Colt has recently announced the delivery of a new line of AR-15’s in the LE6920 series. The original LE6920 series has been significantly successful in law enforcement for the reliability and quality of Colt AR-15’s, and the fact that Colt priced their basic LE AR-15 under $1000. Though basic, the LE6920 came ready for use with a Magpul rear back-up sight (BUIS) and one Magpul P-mag.
The new line of LE6920 rifles come pre-packaged with very popular Magpul slim furniture; including, the SL hand guard, MOE SL carbine stock, MOE pistol grip, and MOE (MVG) vertical grip, and rear (BUIS). This is definitely not the first AR-15 to have Magpul furniture, and nothing is truly revolutionary about this new series, but the new LE6920MPS (Magpul Slim) only costs $50 more than the standard LE6920 with a lot more options for the end-user.
Colt LE6920MPS Specifications
- Caliber – 5.56 x 45mm NATO
- Material – Machined aluminum
- Finish – Matte black
- Options – Black, Flat Dark Earth (FDE)
- Operating System – Direct gas system (impingement) with locking bolt
- Overall Length – 35.5 inches
- Collapsed Length – 32.0 inches
- Barrel Length – 16.1 inches, chrome lined
- Twist Rate – 1:7 RH twist (6 grooves)
- Weight – 6.9 pounds (empty, without magazine)
- Front Sight – Adjustable post for elevation (A2 style)
- Rear Sight – Magpul BUIS, flip-up, adjustable for windage
- MSRP – $1049.00.
The Colt LE6920MPS currently is offered in two color options – black, and FDE. The FDE version is identical to the black version other than the color of the Magpul furniture.
The Colt Option
The LE6920 AR-15 series was a needed addition to what many considered over-priced, basic AR-15 options from Colt. A company can produce a quality and accurate rifle, and still market themselves into obscurity. The LE6920 was late to the rush of new, modular, and innovative AR-15 designs to flood the market. The LE6920MPS is a move in the right direction, and the price is definitely attractive. The big question is if Colt is moving fast enough to keep up.
Colt is no stranger to attacks and trouble. Having the industry leading name in AR-15’s for many years, these types of troubles have to be expected. However, it seems those troubles are starting to hit home. Recently Colt has announced another bankruptcy reorganization. Though never a process a company wants to endure, this action is most likely due to the reduction of forces in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and an overall reduction in armed forces in the United States. Colt has always been heavily weighted to big government contracts, to what many consider an after thought to the incredibly fast growing civilian market.
Many have claimed that Colt has become fat off the government for so long that they have forgotten how to compete in a rapidly changing and highly competitive market. In deed, today’s AR-15 market is flush with options from easily two dozen quality manufacturers, and dozens of smaller companies that have yet to achieve the tried and tested designation of a quality manufacturer.
The offerings from Colt have been, well, stale lately. Thinking to ride the wave of dominance and popularity for too long is a recipe for disaster. Time will tell if Colt can recover from this bankruptcy and regain a position of influence in the market.
Final Thoughts
I had a Colt AR-15 assigned to me as a patrol rifle, and used another Colt AR-15 on the SWAT team for about a year. Both rifles were acceptably accurate and I can’t remember a mechanical problem with either rifle. However, when it came time to upgrade and purchase new rifles, we found that we could get a much better price from another manufacturer. By the end of this year my department will have replaced all the older Colt AR-15’s with new rifles from the other manufacturer.
The addition of Magpul furniture to the LE6920MPS is a great move by Colt. Magpul is one of the most popular AR-15 accessory companies, and the new Slim line adds to the highly popular standard MOE products. I like that the SL hand guard now bridges the gap between the upper receiver and the retention ring. The MOE SL Carbine stock is another great addition, with a smaller profile than the standard MOE stock, but still offering a good cheek weld and ease of adjustment from a protected lever.
Honestly I had not considered the standard LE6920 as an option, finding that I could buy other rifles and outfit them the way I wanted for less money. The new Colt LE6920MPS is not “revolutionary” as some in Colt would like to portray, but it is a definite move in the right direction. Offering the rifle for only $1049 makes this Colt rifle a serious contender for any department or individual purchase. Now, whether this becomes reality is a whole other question.