The LMT MARS-L Shovelnose 5.56 Piston Rifle pairs a piston operating system with the monolithic rail platform LMT patented, chambered in 5.56x45mm with a 16-inch barrel. The Shovelnose upper was designed for shooters who need more room to mount accessories when running LMT piston barrels, and its larger internal diameter lets any LMT barrel be installed or removed without taking M-LOK add-ons off the handguard. Receiver and handguard are machined from a single piece of aerospace-grade aluminum, which keeps the whole forward end rigid. Underneath sits the ambidextrous MARS-L lower, so the rifle runs the same from either shoulder. It is a strong fit for a heavily accessorized carbine build, a duty-style home-defense rifle or a hard-use range gun from LMT.

Key Specifications

• Chambering is 5.56x45mm, the standard AR carbine cartridge with the widest ammunition selection.
• The barrel is 16 inches of chrome-lined chromoly, a durable bore for high round counts.
• Operation is piston-driven, which keeps combustion gas out of the receiver.
• The upper carries 19.25 inches of Picatinny rail along the top, with M-LOK-compatible attachment points on the other seven sides for lights, lasers and grips.
• The trigger is an AXLE two-stage design from the ambidextrous MARS-L lower, giving a clean break after a defined take-up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will other LMT barrels fit the Shovelnose upper? Yes. The larger internal diameter lets any LMT barrel be installed or removed without taking M-LOK add-ons off the handguard. The receiver is built around the LMT monolithic barrel assembly, which has a low-profile gas block and straight gas tube.

What comes with the rifle? LMT supplies a magazine, an owner’s manual and three rail panels. The MARS-L lower adds ambidextrous bolt catch and release, magazine catch and safety, plus a winter trigger guard, a QD swivel endplate, an ergonomic textured grip and a SOPMOD stock. Magazine capacity is 30 rounds and the barrel has a 1:7 twist.

Buy the LMT MARS-L Shovelnose 5.56 Piston Rifle, 16-Inch Barrel

A piston AR with an upper built around accessory room is a specific tool, and this is the configuration LMT designed for it. Order it from our Lubbock, Texas gun shop for fast, insured shipping to your FFL, and see more AR rifles while you are here.