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View Full Version : Spike's Tactical SAR



TripleBravo
6 March 2011, 07:14
Spike’s Tactical SAR is a lightweight rail system with some great features. Produced by Seekins Precision, the SAR has a proprietary titanium barrel nut, nicely scalloped rails, and four QD attachment sockets. They’re available in 7 inch, 9 inch, 10 inch, 12 inch and 13.2 inch lengths. In the box you’ll find the rail with the mounting screws installed, the titanium barrel nut, the required Torx and Allen wrenches, a QD swivel, three black ladder rail covers, and a small bottle of blue Locktite (not pictured). Installation instructions are also included.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/railitemsoncase01.jpg

INSTALLATION:

Installation is relatively straight forward on new builds however the one piece design requires removal of the FSB/gas block, gas tube, and original barrel nut on retrofits.

Working with a stripped down barrel, you first install the titanium barrel nut onto the barrel. In order to tighten the barrel nut you will need a 1-1/8 inch open ended wrench. I recommend using a crowfoot type wrench that will attach to your torque wrench. The barrel nut should be tightened to 60 FT lbs.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/SnapOn1-1-8.jpg

(Note: If you are going to use a piston kit, you will need to purchase the shim kit that allows you to shim the barrel nut so that the flats properly align for compatibility with most piston drive rod systems.)

If using a low profile gas block, your next step will be to install your gas block and gas tube.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/barrelonupper01.jpg

Now you are ready to install the rail itself. The tensioning system that tightens the rail to the barrel nut uses two Torx screws and a small Allen set screw. First you tighten the Allen set screw to spread the rail to slide easily over the barrel nut. With the rail in place you loosen the set screw, then tighten the Torx screws (after applying Locktite) to no more than 35 INCH lbs. Once they are tight you tighten the center set screw. This helps to apply even more locking pressure against the Torx screws. It’s a pretty clever design.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/tensioningscrews01.jpg

The rail has two alignment tabs that run along the underside of the top rail to ensure the rail stays lined up with the upper receiver.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/alignmenttabs01.jpg

Installation when using a fixed front sight base would require you to install the rail, then preinstall your gas tube into the FSB before reinstalling your FSB onto the barrel. For that, and other issues, I would not choose to use the SAR on a rifle with a fixed front sight base.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/upperoncase01.jpg

IMPRESSIONS:

I’ve been a big fan of the Spike’s Tactical BAR and use it on several of my personal uppers. The SAR is a slimmer rail with the same great scalloping that make it pain free to hold onto while shooting without using rail covers. But, with a height of 2.41 inches and a width of 2.05 inches, adding additional rail covers does not give the SAR an “overweight” look or feel.

Beyond the coolness factor, the titanium barrel nut helps save weight – the 13.2 inch model used in this review weighs 12.51 oz with all the hardware. However it does add to the expense of these rails. The 13.2 inch model retails for $315. The 7 inch model retails for $270.

There is one feature of the SAR that I did not notice right off and that you should know about, especially if you’re slightly OCD like me. The two side rail slots do not run in correspondence to the top and bottom rail slots. This is due to the layout of the four QD sockets that live forward and aft of the side rails.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/railmisaligned01.jpg

I haven’t decided if this aspect of the SAR bothers me yet, but I can’t find any functional reason why it should.

Overall, I really like the SAR. It’s a well made piece that feels as good in your hand as it looks on a rifle. Some of the unique design features both improve its practicality and make for a good conversational piece at the range.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/wjt1169/SAR%20Review/riflecomplete01.jpg

http://www.spikestactical.com

SAR discussion thread is here: http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum/showthread.php?3060-Spike-s-Tactical-SAR-Discussion&p=28533#post28533