Anyone have experience with a Barret REC7 5.56?

UDDwaine

UDDwaine

Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
2,680
Been thinking about a new AR15, and my LGS has a Barrett REC7 in 5.56 in stock.

Anyone have any experience with one?
 
Why? There are a bunch of Busse and guns pics around the forum and likely to get a less biased answer here than a strictly AR or gun forum.
 
I was really considering a rec7 when deciding on an AR a few months ago, but just couldn't find any info or review other than Barretts good overall reputation. I with a DDM4V11 Pro instead, just because it was a known commodity.
 
Have a 1st gen. Nice gun. Shoots nice, sub MOA with its medium profile barrel. Wish I could afford a second gen.

 
If I'm not mistaken, the Rec7 is a short stroke piston, correct? If I'm correct, I personally wouldn't bother. I have a SIG 516 (admittedly in a WHOLE different league), and I've been thoroughly unimpressed with it. And I believe the short stroke system, any system, has an inherent design flaw, in that the operating area whereupon the gas operates is decoupled from the charging handle itself. Once the gas piston area gets fouled, no amount of cycling of the bolt will move the gas piston, and the only way to clean it is to dismantle it. Meanwhile, in a DGI, every time you cycle the action by hand, you are essentially scraping the gassed area, and potentially cleaning it enough to get it running again. From my experience, with both DGI and gas piston, I'll take DGI. The only reason I still have the SIG piston is I live in a state where the only way to sell it is to sell it out of state now. Too much hassle.

I believe the REC 7 will be better than the SIG. However, the weakness would still be the same.
 
It's is a good rifle, along the lines of the quality of LWRC pre-2014 ( they've gone down hill since the old leadership left). Part of the issue with the Rec7 is finding them and the issue with any piston rifle is proprietary parts. If you shoot me a DM I'll get you in contact with someone that could help you out
 
Would it matter if the system is short or long stroke? I suppose any piston system would have that potential, however large or small the actual probability. Do AKs run into that issue often? No anark, just an honest question.
 
No experience here...but I can say Barret stands behind their product...a fine product at that.
 
Would highly recommend you look at the LMT (Lewis Machine & Tool) LMT MRP. I have two that are short SBR's both suppressed and unsuppressed. The both shoot great ammo and crappy ammo equally as well and run almost 1500 rounds suppressed with out cleaning (but liberally oiled) before failure to fire. Superb weapons, easy change barrels and very accurate.
 
iamtoast said:
Would it matter if the system is short or long stroke? I suppose any piston system would have that potential, however large or small the actual probability. Do AKs run into that issue often? No anark, just an honest question.
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Long stroke Pistons typically have the piston connected to the bolt carrier. And with the AK, the charging handle is directly connected to the bolt carrier, which is connected to the piston. So if it starts getting gummed up (unlikely with the AK as it is so overgassed anyway), cycling the carrier by hand cycles the gas piston in its gas tube, so it can scrape some of the crud off. Even the old Garand, the M1A, and M-14 were long stroke with the bolt carrier connected to the piston. So all had this "feature" of cycling the piston with the charging handle. My SIG literally became a straight-pull bolt action after firing some overly-dirty ammo (Independence). Even on adverse setting. After cleaning the piston area, it literally too less than 40 rds of Independence to stop it again. I haven't had that issue with other ammo. But my DGI's don't have that issue with Independence.
 
rockspyder said:
If I'm not mistaken, the Rec7 is a short stroke piston, correct?
Click to expand...

Thanks for your feedback, appreciate it. I have a Sig716 and so far have not had any issues, but as you say - there is a bigger chance.

Barrett now makes a REC7 DI which is a little less money, and should overcome the piston issues you mention. That is the model I am looking at.
 
Problem with DI is when you want to run with a can. More blowback into the chamber and your face. A piston vents that gas at the front and runs cleaner if you run suppressed. Also with a NiB bolt you don't have to run it as wet
 
Totally agree-Lot's of great Manufactures out there, I am a fan of a Colt, used them 22 years in the Military and now own 2 M4's-Daniel Defense, is another excellent choice, if you are really wanting to spend some money look at the FNH SCAR Heavy in 308-Used them also across the pond, and own a couple of those also-Good luck
OldPhysics said:
Sorry, but nope.

BCM, Daniel Defense, Colt ... few others. But not that.
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Adian said:
Problem with DI is when you want to run with a can. More blowback into the chamber and your face. A piston vents that gas at the front and runs cleaner if you run suppressed. Also with a NiB bolt you don't have to run it as wet
Click to expand...

I will not be using a suppressor, at least not for a good while. Maybe some day, I hope.
 
I have only ever used Colt's (Military time), DPMS and I personally own a Rock River Arms AR-15, which is by far the best AR I've ever shot. It has a Wilson two stage match trigger, and a Wilson competition barrel. The gun runs flawlessly. I've never had a single malfunction with it, and I've put thousands of rounds through it.
 
Thing about asking about rifles, it's like asking what is the best knife. Everyone has their own opinion. The Rec 7 is spendier than other options but you are paying for a name and the associated quality. I don't think you will be disappointed if you go with it. There are tons of options in the AR game these days and I look for quality, customer service and warranty.

For instance. My SBR, the guys who built it have some of the best CS in the business. A new stock came out that they started using, I had the prior version. They sent me a return label, paid, to send it back to replace it for free with the most updated model of the stock that was lighter.
 
I decided to give it a try. Now I just need to decide on a red dot sight or a scope.

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