(gunshots firing)
- [Narrator] The ACR, the gun that was supposed
to set the world on fire with a low MSRP,
an amazing slew of features, and more caliber conversion
and support than the end user could imagine.
Enter the bean counters, and suddenly,
the gun that was supposed to be a new industry standard
simple fizzled.
It isn't that the ACR is a bad gun,
it's that it was released
with a much higher price than expected,
a one in nine twist barrel, no factory support,
and it seems like the manufacturer itself
just kind of forgot about about.
Broken promises are represented here
and that's a shame, because with further development,
care, and attention, it could've been a real competitor.
But let's look at a few of the gun's features.
First of all, the gun has a very nice and slim profile.
It actually feels very ergonomic in the hands
and I've never had any complaints
about the rifle in that regard.
Everything from the length of pull, which is adjustable,
up to the way the hand guard feels is very comfortable.
The stock is also this gun's greatest legacy,
there's all kinds of adapters that allow you
to run an ACR stock on other rifles.
And of course, it has a built in cheek riser
for use with an optic.
This stock is also very rigid, but lack a latch
to keep it closed in the folded position.
The selector is ambidextrous, which is nice for lefties.
Continuing on with its streak of ambidexterity,
the magazine release is also ambidextrous
and can be actuated from the left
or the right side of the gun.
I've never found this to be a big selling point,
but I'm also a right-hander.
The charging handle is of a non-reciprocating design,
but can also be used as a forward assist.
This was very well thought-out.
And of course, it can also be switched
to the other side of the gun if you prefer
a right-side charging handle.
One feature about the ACR that I absolutely love
is the bolt-catch slash bolt release.
It's located within the trigger guard
and can be actuated by the trigger finger
to send the bolt home with a fresh magazine inserted.
This is also present on the Robinson XCR rifle.
The gun comes with Magpul MBUS sights
which aren't the best in my opinion,
but they're perfectly adequate.
The gun also has a gas plug like an FNFAL
with a setting for suppressed and unsuppressed.
Now, the coolest feature of the gun
was the ability to change the barrel quickly
for caliber conversions,
but those never materialized unfortunately.
And of course, the pistol grip has
a storage compartment for batteries.
There are also quick-detach sling swivels
as well as one located where you would have one
on the buffer plate of an AR-15.
But enough talk, let's shoot.
(gunshots firing)
Suppressed 223 round generally disappoint people
if you hear them for the first time.
They still break the sound barrier
and they're very loud.
As mentioned, the stock can be folded,
but there is no latch mechanism
like there is on the FN Scar.
Really, there's just a little bit of tension
that holds it in place, but it can be fired
with the stock folded, which is good for
vehicle crewmen and things like that.
(gunshots firing)
The ACR is a handy rifle that's very easy to manipulate.
Here, I do a few double-taps while swinging the rifle up
and clicking it on to fire onto an IDPA silhouette.
And while not as handy as the CZ 805 Bren
I did last week, it is perfectly adequate for this.
And I do believe, with some refinement,
it would be a more serious FN Scar competitor.
(gunshots firing)
So the saga of the ACR is a tragic one.
It's an example of a gun that was well engineered on paper,
but is something of a rarity
because the bean counter's won.
This is a platform that could grow into something
spectacular if it were given more attention
by it's manufacturer.
But it's been about seven years since the guns were released
and it still hasn't happened.
Shame too, because they're fun to shoot
and if you're looking for one, they turn up
on used firearm auctions via proxy bid all the time
and there are certainly deals to be had on them
due to people tired of waiting
for the promised caliber conversion kits.
A special thank you to Ventura Munitions as always
and a special thank you for watching.
We hope to see you next time.
(gunshots firing)