Tag: AR-15

Categories
news

TAPCO AR-15 Polymer Magazine

img_6998

There are a wide variety of AR-15 magazines being made today.  Long-time firearm accessory manufacturer TAPCO makes their own polymer AR-15 magazine that they believe meets the needs of many shooters.

Designed after interviewing military members, law enforcement officers, and citizen enthusiasts, the TAPCO AR-15 magazines are solidly built, reasonably priced, have a number of nice design features, and are available in four colors.

img_7003Overall construction of the magazine feels excellent.  The body of the magazine feels very strong.  In fact, as compared to virtually all other polymer AR-15 magazines, the TAPCO seems the most solid.  The follower slides smoothly through the magazine.  There are no noises from the follower or spring when the magazine is shaken (loaded or unloaded.)

The body of the magazine has a wide, waffle-style pattern for obtaining a good grip.

Continue reading “TAPCO AR-15 Polymer Magazine”
Categories
Rifles Shooting Gear

Tango Down ARC-L AR-15 Magazine Review

Tango Down magazine review

In March, Tango Down introduced a new polymer AR-15 magazine called the ARC-L.  Tango Down took a different approach to the AR-15 magazine, and designed something new that is worth looking at.

Tango Down developed the ARC-L magazine by going back to the drawing board and taking a hard look at ammunition feeding in the AR-15 platform.  Tango Down started with the understanding that 30-round magazines in the AR-15 are curved, yet the magazine well in the AR-15 is straight.

Instead of utilizing a single piece of molded plastic, the Tango Down magazine is a two-part assembly that snaps together (permanently) in the middle.  There are several reasons for this, but the main one is to have a straight portion that is in the magazine well, with a curved portion that is the part extending beyond the magazine well.

Tango Down says by using the two-piece construction they can mix various polymers for different portions of the magazine:

We can also mix materials, impossible with conventional plastic magazines. We can offer transparent lower/high tensile strength upper sectioned magazines that avoid the brittle feed lip issue of all-transparent material construction.

Continue reading “Tango Down ARC-L AR-15 Magazine Review”
Categories
Rifles

Ruger SR-556: Ruger’s New Piston Driven AR-15

The new Ruger SR-556 rifle.

Ruger SR-556

Ruger announced a new piston-driven AR-15 rifle: the Ruger SR-556.  Announced at the NRA convention, the SR-556 is a completely new line for Ruger, and part of an obvious effort to redefine the company.

The SR-556 has a host of quality features, the most significant of which is the two-stage piston system.  But, in a market that seems to have an overwhelming number of AR-15 makers, will the SR-556 be interesting enough to survive?

The “black rifle” market is clearly hot, as AR-15’s have been selling extremely well throughout the United States.  Some manufacturers have stated that orders are backlogged six months or more.  Bringing a new AR-style gun into the market now may be good timing for Ruger, as a scarcity of all AR rifles may push more customers into their rifles.

Let’s take a look at some of the features of the SR-556.

Continue reading “Ruger SR-556: Ruger’s New Piston Driven AR-15”
Categories
General Information

May Preview

The Stark SE-1 Grip

Welcome to May.  This month I have some exciting evaluations planned for you.  Included in this month’s evaluations: custom hearing protection, zombie killing flashlights, and AR accessories.

Hearing protection may not be a sexy topic, but it is a serious one.  For you to keep your hearing and to enjoy a lifetime of shooting, some type of protection is a must.  There was a time that custom-molded earplugs and electronic ear muffs were out of reach for most shooters due to their high prices.  Well, this month, I take a look at some custom-molded earplugs that sell for less than $15 and electronic ear muffs that go for less than $50.

I also have an evaluation of a new tactical flashlight that runs on AA batteries, but throws more than 600 lumens! To describe this light as bright is a major understatement.

Continue reading “May Preview”
Categories
Rifles

Stark Equipment SE-1 Grip for the AR-15

Stark SE-2 AR15 Grip

The Stark Equipment SE-1 is a polymer grip that replaces the standard AR-15 grip and trigger guard with a single polymer unit.  At the 2009 SHOT Show, I had a chance to preview the Stark SE-1, and I was impressed by the look and feel of the floor samples.

Stark Equipment is now shipping the SE-1, and I was able to get one of the early production grips.  I am just as impressed by the production model as I was by the samples.

The SE-1 feels good in my hand, with just the right amount of palm swell and what appears to be a good grip angle.  The Stark grip features three texture rings around the center of the grip, providing good adhesion to the hand.  There are also grooves around the textured rings.  These grooves are designed to allow fluids, such as sweat and rain, to flow away from the hand and not disrupt the mating of the hand to the grip.

There is a removable rubber plug on the bottom of the grip that allows you to store two CR-123 or AA batteries for any light or optics accessories you may have.

Continue reading “Stark Equipment SE-1 Grip for the AR-15”