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Review: Snake Eater Tactical War Belt

By on June 23, 2015 in Reviews, Tactical Gear

The Snake Eater Tactical War Belt (SET War Belt) doesn’t look much like most “war belts” and as far as I can tell after spending several months with it… that’s a good thing.

SET War Belt

Overview

The SET War Belt consists of three separate components that can be mixed and matched. Some of them can even be used as stand-alone items. Those items are an inner belt, a belt pad, and the outer “duty” style belt.

The inner belt is made from 1.75″ wide hypalon with loop Velcro sewn over its entire outer surface. It features a unique fold over Velcro closure. It can accept the belt pad or the duty belt directly if you do not wish to use the belt pad.

The belt pad is made from 4mm closed cell foam encased in heavy duty mesh. This makes the pad extremely thin and relatively lightweight. It has Velcro sewn to both sides so that it can be sandwiched between the inner and outer belt.

SET War Belt Parts

The 1.75″ outer belt is made similarly to Snake Eater Tactical’s EDC/gun belts. It has two layers of webbing sewn together and is closed with a Cobra buckle. It is not as stiff as scuba webbing belts but offers more than enough structure to use with holsters and subloads. The inside of the belt is lined with hook Velcro which is sewn at intervals to create a MOLLE like structure for attaching gear to the belt to ensure it stays where you want it. This belt also makes a very good stand alone gun belt as long as your holster loops can accommodate the slight extra thickness from the Velcro lining.

Observations from Use

All three parts of the SET War Belt are solid. The inner belt and belt pad in particular are the best of anything similar that I have ever tried.

The inner belt benefits greatly from the properties of the hypalon material from which it is made. It is extremely thin, light weight, and its rubbery texture helps prevent the belt from moving. The fold over closure is very clever. It provides a secure closure so you can really synch the belt without fear of slipping and it is much thinner and more flexible than a buckle. This means it won’t create a hot spot after several hours of wearing it under a weight bearing belt. It is very, very clever and it is no wonder that Snake Eater Tactical now offers it for purchase separately.

The belt pad is equally as excellent. It is very thin compared to many belt pads but it offers more than enough padding to prevent the hotspots created when a stiff, weight bearing belt is pressed into your hips for a few hours. It breathes well. It is flexible enough to stay out of your way when you do things like drop into squatting shooting positions. I keep trying to convince them to offer the belt pad for purchase separately since it would work with many inner/outer belt combos. I think they would (or should) sell a million of them.

SET War Belt MOLLE SET War Belt Sub Load

The out duty belt component will be very familiar to those who have tried Snake Eater Tactical’s excellent riggers belts. It is stiff enough to handle anything you want to mount on it without buckling and yet still more flexible than most duty belts.

The duty belt’s inside lining of hook Velcro locks it to the inner belt or belt pad. The lining is sewn at regular intervals which create channels that can be used to trap MOLLE accessories that are hung on the belt so that they do not move around on the belt. The channels are wide enough to accept the vertical strap of a subload or drop holster. Belt mounted accessories can be threaded on as normal. It is a very flexible system.

I should also note that this belt works extremely well with Snake Eater Tactical’s excellent Burro Magazine Pouches. They are ideal for belt use and make an already versatile belt, even more versatile since they will tenaciously hold just about anything. As an example, the Burros sized for AR-15 magazines will hold a Bic pen tight enough that you can turn it upside down and shake without losing the pen. In spite of the retention, you can still easily insert and remove magazines. It all works because of a symbiotic relationship between hypalon, curved Kydex tensioners, and heavy duty elastic.

The quality and durability of this belt are top notch. There is plenty of stitching to reinforce stress points. The materials are all top notch. The workmanship is typical of Snake Eater Tactical which is to say it is very good. It is just solid.

SET War Belt Buckle

Wrap Up

While the concept of inner/outer belts with pads is not new, the SET War Belt feels like a new idea. The inner belt is original and innovative in how it leverages smart design and new materials to make it better. The pad uses thinner padding and mesh to make something more comfortable than you would bet it could be. The duty belt offers the typical quality you have come to expect from Snake Eater Tactical belts. Together, they all work to create a flexible and very functional piece of gear.

The SET War Belt has replaced my bulkier, padded belt set up. It is more trim, more comfortable, and it stays in place better. This is a great piece of gear that I highly recommend.

Disclosure: The SET War Belt was provided to me by Snake Eater Tactical for review, free of charge.

 

 

Review: Scalarworks LDM

By on May 26, 2015 in Guns, Reviews

The Scalarworks LDM is an ambitious product. It is a quick detach Aimpoint Micro Mount that features a unique locking system and a radically skeletonized design. The result is a quick detach mount that weighs within a few tenths of ounce of the lightest non-QD mounts on the market.

Scalarworks LDM 3

The LDM or Low Drag Mount is designed from the ground up to be light weight. Traditional throw lever style QD mounts are heavier due to the presence of the lever which must be large enough to be operated by hand. In order to make a truly lightweight QD mount, Scalarworks had to get away from the typical throw lever. They designed a ratcheting thumb wheel that is extremely compact and thin enough that it fits within the footprint of the mount itself yet is easier to operate than a really tight throw lever.

The thumb wheel has a deeply knurled surface that mates with a detent in the mount. This makes setting consistent tension on the mount a snap since you can witness-mark the particular groove that the detent should lock into and be sure to tighten to the mark every time you reinstall the mount. This locking system is pretty ingenious and has certainly held up just fine to my testing.

I tested the return to zero capability of the mount by firing four separate three shot groups at 50 yards, removing the mount between each group. I could detect no difference from group to group with each one stacking on top of the other. Admittedly, it would have been easier to spot a difference at a greater distance and with a more precise optic. For my purposes, the 50 yard test was sufficient for a red dot sight.

The mount itself has been machined to a bare minimum of material. Some of you are going to look at it and think it will break or bend easily. However, I dropped my carbine from chest height directly onto the optic with no ill effects other than some dings on the optic. When you have the mount in hand, you can see that the pillars that support that optic are actually more robust than you would think from the pictures. Can this mount be bent more easily than a heavier, non-skeletonized mount? Probably, but it will take some abuse to do it.

Scalarworks LDM

I should also point out that Scalarworks didn’t skimp on the clamping surface. The rail clamp runs the entire length of the side of the mount. Once the thumb wheel is turned to hand tight, the mount isn’t moving.

I have the LDM110 which is the lower third co-witness model. I use it on a carbine that I purposely built to be extremely lightweight. At 1.37 ounces, it weighs less than half of the mount that it replaced on this build! To save that much weight on such a small part is amazing. It was an integral part of my Sub 6 with a Twist Build.

The LDM seems to be extremely well made. The machine work is clean and the finish is even. The fit and finish on my example is excellent.

Wrap Up

The LDM is the lightest Aimpoint Micro QD mount on the market by a wide margin. Heck, it is lighter than most non-QD mounts. It is well made, it mounts easily, it returns to zero at least as well as is required for the precision level of the optic it mounts, and it looks pretty darn good too. This is an impressive mount and I can’t wait to see how they adapt this design to support other optics.

Disclosure: The LDM was provided to me by Scalarworks for review, free of charge.

Set Up Your RDS Magnifier for Success

By on May 16, 2015 in Reviews, Tactics and Training

It wasn’t long after Aimpoint released their 3X Magnifier that I had one in hand. I basically waited to purchase mine just long enough for LaRue Tactical to come out with their LT755 QD Pivot Mount. Since that time, the magnifier concept has lost some of its cache likely due to the improved low power variable magnification optics that proliferate now and a better understanding of some of the shortcomings that are inherent to RDS magnifiers. Those shortcomings include narrow field of view (which isn’t that bad), significant extra weight, increased distortion of some red dot sights, and a clumsy transition between mounted and unmounted.

There were times in the last several years where I was tempted to sell my magnifier but I could never quite bring myself to do it mostly because, in spite of its flaws, it still does something that no other optic set up can. It offers useable magnification along side true non-magnified performance. As good as 1-4X and 1-6X optics have become, there is still a difference between the 1X setting of these low magnification variables and a quality RDS (see this previous article).

Now that I have literally years behind an RDS and magnifier setup, I have found that there are really three keys to making them work for me. That means there are three keys to mitigating the main drawbacks of the concept and all three are pretty simple.

JTT-Magnifier-Carbine

Choose a Good Mount

The mount is probably the single most important factor in ensuring that you have a good magnifier experience. I dislike mounts that require the magnifier be removed from the rifle in order to use the RDS by itself. I don’t want to have to worry about stowing my magnifier on my gear.

Choose a mount that allows you to quickly move the magnifier out of your field of view while keeping it attached to the rifle or remove it all together. I like the LaRue Tactical LT755 but there are other choices.

Choose the Right RDS

I use Aimpoints almost exclusively on my carbines and as much as I love them, I admit that not all of them work well (for me) in front of a magnifier. I first used the magnifier behind an Aimpoint Comp ML3 with a 2 MOA dot reasoning that the finer aiming point would be beneficial and it worked well for me but I saw some distortion of the red dot. I later tried it behind several Aimpoint Micros and Comp M4s but found that the dot turned into a series of star bursts or several dots swimming around each other when magnified. This may not happen for all users but it happened for me.

It turns out that the best combination that I have found so far is a Comp ML3 with the 4MOA dot. For whatever reason, I see Aimpoint’s 4 MOA dots much more clearly. This combination gives me a razor sharp aiming point and makes hits out to 300 yards very easy which is really all I can ask from this set up.

Whichever RDS you prefer, spend some time figuring out what works best in front of the magnifier.

Shed Weight from the Front of Your Carbine

Using an RDS and magnifier set up means having two optics and two mounts on your rifle. The capability that this setup offers comes at a fairly steep cost in weight. The best way I have found to mitigate this is the shed weight from your carbine, concentrating specifically on the front end.

The weight of the magnifier sits toward the rear of the receiver. You can really counteract the heavy overall feeling that this lends a carbine by reducing weight at the front. Choose a lighter barrel profile and a lighter hand guard. I think that in order to get the most out of a RDS and magnifier setup, you really need to build the carbine with this setup in mind.

You don’t have to go crazy. A lighter medium profile or pencil barrel and lightweight extended hand guard will make a big difference in how your carbine feels. It will also greatly reduce the overall weight. You should be able to build a carbine that weighs around 7-7.5 pounds (and feels lighter because of where the weight is) without much trouble at all.

If you have a magnifier and are thinking of giving up on it, gives these three tips a try before you boot it to the curb. If you are thinking of trying a magnifier, make sure to set yourself up for success. There really is a strong upside to this set up but it takes a little fore thought to get the most out of it.

Review: Dunamis Gear Medium Top Zip Cargo Hangers

By on March 5, 2015 in Reviews, Tactical Gear

It may seem counter intuitive but simplicity is really hard to achieve. This is doubly true in gear design where stacking feature upon feature often seems like the only way to set your gear apart from a competitor. Dunamis Gear went the other way. They have taken the idea of quick detach pouches and stripped them down to their bare essentials in most impressive fashion.

I recently had the chance to spend a few months with their Medium Top Zip Cargo Hangers. I’ve come away extremely impressed with the design, workmanship, and above all the simplicity of these pouches and the Dunamis Gear approach. Many of the most noteworthy design features in these pouches are shared across the Dunamis Gear line.

Dunamis Medium Cargo Hanger

Overview

The Medium Top Zip Cargo Hangers are aptly named. They have a zippered top loading layout, are not too big and not too small (650 ci each), and they hang from a host pack to hold additional cargo. Its a simple name for a simple pouch but all that simplicity belies the elegance of these pouches.

The Cargo Hangers use G-Hooks to attach to 1″ webbing on a host pack. Typically this is PALS webbing. This is a major departure from other similar packs that use more complicated side release buckles that require staging the female part of the buckle on the PALS webbing. G-Hooks are super secure and just as fast but they connect directly to the webbing. This saves weight, reduces complexity (and therefore reduces failure points), and adds flexibility.

Dunamis Medium Cargo Hanger Hooks Dunamis Medium Cargo Hanger Ghook

The pouches are constructed from your choice of 500D or 1000D Cordura nylon. Both choices are DWR treated on the exterior and urethane coated on the interior for water resistance. Amazingly, the entire pouch is constructed from just two pieces of nylon. One piece makes the back, top, and bottom while another wraps around to create the rounded profile sides/front. There is that simplicity again. This design reduces weight (7 ounces per pouch), reduces water ingress points, and created a streamlined shape that hugs the host pack.

Other standard features include anchored zipper tabs, paracord dummy cord points sewn inside, and dual compression straps that are retained so they don’t slip down the pouch when loose. The same little anchor point that serves to retain the compression straps also manages the extra strap when it is pulled tight. There is that elegant simplicity again.

Dunamis Medium Cargo Hanger Compression and Strap Management

How is this for attention to detail… If you purchase the Cargo Hangers in pairs, Dunamis Gear constructs them with compression straps running in the opposite directions on each pouch so that they can be mounted on either side of your pack.

There are also some custom features that can be added like grab handles, PALS webbing, or other features depending on which model of Cargo Hanger you are looking at.

Observations from Use

I had two main goals in the testing. I wanted to see if the attachment method was sufficiently secure and if the pouches offered a demonstrably better experience than similar buckle based pouches. The answer was yes on both counts.

I’ll just say that these pouches aren’t coming off unless you take them off. The G-Hooks are very secure. They are very easy to place on the webbing and easy to remove but the movement required to remove them is specific. It requires an intentional movement to take off the pouch. They become even more secure when they are full and cinched down because the G-Hooks are mounted at the ends of the compression straps so it draws the whole system tight.

These pouches are so much easier to use than my buckle based QD pouches. It is easier to hook in with the G-Hooks versus a repair buckle. The repair buckle can be removed slightly more quickly but not much. However, with repair buckles, you end up with the female part of the buckles hanging all over your pack and you can only place your pouch where there is a buckle to support it. Dunamis Gear’s G-Hook system stays on the Cargo Hanger and is self-contained so it can be mounted anywhere there is webbing.

Dunamis Medium Cargo Hanger Stacked

The system is also flexible enough to be mounted across as few as 4 columns of MOLLE and as many as 8 or 9. The wider you can mount them, the better the compression straps seem to stabilize the contents. The compression straps works to compress the contents no matter how narrow or wide you mount the G-Hooks but they stabilize especially well when mounted across 5 or more columns.

The rounded shape of the pouch is ideal for the application. It lets the pouch hug the host pack and have a sleeker profile. The flat bottom and top loading lid make the pouches easy to load. The flat tops and bottoms make it so you can stack the pouches right on top of each other and because the zipper runs from one side to the other, you can still access the bottom pouch reasonably well.

Dunamis Medium Cargo Hanger Top Down

The quality of these pouches is excellent. The attention to detail and dedication to simplicity is over-the-top. All the cloth edges are bound and thanks to the 2 piece construction, there aren’t many clothe edges. The round edges at the top and bottom are cleanly executed. The stitching is straight and clean. The materials used are well vetted at this point. These are quality pouches.

I used these on a Kifaru MOLLE Express (MOLLEX) and ZXR. They worked perfectly on both. They are just the ticket for bumping up the capacity just a bit. For instance, the MOLLEX is not a huge pack and it may not be enough pack for a winter overnighter but with some additional capacity from the Cargo Hangers, it can be made to work. These pouches are really handy for expanding the capability of your pack.

They can be mounted on any MOLLE surface so you may also find uses for them on larger chest rigs or plate carriers. They work quite well for adding some carrying capacity to the back plate pocket of a plate carrier and they are easily removed if you don’t need them. They also work great for adding organization in packs that have a MOLLE compatibly interior. These are the kind of pouches that, if you have them available, you will find many different ways to use them.

If I could change one thing, I would add a rain flap on the zipper. I know they can be a pain but they do serve a purpose. Either that, go with a water-resistant zipper.

Wrap Up

These pouches are elegantly simple. Their attachment system is just head and shoulders better than anything else I have used. If you own a pack that has exterior PALS webbing, I can’t recommend Dunamis Gear highly enough. Their gear will help you squeeze every last bit of versatility out of your pack.

Check out Dunamis Gear’s line of Cargo Hangers.

Disclosure: This product was provided to me free of charge for review by Dunamis Gear.

First Look and Review: ROSCH Works SLM2

By on February 24, 2015 in Flashlights, Guns, Reviews

The following guest post and images were contributed by Daniel Appel. He contacted me about a review he had written for the yet to be released ROSCH Works SLM2. I enjoyed reading the rationale and background on how he arrived at this weaponlight solution so I agreed to publish it.

Daniel Appel is a former United States Marine, spending six years as a Crytologic Linguist (Arabic, Pashto) and SIGINT Support Team Leader.  He is currently pursuing a Masters of Engineering in Systems Engineering, and works as an Aerospace Machinist and Software Developer.  He has been active in the shooting sports since 2003, and also enjoys mountain biking and playing with Scottish Highland Bagpipe bands.

 

Rosch Works SLM2 and Surefire KM1 LED Head: Does this setup do it all?

When I first encountered the Rosch Works SL1 line of integrated weaponlight/front sight setups, I was very curious to see if I had finally found the lightweight and affordable solution I had been seeking for my compact handguard carbines.

On lightweight rails the majority of default real estate is available on the 12:00 top side (e.g. BCM KMR, KAC URX-4, Troy Alpha, DD SLiM, Centurion CMR, etc.). When it comes to making efficient use of that space while keeping the complete weapon system svelte, the Rosch Works SL’s are arguably the best possible solution, which is why it’s unsurprising to me that guys like Mike Pannone have been running the Rosch Works offerings for over a year now.

ROSCH_Works_SLM2_2

To further understand why the SL1 concept was so intriguing to me, I’ll explain a bit about my weapon mounted light and irons sights preference I bring to this review. My preferred setup is influenced very heavily by Larry Vickers and others who prefer the ambidextrous and rugged capability of Surefire (or similar) weaponlights mounted at 12:00 in conjunction with fixed iron sights or a fixed front sight post – for example the X300/X300U from Surefire mounted in front of a fixed front sight post or Daniel Defense 1.5 Fixed rail mounted front sight. For me this arrangement confers all the advantages of a constantly cowitnessed fixed front sight which also serves as an accidental light discharge mitigating tool for the X300 light mounted on the rail directly in front; my wife has adopted this exact setup for her pair of lightweight carbines.

On carbines I own with low powered variable optics, I wanted to retain that same inherently ambidextrous 12:00 mounting solution, but with the ability to run folding and/or offset iron sights. Furthermore, I have discovered through extensive experimentation that my preferred activation solution for weapon mounted lights is the Surefire Z68 tailcap (like Surefire Scout series lights). Again, the ability to press briefly and receive momentary light or push-through and have constant-on is quite desirable for me, and I prefer not to rely on remote switches if possible; so I’ve adopted running Surefire M300 and X600 scout lights, or VTAC L4 scout-like facsimile lights on non-offset aftermarket mounts at 12:00 as my answer for these rifles.

For even shorter handguards I was presented with a problem in the form of wanting to still run a 12:00 weapon mounted light with fixed iron sights and run this setup in front of a LDI DBAL-I2 also mounted at 12:00. This created a pressing need for a weaponlight that was compact and allowed for a fixed front sight. For what I wanted, the SL1 was almost the answer I wanted, but the SLM2 fits the niche as a truly ideal solution.

ROSCH_Works_SLM2_1

For the initial SL1 design, the benefits were undeniable: the very compact front-to-rear footprint possible with this setup was clearly desirable on shorter handguards, with a huge added bonus being the impressive weight savings. For these reasons alone, the SL1 is a truly remarkable light in it’s own right. If I was seeking a very affordable solution to a simple white LED WML and sight post space saver on a compact and/or lightweight carbine, I would be extremely happy with the existing SL1.

When I first went through this logical process, I contacted Don at Rosch Works, and asked if it was possible to perform a slight modification to the inside diameter of the existing SL1/SLM1 design to accommodate the Surefire Executive series of lights. What I specifically had in mind was running the exquisite Viking Tactics L4 Surefire lights (basically an E2D/E1B tube, Z68 Tailcap, and KX2/KX1 LED Scout Head). The initial answer was that of course it was possible, but Don immediately pointed out that I’d be basically crazy for wanting to do that, since the SL1 already does everything that light setup does with a higher output (250+ lumen torch) and lower cost (my complaints would likely be only related to the particular tailcap used on the Malkoff Devices light chosen for the SL1, and compatibility with Surefire Z68 and SR07 tailcaps).; but they’d start looking into trying to make the SLM2 (for SureFire executive series lights) setup anyway since it would allow use of the Surefire LED heads and integration with IR systems using existing remote switches like the Surefire SR-07-D-IT.

Once I got the go-ahead from Rosch that the SLM2 was a real possibility, I realized that I wanted something one step further: a White/IR capable weapon mounted light with integral front sight – even though this line of thinking was back in May 2014, I had a good enough understanding of Surefire product development timelines to make a reasonable assumption that eventually a KM1 LED Head (3V White/IR Scout Light Head from the then unannounced M300V Scout Light) would come out, and allow me to take a Surefire 3V Executive (E-1) body, install a Z68 Tailcap, and KM1 head and have myself a poor man’s M300V – an option not immediately available from Malkoff Devices.

This means that a Rosch SLM2 with the KM1-Vampire LED head becomes a truly one-of-a-kind triple threat bolt on part: a fixed front sight which houses a white/IR weaponlight. Not only is it the most compact and lightweight setup possible, the total price comes in well under $500 for a complete unit. In price comparison terms, a 3V Surefire Executive Body, Rosch SLM2, and Surefire KM1-LED competes directly with the much larger, heavier, and pricier M720V RAID system… which is too tall to be mounted at 12:00 and still lacks a front sight.

ROSCH_Works_SLM2_4

Feel, Fit, and Finish

Having received a pre-production model of the SLM2, I can’t comment on the final packaging, but the remainder of the delivered setup is really quite attractive. The machine work is excellent, and on the three handguards I’ve mounted it on (KAC URX-3.1, DD RIS-II, and DD Omega-X12) the SLM slides on comfortably and tensions down solidly with no fuss. The surface under the anodize is remarkably smooth and devoid of tool marks, and any edges or corners that the user’s forward hand have the potential to interact with are neatly executed. The two rail clamp bolts use a 7/64″ hex key to tighten, and ended up just under flush with the opposite side, and actually allows small fore-aft placement adjustments for the entire SLM package before tightening the clamp screws; once tightened the solid engagement with the two screws and precise key cut clamp surfaces holds it in place securely. The ‘wing’s of the front sight to protect the post itself are concave from the inside face, with a sculpted flat outside edge – needless to say quite functional especially with the serrations continuing up the rearward angled face of them. Finally, the left side has elegantly subtle laser engraving with ROSCH Works SLM2 Made in USA markings. Arguably the best executed feature is the anti-glare serration of the angled rearward face, but it wasn’t completely without issue for me.

The only spot where I’ve had a partial issue is the lowest serration on the rearward face of the sight could be inadvertently displaced downward, or even have that section stripped away while installing the light tube into the mount. Really minor concern, and I suspect a direct result of the serration 3-D location being determined for a different diameter of flashlight tube, not to mention total non-issue once mounted (since it’s inaccessible) but there is an outside chance of displacing that bottom strip of aluminum and getting a decent cut while installing and setting up the SLM2 system – I’m still really happy to see the thoughtful and time/cost inducing sight serrations on there, which puts the SLM2 in the argument for best fixed front sight… even before the added capability of running a weaponlight through the body of the front sight.

The included front sight post (although it’s a bespoke sight post) is nearly standard width, which for myself alternating between the standard FSP type DanielDefense 1.5 Fixed Front Sights and the Knight’s Armament Co. 45° Offset Folding BUIS with it’s narrow SR-15 width FSP is actually quite usable. The post itself is a touch shorter than the standard offerings, primarily due to the flat bottom plane it sticks out of being higher because the sight base is also accommodating a flashlight tube (in this case 0.827″ Surefire E series), as well as having a slight taper towards the top – the net result is actually quite effective. The base of the post is round and threaded into the base, but there is a roughly 0.0625″ tall squared portion of the front sight post that can give purchase to a small square wrench, however a different tool (specifically a 5/64″ kex key) is actually required to make adjustments. The front sight threads vertically into the SLM base, and is held in place with a nylon ball and set screw from the right side which holds the front sight in place by tensioning the nylon lock ball into place against the threads. This arrangement allows for extremely precise height adjustments, but did present a rather amusing problem for me personally.

The SLM2 I received had the set screw tension installed at what seemed to be the maximum torque spec for the set screw (or that somebody’s idea of finger tight as recommended was a bit aggressive). The result was that the nylon ball intended to compress against the threading of the sight post wound up being compressed hard enough to lodge the ball itself in place preventing sight post rotation even after removal of the set screw – my resulting attempts to pry it loose with a paperclip wound up with me ejecting the small white nylon ball from the base onto some white carpet.

Despite my ‘brilliance’ in removal, I did miraculously find the tiny (~3.5mm) ball and was able to reinstall it. With a bit less torque applied, the sight post was still held in place brilliantly, but I was able to much more readily make front sight adjustments by simply backing off the set screw a turn and being able to rotate the front sight post with fingers instead of resorting to multitool pliers. In practice, the best option for setting the front post height is setting it to flush then making adjustments in full turn increments until a more precise solid BZO is set with fine tuned fractional rotation adjustments, then running a dab of thread locker on the set screw once it’s sorted (a tiny amount ideally, as one obviously doesn’t want some excess Loctite 242 in the threading for the sight post itself). Though Rosch Works states the threadlocker isn’t requisite for installation, I still consider this cheap assurance, especially considering the small size of the set screw and nylon ball it holds in place – same idea for the rail clamping bolts, as I don’t want them going anywhere either.

The net result from all this is that with the Z68 Tailcap and KX1 head (used by SureFire M300 Scout Light) the sight picture is remarkably uncluttered, with the front sight being quite prominent and quick to acquire as well as differentiate from the protective ‘wings’ on either side of the sight. The bezel of the weaponlight doesn’t even protrude into the sight picture, which is already an improvement over the X300 (bezel and battery door latch protrude slightly into the sight picture).

With the sight my SLM2 lives on (8″ URX3 handguard) the rear sight aperture of the Gen1 MBUS rear sight, the top-most corners of the front sight ‘wings’ end up tangent to the hazy rear sight in a correct sight alignment, which is nice – but also very sight radius and ocular distance to rear sight plane for operator dependent. In short, the SLM2 has an excellent sight picture appearance when ran with fixed or folding BUIS, and with or without a holographic sight.

ROSCH_Works_SLM2_5

Performance Testing

Testing a front sight with a relatively bulletproof flashlight still feels like the thinnest point of this review, simply because I haven’t dumped a ton of rounds down the pipe of any weapon this is mounted to, and probably lack the budget to send enough rounds to even create a problem with such a stout setup. So far the most abusive test I’ve put the SLM2 through is getting up from a magazine supported prone position while using the shade of my truck’s tailgate, idiotically catching the front corners of the front sight wings on something. Aside from adding a slightly shiny spot where I broke through the finish and dinged the aluminum, the sight is none the worse for wear – the BZO hadn’t shifted but the truck now has a decent ding on the steel bumper, so the worst part of that encounter was had by my beloved truck.

As far as actual shooting related performance notes, they’re minimal. This is actually my favorite shape/arrangement for front sights I’ve encountered – not once have I mistakenly acquired a sight alignment and sight picture with my brain mistaking a protective front sight wing for the actual front sight. Lastly, the slight taper on the front sight is yet another positive feature, albeit a minor one. When used in conjunction with a micro Aimpoint attached via lower 1/3 cowitness mount the SLM2 sits happily in the bottom half of the optic’s field of view, and using the Aimpoint Micro powered off as an oversized rear peep sight actually yielded adequate accuracy at 7yds. Ringing steel at 200yd to confirm BZO also went quite smoothly. In short, it performs as well as any fixed front sight could hope to, and considering my preference for weaponlight locations (and that every serious carbine should have a WML) if running a fixed front iron sight setup is the best option, then the SLM2 is the best option among those.

ROSCH_Works_SLM2_3

Closing Thoughts and Questions

– Who should consider buying the SL1, SLM1, or SLM2?

Anybody who wants or needs to run a 12:00 weaponlight mounting solution with a fixed front sight system, especially those with limited handguard real estate.

– Who the SLM2 is right for?

Any existing Scout Light users or shooters with a desire to mount an IR/White light ‘V’ series illuminator, or who wish to use the Scout series tailcap or SR07 remote pressure switches.

In short, any build where light weight, simplicity, and efficient use of handguard real estate is a priority, the cost for performance gained is really quite high – likely a reason why top carbine shooters like Mike Pannone seem to prefer running it.

The SL-1 complete system is still the best value and ideal answer for a pure white-light user seeking to set up an effective lightweight carbine, and the SLM1 equipped with a Surefire 6P-Fury or similar light is the best performance option for high output white lights, as well as being an excellent setup for activities like nighttime/low light hog hunting. The SLM2 really does fill a fairly small niche, but absolutely shines capability wise when compared to virtually any other weapon mounted electronics suite that provides infrared and visible spectrum illumination and laser designation when paired with things like the LDI DBAL-I2.

Disclosures

I wanted to guinea pig the Surefire Executive compatible version of the Rosch Works SLM so badly that I badgered Don into sending me one of the first models ready to be released into the wild. I did purchase the SLM2 and set of 1-cell and 2-cell light bodies at below suggested MSRP directly from Rosch Works in order to complete this review.

The SLM2 is still mounted on my personal Mk18 silhouette carbine.

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