I’ll cut to the chase. From a user POV, this is the perfect 416. Having handled GBB conversions and the other two PTW-specific 416 kits on the market (briefly owning one of them) I can confirm that SGT’s gen 2 offer lives up to expectations.
I received my built SGT 416 from Tackleberry today (thanks Tac). First impressions were overwhelmingly positive. This is a solid, robust, substantial piece of hardware. Looking and feeling great is one thing, but the gun has to feed perfectly and sound right. And, of course, it does. It wouldn’t have left Tac’s bench if that wasn’t a given. Is it the harmonics of the receiver kit? Is it the superior motor angle? Is it the motor service? Is it the Level I gearbox Super Tuning which Tac implemented in this build? I don’t know, but the gun is snappy and smooth.
As soon as I connected the two, I could tell the upper to lower fit was exact. There is absolutely no wobble between upper and lower; not even a degree of flex. It’s not like the pivot and takedown pins are tough, either. They slide in easily, as they should. The rigidity is down to the preciseness of the upper and lower.
Something else which really impresses me is the mag seating. Perhaps my only disappointment with the Prime lowers I’ve owned, is the mag seating. If you own a Prime lower and don’t know what I’m talking about, chances are you won’t see the benefits in SGT’s lower. But I do. And I’m relieved. I’m not talking here about the 416’s superior mag well length and funnelled shape, compared to the M4. I’m talking about the way the mag locks into the mag well firmly and positively. A lot like that of an OEM receiver, in fact. That’s something I’ve missed since switching to Prime and I’m glad SGT has acknowledged the requirement for excellent mag seating and designed that area accordingly.
I’ve written a lot about SGT and about their 416. Today’s blog is more about tying everything together. The next step is to use the SGT 416 in a game and feed back.
For clarity, I’ve linked my various SGT 416 blogs below. I’ve also provided what I think are the Pros and Cons of the kit, a little lower down. I hope this lot helps potential buyers, or anyone interested in quality.
The 416: Suzutomo’d – my initial blog on the subject, which sets out the context of SGT’s entrance into the 416 market and highlights some of the upper’s unique selling points.
The SGT Experience – my upper pre-order experience, including a list of options offered by SGT.
The Best 416 Upper: Part 1 – my initial review of the SGT 416 upper, including hi-rez pics.
The Best 416 Upper: Part 2 – a review of my SGT 416 upper, after it had been built by Tackleberry.
The Best 416 Upper: Post Script – some notes about the SGT 416’s post-07 slim profile outer barrel and polymer dust cover.
The Black Hole – about the hole in the 416 at the aft of the lower receiver, which houses a pin for the buffer retainer in the RS and a dummy pin in SGT’s version.
Gundrilling: OCD Satisfied – about SGT’s awesome 416 outer barrel and the rather expensive manufacturing process required to make it.
Well, Well, Well… – about the SGT 416’s lower receiver mag well.
The Best 416 Lower? – first impressions of the SGT 416 lower.
***Pros and Cons of the SGT 416***
Pros
1. Obsessively detailed 1:1 416 replica
This could be a magnum opus in its own right. It’s worth looking at the previous links to learn how OCD SGT has been about providing a perfect simulacrum.
2. Made of 7075T6 aluminium
To the best of my knowledge, SGT Gen 2 items are the only production receiver sets on the market which utilise the very same material as RS receivers.
3. Hard anodized, then Cerakoted the colour of your choice
Hard anodizing provides the perfect platform for Cerakoting. The tougher the substrate, the better the Cerakote fairs against scratches. It’s also great to be able to pick the colour of your choice.
4. Authentic markings, which are customisable
Read more about customising options here.
5. Optional UID markings
This is the only 416 PTW kit which features UID markings on upper and lower.
6. Mag seating is perfect
As mentioned earlier, this is a massive one for me and cannot be understated.
7. Gun drilled outer barrel
Again, this is a massive plus for me. You can read more, here.
8. Steel barrel nut
Like the RS and unlike most replicas, the barrel nut is perfectly proportioned and made of steel. Fitment of the Geissele HK SMR is perfect.
9. Flash hider sleeve can be selected to suit flash hider thread
Clockwise, anticlockwise; RS, airsoft. You choose.
10. Perfect cylinder and inner barrel/hop assembly fit
One of the most important item in this list and not a given with aftermarket receiver sets.
11. Perfect upper to lower fit, with no wobble between receivers
Feels quality and implies precision. Also great for those of an OCD persuasion.
12. Perfect motor angle and fit
Don’t be fooled. This does not come as standard with all aftermarket receivers.
Cons
1. Cost. It’s not cheap
The question is, how serious is the individual about owning the best 416 PTW kit on the market?
2. Lower requires pro-fitting
The Achilles heel of the kit. Read Tackleberry’s article below to learn more.
3. VFC parts, including RIS, aren’t of the same quality as the receiver set itself
In fairness, anyone serious about owning the best 416 on the market will replace most of these parts with RS (I did). The RIS itself is actually OK.
4. RIS retaining bolt is a hex head, which is not accurate when compared to In The Wild pics
Presumably also a VFC item. It would have been nice if SGT replaced this. It’s an odd detail for the company to ignore.
Aside from the cost of the kit, the cons should actually be negligible to most readers; providing they invest in a pro fit out. And who wouldn’t? For a kit of this quality it would be short sighted not to invest in the professional services required to get the best out of it.
To give readers a taste of what I’m referring to here, I’ve linked a recent tech article by Tackleberry.
Tackleberry is SGT’s official partner in Europe; yet his analysis of the SGT 416 kit pulls no punches from a gunsmithing perspective.
Tackleberry’s analysis of the SGT 416 kit.
Appendix
A couple of related blogs, which may be of interest:
Suzutomo Gun Tailoring – about SGT.
Four Hundred & Sixteen – my views about the 416 in general.
Follow the blog on Facebook:
The Reptile House 