Missouri-based manufacturer CMMG is unleashing the MkG45 GUARD, a new AR-15 in .45 ACP. Available in five different configurations, the MkG45 GUARD uses CMMG’s patent pending Radial Delayed Blowback system and is fed from Glock magazines.

“With the GUARD, we set out to engineer an affordable, highly reliable AR chambered in .45 ACP that would use the widely-available Glock magazines. In the early stages of design, we tested out a variety of different operating systems, including straight blowback and direct impingement, but none of those options gave us the reliability we were looking for. We ultimately came up with the design for the Radial Delayed Blowback system and from there, all the pieces started falling into place,” said Chris Reinkemeyer, CEO/CFO at CMMG, said in a statement.

According to the press release, the GUARD’s Radial Delayed Blowback system features a bolt carrier group (BCG) that looks like those found on a DI AR-15 but with a different operation. Critical to the system is the rotating bolt key. The act of the bolt being forced to rotate and unlock slows down the BCG just enough to safely cycle .45 ACP while simultaneously keeping the BCG and buffer lighter than 9mm AR15s.

The advantages of this new operating system are manyfold. For example, it reduces overall weight and decreases felt recoil. It also allows you to run calibers that have been historically too powerful for straight blowback but weren’t appropriate for direct impingement.

With the MkG45 GUARD, CMMG put a premium on fully functional AR-15 controls, including last round hold open. The MKG45 GUARD comes with a new patent pending, dual-pinned, fully machined bolt catch linkage, which provides consistent and reliable operation straight out of the box; no fine tuning or adjustments required. The actuation from the linkage is robust, to the point where it still uses a standard bolt catch spring.

The MkG45 GUARD ships with one 13-round factory Glock 21 magazine. CMMG recommends using factory double-stack Glock .45 ACP mags for optimum reliability. If you want to fine-tune the GUARD for +P ammo or suppressors, bolt weight kits will be sold separately.

MSRP for CMMG’s MkG45 GUARD ranges from $1299.95 to $1599.95, depending on the configuration you choose. See below for specs.

MkG45 GUARD T

BARREL: 16.1″ 1:16 Twist, Medium Taper 4140 SBN Barrel

MUZZLE: CMMG SV Brake, Threaded .578-28

HAND GUARD: CMMG RKM11

FURNITURE: A2 Pistol Grip, M4 butt stock with 6-pos mil-spec receiver extension

RECEIVERS: Billet 7075-T6 AL Lower, Forged 7075-T6 AL Upper

TRIGGER: CMMG Single Stage Mil-Spec style trigger

WEIGHT: 5.6 lbs (UNLOADED)

LENGTH: 32.5 (STOCK COLLAPSED)

MSRP: $1299.95

MkG45 GUARD DRB

BARREL: 16.1″ 1:16 Twist, Medium Taper 4140 SBN Barrel

MUZZLE: CMMG SV Brake, Threaded .578-28

HAND GUARD: CMMG RKM14

FURNITURE: Magpul MOE Pistol Grip, Magpul CTR stock with 6-pos mil-spec receiver extension

RECEIVERS: Billet 7075-T6 AL Lower, Forged 7075-T6 AL Upper

TRIGGER: CMMG Single Stage Mil-Spec style trigger

WEIGHT: 5.8 lbs (UNLOADED)

LENGTH: 32.5 (STOCK COLLAPSED)

MSRP: $1399.95

MkG45 GUARD PDW:

BARREL: 8″ 1:16 Twist, Medium Taper 4140 SBN Barrel

MUZZLE: CMMG SV Brake, Threaded .578-28

HAND GUARD: CMMG RKM7

FURNITURE: Magpul MOE Pistol Grip, Magpul MOE stock with 6-pos mil-spec receiver extension

RECEIVERS: Billet 7075-T6 AL Lower, Forged 7075-T6 AL Upper

TRIGGER: CMMG Single Stage Mil-Spec style trigger

WEIGHT: 5 lbs (UNLOADED)

LENGTH: 25 (STOCK COLLAPSED)

MSRP: $1349.95

MkG45 GUARD PDW Pistol

BARREL: 8″ 1:16 Twist, Medium Taper 4140 SBN Barrel

MUZZLE: CMMG SV Brake, Threaded .578-28

HAND GUARD: CMMG RKM7

FURNITURE: Magpul MOE Pistol Grip, CMMG Pistol receiver extension

RECEIVERS: Billet 7075-T6 AL Lower, Forged 7075-T6 AL Upper

TRIGGER: CMMG Single Stage Mil-Spec style trigger

WEIGHT: 4.7 lbs (UNLOADED)

LENGTH: 24″ (STOCK COLLAPSED

MSRP: $1299.95

MkG45 GUARD DRB2

BARREL: 16.1″ 1:16 Twist, Medium Taper 4140 SBN Barrel

MUZZLE: CMMG SV Brake, Threaded .578-28

HAND GUARD: CMMG RKM14

FURNITURE: Magpul MOE Pistol Grip, Magpul CTR stock with 6-pos mil-spec receiver extension

RECEIVERS: Billet 7075-T6 AL Lower, Forged 7075-T6 AL Upper

TRIGGER: Giessele Automatics SSA

WEIGHT: 5.8 lbs (UNLOADED)

LENGTH: 32.5 (STOCK COLLAPSED)

MSRP: $1599.95

For more information, visit cmmginc.com.