The 590M Shockwave provides overwhelming firepower and lightning-fast reloads with the addition of a double-stack detachable magazine.
How the 590M Shockwave improves on the pump-action platform:
Fed from a 10-round detachable, double-stack box magazine.
Gives the base model a 10+1 capacity.
Lightning-fast reloads compared to traditional tube magazines.
5-, 10-, 15- and 20-round magazine upgrades are available.
Magazine release is ambidextrous and optimally-positioned.
Release and magazine situated not interfere with pump-action operation.
With the introduction of the 590 Shockwave, Mossberg made the tactical smooth-bore firearm short, sweet and wicked. And now, when it comes to firepower, it’s making the abbreviated pump-action platform overwhelming. The newly released 590M Shockwave 12-gauge mates Mossberg’s unique pistol-grip technically-not-a-shotgun design (more on that later) with the world’s first double-stack detachable box magazine meant for a shotgun. What comes out the other end is a nimble and devastating personal-defense gun that reloads in a split-second. Set up to give you a decided advantage, Mossberg’s freshly minted Shockwave is the ideal home-defense or truck-gun option.
Out of the box, Mossberg supplies shooters with a 10-round magazine, but offers versatility to the non-NFA firearm with aftermarket 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-round magazines. In all cases, the 15-inch barreled 590M Shockwave magazines have integral stabilizing ribs, which engage the magazine directly to notches machined into the receiver, ensuring a positive lock-up. The all-steel, heated-treated magazine release button and housing are optimally-positioned in front of the trigger guard for convenient, ambidextrous access for unloading and reloading. The location of the mag release does not interfere with the cycling of the action and maintains proper balance with a full-magazine located at the center of gravity point.
Based upon the proven Mossberg 500 pump-action platform, standard features of the $721 590M Shockwave include non-binding, twin action bars; positive steel-to-steel lock-up, dual extractors, anodized aluminum receiver drilled and tapped for the convenience of adding optics. The barrel is heavy-walled, and the magazine tube is capable of chambering 2 3/4 -inch shells.
Unique to the Shockwave platform, and providing its novel moniker, is the Shockwave Technologies Raptor pistol grip. The grip features an enhanced textured finish and has a “bird’s head” shaped-profile, allowing for maximum control while minimizing felt recoil. A glass-filled polymer with non-reflective, black finish, the 5.25-inches grip makes the 12-gauge’s recoil manageable and gives complete control over the gun. The cob-styled, tactical forend features a control strap, facilitating smoother operation.
The 590M Shockwave features an overall length of 27.5 inches, recoil-taming pistol grip (not designed to be shoulder-mounted), compact 15-inch barrel length and the convenience of magazine-feeding. By definition, the Shockwave platform is a “firearm” under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), and is not subject to the provisions of the National Firearms Act (NFA), although state and local laws may be more restrictive.
To learn more about the Mossberg 590M Shockwave, please visit www.mossberg.com.
Before you crack into the gas system proper, it’s good practice to check the status of your gas rings.
Worn gas rings effects and how to identify them:
Bolt will fail to lock.
Brass ejects to the rear.
To test gas rings remove the BCG and extend the bolt.
Stand on the bolt face, if it supports the weight they’re good.
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth article of four-part series dealing with direct impingement operated ARs and troubleshooting the gas system. Please check out Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of the series.
If your AR is still exhibiting cyclic performance issues after a good cleaning and lubrication, followed by the replacement of the buffer spring and maybe the buffer, you may have an actual gas system problem. With a clean weapon and a properly matched buffer spring, your bolt should be consistently locking to the rear on the one-round test and throwing casings within a few degrees of 3 o’clock on the angle test. Remember, a bolt that locks to the rear and throws brass toward the middle of the range is generally good to go and will continue to perform reliably if kept clean.
There are a few other items to consider, and while they’re not rocket science, they are more complex. An under-gassed gun (one that fails to lock the bolt to the rear in the single round test and/or throws brass south of 3 o’clock on the angle test) may have worn gas rings.
The traditional field test for the gas rings is to remove the bolt carriage group, pull the bolt head full forward, and stand the assembly upright on the bolt head. If the bolt head supports the bolt carrier without it sliding down, your gas rings are likely serviceable. If not, replace them. Worn or ill-fitting gas rings allow excess gas to past through the internal piston and not backward into the buffer spring system where it belongs.
If you find yourself in this boat, Bravo Company Manufacturing sells a SOPMOD bolt upgrade kit that will not only get you new gas rings, but also a new USGI extractor, ejector and appropriate springs for about $30. It’s one of those repairs you might as well make all at once, and a fresh extractor and ejector never hurt anyone.
Step 1 Remove the bolt carriage group, pull the bolt head forward, and stand the assembly upright on the bolt head. Step 2 If the bolt head supports the bolt carrier without it sliding down (left), your gas rings are good. If not (right), replace them.
If you’ve invested what is likely less than $50 for all these new parts (about the cost of a single hour from your gunsmith), actually cleaned your AR, and it still won’t lock to the rear after the single round test or has extreme or inconsistent angles of ejection, you may have a real gas system problem.
It could have several causes, such as the gas block coming loose from the barrel, a Franken-gun mismatch of parts or amateur gunsmithing. Take it to a qualified gunsmith, tell him what’s happening, and he’ll figure out the rest. He’ll likely have to replace or re-fit the gas block. Yes, it could be the bolt catch/release, or several other small items, but you have covered 90 percent of the basics and learned something in the process — probably that your gun was just really dirty.
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers brings the heat at the shooting range.
Lance McCullers can bring the heat – on and off the mound. The starter in the winner-take-all game seven, the Houston Astros’ right-hander was key in delivering his club’s historic first World Series Championship. Thing is, he’s as wicked and accurate away from the diamond.
Trading his wipeout curveball for a straight-shooting tactical rifle, McCullers is equally effective. And on the next episode of Modern shooter, he showcases his all-star shooting skills at Houston’s MAST Solutions. Joined by former teammate Jason Castro, the major leaguers dominate the demanding situational training course like a couple of tactical pros. Then again, these guys not only live and breath baseball, but America’s other favorite pastime – shooting.
In fact, trigger time runs in McCullers’ blood.
Reared on a ranch outside Tampa, Fla., if he wasn’t working on his pitching mechanics, he was honing his shooting skill’s to a razor’s edge. It shows, McCullers is as cool behind the business end of a rifle as he is when up in the count. Furthermore, the righty as view firearms and shooting as more than a mere diversion, but a way of life.
Catch more big-league shooting action on this week’s episode of Modern Shooter 10:00 p.m. EST Friday on the Pursuit Channel. The episode rebroadcasts Monday at 12 p.m. EST and Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. EST.
Lucas Oil helps shooters find an extra gear when it comes to gun maintenance with a full suite of gun solvents, oils and cleaning products.
Slice it however you like, but cleaning your gun isn’t a ticker-tape parade. Sure, there’s the satisfaction you got the job done and your faithful shooting steel is clean and slicked up enough to attend a wedding. But if you’re honest with yourself, you’d have much rather cracked open a cold one, kicked up your feet and contemplated that afternoon’s beauty run at the trap range. About the only way gun cleaning can become intriguing is if it’s done faster and with less effort.
Lucas Oil might have found a way. Applying years of automotive lubrication knowhow, Lucas has jumped into the firearms maintenance game with a full suite of specialty cleaning products and gun oils. And for a bunch of gearheads, they seem right on target when it comes to firearms.
Gun Digest Editor-in-Chief Luke Hartle checks out what Lucas brings to the table in the above video and walks away fairly impressed. For example, a brief dip in Extreme Duty Bore Solvent and Ultrasonic Gun Cleaner and a fouled choke comes away clean, not in minutes, but seconds. Hartle isn’t the only one to have taken notice of this level of effectiveness. Quick as a drag race, a growing number of gunmakers have made Lucas the recommended brand for maintenance on their guns.
It really does appear Lucas has found an extra gear when it comes to gun maintenance.
For more information on Lucas Outdoors products, please visit: www.lucasoil.com
Throughout my career, I’ve interviewed victims of violent crimes. The circumstances leading to each of the attacks varied — some people were assaulted in broad daylight, some in the middle of the night. Quite a few of the individuals I interviewed were attacked by a stranger, but a frightening number were attacked by individuals they knew well and — at least at some point — trusted. These encounters happened in wealthy neighborhoods and poor ones, to both men and women, and with single or multiple assailants. But all these violent attacks share a common and very real feature: They all happened quickly.
There’s a widespread notion among gun owners that simply having a firearm in the home is sufficient to stop any attacker. But that’s only true if the attack offers homeowners plenty of time to respond, which is rarely the case. If you ask victims of crime — especially those who were at home when the attack happened — they will tell you that there was little time to react.
It just happened.
Being at home brings a sense of comfort and security. While we’re at the mall or when we cross a poorly lit parking area at night to our vehicle, we’re switched-on, ready for danger. In our homes, however, we are less focused. We aren’t thinking about danger, aren’t constantly checking our surroundings. And the 9mm pistol or AR rifle that’s locked securely in a basement safe isn’t very practical when you’re upstairs watching television and an intruder appears.
American gun owners are starting to realize this, and as a result, they want to keep their firearms close-at-hand. In recent years, there have been a number of companies that have developed innovative and effective hidden gun safe systems for the home — furniture, clocks, pictures and mirrors that serve double duty as functional household items and rapid-access gun vaults.
Here’s a look at the best hidden gun safe systems from four of the leading companies in the industry. All of these brands offer different items that will look natural in a variety of different interiors, but they all share one common and important feature — they’ll help you defend your castle. Quickly.
Tactical Walls
Tactical Walls founder Tim Matter served 4 years of active duty in the United States Air Force and earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, so when he couldn’t find a line of products for in-home firearms storage that suited his needs, Matter decided to design his own line of home concealment products.
The drop-down shelf options from Tactical Walls offer inconspicuous and secure firearms storage. And with a magnetic or RFID locking mechanism, they are also quick to access.
His initial design was a full-length wall mirror, released in 2013, and since then his Virginia-based company has become one of the industry leaders in providing effective personal defense storage solutions and hidden gun safe systems for homeowners that are made in the USA with domestic components when possible.
That full-length mirror — the Tactical Walls model 1450 —and the shorter 1420 wall mirror became instant commercial successes. Both of these concealment mirrors are recessed into the wall between standard 16-inch studs, so the mirror unit sits flush with the wall for a natural look. Homeowners can access the firearms by disengaging the hidden lock with the provided key, and the mirror door can be installed to slide open to the left or right. Buyers can choose between magnetic or RFID locking systems, and there’s ample space inside to hold firearms, ammunition and accessories.
A shatter-resistant coating on the mirror and plywood backing offer an extra level of security, and there are a number of custom accessories available to personalize each security unit to customer specifications. The 1450M unit is 14 inches wide, 3.5 inches deep and has a short (10-inch) upper compartment and a larger (40-inch) lower compartment. The smaller 1420M offers the same width and depth measurements, and it contains a single 20-inch interior compartment. The 1450M starts at $499, and the 1420M costs from $370 and up.
Tactical Walls also offers a number of shelves that look natural in the home but contain drop-down firearm storage for either pistols or rifles. This style of hidden gun safe offers hidden locks that can be quickly accessed with the provided key, and when unlocked, they open to reveal hidden compartments with polyurethane foam inserts that keep your guns both safe and secure.
Each of these units is easy to install, and there are optional LED lights that illuminate the interior compartments for use in total darkness. Prices for pistol-length shelves start at $245, and the cost for rifle-length shelves starts at $399.
Also available from Tactical Walls is the 1410M Tactical Wall Clock, which is a stylish and functional non-locking security option that installs quickly and holds up to 10 pounds of guns and ammunition. The price for the Tactical Wall Clock is $129.
Liberty Home Concealment
Based in southern Missouri, Liberty Home Concealment is a family-owned company that builds a wide variety of stylish in-home security furniture using US-sourced materials when possible. They offer custom touches, and the turnaround time is incredibly fast, with many products available within a week.
Liberty Home Concealment has a wide variety of safe, quick-access furniture and décor options. This 8×10 picture frame is just one example.
The brand’s “flagship” piece is, well, a flag — a wall flag, to be more specific — that securely conceals firearms in plain sight. But Liberty also offers a wide array of different hidden gun safe options, including end tables and coffee tables that incorporate sliding tops with foam-lined lockable interior storage space for rapid access to home defense weapons from primary rooms in the house. These items provide a rustic, natural look that is also functional. End tables start at $249, and coffee tables range from the Defender at $399.99 to larger models that cost $600.
Liberty also offers a wide array of home décor items, including the compact Hidden Concealment Lamp, which has a hinged door and 6.5×8-inch interior dimensions to fit most handguns (an additional magnetic lock can also be installed); the pistol-sized Peacemaker Concealment Clock ($119.99) with foam insert; the Freedom Series Coat Rack ($299); and a variety of wall art options.
The Peacemaker Concealment Clock from Liberty Home Concealment just looks like a stylish piece of home décor to the uninitiated. The interior foam can be customized to fit many different firearms.
The company also offers a sliding wall mirror priced at $366.99, and a series of clever picture frame safes that range in size from 5×7 inches ($49.99) to 11×14 inches ($99.99). With so many hidden gun safe options and more that aren’t listed here, Liberty has a full lineup of home concealment products that keep your guns hidden, secure and quickly accessible from anywhere in the home.
Mirage Tactical
Jason “Lumberjack” Crago started his career building log homes in North Carolina, and when his twins were born he decided he needed to invest his skills in building tactical home furnishings that not only looked good enough to be placed in custom log homes, but also provided rapid access to defensive weapons while keeping those firearms out of the hands of his small children. Jason rapidly added to his line of home defense furniture and decor items, and his company — Mirage Tactical — has grown to become one of the most trusted names in the industry.
Products offered by Mirage Tactical include Personalized Hidden Canvas Picture Frames of various sizes that serve double duty as wall art and hidden gun compartments. There are two construction options available — steel with vinyl or wood with canvas — and you can customize the print as desired. Even the smallest print (19x19x2.5 inches) is large enough to hold multiple handguns and magazines, and there are also larger options available for additional firearms or long guns. The mid-sized (19×28-inch) model costs $249, and the largest canvas, which measures 28×28 inches, is suitable for longer firearms at $399.
Mirage Tactical offers concealed canvas frames that provide discreet firearm storage. It also has a number of other furniture and décor options available.
All of these prints come with rubber-coated barrel mounts and felt backing with magnets that securely hold your guns without the risk of damage. Plus, each hidden gun safe is available with the upgraded security of a wireless locking mechanism as an option.
Also available from Mirage Tactical is the Whiskey Barrel Coffee Table, a stylish and functional centerpiece for your living area complete with a flat-top design that lifts up for storage. Available material options include oak, maple or cherry, and buyers can select from a variety of colors. There’s a hidden compartment in the barrel that holds a small pistol, and if you’d like you can even have a custom humidor added with purchase. MSRPs for the Whiskey Barrel Coffee Table starts at $699.
Mirage Tactical Secret Shelves are also a great option for in-home concealment, and these solid-wood shelves are easy to install, feature reinforced steel compartments and have magnetic interiors with felt to protect your firearms. Available lengths include 12, 18 or 24 inches, and a wireless locking mechanism is available on the 18- and 24-inch models. Mirage also offers a full-line of end tables, nightstands, headboards, credenzas and a variety of other items with storage options, and many of these products can be customized to your preferences.
Top Secret Furniture
Prior to founding Top Secret Furniture, Bill Meginnis served as a police officer in Chicago. In that line of work, Meginnis responded to robberies often, and in each case, he noted that the items victims were most traumatized to lose were family heirlooms that couldn’t be replaced. In addition to his law enforcement career, Meginnis was also a woodworker, and when a client asked him to build a piece of custom furniture with hidden compartments to combine safe storage and rapid access, Meginnis began the process of developing a line of custom furniture that was both beautiful and functional. That passion led to the founding of Top Secret Furniture based in Arizona.
Founded by Bill Meginnis, who served as a police offi cer in Chicago prior to starting the company, Top Secret Furniture produces an assortment of home concealment options. And, unlike manufacturers that only offer production models, Top Secret can create something according to unique specs a buyer provides.
The company’s product line is extensive and includes the Bella ($895), Big Daddy ($1,277) and Hideout ($1,049) end tables; the impressive Chicago Lockdown Media Center ($3,974); and the Top Gun Night Stand ($1,377), just to name a few. Top Secret Furniture also offers a line of wall art that serves to conceal firearms in plain sight, including the Top Secret Wall Shelf ($147) and Wall Clock ($595) as well as a variety of other items that are easy to mount and access. One of the reasons that Top Secret has met with such success is that all of their hidden gun safe systems are built with solid wood, and no detail is overlooked. Drawers have dovetail joints front and rear, and every detail is examined repeatedly during construction.
Unlike companies that offer only production items, Top Secret features full customization of their furniture products. Each purchase, then, generally begins with a discussion with the customer regarding their exact wants and needs. Want to buy an end table but need it to be a few inches higher than standard specifications? That’s not a problem. Have a photo of an item that you’d like the Top Secret team to build? A consultation with Meginnis will help you start on the road toward designing your one-of-a-kind heirloom piece that’s as functional as it is good looking.
As you might expect, options abound, including both RFID and magnetic locks and custom finishes, so if you have an idea for a piece, Top Secret can help walk you through the building process.
It took a while, but all your friends have an AR-15, and now you’re finally determined to pull the trigger. (OK, we start with a pun. That’s the way it’s going to be?) But, they are everywhere. And they’re made by everybody. What to do? How to choose?
Look for ramps like these. If the ramps don’t come down past the edge of the steel into the aluminum, pass on that rifle.
Before we dive into the details, may I make a suggestion? Make your first AR-15 (there will likely be others later on) a relatively “normal” AR? It will be a pretty steep learning curve as it is, and adding in exotica may be overwhelming.
Caliber
First, decide what you want in caliber. A vanilla-plain .223 Rem./5.56 NATO? That’s the easy choice, because ammunition and magazines are everywhere. Also, plain old .223 Rem. is the least expensive of the ammo choices for the AR. However, if you want something in another caliber, just be sure you’re picking for the right reason. Do not buy an AR — say .204 Ruger — expecting to be able to find ammunition appropriate for defensive use.
Size
Second, decide on size. An AR that might be used for hunting as well as range fun and occasional competition can be larger and heavier than one you keep in your car for travel defense. Weight factors into this. If you’re 5 feet, 8 inches tall, don’t buy a bull-barreled rifle-length AR if your plans are for anything other than sitting at a bench and punching small groups on targets. Hauling that to the hunting blind, or running through a 3-gun match with it, will more than dampen your enthusiasm.
Barrel Length
An aspect of size is barrel length. Your two real choices are rifle length (20 inches) or carbine length (16 inches). The 16-inch barrel will deliver all the velocity you’ll need or want. If you must have the extra 100 fps, then accept the extra length. Shorter than 16 inches is handy, but it comes with extra costs: the cost of the tax stamp in order to make it an SBR. (Unless you go the AR pistol route, but that’s a divergence from this briefing.) You also pay in velocity loss, noise gain and just a bit more recoil.
Gun exotica is fun. A piston-driven SBR, with a suppressor on it, is a blast — but learning the AR ropes before you get there will be even more fun. Start simple.
Stock
Third, what stock? If you want a lightweight house gun or truck gun, then you’ll opt for a tele-stock. Which particular one is a matter of comfort — if comfort matters. Some people don’t find any particular one more or less comfortable than the rest.
The great thing about the AR is that stocks can be changed. If you have a tele-stock, you can swap off the sliding part for another one. Try them. Swap them. Even the “expensive” ones aren’t very costly.
Sights
Last we have sighting systems. Will there be a scope in your AR’s future? If so, you simply must get a rifle or carbine with a flat-top receiver. If your plans are for iron sights only, you can install folding (or non-folding) irons on your flat-top, or select an AR with fixed iron sights, just like in the old days.
Grips
Pistol grips are so personal, so inexpensive — and so much a fashion as well as a comfort item — that you can pick and choose. Pistol grips are easy to change, so we won’t worry about those. Shoot what you like.
What’s left are handguards — or forearms, if they’re cantilevers.
Plinking is fun, but competition (and training) can really teach you a lot. Once you have your AR, don’t be afraid to go out and use it.
Handguards: Fancy Vs. Function
The handguard is the part that keeps the hot barrel away from your hands. They used to all be triangular or cylindrical pieces of plastic, slipped under brackets front and rear. Now, they’re attached to the upper receiver at their back end and don’t touch the barrel at all. Or, they clamp on to, or replace, the barrel nut — and again, not touching the barrel at all. These are free-float handguards, and they allow your barrel to be all it can be.
Everyone makes an AR-15 with free-float handguards, and unless you are determined to go “retro,” you’ll have to make decisions.
First choice: quad rail or not? The quad rail is one with a rail section, not unlike the old Weaver rail, on each of the four cardinal points of the handguard. The advantage is simple: You have full freedom in bolting on accessories. The cost is also simple: The quad rail weighs more, and is larger in size, than the non-quads. I have big hands, and yet I dislike quad rails. If your hands are average, you may find it just too big. Non-quad handguards are much slimmer and lighter.
And here we have another decision point: The non-quads use slots in the handguard tube as attachment points for your accessories. There are two competing designs, and they’re not compatible with each other. Those are Key-mod and MLok.
With rare exceptions, the gas key on your carrier must be staked. Failure to do so will result in a malfunction sometime down the road.
Key-mod was the first, but MLok has advantages, and it has been winning the rail wars. There are still plenty of accessories made for Key-mod handguards, and there will be for a long time. So, if you find a smokin’ hot deal on a rifle with Key-mod, buy it.
Barrel Twist
Another choice: barrel twist. This is a different detail than weight or length. The twist is the speed of rotation of the rifling to rotate the bullet, denoted in how many inches it takes to make one complete revolution, as a fraction. So, a 1/7 barrel completes a turn in 7 inches, a 1/9 in 9 inches, and so-on.
You have three choices, only two of which actually matter. The original twist, 1/12, cannot stabilize a bullet heavier than about 60 grains. And no, the 62-grain “green tip” is not close enough. If you have a 1/12 barrel and green tip ammo, accuracy will be worse than miserable out to 25 yards. Past there it will be non-existent.
You will be told that “real men” only opt for a 1/7 barrel because that’s what mil-spec dictates. Meh. A 1/9 barrel will shoot even the heavy military ammo with 75- or 77-grain bullets well. If you must have a 1/7 barrel, fine. But if you get a deal on a 1/9, don’t pass it up.
Unless you go “retro,” you’ll not likely see a set of handguards like this. These come on old, A1-model ARs, and the world has moved on since 1972
Twists faster than 1/7 are the province of long-range target shooters who will be firing bullets of 80, 90 and even 100 grains. This is not you.
Construction Material
What steel? Chrome-lined, Melonite or stainless-steel? For the new shooter, they’re all good. They will all last you 10,000 rounds of fun shooting. If you can get a better barrel for not much money (and you have to decide how much is “not much”), then do it. Otherwise, don’t worry.
Assessing Overall Quality
Now, look at the details of the actual build — the actual rifle or carbine in front of you.
Once you’ve made sure it isn’t loaded, check the fit of the upper to the lower. Gone are the days when ARs left the factory wobbly. Everyone expects a tight fit, and makers know this. If the upper wobbles on the lower, hand it back and try the next one. If the fit is tight, on to the next step.
The quad-rail handguard was popular from the mid-90s to about 2010, but they have weight issues.
Fixed stocks are not a problem. If they seem loose, a bit of work with a screwdriver will tighten it up. With a tele-stock, look at the ring around the buffer tube, right behind the receiver. This is called the “castle nut.” The castle nut will have notches in it. The larger of the notches must be to the rear. They are what the assembler used to tighten the castle nut, which secures the rear plate and tube in place. I’ve seen them with the small notches to the rear, and I can’t imagine how they even got them tight, let alone passed final inspection before being shipped.
On the front of that ring, in the small notches, the edge of the receiver plate should be staked into the notches. This is done with a spring-loaded punch, or a chisel and hammer, to make sure the castle nut can’t loosen. The staking can be aggressive or marginal, but it must be done. If there’s no staking, hand the rifle back and most likely knock that brand off of your list.
As an aside, the buffer tube itself can come in one of two diameters: mil-spec and commercial. You’ll need to know which you have if you go to replace the slider, but otherwise not. The precise way is to measure with dial calipers. Mil-spec tubes measure 1.148 inches and commercial measures 1.168 inches. They can have four, five six or even seven stops for length adjustment. Look at the threads on the tube. If the threads behind the castle nut have been machined down, it’s a mil-spec tube. If the threads are sharp-topped all the way back to their end point, it’s a commercial tube.
Open the action. Pull the bolt and carrier out of the upper receiver. You’re going to check two things: one on the carrier and one on the receiver.
On the carrier, look at the gas key on top. There are two bolts holding it on. Just like the castle nut, these screws have to be secured in place via staking. There’s no such thing as an elegant, secure staking job. The more mangled the top of the key looks, the better-staked it probably is. Un-staked? Pass on this one. An un-staked carrier key is worse than an un-staked castle nut. It will work loose, and your rifle will malfunction as a result.
Now, you could buy a rifle or carbine that has nothing staked and do the staking yourself, but they’re signs that the maker has cut corners. Who knows what else they left un-done or did cheaply. A good enough bargain makes it worth the risk — once you know what you’re doing.
Finally, peer down at the chamber. Look under the locking lugs of the barrel extension and see if the feed ramps extend down into the aluminum portion of the receiver. These are known as “M4” ramps. You want them, even on a rifle. They increase reliability. They’re essential on a carbine and good on a rifle.
You’ve not got the best chances of buying a well-built rifle or carbine, with the features you want the details you must have. Be sure and stock up on magazines and ammo, and find a gun club where you can fully wring out the capabilities of you and your rifle.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the 2018 Shooter’s Guide issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
ShapeShift Shoulder Holster brings a new level of comfort and utility to the unique carry method.
How the ShapeShift improves on the shoulder holster:
CoolVent neoprene prevents straps from digging into shoulders.
Four-point anchors (shoulders and belt) keep holster in place.
Padded paddle stops gun from bitting into side and protects firearm from body moisture.
Adjusts to any cant angle.
Modifies to any body size in seconds.
Level III retention.
Compatible with exsisting ShapeShift modular holster system for IWB and OWB carry.
MSRP $133.88.
Blame the silver screen. When most of the un-anointed hear the term concealed carry, they conjure up visions of shoulder rigs. You can’t fault them, considering the volume of manatee undercover cops and sharp-dressed bad guys who kept their heaters hanging right along their rib cage. Imagine the neophytes’ shock when they find the style of carry is somewhat a rarity compared to nestling a handgun at some clock point on the belt line.
Uncommon when measured again inside- and outside-the-waistband systems, shoulder holsters still make sense for many armed citizens. Be it tramping the woods with a hunting revolver or requiring handgun access in a position that makes the tried-and-true 3-o’clock position unwieldy, placement on the upper body is as logical as a mathematical proof. And Alien Gear has made the carry preference all the more practical with the introduction of its rather ingenious ShapeShift Shoulder Holster.
Utilizing the company’s cutting-edge ShapeShift modular hybrid system, Alien Gear has cooked up an agile shoulder rig that addresses many of the common complaints of this unique method of carry. Chief among these is comfort.
Anyone who’s stepped out with a shoulder rig knows the systems can feel like yoking up to plow the back forty. Not the ShapeShift Shoulder Holster. With advanced light and comfortable materials (CoolVent neoprene), the holster’s English bridal leather resists digging into tender spots, remains situated on the shoulders and moves naturally with the user. Furthermore, belt anchors keep the rig in place, even through the most strenuous situations, so a sidearm is where it’s expected when it matters most.
The ShapeShift holster itself is a marvel. Designed to modify to nearly any form of waistband carry, the hybrid unit is versatile and well suited to the shoulder system. A vented and padded paddle holds a handgun back from nipping at a shooter’s side while remaining breathable and protecting the firearm in a potentially musty carry position. Moreover, it adjusts to any cant and elevation a user desires ensuring it adapts to a particular user’s body and carry preferences. If that’s not enough, the ShapeShift Shoulder Holster provides Level III retention, including adjustable passive retention, thumb release and a thumb break.
The system modifies to fit any user in seconds can configure to hold a single gun, a single gun and extra magazines or two guns. The ShapeShift Shoulder Holster has an MSRP of $133.88. Those who already own a traditional ShapeShift holster system can buy the shoulder holster expansion pack for $99.88.
The 9mm has become the most used cartridge in the U.S., and now boasts performance on par or exceeding larger-bore pistol options.
How the 9mm became popular:
Smith & Wesson and Colt drove interest in the 1950s with 9mm semi-auto pistols.
An influx of military pistols in the caliber also drove its popularity.
It has become the most used cartridge in the U.S.
Modern bullets and high velocities have improved its performance.
It penetrates as deeply as many .45 ACP rounds.
In many cases, it can expand to a wider diameter than the .45.
The 9mm also has a higher impact velocity than a .45, causing more tissue damage.
The 9mm Luger, or 9mm Parabellum, was introduced in 1902 with the Luger automatic pistol. It was adopted first by the German Navy in 1904 and then by the German Army in 1908. Since that time, it has been adopted by the military of practically every non-Communist power. It has become the world’s most popular and widely used military handgun and submachine gun cartridge.
Although the 9mm Luger delivers good performance, it was not popular in the United States until fairly recently. In 1954, Smith & Wesson brought out its Model 39 semi-automatic in this chambering, and Colt chambered its lightweight Commander for the 9mm Luger in 1951. This, plus the influx of military pistols chambered for the 9mm, greatly increased both popularity and acceptance in this country. Currently, the 9mm Luger is the most widely used cartridge in the United States, though a principal complaint has always been that the 9mm LugerMo lacks stopping power as a defensive cartridge.
Modern bullet engineering, combined with the moderately high velocities obtainable with a 9mm Luger, 9mm Luger +P and 9mm Luger +P+ loads, has changed the performance of the 9mm. Extensive tests have shown that many defensive loads for the 9mm expand to a wider diameter and penetrate as deeply as many .45 Auto loads — and they do this with a higher impact velocity, which translates to more tissue destruction. Anyone armed with a 9mm and good defensive ammo should feel just as safe as if they were carrying a .45 Auto.
Keep it simple, no wiser words have ever been spoken. And they apply not merely to life, but firearms as well. The fancier the gun, many shooters discover to their dismay, the more can go amok. Swimming against this tide, Patrick Sweeney gives us his top 5 affordable AR-15 choices. These aren’t simply bargain-basement buys from fly-by-night operations. Far from it. These rifles and carbines are certain to give more bang for the buck than a great swath of present black rifle-dom.
Del-Ton Sport Lite
The DT Sport Lite is your basic no-frills AR carbine of the type known as the “M4gery”. You get a 1/9 twist barrel, carbine handguards and telescoping stock, for a price that’s hard to beat. MSRP $649 www.del-ton.com
S&W M&P Sport II
If you want a handguard for accessories, then the S&W M&P Sport II has MLok Magpul handguards and lots of others extras. With a 1/9 twist barrel that’s Melonite treated for non-corrosion, the Sport II has a gas block with a Picatinny rail for a front sight of your choice, and tele-stock, all built to S&W standards. MSRP $739 www.smith-wesson.com
CMMG Mk4 T
If you want to take a step up, then CMMG in their Mk4 T, offers you a free-float handguard with rail slots, your choice of stainless or nitrided 4140 steel, and a full-length flat top for sight, scope and other extras mounting space. MSRP $1,049 www.cmmginc.com
Core 15 Scout
The Core 15 Scout is a basic M4gery that you can upgrade if you wish. The basic rifle is fully mil-spec, but if you want to add extras, you can get a better stock (still a tele-stock) and a carrier that’s nickel boron coated for easier cleaning. MSRP $724 www.core15.com
Ruger AR-556
If 10 years ago you had said, “Ruger will make an AR-15,” people would’ve pitied you. Now, they make some of the best. They offer their AR-556, complete with iron sights and mil-spec or better, for not a lot of coin. And, it’s hard to beat the Ruger warranty. MSRP $799 www.ruger.com
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the 2018 Shooter’s Guide issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The lazy days of summer are here, no better time for long afternoons burning powder and sharpening shooting skills dulled through the long winter months. As we all know, there are only two things vital for a productive day pitching copper-jacketed lead — guns and ammo. It almost rolls off the tongue as easily as peanut butter and jelly.
Simple as it sounds, rolling to your favorite shooting spot with the bare minimum kit courts trouble. Be it keeping everything in line, having enough rounds or fixing a firearm that breaks down at the most inopportune time, you need to outfit your range bag with the little extras that keep you squeezing off rounds, not fiddling with your firearm.
Luckily, a rash of new shooting accessories has hit the store shelves in 2018 tailor made to keep you plugging away at your passion. From machines facilitating lightning-fast reloads to devices to troubleshoot the most stubborn carbine, they’ll just plain make a day punching paper or steel all the more enjoyable. Admittedly, some of these won’t squeeze into an everyday range bag, unless you sling a full-sized duff. Nevertheless, they’re pretty dang handy kit regardless of size. So, without further ado, here are four pieces of new gear for your range bag that will get the most out of a day on the business end of your favorite gun.
MTM Case-Gard 3-Can .50-Cal. Ammo Crate
Designed for rugged ammunition storage and transportation, MTM‘s 3-Can Ammo Crate won’t fit in your range bag, but will keep your powder dry and your rounds in order. The three 13.5″ x 7.4″ x 8.5″ .50-cal. ammo cans are O-ring sealed and water resistant, making them ideal for keeping ammo fresh in between shooting session or out in the elements. The cans nest in a sturdy polymer crate, keeping everything in order and making it a snap to move a mass of ammo to the range for a long day shooting. The crates are stackable, saving space in a gunroom and come with tie-down points on the ends making them ideal for ammo transport on an ATV or the bed of a pick-up truck. MSRP: $44.49 www.mtmcase-gard.com
Butler Creek ASAP Electronic Magazine Reloader
Giving you more time shooting and less reloading, the Butler Creek ASAP Electronic Magazine Reloader is a godsend for shooters who measure their range time in thousands of rounds. Shooters simply insert a STANAG magazine, selects the round count and add 5.56 NATO or .223 Rem. ammo to the 60-round hopper and the ASAP does the rest, orienting the ammunition and feeding it into the magazine. The loader keeps count on a digital screen to let shooters know where they stand in the process. It might not qualify as a range bag essential, but it’s worth the investment, giving you more time to concentrate on what counts — your rifle and accuracy. The magazine loader is due out in August. MSRP: $330 www.butlercreek.com
Firefield AR-15 Multi-Tool
Malfunctions and equipment failures can strike any time, the Firefield AR-15 Multi-Tool makes certain you don’t miss a shot when they do. A must-have for any AR-15 shooter’s range bag, it’s armed with a slew of tools to tackle common carbine field maintenance issues — from scrubbing the bolt to setting components. In short, it’s a pocket-sized armorer’s toolbox. The heart of the system is a pair of spring-loaded pliers, perfect for troubleshooting a variety of issues on an AR. From there, the 4.2-inch long 14-ounce device boasts wire cutters, hammering surface, bolt scraper, bit driver, flat head driver, hex wrench, knife, metal pick and bottle opener. The driver includes four bits, allowing it to work on the most common bolt and screw heads on today’s modern guns. MSRP: $39.97 www.fire-field.com
PHLster Flatpack Cat Combo
Accidents happen, even in the controlled environment of a target shoot. With a Flatpack in the range bag, you’ve got peace of mind you’re prepared to handle any eventuality. Outfitted with a North American Rescue CAT model tourniquet, the mobile system deploys at a moment’s notice and stays in complete order the rest of the time with rugged electrostatic cord and an injection-molded backboard. Ideally sized (5″x2.5″), it carries as easily on your person as it does in your pack. MSRP: $52.94 www.phlsterholsters.com
Light, compact, manageable and accurate, the AR-15 for home defense has all comers beat hands down.
Why an AR-15 for home defense is the smart choice:
At around 7 pounds it’s maneuverable.
The controls — safety, mag release, trigger — are intuitively positioned.
Low recoil makes mastering form and control easier.
Rails allow easy mounting of lights, lasers and optics.
55-grain FMJ is ideal and cheap home defense ammo.
The round will yaw or tumble when it impacts at close range.
20- to 30-round capacity ensure superior firepower.
The manual of arms is simple.
They are as or more affordable as other options.
Handguns are handy. Shotguns are powerful. But when it comes to the defense of one’s castle, the most versatile tool, besides a Secret Service detail assigned to you, is the AR-15.
Why? Simple: It’s light and compact, has low recoil and great accuracy, and can be configured any way you wish. But first, let’s dispense with some of the canards that AR-15 detractors will raise: penetration, appearance and noise.
No, the .223 Rem./5.56 NATO will not shoot through a building. In fact, on interior walls it has less penetration than that of common handgun cartridges, even when those feature JHP bullets. Unless you’re using bonded rifle bullets designed to maintain structural integrity, the bullets of a .223 Rem./5.56 NATO cartridge will yaw in drywall, break apart and not over-penetrate. Oh, they’ll go through a wall or two, but not like a handgun.
A friend of mine is the head honcho of a multi-city SWAT team. His team once had the chance to “test” a neighborhood of houses before they were torn down. They shot every house with everything they could think of. “Patrick, every single handgun bullet left the test buildings, unless it hit a pipe or the building was brick.” The .223 Rem./5.56 NATO bullets commonly would enter the second room, but not leave that for the third room. The lesson for us all is simple: Everything is a hazard to the next room, but the .223/5.56 is less so past that.
The AR-15 is the current poster child for eeeevil gunz. Some will advise you use something less “aggressive” looking in order to make your legal situation less of a problem afterward. The bad guys can be called Problem One. The legal gauntlet can be called Problem Two.
Mounting a light on an AR is simple, and it can even be brutally simple. In a pinch, a hose clamp gets the job done.
Here’s the catch: If you know the law, and you observe the law, and you don’t talk to anyone until your attorney is on hand, then Problem One can be solved. It can be solved in a lawful, moral, safe manner, which then makes the difficulties of Problem Two pretty much not. On the other hand, if you do something stupid, or unlawful, or unwise, you will have legal problems regardless of what firearm you use.
Then there’s noise. Here I have to begrudgingly admit there is some basis for concern. The muzzle blast of a rifle indoors is more than impressive — it can be deafening. However, the magnitude of that noise beyond that of a handgun or a shotgun is not that much. Yes, it’s more, but it isn’t like the other two are exactly quiet.
And, you can mitigate the noise. A suppressor may be a step too far (cost, paperwork, really making the prosecutor salivate), but there are other steps. First, not all rifle ammo is the same. A few practice sessions at an indoor range or on a covered firing line will tell you which loads are more or less noisy. (Test with hearing protection on, please.)
You can also use a Noveske KX3, a blast diverter that redirects the noise away from you without being a suppressor. You can also opt for less-noisy cartridges. An AR-15 in 9mm or .300 Blackout, with subsonic ammunition, for example, is markedly quieter than the same-size carbine chambered in .223 Rem./5.56 NATO.
Handguns are handy. Handguns are compact. But handguns are hard to shoot well, and they only hold a limited amount of ammo. Handguns back up an AR-15.
However, noise can be your friend. If you shoot, the bad guy or guys are on the other end of the noisy tool you’re using, and this can matter. In the Miami shootout with Platt and Mattix, the FBI agents remarked on the difference between the “pop-pop” of their handguns and the much louder .223 Rem. rifle being used against them. That difference now aids you — and not the bad guys.
So, with those out of the way, let’s look at why the AR-15 should be your first choice for protecting you and your loved ones in your home.
Weight And Ergonomics
A “heavy,” standard AR carbine tips the scales at just over 7 pounds. That’s heavy enough to control recoil, but it’s also light enough to not be a hindrance. Almost anyone can heft an AR, and in the ergonomics department — safety location, trigger press, adjustable stock and overall shooter fit — it gets top marks. Even a compact shotgun can be a bit cumbersome, and if you haven’t practiced pumping it, even the “ultra-reliable” pump shotgun can let you down.
An AR-15 with a red-dot becomes even handier. Explaining it to a new shooter is easy: “Put the dot where you want the bullet to go, and press the trigger.” Iron sights are less so, and shooting a shotgun with just a bead on the barrel becomes an arcane episode of divining impact.
Handguns? Hitting with a handgun takes a lot more practice than hitting with a rifle, especially one like the AR.
Light Recoil
Ever watch a new shooter the first time they shoot a handgun that’s too much for them? Or a shotgun? Right there, you can see them deciding: Is this for me, or not?
Red-dot optics on an AR make aiming easy. The bullet hits where the dot is when the trigger is pulled.
The much lower recoil of the AR-15 makes it possible to teach form and control, and not have recoil as a hindrance. And when the chips are down, low recoil is an asset to solving Problem One. The low recoil of the AR-15 means odd positions are not such a problem. Ever try to pump a shotgun while shooting prone? Good luck with that.
Extras — Or Essentials
It used to be a lot harder to mount lights or lasers on firearms. With the proliferation of rails, we now have many choices. Well, shotguns still lag a bit, but handguns can be on-par with ARs. Except, if you want a rail on a handgun, it has to come from the factory with one. Adding one later isn’t an option.
You can add a laser with laser-equipped grips, but handguns still fall behind ARs in this. On an AR-15, if yours lacks rails, it is as simple as swapping out the handguards for a set that has rails built in. And many ARs now come with railed handguards, or handguards that readily accept rail segments.
More than being able to mount lights or lasers, being able to use them gives the definitive nod to the AR-15. With one hand to hold the pistol grip and the other to hold up the rifle and aim, the task of also switching a light or laser on is relatively easy. On a handgun, with both hands right there — and not as much to hold onto — turning on lights or lasers is less easy. Shotguns pose a special situation, as there just aren’t as many options for mounting lights.
Defensive Ammunition
The easy choice for the AR-15 for home defense may surprise you: plain old 55-grain FMJ. Yes, nothing special. Except, it is. At inside-the-house distances, the 55-grain FMJ has not had time to “settle down.” When a bullet is fired, it gets sent down the bore and is spun by the rifling. There, it’s forced to rotate around its center of form.
Barriers are hard on bullets. Unless you have selected a bonded bullet, an AR-15 bullet from a .223 Rem. or 5.56 NATO round will not penetrate as much as a handgun bullet will.
When it leaves the muzzle, it has to adjust to rotating around its center of mass. During that transition, it is particularly susceptible to outside forces. If it strikes an object or target, the bullet will yaw, or tumble. Since you are in-close, it will be doing so with pretty much all of its velocity, and this can lead to impressive results.
You may have heard of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan being unimpressed with the performance of the 5.56 NATO. This is due to the bullet they use, the M855, and the distance. The much faster twist of the M4/M16 (one turn in 7 inches) creates more stabilization in the bullet. This means less yaw, especially at distance. And at distance, it has less velocity, so any yaw it does have will not be as effective as up close.
At close range, the 55 FMJ is a stout tool, and the same attribute that increases wounding also decreases over-penetration in walls, as we discussed earlier in the article.
Selecting An AR-15 For Home Defense
So, a relatively plain AR-15, of the type commonly referred to as an “M4gery,” can be just the ticket. With a 16-inch barrel, an adjustable stock, a red-dot sight and a light on it, the full-up, loaded weight is not going to be much, if any, past 8 pounds. Add a sling for extra versatility, and you’ve put on a few more ounces.
Rifles have range — and precision. A precise shot at 25 yards with a shotgun or a handgun is not easy, especially when the shooter is in a high-stress situation. An AR with a scope or red-dot makes it easy to shoot quickly and accurately.
Now you have a compact, lightweight, easy-to-handle carbine, one that holds twenty or thirty rounds. It’s capable of tack-driving accuracy at home defense distances, with low felt recoil. Ammunition is common, easy to find and easy to load. The manual of arms — the handling methods — of the AR-15 are simple and straight-forward, and easy to learn.
And here’s another advantage the AR has, along with the shotgun: learners are less likely to inadvertently point the muzzle in a direction you do not want them to. New shooters with handguns can be a particular problem. It’s so easy to point a handgun “just anywhere” that a new shooter can be “sweeping” or pointing the firearm at themselves or others without realizing it. It can take some work to instill good habits. A long-gun, like a rifle or a shotgun, is long enough that muzzle direction is less likely to be inadvertent, and it’s easier to teach safe habits to new shooters.
As a final bonus, with the current marketplace dynamics, a vanilla-plain AR-15 can be had for the same as, or perhaps a small amount more than, a good-quality 9mm handgun. You don’t have to spend three or four mortgage payments to have a good AR-15.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the May issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Informal tests might suggest an AR’s gas system is to blame for a carbine’s issues, but there are false positives that can muck up troubleshooting efforts.
What AR issues mimic gas system problems:
Dirty extractor, bolt face, ejector and bolt carriage group can fail to function.
Underluberication accelerates how quickly components get dirty and malfunction.
Mismatched buffer and buffer spring can make a rifle seem over or under gassed.
Buffer spring weakens and does not eject cases with the force it did when new.
Buffer weight can affect how a rifle cycles.
Editor’s Note: This is the third article of four-part series dealing with direct impingement operated ARs and troubleshooting the gas system. Please check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the series.
A direct impingement system is a just that — a system — with multiple factors that can influence performance. Stoppages that might be attributable to a gas issue can be caused by something else, so let’s consider some other major variables that might skew the two previous test results and give you a false positive on the failure of your gas system.
Adequate Bathing Required
When was the last time you cleaned and lubricated your AR? Yes, I know this sounds like the IT guy at work telling you to turn your computer off and back on to fix a software problem. But in this case, examining the cleanliness and lubrication of the action is critical.
The downside of the direct impingement gas system is that it dumps hot, dirty exhaust gas through the action — the specific area that needs to stay the cleanest and most lubricated. Many have likened this design element to “flushing the toilet through the living room” or other such unsavory analogies. The problem is, it’s true.
The hot gases, carbon and unspent powder running through the action are an unavoidable byproduct of the design. Worse, the hot gases bake the carbon onto the metal, ultimately changing the geometry of the parts and impacting how they interact. Add to this any dust and debris the action picks up from wherever you’re firing, and you truly have a “hot mess” on your hands.
The most problematic areas are the spaces between the extractor and the bolt face. If this spring-loaded part cannot get over the rim of the cartridge to gain purchase, the AR will frequently or completely fail to extract the spent casing. The same is true of the ejector. In short, if these parts cannot work nearly simultaneously and in concert with the cycle of the bolt carriage group, the casing will eject poorly, inconsistently or not at all. These two areas must be examined regularly for contamination and carbon build-up.
Excess contamination also creates additional friction that impedes the bolt carriage group from cycling at the proper speed and force, which can prevent the bolt from fully reaching its rear-most point of travel and locking to the rear. It may also just slow the bolt enough to make it look like the ejection is weak. So, before you grab a wrench and go diving into your gas system, thoroughly clean your rifle, and make it a habit to use a high-quality lubricant and keep these parts clear of debris.
Buffer Spring Replacement
The second most common culprit behind a false positive on a gas system failure is a weakened or mismatched buffer and buffer spring. These two parts, depending upon their configuration and condition, can exhibit symptoms of an over- or under-gassed system.
If you have a reliable AR that, over time, starts throwing rounds nearer to the 1 o’clock position in the angle of ejection test, it may just be time to replace the buffer spring. Buffer springs are made to reliably cycle thousands of rounds, but like any metallic part put under stress, they weaken over time. If your rifle has functioned reliably for a reasonable amount of time before showing gas-related symptoms, it’s probably a combination of the spring weakening and the gas port diameter widening slightly over thousands of rounds. The result is higher pressure on a weaker spring, resulting in greater force to the rear and a more violently ejected casing.
Buffer springs can and do break down over time. The size of a carbine-length buffer spring is about 10 1/2 inches and needs replacing if it measures less than 10 inches. A rifle length buffer spring measures 12 3/4 inches and definitely needs replacing as it nears the 12-inch mark.
A buffer spring is a cheap fix, usually $10 or less. Though exact specs can vary, particularly among custom race guns, a carbine-length buffer spring will be around 10½ inches new, and shouldn’t be any shorter than 10 inches after extended use. If yours is, and the gun is running hot — meaning it’s over-gassed — spend the change out of your ashtray and buy the new spring.
Note: Be sure to buy the correct buffer spring for your AR. A carbine length spring will have about 37 coils, give or take — count them as well as measuring the entire spring. In contrast, a rifle-length buffer spring will be about 12¾ inches new and is a candidate for replacement when it shortens through use to less than 12 inches. Also, a rifle-length buffer spring will have about 43 coils.
The carbine and rifle buffer spring lengths are not interchangeable, and it’s inadvisable to try. A buffer spring is a cheap fix, or at least the elimination of a variable, so buy one, test it in your clean AR, and you may likely solve your problem.
Buy A New Buffer
For about twice the cost but still less than $20, you can replace your buffer. Keep in mind, a heavier or lighter buffer can be used to tune the felt recoil of your AR system, and some shooters get picky about this part.
In its simplest form, the buffer is a counterweight to the force of the gas imparted to the bolt carriage group, and it’s a device to compress the spring uniformly and alternatively press the bolt forward. For the average shooter, it’s not a particularly worthwhile place to get fancy unless you’re tuning for subsonic rounds or building a race gun.
A standard buffer, a little lighter or heavier depending on how your new spring performs the angle of ejection test, is OK — but over-doing experimentation with this part of the troubleshooting can be low-yield, if not downright irrelevant for a general-purpose AR.
Editor’s Note: The article originally appeared in the May 2018 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
With a tough exterior housing, Aimpoint’s new ACRO P-1 is as resilient a reflex optic as there is today.
How the ACRO P-1 is tougher than the other red dots:
A 1x optic with a fully coated lens.
Components enclosed in a tough aluminum housing.
Impervious to rough use, dirt and moisture that plague open systems.
3.5 MOA dot fully adjustable for windage, elevation and intensity.
Fully compatible with night-vision.
Fast and dead-on accurate, there are few complaints about what red-dot optics bring to the close-quarters shooting game. That’s not entirely true. Some shooters — tactical operators and civilians alike — are head shy over potential missteps and malfunctions commonly associated with reflex sights. In the heat of the moment, a protruding optic is a perfect candidate to snag clothing or tangle in a sling. On top of that, early examples had a frustrating tendency of losing their zero at just the thought of a stiff breeze. Resiliency wasn’t their selling point.
Thankfully, those days are behind us. There has been a revolution in red dots in recent years, with the aiming solutions growing smaller and tougher than anyone could have ever imagined. All the while, they haven’t sacrificed a lick of functionality or accuracy, giving shooters everything they expect out of an aiming upgrade. Nobody’s arguing they’ve made iron sights obsolete by any stretch of the imagination. But these new small packages are explosive performers, going a long way at running on par with traditional aiming systems when it comes to convenience and dependability — beyond when talking accuracy.
Aimpoint continues to remain at the cutting edge of red dots and moved the niche forward recently with the release of its ACRO P-1 optic. Tailored for use on pistols, but more than comfortable on carbines, the Advanced Compact Reflex Optic is flint tough, capable of withstanding extreme shock, temperatures and rough use that would rattle more traditional optics to their core. At the same tick, it produces the pinpoint accuracy required for deadly accurate up-close-and-personal shooting.
Elegantly simple, the advancement Aimpoint conjured up with the ACRO P-1 is enclosing the optic, making it impervious to bumps, bangs, dust and moisture. Even with the additional material (high-strength aluminum), the optic remains negligible in size, weighing in at 2.1 ounces and measuring a shade under 1 inch in length. Of its more notable features, the unit has a 3.5 MOA dot (fully adjustable for windage, elevation and intensity), a fully-coated lens and night-vision compatibility. The ACRO P-1 runs off one CR1225 battery and is an energy sipper. The unit was tested for one year of continuous use off one battery. Aimpoint has yet to release an MSPR on the new optic.
For more information on the ACRO P-1, please visit: www.aimpoint.com
ACRO P-1 Specs: Magnification: 1x Dot Size: 3.5 MOA Aperture: .63″x.63″ Battery: CR1225 Power Intensity: 4 NVS, 6 Daylight Length: 1.9 inch Width: 1.2 inch Height: 1.2 inch Weight: 2.1 ounces MSRP: N/A
Facilitating multiple carry positions, Galco’s Wheelgunner might be the most versatile revolver holster available.
The Wheelgunner advantage:
The Wheelgunner has a unique design utilizing a belt band in which the holster fits.
From there, the holster is held in place by a heavy-duty snap.
Furthermore, the Wheelgunner is ambidextrous with the choice of butt forward or back in either position.
I spent a month in South Africa last summer; it’s a place where an American cannot take a handgun for defensive purposes. Professional Hunter Leon Duplessis was kind enough to loan me his Colt 1911 for the duration of my stay. (It’s good to have friends in African places.) I asked Leon what he was going to carry while I had his Colt, and he said he had a .357 Mag. revolver he could pack. The problem was Leon did not have a suitable holster for his hog’s leg.
A packing holster for a handgun is one you use in a general-purpose manner. The high-riding, versatile and ambidextrous Glaco Wheelgunner is one of the best for a revolver.
I figured I’d return the favor, and contacted my liaison at Galco Gunleather, asking him to send over a Wheelgunner holster and one of the company’s excellent 1.75-inch belts. Galco shipped both to a client headed there to hunt.
The Wheelgunner might be one of the most overlooked holsters in Galco’s excellent line of premium leather. It’s a very unique design that utilizes a belt band the holster is snugly inserted into. The holster is then held in place with a heavy-duty snap. But, the real uniqueness of the Wheelgunner is that it will allow left- or right-hand carry with the butt of the handgun forward or back. This holster is “one-hundred percent,” as they are so fond of saying in Africa, ambidextrous.
Leon was ecstatic with his Wheelgunner holster and used it and the belt to carry his sixgun every day, whether at work as a professional hunter or while executing the duties of his side job as a doctor. One of the features he liked best was the ability to remove the holster quickly by just undoing a single snap. If you’re looking for a good packing holster that offers quick on and off, check out the Galco Wheelgunner.
Savage adds another element of accuracy to its 110 Tactical Rifle line.
Ready to go the distance:
Savage’s 110 Tactical rifle line is optimized for precision and long-range shooting.
The AccuStock adds a new dimension of adjustability and a rigid internal rail system.
The rifles are available in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win.
Depending on the model, MSRPs run from $769 to $789.
The problem with so-called economy precision rifles, they aren’t all that economical. Costing a good bit of coin, it’s not uncommon for these tack-drivers to push well above the $1,000 mark, even flirt with $2,000 if a shooter goes the whole hog for all the bells and whistles. Generally, they are often worth the investment for the die-hard long-range fanatic. The everyday shooter with a yen for trying his hand at going the distance, he’s left out in the cold.
Though not the sole driving factor in these rifles’ price tags, the guns’ stocks tend to inflate their costs. Precision designed for rigidity and customization, chassis and precision stocks do a bang-up job getting rifles on target, but can put the firearms out of reach of ordinary marksmen. However, Savage Arms has done its part to make precision a bit more affordable.
Earlier this year, the gunmaker unveiled its rather ingenious AccuFit Stock system and recently added it to its 110 Tactical rifle line. It should prove a match made in heaven, given the rifles come in top long-range calibers and boast many of the features shooters look for when going the distance. Best of all, the 110 Tactical line is highly affordable, with an MSRP of $769 to $789 depending on the model.
The newly revamped precision platforms include the 110 Tactical, 110 Tactical LH (left hand) and 110 Tactical Desert, which are available in three chamberings — 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win. The AccuFit system itself consists of four spacers to adjust the length of pull and five cheek pieces to raise and lower the comb height. Creating a perfect fit, the stock system ensures shooters have a rifle with the dimensions tailored to their body, making a stable shooting platform second-nature trigger pull to trigger pull. Furthermore, the stock has a rigid rail system firmly embedded throughout the fore-end of the rifle. Rather than uni-directionally engaging the action at one or two points, it engages the action along its entire length.
Common now to nearly all Savage rifles, the 110 Tactical line also features the company’s AccuTrigger, an adjustable fire control, which allows users to dial the pull weight between 1.5 to 6 pounds. Additionally, the rifles come outfitted with a number of other features certain to help shooters get on target, including a threaded heavy barrel (20, 24, 26 inches) with an end cap, 20 MOA EGW rail and tactical over-sized bolt handle.
For more information on Savage’s 110 Tactical line, please visit: www.savagearms.com
Handgun not running right? Your lubrication regimen may be to blame.
How to keep your gun a well-oiled machine:
Often times, lubrication, or lack thereof, is at the root of a gun that refuses to run.
Even on guns with minimal slide-to-rail contact, such as polymer-framed pistols, proper oiling is imperative.
They may continue to function, however, the lack of lubrication accelerates ware.
A safe rule of thumb is to lube at the first sign of metal-to-metal contact.
Additionally, heavy lubrication in hot weather is advisable.
Lubrication can be defined in many ways: It can be oil to minimize friction. It can be making a process run smoothly. And, it can be making people convivial with a bit of alcohol.
There are many varieties of gun lube on the market; pick one you like. The most important thing is to use it appropriately.
Actually, these all mean the same thing — it’s the act of making things work as they’re supposed to. Handguns, even plastic ones, have metal parts, and those must be lubricated.
Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat might know more about handguns than any man walking. He says, “Just like your automobile, metal-frame guns require lubrication. When I see a student’s pistol that had previously been functioning reliably begin to have failures to function, the first thing I check is to see if it’s running dry.
“At this point, I use my pet phrase for the class ‘Guns will run dirty, but they won’t run dry.’ Granted, some polymer-frame pistols with their minimal frame rail-to-slide contact will often continue to function dry, but continued shooting without lube on these surfaces accelerates wear.
“My basic rule of thumb is: If you see signs of metal-to-metal contact, lube it; if you don’t see any sign of contact, don’t lube it, as all this will do is attract firing residue. On top of this, run light lube when it’s cold and heavier lube when it’s hot.”
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the Fall 2017 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
