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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Magpul Masada (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 1/13/2007 4:06:23 PM EDT
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First, I want to thank Rich, Drake, and all the guys at Magpul. They put up with my nagging questions, fondling the Masada, UBR, and Pmags, and were their usual great selves. They make some outstanding products and have the customer service to back it up. On to the Masada. I have been shooting AR's since I was like 6 yrs old or so. There has never really been a rifle/carbine come out that has ever pulled my attention from the AR platform, until now. The Masada wont replace my AR's, but I see it as a must have addition to the tool box, that could see significant range time on place of some of my current AR range time. I have read numerous posts around the net now about the Masada. Most of it is pathetic BS. If you dont like it or arent interested, then fine. Just be advised that not everyone feels that way. Its not an AR. Get over it. In my own opinion, Rich likes the AR, or he wouldnt make all the items for it that he does. The Masada is just something different. It has a polymer forearm, lower, and stock, that is made from the same material as the new Pmags. Its a VERY strong material. The upper is aluminum, with steel rails inside it, and a full length picatinny rail on top with a built in flip up front sight. This allows the user to pic his own favorite flip up rear sight. The lower uses a AR15 hammer and trigger group in a metal "tub". The barrel is easily removed and installed, with what amounts to basically its own built in barrel wrench. Rich has two different forearms for it, one with removable rails, and one with built in rails. Ambidextrous mag catch, bolt catch, and safety. The forearm comes off with a simple push pin removal. Two more push pins seperate the upper and lower halves. One more allows for the stock assembly to be removed. Rich had two stocks for it, a collapsable folder and a PRS type one. The collapsable folder is awesome. It allows for a consistent cheek weld with the ability to adust the stock length as needed, and still be able to fold it for easier storage if need be. Here are some pics going through a disassembly. Push in the handguard pin and slide off the handguard.   Pull down the "barrel wrench", push in the retaining tab, rotate, and remove the barrel after slightly retracting the bolt.     Barrel showing the attached piston setup.  Push the rear takedown pin and break in half like an AR.   The bolt, carrier, and recoil spring assembly can be removed. A note here...there are steel rails inside the aluminum upper that the carrier rides on. The movement of the carrier on the rails is smooth as glass.  A simple push and twist of the recoil spring assembly allows it to be removed from the carrier.    Push in the stock retaining pin and off comes the stock assembly.   Showing the folding mechanism of the stock with the very cool built in storage tube.  The adjustable two position cheek piece.   Stock folded and slightly extended, yet still clears the ejection port and trigger.  Same as above but with the stock more retracted.  These pics really dont do it justice, but hopefully you can see some of the thought and design put into this. Couple of last notes. Just forget everything you've heard about when it will or will not be available, to whom, time frames, pricing, etc., until you hear it directly from Rich and Magpul themselves. If you dont like the Masada, the name, if its not for you, or whatever other contrived whackiness can be formulated in your head in regards to it, deal with it, dont buy it, and/or move on. |
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WOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE AWESOME PICS!!!!! (hyperventilating) Love the detailed look inside what has become my most anticipated product this year. Questions= 1. The 8 lugged Bolt, do you need tools to strip it from the carrier? 2. You need tools to strip the FCG out right? 3. The drop in FCG, is it AR compatible? 4. Can standard AR barrels be retrofitted with the appropriate assemblies to install in the Masada? 5. Where do I get in line for one with a 16in. barrel, some pic rails and a pile o' mags and a Magpul Kool-Aid glass?  |
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FOUND IT ONLINE, www.magpul.com/Masada_inside.pdf |
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Is the case deflector polymer or metal? I can't tell from the pics. Also, does the end of the recoil spring rod rest in a polymer slot, or is that a metal insert? Does it even cycle back back that far, will it batter itself like an AK? Thank you SO much for posting these pics. I really appreciate it. I figured it would be quite a while before we saw good pics of Masada guts. I have heard that the completed Masada has not had a lot of ammo through it before SHOT, is that true? I was wondering if they had any idea of what sort of accuracy they were expecting. Can it be an MOA rifle with a piston? Thanks again. Agrippa |
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John, great stuff. I'll directly echo your comments, as it looks like you hit the nail directly on the head. The Mil/LEO rumor is just a rumor, as it stands, unless something has changed from a week ago. Everyone just needs to leave the rumors at the door. There's no reason why the Masada shouldn't be an MOA rifle. It uses an AR style bolt head and an AR barrel. I've never really been excited about a new platform before this, but MagPul has really outdone themselves with this design. BTW, check out how short the receiver is in comparison to other recent designs. This will make the OAL short enough to work in cramped spaces without sacrificing too much barrel length. A nice thing, IMHO. It's fully ambi, takedown is simple, and the gas system is the proven AR18/G36 variety, which is a major plus in my book. It also appears that it will have minimal reciprocating mass above the boreline, which translates to reduction in vertical stringing (compared to 'other' systems) wth light weight barrels. All in all, I'm freaking impressed. Excellent job by Rich and his brilliant design team. |
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Just basing the LEO only comment on what another member said after talking ot magpul. Besides, until a Magpul Rep can step up and say one way or the other, its all just hersay and rumors.  As it is now the latest is that it is mil/leo only. The original post... 
You have some info you can share with us Capn?
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That's what they told me, but to be fair it almost seemed like they were just saying that to keep all kinds of people from calling them every day and pestering them about when it would be available. One of the designers even said that he hoped that it would be available to the general public because he wanted one for himself, so I have hope that it will be. Like I said before, it certainly didn't seem like they had set their decision in stone, so we'll just have to wait and see. I also don't understand why people in the other thread are bashing it, especially if they haven't seen it in person. I spent a bit of time with it in their booth today and they seemed to have thought of everything. It is very well executed and it was immediately apparent to me that there were improvements over the current AR15 design. If it is available to the public, I will almost certainly buy one....or more... 
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It's an internet snowball effect. One person misunderstands something someone at MagPul says, posts it online, and then 5,000,000 people 'have heard the Masada will be Mil/LE only'. From Rich's mouth a week or so ago, the Masada's intended customer base includes Military and Law Enforcement, but included the civilian sector as well. Everyone needs to just step back from the keyboard and relax, lest anyone have a coronary while desperately trying to find something that they dislike about what is most likely the best designed platform since the M16. MagPul has thrown us a lot of innovation in the past 8 years. I think we owe it to them to just STFU and try to absorb some of the details of the weapon system, and not bother with the errornet RUMINT. They've taken a huge risk developing this thing. Let's not spit in their face for their trouble. |
Good point Capn. Maybe I did just misunderstand them. I certainly agree with you on the portion in red above. This thing must be seen in person to really appreciate it. Internet pictures and descriptions just don't do it justice. |
One other thing that kind of worrys me(not that much but it's still a problum)Is with the ammo prices they way they are, and IF (IF) they dont go down and keep going up its going to be expensive to shoot anyting 223/5.56 even for reloaders.Also this rifle If it comes out 14 to 18month's/ 2yrs and ammo keeps going up..
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Please, just BE PATIENT. Lets just wait and see what Rich does and can do. Rich has a fairly solid record I think on supporting LE, Military, and civilian shooters alike. Lets just see how things develop. Dont flood Magpul with emails and calls and such, or spreading rumors etc. Give them a chance to do what they need to do to get a good new product out. I think most of the questions were answered, but in case I missed something feel free to ask and I'll try. I did spend a lot of time |
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Hawk, Since there's no forward assist and the charging handle is non-reciprocating, I'm compelled to ask, is there a way to ensure that the bolt is fully seated? Also, I take it the AK magazines will not drop free from the AK lower receiver? Those would be my only two gripes at this point. And C_C, "RUMINT",  .Justin |
In another thread somebody said that the charging handle can act as a forward assist. So people apparently can jam bad rounds into their chamber and get them stuck to their heart's content.
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The upper is the serialed part. |
The aluminum upper receiver is the part that is serialized. Here's a photo of the aluminum upper receiver in the raw; notice the serial number preceding the cartridge case deflector.  Photo credit: I want to say it belongs to npd233, but I'm not 100% certain. |
How? It's my understanding that the charging handle is non-reciprocating, no? |
The charging handle is nonreciprocating, but does act as a forward assist. As to how it works exactly, It was explained to me, but thats one I'd rather let Rich and company explain. |
Wow, that is neat! I take it that's an affirmative on the AK lower receiver variant? Justin |
Yeah, there's a picture of it around here somewhere. |
Answers. I crave answers! (please) |
Yeah, I've seen the photo. I was just wondering if that was just a crude prototype, and perhaps the refined version would have a push-button magazine release. |
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For the record I am not a hater..I will have one oh yes,,,I will!!! Hawk, thanks for hte pics and info. Newb and capn, thanks for the details. One thing I agree on is that Magpull has brought some great products to the field. I have used many myself and will continue ot support Magpul. 
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I have been around the gun culture/community for my entire 33 year life. In the last 10 years, I have gotten to the point that new releases come and go from many companies without so much as a yawn from me anymore because its all just the same shit, chewed up, screwed up in a different way, and regurgitated as "the new improved!!" whatever the fad of the week was. In the last ten years only two weapons have given me that giddy feeling of "I can't wait to get my hands on one of these!" feelings of way back in the day when it was all new and interesting to me. One is the New HK 45 Tactical that they started talking about in the early part of 2006, and now this new magpul rifle. I watched the FN scar, the HK G-36/sl8, m416, robinson guns(all of the including the XCR, the new sig, the promise of a US made AUG, the idea of a US made Tavor, too many new pistol models, and the last 10 thousand AR variants, etc, come and go, and I could have given less then two shits. For some reason, the HK 45 Tactical (NOT the USP 45 tactical) and this new Masada have brought out what I thought were long dead feelings of joy at the idea of a newly released firearm. Thank you Magpul, for helping to bring back the joy of being excited about guns again. You WILL have a sale from me when this gets released. |
Sorry bout that, missed those. 1. No 2. No, I doubt believe so, but I honestly didnt look close at how the fire control parts are removed. 3. Not in the form of a POF/Timney type unit I dont think, but its a standard AR hammer, trigger, springs, etc. 4. Yes, its a standard AR barrel that has one part press fitted on, and then the piston group is put in place of the standard front sight/gas block and gas tube. 5. No where yet... Just have to wait and be patient for Rich to get things finalized. I think we have all seen by now that he wold rather delay something than to have it on the market before its as perfect as he can get it. As excited as I amm to get one of these myself, I'd rather wait until its right as well. The PMags should be available very soon though. I'll have some info up on those soon too. |
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Does it use an AR style extractor or did they manage to improve that too? The ability to choose from the vast number of AR barrels is reason enough for me to forgive the 8 lug bolt design but hopefully they came up with something better for the extractor. I really like the fact that they put the serial number on the upper. That way I can buy the standard AR mag lower and hopefully get an AK mag lower when they make a 7.62x39 version. Magpul has really outdone themselves on this one. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Magpul Masada (Page 1 of 2)
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