Archive | Guns

Review: Stark Equipment SE-1 AR-15 Pistol Grip

A friend recently gave me a Stark Equipment SE-1 to try out. I have to admit that I started this review a little biased against the SE-1. Many people object to the SE-1’s unconventional looks but that wasn’t my issue. I didn’t think that I would like the way the grip forces the hand lower since I generally tend to grip my ARs very high. Now, having spent some quality time with the SE-1, I can say that my concerns were unfounded. This is an excellent grip and it may even solve some problems for some users.

The SE-1 offers some very unique features among AR-15 pistol grips. Click any image to enlarge.

 

Function Trumps Form

The Stark Equipment grips certainly don’t look like anything else that is on the market right now. The design is different enough to elicit a lot of negativity on the online forums. Thankfully, there are people like you, who are willing to give something a try before they completely disregard it. Once you see the SE-1 in person and actually try it, you will see that it is all about function and ergonomics. This grip works.

The SE-1 is more vertical than most AR-15 grips which tend to rake backwards. This may be the single best feature of the SE-1. Think of how you hold a carbine. Generally the strong side (weapon side) hand is on the pistol grip and the elbow is tucked down close to the body. This requires that the wrist to be bent forward at a relatively extreme angle in order to hold the grip. Reducing the angle of the grip allows the wrist to be held in a straighter, locked position.

The SE-1 also forces the hand into a lower position. You can not ride your hand up as high behind the grip as you typically can with other grips. The conventional wisdom is that a higher grip helps control the weapon. The SE-1’s lower grip brings the trigger finger straight behind the trigger which should help your trigger pull mechanics feel a bit more natural. On some grips, I tend to grip so high that I am actually pulling the trigger back and up. This is not the case with the SE-1. It positions the trigger finger so well, that this would make a great choice for an AR geared toward precision shooting. I also find that the lower position helps to further straighten the wrist because it reduces the angle at the elbow.

The straighter angle and lower position of the SE-1 may actually help alleviate the wrist pain that some shooters experience while shooting. It certainly seemed to fatigue the wrist less than some of my other grips.

The grip also features some very nice contours. It reminds me a lot of the old “Coke Bottle” grips on S&W revolvers. It is narrower at the top and bottom, with a nice palm “swell” in the middle. This palm swell area has a very nice medium texture that provides plenty of purchase without being abrasive. The texture is positioned in a place where it will make maximum contact with the part of your hand that is on the grip at all times. The areas under your trigger finger, which doesn’t provide grip, are left without any aggressive texture. There is also a subtle thumb shelf that promotes consistent thumb placement. This grip was made to fit the human hand.

The SE-1 features an integral trigger guard that replaces the flat trigger guard that most ARs use. Like other products on the market, the SE-1’s trigger guard provides some extra room for gloved users and covers the irritating gap behind the trigger guard. However, unlike any other trigger guard that I have seen, the SE-1 completely covers the “ears” that hold the trigger guard roll pin. This makes much more surface area for contact with the middle finger than any other product that I have used. It is very comfortable.

It only takes a minute with the SE-1 to see that the designers were more concerned with making something that worked well with the human body than they were concerned about making something that looks cool. I haven’t really seen a decline in control from the lower grip, so perhaps the straighter, locked wrist position that the SE-1 affords, offsets any perceived difference in control.

The SE-1 completely covers the "ears" that holds the trigger guard roll pin in place.

 

Fit, Finish, and Other Features

The SE-1 certainly seems to be well made. It is made from polymer that has a very slight pebble texture to it which makes for an attractive and functional finish. The injection molding lines are clean, even, and do not abrade the hand. It certainly seems on par with other quality plastic products on the market.

There is threaded metal insert that accepts a small screw to secure the front of the trigger guard. Most other grips and trigger guard products use a metal screw that threads directly into the plastic so a metal insert is a welcome addition.

Extra items, like CR123 batteries or a spare bolt, can be stored in the grip using the provided rubber plug. The plug is very secure when empty and, once items are placed in it, it becomes even more secure. The items stretch and expand the rubber plug which makes it an even tighter fit in the grip. I have a hard time imagining how you could lose this plug.

There is also an SE-2 version of this grip that features a sling mount on the upper back extension. This positions the sling exactly where I prefer it – the rear of the receiver.

The SE-1 features a rubber insert that can hold a spare bolt or batteries.

 

Conclusion

Is the SE-1 strange looking to some people? Yes. Are looks the most important thing when you are choosing what to use on a tool that might save your life? Not even close.

If you are someone who will gladly exchange function for form, you know, because you actually shoot your carbines. Then you may want to give the Stark Industries SE-1 a try. This grip is has a lot of unique features that really make a lot of sense. I am very impressed with this grip.

You can read more about the SE-1 on the Stark Equipment website.

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Review: Magpul MVG

The Magpul MVG (Magpul Vertical Grip) is a vertical grip that is designed to attach directly to the Magpul MOE Hand Guards. It attaches to the hand guards via a threaded post and a washer. It is prevented from spinning by two thick plastic tabs that lock into the slots in the MOE hand guards. There is no rail section needed which keeps the parts count down (fewer that can break at the wrong time) and it keeps weight down. The MVG attaches very securely and feels rock solid once it is attached. The bottom section of the MOE Hand Guards contains a metal heat shield which helps reinforce the MVG.

I have also seen the MVG adapted to work with other hand guards like the Troy VTAC Extreme and JP/VTAC hand guards. There may be some fitting required but those who have completed this modification have been pleased with the results.

The texture on the MVG is very well executed. The sides of the MVG have a fine texture that is similar to the sides of the Magpul MIAD. The front and back of the grip has horizontal lines that promote grip and control.

The shape of the MVG works very well with a thumb-forward grip. Many vertical grips have a larger, flared section where the grip meets the rail which can actually get in the way of a thumb-forward grip. The MVG has a fairly uniform size from top to bottom which seems to work best with this type of grip.

The MVG is an excellent addition to the MOE Hand Guard. It, along with the Mount-N-Slots from Impact Weapon Components, have turned the MOE Hand Guards into a fully functional alternative to more expensive rail systems. Magpul has really done an excellent job at offering solid gear at a very attractive price with their MOE line.

The MVG used for this review was provided by Impact Weapon Components.

BAD-ASS-ST – New Short Throw Selector from Battle Arms Development

The Battle Arms Development – Ambidextrous Safety Selector – Short Throw (BAD-ASS-ST) is now available for purchase. If you thought the original BAD-ASS was a game changer, wait until you see the shock wave that the BAD-ASS-ST sends through the industry. The “ST” in BAD-ASS-ST stands for short throw. This selector is designed to rotate only 45 degrees instead of the 90 degrees that most standard selectors rotate.

As cool as the short throw concept is, in the litigious society that we live in, it does create some liability issues for Battle Arms Development (read more in their Industry Forum). So, these will come with a pin that blocks the installation of the selector in a standard lower. Battle Arms Development can not recommend modifying the BAD-ASS-ST to work with standard lowers (there will be lowers made specifically for this selector).

I have one of these inbound for review so stay tuned.

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TUFF Products Quick Strips

Carrying a small frame revolver is a compromise. You are trading some capability for conceal-ability. The same holds true for Quick Strips. Speed loaders definitely offer faster reloads because they reload the entire cylinder all at once but they are bulky. Quick Strips can reload only two chambers at a time but they lay flat which makes them much easier to carry.

I have been using the TUFF Products Quick Strips for a year now and they have proven to be durable, reliable, and easy to use. They hold the spare ammunition securely while still allowing the ammunition to be removed easily when executing the reload. With training, the shooter can become quite proficient with them and there are techniques that can be learned to get you back into the fight faster (like “load 2, shoot 2”).

You can read more about the TUFF Products Quick Strips on the TUFF Products website.

Click on any image to enlarge it.

The textured tab makes "ripping" the strip away from the cylinder easier.

The Quick Strips hold your spare ammo securely until it is time to reload. The inline design makes them very easy to carry.

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Solve Sling Mounting Problems with the UWL

Sometimes finding a satisfactory way to mount a sling can be problematic on many firearms. Your firearm may not have a factory provided sling mount or a place to attach a rail mount. Even if there is a sling mount, it may not be in the location that you prefer.

The Universal Wire Loop (UWL) from Blue Force Gear solves sling mounting problems. The UWL consists of two parts: a coated steel cable and a hard anodized aluminum sling loop. It comes in two lengths (I find the longer one more versatile). The user simply wraps the UWL around anything that is available, then wraps the aluminum sling loop through the wire loop, then attach the sling of your choice. It is that easy.

I have used the UWL to attach a sling between the delta ring and upper receiver of an AR-15. This is a great way to mount the sling close to the receiver for those who like standard hand guards. It can be wrapped through a fore end rail or through the front sight base. I have seen it wrapped through the sling mount on the handguard retainer cap of an AK-47 and then passed between the gas tube and barrel to make a left side sling mount. The applications are just about limitless.

The UWL is the kind of thing that every one should have tucked away somewhere for those times when you just can’t figure out a way to attach a sling to something. This is one versatile piece of gear.

Check them out at Brownells: Universal Wire Loop Short and Universal Wire Loop Long

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