In the upcoming July 2014 issue of RIFLE FIREPOWER, author Doug Larson test-fires Colt’s new competition-ready CSR-1516 in 5.56mm NATO. Larson writes, “Colt has a sterling reputation for producing quality AR-15s and M16s, and has partnered with a company that can uphold that reputation in the manufacture of competition and sporting ARs. Bold Ideas Texas fit the bill and produces the CSR-1516, as well as other Colt-branded products, in its Breckenridge, Texas, plant under license from Colt.
“This gun doesn’t look like the typical military M16, and it’s not a mil-spec gun, but it doesn’t have to be in order to be great for competition use. For 3-Gun matches, accuracy, speed, reliability and handling are the primary requirements, and these characteristics were built into the CSR-1516.
“Starting up front, this AR has a birdcage-style flash suppressor/muzzle brake that looks similar to the military’s A2 version, but is a bit longer and has slots that are configured a little differently. The bottom line: The brake is pretty effective at reducing muzzle rise, which helps greatly in making quick follow-up shots. I wasn’t able to test its effectiveness as a flash suppressor, but it looks like it would be at least as effective as the military version.
“The black, manganese-phosphate-finished barrel is 16 inches long and would be classified as being a mid-weight—somewhere between a bull and a pencil thin, lightweight barrel. It’s match grade and manufactured from 4140 chrome-moly steel with six-groove, 1-in-8-inch-twist button rifling. The twist rate is designed to be effective at stabilizing a wider range of bullet weights than a 1-in-7- or 1-in-9-inch- twist barrel. The barrel and chamber are air-gauged to assure manufacturing precision, which translates into greater accuracy.”
Read the full story on the Colt CSR-1516 on Tactical-Life.com.
To learn more, check out the July 2014 issue of RIFLE FIREPOWER, available on newsstands and digitally April 15, 2014. To subscribe, go to /rifle-firepower
