Today is the day! The Battle Systems Mark Panel, Individual, Lightweight (MPIL) Mk1 is available now at a special introductory price. You can read more about them in this previous post on JTT and buy your own at BattleSystemsLLC.com.
This Multicam Mystery Ranch Crew Cab would be tough to spot without the MPIL affixed to it.
I prefer the rear sling mount for a 2-point sling on my AR-15 to be as close to the rear of the receiver as possible. This usually involves replacing the end plate with one that is designed to mount a sling. However, there are times when the end plate is difficult to remove (or you are not permitted to remove it) and a bolt-on approach is preferred. A number of options exist for those times that a bolt-on solution is needed, but I have never seen one quite as compact and streamlined as the Mission Adapted Design (MAD) Hook Up.
The MAD Hook Up is a sling mount that clamps onto the receiver extension (buffer tube) on the rear of the lower receiver. Its trim design keeps it out of the way of your hands when manipulating the charging handle and allows for the use of a number of different attachment methods like HK style snap hooks, ITW MASH Hooks, and threading the sling directly to the MAD Hook Up. The designers took care to break the sharp edges so that the MAD Hook Up would not chew slings to bits.
If you haven’t tried a 2-point sling mounted in this location, I strongly encourage you to experiment with it. It allows a tremendous range of motion and smoother transitions from shoulder to shoulder. Of course, the MAD Hook Up can also be used for single point slings. Check out the MAD Hook Up at MissionAdaptedDesign.com.
I have an Esstac Bush Boar chest rig that I use from time to time. The Boar series rigs from Esstac are probably the most modular chest rigs on the market and, with the addition of new AK Flap Retainers, that modularity will be enhanced.
The Boar series rigs will handle AK magazines without the use of these new flap retainers but these retainers should go a long way toward stabilizing the magazine in the pouch. Due to the curved shape of AK magazines, the retainer straps tend to slip down and off the end of the floor plate.The AK Flap Retainers prevent this from happening.
If you have an Esstac Boar Chest Rig or Esstac Wedges that you want to perform even better with your AK, then check out the Esstac AK Flap Retainers at SKDTac.com.
The new Interstate Firearms Training Chameleon Sling is one of the first truly unique “tactical” slings to hit the market in quite some time. The name “Chameleon” comes from its ability to easily adapt from a stand-along single point sling to a vest mounted sling.
The Chameleon utilizes 2 carabiner-like gate-hooks that allow it to be attached to a section of strap for single point use or attached directly to the MOLLE webbing on your plate carrier when you need to vest mount the sling. The body of the sling is constructed from stretchy material that is covered with mil-spec tubular webbing and there is a small stub that attached to the rifle. The stub is attached to the body of the sling via a large ring that allows the stub to slide freely along the body of the sling. The result is a sling that allows the plate carrier take all of the weight of the rifle and that allows easy transitions from shoulder to shoulder.
The Chameleon was designed by an 11 year veteran of the Coast Guard (8 of which were spent with the Deployable Operations Group) so it isn’t surprising that care was taken to be sure that the Chameleon worked well with releasable plate carriers. Typical slings wrap around the carrier and can prevent it from releasing correctly or completely.
These slings are being constructed by Jones Tactical for Interstate Firearms Training so you know they are going to be made right. They will be available in black, tan, MARPAT brown, OD green and foliage green. Contact matthew.r.fennell@gmail.com or head to the Interstate Firearms Training Facebook page to order.
JTT has one of the Interstate Firearms Training Chameleon Slings inbound for review, so stay tuned.
I am a big fan of dummy cording gear to myself and I am a big fan of Gear Keepers. I use their retractable lanyards to retain all kinds of important gear like a GPS unit when hiking. Their lanyards are easily the most robust and trustworthy retractable lanyards that I have used. Now, those retractable lanyards are available integrated into MOLLE pouches.
The Integrated Retractable Holsters come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The small should work for smaller flashlights and the medium should work for larger lights, GPS devices, and maybe even a monocular. The large is designed to work with a radio. The pouches are also available in two colors, coyote brown and ACU camo.
If you have ever lost something important in the field, you will want to check out the Gear Keeper Integrated Retractable Holsters on GearKeeper.com.
