Reply With Quoteawsome pics as always SMGLee! thanks for sharing!
MagPul Factory Tour---Pt1: The Masada; Pt2: PMAG
2007 Shot Show kicked off the New Year with a bang from MagPul. The team of hard working crew at MagPul put together a new rifle within a 3 months time spam at the cost of less then 70k. The Masada was hit within the Law enforcement section, bring record crowd to the MagPul booth for the entire length of the show. Rich at MagPul will admit first that the new rifle are still a full year away from production and they will work to get it to the market unless a much larger company with more resources to take the project under their wings.
The Masada is only a code name, but this rifle not only brought a fresh air to the clustered AR market, but also show the capability of a smaller company to produce a weapon that can compete with the big boys with a budget that seem minuscule compare to the what some of the price it cost the military to bring in new weapon system. The Masada started with a machined aluminum receiver which is the serialized part. This machined receiver has a continuous rail that extends all the way to the integrated folding front sight. The front sight uses a standard M16 front post. The front sight deploys manually but requires a push of a button to fold it back down. Masada has what is in vogue right now, which is a quick change barrel with the capability for multiple calibers within one system. A harden barrel trunnion is at this time screwed into the receiver with interrupted threads much like what you would find on an artillery piece. This harden piece will ensure longevity with the barrel to trunnion interface under heavy use. The barrel of the Masada is a standard M4 affair, but with modified pieces to fit the quick change barrel locking collar and also the gas piston. In the production model, the Masada will feature an adjustable gas port where now an Allen screw resides for research to determine the proper gas port size.
Since the Masada receiver is the serialized part of the weapon, the lower trigger housing is a polymer non-impact component which contains the ambidextrous magazine release, bolt release and also the trigger group. The stock of the Masada is attached to the trigger housing by a captured pin. This method of componentry ensures the modularity of the weapon system. An operator can select a range of different stock option to best fit the mission perimeter. Currently a PRS style stock is part of the SPR offering. Back to the trigger housing, Rich and I discussed some of the short comings of the M16 selector and he stated the current selector design are something he is not satisfied with, it remain one of the biggest weak point of his Masada design. A future development of the selector will be forth coming to possibly alter the rotation of the selector to make it more ergonomic to the operator. The ability to incorporate the M16 trigger system means an operator in country can easily find trigger components such as pins and springs to supplement this weapon without having to find logistic in a remote battle field.
The Masada stock is nice touch with wide range of adjustability. The stock will fold much like the FN SCAR to reduce size for transport and also adjust for length of pull to best fit someone with armor. The cheek piece is also adjustable with two different heights. The folding mechanism utilizes a spring to retain the stock while it is folded and a latch to secure the stock while it is extended. A recoil buffer can be fitted to the stock if necessary. The stock as mentioned before it independent from the trigger housing.
With is modularity, the system can go from 5.56 to 5.45 with a simple change of the trigger housing, bolt carrier group and also the barrel. Currently a 5.56, 5.45, 6.8 are scheduled for this version. A possible development of the 7.62x51 and 7.62 x 39 are in the future but with various project under work, MagPul has no time table to those calibers as of yet. The 5.45 trigger housing will have a thumb lever release without the bolt held open release, but the 5.56 and the future 6.8 will have the ambidextrous magazine release and also the bolt held open release. The bolt held open device is a lot like the XM8 or even the older FN FAL. It is right where your finger is at and it is easily manipulated.
Masada will be a piston driven unit, with the piston system as part of a self contain unit with the barrel. If you change the caliber, you do not have to worry about changing piston, each barrel will have its own piston much like the SCAR.
Here is an interesting part of the Masada. The trunnion has two harden steel rails riveted to it. Those two rails are then riveted into the aluminum receiver. The Bolt carrier travels on the steel rail to create a steel to steel interface. This interface yields the smoothest bolt travel in the industry. The design of the trunnion and the rail also ensure under heavy use, the heat transfer will not affect accuracy like what happened with the XM8. With the rail firmly secured to the receiver, it will make sure the trunnion will not be able to shift in the aluminum receiver under extreme heat.
The bolt carrier is much like the G36 or the SCAR. But the charging handle are interchangeable for right or left. A runner that secures the charging handle also locks into the bolt carrier to engage it for chambering a round or it can be used for malfunction clearance. The non-receptacle charging handle can be locked in to act as a forward assist.
A new rail system is also optional for those that require accessories to be attached to the Masada. The rail system retains the free float of the barrel and has sling swivel attachment points build in on both side.
MagPul has a few things to figure out like the recoil spring rate, piston setup, manufacturing process and sub-contractors. I think the more MagPul is having to answer calls and reply e-mails, the less time they would have to work on the rifle. They already know how well received this rifle has been, let's give them time to get this to the market.
Masada is a project that may grow larger then what MagPul can contain, this little monster that awe the show goers will no debut be the focus of may in the up coming year.
Here are some more photos of the gun taken during a trip to Colorado this past week.
the 20 inch variant that could be a excellent replacement for the M16A4.
Magpul with rail system
Complete free float system.
From this photo you can clear see the ejection port is not blocked by the folding stock. The rail system adds some weight to the otherwise lightweight Masada. The standard Masada weights in at a feather 6lbs.
Close up of the rail which replaces the standard handguard.
Build in QD sling swivel point
The top rail is part of the integrated receiver, the rail handguard will provide the side and bottom rail. Note the front sight post. It is a standard AR15 affair which can be replace with any after market posts. The front sight are secured with a locking tab which require activation when you secure it back into the body of the receiver.
This is harden steel trunnion interface with the receiver and bolt carrier rails. Currently all parts are screwed together, future MP version is still being determined.
Notice the steel rail that is riveted to the receiver. Those pieces all screwed together forms a solid platform for the barrel assembly which will not shift during heavy use. Since the two supporting rails extends the entire length of the receiver and they are riveted to the receiver, even if the aluminum receiver got super heated, the likely chance for the trunnion to shift with all the added structure support is nil.
The two rails and the trunnion.
More pictures of the trunnion with the locking collar for the QD barrel. Along with the recoil spring and rod.
Gas block
The stock are pin together with a spring inside that help secure the stock in the folded position.
Work table with a bunch of PMAG in the background
Rich putting together test sample of Masada.
Last edited by SMGLee; 01-23-2007 at 07:10 PM. Reason: new title
awsome pics as always SMGLee! thanks for sharing!
Originally Posted by Frens
Yes!! Thanks for sharing. Maybe next Year, I will go.
Just a question--
Does anyone here think there will be a chance of this rifle (if it is a possible M4 replacement) being loaded with Polymer cased ammunition in the near future? Since it is a program being pursued by AAI Corp, maybe it would be a good alternative to Brass ammo. But, just remember, I am JUST asking.
Another brilliant creation of MagPul.
Excellent photos as usual
Mr Lee for MOD
I'll stick with my ARs.
Great pics SMGLee.. I'm liking the 20-inch Masada variant.
Thanks for the great pics SMGLee. I can't wait for Magpul to mass produce the Masada although I would never get rid of my AR's I'm really exited about this project.
Thanks Chen. Looks friggin' snazzy!
Chen one question, Will those ribbed mags fit standard ar's?
Heres the info PDF of the weapons Charactoristics.
http://www.magpul.com/Masada_inside.pdf
Last edited by Createdeemcee; 01-23-2007 at 02:48 PM.
While developing the CTR stock, MagPul team ran across a new polymer compound that was very tough. A quick idea came about on using this material for a new M16 magazine. Quickly the team went into brain storm mode and came up with the new PMAG. The PMAG is a rugged and durable magazine that can be used as a substitute for mil-std aluminum GI mags. The polymer construction ensures a uniformed magazine that is the same from one to the next. This could be curial for the soldier that does not number their magazines and have to return the magazines back to the armory once they are done. This new approach to the M16 magazine can guarantee each and every MagPul PMAG will be exactly the same from batch to batch.
PMAG with the serial number 1 MagPul receiver.
A little comparison photo on the PMAG vs. the old thermold.
Notice how the Thermold used a clip that held in the floor plate? The MagPul uses a Steyr AUG style system to secure the floor plate in place. I never had any problem with the Steyr floor plates. Good move on MagPul’s part.
Notice thge reinforced rib down the inside of the Magpul PMAG? Nice touch with out having to resort to the Thermold’s adding material to the body to compensate for the lack of material around the curve of the magazine. also notice the much beefier feed lips.
Going full auto…
Drake of MagPul fame test firing the PMAG through a few different weapons for reliability and functionality test. And loading ….how do you load in the cold with out a LULA?
Mike the brains behind MagPul pull trigger.
An unsighted XCR also were pressed into service to make sure the magazine is functional with various platform that utilize the AR magazine.
By the way, this is Jake pulling me out of Snow…sigh!
Last edited by SMGLee; 01-24-2007 at 07:27 PM.
Maybe I missed it in one of the posts but what's the weight of the Masada rifle? It looks to be extremely light.
-----JT-----
Awesome new set of toys. I gotta hurry up and get outta college so I can afford to buy some of these new toys.
Sold the Acura eh?
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