Colt CM901

[muskater]

Here it is:

http://www.defensereview.com/dr-exclusive-scar-who-meet-the-colt-cm901-modular-multi-caliber-7-62mm-nato5-56mm-nato-battle-carbinesbrrifle-for-u-s-military-special-operations-forces-sof-and-general-infantry-forces-gif/

[armygunsmith]

I just read the article, and I hope they move forward with development. The best part is it you can still use "legacy" uppers. Maybe it's a good thing I held off on an ACR or SCAR. We'll see.

[tiger222]

The real solution is a new caliber and cartridge, The only thing this set up saves is the lower and buttstock, which could be important to some. A FN SCAR H 12" with QR optics is all one really needs for urban and mid distance, a red dot for close and a magnified optic like the S&B 3-12x50 PMII military for distance and you are set.

The 5.56mm needs more barrel. A 16" to 18" (insert your fav here) with QR optics again would solve most issues, imho. But I am not the one doing the fighting, just my arm chair advise.

[Quiet]

FN is also developing a 5.56x45mm caliber kit for the SCAR-H which would allow the use of M16 magazines.

[MrPlink]

Really cool concept by colt. Id also like to see it pushed forward. A a civilian model would be awsome giving us options for just about any AR related upper on one rifle. But part of me still just favors a new design, ala scar or acr. The AR had its time, let's move forward.

[muskater]

I wonder how the buffer is going to work?

[Solidsnake87]

Meh, not impressed. This presents nothing new technologically. This is simply another repackaged AR to look like something new. Current AR/M16 rifles can be made into piston guns of various calibers by swaping the upper as well. This is basically a new twist on the HK 416 marketing program except that the lower is multicaliber and can be changed to larger/smaller calibers in addition to the upper. Not even this is new though, I recall commercially available lowers that switch from .223/5.56 to 7.62x39 to take AK mags. Come on colt, where is your history of innovation? While good, you are holding onto dated technology. I love the AR but the ACR and SCAR bring way more to the table IMO.

[Jpach]

Meh, not impressed. This presents nothing new technologically. This is simply another repackaged AR to look like something new. Current AR/M16 rifles can be made into piston guns of various calibers by swaping the upper as well. This is basically a new twist on the HK 416 marketing program except that the lower is multicaliber and can be changed to larger/smaller calibers in addition to the upper. Not even this is new though, I recall commercially available lowers that switch from .223/5.56 to 7.62x39 to take AK mags. Come on colt, where is your history of innovation? While good, you are holding onto dated technology. I love the AR but the ACR and SCAR bring way more to the table IMO.

Its one thing to go from 5.56 to 7.62x39, but its a whole other thing going from 5.56 to 7.62x51.

Name something available that can do that. I cant (not even this colt yet). But at least Colt is getting the ball rolling with this. Sure, FNH is doing something similar but as stated in the article, nobody else is making uppers/parts for the SCAR, and we all know that standard AR-15 uppers are EVERYWHERE. That alone makes it a very usefull and versatile platform.

I agree, its not a completely different platform, but its a merging of two caliber "categories". Thats still pretty bad ***. Ill probably get one if they ever reach the civilian market.

[MrPlink]

Come on colt, where is your history of innovation? While good, you are holding onto dated technology.

yeah! I mean you guys shocked the world when you invented the original AR platform! Oh wait... that wasnt you...

[Q]

FN is also developing a 5.56x45mm caliber kit for the SCAR-H which would allow the use of M16 magazines.

That sucks for 16s owners..

[Solidsnake87]

Its one thing to go from 5.56 to 7.62x39, but its a whole other thing going from 5.56 to 7.62x51.

Name something available that can do that.

Actually, its going from .308 TO 5.56......different story, but that is beside the point. You are right, nobody offers that. Have you thought about why? Not many people or soldiers will want to use that option with the existing hardware they have available. This still does not change what I said earlier, its just another multicaliber AR-15 type rifle that can convert calibers from one to another by swapping uppers, ect.... This is not that innovative at all. It already exists to a large degree on the commercial marketplace.

The funny thing about those caliber conversions, in my experience, is that they work best with the original single caliber they were designed around. Ever convert an AR lower to 9mm? They can act pretty finicky with the magwell adapters. And even without the adapter issues, they are failure prone on many underpowered commercial ammo types. I sold mine and went to a dedicated 9mm lower, and it still does not fire as reliably as a .223 model. Your average soldier won't have a need for caliber conversions, plain and simple. He will change platforms.

yeah! I mean you guys shocked the world when you invented the original AR platform! Oh wait... that wasnt you...

I don't recall mocking the original invention. Its my favorite rifle, and I have several. I'm simply stating it is dated technology compared to what is currently available from other manufacturers. At a bottom line, this is an AR-10 DI gun that is backwards compatible to accept various DI or piston uppers. Innovative? Not really, you can already place DI or piston uppers of various different calibers on any AR lower.

The ACR and SCAR bring such things as quick change barrels of different lengths to the table. They are already multi-caliber adaptable and both have dedicated .308 variants in the works or released. Both have collapsing & side folding stocks, ambidextrous controls, and supposedly cleaner piston systems. On top of this they have all the things that modern or upgraded ARs do: standard rails, flat top receivers, bolt stops, fast twist rates, chromed chambers/bores. Technologically, the ACR and SCAR bring more to the table. I would much rather have those features than the ability to simply add .308 to the list of calibers available for AR use. There are also underrated rifles that have been available for years that offer more than the AR platform, the XCR is but one of them.

I stand by what I said, Colt used to be and still is an innovator--this is simply not one of their more innovative designs.