From the Vault: Keith's Mk 12 SPR Clones

[@patlynch3816]

The MK12 was the first rifle I carried in combat in Afghanistan in 2003. She was a beauty.

[@sieve5]

Im glad youtube knows that i like mk12's this shit just keeps coming up in my feed!!! ❤

[@RedBeardWalking]

Man, this felt like talking to that guy at the gun club who actually knows what he's talking about. Also Brownells tempting me down that mark 12 rabbit hole is just good advertising, that can get very expensive very quickly

[@MarkiusFox]

Take it from me, I've burned over 4k in putting a Mod.0 deployment kit together. It still needs over 1.9k in additional parts and components to get it "complete". A lot of help I gleaned from the r/MilitaryARClones subreddit, the dedicated ARFCOM forum thread for Mk.12 rifles, the CloneRifles website, and lots of reading in general. I did seem to get into this at about the right time and was fortunate to get some really impossible to find things (namely, an A.R.M.S. #38 PEQ-2-3 swan sleeve, which are out of production). Did I spend a lot? Absolutely. Is that rifle my pride and joy? Without a doubt. The satisfaction of putting together something as iconic from the early GWoT era is almost immeasurable. And I say that knowing that I still have to clone the rifle I was issued during the GWoT era.

[@tugboat_actual]

I did a rabit hole on a mk12 build myself. But i went with a 6mm arc barrel from ballistic advantage instead of a 556 barrel. But i did all fde receivers from aero, magpul basic fixed stock fde, bcm grip, trigger guard and 12 inch grf rail. Did a hydrolic buffer as well. Scope wise i went with an arken optics set up. Price wise you get a $2k scope for sub 500. Just found out dept of state is using those optics for their DMR stuff overseas. Will do a dead air brake and sandman k cansince the ops inch syle cans do not support 6mm.

[@The-Tactical-Plumber]

Don’t do it I started with a m4 lower now I have a nodak 80% getting engraved with m16 markings and everything clone correct Douglas barrel mk4 3.5-10 just ordered an aem5 a surplus pelican case it’s been a search for every thing the knights handguard was crazy expensive to get the original 99167 knights hand guard I found a colt early 2000s era upper for it because the cage code wasn’t correct it’s a rabbit hole for sure

[@jonnyrenfrow6216]

I was issued a mk12 during my first deployment to Afghanistan. I absolutely loved that gun. Hopefully someday I can build a nice clone.

[@otetechie]

Same.

[@jamierosengarten3263]

Hearing from someone passionate about a particular subject is always a pleasure to listen to!!!!!!!!

[@JohnStyron]

Keith may not be the best orator, but he knows his subject matter very well. Worth the listen. Thanks Keith.

[@Goldenwithaleash]

I built my bastardized version of a MK12 a few years ago and it’s my favorite AR to take to the range. I went with a 18” BCM SS upper, V7 lower, fixed A1 stock, Harris bipod, Magpul K2 grip, Geissele SSAE trigger, ZeroFail BCG, and a PA 2.5-10 Raptor scope in a LaRue SPR mount.

[@jordanrick2931]

That’s just an accurate AR. Nothing to do with a mk12

[@randymagnum143]

Douglas makes some damn fine barrels.

[@CoryHobbs2178]

Those are some cool examples Keith, thanks for showing them. I happen to like your gun rambling.

[@P46345]

Nothing like a nice warm Colt. ;-)

[@YellowHammer26]

Enjoyed the rambling, thanks for sharing 👍👍

[@dorianleclair7390]

Nice builds.

[@Turboy65]

I built myself a nice Mark 12 Mod 1 clone around 2010. Set me back around 4K$. It's REALLY close to being all clone correct. The KAC BUIS set alone will cost you more than some complete low cost AR platform rifles. It's a superb rifle, highly accurate, and it definitely does run even smoother and more precisely when you run it with the suppressor attached.

[@M4jeff]

Great guns. Thank you for posting part of your personal collection.

[@S1L3NTG4M3R]

THANKS

[@ChuckMahon]

Great video - thanks Keith!!!

[@johnpa9326]

While I fully believe the devil is in the detail and being a collector myself I fully enjoy and understand being as “clone” correct as possible. It is also part of the fun building a specific model researching the correct parts for that particular model. With that being said, when I started searching for parts to build a mk12 mod 0 or a mod 1 I quickly learned just how deep of a rabbit hole this could become and how much my bank account would suffer. These are two great examples and I am drooling over them. In the end i realized I could do it better, something that makes more sense in terms of weight and probably more accurate, save a bunch of money and call it my own instead of mk12. This path was also very fun!

[@Mr79dream]

that is the way I went. Mk12 inspired 18" with modern parts.

[@Turboy65]

My Mod 1 clone, with Leupold Mark IV MR/T 3x9-40 IR scope and AEM5 suppressor, set me back around 4000 dollars or more.

[@laughingdog6010]

Nice rigs

[@stevenpierce9160]

I believe you sir thank you

[@John-ro3vu]

Keith’s got all the good shit.

[@racer3212]

Love the Mark 12’s I have the MOD 0, 1 & H, plus a mock 12 to beat around. My AEM5 IS IN ATF JAIL.

[@crewchief5144]

Should be out by now. eForms has been screaming. I got a YHM can back at 93 days.

[@revidon9267]

Fantastic video!

[@mr.lovell3645]

This is great! More of these deep dive builds! 🤠👍

[@My12521252]

Awesome!! Anyway you could talk about the linear groove on SWAN rail at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions forward of your scope?

[@tugboat_actual]

I did a rabit hole on a mk12 build myself. But i went with a 6mm arc barrel from ballistic advantage instead of a 556 barrel. But i did all fde receivers from aero, magpul basic fixed stock fde, bcm grip, trigger guard and 12 inch grf rail. Did a hydrolic buffer as well. Scope wise i went with an arken optics set up. Price wise you get a $2k scope for sub 500. Just found out dept of state is using those optics for their DMR stuff overseas. Will do a dead air brake and sandman k cansince the ops inch syle cans do not support 6mm.

[@colby7625]

When Caleb saw Keith's hair he decided to take it to the next level.

[@tylerfrogley1227]

Currently built one, but still need the OCL OTB mount because I deviated slightly and did an HBAR. So not a true clone, but wanted a thicker profile. Softest quietest suppressed 556 gun I’ve ever shot. Ears off can shoot it suppressed all day long. Stupid quiet.

[@cakeeee4]

"Attack of the Clone nerds" 😂

[@andrewduenes1079]

Before, "attack of the clone nerds"...haha sums up AR-15 community.

[@damongernentz5345]

I “built” my MK12Mod1 a few years back. After some research I settled on an upper from High Caliber Sales and couldn’t be happier. I was making consistent hits at 600yrds with M855😮. If you’re thinking of doing a clone, you should consider this route.

[@PewGoBoomLife]

Good luck getting the Mod1 uppers. The HG is the issue. The upper raised AF markings can still be had. The collar and brakes can still be had. The barrels can still be had, the colt BCG's are all over the place. The HG though... good luck.

[@patriotintraining3822]

Why did you change from the P.R.I. 1 to the P.R.I. 3 fore arm? I even have one in caliber .221, 20” 1:16” in .22 L.R. My lower has a Geissle SSA. It provides the lightest long range target rifle. I hope one day to have another iteration in a caliber superior to the 5.56x45mm for longer target or hunting. Recommendations welcome.

[@rupert916]

This was awesome. Great content. Did the Mark 12 program utilize Douglas barrels specifically? Through all the variations?

[@racer3212]

Douglas and Noveske

[@MarkiusFox]

Mostly Douglas. Lilja was high on the list as well as Noveske. The latter I believe made the barrels for some of the Mod.1s. All in all though, Precision Reflex will treat you right in the barrel department by using a Douglas blank and spinning it correctly; Compass Lake and White Oak Armament have had some work that was out of spec.

[@rupert916]

@@MarkiusFox so is have a question you might be able to answer…who makes barrels for bcm? And specifically who makes there ss410 stainless ones? I have been told criterion and krieger work out if the same factory. A guy I took a class from has told me bcm stainless are made by krieger but the price point doesn’t suggest so

[@CoryHobbs2178]

Centurion makes a really good mark 12 barrel these days

[@jackbauer4186]

​@@CoryHobbs2178Centurion's owner is a former SEAL sniper, too. Everything they make is great.

[@darkhorse0687]

Sucks that the PRI Mk12 Upper is no longer available on Brownells.

[@aahhronismyname8068]

Yes ts30's are too damn expensive. I was lucly to find 1 at relatively cheap via discount codes and gift cards a while back. Iirc arms qd rings are correct.

[@MarkiusFox]

A.R.M.S. #22 throw lever rings are correct, but not with the Mk.II levers and also not with the lever stops.

[@Rocketrich88]

Is it possible to pin and weld the OPS collar onto the barrel? My SPR gets bounced around ALOT, and that small set screw on my collar came loose over the weekend. I would to weld it and forget it…

[@paulmarion7578]

What do you think of the Daniel Defense MK12 set up with the new vortex gen 3 scope ?

[@tugboat_actual]

So, mod 0s (at least all ive seen) had fixed stocks with full auto trigger packs. Adjustable stocks and knights triggers really werent seen until mod 1. But as you stated, they get modified in the armories. Good builds though

[@tonybaxley7661]

I build a clone of the mod 1. I'm running with the 223 wylde barrel with the 1 to 7 twist. She is a nail driver. How do you feel about the 223 wilde barrel.

[@MarkiusFox]

It's a touchy subject for absolute cloners, but a .223 Wylde chamber ought to give you the best of both worlds concerning .223 Rem vs 5.56 NATO chamber options.

[@tonybaxley7661]

@@MarkiusFox , so far it hasn't let me done. I can't wait for the summer to get here and get some good weather and see exactly what it can do.

[@lungcanc3r666]

If knights could restock the damn handguard

[@not.an.operator]

If Knights could stock ANYTHING at all!!! Been looking for a 14.5 upper forever.

[@muffemod]

@@not.an.operator There is no deficiency of quad rail manufacturers on the market. Just find another one.

[@lungcanc3r666]

@@muffemod then it wouldn't be a clone....

[@jaredbickmore2474]

Knights has Colt syndrome so don't hold your breath

[@J14ernandez]

I inquired knights about the availability of the long ff ras, rep got back to me letting me the know the next batch is gonna be available sometime in early 2023.

[@SnapD24]

"Clone nerds" 🤣

[@arborist460]

What’s a pri handguard run a man these days fellers? That mod 0 setup is my favorite…

[@CountryWolf_TX]

I wonder where the Recce (Reconnaissance) come into play? Sounds like the MK12 is more technically ladenned.

[@markymark9359]

Nice informative video! What Sig optic do you have on the mod 1?

[@KaneGregory]

If you can find the 2.5-8 Leupold it will cost you 2 grand but it and fixed stock with a quad rail is what makes a MK12 for me!🧠🤯🔫

[@LuvBorderCollies]

So there's no such critter as a "perfect clone" due to individuals personalizing them. That's interesting to know although I wasn't planning a clone. Did a clone of my brother-in-laws M16 in VN which was a combo of early and later features. It wasn't too hard as a fair amount of genuine M16 uppers, stocks and parts were available at the time. Still my fav of all the AR's I had as it looks perfect, stone cold reliable with all kinds of ammo. Basic infantry rifle without 7 pounds of added accessories.

[@larrypesek8818]

"A quick overview"... To say the least!

[@stevelee2384]

I was going to build a MK 12 clone but I just couldn't justify the cost of the gun for something I can build that's much lighter and more accurate than the MK 12. Ened up building basically a different type of 18" Rifle Length Gas System SPR chambered in .223 Wylde. I can shot 1 large hole with that build. But still would like to build a clone of one of these iconic rifles one day when I have the extra cash.

[@bartowpd342]

What barrels and lengths did you use

[@MikeEbner3]

What are the scopes you're using on each rifle? I can see one is a Strike Eagle and the other a SIG. But what model/version of those scopes did you use? Thanks.

[@GaHullbillyRanch]

What did he mean by a1 lowers?

[@Friedbrain11]

I don't care for that first rifle but the Mod one is nice.I prefer a rifle with an A1 stock and even the trigger. I liked the A1 myself and didn't have a problem hitting what I aimed at.

[@Jrplatt]

I'm building an fde one now

[@Con2288]

Where can I get one of the m4 marked colt lowers?

[@baraj062]

Can you send rifle scope to Turkey?

[@T20-c8f]

Love the MK 12 so much! Would kill for one. Have a buddy who owns a bushmaster predator with 24” barrel and he hates it. He’s had it for like 15 years and never shot it more than 2 mags. “It doesn’t cycle on some ammunition”. Informed him on buffer systems and he’s still “nahhh too unwieldy and big”. Offered to trade an AK with 500 rounds and 5 mags, a Romanian AK with classic furniture that’s collector these days all during ammogeddon. He acted like I was trading him absolute trash for his gun lol. Ugh it bummed me out/frustrates me he just has his gun just laying around with no love. I wanted to build a non clone specific but same purpose rifle. Maybe one day I’ll have my baby. Love Travis Haley black water video of him getting it in Iraq with a mk 12

[@jameshenderson9228]

Start out and purchase the gun peace by peace. It won't take long you'll have all the parts and have a good time finding the parts along the way.

[@T20-c8f]

@@jameshenderson9228 that’s a good idea. I will someday. It’s definitely in the line up of projects. I’m going to buy my first can next month (dead air sandman s), I just completed my 11.5” pistol after 3 years of saving and upgrading. Now I’m concerned if the ATF comes after braces I’ll have to rebuild my 11.5” into a 13.7” pinned so I’ll need to make sure I have the best barrel, gasblock, and handrail I can afford since once it’s pinned none of that can change without destroying the muzzle device and barrel. So I’m waiting on good ol big brother to see if he thinks I deserve 10 years in prison for following his laws. Don’t get me started. But I also really want another precision gun so bad. I kick myself everyday for selling a savage I built when I was 23. I saved for two years to build a savage model 10 hs precision .308, put a badger ordinance picatinny base, and leupold mark 4 rings, with a leupold mark4 LRT 4.5x14 M1 TMR scope on it. It was my baby! Moved in with a girlfriend (who I later broke up with) and we were short on rent because I had a hard time finding work. Sold the gun for 1000 dollars after putting 3200 into it. I’m telling ya I could take 22lr rounds, stick them into cardboard rim facing me, and at 100 yards if I was doing my part right I could explode them in one shot. It was my party trick. I miss that gun so much. Now I’m thinking a seekins SP10 in 6.5 or maybe the Daniel defense bolt gun with the interchangeable barrels. Get that in 6.5 and buy the .308 later because the rifles cost the same in each caliber but the barrel in 6.5 is like 200 more than the .308 if you buy them by themselves. Then I’ll need another 1,500-2000 for glass for the thing. I’m a buy once cry once kind of guy with guns and this damn hobby is so expensive!

[@jordanrick2931]

That wasn’t a mk12 he was using. It was a m16 with a arms rail and Leupold scope

[@onmilo]

*GASP!* HERESY! lolololololololol

[@philliplatham4256]

👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸☕️☕️

[@crewchief5144]

Not knowing this guy from anyone, I was forced to not judge a book by it's cover AGAIN. I saw not clone accurate parts and immediately went "ahhh, close but no cigar" and then he started hitting the historical points. He sold me when he mentioned Mk262 rnds. Now as penance I must build an accurate upper. Accurate as in close to the original as possible. They call me Shakes the clown so any help with grouping, I'll take. Anybody have a Douglas barrel for less than $400?

[@Makingnewnamesisdumb]

I'm so used to this guy bringing out boomer rifles I was shocked to see him with a modern military rifle.

[@robertcaccavalla6469]

All nice, however it seems like an awful lot of hardware for most people. It also seems to be drifting from the principle of the AR platform being light and practical.