Category: Reviews

On the internet, the debate rages on. What is the debate? Well, it doesn't really matter. People will seemingly argue over anything - and I've been guilty of that myself. One of the more popular debates is weight. Proponents of lightweight rifles point to carbine courses where a heavy rifle can get tiring, and accessories that boost the weight of the rifle, meaning that starting with a lightweight carbine is better. Proponents of heavy rifles say that they work out a lot, and their grandfather carried a BAR while assaulting… Read More

If you've been using magazine fed weapons for a while, you've probably loaded quite a few magazines. Steel and aluminum AR-15 magazines are not very well known for being easy to load, and while mag loaders are available, I've never felt the need for one - I've just sucked it up and loaded mags the hard way. This product isn't new, but it does address this issue in a unique way. The Cammenga EasyMag, which is produced in Michigan, features a "sliding body" design that allows the user to slide… Read More

As some folks have learned the hard way, A.R.M.S. throw levers sometimes fail at inopportune moments. LaRue mounts, on the other hand, are well known for their return to zero qualities and toughness. In this video, I demonstrate the difference between the two. The A.R.M.S. throw lever fails after four hits, while the LaRue is damaged, but still fully functional. The sad part is, a lot of companies get suckered in to using A.R.M.S. mounts for their products - such as the EOTech 553 and Elcan Specter DR - when… Read More

Today I received, by email, an interesting paper - from 1968 - which discusses DOD testing regarding materials to be used in the making of barrels for small arms. Before I go too far, we have to understand what a "small arm" is. To the military, this can be something which is quite a bit larger than what a civilian might encounter at a gun store or shooting range. This report was done at the request of the Air Force, which was interested in improved materials for minigun barrels up… Read More

I've covered similar topics before, but wanted to address this again. I saw this quite often when I was working in a gun store, but I also encounter such people at the range. Sometimes they're fairly well off, but it really pains me to see someone on an extreme budget do this. What I'm talking about is the notion that spending more money on a firearm - beyond the point of diminishing returns - will be more beneficial than training with that firearm. A lot of times, this is fueled… Read More

All too often, I hear someone describe an AR-15 as being high quality because the upper and lower fit together tightly, and the finish on the receivers matches perfectly. Often, much attention is lavished on the rich, deep black anodizing of the receivers (Strangely, these same people are perfectly okay with dremeling feed ramps through that same perfect black anodizing. But I digress). Unfortunately, much of this comes from magazines such as Guns & Ammo. I just skimmed a few recent AR-15 articles, where fit and finish was mentioned before… Read More

I'll admit it, I'm addicted to flashlights. I have way too many of the things. I learned the utility of small flashlights that were easy to carry yet very bright when I was in Iraq. There are times when night vision is useful, and times when a flashlight is more handy. Today, I always have a flashlight on me. I use it probably a dozen times a day, for everything from working inside a computer, to trying to figure out what else has broken inside my Jeep, to identifying things… Read More

You might be surprised to learn that, while living in Southern Arizona, I sweat a little bit in the summer. I've had problems with many carry guns rusting. At first, I thought it was just inadequate finishes. My Kimber 1911 with its blued finish quickly rusted in a leather holster, and even a switch to a kydex holster didn't help. I bought stainless firearms - Sigs, Kimbers, and Smith & Wesson revolvers. They developed rust as well. I even had a Smith & Wesson M&P - stainless steel with a… Read More

I like 1911 style handguns. I have owned several exceptionally reliable and accurate examples of the breed. However, I don't think 1911s are for everyone. Why? And why do I make a distinction between a "1911" and a "1911 style handgun?" Well, they require a little more upkeep than some of the pistols available today. While they generally last a very long time, when certain parts do need to be replaced, they need to be properly fitted to the other parts in the pistol. Also, many 1911s manufactured today are… Read More

Recently, a news story broke about US weapon malfunctions during firefights in Afghanistan. For many, this was a chance to renew their attack on the supposedly faulty Colt M4s in use by our troops overseas. For others - mostly, the troops who had been overseas with the weapons - this was something to scratch their heads about. My experiences with issued Colt M4s, M16A2s and FN M16A4s were nothing short of stellar. Despite claims - mostly by the uninformed - of constant maintenance requirements, I only cleaned mine when the… Read More