It was at the 2019 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits that LWRCI, manufacturer of high-performance rifle systems, unveiled its very own semi-automatic pistol. After years in the making and a soft launch of its select-fire cousin at SHOT Show 2015, the SMG 45 came to the commercial market as a hybrid design, blending attributes of the AR-15 with LWRCI’s own engineering principles.
Built on a hard-coat anodized lower receiver, LWRCI’s SMG 45 provides its Monoforged, detachable upper receiver with an action type operating within via a form of delayed-blowback that utilizes the bolt’s short-recoil delay system that adjusts the timing of the bolt’s reciprocation.
As such, folks wishing to suppress the 26”-long pistol will require a booster/Neilson device attached to the 8.5” cold-hammer-forged chrome-moly steel barrel. The unit does come threaded .578"x28 TPI.
An SB Tactical skeletonized brace is included and attached to an LWRCI adapter that allows the unit to fold and provides for a compact overall length of only 15.3”. With the brace in its ready position, the total length comes to 26” and the pistol tips the scales at just under 6 lbs.
LWRCI includes its user-configurable rail system that extends the full length of the pistol’s upper receiver providing the end user with options to accessorize, whether Picatinny rail, sling adapters, polymer rail covers, or additional sights are needed.
A non-reciprocating charging handle is included with the SMG 45 that also folds tight to the gun and is reversible for left- or right-hand operation. The gun’s safety, bolt release and magazine release actuators are provided in a bilateral configuration and the former two are carried over from the companies M6 AR-15-style rifles.
Feeding the pistol is completed via polymer UMP-style magazines designed by Heckler & Koch and made in the U.S. Capacity is for 25 rounds and LWRCI ships two its with SMG 45. Magpul MBUS Pro adjustable flip-up style sights come standard, as well LWRCI furnishes its Ultra Combat Grip.
To learn more about the LWRCI SMG 45 pistol, watch our NRA Gun of the Week video above.
LWRCI SMG 45 Specifications
Make: LWRC International
Model: SMG 45
Action Type: short-recoil-delayed, blowback-operated, semi-automatic, center-fire pistol
Chambering: .45 ACP
Receivers: aluminum
Barrel: 8.5” cold-hammer-forged, chrome-moly steel
Magazine: 25-round polymer
Sights: Magpul MBUS Pro adjustable
Brace: SB Tactical, folding
MSRP: $2,995
www.lwrci.com
Further Reading:
SHOT Show 2020: LWRCI SMG 45
LWRCI: Building a Better Carbine
Building an Exotic Compact 9 mm AR-15 Pistol
LWRCI R.E.P.R. MKII Rifle Review
Extras:
ARTV: LWRCI IC-Di Review
LWRCI IC-PDW
NRA Gun of the Week: LWRCI SIX8 Razorback Rifle
150 Years of Winchester, Part 1
NRA Gun of the Week: U.S. Springfield Armory M1 Garand Rifle
