If you’ve followed any of my AR build articles, you know I like some oddball stuff. Like the DL-44 Blaster build I did earlier this year. Well, if you liked the build but don’t want to do your own, then Battle Arms Development has you covered with their Solo Blaster.
The Solo Blaster
Here’s how Battle Arms describes their new offering: Inspired by one of the most iconic weapons in the galaxy. The perfect choice for any bounty hunter, smuggler, or rebel looking to make a statement. Like all BATTLEARMS products, this .22LR blaster is built to last and will impress anyone who sees it. So why settle for a dull, ordinary blaster when you can follow in the footsteps of a true legend? Get yours today and join the ranks of the galaxy’s most elite!
You can see from their description that Battle Arms is fully embracing Star Wars with the smuggler description being a direct nod to Han Solo, the franchise’s charismatic rogue star ship pilot. Han’s sidearm throughout the series was a trusty DL-44 Blaster, which is what the AR based Solo Blaster is based on. So things come full circle. We have a an actual firing gun, based on a sci-fi blaster that was originally based on another firing gun, the C-96 “Broomhandle” Mauser.
The Battle Arms Solo Blaster is chambered in .22 LR, and is built on a one of their uppers and lowers. The lower has the Battle Arms logo on the left side, and is finished in a three tone, battle worn cerakote. It uses a standard selector switch on the left side and a custom custom ambidextrous safety selector on the right. Otherwise the Solo looks to have your typical AR controls and is equipped with an enhanced nickel teflon trigger.
The Solo has a 5 3/8 inch long barrel covered by a custom machined muzzle device that emulates the DL-44. The DL-44’s muzzle device was actually the flash hider off of a WW I MG18. The grip frame and wood grip panels are designed to look like a C-96 Mauser grip but are properly scaled to the AR receiver. The Solo doesn’t come with sights but has a standard picatinny rail atop the upper receiver. It can take any optics lie a red dot sight, or a side mounted scope like Han’s DL-44.
Solo Particulars
While Battle Arms doesn’t specifically mention it, the grip and muzzle device look to be from Canto Arms, and are what I used in my build. If so, they’re top quality and are, in my opinion, the best looking option I’ve seen on the various DL-44 builds. The grip is a lot more comfortable than other Mauser-style grips I tried. It’s an aluminum grip frame that bolts on to the AR lower, and then accepts the grooved, wood panel grip scales. It has the right look, and is hand filling. The AR based pistol weighs almost three pounds. It’s not a brick, but there’s some mass, and it is big for a .22, so the full-sized grip works out well.
The other thing I noted on the Battle Arms build was that they use the Smith & Wesson MP15/22 magazine. That’s a smart choice since the M&P 10 round mags are a lot shorter than the Black Dog Machine mags that other .22 blaster builds use. The shorter mag gives the gun a cleaner look, a bit closer to the DL-44 and the C-96 its based on. That means there’s probably a Redi-Mag adapter in there, or at least something similar. The S&W mags work well, are light weight and pretty affordable, too.
The Battle Arms Development Solo Blaster is a premium looking package. That comes with a premium price tag though. MSRP is a cool $1,995 Galactic Credits, with a 1 for 1 exchange rate with the U.S. dollar. That’s a lot of scratch, but it is a really clean build, with smart parts choices and a nice custom finish. If you want join the galaxy’s elite, and don’t want to part out your own build, then you can snag a Solo Blaster that’s ready to go.
Battle Arms Solo Blaster Specs
Caliber: .22 LR
Action: Semi-Automatic
Capacity: 10+1
Barrel: .22 LR
Overall Length: 13-1/2 in. (343 mm)
Barrel Length (With Custom Muzzle Fixture): 5-3/8 in. (135 mm)
Barrel Profile: 41V50 Steel; Silver
Weight (Empty): 2 lbs. 15.8 ozs. (1.4 kg)
Grip: Real Wood Custom
Finish: Custom 3-Tone Battle Worn
MSRP: $1,995
Read the full article here
