The next batter up was the CMMG Banshee Mk4 SBR. Having my own FFL and SOT allowed us to get in a couple of SBRs for the testing. At 10.5 inches, the Banshee is the shortest SBR CMMG offers in 5.56mm. Fellow evaluator and writer Karen Hunter noted: “This...
The next gun on our list comes from a company that is less well-known than some of our other players. The Grunt Rifle from Lead Star Arms is designed for duty use. Upon closer inspection we found it was equipped with features normally only found on higher-priced models. Lead...
I was pleased to include another rifle from the folks over at Patriot Ordnance Factory. This year’s entry was the Wonder rifle. First off, it is eye-catching with its unique blue color. In fact, we all noted that this was one of the most colorful rifle years we had...
Last but certainly not least was the Wilson Combat 6mm ARC Tactical Hunter. To say that we were excited to get a gun in from Wilson Combat is an understatement. Just as with any Wilson gun, the fit and finish were superb. Their attention to detail is hard to...
No side-by-side testing would be complete without a gun from FN. The rifle we chose from them this year was the FN 15 DMR3. This is a designated marksman rifle that has received several notable upgrades to enhance accuracy and curb felt recoil, including a new 18-inch barrel, SureFire...
Our next contestant was the Daniel Defense MK18 RIII, a SBR with a 10.3-inch barrel. This rifle is a SOCOM-inspired blaster and is absolutely feature rich. It is part of a new line that is primarily focused on a new and enhanced lower. This new design is completely ambidextrous....
When the last calculation was complete the scores showed this year’s winner was the Blackout Defense Quantum Mark 2, with Daniel Defense MK18 RIII a close second (just a half-point away). The Blackout Defense rifle hit the trifecta of performance, price and value. It was my favorite rifle this...
The essence of this category are guns in the “easily affordable” arena. All these guns, however, performed well and, in many cases, would give higher priced guns a run for their money. With that being said, let’s get a look at the competitors. First up is the Faxon Sentry...
Next up to bat was the Rock River ATH Carbine V2. This release from Rock River is built with a focus on precision, long-range performance. More specifically it is designed for those who enjoy pursuing varmints. The gun has many nice features, but the heart of it is the...
Our next contender is a new kid on the block, the NS15 from North Star Arms. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, North Star Arms is the AR division of the well-known minigun manufacturer Profense. Because of that connection they have a state-of-the-art facility and a team with decades of experience....
