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Firearms and Equipment Recommendations

Rants & Raves: Interesting Industry Notes

Featured firearms:

Romanian AK 7.62x39   $495

GPWASRs - with two 30rd magazines, bayonet, scabbard and other accoutrements, $495.  (ret $599)

Savage 10FCPK LE   $839

Savage 10FCPK LE .308, accustock, detachable mag, 24" barrel with muzzle brake, $839.  (ret $895)

Marlin 1894 Cowboy Limited  $895

Marlin 1894 Cowboy Limited .44 mag, octagonal barrel, walnut stocks, 20" barrel, $895.  (ret $981)

FN SCAR 5.56 in Flat Dark Earth   $2,750   *advance orders*

Fabrique Nationale's long awaited Special Forces Combat Assault Rifle is slowly becoming available.

All advance orders must be paid in full to get the discounted price. FN SCAR retail price $2,995.

Like Bushmaster's ACR, the FN SCAR has no guarantees on delivery dates. Both are in high demand.

Facts to note: All three rails up front have sharp corners; right where hands and fingers would go.

Side-folding retracting stock seems very fragile - no way one could bash anything with it or it'll crack.

This rifle has one good attribute; it is super light and saves lots of weight up front versus Bushmaster ACR.

Many shades of flat dark earth and tan/brown is great on this SCAR; sadly they merely paint 2/3 of mag -

does FN fear many armchair commandos will whine about tan paint scratching off the top 1/3rd of mag?

Monolithic receiver on SCAR and Bushmaster ACR is smart idea; but SCAR has no quick-change barrel.

All major components shown field-stripped; gas piston system is seen up front by gas block/sight mount.

Basic sub-assemblies; less major components since no handguard or quick-change barrel as ACR.

Folding stock has fragile adjustable cheekpiece, stock extending arm feels like it'll break with rough use.

Positive point: folded stock locks with protrusion from right side of receiver independent of stock length.

Bushmaster ACR 5.56 enhanced model   $2,695   *advance orders*

More than three years since first announced in spring of 2007 and delays in being released each year,

ACR models are becoming available. Basic fixed stock models are at an ideal medium length-of-pull

(like a retracting AR at mid-position) and telescoping/side folding stock version has a railed handguard.

Tele stock model ret $2,849 advance order $2,695.

- tele stock new enhanced model in coyote brown, in stock now at $2,749 -

(Tele stock models have a side-folding retracting stock and a machined railed handguard up front.)

Bushmaster ACR 5.56 standard configuration   $2,375  *advance orders*

Standard fixed stock models are at an ideal medium length-of-pull (like a retracting AR at mid-position)

Std stock model ret $2,499 advance order $2,375. 

- standard stock demo model as pictured above for sale at $1,899! -

Best (yet costly) attribute of this gas-piston rifle is undoubtedly the tool-less quick change barrel system.

 The ACR uses proven designs of prominent military rifles (most notably the AR-18 from 1963).

Armalite AR-18 has influenced very similar bolt and gas piston designs over the years such as HK's G36.

Gas piston design is nothing new; M1 Garand (designed 1932), Sturmgewehr (1944, predecesor to AK-47),

FN-FAL (prototype 1947).  Components of the ACR prove to be very modular and easy to work with.

[Different stock groups and handguards can be installed; release date unknown for calibers other than 5.56]

Options on AR-15s: some examples

Basic 16" M4 contour barrel, flattop, detachable carry handle, basic ribbed stock, A2 grip, std handguards.

The average price for a complete rifle like this Bushmaster is about $1,295.

Remove detachable carry handle, install a versatile folding rear sight, & change buttstock, grip, handguard.

If one 'upgrades' their $1,295 rifle to this, it will cost them another $169.

At this rate, doesn't seem like a good fixer-upper. Some are factory available with Magpul parts as shown

in black (or color like foliage green above) w/ Magpul's MOE stock, grip, handguards, folding rear sight.

When purchased like this, retail is $1,499 (Bushmaster-Magpul) or $1,406 (Smith & Wesson-Magpul).

Another example in customizing AR-15s

Bushmaster AR-15 14.5" M4 contour barrel w/ permanently attached Phantom flash hider, flattop. $1,195.

Very effective flash reducing Phantom is $35 option versus A2 hider. No detachable carry handle.

Let's look at an example of  customizing this base model $1,195 "no-rear-sight AR-15" above.

Picture above: adding a Daniel Defense Omega railed handguard and furniture shown in tan for clarity

Examples of saving $hundreds$: build your AR project from separates

Adding upgrades to a basic AR always brings costs higher. Far better to save $100s and 'build' your AR

from a complete upper and a lower receiver, adding handguard, grip, stock and parts you really wanted.

Basic with short 14.5" barrel + permanently fixed Phantom flash hider, Magpul MOE parts (olive drab)

Basic with 14.7" barrel + permanently fixed A2 Birdcage flash hider, Magpul parts (olive drab)

CTR type stock, Daniel Defense EZ 7.0 railed handguard, Ergo ladder rail covers (olive drab).

A closer look at Magpul folding rear sights

Rear sight can be folded at will by pressing it down. Deploying it is via the serrated tab by lock notches.

Small rear aperature leaf can be up or folded forward and down to view sight picture with large aperature.

These folding rear sights are affordable; only $58. They can handle some abuse, but are not indestructible.

More examples of customized AR-15s

Standard basic in tan (flat dark earth) Magpul's CTR stock, MOE grip, MOE handguards; approx $1,400.

Daniel Defense M4 issued with 12.0 rail: Magpul MOE stock, DD vertical grip, extended quad rail,

integral DD sling mounts, DD backup iron sight, Magpul enhanced trigger guard; approx $1,600.

Free float rail has plug-ins for QD swivels, both sides. Rear endplate has plug-in for QD swivel.

Omega 12.0 FSP rail, optional Aimpoint T1 optic, Magpul milspec MOE stock, DD backup rear sight.

Aimpoint T1 + Larue throwlever mount: $650, a lightweight optic system with 50,000 hour battery life!

Upgrade parts and add color by Magpul: CTR stock, XTM rail panels (Urban Dark Earth and FDE).

Surefire M600 Scout light with remote pressure switch ($380) and Tango Down QD vertical grip ($87).

Ideal positioning of light source at 1 o'clock (or 11 o'clock) location - height between sight line and bore.

Detail of Surefire M16 barrel clamp mount ($59) and Tango Down remote switch pocket rail panel ($14).

LWRC gas piston M6A2: Troy folding sights, Magpul MIAD grip, Vltor EMOD stock; approx $2,400.

Quality and economical scope setup: Leupold MK AR 3-9x40 in American Defense throw lever mount:

Leupold MK AR scope $390, throw lever mount $170. (this MK AR scope is calibrated for 55gr .223)

POF 308 Gas Piston rifle: building one from a complete upper and a stripped lower

POF 308 Gas Piston rifle: one example of a fully completed package

The pictures above show one finished package, done right - of a gas piston .308 AR-15.

Some ammunition of interest

CCI Blazer 45acp $21.95/box  SOLD OUT	Magtech 45acp FMJ $25.95/box of 50rds
Ultramax .38 Special Cowboy $32.95/bx	Magtech .44 Special Cowboy $37.95/bx
FNH 5.7x28 40gr V-Max $27.95 50rd/bx	Magtech .380 FMJ $19.95/box of 50rds
Wolf .223 55gr FMJ, $8.50/20rd box	Fiocchi 12ga 00 Buck, $6.95/10rds per box
Wolf 122gr FMJ, $7.95/20rd box	Wolf 124gr HP, $7.95/20rd box SoldOut
Wolf 30carb $21.95/50rds (Aguila sold out)	BrownBear 7.62x54 $11.95/20rd box