Somewhat under the AR enthusiast’s radar, Colt’s Manufacturing updated their legacy, direct impingement, M4 platform with excellent, fully ambidextrous controls and a versatile heavy duty upper receiver designed to support free-floated handguards with the kind of stiffness that makes the Lewis Machine Tool monolithic upper seem like overkill. They packaged these new features into a complete military grade gun available in several barrel lengths. The one I tested had a 1-in-7 twist, chrome lined, 16.1-inch military style profile barrel, (no grenade launcher mounting groove) with M4 dual feed ramps, carbine length gas system and A2 flash hider. Name? Colt M5 Carbine of course.
Standard features include adjustable, solid steel, Troy Industries, flip-up, iron sights with a large (close range) and small (long range) aperture, a Colt branded Radian Raptor enlarged ambidextrous charging handle, an enlarged Magpul triggerguard and CTR collapsible 6-position stock with rubber buttplate, extra friction lock lever that eliminates front and back movement on the buffer tube and the option to adjust the comb height with snap-in cheek risers (not included), Magpul 30 round PMAG magazine, twelve Magpul M-LOK rail covers, three M-LOK accessory rail sections (two 2.5 inch and one 3 inch), QD sling swivel socket, a low profile M-LOK QD socket, a military black nylon sling, a full military cleaning kit and a shoot-through muzzle cap.
There is a certain sector of the gun buying public that isn’t all that interested in shopping components, here, there, and everywhere to customize a rifle. For those of you out there that want a high quality, military grade, gun ready to shoot right out of the box, you may find the M5 especially appealing. Naturally, lefties will like it too.
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Colt M5 Upper Receiver
The most important changes in the M5 are those in the upper receiver. The new receiver is designed to take advantage of the accuracy enhancing potential of a free-floated handguard. Previously, mounting a free-floated handguard on a typical AR platform gun based on a M4 (or any earlier) upper receiver (which is just about all of them with the exception of the LMT monolithic upper) required a more robust connection point between barrel and upper receiver.
This led to various proprietary designs for long barrel nuts and matching handguards, many of which allowed a reasonably rugged and rigid free-floated forend. In my view, these were less than ideal because the handguard was only supported at the rear, by the barrel nut, and acted as a lever putting a variable load on the threaded connection of barrel and receiver. How big a deal this leveraging torque is I can’t say, but the new Colt M5 makes it a moot point.
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Weight Out Front
On the M5, the weight of the front of the carbine doesn’t rest on the barrel nut threads at all. Instead, there’s a cylindrical portion of the receiver itself that extends a few inches beyond the barrel-to-receiver junction that supports the handguard. The whole affair is precisely machined to a snug sliding fit inside the rear of the free-float, aluminum, M-LOK handguard.
The handguard also has an indexing tab at the top that mates with a slot on the top rail of the receiver to prevent rotation. The quality of the machine work is so good, the handguard doesn’t even need a slice at the bottom where it clamps onto the receiver nose with dual, steel anchored, screws. The fit is so close that the screws easily draw in the hoop tight against the receiver nose. Additionally, the receiver nose has a guide boss on the bottom with cuts for the screws to pass through that prevent the handguard from shifting forward.
A Different Barrel Connection
The barrel connection is of necessity different and M5 barrels and barrel nuts are not backwards compatible with the M4 and earlier receivers. Unlike the earlier design, the M5 upper uses an outside (male) threaded barrel nut which is nestled down at the bottom of the new receiver nose extension so that overall assembled length appears unchanged.
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Besides rigidity, another advantage I’d expect from the M5 receiver nose extension surrounding the barrel nut is more efficient heat dissipation keeping the gun cooler in rapid fire. It appears easier to change and properly torque replacement barrels with this design too, since the receiver nose extension would prevent the barrel nut socket from slipping off during tightening. I like what Colt has done. It’s an engineer’s dream solution and I tip my hat to them.
The major changes to the upper receiver led to a minor change in the way the ejection port cover is mounted. Instead of a tiny C-clip on the end of the pin, it’s now held captive by a boss and roll pin on each end. I’d hate to have to change out the ejection port cover, because those roll pins will be hard to get out.
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Ambi Controls
On the lower, the major changes are all about ambidexterity and include a well designed right side bolt release and left side magazine release. The usual gating around the right side magazine release button is unnecessary because the new bolt release accomplishes the same purpose. I noticed that pulling out the release lever would not hook the bolt and hold it open like it will with the left side bolt release paddle.
The new left side magazine release lever is located along the front of the triggerguard where it is readily accessible to the left hand trigger finger. Its flush mounting makes accidentally dropping the magazine unlikely.
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The safety selector is ambidextrous, with a slightly smaller than normal right side lever held on with an Allen head screw so it can be easily removed by right handers who hate having an ambidextrous safety lever interfering with their grip. Inside the lower I noticed that Colt added a web across the inside just above and behind the safety that would appear to preclude the installation of an FRT type trigger.
Colt did a much better job with their ambidextrous controls than most. They are elegantly integrated into the receiver and practical in use. Add in the Radian Raptor charging handle which unlatches equally well when drawn back with either left or right finger hook, and I can see the M5 becoming a favorite of left handed shooters.
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Finally, the M5 lower has a reinforcement on each side where the aluminum forging is thicker to provide more support, and friction, for the trigger and hammer pins. This reduces their chances of them walking out of their holes over time.
Outfitting the Colt M5 Carbine
To make the most of the M5’s accuracy potential during testing, I installed a military grade BT Atlas BT46/LW17 PSR bipod using one of the accessory rail sections included with the carbine. This is the bipod chosen by SOCOM for their Precision Sniper Rifle weapon system. That’s what the PSR in its name stands for.
This model goes on and off the Picatinny rail with the throw of a lever and is extremely stable, rugged and light, weighing only 13.6 ounces. Machined from steel and aluminum, it has a tension adjustable head (a simple knob) that allows for 30 degrees of pan and cant. Leg adjustments are quick and lock positively.
The legs can be positioned independently at 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 degrees and extended from 5.2 to 9.6 inches. The bipod comes with rubber feet perfect for the bench top or other hard surfaces. They are held on the ends of the legs by ball-detent locks and, if need be, I can switch them out with 3 inch leg extensions (BT22) or extremely aggressive stainless steel Raider Cleat Feet (BT74).
When not mounted, the whole kit packs securely in a Cordura nylon carrying case (BT30) that you can wear on your belt or strap on your MOLLE gear. My set up runs around $540 but it’s worth every penny. Short of battle damage by bullet or shell splinter, it will last generations.
EOTech VUDU 4-12×36 FFP Scope
To remove my diminishing visual acuity from the accuracy equation, I mounted a new EOTech VUDU 4-12×36 FFP (first focal plane) scope. This extremely compact and durable, fog, shock and water resistant scope is just 7.1 inches long and weighs 16.9 ounces.
It comes ready to install on your receiver top rail with an integrated mount and includes flip-up protective covers for the lenses. The protected turrets allow for 0.1 MRAD click adjustments. The reticle illuminates in red with 10 brightness levels that contrast well against the black target bullseye.
As a first focal plane scope, the size of the reticle increases or decreases as you change magnification and maintains the calibration of the stadia, of which there are thankfully many in the two reticle options offered (MR5 and MD5). This makes it much easier to plot your bullet’s point of impact and adjust for the effects of wind drift at varying magnifications and distances.
The VUDU is intended as a short to medium range optic, but thanks to the well designed reticle stadia and the first focal plane, it can facilitate very precise aiming where second focal plane scopes with the more basic (circle with a few dots) reticles require lot of educated guesswork.
Made in Japan, the glass is excellent. It uses XC High-Density, low dispersion glass with anti-reflective coated lenses for superb edge-to-edge clarity and true color accuracy, even in low-light or high-glare conditions. MSRP is $1,219 but street price seems to be around $920.
For close quarters engagement, EOTECH offers a package deal that includes their EFLX red dot and a ring mount that attached to the scope’s front tube section at the 0 or 45 degree positions.
Range Time With the Colt M5
I did my accuracy testing at 100 yards off the bipod in the prone position with a sandbag under the buttstock for a steady gun fore and aft. The VUDU was set to 12x magnification. I shot a series of five shot groups in good light with no wind.
All ammunition cycled perfectly, but the military trigger in this gun, though, which varied from a 5.75 to 6.5 pound pull, was as creepy as they come. I can’t help but feel that a crisper trigger pull would have shaved quite a bit off the average group sizes.
The most accurate load tested was Hornady Black 62 grain FMJ that averaged 2,772 feet-per-second (FPS) with a 71 FPS extreme spread and 23 standard deviation. Average group size was 1.53 inches.
A close second was Federal’s American Eagle Varmint & Predator 50 grain JHP load that averaged 2,967 FPS, with a 58 FPS extreme spread and 13 standard deviation. Average groups measured 1.86 inches.
Turkish made MKE 5.56 x 45mm NATO 62 grain FMJ, described as a clone of the S109/M855 military load, was third place with 2,969 FPS average velocity, 56 FPS extreme spread, and 14 standard deviation. Average groups were 2.25 inches.
That’s pretty good for a military gun.
Armasight Operator 640 Thermal Testing
One reason I chose the EOTECH VUDU 4-12X36mm optic was its short length allowed for a more balanced mounting of a clip-on Armasight 1-4×35 Operator 640 thermal sight.
Put this thermal in front of a normal length scope and you end up with something that looks like a science fiction 10X Unertl and the gun becomes very nose heavy. The EOTech scope and Armasight thermal were a perfect match.
The Operator 640 allows you to sight through your daylight scope using the same familiar reticle you do for daylight shooting. Under a moonless night sky, the Operator 640 didn’t disappoint. Range and thermal clarity were great allowing me to easily see and hit one liter bottles of hot water out to 150 meters.
It has four color palettes to choose from, the most practical for hunting or self defense being the “Target” palette that shows the cool background as shades of grey but anything warm or warm blooded in eye catching bright colors.
Insight On The Operator 640
My only complaint about it was I found the three button controls difficult to use. Perhaps others, and I expect any trumpet player, would have an easier time with it. If your fingers are nimble enough, you can take still photos or video with it too; though your targeting reticle won’t be in them.
Like the M5 carbine, the Armasight Operator 640 is a military grade piece of gear and the technology in it doesn’t come cheap. The MSRP for this level of thermal night vision targeting is close to four grand, though street price looks to be about $3,500.
Like most thermal optics, it is most effective when you can set up the focus for the range you expect to look for your targets beforehand. Trying to adjust on the fly will cost you time you might need for aiming and shooting.
Colt M5 Carbine Price & Final Thoughts
The MSRP for this M5 semi-auto carbine is $1,900 but actual street price looks to be around $1,600. While this is not as high as some high-end brands, it’s obviously more than the mid-level.
There’s probably a “pony premium” built into the M5’s price, but when it comes time to sell your guns, perhaps long after many other AR makers have gone out of business and faded into obscurity, this will still be a Colt and command a premium re-sale price because of it.
Regardless of price, this is a great rifle with significant accuracy enhancing, and perhaps long overdue, improvements. Colt’s M5 may have come late to the party, but I think she showed up in the nicest dress. Check out the Rotten Gun Review on the Colt M5.
Colt M5 Carbine Specifications
- ACTION: semi-auto, gas operated, direct-impingement
- CALIBER: 5.56 x45mm NATO
- CAPACITY: 30 Magpul PMAG supplied
- BARREL: 16.1 inch, 1:7 RH twist, chrome lined, military style profile, A2 flash hider
- RECEIVER: forged aluminum
- HANDGUARD: free-floated, aluminum, M-LOK
- STOCK: Magpul CTR 6 position collapsible stock
- LENGTH: 32-35.5 inches
- WEIGHT: 6.8 pounds empty
- SIGHTS: Troy Industries flip up adjustable front and rear iron sights
- TRIGGER: military single-stage, 5.75 to 6.5 pound pull
- CONTROLS: forward assist and ambidextrous bolt release, magazine release, safety, and charging handle
- FINISH: military specification hardcoat black anodized
- ACCESSORIES: military cleaning kit, Magpul M-LOK caps, 3 sections of M-LOK accessory rail, QD sling swivel and M-LOK swivel socket, shoot-through muzzle cap, military black nylon sling
- MSRP: $1,900
Performance:
Hornady Black 62-Grain FMJ
- Velocity: 2,772
- Best Accuracy: 0.98
Federal American Eagle 50-Grain JHP
- Velocity: 2,967
- Best Accuracy: 1.41
MKE 62-Grain FMJ
- Velocity: 2,969
- Best Accuracy: 1.78
Performance was tested with a series of five-shot groups fired at 100 yards from a bench rest with a Competition Electronics Pro-Chrono Digital Chronograph set 15 feet from the muzzle. Bullet weight is in grains, velocity in feet-per-second and the group size in inches.
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