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New Minuteman MKII Custom Configurations from UW Gear

By on February 28, 2012 in Guns, Tactical Gear

UW Gear is making some changes to their Minuteman MKII Chest Rigs based on customer feedback, their own experiences, and drive to improve.

The base configuration of the Minuteman MKII has been changed from a 4 magazine set up, to a 3 magazine set up. This change obviously decreases the magazine capacity of the rig by one, but it makes the rig far more trim and compact. This is an especially welcome change for the AK version of the Minuteman MKII. The closer AK-47 mags are to your center line, the easier it is to manipulate the length and distinct curve of the magazines. More than anything else, this change is meant to increase comfort and better fit with the philosophy of simplicity that UW Gear preaches. The 4 mag version will still be available by request.

UW GEAR AK Minuteman MKII in PenCott Badlands

UW Gear is also allowing you to choose the final configuration of your chest rig based on your unique requirements. The amount of MOLLE webbing that is found on each side of the Minuteman MKII can be customized to fit your needs. You can choose 3, 2, or 0 columns of MOLLE webbing. If you need the slickest, trimmest, most compact chest rig that you can get, you can choose to have no MOLLE webbing at all. If you need the ability to mount a typical IFAK pouch, then the 3 column set up will work perfectly. If you just need the ability to mount a couple of compact pouches, then the 2 column rig is just what you need. These are the types of options that you can typically only find at a custom maker and are a big reason why I prefer to shop with smaller makers when I can.

Check out the AK Minuteman MKII and the AR Minuteman MKII on UWGear.com.

Stay tuned for a full review of the Minuteman MKII Chest Rig.

New AK Sling Adapters and Dual Mode Sling

By on February 27, 2012 in Guns, Tactical Gear

Echo Nine Three just expanded their line of first rate AK sling adapters and they have also introduced a clever new sling to go with the adapters.

When it comes to single point slings, the best place that they can be attached to the rifle is right at the rear of the receiver. This will maximize mobility while still allowing the rifle to hang in a muzzle down configuration. This also happens to be a great place to mount your rear sling attachment point for a 2 point sling for basically the same reason – maximum mobility.

Top, Left to Right: V1, V2, V3, V4 Bottom, Left to Right: V5, V5/AMD, V5/MU, V6

There are 4 new sling adapters: V5, V5/AMD, V5/MU, and V6. Each one is designed to work on a different rifle. The V5 is an ambidextrous sling adapter that will work with most underfolders with stamped receivers as well as with AK pistols. The V5/AMD and V5/MU are similar except they are designed to work with AMD rifles or Milled/Yugoslavian rifles respectively. The V6 is reversible and is designed to work with AKs that have milled receivers with fixed stocks. There are enough configurations to cover the vast majority of the AKs that are readily available.

Echo Nine Three Dual Mode Sling (DMS)

The new DMS (Dual Mode Sling) is one of the most clever convertible slings that I have seen in terms of how it transitions from 2 to 1 point configuration. Each end of the sling has an HK style snap hook sewn into place. There is a short lead section just behind the rear sling attachment point that is attached to a unique piece of custom hardware. This custom hardware is the key to the function of the DMS. It is basically a large metal “loop” that you can quickly clip the front attachment point to in order to transition to 1 point mode. It is unique because it is polygonal in shape which allows the sling parts to “lock” into place and lay flat on the wearer’s chest without bunching or rolling.

I have been working with the V1, V2, and V3 sling adapters for some time now and I can say that they are the best rear sling attachment options that are available on the AK. They work exceedingly well and given their simplicity, I have no doubt that these new adapters will work equally as well. The new DMS also looks like a winner. The custom hardware that is used really sets this sling apart.

The Echo93 sling mounts are available from Brownells. You can check out Echo93.com and the Echo Nine Three Facebook page for information.

Stay tuned to JTT for reviews of the V1, V2, and V3 sling adapters and a review of the Dual Mode Sling.

Multitasker Series 2X

By on February 24, 2012 in EDC, Guns, Knives, Tactical Gear, Tactics and Training

I fell in love with the Multitasker Series 2 last year. Since I received it, I haven’t been to the range without it and I use it at home frequently when working on my ARs (and other things). I guess that I was so absorbed in my Series 2 that I forgot to mention that the Series 2X is now available.

The Multitasker Series 2X offers several great improvements over the Series 2. The most noticeable of which are the new larger and beefier jaws. The Series 2 had really fine teeth that were very grippy, but not necessarily the best for gripping items with large angular surfaces like large bolts. The Series 2X has teeth that would make a T-Rex jealous. These will definitely grip just about anything you can throw at them. The wire cutters have also been improved which is saying a lot because they were already pretty darn good.

The Series 2X also features a new pivot design. The Series 2 ball bearing pivot has been replaced with a self lubricating hybrid pivot design that is bull strong and very smooth.

The melonite coating of the Series 2 has been replaced with a more durable PVD or Titanium Nitride coating. This new coating will offer increased wear resistance versus the melonite treatment that was used originally.

Glock shooters will find the 2X to be more useful. It will come with a 3/32″ punch attachment that replaces the cleaning pick that was found on the Series 2 (except for the Brownells models which will still feature the cleaning pick). Many Glock shooters will know that a 3/32″ punch is basically the only tool needed to detail strip a Glock down to small parts.

The Series 2X is a worthy successor to the Series 2. Get all the latest Multitasker information at MultitaskerTools.com and at the Multitasker Tools Facebook Page. You can purchase your own Multitasker Series 2X from TacStrike.

You can also check out the earlier Series 2 at Brownells.

SpecOpShop SOU in PenCott Patterns

By on February 23, 2012 in Tactical Gear

The Hyde Definition PenCott Camouflage Patterns have interested me for some time now. Until recently, there were no US manufacturers that I knew of making uniform items in the PenCott Patterns. Thankfully, that isn’t the case any more.

SpecOpShop has introduced the PenCott Patterns as an option for their SOU (Special Ops Uniform). The SOU Shirt and Pant are available in PenCott GreenZone, Badlands, and Sandstorm in addition to their already wide array of colorways like Multicam, OD Green, Ranger Green, and more.

The SOU Shirt and Pant have a ton of end user driven features, some of which are customizable at the time of purchase. The SOU Shirt features a mandarin collar, slanted breast pockets that allow access when wearing a chest rig or plate carrier, buttons instead of Velcro in key locations, gusseted armpits, shoulder and forearm pockets, and more. The SOU Pant features an elastic waistband for comfort, reinforced flat bottom pockets for clip on pocket knives and flashlights, optional leg zippers for easy removal even while wearing boots, beefy 1″ wide belt loops, roomy rear pockets for storing spent magazines, and more. This is a seriously well thought out uniform set.

You can find much more information about the SOU Shirt and Pants at SpecOpShop.com.

Midwest Industries AK-SS Universal Handguard

By on February 23, 2012 in Guns, Tactical Gear

The last couple of years has seen a huge increase in slick sided, user configurable rails for the AR-15. That trend has finally made it to the AK with the Midwest Industries (MI) AK-SS Universal Handguard.

This type of handguard has become extremely popular on AR-15s for several good reasons: reduced weight, lower cost versus a railed handguard (sometimes), the ability to add rails only where needed, improved handling characteristics, and more. All of these are good reasons to design such a rail for the AK as well.

The AK-SS is available in two different versions: a standard length that is similar in length to the handguards that it replaces and an extended version that extends all the way to the gas block. The extended version gives more space for those who like to run their hands out a little further, helps keep a vertical grip out of the way of your magazine changes, and can help mount a weapon light with less shadowing.

Users can configure their AK-SS with the 3 rails that it comes with: 2 1.5″ rail sections and a 3″ rail section. It can also be used with any of MI’s optic specific top covers or railed top cover.

Check out the Midwest Industries AK-SS Universal Handguard and Extended AK-SS Universal Handguard on MidwestIndustriesInc.com.

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