by David Crane
david at defensereview.com
"Vltor Weapon Systems blew a lot of people away with their new VIS-1 one-piece upper receiver/rail system (upper receiver with integral rail). Actually, the Vltor VIS-1 is constructed of two pieces that are bonded together in such a way that it’s virtually seamless and super-strong. No doubt, the VIS-1 will be going up against the Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP). The difference? The LMT MRP utilizes a proprietary barrel and gas tube assembly for it’s QCBS (Quick Change Barrel System), while the Vltor VIS-1 utilizes commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) AR-15/M16/M4 barrels and gas tubes. According to Vltor, the VIS-1’s barrel-swap procedure for its quick-change barrel system is comparable in speed to the LMT MRP Quick-Change Barrel System (QCBS).
The
VIS-1 is a hot system, and anyone looking for a "monolithic"-type setup should definitely give it serious consideration, along with the LMT MRP, which is also excellent. By the way, the “VIS” in “VIS-1” stands for two things: 1) Versatile Interface Structure, and 2) In Latin, VIS means "force" or "to use force". While we’re on the subject of Latin, Vltor (pronounced “Ooltor”) means "revenge", "avenger" or "vengeance". The "1" designation in “VIS-1” is for Vltor’s carbine series. Vltor’s mid-length series will be called VIS-2, and their rifle-length series will be designated “VIS-3”. The process Vltor uses for bonding the two pieces of the upper receiver into one piece is salt dip brazing, which utilizes a molten salt vat. According to Eric Kincel, salt dip brazing is a dying art form. It creates a one-piece unit that has the same strength and rigidity as solid piece of aluminum. The mating joint (bonded surfaces) are actually stronger than the parent metal (parent material)."
Vltor VIS-1 Video Clip Download Instructions:
Right-Click here and then click on "
Save Target As" (if using Microsoft Internet Explorer browser) or "
Save Link As" (if using Mozilla Firefox browser) to download and view the Vltor Weapon Systems VIS-1 live-fire video clip.
If you’d like to get more info on the
Vltor VIS-series one-piece upper receiver/Mil-Std-1913 rail system, you can contact
Vltor Weapon Systems, Phone: 520-408-1944, Fax: 520-293-8807, Email: contact@vltor.com. Ask for Eric Kincel.
Additional Vltor VIS-1 Photos (Click on photos below to view them full-size.):
DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.
