I know there is already a thread in the General Discussion area, but I wanted to do a seperate fresh one here.
First, I want to thank Rich, Drake, and all the guys at Magpul. They put up with my nagging questions, fondling the Masada, UBR, and Pmags, and were their usual great selves. They make some outstanding products and have the customer service to back it up. On to the Masada.
I have been shooting AR’s since I was like 6 yrs old or so. There has never really been a rifle/carbine come out that has ever pulled my attention from the AR platform, until now. The Masada wont replace my AR’s, but I see it as a must have addition to the tool box, that could see significant range time on place of some of my current AR range time.
I have read numerous posts around the net now about the Masada. Most of it is pathetic BS. If you dont like it or arent interested, then fine. Just be advised that not everyone feels that way. Its not an AR. Get over it. In my own opinion, Rich likes the AR, or he wouldnt make all the items for it that he does. The Masada is just something different.
It has a polymer forearm, lower, and stock, that is made from the same material as the new Pmags. Its a VERY strong material. The upper is aluminum, with steel rails inside it, and a full length picatinny rail on top with a built in flip up front sight. This allows the user to pic his own favorite flip up rear sight. The lower uses a AR15 hammer and trigger group in a metal “tub”. The barrel is easily removed and installed, with what amounts to basically its own built in barrel wrench. Rich has two different forearms for it, one with removable rails, and one with built in rails. Ambidextrous mag catch, bolt catch, and safety.
The forearm comes off with a simple push pin removal. Two more push pins seperate the upper and lower halves. One more allows for the stock assembly to be removed.
Rich had two stocks for it, a collapsable folder and a PRS type one. The collapsable folder is awesome. It allows for a consistent cheek weld with the ability to adust the stock length as needed, and still be able to fold it for easier storage if need be.
Here are some pics going through a disassembly.
Push in the handguard pin and slide off the handguard.
Pull down the “barrel wrench”, push in the retaining tab, rotate, and remove the barrel after slightly retracting the bolt.
Barrel showing the attached piston setup.
Push the rear takedown pin and break in half like an AR.
The bolt, carrier, and recoil spring assembly can be removed. A note here…there are steel rails inside the aluminum upper that the carrier rides on. The movement of the carrier on the rails is smooth as glass.
A simple push and twist of the recoil spring assembly allows it to be removed from the carrier.
Push in the stock retaining pin and off comes the stock assembly.
Showing the folding mechanism of the stock with the very cool built in storage tube.
The adjustable two position cheek piece.
Stock folded and slightly extended, yet still clears the ejection port and trigger.
Same as above but with the stock more retracted.
These pics really dont do it justice, but hopefully you can see some of the thought and design put into this.
One last note. Just forget everything you’ve heard about when it will or will not be available, to whom, time frames, pricing, etc., until you hear it directly from Rich and Magpul themselves.
