Mr. Rawles-
I continue to enjoy your blog. I read with interest Pat Cascio’s review of the MGI Hydra rifle.
I can think of a one very good scenario where such a system is very valuable: In a political environment where licensing restricts the number of guns that one can own. The Witness brand semi-auto handguns are popular in Europe for this very reason. One receiver can support several different caliber conversions. Unfortunately, those same places usually take a dim view of private ownership of AR-15 style weapons platforms, so other restrictions may prevent ownership in any case.
For most people, the Hydra is a solution in search of a problem. The caliber conversion costs as much or more as entire, good quality firearms. Certainly as much as complete uppers in various calibers for the AR-15 platform. For the cost of a Hydra rifle and a single caliber conversion, one could purchase two good quality AR-15s in different calibers. Or an AR-15 and a very high quality bolt action rifle with good optics. Or a rifle and two good pistols. And so on. The parts swap process, although described as reasonably quick, is not conducive to portability or longevity. Loose parts get lost in the field. In SHTF times, servicing the Hydra platform to replace a broken part could prove very difficult or impossible. I appreciate Pat’s reviews, but this one seems like a product that preparedness-minded folks should avoid, unless they have a lot of spare money that doesn’t need to be going to other, more appropriate preparations. Thanks, – Rich S.
JWR Replies: One other legal circumstance would also make the MGI Hydra a good choice: Locales where particular cartridge chamberings are restricted. In Mexico and France, for example, there are restrictions on having firearms chambered in currently-issued military calibers. This explains why both AR-15s and Mini-14s have been chambered in .222 Remington. It also explains the popularity of Colt M1911 pistols chambered in .38 Super. (Both 9mm Parabellum and .45 ACP are restricted in Mexico.) A rifle with quick-change barrels would be a real advantage, especially if laws were to change rapidly. Your rifle could easily be adapted quite rapidly.