Hakan Spuhr has been thinking about his new project off and on since 2012. Best known for his Spuhr optics mounts, accessory interfaces and the in-line G3 stock, recently adopted by the Portuguese Navy and the Swedish Army and Home Guard, Spuhr has now unveiled the concept model for his latest project, his attempt to improve the AR-10 platform.

Hakan Spuhr with his new concept rifle at DSEI 2019 (Matthew Moss/TFB)

The AR-10 platform and its derivatives have long been favoured as sharpshooter’s or designated marksman’s rifles but Spuhr feels the system has a lot of room to improve. Building on his own experience working with other systems and from the feedback of users and customers, he has developed the Enclosed Receiver System. We got to take a look at the new concept rifle at DSEI 2019.

The Spuhr handguard with patented-Spuhr interfaces (Matthew Moss/TFB)

The rifle is officially called the R-8000 ERS (Enclosed Receiver System), this is because unlike a conventional AR-10 the rifle does not have an upper and lower receiver, instead it has a monolithic receiver which helps to remove flex and improve accuracy. It is machined from a single piece of Alumec 89 aluminium, this provides a more rigid platform “devoid of the receiver flex commonly found in traditional AR systems.”

The left side of the ERS’ receiver (Matthew Moss/TFB)

Right side of the receiver (Matthew Moss/TFB)

The R-8000 ERS weighs less than 4kg and uses a standard collapsing stock and a lightweight Spuhr handguard, lined with Spuhr’s patented interface system and a 12 o’clock rail. It has ambidextrous controls and a large prominent bolt release. It has a recessed magazine release button, which was the result of user experience feedback from active service personnel from numerous countries.

A close up of the extended receiver giving more 12 o’clock rail space (Matthew Moss/TFB)

A close up of the takedown lever, the prominent bolt release paddle and the recessed magazine release (Matthew Moss/TFB)

The bolt is removed by rotating the stock assembly 90-degrees to the right, allowing easy access to the working parts. Similarly, the pistol grip and trigger assembly are hinged and swing down for access. The rifle’s receiver and trunnion project further than other rifles, this has the effect of lengthening the top rail space an removes the need for cantilever scope mounts to get the proper eye relief. This again helps improve the rifle’s accuracy.

A look at the R-8000 with its stock assembly pivoted to allow the removal of the bolt – note the takedown lever rotated 90-degrees upwards. The buffer retaining pin is conical and projects slightly forward (Matthew Moss/TFB)

A close up of the bolt carrier inside the ERS with the stock assembly pivoted open (Matthew Moss/TFB)

A right side view of the stock assembly pivoted for removing the bolt carrier assembly (Matthew Moss/TFB)

On first impressions, the concept rifle is beautifully machined and combines both pleasing aesthetics with functionality. Spuhr hopes to have the rifle ready for SHOT Show 2020, with working live fire models available to test. Spuhr aims to initially offer the weapon to the law enforcement and military markets but does not rule out civilian models in the future and also sees no reason why the ERS design can’t be used in rifles chambered in other calibres like 5.56x45mm.

Let us know in the comments what you think of Spuhr’s new take on the AR platform.