FN 15 Guardian 5.56 NATO
Model: 36-100740
FN 15 Guardian 5.56 NATO
Model: 36-100740
Full Specifications
Threaded 1/2x28 barrel: compare 5.56 / .223 suppressor prices.
About This Firearm
The FN 15 Guardian is a mid-length semi-automatic AR-15 in 5.56 NATO built for home defense and sport shooting. It has an MSRP of $999. Its barrel is a nitride-coated HBAR profile in 4150 chrome moly vanadium made to MIL-B-11595, high pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected after proof firing, which is the barrel process FN puts in its service rifles.
It comes with one 30-round FN polymer magazine and a six-position snag-free buttstock with several sling attachment points built in. The free-float aluminum handguard carries a continuous Picatinny rail at 12 o'clock and 24 M-LOK slots at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, and it pinch-locks to the upper with anti-rotation hardware. No sights are fitted. The trigger, selector and charging handle are mil-spec and right-handed, and the muzzle is 1/2x28 under an A2-style flash hider.
If you're cross-shopping, a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III has an MSRP of $799 and free-floats its barrel too, at 0.08 lbs lighter, without a military barrel specification behind it. An IWI Zion-15 has an MSRP of $999.99 for much the same money, with B5 Systems furniture and a 1:8 twist against the Guardian's 1:7. All three leave the sights to the owner, and they differ in barrel specification and furniture.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- FN also lists the Guardian with a reduced-capacity magazine for states that cap them.
- The lower is forged 7075 and hard coat anodized, and the trigger, selector and charging handle are ordinary mil-spec parts, so upgrades are cheap and reversible.
- The continuous 12 o'clock rail means an optic and a magnifier can sit anywhere along the top with no step between receiver and handguard.
- Running it from the weak shoulder means buying an ambidextrous selector and a two-sided charging handle.
- No sights are included, so the rifle cannot be aimed until an optic is bolted to the rail.
- The buttstock is FN's own with the sling socket built in, so a mil-spec replacement gives that attachment point up.
Category Rankings
How the FN 15 Guardian 5.56 NATO ranks among full-size 5.56 NATO rifles.
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Alternatives to Consider
Similar full-size 5.56 NATO rifles ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III 5.56 NATO
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|
$699.00 |
|
Springfield Armory SAINT 5.56 NATO
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$881.99 |
|
Aero Precision M4E1 5.56 NATO
Aero Precision
|
— |
|
Taurus T4SA 5.56 NATO
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— |
|
Sig Sauer M400 Tread V2 5.56 NATO
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$923.99 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What magazines does it take?
Any AR-15 magazine. The FN polymer magazine in the box is a STANAG-pattern body.
What does the pinch-lock handguard do that a clamp does not?
It mates to the upper receiver with anti-rotation hardware instead of hanging off a plain barrel nut, so the rail cannot twist against the receiver when a sling or a bipod loads it.
How does FN test the barrel?
The steel is made to the military barrel specification, the barrel is nitride coated, and barrel and bolt are both high pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected after proof firing.
