From all of us here at GAT Daily, Happy Independence Day!
The Grand Adventure that is the United States of America is now evolved beyond anything the Founders could have dreamed 241 years ago. It took the next 13 years to establish, ratify, and put into effect the U.S. Constitution, our great evolving experiment in self-governance. So much has has changed, the nation has grown, struggled, triumphed, and here today… we are at the helm.
Since it’s Tuesday the Holiday weekend is largely done. But take time to appreciate, to celebrate, to thank, and to remember the birth of this greatest of nations. Remember too that we are not done by any means. We are as responsible today for helping determine the continued course of the nation as the Founders were in the 18th Century.
So crack a cold one!
Grab a rifle and hit the range!
Fire up the grill and share a meal with friends and family!
Be safe, celebrate, let the fireworks fly!
And remember we aren’t done…
And stay tuned for more GAT content! It’s rolling down the pipeline
AR15 loaders are currently all the rage, like gun oil a few years back. Picking the right one is a difficult task without buying a bunch. We have tried several now and Podavach has really caught our eye with their recent offering.
The Podavach Multi-Platform AR15 & AK Magazine loader might have a long name without any of the catch slogans its competition has, but what it lacks in glamor it makes up for in function. Podavach’s loader is designed to load 70% of the world’s rifle caliber small arms. The loader boasts compatibility with 5.56×45, 223, 5.45×39, 300AAC and 7.62×39 ammunition as well as common AR and AK mag styles. It will load 40 round PMAGs but it will likely have issue with drum or surefire 60 rounders.
The biggest issue I see with any magazine loader is getting the bullets into the loader. Every manufacturer likes to have their own special way of packing the ammo boxes making it haphazard in how you fill your loader. The easy dump tray of the Podavach makes putting rounds into the loader a breeze. Simply upend the box of ammo, reloads etc and you’re done. Once the dump tray is loaded you slide the ammunition into line and pull the handle. It’s so simple even a member of the DNC could do it.
Features:
The little things that Podavach paid attention to are what please me the most about this product. The “handle”, which is a wooden nub, is magnetized and stays in place very nicely even when the frame is tossed around.
The rubber feet hold the tray in place as you load the magazines if the surface is relatively flat like a desk or range bench. If, like me, you shoot outdoors most of the time and load at a makeshift wood bench or picnic table you might need to apply some downward force to keep it from shifting while loading. Frankly, I do not see any way to mitigate this with an alternate design outside some sort of hook which would raise other issues.
The wide assortment of ammo compatibility makes this a one-stop shot for most rifle calibers used in competition or classes. With the amount of guns I have to test, this is a godsend. The compatibility with all GI, PMAG, ETS, AK, etc mags means short of 308 or larger calibers Podavach has you covered.
It lays FLAT!!! Ok that should not need to have so many exclamations and capitals but it does for a huge reason. I talked about putting ammo in the loader as my biggest issues with most of these products. Besides this, we have found that most loaders are vertical, so there’s a chance for a bullet to fall over and screw up how you fill the loader. I had given up on ammo loaders for this reason. If a bullet fell over, it took me longer to load a mag than just doing it by hand. Sure, it saved my fingers, but time savings is an important selling point on most ammo loaders. By laying the bullets flat, they can’t fall over and mess it up. The tradeoff of being flat means this is the biggest of the various loaders I have tried. However, it’s lightweight and thin so it can easily fit in a rifle bag, backpack or large range bag easily.
Is it the perfect solution? No, nothing is. But it is the best solution I have found to save time and fingers when loading multiple mags. If I need to load a mag or 2 I don’t bring it out, but for 3 or more it’s worth it. The other downside to this system vs its competition is it has no unload feature. I still keep a LuLa around for that job but the Lula has been demoted to that job only.
If you want to save time, save your fingers, and load multiple calibers into various magazines, this is for you. The Podavach Multi-Platform AR15 & AK Magazine loader retails for $79.00 and can be bought online at https://podavach.com/ or at your local retailer.
In perfect harmony with the uptick in pistol caliber carbine interest I was given a valuable opportunity to attend a training course specifically geared towards the PCC/SMG market. We at GAT hit cyclically on the disparity of investment between an individuals equipment and their training. People have a tendency to vastly under invest in training even after purchasing premium equipment.
June 16th afforded me the chance to correct that tendency in my own habits and super charge my learning curve on a new (to me) weapons platform, an operator’s classic, the MP5.
Teufelshund Tactical put on an exceptional 3 Day course covering handgun and PCC/SMG employment, technology, body mechanics, and heavy fundamentals emphasis. Over 35 training hours of day time shooting, low light shooting, no light shooting, and classroom discussions.
I’m going to break this AAR into 4 parts, this overview and the 3 training days. There is simply to much material to cover in one read.
Special thanks are owed to Dakota Tactical for sponsoring the shoot and providing technical and hardware support to the shooters. I snagged one of their DTAC M-LOK Modular Handguards to mount a weapon light and Joe was able to get a couple down guns back into action quickly and back to training. Also thank you to Spectacle Lake Outdoor Club who hosted the shoot and allowed us to shoot day and night on a safe clean range with a club house to rest and use as our classroom.
Pre-Class Preparation
I’d like to say I’ve been planning on taking this course for awhile but in reality I had no intention of taking it, no knowledge of it’s existence, and didn’t own an MP5 or any SMG/Pistol Caliber Carbine. This was a very fortunate series of events starting from the disappointment of having the original class I planned to take from Haley Strategic fill up before I could purchase my slot.
I was in Iowa at the time taking an Armament Technician course (Army MOS 91F) when I logged on to book my seat with HSP for their September Carbine Course. I also happened to be down the road from Brownells and their shiny walk-in retail store, which has the full online inventory at your fingertips… relevant in a moment.
Like I said the D5 carbine class filled up and I was disappointed I’d have to pass on the opportunity… so to console my grieving self I went on a trip to Brownell’s with a pocket full of unspent class money… because that always prevents impulsive decisions.
MSR Pistol. Zenith/MKE Z5RS MP5
So Brownell’s had the new Zenith/MKE Z-5 series fresh off the trucks and sadly the H&K’s only came in the SP5K configuration which I did not want. I wanted the classic layout. Zenith and Brownell’s provided and I shipped the gun to my home store in Michigan with an SB Tactical brace to await my return.
I was sufficiently satiated in my grief and my pocket much lighter monetarily but still my goal of spending on training this year was a murky prospect…
Enter Teufelshund Tactical, owned by Haley Strategic Partners COO James Williamson (Maj. USMC, Ret.) who put their June course in Albion, MI to partner with Dakota Tactical.
SMG/PCC Training has a narrow list of choices so when the training for the weapon system you just impulse bought is hosted in your backyard and provided by the people you wanted to train with anyway you buy the seat. I contacted James and put my name on the class roster. Talking back and forth over a few emails I acquired the list of remaining necessary equipment I would need and I gathered it up.
Real quick aside. The title of the course was Advanced Pistol/Submachine Gun Operators Course. But for anyone feeling overwhelmed or under prepared by that title, from James himself… “There are no course prerequisites besides having a solid understanding and application of firearms safety and comfort shooting and moving in close proximity to other shooters.” Do not be afraid to buy a seat in a class. Learning and skill building are the goals. If you have specific questions ask them in detail. The instructor should be happy to give you the parameters physically and student expectations and discuss any accommodations in detail so you the student can come learn. Being on a SWAT Team or Military Combat Arms is in no way a prerequisite. They’d tell you if it was.
One thing you should NOT do is just sit and wait for the course. Preparedness brings success
I had two short months to prepare for the course and my goal was to shorten my learning curve as much as feasible so those three packed training days would generate the best results.
Anyone taking a course should spend time and effort on the range prior to verify equipment function and keep the basics of weapons handling at the forefront of your mind. Nothing like a stupid mistake because a skill set got dusty to put you behind or get yourself or someone else injured.
The MP5 was new territory so despite bringing 3,000 rounds to class I sent 1,000 rounds of practice down range in the two months prior. I tested all 5 of my magazines for function to capacity. I did numerous single shot presentations to get used to manipulating a safety lever I’m fairly certain was designed with some German the size of Andre the Giant holding the gun. I shot the little Z5-RS slick through the iron sights, with the optic rail mounted (resulting in a few bloody knuckles), and with a micro red dot ROMEO5 from SIG. I settled on running optics for the course and the ROMEO5 was on point with my Trijicon MRO on deck if the little SIG quit.
I wanted my fundamentals firmed up and moving with the little carbine to be comfortable so a few of the SOTG drills were run also. Finally and most importantly for shooting preparation I put a solid zero on the gun at 50m, it turns out 25m is standard but the adjustment during class was quick and simple. Most classes have a confirm zero portion as the first drill series and this is not the time to be putting a fresh zero on the gun, it’s making certain the zero you have is still accurate.
Complete PCC’s and PCI’s on your equipment, clean it, inspect it, check tightness, optics, gear, function check, etc.
The day prior to the course, in conjunction with the advice given in the coordinating instructions, I laid out and inspected all the gear coming with me to Albion. I cleaned and oiled the guns and magazines, checked the function on my electronics and packed spare batteries, double checked slings and small hardware, packed eye and ear protection and spares, and finally checked and sorted my ammunition for any obvious problems. .50 Cal can will hold 2,000 rounds and a .30 Cal can will do 1,000 no problem in case anyone is curious.
Bring redundant equipment, back up lights and pistol, tools, slings, holsters and plenty of mags, I could’ve used more.
I even brought my Glock 19 to back up my Sig Sauer P226 Legion. If I’d had a second subgun it would have been riding shotgun JIC. I have a lot of confidence in Z5 and the P226 but with high round counts anything can and often does happen. To keep training a spare piece of equipment helps if you can manage it.
As we role into summer time full force Magpul has brought some good news!
UBR® GEN2 COLLAPSIBLE STOCK
The UBR GEN2 is an adjustable stock for the AR15/M4, designed to offer the same strength and stability as a fixed stock with a consistent and comfortable cheek weld in any position. An update of the revolutionary Utility/Battle Rifle (UBR) stock, the UBR GEN2 features a fixed cheek piece to provide a consistent cheek weld in any of its eight positions, and is compatible with Carbine as well as A5-length buffer systems. Designed to accommodate large bore AR calibers and withstand severe impacts, the UBR GEN2 is nearly five ounces lighter while retaining all the durability its predecessor was legendary for. Comes standard with front and rear QD sling attachment points, two footman’s loops, the ergonomic MOE SL™ angled-toe rubber butt-pad, and customizable storage compartment.
It looks like my SPR build may happen sooner now. I need one…
And some love for the AK lovers!
PMAG® 30 AK74 MOE® 5.45X39MM
The PMAG 30 AK74 MOE is an inexpensive, lightweight, high reliability 30-round polymer magazine designed for Kalashnikov pattern rifles in 5.45x39mm (AK74, MPi-AK-74N, PA md. 86, and others.)
It features a removable floorplate, constant curve geometry, and a high-reliability/low-friction follower for the affordable performance you expect from a MOE PMAG.
For the last few months I’ve been playing a the game Ghost Recon Wildlands in the little down time I’ve had. The game is an absolute blast and has an amazing multiplayer aspect that lets me kick cartel ass with three friends. What it also features is a huge catalog of real world, completely configurable firearms. As a gun nut and a nerd, this combines the two things I love the most. I’ve flown across the entire map locating weapons, optics, grips, sights, lasers, and more to customize my arsenal.
There is something extremely satisfying to drifting around digital Bolivia armed with weapons I own in real life. Not only that but I can configure these weapons into customized variants topped with the optics and accessories I have used or use in real life. I can add Eotechs, Aimpoints, Magpul Pmags, and a lot more to the guns I use in the game.
The effects of this didn’t really hit me until a friend and I were playing and he said something to the degree, “Man it’d be cool to shoot these guns for real.”
At first I was all like pew pew, then I was all like Bang Bang
To which I replied, “We can, well at least a few of them.” My friend and I are nerd friends, not gun friends. He knew I owned guns and had an interest but had no idea to what extent because it never really came up. I told him to come over one day and he could try a variety of weapons from the game in real life, albeit without a giggle switch.
After a range day with an AK, a few ARs, a CZ Scorpion, a SIG 556R, and a wide variety of handguns he was hooked. Now almost two months later he’s purchased an AR 15 and AK clone from PSA, a CZ P07, a Glock 22, a Ruger LCP, and has gotten his concealed carry license. We’ve gone to the range almost every week, and he’s become a safe and passionate shooter.
Nothing like playing with guns you actually own
We are the same age but have very different backgrounds. He wasn’t anti-gun but wasn’t pro-gun either. He went from could care less about gun laws to filing a form 4 for a suppressor and championing the Hearing Protection act in under two months. All it took was a little spark to ignite his interest. This reminds me of a particular quote.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. – Ronald Reagan.
Reagan is a controversial figure, but without a doubt the above quote is true. In the firearms industry, this is something we should seriously consider. All too often the gun industry seems to have a “Get off my lawn,” approach to younger generations of shooters. The stereotype of the grumpy gun store guy had to originate from somewhere right? The fact of the matter is we need new gun owners to keep gun rights alive. Depending on the idea that families will pass down a generational respect for firearms and gun rights is a bubble waiting to burst.
Video games are a very effective and safe way to introduce new people to guns. In the past, the gun community hasn’t been very friendly to video games. The NRA has often used them to scapegoat violence, and let’s face it video games don’t get any love from grumpy gun store guy. To me, looking down on people with an interest in guns caused by video games is a wasted opportunity.
If you can take that interest, and give it an opportunity, you can create new shooters. This isn’t about converting someone from party A to party B because party B is friendlier on gun rights. It’s about getting enough people from party A to like gun rights that it changes the entire party. If politically all I have in common with a person is we both fight for gun rights I’m happy to know them.
I know I’m not the only one that thinks video games can be a solid method to obtain new shooters for the community. I won’t name names, but plenty of anti-gun journalists have pointed out that these video games cause an interest in guns and gun culture. Even journalists in the video game realm who share the anti-gun sentiment seem to take issue with real life guns in games.
The Bad News
The downside to videogames and guns is that you can’t learn really learn anything functional about firearms. You learn a little about how a gun works like which way the magazine goes in, but not a whole lot more. The biggest thing video games don’t teach is firearms safety. The same goes for marksmanship, recoil control, and proper stance, grip, etc.
This is where we, as gun owners and rights advocates, can step up and help. Looking down on new shooters because they mention Ghost Recon or Call of Duty is a good way to guarantee they won’t care what you say about gun safety or technique. If you’re that grumpy gun store guy, maybe lighten up a bit. Never sacrifice safety for being polite, but have an open mind. If you take your nerd friends shooting for the first time, make it a positive experience.
Video games are the match that ignites interest. Don’t be the guy who blows the match out. Just be excellent to each other.
The Winchester 1897 is one of the more distinctive historical shotguns out there. It’s been romanticized through movies and video games but its name is still one that will escape a lot of people. The 1897 was a big star beside 1911 in the film, the Wild Bunch. More recently it was the shotgun of choice for Llewelyn Moss as he battled Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. It’s a shotgun that catches your eye. It’s not as plain as a Remington or Mossberg but isn’t over the top like a Spas 12 or Saiga for some. It’s a more civilized weapon for a more polite society.
History
The Winchester 1897 was the first commercially viable and successful pump action shotgun. It was designed by John Browning and was an improvement on his model 1893 shotgun. Browning had long considered the pump action to be the future of shotgun technology. His first shotgun repeater was the model 1887. John Browning produced the 1887 at the behest of Winchester under some protest. The heads of Winchester insisted they were a lever action company, and wanted a lever action shotgun. Browning designed the Model 1887, but wouldn’t leave the idea of his ‘slide action’ shotgun alone. Eventually, Winchester listened and he began designing the model 1893.
The Winchester 1897 was built to be stronger and more durable than the standard 1893. The 1893 was designed to be used with black powder, and could not safely fire smokeless powder shotgun shells. The Winchester 1897 was more robust to utilize the more powerful smokeless powder that was growing in popularity. The shotgun first premiered in Winchester’s November 1897 calendar in 12 and 16 gauge. The next year a takedown variant of the Win 1897 was produced. This takedown model made it possible to quickly remove the barrel of the shotgun. These days not a single shotgun is designed without this feature.
Design
The first thing that catches your eye when looking at the Winchester 1897 is the external hammer. Like a single action revolver the hammer must be cocked to the rear for the shotgun to fire. There is no manual safety for this shotgun. To safely carry this shotgun in condition 1 you have to carefully lower the hammer into the half cock position. Drop safe firearms weren’t a reality in 1897.
When the pump is pulled to the rear, the shotgun’s bolt assembly is pushed out of the weapon and cocks the hammer. This external hammer and action manipulation are unique to the Win Model 97. When the hammer is to the rear of the weapon you cannot cycle the pump without pressing a small release located on the rear of the receiver.
The shotgun does not have a trigger disconnector. This allows the shooter to hold down the trigger and the shotgun will fire every time the system comes back into battery. This is known as slam firing and makes rapid fire very easy. This feature would make it a brutal military weapon down the road.
The bolt cocks the hammer
A Life of Service
The Model 97 found its way across the United States in the hands of police forces and remained there for decades. It became the shotgun of choice for a dying breed of outlaw, as well as the lawmen hunting them down. The shotgun was used by American Express messengers transporting valuables through lawless areas. The pump action nature and 5 + 1 capacity of the Model 97 gave armed men an unparalleled amount of on deck firepower for the time period. The Model 97 soon found its way to the United States Army.
The Great War
The shotgun itself was svelte and lightweight for the time period, and incredibly handy when compared to the issued battle rifles of the American soldier. When World War 1 came around the combat quickly developed into brutal trench warfare. Soldiers fighting in the trenches were often doing so in extreme close-quarters conditions.
These guns have long served hunters
The army modified the Winchester 1897 for combat with a heat shield and bayonet mount for the 1917 bayonet. The barrel was 20 inches inch and the 5+1 capacity made it an incredibly effective trench broom.
Trench warfare is the perfect place for the shotgun and the German’s quickly learned just how fierce the Winchester 1897 was. The slam fire and buckshot made it effective in the trenches far beyond any bolt action rifle. When equipped with a bayonet the Winchester 1897 was a fearsome opponent to face. It fired faster than any bolt action rifle, and the use of buckshot made first shots into kill shots.
The Winchester 1897 gained such a reputation that the Kaiser of Germany, and the German government, petitioned to have the shotgun banned from warfare. They claimed it was illegal under the laws of war outlined in the Hague because it caused “Unnecessary suffering.” To put this in perspective this was the war where nerve and mustard gas were being used. This is a war where tanks, flame throwers, machine guns, and shrapnel were being put to devastating effect in a major war for the first time.
That mustache has seen things
The Americans rejected the claim, and the Kaiser ordered any American prisoner with a shotgun be executed. In return, Captain Jack Pershing ordered any German with a saw blade knife or flamethrower be executed. There is a rumor that stated Captain Pershing also requested 10,000 more shotguns to irritate the Kaiser as well, but rumors are rumors.
Another legend revolves around Sergeant Fred Lloyd. Sergeant Lloyd, armed with a Model 97, cleared an entire village of Germans. He reportedly killed 30 before collapsing in exhaustion. I can’t find any official Army documents on this event, and only a story by Bo Barbour in an article on Army Shotguns. It has been quoted numerous times in the Winchester Model 1897 mythos.
The Winchester 1897 didn’t end its service in WW1. It served up until Vietnam in limited roles, and alongside other shotguns like the Model 12, and Ithaca 37. Winchester ended production of the Model 97 in 1957. The shotgun itself is a collector’s item these days. They vary greatly in price based on condition, with military models being the most desirable.
How It Handles
I can’t do a full review on this shotgun, even though I own one. I refuse to put it through any kind of durability or reliability test. I don’t have it in me to torture a shotgun made in 1902. I can comment on its handling though. Let me tell you, it’s sweet. The pump glides backward like it’s on ball bearings. The trigger has almost zero grit or creep. It’s just a slight wall, then a break.
Slam firing is extremely fun, but something I’ve only done twice with light birdshot loads. I mean super light loads. My 1897 is a functional shooter, but I prefer to look at it, respect its history, and show it off when the topic of antiques comes up. To this day the design holds up. It doesn’t feel outdated, and if this shotgun wasn’t a hundred years old I’d happily keep it by my bed for home security. The fact that it is a hundred years old and still functional is a testament to its design.
A More Civilized Weapon
The Winchester 1897 was on my gun bucket list for a long time. Now that I have one I can really appreciate the genius of John Moses Browning. It’s interesting just how far ahead of the curve he was on shotgun design. His slide action shotgun has influenced every pump action shotgun that followed. From the deer stand to the battlefield the Model 97 served cowboys, policemen, hunters, soliders and outlaws. The Winchester 1897 is a true American classic.
As a gun and gear guy and a father I’ve always thought I’m pretty easy to buy for. However, I’ve received a number of wallets, shoes, and stuff I generally don’t need or want despite appreciating the gesture. This made me realize that maybe us gun Dads just aren’t as easy to shop for as we’d like to think. So I’ve decided to provide a guide for all those loving kids and spouses looking to get their gun loving Dad a great gift or two. Here is our Father’s Day Gift guide for the Dad’s out there who love guns.
A New Gun
This is the Holy Grail of Gun Guy gifts. If my family got together to purchase me a gun for Father’s Day, any gun, I’d be pumped. This seems like a very expensive gift and it can be. You can mitigate this through spreading the cost among siblings, or even looking at affordable fun guns. If Dad has dropped hints pick them up and get the gun he wants.
Or give him a DYI, receivers are very affordable right now
If you don’t share the same passion for firearms as Dad that’s fine, there are a number of affordable, fun guns that are great for any collection. Fun guns make the best gifts anyway, they’re universal.
Mossberg 590 Shockwave – One of the most popular guns this year. This miniature 590 Shockwave is well made, and a blast to shoot. Plus it’s priced at around 350 to 400 dollars.
Heritage Rough Rider – This little six shot 22 LR single action revolver is a fun, tack driving little gun. It can be found for under a 150 bucks, and is a great little cowboy gun.
A Stripped AR lower- If you Dad likes building his own ARs a stripped lower is the building block to any AR build. You can find them for 50 to 75 bucks, and they are common in most gun stores
*Final note, ensure there are no laws in your state regarding the gifting of firearms. Some will require you to go through a transfer process including a background check.
Ammo!
Ammo, ammo, ammo is always one of the best gifts to get Dad. You can never have enough ammunition. The trick to buying ammo is to know the guns Dad likes to shoot, as well as his ammo preferences. Some guys like me will shoot almost any factory made ammo through their guns, other Dads may have a preference towards certain brands and types of ammo. Some guns may not work well with steel or aluminum ammo, so Dad may only want brass cased.
Caption ‘The Way to Dad’s Heart is 22 LR
The best way to figure out what kind of ammo to get Dad is to do some sneaking and peeking in the gun cabinet (with permission) to determine the caliber and type of ammo Dad needs. Take a photo to ensure you get both the right ammo, and the right load. If you don’t know anything about ammunition you may be surprised hitting the store at the wide variety of ammo out there. There are different weights, projectile types, and case and bullet materials for each caliber. When in doubt, buy him a nice bulk box of 22 LR.
A New Range Bag
When Dad goes to the range does he carry boxes with guns and ammo like an overworked waiter? If so he probably needs a dedicated range bag. I’m not sure why so many people don’t invest in a nice range bag to make their lives a lot easier. Don’t get a small range bag either, err on the large side, most shooters outgrow those in about a week. Your Dad also likely doesn’t need one of those 200 dollars range bag backpacks or a massive duffel. I’ve found the Blackhawk Deluxe Range Bag to be an excellent compromise between size, price and quality. You can find them for right around 50 dollars and they can fit multiple guns, and tons of ammo, as well as targets, ear and eye protection, and cleaning gear.
Bullets to Bandages Gear/ENDO Apparel
Bullets to Bandages is a veteran owned company that produces a wide variety of novelty items based around gun culture. This includes 50 caliber bottle openers, revolver cylinder shot glasses, personalized ammo cans, and more. They donate 15% of every sale to a charity for veterans and have some pretty cool stuff. They also have a Personalized Father’s Day Gift Bundle that’s worth looking into.
ENDO Apparel is run by Gun Blogger Endo Mike and makes some seriously awesome gun related shirts. If you’ve watched any Youtube channel featuring guns you’ve likely seen the Youtubers rocking his gear. Most of his shirts are esoteric to the gun world, but relevant to any serious shooter and hobbyist.
Last year for Father’s Day my wife put together a customized Man Can as she called it. It starts with a 50 Caliber metal ammo can, and is then stuffed with tons of gun related gear I needed or wanted. She included two Lancer magazines, three boxes of 5.56, a set of electronic hearing protection, a copy of Jeff Cooper’s Principles of Personal Defense, a pound of Black Rifle Coffee Company’s AK 47 blend, and a bottle of Hoppe’s Number 9. To this day it’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. Not just because of the contents but because of the thought that was put into the gift.
My wife had to do some digging to know my favorite type of ammo, magazines, cleaning solution, and who Jeff Cooper actually was. It was a simple, and affordable gift that meant a ton. Spend some time with Dad, explore his hobby with him. Even if it doesn’t interest you you’ll learn what he likes and why, and you’ll be spending time with him. Personal gifts are always the best gifts, regardless of their cost.
There seems to be an unspoken race in the AR-15 market to come up with the smallest, lightest and most compact rifle stock that can be used on a rifle designed Close Quarter Battle (CQB) or as a Personal Defense Weapon (PDW). That race may have just been one but the latest offering from Strike Industries in the form of the Viper CQB Stock. The engineers at Strike Industries took a long look at traditional stocks and then put their own twist on things to come up with what many people consider to be the smallest, lightest stock on the market
In other styles and brand of PDW / CQB stocks often companies require a proprietary buffer tube, and assembly using non-mil spec components. This is not the case with the Strike Industries Viper CQB stock, the only mandatory component is a Mil-Spec diameter buffer tube. No moving parts or special tools needed to assemble or maintain the Viper CQB.
Specifications
Length: 6.64 “
Height: 4.43 “
Width: 1.58”
Weight: 5.8 oz.
Colors Available: Black & Flat Dark Earth
Price: $49.95
Installing the stock was exactly like installing any other adjustable AR-15 style stock, no surprises there. One the stock was securely place on the mil spec buffer tube I began to examine it and how the forward angled bottom section of the stock fits against the shoulder. The information I was given was that the forward angle of the lower section would help when shouldering the rifle while wearing body armor. Since I have no body armor or any intention to getting any I was unable to test this theory.
The Viper CQB stock also comes with two quick detach sling swivel mounts at the rear of the stock so shooters can mount their sling from either side of the stock. Strike Industries didn’t forget the traditionalists and added a slot neatly positioned so you can feed your sling loop through the stock also. While I was checking out the overall features of the stock one thing caught my attention more than the sling swivel mounts, and that is the rear butt pad section of the stock. It’s all one piece of polymer, which isn’t abnormal, what is odd is how slippery it is.
The stock section seen in the pictures is well defined and features several raised panels that should provide plenty of surface area to dig into the shoulder. It has a great amount of surface area but when shouldering my rifle over and over the stock and rifle want to slide around. I tested this wearing a regular cotton T-Shirt and repeated the tests while wearing a long sleeve flannel over shirt and I was shocked with the results, repeated slippage. It’s interesting because I can’t ever recall an AR-15 stock slipping around this much.
The slippage issues notwithstanding the stock feels very small and compact, and appears as well built as anything manufactured by Magpul or the United States Military. There is one disclaimer that Strike Industries put out about the Viper CQB stock and that is if a user must perform a “mortar clearing” procedure the user should have the stock completely collapsed. I assume this is to ensure that the walls of the stock itself don’t sustain any warpage from the violent maneuver of the clearing action.
Adjusting the length of pull of the stock was simple using the long adjustment lever located on the underside of the stock. I found it to be easier and quicker to operate than several other popular AR-15 stocks I have tried in recent years. Overall the adjustment is simple and uncomplicated, like any stock should be. It’s not a space shuttle, it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds to ever adjust a rifle stock.
The big question to this review is would I buy the Strike Industries Viper CQB stock with my own money? My preliminary response is Yes. The minor issues with slippage can easily be fixed my roughing up the texture of the raised section with either sandpaper or a soldering iron. It’s a simple fast fix that shouldn’t stop people from considering this stock at all. If you intend to use your rifle for CQB or PDW work I would take the time to consider the Strike Industries Viper CQB. It’s light weight and compactness will also be beneficial to anyone who might use a rifle in vehicle operations as well, such as patrols on ATV’s or UTV’s.
The tactical firearms industry has noted a lull in market demand in recent months. With the election of the Trump Administration and a Republican majority Congress there was a collective sigh of relief from nervous potential gun buyers… and a slight groan from retailers and manufacturers who had anticipated a rush with Clinton winning. This has resulted in a buyers market for the summer. Hooray!
Certain Segments of the Market however… Show more life
Look at those little guys… compact firepower is in
One of the market corners seeing rapid interested growth is the sub-compact carbine or Personal Defense Weapon (PDW). Legally speaking this corner covers two distinct firearm categories but I’m going to refer to them collectively as PDW’s. Let me start out with a few definitions for frame of reference.
PDW/Personal Defense Weapon: A minimized version or evolution of a traditional shoulder fired weapon system making it easy to use in and around a vehicle and carry on the person with greater comfort, convenience, and subtlety. This platform provides vastly improved firepower over a carried sidearm allowing the carrier to defend themselves with rapid fire superiority unavailable from a pistol alone.
PCC/Pistol Caliber Carbine: A 16″ or longer barreled semi-auto rifle that fires a caliber traditionally for pistols. 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, etc.
SMG/Subgun/Submachine Gun: Select fire short barreled rifles traditionally in pistol calibers. (Example: H&K MP5). SMG’s have no separate legal definition and fall under the pistol, short barreled rifle, and/or select fire categories depending on features.
SBR/Short Barreled Rifle: A National Firearms Act controlled firearm. The rifle has a barrel less then 16″ with a shoulder stock or an overall length under 26″ regardless of barrel length.
MSR Pistol/Modern Sporting Rifle Pistol: AR, AK, PCC or similar firearm normally configured with a 16″ barrel and shoulder stock but configured with a shorter barrel and no stock. May or may not have a pistol brace. Legally defined as a pistol by the ATF.
MSR Pistol. Zenith/MKE Z5RS MP5 9mm
Collectively I’ll refer to the SBR’s and MSR Pistols as PDW’s
The market for AK-47 accessories has been weak for years, largely it has been centered around different quad rail systems or making your AK-47 accept M4 style stocks. Thankfully new blood has been introduced into the AK-47 accessory market in the form of the Strike Industries J Comp V2. The folks at Strike Industries have taken a modern look at a classic muzzle device and brought it into the 21st century, for all the AK-47 owners who wanted an affordable and useful muzzle device that is a little out of the ordinary
Strike Industries has been around since 2011 and is the result of CEO Garrett Keelers hard work and innovation to constantly work at expanding the company’s offerings while not sacrificing quality and pricing. The company offers a huge line of accessories to fit a wide array of firearms from the traditional AK47 & AR-15 shooters all the way to the ultra-rare and very restricted Heckler & Koch MP7 Submachine gun chambered in 4.6mm x 30mm
The J Comp V2 muzzle device is based off the Type 89 Compensator that is commonly found on the Howa Type 89 Assault Rifle used by the defense forces and coast guard of the country of Japan. The Japanese, due to laws and restrictions, built their own military rifle and with that designed their own muzzle devices for that rifle. As joint Japanese-United States military efforts have continued for decades American servicemembers got an eyeful of the Japanese muzzle device and the legend of the Type 89 muzzle device grew. It was, however, practically unobtainable until… well that was until the folks at Strike Industries changed all that.
Sometimes it’s hard to make sense of the changing world of muzzle devices and what is the new magic pill in the world of reducing felt recoil and muzzle rise. That’s why we want to look at the specifications of the Strike Industries J Comp V2 muzzle device and what those are meant to accomplish.
Specifications:
Length 2.55”
Weight 3.6 oz.
Outer Diameter 0.87”
Inner Diameter 0.36”
Thread Pitch 14-1 Left Handed
Caliber 7.62 mm
Compatible with FerFrans concussion devices
Available in 5.56 Variant
When I first received the Strike Industries J Comp V2 I noticed its longer than most other muzzle devices I have experience with. This isn’t a negative thing just a general observation about its dimensions. The J Comp V2 is a good-looking muzzle device and the designers seemed to work a blend of form and function to give a part as small as a muzzle device a bit of flare to it. Further inspection of the J Comp V2 shows that the device features two large chambers and two smaller chambers located in the 3 and 9 o’ clock positions. They definitely will expel any concussive force away from the shooter and keep the muzzle from rising during rapid firing.
The top of the unit however only features two small holes to direct gas upwards, this is a bit puzzling to me, especially for a unit designed to help stop muzzle rise.
Installation and Use
Installing the J Comp V2 muzzle device is very straightforward if you have any experience with left handed 14-1 threads. This left-handed thread pattern is the opposite of practically every other threaded muzzle in the known world. It’s part of the Soviet origin weapons charm. A point to note here is that the Strike Industries J Comp V2 does not come with a crush washer. In fact, I don’t think I can remember an AK-47 muzzle device ever coming with one.
The range session for the J Comp V2 is coming in the very near future at my local range. I intend to test it side by side with two other brands of popular muzzle devices on my AK-47 clone. If I’m lucky I might be able to borrow a friends select fire AKM and really test the compensator out a bit. It’s one thing to test a muzzle device on semi auto but it’s a completely different animal to test that same unit out under short burst fully automatic fire. During full auto bursts, any muzzle rise that is normally felt on a rifle will of course increase dramatically.
We have laid out a fine selection of the dirtiest Wolf and Tula ammunition that I could find locally for our upcoming range session. I personally never feed any of my AK series rifles anything but the cheapest rounds I can find. In my mind if an AK can operate on a steady diet of Eastern European 7.62×39 then it can run on anything made with reloadable brass. I am bringing along a few friends so we can form a collective opinion about the Strike Industries J Comp V2, those friends also happen to own AK’s so I may donate the compensator to one of them by the end of the day. One thing is for sure, at the end of the day 500 rounds of 7.62 x39 ammunition will be shot through the J Comp V2 and we will see if it lives up to the hype.
In this LIVE episode of Gunfighter Cast, I spoke about my experience with the VP9SK, the cause of the problems and how the process continues. I also covered the Springfield Armory, Rock River, Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association (IFMA) and SB-1657, debacle in Illinois.
If you want to catch a live recording follow me at facebook/danielshaw0369
Bootleg Inc Searchable Database and top quality products for your net AR build.
Bravo Concealment Holsters. Use our coupon code “Gunfighter” at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase Bravo Concealment.
If you enjoy podcasts, you should try audio books. To get two free audiobooks, start a trial at Audible.com today.
If Gunfighter Cast is worth $1 or $2 per episode to you, why not pledge that amount per episode through Patreon and get access to episodes as soon as they are ready instead of waiting for the scheduled releases. Your pledge is only paid when new episodes are delivered.
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2 ¾, 3, and maybe 3.5 inches is what we are used to when we say 12 gauge. That’s the standard size of 12 gauge shells and it’s what we all consider standard. When Aguila dropped their Mini shotshells I was curious what these 1 3/4″ shells were and what exactly they could do. I can’t say I was overly excited because I didn’t know if they’d actually work… but I was going to find out.
The Aguila Minishells come in three varieties, buckshot, birdshot, and slugs.
Mini’s beside a 2 3/4″
There are two buckshot loads, one number 4 buck with 7 pellets and a number 1 buck with 4 pellets. There is a 7 ½ birdshot, and a ⅞ ounce slug. The buckshot has a reported velocity of 1,200 fps, and the slug has a reported velocity of 1,250 fps. The numbers aren’t bad, but there is an obvious downward power shift from your standard shotgun loads.
Do they Feed?
Obviously there are no issues with running a double or single barrel shotguns with these shells. Outside of their length they are identical in rim dimension, as well as width.
But most people run a pump action shotgun, and the question is do they feed?
When you shave an inch you can expect some changes
Does their shorter overall length cause issues with pump action shotguns? The best outright answer I can give is yes, sometimes. In my Hatsan Escort they feed 70% of the time without issue, but that’s not combat reliable. Reportedly the Aguila Minishells function well in the Winchester 1300, but I have no first hand experience.
Due to their smaller size there is extra room on the lifting gate and the rounds can also easily flip or turn before they make it to the chamber. If they shift even slightly they may not be picked up correctly by the bolt as it goes forward. The shell lift can also flip them because they are smaller and lighter. The force of the rounds shooting into the loading port from the magazine tube can also cause them to flip. The failures to feed are all based around a loading port that is just too big for these little rounds.
Making them Work
In my new Mossberg 590 Shockwave I’ve installed a little gadget called the Opsol Mini clip. The mini clip is designed to make a Mossberg 500 or 590 run reliably with these shells. I first used one at Shot Show’s Range Day and immediately snagged one off Amazon for 15 bucks. With this clip the Aguila Mini’s run flawlessly through a Mossberg 500. It’s low recoiling and an absolute blast with a pistol grip shotgun or a 12 gauge firearm.
The Opsol Mini Clip fits into the loading port of the shotgun. It’s a simple piece of polymer and it shortens the loading port. This gives the port and loading gate the proper amount of room to effectively move the rounds from tube to chamber. As the rounds go from tube to loading port it hits the Opsol mini clip and keeps them from flipping or twisting. The Mossberg shell lift moves perfectly over the Opsol mini clip and the clip causes zero issues with the system.
If you are running a 500, 590, or Maverick 88 and want your own Mini Clip you can get it here,
In Semi Autos…
They do not function in a semi automatic shotgun. I knew it was a dumb idea, but I tried it with a Mossberg 930 and it worked as well as you would imagine. It simply didn’t and couldn’t cycle the action. It did give me a straight pull bolt action shotgun if I ever needed one.
Aguila Minishells For Defense
The slugs are over 375 grains and reach about 1250 feet per second muzzle velocity. This makes it far more potent than any standard handgun round, and even more potent than your average 5.56 loads at close distances.
For comparison a Hornady 300 grain 44 Magnum has a velocity of 1,150 feet per second. A hot load 300 grain 44 magnum is looking at 1300 fps. This makes the round faster and heavier than a good 44 Magnum load. At the same time when fired from a shotgun, the Aguila minishells have a lot less recoil than a 44 magnum revolver. Even from my small Mossberg 590 Shockwave they were very comfortable.
The buckshot falls a little lower in power but still far more energy than a handgun round. You are getting about 230 grains, which is mass equivalent to a .45 ACP round. However, it is going to be flying at over 1,200 feet per second, which is 1/3 again faster than a standard 230 grain .45 ACP load.
The buckshot loads also have noticeable more spread than a standard buckshot load. This is likely due to size and wadding differences. At 15 yards you are getting about 12″ of spread between pellets.
One of the most notable benefits is the capacity difference. In a standard 5 round Mossberg 590 tube I can squeeze 9 Aguila Minishells and an additional in the chamber. Ten rounds on tap in a compact ‘not a shotgun’ firearm is pretty impressive.
Using my Mossberg 590 Shockwave with a Meosight 3 I did a little testing on the No 4 buckshot load and slugs. The Buckshot spread horizontally oddly enough, and produced that approximately foot wide spread.
I produced a pretty decent off hand group at 20 yards with the slugs. I was purposefully aiming low on the target to avoid conflicting with my buckshot patterns. This was from a shotgun without a stock, so the consistent results are impressive in my opinion.
The top two shots were taken from 35 yards and I was still impressed with performance.
These are a great option for home defense if the rounds run reliably in your gun. It certainly gives you a numerical advantage in terms of capacity and greatly reduced recoil. For people in ban states you get the same capacity as a rifle with more oomph than a rifle round.
There is some sacrifice of power from using the mini shells. I see these rounds being very handy for someone who wants a good round for a small, pistol grip only, shotgun or firearm like the Serbu Super Shorty, or something like my Mossberg 590 Shockwave.
A good secondary use is for survival planning. Because they function perfectly in a simple single barreled shotgun they are an excellent option for survival ammunition. Their low recoil makes shooting a light shotgun comfortable, and their small size and reduced weight make them easy to pack in bulk. They are still a good round for medium and small game, the slugs are potent enough for deer at moderate ranges.
Lastly, you could train a new shooter on a 12 gauge shotgun. 12 gauge is known for it’s recoil and a lot of new shooters can develop a flinch and fear of the shotgun. Yeah, you can go buy a 20 gauge or a 410 but it’s cheaper to buy these shells than a new gun.
Their uses are purpose specific but there are benefits to using these Aguila Minishells. The increased capacity and reduced recoil make them a great option for lightweight shotguns. The biggest issue is of course their failures to feed with a lot of stock configuration shotguns, but they’re cheap enough that if they don’t feed you aren’t out much money and low cost modifications to fix reliability are on the market.
With my Mossberg 590 Shockwave I get 10 slugs with more potency than a 44 Magnum, with less recoil, while still being a maneuverable package. I don’t frown at those numbers.
Also, they are fun, an absolute blast to shoot in smaller, and lighter shotguns. They serve a small niche, but in that niche Aguila Minishells work very well.
In this LIVE episode of Gunfighter Cast, I spoke about my experience with the VP9SK, the cause of the problems and how the process continues. I also covered the Springfield Armory, Rock River,Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association (IFMA) and SB-1657, debacle in Illinois.
If you want to catch a live recording follow me at facebook/danielshaw0369
Bootleg Inc Searchable Database and top quality products for your net AR build.
Bravo Concealment Holsters. Use our coupon code “Gunfighter” at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase Bravo Concealment.
If you enjoy podcasts, you should try audio books. To get two free audiobooks, start a trial at Audible.com today.
If Gunfighter Cast is worth $1 or $2 per episode to you, why not pledge that amount per episode through Patreon and get access to episodes as soon as they are ready instead of waiting for the scheduled releases. Your pledge is only paid when new episodes are delivered.
Please leave a super awesome 5 star review on iTunes so other people can find Gunfighter Cast.
Bootleg Inc Searchable Database and top quality products for your net AR build.
Bravo Concealment Holsters. Use our coupon code “Gunfighter” at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase Bravo Concealment.
If you enjoy podcasts, you should try audio books. To get two free audiobooks, start a trial at Audible.com today.
If Gunfighter Cast is worth $1 or $2 per episode to you, why not pledge that amount per episode through Patreon and get access to episodes as soon as they are ready instead of waiting for the scheduled releases. Your pledge is only paid when new episodes are delivered.
Please leave a super awesome 5 star review on iTunes so other people can find Gunfighter Cast.
Bootleg Inc Searchable Database and top quality products for your net AR build.
Bravo Concealment Holsters. Use our coupon code “Gunfighter” at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase Bravo Concealment.
If you enjoy podcasts, you should try audio books. To get two free audiobooks, start a trial at Audible.com today.
If Gunfighter Cast is worth $1 or $2 per episode to you, why not pledge that amount per episode through Patreon and get access to episodes as soon as they are ready instead of waiting for the scheduled releases. Your pledge is only paid when new episodes are delivered.
Please leave a super awesome 5 star review on iTunes so other people can find Gunfighter Cast.
The Podavach Multi-Platform AR15 & AK Magazine loader might have a long name without any of the catch slogans its competition has, but what it lacks in glamor it makes up for in function. Podavach’s loader is designed to load 70% of the world’s rifle caliber small arms. The loader boasts compatibility with 5.56×45, 223, 5.45×39, 300AAC and 7.62×39 ammunition as well as common AR and AK mag styles. It will load 40 round PMAGs but it will likely have issue with drum or surefire 60 rounders. 
The little things that Podavach paid attention to are what please me the most about this product. The “handle”, which is a wooden nub, is magnetized and stays in place very nicely even when the frame is tossed around.
The PMAG 30 AK74 MOE is an inexpensive, lightweight, high reliability 30-round polymer magazine designed for Kalashnikov pattern rifles in 5.45x39mm (AK74, MPi-AK-74N, PA md. 86, and others.)
The Opsol Mini Clip fits into the loading port of the shotgun. It’s a simple piece of polymer and it shortens the loading port. This gives the port and loading gate the proper amount of room to effectively move the rounds from tube to chamber. As the rounds go from tube to loading port it hits the Opsol mini clip and keeps them from flipping or twisting. The Mossberg shell lift moves perfectly over the Opsol mini clip and the clip causes zero issues with the system.
I produced a pretty decent off hand group at 20 yards with the slugs. I was purposefully aiming low on the target to avoid conflicting with my buckshot patterns. This was from a shotgun without a stock, so the consistent results are impressive in my opinion.