TFB Review: Midwest Industries CRM HD Rifle

The AR15 market is swarmed and completely saturated with a wide variety of models and variations of the iconic “black rifle”. What separates one AR15 from another, what delineates a high-quality platform from mid- to low-tier? Midwest Industries wanted to offer a rifle that was more than simply reliable and well-made; Midwest Industries wanted to provide the option for a weapon made for the most stringent and demanding end users, something that achieved race-gun performance but survived the worst conditions and demands. This is where the CRM HD came into existence.

Terms and Conditions

The Global War on Terror has been protracted, seeing its reach stretch to every major part of the world. As this global conflict has progressed, so too have tactics and technology, culminating in a new and frightening blend of technology and tactics never before witnessed. Regardless of the advancements, warfare comes down to taking and holding territory and denying it to the enemy. This necessitates troops on the ground, and a soldier requires a rifle. Advancements in day and night combat have led to a variety of accessories needed to take and maintain the advantage. The use of multiple optics, lasers, lights, and other technology has integrated itself into the rifle. These additional requirements have equated to weapon platforms that can facilitate their use, but also support long-term use in the worst conditions.

Due to the performance requirements, several reputable manufacturers have risen to address the needs of special operations and standard combat operations alike. Companies like H&K, Geissele, Daniel Defense, SOLGW, LWRC, and others have staked their claim and seat at the table. This is where Troy of Midwest Industries saw his opportunity. Midwest Industries was already a respected name with over 20 years of experience in the weapons industry; the relationships they had built, along with partnerships poised Midwest Industries to bring something special to the market. This is where the CRM HD Rifle was born.

The name CRM HD stands for Combat Rail MLOK Heavy Duty. A major emphasis of all the rifles being manufactured for the SOF community and the missions they embark upon is the handguard/rail. While the heart of the rifle is the barrel and trigger, it’s the unique requirement of an exceptionally rigid rail that becomes a major focus due to the requirements for lasers and other accessories. Midwest Industries did not flinch. The new Combat Handguard is significantly thicker than all previous handguards from MI, but it's also the new barrel nut and mounting that make this the most rigid handguard on the market while still being able to integrate with standard AR15 upper receivers. The design has created a platform that performs at the tier one level, but at a price point far below what it should be. Troy chose to make a rifle that performed and felt good and paid less attention to unnecessary touches that were aesthetically pleasing but offered little in performance and demanded a hefty price increase.

Rifle Anatomy

The CMR HD is not just another AR15; much like other tier 1 rifles, the manufacturer must consider what the rifle’s purpose is. For the sake of argument, we can look at the CQB or Close Quarters Battle, rifle and the General-Purpose Rifle. This is an oversimplification of the two categories, but in most of these rifles there are two guaranteed selections; you will be offered a 10.5”/11.5” and a 16” barreled offering. Some manufacturers will offer more barrel length variations, but these two classifications are common.

One important part of the initial assessment is that MI chose not to create an upper receiver or handguard that was proprietary. This choice could limit some of the potential performance, but more than likely will not have any real impact on the stability of the handguard and its rigidity. The positive of not having a proprietary upper receiver and handguard is that pre-existing uppers can be easily mated with the HD handguard, providing end users the benefits that come with MI’s new design.

This leads us to the beginning of the rifle, the body of the build. The upper and lower receivers are forged, which will provide a stronger receiver set; MI also chose to keep the design traditional without any proprietary designs in order to maintain a traditional look and function. Both the upper and lower receivers are machined from 7075 T6 aluminium and finished in a matte black hard-coat anodized Mil 8625 Type 3 Class 2 finish to ensure strength and durability. Cerekote finishes are offered; in the case of my rifle, it was finished in MI’s Mas Grey (an off-green). The receivers are machined to Mil-Spec standards to ensure continuity with the AR market and parts.

Starting at the back of the receiver is a Radian Weapons Raptor Ambi Charging Handle, an obvious choice and well trusted by thousands of end users. The BCG is KAK K-Spec by MI & is NP3 coated for durability and reliability and features sand cuts with dual ejectors; this combination ensures maximum reliability for prolonged use in austere environments and conditions. The barrel selected is the renowned Criterion Core in a 16” length with M4 feed-ramps and a mid-length direct impingement gas system, and comes with an industry-standard ½ x 28 thread pitch. The barrel has been mated with a Rifle Speed adjustable gas block; this provides the end user with rapid adjustments to the gas system without the need for tools or other specific devices. Gas flow can be rapidly dialled in to provide the perfect amount of gas on the fly; this makes for incredible operational durability whether suppressed or unsuppressed.

The real focus of the upper receiver is the new revolutionary handguard system created specifically for professionals and designed to interface with the Rifle Speed gas block. The HD handguard is purpose-cut to length to allow for the adjustment ring on the Rifle Speed gas block to be accessible at all times, even when suppressed with a QD or direct thread suppressor. The HD handguard is significantly thicker to reduce flex, increase both durability and zero and has been designed to optimize heat exchange while providing the end user mounting solutions where they are most used. The top of the handguard is a full length Picatinny rail machined to standard with lightening cuts through out, at the 1, 5, 7, and 11 of the handguard more lightening cuts have been machined to reduce weight and allow for heat exchange while the 3, 6, and 9 offer MLOK the full length down the handguard; at the last quarter of the handguard the 1, 5, 7, and 11 offer MLOK slots as well where they are needed. The first quarter of the handguard at the base is solid, as this is taken up by the extremely long and rigid barrel nut and handguard locking interface. At the 1 and 11 o'clock positions is a steel-reinforced, non-rotational QD socket optimizing sling interface and anatomic comfort for the end user.

The handguard uses MI’s proprietary anti-rotational flanges that protrude on both sides of the 12 o’clock rail, combined with their locking interface plate into the barrel nut. This provides a handguard designed from the ground up for all-conditions warfare, ensuring 100% rigidity in the most austere environments for lasers and other accessories. The appearance is clean and custom, with all edges dehorned and machined for maximum comfort. The inside diameter is 1.250” with an outside diameter of 1.750”. While our handguard mated with our 16” barrel is 13.5”; two other lengths are offered in 9.25” and 10.50”, intended for use with a Rifle Speed gas block.

Lower

The lower receiver comes with MI’s 2-stage Nickel Boron match trigger and a Radian Weapons 45-degree ambi safety. The magazine release and bolt catch/release are ambidextrous, allowing this platform to truly run from either hand with ease. The receiver is mil-spec in order to facilitate the replacement of parts from both military and aftermarket selections. The CMR HD uses a standard weight buffer and spring with a MI heavy duty QD end plate, and is outfitted with the new Magpul DT Stock and a Live Free Kung Fu grip. Together, the system is a significant package.

You might have noticed that the type of flash hider or compensator was left off the build list. This is due to the system intentionally providing a simple birdcage flash hider; MI decided that the end user will inherently choose the compensator and suppressor desired, and this is a saving that can be passed along to the customer.

The Set Up

The rifle needed a proper setup; outfitting a modern fighting rifle goes beyond a simple forward grip and a red dot. As this is a 16” barreled rifle with a precision combat barrel and was designed from the ground up to support modern warfighting requirements, the CMR HD was outfitted with some of the finest and most coveted accessories on the market to ensure combat reliability combined with ease of use for all conditions.

We already have excellent furniture and full ambidextrous controls, so the need to upgrade was completely negated. The beginning then goes beyond upgraded furniture, charging handles, and triggers and then leaps into the combat accessories. We start with the Vortex AMG 1-10 FFP rifle scope. This state-of-the-art optic is nearly as small as an ACOG in length but provides a true 1-10 capability in a 34mm housing for improved target acquisition with exceptional durability. We mounted it in MI MK2 34mm scope rings with a 12 o’clock Acro mount with a Viridian RFX44 enclosed mini green dot. At the front, we are running an Inforce dual-illuminated weapon light for visible/IR and a Zenitco Perse4 visible/IR laser. The handguard has been equipped with a MachineMachine Co Rooski and Vladi for the hand placement, and we topped off the muzzle with a direct-thread Witt Machine and Tool TuTu3 5.56 direct-thread suppressor. This combination facilitates a well-chosen selection of accessories that are proven to hold up over demanding missions and harsh conditions.

Hands On

At first glance, the rifle has a clean appearance, with the obvious handguard standing out, but the CMR HD has the feel of a sleeper. The performance is meant to be felt rather than seen. The unassuming physical reality is that the finer details of the handguard and the ambi controls are evidence of a high-tier rifle, but MI has gone to great lengths to provide a bona fide race engine in what appears to be a normal sedan. The result is an attractive rifle focused more on providing performance over making waves on Instagram.

The use of the Kung Fu grip enables an excellent marriage of the shooter’s hand to the rifle for ease of indexing controls, which is further exploited by the comfort of the stock and charging handle. The CMR HD handguard, like all MI handguards, has the relief cuts machined into the grip surface, creating excellent traction without being too aggressive or excessive to the point of distracting from its use. Access to the Rifle Speed gas block dial is excellent, as the handguard is purpose-built to interface with the gas system during operational use.

Shouldering the rifle feels as natural as it has for over 30 years of professional use, but the rifle maintains a light and almost deceivingly nimble feeling; this becomes more prevalent during range time with the Witt Machine and Tool suppressor attached. The MI match trigger is light and crisp, with the break at 4 lbs., and remains predictable with a reliable wall and strong reset. Rapid fire felt controlled and easy with the light trigger, and I never had any issues when pressed for speed over control. Slow aimed fire also felt excellent, with the take-up being fairly short and again the wall easily discernible and predictably breaking when squeezed.

First rounds down range were initiated with the Rifle Speed set at 4; I then backed it down to 2 and ended up at setting 3 with an extremely soft-shooting rifle with little to no climb. Sound suppression was good, with the end goal set at facilitating communications more effectively when engaged in a gun fight. The Tutu3 added little weight to the end of the barrel, and the overall mobility felt manageable; to be fair, I didn’t notice the weight or length.

The thickness of the CMR HD handguard reduced heat to some degree, but adding grip panels or a taco wrap would be advantageous. The Machine Machine Rooski and Vladi added a significant upgrade to the weapon's handling and easily facilitated the push/pull method when running the weapon in and out of the shoulder. The design is bomb-proof and, to be honest, the look is amazing, adding to the angular appearance of the rifle with accessories. Another point of the Machine Machine hand-stop and grip is the proximity the system keeps the end user’s hand to the handguard. This supports the use of accessories like the Inforce light and Zentico Perst4. As one who is not a fan of pressure pads, the direct interaction with the weapon light and laser was more accessible due to the Machine Machine hand-stop system.

Another point was the integration of the adjustable gas block with the Witt Machine and Tool Tutu3; the Tutu3 being direct-thread did not encroach over the barrel and left ample room for me to access the gas block and make adjustments without concerns of being burned by the barrel or suppressor. The simple design clearly assists in keeping pricing down, allowing for engineering to focus on a quality suppressor that more people can afford.

Conclusion

The Midwest Industries CRM HD rifle is the finest combat rifle I have ever shot, let alone owned. The quality and engineering are on full display; if looks are worth a thousand words, then the function of this platform exceeds everything I thought I was going to encounter with this rifle. I am not one to become too excited over weapons given my decades of use; the CMR HD is something altogether different. MI took the high road to produce a rifle that, by every measure, is excellent-looking; the machining quality is of the highest caliber, but the performance is where you see what you are paying for. I can confidently say this is not only a weapon I would carry with confidence in combat, but it has become my first choice for the do-all rifle.