NRA Gun of the Week: ARES Defense SCR Rifle

by
posted on December 12, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
The ARES Defense Sport Configurable Rifle (SCR) is a semi-automatic rifle that employs many of the virtues of the AR-15 platform and takes AR-pattern magazines, but does not have any of the "features" that are frequently singled out by anti-gunners. That means the SCR is legal in all 50 states.

In essence, ARES took the front half of the AR bolt and mated it with a tail, as is commonly used in self-loading shotgun designs. Instead of an AR buffer tube, the tail on the back of the firing pin matches up with a recoil-spring and cup assembly that would be familiar to any semi-auto shotgun owner. Also, the lower receiver has been reconfigured to match up with the standard rifle stock. The fore-end is a slim and svelte Magpul, available for both carbine and rifle lengths. The upper reciever has a standard Picatinny rail. The SCR ships with a 5-round magazine, but higher capacity aftermarket magazines are available.

For more information on ARES Defense and the SCR, visit aresdefense.com.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: ARES Defense
Model: SCR
Action: gas-operated, semi-automatic, center-fire rifle
Caliber: .223 Rem./5.56 mm
Upper Receiver: flat-top, aluminum
Lower Receiver: aluminum
Barrel:18”
Handguard: Magpul MOE
Stock: synthetic, sporter-contour
Trigger: 6-lbs., 2-ozs.
Sights: none
Overall Length: 39”
Weight: 5.7 lbs.
Twist: 1:9” RH
Accessories: owner’s manual, 5-round detachable magazine
MSRP: $989

To learn more about the SCR, please enjoy the following:
ARES Defense SCR: Legal in All 50 States 
ARES Defense Mission Configurable Rifle

Latest

I Carry Springfield SA35 Galco 1
I Carry Springfield SA35 Galco 1

I Carry: Springfield Armory SA-35 in a Galco Combat Master Holster

See the Springfield Armory SA-35 4" High Power pistol paired with a classically styled Galco leather OWB holster and a Buck 110 Auto knife our latest "I Carry" EDC kit.

How the Mainstream Media Turned Against Armed Citizens

Why is so much of the mainstream, legacy or corporate media opposed to our right to keep and bear arms? There are real answers to this question.

The Armed Citizen® April 10, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: Steyr Scout Mk II

Steyr Arms updated its Scout rifle design with a Mk II version several years back. Faced with heavy competition, is it still the benchmark for the "general-purpose rifle?"

Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies Disregard “Buyback"

The National Post, a Canadian news source, reports that “the majority” of law-enforcement agencies across Canada are disregarding their federal government’s mandated Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP).

Safariland Parent Company Announces Acquisition of Alien Gear Holsters

Following a court-supervised bankruptcy auction, Safariland's parent company, Cadre Holdings, announced it would acquire Alien Gear Holsters and other assets from Tedder Industries in a $10.3 million deal.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.