Okay, I'll start this forum out with something that was introduced by us at the SHOT Show this year, and is just now starting to get rolled-out.



If you want "new" this is the newest and most innovative and advanced concept to come along for the AR15 series of weapons in a very long time.

MGI Modular Weapons System overview


In the photo above, the AK47 magazine is missing, but it would go between the AR15 magazine and the M14 magazine, under the AK47 magwell.


This MGI Modular Weapons System (Hydra) is aptly named, because it allows the AR15 architecture to be expanded into many more calibers, using the proper magazines that are native to those calibers, by changing the removable magwells that we've engineered for this MGI Modular lower receiver.

MGI Modular Lower Receiver (stripped) with AR magwell attached.


The magwells slide on/off for changing, and they are secure and strong when in place on the receiver. Only the back half of the receiver is serialized, so that additional magwells can be purchased without FFL paperwork.

Currently the AR magwell and the AK47 magwells are available, and there are many others coming along as soon as we can get them done. The M14 magwell 308 system is still under prototype testing and will be a while yet. However, when we release that, it will be the first time in history that a 308 cartridge in a magazine-fed configuration will be able to be used in an AR15 platform.

We are almost ready to release a 45ACP magwell for the Grease Gun magazines, so that we can showcase our pistol caliber capabilities, along with the rifle calibers. We have various 9mm magwells under development, rimfire calibers, and belt-feed modules, just to name a few things on the horizon. Just slide off the magwell, and slide on the other one that you want to use, and you're ready to use a different magazine in your gun.

MGI QCB Quick-Change-Barrel Upper Receiver( BUIS added, not standard)


Of course, if we're changing magazines/magwells around for different calibers, we'll also need to address the different barrels required. The "old way" of doing this is swapping out complete upper receivers. However, we've develped the "new way", which is our MGI QCB Quick-Change-Barrel Upper Receiver. Only one upper receiver is required with the QCB system, and it accepts any normal AR15-type barrels for whatever calibers you plan to use. Barrels change out-and-in, in about 15-20 seconds, and retain zero to less than 1MOA. Different calibers and barrels may have different points of impact, due to cartridge velocities and other factors. Now one upper receiver can do it all, by simply swapping barrels for the calibers/magazines/magwells you choose for our MGI Modular Lower receiver.
They are a perfect match together, and all the clearance cuts for the various wide-body magazines are already made in our MGI QCB upper, ready for use.

A single set of these MGI Modular Receivers will suffice for all your caliber needs now, will allow you to use the right magazines that were designed for the calibers you want to shoot(for best feeding reliability), allows the normal AR15-type barrels to be used for all your caliber changing in a very quick and accurate way,  and provides the most versatility with the least redundancy of parts.
It's very compact, breaks down into a briefcase.


Great efforts were made to make this system completely compatible with the existing AR15 accessories and parts. The entire architecture of the AR15 is retained, with the exceptions of where we've placed the joint for magwell removal, and that there is no longer any need for the barrel nut, because we have quick change barrels now. Barrels, fire control groups, buffers, springs, pins, mounts, etc, are all standard AR15 type. Aftermarket AR15 products just drop right in. It retains all the aspects that we love about the AR15, but simply gives you more you can do with it.

Everything is either forged or billeted 7075-T6, true Type III Hard Anodizing, precision machined, and interchangeable.

Now you can see why the gunwriters have dubbed this new MGI Modular Weapons Sytem "The Hydra", which comes from the 7-Headed Monster of Greek Mythology!

The intent of this system is to make a single weapons platform convertible to any short-action caliber that can fit into it(No 50BMG or magnums at this time) and any configuration, from SBR entry gun, to carbine/midlength duty gun, to long-range sniper gun, and even to LMG/SAW with our upcoming belt-feed package and incredible open-bolt/closed-bolt select fire M16 FCG.

It's a very exciting concept, and we're very pleased to finally be able to roll this sytem out onto the market, after a long time of anticipation.

We honestly feel that this is the future of the AR15 system, and all other future systems for that matter. It's a leap forward in technology and usefulness. There's nothing else like it.

I wanted to be the first company to post on this new forum, because this is the first truly new upgrade to the actual weapon platform to come along for the AR15.


A "Sneak Peek", but this is a prototype and not yet available in the 308 package, and this is still considered experimental at this time.



And the new "LEFT-HANDED" VERSION shown here.

Quoted: So I guess I will start the Q&A part of your post. 1. When 2. How much

We are actually shipping units right now, and have been for about 3 weeks now.
The big pile of back-orders has taken all we have produced up to this time, but we expect that we can begin shipping new orders within the month.

The MGI Modular Lower Receivers(stripped) with the AR magwell included, are $500 each, plus shipping to your FFL. Copy of FFL required for this.

The MGI QCB Upper Receivers (New Style, as shown) are $850 each, including the billet 4-rail modular handguard as shown standard, no barrels or bolts or carriers or charging handle.

AK47 magwell(box mags only, no drums) $250 each.

Specially modified bolt carrier, which will clear the AK mag feedlips, $125 each. This is also fully functional with regular 5.56 and other calibers as well.

We also have availability of completer parts for whatever else might be wanted, on an ala' carte basis.

Full guns assembled are not on the menu right now. But it's now so easy to build a complete gun yourself with this quick-install barrel system, that anybody can do it.
We've taken all the difficulty out of building an AR15. No more barrel installation headaches.

Our lowers are "low shelf" for use with RDIAS.

Quoted: It look like a good system, you might want to  include a link to your website on you initial post to make it easier for peopel to see what you offer. I looked and at your website but I did not see any barrels for sale, do you plan on offering these in the future? are they proprietary? if not where do we get them? especially for the 7.62x51. Thanks, KJC

Barrels are regular, off-the-shelf AR15 barrels, and they'll slide right in.
Our system doesn't require proprietary barrels.

Our receiver does have true M4 ramps, so I'd recommend barrels with M4 ramped barrel extensions.

We'll be stocking many types of barrels, but you aren't limited to just what we might carry

The 7.62x51 stuff is a special thing that will have to come from us, at least in the short term. Later, other barrel makers might offer ones for it. At any rate, that is down the road a little bit yet.

Quoted: How much does it weigh? With say a 20" gov. A2 or what ever barrel you might have the weight on.  I quess I'm asking if there is a weight penalty.

The lower receiver weighs virtually the same as a normal AR15 lower receiver. There is such a small difference in the amount of material there, that it's pretty insignificant in terms of weight difference.

The upper receiver system does weigh a little bit more than some, and is approximately around the weight of an MRP. There are some steel parts in the QCB locking system, so that accounts for the few extra ounces.

We're talking about a "weight penalty" of maybe a few ounces overall, compared to other regular AR15 systems with freefloat railed handguards. It's not the lightest system out there, but you likely wouldn't notice the difference in the feel of it. It is very heavy duty in terms of strength and durability though.

The rest is all standard AR15 parts, so you can accessorize it with what you prefer.
I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to keep it under 7.5 pounds total.
Actually, the AK magwell is smaller and lighter than the AR magwell, so that can save a little bit when that magwell is on there.

Quoted: Can I get a 10.5 or 11" 7.62X51 barrell for my RADIS??? I feel the need to spend a couple thousand dollars all of a suddden Slug-O

When we get the 7.62x51 kit out there eventually, we'll offer plenty of different barrel lengths and types for it.

We'll need a bit of time to get that kit all ready for market.
We're hoping to have it at the SHOT Show in January.
It's a pretty difficult project and we've been working on it for awhile now.
But we do have rounds going downrange with it, so there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Quoted: I have a few ideas I would love to see. However, they're not esssential and I'll remain very enthused about this system reguardless. A 22LR conversion unit that allows the owner to use Ruger 10/22 magazines. Ammo is getting expensive, and I can't think of a better plinker than an AR15. (Note, I will never buy a 22 kit that uses 10 round magazines, and I refuse to use the Ceiner.) This system has the capability to put all other 22LR conversions to shame. Mil Spec T marked M1913 rails. This is just nitpicking, but my biggest rail system pet peeve is when the rails receive that additional horizontal cut. I know they save weight, but I find them unnecessarily sharp and uncomfortable. Saving a couple ounces is great, but I personally am not a fan of the trade offs of that process. Awhile ago you mentioned that rail length would be dictated by add on pieces. So basically the user chose if he wanted carbine, mid length, or rifle length handguards. If my recollection is correct, do you mind me asking how the add on pieces attach? Keep up the good work. Many people make innovative products, but this is a whole new ball game.

Thank you.

We wanted to do the 10/22 magazine well, but we found that the 10/22 magazine is so squat and fat with the way it is shaped, that it won't fit up high enough into the upper receiver to feed. We aren't going to be able to do it, no matter what we do with the magwell because the issue is not in the magwell part.
However, we are working on 22LR high-cap magazines(metal ones) that are expected to be at least a 30 rounder, and likely a 50 rounder, and maybe even a 100 rounder.
We'll be working on other rimfire mags for WMR and HMR too.

Our rimfire kit will have a dedicated barrel that drops into our QCB(and other AR's) and will trip an Auto-sear for those who have them.

Regarding the rails with the center slots on the handguard, I've fought that battle, and for now, we're going to have the center slotted rails. If we can lighten up the unit further, maybe those slotted rails can be changed in the future, but I was overruled on that. T-markings are possible, and we'll see about providing that feature.

The add-on handguard extensions are currently available in rifle length, and we'll be adding a midlength one to the mix. Their construction is identical to the handguard itself, fully billet and railed and hard anodized. They slip-fit into the existing handguard, and are fixed to it with thru-screws which make it essentially like a one-piece unit when tightened. Very strong, rails aligned, and very cool. You can barely even see the little line where they join, unless you are looking close. Fully load-bearing for whatever accessories you want to put on it. This was one of the complaints that we had on our previous "old style" handguards, so we really worked on getting it very good this time. I think you'll like it. These extensions will add a bit of weight to the package, when they are installed, but as far as I know, we are the only ones with a handguard that can be changed to multiple lengths for different gas systems. So, we have another first with that.
If you look closely at the photo of the QCB, you can see the screw holes in the rails, right near the front edge of the handguard. The screws go thru the outer handguard, and thread into the sleeved-in inner part of the extension. Very secure.
It's slower to change this type of attachment, than our older style, but it's much more solid when in place. I liked it.
These handguard extensions are billet, and precision machined, and will not be cheap. I'm expecting around $200 for the rifle length extension.

Essentially overall, we built this to our flagship standard, and pricing was secondary. I realize that this is a pretty expensive system, but it is unique. Cost effectiveness becomes better as more caliber packages are added, so that the single platform concept becomes used in more roles that would normally have to be filled by other complete uppers or even other rifles.

We do plan to have some other offerings of entirely different rifles in a lower price category, to participate in that market segment.


NOTE: When I say "currently available", that means available after we get out from under our backordered condition.

Quoted: What kind of repeatability are you aiming for zero wise?  Anything under 1MOA would place me beside myself, but with more parts, I'm curious. Also, what about using other fixed uppers (thinking of having a very elaborate MGI Lower, with a 5.56 Upper, 7.62 Upper, and matching buffer assemblies

Under 1MOA return-to-zero is typical with our uppers(assuming decent barrel and ammo).
For the past 3 years our early version of the QCB upper has been exhibiting 1MOA or better return-to-zero, and this new version is the same thing with some improvements.
In some cases we've seen less than Half-MOA return to zero, when returning the same barrel back into the upper, after removing it.

The upper is a well tested product, on the market 3 years, with excellent results. It is proven, and we just made the improvements that the customers said they wanted.

Regarding using other normal AR15 uppers, that will work for calibers that have mags which fit into the AR15 magwell. But, with AK mags and some others, the upper needs to be relief-cut internally to allow the mag to fit up in there where it needs to be. Unless your uppers are already relief-cut internally(very unlikely, or you'd already know it), then there will be some restrictions on what mags/magwells you can use effectively with your standard AR15 type uppers.
But yes, they will drop right on there and work fine, to the extent of their normal capability.

BTW, if you use our MGI RRB buffer, you won't need to have any duplicate buffers for different calibers. Years ago, when we designed the RRB buffer, we knew where we were going down the road, and designed virtually the only buffer available that works perfectly with all the calibers you need. One buffer does it all. It's very famous now, and used by alot of people . It's pretty much the "de-facto" best performing AR buffer(some people may quibble about that), and has been for years. It's the perfect buffer for a system like this, because we designed it to be multi-caliber capable, for rifle and pistol calibers alike.

Quoted: Will you be offering any factory registered SBR/NFA receivers? Would be nice to not have to mess around with engraving the lower, especially since Tom Sawyer isn't taking new work.

While I haven't been officially informed of that, I'd say it is safe to assume that we will do that at some point. Probably not immediately, but we've received numerous requests for that, so it's likely to happen. I'm certain there will be some fee for that.

For SOT license holders, we will be making runs of M16 variation modular lowers for gov't and military use, which can be handled as "post-sample". For the rest of us, the low-shelf modular lower will allow RDIAS use.

Right now, our specialty fire-control-groups, such as the Open-Bolt Full-Auto / Closed-Bolt Semi-Auto Select-fire FCG are only applicable to M16-type receivers, and will not work with RDIAS.

Quoted: These pictures are 10-12 months old....hardly new. The 308 STILL isn't out? So whats new?

We had production delays.
Now we're starting to ship.
The AR15.com website offered a new forum for Industry Partners to showcase new products.
I put up a thread.
The very first line I wrote at the top of the page, explained that this was shown at the SHOT Show in February, and is finally really coming out now.
Still, to many people, this is new information.

Future items will be released when they are ready, but not before.
Sorry to disappoint.
We're going as fast as we can.

Quoted: Any plans for a 9mm mag well? Maybe one that accepts Colt-style 32 round or UZI mags?

Yes, we plan a variety of 9mm magwells, and Colt and Uzi are on the list, as well as Glock.
The first one still may be a Sten magwell, though.

Quoted: Is the modular lower setup in 7.62x39 compatible with standard, non-MGI barreled upper setups (with the modified bolt assy)?

Regarding using other normal AR15 uppers, that will work for calibers that have mags which fit into the AR15 magwell. But, with AK mags and some other "wide-body" magazines, the upper needs to be relief-cut internally to allow the mag to fit up in there where it needs to be. Unless your uppers are already relief-cut internally(very unlikely, or you'd already know it), then there will be some restrictions on what mags/magwells you can use effectively with your standard AR15 type uppers.
But yes, they will drop right on there and work fine, to the extent of their normal capability.
In the case of a 7.62x39 AR15 upper, it will work with "franken-mags", but an AK magazine will not seat deep enough to work properly, unless you use our upper or an upper that is modified with the necessary internal relief-cuts. Even if you use our AK magwell on our modular lower.  For AK mags to work in the AR system, the upper will need modification such as we have built into our MGI QCB upper. This has been the case with any/all of the previous efforts by others to use AK mags in the AR. And it is also the case with our system.
AR47 uppers will work with our AK magwell on our modular lower.

I would emphasize that the QCB allows many calibers to be used, and that using dedicated separate uppers for caliber changing, defeats some of the most desirable attributes of this system. I realize that people are still very comfortable with doing things the "more traditional" way, but now there's something different that takes it to the next level. Only one upper is really needed now.

The "backward compatibility" of our package, to be able to use the present-day types of AR15 products is both a testament to our system's flexibility, and also to allow easy transition from the old system to the new way.

Quoted: Also, you mentioned an altered bolt carrier?  Do you have a pic?   I'm curious as to whether the "alteration" will affect using a Reg Lightning Link? Keep up the great work.

The bolt carrier is only modified to enlarge the raceways on the underside of the carrier, to allow clearance for the feedlips of the AK magazine, and some other magazines. And it also works fine with regular 5.56 and other calibers too.
It should have no adverse effects on the use of a Registered Lightning Link in the platform.
You'll simply need to specify M16 type carrier when you order your modified carrier from us.

Quoted: Cant wate! Best idea I have seen for the Ar15 platform. In almost the last 30 years! Will you be offering a option of differnt lenth forends? Rifle, Mid, and Car? Sign me up for a .308 & .45

The forend is a modular freefloat type, which can be made to rifle length or midlength by adding the proper length extension piece to the standard carbine-length freefloat tube.

These extension pieces are constructed exactly the same as the basic carbine handguard, so that when you put them on they look just like you have a longer handguard. They sleeve in and have fixing screws that bolt thru them to hold them very secure, and they are railed and load-bearing for accessories. All billet construction.

To my knowledge, we are the only ones ever to have a forend that can be made to work with all 3 different gas system lengths on the same handguard.

Just another modular aspect of our modular weapon platform.

Until I read this thread I had just thought that the lower in your avatar was busted up...

Pretty neat stuff though. I'm interested to see how it does.

Quoted: If you made a belt fed adaptor your company would explode in growth.... Go hire more people and get this to the market place NOW!

I certainly agree with you.

As you are aware, Mack has been working on the belt-feed module for this lower for a while now.

The stage that we are in right now is very intensive, because we have so many things on the burners in various stages of design and development.

We really are pushing this forward as fast as we can, and we're working on the bottlenecks that have come up. We know we have a tiger by the tail here.

I agree that when we have a wider variety of the Modular System accessory modules available, that will really help people to see more clearly what this system is capable of. I'm pushing for that every day on the phone with Mack.

The belt feed is a high priority.

One of the interesting things about this whole project is that almost everything we do is something that breaks new ground, or hasn't ever been done before, at least on an AR15. There's no "map" to follow, and we have to be "trailblazers". But, that's the way we do things.

Truthfully, the unfortunate delays we had with the production over the summer forced us to pay all our attention to getting the receivers out, and held back some of the progress on the other items.
But, the receivers are the basic platform, and without them, you can't play this game. So we had to make sure they are flowing first.

Quoted: Can your uppers fit a non-hydra AR lower receiver? I would be tickled to be able to swap between 5.56, 6.5MPC, 6.5 Grendel, and 6.8 SPC without having to buy more than one upper (take pitty on the financially strapped college student )

Yep.
No problem.
Drops right on, and change barrels to your heart's delight.

Quoted: forgive me for speaking out of turn here, but i thought i had seen something like this offered by brownells.  was the quick change offering i ran across in brownells yours?  is it the same model we are discussing here? thanks, ST13

Yes, Brownells did carry our original "old style" QCB. That was ours. It has been on the market in that older style for about 3 years.
At this point it is not clear if they will be allowed to carry our new one.

Quoted: So do you use the same bolt carrier for all calibers? Will different caliber bolts be offered? Is the ejection port large enough for .308 to clear reliably? Very cool stuff. Keep up the good work! Flaco (Wants a 9mm/.45acp/.556/.308)

Yes, the modified bolt carrier will work with both the normal AR15 calibers, and with the widebody magazines also.

Different bolts will be available, and most of them are already available on the market for the AR15. Standard AR15 type bolts, except for the 308.

Yes, ejection port is fine.

Quoted: DO you plan to offer a FAL magazine well for us 308 fans?

The FAL has a center-feed magazine, which can be problematic for the AR15 system.
The Bushmaster 308 system tried that, and failed.
Not sure if the RRA system has overcome it.
And these are in full-size rifles, larger than the AR15.
If we feel we can do it, and have it work, we may have a try at it, IF the magazine can even fit into the necessary space, which we haven't looked at yet.
The M14 mag is a better choice, from a design standpoint.

Quoted: What are the odds of being able to use an M14/M1A Magazine (ala AR-10A4)? I'm now heavily considering moving to one lower, period, for a 14.7" .223 Upper and an 18" .308 FF upper -- hence the nagging questions about zero repatability, since that strength of system is appealing

The M14/M1A magazines are what we are currently using in our prototype.
AR10 magazines may also work, and we're going to try them out too.
At this point in our prototype work, the magazines are modified to fit, and I think that modified mags will be required in the final version, whenever it gets released.
We wanted to use unmodified mags, but it was too difficult to get them to fit.

Quoted: This looks great when will we see .45acp I can hardly stand it.

The 45ACP magwell for Grease Gun mags is entering the production stage, and will probably be coming out the end of the pipeline in about a month or so.