BFD

Guy at work asked for a recommendation of a Blow Forward Device for his AR15.

"One day I'll pop for a suppressor, but the BFDs range in price from $35 to $200."

???

I asked him what he wanted it to do.  He wasn't trying to alleviate recoil, but wanted less of a fireball.

Oh, so a flash hider? Not a compensator.

"No, that's not it..."

???!!!

Look it up again and get back to me with another name, buddy.  I'm not sure what you are on about.  Or, more likely, YOU aren't sure what you are on about.

Or maybe it's this thing:

New one on me, if so.

 

Offset Sights

Offset sights are kinda neat.  In battle, what if your optics break and are suddenly opaque?  What if the optics are set up for long range and trouble starts close at hand?  What if your AR is a race gun is set up for long range and you want to cut the transition time to close stuff?

Cant the rifle 45 degrees and use the offset backup iron sights.

But why so 'tall'?  Off the shelf AR sights are like that for good readon.  It where the sights have to be when you have a cheek weld on the straight stock of an AR.  So, all off the shelf after market BUIS sights are gonna be like that, too.  But if you hang the sights off the side of the rifle, then maybe they don't have to be so tall.  I wonder if some supplier is thinking of a more streamlined shorter offering.  I bet so.

CCW Fashion Trends

First folks started to find that Kydex wasn't the devil and started accepting hybrid holster instead of all leather.  The was years ago.

A coupla years back, I notice SayUncle, and then others, go from calibers that began with a .4 to 9mm.  The idea was more is better than less ammo in a gun fight.  And 2 hits with a 9mm is better than 1 hit with a .45.  And you might as well, post 2004, when magazine size limitations were in the rear view mirror.  If you aren't restricted to 10 or less, might as well go for quantity and it is easier to get quantity with 9mm than .45.  Plus, pistols are pistols.  If you want a qauntum increase in round effectiveness, switch to a rifle.  9mm is also easier to control, obviously, so shot placement is better for shot #2.

Anyhoo, 1911s in leather IWB holsters give way to M&P 9mm in kydex IWB holsters.

Now, the SayUncle bellweather has notice a new fashion trend.  Appendix carry.  With it's pluses and minuses.  It's faster, but there is a risk to the femoral artery.  Maybe this will stick, too.

And this doesn't count 'fashion' trends in history.  Like the 'Wonder 9' trend of the 80s that went away and then came back.  The .45 trend already mentioned.  6 o'clock IWB for a time, I believe, was a 'thing.' (Thank you Eddie Murphy's 'Axel Foley') The .380 pocket auto was huge for a while.  The post Miami shootout that got 10mm popular for a time, and then .40, and from that .357 Sig, and all 4 are fading now.  CCW doesn't go very far back beyond that, but I am sure there were other trends for various firearm and firearm accoutrement selection decisions before CCW was a thing.  Shoulder holster carry, I guess.

There were reasons, of course, for each trend swing, but not really HUGE ones.  It's just 'cuz,' kinda, really.  It's all in pursuit of making oneself a more effective shottist, but it's also splitting hairs to the point of being similar to the clothes fashion world.  I mean if the trend were to go back to 1911s folks wouldn't really be handicapping themselves.  Or even back to revolvers.  It just seems sort of fickle. 

Not a criticism, just an observation.

But I wonder what the next trend will be?

Odorless Gun Solvent

No really, it was!  Eviroclean FA, by Ogre Manufacturing

When you wear media creds you get buttonholed sometimes, but this booth was the nicest people.  Mom and Pop shop.

I know there are other near odorless solvents out there, but if you are shopping for some, you might want to try out stuff.

I do my cleaning in the basement.  Regular solvent doesn't seem that strong, but the little fumes I DO get can't be that good for me. 

Mavrik Scram Pack

This was an intriguing backpack get up I saw at the NRAAM.   The Mavrik, from Red Rock.  But I can't find a link to this specific item anywhere.

That's it, exploded.  All zipped up it looks like a backpack.  Or a parachute.  And it has a hip belt.

Sort of the ultimate Go-Bag, with everything super easy to find.  Organize everything in the customizable pockets with the only thing 'loose' being a thin jacket or summat.  Socks, undies, gloves, and poncho could be in one of the pockets.  Very good for accessing your first aid stuff you might need in a hurry.

It's customizable.  All those little pouches are attached by velcro.  So one of those pouches can be a mini-Go-Bag if the small backpack proves too bulky somehow.

If you are allowed to carry in your office, this would nice in case of an active shooter.  Put a trauma plate in the bigger pouch and switch the pack around to the front.  That way, you can have your hand on your pistol in case you run into a bad guy and need to defend yourself quicklike.  But when you get out of the building and encounter law enforcement, you can raise your empty hands and not be shot my nervous cops that see a gun carrier come running out. 

Brass Catcher

 THIS was a neat little gun range accessory at the convention.  The Ammo-Up brass hooverer-upper.  Sure beats a broom and dust pan or a squeegee, like I've seen at all the indoor ranges I've been to.  If I owned a range THIS is what I'd use.  

Little fingers on the drum grab brass and dump them in its bin as it rolls along the floor.  They were constantly demonstrating it on the carpet in their booth and it seemed to work flawlessly.  They also had a version for shotgun shells.  I don't think it would work as well on grass, and I wondered how soon it would be before the finger wore out and stopped picking up stuff as well, but if it lasts a good while it should be at every range that can use it.

Starts at $495.

Gunbox

Speaking of gun safes, from last Friday...

I got butthonholed by the people at GunBox at the NRA Convention.  It's a single pistol storage solution with some interesting features.

First, it doesn't LOOK like gun safe.  It could be a room de-ionizer.  Or a weird charging station.  It has 2 usb ports in the back you can use to power your iPad or other devices. 

You can screw it down to something, of course.

And it is a biometric device.  Now I know what you are saying.  Biometrics can be finicky, true. But it stores 100 different 'fingerprints'.  I would do that for 100 people, but I would do all my fingers, the pads of my hands, my palms... Any possible thing I might put on the safe in the dark to open it, and it doesn't matter if you put the print on sideways or upside down.  It alarms when a unrecognized user attempt to access it or jiggle the safe.  It also opens with the accompanying RFID wrist strap or finger ring. 

Starts at $300.  The GPS tracker model adds to the price.

It's an intriguing hide-in-plain-sight solution if you have kids in the house.

--------

Speaking of gunsafes...  When I started blogging, the convnetional wisdom was that a electronic combo was the more secure option over the old style dial/mechanical combination lock.  There have been too many failures with electronic locks and too many known ways to hack them for my taste.  If I buy a BIG ol' 500 pounder someday as my primary safe, I'd get the dial-combo lock.

gun vault

I saw this new gun vault at the GunVault booth at the NRAcon.  Well, new to me.  First I'd seen it.  They call it the AR Safe.  It can hold 2 longish guns and a pistol on the shelf.

It's only 9 inches across the front.  A good size for what I want.

You see, my current safe is a bit over full.  It's also in the armory section of my backyard fallout-shelter/bunker.  If I get the AR Safe, I could put it somewhere obvious, let the burglar take that, and he won't nose around looking for the secret tunnel to the Bolt-Bunker.  Que?   I'd put easily replaceable stuff in there, clearly.  Prices start at $500.

Why no lube?

Or solvent?  In my range bag?

Well, I'll tell you...  I have a phobia about all kinds of leakages.  Roof.  Radiator.  Box of wine.  Personal 4th point of contact.  Other people's 4th point of contact.  Commuter mug.  And solvent from a container of gun cleaner is another.

Anyone know a full proof tiny container (spark plug size) I could add to a cleaning kit?  One I can trust more than I can trust myself after eating a sleeve of those fat-free Pringles with Olestra or whatever?  Leak proof.  Nigh unbreakable.

(Something about the lil bottle with the HK cleaning kit or the M14 cleaning kit...  I just don't trust them.  They seem too fragile and flimsy.  Like they were produced by the lowest bidder.)

New Sling

I was never satisfied with Magpul's old multi mission sling.  Too 'satiny'.  Looks like they have another type out that might be a better performer.  But, fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice shame on you.

I'll check it out at some future Fun Show.  Get my paws on it first.  See how slippy it is.

Extra Mag

This intrigues....

 If I see one in brown I will pick it up.

It's be nice to grab a rifle and have a reload without also having to grab a bandolier or pouch of some sort.

Wait... How do I attach a buffer tube to that?

Speed Strip Holster

Crap!  I saw this on a revolver blog somewhere but didn't retain the originating source.  Dangit.

Anyway, I want to check these out.  Not that I've noticed much tell tale printing with my speed strip, I just think a pouch would protect them more.  Here is a pic from that site of the double:

But I'd go with the single.

I wonder how easy they are to 'deploy' from.

Weapon Light

The idea of the housegun AR is to be able to meet home invaders with something more than a couple revolvers.  I intend to make it easy access, yet concealed.  So, since most of the time I am in my house it is dark out, and the house lights are off, I think I want a weapon light.  I have a cheapy Chinese weapon light with a picattiny mount, but I want something better.   

There are several options.  Either an expensive light with an easy to hit button that also does IR stuff on the chance I actually have nightvision on.  It also takes the same battery as my EOTech, and I have battery storage in the stock.  Then there is more of a pistol light.  And then is just the repurpose the regular flashlight with the red lens with what amounts to a scope ring that fits my flashlight.

The other option is the unconsidered.  Maybe a commenter will pipe in.

Mag Sale

Cheaper than Dirt had a sale on MagPul PMAGs, last week.  Neato!  What a bargain! 

It's not like they go bad, right?  A lower and a half dozen magazines for the totality of my AR inventory.  Not even a single round of 5.56.

Oh wait!  This is Maryland.  Those hold more than 20 rounds don't they?  Yeah, they can't sell and ship to my address.  Well that's inconvenient.

Got some accessories

So the stock arrived.

I didn't get this, sadly.

I had already mounted the fore stock and red dot EOTech optic.  And some sling swivel items came. And the combination foregrip bipod.

Now to test it at the range.  Got a trip planned with MBtGE.



The reviews of the stock said I might have issues with fitting.  It is a tight fit, and the video on the website gave me confidence, and that is all as it should be.  I went at it with a firm placement and it worked.  Easy, in hindsight.

You know what I am going to like?  The convenience of the bipod, so I can leave my rifle upright.

Update:  Sling swivels and flashlight came today.

Caution!

Remember when I flagged this great PMAG for M1A/M14 pattern rifle a few weeks back?

It now comes with a disclaimer. 


''20LR Pmag is not compatible with Armalite AR-10, RRA LAR-8, or M1a/M14 variant rifles."

Looks like some M14 types bought a mag or two and found they didn't fit.  So be careful out there.  These mags are for the SR25 type rifle.

They USED to say they were compatible.  I guess not.

Budget M1A stock/rail accessories

Now that I have an EOTech on my rifle, The only big thing left to maybe do to it is swap out the walnut stock with an aftermarket replacement. 

Cheaper than dirt  has a pro mag archangel m1A stock.

Stocks are pricey, but this one is only around $250.  I think I saw this at last year's NRA convention.

I have several requirement for an aftermarket stock:

Most of them are heavy, and I don't want that.  This one weighs 4.2 pounds.  Goodish

All of them are pretty much impervious to moisture compared to wood, so check, there.

I want the stock to have better options for mounting something underneath.  A foregrip and light combo, or a grip-pod.  This comes with a rail underneath, and I have a rail already on top.  And I know I can ring a 9 inch gong from 250 yards out if I have a rest or 'bipod.'  So also good.

A better way to mount a sling other than WWI era standard swivels.  This has multiple swivel mount points.  That's fine.

Looks like I'll need to some fettling with it to mate it with the lock and barrel.  I can do that.

My only worries?  It is half the price of other stocks and I worry about quality that that might reflect.  Reviews of it usually reflect how hard it is to fit it, but that's it.

They even have a quasi tutorial on fitting.



Does anyone want to talk me down off this ledge and to hold out for something like a Sage?

I didn't mention this...

But apart from the bad news from the State Police refusing to process my CCW applications...  In the mail the same day came this:

Eotech.  AA batteries (I hope they never go the way of B batteries.) and a .308 reticle that looks like this:

Perfect for my M1A or Garand because while not ideal because of the necessary scope placement, I still get the eye relief I need and want.  Dunno how useful that 1200 meter dot is, but you never know.  It's been a long time coming, and I've saved me pennies. 

When I turned in on and pointed it at my knee...  OHNOES!  It must be defective.  It's all blurry and junk!   Wait... to the internet!  Nope, according to the FAQ, it's blurry because I am looking at the reticle, and not a target in the near or far distance.  My knee is too near.   Point it at the van down the street and... perfect.  No point it at the van down the street BEFORE you mount it on your rifle, dummy.  Oh jeez.

I don't think it will help that much against cat sized flying bees.   But zombies?  Oh yeah.  Even sprinters.

So it was a mixed mailbag.

M1A Magpul

I did not know this was a thing.  Magpul apparently started making magazines for the best rifle in the world, the M14/M1A. 

Gonna have to try these out.  Plus!  Inexpensive-ish.  So replacing all the Chinese knock-offs I have now...  Will only hurt a little bit.

Rail

Running on a blog-fodder fumes.  So I went ahead and bought the rail for my M1A.

Get that mounted on the rifle. My Luepold scout scope can work on it. but the purpose if for a future red dot optic.