There are many makers manufacturing America’s rifle, and that is all to the good. With machinery, license, and skill, you are in the groove. Quality control is what matters. Price point is important and there is a bottom line, but you don’t have to be engaged in a race to the bottom.

Quality of manufacture, skill at fitting, and the quality of components are also important. Learning which rifle is a good buy, or even worth having, is difficult. I’ve learned more about bad rifles than I ever wished to.

The best procedure is to approach the field with the awe of a novice and do careful research. That isn’t illuminating or profound. However, in the case of the rifle illustrated, I believe I followed the best course.

When I handled Radical’s AR-15 in a shop before I fired it, I was impressed. I allowed myself the luxury of prediction and felt the rifle would perform well. But word of mouth sold me on this personal investment.

Without a single dissension, folks in three different shops spoke well of the Radical Firearms AR-15 rifle. One buyer for the shop mentioned that when ARs were difficult to find, he took a chance by ordering, and then sold, a half-dozen Radicals. Quickly, he ordered more.

A maker he had never heard of became a standby. At a time when quality was suffering because of overproduction, the Radical kept its reputation up. Radical Firearms has been going since 2013. I am late getting on the bus but here is my report and evaluation of my first Radical AR-15.

I believe that investment in exertion makes for a good return on your principal. I gave this rifle a good workout. It isn’t exactly a plain wrap rifle as the handguard and butt stock are good, but it isn’t a $1,000 rifle either. Some of us don’t want to spend a lot of money on an AR-15 rifle, some can’t spend a lot of money.

Some companies have earned a reputation… several crack past brittle. The Radical has earned a good reputation among hard-driving shooters. Let’s look at the piece and see how it runs.

First, what is your reason for obtaining an AR-15 rifle? If the goal is personal defense or area defense, my rifle would be at the top of anyone’s list. For hunting thin-skinned game at modest range, the .223 serves OK. But a Radical .308 would be better.

For varmint hunting, you need a heavy barrel that is 18 or 20 inches long. But then, it depends on what range you are hunting groundhogs or prairie dogs.

As for collecting, it doesn’t always mean purchasing rare and expensive pieces. Some of us like to own a rack of AR-15s, Ruger 10/22s, or pump-action shotguns. That’s fine. Adding another AR-15 to the safe is as good a reason as any for owning a Radical Firearms AR-15.

The AR-15 is like a Mr. Potato Head. Add a few parts — and the proper trigger and optics — and you will be ready for 3-Gun competition.

The Radical Firearms AR is a good base rifle. Get your feet wet first. You may be a rifleman or a shotgunner, but get a decent AR-15 rifle before cheap or high-end rifles. You will enjoy the experience.

Radical Firearms AR-15

The Radical Firearms AR-15 is a basic rifle in some ways, a flat-top AR with a full-length forend and MFT pistol grip. The buttstock is adjustable and offers good comfort, but it isn’t too bulky. The rifle’s finish is good. The receivers are a standard aluminum upper and lower. The bolt carrier group is well-finished. Carrier keys are properly staked in place.

The trigger action is that of a typical commercial AR, breaking at 6.0 pounds. I added a SIG Optics Romeo5, and I was range ready. I lubricated the bolt and sat down with several loads to confirm accuracy. The SIG Romeo5 is a middle of the road optic, maybe on the low end of the middle, but has given good results on a few rifles.

Specifications

• Barrel: 16 inches
• Barrel Material: 4140 chrome moly vanadium
• Barrel Finish: Melonite
• Barrel Profile: SOCOM
• Barrel Thread Pitch: 1/2×28
• Chamber: 5.56mm
• Twist Rate: 1:7
• Barrel Extension: M4 feed ramps
• Gas System: Mid-length
• Gas Block Type: .750 low-profile gas block
• Muzzle Device: A2 flash hider
• Upper Receiver Material: Forged 7075 T6
• Upper Receiver Style: M4 MIL-STD
• Upper Receiver Finish: Type III anodizing
• Forward Assist: MIL-STD
• Dust Cover: MIL-STD
• Handguard Type: Free float
• Handguard Style: M-Lok thin rail
• Handguard Length: 15 inches
• Charging Handle: MIL-STD
• Lower Receiver: Forged 7075 T6
• Lower Receiver Finish: Type III anodizing
• Fire Control Group: Semi-automatic MIL-STD
• Grip: MFT EPG16V2 grip
• Buffer Tube: Carbine MIL-STD
• Stock Adjustment: 6-postion
• Stock: MFT Minimalist
• Magazine: 5.56mm 30-round

On the Range

I sighted the Radical rifle in with Winchester 55-grain FMJ and then ran a firing test. Long story short, the crew and I fired 180 rounds of ball ammunition in a short time, using PMAG 20- and 30-round magazines. For the most part, I fired at man-sized targets at 25 yards. The rule was the X-ring eaten out by Winchester ball ammunition. I also performed close-quarters/home defense drills.

In these drills, I bring the rifle to bear quickly and sight over the top of the red dot. The range is 7 to 10 yards (home defense distances). This is a good speed drill offering fast hits for those who practice. I ran the rifle until lube was smoking off the bolt and the barrel was hot.

No problems of any type were encountered. The rifle likes to run. Most of the ammunition was Winchester 55-grain FMJ, white box. This is an affordable resource that has given good results in the past.

Next came sighting for 50 yards. I put up a target with a red bull’s eye and settled down on the bench. I took my time and looked for the best accuracy. Here are the 50-yard results.

Load	3-Shot Group (inches)
Winchester 77-grain BTHP	1.0
Winchester 55-grain FMJ	1.2
Winchester 62-grain FMJ	0.9

Considering the optic and the range, these are good results. The rifle is fine for recreation as issued, and makes a good choice for home defense. The rifle is reliable, and the finish is good. It is affordable as well.

Fast Forward to Fast Shooting

A few weeks later, I was more impressed with the Radical AR-15 with another 60 rounds through the rifle, some at a long 100 yards. Using a Magpul QD swivel, I added the Blue Force Vickers sling. This is a great sling for off-hand fire, allowing a shooter who understands slings to create a stable firing platform.

I should note, my two ‘ready-for-alarm’ rifles include a Colt Competition Ready rifle that is completely stock and will put three shots into 0.9 inch at 100 yards on demand. The other is a Smith & Wesson M&P with iron sights, also all stock.

If I go for the AR on the house defense gun route that would be it. Conservative and what works, works! The Radical AR-15 was quickly sticking up as a favorite for recreational rifle and just maybe it could be a front-line rifle as well. I added a Delta V trigger system at the urging of an AR-15 enthusiast. By that, I mean a fellow who loves the AR like I do but knows more about them.

Delta V Trigger

The Delta V trigger has the distinction of being legal and very fast. (It comes with an ATF letter to that effect.) The trigger is easy to install. Note that there are three modes — safe and two firing modes. The trigger is crisp and clean in the firing mode with an average break of 3.8 pounds. I like this very much, more on enhanced accuracy later.

In the standard firing mode, you have an assisted reset arm bearing against the disconnect. As the bolt recoils to the rear, the hammer is cocked. The hammer hook moves below the face of the disconnect. The hammer, or hammer hook more properly, is captured by the disconnect. This is what semi-automatic fire means.

The enhanced firing mode is also semi-automatic. However, the Delta V Gen 2 3MR also features an assisted reset. You can feel this feature in the trigger finger. However, you must pay attention and use a light trigger finger.

As for the Delta V trigger, we all know that the hammer is pressed down by the bolt during the firing cycle. The big deal with the Delta V trigger comes when you put the selector into the enhanced or third mode. Safe, standard, and enhanced are the settings.

With the selector in the final setting, the assisted reset arm/lever now no longer butts into the back of the disconnect. Instead, the hammer plunger presses downward on the Delta V reset arm. As a result, the hammer is pressed forward resulting in a very rapid reset. Hammer engagement in the hammer hook is less in this mode — like an instant trigger job. I would never perform a trigger job on a rifle, however, as the hammer material and my own skills may result in ignition problems.

The Delta V setup is made of the best material and was originally designed to offer this crisp, smooth let-off. The result is a reset that is unmeasurable by most of us. However, it is very fast, very clean, and very sharp.

The hammer is adjustable as there is a spring-loaded hammer plunger component that offers adjustment. The plunger is situated on the back side of the Delta V hammer. Adjustment is easily done with the upper receiver open and by inserting a small Allen wrench into the plunger. A couple of other hands working with different setups found that if not properly set up you may have the occasional light primer striker, or the trigger may not suit your shooting style.

I admit, I’m happier with factory trigger actions than most. But my experience with noticeably increased practical accuracy is an eye-opening experience. I was very pleased with the Delta V and commenced to shooting not adjusting.

I experienced a single failure to fire, but the primer looked like it took a good whack! This was in perhaps 350 rounds of ammunition expended during the last few weeks (after installation of the Delta V trigger). A variety of loads performed well with absolute reliability, including some advertised to have harder, service-grade primers.

The point, the hammer may be adjusted if you experience light strikes. For critical use, I would be more careful. However, 349 of 350 rounds fired without a problem and a dent in the primer that did not ignite is a good performance.

The parts of the Delta V trigger are precision-made. Some of the trigger group is coated with NP3, an electroless nickel coating I have used in many applications with excellent results.

Firing in the enhanced mode takes some acclimation. You will find a nice trigger action when you simply press the trigger for accuracy. If you use a light trigger press, and work the trigger, you may easily fire three to five shots in a group quickly — perhaps eight shots if you are good.

Each shot requires a press of the trigger, but the assisted reset feature makes for fast work. When you consider the Radical AR-15 was ran smoking hot — and never malfunctioned — I think we can say we have a good rifle on hand.

100-Yard Groups

With the Delta V trigger set in the standard mode, I fired for accuracy again, hoping for an improvement. This time results were tabulated at 100 yards. I set the SIG Romeo to the lightest dot setting and took my time. Results were good. The Radical rifle is good to ride with and earned its spot on the front line.

Article by Wilburn Roberts

 

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