The Fabryka Broni gun industry giant has recently announced that they plan to bring their MSBS rifle onto the United States’ civilian market. However, this news wasn’t met with the usual interest for new gun models becoming available, and has instead sparked quite a debate about the resemblance between the MSBS modular rifle and the Remington ACR (also known as the Magpul Masada). Many gun experts credit the two gun models as highly similar, and therefore declare that the soon to be new addition to the market, the MSBS, is actually not more than an ACR derivative, that can be easily replaced with the original.

In this post, we will take a closer look at how these 2 gun models different, so you can come with your own conclusion about the new ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) and the MSBS rifle.

Remington ACR vs. the MSBS Rifle: Key Differences

• Different takedowns: The new Remington has a similar takedown to the classic AR-15 gun, while the MSBS’s takedown is more similar to the G36.
• The rotary bolts and their guide rod and spring assembly: While both guns have a similar rotary bolts system (they both use a Stoner-type multilug model), the ACR rifle uses a fixed guide rod and spring assembly (which can be removed only with considerable effort), while the MSBS rifle uses one that will fall out of the carrier.
• The diameter of the firing pin: The MSBS has a very small diameter firing pin, while the ACR has one which is more similar to the classic AR-15.
• Different methods of barrel retention: While the Remington ACR has the famous quick change device dubbed ‘the ratchet’, the MSBS modular rifle has a simple locking screw (lighter than the ratchet system of the ACR).
• Different barrel integration structures: The MSBS rifle has a heavier fluted profile for its barrel, and at the same time it lacks the additional gas piston support around it (which can be noticed within the ACR), making it much lighter and eliminating the extra components.

Conclusion:

To wrap up the final point that we’d like to make, the MSBS shouldn’t rightfully be dubbed as a Remington ACR derivative. Looking at their key differences, it’s more probable that the 2 gun concepts evolved in a parallel manner, taking inspiration from both exterior models and from each other during the creation and adaptation process. While there isn’t any definitive evidence that the teams which designed the 2 guns took any hints and inspiration from each other, the way we notice elements from both models being transplanted and adapted back and forth would strongly suggest it.

The reason for their high similarity isn’t that a riff was produced, but it’s more likely that the two guns simply had similar requirements and a similar ergonomic system (the philosophy behind functional design) backing their concept. All in all, we consider them to be stand-alone items, each with their own high quality and advantages. From a strictly personal point of view, the MSBS looks pretty interesting, with a more elegant and simplified design, so it’s definitely worth considering. On the other hand, the Remington ACR has the advantage of a more tried and tested gun model, a classic already available and highly popular among most U.S gun owners.