Tag: accessories

Not the most exciting post I've ever made, but here's an update to my February 2012 post regarding which items I would buy in various categories. If I set out to buy one of the following, this is what I would look for as of September 2012. Some things have great alternatives that aren't listed and some things have great alternatives that are listed. Some things I've gotten for free and some things I haven't. Some things might be more or less than you need. But if you ask me… Read More

If I set out to buy one of the following, this is what I would look for as of February 2012. Some things have great alternatives that aren't listed and some things have great alternatives that are listed. Some things I've gotten for free and some things I haven't. Some things might be more or less than you need. But if you ask me a general question about what (blank) to buy, this is probably what I'd recommend. ...a 5.56mm rifle - Colt SP6920. ...a .308/7.62x51 rifle - FNH USA… Read More

I had intended to make a longer review, but I'm unable to do voiceovers at the moment, so I'm just going to go with an "at the range" overview that I filmed last weekend. In my opinion, these sights are less than functional, and the reasons why both the front and rear sights have major problems are very obvious. The front sight's release latch doesn't always return to the "forward and upright" position, meaning that some of the time you want to fold the sight down, you have to physically… Read More

I'll come right out and admit that I am a big fan of aftermarket muzzle devices. The PWS FSC556 is great for reducing muzzle rise (while not creating huge fireballs like other muzzle brakes/compensators), and the AAC Blackout and Smith Vortex do a fantastic job of reducing/eliminating muzzle flash visible to the naked eye. However, this doesn't mean that the ubiquitous A2 flash hider is completely useless. It does actually reduce muzzle rise slightly, compared to, say, the AAC Blackout, as I noticed recently while switching between the two for… Read More

I'm not going to lie. Before I completed this test, I thought the AAC Blackout was all hype. I thought AAC had engaged in shady marketing practices in order to show that their flash suppressor was superior to the competition, namely, the Smith Enterprises Vortex. I figured that I'd be spending $50 to pick up a Blackout and that I'd lose $10 reselling it after I did the comparison (maybe more than $10, if I said really bad things about it). I was wrong. Now, if you've seen my previous… Read More

I love Surefire flashlights. Don't get me wrong. However, recently, I've found myself needing - perhaps wanting is a better term - stuff that Surefire doesn't offer. I've been using some of the following products for a few months now, and I'm pretty impressed with what they have to offer. Before I get started, I should explain a few things. Your average Surefire 6P flashlight uses two 3 volt lithium batteries, type CR123. It has a xenon, or incandescent, bulb designed to be powered with 6 volts. There are batteries… Read More

There are a number of muzzle devices available to the AR-15 shooter, ranging from a $5 A2 flash hider to exotic suppressor mounts in the $400 range. I've collected some of the more popular examples and taken video of their performance at night on two different rifles - one in 5.45x39 and one in 5.56x45. The video will do most of my talking. Within the week, I hope to complete a similar comparison during the day, which will focus on different attributes of the devices. I must apologize - several… 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

After a comparison test I did between the American Defense and LaRue Tactical Aimpoint mounts, I was offered a free Bobro T&E mount by Primary Arms, a Bobro dealer. When I pulled the mount out of the box, I first noticed that the mount seemed exceptionally well machined, although the design initially appeared to be overly complex. There are a lot more screws and springs on this mount than either the ADM or LaRue, and in my experience, while such designs may initially appear to work well in the lab,… Read More