People talk about about how modular the AR-15 is. And that's true, it's a very versatile gun, especially using multiple uppers.
But when it comes to just one individual gun with no extra receivers being versatile, the Sig MCX is the next generation of "modular". The Magpul Masada (turned ACR) had potential, and the MCX is a fully fleshed out take on it, IMO.
Here's a stock photo of what they look like:
Thick handguards and lack of a buffer tube are two obvious differences. MCX uses an AR-18 style piston and dual recoil spring assembly, eliminating the need for a buffer tube. G36, SCAR, Bren, etc all use similar AR-18 derived set ups. That means folding stocks are an option, which is nice.
Here's just the upper and lower:
Pic rail lower means any stock that attaches via 1913 rail can be used on the MCX. The extended upper receiver has rails for installing free floated handguards. Instead of a traditional barrel nut, MCX uses a clamshell style clamping mechanism to hold the barrel. With nothing more than a T27 torx bit you can swap out stocks and barrels. They have 5.56 barrels in 16" and 11.5", and 300blk barrels in 16", 9", 6.75". Rattler has 5.5" barrels in both calibers but stuff is slightly less interchangeable between the MCX and Rattler so I'm just focusing on MCX, though the Rattler is neat too.
And here's just one way you can set up an MCX: as a small PDW.
Close up of barrel install: you'll notice notches in the receiver to match lugs on the barrel to help line everything up consistently.
The underside of the receiver has a notch for the handguard retainer, which is held captive by the front take down pin (pretty smart design). Thanks to the long rails on the receiver that the rail installs on, anything like a peq that needs to hold zero can go on the handguard no problem.
And all slapped together. Took about 3 minutes.
Size comparison with a full size handgun to show how small this thing really is:
It's nice having something barely bigger than a handgun that can sling 300blk.
I'll follow up later with some other ways you can set it up. It's a very neat design and I think you'll see a lot of other companies doing similar things in the future. Modularity just makes too much sense. If you get a chance to pick up an MCX, I highly recommend it. They're really fantastic rifles.
But when it comes to just one individual gun with no extra receivers being versatile, the Sig MCX is the next generation of "modular". The Magpul Masada (turned ACR) had potential, and the MCX is a fully fleshed out take on it, IMO.
Here's a stock photo of what they look like:
Thick handguards and lack of a buffer tube are two obvious differences. MCX uses an AR-18 style piston and dual recoil spring assembly, eliminating the need for a buffer tube. G36, SCAR, Bren, etc all use similar AR-18 derived set ups. That means folding stocks are an option, which is nice.
Here's just the upper and lower:
Pic rail lower means any stock that attaches via 1913 rail can be used on the MCX. The extended upper receiver has rails for installing free floated handguards. Instead of a traditional barrel nut, MCX uses a clamshell style clamping mechanism to hold the barrel. With nothing more than a T27 torx bit you can swap out stocks and barrels. They have 5.56 barrels in 16" and 11.5", and 300blk barrels in 16", 9", 6.75". Rattler has 5.5" barrels in both calibers but stuff is slightly less interchangeable between the MCX and Rattler so I'm just focusing on MCX, though the Rattler is neat too.
And here's just one way you can set up an MCX: as a small PDW.
Close up of barrel install: you'll notice notches in the receiver to match lugs on the barrel to help line everything up consistently.
The underside of the receiver has a notch for the handguard retainer, which is held captive by the front take down pin (pretty smart design). Thanks to the long rails on the receiver that the rail installs on, anything like a peq that needs to hold zero can go on the handguard no problem.
And all slapped together. Took about 3 minutes.
Size comparison with a full size handgun to show how small this thing really is:
It's nice having something barely bigger than a handgun that can sling 300blk.
I'll follow up later with some other ways you can set it up. It's a very neat design and I think you'll see a lot of other companies doing similar things in the future. Modularity just makes too much sense. If you get a chance to pick up an MCX, I highly recommend it. They're really fantastic rifles.
