American Tacticals Alpha-15 offers the rifle at 5.5 pounds, complete with free-floating handguards and flipped-up sights, and costs $499. The NEW cost of USA TACTICALs USA 15 rifle has dropped ($11.35) in the last 12 months, and is priced at $864.23. This rifle features a Nano Parts Kit Standard A2 Flash Hider, an A2 Pistol Grip, forward assist, and a Dust Cover.
This model of the Alpha-15 also features a black 16-nitride barrel, along with 15 M-Lok rails to allow for attachment of any accessories needed. Providing an interesting contrast, the Picatinny rail on the top of the receiver is polymer, while the rail on the handguard is aluminum * Held in place by two sturdy screws, the handguard offers M-Lok attachment slots at the 3, 6, and 9 of the clock positions for any light, grip, laser, or other accessory you would like to add * While the pistol grip is standard, mil-spec A2-style, it is one of the most likely candidates for replacement as a new owner makes the Alpha-15 their own * One 30-round polymer magazine comes with the Alpha-15 * Metal reinforced areas of the receiver that are likely to see significant wear, such as the tabs that receive the takedown pins * The handguard is a polymer-style, sling, and is one of the most likely to see some serious wear and tear, as the new owner makes the Alpha-15 their own * While the pistol grip is A2-style, it is one of the most likely candidates for replacement as the new owner makes the Alpha-15 their own * One 30-round polymer magazine comes with the Alpha-15 * A 30-round magazine comes with the Alpha-15 * Metal reinforced areas of the receiver that is likely to see significant wear, such as the takedown pins. Providing an interesting contrast, the Picatinny rail on top of the receiver is polymer, while the rail on the handguard is aluminum * Held in place with two stout screws, the handguard offers M-Lok attachment slots at the 3-, 6- and 9-of the clock positions for any lights, grips, lasers or other accessories you would like to add * While the pistol grip is the standard, mil-spec A2-style, it is one of the most likely candidates for replacement as the new owner makes the Alpha-15 their own * One 30-round, polymer magazine ships with the Alpha-15 * Metal reinforces areas of the receiver that are likely to see significant wear, like the tabs that receive the takedown pins. The receiver extensions are also less substantial than an AR-15s stock.
Enter the hybrid lower receiver, in which a small metal block is stamped onto the receiver itself, strengthening it. The top and bottom halves of the receiver are out of alignment, even the tiniest, and there are some misshapen bits of plastic at the areas where the metal insert is molded into the firearm. There are a few areas, such as the lower polymer components, that I am concerned about in time, and they probably need to be replaced if the Alpha-15 is going to see much use.
This is much like why American Tactical ships the Alpha-15 with a stock, a standard, Mil-spec folding buttstock, and pistol grip: The end-user is more than likely going to change out the stock quickly after getting a rifle like the Alpha-15 (sometimes minutes). Something the Guns Blog reported, and which I can confirm, is that the pistol does not even want to back up once it is fired its final round from the magazine. I have a feeling that when the gun is fired, recoil pulses are forcing the gun to buck up on its buffer tube post, entangling the carrier of the round as it travels down the upper receiver and into the buffer tube.
Even with the normal amount of grease — same level I apply to all of my other known good guns — the rifle will not cycle. Every rifle I tested, from the PWS Mk114 all the way up to the JR Carbine, could cycle for at least several magazines without any extra lubrication.
Magazines tend to move around in the ATI Omni more than they do on other guns, so although they sit tight and correctly, and are held in place nicely, they do shift around a little under recoil. For a budget rifle with a pencil-edged barrel that is more focused on saving weight than maximizing precision, the Alpha-15 held its own just fine.
Related
