The firearms world is kind of a funny thing sometimes. Trends come and go and you watch the enthusiasts rush on to the next trend. I’m not excluding myself from that behavior at all, by the way. I’m just as guilty as anyone of seeing something that looks really cool and then going after it because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Rifle weight is one of those things that always seems to be shifting, and that has a huge effect on balance. [Read Full Article »]
Equipment
Equipment and gear is secondary to mindset and skillset, but still very relevant to success. The right piece of gear at the right time can make all the difference. As fun as it may be, trying to purchase new equipment to overcome challenges is not the best way to go. Contained here are all posts about equipment, from reviews to employment.
The Recce Rifle: Builder’s Guide to Modern Classic
The original SEAL Recce Rifle was an in-house modification to M4 carbines. The history goes back to the early 1990s. Since they were so individualized, there really wasn’t a spec. But we do know that Lilja barrels and optics in the 2.5-10 range were popular.
The original intent was to allow snipers to observe and provide rapid a lightweight precision-fire capability at moderately close ranges (300-400 yards). If needed, the recon rifle could serve for house clearing or traditional fire and movement. [Read Full Article »]
Barrel Length, Trajectory, and Learning Your Zero
There’s a lot of engineering voodoo that goes into making a rifle work well and fire accurately. The length of a rifle’s barrel and how it affects the velocity of the bullet is one of those major factors.
In this post, I explain a bit of the physics involved here. But the real meat of the post is comparing three different barrel lengths, their ballistic trajectories, and how it might affect what zero you choose. [Read Full Article »]
Should You Buy a Nitrided Barrel for Your AR-15?
Salt Bath Nitriding/Nitrocarburizing was originally created as an alternative to gas nitriding that would produce a more uniform case through surface contact between the substrate and liquid salt. The two primary benefits of the nitriding process is corrosion resistance and maintaining a barrels dimensional consistency, which improves accuracy. The surface is also very hard and protective, provided you don’t abuse the barrel with excessive heat.
It’s even cheaper to perform that chrome, to boot.
However, the nitriding process isn’t without some tradeoffs. the most important is heat and pressure resistance compared to chrome. But how important is that, really?
Let’s take a look at nitrided barrels. [Read Full Article »]
Choosing a Field Knife as a Constant Companion
Like rifles, there is a knife designed for just about any situation. Also like rifles, we must also be considerate of what we are actually able to carry with us into the field. With that in mind, most of us are served by carrying one or two “general purpose” blades.
The truth is that most of us are probably going to go through a lot of knives over time while we figure out what works for us. It’s kind of like buying guns, except cheaper.
In this article, I want to lay out some guidance based on my own experiences, research, and the input of one of our own community members who happens to be a bit of an expert in the field. [Read Full Article »]
How To Find the Ideal Twist Rate for Your Rifle
Let’s talk about twist rates.
Specifically, I want to dig into the purpose of rifling and how to determine the right twist rate for your rifle and cartridge. There’s a bit of math here, but I promise to give you an “easy button” by the end.
So let’s get to it. [Read Full Article »]
13 Great Last-Minute Gifts You’ll Want to Ask For
Looking for a last minute stocking stuffer? I didn’t want to put out just another “Christmas Gifts for Gun Guys” list. Instead, I want to show you some things that you might not have heard of or thought about.
I own or have used everything I’m recommending here. [Read Full Article »]
Precision Armament AFAB: Raw Truth Review
The Precision Armament AFAB is a killer muzzle device for making any AR-15 shoot smooth and flat. I’ve used it in competition and training courses, and it’s been flawless.
Of course, it comes at a cost. It’s much more expensive than a standard A2 flash hider.
As fun as these kinds of muzzle devices are, you shouldn’t be thinking about one in order to fix your own poor shooting fundamentals. In that regard, I’m not sure I would recommend something like this for a first rifle or a new shooter. In those circumstances, I’d save the money and spend it on practice ammo. [Read Full Article »]
Thyrm Pyrovault Lighter Armor: Raw Truth Review
The Thrym Pyrovault is a nifty little gizmo for protecting a classic Zippo insert and helping slow the evaporation of the lighter fluid.
I recently received one as a birthday gift from family, and thought I’d look at it from the perspective of someone who EDC’s a lighter every day for those “just in case” moments.
The findings are a mixed bag. [Read Full Article »]
Vortex Solo R/T Monocular: Raw Truth Reviews
The Vortex Solo R/T 8×36 monocular is a handy piece of kit. It is lightweight, compact, and useful for daylight spotting. Its mil-hash reticle and silhouette-based ranging tools are an added bonus for competition and tactical shooters.
However, it’s ideally used for daylight. I’ve always had trouble with it at dusk and into the evening. As with most optics, that’s really where the lower price really starts to show through.
In all, it makes a great inexpensive gift for quick spotting and practicing your mil-ranging. [Read Full Article »]
