Olympic Arms MPR 308-15 Multi-Purpose Rifle

Olympic Arms introduced a new rifle at the 2015 SHOT Show that is bound to catch people’s attention. The new gun combines the modularity (and calibers) of the AR-15 platform with the ability to also shoot .308 Win and other short action cartridges merely by swapping the upper.

The bonus is the rifle is not crazy expensive either. Let’s take a look at the new MPR 308-15 Multi-Purpose Rifle…

What is the MPR 308-15?

Perhaps the easiest way to visualize the new MPR 308-15 is to think of a standard AR-15 with a narrow channel extension in the forward portion of the magazine well. Add a third take down/pivot pin and you will have the basics of how the gun will be able to accomplish what it claims.

As the gun ships, it has a .308 Win upper and single stack magazine for the same cartridge. The upper attaches to the additional pivot and the magazine uses the new channel in the mag well. If you want to swap calibers to another short action round, such as the .243 Win or .300 WSM, just drop another Olympic Arms upper onto it.

Since the original AR-15 magazine well and pivot pin are left intact, a shooter can drop any caliber AR-15 upper onto the rifle. Standard AR magazines (GI, Magpul, etc.) will work to feed the gun.

Non-Olympic Arms AR-15 uppers will work on the gun, and caliber is irrelevant. You can shoot 5.56 NATO, 300 BLK, etc.

Parts Compatibility

Pistol grips and internals (trigger, hammer, etc.) are all swappable for any normal AR-15 components.

To ensure proper functioning of the gun a unique buffer is used. For fixed length stocks, the shooter can swap out to any AR-15 fixed stock without any modification.

Adjustable length stocks are a little different. The Olympic Arms buffer tube has to be used – you cannot swap it out – but it has a commercial standard diameter. A shooter can slip a MFT Minimalist or similar stock onto the tube.

Specs & Pricing

Olympic arms uses forged 7075 T6 aluminum uppers and lowers on the MPR 308-15 rifles. Match grade, 416 stainless steel barrels with button rifling are used. Rifles will come with either 16″ or 24″ barrels. Options are available to thread and/or flute the barrels.

In the 24″ configuration with the fixed, A2-style buttstock, the gun has an overall length of 42.75″ and weighs 9.0 pounds. The standard .308 Win magazines hold 10 rounds and can be blocked to meet hunting regs. Olympic Arms will also sell 5 round magazines later this year.

Currently, Olympic Arms will sell uppers in the following calibers:

• .308 Win
• .243 Win
• .260 Rem
• 7mm-08
• .270 WSM
• .300 wSM

Additional calibers are under development.

Suggested retail pricing for the 24″ version of the rifle starts at $1,689. A carbine version with an adjustable stock and 16″ barrel starts at $1,268.