PWS MK216 MOD 1-M
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Barrel
- 409 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.97 kg
- Introduced
- 2017
About
What it is, and why it matters
The PWS MK216 MOD 1-M is a long-stroke piston-driven AR-10 / .308 battle rifle from Primary Weapons Systems, part of the company's MK2 family. Unlike the direct-impingement and short-stroke systems used by most AR-10 makers, the MK216 uses PWS's signature long-stroke gas piston (conceptually closer to the AK / M1 Garand), with the operating rod tied directly to the bolt carrier for a smooth, reliable stroke that keeps heat and fouling out of the receiver. The 16.1-inch 41V50 chromium-molybdenum-vanadium steel barrel uses a mid-length gas system fed by a three-position adjustable gas regulator that lets the shooter tune the rifle for standard, suppressed, or adverse-condition use. It wears an FSC30 flash-suppressing compensator, an M-LOK free-float handguard with a continuous Picatinny top rail, and ambidextrous controls. The rifle feeds from SR-25 / DPMS-pattern 20-round magazines and is chambered most commonly in .308 Winchester, with 6.5 Creedmoor offered in the MK2 lineup.
PWS built its reputation on the long-stroke piston AR, arguing it delivers AK-like reliability with AR ergonomics. The MK216 scaled that system up to the harder-recoiling .308 / AR-10 platform, where the tunable gas system is especially valued for suppressed shooting.
Weight approximately 8 lb 12 oz (about 3,969 g) empty. Overall length roughly 35.6 in (904 mm) with stock collapsed. 1:10 twist. The long-stroke piston design distinguishes PWS from short-stroke piston AR-10s; the op-rod is attached directly to the bolt carrier similar to the AK pattern. MSRP historically around $2,500-$2,800. The MK2 family also includes 6.5 Creedmoor and other barrel lengths.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Primary Weapons Systems
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2017
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 409 mm
- Overall length
- 904 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.97 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 20
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Hard anodized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 758 m/s
- Effective range
- 800 m
- Maximum range
- 4700 m
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.
Long stroke piston
Adjustable gas block
Three position gas regulator
Free floating handguard
M lok rail
Picatinny rail
Flat top receiver
Rotating bolt
Fsc30 muzzle device
Ambidextrous controls
Sr25 magazine compatible
Fluted barrel
Threaded barrel
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 107 battle rifles | 3.97 kg | 4.30 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 107 battle rifles | 904 mm | 1025 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 110 battle rifles | 409 mm | 457 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 110 battle rifles | 20 | 20 | Holds more rounds than about 60% |
Answers
Questions about the PWS MK216 MOD 1-M
How much does the PWS MK216 MOD 1-M weigh?
The PWS MK216 MOD 1-M weighs 3.97 kg (8.75 lb) empty.
What caliber is the PWS MK216 MOD 1-M?
The PWS MK216 MOD 1-M is chambered in .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor.
How many rounds does the PWS MK216 MOD 1-M hold?
The PWS MK216 MOD 1-M holds 20 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the PWS MK216 MOD 1-M?
The PWS MK216 MOD 1-M is 904 mm (35.6 in) long overall, with a 409 mm (16.1 in) barrel.
Who makes the PWS MK216 MOD 1-M?
The PWS MK216 MOD 1-M is made by Primary Weapons Systems (United States). It was designed by Primary Weapons Systems.
When was the PWS MK216 MOD 1-M introduced?
The PWS MK216 MOD 1-M was introduced in 2017.
How does the PWS MK216 MOD 1-M operate?
The PWS MK216 MOD 1-M uses a gas operated long 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.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
78%
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/pws-mk2' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "pws-mk2", "name": "PWS MK216 MOD 1-M", "manufacturer": { "id": "primary-weapons-systems", "name": "Primary Weapons Systems", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 2008, "website": "https://primaryweapons.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "66f3c566f8573b96b086221233993361c2a2fa52f95502f5328c70bdf8dcc148" }, "category": { "id": "battle-rifle", "name": "Battle Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in full-power cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2017, "barrel_length_mm": 409, "weight_empty_g": 3969, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}