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Review: Unity Tactical Direct-Mount VFG

By on September 10, 2014 in Guns

Slick (as in non-railed) “universal” free float hand guards have been on the market for years and have gained in popularity steadily – especially as slimmer, lighter weight versions become available. Initially, only rail sections were available to attach to these hand guards but eventually the market filled in with various other direct-attach accessories like sling mounts, hand stops, and light mounts. One common and useful accessory, the vertical grip, remained a strangely unfilled hole in the market until this year when Unity Tactical announced the availability of their Direct-Mount VFG.

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Overview

The Direct-Mount VFG is a fairly straight forward piece of gear. It is a vertical grip that is designed to attach directly to slotted hand guards via a screw and nut. It also works with KeyMod and includes all the necessary hardware.

The VFG (vertical fore grip) itself is made of polymer and is lightly textured. It has a brass ferrule molded in for use with KeyMod hardware.

Its weight varies based on the hardware used, but it comes in at under 1.5 ounces. If you know how to use a vertical grip, that is 1.5 ounces well spent.

The top of the Direct-Mount VFG – as in the part that actually contacts the handguard when installed is very cleverly designed. If it was flat or slightly concave, it would only fit rails of certain shapes or diameters. Unity Tactical used two raised ridges (sort of like rails) to allow the Direct-Mount VFG to fit flush on a hand guard of any shape.

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Observations from Use

I don’t own a rail with KeyMod on the bottom portion so I just tested the fit on a friend’s rail. It fit and worked well.

My main interest in the Direct-Mount VFG is for use with the various universal rails on the market. I tested it with the Troy Alpha Rail (and similar), ALG Defense EMR, Midwest Industries SS Gen 2, Parallax Tactical FFSSR, and even Magpul MOE Hand Guards. It fit all of them without modification. I have no reason to believe it wouldn’t fit just about universal rail unless the slots were too large or numerous for it to sit square on the hand guard.

The Direct-Mount VFG is very lightly textured. I would prefer a more aggressive texture but I suspect that Unity Tactical knows that guys who care about these things will just stipple it to suit their preference.

The length is what some manufacturers might call a “stubby” grip. You aren’t going to be able to place your entire hand on it in a “chicken choker” grip. However, it is long enough to be used with a thumb forward or thumb over grip. It is also long enough to provide plenty of surface area for stabilizing against a barricade or to push/pull against your forearm in positions that can benefit from this technique like the so-called “brokeback prone.”

Unity_Tactical_Direct-Mount_VFG_top Unity_Tactical_Direct-Mount_VFG_bottom

Wrap Up

The Direct-Mount VFG is just what I hoped it would be – affordable, simple, lightweight, and effective much like the rails it is designed to be mounted on. The market has waited a long time for this and it doesn’t disappoint.

Check out the Direct-Mount VFG at Unity Tactical.

Disclosure: This product was provided to me by Unity Tactical, free of charge, for review.

Sneaky Bags Nautilus

By on September 8, 2014 in EDC, Guns, Survival, Tactical Gear

The Nautilus Sling Bag from Sneaky Bags is now available. This is one of Sneaky Bags’ most discreet bags yet. It is designed to be used as an off body concealed carry bag but can also be used to transport smaller shoulder fired firearms.

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The interior features a large loop covered PALS webbing field to offer the user an array of organization options without taking up the internal volume. It also has a zippered front slip pocket for smaller items. The rear of the bag has a concealed carry compartment that is accessible from either side and the shoulder strap can be configured for either right and left handed users.

Check out the Nautilus Sling Bag at Sneaky Bags.

The Liberator Holster from L.A.G. Tactical

By on September 4, 2014 in EDC, Guns

The Liberator Holster from L.A.G. Tactical is a value minded holster with solid features and a great name. It is named for the FP-45 Liberator Pistols from WWII which were designed to be inexpensive and easy to manufacture so that they could be distributed to resistance forces in occupied territory.

The Liberator Holster from L.A.G. Tactical is also designed to be inexpensive but unlike it’s name sake, it doesn’t look like a crude stamping. These holsters will retail for less than $40 but still manage to pack in features like an ambidextrous design that is convertible from IWB to OWB. They are available with your choice of vertical or a slight cant and a variety of colors.

Check out the Liberator Holster from L.A.G. Tactical.

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Phase 5 Tactical Pistol Completion Kit

By on September 3, 2014 in Guns

Much of the credit for the current popularity of the AR pistol is owed to Phase 5 Tactical (and the SB15 AR Pistol Brace). They have been creating products that are centered around AR pistols since long before the current trend. Suffice it to say, they know a thing or two about AR pistols. That is why their Pistol Completion Kit caught my eye.

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The Phase 5 Pistol Completion Kit contains everything you need to turn a stripped lower receiver (that has never been built as a rifle) into an AR Pistol. It contains a one of Phase 5’s excellent pistol uppers which comes assembled, complete with their 7.5” Lo-Pro Slope Nose Quad Rail, and ready to drop on your lower. The kit also includes Phase 5’s lower parts kit and Battle Latch. The kit is topped off with Phase 5’s pistol buffer tube.

Check out the Phase 5 Tactical Pistol Completion Kit at Brownells. There is a current special that will save you $15 when you use the code G2S at checkout (this code works for any purchase of $100 or more).

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