SAR Vol. 18, No. 3 May, June, 2014

Top: Test and evaluation BR15. The author added the Manta rail covers, Trijicon reflex sight and the new M3 Magpul PMag.

Bottom: The case that every Battle Rifle come with; this one is shown with the provided BR15 LIT or Light Infantry Tactical rifle.

SAR Vol. 18, No. 3 32 May, June, 2014 BATTLE RIFLE COMPANY BLACK RIFLES FROM THE LONE STAR STATE

BY CHRIS BARTOCCI

theOver past several years the black rifle market has grown astronomically; not only due to political frenzy but for the love of the most popular rifle in the country. Many new manufacturers have surfaced – some of them to get in on the large amount of money to be made on the popularity of the black rifle and others who simply love the weapon and want to get into the business. There are good and bad manufacturers out there. What separates them is mostly where they get their parts from as that is going to determine whether their rifles work or not.

www.smallarmsoftheworld.com 33 SAR Vol. 18, No. 3 they can be provided with a PMag or CAA magazine. Each trigger is pol- ished giving a trigger pull from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 pounds. Also what is referred to as rapid reset springs are added to increase the speed of follow up shots. The customer has options of stock assemblies such as the Dam- age Industries Enhanced Combat System Stock, Magpul stocks, Chaote M4 stock and Enhanced M4 stock to name a few. Depending on the mod- el, the barrels are manufactured by Ballistic Advantage, Green Mountain, DSS or Blackhole Weapons. Every mag well is currently inspected with In 2009, Chris Kurzadkowsi made an Battle Rifle Company has many ar- numerous manufacturers of maga- AR for his son who was going through eas where they stand out: Every rifle zines to insure compatibility with all SWAT training. He then made ARs is assembled by an armorer. There is commercially available magazines. for other members of the SWAT team. no production line. Battle Rifle Com- Then, in 2010, he got his licenses and pany manufactures their own design The BR4 opened up Battle Rifle Company. flash suppressor, which eliminates Battle Rifle Company debuted at 98% of the flash according to Battle The BR4 was the first weapon the 2012 SHOT Show. There, Chris Rifle Company. All of the barrels are tested in the Battle Rifle Company introduced his standard lines of rifles. cryogenically treated to increase the lineup. This is a basic patrol-type In 2013, the company again attended life of the barrel. Each rifle is custom carbine. It was received with a rubber the SHOT Show as well as the annual tuned to run optimally. Every rifle has butt pad that slid over the rear of the NRA meeting. a rail of some sort on it. Every rifle is standard stock assembly. This partic- With all these different Black Rifle equipped with back up sights. Each ular rifle was shipped with a detach- manufacturers something has to set rifle comes with a CProducts steel able carrying handle. It was equipped each of them apart from the other. magazine. However upon request with a one-point sling adapter on the

SAR Vol. 18, No. 3 34 May, June, 2014 rear of the receiver extension plate. magazines have a flat floor plate al- extreme rail panels are a new tech- The pistol grip was an Ergo Grip. lowing easier stacking in a magazine nology in rail protection and gripping The rifle had a standard rail assem- pouch. The new M3 features a stain- technology. Manufactured from the bly and the Battle Rifle Company less steel magazine spring, four-way same material as M1 Abrams tank flash suppressor. anti tilt follower, pop-off Impact/Dust treads, this material is easy to grip Cover and no tools are required for whether your hands are wet, mud- BR15 disassembly for cleaning. The low dy or whatever condition may come. profile ribs and aggressive front and Molded into the rail panels are several The BR15 has a 16-inch barrel rear texture provide positive control metal clips that enable the rail to grab with the M203 step cut on it. The bar- of the magazine, which help with positively even improperly made rails. rel has a 1/7 inch rifling twist. This compatibility of double and triple The manta grip sleeve was mounted is optimal for projectiles from 62 to magazine pouches. The easy to dis- over the forward vertical pistol grip. 69 grains in weight. The rifle also assemble standard flared floor plate The pressure pad from the flashlight came with a black carrying case. provides drop protection and aids ex- mounted on the rail was slipped into This particular rifle has a 16-inch traction from the magazine pouch. A the sleeve on the vertical pistol grip barrel but also available is a 14.5- paint pen dot matrix has been added cover. This not only protects the pres- inch barrel with the Battle Rifle Com- to the bottom panel of the magazine sure pad but makes it much easier for pany flash suppressor permanently body for easy marking by the end user the shooter to actuate. These same welded in place. for magazine identification. The ge- panels were adopted on the new M27 The fit and finish of this rifle was ometry of the M3 makes it compatible IAR manufactured by H&K for the quite good. The receivers were tight with non-standard M16/M4-type mag- Marine Corps. Manta rail sections and the trigger was crisp. Some ac- azine wells including the HK416, M27 are also designed to cover wire from cessories were added by the author. IAR, British SA80 and FN SCAR. The various devises to keep them out of The rifle was tested with the new M3 incorporates a new material tech- the way and from getting snagged on Magpul M3 magazines. This includ- nology and manufacturing process trees or any other obstacle. ed the 20-round, 30 with and without that increases strength and durability The optic chosen was the Trijicon window and the new 40-round mag- in critical areas. The new 20-, 30- and RX01 reflex sight. This has a 6.5 azine. This is the newest generation 40-round magazines were tested in MOA amber dot, which brings pin- in the evolution of what this author the BR4. point accuracy and allows the shoot- feels is the best magazine available The Manta rail systems were er to shoot with both eyes open. The anywhere for this platform. The new chosen for this rifle as well. Manta sight has a 24mm objective. The

Top: The proprietary Battle Rifle Company flash suppressor. This has shown to be a very effective design.

Bottom: BR15 with new M3 Magpul PMag, Trijicon reflex sight and Manta rail covers.

www.smallarmsoftheworld.com 35 SAR Vol. 18, No. 3 illumination source is both a tritium lamp as well as fiber optics located in the front of the sight. The body of the sight is cast A357. The sight came with a polarizing filter. This is the same one used by SOCOM and part of the SOPMOD program. The ammunition used for testing was U.S. M855 ball. The shoot- ing conditions were less than optimal. It was 109˚F in the Nevada desert with high winds. More than 300 rounds were fired out of the Manta extreme grip panels. BR4 with no malfunctions. It should There is a KAC vertical pistol also be noted that there was blow- grip attached to the rail. Over the grip is the Manta vertical grip ing sand on the rifle as well. Tar- sleeve. The pressure pad for the gets were shot at close range due flashlight is installed in the pock- to the optic being a 1x CQB sight. et on the vertical grip sleeve. The rifle shot right where the dot One of the very low profile cross clip panels holds the flashlight in the optic was once zeroed. The wire in place. Then a micro pan- M3 PMags dropped free once the el is on the bottom rail making it mag catch was depressed. The possible to hold the rail system 40-round PMag worked flawlessly. when it is hot. The BR4 is by all means suitable as a patrol or self defense rifle.

The BR15 LIT (Light Infantry Tactical)

The second rifle provided for testing was the BR15 LIT with a 16 inch barrel. This differed from the standard BR15 in that first it had a nickel boron coated bolt carri- er group. This finish claims to be easier to clean and require little to no lubrication. The stock provided was the Damage Industries Enhanced Combat System Stock. The rifle has an aluminum Mid- west Industries free floating handguard with removable rail sections. This rifle came with A.R.M.S., Inc. #71 polymer folding front and rear sights and a 1-point sling adapter attached to the receiver extension end plate. This also had the Ergo Grip pistol grip. This rifle also has a 1/7 inch twist and equipped with the Battle Rifle Company proprietary flash suppressor. The optic chosen for this rifle was the Trijicon ACOG TA31RC0- M4CP – this is the U.S. Marine is- sue ACOG sight. This is a 4x32 mm scope manufactured from a 7075- Receiver markings on the BR15 LIT. Notice the Ergo Grip, T6 aircraft grade aluminum forging; Trijicon ACOG scope, M3 Magpul PMag and “Battle Rifle” the same as the rifle receivers. It is marked on the side of the upper receiver. This rifle did not have the letters painted in. powered by both a tritium lamp and

SAR Vol. 18, No. 3 36 May, June, 2014 a red fiber optic the goes right over the M855 ball ammunition in the scorch- Battle Rifle Company is new to the top of the scope. The reticle is a red. ing windy desert heat. More than 100 industry and is making low production The brightness of the chevron is self rounds were fired with no malfunc- numbers of hand crafted rifles. There regulating based on the ambient light tions of any type. Groups averaged is plenty of business in this communi- collected from the fiber optic. Howev- between 2 and 3 MOA. I believe the ty to go around and they will certainly er, soldiers have been known to cover ammunition and condition may have find their nitch. The rifles tested were portions of the fiber optic with tape to not brought out this rifle’s true capa- an excellent quality and function per- dim them up. The rifle came with a bility. I believe with proper match am- fectly. These rifles were accurate and Killflash cover to prevent reflection off munition, less wind and better shoot- well made. the lens as well as lens covers. ing conditions the factory specified 1 This rifle was also tested with MOA could be achieved.

Above: Brand new Gen M3 PMags. On the left is the new 40-round mag, then the 30-round, 30-rounds with window and the 20-round. Improvements in material as well as human engineering changes make the best magazines even better.

Below: Manta extreme grip panels. There is a KAC vertical pistol grip attached to the rail. Over the grip is the Man- ta vertical grip sleeve. The pressure pad for the flashlight is installed in the pocket on the vertical grip sleeve. One of the very low profile cross clip panels holds the flashlight wire in place. Then a micro panel is on the bottom rail making it possible to hold the rail system when it is hot.

www.smallarmsoftheworld.com 37 SAR Vol. 18, No. 3 Below: Left side of the BR15 LIT.

SAR Vol. 18, No. 3 38 May, June, 2014 Right side of the BR15 LIT. Notice the Damage Industries Advanced Combat Sys- tems stock, Ergo Grip pistol grip, ACOG optic, M3 Magpul PMag, Midwest Industries free floating handguard, A.R.M.S. #17 folding front and rear BUIS and Battle Rifle Company proprietary flash suppressor.