Eugene Stoner created the AR-15 and AR-10 at Armalite. Rights to the cutting-edge designs were sold to Colt’s Manufacturing, which concentrated its efforts on the smaller-caliber AR-15, giving it the polish and refinement that led to U.S. military officially fielding a version as the M-16. The bigger brother didn’t gain the same amount of attention, though, despite its formidable 7.62 mm NATO chambering.
In 1974 C. Reed Knight, a friend of Stoner, founded the Knight’s Armament Company. The pair worked together during the 1990s, combining the most heralded assets of the AR-15 with the fight-stopping performance of the AR-10. The result was the SR-25—short for Stoner Rifle, with 25 being the sum of the numbers in AR-10 and AR-15.
It didn’t take the U.S. military long to recognize the virtues of the heavier, more-accurate-at-distance firearm. In May 2000, the U.S. Special Operations Command adopted it as the Mk 11 Mod 0. Engagements in the Global War Against Terror evolved, though, and improvements to the platform helped address they changing environment. Today the fielded M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) is still an SR-25, but with further refinement.
Knight’s Armament, based in Titusville, Fla., offers three commercial versions of that famed SR-25. Like their military counterparts, all are semi-automatic, use 20-round magazines and wear all the best assets of an AR-15. Each are chambered for 7.62 mm NATO and .308 Win. Barrels are hammer forged, chrome lined and have a 1:10" rate of twist.
The SR-25 CC M-LOK (Combat Carbine) and SR-25 PC M-LOK (Precision Carbine) have 16" barrels, come with two-stage triggers and M-Lok fore-end for accessory mounting. The latter, however, has 5R cut rifling. A 20" barrel with 5R rifling comes with the SR-25 PR M-LOK (Precision Rifle) model.
All have the company’s E2 bolt with dual ejectors for increased ejection force and redundant reliability. Fire controls throughout the entire line are bilateral.
The company doesn’t publish MSRPs, but a search and the Internet found most well-established dealers are offering new carbine versions at just under $5,000.
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