Z-M Weapons LR300 Take Down Details

There seems to be some renewed interest in this rifle, the Z-M Weapons LR300, every since Para Ordinance purchased the manufacturing rights to the rifle from Al Zitta.

I thought I'd throw some pictures up again showing its inner workings.

The LR300 has been around for 20 years or so and now it's going to be reborn with an even tacticooler name. Just to mention it is a direct gas impingement rifle not a piston gun.

Here is what my Z-M Weapons LR300 model NXL looks like. I, unfortunately, have to have what is called a MonsterMan Grip instead of a traditional pistol grip because I live in California and due to the various laws etc. I wanted to put together a "featureless" build which allows me to run a rifle with the ability to use a normal magazine release button. So, to accomplish that I had to use a funny looking grip. It isn't too bad actually. Also, I don't have the fancy, expensive, folding stock, I just have the regular fixed skeleton stock.

This picture shows the top rail removed exposing the buffer spring that runs on top of the barrel inside the handguard. A bullet or some kind of object is needed to depress the detent just ahead of the front sights to remove the top rail. You can now see a metal rod inside the spring. This is the extra long gas key that invaginates (that's the exact word Al Zitta uses to describe it) the gas tube which you can just see near the end of the hand guard where the spring ends. Holding the spring in place is a little "C" clamp. The spring compresses along the gas tube which acts as a guide.

This picture shows the length of the gas key, the spring and the bolt carrier group. Notice the bolt carrier is about half the length of a regular AR15. Also, you can see the "C" clamp just below the spring. It fits in the groove that is at the end of the extended gas key once the rifle is assembled.

This shows a close up of the bolt carrier group. The gas key is staked. Notice the extra vents for gas to escape from, his allows the gun to run cooler since a lot of the gas and crud vents out of the gun. Also notice it's missing the portion of the bolt carrier that sits against the buffer which saves on weight. This also means less recoiling mass.

This pictures shows the length of the gas tube. That's about the distance the gas key moves, approx. 4.5 inches any more and the two tubes would come apart.

Finally, here is what the extended gas key looks like with the buffer spring around it.

There you have it. It's a very elegant design and so far I am very happy with it. It's very accurate and felt recoil is significantly reduced compared to my traditional AR15 style rifle. Not only that, but the rifle runs a lot cleaner too. And I mean a lot cleaner. Also, it doesn't seem to need a lot of lube to run compared to the regular Stoner design.

Z-M Weapons LR300 Fixed!

Just to follow up on my broken LR300.

I was attending a Viking Tactics Carbine Course and half way through day one my LR300 broke! I was very disappointed because I was trying to show that this thing could perform. Some students were very impressed with the accuracy until it broke. Then interest faded fast!



In the picture above the op-rod broke right on the tip just above where the spring ends. This picture shows it before it broke...

I bought the rifle from Yankee Hill Machine as they were the official builders/distributors of the LR300 and since then the the manufacturing license was sold to Para Ordinance. So, I was in a little bit of a limbo state not knowing where to get the rifle fixed since Para isn't up-and-running yet with the new rifle. Luckily, I had called Al Zitta, the inventor of the LR300, previously and talked with him about his rifle and got some other parts. So, as soon as it broke I called him up and he said, "Send it in".

I sent the rifle December 20th UPS ground and as soon as he received it he called me to explain what had happened. He said it looked like the op rod was off spec a little and it's been fixed and sent out!

I got it back today and it looks better than new! The Yankee Hill Machine guys did a bit of a hack job on it grinding off the nice nickel plated finish off of the op-rod assembly.




The shiny parts is where they ground the material off.

The new op-rod is perfect and Al worked his magic on some other parts deburring parts here and there and polishing the feed ramps.



He's an awesome dude! Now I have to put it through the ringer and try and break it again! I feel confident that it won't fail again in that area anyway.

Al was mentioning that he has more control over the manufacturing and quality control now that Para Ordinance is taking over manufacturing of this awesome rifle so it will be made according to Al's specifications.

Z-M Weapons LR300 Becomes ParaUSA TTR

ParaUSA bought Z-M Weapons LR rifles with their unique direct impingement gas system.



I happen to have bought the Z-M Weapons LR300 NXL just before the company was sold to ParaUSA so now I can show you the unique features of the rifle that I have.

The rifle works great pretty accurate although I'm still testing that aspect. Keeps a little cleaner that a traditional Stoner designed DI gun. It's a little harder to break down. When they say "no tools needed" that's not entirely true.

The picture above is a shot of my gun with a fixed stock. The folding stock is $350.00 extra dollars and I can't get it anyway and remain over the 30" requirement when folded.

I bought the "kit". I ended up putting the LR300 upper on my Noveske lower. Nice tight fit.

Here a pic of the top rail removed and you can see the "buffer" spring and the extended bolt key that covers the half length gas tube.



Here's a shot of the gas tube. Not very long is it?



Here's a pic of the bolt carrier group, extended bolt key and buffer spring that runs along the barrel.


Here a close up of the BCG. Notice that it's about half the length of a regular BCG and the extended bolt key is raised.

This shot shows the "buffer spring" over the extended bolt key.


This shows the gas tube and the extended bolt key goes over it.



All in all I'm happy with the rifle. I've used it in one carbine course and it was reliable. I'm still on the fence regarding accuracy though.

I have a three holed YHM muzzle break on my gun and when it's being shot there is no muzzle movement at all and deminished recoil too.

Z-M Weapons LR 300

I purchased a LR300 because I liked the idea of having an AR-15 style rifle with the buffer spring located on top of the barrel.

It's a very ingenious design that a guy names Aldo Zitta invented.



This allows for a folding buttstock if you want it or a lighter buttstock in general. Also, the gun runs a little cleaner even though it is still a direct impingement system running it.

I'll be using it for three gun matches and tactical rifle such as what is offered at Chabot Gun Club