Few AR-15-style rifles have had the impact on the American Rifleman staff as did the Stag Arms Stag-15L Model 4L (December 2005, p. 70). At that time, we had three left-handed staffers, and the debut of a fully left-hand engineered AR-style semi-auto caused a tremendous amount of brass to be expended on our test range.
   As a company, Stag Arms is still relatively new; however, experience is far from lacking. Founded by Mark Malkowski, who literally grew up in the AR parts business, Stag has been producing true left-hand rifles—the first to address excess gas porting and case deflection—since 2003.

Stag Arms’ Super Varminter comes out-of-the-box ready with a free-floated 24” bull barrel within a tactile, knurled and fluted aluminum handguard, a match-grade, two-stage trigger, an ergonomic Hogue rubber pistol grip and a Picatinny rail atop the receiver.

   But Stag Arms isn’t solely devoted to southpaws. For each lefty model in the Stag stable, there is a right-hand counterpart. And now that stable includes a true long-range, precision AR, the Stag-15 Model 6 Super Varminter.
As the popularity of AR-style rifles continues to soar, rising in sub-categories such as hunting or long-range precision, many companies are expanding their product lines to take advantage. Stag Arms’ Super Varminter is no exception.
   In terms of function, the Super Varminter is typical of the AR-15 family. Gas-operated, air cooled, and featuring the famous multi-lug bolt, our test sample, a conventional right-side ejection port model, was familiar in both form and function. The top of the A3/A4 flattop upper receiver is machined into a military-standard M1913 Picatinny rail.
   Forward, the barrel is free floated within a horizontally fluted, knurled aluminum handguard complete with a sling swivel stud for bipod attachment. Gone is the typical A2-style front sight assembly; the Super Varminter’s low profile gas block provides no provision for front sight attachment, making this model dedicated to receiver-mounted optic use.
The Super Varminter’s upper and lower receivers are forged from 7075 T6 aluminum. The 24" stainless steel bull barrel has an outside diameter of 0.925" at the muzzle and is chambered in 5.56x45 mm NATO. It has a 1:8 right-hand twist, which makes it well suited for heavier varmint and competition-style bullets; a target-style crown protects the barrel’s rifling. To stay on target, a two-stage trigger provides a clean break at 6 lbs., 9 ozs.
   A 10-round detachable box magazine feeds the system; however, we found that several aftermarket 30-rounders functioned reliably as well. During firing, the Hogue rubber pistol grip was a welcome upgrade, being both comfortable and functional.
   Although collapsible stocks are very much in vogue these days on a multitude of AR-style rifles, the Super Varminter features the standard A2-type stock. This is preferred on a precision model, as it provides a much better surface on which to achieve a consistent cheek weld. And as an added bonus, users benefit from the well that can be accessed beneath the buttplate trap, as it is perfect for the obligatory cleaning kit.
   All AR-type systems run better with regular attention to carbon fouling in the chamber area and barrel. Tight-fitting systems such as the Super Varminter will benefit even more, so it’s important to clean regularly in order to achieve this rifle’s accuracy potential.
   Stag Arms claims the Super Varminter to be a true half-minute-of-angle rifle, which is exceptional accuracy in a production-class rifle. While our tests didn’t confirm that claim, they did, however, hint to the possibility.
   Like everyone else in the free world, we at American Rifleman are feeling the crunch on availability of quality .223 Rem. ammunition. At the time of this testing, most of our supply of ammunition loaded with relatively heavy bullets had been exhausted. But the 77-gr. Federal Gold Medal Match load we tested considerably outshot a 53-gr. load, leading us to believe experimentation with other factory loads and/or handloads would shrink those groups to the point they might just back up the Stag Arms claim of half-m.o.a. Simply stated, this rifle shows a lot of potential.
   And it’s that potential that has us most excited about the Stag Arms Super Varminter. With a suggested retail of just over a grand, this is a tremendous amount of gun for the money when you factor in the aftermarket upgrades that come standard on it.
   For all practical purposes, the Stag Arms Super Varminter is ready right out of the box, as users need to only mount a scope to make the rifle field-ready. Whether it’s destined for 600-yd. steel targets or a prairie dog town, with a bit of load experimentation and some range time, the Super Varminter should deliver superior performance.

STAG-15 MODEL 6

Manufacturer: Stag Arms (Dept. AR), 515 John Downey Drive, New Britain, CT 06051; (860) 229-9994; www.stagarms.com

Caliber: 5.56x45 mm NATO (.223 Rem.)

Action Type: gas-operated,
semi-automatic center-fire rifle

Receiver: forged aluminum upper and lower with matte-black finish

Barrel: 24" stainless steel

Rifling: six-groove; 1:8" RH twist

Magazine: 10-round detachable box supplied; accepts standard
AR-style magazines

Sights: none; Picatinny flat-top
receiver for mounting

Trigger pull: Two-stage; 6 lbs., 9 ozs.

Stock: A2-style; black synthetic: length of pull, 13 5⁄8"; drop at heel, 5/8"; drop at comb, 5/8"

Overall length: 42 1/4"

Weight: 9 lbs., 11 ozs.

Suggested Retail Price: $1,055