When it comes to the AR-15, Brownells has a pretty good track record of doing things right. They have a wide variety of armorers tools for the AR-15 that I use and their magazines are top notch. Soon they will be in the bolt carrier group business. The BCG is in the production process now but I don’t have an expected delivery date. We will keep you in the loop.
Check out Brownells.com.
Bravo Company USA had a very productive weekend. They rolled out two new products that are going to set the market on fire – the GUNFIGHTER Ambidextrous Charging Handle and the GUNFIGHTER Compensator.
The GUNFIGHTER Ambidextrous Charging Handle is the ambidextrous version of the excellent GUNFIGHTER Charging Handle. I use the GUNFIGHTER Charging Handle on all of my carbines and it has served me very well.
The GUNFIGHTER Compensator is going to be a force to be reckoned with if it lives up to its claimed performance. The early reports on this muzzle device are very, very impressive. It is designed to minimize flash (though that isn’t its strongest attribute and mitigate muzzle climb without the concussive blast that is typical of a compensator. Based on reputation alone, I am inclined to take BCM at their word on this. It will be available in two versions – The MOD O is an A2 Flash Suppressor sized device while the MOD 1 is long enough to be pinned on a 14.5″ barrel to bring it to legal length.
Check out the GUNFIGHTER Ambidextrous Charging Handle and GUNFIGHTER Compensator.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I was able to speak with a contact at Brownells yesterday regarding their magazine situation. I was specifically interested in hearing about their AR-15 magazines since many of you have been blowing up my inbox asking where to find mags.
First, let me say this. I know it is tempting to run out and buy a lifetime worth of AR-15 magazines, but I believe that you would probably be better off spending some time and energy contacting your Representatives to tell them how displeased you would be with new gun control legislation than spending time and energy tracking down magazines.
You have probably heard by now that Brownells sold a supply of magazines that would normally last them 3 years in just 3 days. Just about every magazine that they carry is out of stock. If you still want to buy, Brownells is allowing back orders at the same pre-panic prices and they have not placed any limits on how many magazines you can buy. They have handled this better than most large retailers and have even hired temp workers to help ship all of the extra orders!
They tell me that they have no idea when they will receive more Magpul PMAGs but they are holding their prices steady. Their PMAGs, like these PMAG 10 Packs are available to be back-ordered and will be fulfilled ASAP. If I am going to back order something, I like to do it from a place I trust like Brownells.
If you don’t want to roll the dice on when PMAGs will arrive, you can check out Brownells’ own USGI style mag. I have a handful of these and they are great mags. Brownells is assembling them as fast as possible and are purchasing more raw materials to continue cranking them out. There are no guarantees but these back orders may be filled relatively quickly. Check out the Brownells AR-15 Magazines.
I am very pleased with how Brownells has handled this entire ordeal. I will remember this when The Great Panic Buy of 2012 is all over and I suggest that you do, too.
The Mako Group is the distributor for E-Lander Mags. These mags are made in Israel for the Tavor and AR-15. They are made from steel and feature a reinforced floor-plate, high-visibility, no-tilt follower and more.
The Mako Group has been extremely classy through this entire Panic Buy of 2012. They have held the line on their pricing and even offered discounts. These mags are in stock and they are being produced quickly enough that, when they are back ordered, they usually ship within a day or two. This is the kind of thing that shooters should appreciate and remember once things have stabilized.
I will admit that I don’t know a lot about this magazine other than the initial reports which have all been good. You can check them out at TheMakoGroup.com. Use our discount code JERK for 5% off your order and you can also use the code FREE-GRND for free shipping on orders of $99 or more (IMPORTANT NOTE: Do NOT choose a shipping method when using the free shipping code).
