UK CTSFO MCX Carbine (clone)

Here is a brief overview video of my years in the making UK Armed police MCX carbine “clone” build. This build was inspired by an old article on The Reptile House blog that was published back in 2016.

The rifle is a “Gen 1” (ish) 11.5” 5.56mm MCX made by Sig Sauer. This rifle features a chrome lined barrel, rounded bolt lugs, second generation bolt carrier, and a second generation polymer recoil spring cap. After owning all three (current) major MCX generations, the Gen 1 rifles are some of the best MCX’s ever made.

Like the many variants of early MCX rifles used by UK armed police, this example is semi-auto only.

This rifle is fitted with a Vortex UH1 (Gen 2) holographic sight. These optics are most often seen on the ~10” barreled MCX carbines used by Derbyshire ARVs. Usually these holographic sights are seen with an accompanying EOTech G33 magnifier, but not always. An Aimpoint T series red dot would be slightly more clone correct, but those are boring.

The weapon light is a StreamLight TLR-2S, that is fitted with a remote pressure pad affixed to the side of the rifle using 3M tape. The vertical grip is a BCM QD KeyMod grip, and a Phase 5 EBR “bad lever” is installed.

The mechanical sights are older Sig Sauer “Troy themed” flip up sights. These tbh are more difficult to aquire than the rifle itself (blame the LVAW cloners for that). Yes, they don’t always run the front sight on the receiver, sometimes it is placed on the handguard (Ready or Not is not always right).

For a sling, I am using a Magpul MS3 QD. UK armed police use a variety of slings ranging from Blue Force two points, various Magpul slings, & generic one points.

The stock is an Sig Sauer collapsible PDW stock, and of course this rifle is seen sporting a Lancer L5AWM thirty round magazine, but an EMAG/PMAG or various HK416 magazine would also be “clone correct”.

I say this rifle is “clone correct” but in reality the UK armed police use a plethora of MCX carbines set up in slightly different ways (mainly differing by handguards, chambering, barrel lengths, and muzzle devices). Some MCX “Gen 2” Virtus 11.5” carbines are used by UK armed police officers, as well as some MCX Rattlers (Virtus series).

Thanks for watching!