https://youtu.be/zKPrIdRwfk8

I’ve had a Gen 1 for a number of years now, and I love it. As just a fun range gun, it is super reliable and suppresses real well. Zero gas to the face. I liked the mixture of modernization with the throwback features. I got a thermal wrap for the handguard to help with heat. In no way is it a “serious” gun, with the giant hole for rocks to get into behind the bolt. But, it was moderately affordable, worked on my SBR lower, zero gas and just plain fun.

When they released the Gen 2, it lost some of that cool throwback vibe, and just seemed meh.

Well, now Brownells has announced the Gen 3. By the looks of this thing, it is now fully modernized, and looks to be a serious alternative to the MCX, SCAR and Bren, etc., but for a fair bit cheaper. As it stands, there’s only two things I don’t like. First off, for now, they’ve gotten rid of the 10.5” 5.56 upper, and only have 13.9 and 16, plus a super shorty in .300BLK. (Seriously, what is the point of 13.9? Who buys this stuff?) Secondly, the price has jumped noticeably, at $1200, that’s a bit more than $400 more than I paid for mine.

But, when they introduce a 10.5, I may wait for one of those Brownells $200 off coupons and then I’ll be seriously tempted.

Is this finally a “serious” weapon? Will it be a real competitor to the far more expensive short stroke piston clones of the 180 out there?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Shackelford,

quote:

Originally posted by Shackelford:
(Seriously, what is the point of 13.9? Who buys this stuff?)

13.7 and 13.9 are a newer alternative to the longstanding 14.5 barrel length, designed around the latest generations of slightly longer 2.1-2.5" flash hiders, compensators, and especially suppressor mounts.

With 13.7/13.9/14.5, the point is to have a permanently attached (pinned and welded) muzzle device that gets you just past the 16" limit, giving you the shortest possible barrel without having to SBR it.

While everyone can get a little benefit from a slightly shorter and lighter barrel, this is mainly for folks who add a 6+" suppressor onto the end. 13.9 + 6 is a better option than 16 + 6.

Good video. I don't need one but tempting and like what I see.

Bought a P&W'd 13.9 gen 2 over the holiday sales. Still in box, but I did notice it had already started to rust around the weld job before I got. I'm gonna have to cold blue it I guess. No plans to add a can, it was just the cheapest option to try out a piston upper after I missed out on the 7.62x39 variant I really wanted.

It and last years BCM upper are both still sitting in their boxes waiting on lowers to be assembled and my work schedule to allow me the time to do so...