Sabre Defence :: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Sabre AR rifles different from other AR-15 rifles?
What calibers does Sabre offer?
Are the Sabre rifles direct gas impingement or piston operated?
What is the difference between the carbine-length, mid-length (M5), and rifle-length gas systems?
Which twist rate and ammunition should I choose?

1. What makes Sabre AR rifles different from other AR-15 rifles?
Quality. Sabre is one of the few actual manufacturers of the AR-15 rifles. Rather than purchasing parts from various vendors and simply assembling the product, Sabre manufactures most of the major components of their rifle at their 45,000-square-foot factory in Nashville, Tennessee. In-house production allows us to hold tighter tolerance levels. Each rifle is crafted from the highest grade of materials and perfectly matched components. The advantage of this is that the fit, feel, and finish of the rifles are controlled as if each rifle were custom built, but in a production environment—so lead times are shorter than most custom rifle builders.

Additionally, Sabre is proud that every rifle is composed of all U.S.-made parts, whether supplied from our highly regarded mil-spec U.S. suppliers or manufactured in the Sabre factory. Every component of the Sabre rifle passes our stringent quality control as an “A”-class product, or we don’t use it.

2. What calibers does Sabre offer?
Sabre currently offers rifles chambered for 5.56 NATO, .223 Remington, 6.5 Grendel™ and .204 Ruger. More calibers will be available in the future.

We are constantly asked about the 6.5 round versus the 6.8 SPC. We believe that comparing the 6.5 round to the 6.8 round is a huge misunderstanding of what each cartridge was designed to accomplish. Currently, we are very pleased with the 6.5 Grendel™ round for both long-range and tactical purposes, and have no immediate intention of adding the 6.8 SPC as a caliber offering. We do not try to compare the cartridges, since their design was intended for different purposes.

The .308 is another source of frequent questions. Our only comment at this time is that if Sabre offers a rifle in .308 in the future, it will be unique and meet or exceed the Sabre ideal of a quality rifle.

3. Are the Sabre rifles direct gas impingement or piston operated?
All of the Sabre rifles have the direct gas impingement system, utilizing carbine, mid-length, or rifle-length gas system. Sabre developed and tested configurations and designs of the piston operating system several years ago and made the decision to simply build the best AR-15 possible with the original gas impingement system. We have no objection to the piston operating systems. We believe that they offer some benefits, but choose at this time to continue in the superior design, care, and materials that we use rather than change, and increase cost to the proven reliable gas system.

4. What is the difference between the carbine-length, mid-length (M5), and rifle-length gas systems?
For simplicity, we will save the in-depth technical information for your further research. There are several postings and discussions on many of the forums and chats available on this subject on the Internet. Here is our simple and plain explanation. The carbine-length (M4) gas tube is 7” long, the mid-length (M5) tube is 9” long, and the rifle-length is 12” long. The pressures at the gas ports are higher for the shorter lengths and lower for the longer lengths. The front sight distance and length of hand guards are also normally limited to the gas system of the rifle. We choose the mid-length gas system for the majority of our rifles because it offers advantages over the shorter, carbine-length gas systems and remains reliable for the shorter-length barrel configurations.

5. Which twist rate and ammunition should I choose?
We offer most of our rifles with the mil-B-11595 Chrome Moly Vanadium in both the 1:7 twist and the 1:9 twist. All of our 1:7 barrels are chrome-lined, and our 1:9 barrels are available in chrome-lined or not chrome-lined. All of our 410 Stainless Steel barrels are 1:8 twist. The 1:7 twist is generally better for shooting the 62-grain and heavier ammunition. The 1:9 twist is generally used for up to 60-grain. The 69-grain to 77-grain seem to be the most accurate for the 1:8 twist.
All the rifles should function well with most bullet weights when using QUALITY ammunition. Accuracy will vary with different ammunition.

The Sabre Difference

You may not recognize the name Sabre Defence right away, but we're well known to fighting forces all over the world. The reason is simple: the U.S. military is our biggest client. If you see a U.S. Army M2 Browning .50 machine gun or a U.S. Air Force M134 7.62 mm Minigun, it's a sure bet it's using a Sabre Defence barrel.

We're dedicated to providing the equipment U.S. soldiers need to ensure their safety and security. Our products are heavily deployed in the Global War on Terror in both Iraq and Afghanistan. They save the lives of our troops every day.

With this much at stake, we know our weapons and parts must be reliable. We take every possible measure to ensure the highest levels of quality. Our factory is ISO 9001-2000 registered. Our engineers are dedicated and highly experienced. We utilize the latest CNC turning and machining technology. From basic milling and turning to deep-hole drilling, and cut and button rifling, we can do it all. Our products are built to the tightest tolerances and highest standards in the industry. They have to be, so that our soldiers can return home safely.

We apply this same level of quality and dedication to every product we make. When you purchase a Sabre XR15, you will receive a rifle built to the same quality standards and specifications demanded by soldiers in the field. We custom mill most of our rifle parts, as well as the barrel, in order to produce superior fit, finish and performance.

Even the metal in our barrels is head and shoulders above that of other rifles. We use the same Chrome Moly-Vanadium Alloy that goes into our .50 caliber barrels. This may sound like overkill for a rifle, but it makes the weapon last longer, wear better and remain accurate well after an average barrel is reduced to scrap metal. If that isn't enough, you can also get Sabre barrels made out of 410 Stainless Steel, an even tougher and harder alloy. Because other manufacturers don't build weapons for the military, they don't have the access to the superior metals we use.

Additionally, all of our barrels have been heat treated to relieve barrel stress. Other makers don't go this extra mile, and their improperly treated barrels can change shape as heat builds up during sustained fire. Although these changes may not be easy to detect visually, they can significantly affect accuracy. Our barrels don't have this problem. By pre-treating them, we release that stress ahead of time, allowing you to shoot as much as needed without having to worry about your point of impact drifting.

Whether you're buying a rifle for home defense, varmint hunting, competition, patrol, or as a SWAT entry rifle, you want a weapon you can depend on. A superior firearm with excellent handling characteristics and outstanding accuracy. A gun built to tolerances found nowhere else in the industry. You want the best firearm you can lay your hands on. You want a Sabre.