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Review: B5 Systems Bravo SOPMOD Stock

By on December 19, 2012 in Reviews, Tactical Gear

B5 Systems Bravo SOPMOD Installed

B5 Systems is one of those companies that you might not know a whole lot about right now… but you will. They are a manufacturing company that made a pretty big splash when they got the military contract to manufacture the Enhanced SOPMOD Buttstock and then subsequently brought it to the consumer market for half the cost of what it was available for previously.

They recently made an even bigger splash when their new stock, the Bravo SOPMOD Stock, was selected to be used on the HSP/BCM JACK Carbine. The Bravo is now showing up on dealer shelves and I was able to get my hands on one, along with an Enhanced SOPMOD, for review.

B5 Systems Bravo and Enhanced SOPMOD

Bravo and Enhanced SOPMOD Stocks (Bravo on left)

Overview

The form of the Bravo is rooted in the design of the original Enhanced SOPMOD Stock. The Enhanced SOPMOD Stock has battery storage tubes integrated into both sides of the stock. These battery storage tubes create a very distinctive cheek weld that is very comfortable and repeatable. However, many users probably don’t need the storage tubes so B5 created the Bravo to retain all of the best qualities of the Enhanced SOPMOD Stock without the battery tubes.

B5 Systems Bravo and Enhanced SOPMOD Cheek Weld

Note that the Bravo is slightly narrower than the Enhanced SOPMOD Stock

The Bravo retains the excellent cheek weld of the Enhanced SOPMOD Stock, though it is slightly narrower through this area of the stock. It also retains the easily removable rubber butt plate and rotation limited QD sling swivel socket. Apart from the slightly narrower profile, it also differs in that the butt of the stock is slightly more angled and the adjustment lever has been streamlined.  The Bravo stock is very nearly an Enhanced SOPMOD Stock without the battery tubes – and that is a very, very good thing.

B5 Systems Bravo and Enhanced SOPMOD Levers

The Bravo features a new streamlined adjustment lever.

Observations from Use

The Bravo is a classic case of “addition by subtraction.” The removal of the battery tubes has made this stock lighter in weight and considerably less expensive. Both of those are wins if you, like many users, don’t use or need the battery storage.

As I said earlier, the Bravo SOPMOD Stock retains the excellent cheek weld of the Enhanced SOPMOD Stock. I find the cheek weld on these stocks to not only be very comfortable but very repeatable.  It is comfortable because it contacts your face over a broader area. I find it more repeatable because it offers 2 index points instead of 1. The cheek weld area extends from my cheek bone down to an area on my jaw. I can feel or index the stock in both places which makes it easier to make sure I am placing my head consistently on the stock. This cheek weld is part of why the Enhanced SOPMOD is such a popular stock on light precision builds like RECCE and DMR carbines. Thankfully, the Bravo has the same great cheek weld.

B5 Systems Bravo and Enhanced SOPMOD Tube View

The Bravo lacks the battery storage compartments of the Enhanced SOPMOD Stock.

The SOPMOD Stocks from B5 (and the earlier LMT versions) have always had some of the best fit of any stocks. They tend to fit tightly on the receiver extension (buffer tube) but not so tight that they can’t be adjusted easily. In other words, the fit is usually perfect and the Bravo is no exception. It offers a rattle free fit that adjusts easily.

I have always liked the aggressively rounded butt pad on the SOPMOD stocks. It allows the carbine to be rolled up from a low ready position very easily. The butt pad on the Bravo is identical and interchangeable with the Enhanced SOPMOD Stock. However, the Bravo’s butt plate is slightly more angled than the Enhanced SOPMOD Stock. The slightly angled butt plate of the Bravo does seem to engage the shoulder pocket a bit more positively but this could be pretty subjective.

B5 Systems Bravo and Enhanced SOPMOD Butt Plate Angle

Note the slight angle on the Bravo butt plate.

The Bravo weighs 8.25 ounces which is 2 ounces less than the Enhanced SOPMOD Stock at 10.25 ounces. That makes the Bravo one of the lighter aftermarket stocks available while still being very feature rich. I think the Bravo has to be the new value leader when it comes to AR-15 stocks. For instance, the Magpul MOE Stock (and excellent stock and a good value in its own right) costs about the same and weighs exactly the same but lacks a QD sling swivel socket and doesn’t fit the receiver extension as well as the Bravo.

B5 Systems Bravo SOPMOD QD Swivel

Both the Bravo and the Enhanced SOPMOD Stocks have a rotation limited QD sling swivel socket.

Wrap Up

I am not sure that there is a better value in stocks than the Bravo. It offers nearly everything that shooters love about the Enhanced SOPMOD Stock including the great cheek weld, great receiver extension fit, QD sling swivel socket, and rubber butt pad. However, by removing the battery tubes, B5 Systems has made the Bravo lighter and less expensive than many of its competitors while offering a stock with more features. That is pretty tough to beat.

I suspect that given the price point of the Bravo, that you are going to see more and more manufacturers offering the Bravo as an OEM stock like HSP and BCM have done with the JACK Carbine. That will be a win for consumers because this is an excellent stock at a great price.

Check out the Bravo SOPMOD and Enhanced SOPMOD Stocks on B5Systems.com.

B5 Systems Bravo SOPMOD Pad

The butt pad is easily removable on both stocks.

Review: UW Gear Swampfox MKII Chest Rig

By on December 17, 2012 in Reviews, Tactical Gear

Start with one of the excellent UW Gear Minuteman MKII Chest Rigs, add a magazine pouch, and split the front. That is, in an over simplified way, exactly what the new Swampfox MKII Chest Rig is and that is a very, very good thing.

UW Gear Swampfox MKII

Overview

The Swampfox MKII is a split front chest rig that utilizes the excellent pouch and flap design for which UW Gear has become known. It has 4 integrated magazine pouches (2 on each side of the split) and a 3×3 PALS panel on each side of the rig.

The magazine pouches have the same design as those that I have already documented on the Minuteman MKII Chest Rig and the UW Gear Bandoleer. That means that the great parachute rigging inspired flap closure system, sewn in drainage holes, and tall, well fit pouch design is intact.

UW Gear Swampfox MKII Closure

The “H” harness is also largely unchanged which is great because I find them to be the best executed harnesses that I have ever used. They are made of multiple layers of webbing and folded 1000D nylon to give them structure. Their width and structure make them very comfortable to wear without having to add the bulkiness of padding. UW Gear also avoids bulky hardware on the front of the harness so there is no interference with the buttstock of your carbine.

As is typical for UW Gear, the quality of this chest rig is excellent. There is a box stitch at nearly every point where webbing is joined to the body of the chest rig. Every conceivable stress point is reinforced. The stitching is straight and clean. There isn’t a cloth edge visible anywhere on the rig. You won’t even find a bare webbing end on this rig; it has all been meticulously melted, folded, and sewn down.

UW Gear Swampfox MKII Harness Detail

Observations from Use

This is the third magazine carriage rig that I have been able to review from UW Gear and I can safely say that this is my favorite so far due in no small part to my appreciation for split front chest rigs. Split front chest rigs are exceedingly easy to don and doff. They keep bulk off of your sternum for an added measure of comfort when you are prone and most breath just a bit better than a one piece chest rig thanks to the gap in the middle.

Even though the Swampfox MKII is basically a split front version of the Minuteman MKII, it feels quite different. The Minuteman MKII feels fast and light while the Swampfox MKII feels more conducive to carrying more gear. It is sort of a cross between a chest rig and a load bearing vest. That is not to say that the Swampfox MKII is a bulky or heavy chest rig. It isn’t. Split front chest rigs just seem to work better with side pouches and hydration carriers. Speaking of hydration carriers, UW Gear is working on one that will integrate with their chest rigs. I hope they complete it soon because the Swampfox MKII’s more load bearing theme would be well served with one.

UW Gear Swampfox MKII Folded

The Swampfox retains one of the best and least talked about features of the Minuteman MKII – it can be adjusted to ride just as high. UW Gear’s harness design can accommodate a wide range of ride heights. UW Gear makes the best harnesses that I have used.

One thing that the Swampfox MKII lacks is any kind of admin storage or magazine retention pouch like the Minuteman MKII. These kinds of features are less common on split front chest rigs but it would be cool to see something like a Minuteman MKII magazine retention pouch on each side of the split. I suppose the pouches might not be as easy to access due to the shoulder straps and this is likely why they are not included.

The Swampfox MKII works with the same designated speed reload pouch technique that I use on the Minuteman MKII. I simply fold one of the flaps back behind the magazine in the pouch. UW Gear designed the pouches to do this and it works quite well. The main difference with using this technique with the Swampfox MKII is that with 4 magazine pouches and the split, the outer magazines end up pushed pretty far off of your center line. This means that the fastest, easiest to reach magazine pouch may not be the one closest to your support side arm.

UW Gear Swampfox MKII with Pouches

Wrap Up

UW Gear stuck to the formula and created a pretty darn good chest rig. Their magazine pouch and flap design isn’t broken and I certainly don’t want them to fix it. It is great to see them adapting the same design to a 4th platform (Minuteman MKII, Bandoleer, standalone magazine pouches, and now the Swampfox MKII).

If you are deciding between this and the Minuteman MKII, you have your work cut out for you. If you want a chest rig that is as trim and light as possible, go with the Minuteman MKII. If you want one that can be pretty trim and light but also scale up to carry more, check out the Swampfox MKII.

Learn more about the UW Gear Swampfox MKII on UWGearInc.com.

Review: Proto Tactical Z-Comp

By on December 14, 2012 in Guns, Reviews, Tactical Gear

It seems like there is a new muzzle device for the AR-15 coming to market nearly every week. That seems crazy since you would think that there is only so much you can do with the available gasses that escape the muzzle of an AR. However, manufacturers continue to come up with new ways to vector the gasses and balance the performance of these devices.

The Holy Grail in this pursuit is a device that keeps the muzzle perfectly neutral without kicking you in the teeth with concussive blast. All of this leads us to one of the newest devices on the market – the Z-Comp from Proto Tactical. So, is the Z-Comp (nothing to do with Zombies, thank goodness) that long awaited perfect muzzle device? Read on.

Proto Tactical Z-Comp

Overview

The Z-Comp is a hardeded 4140 steel muzzle brake with a black oxide finish from Proto Tactical. It derives its name from the roughly “Z” shaped ports that are visible from the side of the device. It has 3 ports (on each side) and 3 internal chambers. The 2 most forward ports have several small forward facing ports in the leading wall of the chamber. The front of the device is angled sharply forward.

The Z-Comp installs like any other muzzle device. It comes with a crush washer for installation. Proto Tactical recommends torqueing the device to around 30 pounds. Proto Tactical thoughtfully machined a line in the top of the device that makes it easier to time the device visually.

Observations from Use

This isn’t the Holy Grail, but it is a really, really good muzzle device. When you look at it, you think it is going to be an ear drum wrecker, but I am glad to report that it is not. In fact, it is one of the mildest brakes that I have tried in terms of sound and concussion to those around the shooter. Every person that has seen it in action has been surprised by how relatively quiet it is.

It is certainly noisier than a flash suppressor, but it isn’t anywhere near as bad as most of the brakes on the market. It produces more of a push than a sharp crack or concussive feeling. The noise is deeper than it is sharp. Hopefully that makes sense. The point is that it is fairly easy on those around the shooter and there is no noticeable increase in sound at the shooter’s position when outdoors. If I have the choice, I wouldn’t want to use the Z-Comp or any other brake indoors.

The Z-Comp offers a tremendous amount of muzzle control. The muzzle stays very level and a skilled shooter should find that they are able to run the trigger very quickly without waiting for their aim to settle. This effectiveness of this device approaches and exceeds that of some dedicated competition style brakes that I have tried without all the noise.

Proto Tactical Z-Comp Muzzle

Recoil reduction is also impressive. The AR-15 doesn’t have a lot of recoil to begin with but Z-Comp does a great job of taming what little there is. Even with a loose hold on the carbnine, the Z-Comp just seems to anchor it in space. It does a great job of mitigating movement in all directions.

The closed bottom of the Z-Comp keeps ground signature to a minimum. You can certainly see things swirling around the brake but not to the extent of other brakes that I have tried.  This will usually go hand in hand with the concussiveness of the brake – less concussive brakes seem to kick up less dust and debris.

The Z-Comp isn’t a flame thrower but it is certainly not a flash suppressor either. Low light performance will have a lot to do with the ammo that you choose. I didn’t test it in the dark, but dusk performance was not as flashy as most brakes.

I put the device in the hands of a few other shooters and tried to keep a careful eye out for clues as to how well it was working for them. At one point, we were shooting 2/3rds size steel silhouette targets from about 35 to 40 yards. Even the rustiest shooters were able to get hits quickly. There would often be 2 or more pieces of brass still in the air as the shooter was getting their next hit and the performance just seemed to get better as the shooter learned how the brake was going to behave. Eventually, you get used to the fact that you don’t have to wait for the sights to settle and then you can really pick up the pace.

Proto Tactical Z-Comp Top Down

Wrap Up

Much of what makes a muzzle device good or bad to me comes down to how the makers balance the elements of performance that we look for in a muzzle device – muzzle control, recoil reduction, flash, and noise. This makes the process somewhat subjective because different people tend to place different values on the various elements based on their intended use or preferences. I can say that this is one of the best balanced devices that I have used. It offers an incredible amount of control without the overpowering noise that comes with devices that typically offer this much control.

The perfect muzzle brake hasn’t been made yet, but for me, the Z-Comp is as close as anything that I have tried. I hope that I am accurately portraying how impressed I am.

Check out the Z-Comp on ProtoTactical.com.

Review: Mechanix Wear M-Pact 2 Covert Glove

By on December 10, 2012 in Reviews, Tactical Gear

I have been using Mechanix Gloves for years. I probably have 6 or 7 pairs spread around the house and car that get used for everything from chores to shooting. You can certainly spend a lot more on dedicated “shooting” or tactical gloves but I am not sure you will get a much better glove.

I have been able to spend some time using the Mechanix Wear M-Pact 2 Covert Glove over the last several months. The experience has not been perfect but it hasn’t been entirely bad either.

Overview

The M-Pact 2 Glove is all about protecting the hand from impact so it has padding in various places throughout the glove. There is thin padding in the palm, heavy EVA foam padding to protect the knuckles, rubber finger armor, and even some padding to protect the bones in the wrist.

The glove has a mix of materials used strategically throughout the glove. There is neoprene used in places where flexibility and fit are a paramount like across the knuckles and around the wrist. Thin stretch material is used between the fingers to improve fit and breath-ability. The palm and fingers are reinforced with a rubberized, leather-like material.

The cuff features a Velcro closure that offers a fair amount of adjustment. The cuff is also cleverly extended on the pinky finger side of the glove to protect the outer bones of the wrist.

Observations from Use

The first pair of the M-Pact 2 Gloves that I used failed on the first day that I used them. The Velcro in the wrist closure began separating almost immediately. I continued using them in this state until the wrist closures no longer really worked. I also found that they were very tight (to the point of pinching) across the knuckles. They did break in a bit after several uses but they never had the great fit that I was used to from my other Mechanix Gloves.

Mechanix Wear took those gloves back and replaced them. The new pair has not only held up perfectly, but they fit much better. I typically buy size medium Mechanix Gloves because I like a tight fit across the finger tips. This new pair is exactly consistent with the fit that I have come to expect from them.

The padding in the M-PACT 2 Glove is very cleverly executed. The EVA foam padding across the knuckles is formed into folds or rolls which allow the thick padding to flex easily when you close your hand. The palm padding is separated into the panels that allow the palm to fold without interference. The soft rubber armor on the fingers provides a measure of protection from impact and abrasion while still remaining very flexible. The result is a glove that is heavily padded without feeling like it. The flexibility is good out of the box and just gets better with use.

Many work glove makers sew their fingertips by essentially creating a fabric box from three separate panels of material. This is fine for the middle, ring, and pinky fingers but has a terrible effect on the dexterity of the thumb and index fingers. Mechanix forms their thumb and index finger tips by folding the fabric so that there is only 1 seam instead of 2 and it up by the finger nail rather than on the finger tip. This makes it easier to do fine tasks like picking up small parts or feel the trigger with the pad of your finger. This is part of the reason that I am so loyal to Mechanix Gloves.

The durability has been good on this second pair of gloves. I have used them extensively for shooting and chores. I haven’t had any burst seams or holes in these gloves yet. The palm material seems to be very durable – perhaps more durable than my other Mechanix Gloves which use a thinner Clarino material in the palm. It scuffs slightly when handling very abrasive materials but seems to shrug off any meaningful wear. I know from experience that, eventually, I will blow out a seam or a panel will start to tear off but I have always gotten my money’s worth out of Mechanix Gloves.

Wrap Up

I was not at all happy with the first pair of these gloves that I received and I hope that the second pair is representative of the typical M-Pact 2 Glove. Mechanix Wear took care of my issue quickly and the second pair has been excellent. This was the first problem that I have ever had with Mechanix Gloves and I have been using them for long enough to give them the benefit of the doubt. If you need a durable padded glove that offers great dexterity, the M-PACT 2 Glove may be for you.

Check out Mechanix Wear.

Review: JAVRAN Trauma Shears Strap

By on December 7, 2012 in EDC, Reviews, Survival, Tactical Gear

If you need to carry trauma shears in a secure manner that also keeps them easy to access, then JAVRAN might just have a solution for you.

Overview

The JAVRAN Trauma Shears Strap is pretty simple. It is a short strap made from 1” webbing that allows you to turn any single section of PALS (MOLLE) webbing into a secure storage location for trauma shears.

Observations from Use

The Trauma Shears Strap is very easy to use. You simply thread it through the webbing where you wish to store your shears. Then slip the shears into the same section of webbing and fasten the Trauma Shears Strap through one of the finger loops in the shears. When configured properly, the shears are retained by the PALS webbing and then secured with the Trauma Shears Strap.

The best thing about the Trauma Shears Strap is that as a storage solution, it is nearly as compact as the shears it stores. It adds almost no bulk at all. That is great if you need to tuck the shears into a small space on your gear. However, it also means that the shears are completely exposed to the elements. That may or may not be a big deal to you given the disposable nature of most trauma shears.

The shears are held very close to the surface that they are attached to so snagging should be a non-issue. It was a complete non-issue for me but my needs are very different from that of a deployed soldier or police officer. If you are concerned, you can usually tuck the tips of the shears into a lower row of webbing. Additionally, because of the extremely compact nature of this solution, it can easily be mounted in tight places between other pouches which effectively protects from snagging.

If you are concerned about the shears being exposed to the elements and you are mounting them to a plate carrier that has a kangaroo pouch, you can mount the sheaths on the PALS webbing row that is directly above the kangaroo pouch. This allows you to tuck the bottom of them into the kangaroo pouch while keeping the finger loops exposed and ready for access.

Wrap Up

Simple solutions are often the best solutions and the Trauma Shears Strap is certainly a simple solution. It does exactly what it is designed to do and manages to stay out of your way while it does it.

Trauma Shears Strap on JAVRAN.com

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