Cobalt Kinetics Rifles – The Ferrari of the AR-15 World
The popularity of the AR-15 platform has been growing rapidly in recent years, surpassing the borders of the USA. The AR-15 boom has also reached our country, where these rifles are becoming a more common sight at competitions and shooting ranges, gradually replacing the trusty AK47. New to the market are the Cobalt Kinetics carbines – created from scratch for the most demanding shooters – combining top-tier components with true innovation – just like the best…
The last part is not so obvious in this platform – countless manufacturers are involved in the production of black rifles and their parts, but the quantity doesn’t necessarily translate into diversity. Few manufacturers have taken the risk of making significant changes to the internal workings of this 60-year-old platform. An exception is, of course, the spread of piston-driven versions of the AR-15, but the boom on this system is slowly subsiding, and its advantages for the civilian user are somewhat limited. On the other hand, one might ask – why change something that works well? After all, the AR-15 and its variants are already the dominant semi-automatic design in the USA and Europe, especially in competitive shooting. However, not everyone was satisfied with this…
And at this point, Cobalt Kinetics, founded in 2014 in St. George, Utah, steps onto the scene. Its founders decided to break the stagnation in the AR-15 market. The first thing the engineers at Cobalt Kinetics did was duplicate the bolt carrier group and combine its function with the bolt release. In most AR-15s, this is little more than a relic of US Army conservatism. But the mil-spec standard had to stay, so the bolt carrier remained – which might actually be a good thing because, in every Cobalt Kinetics rifle, we can quickly release the bolt with our dominant thumb, whether we’re left or right-handed. It’s a very intuitive solution, and it’s safer than the popular enlarged (like the BAD Lever from Magpul, which I use) levers that extend to the trigger guard.
And this is only if we even want to release the bolt. Cobalt Kinetics offers us, on custom order or in the most advanced EVOLVE model, their patented CARS system. CARS stands for Cobalt Advantage Reload System. This solution has a dual function. When the magazine is empty, it drops out of the gun. After inserting a full magazine, the bolt returns to its forward position, making the weapon immediately ready to fire. This second function can be seen in some heavily modified (or worn-out) Glocks. The reloading process is thus simplified to the maximum, reducing it to inserting a new magazine. Pressing the magazine and bolt release buttons might seem like a trivial action, but let us remember that CARS was created primarily with dynamic shooters in mind, for whom fractions of a second can make a significant difference. More technically savvy readers might already have questions about the reliability of this system. And rightly so – the significant differences in the dimensions and construction of magazines from various manufacturers mean that the producer recommends Mission First Tactical magazines, which are included with the weapon. However, the system also works well with popular PMAG M3 magazines.
As is often the case with firearms, some experimentation might be necessary. In the worst-case scenario, traditional controls are also in place. Additionally, magazine ejection can be easily deactivated if you don’t want your magazines falling to the ground or if you’re using double-coupled magazines. CARS has also been extensively tested – during the 22 months of work on the system, over 30,000 rounds were fired to perfect every technical detail.
Alright – we now know that Cobalt rifles are easy to reload, but firearms are meant primarily to shoot, right? And you should know that in this aspect, too, the Utah-based manufacturer does not disappoint.
It’s worth mentioning here that the various CK rifle models are categorized into a 3-tier scale, where level 3 indicates models with the best (and, of course, the most expensive) components. Unlike many other manufacturers, Cobalt Kinetics relies on external suppliers for components like barrels and triggers. However, these parts are rigorously inspected – for instance, during the assembly of the EVOLVE rifle, more than 20% of delivered parts are rejected.
The manufacturer guarantees that every rifle, except for first-tier models, is warranted to achieve a grouping of under 1 MOA (approximately 29.1 mm at 100 meters) with precision ammunition – otherwise, it doesn’t leave the factory. In 5.56 caliber barrels, a 1:8 twist rate (203.2 mm for SI purists) is standard. This ensures proper stabilization across a wide range of ammunition, from 55gr to 77gr, providing better accuracy with affordable ammunition while still delivering excellent results with heavier, more expensive rounds. At levels 2 and 3, a .223 Wylde chamber is standard. This allows the rifle to shoot both .223 ammunition and higher-pressure 5.56 rounds, with improved accuracy thanks to the tighter chamber cut.
The EVOLVE rifle stands out again, featuring a revolutionary Proof Research barrel made of steel wrapped in carbon fiber. The material used boasts up to 30 times higher durability, up to 47% lower weight, and up to 7 times greater stiffness compared to 4150 stainless steel. It also significantly improves thermal conductivity. The result is a barrel that is lighter, more accurate, and more durable than anything else on the market. Proof Research claims it’s the most advanced barrel for firearms in the world – and so far, no one has challenged that assertion.
The AR-15, due to its gas system, is a rifle with very low recoil. However, this hasn’t stopped shooters, particularly dynamic shooters, from striving to reach their nirvana – the effect of standing still entirely during rapid fire. Of course, the easiest way to reduce recoil is by using an appropriate muzzle device. The PRO muzzle brake, used in rifles from the competition line, is noteworthy. Equipped with six chambers that direct exhaust gases at an angle, it reduces recoil by approximately 70% compared to a barrel without any muzzle device. The additional, elongated chambers help minimize muzzle flash and blast.
In addition to compensators and muzzle brakes, another popular method for reducing the rifle’s impact on the shooter in the AR-15 platform is by modifying the gas system. Broadly, there are two seemingly contradictory approaches: The first is to replace the standard buffer with a heavier or hydraulic one. By reducing the speed of the bolt carrier, this method spreads out the felt recoil impulse over time. It can also improve reliability by giving the system more time to feed a round from the magazine. This modification is particularly beneficial when using suppressors, which tend to increase internal pressure in the firearm. A heavy H2 buffer (with two tungsten weights and one steel weight) is included in Cobalt Kinetics’ Eclipse rifles from the tactical line.
The second method, used primarily in sport shooting, follows an opposite philosophy—it involves using the lightest possible internal components, such as the buffer and bolt carrier, combined with appropriate return springs. Through gas regulation, it is also possible to reduce the speed of the bolt carrier, but lighter components provide a much broader range of adjustments. The downside of this approach is its sensitivity to changes in ammunition, dirt, and environmental factors, which, however, is usually not an issue during most competitions. Low-mass bolt carriers are primarily found in Cobalt Kinetics rifles from the competition line—Team Level 2 and 3, and, of course, the EVOLVE.
Neither of these methods, however, completely eliminates the most undesirable phase of recoil: the moment the buffer and bolt carrier strike the back wall of the buffer tube. Yet, the engineers from St. George managed to devise something innovative—the PRO return system buffer. Simply put, without the previously mentioned impact, the recoil would feel more like a continuous push rather than a sudden jolt, as seen in the Ultimax machine gun (incidentally designed by L. James Sullivan, one of the co-creators of the AR-15). The CK engineers have managed to approximate this effect as closely as possible within the AR-15 platform. The PRO system includes a redesigned buffer tube with an insert, a buffer, and a polymer bumper. The insert centers the buffer and reduces friction, while the bumper is designed to eliminate metal-to-metal contact during the buffer’s impact, which significantly reduces vibrations during firing. The included set of springs and weights allows further customization of the system to match the ammunition used. The PRO system can be found in both competition and precision models.
Both the uppers and lowers of Cobalt Kinetics rifles are crafted from a single billet of 7075 aerospace-grade aluminum. This process ensures not only high strength at a low weight but also provides significantly greater flexibility in shaping the rifles. This explains the—let’s say—unconventional appearance of most models.
Finally, I saved the most controversial topic for last—the price. It’s not without reason that I previously compared them to sports cars; their cost, especially for the most advanced models, is relatively similar.
The expense might seem unnecessary and excessive—until you sit behind the wheel of such a car or fire your first magazine from a Cobalt rifle 😉
Photos: Cobalt Kinetics
