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Archive | May, 2012

Hitting the Range – Check Your BUIS

By on May 25, 2012 in Guns, Tactics and Training

I had the opportunity to take two new AR-15 shooters to the range this week and an issue came up that likely affects many users of this rifle platform – proper implementation of back up iron sights (BUIS).

How many of you completely remove your red dot sight (RDS) when you zero your BUIS? I know I used to because it made it “easier.” Nobody wants to miss a chance to use that nifty quick detach (QD) mount that costs some extra hard earned dollars! If this is you, then you may want to try using your iron sights through the RDS to confirm your BZO (battle sight zero).

Having the RDS in place between the front and rear BUIS may change the way you see or index the sights and as a result the point of impact of your rounds may be off enough to notice at 50 yards. This is especially true if your Aimpoint/RDS is set with a “lower 1/3” co-witness mount. Lower 1/3 mounts place the optic slightly higher than the BUIS sight plane so that your view is less obstructed by the front sight. While I see this as a worthwhile benefit, it does make the BUIS a little more difficult to index, see, and use through the RDS.

This issue is mostly negated if you run an “absolute” co-witness optic mount. I personally don’t prefer these mounts because the front sight (I prefer a fixed front sight base on fighting ARs) is a little more intrusive on the “field of view.” I find that guys who typically don’t “trust” RDS tend to run the absolute co-witness mounts so that the irons are easier to use in an emergency.

Everything is a trade-off and I trust my RDS as much as any other high quality gear item I run on my rifles. Anything, no matter how expensive or tried and true, can fail at the worst possible moment and having multiple back up plans is always a good thing. So there you have it – a great reason to get you and your rifles out to the range to test and make sure everything is adjusted appropriately.

Why We Train: The Economy

By on May 24, 2012 in Why We Train

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last five years, you’re probably well aware of the fragile state of the economy of the United States and the rest of the world. I am not an economist, but the fact that we’re in big trouble is becoming more and more apparent. Anyone who at least takes a regular perusal through the daily news is probably well aware of how thin the veneer of our civilization is and how quickly it could be peeled away. If sudden economic turmoil were to grip our nation, I think it’s safe to assume that widespread disruptions to many basic services could occur quickly. If this were to happen, it could wreak havoc in large metropolitan areas.

My purpose here is not to tell you how to prepare for the possibility of tough times down the road, but to motivate you to reach out to those close to you and maximize your ability to help each other. If you need some motivation to spur you along, then look no farther than this amazingly well done five minute video. This is a problem that has no achievable political solution and runs deep and wide across party lines. Why else would a sitting US Senator feel the need to warn of a financial meltdown in 2-5 years? The bottom line seems to be that things which can’t last forever, won’t.

The sky is not falling… yet. If you haven’t done so, it seems the time is ripe to take an inventory of your personal situation. The good news is that wise and carefully measured preparations will not waste any resources. Hopefully you will find that any steps taken to improve your situation will not only provide peace of mind but will also deepen relationships and enhance your quality of life, regardless of circumstances.

Fight and Flight Tactical 5×3 Hybrid Patch Panel

By on May 24, 2012 in Tactical Gear

The Hybrid Patch Panel product line from Fight and Flight Tactical is now one product larger. The new 5×3 Hybrid Panel is the latest entry into this versatile line-up.

The 5×3 is sized to carry a single AR-15 (or similar) magazine or other items that will fit like smart phones. Of course, it also still does a great job of displaying patches. It comes with a shock cord (bungee) retainer for use with a rifle magazine and a webbing strap for securing smaller items.

Check out the latest Hybrid Patch Panel from Fight and Flight Tactical.

BCS AK47 Chest Rig

By on May 24, 2012 in Tactical Gear

The Beez Combat Systems (BCS) AK47 Chest Rig has now been around for about a year. In that time, it has seen use in Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries around the world.

There are a few key features that seem to be the reason for the popularity of this rig. First, it is very low profile – low profile enough to wear over a plate carrier without excess bulk. Second, the buyer can choose whether they would like a 3, 4, 5, 6, or even 7 magazine configuration. Third, the pull forward design of the harness makes adjusting the rig easy, even while you are wearing it.

BCS continues to listen to end user feedback to refine this design. Check their post about 1 year with the AK47 Chest Rig on the BCS Blog.

High or Low: How to Wear a Chest Rig

By on May 23, 2012 in Tactical Gear, Tactics and Training

I will always choose to train without a chest rig when possible. However, there are times when a chest rig is a must in order to have enough magazines on hand. I prefer to run a reload or two on my belt but sometimes chest rigs are just unavoidable. So, if you have to wear a chest rig, you might as well have one that really works for you and give some thought as to how you wear it.

This chest rig is being worn low on the chest where it can interfere with items on your belt like your handgun or spare magazines.

High or Low

Many people wear chest rigs so low that I wonder if it would be more accurate to call them gut rigs. It is true that the lower the chest rig is, the faster and easier you will be able to access magazines but that is not the only consideration with a chest rig. You must also account for a few ergonomic considerations.

When you shoot a rifle from the prone position, there is a natural space between your upper chest and the ground since you are up on your elbows. If you wear your chest rig too low, it will be wedged under your stomach which can be uncomfortable. If you can move it higher on your chest, it will slip up into the natural space between your chest and the ground, allowing you to get lower and stay comfortable.

A higher chest rig is also less likely to interfere with items on your belt like reloads and your handgun. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen people training with chest rig straps covering their handgun. They would never be able to access it if they needed it. Simply moving the chest rig higher will prevent interfering with items on the belt and interfering with the draw stroke.

Wearing the chest rig higher on the chest keeps it from interfering with items on your belt and makes it more comfortable when prone.

Making Low Work

If you do have to wear your chest rig lower, there are some things that you will address. First, make sure that you keep it clear of items on your belt. This may mean that you have to use a drop holster to keep your handgun clear of straps (there are considerations for how to wear these as well). You may also need to figure out a way to lower any reloads that you keep on your belt as well

Second, keep your chest rig as thin as possible. You do not want a lot of bulk down around your stomach line where you will have lay on it in the prone and where it will block your draw stroke. If you do need to place something bulky on your chest rig, make sure it isn’t over your handgun.

Conclusion

I prefer to place my chest rig as high as I can while still being able to access the magazines and without interfering with shouldering a rifle. This may make magazine access slightly slower for some (magazine management can help mitigate this) but overall it is a better solution.

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