Category Archives: AR15/M4

My EOTech works flawlessly on Modern Warfare.

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A while back, my 9 year old son and I were playing Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on XBox, and I came to a realization.  The EoTech on my M4 on the screen was working “flawlessly”.  So, it became the running joke that the only place I’ve ever witnessed an EoTech run 100 percent is on Modern Warfare.  I’ve made this comment a couple of times in front of different shooters and it usually erupts into laughter.  Some get angry.  The “Aimpoint versus EOTech” is the ultimate “Ford versus Chevy” debate, and in the worlds of the interwebs it can get heated. Continue reading →

AR15/M16 Magazine Drop Test: Plastic vs. Aluminum

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L to R: NHMTG USGI Magazine, PMAG, PMAG GEN M3, and TangoDown ARC Mk2.

One of the weak links of the M16 platform has always been the magazine design. The double column feed makes the system prone to malfunction should there be any dimensional problem with the magazine. Thankfully, there are more options for good magazines than ever before. Aluminum GI magazines have better springs, followers, and are built to as high a standard as ever, and we now have excellent choices in polymer magazines.

With that in mind, I decided to do a simple durability test of four popular magazines: the USGI aluminum magazine, the legacy PMAG, the new PMAG GEN M3, and the latest TangoDown ARC Mark 2 magazine.

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Colt’s LE901 – A Bigger Hammer

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What does one do if they want to add more weight, velocity, power or speed to something already existing?  Some would answer, “Build it bigger?”  In a way that is what Colt Defense did when they began building their LE901 carbine in .308 Winchester.  Colt built a bigger hammer when they launched their new platform to get into the .308 market.  For almost a decade Colt sat idly by watching other manufacturers jettison their iteration of an AR10 weapon into the hands of sportsmen, Law Enforcement and Military users.  But just this past summer the launch of their bigger hammer hit the market and now the company identified with the rampant pony now has a larger caliber black rifle to offer supporters.

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Compensator Shootout: BattleComp vs. BCM Gunfighter vs. A2 Flash Hider

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An extremely popular accessory born from competition is the “tactical compensator”. As mentioned in my previous blog post on the BattleComp, in the past I had shied away from compensators for anything but competition because of the excessive side blast and flash that goes along with them. I remember a recent class where I was shooting next to a student with a rifle equipped with a SureFire MB556. While an efficient comp, I felt like I was being punched in the face every time he pressed the trigger.

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MagPul Announces Next Generation PMAG

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For the better part of the last decade, MagPul Industries has redefined how we think of polymer magazines for the AR15 platform. Their PMAG has set a new standard for reliability and durability, and in many ways surpasses the aluminum GI magazine.

Recently, MagPul announced they will be releasing their latest GEN M3 PMAG. According to MagPul, the GEN M3 PMAG features the following improvements: Continue reading →

Thorntail Light Mount by Haley Strategic Partners

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In the past decade, tactical techniques, procedures and equipment have evolved quite a bit, thanks to lessons learned from overseas and the influence from the competitive shooting community. For example, many trainers and shooters prefer controlling the gun closer toward the muzzle to more efficiently control recoil and aggressively drive the gun to the target. Another trend is the use of two point adjustable slings on the carbine.
With these preferences in mind, when setting up a carbine it quickly becomes clear that the sling mount, light mount, and the shooter’s support hand are all competing for the same piece of real estate. This is true even when running an extended forend, and is exacerbated when a shorter, 7-inch rail is used.

Our Take On AR-15/M16 Magazines

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L to R: Clear TangoDown Mag, MagPul P-Mag, and Standard TangoDown Mag

It does not seem long ago, that dark decade in which “large capacity” magazines could not be sold to anyone unless they were a law enforcement officer with a letter from the head of their police agency. “Grandfathered” magazines went for three or four times their original price, and those who had them, hoarded them.

Fast forward to the present, and magazine prices are back down and there are more choices in M16 magazines than ever before. The latest craze is the utilization of high tech plastics that are lighter and stronger than ever before. Going the other direction, some manufacturers have gone to steel.

Some popular magazines include the MagPul Magazine, TangoDown ARC Mag, Troy Battlemag, Lancer L5 magazine, C-Products’ steel magazine, and the HK 416 magazine. With all these choices in magazines, it is tough to choose what is best. Unfortunately, there isn’t a 100% answer.

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Compensators: Range Toy or Legitimate Tool?

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A well-used BattleComp 2.0
Back in August 2011, I was introduced to the guys over at BattleComp while at a shooting course. The thing that immediately stood out about them is that they are shooters. Not only do they have many decades of law enforcement experience, but they love to shoot and train. And they are good at it. I couldn’t (and didn’t) pass up the opportunity to try a couple of their products.
Now before I go any further, I have always been skeptical about using compensators for anything other than gun games or range toys. I have tried half a dozen different types and shot next to many more compensators and all have shaken my fillings loose to one degree or another. Recently, I was zeroing an optic next to a shooter with a rifle equipped with a SureFire MB556K and it was like being punched in the face every time he pulled the trigger.
Compensators reduce muzzle climb to varying degrees, but experience has told me that they also act as flash, noise and concussion enhancers. So despite really liking the BattleComp guys, I didn’t have high expectations; my bad experience with all other compensators for the AR/M4 platform had left me underwhelmed at best. I expected the BattleComp to tame muzzle rise a bit, but also enhance the flash and produce unacceptable concussion to the sides. In a single man competition, this may be annoying to bystanders. In a tactical entry or team environment, the enhanced blast could render your partner unable to fight. Continue reading →

Laser Devices Visible and IR Lasers

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Laser Devices DBAL-I2
Just got a pile of Laser Devices products in for evaluation. I have long been a fan of visible lasers on pistols as a secondary sighting system for asymmetrical positions or special circumstances where the use of traditional iron sights is difficult or impossible. Laser Devices offers visible and IR laser designators for various applications for LE/Military and now offers various products with FDA approved “eye-safe” output.
Stay tuned for a comprehensive review of the DBAL, OTAL, and the CQBL. Yeah, my life is tough…