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AR-15 Series

Norman Hitchman’s Status Quo-Smashing 1952 Report

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The Hitchman report from 1952 is one of my favorite bits of Army research. Like the 1930 Kent report before it, the findings eventually led to the adoption of the M-16 rifle and 5.56 NATO cartridge.

Norman Hitchman worked several projets for the Army’s Operational Research Office. Among them was a detailed analysis of battlefield casualties, where he developed a strong understanding of exactly how and where soldiers get shot. He leveraged that knowledge, along with other contemporary research, to devise a set of requirements for a new type of rifle.

These rifle requirements may look familiar to you, if you’ve paid attention so far. [Read Full Article »]

The Recce Rifle: Builder’s Guide to Modern Classic

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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 »]

AR-15 Trigger Selection: Don’t Overthink It

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Next to barrels, AR-15 trigger selection is the most contentious issue for enthusiasts. It’s actually frustrating, because so much of it is personal preference, yet everyone will tell you unequivocally that you should get whatever model they like.

This article is less about me telling you what trigger to buy, and more about considerations between a single stage or two-stage trigger. I’ll also offer some advice on material selection as well as safety concerns [Read Full Article »]

The Complete Guide to Your Iron Sight Zero

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Most articles walk you through the basic steps of getting your iron sights zeroed, but they lack an explanation of why you’re doing the steps you’re doing. Let’s change that.

We’re going to dig into exactly what a minute of angle is and how it relates to your rifle’s iron sights. Then we’ll get to my preferred method of zeroing my sights and confirming that they’re on target. [Read Full Article »]

How To Implement the RIBZ Sight Setting

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RIBZ stands for Revised Improved Battlesight Zero. It’s a method of adjusting standard military carry handle sights to allow a wider range of zeroes. This leverages one of the primary benefits of the adjustable sights over fixed sights. This guide shows you how to implement RIBZ. [Read Full Article »]

The Story of the Government Profile Barrel

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One of the great mysteries of the modern AR-15 is the so-called Government profile barrel. The original AR-15, and M16, had the so-called “standard” profile. Today, we call this a “pencil” profile. When the design work for the M16A2 happened in the 80’s, the design team shifted away from the lightweight style. The thicker barrel at the muzzle became the new standard. Eventually, all modern enthusiasts ask why that happened. [Read Full Article »]

AR-15 Barrel Selection, What You Need to Know

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This post summarizes just about everything I’ve learned about rifle barrels in general, and specifically the AR-15. I’ve learned these lessons from years of study, competition, training, and practice. I will avoid as much engineer-speak as I can, but some of it is unavoidable. [Read Full Article »]

Choosing Your First AR-15: A Practical Guide

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The AR-15 is the most popular rifle in the country. The market is so packed, that it’s easy to make mistakes or get stuck while making a decision. This guide gives you some of my thoughts on what a good first rifle would look like as well as some technical information to look look out for and help you make [Read Full Article »]

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USAF Joint Terminal Attack Controllers back squatting, a key movement for not just tactical fitness, but all fitness. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Scott Thompson

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