FightLite MCR
- Category
- Machine Gun
- Barrel
- 413 mm
- Weight, empty
- 5.13 kg
- Introduced
- 2002
About
What it is, and why it matters
The FightLite MCR (Mission Configurable Rifle), formerly known as the Ares Shrike, is a belt-fed conversion of the AR-15/M16 platform that operates from a closed-bolt with a side-mounted short-stroke gas piston. Capable of feeding from either standard AR-15 STANAG box magazines or M27-linked disintegrating belts (the same as the FN Minimi/M249), the MCR offers the firepower of a squad automatic weapon in a package that fits any milspec AR-15 lower receiver without modification. Now in its 6th generation, the MCR has been refined for sustained-fire reliability and is reportedly fielded in limited numbers by special operations units seeking a lightweight, suppressed alternative to belt-fed light machine guns.
Originally developed in the late 1990s by Ares Defense as the 'Shrike,' the MCR was conceived to give a single soldier the suppressing firepower of a belt-fed weapon without the weight or footprint of an M249 SAW - and crucially, it bolts onto the lower receiver of any AR-15 made since 1963.
MSRP ~$8,400 USD. The dual-feed mechanism is derived from the WWII MG42 cam-and-pawl system. Civilian semi-auto-only versions and select-fire military versions both exist; only the upper need be replaced on a host AR lower.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- FightLite Industries
- Category
- Machine Gun
- Country
- United States
- Status
- Limited production
- Produced
- 2002
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 413 mm
- Overall length
- 838 mm
- Weight, empty
- 5.13 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 200
- Magazine
- Belt
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Hard coat anodized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 940 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1767 J
- Effective range
- 600 m
- Maximum range
- 3600 m
- Rate of fire
- 850 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Quick change barrel
Dual feed
Belt fed
Stanag magazine compatible
M27 linked ammunition
Adjustable gas regulator
Picatinny rail
M lok handguard
Ar lower compatible
Left side charging handle
Suppressor capable
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 27 5.56x45mm NATO machine guns | 5.13 kg | 6.35 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 25 5.56x45mm NATO machine guns | 838 mm | 1020 mm | Among the shortest tenth |
| Barrel lengthAmong 26 5.56x45mm NATO machine guns | 413 mm | 465 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 26 5.56x45mm NATO machine guns | 200 | 200 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the FightLite MCR
How much does the FightLite MCR weigh?
The FightLite MCR weighs 5.13 kg (11.30 lb) empty.
What caliber is the FightLite MCR?
The FightLite MCR is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO and .300 AAC Blackout.
How many rounds does the FightLite MCR hold?
The FightLite MCR holds 200 rounds, fed from a belt.
How long is the FightLite MCR?
The FightLite MCR is 838 mm (33.0 in) long overall, with a 413 mm (16.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the FightLite MCR?
The FightLite MCR is made by FightLite Industries (United States). It was designed by Geoffrey A. Herring.
When was the FightLite MCR introduced?
The FightLite MCR was introduced in 2002.
How does the FightLite MCR operate?
The FightLite MCR uses a gas operated short stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- United States civilian market
- 2002
Provenance
Confidence in this record
72%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/fightlite-mcr' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "fightlite-mcr", "name": "FightLite MCR", "manufacturer": { "id": "fightlite-industries", "name": "FightLite Industries", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1997, "website": "https://fightlite.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-05-04 12:38:54", "updatedAt": "2026-05-04 12:38:54", "version": "172124003bb72ed19b100361a7167808596b5ac703dfd54e651d7aa95f4265e8" }, "category": { "id": "machine-gun", "name": "Machine Gun", "description": "Fully automatic firearms for sustained fire" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2002, "barrel_length_mm": 413, "weight_empty_g": 5125, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke"}