CMMG AK/AR Hybrid Rifle Review

[plouffedaddy]

Pros:
-100% reliable to date with a variety of ammo/mag combinations
-Some folks will prefer the ergos vs. a standard AK/AKM
-Accurate (groups in the video below) for a 7.62x39 rifle
-Large paddle mag release
-Steel bar in the lower reciever will reduce the likelyhood of receiver damage from com-bloc mags
-Stock/grip/trigger/buffer tube are mil spec AR parts and can be swapped out as you see fit
-1913 top rail allow for mounting of AR height optics
-KeyMod rail allows easy attachment of KeyMod compatable accessories

Cons:
-lower/upper/BCG are proprietary
-Cycling the action is harder than with a standard AR15 due to the stiffer buffer spring and (relatively) small AR15 charging handle. A BCM Gunfighter style charging handle would do wonders for that…
-No BHO with standard mags. However, BHO mags work as they would on an AK

Video review:

//youtu.be/HKVFYNJWCak

[C-grunt_old]

Very interesting.

[teutonicpolymer]

Very cool
Would be nice to see different barrel lengths come out (both shorter and longer)

[Rekkr870]

I’m very excited about this. Hopefully the street price is around $1200. This rifle seems to be built very well according to the video and manufacturers specs. I’d like to put my hands on on. 7.2 lbs isn’t bad either.

Great review as always!

By the way, how many rounds do you have downrange with this rifle?

[brickboy240]

Amazing review! You always seem to hit upon the things we would be interested in and question.

My only concern is that the rifle IS DI and with the known filthiness of most Com Bloc 7.62x39 ammo…how soon before it fouls and causes jams? It seems that a piston system like the AK’s would be cleaner…but maybe heavier.

Did you run it after using tons of filthy 7.62 and if so…did it foul quicker than a DI rifle in 5.56mm?

(just wondering as the owner of an AKM and 3 SKS rifles…I know first hand how filthy some 7.62x39 can be)

-brickboy240

[VIP3R_237]

It seems like most can’t get over the fact that it’s not an external piston. I personally don’t care either way as long as it runs.

[Rekkr870]

@VIP3R_237

It seems like most can’t get over the fact that it’s not an external piston. I personally don’t care either way as long as it runs.

Likewise. I’m sure it will be dirty, but if it runs it runs.

I’m impressed with the bolt carrier group and the nitrided barrel, that’s for sure. The ability to swap in a Geissele is awesome too. I never understood why people loved that tapco g2 shit in their AK’s.

[jpgm]

Nice review, cool rifle.

jpgm

[Aries144]

ghjkl

[Wake27]

@Aries144

Great review. I find myself comparing the rifle to a Finnish Valmet or Sako- only it’s lighter and comes ready for optics and mounting a suppressor.

I’d like to see you do at least a couple 5-shot groups for each ammo type when testing accuracy though: I’ve found firing only a single string of 3 can make a 4 MOA rifle look like a 1 MOA rifle and leave me wondering if I’m randomly pulling shots. I’ll get 2 or 3 rounds almost touching and then a “flyer” that turns out to really be part of the overall group as I continue to put 5 or 10 on target. I find shooting a few 5 or 10 round groups leaves no question about the weapon’s real ability and whether or not I’m pulling shots.

Or 10 round groups. I’m also wondering about the round count you have on it so far.

ETA - does it use a standard CH? Both you and a reviewer on TFB mentioned the desire for a beefier latch, but I couldn’t tell if you meant BCM needs to make one or if one of their existing models can drop in like some of the other AR15 parts. I also wonder if a KMR would work on this thing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[plouffedaddy]

@Aries144

Great review. I find myself comparing the rifle to a Finnish Valmet or Sako- only it’s lighter and comes ready for optics and mounting a suppressor.

I’d like to see you do at least a couple 5-shot groups for each ammo type when testing accuracy though: I’ve found firing only a single string of 3 can make a 4 MOA rifle look like a 1 MOA rifle and leave me wondering if I’m randomly pulling shots. I’ll get 2 or 3 rounds almost touching and then a “flyer” that turns out to really be part of the overall group as I continue to put 5 or 10 on target. I find shooting a few 5 or 10 round groups leaves no question about the weapon’s real ability and whether or not I’m pulling shots.

Thanks. I fully understand this request but the problem is that it’s extremely boring to watch. As it is I ‘fast forward’ the video in between shots and when I view my analytics for the video that’s when the most people click off the videos. I’ve done videos with 5 shot groups and the click off rate (if you will) is even higher. Just how it is. The numbers speak for themselves. If I was just concerned with the analytics I’d just skip that section all together but for new rifles I think it’s important so I generally include it.

[plouffedaddy]

@Wake27

Or 10 round groups. I’m also wondering about the round count you have on it so far.

ETA - does it use a standard CH? Both you and a reviewer on TFB mentioned the desire for a beefier latch, but I couldn’t tell if you meant BCM needs to make one or if one of their existing models can drop in like some of the other AR15 parts. I also wonder if a KMR would work on this thing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Somewhere between 4-600 rounds and 3x range trips. Cleaned/lubed prior to shot one and once before shooting the video close ups.

Standard, but it’s more difficult to manipulate on this rifle than on a basic AR15 IMO.

[Wake27]

@plouffedaddy

Somewhere between 4-600 rounds and 3x range trips. Cleaned/lubed prior to shot one and once before shooting the video close ups.

Standard, but it’s more difficult to manipulate on this rifle than on a basic AR15 IMO.

Nice, thanks for the replies as always.

[Aries144]

ghjkl

[teutonicpolymer]

I like what the Gunblast guys do which is post target groupings at the end of their videos with measurements and ammo type used. I also find it boring to watch people shoot groups for the most part unless I am wanting to look at their technique specifically which is not what I am doing when I watch reviews which is maybe a little ironic because I enjoy shooting groups.

[Aries144]

ghjkl

[plouffedaddy]

@Aries144

I understand man, but the only reason I watch gun videos is to see accuracy and that the weapon functions. I need to see targets that have at least 10 holes (or multiple targets with 5 shots in each) that I’m reasonably certain were fired from the same position in the same firing session by a competent shooter, otherwise I have no idea what accuracy the rifle/ammo combo is capable of. 3 shot groups don’t give me any usable information. I don’t need to see the shots fired, I just need to see a 3 second cut showing the target, with info flashed on the screen showing the distance it was shot at.

70-80% of people that watch gun videos are only watching because they think the gun looks cool. I’m not one of those guys- I’m looking for hard info that I couldn’t otherwise figure out without firing the rifle myself. If I don’t find that info, I move on.

Ask yourself what audience you are trying to cater to.

Honestly my primary concern is new shooters/gun owners that don’t know anything (hence the basic gunsmithing and cleaning/lubrication videos) because I think they represent our best chance to grow the amount of gun owners and gun enthusiasts in this country—that’s why I started the channel. But, at the level I’m at now I try to just find a balance.

And… the higher my analytics numbers are then the more often youtube will recommend my videos. The more that happens, the more subscribers/viewers I get which brings me full circle to reaching more new shooters or people debating whether they should get a gun at all.

Others have different motivations for sure but that’s how I look at it. Doing my part with a camera and some guns to protect and share our rights.

[Aries144]

ghjkl

[Benito]

Would a BCM/Raptor charging handle work on this, or is the bolt carrier length different from a regular AR?

[Wake27]

@Wake27

Or 10 round groups. I’m also wondering about the round count you have on it so far.

ETA - does it use a standard CH? Both you and a reviewer on TFB mentioned the desire for a beefier latch, but I couldn’t tell if you meant BCM needs to make one or if one of their existing models can drop in like some of the other AR15 parts. I also wonder if a KMR would work on this thing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

@plouffedaddy

Somewhere between 4-600 rounds and 3x range trips. Cleaned/lubed prior to shot one and once before shooting the video close ups.

Standard, but it’s more difficult to manipulate on this rifle than on a basic AR15 IMO.

@Benito

Would a BCM/Raptor charging handle work on this, or is the bolt carrier length different from a regular AR?

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