years ago through my had many heads, today’s Hydra from MGI is a Standard AR-15 barrels can be installed or removed in a matter of seconds with no tools required. MGI’s system is not MGI’s lower receiver is a two- friend Jeff Zimba of Small Arms beast of many calibers. only simple to use but has been in production for years. piece assembly. This consists of

138 book of the ar-15 GUNSANDAMMO.COM 139 QCB-D the rear receiver group, which ing dedicated magazine wells . A 3-9X variable, it when firing five-shot strings or is serialized, and the magazine for both 5.45x39mm AK74 and was intended to be extremely when removing and reinstalling well, which dovetails into it. Like 7.62x39mm AK47 type maga- quick and easy to effectively the barrel between each shot. the barrel, the magazine well is zines. Magazines are released employ out to 900 yards. To use I cannot comment on how the quickly and easily swapped out. by a simple push button, just you aimed at a man-size target system holds up under heavy To accomplish this make sure the like with standard AR mags. and adjusted the magnification MGI’s Hydra QCB-D is light, quick to the shoulder and fast handling. It and/or long-term use. But initial performed well in a variety of drills. rifle is unloaded and separate the MGI also offers a mag well until two ranging brackets on testing looks quite acceptable. lower receiver from the upper. that accepts .45 ACP M3 Grease the crosshair reticle subtended Next I switched to shooting on Next depress the triggerguard Gun magazines. Combined with To remove the the barrel. Care should be taken the target. Then you merely com- steel from 200 to 530 yards. This magazine well you detent and rotate it down. Then their bolt carrier assembly and need to unsnap the to ensure the gas tube does not pensated for windage/lead and was done both in the Hi-Lux’s depress the magazine release and barrel, it allows conversion to .45 trigger guard then get bent. When switching from fired. The scope not only ranged Auto/Range Mode and by using slide the magazine well up and ACP. MGI also offers magazine depress the maga- one caliber to another you need the target, it also automatically the Auto/Range Mode and then zine release and lift off the lower receiver. A different wells that accept pistol the magazine well to verify that you have the correct compensated for the bullet’s disconnecting the range ring and magazine well can now be easily magazines in .45 ACP and 10mm. straight up and off bolt and barrel installed before drop out to 900 yards. It accom- increasing the magnification. slid onto the lower and locked And for you 9x19mm fans, they the receiver. simply dropping the hammer. plished this by a cam system Ammunition utilized during this into place. offer a dedicated mag well for Additional mag wells are not attached to the magnification portion of testing was Federal’s What do these two features Colt-style 9mm subgun mags. So cheap at $275 a piece either. ring. As the magnification was 69-grain Gold Medal Match load. offer? Basically, they allow you there are many options available. Interested to see how MGI’s increased/decreased, the rear Firing from the prone position, to switch quickly from one length What are the pros and cons of Hydra QCB-D would perform, I of the scope body was cammed MGI’s carbine made quick work With the bolt locked back and the barrel retaining levers rotated 90 of barrel to another and one cali- such a system? On the plus side gave it a thorough examination. up/down to match the trajectory of my steel targets and provided degrees, slide the barrel into the receiver making sure the gas tube ber to another. With a standard you can easily swap barrels and Here I noticed the pistol grip was of the . U.S. Army Staff lines up properly. rapid hits. However, I noted I had 5.56x45mm bolt-carrier assembly calibers using one basic rifle. slightly loose, as was the castle Sergeant Adelbert Waldron, the the most difficulty bracketing and mag well installed you can You don’t need complete upper nut. I tightened both of these top-scoring sniper in Vietnam, formance from the bench was ac- targets in the 300- to 400-yard swap different-length barrels receiver assemblies, like with and mounted an optic. MGI was wielded an ART-topped XM21, tually quite good. Despite a rather range, due to the low magnifica- in seconds. Plus you can also a standard AR. Plus it utilizes founded by a Special Forces vet racking up 109 kills. heavy and crunchy trigger pull, tion of 3X to 4X. Past this ranging swap from 5.56x45mm to any standard AR barrels. Not only who served in Vietnam, so I Hi-Lux’s 2.5-10x44mm Black Hills 60-grain VMax load became easier as magnification caliber that utilizes a standard can you swap barrels, but you can selected a Hi-Lux/Leatherwood M-1000 ART consists of a fairly averaged 1.1 inches at 2,779 fps. increased. Hi-Lux’s Auto/Range 5.56x45mm bolt, such as 6x45mm, swap operating systems as well. ART M-1000 scope to check ac- conventional scope fitted with Federal’s 69-grain Gold Medal Mode is intended to provide .300 AAC and .300 Whisper. By That’s right, you can install a curacy. The ART M-1000 is a a specialized integrated cam Match load also shot very well quick hits on a man-size target, changing both the barrel and bolt, piston assembly if you so choose. descendent of the famous Viet- system and mount. Hi-Lux fits and averaged 1.4 inches at 2,520 and it did. Hits might not be a variety of additional cartridges So you can easily set up the rifle nam vintage Auto Rangefinding this model with its No-Math Mil- fps. American Eagle’s 62-grain exactly to point of aim, but they can be utilized. These include exactly the way you need it. Plus, Telescope (ART) developed by Dot reticle, located in the second FMJ load averaged a respectable were there. It was also fairly 5.45x39mm, 6.5x38mm Grendel, the carbine can be disassembled Captain Jim Leatherwood and focal plane. In addition to the 2.7 inches at 2,738 fps. Back of simple to bracket a target and 6.8x43mm SPC, 7.62x39mm, .450 into a relatively small package. fielded on the U.S. Army’s M21 standard Mil-Dots, this reticle the pack was Wolf Performance then disengage the range ring Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM and .50 By removing the barrel from the also features ranging brackets Ammunition’s 75-grain steel Removing the barrel Beowulf. upper, then popping the upper off on the vertical and horizontal case load, which averaged 31/2 and reinstalling Many have desired to feed the lower, you end up with three SPECIFICATIONS stadia. These allow a rifleman inches at 2,630 fps. Perhaps between every shot their 5.45x39mm and 7.62x39mm relatively short pieces. These will MG Industries, Inc. Hydra QCB-D to easily bracket 36-, 18- and Wolf’s 75-grain load was not to didn’t change group via direct gas size. This 100-yard rifles using standard Com Bloc store neatly in a space you would 9-inch-tall/wide targets from this particular 1:9-inch-twist group was fired Kalashnikov magazines. There not expect a 16-inch carbine to fit Cbali er 5.56x45mm 250 to 1,000 meters. The Mil barrel’s liking. using Federal’s are a number of reasons to want into. Then there is the ability to reticle (set on 10X) can also be Seeing as the heart of the Hydra 69-grain Gold Medal BARREL 16 inch Gov profile Match. to do this. Chiefly, the Com utilize a wide array of existing utilized for ranging and ballistic is a quick-change barrel system, Rifling 6 groove 1-9 inch twist Bloc-pattern magazines are very magazines in different calibers. compensation. The M-1000 ART I proceeded to test this. Using ACCURACY RESULTS 35.7 inches w/stock robust and reliable. In the case of The cons? Keep in mind that Overall length can be utilized the same as a con- Federal’s 69-grain Gold Medal Velocity 100 yards fully extended L oad the 7.62x39mm cartridge, while as you swap barrels you will ventional scope, or it can range Match load, I fired an additional (fps) (in.) Trigger Standard single-stage standard AR-pattern magazines need to rezero. The best solution and automatically compensate four five-shot groups. However, Black Hills 60-grain VMAX 2,779 1.1 are available in this caliber, would be to have an optic on a QD Feed Detachable box magazines for the distance to the target. I removed and reinstalled the American Eagle 62-grain FMJ 2,738 2.7 reliability is hit or miss with mount already zeroed for each Front sight A2 post Price is a reasonable $459. barrel between each shot. My Federal 69-grain Match 2,520 1.4 them. Plus, many people who barrel. Manufacturing tolerances Rear sight None, Mil Std 1913 rail I selected four loads for test- tightest five shot group came in are interested in these calibers need to be strictly held, or issues ing and began by firing four five- just over an inch, and my aver- Wolf 75-grain HP 2,630 3.5 Weight 6.9 pounds w/out mag already own Kalashnikov rifles would appear. When not actually shot groups with each load at age was 1.4 inches. Crunching Notes: Groups are an average of four 5 shot groups fired from a rest at 100 yards. Velocity Finish Parkerized and thus a quantity of magazines. mounted in the rifle, the unsup- 100 yards. This was done from a numbers, I was a bit surprised to readings measured 12 feet from the muzzle at an ambient temperature of 50 degrees F 1030 feet above Sea Level with an Oehler 35P. MGI solves this problem by offer- ported gas tube is sticking out of Price $1,250 benchrest to check accuracy. Per- see no difference in group size

140 book of the ar-15 GUNSANDAMMO.COM 141 QCB-D and quickly zoom up in magnifi- Not only that, but any standard cation. To get the most out of the AR barrel will drop right in. So ART system, I highly recommend you can get whatever you want taking the time to fine tune the for a barrel, right now. No wait- cam to your specific load. This ing years for some bureaucracy requires a bit of work but is well to decide whether to offer the worth the effort. proprietary barrel you want. A Swapping to an Aimpoint T-1 surprising amount of calibers red dot sight, I next ran the Hydra will fit in the standard AR mag Snap the upper onto the lower receiver as you would a standard AR-15. QCB-D through a variety of drills well. But if you need more, the inside 50 yards. Here it again Hydra will oblige. While I didn’t performed well, and no issues have a chance to test any other were encountered. It simply magazine wells, the design ap- ticked along nicely. Last, I ran a pears straightforward enough. drill that started with the Hydra What killed interest in the Hydra disassembled in a Blackhawk for many in the past was simply messenger bag. The components price. However, MGI has worked were reassembled, the carbine hard to improve production loaded and a number of targets techniques and bring this down. engaged. If I did things smoothly, Today the suggested retail on I found that the Hydra could be the Hydra QCB-D is a reason- Practical accuracy accessed and reassembled fairly able $1,250. Compare that with SOURCES: was very good as this 100-yard group quickly. I could do it in less than any other quick-change-barrel MG INDUSTRIES 207-817-3280 fired using Black 15 seconds. system on the market. Do you www.mgi-military.com Hills’ 60-grain Vmax load demonstrates. I have to say that the Hydra need an AR with the ability to BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION QCB-D managed to perk my in- swap barrels and mag wells? 605-348-5150 www.black-hills.com terest. Here’s a design with all That’s up to you to decide. But if FEDERAL CARTRIDGE the strengths of the AR but with such a beast appeals to you, this COMPANY 800-831-0850 a quick-change-barrel feature. is one to consider. www.federalpremium.com Hi-LUX OPTICS 888-445-8912 www.hi-luxoptics.com WOLF PERFORMANCE AMMUNICTION 888-757-9653 www.wolfammo.com

MGI’s Hydra QCB-D, seen here with an ART M-1000, is an interesting, and reasonably priced, evolution of the AR-15 which adds the ability to quickly change barrels and magazine wells.