Mk12 Mod 1 Clone Correct Rifle

Charlie's Offering - Clone Correct

Charlie's Custom Clones is proud to offer our version of the Mk12 Mod 1 in our Clone Correct grade.  This is our top of the line clone for the Mod 1 rifle.  The truth is that so many components are so limited that producing a Mod 1 rifle is hard, and we will soon be out of key parts, or will have to spend 2x of 3x for certain components from other dealers and speculators who find obsolete parts.

We use the term Clone Correct at Charlie's to reflect a rifle or upper receiver group that is as exact as we can get in the civilian world, and still make the product available in small numbers that is commercially viable.  That is the key term.  There might be some very small difference between the same part used in 2004 and what we use today, 20 years later, but we might not be able to find buy two or three, or the price is 4x or 5x the price, and makes the difference between a product that is 100% correct and one that is 98.5% or 99% clone correct.

Features

• Mk12 Mod 1 Clone Correct
• Many limited edition components
• Colt upper and lower receivers
• Knights Armament Mk12 correct Quad "RAS" Rail with rail covers
• Douglas match grade Navy Gray SS barrel with 1:7 twist and SPR profiled and chambered by Compass Lake
• Allen Engineering brake and collar for Mod 1 - as issued
• Knights Armament front and rear back-up iron sights, as issued on Mod 1
• KAC Picatinny Harris Bipod Mount
• Harris BPMS 6-9 inch bipod
• PRI M84 Gas Buster charging handle
• Knights Armament rail mounted sling adapter
  NSWC Crane Mk12 gas block
• Geissele 2-stage trigger
• Colt 20-round vintage magazine
• USN or USMC instruction book and firing log book
• Sling and A2 sling adapter
• Option to add Ron Allen Ops Inc AEM5 suppressor
• Option to add a Leupold TS30 clone correct scope with ARMS #22 rings and tactical rail cap

Subject Matter Expert Christopher Bartocci with Small Arms Solutions discusses the history of the Mk12 Mod 1.

The Rifle 

We start with a Colt M4A1 marked lower. Keeping with tradition, we then equip it with a fixed A2 stock and pistol grip.  Many operators received the M16A1 lower, but some did use the A2 lower, and for comfort’s sake, we preferred the A2 buttstock.  A Geissele SSA-E gives the shooter a high quality trigger and substitutes for the fully automatic Geissele SSF fire control group that would have been purchased by SOCOM. 

A Colt C marked upper houses the heart of any Mk12 Mod 1 rifle, the barrel. An 18" stainless steel Douglas SPR contour barrel is used featuring a 1:7 twist capable of stabilizing heavy bullets such as the Mk262 Mod 1 77 grain open tip match. The barrel is coated in gray Gunkote, as was the way in the day, and the correct hardware is mounted allowing use of the appropriate Ops Inc/Allen Engineering pattern suppressor. For those shooting unsuppressed, the included muzzle brake will help with the muzzle controlled for better follow-up shots.

The M84 Gasbuster charging handle is also found on our builds, offering the same advantages as it gave to military shooters. A rare Knights Armament vintage rail with RAS slide-on plates are help to elevate this rifle to a new level of authenticity, while the period correct KAC back up sights finishes the package.  

Our Mk12 Mod 1 rifles include a Harris bipod on a Knights mount and one 20-Round well-worn magazine.  Our ARMS hardware features exclusive run of NLS rings as well as bipod mount.

Make your rifle complete by adding the correct scope and/or suppressor.

The Optic 

While several optics were issued during the Mk12 program, the Leupold Mark 4 series was one of the most ubiquitous. Should you choose to purchase an optic for your rifle, we can make it a package with the Mark 4 MR/T 2.5-8x36mm M2 TS30-A2 in ARMS #22 rings. This medium powered optic features a 30mm tube, illuminated TMR reticle, and an externally adjustable ballistic turret marked for Mk262 Mod 1. We also will include a top Picatinny rail mount for a secondary red dot optic.  The scope is no longer made, but Leupold made this batch just for us to offer you this rifle.  The ARMS rings and the top rail are incredibly hard to find, but we had ARMS send them to us for this rifle.

The Suppressor

The original silencers for the Mk12 program were the Ops Inc. 12th Model suppressor. Most of these were actually manufactured by Ron Allen of Allen Engineering. While Ops Inc. products have not been available for many years, the silencer lives on as the Allen Engineering AEM5. This is the option we offer up today for the clone connoisseur. It is the current generation of this venerable suppressor and is cosmetically identical to the original issue models. Knurling is present to make attaching and removing easier. As an extra bonus, the AEM5 can also be used on other popular clone rifles such as the NSW RECCE Rifle or legendary Gordon Carbine.

History of the Mk12 Program

Starting in 1968 during the Vietnam War, US Army snipers began fielding what was known at the time as the XM21 in 7.62 NATO. 1975 saw this marksman variant of the M14 officially type classified as the M21. In 1988, these rifles were being pulled from service (though many would be brought out for later issue in Iraq and Afghanistan) and were replaced by the Remington M24 Sniper Weapon System also in 7.62 NATO. During this period, there was a rise in the use of shorter barreled carbines such as the new M4 instead of the legacy M16 series. By the late 1990s, the special forces community within SOCOM saw the need for a weapon to bridge the gap between the 14.5" M4 series, which performed very well at short to intermediate ranges, and the longer 24" barreled M24 bolt action sniper rifle. This need was confirmed as the Global War on Terror began after the September 11th, 2001 Terrorist Attacks.

Members of the 5th Special Forces group worked with the US Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Crane, Indiana, to develop what started as the Special Purpose Receiver concept, originally intended as a replacement upper receiver group that could be utilized in the SOPMOD program. The SPR was to be a 5.56 NATO heavy barreled precision unit that would be capable of 700 meters, fire heavier match grade ammunition, and be pressed into emergency use as a light support weapon should the need arise. This development continued and morphed into a stand-alone weapon system named the Mk12 Special Purpose Rifle. Among the attractive qualities of the system was the ability to share common ammunition, magazines, and accessories with standard inventory M16s and M4s. The Mk12 would go through several variations and see a fair amount of customization at the unit and operator level. All versions combined would serve from 2002 to 2017 when the final units would be withdrawn from service.

Though the variants all had differences, the common thread was the use of stainless match grade barrels, high-quality free floating handguards, magnified optics, and Ops Inc. 12th Model suppressors on their unique collar and brake mount system. Over the course of the program, numerous Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) components would be combined with existing stocks of new and old weapons, making cloning one of these rifles a challenge. The Mk12 series of rifles were select fire and had two-stage target style triggers (KAC and Geissele were used at various times) which also retained the full automatic position. The burst mechanism was not chosen due to its negative effect on trigger pull consistency. To handle the increased gas blowback from the silencer, Mk12s were issued with PRI M84 Gasbuster charging handles. While these fulfilled their goal of helping divert combustion gasses away from the shooter, they had the added value of being easier to manipulate with their oversized latches.

The Mod 1

The first revision was named the Mk12 Mod 1 and was built by NSWC Crane on either lowers from current M4A1s or from vintage M16A1s that were saved from destruction. It is documented to see Naval Surface Warfare units and even a fair mount of Marines with the Mod 1 variant. The Mod 1 is distinguishable from the Mod 0 by the Knights Armament free floating RAS quad rail where the latter used a round Precision Reflex (PRI) handguard. The upper that served as the system's optics mount, usually using ARMS #22 high quick release rings. The weapon was also fitted with folding back up sights and a bipod. Coated 18" stainless steel Douglas barrels were used with a 1:7 twist to stabilize the 77 grain Mk262 Mod 1 open tip match round. While seen with several stock variants, the fixed A1 and A2 stocks are among the most common for the Mod 1 and could be found with or without trapdoor storage. Mod 1s can be found with A1, A2, or ERGO grips.

Specifications

How we rate our military clone rifles and upper receivers

Clone Correct:  This is the top of line of what is commercially available for any given rifle.  It is meant to be as close as close can get and make the product commercial repeatable.  What that means is you might be able to get one or two small parts 1% closer to the actual rifle used by the US military, but the price would be insurmountable, and/or we might be able only do a handful.  If your budget and your expectations exceed what we label clone correct, contact us and we can talk, but availability and price are both going to be a shock.  Thus, our clone correct grade is what we might call a 99% clone, or maybe 98.5%.  For the very top end, we will call it a Limited Edition, as we will only have the availability of parts to do a few dozen.

Military Correct:  This rating is pretty darn close to clone correct, but there might be one or two parts that can be improved, but the cost factor or availability is still a wide divide.  For example, for this rifle, it would be the M16A1 lower receiver.  Our commercial access is very limited, and the price very high.  We think of Military correct as 95% to 98% clone correct, depending upon rifle.

Military Special:  This becomes a little subjective, but probably there is one more part that is a substitute, and we seldom use this grade that makes it not quite up to 95% clone correct.  We might be in that 90% to 95% range.

Near Clone Premium:  This rating is where we have made some significant change in a part, due to availability and cost, but perhaps from a distance, the rifle will look clone correct.  We did this with the Mk12 Mod1 and added a LaRue quad rail, which looks very much like the Knights Armament.  It is something that is also commercially availalbe, so the cost is considerably lower.  But, we still might be using Colt receivers and Douglas barrels, etc.  This is proably a 90% clone correct grade, but the price has fallen significantly, as is the availability and the commercial repeatability.  In this grade, we normally can produce 100s, but not 1,000s of the same item, as an example.

Near Clone Standard:  Honestly, this is where 2/3's of our customers land.  You want a clone rifle, but you are willing to not have everything correct.  The PRI Mk12 Mod 0 is a great example, as it is in the clone realm, but it is commercially lableled with PRI's logo.  With the right rattle can work, and from a distance, it looks like a clone correct, and it probably shoots just like a clone correct rifle.  This is probably true of a Type A rifle Mk12 as well.  Very much like a Mk12, but with Type A receivers and not Colt.  We call this the 85% standard. 

Military Commercial: A lesser standard might be want some call a "clone inspired" rifle.  We really do not like that term.  But, a Mk18 or a Mk12 from Daniel Defense will be in the catagory below 85% clone correct.  So will a Centurion.  These rifles will not fit the OPS Inc style suppressor, without some modification of the barrel, or a special made for the rifle collar.  Many people will be very happy with a Daniel Defense rifle, for example, and well they should.  It is a fine rifle.  It is just not a true clone.  Same with a Colt Carbine 6920.  It is not the same as an M4 rifle.  But, it is a military inspired commercial rifle.

Buying and shipping through Charlie’s is easy, but there is some information you need to know. This item must ship to FFL holder. No civilian exceptions.

       1)  Check your state laws to make sure the federally regulated item you want to purchase is legal in your state.

       2)  Find your FFL… Have your dealer send us a copy of their FFL and SOT info to Charlie’s (Make them earn their fee!!!)

       3)  Be patient! You should hear from our compliance department within 3-4 business days. If not, feel free to reach out for a status update.

That’s it! We try to make this process as simple as possible for our customers. Please click the “Buying a Firearm” tab at the top of this page for more information.

This firearm cannot ship to California, unless to a qualified law enforcement agency or individual officer.

NOTE: The free shipping option does not apply to full AR pistols, rifles, or ammunition