Vortex VMX-3T Magnifier

Various color options/finishes including Kryptek, Carbon Fiber, Coyote Tan & more

Chad Wallace

March 22, 2017

Belt, Concealed Carry, Handgun, Holsters

RPS Tactical Adaptive Holster Review

Chad Wallace

March 22, 2017

Belt, Concealed Carry, Handgun, Holsters

Everyone has been there; the drawer or tupperware container full of holsters. You’ve tried numerous ones, and there is always some sort of issue with them. The holster is too bulky; the holster doesn’t have any flex to work with your body shape; it only allows for one method of carry or storage. RPS Tactical has addressed these issues. Located in Fairfield, Maine, RPS Tactical was started by a local LEO and his brother, with a focus on making holsters, belts & nylon gear along with many other custom items. I spent some time with Rob and his brother Nick and discussed the way they make their holsters, as well as the way they hand stitch their belts. Their attention to detail and commitment to quality is very apparent in the way they make their items and the final product they put out. They are also willing to work with the customer. When I wanted to get a holster made by them, they didn’t have the mold for my Steyr C9A1 (most people don’t) and they were willing to let me bring my firearm over for them to mold the holster. I know another individual who had a specific need and they worked with him to get the holster and belt exactly as he wanted it. With the owner of RPS Tactical being a law enforcement officer, they have a really good understanding of what goes into comfortable everyday carry of firearms and other gear.

I did a podcast with the guys at RPS and they made me the Adaptive Holster for my Steyr for me to evaluate. I spent almost 8 months carrying my Steyr with the Adaptive holster in the IWB and then the OWB configurations. I had long road trips in the car, range trips, working outside, going on walks with my wife and son & pretty much every single other everyday thing you do. The Adaptive holster is a kydex shell with a sturdy leather backing. On the body side of the backing material is the soft side of industrial strength velcro. This allows for various mounting options if you purchase the corresponding velcro patches that can be affixed to any surface. For my body type, I found the OWB configuration worked better for me. I carried setup as IWB from June to about November, when I switched to the OWB configuration as the weather got colder and I could start wearing jackets. The IWB worked good, but with my body type I’ve found that IWB can be uncomfortable over extended periods of time. I am confident other people that don’t have issues with IWB carry will find the RPS Tactical Adaptive holster very comfortable.

During my time wearing the holster (and I am still wearing it to this day) i noticed no abnormal wear or any hardware backing out or failing on it. Everything was very sturdy, reholstering was very easily accomplished, and the trigger guard was suitably covered. The kydex is molded to your specific firearm, and the retention was fantastic. As with most high quality holsters, the leather backing was cut to allow for a full grip on the firearm prior to drawing.

One thing I will also note is the soft side velcro backing. While it is there for the mounting options as we discussed before, it also makes for very comfortable carry if the holster is directly against your skin. I, like many people, do not enjoy having a tucked in shirt. I have used other holsters that have the large leather backing and oftentimes found that when they were against bare skin that there was a lot of perspiration and discomfort especially in the hot summer months. It seems like the soft velcro backing on the body side of the holster allows some air to get in between the backing and your skin, preventing any perspiration or discomfort from occurring. For those of you who like to wear a tucked in shirt, the IWB configuration is tuckable as well. There are other carry options for the adaptive holster as well, including a paddle mount or purchasing the RPS Tactical Shoulder harness and using your existing holster as a shoulder holster.

If you are looking for a very high quality holster (or any other pieces of high quality gear) from a fantastic small business, look no further than RPS Tactical. Their commitment to their products long after it has left their shop is telling. I have had multiple people come back to me after I have steered them toward RPS Tactical for their holster needs and tell me that they were so happy to work with RPS. Rob and Nick were very attentive to their needs and oftentimes they ended up getting fitted out with belts and other items above and beyond what their original request was. That speaks volumes as to the character and dedication that the guys at RPS have to customer satisfaction. I was very happy to evaluate their holster, and would highly recommend their products to my friends and family, for both duty & EDC use.

FIREARMS INSIDER REVIEWS - 8 KEY POINTS

CLAIM TO FAME:

Adaptive Holster System (Various Mounting Options)

TARGET MARKET:

Those wanting a high quality holster for everyday carry that can be utilized in a variety of ways.

FNBS (FEATURES & BENEFITS OF THIS PRODUCT):

Convertible between IWB & OWB
Tuckable during IWB carry
Soft side velcro backing against the body
Sturdy leather backing with cut to allow full grip of firearm before drawing.

WHAT OTHER AESTHETIC OPTIONS OR FINISHES ARE AVAILABLE?

LINK TO OTHER REVIEWS:

Tactical Toolbox Review

PRICE POINT:

$65.00 (various options may be extra)

I NEED IT NOW! AVAILABILITY:

RPS Tactical LLC

OUR RATING:

Ryan Cross

February 20, 2017

Vortex Sparc AR Red Dot

Ryan Cross

February 20, 2017

For a while, the Vortex Sparc was the reigning champ of sub $200 quality built red dot optics. For those who couldn't afford an Aimpoint at over twice the cost, the Sparc and the later Sparc II was either their first red dot purchase, or their first upgrade from a budget Chinese imitation model. Since then Vortex is still a leading brand in the optics world, and has updated the Sparc product line to specifically cater to the AR-15 and other modern sporting rifles with the Sparc AR.

The Sparc AR is specifically designed for the next generation of AR-15 rifles and other modern sporting rifles.

The Sparc AR is a simple but needed evolution of the Sparc II optic, which was a much needed enhancement of the Gen I Sparc. Improvements over the Sparc II are mostly superficial, as Vortex went for a much more streamlined profile. This included a transition from the CR2032 battery to a standard AAA battery. The 2032 battery being quarter sized required placement in a turret compartment as big as the tube itself. The new AAA battery is integrated into the base itself, which leaves the sides of the optic more compact and cleaner.

The AAA battery compartment is built into the base, keeping the sight body as slim as possible.

The AAA battery has a life of 300 hours at the maximum brightness, and 5,000 hours at the minimum brightness... just like the Sparc II's CR2032. Also just like its predecessor, the Sparc AR has 10 variable illumination settings—the lowest two settings are night-vision compatible. Another feature Vortex kept the same was the automatic shut off after 12 hours to prevent accidental battery rundown.

Moving the controls from the left side to the base also helps keep the body sleek and compact.

The up and down brightness controls have been moved from the left side to the base as well, which leaves the body of the optic much slimmer overall. Vortex incorporated a rubber cover with tethered lens caps. The caps help keep dust and dirt from getting on the lenses, and they can interlock into each other to stay out of the way when the optic is in use.

The lens caps suck. I'd prefer something spring loaded or magnetic to keep the caps out of the way without a meticulous process of snapping them together.

Its almost impossible to snap the caps together one handed, let alone in your peripheral vision. If you don't like them (which I wouldn't blame you) you could either snip the tethers and remove the caps from the soft armor, or pull the whole thing off entirely. Honestly, I'm disappointed it this design from Vortex. Standard small scope caps can't be used either, as the Sparc AR doesn't have any tubular objective or eye piece like the Sparc II did. Maybe someone else will design a rubberized armor cover with flip up caps as a third party option.

The Sparc AR is more Aimpoint-like than the Sparc II. Both still hold up as my favorite red dot sights.

Now back to the Sparc AR... it utilizes a crisp 2 MOA dot (so did the Sparc II). For those who don't have MOA burned into their brain, that means the dot will cover up a 2 inch diameter circle at 100 yards. At 200 yards that coverage doubles to 4 inches, and so on. 2 MOA is a good sized dot for a precise point of aim, but should be easy enough to pick up when shouldering the rifle. The controls are easy to use while maintaining sight picture, and the electronics automatically return to last dot intensity used when powered back up.

The 2MOA dot is crisp and perfect for precise, slow shooting or fast rapid shooting.

The Sparc AR still uses a removable 3mm shim plate to offer absolute cowitness height (37mm) or lower third cowitness (40mm) like the Sparc II did, however the ability to remove base entirely and mount low onto the rail was lost in the upgrade. Obviously the AR in the optic's name stands for AR-15, and there's little need for super low mount on the receiver or on a free floated rail, as the comb on any stock would still be too high for a usable eye height. For AK rifles, shotguns, and certain pistols this ability was a must. Hopefully Vortex doesn't discontinue the Sparc II anything soon. Its shared footprint with the Aimpoint Micro T-1, Micro T-2, Micro H-1, and Micro H-2 was also a huge benefit, as there were plenty of QD bases available.

The Sparc AR is just as at home on a bullpup like the IWI Tavor as it is on the AR-15.

With all the comparisons to the Sparc II, you'd think I wouldn't like the Sparc AR at all. Thats not necessarily true. One big plus over the Sparc II is the shutoff sequence. You wouldn't think pressing and holding two buttons at the same time would be difficult, but with gloved fingers it was a royal pain, and often I would just leave it on to shutoff automatically after 12 hours. With the Sparc AR you only have to press and hold the down button, much easier to do with gloves on and either hand.

Don't worry, the Sparc AR still works great with the Vortex 3x magnifier, if not even better than the Sparc II did because of the lack of cylindrical objective and eye pieces.

I really enjoy the sleeker design of the Sparc AR... especially atop my IWI Tavor bullpup. It is still very much compatible with the Vortex VMX-3T magnifier, however the repositioned rear controls are harder to use with the magnifier deployed versus when they were located on the side of the Sparc II. The slick sided profile and battery-integrated base are still worthy evolutionary traits of the Sparc AR though, and it's a great choice for anyone with and AR-15 or other rifle variant. I would say just be aware of the differences between the two generations, and don't hesitate to get both either, because 2 smart decisions are still better than one!

FIREARMS INSIDER REVIEWS – 8 KEY POINTS

Claim to Fame: Duty rifle - home defense—recreation, the SPARC AR is built to handle all your red dot needs.

Target Market: Modern Sporting Rifle / Modular Rifle owners (AR-15s, SCARs, etc)

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Single-Piece Chassis
Hard Anodized low-glare matte finish
Unlimited eye relief and parallax free
Nitrogen Gas Purged
Waterproof, fogproof and shockproof
Sutomatically shuts off after 12 hours
Uses common AAA battery
Typical battery life 300 hours at maximum brightness and 5,000 hours at minimum brightness
Fully Multi-Coated
10 variable brightness settings — lowest two settings night-vision compatible..
Operating temperature rated -4 degrees to +158 degrees Fahrenheit.
Multi-Height Mount System Includes a spacer shim that can be utilized to provide two different mounting heights: lower 1/3 co-witness (40 mm) & absolute co-witness (37 mm)

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Black Only

What others are saying?: "" Amazon User Review

Price point:

MSRP: $259.99
Retail: $199.00 @ Amazon or $199.99 @ Brownells

I need it now! Availability: Brownells or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

Sleeker, sexier design
Integrated lens caps
Soft rubber armor is removable
Easier to shut off than the Sparc II

Cons:

Windage and Elevation caps are no longer tethered
Lens window is still small / narrow
Lens caps will dangle and obstruct your field of view if not snapped together
Snapping together of lens caps is difficult if in a hurry / focusing downrange
Position of the internal laser emitter protrudes into view, often appears with a black goo sealant that bothers a lot of people

Score: 7.5 Good

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Ryan Cross

February 20, 2017

Mesa Tactical SureShell Aluminum Shotshell Carrier

Ryan Cross

February 20, 2017

The "tactical shotgun" is a very popular build for those who use a shotgun as their primary home defense weapon. Inspired by the trench guns of the World Wars, the tactical shotgun is a great stand off weapon for holding up in a room while emergency services arrive, or clearing rooms in your house and the close yard (if you are properly trained to do so).

Reloading a shotgun is easier when shells are positioned close to the receiver's ports.

An iconic feature of a tactical shotgun is a side saddle to carry additional ammunition on board. One of the disadvantages of a shotgun versus a carbine is the magazine capacity. Even with a mag tube extension, shotguns typically top off at 6-8 shells total. Thats why carrying extra rounds is a popular practice. Bandoliers are a bit overboard in my opinion, as are slings with shell loops. However side saddles are quite popular as they position the shells close in proximity to the action for quick reloads.

The Mesa Tactical SureShell is a rugged and solid side saddle.

Mesa Tactical has been synonymous with rugged and high quality shotgun accessories, often used by Law Enforcement and security forces. Their SureShell line of aluminum side saddle carriers are a popular aftermarket add on for several popular shotgun models, including the Remington 870 / 1100 / 11-87, Mossberg 500 / 590 and 930, and Benelli M1/M2/M4/M1014 and SuperNova. Some SureShells utilize the receiver pin holes, while others use the shotgun's drilled and tapped receiver when an optic rail is wanted.

The elastomer tube goes through each bore in the yoke to provide friction resistance.

For my home defense build, I opted for a Remington 870 Express that I could readily swap between a 26" choked barrel during hunting season, and an 18" barrel during the rest of the year. The SureShell comes in handy both in the field and at home, as it works with all types of shells: birdshot, buckshot, and slugs. Its even handy for carrying a alternate type of load then what's loaded up, like if your hunting for upland birds and deer at the same time, or rubber buckshot for non-lethal, and 00 buckshot for extra-lethal.

The SureShell carrier is milled from 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum, then bead blasted and anodized with a mil-spec, non-glare finish. It is secured to 870's receiver with a bracket that comes with an adhesive-backed rubber gasket to protect the shotgun’s finish from marring by the carrier's flush screws. Back in my cheapskate days, I had glued microfiber cloth to the back of a TacStar side saddle's bracket. Oh how relieved I was to upgrade to a more rugged and professional solution.

The SureShell shotshell carriers come in three configurations: four-shell, six-shell and eight-shell. The Eight-shell configuration spans the entire side receiver and seemed overkill for my application. The four-shell carrier was appealing as it could be installed on either side of the receiver, just behind the action port if installed on the right side. I went with the six-shell carrier, since my current magazine capacity is six in home defense configuration, and three when its hunting season.

The SureShell uses a Chicago screw and a standoff pin. Comes with an extra Chicago pin set and washer in case custom filing of the female screw is needed, and you need two tries.

Mesa Tactical also makes SureShell carriers that work specifically with M4 SOPMOD buttstocks using special hardware, and an adapter mount so carriers can be attached to shotguns already equipped with the Mesa Tactical High-tube or Lowtube Telescoping Stock Adapter. The carriers are pretty specific, so the 870 one I picked up wouldn't work on stocks. But if you are the kind of guy who wants to carry an extra 12+ rounds onboard the shotgun, I guess its handy to know Mesa makes that possible.

Mesa supplies two different elastomer tubes with different stiffness ratings. I swapped to the white elastomer for increased resistance.

Mesa Tactical also designed SureShells with integrated rails for certain shotguns with drilled and tapped receivers. So instead of a stamped backing plate, the shell carrier yoke is attached to the top of the receiver, and users can attach an optic to the picatinny MIL-STD 1913 sight rail. Personally, I didn't intend to do any modification to my 870's receiver, and instead use a barrel with rifle sights for use in the home. This keeps the receiver nice and clean for traditional sight picture when trap, skeet, or wing shooting.

For those afraid of marring their shotgun's finish, Mesa provides an adhesive backed rubber gasket to add a protective buffer between the bracket and receiver.

One compatibility factor you have to consider is your shotgun's forend. If the forend overlaps the receiver when you rack the action open, then the forend itself may contact the SureShell carrier, and require modification for proper functioning of the shotgun. For instance, if you own a Remington 870 Super Magnum thats designed for 3.5" shells, the factory forend will not come back fully with a side saddle installed. Ask me how I know!

For 870 owners, its very, very important you remember to remove this clip that engages the trigger pin. If you don't, you'll be pounding away at the Chicago screw all day and possibly damage your internals.

The SureShell receiver mounting system for Remington 870, 1100 and 11-87 shotguns uses a combination of steel fasteners threaded into a steel pin (at the rear) and paired Chicago screws (up front) for more secure attachment to the shotgun without the risk of pinching the receiver. The mounting plate even features a window over the shotgun serial number location, to make it easier for armorers to inventory their weapons.

The shotgun shells are retained inside the aluminum carrier via an elastomer tube that spans all 6 bores of the yolk. When the shells are inserted into the bores, the elastomer provides resistance against each shell. Mesa provides two different stiffnesses, the white tube being stiffer than the black tube. You may want to swap them out based on your preference, or if you find your climate effects the resistance property of the elastomer.

Shells can be places brass up or brass down depending on your preference and how you train.

The SureShell carrier is a huge upgrade over the TacStar I used to have on my Remington. Its got no edges to snag on stuff, and only protrudes 1.25" from the receiver. The anodized finish is a big improvement over the shiny plastic as well. The only downside is that if the weather is cold, the shrinking effect can cause shells to fit looser inside the bores. If they are positioned brass down, they could fall out. For that reason I usually insert them primers up when in a cold environment, like sitting in the duck blind in mid January.

Overall, the SureShell carrier from Mesa Tactical is a pricey but worth while for any home defense shotgun. It's a buy once, cry once kind of upgrade that should take the same degree of beating as the host shotgun can withstand.

FIREARMS INSIDER REVIEWS – 8 KEY POINTS

Claim to Fame: The Mesa Tactical SureShell Side Saddle is a rugged, reliable on-gun shotshell carrier

Target Market: Shotgun owners (home defense, security/LEO, hunting)

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

12 or 20 gauge
Elastomer friction retention holds shells in place
Machined from 6061-T6 Aluminum
Hard coat anodized black
Comes with or without a picatinny rail
Mounts via shotgun receiver pin holes or tapped receivers
Compatible with Mesa buttstocks are forends

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: available is 8, 6, 4 and 4 shell capacity for 12 or 20 gauge shells

What others are saying?: "Bought this for my Remington 870 Express Tactical. Mounting was very simple and involved removing the two action pins which hold the 870 trigger group in place. The pins are replaced by double ended screws (Chicago screws) that tighten from both directions. These, in combination with a thin rubber adhesive strip allow the mount to fit snugly to the weapon without damaging the finish. They hold on to shells very tightly from either a primer-up or primer-down position. Only difficulty is with the rubber retainer piece. When loading the side saddle, the rubber tends to squish around and twist, making remaining shells a bit tricky to load. If this happens, DO NOT FORCE THE SHELLS IN! This may damage the rubber and deform it considerably. I figured out that if you twist shells while sliding them in, they go in smoothly without binding up the rubber retainer. Knowing that, this thing is good to go! Durable, made of aluminum, and fits well. Definitely would use it on my other shotguns." Amazon User Review

Price point:

MSRP: $70.00
Retail: $64.99 @ Amazo n

I need it now! Availability: Mesa Tactical or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

Comes with two Santoprene® Elastomer tubes for variable stiffness/retention
Aluminum rings don't wear out like all plastic carriers
Doesn't cover up the serial number
Mesa has more replacement Santoprene tubes for free upon request

Cons:

Elastomer tube insert can warp if shells are inserted too hard

Score: 7.5 Good

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Ryan Cross

February 19, 2017

Griffin Armament M² Sight Deployment Kit

Ryan Cross

February 19, 2017

There are two kinds of companies: those that make a product just to sell, and those that make products they want to use themselves, because they recognize the hole in the marketplace and the need that's there. Griffin Armament is one of the latter type, and they design some of the most forward-thinking products in the industry.

There are a lot of back up iron sights out there, with their own differences and improvements over their predecessors. Some are fixed, some are collapsable. Some are in-line with the top rail, others are offset to be used in conjunction with a long, magnified optic. If you own an AR-15 or other modern sporting rifle, you probably like to try different optics and different configurations every now and then, which means accruing a junk drawers worth of different iron sight sets.

The hole in the marketplace is that there wasn't one pair of iron sights that were flexible enough to do-it-all. That, and nearly every offset sight on the market is designed to hang off the right side of the gun, leaving lefties out completely. Well, the guys over at Griffin Armament were pondering the same problems, and as a solution came out with their Micro Modular Back Up Sights.

Also known simply at M² Sights, they are flip up front and rear iron sights that mate with a dovetail-like base, secured together and tightened with a set screw. The use of the dovetailed joint allows for easy swapping between inline and offset, and also the reversal of the offset bases for either left or right handed shooters. The vertical set screw method is best way to secure the sight in place, while doing away with any unnecessary bulk that comes from a clamping design.

The M² Sights don't have a spring-loaded rapid deployment feature, but its not needed in my opinion.

Should the need arise for iron sights, it only takes a few seconds to manual pull the front and rear sights up in the ready position.

Not having an mechanical flip up feature also does away with extra moving parts, and thus removes variables that could fail. A simpler design can be a stronger and more reliable solution, and that's exactly what you want if your life depends on your rifle, and your iron sights are all you got.

The inline configuration of the M² Sights has the traditional M16 sight picture, except for the partially exposed threads of A2 front sight post.

Cowitnessing is just like it should be through a red dot optic, however the fixed aperture of the rear sight is a bit small for my preference in short range work, but it still works fine. Not having a dual aperture removes some utility, but its an acceptable compromise for a strong, solid construction. What really matters is the total height above the rail when the rear is folded, for optimal clearance of magnified optics. Folded, the rear sight is only 0.525" at its tallest point. This is plenty low enough to clear most magnified optics mounted at the appropriate height for AR-15s / AR-10s. For comparison, Magpul BUIS polymer rear sights also measure 0.525" tall when folded.

The real beauty of the whole M² Sight Deployment Kit is the angled plates that come in the bundle. The bases are ambidextrous, so you can position the dovetailed base offset on the left or right side of the rail. They are affixed to the rail via two set screws instead of just one, and only take up the smallest amount of rail space possible.

Both rear and front M² sights are windage adjustable. The front sight utilizes the A2 front sight post, so obviously its elevation adjustable as well. Using the existing pool of aftermarket A2 posts is a no brainer, and easy to replace with your favorite blade, even tritium equipped ones for low light use.

The M² Sight Deployment Kit is a well thought out backup iron sight system that fixes several issues that experiences guys have been wanted resolved. It combines the aesthetics of the more minimal backup sights like that of the FN SCAR, while using a modular attachment system previously unseen on a sight itself. Plus, they look to be one of the tankiest low profile iron sets I've come across. That, coupled with the angled ambidextrous bases that come included, make it a 'buy once, never buy again' upgrade.

FIREARMS INSIDER REVIEWS – 8 KEY POINTS

Claim to Fame: Griffin M2 sights offer an industry first, patent pending, modular base plate system and were designed to be the correct product for every backup sight application.

Target Market: Modern Sporting Rifle / Modular Rifle owners (AR-15s, SCARs, etc)

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Constructed from 17-4 stainless and ordnance grade steel materials
Melonite QPQ and Manganese Phosphate finish
Front sight compatible with mil-spec posts
Included angle plates are ambidextrous

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Black Only

What others are saying?: "Great sights. Very well made and designed. They are small enough not catch on everything, especially in a crowded gun safe. They mounted easily and securely and the rear sight fits nicely around the forward assist. Deployment is quick and sure with a solid lock. Sight adjustment is fast and easy. Because of the design you can adjust elevation at the front sight without the use of a bullet tip. All you need to do is depress the pin with a thumbnail. I am very happy with this purchase and will buy other Griffin Armament products because the quality is excellent." Amazon User Review

Price point:

MSRP: $184.95 full deployment kit, $72.00 individual vertical sights, $39.95 vertical bases, $49.95 offset bases
Retail: $164.68 Full Deployment Kit @ Amazon
COUPON CODE: “GG10” for 10% off all M2 sights/products/accessories*
*Effective til March 31

I need it now! Availability: Griffin Armament or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

Easily convertible to inline or offset configurations
Ambidextrous offset sights! Finally!
A2 front sight post compatible
Rear sights are windage adjustable

Cons:

Detents are really stiff at first
Fixed small aperture in rear sight

Score: 8.5 Great

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Smooth Stainless, Tumbled Stainless, or Flat Dark Earth

Chad Wallace

February 19, 2017

muzzle brake, VDC Armory, PHNX-MBS

PHNX-MBS Muzzle Brake System by VDC Armory

Chad Wallace

February 19, 2017

muzzle brake, VDC Armory, PHNX-MBS

For some reason, I always seem to stumble across muzzle brakes. It's not that I am recoil sensitive, they are just neat. Plus, any recoil reduction helps to keep the muzzle on target. So today I bring you the PHNX-MBS muzzle brake system, from the fine folks at VDC Armory. Notice it says system, well that's because it is. The system makes it possible to install a threaded muzzle brake onto a smooth, or unthreaded, barrel.

When first looking at the PHNX, you notice it has 2 basic parts. The first is the mounting portion. This is the part that VDC cuts to your barrel profile. When ordering, you must measure your barrel at the muzzle, and 1.5" back from the muzzle. This mounting portion is then clamped to your smooth barrel with 10 allen head screws. The supplied instructions are very thorough, so I'll just briefly go over them. When installing the PHNX, VDC says to put loctite on the barrel, and then slide the brake onto the barrel. This acts as a lubricant and sealant. Then tighten the screws evenly. Now wait at least 30 minutes until you progress to the next part.

Now on to the second part of the PHNX, which is the muzzle brake part. Now that the adapter has been mounted, slide on the crush washer and then thread the muzzle brake on. Tighten it down with the top holes up, and the line even with the line on the adapter. Now we get to try it out.

Top with center grooves lined up and holes facing up

The PHNX muzzle brake works very well. I shot it with and without the brake to see the difference. I mounted it on a .243 Winchester rifle. You might not think a .243 has much recoil, but this brake tamed the felt recoil by a ton. When shooting offhand, I can see hits through the scope, something I couldn't do without the brake. The brake also wasn't as loud as I expected, it didn't even make other range goers question it. Now to the PHNX's benefit and my junk science, it came in at a 56% recoil reduction. My junk science consists of measuring the distance the rifle moved during recoil, with and without the brake.

As with most muzzle devices, it does affect some aspects of the rifle. For one, the point of impact moved down about 3". My rifle is using a lightweight barrel profile, a heavier barrel may not change as much. The other noticeable effect, at least in my case, was the change in barrel harmonics. One of my pet loads didn't shoot near as good after installing the brake. I guess it's back to the old reloading bench. However, some of my other loads were not effected.

Some side notes. The PHNX-MBS system is NOT to be used with a suppressor. I'll take VDC Armory's word for that, as I wouldn't want to damage anything or myself. They also scribe in your provided dimensions on the bottom of the adapter. The adapter is threaded 5/8-24, so any other brake of that size can be screwed onto it also. The coating used to make the supplied PHNX black, looks pretty thick but seems to wear fine.

This PHNX muzzle brake system might not be what everyone is looking for. But as an option for not threading the barrel, it works great. The install is very easy and comes with great instructions. VDC even sent a couple extra screws. It exceeded my expectations for a clamp on system. The PHNX is well engineered and is a good muzzle brake. If this type of system interests you, give VDC Armory a look.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Clamp on Muzzle Brake System

Target Market:

Those wanting a changeable muzzle brake system without having to thread their barrel

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Clamp on system
Effectively threads barrel for muzzle brakes
No gunsmith installation
Threaded 5/8-24
Stainless Steel
Custom made to your barrel
Made in U.S.A.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

What others are saying?:

Couldn't find any

Link to other reviews:

AmmoLand Review

Price point:

MSRP = $114.00 as tested

Retail = $99.00 - 114.00

I need it now! Availability:

VDC Armory

Our Rating:

Pros:

Very Effective muzzle brake
Easy Installation
Threaded for 5/8-24
Takes standard muzzle brakes
Dimension markings on bottom of clamping system
Made in U.S.A.

Cons:

POI Shift
Thick coating
Only sold as system
No suppressor use (I was hoping)

Score: 7.50 Good

Chad’s Favorite Link: AR15 Podcast

Ryan Cross

February 7, 2017

Kinect QD MLOK Mounts by Kinetic Development Group

Ryan Cross

February 7, 2017

AR-15s were popular before, but after the proliferation of modular accessory attachment systems like M-LOK, the interest in the platform keeps on skyrocketing.

If you are a listener of the Gun & Gear Review Podcast, then you are aware of my affinity with the M-LOK system over Keymod. Gone are the days of skin grating, bulky quad railed handguards being the status quo. The ability to attach rail segments and other accessories to your firearm so quickly is a perfect match for the reigning king of modularity, the AR-15 modern sporting rifle. I just happen to believe M-LOK is more secure and reliable, and the industry seems to be leaning that way as well.

M-LOK did away with full picatinny quad-rail handguards. Now the Kinect QD rail does away with the allen wrench.

Of course for a society thats accustomed to instant gratification, the appeal of speeding up efficiency is too tempting. Lets face it, we all lust for convenience. Sure M-LOK accessories are quick to attach, but you must have the right Allen wrench or hex key on your person, and a few other variables just right in order to attach anything under 60 seconds. When a new technology comes along that removes the need for the tool, and cuts the time down on any manual labor, its going to be a potential home-run.

What seems like an invention straight out of James Bond's Q Labs, the spring loaded wedges that activate upon contact with the host M-LOK rail is pretty clever.

The Kinect QD Mount by Kinetic Development Group is an almost perfect evolution for M-LOK furniture. You no longer need to keep the proper tool inside your pistol grip or in your range bag to remove and swap accessories on your rifles. Not only that, but it also removes the possibility of over tightening screws and T-nuts entirely, as well as the need to remove accessories from rail segments in order to access the screws of the rail sections themselves.

The beauty of Kinect is it converts ordinary picatinny-compatible accessories into M-LOK.

Operation of the Kinect rails are so simple, they're almost idiot-proof. There are two spring-loaded wedges in the base of the mount, and when you press the Kinect down in the M-LOK slot, two very tiny triggers get pressed against the surface and deploy the wedges into place. Thats it! You know the wedges are deployed correctly when the tabs on the opposing sides fully extend. When you want to remove the Kinect, just pinch the tabs back inward to release the tabs.

Using the Kinect, adding and swapping accessories really is a "snap." You can have one bipod to swap around to each one of your rifles... or your favorite foregrip, flashlight, etc. Customization and personalization is so huge in the firearms industry, and the ability to truly snap on and off whatever you want on all your M-LOK compatible guns is a real improvement to manually loosening and tightening each screw one by one. That means you don't need to buy duplicates of your favorite accessories for multiple rifles. Also, it saves a lot of space inside your gun safe if you can easily pull off accessories when you're storing your rifle.

Accessories like lights and bipod can be easily attached, moved around or swapped within seconds.

The reason I said "almost perfect" early is because the compatibility with some of Magpul's most popular M-LOK furniture is severely hit and miss. The problem is the polymer products with M-LOK slots are not built to the same tolerances as their metal counterparts, by necessity. Many of the polymer M-LOK products on the market have to be thicker to support glass filled polymer rail systems. KDG's Kinect system was designed around the original specs set by Magpul Industries for a rail thickness of .080″ and .125″ thick. Current specifications for M-LOK are a thickness of .080 to .150.″ What's all this mean? It means theres a strong change the Kinect won't work if you are using Magpul's Hunter 700 or X-22 Stock, MOE handguards, and other furniture constructed of that glass filled polymer.

For example, lets try the Magpul SGA Forend for Remington 870 and Mossberg 500/590 shotguns. The Kinect can attach to the side M-LOK slots (3 and 9 o'clock), but not the bottom slots (6 o'clock) because the walls are just a bit thicker on the underside - probably to withstand recoil forces as well as the forces from working the action back and forth if using a polymer M-LOK rail section with a vertical or angle foregrip.

Step One: Make sure both end's tabs pushed in, and align with preferred M-LOK slot.

Step Two: Push firmly down in the center of the rail, to be sure even pressure is applied on both sides. You'll know the Kinect is locked in place properly if both tabs fully deploy outward.

When you want to reposition or remove the Kinect, just squeeze both tabs in and pull the whole accessory off. Its really easy and effortless.

Accepting of all that, KDG doesn't guarantee the KINECT will work every polymer M-LOK product. Keep in mind that polymer can be modded to work with some files or a Dremel tool, but good luck retaining precise dimensions within the specs. Your best bet is to measure the thickness of the polymer thickness before ordering, or bring a Kinect with you to the store and try it if the staff doesn't mind. Luckily, KDG does offer a 30 day return policy (for store credit) if you have purchased a Kinect mount and it doesn't work with your desired M-LOK furniture.

In my opinion, KDG should really just manufacture a second Kinect line with redesigned wedges that specifically work for polymer furniture. With the popularity of Magpul's polymer products, the market for a QD rail that works with polymer forends should be substantial enough to justify it. I imagine KDG has had this conversation already at the drawing table, so perhaps I'm wrong.

With the Kinect it's easy to go overboard. But the real strength is not having to buy duplicate accessories for multiple rifles, just snap on and snap off whenever you want to change things up.

Personally, I feel upgrading your polymer M-LOK handguard to an aluminum one with the M-LOK system has plenty of merits on its own, and then you could fully enjoy the use of the Kinect QD Rail without issue. Its my opinion than KDG has changed the whole dynamic of the M-LOK system with the Kinect QD mount, and it is my hope that with more Kinect product variations, other manufacturers in the industry will chose M-LOK for their handguards and rifle chassis over lesser, phallus-shaped mounting solutions. The saying "AR-15s are like LEGOs for adults" definitely becomes more true as you add some Kinect mounts to your collection.

Firearms Insider Reviews – 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: The Kinect™ by KDG for M-LOK™ is a revolutionary QD mounting system that will change the way we attach accessories to our modular weapons platforms

Target Market: Modern Sporting Rifle / Modular Rifle owners (AR-15s, SCARs, etc)

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Length: 3 Slot= 1.68″ (uses one M-LOK hole) 7 Slot= 3.73″ (uses two M-LOK holes)
Width: 0.82″
Height (Over M-LOK surface): .41″
Compatibility: Compatible with any M-LOK rail system.
Weight: 0.8oz

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Black Anodized Only. Bipod swivel stud and offset mounts are also available.

What others are saying?: "This is by far and above the best and most convenient way to attach anything to your rifle. No more Allen wrenches and more importantly, no more searching for those wrenches when you want to reconfigure your rifle. If you're like me, I share accessories between my many rifles and the ability to pull attachments off and simply stick them on another rail in less that 30 seconds with no tools is just the best. Because of kinetic development group's Kinect system, all of my rifles are M-LOK." Brownells User Review

Price point:

MSRP: $49.99 3 slot or $59.99 7 slot
Retail: $49.99 or $59.99 @Brownells

I need it now! Availability: B rownells or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

Easy to attach, turns any picatinny accessory into M-LOK
Works on all sides of the handguard with M-LOK slots
Secure and solid attachment
Removes risk of over tightening / damaging the handguard

Cons:

Unlocking tabs on opposing ends of mount need clearance to use, takes up additional rail space
Not compatible with all polymer MLOK furniture (check all sides, manufactures beef up thicknesses of some walls)

Score: 7.5 Good

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Lots of different color and pistol models available

Chad Wallace

February 5, 2017

Holsters, L.A.G. Tactical

L.A.G. Tactical "The Defender" IWB/OWB holster

Chad Wallace

February 5, 2017

Holsters, L.A.G. Tactical

A while back I ran into L.A.G. Tactical. I had heard of them before, but was able to talk with them at the Axelson Tactical grand opening event. I really liked what I was seeing. Later I contacted them and they agreed to send me a holster for review. All of their holsters and accessories are made from Kydex here in the U.S.A.

Now, as most holster manufacturers do, they make a bunch of different styles and colors. I chose the Defender model in O.D. Green. The Defender is L.A.G.'s combination Inside the waistband (IWB) / Outside the waistband model (OWB). The way they do this is really quit simple, basically they send IWB and OWB belt clips with the holster. Being a style of pancake holster, it uses rivet holes on each end to attach either belt loops or hooks. All the necessary hardware is supplied. Loctite is recommended when attaching the screws, but some of them come with thread locker already on them.

What sets L.A.G. apart from other holster manufactures is their actual attention to detail. When you go to order one of these holsters, they have drop down menus that ask you just about everything to make the holster fit correctly. Of course one of them is what gun model, of which they have plenty. But some of the other menus are what surprised me. First of which is where the holster will be carried, 2-3 or 3:30-5 o'clock. Then they have a menu for what side of the firearm is the magazine release on. The angle you would like the firearm to sit, 90°, 10°, or 20° cant. Next comes if you are primarily using it IWB or OWB. Now for what I thought was really great, they ask your waist size so they can get the curvature closer to what you need. Along with this, they ask is if you are Male or Female. Then they have a box for special requests. You also can choose separate front and back kydex colors. And last, the size and type of belt loops.

One can also select the thickness of kydex for the holster. They have standard at 0.060" and heavy duty at 0.080". I chose the standard. But if I had to do it again I would have chose the heavy duty. I like the feel of the thicker kydex and the standard kydex seems to flex a bit. But if it is used primarily as an IWB holster, this flex should make it more comfortable. And since I wore it as both, It did work well as an IWB holster. But I prefer it as an OWB rig.

The quality of this holster is fantastic. The guns fit inside the holster is great. Draws from both IWB and OWB are nice and smooth. Reholstering is easy thanks to a slightly flared top. The Defender has an adjustable screw tension. So if you want more or less resistance, it is possible. The kydex if formed nicely. Since mine is for a 1911, they have a nicely molded cover over the safety and mag release. I really liked the covered safety as it makes it way harder for the safety to accidentally come off, it also doesn't jab me in the side. The front and rear pieces are also nicely trimmed and smoothed together.

I carried the holster IWB off and on for about 3 months. It works nicely, and actually made carrying a full size heavy pistol not so bad. It did take about a week for me to get use to wearing it IWB. Having the ability to adjust the ride height helps with the comfort. When I switched it to OWB, and used it at a few pistol matches, it worked very well. Do I have any problems with this holster? Not really, but it does make a better OWB than IWB. But you can't have your cake and eat it too.

L.A.G. Tactical has also gotten some new publicity in partnering with Tactical Insider and Craig Sawyer on a special Defender series holster. If you are in the market for a good quality kydex holster, do not overlook L.A.G. Tactical. I personally would buy a holster from them or send someone their way. Plus as a bonus they can be purchased from Cabela's, but without all the options available at L.A.G. Tactical's website.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Kydex Inside / Outside waistband convertible holster

Target Market:

Concealed carriers, IDPA shooters, or General range use

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Kydex
Inside waistband carry
Outside waistband carry
Supplied with both belt clips
Adjustable retention
Semi-custom for body fit
Color options
Thickness options
Made in USA
Adjustable ride height

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

What others are saying?:

Outstanding Holster 5/5 Stars @ LApolicegear.com

I use this LAG Tactical holster set up for IWB with my S&W Shield. Very well made product. all edges are smooth. Molded for perfect fit with my pistol. Very comfortable, even when against my bare skin this summer. Highly recommended!

Pros: Holster completely covers muzzle and front sight -- a big plus in my opinion. Top of outside edge is flared just a bit and that makes "finding" the top of the holster and getting the pistol back in during re-holstering a breeze. Kydex is stiff enough so, when worn, holster holds it shape when pistol is removed -- making re-holstering easy.

Cons: None!

Great holster 4/5 Stars @ LAGTactical.com

Great holster,very comfortable, tight at first but now it is perfect and still retains my pistol very well, has served me well so far, if you are in and out of vehicles all day i would recommend getting thicker kydex as mine is starting to crack, around the trigger guard but that is to be expected as my pistol grip catches on the vehicle during enbus/debus, but i think the next thickness would mitigate that.

Link to other reviews:

LAG Tactical The Defender VP90 @ MajorPandemic.com

Price point:

MSRP = $79.95

Retail = $69.95 @ LAPoliceGear.com

$69.99 @ Cabela's

I need it now! Availability:

L.A.G. Tactical, LA Police Gear, or Cabela's

Our Rating:

Pros:

Available options from L.A.G.
Adjustable Ride Height
Adjustable retention
Convertible from IWB to OWB
Includes both style belt loops / clips
Semi Custom fit
Flared top opening

Cons:

Standard Kydex thickness
Better as OWB

Score: 8.5 Great

Chad’s Favorite Link: Axelson Tactical

Ryan Cross

January 17, 2017

Safeguard Clothing CoolMax IIIA Body Armor

Ryan Cross

January 17, 2017

The CoolMax IIIA vest is a soft armor vest, very similar to what undercover agents and security guards wear on the job.

Shortly after the development of the sword, came the birth of the shield. By nature offense and defense make up the balance of conflict. However in today's world for the average concealed carrier, half the equation is missing. Its purely a "shoot first, don't get shot" paradigm that relies on the element of surprise or who is the quicker draw to win a confrontation with an armed aggressor. For those who actually go through training to receive their concealed weapon licenses, the only real defense taught is using cover to block bullets while firing your weapon at the attacker. The problem is, the availability of an object suitable as cover is entirely based on your environment, and unless you have sufficient training to react 100% correctly in a shooting scenario, you could end up taking a hit.

The vest easily adjusts for different torso sizes via elastic waistbands with hook and loop fasteners.

This problem has often interested me, as someone who carries concealed on a daily basis and takes an active stance on personal protection. Body armor is the obvious solution, but systems like heavy steel plates and military grade carriers are bulky and entirely overkill unless you are in the armed services in an active theater, or as a first responder to law enforcement. For the Average Joe body armor isn't practical to wear everyday, and you would be hard-pressed to find many people who keep a form of body armor in their vehicle or in the home for easy access incase of an emergency involving a violent attacker.

The Safeguard Clothing vest can easily be work over clothes and under light to heavy jackets.

Another factor to consider, is body armor often carries a stigma similar to the firearm its designed to protect against. What would happen if you wore body armor while you ran out to the grocery store? It's not a common thing to see a civilian wearing armor casually in public, so it will surely draw attention. The majority of people will assume you are prepared for initiating violence or committing robbery, and then resisting an armed response. Others will ask if you are a cop or with law enforcement, and a "no" answer will prompt the previous assumption. Pretty much the same assumptions uninformed bystanders make about seeing someone open-carrying a sidearm in public. It's ironic, as a ballistic vest itself is not a weapon... however the act of wearing one in public will only raise eyebrows and suspicions faster than you can say "Tactical Timmy."

Thats why I was particularly interested in the body armor made by Safeguard Clothing. Similar to what hostage negotiators or undercover officers wear in real life (or when portrayed on TV), their vests can be worn under clothing comfortably for long periods of time. Wearing armor that is ballistically rated is the best way to ensure you don't die from a gunshot wound if you are involved in a shooting (assuming you weren't shot in the face or other unprotected area without receiving medical treatment).

The kevlar panel is removable from the carrier for inspection and replacement.

The CoolMax IIIA Bullet and Stab Proof Vest is designed to be affordable and attainable by the average civilian. The internal Kevlar armor panels are refurbished, which is how SafeGuard is able to sell them at a reduced price. This factor isn't entirely apparent to the average consumer, and is only hinted at in the product description via the bullet point: "Armor worth over $470 when new." Imagine shopping for a truck at a dealership glancing over the fineprint to see "Vehicle worth over $20,000 when new" but there wasn't a USED sticker on the windshield.

My vest is rated NIJ Level IIIA against ballistic projectiles, and Level 1 against edge blades.

Admittedly this troubled me at first, but after speaking with Communications Manager at SafeGuard, I learned the whole story. SafeGuard Clothing refurbishes vests by inspecting, extracting and testing armor panels from ex-contract vests sold to larger organizations from the Safeguard Armor brand. Those organizations tend to purchase new vests once the warranty has expired, so the armor is essentially recycled and resold under the SafeGuard Clothing brand at a lower price point to reach a different market. I was assured the Kevlar panels used in the refurbished vests are inspected and tested to ensure they have not been damaged in any way which compromise meeting the stated level of protection.

The carrier is washable and has care instructions sewn to the inside. DO NOT WASH WITH PANELS!

With that out of the way, I'd like to point out the real benefits that the CoolMax IIIA vest has to offer. Starting with protection, the panels of this vest are ballistically rated by the NIJ (National Institute of Justice) to protect against most pistol calibers up to 44 magnum. This includes 380ACP, 9MM, 45ACP, 40SW, 38SPL, and 22LR/SHORT. The panels also have an edged weapon rating of Level 1, which is a baseline level for knife resistance and spike protection. Basically it is rated for a object with a mass of 1.9 kg traveling a maximum of 5 m/s, and totaling 24 joules of energy. This is the E1 figure, which like I said is the baseline for edge weapons, and there are higher levels of protection in better armor, especially if its designed for stab protection and not ballistic protection as well.

The carrier is crafted with comfort in mind, including the soft trim around the neck.

The beauty to this vest design is it's comfort. If you aren't wearing the vest because its hot, heavy, and overall uncomfortable... then it does not do you any good whatsoever! The Safeguard vest is lower profile than other ballistic vests, and is perfectly suited to be worn underneath clothing or on top. I have worn this vest in particular for a several days, only removing it for bathing and sleeping. Unless you are wearing it under thin fabrics like thin polyester athletic shirts or light jackets, the added bulk is very unnoticeable. Often I would just wear a zippered hoodie over it, and no one was the wiser. While wearing it, I was able to drive, walk around, and do some light jogging without any severe hinderances. It does take awhile to get used to the sensation of wearing the vest, but after about the 3rd or 4th day I found myself forgetting it was on underneath my jacket.

The CoolMax material is a soft mesh, designed to ventilate and keep the body from overheating.

The real reason why this vest in particular is well suited for concealed wearing under another garment is the CoolMAX lining. The poly-cotton mesh netting helps with breathability and thus the evaporation of sweat, keeping the wearer cool when in a warm environment. The layers also help retain body heat, thus helping you keep warm when in colder climates. I'm normally very prone to getting overheated even with light layers of clothing, but I found wearing the CoolMax vest I did not sweat that much.

When sized correctly, the back panel should overlap the front panel to provide protection over the sides of the torso.

The outer shell of the vest is made of Cordura fabric, which is highly used in the firearms industry for its scratch resistance and incredibly durable. It does not have any "tactical" features such as MOLLE Webbing or straps for adding accessories. I actually like this simplicity, as it only makes it easier to conceal, but if I had thrown the vest on over my street clothes, it looks far more non-threatening than a fully kitted out vest.

The low thickness and unhindered movement the vest provides allows for easy shouldering of a rifle as well as pistol stances, unlike hard body armor with steel plates.

Overall, I would highly recommend the CoolMax Ballistic Vest to anyone looking for an affordable, no frills level of protection to add to their everyday carry system, or as a first response vest to keep in your vehicle or place of work. Although the term refurbished doesn't inspire confidence when applied to ballistic protection, don't let it fool you. These vests are extremely affordable and functional, and I would rather be wearing one when encountered with an armed attacker then not have one at all. If your opponent brings a sword to a swordfight, bring a sword AND a shield. You're chances of surviving drastically go up.

Firearms Insider Reviews – 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: The Covert/Overt Bullet Proof Vest is suitable to wear underneath or on top of clothing in all climates, and offers advanced poly-cotton netting to help excessive heat escape for ease and comfort amongst all conditions.

Target Market: Civilians seeking affordable and comfortable body armor

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Ballistic Level: NIJ Level IIIa, 6mm thickness
Stab (Edged Blade) Level: Level 1
Made from DuPont Kevlar®
Ultra Lightweight
Delivered in 1-2 working days
Weight: Approx. 5.5lbs
Armor worth over $470 when new
Brand New Covert/Overt Cover worth $100
Available in sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL
Available in lengths short, normal, and long
Lightweight Bullet & Stab Proof Vest
Armor comes with a 1 year warranty
Outer vest carriers are covered with a 1 year warranty against any manufacturer faults.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Black in color, various protection levels available

What others are saying?: "I believe the quality of the product gives this vest an edge versus other “cookie cutter” budget armor that is available on the market today. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend SafeGuard Clothing, or to use their products. In fact, I use the Covert/Overt vest at my full-time job. I would never endorse an armor product unless I would use and trust my life with it, and this vest is no exception. From versatility to conceal-ability and quality to price, this “budget” vest is a great value and has you covered. Literally." We Like Shooting Review

Price point:

Retail: $390

I need it now! Availability: Direct from SafeGuard Clothing

Our Rating:

Pros:

Able to wear underneath a jacket, sweatshirt, etc OR over clothing
Easy to throw on under duress, elastic side straps with velcro easy to secure and tighten quickly
CoolMax lining keeps body cool via airflow when in warm climate, and helps retain body heat when working in colder climate
Does not impede range of motion
Coverage includes sternum to above belly button, as well as sides of torso when worn correctly
When using correct length, user is still able to conceal carry IWB or AIWB
Carrier is machine washable
Kevlar panels can be removed for replacement

Cons:

The refurbished condition of the inner Kevlar armor is downplayed in product description
No expiration date is given for armor. Typically after 10 years Kevlar should be replaced, but if this armor is reused from preexisting vests, how old are they really?

Score: 7.5 Good

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Great Holster, Buying More: Roger from BIH 5/5 Stars

Chad Wallace

January 7, 2017

GunTec USA, Review

GunTec AirLite Minimalist AR15 Stock

Chad Wallace

January 7, 2017

GunTec USA, Review

A little bit ago I did a review of the GunTec Air Lite handguard. Well, they were also kind enough to send one of their AirLite stocks for review also. This is GunTec's minimalist AR15 stock.

The first thing you will notice about the AirLite stock is how good it looks. It is basically a buffer tube, with spiral fluted cuts down the tube. Then it has a textured aluminum buttplate attached with a clamp system. Also supplied is a rubber buttpad that slips onto the buttplate, a nice touch if you don't like the textured plate, plus it adds another 1/4" of pull to the stock. The stock in only 9" long when attached, which is a little short for me, and thus gives the rifle about a 12" length of pull total. Guntec does offer another minimalist stock with a 1" longer length. I didn't have any trouble shooting the rifle with the shorter length, and since this is their "Lite" offering, I can only speculate that this is how it is suppose to be. The stock would be really nice on a SBR build if you wanted a fixed stock.

I was really impressed by how sturdy the AirLite stock is. Once mounted, it doesn't flex at all, and gives a nice sturdy shooting platform. With adjustable stocks, I always seem to feel a little bit of movement under recoil. Being that this is a fixed stock, I don't get that "feel." The buttplate is also adjustable for cant. So once the stock is installed, loosen the clamp bolt and twist the buttplate to the desired location and tighten the screw back down to clamp it in place. I like this feature because you can set the stock to fit your shoulder pocket, not just straight up and down like most stocks.

Now we can get onto some of the specs. The stock comes complete with a castle nut, an ambidextrous single point sling plate, 3 ounce carbine buffer, and chrome silicone recoil spring. The whole thing is made from 6061 aluminium. It weighs in at 9.3 ounces on my scale, without the spring and buffer. My mil-spec buffer tube and M4 style stock weigh 11.8 ounces on my scale. So your saving 2.5 ounces over a stock M4 by choosing the Guntec AirLite stock.

As I said in the handguard review, If your looking for some good AR products, go check out GunTec. This Minimalist AirLite stock is a nice usable piece of equipment for your AR15.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Lightweight Minimalist AR15 stock

Target Market:

AR15 users wanting a lightweight fixed stock

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Minimalist Design
Spiral Fluting
All 6061 Aluminum
Textured Buttplate
Additional rubber buttpad
Lightweight at 9.3 ounces
Includes buffer, spring, sling plate, and castle nut
Adjustable cant of end plate
Made in U.S.A.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

O.D. Green

What others are saying?:

Bigdude @Guntecusa.com 5/5 stars

I purchased this stock for a lightweight .22lr build. The stock fit great, LOP is good and it looks great.The buffer tube and stock weigh 8.09 ounces by my measure (that does not include the weight of the end plate, castle nut, spring or buffer). This kit comes with buffer tube, stock, slip-on butt pad (use is optional), buffer, spring, castle nut, end plate and hardware. I would definitely purchase this kit again for other lightweight builds.

Link to other reviews:

None Found

Price point:

MSRP = $119.95

Retail = $84.95 @VTSupply.com

I need it now! Availability:

VTSupply.com

Our Rating:

Pros:

Lightweight
Comes complete
Adjustable end plate
Nice looking

Cons:

No Instructions
Short length of pull

Score: 8.0 Great

Chad’s Favorite Link: Axelson Tactical

Chad Wallace

December 26, 2016

Holsters, Review, Black Iron Holsters

Black Iron "ALLY" IWB Holster

Chad Wallace

December 26, 2016

Holsters, Review, Black Iron Holsters

Any one who has considered the idea of carrying a firearm for protection, has had to look into holsters. Almost always, this ends up with a drawer full of unused holsters. The people over at Black Iron Holsters have made the job of choosing a holster a little bit easier with their ALLY series of inside the waistband (IWB) holster.

The Ally IWB holster is one of the most comfortable holsters I have worn. I am not sure exactly how to describe the ALLY, but think hybrid holster on steroids. The first thing you notice on the holster, is the padding on the back, or the side that rides against your body. This padding is an UnderArmor moisture wicking fabric sewn over perforated padding and then mounted on the flexible kydex core. The padded fabric is said to pull sweat away from the body and make for a cooler drier holster. I did notice that I didn't sweat as much on the holster backing when it was hot outside. But the holster did seem to feel warmer than some other types. The ALLY also doesn't seem to feel cold either, like some all kydex holsters do.

When they construct the holster, they use the above mentioned padding, but with some extras. They call it C-Pak. C-Pak adds in a flexible kydex core, 500 denier Cordura fabric, and the moisture wicking and padding mentioned above. All of this helps add to the comfort and usefulness of the holster. The whole holster, except the backing, has been wrapped in the Cordura nylon. This cordura wrapping actually reduces the effects of holster wear on the firearm by giving the firearm something besides the kydex to rub on. They also sew on a border around the whole holster. This border helps smooth the outer edges so that nothing can catch on the them.

When I mentioned hybrid style on steroids, here is what I mean. The holster is constructed with a large backing plate and then the outer holster is attached to it. But all of this is wrapped as mentioned above. They also put in a tension adjustment screw so that you can adjust it to your preference. The backing on my supplied holster has 3 holes for each clip, it has a front and rear clip. These holes make it possible to adjust for ride height and cant. Also the supplied nylon clips have 2 mounting screw options for even more adjustment. Even with the clips mounted in the same holes on the backing plate, the cant of the firearm is pretty noticeable. I did have a problem with the screws, that the clips are mounted to, coming loose. I put thread locker on them, but got some on the nylon clips. DON'T get threadlocker on the clips, it might make them crack and break like in my case. I emailed Black Iron and told them what I did, within a few days they had sent me new clips. I was just going to use some others I had around here since it was my fault they broke. So a big +1 for customer service.

Aside from this being a very comfortable holster, it is also very functional. This holster has a little bit of break in time associated with it, like 2-3 days. After that, I didn't really even notice it. One of the great features of the ALLY is that the holster mouth doesn't collapse when the pistol is removed. Thus making reholstering safer and easier. Holstering the pistol was a little strange at first, I kept wanting to here the audible click like most hybrid or kydex holsters. But it felt more like an all leather holster. Don't be worried about this holster printing either. It has a very smooth profile. I did notice that it is slightly thicker than some holster due to its padding and cordura, but the smooth profile made up for this. It is hard to notice this holster being worn. I usually only hide it under a T-shirt and that works well.

Now, the ALLY comes in the four different fabric colors listed below. But don't fret, they seem to make this holster for just about every popular, and even other not so popular handguns. Also with options for various weapon lights. If they don't list your handgun, their website says to contact them, which makes me think they will do their best to help you out. So if your in the market for a nice IWB holster, give Black Iron Holsters a look.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Soft/Comfortable Inside the waistband kydex holster

Target Market:

Concealed Carriers

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

C-Pak Backing
Cordura wrapped
Hand washable
Made for each individual firearm
1.5" clips
Adjustable for ride height and cant
Tension adjustment
Breathable
Flexible
Cerakoted hardware
Made in U.S.A.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Coyote, Multicam, and Multicam Black

What others are saying?:

I received my holster 2 weeks ago and this is by far hands down the greatest holster i have ever used. It fits like a glove both on myself and for my glock. It is everything described and more, i am a delivery driver and spend the majority of the time on the road getting in and out of my truck. I can honestly say by the end of the day it was so comfortable i completely forgot i was wearing it by the end of my shift. I will be swapping out my Alien Gear holsters for my other two guns and will be ordering everything from you guys from now own. Its well worth the few extra bucks for something that is of this quality.

Great Products and Service: Timothy from BIH 5/5 Stars

First of all let me say that my experience with customer service was exceptional, I had a lot of questions concerning which style of holster to purchase and what was going to work for me. The staff at Black Iron was very knowledgeable and evidently knew what questions to ask and how to explain things because this is the best fitting and most comfortable holster i have ever worn. If you have any doubts about buying one don't you will be blown away by these things.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found while googling

Price point:

MSRP = $79.95

I need it now! Availability:

Black Iron Holsters

Our Rating:

Pros:

Comfortable
Holster mouth stays open
Flexible
Adjustable retention
Tuckable
Adjustable Cant and Ride height
Firearm options (lights, lasers, models)

Cons:

Sewing of fabric looked poor (Not straight)
Slightly thicker
Clip mounting screws come loose (Maybe supply pre-threadlocked screws)

Score: 7.5 Good

Chad’s Favorite Link: U.S. Tactical Supply

Ryan Cross

December 20, 2016

LA Police Gear MOLLE Elite Tactical Christmas Stocking

Ryan Cross

December 20, 2016

This is the coolest item to get a firearm enthusiast for Christmas!

FIREARMS INSIDER REVIEWS – 8 KEY POINTS

Claim to Fame: Ultra Super Deluxe version! Bring some tactical cheer to your fireplace, foxhole, police department, or forward operating base!

Target Market: Christmas Stocking users of all ages

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Vertical zipper opening
Rubber Carry Handle
MOLLE webbing
2 Swivel hanger clip
Small marsupial pouch
3" x 4" Velcro for morale patches

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Black, Coyote, OD Green

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING?:

"I expected something cheaply made, but this is better than I expected. The only complaint I have is the spacing on the MOLLE straps isn't correct, but it's not like I'm taking it into combat, so that's small potatoes. Otherwise, I'm happy with this at the price point." - Customer Review

PRICE POINT:

MSRP: $20
Retail: $9 on sale as of 12/20/16

I NEED IT NOW! AVAILABILITY:

Website

OUR RATING:

Pros:

Accepts addition pouches via MOLLE webbing
Carry handle for heavy hauls
Linkable for multiple stockings
Smaller marsupial pouch does work with morale patches with hook backing

Cons:

Marsupial pouch is tiny and almost useless
Carry handle overlaps and covers up patches
Non-reversable

SCORE: 8.5 GREAT

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Chad Wallace

December 17, 2016

GunTec USA, Review

Guntec 15" Air Lite Handguard

Chad Wallace

December 17, 2016

GunTec USA, Review

As one can probably guess, this is about Guntec's new 15" Air Lite handguard for the AR15. I received the handguard about 2 months ago and have been using it ever since. Guntec has been around since 1989. They make tons of accessories for AR15's, AR10's, AK's, and even more.

Shown with an extra M-Lok rail on bottom and a rubber M-Lok cover

The Guntec hanguard that I received was in M-lok. For you keymod fans, they make them also. Now the first thing I would like to mention is how thin the handguard is. If you like them thin, you'll love this handguard. It measure 1.5" wide, 1.975" tall, and has an inside diameter of 1.34". It also has a built in full length top picatinny rail. I will mention that although it is M-Lok, it only has 3 m-lok slots each on the sides and bottom, toward the very front of the handguard. This would be 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. The rest of the handguard has cut out triangle patterns to reduce weight.

Now, this Guntec handguard is light. On my scale, it weighed in at 9.6 ounces complete with barrel nut and screws. Remember, this is a 15" handguard with a full top rail, so this is quite good. The barrel nut is also aluminum, which helps with the weight.

Installation of the Air Lite was pretty straight forward. Which is good since it didn't come with any instructions. Once all your old parts are off. Slide the barrel nut on and tighten as normal. If the screw holes that hold the handguard on don't line up, remove it and put one of the supplied shims in it and try again. My kit came with 4 shims, I only had to use 1 to get the holes to line up. Guntec also lists a crowfoot wrench for the barrel nut, buying the wrench will make life much easier. Next install the gas block. I only mention this because you will need a low profile one, and smaller is better in this case. Then slide the handguard on. Line it up. Then install, and tighten down, the supplied screws. Thread locker is probably a good idea. And as always, safety check the rifle when finished.

Depending on where the gas block is located, you might run into some accessory mounting problems. Since the handguard is so thin, the screws on the m-lok parts may run into the gas block. On a mid-length or rifle length gas system, one set of m-lok attaching slots will not be usable. The inner part of the handguard is just too close to the gas block. Cutting down the screws won't even work. If you run a carbine or shorter gas system, you won't have this problem.

After shooting this handguard, here is what I found. Being that it is very thin helps if you shoot thumb over bore, or if you have smaller hands (think children). I did notice that it heats up faster than some of my larger diameter handguards, but really this is only a problem after 3 or 4 30rd mag dumps. It has no sharp edges and is flat on the end so it doesn't get caught up on stuff. It is not what you want if you plan on putting a suppressor under it (too thin). It is quite sturdy. And it comes with rubber m-lok inserts.

If you are looking for a light handguard, this Guntec might be for you. I would like m-lok slots all the way down, which they make, just not in the Air Lite version. The price is reasonable. It looks good and even comes in many different colors. Go check out Guntec, they probably make an accessory for you.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

15" really light AR15 handguard

Target Market:

AR15 owners wanting a thin and/or light handguard

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

T6 Aluminum Body
Proprietary Lightweight Aluminum Barrel Nut Included
Total Weight Including Barrel Nut Is 8.9 oz. I measured at 9.6 ounces
3 M-LOK Slots On 3 Sides of Front End Of Handguard
Triangle / Diamond Cuts Throughout Handguard to Reduce Weight
Rail System Slides Over Barrel Nut , And Is Locked Up Against Receiver With 6 Screws
Monolithic Top Rail
15" Length
Internal Diameter: 1.34"
Outside Diameter: 1.50"
Made in USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

KeyMod, Red, O.D. Green, F.D.E., and Blue

What others are saying?:

Google did not find anything

Link to other reviews:

We Like Shooting review of the 12" std handguard

Price point:

MSRP = $129.95

Retail = $111.71 at OpticsPlanet

I need it now! Availability:

Optics Planet, GunTec USA only sells to dealers

Our Rating:

Pros:

Lightweight
Sturdy
Complete top rail
Small Diameter
Free Float
Made In USA
Great Price
Multiple Color Options
Rubber M-Lok "covers" included

Cons:

No Instructions
Only M-Lok slots are at the front
No QD attachment points
M-Lok screw run into gas block

Score: 8.00 Great

Chad's Favorite Link: U.S. Tactical Supply

Ryan Cross

December 16, 2016

Athlon Argos BTR 8-34x56 Riflescope

Ryan Cross

December 16, 2016

34x in a rifle scope? The Athlon Argos BTR brings alot of power to the table.

When it comes to scopes for long range shooting, I tend to not stray away from the brands and models I'm used to, and I can imagine there are more than a few of you that would feel the same. Admittedly, I usually turn my nose up at anything thats not a higher tier Leupold, Vortex or Nightforce. However, my snobbery may have just been put in check, because I've given a completely different brand a test drive, and so far I really like what I see. Pun intended.

I've never really heard of Athlon before, but a good friend (and Athlon dealer) convinced me to give their Argos BTR scope a try. I happened to be in the market for a new scope to sit atop a .300 Win Mag, a Remington 700 LR that I built for my father. Initially I had mounted a Vortex Viper with a BDC reticle on this rifle, but my old man had trouble seeing the fine crosshairs when looking at anything that wasn't a white wall. So I was looking for a thicker reticle that would be easier for his aging eyes to pick up, but also fully capable of taking pokes out to 1,000 yards and further.

The Argos BTR has features usually reserved for higher end scope lines at 3 times the price.

Having exclusively used Vortex optics on my rifles for the last 5 years, I had thought they were the reigning champions of "best bang-for-your-buck" in the optics market. Their scopes had introduced me to higher quality glass and high end features, and as long as I was shelling out less than a grand, I was happy. I was, until I found out this Argos BTR had some of the same features and damn near comparable glass, for under four hundred dollars. I wish I had known about them sooner, then I could have budgeted my build for other higher quality parts like a slicker bipod setup, trigger, etc.

The rotation of the magnification ring and the illumination dial are smooth and tight.

I'll start off with the glass itself. The Argos BTR has two coatings on the lenses, a multi-coat to increase image brightness and clarity at dusk and dawn when the light is dimmest, and a XPL coating to protect the lens surfaces from dirt, grease and other gunk. The multi-coating treatment is supposed to reduce reflected light and increases the transmission of light, resulting in a brighter image compared to a normal single coated lens.

The turrets of the MIL Argos BTR are 1/10 MIL per click, and the turrets have detents for audible and tangible increments.

With a magnification range of 8-34, I was pretty skeptical at the performance at the higher range. Trust me, it was the first thing I had to check for myself. It's not as good as an actual spotting scope, but with 34x you could just about leave the spotting scope in the truck. I found that at 34x colors and edges did degrade to a slight degree, but backed down between 20-24x images returned to what I expect. The Argos BTR also has side parallax adjustment, a feature I insist on having on all my riflescopes, that lets you dial the focus to the distance you are scanning, so details are as crisp as can be.

The reticle itself is called the APMR FFP IR MIL reticle, and besides being a mouthful its actually one of the easiest to digest MIL reticles I've seen. Most manufacturers use some sort of MILRAD reticle thats so complicated and busy, you feel like you need to take a special forces sniper class just to understand it and really "know it like the back of your hand." I believe thats what deters a lot of new rifle shooters from learning the MIL system and instead go with MOA since it can be easier to wrap your mind around for a civilian who is used to shooting at fixed distances at the range. The Argos BTR 8-34x56 is available in MOA configuration, but for the sake of the review I will only discuss my scope in hand which is MIL.

Parallax on long range scopes should be mandatory, and the Argos BTR delivers.

The IR of the aforementioned mouthful stands for illuminated reticle, and it's become a standard feature on many higher end scopes over the past several years. While it may seem like a gimmick to the traditionalist, I have taken two blacktail deer, two years in a row, and both times I had switched the illumination on to get better contrast off the dark, wet fur of October bucks. The contrast is a big benefit to instantly turn on, especially if the distance of the shot requires use of drop marks and legibility is critical. The IR turret was a little stiff for my liking right out of the box, but it did get smoother over time with use. Obviously this would be a crucial area for moisture to penetrate the optic, so tight tolerances are fully appreciated.

The APMR FFP IR MIL reticle is etched on the glass, a common practice that allows for a complex reticle design as well as much higher shock resistance to recoil. The numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8 are marked thick enough to read easily. There are half mil hash mark increments between the center and 7 mil marks, and finer 0.2 mil hash marks between the 7 mil to 9 mil marks on the left, right and bottom lines. That make using hold-overs a snap, as well as using more accurate hold over adjustments at longer ranges where small errors lead to larger misses. The whole reticle spans 18 mils... well, until you zoom in past 20x magnification. Being a first focal plane scope (FFP) means the reticle gets larger as you zoom in. After 20x the reticle begins to crop, and at the highest power setting of 34x a span of 9 mils is left within view, leaving 4.5 mils usable for left, right, up or down holds.

Excuse the camera focus on the following images, photographing through a scope is harder than it looks.

The lowest magnification setting, 8x power on a 200 yard stump (left) and illuminated (right)

24x power on a 200 yard stump (left) and illuminated (right). Notice the reticle grows to fill the circle.

34x power on a 200 yard stump (left) and illuminated (right). The First Focal Plane causes the reticle to crop in to 9 MILS across.

The benefit to first focal plane is the subtensions remain true at every magnification range. After getting into FFP scopes a few years ago, I definitely prefer them over SFP (second focal plane) where the reticle's drop measurements are only true when you're zoomed in on the maximum magnification. If you are hunting, and need to take a long shot on an animal that requires using the reticles ballistic compensation system, the subtensions should be accurate no matter what power the magnification is on, for an ethical attempt to be made. Even if your at the range or in a competition where time and score matters, the same remains true. If you need to engage a target quickly. the lower magnification power offers a shrunken reticle with finer detail that still retains precise holdover marks.

The Argos BTR is constructed of a 6061T6 aircraft grade one-piece aluminum tube. I'm told the tube is heat treated to give the body extra strength. The one piece design is used to keep the scope mechanically strong, as well as "proofed" against the conditions that will ruin a scope and your day just as easily. Athlon argon purges their scopes to push any moisture out of the tube during manufacturing, which helps with waterproofing in case the scope is exposed to rain or even accidentally submerged. The purging also helps give the scope stability in different temperatures, preventing a buildup of fog when you emerge from a toasty truck or wall tent into the brisk morning air.

Something to note: the built-in stubby magnification level can impede the bolt knob if using medium rings and your knob is enlarged (insert medical joke here)

On the bench, sighting in the Argos BTR on the .300wm test rifle was a breeze. I did have to go out and get taller rings, I usually run mediums with 50mm scopes to get the bell really close to the barrel, but for the 56mm of the Argos BTR, high rings were needed. The turrets have tangible detents you can feel as your turning them, and the "click" of each turn is audible. The turrets are engraved with hashes, however they didn't quite line up with the engraved reference lines on the scope if your eye is lined up perfectly down the tube. Have no fear, its an easy fix. Once your rifle is zeroed at the range, loosen the screws atop both turrets and pop the caps off, realigning the "0" on the engraved reference line, and reinstall the screws. The lines should be lining up correctly if you did your job right. I love this feature on rifle scopes, because if you use your turrets to make adjustments for wind and elevation conditions, you can return to zero afterwards. There is no zero stop however, so you will have to mentally keep track of how many rotations of the turret you made in order to return to zero.

The Argos BTR 8-34x56mm is a hellova scope for its pricetag. The value speaks for itself.

Overall I would say this is a fantastic scope for a precision rifle budget build, or even on a hunting rifle thats capable of longer ranges. It does have some weight at over 32 ounces, so I wouldn't recommend it on a featherweight mountain rifle or a range toy like a sporter AR-15 or other carbine. If you are wanting to learn the milliradian system and get the right scope to learn on, this scope is a great candidate. If you are wanting an iron clad warranty like the other big optic brands, rest easy because Athlon products are lifetime warranted against defects and workmanship. They guarantee to repair or replace your optic for no charge if it is damaged through normal use, with no receipt or no registration needed. So while that doesn't mean you can deliberately run it over in the parking lot, you can be confident they'll back their products should you have an issue.

FIREARMS INSIDER REVIEWS – 8 KEY POINTS

Claim to Fame: For those of you that are just getting started in the PRS or are looking to start, take a close look at the Argos BTR family of scopes.

Target Market: Precision / Long range shooters

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

8-34 Magnification
56 mm Objective Lens Diameter
30 mm Tube Diameter
Reticle APMR FFP IR MIL, Glass Etched
First Focal Plane Reticle
Illuminated Reticle
Matte Surface Finish
Wide Band Fully Multicoated Lens Coating
Xtra Protective Coating Extra Coating
6061 Aluminium Tube Material, Heat Treated One Piece Tube Construction
7-1.7 mm Exit Pupil
3.3 inches Eye Relief
12.5-3 feet Field of View @100 yards
0.1MIL Click Value
5MIL Adjustment range per rotation
13 MIL Total Elevation Adjustment
13 MIL Total Windage Adjustment
Exposed Turret Style
Side Focus Parallax Adjustment – 15 yards to infinity
15.5 inches Length
32.2 ounces Weight
Waterproof
Fog proof
Shockproof
Argon Purged
Athlon Gold Medal Lifetime Warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: MIL or MOA reticle / turrets

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING?:

"I have it mounted on a 6.5 Creedmoor and have shot out to 1018 yards. Overall I am pretty happy with my purchase, I did not expect anything special as a high quality scope with this kind of magnification would be almost 10X the cost.
Pros:
Descent glass with etched reticle and FFP (Means you can use the MOA or MRAD hash marks at any magnification level). You get a clear picture out to about 24X.
Illuminated reticle that works well. Have not tested much in low light.
Adjustable turrets that seem to hold zero.
Lifetime warranty.
Low cost for that much optic.
Cons:
Image starts to get a little fuzzy and color distorted past about 24X magnification, but still visible. I like to shoot with it at about 2X and zoom in to see my shots with the 34X.
The turrets have very soft clicks and are sometimes difficult to feel. At least on mine the lines on the turret and on the scope do not match up. It stops about half way between the two.
For all you who are looking to do some serious long range shooting here is the biggest problem. It is a 30mm tube, which is fine for most shooting but when you get out at 800+ yards the recoil of the gun throws the scope off target and because the FOV is so small with that 30mm tube it is difficult to get back on to see your hit. I have done it at 1018 yards but it is a fight. If you want something for really long range you'll want to look at a 40 or 50mm tube. But those scopes are very very expensive.
Overall:
Good purchase, just understand that it is a cheap scope. I feel like you get more than what you pay for but you really are not getting even an $800 Vortex, let alone a Swarovski." - Amazon Review

PRICE POINT:

MSRP: $4 69.99
Retail: $389.00

I NEED IT NOW! AVAILABILITY:

Website or Pershing Armory, Amazon, or Optics Planet

OUR RATING:

Pros:

Finish is tough and wear resistant
Magnification ring turns smooth with not too much resistance
Magnification ring has a raised nub for leverage, not too big to snag like a throw lever
Turrets can be re-zeroed

Cons:

Clarity gets slightly hazy past 24x
No zero stop for returning to zero
Built in magnification lever can impede aftermarket bolt knobs (zoomed to 8-9x)

SCORE: 8.0 GREAT

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Guns, Gear, and On Target Training

Chad Wallace

November 30, 2016

Bigfoot Gun Belt

Chad Wallace

November 30, 2016

The Bigfoot gun belt is designed to be one of the sturdiest belts on the market with a spring steel core for rigidity. The belt comes in a few different variations depending on what you are looking for. I chose to go for the “hardcore” model. The 18oz double leather belt with the stainless spring steel core. I chose it in black to blend in to anything I was wearing regardless of dress or casual. I also chose this one because I tend to carry a couple different pistols ranging from a heavy steel frame 1911 to a Glock 19 to a Smith and Wesson Shield. I felt that this would do the job without the notorious sag you get from a lot of belts on the market. I have been wearing this belt since March and I have to say I am extremely impressed. Working in a non-air conditioned warehouse in Georgia, I sweat though my clothes daily. This means that my belt tends to get wet and stay wet all day. I needed a belt that could withstand the sweat and still hold its shape when I put on a heavier pistol after a day of work. After 8-9 months of daily hard use and abuse, I have yet to have any sag, twisting, stretch, or real noticeable wear.

The belt also comes in brown with options for a 14oz, as well as 14oz with or without the steel core. You have the option of going with the usual steel buckle, or for a couple bucks more, you can choose a flat black buckle. The steel buckle has held up great with no visual marks from wear or rust. All belts are only in 1.5” widths. Something to keep in mind if you are used to 1.75” widths. The buckles are attached using directional snaps. This means that you can change out the buckles later for a different look or if they get damaged. The directional snaps fit snugly and securely without any chance of being unsnapped. You have to firmly lift and re-snap the buttons in a specific way or they won't come undone. The stitching on my belt was and remains superb. With daily use for 8-9 months, I have yet to have any sign of the stitching coming undone.

One of the more interesting and, in my opinion, awesome ordering aides is the way that Bigfoot sizes their belts. They use your pant size. This is actually pretty ingenious and straight forward. With Bigfoot, gone are the days of wrapping para cord around your waist, or finding a tape measure to figure out what size belt you need. You simply select your pant size from the drop down menu and your on your way. With all of these features, This belt might be the last one I ever use.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Stainless spring steel core to prevent sagging, twisting, and stretching

Target Market:

Anyone looking for a good EDC belt, carry belt, dress belt. I wouldn't recommend it for competition.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

● Spring steel core

● Double layered English bridle leather

● Sizing by pant size, not waist size

● Replaceable buckles

● 1.5” width across all belts for universal fit in any belt loop

● 3 variations depending on use

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

● 2 color options – Brown and Black

● Stainless buckle or matte black buckle

● With or without steel core

● 14oz no core

● 14oz with core

● 18oz with core

What others are saying?:

“In daily use, the belt works great. It’s of obvious high quality and looks the part. Adjustment steps aside (more on that later), it’s a lot more comfortable than I expected it would be. That vertical stiffness really doesn’t affect comfort, and the belt moves with you well enough in the ways that matter.” - The Truth About Guns

“He determined the quality is unquestionable, the core is authentic steel (doesn’t melt at normal combustion temperatures), the stitching is sturdy and reinforced, and the leather is unyielding.” - Concealed Nation

Link to other reviews:

Concealed Nation

Price point:

MSRP = $54.88 - $64.88 on Bigfoot's website

Retail = $71.88 on Amazon.com

I need it now! Availability:

Direct from Bigfoot's website – Cheapest I've found

Amazon.com – More expensive

Our Rating:

Pros:

● Steel core adds rigidity not seen in most belts

● Military grade polyester threading

● Double layered English bridle leather

● Buckles can be replaced

● Available with and without steel core

Cons:

● Steel core can be too rigid out of the box

● I'd like more options on the hardware from Bigfoot

● Shirts can be caught between belt and pants around the back

● I'd like a 1.75” width option

Score: 9.0

Featured FFL: Atlanta Range and Ordnance

Ryan Cross

November 29, 2016

Magpul Hunter X-22 Stock

Ryan Cross

November 29, 2016

The Hunter X-22 is my new go-to aftermarket stock for the 10/22 rifle

By now everyone should know how much I enjoy Magpul products. Trouble is, after you find out which buttstock, grips and accessories are your favorite, you may run out AR-15s and AK-47s to install them on. But in 2015 Magpul branched out into two other rifle markets - the Remington 700 and the Ruger 10/22. Of course I had to give both Hunter stocks a try, and after using them heavily for over a year, I'm finally ready to weigh in.

The X-22 is a rock solid upgrade from the factory plastic stock that feels like a BB gun.

Not to anyone's surprise, the Hunter X-22 for the Ruger 10/22 is my new favorite stock for the rifle. It's not an overtly "tacticool" stock with the intention of looking aggressive or militarized with extra frills and chintzy features. It is a hybrid sporting/hunting design, and more importantly, fairly ergonomic. A stock that looks cool but does not facilitate a natural comfort when shouldered in a standing, prone or supported position is completely pointless. The Ruger 10/22 is capable of repeatable tack-driving accuracy, even in its factory configuration. It deserves a rock solid stock that doesn't detract from its accuracy or consistency.

The buttstock of the X-22 mirrors the SGA stock available for shotguns.

The recoil pads feel rugged enough for magnum calibers, overkill for rimfire but still welcome.

The Hunter X-22 is made from the same high quality reinforced polymer as other Magpul products such as the PMAG and MOE furniture. The buttstock itself is almost identical to the SGA shotgun stock, and is compatible with SGA cheek risers (sold separately) if you need extra comb height. The length of pull is also adjustable using the supplied half inch spacers. Without any spacers installed, the X-22's length of pull is 12.5" at its shortest, and 14.5" at it's longest. The recoil pad is a dense rubber which is just fine for a rimfire.

The grip angle of the X-22 is well designed and feels right pronated or on the bench.

The grip has a very ergonomic angle with a nice surface texture on both sides, and horizontal trench lines in the front. It has a sloping toe at the base of the grip that prevents your hand from slipping down or off, which may limit those with larger fingers from getting all four on the grip... but at least all three fingers will fit for sure.

The reversible barrel tray accommodates both tapered and bull barrels.

Remove the tray by gently prying from the action area, or pushing up from the MLOK slots.

The best features of the stock are the customizable configurations. The popularity of the Ruger 10/22 comes from the availability of aftermarket parts and the ease of installing them at home without a gunsmithing degree. The barrel is one of the first things often modified, and the taper and diameter of the barrel is a big variable that often affects installing any new stock. Luckily, Magpul has a clever work around to be 99% compatible with aftermarket barrels, and that is their reversible barrel tray. One side of the tray has a tapered channel to accommodate factory pencil profile barrels, while the opposite side's channel is much wider to fit most heavy bull barrels. The tray itself sits snuggly in the forearm and is easy to remove with the right leverage. In fact, removing the tray is a good way to access any MLOK accessories mounted at the 6 oclock position, ensuring the T-nuts are oriented and tightened correctly.

After removing the barrel tray for taking photos, I saw just how much damage I had done by incorrectly tightening the MLOK hardware.

This pictures shows what can go wrong if you leave the barrel tray in the stock, and attempt to tighten MLOK accessories blindly and haphazardly. The polymer is soft enough to become marred and worn around the slot openings if the MLOK T-nuts are overtightened when not oriented properly. Unfortunately, you cannot add accessories to the left or right side MLOK slots with the barrel tray removed, because the protruding screws with prevent the tray from being reinserted. So be sure to preset the gap between the MLOK T-nuts and the accessory to the thickness of the forearm walls, so that upon tightening the screw the T-nut rotates 90 degrees and stops when the screw is torqued correctly.

Two detents are pre-made on the underside for screwing in traditional swivel studs.

The MLOK system is great for attaching slings and other accessories. For slings, you can either attach a QD swivel mount, paraclip or other attachment point via MLOK or MLOK rail segments on the 3 oclock or 9 oclock positions of the forearm. Then you can either use the sling loop built into the buttstock or get yourself a QD Sling swivel kit to create a QD point in the buttstock itself. OR you could use the dimples molded in to the underside of the stock to screw in sling swivels manually. I've yet to find another stock with as many options for attaching slings.

For me, I kept it simple with an MLOK bipod mount, and a QD swivel mount.

Obviously the potential accessories that you can attach to the X-22 are limited only by your imagination, but I myself chose to attach a MLOK sling swivel mount on the underside of the forearm so I could readily attach a bipod. Then I added an MLOK QD sling swivel port on the left side (9 oclock). I had no need to attach picatinny rail sections, but anyone could do so for the mounting of flashlights, lasers, or other accessories more commonly found on an AR-15. If I want to add a light, I can easily just attach a torch using the Kinect Development Kinect QD MLOK that snaps on and off all my MLOK rifles quickly as needed.

Best stock for under $150? Absolutely. Unless it's not "Call Of Duty" enough for you.

The Hunter X-22 is a fantastic stock, and coupled with a lightweight barrel like an aluminum fluted bull barrel from Tactical Solutions, it makes for a featherweight plinker thats rugged enough for the most extreme squirrel hunts on the planet. My reccomendation: ditch the barrel band and give the X-22 a try. While the price point may turn off many customers being that its about $60 from the cost of the rifle itself, I strongly believe its a very decent stock and will last as long as the 10/22 will.

FIREARMS INSIDER REVIEWS – 8 KEY POINTS

Claim to Fame: The Magpul Hunter X-22 chassis is an ergonomic, full-featured stock for the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 rifle.

Target Market: Ruger 10/22 owners, hunting / target practice

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Drop-in design compatible with all factory Ruger 10/22 .22 LR receivers
Reinforced polymer construction for strength and durability
60 degree grip angle from bore axis
Adjustable LOP from 12.5”-14.5” with 0.50” Spacers
Non-slip rubber butt-pad
Optional Cheek Riser Kits to raise cheek height 0.25”, 0.50”, or 0.75” sold seperately
Reversible barrel tray accepts all factory barrels and aftermarket up to 0.920” diameter (12.5" minimum length)
Compatible with all capacities of factory Ruger 10/22 magazines
M-LOK slots on forend sides and bottom for a wide variety of accessory and sling mounting options
Two dimpled drill points to install optional standard swivel studs (#10-32 x 3/8” long dome stud)
Push-button QD swivel compatibility in rear with optional Sling Mount Kits sold seperately
Left and Right rear 1-1/4” Footman’s LoopsWeight: 2.45 lbs (w/two Spacers installed)
LOP Adjustment Range: ~12.5-14.5 in.
Width of Forend, max: 1.9 in.
Width of Butt, max: 1.5 in.
Butt-Pad Dimensions: 1.5x5.0 in.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Black, Flat Dark Earth, OD Green, Stealth Gray, Pink

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING?:

"Overall, the stock is a pretty good upgrade for an accuracy-driven 10/22 build. Cheek weld is comfortable, regardless of which spacer is used. The ability to adjust the length of pull will be welcomed by those intending to use the stock with growing youths, as well as people of different sized frames. With this stock the rifle balances well, and feels more like a rifle than a BB gun (as is the case with the light factory stock). The distinct angled grip is comfortable, placing the hand in a way which promotes proper trigger finger placement. Manufactured in the best country on earth, ever, this U.S.A.-made stock will likely please everyone but the old timey, wood stock lovers out there" - Breach Bang Clear Review

PRICE POINT:

MSRP: $139.95
Retail: $117.92 Amazon

I NEED IT NOW! AVAILABILITY:

Website or Amazon

OUR RATING:

Pros:

Reversible barrel tray easy to pop out for tapered and bull barrels
Ergonomics of grip angle, cheek riser and buttstock are great
MLOK slots in forend and sling loop / QD swivel port allow for sling customization
Lightweight, not bulky

Cons:

Barrel is not freefloated, if desired some sanding of the barrel channel is needed
Side rails cannot be installed without barrel tray installed (it wont fit in channel)
Polymer is soft enough to become stripped around MLOK slots if accessory rails are tightened incorrectly

SCORE: 8.5 GREAT

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Chad Wallace

November 20, 2016

Red Dot, Styrka

STYRKA S3 RED DOT

Chad Wallace

November 20, 2016

Red Dot, Styrka

It is time to tell you about the Styrka S3 Red Dot sight. The S3 Red Dot is your somewhat standard tube style sight. Styrka is a relative new optics manufacturer. The offer a vast selection of shooting and hunting optics in just about any ones price range.

After receiving the S3 Red Dot, I first mounted it on an AR15. The S3 comes with a riser mount just for this. The riser is pretty nice looking by itself. But when mounted with the red dot, it leaves a few oddities. One is that the riser is shorter in length than the integrated rail mount on the S3 (see pictures to get a better idea). Also when looking down the sight, you notice that the riser doesn't blend in with the S3's mounting. This is all cosmetic, as the riser mount works well, and the Red Dot mounts snugly to the top of the riser. One nice thing about both the riser and the Red Dot are that they use a torx screw to tighten them to the rails so that there is nothing sticking out the side, like on some mounts with a nut or thumbscrew. Also included is a honeycomb anti glare filter that screws on the front. I can see this helping if hunting animals that might get spooked by glare off of the sight. A neoprene cover and lens cleaning cloth come standard also.

The S3 Red Dot that I was sent has a 2.5 MOA dot. This size dot works better for more accurate shooting. Styrka also offers a 5 MOA red dot, or a 5 MOA green dot. I like the smaller dot size personally, but a larger dot is also easier to pick up for some people. The dot is adjustable for 6 different brightness levels. To turn on the S3, just push either one of the "+" or "-" buttons, and it will turn on to the last brightness setting. So, of course, to increase or decrease the brightness, just push the appropriate button. One can also hold down the button and it will cycle through the settings until the lowest or brightest setting is reached. To turn the sight off, just hold down both of the buttons for about 3 seconds. If you forget to turn the sight off, don't worry, it will automatically turn off after 1 hour. I would really like this feature, but I envision the sight turning off right before I need to use it. Either while hunting and waiting for game, or while shooting a competition that has different stages. I wouldn't think that setting the auto off at a much higher time, would drastically reduce battery life. Speaking of the battery, it uses a CR2032 and mounts on top of the red dot. The adjustment knobs are covered, and the covers double as an adjustment screw for windage and elevation, both of which are 1 MOA per click.

Now that the somewhat technical stuff is out of the way, it's on to how it performed. After having it mounted to an AR for awhile, I took it off and mounted it on a 9mm submachine gun. I put around 500 full auto rounds on the S3. It stills adjusts fine and has no adverse problems because of it. When looking through the red dot, the glass is really clear. I say this because on some optics, the coatings tend to tint the colors, but this is not the case with the Styrka. The dot shows up crystal clear, but is a little hard to see in bright sunlight. This only seemed to get worse with the honeycomb filter on. This is strictly a brightness issue, not an optical clarity issue. Another thing to note is that the LED housing is noticeable when looking through the optic. It shows up as a flat in the lower right hand field of view. I only mention it because it was a little distracting.

The Styrka Red Dot would probably best be used on something in the "range toy" category due to its auto off function. It does however have some nice features. It holds zero even when getting abused with full auto and has really good clarity. It even comes with a anti-glare filter. However, I feel that it could use a few refinements. Styrka has some really nice products available, all of which have their lifetime warranty and free tune ups and cleaning once a year.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Tube style red dot

Target Market:

Anyone looking for a red dot sight

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

6 brightness adjustments
2.5 MOA Dot size
21mm Objective lens
Integrated turret adjustment caps
Parallax Free
Unlimited eye relief
Waterproof
Auto Shut Off
1 MOA adjustments
Lifetime Warranty w/free tune ups
Last setting Brightness return
Honeycomb filter
Neoprene cover
Riser Mount
Weighs 5.8 ounces
LxWxH in inches - 3.27x1.84x2.11

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

5 MOA dot

5 MOA green dot

What others are saying?:

Michael C. 5/5 stars @ Optics Planet

Awesome Red Dot

This rivals any of its contemporaries in this price range. At 5.3 ounces, it weighs less than other similar options without losing any functionality. The 2.5 MOA version is ideal for close to long range shooting. The dot is crisp and easy for your eye to catch. The glass is ultra clear and just about not there in your sight picture. The sight comes standard with a low mount to mount to your shotgun or "regular" rifle and it also comes with a riser so you can get the correct mounting height for an AR. A lot of red dots come with one mounting height, with risers or rings necessary but this will have everything you need. When using the riser, you don't need to switch out any parts or mounts. You simply mount your sight to the picatinny top of the riser, then the riser to your rifle. The standout feature for this sight is the brightness control. They're large push buttons and are located on the side of the optic instead of a turn knob or depressed buttons. These will be ideal for winter shooting when wearing gloves and just for general ease of use. If you're looking for an affordable, easy to use, quality red dot with all the bells and whistles you'll need, this is the way to go.

Link to other reviews:

Predator Extreme

Price point:

(MSRP versus actual retail)

MSRP = $299.95

Retail = $249.00 @ Styrka

$249.00 @ Optics Planet

I need it now! Availability:

Styrka or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

Comes with honeycomb glare filter
Includes high mount
Neoprene cover
2.5 MOA dot
Clear Dot
Clear glass
Lifetime warranty and tune ups

Cons:

Poor brightness in full sun
LED housing is noticeable
1 hour auto off
High mount doesn't line up

Score: 6.0 Okay

Chad's Favorite Link: Veterans FOB

Ryan Cross

November 11, 2016

Pachmayr G10 Tactical Pistol Grips

Ryan Cross

November 11, 2016

Aftermarket grips is usually the first modification a gun owner looks at to customize their pistol. Its a great way to improve the actual grip texture from the factory, and it also sets their piece apart from others straight off the factory line.

The Ruger Mark III benefits from a plethora of aftermarket components, but there aren't a lot of actually functional grip panels that aren't covered in zombie green or punisher skulls.

I wanted to find a grip texture similar to that of a pineapple grenade, with wide valleys and plateaus with the aesthetics of G10 and that sexy laminated look. I've seen Pachmayr's 1911 grips in Cabelas, so I was pleased to find they had offerings for the Ruger Mark III on their website.

The Grappler Grip from Pachmayr was a perfect fit for the Mark III, and the thickness added was less than the factory wooden panel. Available is a couple colors, I ordered gray and then used RIT dye to add a tint of color to the material. I used Black powdered dye, hoping to just darken the gray color to closer to a dark gray / black combo. I dunked both panels in the near boiling dye bath for about 1-2 minutes. Be careful if not to shrink the panels with too heat, and screw holes could become misaligned from the frame's posts. The grip turned a bluish hue, which was a happy accident in the end.

The G-10 material didn't take as much of the dye as I thought, compared to popular polymers in the industry. G-10 is a fiberglass based epoxy resin laminate that is extremely tough and durable material, so it makes sense that it resisted the dye solutions because it is impervious to moisture, weather and most chemicals. Thats why its so popular for handgun grips.

Between the two textures that Pachmayr offers in their G-10 Tactical pistol grips - coarse "Grappler" or fine checkered, I greatly preferred the grappler. No extra frills, and greatly improves the grip of the frame for both gloved and ungloved hands... I like them so much I may be upgrading my other pistols soon!

FIREARMS INSIDER REVIEWS – 8 KEY POINTS

Claim to Fame: Pachmayr G-10 Tactical grips are the toughest, most durable, and best looking grips on the market.

Target Market: Semiauto Handgun owners looking for aftermarket grips

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Super tough, durable G-10 material
Impervious to moisture, weather or chemicals
Attractive color patterns
Coarse or checkered textures to suit your shooting or concealment needs
Available to fit 1911’s, Sig 238’s and 938’s, Ruger Mk III and 22/45’s, Beretta 92’s, and CZ 75’s.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Coarse (Grappler) or fine texture; Green/Black or Gray/Black.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING?:

"These grips are very thin and very textured for a good grip on the gun. I would recommend them and buy again." - Amazon Customer Review

PRICE POINT:

MSRP: $44.98
Retail: $34.47 Amazon

I NEED IT NOW! AVAILABILITY:

Website

OUR RATING:

Pros:

Perfect fit
Course texture not too sharp on edges
Edges are tapered and rounded for comfort when gripping
Takes Rit Dye (but boiling/dye seems to soften outer layers of laminate, can cause shrinkage if too long)

Cons:

Would have been wonderful if new screws were included

SCORE: 7.0 GOOD

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links: