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Posted: 4/11/2007 8:58:52 AM EDT
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I am getting serious about building/buying a modular true multi-caliber/multi configuration AR15. I am very interested in the detachable magazine wells offerred by MGI (Hydra) and Cobb Manufacturing. I would be interested in the following calibers: .22LR (dedicated upper so I don't lead up the gas tube in my .223) .223/5.56mm 7.62x39mm .458 SOCOM .50 BMG (bolt action that fits on a standard lower) Possibly also: 9mm 6.8 SPC If the modular mag well thing works out, I would probably add the following: .308 Win/7.62x51 .30-06 .45ACP My questions are: Do the MGI and/or Cobb products allow the use of standard upper receivers or are the uppers proprietary? If the uppers are proprietary, do either or both of the above manufacturers make uppers in the calibers I have listed above? Are the MGI and Cobb mag wells compatible with each other? (I would guess not, but it doesn't hurt to ask) Are there any other manufacturers of detachable mag well AR15's that I have missed? Thanks in advance. Mike |
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MGB is correct. I have an MGI lower and use my regular uppers with it. MGI is working on a .308 magwell and they are trying to get it to work with a regular sized upper. It will take M14 mags. You need to look at the thread below for more info on the MGI setup: ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=124&t=299092 |
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MGI also has their own QCB (Quick Change Barrel ) upper receiver. It will fit onto a standard AR-15 lower receiver. The advantage of their QCB upper is that you retain the same upper...but you can quickly remove the current barrel and then replace it with another barrel for a different type of shooting. Caliber switching is also quick...change to the desired barrel and change the bolt to the appropriate caliber, the bolt carrier is the same. The MGI bolt carrier has an additional relief cut in its design to accomodate the AK-47 magazine profile. But if you are not going to use AK magazines, then a regular bolt carrier should work just fine. I believe that the maximum length cartridge that the MGI system will be a .308 length due to the size restrictions of the AR-15 receiver dimensions...and they are still trying to work out the bugs for the .308. I have a QCB receiver and will start to build that out within the next month or so as the parts come in. Ive e-mailed Tom Lyons ([email protected]), MGI marketing/sales rep, several times and he has always gotten back to me with a reply within a day. |
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What I'm understanding is that MGI will let me use either thier QCB upper or a standard upper, and they have standard AR15 magwells, AK magwells, and are developing a .308 magwell that uses M14 mags. I think I can live without the .30-06 option. Thanks for the info, guys. |
They sure have been developing that .308 for a long time. Me thinks that we won't see it anytime soon if ever. |
The MGI QCB is sold as an upper with the quick-change barrel system. It can take any normal barrel that goes into an AR15. You put in your own barrels, in about 15 seconds. Some of the popular calibers that are used in the QCB are: 5.56 6.8SPC 6.5 Grendel 7.62x39 458 SOCOM 50 Beowulf 300 Whisper 6x45(6mm AR) 6.5MPC 9mm 45ACP 22LR In some of the larger cartridges, such as 50 Beowulf or 458 SOCOM, minor enlargement of the ejection port is needed. BTW, we are still working on the .308 package, and we had a little bit of a breakthrough last weekend that looks very promising. We'll have to see how it fares in the tests. |
YES!!! Finally, this .308 thing is the only reason I haven't bought both the CQB-C upper and MGI lower. |
Well, I'm glad that our progress has helped to increase your interest in our system. From my point of view, the MGI system is already giving more features and benefits than any other gun presently out there from anybody. In a head-to-head comparison of available features and benefits, there is no direct competition to this product. We intend to keep it that way by releasing more options as we go along. Here's the basic competition line-up: *Cobb has no quick-change-barrel system. *FN SCAR is not available, and lags behind our features anyway. *XCR will require proprietary mags for their 7.62x39 version, whenever it comes out. *Masada doesn't exist yet, and must withstand new-platform scrutiny. And they also state that they will use proprietary mags for other calibers, and barrels must be converted to work with their proprietary gas system. They will be very lucky to come anywhere near their projected price point too. *HK416/417 doesn't even try to be modular, and is unavailable anyway. *LMT MRP requires torque wrench to change barrels, has only a very small selection of proprietary barrels, has no magwell changing features, and costs much more. *All these guns mentioned above are proprietary designs, and have limited compatibility(if any compatibility at all) with existing AR products. Everybody needs 2 different guns to provide the "light small caliber package" and the "heavy larger caliber .308 package". We are the only ones who are even attempting to consolidate the "light" and "heavy" onto the single smaller-sized platform. And that is a tough job. Nobody else is even trying to do it. MGI is the ONLY sytem with all the cutting-edge "advanced combat" features that currently exists and you can buy, based on a time-proven design(AR15). Anything else that we do to expand the system is "icing on the cake". And, we are the most "open architecture" system of all, with the vast majority of parts being completely compatible with existing AR15 parts. Even the receivers are "backward compatible" with all AR15's. Barrels are non-proprietary. Gas system is non-proprietary. Magazines are non-proprietary, coming from other popular guns. All the vast array of accessories for the AR15 go right on to our system. Optics rail height-over-bore is unchanged. The world's only fully-railed modular-length convertible billet handguard is standard on our system. The fastest quick-change-barrel, accomplished without tools, and utterly accurate and reliable. Etc., etc. If we can eventually turn water into wine, that would be great. However, we do have our human limitations and other technical constraints. But, at least we are willing to try to really "push the envelope" for the future benefits of the customers. It is my hope that people see that we are already providing the most benefits, and that we are trying to go much further. It does take purchases of the product to help fund the future developments. I would feel very good if more people recognized exactly what we have here in the MGI Hydra Modular System, and realized that the things that they are dreaming about with these other unavailable rifles, is actually here right now in our system. Anyone wishing to get into a deep technical discussion about our system, or has other questions, can call me. I'm happy to discuss. |
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Thmpr, I think I might qualify your statement, to some extent. I have a perfectly functioning MGI QCB, gen 1, and am running 6 different barrels and 4 different calibers. It runs 100 percent on everything, is as accurate as I need it, but it has never been to Iraq, as far as I can tell. But, I do not care. Not every shooter or AR enthusiast here needs to know that their weapon of choice for a particular application has been proven in the harshest environment. For me, my MGI is about recreation, hunting, plinking and perhaps some level of self-defense, although I have another AR for that role. Craig |
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Just for the record, there are some MGI units that are being tested over in the sandbox and the rockpile by some specialized personnel. I cannot discuss the issue, but there are some small numbers of our units over there, and they have been used in combat circumstances, and have accounted for Tangos down. That's all I'm allowed to say on the matter. We don't use this info for promotional purposes, and this is the first time I've even mentioned it. However, since the subject did come up, I could say a little bit about it. But actually, since we've based our product line faithfully on the AR15 design, and added the modular features, we are confident that it performs and handles as well(or better) as/than its ancestral heritage that has been proven over more than 40 years time, and in many conflicts. That's one of the reasons that we selected the AR15 as our basis for the platform. |
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Tom, Thanks for the tid bit. My remarks were a bit tongue in cheek. As you pointed out, any design that is built with a modicum of quality IS already proven. This is why we are all here, in the first place. I do not need a torture test to know that the AR will work when I need it to. And I certainly do not need a military contract to give me confidence. Still here, still adding modularity to my QCB, and still loving it. NO regrets. Craig |
thmpr, you are correct mgi and cobb both are proven systems out there. Like you I am waiting for the 338 also. I was told by my FFL it will be Sept. before delivery, for the first run. I bet uncle sam is looking to buy also just like us. If govt. orders a bunch I was told I would still get mine because it is without a CAN. 
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Just for grins, and some user info, here's a link to the UZI-Talk forum, where a couple of the moderators have the MGI Hydra system. "Amphibian" has had his for a while now, and "DRW" has owned the upper for a short while, and now has gotten his lower, and shot it this weekend. www.uzitalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=202404#post202404 No failures all day, and he shot 5.56 and 9mm, in semi-auto and full-auto. His RDIAS was a drop-in fit. He loves it! |
Yes, but it isn't listed that way on the website. If you call me, I can make the necessary request on the order and get it done for you. 423-746-9019. Thanks. Tom |
Hi, Responded to your email. Basically, the 458 SOCOM barrels are proprietary to TeppoJutsu, and must come from them, or a licensee. We order them from Marty at TeppJutsu directly. We haven't received them from him yet. Please contact Mack in MGI HQ for any details about arrival time, or to adjust your order. Thanks, Tom |
Working on it! You can get the barrel straight from us and we are still working on getting MGI set up with a batch of their own barrels, which will be unique in several ways ... and top shelf as the rest of the MGI products. Tom - I am still working on the 6.5 "Presidential"  upper. If I get the barrel done, can you assist with an M14-Mag lower yet?
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Hi Marty! Yes, I'll assist in getting the magwell. It will be up to Mack as to how soon we can get it. I've been reminding him fairly regularly, but he's up to his neck in alligators trying to get the other stuff out. He is in favor of the "Presidential" project, so I'm sure he'll do what he can. |
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Latest news report on the MGI system. Testing of the strength of the handguard and rail system of the new MGI QCB upper receiver system with a rail-mounted M203 40mm grenade launcher attached to the bottom rail, was completed over the week-end. The system was tested in the full MGI Hydra configuration, with the MGI Modular Lower in place to complete the package for the test. Dozens and dozens of 40mm grenades were fired from the LMT rail-mounted M203 launcher during the course of the week-end. Final inspection and results showed that no pounding out of the lugs, bending, breaking, or even chipping of the anodizing occurred. The MGI QCB unit showed absolutely no indication that it had even been subjected to the testing. Passed with flying colors! Now there's a quick-change-barrel system that takes AR barrels, fully free-floated barrel, and have an M203 launcher mounted on the bottom rail, all working together! And work with the MGI Modular Lower to switch calibers and use the correct off-the-shelf magazines from other guns to do it, without mag blocks. With no tools required. And sub-MOA accuracy and repeatability of zero. All forged or billet construction. Taking standard AR parts kits and accessories. Who can match that? N-O-B-O-D-Y ! |
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