Lewis Machine and Tool Company
Encyclopedia
Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) was founded by Karl Lewis in 1980. LMT started its business by providing law enforcement and government agencies with military type weapons and accessories. Today, LMT still provides law enforcement and government agencies with weapons, but they have now also expanded their services to foreign military and commercial retailers. All of LMT's engineering and manufacturing is done in house at the Milan, IL facility. LMT manufactures complete weapon systems such as the M4/AR15 and the M203 grenade launcher
. Today, both the US military and the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence
utilize many of the products that LMT makes.
. It is available in two different lengths, one standard rifle length and the other for Close Quarters Battle (CQB). The MRP upper receiver has a quick change barrel system that allows the operator to change the caliber or the barrel length of the weapon in a very short period of time. The MRP also features a free-floating barrel, relatively low temperature to handguard & optics, long barrel life, easy-to-access/clean design, a straight gas tube resists bending and retains better alignment with gas key as compared to other designs, and a relatively low number of parts (13). Also, its top rail position matches M4 & E3-type weapons ensuring optics and sight compatibility and accepts standard & enhanced M16-type (Stoner design) components
In late 2009, LMT introduced the LM308MWS (L129A1). The LM308MWS uses the 7.62x51mm NATO round. The L129A1 is based on the proven Stoner Rifle design with some new features that including a one piece upper receiver and a completely free-floating barrel
design for improved accuracy. LMT integrated their MRP design into the large AR platform. Since the LM308MWS has the MRP design, the barrel is completely free floating, thus increasing its accuracy and its ability to stay cool. This design also allows changing the barrel to a different size in around one minute. Reports have shown that this rifle has an effective range of 800m and can easily achieve a Sub-MOA grouping.
The LM308MWS standard US commercial model differs slightly from the UK issued L129A1 in the following aspects:
1) the barrel is a 16" fully chrome-lined, cryogenically treated, polygonal rifled 1:10 right-hand twist chrome-moly machinegun grade steel. It is crowned with LMT's special crown design, designed for maximum accuracy with ordinary ball ammunition.
2) the muzzle device is a standard M16A2 type flash suppressor instead of the SureFire suppressor mount.
3) the sights are the LMT detachable fixed sights instead of the Knight's Armament folding battle sights.
4) the supplied furniture is black instead of the coyote brown supplied to the UK MoD.
LMT is currently supplying 16", 18" and 20" 1:11.25 blackened stainless match barrels, as well as 16" and 20" chrome-lined chromemoly 1:10 battle barrels available for civilian purchase.
M203 grenade launcher
The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilize the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low. Though versatile, and compatible with many rifle models, the M203 was...
. Today, both the US military and the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
utilize many of the products that LMT makes.
Notable products
LMT created the Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP). The MRP is a one piece upper receiver for the AR-15/M4/M16 platform and is made from a single aluminum forging. The LMT MRP has a quad rail system that utilizes the Mil-Std 1913 railPicatinny rail
The Picatinny rail or MIL-STD-1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail or a "Tactical Rail" is a bracket used on some firearms in order to provide a standardized mounting platform. A similar system is the Weaver rail mount.-Description:...
. It is available in two different lengths, one standard rifle length and the other for Close Quarters Battle (CQB). The MRP upper receiver has a quick change barrel system that allows the operator to change the caliber or the barrel length of the weapon in a very short period of time. The MRP also features a free-floating barrel, relatively low temperature to handguard & optics, long barrel life, easy-to-access/clean design, a straight gas tube resists bending and retains better alignment with gas key as compared to other designs, and a relatively low number of parts (13). Also, its top rail position matches M4 & E3-type weapons ensuring optics and sight compatibility and accepts standard & enhanced M16-type (Stoner design) components
In late 2009, LMT introduced the LM308MWS (L129A1). The LM308MWS uses the 7.62x51mm NATO round. The L129A1 is based on the proven Stoner Rifle design with some new features that including a one piece upper receiver and a completely free-floating barrel
Free-floating barrel
A free-floating barrel is a specific design technology used in highly accurate rifles, particularly match grade rifles, to increase the accuracy of the weapon.With normal rifles, the barrel rests in contact with the stock...
design for improved accuracy. LMT integrated their MRP design into the large AR platform. Since the LM308MWS has the MRP design, the barrel is completely free floating, thus increasing its accuracy and its ability to stay cool. This design also allows changing the barrel to a different size in around one minute. Reports have shown that this rifle has an effective range of 800m and can easily achieve a Sub-MOA grouping.
Minute of Angle
Minute of angle is the measurement of a ballistic round's deviation from its initial heading due to gravity and/or the effect of air resistance on velocity. Informally known as a "Bullet's Trajectory" or "the rainbow effect". Long range weapons must account for this effect because a fired round...
The LM308MWS standard US commercial model differs slightly from the UK issued L129A1 in the following aspects:
1) the barrel is a 16" fully chrome-lined, cryogenically treated, polygonal rifled 1:10 right-hand twist chrome-moly machinegun grade steel. It is crowned with LMT's special crown design, designed for maximum accuracy with ordinary ball ammunition.
2) the muzzle device is a standard M16A2 type flash suppressor instead of the SureFire suppressor mount.
3) the sights are the LMT detachable fixed sights instead of the Knight's Armament folding battle sights.
4) the supplied furniture is black instead of the coyote brown supplied to the UK MoD.
LMT is currently supplying 16", 18" and 20" 1:11.25 blackened stainless match barrels, as well as 16" and 20" chrome-lined chromemoly 1:10 battle barrels available for civilian purchase.