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American Spring Kit for AKs

By on January 4, 2013 in Guns

Snake Hound Machine is offering a spring kit for the AK pattern rifles. Building spare parts kits for AKs can be a bit challenging because of all the various countries of origins and limited supply of parts. A good spring kit is one of the few spare items that can be purchased relatively easily and will fit a wide variety of AK pattern rifles.

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The Snake Hound Machine American Spring Kit contains US made chrome silicon springs that are manganese phosphate coated for corrosion resistance. These are the same springs that they use in their custom builds.

Check out the Snake Hound Machine American Spring Kit.

Build Your Own Premium Lower Parts Kit

By on January 4, 2013 in Guns, Tactical Gear, Tactical Handyman

I have been getting a lot of emails regarding where to buy a truly top-shelf lower parts kit (LPK). My answer has been something like, it doesn’t matter because none of them are readily available right now. However, I have given it some more thought and I realized that the days of the complete lower parts kit may be numbered – or at least they should be.

Many people buy a lower parts kit and then promptly replace nearly half of it with aftermarket parts. Why not just start with the aftermarket parts you want and then fill in with high quality components where necessary?

UCWRG Rifle Grip

UCWRG Rifle Grip

Spec Your Own LPK!

If I wanted to build the best rifle I could right now, I wouldn’t buy a complete LPK. I would buy a few select components and then fill in the necessary small parts with quality components.

I would start with an ALG Defense QMS or ACT Trigger. These triggers start with the best components which is important because if something breaks in a lower, it is often part of the fire control group. This will take care of the following parts:

  • Disconnector Spring
  • Hammer Spring
  • Trigger Spring
  • Trigger Pin
  • Hammer Pin
  • Trigger
  • Hammer
  • Disconnector
The new Battle Arms Development BAD-ASS-ST is an excellent selector.

The new Battle Arms Development BAD-ASS-ST is an excellent selector.

Next, I would add a top notch selector from Battle Arms Development. Take your pick. The BAD-ASS, BAD-CASS, and Short Throw variants are all great. This would take care the following:

  • Selector
  • Selector Detent

Choose which ever grip you prefer. I prefer the UCWRG grip. The grip is often the first thing to go on a new rifle. You might as well start with one you like. This would take care of the following

  • Grip
  • Grip Screw
  • Grip Screw Lock Washer
Manticore Arms SAGE Trigger Guard

Manticore Arms SAGE Trigger Guard

You could also add an aftermarket trigger guard like those from Magpul or Manticore Arms. This would take care of:

  • Trigger Guard
  • Trigger Guard Pins

What’s Left?

That would leave only the following parts for you to purchase separately:

  • Bolt Catch Spring
  • Buffer Retainer Spring
  • Magazine Catch Spring
  • Pivot Detent Spring
  • Selector Spring
  • Takedown Detent Spring
  • Bolt Catch Buffer
  • Bolt Catch Roll Pin
  • Pivot Detent
  • Pivot Pin
  • Takedown Detent
  • Takedown Pin
  • Bolt Catch
  • Buffer Retainer
  • Magazine Catch
  • Magazine Catch Button

Most of these are available from Colt individually through Brownells.com. Colt lower parts are widely regarded as the best made. If they are too rich for your blood or out of stock, substitute in another brand. I think you may have better luck finding individual parts than finding complete parts kits.

I wish I started my builds this way the first time around.

Review: Manticore Arms SAGE Trigger Guard

By on January 3, 2013 in Guns, Reviews

I have been a big fan of Manticore Arms going back to their introduction of the NightShroud Flash Suppressor. They make some of the finest (and most reasonably priced) muzzle devices available for the AK family of rifles (and AR-15s too) but recently, they have been rounding out their product line to include more non-muzzle device items including the new SAGE Trigger Guard.

Manticore Arms SAGE Trigger Guard

Overview

The SAGE is a pretty straight forward piece of gear. It replaces the standard AR-15 trigger guard and provides a larger, more glove-friendly opening around the trigger. Manticore Arms sent me the AR-15/SIG 556 with M4 style lower version of the SAGE Trigger Guard. They also make a version the SIG 556 with side folding stocks.

Observations from Use

Installation is pretty straight forward but you should read the directions. The large pin goes in the hole closest to the grip while the short pin (an extra is provided) goes into the hole closest to the magazine well. A short pin is used because you can only access the front pin from one side on the AR-15. To uninstall, you simply tap the front pin all the way in which will allow the trigger guard to drop free. Then you can tap the pin out of the trigger guard so that it can be reused. It is important that you do not use a longer pin in the front hole (the one closest to the mag well). I would rather see something like a small set screw used here but the current set up works.

Manticore Arms SAGE Trigger Guard Colors

From left to right: Black, OD Green, Foliage Green, FDE, Desert Tan

This trigger guard will inevitably be compared to the Magpul MOE Enhanced Trigger Guard and I would say that it compares very well. Both cost about the same (the SAGE will typically cost about $0.25 more). Both come in a variety of colors. Both match the contours of the lower well. The SAGE matches the interior curves of the trigger area of the lower perfectly while the Magpul part matches the angle of the mag well opening.

The Magpul MOE Enhanced Trigger Guard is going to be a better color match for most accessories and it installs a bit more easily. However, SAGE works better at the two reasons you would consider a trigger guard like this in the first place: it allows more room for your gloved finger and it fills the annoying gap in front of the grip more completely. Functionally, I prefer the SAGE.

Wrap Up

There are no surprises here. The SAGE Trigger Guard just works and it works very well.

Check out the SAGE Trigger Guard on Manticore Arms.com.

Financing at TacStrike

By on January 3, 2013 in Tactics and Training

TacStrike_Quarter

With the price of firearms, magazines, and ammo going through the roof, TacStrike knows it is hard to find the money to train. That is why they are offering some target packages with easy financing options.

Shoot now, pay later! Check out TacStrike.

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