.223 Day Special: The Armalite TAC 20 and Vortex PST Gen II 2-10x32mm Riflescope

In celebration of .223 Day, EuroOptic is putting together a special package optimized for long-range precision shooting: an Armalite M15 TAC 20 rifle, paired with a Vortex PST Gen II 2-10x32mm Riflescope and CM-202 cantilever mount.



The M15 TAC 20 is outfitted with a 20 inch (hence the TAC 20 designation) stainless steel barrel with a black nitride finish. Although an 18-inch barrel is still highly suited for long-range shooting, a 20-inch barrel is able to squeeze out a little more velocity. The barrel is topped with a slim 3-port compensator with additional porting to vent some of the gasses up and to the right, this in turn pushes the rifle down and a little to the left – a nice feature for right handed shooters.



The TAC 20’s receiver is pretty standard for an AR-platform, but it does have a few bonus features like an ambidextrous safety, a Raptor Radian charging handle, and a two-stage trigger. The TAC-20’s gas system is rifle-length, making recoil soft and manageable, and an adjustable gas block allows the user to tune the rifle to their preferred ammunition or make it more compatible with a suppressor. What really steals the show for the TAC 20 is its Luth-AR MBA-1 stock, which can be finely tuned to the user’s desired length of pull and cheek height.

The Vortex PST Gen II 2-10x32mm Riflescope is perfectly paired with the TAC 20, mounted via the CM-202 cantilever mount.



This mid-range optic is in the first focal plane, and is equipped with tactical exposed turrets that produce tactile and audible clicks. The PST Gen II also has Vortex’s exclusive Rapid Zero Return (RZR), allowing you to easily find your original zeroing after making adjustments in the field. An illuminated reticle and multi-coated lenses makes the PST Gen II a good choice for shooting in the failing light of the early morning or late evening especially when set to a low illumination level. The M15 TAC 20, equipped with the PST Gen II, can easily hit targets at ranges within the 600 to 700 yard mark. However, in the right hands and in optimal wind conditions, this rifle/scope combination can reach all the way out to 800 yards. Applications for this set up could include predator and varmint hunting, as well as a beginner rifle for someone looking to get started long range shooting.

Operational specifications aside, one of the greatest aspects of the AUG rifle series is the ergonomics. That funky, futuristic design doesn’t just look cool in movies, it offers excellent control over the whole weapon. I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but the AUG A3 M1 just feels natural to bring to your shoulder, and measuring in at a mere 28.15 inches, is incredibly pointable. These qualities, plus a foldable fore-grip make handling the AUG A3 M1 an absolute delight. The rifle’s controls are equally as impressive. The two-position cross-bolt safety is in an optimal position that’s close to the user’s dominate hand, and a large magazine release switch located directly behind the magazine allows for fast reloads even when wearing gloves. Another user-friendly feature is the charging handle which can be locked in the rearward position similar to that of an MP5. Unfortunately, there is one major drawback to the AUG A3 M1 – it does NOT come with the signature integrated optic/carry handle. Not gonna lie, that was a major letdown for me and deals a serious blow to the rifle’s “cool factor”. It does however come with a 16-slot picatinny rail for installing an optic of choice, but it just doesn’t have the same AUG silhouette that I’ve seen in the countless B-movies of the 80s and 90s. All things considered, the AUG A3 M1 is still an outstanding weapon. The ergonomics, intuitive controls, and reliability-enhancing design features makes the AUG A3 M1 an excellent alternative to an AR-platform.