One of rifle shooting’s well-known secrets is that the closer to the ground you get, the easier it becomes to shoot accurately. This is a big part of the reason why many precision long guns wear a bipod. The new Magpul Bipod is the latest choice available, with a surprising number of features for the money.
The Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec LQD Reflex Sight has clearly been designed with close range shooting in mind, likely by someone holding an AR15. It has the solid feel of a well-built optic, straightforward controls, and a competitive price point. In our testing, multiple shooters found it intuitive and easy to use.
Emergency water storage is often the first step on the road towards better preparedness. The FEMA recommendations, which should be thought of as a bare minimum, are at least one gallon per person per day, with a two week supply on hand. Since most Americans use between 100 and 200 gallons a day in non-emergencies, it is easy to need even more water storage.
When building an AR15, attaching the gas block to the barrel is often one of the most challenging tasks. The idea of taking a drill to a brand new barrel can be more than a little disconcerting. The Kaw Valley Precision AR-15 Gas Block Dimpling Jig takes the stress out of the process of dimpling a barrel for set screw gas blocks.
The new Midwest Industries Combat Rail Handguards are the latest update to the MI product line and they definitely share DNA with the previous generations. However, there are a few important changes that are clear upgrades from just a few years ago. What has not changed is that they are still entirely made in the United States and are extremely easy to install.
As part of a larger “get organized” mission, I’ve been working on sorting through and optimizing some supplies, including ammunition. Ammo tends to be rather awkward to store or transport, due to its weight, need to stay totally dry and keep sorted by caliber. The MTM 4-Can Ammo Crate is the best way that I’ve found so far to solve these issues.
One of Streamlight’s most interesting models, which we’ve had the opportunity to bang around and take everywhere for the last few months, is the ProTac HL USB. While the ProTac is as bright and durable as many other tactical flashlights, what sets it apart from the crowd is the ability to run off of three different power options.
There are all kinds of creative ways to start a fire in an emergency situation. However, a little planning and preparation can save you from the stress of trying to conjure fire building sparks from a battery and a gum wrapper while shivering.
Many home AR15 builders would agree that the hardest part of building an AR lower is installing the bolt catch. Pushing a roll pin into a hole isn’t difficult, but the design of the AR’s lower puts the assembly in, to say the least, an awkward position. The challenge is getting everything in the right place without scratches adding character to otherwise new parts. Wheeler’s Bolt Catch Install Tool Kit is specifically designed for this job.
One of the tradeoffs with the AR15’s direct impingement gas system is that they tend to run better when regularly given a little love. Since the gas tube is venting directly into the bolt carrier, regular cleaning is important. The OST Wrench fills the need for a small but tough field tool for help with the basic maintenance and cleaning of the AR15 platform.