Midwest Industries MI SSK12 Minute Man Rifle with MI SSK12 KeyMod Handguard: Complete MI 16″ Mid-Length DGI Tactical AR-15 Carbine with Premium Components! (Video!)

By David Crane
david (at) defensereview (dot) com

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August 25, 2014

While we’re on the subject of Midwest Industries (MI) rifle/carbine/SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) components and tactical AR parts and accessories, we’d better mention the MI SSK12 Minute Man Rifle 16″ mid-length direct-gas-impingement (DGI), semi-auto-only tactical AR (AR-15) carbine, which sports MI billet upper and lower receivers and the nice-looking MI SSK12 KeyMod One-Piece Free-Float Handguard MIL-STD-1913 “Picatinny” rail system, which looks really good. DefenseReview (DR) is admittedly a fan of Midwest Industries products, but really, what’s not to like on this gun?

As we first learned at SHOT Show 2014, every component and accessory on the gun is high quality (see detailed list below), and the gun is backed up by a great company. The gun even has some ambidextrous controls, specifically the Battle Arms Development BAD-ASS-ST AMBI SAFETY SELECTOR SHORT THROW 50° (or 45-degree?) AR safety/selector switch (currently available as a separate item at Rainier Arms and other premium distributors and dealers). Any gun that includes a BAD-ASS short-throw selector has been well thought out and will most likely be high-quality all-around, whether or not one agrees with a short-throw selector switch. Just for the record, DR has nothing against it, and actually likes the idea. We just haven’t actually run one yet. We’ve liked the idea ever since we first saw it on the FN SCAR weapons.

As if that’s not enough, the MI SSK12 Minuteman Rifle also sports a FN16″ mid-length hammer-forged and chrome-lined barrel/gas tube system, a flared magwell for fast mag changes/reloads, the excellent B5 Systems Bravo SOPMOD Stock, and premium BCM components like the BCMGUNFIGHTER Charging Handle with Mod 4 (Medium) Latch and BCMGUNFIGHTER Grip AR pistol grip.

The BCMGunfighter Mod 4 charging handle is an excellent product, but on a gun with a BAD-ASS ambi safety/selector switch, Defense Review would prefer the BCMGUNFIGHTER Ambidextrous Charging Handle (5.56mm/.223) w/ Mod A44 (Ambi) be made available as a package upgrade option. The BCM Gunfighter ambi charging handle is a bit more expensive, but it’s a nice option for ambidextrous tactical shooters (and lefties, of course).

The following MI SSK12 Minuteman Rifle specs come from Midwest Industries dealer Discount Hunting and Fishing, and have been slightly edited:

“- MI Billet Upper Receiver 6061 Aluminum with M4 Feed Ramps
– MI Billet Lower Receiver 6061 Aluminum with Integrated Trigger Guard
– Reinforced buffer tube area
– Wire EDM cut flared magwell
– Ambidextrous 45 degree Bad Sselector
– MI SSK 12″ Key Mod One Piece Free Float Handguard machined from 6061 aluminum. Super slim 1.5″ outside diameter handguard.
– Fully Dehorned
– 7 lbs O/A Weight
– FN 16″ Mid Length Hammer Forged chrome lined barrel with 1:7 Twist
– BCM Gunfighter Mod 4 Charging Handle
– BCM Gunfighter Pistol Grip
– B5 Bravo Stock
– MI Carpenter 158 Bolt Carrier Group
– Mid Length Gas System with MI Low Profile Gas Block
– 100% MADE IN THE USA!”

Company Contact Info:

Midwest Industries, Inc (MI)
W292S4498 Hillside Rd.
Waukesha, WI 53189
Phone: 262-896-6780
Email Contact Page: http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=33
Website: http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com

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