Ok guys,
So I’m TOTALLY interested in buying/building/obtaining an “SPR” of some type, and I’ve always wondered a few things:
WHAT makes an AR rifle, an “SPR” ??? I mean, all I really know is they usually have a regular scope optic on them (as opposed to an Acog/etc), and they usually have an 18" bbl. What else?
Why do I always see a round, tubular type foreend/rail on the front of the rifle, instead of regular rails??? Is this just coincidence that all the SPR’s I’ve seen have these VTAC-style (or similar) round, tubular rails, or is it part of what makes a rifle an SPR???
WHO makes SPR’s??? I mean, is it ONLY custom makers, like Noveske for example (that was just an example), OR is there a company like Colt, RRA, etc, that makes SPR’s???
I would LOVE a Colt made SPR, too bad I’ve never seen one.
I guess I just want a QUALITY SPR, and I need to know WHAT to buy, and WHO makes what I need???
I too was curious what those round covers were for and I found this on another board.
SPR - Special Purpose Rifle (18" free floating match barrel upper)
I guess the special part is the free-floating barrel.
I found the page from ar15.com with all the abbreviations very helpfull,
I come from a world of DOCH, VTEC, SI and the likes, so I am learning.
I would post the link but most might know about it,
I am not sure if there is an affiliation between the two.
I learned a lot form both so far and I like the fact we have a site only for the M4.
Well guys,
I guess I am looking to build or buy, an SPR that has the 18" bbl, and round tube like the one Crane uses, or similar.
I don’t really know what else makes it an “SPR” to be honest, other than the standard riflescope, which I will also use.
I will definitely NOT be putting a heavy bipod or silencer on.
I just don’t KNOW what upper or lower I should use??? I guess I’m still just wondering WHAT is unique about an SPR, other than the 18" bbl, round foreend rail tube, and higher power optic??? I mean, is that ALL there is to an “SPR”???
IF SO, then I would like suggestions on what upper, lower and barrel I should use??? I definitely want to use a longer bbl, most likely 18", unless someone has a better choice of length. I know the purpose of the SPR was to be more accurate than an M4, and shorter than an M16, so I’m thinking 18" bbl is perfect.
Still not sure what upper or lower I should use? I mean, I always thought it was a bit funny, when I see guys using RRA’s lowers mixed with Colt uppers. Or LMT uppers and DPMS lowers! LOL!
Just kind of seems like that produces a “mut” or “basterdized” rifle, and I would really prefer to try and maintain some sort of organization? or something unity in my build.
SO, with that said, WHAT would YOU GUYS recommend I do, if I wanted to build my own SPR w/18" bbl, round forend rail, and high power optic (probably Nightforce or Leupold is what I’ll end up going with).
Thanks for ANY help guys. I’m sure looking forward to figuring this build out…
Yeah,
I’m fully aware of what “SPR” stands for, per my first original post. SPR’s have always interested me, long before they even were designed, I imagined such a rifle (minus round tubular rails of course).
My purpose for building this rifle, is pretty much the same as the military’s purpose I suppose. To build a rifle that is more accurate than your average M4 at longer ranges, and is shorter than a 20" M16.
That’s what I’ve read the SPR was designed for, and that is certainly something we all (well, most of us) would love to own.
I’ve always wanted something in between the size of my 16" Colt, and a 20" M16.
SO, I guess I want an 18" bbl, with round tubular forend, high power optic, and ALL the long range accuracy I can get.
IF the SPR has any other functions or purpose than this, I may or may not also want it in my rifle as well.
Does this all make sense, or sound like “man jewelry” to you? I hardly have the $$ in my bank account for this “man jewelry” you speak of…
Accruacy and range of an AR-15 is determined by optics choice first and barrel quality second, everything else a far third. You can get sub-MOA barrels in any length.
The term SPR started out as two different things, the Special Purpose Rifle and Special Purpose Receiver – but one is gone, so the term now applies to the Mk12 Series of rifles. There is only one “real” SPR, made under contract for Crane, there are some damn close “clones” and ADCO has probably the most genuine version you can buy.
This is a real SPR… Mk12 Mod1
18" SS Douglas Premium barrel, KAC Hand Guard, KAC Sights, KAC Gas Manifold, OPSINC Muzzle Brake and Collar, MilSpec Upper Receiver and Bolt Assy, Gas Buster charging handle. The upper is mated to a issue lower receiver assembly.
Well yes, they were all fit to military inventory lowers, so safe to say that they were select fire. The same guy made all of the barrels, the chamber is unique and “hard to come by” is more like it.
IIRC all the PRI tubes, front sights and ARMS Sleeve versions of the Mk12 (Mod0) are being replaced with the Mod1 - KAC stuff and pinning the gasblock.’
Does this question seem bass-ackwards to anyone else?
“I want an SPR, but I don’t know what one is?”
I think what Zack was trying to get you to do was figure out what you want the rifle to do and build around that. If you have questions about purpose-built rifles many people here can help make suggestions.
If what you want the rifle to do is look exactly like a military issue SPR with all the correct parts and pieces, that’s a function that people here can help you with as well. To that end, you might find this link interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_12_Mod_0
If you reread my posts in this thread, you will clearly see that I want a rifle that is shorter than a 20" M16, and a little longer (and possibly more efficient), than a typical M4.
It was obvious that the SPR was possibly a rifle that fit the bill.
HOWEVER, I was not TOTALLY sure what exact specs made a rifle an “SPR”, so I THEREFORE decided to ask the forum what exactly made a rifle an “SPR”.
SO, on the contrary, you should have gathered that I was saying something along these lines:
"I want a rifle that performs like the SPR, but I FIRST need to know what exactly makes a rifle an “SPR”…
What the hell is bass ackwards about that??? Pretty straight-forward to me.
As far as Zak goes, I totally understood what he was saying. I don’t believe I remarked that I did not understand his comments, as he is quite clear in his replies, and anyone with an education can understand him. He’s an excellent asset to this forum (and many others).
I guess I’m still wondering what was so unclear about all this???
Thanks for your comments though…
If you want something shorter and more manuverable, you may want to to looks into a 16" barrel.
I dont find the SPR much more handy than the 20" barrel in my experience with them.
Well I can understand your suggestion Kevin. However, I should have mentioned, that “M4” to me personally, in fact does mean 16" bbl.
This is due to the fact that I am referring to my LE6920 as an “M4”, when in fact, it is not a true military M4 w/14.5" bbl.
I own a 16" Colt M4 profile rifle.
I’m quite happy with it.
I’ve just always held interest in the SPR rifles, but wasn’t totally sure of ALL of the specs that made them “SPRs”…
