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Review: TacPack September Edition

By Matt on September 22, 2016 in Reviews

Hopefully you are familiar with the concept of TacPack by now. If not, you can read the reviews of the previous TacPacks for some background. I recently received the September TacPack and here are the details…

September’s box is another one that delivers not only good value, but useful items. The usefulness of the items included continues to be my favorite thing about TacPack’s subscription service.

Nine Line Apparel Swag Pack – Nine Line Apparel is represented in a big way in this month’s box. They included a sticker, a koozie, and a t-shirt. I have a tool chest so I can use the sticker. I like cold beverages that come in cans so I can definitely use the koozie. I also [usually] wear clothing so I will get a lot of mileage out of the All Rifles Matter shirt. I always pleased when these boxes include a shirt.

Bellflower AK47 – This is an aluminum bottle opener that is shaped like an AK-47 and can be attached to your keys. It’s anodized in a gold color so you can feel like an oil baron or sultan while you are opening bottles. Even if you don’t put it on your keychain, you need a bottle opener for every drawer in your kitchen because they tend to disappear over time and no one wants to try to remember which drawer the bottle opener is in.

ReadyMan Survival Card – ReadyMan makes a variety of these cards. The one included in this box has a variety of fish hooks, frog spears, and other useful survival goodies packed into one easy-to-carry credit card form. I have a few of these tucked into various kits.

Wild HedgeHog Tactical – Wild HedgeHog Tactical really came through in this box. There is a coupon for 20% off at their site and one of their Ouch Pouches which is a compact, water-resistant first aid kit. You can never have too many first aid kits. This is the type of useful item that I really like finding in my TacPack.

Armaspec ST-45 Ambi Selector – This is a solid inclusion for both value and usefulness. If you are reading JTT, you almost certainly own an AR-15 in which you can use a short throw selector.

Check out TacPack to get in line for the October box which TacPack is touting as possibly their best yet.

BRC AR-15 Magazine Carrier

By Matt on September 6, 2016 in Guns, Reviews, Tactical Gear

The new Black Rhino Concealment (BRC) AR-15 Magazine Carrier is now available on their website. I have had one of these for more than a year for testing and I can say that, after all that time, it is my favorite kydex AR-15 mag carrier.

There are two things that really set this magazine carrier apart for me. First, it is extremely compact. It has a fold over design and a Tek-Lok mounted directly to the back which keep its quite narrow compared to two-piece designs. It is also cut shallow which coupled with its versatile retention method helps it fit a wide variety of magazines including 20 round mags. I mention 20 round magazines specifically because some carriers are too deep and do not present enough of the magazine to get a good grip on them, if they even accept them at all. That isn’t a problem with the BRC AR-15 Magazine Carriers.

The second thing that sets these apart is that retention method that I already mentioned. This carrier uses friction to retain the magazine but the friction is applied via a rib that runs from the top of the carrier to the bottom. This allows the retention to feel consistent regardless of the type of magazine being carried and makes it very easy to achieve the desired level of retention via the adjustable retention screws.

These are a great piece of kit. I like them so much that, now that they are available, I’ll be purchasing a second one. Check out the new AR-15 Magazine Carrier at Black Rhino Concealment.

The World’s Shallowest Review of the Ruger American Rifle Ranch 5.56

By Matt on August 29, 2016 in Guns, Reviews

I am going to list some specs for you…

5.56 chamber
16″ medium contour, cold hammer forged barrel
1 in 8″ twist
Threaded 1/2″ x 28 muzzle
Magazine fed

If you hadn’t already read the title of this post, you might think I was talking about an AR-15. That combination of features is very unique in a bolt action rifle and it is what makes the Ruger American Rifle Ranch so great. Of course, the sub $400 price tag helps a lot too.

This isn’t going to be an in-depth review. I am just going to briefly sing the praises of a rifle that I basically impulse bought about a year ago because of the price tag and features above. I wasn’t expecting a lot from it but the more I shoot it, the more I have come to appreciate it and the more I think a lot of AR-15 shooters would probably make room in their safes for a rifle like this.

The sub $400 price tag of these rifles makes them a bargain but their features are what makes them unique. There are a number of .223 Remington chambered bolt-action rifles on the market. They typically have twist rates on the slower end so that they can effectively stabilize lighter varmint hunting oriented bullets. This rifle stands out because it bucks those trends. Instead of a .223 chamber, it sports a 5.56 chamber. Instead of a slow twist, it has a 1 in 8″ twist which will easily stabilize projectiles up to 77 grains in weight while still handling a light of the lighter bullets on the market. That is a lot words that really just boil down to one thing for an AR shooter like me… It will shoot the same ammo as my AR-15s.

If you have a suppressor, you should probably just stop reading and head to your local gun shop right now. These rifles are a blast with a can. The barrel is threaded in a pitch that will accept all the common suppressor mounts and the medium contour barrel is beefier than a typical sporter weight, bolt-action barrel to reduce deflection from the weight of the can. This rifle was obviously made to be suppressed.

I have mine set up with affordable but good accessories. I picked up a Vortex Diamondback 2-7×35 during a Black Friday sale. It was just sitting in a box on top of my safe, waiting for a project like this. That optic is mounted to the rifle with Talley 1-Piece 93X725 Rings (the rifle comes with a very nice 1913 rail attached so you could set up the optic however you want including a red dot if you are so inclined). I replaced the included muzzle nut with a Smith Enterprise Vortex Flash Suppressor because I have always had excellent luck with those having little to no effect on accuracy.

To keep the rifle stable, I have a Harris bipod mounted on it pretty much full time and I use an Andy’s Leather Rhodesian Sling. Between the bipod and the sling, I can get stable in any position. So far, I haven’t seen many ill effects on accuracy while using a tight sling but I think I may open up the stock’s barrel channel a bit just to be safe.

Speaking of accuracy… I don’t have pictures to prove it so you will just have to take my word for it (and the word of several other reviews) but this rifle is extremely accurate. My hoard of Black Hills 75gr. Blue Box ammo typically groups into less than an inch at 1oo yards. The same goes for Prvi Partisan 75gr. It even shoots Wolf Gold 55 gr well and that ammo matches the BDC reticle in the Vortex Diamondback 2-7×35 very well with a 50 yard zero. Those of you who reload could probably whip up a real doozie of a load for this rifle.

It’s not perfect. The stock is a bit flimsy (not as bad as some bargain rifles) and, as a rifle with no iron sights, it should have an integral comb riser. The magazines are proprietary and expensive for what the plasticy little things that they are. This is the bottom line: This rifle carries light, shoots well, costs little, works with all your AR-15 ammo, suppresses well, and is tons of fun.

Review: TacPack August Edition

By Matt on August 18, 2016 in Reviews

Hopefully you are familiar with the concept of TacPack by now. If not, you can read the reviews of the previous TacPacks for some background. I recently received the August TacPack and it is my favorite so far. Here are the details…

I judge subscription boxes based not only the monetary value they deliver but also the usefulness of the items. I have purchased subscription boxes before and found that they may deliver a good monetary value on paper but be full of useless nick-knacks. That has not been my experience with TacPack and this month’s box is a prime example. I will use every single thing in the box. So far, TacPack boxes always deliver on value and I have been pleased with the usefulness of the items.

Exotac Fireseleeve – I supported the crowdfunding campaign that launched these and I think they are great gear. Exotac’s Firesleeve makes the already great Bic lighter even more functional by making it water-resistant, easier to grip, easier to keep lit without burning your thumb, and adding a lanyard loop.

America Grip Dagger Multi-Tool – This thing is slick. It’s an AR-15-centric multi-tool that is unlike any other that I own. It is especially solid for clearing some nasty types of stoppages. It has a tool for removing cases with head separation and a clever tool that is radiused for hooking under the rim of stuck brass. It can also be used to push pins, adjust optics, as a flat blade screw driver, and bolt scraper. Best of all, it folds into a very compact shape that can be clipped just about anywhere. This is going into my range kit.

Kershaw EDC Pack – Many of Kershaw’s knives are pretty inexpensive but they aren’t cheap if you get my drift. I have always had good luck with them so this is a nice inclusion. The pack includes a small multi-tool, a Kershaw knife, a flashlight, and a branded dog tag. The multi-tool is okay. The flashlight is pretty cheap but it works. The dog tag is silly. The knife, however, is solid and you always have room for a solid knife in a kit or tool box.

Breakthrough Clean Battle Born HP Pro – Everyone needs more gun oil. I don’t worry much about my gun oil because, regardless of the brand, I am going to use it the same way. I add lots of it so the gun stays wet, apply lots more when it starts to dry out, and repeat. They all work if you use them that way. However, I do like when a lube provides good protection from corrosion which, in my unscientific experience, Breakthrough Clean products do. I have to say that I like the precision applicator bottle on this Breakthrough Clean Battle Born HP Pro quite a bit. I also like that a 10% off coupon code was included for future Breakthrough Clean purchases.

GBA Sticker – Your tool box probably has room for another sticker.

On the whole, I think this is the most solid box to date. Previous subscription boxes that I have tried became progressively more nick-knack oriented. TacPack seems to keep going strong and may even be improving over time. I’ll take a few useful, high-value items over a pile of useless junk that is included to pad the monetary value any day. Well done TacPack. Well done.

Check out TacPack to get in line for the September box.

Review: TacPack – July Edition

By Matt on July 28, 2016 in EDC, Guns, Reviews, Tactical Gear

Hopefully you are familiar with the concept of TacPack by now. If not, you can read the reviews of the previous TacPacks for some background. I recently received the July TacPack and it is one of my favorites so far thanks to three really handy inclusions. Here are the details…

KeySmart Rugged – The KeySmart is a handy little bugger. It basically lets you sandwich your keys together into something like a Swiss Army Knife. This is a new, more beefy version of the KeySmart that seems very sturdy. It also came with an expansion pack for those of you with janitoresque key rings. This is a great inclusion and one that just about anyone can use.

Gerber Hook Knife – The Gerber Hook Knife is like a very small rescue knife or strap cutter. It actually does a respectable job of cutting clothing, webbing, string, and similar items without binding in spite of its size. The sheath seems to hold it very securely and its simple split ring attachment should allow you to mount this anywhere – on your gear, on your key ring, on a pack, etc. This is the kind of thing that I can always find a use for.

Strike Industries Angled Foregrip – The Strike Industries Angled Foregrip works and it is pretty handy – especially for AR pistol shooters since the BATFE has ruled that angle grips are good to go on AR Pistols. The Strike Industries grip has a clever ledge on the front that makes it easy to lock into a barricade while shooting. I’ll definitely use this.

TacPack Smooth Operator Hat – This cap features the ubiquitous loop material field on the front for attaching patches which makes it very operator. It also has the TacPack logo embroidered over the loop field which actually looks nice. It’s not the nicest cap I own but it isn’t the worst either. The quality is better than a typical freebie type hat.

Gang Bangers Anonymous Patch – TacPack continues their Gang Bangers Anonymous theme with a new GBA patch. This one is going on the patch panel!

Some lucky folks also received one of 20 muzzle brakes from BullMoose Tactical. Even if you didn’t get a muzzle brake, the box included a 25% off coupon for BullMoose Tactical.

Wrap Up

This is one of the most solid boxes to date. It might not be the slickest but I will use every single thing in it. The KeySmart has universal appeal. The Gerber Hook Knife can be tucked away in a kit or carried on anyone’s gear. You’ll always find room on a rifle for a good fore grip like the Strike Industries Angled Foregrip. This is just a solid box.

Check out TacPack to get in line for the August box.

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