Category: Technical Issues/Notes

Bravo Company has released a ton of information as to what makes their product worth the asking price. I've never questioned that - the barrel extension thing taught me plenty - but now there's plenty of in-depth information as to the quality of the rest of the parts. Some of it takes a little of the wind out of my "Beyond the Chart" series' sails (that is, items I'd been planning to cover), but I can't complain - good info is good info, regardless of where it comes from. Do… Read More

Most AR-15 enthusiasts, especially those who spend time online, are familiar with "the chart" - a document comparing M4 type carbines from various manufacturers via a number of features. These features are generally checked or unchecked, and weapons that check more boxes on "the chart" enjoy a higher reputation than those that do not. For the most part, I agree with that assessment. I would certainly rather have a "chart checker" than a weapon related to an M4 carbine in appearance only, especially considering the rapidly closing price gap between… Read More

Assembling an AR-15 is a fairly easy task. Even if one starts with everything disassembled, and has never done it before, the process should take no more than an hour or two, and requires only a few basic tools, a few specialized tools that are readily available, and a vise. However, it's also fairly easy to mess up. One of the more common modifications to an already assembled rifle is the installation of a free float tube or free floating handguard that covers the gas block area. This is also… Read More