Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) has one of the most trusted reputations among AR-platform rifle manufacturers today. The company’s monolithic designs, which allow operators to quickly change out their rifle’s barrel and caliber, are truly the cream of the crop. The process is simple, and switching out barrels produces virtually no shift in the point of impact—that’s about as good as these systems get. Built to true military specifications, LMT’s products are high quality, rugged, and reliable. I’ve used and fielded several LMT rifles, and you can definitely bet your life on them. So when LMT decided to enter the .30-caliber market with its MWS (Modular Weapon System) series, I jumped at the chance to test a sample.

Built with the same basic design as its proven 5.56mm models, the LM8MWS rifle I tested is just as simple to use. It came with LMT’s “Slick” monolithic upper receiver, which provides for incredible accuracy, consistency and versatility. The upper also featured LMT’s new flip-up sights—some of the best sights I’ve ever used, for the record—a low-profile gas block, and a modular handguard that operators can adapt by adding Picatinny rail sections where desired for mounting accessories. The LM308MWS Defender lower receiver came with a collapsible buttstock and a two-stage trigger that is ready for duty and is usable in just about any condition.

I was able to test the LM8MWS with three different barrels, each chambered in 7.62mm NATO, 6.5 Creedmoor and .260 Remington, to cover every base. The barrels were easy to install, and I noticed no perceptible shifts in the point of impact during testing.