KE Arms has continued to bring new products online since I built my first KE Arms Rifle using their components.  I built this rifle after SMM3G 2015 with the intent to use it at the Ironman 3 Gun Match.

Lower Receiver: KE-15 Billet
Trigger: KE Arms TiN DMR
Selector: KE Arms Ambi
Grip: XTECH
Buttstock: Mission First Tactical
Sling Attachment: QD Socket and Loops on stock, QD Socket and hook attachments on receiver end plate

Upper Receiver: KE Arms
Bolt Carrier Group: Young Manufacturing SLC
Barrel: 16″ Daniel Defense Mid-Length 5.56mm NATO 1:7 Twist with KE Arms low profile gas block
Handguard: KE Arms 15″ Delta-S Keymod with SHTF+ Wrap
Charging Handle: KE Arms Charging Handle
Muzzle Brake: One Source Tactical Kompressor
Sights: Magpul MBUS Pro, Vortex 1-6x Razor HD Gen 2 JM

Preparation

To get ready for Ironman 2015 and make sure my rifle was adequately broken in, I used it at a few local matches first:

I then used it at the Suarez International Ultimate Combat Rifle Camp.  Before this class I just relubed the rifle.  I relubed it before the start of training each day.  The last day of class I gave the bolt a quick wipe down and relubed it.  1200 rounds fired during the class with zero malfunctions.

Ironman

Before Ironman, I did detail clean the rifle and relube it.  At Ironman I only experienced one malfunction when shooting sideways through a port after doing a reload with retention; I think I simply didn’t seat the magazine all the way during the reload.  Simply racking the action fixed the problem.

The use of the low mass carrier has been particularly interesting to me.  I have heard that they can make AR15s less reliable.  I have not yet experienced any limitations with reliability attributable to the low mass carrier.  In fact in the first 3,000 rounds fired through this rifle, the only malfunction I experienced was the one in the middle of the stage at Ironman that I mentioned above.  I have noticed that sight picture was disturbed significantly less under recoil than with a standard mass carrier.

The KE-15 Trooper is a good do everything configuration for competition or tactical classes.  It continues to serve me well in either role.