Archive for the 'AR-15s' Category

One has been seen in the wild.  Despite my predictions of poor performance and rim-locking, it seems to be well-functioning.

Might have to look into one of these given the good price point.

Andy with practical accuracy sends me a note with a video he did as a challenge from a commenter here at TCJ.

First of all, it’s nice to be in the mix of thing where you can affect outcomes like testing of weapons systems.  Second, his results are interesting and seem to me to put to bed the notion that a 1:9 twist rate can’t stabilize a 77 grain bullet.  This is the same thing Steve Mayer at Rock River Arms told me several years ago.  But it’s nice to see it tested.

By the way, nice shooting Andy.  A 1 MOA group is always good in my book.

I have been watching (perhaps not closely enough).  This is the first time I’ve seen anything other than COMBLOC weapons.

It also appears to have a nice charging handle (perhaps a Raptor charging handle?).

TFB.

It’s compatible with AR-15 lowers, and with the package comes a magazine and buffer and buffer spring.  The cost is $350.

I still think the wise move is to wait and get a feel for its performance (e.g., rimfire cartridges tend to get rim-locked, tend to be too weak to hold the slide back, etc.).

But I have to say that the price point is right.  They haven’t overpriced the upper.

It’s his video so he gets to say what he wants to.  I would add the following.  I like the BCM, but I wouldn’t recommend Colt.

I would recommend against a low tier AR and steer you towards: Rock River Arms, BCM, LaRue, Aeroprecision, or Daniel Defense.  Those are all going to cost in the upper tier price range, but it will be worth it in the long run.

As for hand guards, I have both KeyMod and MLok.  They both work.  I like KeyMod better, but that’s just me.

Interesting idea.  I would never have thought of that.

I don’t get failures like that, but I can see it happening if you use cheap ammunition that is out-of-round or balloons upon firing it.  Or perhaps it might be much more probable with extremely hot weapons after firing a lot of rounds without a chance to cool.

25 million.  I think that number is probably about right, although it might be somewhat low.  I think it might press towards 30 million because it likely doesn’t account for personal builds.

The number is also just a bit dated, and many have seen sold since then.

The FedGov is scared of the rifle.  They hate it.  When they want to ban and regulate something so badly, you know they hate it.

Eugene Stoner did a good enough job.  He was a genius, you’re not.

I love AR torture tests, and this is a good one.  Garand Thumb does a mud test for a number of battle rifles, including AKs.

And the win goes to M4 Block 2.

So readers can supply more details, but the Block 2 design comes from SOPMOD / SOCOM history and is usually considered to include at least the 14.5″ barrel (in the civilian world this would mean that the flash hider is pinned and welded), quad rail the length of the barrel (making it a bit heavier on the front end, but also more durable), and an upgraded trigger.

Maybe a firearms builder can weigh in with more distinctions of the Block 2.  Daniel Defense makes these rifles, and they’re good.  The Block 2 design was popular several years ago (and still is today), while today’s designs are sporting extremely light hand guards with locations for MLok or Keymod attachments on the forend.

So with the current designs, you’re to some extent sacrificing durability for weight.

Either way, I do love the Eugene Stoner design.

I guess I have never heard of polishing your BCG with Flitz polish and a Dremel before.