GunTec USA

Guntec Micro Breach pistol brace

 Guntec USA has a new pistol brace kit out. Yes, everyone has a pistol brace kit out now. But does the complete kit cost $69.95? Yeah, that’s what I said. I have found that Guntec parts are of good quality, especially for the price. The Micro Breach pistol brace falls into this category also.

  The Micro Breach is a blade style brace. A blade style brace has a triangle piece that sticks down from the AR buffer tube. By doing this, one is able to rest the brace against your forearm for support. There is also a slot in the angled piece. The slot can be used for a sling or to put a strap through, so you can affix it to your forearm. It is made from a Zytel polymer, so it should hold up to most gun maintenance supplies. It is also ATF approved.

  Since this brace is in a kit, it comes with everything needed for installation, minus the buffer tube wrench. Buffer tube, check. Spring and buffer, yep. Castle nut, uh huh. End plate with sling attachment, of course. Even the wrench to tighten down the brace to the buffer tube! 

Viewed from top of rifle

  Guntec’s brace is also adjustable. It is not as easy to adjust as a positional stock, but acceptable for a pistol brace. Just find the position that works best for you. Then tighten down the 2 bolts with the wrench provided. The 2 bolts essentially tighten down a clamp around the buffer tube. This system worked well and the brace has never moved on the buffer tube.

  The Micro Breach works okay. As a pistol brace, it falls short. It is not very comfortable to rest against your forearm or when strapped to your forearm. It has a decent look to it and is very sturdy. Now, if you were to accidentally put the pistol up to your shoulder (not legal advice), it makes a great substitution for a stock. Since the brace comes with everything, It would be a great way to shoot an AR build until your Short Barrelled Rifle (SBR) tax stamp comes back. The metal parts in the kit are decent quality, as I would expect from Guntec. If something were to happen to the kit, Guntec has you covered with their lifetime warranty

  The Micro Breach pistol brace might be an option for you. Especially if you are looking at it as an economical, get you through until your SBR paperwork comes back, option. Guntec also makes the brace kit for pistol caliber carbines. So if you are looking into a pistol brace, go give Guntec a look. They have always treated me well and make good products.



Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Pistol Brace for AR15 pistols

Target Market:

Builders or those wanting a pistol brace for better control

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Adjustable length

  • ATF approved

  • Low profile

  • Complete kit, includes:

    • Buffer tube

    • Castle nut

    • Single point end plate

    • Recoil spring

    • 3 oz Buffer

    • Brace

  • Brace Length - 6.25”

  • 5 ounces, complete kit is 12 ounces

  • T6 aluminum for buffer tube

  • Brace is Zytel polymer composite

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

9mm version

What others are saying?:

Nothing found 

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found

Price point:

MSRP = $69.95

I need it now! Availability:

Guntec USA

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Price

  • Complete kit

  • Locks down tight

Cons:

  • Not comfortable to use

  • Hard to strap to forearm

Score: 6.50 Okay

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Favorite Link:   Walker Defense Research











Guntec 9mm Micro-Comp

 The Guntec USA crew has introduced a new little micro-comp for 9mm rifles. I personally like mini compensators on PCC style rifles. As I mentioned in the 9mm bolt review, Guntec sent this out for review at the same time as the bolt.

 One of the reasons I went with the micro-comp is the small size. It is 2 ⅝” long and has an outside diameter of 0.95”. On a rifle length 9mm carbine, almost all of the powder, or all of it, is burned up before the bullet leaves the barrel. This makes a large compensator not as efficient. Plus I like the mini look.

 Even though it is called a comp, it is actually more. I would call it a hybrid brake/compensator. The compensator portion of the micro-comp comes from the 3 holes the face upward. This vents gas up to push the barrel down. The next part is the brake, which is meant to reduce recoil. A huge single rectangular cut, from side to side, facilitates the brake function. One disadvantage to the micro-comp, as in almost all hybrid comps, is the increase in muzzle blast sound.

 I could definitely tell a big difference in this micro-comp over the 9mm A1 flash hider. Muzzle control from target to target is way faster. Felt recoil seems about the same, at least on my shoulder. I have a red dot on my PCC. Finding the target after recoil is also faster. Sometimes the dot stays on target, depending on the target size and distance. So the compensator portion works well.

 The Micro-comp is threaded ½-36. The thread pitch is part of the reason I chose the micro-comp. My 16” barrel is threaded ½-36, not ½-28 used on many of today’s barrels. Most of Guntec’s 9mm muzzle accessories are threaded the ½-36, but they do have some in ½-28 also..

 Do I like this micro-comp? Yes. Do I think there might be a more efficient one on the market? Yes, but Guntec does a good job in their micro-comp. It works well for what it is and at $39.95, the price is good also. Go take a look at Guntec USA and all of their AR accessories. I have been pleased with most of their products.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Micro compensator for 9mm carbines

Target Market:

Those wanting a smaller effective compensator/muzzle brake for a 9mm carbine

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Multi Port Compensator

  • Micro Design, Very Compact

  • 3 Top Porting Holes To Reduce Muzzle Climb

  • Side Slot Cut Reduces Pressure During Rapid Fire

  • All Steel Construction

  • 1/2 x 36 Thread Pitch

  • 2 ⅝” long

  • 0.94” Diameter

  • Comes with crush washer

  • Made in USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Too new at this time

Link to other reviews:

Too new at this time

Price point:

MSRP = $39.95

Retail = same

I need it now! Availability:

Guntec USA

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Small size

  • Effective

  • Price

  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Loud

  • Not available in ½-28 for 9mm

Score: 7.50 Good

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Favorite Link:   AR 15 podcast




Guntec 9mm Bolt Carrier Group

 I was in the process of putting together a pistol caliber carbine or PCC for short. So of course I needed a bolt. I contacted GunTec USA since they had recently come out with a 9mm bolt. They were kind enough to send one out for review, along with a 9mm compensator for the same build. I have reviewed other GunTec products in the past with good results.

 This review will probably be on the shorter side, after all it is a bolt carrier group (BCG). The GunTec 9mm BCG has a very nice QPQ Nitride finish. This makes cleaning a little easier than a standard run of the mill Mil-Spec BCG, plus it looks nice. Another function of the Nitride finish is it’s smoothness, if that’s a word. When I installed the GunTec BCG, it cycled very smoothly. This could also be due to the fact that the exterior machining on the bolt is top notch.

 The GunTec bolt has pretty much all the features one would need for this type of BCG. It has a roll pinned in weight to add mass. This makes it possible to run a standard weight buffer in your recoil system. The bolt is heavy at almost 15 ounces, but this is needed for the straight blowback style action used in most 9mm PCC’s. I did run into a small problem that was probably my OCD. Where the gas key block is located, right behind it on the bolt, was a little raised area. When I cycled the upper by hand, you could feel it drag against the buffer tube, but only right at full extension of the charging handle. It however did not cause any wear or problems during use. I smoothed them out so I felt better. Other than my OCD, the bolt has ran flawlessly using the Stern Defense mag block and all different types of glock magazines. The gas key bolts are staked in. They could be a little more, but since it is really only there to manually cycle the firearm, I didn’t pay much attention to them. The BCG also uses an external extractor. A big plus if you actually shoot enough to wear it out.

You can see here where I polished off the small lip.

Same lip on bottom of bolt. Neither top or bottom lip actually affected function.

 I am not sure how many round that I have out through the BCG. But it has not failed me so far. I would estimate around 700-800 round through it at the time of this review. I have ran it with three different AR15 triggers. A mil-spec, a KE arms, and a Velocity. All worked well. The Velocity was on the light side of the trigger pull weight, so I took it out and am currently running the KE arms trigger with good luck.

 If you are in the market to assemble a pistol caliber carbine, take a look at GunTec. PCC’s are an economical way to practice. This 9mm BCG will do both styles of receivers. It has given me no problems and is made right here in the U.S.A. Go take a look at GunTec USA, they probably have everything needed for a PCC.

 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

9mm AR bolt for Glock or Colt style magazines

Target Market:

Those building a pistol caliber carbine

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Compatible With Glock & Colt Style Lower Receivers

  • MIL-SPEC 8620 Steel

  • External Extractor

  • Dust Cover Compatible

  • Total Weight : 14.9 Ounces

  • USA Made

  • Fully Heat Treated

  • QPQ Salt Bath Nitride Finish

  • 1 Year Warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

In Nickel Boron

What others are saying?:

None found at time of writing

Link to other reviews:

None Found

Price point:

MSRP = $159.00

Retail = $135.99 at OpticsPlanet

I need it now! Availability:

GunTec USA or OpticsPLanet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Drop in installation

  • External extractor

  • Nitride coated

  • Works with Colt and Glock style magazines

  • Works with standard AR15 hammers/triggers

  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Slight raised lip by gas key

Score: 8.00 Great

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Favorite Link:   Brothers & Arms


Guntec 15" Compression Handguard

 Guntec Usa sent me their new compression M-Lok handguard for review. They were also kind enough to send an extra one that we gave away on the podcast. This particular handguard is a 15” free float and anodized black. Guntec has been making AR accessories in the US for decades.

 I noticed a few new things about this compression handguard. Guntec put some QD mounts at the rear of the handguard. In my opinion, this is a great asset. It also came with 1 QD swivel. This handguard also has M-Lok slots all the way down both sides as well as the bottom. That was one of my complaints with their Air-Lite that I reviewed some time ago. This one also has a full length top picatinny rail. As well as diamond cuts throughout to reduce weight. The black anodizing is also a little dull looking, more of a matte finish as compared to a gloss one. It doesn’t scratch off or anything, so there is no need to worry about it.

You can see the slight misalignment of the rail to the receiver

 Installation on the compression handguard is super easy. All you really need to do is install the barrel nut and tighten to manufacturers specifications (standard AR15 barrel nut torque). There is no need to index the barrel nut. Slide the tube on. Line up the top rail with the receiver rail. Then tighten down the 4 clamp screws. I put some medium threadlocker on these 4 screws, but it probably isn’t needed. That is really all there was to it. One slight problem with this particular handguard, is that the rail on the handguard sits a little bit lower than the receiver’s rail. Not enough that flip up iron sights won’t zero, but enough to notice.

 At first I was a little hesitant about the compression style of handguard. But after crashing it up against some 2x4 barricades, I’m not worried about it twisting or not lining up. The clamping force around the barrel nut seems more than enough to hold everything lined up. I really liked the feel of the handguard. It is small enough for me to get my hand around. This makes it very easy to drive the muzzle from target to target. It is just under 2” from the top of the rail to the bottom of the handguard and 1.5” outside diameter everywhere else. The inside diameter measures 1.34”, so don’t expect to put a suppressor under it. And you will definitely need a low profile gas block. The whole combination of screws, barrel nut, and handguard came in weighing 10 ounces on my scale. So pretty lightweight.

 As mentioned earlier, I like how this handguard feels. It does however get warm after 3 or 4 mag dumps. That’s pretty normal given the diameter and how close it is to the gas block. As with a lot of long handguards, there is some flex out at the end by the barrel. Not as much as I have seen on others, but a little. This leads into the location of the QD mount. Because they are located by the barrel nut, any force put on them doesn’t appear to flex the handguard any. Guntec also sent some rubber M-lok plugs with the handguard. These plugs just kind of push into any unused slots and give a rubbery grip to the handguard.

 If you’re interested in some quality, value priced AR parts, go check out Guntec USA. This particular handguard is pretty decent. It feels good in the hand, looks decent, and won’t break the bank. Plus, if it’s not your style, they probably have something that is.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

15" Compression handguard for modern sporting rifles

Target Market:

Users wanting to upgrade to a 15" handguard

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • T6 Aluminum Body
  • Proprietary Lightweight Aluminum Barrel Nut Included
  • Total Weight Including Barrel Nut Is 10 oz.
  • Triangle / Diamond Cuts Throughout Handguard to Reduce Weight
  • Rail System Slides Over Barrel Nut , And Is clamped on with 4 clamp 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?

10" and 12"

What others are saying?:

Nothing found

Link to other reviews:

Rusty Reviews on Facebook

Price point:

MSRP = $150 approximately (Not on website at writing)

I need it now! Availability:

Guntec USA

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Lightweight

  • M-Lok

  • QD points

  • QD swivel included

  • Easy Installation

  • Made in USA

  • Rubber M-Lok covers included

  • Small Diameter

Cons:

  • Rail doesn't line up with receiver

  • Dull anodizing

  • Lack of instructions

Score: 6.5 Okay

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Favorite Link:   AR15 Podcast

GunTec AirLite Minimalist AR15 Stock

  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

 


 

Guntec 15" Air Lite Handguard

   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. GreenF.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