It’s been a busy year in Fayette, Mo.
The crew at CMMG have come out with a slew of new products and refined versions of existing rifles this year. And though 2014 is beginning to draw to a close, the well-respected AR-style rifle manufacture keeps churning out new goodies.
The company's latest editions to its catalog are coming out at the right time. The cool evenings that are becoming ever more common means that coyotes will soon be in full pelt. And CMMG is ready to help harvest them with its new Mk4 V and Mk4 V2.
The rifles are based off the manufacturer’s popular line, but include a number of features making it perfect for popping ‘yotes, varmints or other long-distance targets.
Perhaps the most striking features of the 5.56x45mm rifles are their 24-inch fluted 416 stainless steel barrels. The barrels are longer than most found on AR platforms nowadays, but there is a reason why CMMG went big.
The lengthier barrels are designed to extract better ballistic performance from the 5.56, in velocity in particular. In turn, the rifles are ideal for reaching out and touching even the most distant whistle pig or prairie dog.
The longer barrels also tend to aid in accuracy, with the added weight providing more stability to the platform. The fluting on the barrel is a solid addition for those days shooters pull the trigger a ton. The feature helps keep the rifle on target by exposing more surface area to dissipate heat more quickly, thus keeping the stiffness of the barrel.
The barrel has a 1:8 twist rate, making it highly versatile. The twist rate has been reported to stabilize bullets up to 80 grains, but still can shoot the lighter, more accessible rounds, as well.
While the Mk4 varmint models feature a heavier barrel, the rifles have been engineered to remain somewhat svelte. The guns tip the scales at 7.5 pounds unloaded, making it practical to hump it out a few miles to a stand.
CMMG, however, did not strip the rifles to mitigate weight. Instead, much of this is achieved by the addition of KeyMod hand guards. The material removed to make the slots makes the rifles lighter and slimmer than ones with traditional quad-rail handguards.
At the same tick, the handguards do not lose any function. The KeyMod slots are found at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions allowing the quick addition of accessories compatible with the system.
Accessories that do not marre with KeyMod slots can be easily attached by using one of CMMG’s 5-slot accessory rails – 1913 Picatinny compatible. The rifles also have a Picatinny rail running atop the rifle, from charging handle to the fore end, making the addition of optics a snap.
There are a few superficial differences between the V and V2 models of the Mk4. But the main distinction between the two is in fire control. The V model comes outfitted with a single-stage Mil Spec Trigger, the V2 a Geissele Automatics SSA two-state trigger.
The rifles’ price tags aren’t through the roof, but are more than entry-level ARs. The MK4 V has an MSRP of $1,249.5 and the V2 $1,499.95.
CMMG Mk4 V Specifications:
Caliber: 5.56x45mm
Barrel: 24″ fluted medium contour, 1:8” twist
Hand Guard: CMMG RKM14 KeyMod hand guard
Receiver: Forged 7075-T6 AL
Trigger: Single Stage Mil Spec Trigger
Furniture: A2 Pistol Grip and A1 Butt Stock
Weight: 7.5 lbs unloaded
Length: 41.5”
Magazine: 30-round PMAG
MSRP: $1,249.95
CMMG Mk4 V2 Specifications:
Caliber: 5.56x45mm
Barrel: 24″ fluted medium contour, 1:8” twist
Hand Guard: CMMG RKM14 KeyMod hand guard
Receiver: Forged 7075-T6 AL
Trigger: Geissele Automatics SSA two-stage
Furniture: Magpul MOE Pistol Grip and Butt Stock
Weight: 7.5 lbs unloaded
Length: 41.5”
Magazine: 30-round PMAG
MSRP: $1,499.95
Gunsmithing the AR-15 Volume 2
