This might be one Swiss rifle I can afford . . .
http://www.bt-ag.ch/assets/uploads/downloads/19/APC556-1-4-2015.pdf
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/02/19/brugger-thomet-apc-556300-coming-in-2015/
It looks promising, but they haven’t released any sort of pricing information that I can find.
IT seems any AR alternative has a tough time competing on price for a variety of reasons.
I’ve always written off the Uzi style sub guns but the 9mm pistol variants that are cousins to this one are very intriguing I must admit.
Have handled the B&T 9 at SHOT several years back. Always thought it would be a fun SBR sub gun, being super light, and compact. How useful it would be is questionable, but if I had the money I’d own one, maybe two. lol.
This rifle looks interesting as well. Am curious and awaiting more information on it.
Iirc Recoil Magazine had the Msrp at $3200 or something like that. I’ll double check when I get home.
With the SCAR16s as established as it is in that class, is there room for another contender at an even higher price point?
Iirc Recoil Magazine had the Msrp at $3200
not explicitly designed for user-level conversion
according to the brochures available through B&T’s website – a fairly stout 3.57 kilograms (that’s almost eight points) unloaded with a 12″ barrel
… and with that, I have lost interest.
I’ve been waiting to hear more about this rifle, but now I’m slightly less interested in it than before.
It has more recoil than the SCAR and seems like it is quiet a bit more expensive as well…
This looks interesting. I’m hoping that the price leaves this attainable for the majority of us, unlike the SCAR which is 2.5x my mortgage payment. One of the articles does say that they are going after the LE market which could mean that this may come in at a decent price point since it would be very tough to sell a dept. a gun that is multiple times more expensive than an AR variant. Time will tell.
Ok according to Recoil Magazine issue 17 it has a MSRP of $2640-3270. No idea why the price range.
I wouldn’t say anything to we actually see the street price on the thing. MSRP is one thing, what they sell for is another. I want to say SCARs have an MSRP pretty close to the 3K mark so in all possibilities there is a distinct chance that the B&T may fall into the same pricing or even less, though I will agree I would much prefer to see them in the sub 2K range.
As far as room up there with the SCAR. I would say yes. I think there is plenty of room in the market. Besides, we all like options and something different to play with.
It looks interesting, but price is a concern, as is weight.
From the PDF linked in the original post, they list it as weighing 7.87 lbs with a 12 inch barrel. If we’re looking at over 8 pounds with a 16 inch barrel, that’s a bit too much, imo.
After thinking about it for a bit, it does (or might) have some advantages over the SCAR, like: easily removable handguard (with various different lengths), quicker “quick changed barrel” (maybe?), and I guess slightly slimmer than the SCAR?
B&T could’ve at least included a non-reciprocating charging handle. This might make people give it a second look, especially those who aren’t a fan of the SCAR’s RCH one.
The thing is, B&T nowhere near has FN’s marketing department, nor production capability. I don’t see widespread availability ever occurring and at this price point it’s the only thing that would help it gain popularity. See also: Kel-Tec (I know), Robinson Armament, Boberg…
Until they hit the street we really won’t know much and at the moment everyone is guess, but again the product looks interesting. Even if there production capabilities are less than that of FN so are a lot of companies out there that do bang up business. I don’t think BCM, KAC, or many other manufacturers that are highly acclaimed out there have near the manufacturing capabilities of FNH and they sell a good number of rifle, granted BCM does advertise quite a bit in the magazines I see, KAC doesn’t do much, and they are still spoken of in almost whispering admiration in the civilian market. Granted mil contracts have helped them quite a bit, but they are still far from a giant. Besides, a company has to start somewhere, and it is usually small. If B&T can get this rifle here that will be half the battle, if it sells decently it may help them grow, and so far I have seen no reason not to want to see them grow. Competition in the market is never a bad thing for the buyer.
There will always be a market for carbines in 5.56 that are not Stoner based; AUG, Tavor, SCAR, ARX-100, SLR-106, et al.
IIRC the APC-556 will have factory OEM caliber conversion capabilities between 5.56 and 300BLK. FN’s SCAR that was supposed to be adaptive but you have two different rifles the 17 and the 16.
The APC 556 is a really cool platform. Tim from B&T USA visited my area a few months ago and I had the opportunity to shoot everything except the APC 556, the 338 LM, and the GL. We shot at an indoor range that does not allow rifle calibers. I had the chance to strip the APC 556 down and compare it to my SCAR16. It is a very well thought out rifle and I look forward to owning one.
I’d love to have one since I can’t get a G36, but I doubt my checkbook would like it.
I’m not surprised at the high MSRP price considering the SMG APC9 is $2250
http://aftermathgunclub.com/2015/05/27/bt-msrp-update-vickers-tactical-video/
Street price is of course lower (generally)
I’m sure part of the high price is due to the strong Swiss Franc. I was in Zurich two weeks ago and I had a hard time finding a plated average bratwurst for less then $21
how was the trigger in the APC ? i’ve talked to him a few times about the APC and he always talks up that trigger. good to hear you were able to handle shoot the gun , all i got was pics and video :jester:
In europe, they’re packaged with aimpoint micros so that might account for the higher price ranges.