Archive for November, 2011

One thing at a time is the way to modify a firearm

People can move entirely too fast when it comes to customizing and AR15 rifle.   I  have seen countless times while attending Carbine courses where people end up just stripping their guns down and finish the courses with flashlights and grips being removed.   One of the biggest changes we’ve seen in recent months is a move away from foregrips.   That whole stance is somewhat un-natural for people although in some people’s minds, it looks cool  so they want to do it too.

The move away from using the foregrips of the past has actually been a move towards getting rid of them or the Magpul angled foregrips.   These Magpul stocks and accessories have really become original as a matter of fact, the MOE stands fro Magpul Original Equipment which very much lives up to it’s name.  Once students got down on the ground or were shooting from behind cover, the protruding gun parts and accessories really got in the way and opened an Operator up to snags and bonking.

Top

I’m an LWRC Piston guy, but……….

I’ve been on bandwagon with LWRC long before we sold their upper receivers and I really have a hard time spending money on anything but.  We’ve been involved with gun builds at various places in the Country and it’s been loads of fun doing it and see people build or assemble their first AR15.   The AR15 is still the next best training rifle after a 22LR bolt action for new shooters.   You can teach range adjustments and get people to learn how to manipulate a firearm that is basically the same thing that most of our standing military uses.

If you are looking to get your first AR15, I would not hesitate to tell you that you really don’t need to spend more than about $600.   I see nothing wrong with people buying something like Spikes Tactical Uppers and slapping it on a used upper receiver or a less expensive gun.   Spikes Tactical Uppers give you a very good starting point with quality parts and a good price point.   If you don’t think you’ll be put on the front line and be shooting 10,000rds a year through your barrel, don’t worry about spending the $2000 on an LWRC.

Top

For CCW, reholstering is as important as holstering

As Rogue Elite has grown in bringing on more and more tactical and concealed carry products, there is a certain level of scrutiny even we gun owners hold on products.   There have been some that we thought were such bad ideas or the products had such a high return rate that we dropped them even though we were making a profit.  The AR15 tactical accessory market is loaded with such items.  Now that there are about 2 or 3 variations of firearms for every design, holster makers have some real work cut out for them these days.

When most of us took a concealed carry holster course, part of that course we dealing with what to do after a shooting.  Re-holstering a firearm after a shooting and before the Police shoot up is very important.  Some gun holsters are very difficult to do this if they fold up.   Leather holsters are known to do this once they have seen lots of use.   Kydex holsters are something to really consider for IWB even though they may not be the most comfortable.  The Galco Kingtuk holsters and Desantis holsters have some more comfortable IWB holster desings.

Top

Everyone doesn’t need to drive a Porshe when the Speed limit is 65mph

I just got off the phone with several guys that were looking for a large order of gun holsters.   I was expecting them to say they wanted the Blackhawk Serpa Holsters and they all carried Glocks, but that wasn’t the case.   Not everyone has switched over to Polymer guns because even though it’s a fact that Glocks, XDs and the M&P guns will run longer with less lubrication, handguns are not realistically going to end up being used in the same situations or see anywhere near the round counts that M4 Carbines or M16 see.

It’s just a fact that nobody except the most extreme police shoot outs see handgun engagements that get into the double digits.   It simple just doesn’t happen that often.   Galco holsters are leather holsters for the most part even though there are now some Kydex and some mixed variations of leather and kydex.   Military Personel are still being issued and using Sig 220, Sig 226 and Sig 228 firearms.   There is no debate that the 45acp has seen a resurgence because all those double stacked 9mm and 40 caliber guns are bulky or an over kill.   A lower capacity 45acp for Police work is getting the job done.

Top

Remember when everyone and an AR15A2?

Remember how long ago it was when an AR15 meant the long 20inch barrel and it was virtually impossible to find an M4 style firearm.   AR15 firearms have come a long way, both the upper receivers and the lowers.   Trying to find a firearm now that does not have staked parts or is not chrome plated is getting harder and harder.   Even the machining on bolt carriers has improved to the point that Direct Impingement firearms are 10xs more reliable than before.  All you have to do is pop the bolt carriers out of the guns and you can feel the difference.

Even the average AR15 now is a minute of angle firearm and can still run like a military rifle.   Barrel technology on your average AR15 upper receivers has doubled and tripled.   I have an LWRC M6A1 rifle that supposedly has a barrel life of about 7500rds but the newer ones are close to 20,000rds.   The bolt carrier group is a  one piece unit and there has been absolutely zero broken parts on it.   Hopefully the only things that will eventually where out anytime soon are the extractor and springs.  It’s always wise to keep some of the basic spare parts around no matter what AR15 you own.

Top

Not sure what combat optic to put on your M4?

If you know you want a fighting optic on your gun but you don’t know which one to get, well put your thinking cap on and do the Think Think Think that Winnie the Poo does.  Do you want a close up fighting gun for home defense, house clearing or do you want to shoot your reloads through it and do some long range shooting.   There is no such thing as a do it all optic yet, but there are multi-use combat optics.   The real problem you will have if you don’t figure out what you really want is a heavy or bulkier than necessary firearm.

Some combat optics like the TA01NSN-RMR can be very bulky but they are worth their weight in gold if you need something like that.   The Trijicon TA01NSN is a dressed down version of that but can eliminate the need for adding on backup iron sights.  It’s our call if you want that extra backup, but this particular ACOG already gives you a backup option.  I have friends that get MOA with the iron sights on this optic so you’ll have to realize that the gun is as good as you are.

Top

Woolrich Elite style 44429 pants

There is still an awful lot of confusion going on for customers that have been buying the Woolrich Elite products since their original inception.   The thing we’ve always liked about selling Woolrich products is the name basically sold itself.  That’s a hard thing to do in this cluttered tactical clothing market, but I have to say that 90% of the times people have walked in our doors and saw the name Woolrich, they always referenced a jacket or layer of clothing that they’ve had for decades.   There have been some changes since the original Woolrich Elite Series clothing came out, but the quality of the products has not changed.

Looking over all of the  items that have sold over the  years in our store, the Woolrich Elite Style 44429 mens tactical pants is one of the most popular.   These tactical pants are built like a tank and the only thing some people have said that was negative was that they were a little on the  heavy side.   I’ve compared them to some of the 5.11 tactical pants that say they are 8.5 oz cotton canvas, but both pants do not weigh or feel the same.  There has also been a slight product SKU change from the original Woolrich Elite product line.  The Style 4429 pants are the same as the 444429 pants.  The only real change we have seen is the wallet id pocket has been slightly altered and opened up.  If  you wore Eotac style 202 pants, this is really the only alternative.

Top

Have you switched to the ETM magazines yet?

I’ve been asking just about everyone that walked in the door if they have been using the ETM magazines, but the vast majority of people that CCW a 1911 pistol have not, they still don’t know about them.   The guys that run IDPA all use them, but that’s a whole other breed of a shooter.   I’ve always viewed IDPA to be a really good CCW training course.   It’s not about hitting inside certain rings or getting a certain score, its about hitting the target.  Any hit is better than no hit because even bad guys bleed.  I know plenty of people that do quite well with Chip McCormick magazines and if you do shoot  your 1911 often, you’ll probable save a about $8-$10 a magazines.

 

There is something that seems to be sturdier about the Elite Tactical Magazines, and if you are shooting a 1911 with non-FMJ or non-ball ammo magazines matter.   Wilson Combat Magazines are in our customers and employees experienece, the top choice for shooters.   The 1911 is still used in competition shooting due to the well known and liked trigger design and balance.   When you compared some of the double stacked 45acp guns that are out there like the XD45acp and the M&P 45, sometimes it’s just too much of a gun and it will have an impact on your speed.

Top

Boat load of Spikes tactical uppers in stock

The Spikes Tactical upper receivers have recently become our number one selling upper receivers.   We have done extensive inventory reviews on our product lines and pruned a few product lines out because we got sick of the complaints or returns on them.   From a price and quality standpoint, these are the best bang for the buck.  The MOE upper is also a pretty good deal if you want to get on that Magpul Original Equipment bandwagon.   We’ve been playing with the LWRC lightweight uppers that have the MOE furniture and we’ve been very happy with them also.

The mid-length uppers from Spikes Tactical seem to outsell the others, but since these have been backordered for awhile and we haven’t had the others in stock, it’s been hard to compare them.   The Spikes tactical uppers are now in stock and we have more of them than we had before.   We also have a full inventory of the Magpul MOE stock accessories from grips, angled grips, fore grips and rail options.   Put some thought into what you really want on the guns and avoid too many exchange or returns.   We do get cranky with customers that order a ton of gun parts and then want to return them later.   Restocking fees apply!

Top

The Importance of pocket holsters….

There have been many times where we have thought we could just wing it when it comes to using firearms and skip cleaning it or carry it in a pocket without any kind of a holster.  I have never been a big fan of carrying firearms in a coat or a jacket because there are just too many things that can go wrong.   Years ago, it may go down as our favorite crazy customer, was a time when a guy picked up a Woolrich Elite lightweight vest and after putting various firearms inside the vest pockets, called us up and told us that the gun still printed and we were a fraud company for sell a vest that was suppose to conceal a firearm.

That level of knowledge or lack there of, is pretty common in every area of society, but I wonder if that guy still gets made if his guns spin around or when he reaches for them they aren’t there.   With all of the gun holsters out there, something like the Desantis holsters, especially for the pocket holsters like the LCP guns, which seem to have become incredible common you still should have any pocket gun in a pocket holster. Lint, and other things can cause problems and reducing the chances of excessive movement is very important.  It will cost you $20 or less for the most part.

Top
1 2 3 4 Page 2 of 4