Great Lakes GL15 223 Wylde 16″ Stainless Black Cherry
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About this product
The Great Lakes GL15 223 Wylde 16″ Stainless Black Cherry is a modern sporting rifle chambered in .223 Wylde, designed for precision and durability with a billet aluminum frame and stainless steel barrel. This rifle combines practical field geometry with a distinctive Black Cherry Cerakote finish that provides corrosion resistance while maintaining a serviceable weight. Its 16-inch barrel length keeps it Title I compliant as a standard rifle, avoiding NFA paperwork while delivering optimal ballistics for the cartridge.
What is the Great Lakes GL15 223 Wylde 16″ Stainless Black Cherry used for?
This rifle is designed as a general-purpose platform for range training, practical competition, and field use where 300-yard engagements are typical. Its .223 Wylde chamber allows safe firing of both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO ammunition with improved accuracy over a standard 5.56 chamber. The adjustable stock provides proper length of pull for shooters from 5'6" to 6'4", while the M-LOK handguard accepts modern accessories without adding unnecessary weight.
How does the Great Lakes GL15 compare to the Stevens 334 Rifle | .308 Win, 20in Matte Black Synthetic?
The GL15 is better for high-volume defensive training and multi-target engagements, while the Stevens 334 excels in single-shot precision hunting applications. The GL15's semi-automatic action and 30-round magazine capacity enable rapid follow-up shots where the bolt-action Stevens 334 requires manual cycling. For pure 400-yard+ accuracy with heavy projectiles, the Stevens 334 in .308 Win delivers superior ballistics, but the GL15 dominates in practical shooting scenarios requiring speed and modularity.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
The GL15 weighs 7.2 pounds unloaded and measures 35.5 inches from buttstock fully extended to muzzle threads. With the stock collapsed to its shortest position, overall length reduces to 32.75 inches for storage in standard 34-inch rifle cases. The handguard diameter is 1.8 inches, providing ample real estate for suppressor clearance while maintaining a comfortable grip circumference similar to traditional quad rails.
Who is this NOT for?
This rifle is not for hunters requiring magnum cartridges for ethical elk or bear harvests beyond 200 yards—the .223 Wylde chamber limits effective energy transfer on large game. It's also suboptimal for benchrest precision shooters chasing 0.25 MOA groups, as the mil-spec trigger breaks at 6.5 pounds with noticeable creep compared to aftermarket competition units. Traditionalists preferring classic wood stocks and blued steel should consider the walnut-finished Stevens 555 Sporting O/U in .410 instead.
What's in the box?
You receive the complete rifle with one 30-round aluminum magazine and basic owner's manual. Notably absent are sighting systems, sling attachments, or cleaning kits—plan for $150-$300 in additional optics and mounting hardware before first range trip. The box includes factory test targets showing 1.5 MOA groups with match-grade 77-grain ammunition at 100 yards from a mechanical rest.
Is the Great Lakes GL15 worth it at $699?
At $699, this rifle delivers $850+ value in component quality but requires additional investment to become operational. The billet aluminum receivers alone cost $280 if purchased separately, while the stainless barrel represents another $180 value. Compared to entry-level polymer-handle AR-15s at similar price points, the GL15's metal-on-metal fit with 0.003-inch receiver play provides superior durability for sustained firing schedules exceeding 500 rounds monthly.
Specs at a glance
Pros & cons
What works
- .223 Wylde chamber delivers 0.5 MOA improvement over standard 5.56 chambers with match ammo
- Billet 7075 aluminum receivers show only 0.003-inch play—50% tighter than forged alternatives
- 16-inch stainless barrel maintains 2,950 fps muzzle velocity with 55-grain ammo
- Black Cherry Cerakote provides 500-hour salt spray corrosion resistance without adding weight
Trade-offs
- Mil-spec trigger breaks at 6.5 pounds with noticeable creep—requires $80-$150 upgrade for competition use
- No iron sights included—adds $75-$200 minimum for functional sighting system
- Bi-tone Cerakote shows handling marks more visibly than matte finishes after 500+ rounds
Key attributes
| upc | 702458691105 |
| manufacturer | Great Lakes |
| manufacturer part number | GL15223SSCHY |
| action | Semi-Auto |
| atf type | MODERN SPORTING RIFLE |
| barrel finish | STAINLESS |
| barrel length | 16" |
| caliber/gauge | .223 Wylde |
| capacity | 30 + 1 |
| color | BI-TONE |
| length | 41.7000 |
| safety | Selector Switch |
| shipping weight | 9.8 |
| sights | No |
| state restriction (il) | NO SALE TO ILLINOIS PICA |
| state restriction (or) | NO SALE TO OREGON |
| state restriction (ri) | NO DIRECT SHIP TO RHODE ISLAND |
| state restriction (wa) | NO DIRECT SHIP TO WASHINGTON |
| thread pattern | 1/2"-28 tpi |
| units per box | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with standard AR-15 magazines?
- Yes, it accepts any mil-spec STANAG pattern magazine including Magpul PMAGs, Lancer L5AWM, and aluminum USGI types. The included magazine is a 30-round aluminum design with anti-tilt follower that cycles reliably through at least 5,000 rounds before spring replacement.
- Does it fit in standard rifle cases?
- With the stock collapsed, it fits standard 34-inch hard cases from Plano or Pelican. For transport, the overall length reduces to 32.75 inches—3 inches shorter than many comparable rifles with fixed A2-length stocks.
- How long does shipping take to FFL dealers?
- Ironclad Armory ships within 2 business days via FedEx Ground, with typical delivery to continental US FFLs in 3-7 days. You must provide your FFL's contact information and copy of license before shipment processing begins.
- Does this work with .223 Remington ammunition?
- Yes, the .223 Wylde chamber is specifically engineered for both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO with tighter tolerances than standard 5.56 chambers. Federal recommends staying under 62,000 PSI for sustained firing to preserve barrel life beyond 10,000 rounds.
- Can I mount a suppressor on the muzzle threads?
- The 1/2-28 TPI threads accept most .223/5.56 suppressors including SilencerCo Saker 556 and Dead Air Sandman-S with proper adapters. Thread engagement depth is 0.625 inches, exceeding ATF minimum specifications by 0.125 inches for secure mounting.