AfterSHOT: Midwest Industries – Sentinel Concepts Signature Carbine

Photography by Muneki Samejims.

We took a few minutes to swing by the Midwest Industries booth at SHOT last week to meet up with Steve Fisher and give him the chance to tell all us about the MI Sentinel Concepts Carbine M-LOK Compatible Rifle. Though announced back in late December, this was the first time we'd gotten a chance to put our hands on it — it's definitely aesthetically pleasing, even sexy (though I hesitate to use a word so trite in this context). Fisher says he specced out the rifle to be a “..a semi custom gun that fit his needs, at a reasonable price point that anybody [could] afford, but was in the premium line of guns.” The desire to keep the rifle as ambidextrous as possible was a key element in the design process.

The Sentinel Concepts Carbine M-LOK Compatible features what Fisher describes as “…only the best components”, including (but not limited to):

• Magpul furniture
• Magpul SL Stock and Grip
• Midwest industries AXTS ambidextrous selectors
• AXTS raptor charging handle
• 15” M-LOK mounting system
• Rail space to work with the gun.
• Midwest industries flip up sites.
• MI 2 chamber muzzle brake
• Mid-length gas system
• Criterion 16 inch, hybrid profile, 1/8 twist, chrome lined, .625 gas blocked diameter barrel
• .556 or .223 ammunition, Wylde Chambered

The rifle will retail for an introductory price of around $1599.99 and will later bump up to to a regular MSRP of $1649.95. That's going to evoke sticker shock in some people, though a review of the accessories (AXTS, Criterion, etc.) should mitigate that. Many of the accessories that come stock on the rifle are quality components provided by companies Fisher considers to be some of the best in the business. Almost all of them are things someone would more typically add after the purchase — the sights, the Magpul pieces, an extended handguard for additional points of contact on barricades, etc. Stave says the rifle is ready, “…right out of the gate. All you need to do is add an optic, a magazine, and a sling, and you’re good to go.”

At first glance the Sentinel Concepts Signature Carbine seems well designed and thought out; I'm sure we'll see how it holds up to extended use in the coming months after they begin making their way to the range. For my part I'd like to extend a special thanks to Steve for the extra time he took to break the rifle down, “Barney Style” for me, as I am new to the industry. If you want to learn more about Midwest Industries and the MI Sentinel Concepts Carbine M-LOK Compatible rifle go the the website here.

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Follow us on Instagram, @RECOILmagazine and keep an eye out for these hashtags: #‎recoilmagazine, #‎recoil, #‎shotshow2016, #‎mediadayattherange and especially #‎recoilSHOT2016. Monitor this frequency for more SHOT Show related post in the coming days; there was way too much material to cover in just one week. Our “Constant Coverage” article can be found here — go look at a gallery of imagery from every kind of manufacturer. Likewise you should take a gander at our Media Day at the Range roundup here.

What is the NSSF SHOT Show?

The NSSF SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) and Conference is an annual event held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Typically attended by thousands of people from all 50 states and over a hundred countries, it is (quite rightfully) described as the “…world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, and related products and services.
Imagine the Worlds' Fair, but packed with everything from mini-guns and every breed of body armor, bows and boots; from eye pro and ear pro to optics and ordnance, socks to swords…you get the idea. If you'd like to see a sampling of the companies who will be showing at this year's SHOT, there's a live map right here, though it doesn't reflect the organizations set up elsewhere, in hotel suites, etc.
View imagery from our coverage of last year's SHOT Show right here.
SHOT Show is online here; check out the videos from SHOT Show TV right here.
2016 SHOT Show
January 18 — Media on the Range (numerous shooting facilities in and around Las Vegas)
January 19–22, 2016
Sands Expo and Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hours:
Tuesday, January 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 20 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 21 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, January 22 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.