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

2026 New Suppressor Guide
2026 New Suppressor Guide

New Suppressors for 2026: A Full Guide

With the removal of the $200 NFA tax stamp on suppressors, the only sound reverberating across the firearms landscape is “cha-ching.”

MDT Now Offering Lone Peak Arms Rifle Actions

Earlier in 2026, MDT announced that it had acquired Lone Peak Arms, and now, the company's rifle actions are available to consumers.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 31, 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.

NRA-ILA Launches First-Ever National “Gun Bus Battleground Tour” to Mobilize Gun Owners for 2026 Midterms

The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) today launched its first-ever national bus tour, the 2026 NRA’s Gun Bus Battleground Tour, a more than two-month, 13-state campaign to energize and turn out gun owners in key battleground states ahead of the November midterm elections.

Review: TriStar KR.22

Manufactured by Kral Arms in Turkey, the TriStar Arms KR.22 is a lightweight semi-automatic that offers everything you need to get started or to perfect what you’ve learned over the years.

Safe Space: 5 Must-Have Accessories to Organize Your Gun Safe

It's a perennial problem for gun owners: not enough safe space. Here are five organizing products that will help you squeeze a bit more in your existing gun safe before you have to run out and buy another.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.