This month I’ll be going after two birds with one shot. As usual there is another firearm to review but this time it will be in conjunction with an optic.
Based out of New Berlin, Wisconsin, American Defense has been in the firearms game since 2007. I have seen and held many different AR’s over time and, despite the market’s current trends of pushing fancier, flashier, and more “tactical” variations on the platform, it’s usually the more simple and useful additions which really catch my interest. The model which I had on hand was a “Universal Improved Carbine Mod 2.”
What first got me curious was the ambidextrous bolt release on this carbine, though I need to back up for a second as all of the controls are ambi on this platform. The magazine release has a left-side extension which is another button and lever setup. I did feel like this extra release was a little spongy and stiff to operate but it still dropped the magazine without complaint. The safety has a short 45 degree throw and is somehow immensely fun to flick off with a mere thought from my thumb before I’m ready to put holes into paper. As for the bolt release, the left side is a much larger paddle style but on the right side right behind the dust cover there is a little lever sticking out which makes dropping the bolt with your trigger finger super easy.
Well, almost. The control itself glides without hesitation. There is no physical resistance anywhere throughout its motion of travel. My best comparison would be the decocker of a Sig P226 but with less spring resistance. It’s really neat! A quick flick and the bolt goes home. I only had one issue with this additional control, while the layout is neat the placement is far enough back that when I kept reaching for it my finger kept landing fully onto the dust cover rather than the release. Making regular use of this bolt release would take some getting used to.
I ran into a completely different issue with the paddle bolt release on the left. If I set the carbine down on the bench in a way that the extended charging handle (which is also ambi, a BCM Gunfighter model on the one I’m reviewing) didn’t happen to support the side of the gun then the weight of it pressing down onto the release would close the bolt every time. It really is that smooth to go back into battery, the bolt release borders on the telepathic. I could see this being fantastic for competition use.
According to American Defense’s website, the billet lower features a 20 degree competition style mag well, an enlarged trigger guard, an ADM HD buffer, a 2-stage match trigger, a QD endplate, and an integral tension adjusting screw for the upper and lower receiver which are both hard coat type 3 mil-spec anodized for durability. Both the stock and the grip are by Magpul, and that shoulder stock has TEN adjustment points along the buffer tube. Ten!
On the flat-top upper is a 16″ .223 Wylde chambered 4150 CMV Criterion barrel with a 1:8 twist, a milspec enhanced bolt carrier group with a Nitride QPQ finish, milspec mid-length gas system, a 13.5″ MLok handguard with full Picatinny rail at the 12 o’clock, and a Battlecomp 1.0 muzzle device at the business end. Overall it’s listed online as being 6.2 pounds unloaded.
It’s kind of a lot to take in. What does all of this mean? Some really tight .223 diameter holes coming from a very smooth shooting carbine! I was using American Eagle MSR 55 grain .223 FMJBT, typical range food. My best five shot group measured at 5/8″ at 75 yards off of a rest, a group which had me feeling like I was the Queen of the World that day.
I’m not sure how much the muzzle device played into the recoil impulse on this carbine but it had a definite straight back push. The customary AR-15 kick was still present in all of its glory but the muzzle rise was curiously absent, it barely rose at all between shots. The trigger had the tiniest amount of take-up and felt a little heavier than I would have expected for match use but had a very crisp break. I believe the trigger in this sample was an aftermarket modification from Geissele.
One piece which helped me dial in these groups was the sight, in this case it was a Vortex Spitfire AR Prism Scope. This compact 1x sight has two rings and a small central dot which are etched right into the prism. Vortex refers to this as a “Dual Ring Tactical” reticle. The “Spitfire AR,” as you might imagine, is designed to compliment the AR platform in particular. Both red and green illumination are available at five different power levels. At 4.3 inches in length and 11.2 ounces in weight this turns out to be one handy little optic. Even without the illuminated reticle it still makes for a nice clear sight picture. I find myself looking at the Spitfires quite a bit and I have to say that it complimented the UIC very nicely.
The central dot, particularly on lower power settings, is in fact very, very tiny, but this can make for some very precise shots when required. I found it quite comfortable to use and, as previously stated, I pulled some pretty stellar groups out of this setup.
My final thoughts cover the carbine and the red dot sight separately. American Defense makes one heck of a firearm, though one which I would see as being much more at home with range and competition use rather than duty use. Its smooth and svelte handling makes hunting bullseyes a breeze with some great double-tapping opportunities.
On the other hand, I could see the Vortex Spitfire being at home in a wider variety of uses. The reticle is good for “quick and dirty” all the way out to tack-driver levels of precision and it’s very quick to get on target with. Running off of AAA batteries means that keeping it up and running won’t be an issue, though if you do happen to run it dry after a max of 3,000 hours at the minimum brightness setting then you’ll still have an etched reticle which will help get you onto target battery-free. Putting one of these onto your AR is like putting butter onto your toast. Sure they’re good separately but the real magic happens when they’re brought together.
Down here at the Range of Richfield we’ve brought these two together as one of our newest rental guns which we now have listed <<here>> on our website. It’s hard to miss on the rack, look for the goldenrod yellow and black AR and take it for a spin!
