[Guest Post] Knight’s Armament SR-15 E3 IWS Review

[ I am pleased to present this guest post was written by Isaac. ]

Knights Armament as a company has had a notable hand in the evolution of Eugene Stoner’s classic AR-15 design. One of the most obvious results of that heritage is visible in the SR-15 E3 IWS (Integral Weapons System).

3936424680 da 52190b 3d o tfb tm [Guest Post] Knights Armament SR 15 E3 IWS Review photo

The biggest question when people see the SR-15 is “what’s different about this gun to make it special?” And to answer that is to look under the hood and understand that the SR-15 doesn’t seek to be the most accurate, or the most durable gun (the SR-15 E3 IWS actually groups 1.25moa or better, so it’s no slouch). What it does is be one of the most complete package rifles that require almost no user modification or tweaking. And by doing so is an incredibly reliable and lightweight rifle with a plethora of features.

3935642587 5830a 550e 5 o tfb [Guest Post] Knights Armament SR 15 E3 IWS Review photo

From the inside out Knights has given the SR-15 a longer than mid- length gas system, which provides for an extremely smooth and reliable operation. The rifle also features a larger bolt cross section, which serves to improve overall durability. The hammer forged barrel groups very well, and in combination with the very lightweight URXII rail (including integrated front sight, and included match grade rear sight), gives the gun an extremely svelte appearance and light overall weight. All combined with their match grade trigger assembly and offering completely ambidextrous controls to those who are southpaws (or shooters working off their reaction sides).

So, SR-15 feature primer aside, how well does it actually shoot? Amazingly well. Having run the gun in a few carbine courses and competitions, and run it hard, the gun has easily become the rifle I count on as my ‘go to’ gun. What it offers me is an extremely lightweight rifle (even running lights and lasers) that gives me an above average level of accuracy from a fighting carbine. Short of changing out some furniture to fit my personal needs, the gun has not required any tuning or fixes. An extremely smooth gas system in combination with the Knights Armament triple tap brake (not included) creates a rifle with almost zero muzzle flip. In the end what the rifle brings to me is a gun that far exceeds my own capabilities as a shooter.

3935642143 43b 8fd 6f 5c o tfb tm [Guest Post] Knights Armament SR 15 E3 IWS Review photo

The value of the SR-15 E3 IWS is obviously relative to the needs of the shooter. Some may never need the features of the SR-15, and that’s a valid point. However considering what you get as a package (LMT SOPMOD stock, 16” hammer forged barrel, ambidextrous lower, lightweight continuous railed forearm, etc) you’re getting a great value. For those who want or need a gun that requires practically no modifications to achieve maximum durability and performance, this is obviously an excellent choice that far exceeds the levels of what make up a top tier AR-15 rifle.

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Steve Nov 11th 2009 rifles Tags: , , , , , 10 Comments

10 Responses to “[Guest Post] Knight’s Armament SR-15 E3 IWS Review”

  1. Dowon 12 Nov 2009 at 2:38 am link comment

    Why is the brake so shiny?

  2. Titleiston 12 Nov 2009 at 7:51 am link comment

    It’s one of the earlier generation triple tap brakes, which is made of inconel, and left in the raw. It darkens from use and ends up looking like this, especially in combination with a KAC NT4 QDSS suppressor:

    http://lawndartdesign.com/guns/TTB_QDSS_01.jpg

  3. jdun1911on 12 Nov 2009 at 8:08 am link comment

    That’s shinny brake cost $450+ and not including shipping. I personally think it is not worth it. A $30 brake does the same thing unless you’re using KAC suppressor.

    14 pages of fanboy discussion on it and counting.
    http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=124&t=167090

    I like the integrated sling swivel mount on their lower receiver. I’ll bet they have a patent on it.

  4. jdun1911on 12 Nov 2009 at 8:20 am link comment

    I mean “That and not That’s”.

    Anyway it cost $435 not including shipping at Operationparts. You have to get it fast tho. Once they have in stock and people post it up on AR15.com, it usually sold out within a hour or two.

    http://www.operationparts.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=25683

    Here is another fanboy thread on it.

    http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=467117

  5. jdun1911on 12 Nov 2009 at 8:29 am link comment

    Is that a Magpul ASAP you got there? You decided not to use the integrated QD swivel mount? That’s the best part about KAC lowers.

  6. Titleiston 12 Nov 2009 at 9:07 am link comment

    jdun, I do have a KAC suppressor and thus I think it’s worth it. Nuff said, personal preference.

    And yes it’s an ASAP, the KAC QD points are absurdly placed, and do not work well when shifting from weapon to reaction side.

  7. jdun1911on 12 Nov 2009 at 9:45 am link comment

    I understand that the KAC QD mount isn’t ambidextrous and will cause some trouble with the reaction side.

    I have a ASAP and I find it is a pain to install. I don’t like the ring attached to the ASAP. I understand the ring was there to allow the stock to be close but I think there is a better way to handle it.

    The Noveske QD end plate is the best tho.

    Anyway great rifle. Put some more rounds through the rifle to turn the brake into black. It looks much better in black.

  8. jdun1911on 12 Nov 2009 at 10:53 am link comment

    I mean great carbine and not rifle.

  9. Big Daddyon 12 Nov 2009 at 9:20 pm link comment

    I by no means am not an expert!!!!!

    BUT……

    All that brake is basically the inside part of a suppressor. In fact it works with the NT-4 KAC suppressor and in fact is considered the first stack. So that’s what it is, the inside part of a suppressor without the can.

    It does get black with use and the material is very hard, so that it prevents scraps from bullets, especially in full auto. From what I have read it does work though. But so do so many others.

    It is really designed to be used with the NT-4 as a system. If you do not have the matching suppressor than you don’t need it and can use one of the many other proven designs.

    KAC…….the company is what it is.

  10. Dlwon 13 Nov 2009 at 3:11 am link comment

    Thanks. Great post.
    So between the lower mounted swivel point the asp and perhaps a stock mounted sling swivel what are the pros and cons? Also there are the buffer tube mounts for sling swivels (which seem to be a favorite of pat Roberts 6940s ) that do not seem to locate the sling point that far from the KAC point so what about those?
    Understand the asp is single point so what about just two point systems?

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