This is a great project you have going, with good options listed thus far.
I personally just purchased an LMT MRP after much thought, and I absolutely love it.
What I like about the MRP system, is the easy caliber change, which gives me a 6.8 gun anytime I want it. I had wanted to own a 6.8 weapon for sometime, but most of the choices were so far from a Milspec weapon, I just couldn’t bring myself to buy any of them.
I went with the MRP, and purchased a 5.56 bbl, AND a 6.8 bbl. I already had the 5.56 mags, and I simply bought a few of PRI’s new 25 rd. “waffle” mags. I absolutely LOVE these mags. This new “waffle” design is totally 100% reliable, and when you hold one of these mags in your hand it just feels like quality. I wasn’t TOO big on the cosmetics of the new “waffle” design, but when you actually see them in person, that all changes. They are totally sweet. Not to mention the fact that when they are loaded into your lower, much of the waffling is concealed within the AR magwell. Of course, looks are not everything anyway. They really do look great though. Magpul followers, and Magpul is soon coming out with their new GEN III followers w/ TEFLON additive. If you haven’t tried these new teflon followers, you really should. At $1 and change a piece, you can’t go wrong, and they really are SUPER SMOOTH.
Enough rambling. Back to the Multi-Caliber MRP. I absolutely love this gun. It’s got a pinned gas block, and the LMT lower has a 2 stage trigger that is really nice, and would be perfect for your DMR project. I really was not expecting to like the LMT 2 stage trigger that much, but I tell you, it is great, and it improves accuracy, and I hear it’s much better quality than those RRA’s triggers.
I don’t know if the VLTOR VIS has QD swivel cups, but the LMT MRP rail does, which, IMHO, is a NECESSITY. Some might not consider this a “dealbreaker” or “dealmaker”, but WHY Free Float a bbl if you are going to constantly apply pressure to it by attaching a sling to it and constantly slinging it around with the weight of the rifle pulling on your bbl, which in turn pulls on your upper receiver? I mean, if this was a Colt 6920, which has the sling attached to the bbl, my opinion would be different, as a fighting carbine sees no ill affect from a sling.
However, a DMR rifle should have all the accuracy it can get, and therefore it’s best to attach your sling to the rail, as with the MRP sling swivel cups. I think Noveskes “SWS” rails that he has made up, also has the swivel cups. Again, I do not know if the VLTOR VIS has this feature or not.
One other nice little feature about the MRP, is the fact that the last notch or two in the rail, will support use of KAC’s rail panels. Basically, you have to have the very end section of your rail, properly machined to allow the KAC rail panels “clip” to attach to. This is a minute feature built into the rail, which you would never notice if you did not know it was there. It can be hard to see, so I’m not sure what rails on todays market have this feature or not??
LMT had previously designed a 7.62x39 bbl for the MRP, but they had to put the project on hold, due to lack of magazines. Ryan at LMT was just today, telling me that they actually have the bbls AND bolts sitting on the table, ready to be sold, but they are on hold, and are not selling the bbls at this time.
I just informed him of CPRODUCTS new 7.62x39 AK mags hitting the market back at the first of this month, and he said he is going to bring this to the attention of his superiors at LMT. It would be nice to add another caliber to the MRP’s capability.
I think Spikes Tactical is doing a .22conversion kit for MRP owners, which will incorporate a .22 bbl for the MRP, and mags/mag adaptors. They’ve already done this type of project many times over, with other platforms, so they are definitely not new to this .22 project game.
I realize you only asked about DMR rifle setup, so my apologies for ranting on about everything MRP.
I just love this MRP, and thought I’d tell you about some of the more detailed features of the gun, which really tend to make the MRP a nice setup.
I am personally planning on having VERY high quality precision bbl custom made for my MRP, which will shoot as tight a groups as you could possibly want.
MRP bbls are very easy to machine if the right person is doing it. Nothing to it really. I am stricly doing this, in order to see how tight of groups truly can be had out of an 18" 5.56 or 6.8, so don’t get me wrong here. LMT’s SS MRP bbls are no slouches, and they shoot WELL. Possibly better than I do. (Would have to check), but we all know what a Bartlein, Douglas, Llija, Obermeyer, etc can do.
The other cool thing, is if you want a black “stealth” finish on your SS bbls, many places are offering an IonBond DLC (Diamond Like Coating) on them for a mere $50 or so. Cerakote is the same price, and very durable too. VERY durable.
Anyhow, sorry to ramble on.
My personal vote is for the LMT MRP, and I would have to say that the biggest reason(s) would be the following, in short:
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Multicaliber Use (A Milspec-like 6.8 weapon platform, which most other 6.8s are not) *Some say there is no real Specifications “list” for a Milspec 6.8, but if you consider the Milspec features on a true Milspec M4, then you apply as much of that as you can to a 6.8 AR (or any other AR for that matter), and you have your results to consider when making a purchase.
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Monolithic Rail -very solid, which provides much less upper receiver flex, and just provides an overall solid platform for a precision DMR type weapon.
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Includes PINNED low pro gas block from the start, which is what a DMR is going to need
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Built-In QD Swivel Cups. Keeps all pressure OFF of your Free Floated bbl.
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LMTs’ TOP Notch Customer Service. Compare LMT’s FRIENDLY, Courteous, CS Reps to “other” reps working in this industry ( I won’t mention names, but think “Kool-Aid”)
Before I’m done here, I will say HOWEVER, that the Noveske is a very nice piece of weapon too. It’s just that many of his products are so dang expensive, that they are almost un-reachable to a lot of guys.
I mean, how many guys can spend $3300 on an AR10? Or $1800 on an upper alone? I’m not bashing here at all. Just noting the facts of life here.
Noveske sells QUALITY stuff, and I surely would like to own a Noveske gun or two, but you get the point.
Anyhow, best of luck with your DMR project, and keep us posted bro.
