Remington R-25 .308 Win. Rifle
The visibility of the AR-15 platform received a big boost when Remington entered the market with its R-15 rifle (April 2008, p. 62). Although available only in camouflage, it’s still a black rifle at heart. Remington focused on the R-15’s potential as a hunting rifle, but its receiver size limits cartridge options. So it came as little surprise when Remington announced the R-25, which is based on the larger AR-10 platform. This gun is initially offered in .243 Win., 7 mm-08 Rem. and .308 Win. All are fine cartridges for hunting deer-size game, but a hunter’s options are wide open, as this rifle can handle most short-action cartridges.
The R-25 is a result of Cerberus Capital Management’s acquisition of Remington in 2007. Cerberus had previously purchased Bushmaster (maker of the R-15) in 2006 and DPMS, where the R-25s are made, later in 2007.
The R-25 is a direct gas-impingement-operated semi-automatic rifle that feeds from a detachable magazine. One of the biggest problems in the past with AR-10-type rifles for hunting has been the weight. But, the R-25’s has been reduced, in part, by using a relatively light, 20”- fluted barrel. Its diameter is 0.680” at the muzzle. Combined with the aluminum receiver and nylon stock, the weight is reduced to 8¾ lbs.
The carbon steel, button-rifled barrel is free-floated and has a recessed crown. The twist rate for all three chamberings is 1:10”. The Koelbl single-rail gas block mounted on the barrel has a short Picatinny rail on top to allow mounting a front sight if iron sights are to be used. With the front rail on the gas block and a full-length Picatinny rail on the upper receiver, it’s easy to mount iron sights. However, most hunters will mount a scope or other optical sight on the receiver rail. The R-25 uses a round, freefloating aluminum handguard with a single front swivel stud. This tube is slotted to aid in barrel cooling.
The lower receiver is milled from a block of 6061 T6 aluminum. The R-25 is shipped with a four-round-capacity magazine, but most AR-10 magazines will fit. The safety is a two-position unit with the lever moved back for safety and pushed forward to fire. The bolt release is on the receiver’s left side. The single-stage trigger pull measured 5 lbs, 5 ozs. with a lot of creep.