Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) Rifles

[Anthony]

Hello Everyone,

Does anyone here on the forum have any experience with Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) rifles?

I am seriously interested in their new 7.62mm NATO rifle as well as the Monolithic Rail Platforms (MRP) models in 5.56mm NATO and 6.8mm SPC.  Here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area LMT does not really have a stocking dealer so I have never laid eyes on one...not once.

Any serious user input would be most appreciated.

One thing I am particularly interested in is the balance of the various models as this is very important to me.

Thank you for your input.

- Anthony

[Steve]

Anthony:

I don't think any of our crew have used them, but I know our AR armorer extraordinaire, Bill Pfeil, is a fan of Lewis products in general.  The next time he stops by I'll try to remember to ask him if he has any experience with their rifles.

Steve

[VonVega]

Anthony,
    I have an LMT 5.56 MRP rifle.  So far it's one of the most solid black rifles I've shot.  The MRP is the Monolithic Rail Platform LMT designed to remove 13 parts out of the upper, has a free float barrel that can be changed out for a different caliber with two screws and comes standard with quad rails.  My buddies have the gamut of AR-15 (Rock River, Bushmaster, etc) and hands down I like my LMT way better.  I bought it in two pieces, the lower thru an FFL and the upper directly from LMT sales.  I avoided a 'whole rifle' tax that way but didn't get any mags or a bag with it.

It's a really solid accurate rifle and LMT stands behind their stuff.  I would highly recommend them.  A bit more expensive but worth it in my book.

-Eric

[Jeff]

I can echo Eric's comments.  Mine is a piston version; it's very clean and extremely reliable.  Fit and finish is outstanding, it balances very well for me, the Sopmod stock is ergonomic, and comfortalble.  It's a fine carbine to be sure.

Jeff

[Anthony]

Jeff:  How many rounds do you have through your piston upper and which calibers is it?  What kind of accuracy are you getting?

Eric:  How many rounds do you have through your LMT?  Is it a piston or direct impingement gun?

Steve:  Thank you for checking with your contact.  LMTs seem to be very well thought of, but for some strange reason they do not have a stocking dealer with a storefront down here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  Quite surprising given the local gun population's endless appetite for premium black guns.  This makes it hard to find anyone locally that has much experience with the brand.  I stopped by one of our foremost gun stores in Dallas last week.  They are a stocking dealer of Colt, Knights Armament Corporation (KAC), Saber Defense, Barnett, LWRC, and many other brands yet they have never carried LMT.

I am looking for a rifle for confined spaces and am considering going with LMT's piston gun in 6.8mm with the 12.5 inch barrel.  The piston removes the issue of the short barreled direct impingement guns getting very dirty very quickly and the 6.8mm ballistics out of the 12.5 inch barrel are actually quite good from the data I have been reviewing.

Thank you for your input.

Please keep the input coming.

- Anthony

[Steve]

Anthony:

Bill stopped by the shop on Saturday.  He said that he has never worked with any of their rifles, but is very impressed with the quality of their parts that he has used.  He said he would expect them to build excellent guns, but has no direct knowledge about them.  Sorry we could not be more help.

Steve

[Jeff]

Not that many, around 500 or so.  It gets 2 MOA with military surplus stuff, and easily 1 MOA with premium Black Hills.

Jeff

[BikerRN]

LMT ranks up there with Colt as a top-tier manufacturer from what I've read and heard.

I've not owned one, nor shot one, as I got too good of a deal on my Colt, but I was looking hard at the LMT's before the Colt. If I hadn't got the Colt I most likely would've got the LMT. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, as all I can give you is my opinion, based on my research when I was looking for an AR.

I wouldn't pass up an LMT if I found one and had the spare change.

Biker

[Great Plains Scout]

I have a LMT 5.56 upper attached to a Stag lower, very happy with it. It shoots very tight groups (wish I could provide pics). Recently using a plain jane military BUIS rear sight, with a Trijicon front sight post. I shot 1MOA groups at 100 yards. I did use bean bags for support just so you know. No jams, no malfunctions with my round count being about 3500 so far.

Chuck

[VonVega]

Anthony, I have about 600 rounds thru my LMT.  It is the gas version, I opted to get the enhanced receiver for the extra $200 instead of the piston driven.  I recently attended an Appleseed Shoot and took it out on the second day.  Most everything takes place at 25 yds. but after the class, a few people were invited to shoot on the true 200 yard range.  I was impressed at the accuracy, I'm an average shot but that day with my LMT I was getting 3 & 4 inch groups at said 200 yards with iron sights.