Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine: One Sexy Rifle!

Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine
Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine
Mike Searson
Mike Searson

USA -(Ammoland.com)- In a market completely saturated with AR-15 rifles is it possible that a manufacturer could offer something that has never been seen before or repackage the rifle in a way that those of us who own over a dozen of them could stand up and say, “I need that one!”?

The answer is a resounding “Yes” when the rifle in question is the Battle Rifle Company Paratrooper Rifle.

On paper, the Battle Rifle Paratrooper sounds like another 16″ direct impingement AR15. That is, until you get your hands on one.

This lightweight rifle uses a Keymod rail, installed flip up sights, a comfortable pistol grip, newfangled muzzle brake and a sliding stock with shortened bolt and buffer.

Finished in a tan Cerakote this is one sexy looking rifle when taken out of the box!

A few words about Keymod

Sure Fire may have been the first to make use of the Keymod system and this was what was used on the 5.11 Tactical rifle built by JP Enterprises we reviewed for RECOIL Magazine. At first, the author was not very fond of the Keymod due to the price and lack of accessory mounts, but that has changed in the past year.

Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine
Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine

Some of the benefits of the Keymod system include a much stronger attachment interface between the rail and the upper receiver, a very quick and easy way to change rail lengths and ease of maintenance. Another benefit that is not so obvious is that there is no more need to time the barrel nut and no need for anti-rotation tabs. The rail simply slides onto the upper itself and screws hold it in place.  Because the rail doesn’t just fit onto a round barrel nut there are no worries about the rail rotating during use and the 12 o’clock rails line up perfectly on their own.

The best part is that it keeps the forend clear. The ample space on a four-sided Picatinny rail mostly goes wasted, attracts “rail clutter” or makes for a heavier rifle. With the Keymod, only mission specific essentials need to be added and the ability to hold the forend like a proper rifle without a vertical fore grip makes for more accurate shooting.

Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine
Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine

If you just need to add the basics like a sling and a flashlight, you can add the appropriate length rails in the position where you want them.

The top rail on the receiver and hand guard is all Picatinny, which makes sense as most optical equipment now defaults to this standard.

The Good

Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine
Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine

The Paratrooper rifle is an extremely well-built AR15. The fit between the two upper and lower receivers is outstanding and the looks are top notch.

We were originally hesitant about the stock. It looked dead sexy but had an uncomfortable look about it all the same.

Over the years we have heard horror stories from all over the internet, gun boards and gun shops about the treachery of wire stocks, collapsible stocks, etc.

Stocks like those found on the Uzi, various Heckler and Koch rifles, under folder AK’s and this one on the Paratrooper seem to be the stuff of nightmares for most shooters.

Personally, we only had an issue with the AK under folder until we wrapped the stock in parachute cord to keep it from pulling out beard hairs.

The Paratrooper had that chunk of bolt carrier housing right where you put your face and once you get past that, the rifle shoots as soft as any other 5.56 AR rifle once you throw it into your shoulder.

Part of this may be the brake mitigating some of the recoil, but a large part of it has to do with the bolt and carrier not having to travel as far rearward as a typical AR.

Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine
Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine

Acquiring the right cheek weld on this stock takes a little getting used to, but by no means should you be intimidated by it at all.

The rifle is so lightweight it can be fired accurately with one hand either shouldered or with the stock collapsed and the ar, fully extended.

The Bad

We only had two complaints about the rifle and one was superficial.

The Cerakote on the numbers and letters was a bit sloppy and reading the serial was a bit distorted. This could cause confusion for dealers, but in all likelihood, I probably received a “second” for my test that was not cosmetically perfect.

Our second gripe was that despite the amazing proprietary muzzle brake, we did not have the option to use a silencer on this rifle. As a slave to the 51T system, our only spare mount was a brake that would need to be timed. In addition to a paratrooper rifle being added to our collection in the near future, a direct thread ½ X28 silencer will need to join the club as well!

Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine
Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine

The Reality

After building over 200 AR pattern rifles, including 90% of my own ARs, this is probably the third factory rifle the author has ever test fired that he wanted to buy. The other two were a JP rifle and a Noveske Afghan.

Accuracy is on par with other rifles of the type, but the lighter weight, shorter length and a $1300 price point make this a very tempting “Next rifle“.

Lucid Optics was kind enough to send out some sights to test on the Paratrooper and we will run through a few of them in part two of this article.

With so many companies making AR-15s and their components these days, Battle Rifle Arms is definitely in the top 10.

Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine
Battle Rifle Paratrooper Carbine

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.


Editors Note: We only found one other video review on the Battle Rifle Company “Paratrooper”, guns that new..?

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Sandy

Not sure what’s really “Top 10” about this…the stock? – Troy’s Tomahawk has a good weld right out of the box, and uses a standard BCG. The rail? You can put a keymod onto anything. Muzzle brake? When did recoil on 5.56 get to be so bad an issue that you need a brake? The grip? Again, looks like the Blackhawk grips you can get from PSA for $5 and a box top. And not sure about anyone else but that cerakote color is awful. A good rifle? I’m sure it is. But it just isn’t blowing this shooter’s skirt… Read more »

Stefan

With the shortened buffer tube and the uneven surface around it how can you get a solid cheek weld on the rifle ? It looks like it would be awkward to us it . Anyone know how that would work out ???

Jerome

It looks weird, but like the writer said in the article it works great. I have one on an Anderson lower and think it’s the best thing since sliced bread.

Josh

Battle Rifle Company makes top quality products. I’ve seen it first hand, and personally have spent a day with the Battle Rifle Crew shooting 10,000 rounds through one of their rifles in an 8 hour time period. You will not find a company more dedicated to building the best rifle possible, nor one that will stand behind their products any better than Battle Rifle Company. They have come a long way! My hat is off to them. Keep up the great work! Great review Mike.

Steve K

Bet it looked a lot better before they dipped it in mustard? Or is it that I have NO sense of style? lol

Kenneth

Only $1300, out of range for most people.

MatKep

How many rounds have you put through it? Based on past reviews of Battle Rifle Co. I am skeptical of their performance and would not put them anywhere near the Top Ten AR Mfgs. Was this a paid review?