r/canadaguns • u/moe-idk • Jul 20 '26
Gun and gear reviews Backland Hunter Comp First Impressions
Ever since the original backland hunter came out I’ve been eying one, but the reviews kept me away. Seeing the comp come out and a few good reviews I decided to give it a try.
Ordered a set of irons for it which still haven’t arrived, but I wanted to try it out so threw a red dot on and took it to EESA.
Ran about 50 rounds of .223 with the only issue being not feeding 2 rounds. Also realized that if you raise the cheek riser it’ll block the charging handle lol.
New to guns so I don’t have anything to compare to, but fit and finish is good. Planning on taking it out again next weekend and might update.
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u/So_Sorry_EH Jul 20 '26
Hopefully it doesn’t end like the crypto 🤞🏻I learned my lesson with crusader arms but wish you the best!
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u/DougMacRay617 Jul 20 '26
What lesson was that?
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u/So_Sorry_EH Jul 20 '26
Very low QC standards, you can tell the rifles are rushed and I’ve only heard nightmares about their warranty.. My rifle performs pretty well but I feel it’s wearing in certain areas way too fast.
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u/DougMacRay617 Jul 20 '26
Oh yeah 100% they definitely live up to the canadian firearm manufacturer reputation
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u/ExpandDong- Jul 20 '26
I had a crypto that had failiure to feed every 2-3 rounds, RDSC told me that the original uppers had so many tolerance issues with the BCG and they swapped my crypto for the Backland Hunter Tan/wood free of charge, it seems to work fine for now but i got to admit that i lost faith in them because of it, but right now it seems okay
I don't think it will win a reliability contest but it does go bang more often than not lol
Note that mine doesn't really like pointy rounds like M855
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u/So_Sorry_EH Jul 20 '26
At least RDSC hooked you up! My cryptos BCG pushes on my mags so bad they won’t seat when full
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u/Tookan_ Jul 20 '26
With all due respect, you could've waited until next month for two much better 556 black rifles to hit the market than anything Crusader Arms related, and for about 100-200 bucks cheaper than the Backland Hunter Comp.
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u/moe-idk Jul 20 '26
Fair enough, deciding factor for me was I just like the look of the backland the most.
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u/Razor99 Jul 20 '26
What two 556 black rifles are you referring too? Sorry havent been following much since the raven went bye bye. But im in the market (and patient, and have my own property i can shoot on.)
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u/A-U-Ahmed Jul 20 '26
Brigade Makasi and IWI Carmel
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u/Razor99 Jul 20 '26
Are either of these reputable / reliable or strong brands?
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u/A-U-Ahmed Jul 20 '26
I think both these rifles are from well recognized brands. IWI in particular makes military grade small arms.
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Jul 20 '26
Yes but the backland hunter comp is actually the cheapest of the 3 at 2200, mk 15 is 2400 and the carmel is 2500 MAP
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u/Tookan_ Jul 20 '26
Remember seeing it at 2600 MSRP, guess i remembered wrong. Still priced ridiculously considering how Crusader Arms is.
Although on another note, if some shit goes sideways with anything Crusader Arms related, then I guess fixing it would be the other $400 I had previously thought of for the MSRP.
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Jul 20 '26
Eh theyre doing lifetime transferable warranties on them now. Corie told me theyre investing in staff as well which is why theyve been way more responsive. (To give you an idea they even ghosted me as a dealer back in the templar/sentinel days). But i am being super cautious still, only doing an order size of 1 at a time. But yeah definitely still a buyer beware for a while longer.
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u/HappyCan7250 Jul 21 '26
Crusader is apparently offering a lifetime warranty on these. I grabbed one of the Comps to mess around with while awaiting my Mk15, I also really wanted a top charging rifle to LARP AR.
I know they got an awful rep in the past and seriously screwed some guys around, but I do think they have really stepped up their customer service. Every time I've emailed them with questions they've answered within hours, even on Canada Day holiday. Rifle is overgassed is my biggest complaint on it, and mags aren't great, but it's a pretty sexy rifle and a blast to shoot.
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u/TescoValueSoup Jul 20 '26
Cheapest - but that comes with no FRN, which is some level of peace of mind for some folks.
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Jul 21 '26
Yeah, FRT is no guarantee though either unfortunately.
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u/TescoValueSoup Jul 21 '26
Not having an FRN means extra questions, and more chances of an uneducated cop deciding I get to test out our court system if I get pulled over on the way to the range or hunting. I can control the odds of this by my firearm haivng an FRN.
An FRT entry being changed by dictate and OIC is a problem none of us can control.
I know which ones I'd buy
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u/Greenxgrotto Jul 20 '26
Is this a pump thing or a semi auto thing
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Jul 20 '26
Semi auto. Built off the benelli m4 gas system, but has ar charging handles, ar safety, pistolgrip, stock and trigger. Ive been bringing them in 1 at a time to be safe cause crusader has an iffy rep but so far so good.
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u/Ustauk Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
It would be more accurate to say it uses a Benelli-style recoil recovery system, but it uses a DI-ish internal piston to harvest the recoil energy from energy imparted on the bolt carrier with a standard AR gas tube into a standard gas key. It is like the CMMG Dissent, in that it uses the Di-ish system with an alternative recoil-recovery mechanism to a standard AR-buffer tube and spring. If they could improve their QA, it should actually have a better center of balance then the Alcor, Maksasi, or Carmel, since there is no piston adding weight to the front-end, with the tradeoff it "poos where it eats", that is carbon and other particulates will end up in the receiver from the gases impinging the gas key, whereas the others will have the carbon dumped where the piston is impinged.
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u/HappyCan7250 Jul 21 '26
It is a DI system, no piston. Standard AR gas block, standard AR gas key, standard AR bolt, but proprietary bolt carrier.
Its honestly like 75% AR parts. I already swapped the trigger I had from a previous rifle, and putting in a new charging handle this week.
Compatible parts that I know of - Handguard Gas block Gas key Bolt/cam pin/ firing pin Trigger group Grip Barrels Charging handles Mag release Bolt release Safety Dust cover
Non AR parts - BCG Proprietary upper and lower Mags/mag well... although that mag well is VERY close to being a standard AR mag well, just has some ridges inside that stop a standard STANAG from fitting, but seeing as it uses a standard AR mag release, it could in theory fit STANAGs if someone was so inclined to grind some ridges down in the mag well.
It is very close an AR. Id even dare to say its more AR than the mk15 or Carmel, although I do think the Mk15 and Carmel are probably better made, the BH Comp is still a very fun, and very nice looking rifle. I still have a Mk15 on order but love the look of the BH Comp. It might be my favourite looking of all 3. The BH Comp does have a ton of options for upgrade and tuning as well as it actually i think uses significantly more AR parts than the Mk15 or Carmel.
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u/HappyCan7250 Jul 21 '26
Is yours overgassed? I guess if you're new to guns you may not be able to tell.
I love mine, just because its 75% of an AR. Accueacy is pretty good, around 2moa with bulk 62gr 5.56. Rifle is definitely a bit overgassed, I believe, as it flings brass out far and at about 1-2 o clock from the shooter. I believe properly gassed "ARs" should eject right around 3 o clock. Not a big deal but it may wear out the buffer spring a bit early.
Nice thing is that the rifle does actually have a lifetime warranty according to Crusader. You can find their email online if you need to contact them - theyve actually been great to deal with for me, despite all the horror stories I had heard.
Just keep an eye on your charging handle. The tiny pin in mine that holds the release lever worked loose and jammed into the receiver. Can't really fault Crusader too much for that as they probably sourced them in bulk from a supplier and didn't manufacture the handle themselves, amd there are plenty of aftermarket handles out there for cheap. I wanted a slightly larger handle anyway as the factory one is a bit awkward with the scope setup I have right now.
I absolutely love the look of these rifles. I do wish they could've just used a straight mil spec buffer tube instead of the angled Benelli style one, but I get why they had to do that cause with a straight buffer tube it'd basically just be a Crypto 2.0 haha
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u/moe-idk Jul 22 '26
I don’t know what overgassed would feel like. But I have a video from the range and mine ejects between 2-3 o clock. I’ll keep an eye on the charging handle. I emailed them once, got a reply asap.
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u/ExpandDong- Jul 20 '26
Would you think that the Comp stock would fit on a regular Backland with the oak stock ? I have a Wood / Tan one and i would much rather get a stock like yours
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u/HappyCan7250 7d ago
Older post but how is yours holding up?
Still absolutely love mine, got it basically as soon as they hit stores. Probably 500rd through it, few minor issues (charging handle pin walked out and jammed the handle, but i can't really fault them for that, and I got a new handle that I liked more for $30)
Gun shoots surprisingly well, decent accuracy, about 2" groups with bulk M855 green tip 5.56
Mine is definitely overgassed, sends the brass FLYING, considering putting an adjustable gas block in, but it still runs good as is, just worry about it wearing out the buffer spring a bit faster.
I refer to it as my "AR" for simplicity sake when talking about it, its pretty damn close. About the only parts that are not (aside from receiver of course), is not carrier, buffer tube/spring, and mags. It would be cool if they release upper kits eventually for easy swaps between 300 BO, maybe 7.62x39, 6.5 Grendel etc.
They're actually very fun rifles, and I learned they do actually have a lifetime warranty too which is cool
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u/NewsCertain9511 4d ago
Not sure what happened when I got it use to be purple like everyone else but than notice its black now lol not complaining though. I wonder if the purple is a coating
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u/717Luxx Jul 20 '26
2 failures to feed in 50 rounds isn't great... but i hear sometimes these have a bit of a break in period.
often people will end up needed to file down spots on/around the bolt carrier to let it run smoother. which is crazy for the price tag this thing carries.