Author: Andrew Tuohy

Because I was sent a few different handguards by Rainier Arms recently, I needed to disassemble and reassemble a few upper receiver assemblies. One of those was the 5.45x39 upper sent to me by Spike's Tactical last year. It's seen crate after crate of corrosive surplus ammunition, and has never been properly cleaned. Coincidentally, I had just received a CAT M4 bolt scraper tool from Rainier, and thought I'd see how much carbon it would remove - there will be a separate post on that. But the topic of this… Read More

Earlier this year, I wrote a short article on how to choose the right concealed carry handgun. I've now turned it in to a video on choosing the right concealed carry handgun - an extremely lengthy one, by my standards - for your viewing enjoyment. I know that most of the people who read my blog regularly are experienced when it comes to firearms, because I'm consistently impressed with the quality of the comments I see, but perhaps it'll be useful to the friends or relatives of my regular readers.… Read More

Check out my rundown of the Vz-58 vs the AK-47, shot in the CZ Collection Room in Uhersky Brod, Czech Republic earlier this year. It was posted over on The Firearm Blog, but due to a scheduling error, it was buried back in August's posts. As we were shooting this video, an older gentleman - who turned out to be our tour guide, as up until that point we'd been with the president of CZ-USA - came into the room. He saw my spiel about the Vz-58 and was pretty… Read More

Rainier Arms has provided a Centurion Arms midlength extended rail system for T&E. Even when barrel nuts are considered, it has roughly the "length to weight ratio" of a Daniel Defense Lite Rail (this one is 12.4oz, compared to a DD 12.0 FSPM at 13.6oz). Plus, it offers rotation limited QD sockets. Although the current trend seems to be toward handguards that only have a top rail, the Centurion rail is different enough to warrant some attention. So far, I've only photographed and examined it, but it'll go on a… Read More

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. An AR-15 lower "printed" at home, using a 3D printer? My initial thoughts are that even if the lower was manufactured from a weak material, it would most likely maintain functionality for a magazine or so - if it was fired only and not tossed around - which is...interesting, and possibly of use. Also, in one of the coolest firearm videos I've ever seen, a bunch of dirty Russians with AK-74s and RPGs are laid to waste by guys with CZ… Read More

Beyond the temporary cessation of AK-74 purchases reported by Steve at The Firearm Blog recently, this article from RIA Novosti seems to suggest that the Russian military is looking for an entirely new replacement. Military sources say the army is reserved about all these rifles, whether made in Izhevsk or Kovrov. They think these rifles are fine, but do not meet the modern requirements of the Russian army, which will define the performance specifications for the new gun. I do read RIA Novosti daily, and am not surprised that the… Read More

Regular readers/viewers of this blog will not be surprised by the information contained herein. I produced this primarily for the Youtube audience. It's a basic summary of why I believe the AR-15 to be an incredibly reliable weapon, with a few tips on how to avoid problems - but those tips apply to all self-loading weapons.

I was recently loaned an Enidine hydraulic buffer by Rich at Arizona Armament, and dropped it in my Spike's Tactical lightweight AR-15 for some comparison shooting with the "regular" buffer that rifle normally is used with - an H2. Right now, I'm just presenting some initial findings, not a comprehensive evaluation. I'm not thrilled with the Enidine. Although it cycles slower, the difference comes from a slower return to battery, which I have not found to be conducive to higher reliability. This, coupled with the shorter stroke caused by the… Read More

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you've probably seen me mention Mike Pannone. He's the owner of CTT Solutions and a very experienced individual. I first met him almost 5 years ago, right after I returned from Iraq, and he was about to teach a designated marksman course. Since that time, we've encountered each other at the range quite frequently, and he's taken time out of his day to help me polish my skills with carbines and pistols on numerous occasions - rather generous, considering that he's… Read More

As mentioned previously, I am working with a series of 300 AAC Blackout uppers courtesy of Deliberate Dynamics and Rainier Arms. These uppers have Noveske stainless steel barrels and will be run through a series of tests to determine their suitability for various purposes, both "military" and "civilian." Jim of Deliberate Dynamics did the shooting today, while I "shot" photos. I particularly like this shot, which shows what I believe to be a bit of flame coming out the ejection port along with the case. One of the first things… Read More