US PALM’s STORM CAT4

By Kenzie Fitzpatrick

Specifications

  • Overall Length (Collapsed): 33.5 in
  • Overall Length (Extended): 36.8 in
  • Overall Height: 7.3 in
  • Overall Width: 2.7 in
  • Barrel: 16 in Cold Hammer Forged 4150 Chrome Moly Steel Twist Rate 1:7
  • Weight Unloaded: 7 lbs
  • Furniture: US Palm 7-Sided M-LOK Rail, US Palm Grip, Magpul DT Carbine Stock
  • MSRP: $1,399.99

Precision, Power, and a Hurricane of Features

I love it when I get sent a gun for review, and it ends up surprising me in a great way. The US Palm STORM CAT4 rifle blew me away like the hurricane that it is (see what I did there). In all seriousness, the STORM CAT4 isn’t just another AR-15 or a gun to sleep on. It is fully ambidextrous, loaded with features, and has an MSRP of just $1,399.99. My friend, TC, and I threw a few hundred rounds downrange with it, and were impressed to say the least. Let me dive into what makes this rifle such a sweet deal.

"The US Palm STORM CAT4 rifle blew me away like the hurricane that it is"

"The STORM CAT4 has complete ambidextrous controls from the ambi bolt release and magazine release to the ambi charging handle and safety selector."

Ambidextrous Controls

I’m a big fan of AR lower receivers designed with ambidextrous controls. Similar to how pistols are now, for the most part coming cut from the factory for an optional red dot optic, I think the new “norm” in the industry nowadays is for manufacturers to build ARs with ambidextrous controls. While many rifles come with an ambidextrous charging handle or safety selector because those are simple part swaps, it’s more challenging to find a rifle with a lower receiver that has an ambi bolt release and magazine release. The STORM CAT4 has complete ambidextrous controls from the ambi bolt release and magazine release to the ambi charging handle and safety selector. Not only that, the safety selector is installed from the factory as a 45-degree throw rather than 90 degrees. All of these controls allow for a right-handed or left-handed shooter to fire the gun without breaking their strong hand or support hand grip off the gun.

Hiperfire Trigger

I have not used a mil-spec trigger in years, maybe close to a decade now. I’m just not a fan of how heavy and non-smooth mil-spec triggers are. If a rifle comes with a mil-spec trigger, that part goes straight in the trash and is immediately replaced with an aftermarket one. US Palm built the STORM CAT4 rifle with the Hiperfire Enhanced Duty trigger, the Designated Marksman already installed and ready for action. I have probably owned about a dozen Hiperfire triggers and have yet to experience a failure with any of them. I run the Eclipse personally in my Gen12 shotgun, my competition ARs, and in my PCCs. I think US Palm made a great decision by using the Hiperfire EDT trigger. That part alone costs $99.00.

"I have probably owned about a dozen Hiperfire triggers and have yet to experience a failure with any of them"

"The rear-locking interface keys directly into the upper receiver, creating an ultra-secure foundation that resists flex."

US PALM Mono-Loc Handguard System

One of the unique aspects of the STORM CAT4 rifle is its US PALM Mono-Loc handguard design. The rear-locking interface keys directly into the upper receiver, creating an ultra-secure foundation that resists flex. Most uppers sit flush against the upper receiver, whereas the handguard on the STORM CAT4 locks into place, so there’s less chance of handguard movement, and the Picatinny rail lines up perfectly. The handguard itself is seven-sided with M-LOK slots everywhere to give the end user endless options for mounting lights, lasers, sling mounts, foregrips, and other accessories.

"The flared magwell is significant enough to make a difference when reloading the rifle."

Flared Magwell

I’d be remiss not to mention the flared magwell design on the lower receiver. US Palm invested a lot of time and dedication in the small details that matter on the STORM CAT4 rifle. The flared magwell is significant enough to make a difference when reloading the rifle. I’m a fan of any feature that helps with speed or accuracy. A flared magwell on a pistol is a must-have for me, so I can understand the benefit of it on a rifle as well.

HURRICANE Hybrid Flash Hider/Compensator

The STORM CAT4 is topped off with the US Palm Hurricane Hybrid Muzzle Device. It has a very aggressive helical, twisted-prong design that follows the barrel’s twist direction. Growing up in the Florida panhandle, the design definitely gives me some PTSD (only joking). This muzzle device performs better than expected and is one of my favorite features of the STORM CAT4 rifle. It makes a big difference behind the gun when you’re shooting, and it is miserable to stand next to as a non-shooter (which means it's doing its job)

"This muzzle device performs better than expected and is one of my favorite features of the STORM CAT4 rifle."

"This grip has the perfect amount of texture, with a comfortable grip angle, and is long enough to fit my hand and TC’s hand."

Furniture

For the most part, I use a lot of Magpul furniture on rifles, so the DT carbine stock that comes on the US Palm STORM CAT4 rifle was familiar and adds value to the platform. The US Palm grip was new to me and a welcome surprise. This grip has the perfect amount of texture, with a comfortable grip angle, and is long enough to fit my hand and TC’s hand. There is nowhere on this rifle where US Palm “skimped out,” and I think that’s what impresses me most nowadays.

Range Testing

The unloaded weight of the gun is 7 pounds, which is about the industry standard. Given this rifle's full capabilities and its accuracy with various types of ammunition, I am curious to see how it shoots with an LPVO scope mounted on it. I mounted the AEMS-PRO-X2-GDoptic on the STORM CAT4 and shot lights out on steel targets from 75-100 yards. The AEMS is an enclosed rifle sight with a selectable 2 MOA dot, 65 MOA circle, or combined reticle. If you have never tried the Gold reticle option from Holosun, I think it is my new favorite, and it is better than red or green. On the day I zeroed and shot this rifle, the sun was out in full force, and I didn't even need the brightness turned all the way up. An integrated anti-reflective device minimizes glare and reflections, and the included four-post lower 1/3 co-witness mount positions the optic at a height of 1.63 inches for modern rifle setups and iron-sight alignment (if applicable). The AEMS PRO X2 features the solar failsafe with Shake Awake, which anyone familiar with Holosun Optics will recognize.

TC and I both shot the rifle offhand, off a tank trap prop, and from the bench position, nailing each target we aimed at. My favorite rifle target setup I have is the Speed Rack from Shooting Targets USA. I recommend the Swinger setup, as you can really test your rifle's accuracy by impacting the smaller target after hitting the larger plate above it. The Speed Rack features SR500 steel mounted at a 15-degree angle to deflect bullet fragments downward, keeping the shooter safe and prolonging the target's life. The two accessories I used when shooting the STORM CAT4 from the bench are the Thunder Beast Arms bipod and Wiebad Gear fortune cookie. A good bipod and one solid support bag make a big difference in long-range precision shooting. With this combination, I shot tight groups with the STORM CAT4 using five different types of ammunition and felt very in control with each shot fired.

"I shot tight groups with the STORM CAT4 using five different types of ammunition and felt very in control with each shot fired."

Final Thoughts

The STORM CAT4 definitely blows me away (I can’t stop with the jokes), and I am very impressed by the build from end-to-end. This gun is really loaded with features, built for competition or plinking, and ready for both right-handed and left-handed shooters. Available in both black and storm green, this isn’t an AR to sleep on.

Previous page
Next page