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The SLR-101 is Back!

By on August 6, 2012 in Guns

The Arsenal Co. SLR-101 is one of the finest AKs (maybe the finest AK) that has ever been imported to the USA. They haven’t been imported for the last 10 years or so which drove prices up considerably on the secondary market. Thankfully, a batch of these rifles have been imported once again and K-VAR has them.

The SLR-101 has all the hallmarks of a great AK. I don’t get too wrapped around an axle about AR-15 fit and finish but with AK pattern weapons, fit and finish is more of an indicator of quality. The SLR-101 AKs that I have handled in the past have all exhibited some of the best fit and finish that I have seen on an AK. It features a chrome lined, hammer forged barrel with 14mm threads and a milled receiver.

The SLR-101 is a classic AK and it is great to see them available again at K-VAR.

Review: Echo Nine Three Dual Mode Sling (DMS)

By on June 26, 2012 in Guns, Tactical Gear

Slings can be very simple. Some do little more than tie your rifle to your body. Slings can also be very complex with various sliders, clips, buckles, tabs, adjustments, and more. The Echo Nine Three Dual Mode Sling (DMS) is neither very simple nor very complex. It splits the difference by offering fairly basic sling functionality with a dash of modern features.

Overview

The Echo Nine Three DMS is a sling that designed to work with the Echo Nine Three Sling Plates and the standard front sling attachment of your typical AKM. It attaches via HK style snap hooks. It also offers the ability to configure the sling as a 2 point or single point sling on the fly via a piece of custom hardware that acts as a hub and allows you to attach the front snap hook to the sling itself.

The DMS is a bit different in concept than most 2 to 1 point convertible slings. Most of them are built to be 2-point slings that can function as a 1-point when needed. The DMS is designed to be a 1-point that can function as a 2-point. The 1-point functionality is the emphasis of the DMS. As a result, the 2-point sling functionality is pretty basic.

This custom piece of hardware is the key to the dual mode functionality of the DMS.

Observations from Use

The hardware makes the DMS sling work. The HK style snap hooks work very well with the AK front sling mount and the Echo Nine Three Sling Plates. They also work very well with the custom hub hardware that Echo Nine Three uses to give the DMS its 2 to 1 point functionality.

Converting the DMS to 1-point configuration is as easy as attaching the snap hook to the hub.

The DMS sits very comfortably in both configurations but really shines as a 1-point sling. It is successful as a 1 point sling thanks to how well the snap hook interfaces with the custom hub piece. The hub has straight sections instead of being rounded. These straight sections seem to encourage everything to lay flat and hold the 3 intersecting sections of the sling at comfortable angles.

In 2-point configuration, the DMS is basically just a strap. It lacks any type of quick adjustment that would allow transitions. This is due to the 1-point first design of the DMS. 2-point configuration basically just serves as a more stable carry option. If the user thinks they will need to do a lot of transitioning from shoulder to shoulder, they should put the DMS in 1-point mode and transition to their hearts content.

The DMS is designed to work with the standard AK sling mounting point at the front…

and with an Echo Nine Three Sling Plates as the rear mounting point (though it will work with any application that will accept snap hooks).

The webbing that I used has somewhat harsh edges. I carried an AK using the sling for full day of training and several other shorter sessions without issue but some users may find the edges of the webbing to be harsh against their skin. On the plus side, the webbing is fairly slick which allows it to slide easily as you manipulate your AK.

There were no durability issues at all with the DMS except for the paint wearing off the snap hooks which is to be expected. The construction quality is excellent with heavy stitching and box stitches locking everything in place. It is hard to imagine that this sling won’t last a long, long time.

I did find that the tri-glide that is used to adjust sling length can slip a bit as you are donning the sling – especially if the sling is in 2-point configuration. I am not sure if this is happens due to the tri-glide or because the webbing is fairly slick. It doesn’t slip while the sling is in use and the webbing is pulled tight. It really only happens when you are donning the sling. It happened enough to be mildly annoying. Thankfully, the tri-glide slides well enough that it is easy to adjust even when you are wearing the sling (if you lift the AK slightly to give the sling some slack).

Echo Nine Three DMS in 2-point configuration.

Wrap Up

The best thing about the DMS is its simplicity. Even though it has the modern 2 to 1 point convertible feature, it is still very simple in its individual configurations. The custom hub hardware works very well with the snap hooks and the DMS itself works very well with the Echo Nine Three Sling Plates. If you are primarily a 2-point sling user, then the DMS may not be for you. If you are primarily a 1-point sling user but are looking for something with a more stable carry option, then this will be right up your alley.

Check out the DMS on Echo93.com.

Solar Tactical MFER AK47 Magazine Funnel

By on June 15, 2012 in Guns, Tactical Gear

It takes time and practice to develop a fairly smooth, reliable, and repeatable AK-47 reload. If you try to go faster than your training will allow, it is very easy to end up fighting your way through a stinker of a reload. That is why the new MFER AK47 Magazine Funnel from Solar Tactical has piqued my interest.

I know almost nothing about it other than its main purpose is to act as a flared magazine well or mag funnel not unlike what you might find on a 1911 or Glock. The flat, non-beveled magazine well of the AK-47 can be easy to miss when you are really hustling and even a small miss can result in the magazine entering the well slightly canted which causes binding. The MFER appears as it could make reloads more forgiving.

The MFER AK47 Magazine Funnel is made from polymer and has stainless steel hardware. It attached to your AK with modifications to the rifle itself. It will fit most AK-47s and AKMs, including Saigas. It will not fit standard Yugoslavian AKs.

Check out the MFER AK47 Magazine Funnel on SolarTactical.com.

BCS AK47 Chest Rig

By on May 24, 2012 in Tactical Gear

The Beez Combat Systems (BCS) AK47 Chest Rig has now been around for about a year. In that time, it has seen use in Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries around the world.

There are a few key features that seem to be the reason for the popularity of this rig. First, it is very low profile – low profile enough to wear over a plate carrier without excess bulk. Second, the buyer can choose whether they would like a 3, 4, 5, 6, or even 7 magazine configuration. Third, the pull forward design of the harness makes adjusting the rig easy, even while you are wearing it.

BCS continues to listen to end user feedback to refine this design. Check their post about 1 year with the AK47 Chest Rig on the BCS Blog.

Review: UW Gear Bandoleer

By on April 30, 2012 in Guns, Tactical Gear

I have had the pleasure of trying out the UW Gear Bandoleer for both the AR and AK for the last several months. In that time, I have grown pretty fond of them. They have really impressed me with their low profile and versatility beyond just their intended purpose. These are more than just grab ‘n’ go rigs.

UW Gear Bandoleers for the AR (left) and AK (right)

Overview

The UW Gear Bandoleer is a pretty straight forward design. It is basically just 3 magazine pouches with a shoulder strap and a waist strap. The magazine pouches are secured in the pouches with UW Gear’s ground breaking flap closures (see the UW Gear Minuteman MKIII review for more details on the flaps). The pouches also feature UW Gear’s clever sewn in drainage holes.

The body of the Bandoleer is constructed on 1000D nylon. The shoulder strap and waist strap are constructed from comfortable 1.5″ webbing. All of the usual details that I have come to expect from UW Gear are present like box stitching wherever the webbing meets the bandoleer, rounded corners, straight and even stitching, and quality hardware throughout.

The UW Gear Bandoleer uses the same excellent pouches as the Minuteman MKII chest rig.

There is enough room to easily clear Magpuls no matter how you have them attached.

Intended Role

The UW Gear Bandoleer is designed to function as a grab ‘n’ go or quick reaction rig. It is quicker to don than a chest rig and offers more concealability. This rig is designed for when the fight comes to you and you just don’t have a lot of time to react. It is the type of rig that you might want to store right next to the rifle that you use to protect your home and property. It is perfect for use with a truck or tractor gun.

I know there are people out there who are bound to say something like extra magazines are overkill in these types of scenarios. However, it should be remembered that carrying extra magazines is not just about carrying extra ammo. Extra magazines are an essential part of clearing malfunctions. If at all possible, you should always avoid reinserting the same magazine that you just malfunctioned – hence the need for spares.

Back of the UW Gear Bandoleer

In Use

Much of the versatility of the UW Gear Bandoleer comes from the different ways that it can be worn. I can quickly throw the shoulder strap on and then go, only fastening the waist strap if there is time. It can be worn low on the support side so that it doesn’t interfere with a side arm worn on your weapon side. It can also be pulled around toward the wearer’s front where it serves as a sort of chest rig.

When pushed to the side or even slightly behind the hip, the Bandoleer conceals easily with a light jacket or even a button up shirt. This concealability really makes the UW Gear more than just a grab ‘n’ go rig for me. I can see a lot of value in having a way to very discreetly and securely carry rifle magazines in certain situations that an armed citizen may encounter.

Retrieving a magazine from the UW Gear Bandoleer will likely feel like second nature to those of you who are used to belt rigs. The Bandoleer rides low and is positioned much like pouches on a belt rig (though slightly higher). This is an extremely fast place to draw from even with the full coverage pouches.

The waist strap can be wrapped around the body of the pouch for more streamlined storage so you have less straps to deal with when donning the Bandoleer. It unravels easily with just a tug when you are ready to fasten it around your waist.

The waist strap can be wrapped when storing the UW Gear Bandoleer.

Crossing the straps like this at the rear will keep them in place but still allow you to free them with just a tug.

UW Gear places a side release buckle on both straps. This makes it very easy to doff the rig, even in an emergency.

It can be difficult to remove a magazine from the rig if the waist strap is not buckled. The entire rig seems to lift as you try to lift a single mag. This is more pronounced with curved AK mags and less of an issue with the straighter AR mags. It can be overcome with a small shake or by sharply jerking the magazines out of the pouch. The moral of the story is that you should be fastening the waist belt if you have the time because this will cure the issue.

You can cinch the UW Gear Bandoleer down pretty tight and it will resist shaking while moving. However, it will never be quite as locked down as a chest rig. This isn’t a dig on the UW Gear Bandoleer but rather an observation of all bandoleers. They are not meant to take the place of a dedicated fighting rig.

UW Gear continues to impress.

Conclusion

While the UW Gear Bandoleer is great as a grab ‘n’ go rig, its concealability and variety of discreet ways that it can be worn make it more than just an emergency rig. I continue to be impressed with the quality and thoughtful designs that UW Gear offers.

Check out the UW Gear Bandoleer for the AK-47 (and AK-74) and the AR-15/M-16/M4.

Note: The Bandoleers shown are early models. Current production models have 2 SRBs instead of 4 and use 1.5″ webbing for both straps.

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