Faxon Firearms ARAK-21

By
Jody Lewis
-
6
7684

A Quick Look at the Faxon Firearms ARAK-21 Upper Receiver

While both the AR-15 and AK-47 have features that most gun enthusiasts find positive, they also have issues that most gun enthusiasts find negative. The ARAK-21™ was designed to combine the best of both. By utilizing the most commonly agreed upon strengths of both rifle systems and combining them into one monolithic upper that will fit on any MIL-SPEC lower AR-15 receiver, Faxon Firearms believes that they’ve have introduced a unique and creative solution to the age old controversy of which is better, AR or AK? And that solution is the ARAK-21™.

Consider these features: The precision machined 6061 T-6 billet aluminum monolithic upper receiver, integral full length upper piccatiny rail, long stroke piston system with variable settings, forward ambidextrous folding non-reciprocating spring return charging handle, 8 lug involute model 39 ambidextrous bolt, hardened rail system for the bolt carrier, interchangeable barrels and calibers (5.56 / .223 and .300 BLK) in less than 3 minutes, self contained firing pin system, bolt-on insulated side and lower piccatiny rail system, gas port cleanout access, and the ability to fit directly without modification onto any MIL-SPEC AR-15 lower receiver, and have the ability to fold the stock. That should answer any question about your best choice.

Check out http://www.faxonfirearms.com to learn more about the ARAK-21.

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Source: http://www.faxonfirearms.com/

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6 COMMENTS

  2. Most informative post yet on the ARAK-21. Waiting for the Grendel myself. Most other makers seem to be dragging their feet on the most capable AR-15 cartridge out there. There’s really only one good video that I’ve seen & it seems to have minimal recoil. Any comparisions first hand? It seems most long stroke 5.56 weapons mitigate recoil better than other types. At least from what I’ve seen. Which in my mind means its better at handling larger calibers. The 300 blk out seems like a fad. It drops like a rock compared with 6.5 or 6.8. I hope they really bring a 6.5 to market.

  3. I have something to add on this article and the Faxon ARAK 21. For those of you who are interested in buying this upper, I have some range reports (because I built an AR lower specifically for this upper). I want to start off by saying that this upper is very innovative. It is piston operated, it’s charging handle is non-recripricating, fully ambedextrious, you can have a folding stock (because it doesn’t need a buffer tube), an adjustable gas system and has a reversed piston system to compensate for carrier tilt. It comes with all the infrastructure built-in (picattiny rails, flash-suppressor, etc) so you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars changing out new parts. My shot groups were within a quarter size @ 100 yards (with a 16 inch light barrel) with both types of ammo. Oh yea, I forgot to mention the best things about this rifle: Faxon designed this upper to shoot multiple sizes of ammo. For starters, they released a barrel/bolt combo for 5.56mm and 300 blackout. Senior company officials have told me that they are going to start extending to other cartriges begining with 22 LR (who cares right!) but they are going to start coming out with stuff like 6.5mm Grendal, 7.62 X 39mm (regular AK ammo), 6.8mm SPC (maybe but I am praying for it) and major handgun calibres too. I think this may just be the last rifle I will ever buy because (give it a year or two) I will be able to shoot almost any type of ammo through it. Just being honest here (and this may be a deal breaker for some) – the 5.56mm barrel will not line up perfectly with the 300 blackout barrel. You’ll be “on the paper” but basically you will need a dedicated sight for every barrel you buy for a specific type of ammo. The reason for this is two fold: first different ammo types have different weights and pressures behind them. Some bullets rotate faster and tend to pull shots to one side of the other. The second reason is microscopic differences in tollerances (a 1/50th of a millimeters difference in the way a barrel fits into the upper) has drastic effects in the point of aim. Faxon has a laser that inspects all uppers and barrels for errors before they ship out but one grain of sand inbetween the barrel and the upper and create this effect. Putting it simply – with a switch barrel, no design is going to be spot on when changing calibres. My solution was to have a dedicated scope for my 300 blackout and a dedicated scope/reflex sight for 5.56mm. That is the only negative thing about this design – it doesn’t heat up too much like some have said and i’ve never had any stoppage issues (other than those due to bum rounds – BTW, I would stay away from 300 blackout ammo from Remington (i’ve found failure rates as high as 1/4 when using the 110 grain accutip)). A recommended round for 300 blackout for the ARAK is Couper Cartridge Company – they just do a better job all around. Hope this helps you guys make your decision(s).

    -Mat

    • This all sounds excellent! I have one question to clear up any confusion for those that might interpret your statement about needing 2 different optics for the .223/556 and 300 BLK as a reason NOT to purchase this platform, if you place an optic with .mil or moa reticle sub-tensions that are dial-able (ex. 1-4X24 Vortex Viper PST with TMCQ reticle) would you still need 2 different optics or could you record your dials per yardage in each caliber?

      • *EDIT*

        You did not state this as a reason not to buy the upper. I meant how people may be turned off to the purchase thinking they might need to sink money into multiple optics per caliber change when the clarification that a .mil or moa reticle sub-tension optic will be a 1 optic for any caliber.

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