New Korstog AR-15, First Impressions

[craZivn]

So, long story short, was considering building an AR, happened to browse upon this one at Fleet Farm and bought it the same day after a bit of research. Somebody's gotta be the guinea pig, right?

For those of you who are not fortunate enough to live in the domain of the "Man's Mall", (Wisconsin or Minnesota), Fleet Farm is a chain of sporting goods/farm equipment/workwear/automotive department stores. The owner is very pro-gun, and a few years back FF started selling their own brand of piston ARs, made by Adams Arms and branded "Huldra". More recently they have released a companion line of DI rifles, branded "Korstog". Also made by Adams Arms.

Anyway, here is my "first impressions" report. Note that I have handled ARs in gun shops, but never fired one previous to buying this. All my knowledge of these guns has come from shop owners and the internet. So I'm coming into the AR world cold here, any corrections to my opinions are welcome!

First off, the bad. The front sight on mine was canted. This is something I should have noticed at the counter before I bought the gun, but I made the mistake of giving the display model more attention than the boxed one that they sold me. This doesn't bother me too much since a full-profile front sight is not something I wanted and I will be milling (grinding) it off to make way for a free-float tube. Also, the sight is still very usable, but the fact that it is not perfectly straight still speaks for quality control.
Here are pictures showing how much the sight was canted and how much I had to adjust the rear MBUS to zero the gun:

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_104846_zps242a9f7a.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_104846_zps242a9f7a.jpg.html)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_105139_zps5770db69.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_105139_zps5770db69.jpg.html)



On to the good!
Trigger pull was excellent in my opinion, crisp and clean with no take-up. Definitely one of the better AR triggers I've tried in my gun-shop hauntings, better than a Colt and not quite as nice as Rock River (minus the take-up, RRA uses a 2-stage trigger and Korstog is single).
Fit and finish looked very nice. Front sight base is F-marked. Little extras like milling at the front of the mag well, an ambidextrous safety with a solid profile and the logo on top of the receiver are nice touches. The receiver is T-marked. (The cheap Truglo sight did NOT come with the gun, I added that and was too lazy to remove it for pictures.)

Gas key is very well staked, see picture.


And the indifferent facts:

The gas system is mid-length, direct impingement.

The gun comes stock with Magpul MOE furniture all around, including the trigger guard. Magpul rear MBUS also comes standard.

The barrel is Melonite treated, also known as salt-bath nitriding. I wanted one with chrome lining, but this treatment seems to be comparable, and in any case it'll probably outlast me.

1 in 7 twist. Marked as such, along with the Voodoo logo. No other markings.

The gun comes bundled with 6 magazines (one is black and the others are generic GI aluminum) and a very nice Allen soft case with mag pockets.

Retail price is $1249.99.

I ran the gun through a grueling 30-round torture test yesterday with the iron sights, I'm not qualified to comment on the nuances of it's firing manners or compare it to any other AR. So all I can say is that it operated correctly without jamming.

More pictures:

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_105751_zpse67815b4.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_105751_zpse67815b4.jpg.html)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_105623_zpscab9ec0d.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_105623_zpscab9ec0d.jpg.html)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_105552_zps17c7735c.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_105552_zps17c7735c.jpg.html)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_110005_zps718cf693.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_110005_zps718cf693.jpg.html)

[craZivn]

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_105855_zpsa8e6ad58.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_105855_zpsa8e6ad58.jpg.html)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_105305_zpse063a8ab.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_105305_zpse063a8ab.jpg.html)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_110119_zpse26b8b5d.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_110119_zpse26b8b5d.jpg.html)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20130526_105229_zpsace81eb9.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20130526_105229_zpsace81eb9.jpg.html)

Overall, aside from the front sight the gun seems very well fitted and finished. Sorry for the shiny spots on the receiver, that is oil that hasn't been wiped off yet.

[Quentin2]

Sorry, I think you could have done much better for about the same money with the King of Wisconsin ARs - BCM. Their specs are impeccable.

[Mrgunsngear]

Secondly, the rear buffer tube is not marked. I understand that the buffer should be marked with an "H", and this one is not.

Not to be rude but that's not true. You have a standard carbine weight buffer. H would be heavy. Then, H2, H3, ect... as they get heavier.

[craZivn]

Quentin: Well I can't argue with you there, BCM was one of the two companies I was considering for my upper before I bought the Korstog. (Palmetto State was the other.) But then who would there be to try out the new stuff on the market and post up info? Certainly not the experienced or the wise members, they already know to go with what is tried and true. :D
So far, I don't regret buying this over a BCM or PSA, although that may change. The Melonite-treated barrel intrigues me, as well as trying out a new brand. The gun is very thoughtfully appointed and nicely spec'd, and has none of the cheap feel that I've gotten from certain other brands that I have handled.
BCM is surely a proven brand with an excellent track record. But whether I will ever abuse the Korstog enough to explore the differences between it and a BCM is doubtful.
Thank you for an honest opinion! Criticism is welcome.

PD: You are correct, the information I read was misinterpreted by myself. Will edit my original post to reflect this. Thanks!

Ivan

[Jo6pak]

Let us know how it shoots, and keep us posted on how the rifle holds up over the long run.

Don't know until you try, right?:cool:

[Quentin2]

Ivan, I did enjoy your thread and your wit. And hope the Korstog works out for you, odds are it will.

I am not as brave as you when it comes to the new guy on the block though. I went with two of your other considerations, BCM and PSA (complete uppers) and also Daniel Defense. The PSA is the most recent, last labor day. They sometimes also have a canted FSB so that was the first thing I inspected when it arrived.

I like your choices of midlength gas and DI over the Adams piston. And lots of folks run a standard weight carbine buffer with the midlength so here you're going with the crowd . I went with H buffers in the three uppers mentioned above (all 16" midlength) and no short stroking even with low powered steel case ammo. I expect most 16" midlengths will handle the H buffer but my experience is limited to BCM, DD and PSA.

Hopefully you'll get more replies, I really know nothing about Korstog.

[Chinny33]

throw away that tru glo. its a POS that doesnt even belong on a paintball gun.

[zukiphile]

The Melonite-treated barrel intrigues me, as well as trying out a new brand.

From the little I have read on melanite barrels, I am also interested.

When the established vendors are running short, the relative downside of trying something new seems reduced.

[HKFan9]

For that kinda cash I think you could have done better, not that its a bad gun, just not worth the money you paid for it.

AR's are getting much easier to get again, ammo is still the tough one, I think you could have done better, but to each his own.

[craZivn]

I'm learning new stuff already. Truglo has been returned to the store, after some research a Weaver V3 has been dispatched to my address!

Just for fun, I bought a 4.5 oz. heavy buffer for $20, gonna see how that affects the recoil. Not that it needs to be any tamer than it is, but I didn't buy this gun to NOT tinker with.

The scope should be here in a week or so, I'll update with an accuracy report after I get it mounted.

Any other advice/criticism/verbal dopeslaps are welcome, I've only got 20 rounds through the gun and I'm already enjoying this whole black rifle thing!

Ivan

[EdInk]

You could have done better but you already bought it.

It seems like it will be a decent enough rifle for recreational use. I noticed they at least use a 1:7 twist rate barrel. (That means it will most likely do best with 62+ grain weight ammo.)

What is their warranty? Perhaps they will replace the canted sight rifle for free since it is brand new.

I learned my lesson on being "the guinea pig" a couple years ago, when I bought a Sig 556 Classic. (It wasn't a horrible rifle but it didn't really live up to the expectations or price.) Once I sold it, I bought a Colt AR instead. IMHO a much better rifle.

[Bart Noir]

Hmmm, should you not have spent your money on an Автомат Калашникова?

Or even two of those AKs :D

You probably have a very good gun there and were not scalped, unlike many people a few months back.

Bart Noir

[Bart Noir]

Gas key is very well staked, see picture.

We are in the presence of a Master of Understatement.

I have never seen such staking. So neat, so deep, so many of them!

Bart Noir

[craZivn]

Thread resurrection! Sorry it's been so long but time to update.

I have a little over 1000 rounds through the gun: PMC Bronze .223, PMC X-Tac 5.56, Federal XM193, Federal XM855.

I tried the heavy buffer, it turned out to be too heavy and caused the gun to short-cycle. This is the only time it malfunctioned, with the original buffer it works flawlessly.

I have cleaned the rifle once at the 1000-round point, using a one-piece rod and a bore guide. I used patches soaked in Break Free for the bore and a plastic brush with Break Free for the action. No bore brushes were needed, the bore came sparkling clean with just the patches. This Melonite seems to be a fine system.

To lube the gun I have been using Slip2000 EWL.

As far as accuracy, I have gotten my groups down to under 2" @100 yards from a standing rest, but the gun is still more accurate than I am, I don't own a gun vise so I can't make a definitive statement as to how precise it is.

Upgrades include a Weaver V-series 1-3 power scope, Apex free-float handguard, flashlight (Mag-Lite mounted in a quick-release 1" tube mount) and 45-degree iron sights.

Here's how she looks now:
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w523/craZivn/20131201_141719_zpsd46ad77a.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/craZivn/media/20131201_141719_zpsd46ad77a.jpg.html)

In summary, I am very pleased with this gun! They went on Black Friday sale for $100 off, other than that they haven't dropped in price so I don't feel ripped off.

I really think they put a lot into this gun to make it competitive with the Big Boys. Unless there's something I'm missing because I've never fired a BCM or Palmetto State, there's not much to dislike about the Korstog except the initial wallet-lightening.

Ivan

[arizona98tj]

Ivan,
Thanks for the update. I always appreciate when some follow-up information is posted once some trigger time has been had and the shooter has had a chance to tweaks things to their liking. It sounds as though you are happy with it and it sounds like it is shooting just fine.

[minnfinn]

Interesting. Same rifle Mills Fleet Farm is clearing out now at $575. They're switching over to selling "Bushmaster" the employee at the gun counter said. I think this Korstog is a much better rifle, made by Adams Arms in WI, I'm told.

[Yung.gunr]

Holy cow, old thread. Prices WAY different than when thread was first started.

[turtlehead]

Sandy Hook was on 12/14/12. Does anyone remember when the panic buying really kicked in?

[agtman]

For less $$$, you could have gotten a 16" Colt carbine with Magpul furniture, instead of a one-off cloney that no one's heard of - at least no one who seriously shoots & trains on this weapons-system extensively.

It's probably okay for casual range plinking on Sunday afternoon ... ;)

But $1,249.99? ... Seriously dude? :rolleyes:

[Gunslick]

...for less than the colt you could have assembled a lower and bought a BCM upper. They have a great deal going on right now. No offense but in the first couple photos it looks like your FSB is canted and I would say the rear sight having to be adjusted as far to the right as you have it says the front sight IS canted. Decent looking barrel though.

[Mobuck]

Gosh, it looks a lot like the ?? AR's on the rack. I even have one with that same logo on the upper and "VooDoo" on the barrel.
"Thirty round torture test" right out of the box? OMG, We do have some different ideas about guns.

[rickyrick]

Wish he woulda come back after three years and let us know how it went.

[Bart Noir]

They have a great deal going on right now. No offense but in the first couple photos it looks like your FSB is canted and I would say the rear sight having to be adjusted as far to the right as you have it says the front sight IS canted.

Gunslick, I was the kind of kid who actually read the words in the comic books, not just looked at the pictures. Now, Hefner's glossy magazines, maybe it was a different story :D

He told us, 3 years ago, all about the sights. But yeah, the closeout price seems darn good, and getting a BCM upper is never a bad way to go. I've even heard of blemished ones going on sale. But knowing when they are doing that may not be easy.

And I also am curious whether that front sight base was replaced, or cut off, or the whole rifle was taken back under warranty. But I'm not curious enough to try an IM to Ivan.

Bart Noir