On this week's #SundayGunday, we have an AR-platform from one of the finest gunmakers in the world, perfect for hog hunters and home defenders alike. The FN 15 Guardian applies FN America's proven quality to an AR, yielding a gun that runs well through all conditions. A 16-inch 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium steel barrel, qualifies the gun as a carbine, perfect for handling through the woods or in a ground blind. It is high-pressure tested, and of an HBAR profile for prolonged accuracy no matter how much you fire. It sports a 1:7 inch twist rate, common to modern AR platforms, perfect for stabilizing the heavier for caliber bullets common to varmint hunting loads in its 5.56 NATO chambering. Think 62 grains and above, with a sweet spot in the 70s. The barrel sports a mid-length gas system, excellent for a balance between reliability and smooth shooting. Finally, out front, it’s muzzle is threaded to 1/2x28 TPI, for the easy addition of any desired accessory, though it does ship with a standard, A2-style flash hider.
Surrounding the barrel is a 15-inch free floated handguard, optimal for accuracy and accessory attachment. With 24 M-Lok slots on the sides and bottom, and a continuous Picatinny rail on top, there is room out front for all the sorts of lights and lasers that predator hunters tend to desire to tackle terrain at night. Rear of that, the top of the upper receiver also sports a full length of Pic rail, for the shooter’s choice of thermal, red dot or magnified optic. The upper is also a slick side, with no forward assist, meaning less points to snag against brush or loose gear. Inside, a 9310 steel bolt with an M16-style carrier group provides the heart of the action. It has also been high-pressure tested, and is charged by a standard, Mil-Spec charging handle.
Down below, the FN 15 is standard AR, with a 90-degree, 2 position safety, bolt release and magazine release all in he standard positions. The trigger is single stage, with the crisp-but-not-too-light feel common to Mil-Spec models. FN’s proprietary pistol grip, which sits at a 19.5-degree angle with aggressive, texturing, helps position the finger perfectly on the trigger, and provides excellent control. The lower receiver itself is forged from 7075 aluminum, and hard-coat anodized for durability.
Out back, the buffer tube boasts six positions at which the FN buttstock can be set. The buttstock, by the way, has multiple, snag-free sling attachment points.
All in all, this is a really solid modern sporting rifle no matter what you’re looking to use it for. Sporting a retail price under a grand, and shipping with a standard-capacity 30-round polymer FN magazine, make it an absolute steal. Learn more about it at fnamerica.com. And of course, to help in the fight to keep our 2nd Amendment rights, click the join button in the upper lefthand corner to pick up an NRA membership.
