The NL-545 semi-automatic carbine is a product of the “ADAR Ltd” company, operation in St. Petersburg, Russia, under the brand “Custom Guns Next Level”, or CGNL in short.
CGNL NL-545 semi-automatic carbine
This carbine represents a further evolution of the family of AR-15-type NL-15 rifles and carbines, produced by the same company in a variety of calibers and configurations. Like other guns in this line, NL-545 carbines are intended for hunting, sport shooting (including dynamic sports like IPSC and 3-Gun) and other civilian uses. The key difference is that NL-545 carbines are adapted to fire Soviet/Russian 5.45x39mm ammunition from AK74-style magazines, which are readily available in Russia.
CGNL NL-545 semi-automatic carbine
As said above, NL-545 carbine is based on a modern AR-15 architecture. It uses same aluminum alloy upper and lower receivers, connected by cross-pins, same rotary bolt locking, buffer mechanisms, trigger parts etc. Gas system could be either a traditional Stoner-type Direct Impingement, or a short-stroke gas piston, with a manual gas regulator. Key departure from the AR-15 pattern is in the feed system. The usual magwell is replaced by a magazine housing which would accept any AK-74 compatible “rock-and-lock” magazines. Magazine latch is an interesting combination of an AK-style paddle release in front of the trigger guard and a Stoner-type button above it, on the right side of the lower receiver. To facilitate such system, both upper and lower receivers are slightly longer at the front than any traditional “mil-spec” AR15/M16 receivers. Since AK-style magazines are not compatible with a bolt hold-open device, this feature is absent on NL-545 carbines.
CGNL NL-545 semi-automatic carbine
NL-545 carbines are offered in a variety of configurations, including different furniture, barrel lengths and profiles. All barrels are cold hammer-forged and chrome-plated inside, to ensure longer service life and rust resistance, especially when firing steel-cased ammunition with bimetal-jacketed bullets of Russian manufacture.
Carbines made with DI gas system are usually offered with AR-15 compatible aluminum forends. Carbines with a piston system feature higher upper receivers and thus are offered with proprietary aluminum alloy forends with quick-detach locks. All NL-545 carbines are provided with “flat top” upper receivers with integrated Picatinny rails.
CGNL NL-545 carbine with a short stroke gas piston system and a quick-detach forend
CGNL NL-545 carbine, brief specification
Encyclopedia of firearms and ammunition of the XX and XXI centuries
All texts are written by Maxim Popenker © 1999-2025
