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Archive | July, 2011

Daniel Defense Lo-Pro Gas Blocks for Lightweight Barrels

By on July 14, 2011 in Guns

Daniel Defense is now making low profile gas blocks for .625″ lightweight profile AR-15 barrels. They will be offering a pinned model and a clamp model. Now users of lightweight barreled ARs will have more options when they want to extend a free float rail out over the gas block.

Lightweight barrels make all the sense in the world for the majority of shooters. For most purposes, they perform just as well as a “government” barrel profile but with a reduction in weight (and don’t even get me started on the sham that is the HBAR). A lighter rifle is almost always a good thing. However, until recently there have been very few low profile gas block options for these barrels.

I will always prefer the reliability of a taper pinned front sight base, but it is nice to have options like these low profile gas blocks from Daniel Defense. Check them out on Daniel Defense’s website.

X-Concealment Kydex Gear

By on July 13, 2011 in EDC, Tactical Gear

I recently came across X-Concealment’s “C” Series Compact OWB holster and was immediately struck with its interesting features. It can be hard to differentiate yourself in today’s Kydex market but X-Concealment seems to have the features to stand out.

Their “C” Series holster adapts a classic leather pancake design with some improvements that the Kydex construction allows. The holster is more trim and lighter than a typical pancake design. The belt loops have been relieved to allow them to flex. X-Concealment uses thinner Kydex for the backing of the holster than the front in order to allow the holster to ride ever so slightly closer to the body. The holster features screw adjustable tension and comes with a properly sized hex wrench. X-Concealment tops it all off with a really cool stitch pattern that is engraved into the surface of the holster.

I am very impressed with their new website. The “C” Series holster isn’t their only product. They have a full line of holsters and accessories. They also have a guaranteed 3 business day turn around time. You read that right – guaranteed 3 business day turn around time. If that isn’t enough to get you to check them out, they are running a 25% off special now when you use the coupon code “SUMMER25” at checkout.

I have one of the “C” Series holsters inbound for review. While you are waiting for the review, check out the X-Concealment website.

GEMTECH Silencer Subsonic .22LR Ammunition

By on July 12, 2011 in Guns

Several manufacturers makes subsonic .22LR ammunition but it is mostly just normal ammo that has been downloaded to subsonic velocities. The new Silencer Subsonic .22LR Ammunition from GEMTECH is actually built from the ground up for supressed .22LR chambered firearms.

They use a heavier, 42 grain projectile to deliver harder hitting performance at subsonic velocities. This isn’t some anemic mouse fart of a load either. That 42 grain projectile is being pushed to 1020 FPS to ensure performance while still remaining subsonic.  GEMTECH also saw to it that a cleaner powder was used which is especially important with all the junk that is blown back into the action when using a suppressor.

All in all, this looks like some pretty well thought out ammo. I suddenly have the urge to go crow hunting.

Check out the Silencer Subsonic .22LR Ammo on GEMTECH’s website.

Review: Carlson Comps Mini Comp

By on July 11, 2011 in Guns, Reviews

I’ve been able to spend a little time recently with the Mini Comp from Carlson Comps. The Mini Comp isn’t for everyone but it does a very good job of serving a couple of specific niches.

One of my favorite things about checking out Carlson Comps muzzle devices is talking with the proprietor of Carlson Comps, Greg Carlson. He is a straight shooter that won’t yank your chain. He readily admits that the Mini Comp isn’t anything earth shattering. He designed it for just a few specific purposes: it adds little to the barrel’s overall length, it is ban compliant for this in ban states, and it does provide a little compensation for muzzle rise.

I mounted the Mini Comp on a 16″ BCM BFH lightweight mid-length upper and set about testing it against a standard A2 flash suppressor. The Mini Comp is similar to the A2 flash suppressor in that it has open slot shaped ports on top and a closed bottom. It is essentially a shorter, lighter version of the A2 and it performs much like one as well, at least in terms of compensation for muzzle rise. That means that it helps a bit, but it certainly isn’t doing as much as a dedicated compensator like the Carlson Comp.

Greg likens the Mini Comp’s performance to an AK slant brake and I found that comparison to be accurate. I could feel that it is doing something versus a bare barrel but it really doesn’t do a lot to control muzzle rise. The closed bottom port did prevent the muzzle blast from scattering dust and debris on he ground when the carbine was being shot from prone and in terms of noise coming from the muzzle the Mini Comp is no more intense than an A2.

The device did seem to suppress some flash though it is not classed as a flash suppressor by the BATFE which is key to one of the niches that this device serves. The Mini Comp is classed by the BATFE as a compensator, which makes it legal for those who live in “assault weapons ban” states.

The main purpose of this device is to minimize the addition of length to the barrel. Many flash suppressors are designed to be long enough to bring the length of a 14.5″ barrel up to 16″ when the device is pinned in place. The devices don’t necessarily need to be that long to perform but they are made longer so they can fulfill a specific role. Carlson Comps went the other direction with the Mini Comp. It is shorter and lighter for the purpose of being short and light. It is designed to keep short barrels short and it does that. It is about 1/2 the length of many muzzle devices and 2/3rds the length of the A2.

If you are living in a ban state and want a device that performs similarly to an A2 flash suppressor or you have a barrel that you want to keep as short as possible, the Mini Comp may be for you. Check it out on the Carlson Comps website.

Disclaimer: The Mini Comp was provided to me for review, free of charge, by Carlson Comps.

 

Review: Battle Arms Development CASS-3P

By on July 9, 2011 in Guns, Reviews, Tactical Gear

I first wrote about the CASS-3P AR-15 selector back in June and you can read more about the excellent pedigree of this selector in that post. Since that time, I have been working with a prototype CASS-3P that Battle Arms Development provided for me to review.

The CASS-3P will feel familiar to those of you who have have a BAD-ASS already. The levers are dimensionally identical to the excellent BAD-ASS levers. However, there are 2 notable differences that really make the CASS-3P stand out.

The first difference is the way that the levers mount. The BAD-ASS uses a slot style mounting system that takes the stress off the mounting screws but does nothing to retain the lever without the screw. The CASS-3P uses a horizontal dovetail mounting system. This not only takes the rotational stresses off the screw but will retain the lever to a certain extent even if the screw is lost or broken. I tested this by installing the strong side lever without a screw and cycling the lever from fire, to safe, to fire, and so on. I made it to 200 cycles before I was bored and the lever was still intact. It was sliding around on the core but it didn’t fall off.

The second difference is that the center core that the levers attach to is slightly longer. This is to allow some additional clearance for when you slide the levers onto the core. The happy coincidence is that this also makes the levers feel wider. They are dimensionally the same as the BAD-ASS levers but they are raised slightly higher off of the receiver. This makes them even easier to find with your fingers but also can add to the interference with your trigger finger so you will want to choose your weak side lever wisely. If you are used to shooting with an ambidextrous selector switch, you really won’t even notice the extra thickness.

Overall, this is probably the most battle worthy selector from Battle Arms Development yet. The dovetail mounted levers adds a degree of redundant lever retention that is really attractive for those who are looking to build a fighting carbine. The CASS-3P will be available on the Battle Arms Development website soon.

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