Black Creek Lab SRV2 Siberian: An Answer To Canada’s AR15 Ban

In Canada, the Liberal government has cracked down hard on law-abiding gun owners. No longer can you shoot with your precious semi-automatic rifle firing .223 ammunition with a magazine capacity of 5 rounds. Now you’ll only be able to shoot .223 ammunition with a 5 round magazine capacity in your.. other.. similar looking, similar functioning semi-automatic rifle. Wait, what?

Available to Canadian citizens who are able to possess a Non-Restricted firearm is the Black Creek Lab SRV2 Siberian rifle. Currently, there have been gun manufacturers in Canada and the United States who have been trying their best to come up with an AR-like platform that could satisfy the many law-abiding gun owners who have had their AR15’s turned into expensive door-stops. Kodiak Defence with the WK180C GEN 2, Spectre with the WS-MCR, and Maple Ridge Armoury’s Renegade are a few rifles chambered in 5.56/223 that have been available to some time. But the Black Creek Lab SRV2 Siberian is definitely the new kid on the block when it comes to Non-Restricted AR-style platform firearms.

In this article, I’m going to go over some basic information on the firearm, as well as accounts from owners who have put this new rifle to the test.

Specs

Weight: 7 pounds
Chamber: 223 Wylde, 300 Blackout, 7.62×39
Barrel Length: 9.5″, 12.5”, 16.5”, 18.6”
Twist Rate: 1:8, 1:10
Receiver Set: Anodized Aluminium
Accuracy: 1.2 MOA
Charging Handle: Non-Reciprocating
Stock: Magpul Zhokuv (1913 PIC System Compatible)
Magazine: AR15
Colour: Black or Coyote
Classification: Non-Restricted

Price

At the time of this article, the Black Creek Labs SRV2 Siberian costs around $1800, depending on the dealer you purchase it from. Authorized dealers are listed on the Black Creek Lab website, and are as follows:

EASTHILL OUTDOORS (Orono, Ontario)
FIREARMS OUTLET CANADA (Ajax, Ontario)
RANGEVIEW SPORTS (Newmarket, Ontario)
TENDA CANADA (Richmond Hill, Ontario)
CABELA’S (Canada wide)
SFRC (Harrowsmith, Ontario)

Keep in mind that this rifle is sold at many other dealers across Canada.

Overview

Black Creek Labs did a fantastic job at designing a non-restricted semi-automatic rifle that looks and feels like an AR platform. They recently released the SRV2 in 223 Wylde, so that owners can shoot both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO. Normally, if a rifle is chambered in 5.56 NATO you could shoot both 5.56 and .223 Remington, but not the other way around. The SRV2 Siberian though can fire .223 ammunition as well as 5.56x45mm NATO rounds.

The picatinny rail system is very nice, running all the way down the top of the rifle, allowing you to attach your optics and a variety of other accessories. Possible accessories could be a tactical flashlight or a laser system.

The Siberian has a similar look to the 102 MK7, but is a bit more sleek. The upper and lower receivers look as though it’s one piece. Very simple yet nice looking rifle.

Stock

The stock on the SRV2 is a Magpul Zhokuv design, which looks awesome. The stock is also foldable, which allows you to transport it easier and carry it around less awkwardly. Keep in mind that you aren’t able to shoot with the stock folded. You could technically get a single round off, but the bolt wont feed another round afterwards because the stock blocks the action.

The stock is attached using an adapter to the picatinny system, so other stocks can be used with this rifle. I personally like the stock they chose to use. It makes the Siberian look like a cross between an AR15 rifle and the SCAR-H.

Barrel

With the initial release of the SRV2 Siberian, the barrel comes with a length of 18.6″. On Black Creek Lab’s website it says that the Siberian barrel will also be available in 9.5″, 12.5″, and 16.5″, but I’ve yet to see those for sale anywhere. Those may still be in production and yet to be released. The type of barrel is Button Cut 4150 Chrome Moly. 4150 Steel is an excellent choice for a barrel, as it can handle the extreme temperatures of repeated firing. It’s also very abrasion-resistant and overall is a better option than stainless steel.

The twist rate will depend on the caliber that your rifle is chambered for. Both the .223 Wylde and the 300 Blackout will use a twist rate of 1:8 (bullet completes one full rotation every eight inches down the barrel), while the 7.62×39 will use a twist rate of 1:10 (bullet completes one full rotation every ten inches down the barrel). The twist rate is what gives the round stability as it travels down and out of the end of the barrel. The 1:8 twist rate for your .223 / 5.56 ammunition is perfect for rounds between 60 and 80 grain, while still being just fine for grains as low as 40 and as high as 90. With the 300 Blackout, you’re going to want a bullet around the 200 grain mark, but do your research if you purchase a Siberian chambered in 300 Blackout (or whichever rifle you purchase) as to what grain is best suited for your rifle.

Chamber / Ammunition

As I mentioned in the overview, the SRV2 Siberian is chambered in 223 Wylde and can shoot both 223 Wylde and 5.56 NATO rounds. I’ve yet to see any for sale that are chambered in 300 Blackout or 7.62×39 as the website lists, but these will most likely be released in the coming months. But at the time of this article, the only option is the .223 Wylde which is a fantastic round for shooting in the backcountry, out on the range, or hunting small to medium game. Where with a rifle chambered in 5.56×45 NATO you could shoot .223 Remington ammunition, it’s accuracy was fairly poor. But with the .223 Wylde chamber, both .223 Remington and 5.56×45 NATO fire really good. It’s definitely a selling piece for the SRV2 Siberian.

Bolt Release

There’s not too many things more satisfying than inserting a magazine into the housing and pressing the bolt release to send the bolt forward and readying a round in the chamber. This rifle does it well, but there are a few magazines which prevent you from doing so. I’m not entirely sure which magazines have been giving it problems, but do your research. You’ll be fine with the standard magazines that come with the rifle though.

Conclusion

Black Creek Labs did a fantastic job at releasing a semi-automatic rifle that does not conflict with Canada’s current ban on AR15 rifles (at the time of this article). It looks amazing, it’s reasonably priced compared to it’s competitors, and functions very well! The picatinny rail is good for attaching an optic system on top of your choice, and the many accessories toward the end of the hand guard. Users have been very pleased with the functionality of the rifle (other than a few hiccups with certain magazines).

Black Creek Labs makes some extremely nice firearms and they’re not done yet. Coming out soon will be other semi-automatic rifles similar to the SRV2, and they have a nice selection of bolt-action rifles as well.

If you’re looking for a rifle similar to your currently-banned AR15, you won’t be disappointed with the Siberian SRV2.