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It would be an understatement to say that the AR-15 market has become saturated. You can find rifle variants that range from mild to wild for less than a monthly car payment. Some can cost more than a few months of mortgage payments, while others are less expensive. This creates a buyer-friendly market where companies compete for attention with entries such as the Stag Arms 15 Tactical.
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The Stag Arms 15 Tactic
It can be difficult to decide what makes a good purchase. Low-quality components and construction have been shown to make ultra-affordable rifles last a shorter time. Some elite rifles can be finicky about the types and brands of ammo they use. They are designed to work within very narrow parameters. The new Stag 15 Tactical is entering the largest market segment. For those who are looking for a solid rifle that is all-around reliable.
Stag Arms is a smart company about ARs. Ask anyone who has one. I have a few of them, including a Stag 10S in.308, which was my carbine course. A Stag Varminter, which shoots sub-MOA groups and plinks easily, is also available. My home-built “Merigun”, which I built using one of Stag’s builders sets. They have all exceeded my expectations and are still benchmarks in my collection for guns I can compare to.
My experience with older Stag builds was what made me want the new Stag 15 Tactical. Although “new” is a common term, it is actually applicable in the case Stag Arms. Stag Arms moved from Connecticut, a state with restricted civil rights, to Wyoming, where it is now considered one of the most American firearms manufacturers in recent history.
This move required a new facility and new machines, new staff, and a change in roll markings. Stag Arms rifle owners will be familiar with the new location and the new, more aggressive logo. A tensioning screw has been added to the receiver.
Strategically built
In our industry, the term “tactical” is overused. Some of us have even resorted to avoiding any labeled with this term. It’s only because it’s another attempt to make something cool with the “T word” added to the name. I knew that Stag would not do that. I was pleased to find out that the Stag 15 Tactical is accurate after reviewing it.
Tactical is defined loosely as the ability to plan or aim with skill, at an end other than the immediate action. The end-user can decide what makes a rifle tactical. To me, it must be a rifle that can be used in combat situations. A rifle that can withstand a training course without being the subject of it. A tactical rifle can be relied on to fire the shots when necessary, as well as to ensure they land where they are intended. The rifle should be ready to go out of the box and be able survive in less than ideal conditions.
The Details
Although many ARs are identical in appearance and feel, the difference lies in the details. Stag Arms has done extensive research to find the best ARs. The barrel is undoubtedly the most important part of any rifle. The barrel is the heart of any rifle’s performance.
Stag begins with 4150 steel. The 1-in-7-inch twist, government profile and toughness have been hard enough for the U.S. military for many years. Then they add a mid-length gas system with a more gentle-shooting option and optional black Nitride coating. Black nitride is more durable than chrome lining. It doesn’t wear and lose its consistency like chrome lining. Black nitride can only be removed by physically removing the metal. Black nitride can cause sharper rifling and smoother bore surfaces, but it does not affect the dimensions of the gas port. For corrosion resistance, black nitride is also applied to the barrel’s exterior.
The bolt carrier group can also be available with the super-slick, easy-to-clean black nitride coating. For those who aren’t so picky, Stag still offers the option to have their barrel chrome-lined or phosphate-coated. For our test, we chose the more modern black nickel nitride option. Our tactical choices were easier to clean and required less break-in. The bolt’s magnetic particle inspected (“MPI”) markings indicate that it has been weeded out of bolts that may not be strong enough to be used.
Shooting Comfort
Stag uses the Slimline M-LOK handguard (13.5 inches). The Slimline is lightweight and trues to its name. The Slimline offers 21 M-LOK slots to make it wider or heavier. The 13.5-inch handguard and 16-inch barrel provide a good balance of protection and weight management. The rifle weighs in at 6.3 pounds. The rifle’s weight is balanced to allow for quick pointing while still allowing for enough mass for soft shooting.
The mid-length gas system reinforces this soft-shooting quality. While few people (save an overly dramatic news reporter or two) have ever complained about the recoil of 5.56mm ammo, smooth shots make for quick follow-up shots and enhance any experience–training, bench shooting or in defensive use.
The furniture is completed by a Magpul MOE SL stock, Magpul Enhanced Guard Guard, and Magpul MOE pistolgrip. It shouldn’t surprise that the included mag (in free states), is also a Magpul Gen 2 PMag. The trigger is a single-stage, mil-spec unit. Overall, the rifle feels and works the same as a modern AR.
Deployment Ready
We have all been affected by ammunition shortages in the past year. It’s worse for those who shoot weekly. A personal shortage of ammunition was a great test of the ability of a nitride rifle to run fresh right from the start. We used a few rounds to zero the rifle before trying a variety loads to test its accuracy.
My belief is that a rifle can shoot well with a variety loads, regardless of twist rate, pedigree, or range lore. Five shots were fired at 100 yards with six loads, including 5.56mm NATO ammo and.223 Rem. Projectiles ranged in weight from 35 to 73% grains. A simple rear bag and a front rest were used in real-world situations. Unfortunately, the weather conditions in Oregon were too harsh to use a traditional chronograph. Our LabRadar failed to capture one of the 40 attempts. Therefore, no useful velocity readings were recorded.
The rifle favors lighter loads and matches well to the 55- and the 62-grain loads. These loads are commonly used in training and were previously available on store shelves. No malfunctions were reported. Smooth operation is achieved by the combination of the mid-length gas system with the black nitride bolt carriers.
Take it further
We added our “cold-and-hot” test to standard rifle tests. This test is not able to rank rifles against each other because it has not been done enough times. It does however allow you to assess the rifle’s potential for tactical use.
This test consists of a group firing five shots, followed by 20 rounds of ammunition. The next group is a five-shot one. The idea is to quickly heat the barrel between groups and observe how it reacts. The barrel temperature change is a function of many variables including ambient temperature. This information serves as an additional indicator.
Point of impact shift, which is caused by the barrel’s changing shape due to expansion, and group dispersion are two interesting data points. Dispersion can be caused either by shooter error or mirage, but it also indicates the barrel’s ability handle heat.
The ambient temperature was 40 degrees and the barrel was already warm from the shooting, so the 20-round dump with full-house 5.56mm raised the barrel temp (measured at the muzzle) to 55 F to 107 F.
The 100-yard “cold”, non-match ammo group measured 1.89 inches, and the “hot”, group 3.67 inches. The point of impact moved downward by 1.0 inches. This test is not an industry benchmark. The results show that the Stag Arms 15 Tactical can fight and is reliable under duress.
Tactical Decision
Is the Stag 15 Tactical up to its reputation? Our experience shows that the answer is yes in a few ways. First, the rifle is built to last with quality components that can be modified only for personal preference. The Stag 15 Tactical AR-15 is the best choice if one wants to use it for training, range sessions, and self-defense.
The Stag 15 Tactical is a fighting rifle that offers 100 percent reliability and can take a wide variety of loads. It can handle the most common bullet weights and provides accuracy beyond what is required at defensive distances. A rifle made for hard work, Stag’s lifetime warranty as well as the Infinite Shot Barrrel Guarantee provide peace of mind.
Visit StagArms.com for more information.
Stag Arms 15 Tactical Specs
Caliber: 5.56mm NATOBarrel: 16 inches
OA Length: 32.5 – 35.5 inches
Weight: 6.3 pounds
Stock: Magpul MOE SL
Sights
Action: Semi-auto
Finish: Black Nitride or Mil-Spec Phosphate
Capacity: 30+1
MRSP: $1.169
This article was originally published by Personal Defense World in the Aug/Sept 2021 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Call 1-800-284-5668 or email [email protected]
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