We’ve covered a few large-frame Primary Weapons Systems offerings of late; PWS recently gave its marquee ALPHA lineup a boost with the new MK110 ALPHA Limited Edition, a compact 5.56 NATO long-stroke piston rifle that pairs the company’s familiar operating system with a decidedly less familiar green anodized finish.
And PWS didn’t stop at changing the color. The MK110 gets a collection of upgraded components that distinguish the Limited Edition from the rest of the ALPHA family, including controls from Radian, a Geissele trigger, and PWS’s A5 buffer system.
At the heart of the rifle is a 10.5-inch 416 stainless-steel barrel with a nitride finish, 1:7 twist and 1/2-28 muzzle threads. As you’d expect, it’s built around the company’s long-stroke piston system rather than a more pedestrian direct-impingement setup.
A three-position gas system allows the rifle to be tuned for different configurations, including suppressed use. The design is engineered to vent excess gas forward, which helps keep heat and fouling out of the action.
One of the more interesting details is how PWS handles that gas adjustment. The ALPHA’s steel-reinforced M-LOK handguard leaves the gas adjustment knob exposed at the front, so there’s no need to reach underneath the handguard or remove accessories to get at it. That also means a laser or other device mounted along the top rail won’t block access.
The Limited Edition treatment becomes more apparent once you get to the controls. PWS equips the MK110 with a Radian Raptor charging handle and ambidextrous Radian Talon safety, while a Geissele Super Dynamic Enhanced (SD-E) handles trigger duties.
Up front is PWS’s FRC 2 Port compensator, which is compatible with the company’s PUB suppressor mounts as well as common HUB taper adapters.
Of course, the feature that’s going to get the MK110 noticed before any of those components is its appearance. The receivers and handguard wear a green anodized finish, complemented by ODG furniture from Magpul in the form of an MOE SL-S stock and K2 grip. The result is an ALPHA rifle that should be pretty difficult to mistake for anything else in the PWS catalog.
Primary Weapons Systems
MK110 ALPHA Limited Edition
MSRP: $2,800
URL: primaryweapons.com