At SHOT Show 2024 in Las Vegas, MWS-15 modular rifles developed by ZMT (Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów), Polish weapon systems manufacturer, are being released to the public for US and foreign customers. The ZMT MWS-15 are presented in both military and commercial (sport) variants at Booth 41031.
The MWS-15, currently chambered in 5.56×45 NATO and .300 Blackout (and probably other calibers soon) is essentially a scaled-down MWS-25. The designers firstly developed a full-size rifles (as a potential replacement of the Soviet-design SVD sniper rifles in Polish Armed Forces) in both rifle caliber variants and after successful tests ultimately decided to scale it down for intermediate rounds. According to ZMT, 74% of parts are interchangeable between MWS-15 and MWS-25. The other parts are similar in shapes but obviously smaller hence proprietary to assault rifle.
MWS-15 TECH DETAILS
The latest ZMT MWS-15 is a modular select-fire assault rifle or semi-automatic civilian sport rifle with internal design based on the proven ArmaLite AR-18 gas system. MWS-15 is a gas-operated, short-stroke piston driven rifle which utilizes a locked breech with rotating breech block. An interesting and kind of unique feature is a bolt carrier with additional elastic bumpers supporting the standard bumper on the rear of the recoil spring which are reducing the recoil forces – usually, a single bumper is used.
The MWS-15 rifle might be easily converted with simple change of the barrel. Different calibers and lengths are available. The barrels are not quick-detachable and some field stripping is required with just basic tools before changing. This means that the rifle might be configured quickly before the mission, depending on situation or role, etc.
The sport/civilian MWS-15 will have nitrided barrels and military/law enforcement users the chrome-lined barrels will receive chrome-lined barrels.. All barrels come with 4-stage gas regulators with following settings:
- 1 – standard
- 2 – more gas for extreme conditions (dirt, mud, etc.)
- S – for use with suppressors
- 0 – single-shot only
MWS-15 might be supplied with 6.5”, 8”, 10.5”, 11.5”, 14.5”, 16”, 18” and 20” barrels, depending on the customers requirements.
Currently, the 5.56 x 45 NATO and .300 Blackout variants are available and the 7.62 x 39 is in the works, with the UTM sim rounds conversion kit coming soon too. To change the caliber from 5.56 to .300 BLK only the barrel must be changed, the 7.62 x 39 conversion will additionally require change of the bolt. Modular design of the rifle makes it future-proof and other caliber conversions are possible in the future
Military MWS-15 will come with bayonet lug for M16-type bayonets. Its muzzle device is compatible with bullet-trap rifle grenades.
ZMT decided to make the MWS rifles compatible with multiple commercial off-the-shelf parts, such as trigger groups. The MWS-15 may come with Triggertech, JP or any other compatible trigger.
Another common feature of the MWS rifles is the AR-15 parts interchangeability. The end-user may use rifles with following AR parts:
- Pistol grips
- Trigger guards
- Safety switches
- Stocks with buffer tube, castle nut and end-plates
- STANAG magazines
- Springs
- 5/8”-24 (.300 BLK) and ½-28 (.223) muzzle device
Both lower and upper receivers and detachable handguard are 7075-T6 aircraft grade aluminum alloy. The upper receiver features monolithic top Picatinny rail for electrooptics and sights. Two sizes of the uppers are going to be available: short (for use with up to 16″ barrels) and extended (for 18” and 20” barrels). The extended upper receiver will be assembled with a proprietary, longer handguard. Of course, longer barrels will be 100% compatible with short and standard upper receivers but the use of short barrel with extended upper receiver would make warranty void (the gas pressure could damage the parts or even hurt the shooter). With the use of suppressor or gas diffuser, inside the handguard, safe shooting should be possible in such configuration.
Lower receivers of select-fire and semi-automatic versions are slightly different internally to make the illegal conversion to fully-automatic impossible. There will be one more bar inside and the shape of the inside will be altered. Most probably, the bolt carriers will be slightly different too.
Handguards are M-LOK compatible but the ZMT is able to provide other options if required (like quad Picatinny rails or KeyMod). What makes the handguard unique is the skeletonized design with triangle vent holes patterned after the ZMT logo.
All MWS family rifles, including MWS-15, are fully ambidextrous and will be comfortable and easy to use by both left- and right-handed shooters. Magazine release lever, bolt catch lever and safety switches are doubled. The charging lever is essentially on one side of the gun but might be quickly moved to the other (even in field).
The rear part of the receiver is the stock adapter and buffer tube attachment. Due the short-stroke piston and bolt carrier group with recoil spring completely encased inside the receiver, the tube is only used for stock attachment. The stock adapter allows for folding the stock on the right side of the rifle. MWS rifles may fire with stock folded. All AR-style stocks are compatible.
Semi-automatic MWS-15 will be available with different muzzle device and without bayonet lug. Barrels will be compliant with state or country regulations.
MWS-15 DOWNRANGE
Frag Out! Magazine team had a chance to play a bit with the latest MWS-15 rifles. The MWS-15 are a super-nice good-looking guns. They are Cerakote coated and may come in solid FDE, Black or other colors. The designers behind the MWS family did a really great job and guns are looking purely awesome.
MWS looks and feels really solid. All the parts are perfectly matched. No loose parts, no wobbling. The only thing which can be slightly loose is the AR stock but this is a usual thing.
The ZMT MWS-15 ergonomics are very similar to AR-15 style rifles. They are almost fully ambidextrous out of the box (except for a charging handle, but you can move it wherever you want) with doubled switches. IMHO, the one thing that I could change is the right-side bolt release lever which must be pressed down in a similar manner as the magazine release button located just below it. In high-stress situations this might be an issue.
Safety switch layout is the very same as in the AR and comes with 90 deg switches. If you will take a closer look onto the lower receiver you will see that SAFE, FIRE and AUTO markings are indicating ranges where the switch can operate. This tiny detail may matter for those who prefer 45 deg or 60 deg switches instead of standard ones.
The location of the non-reciprocating charging handle will be convenient for most of the shooters. EOTECH HWS will not collide during charging. The grips of the handle (or scales) might be customized – one of available folds toward the front of the rifle and sits flat when not used.
During shooting, both rapid shots (civilian) or fully automatic fire (military), MWS-15 rifles are very stable. They run “very flat” and have little recoil or muzzle rise and are easy to hold on target. Handling is very intuitive, and a shooter familiar with M16/AR15 will not have the slightest problem switching to the MWS-15, and the only thing that will require a short training is getting used to the full ambidextrous design of switches.
MWS-15 rifles are accurate due to the use of quality barrels. Monolithic top rail allows attachment of any scope or sight, including thermal or night vision clip-ons.
Thanks to its modularity, the shooter can easily configure MWS-15 to own needs and preferences, choosing the length of the barrel, handguard, the caliber, trigger group, stock, muzzle device or even the shape of charging handle.
Just remember, that MWS-15 is based on piston-driven AR-18 so it is not a lightweight AR-15, but it is still pretty well balanced and it is not “heavy on barrel”
Shut up and take my money?
ZMT MWS-15 rifles are designed according to the modern standards and solidly built.
Use of a short-stroke gas system ensures their proper functioning in extreme weather conditions and it should be remembered that the maintenance and cleaning of piston-driven guns much simpler than the DI ones.
We are unsure when the ZMT is going to release MWS-15 for sale and what will be the price tag on it, but debut at SHOT Show 2024 makes us think that it is going to happen soon.
Good luck MWS!
