Archive for the ‘Tactical Accessories’ Category:


The Impending High Capacity Magazine Ban

Published by in Freedom & Politics, Tactical Accessories on August 8th, 2012 | No Comments »

I’m predicting a ban on magazines holding over 10 rounds within 12 months – if not sooner!  The shooting tragedies in Colorado and Wisconsin have given the anti-gunners the ammo they need to go after semi-automatic rifles and high capacity magazines.  A customer asked me yesterday, “Do you think they will be able to ban AR15s”?  My answer…. No, I don’t think they will be able to ban the guns, but I expect they will be able to ban high capacity magazines.   And it will be permanent this time – meaning it won’t expire in 10 years like the ban from 1994 to 2004.

Today I was asked why anyone, outside of military and law enforcement, needs a high capacity magazine.  They’re illegal for hunting.  What’s the big deal if they get banned?

On the surface of the issue, I agree.  I don’t see why target shooters and plinkers would need magazines holding 30, 50 or 100 rounds.  If anyone can justify a need for a 30 round magazine – outside of combat – I’d like to hear it…. but before you get all pissed off at me, let me finish!

My answer to the magazine issue is this, No, I don’t see why anyone outside the military and law enforcement would need a 30 or 100 round magazine, but the real issue is that I don’t trust the politicians in power to stop there.  If we let them get started they will ban everything from 30 round magazines to sharp sticks.  You can’t compromise with terrorists and that’s exactly the type of people we’ve got running this country.  If you give them anything, they will take it and keep on taking.

And here’s a historical fact…. any government that lasts very long eventually ends up abusing its own people.  That’s not conspiracy theory, that is just history.  Government eventually does one of two things – and sometimes both at the same time – it either collapses or becomes tyrannical.  You don’t need a psychic to read the future.  Just look at the past.

The issue isn’t high capacity magazines, the issue is freedom.  The freedom haters in Washington want to ban guns.  Well, over 10,000 Americans are killed every year by drunk drivers.  Why not ban alcohol and vehicles… oh they did ban alcohol once upon a time and we saw how well that worked.

But what I think doesn’t make much difference, so I recommend that we all start buying up as many magazines as we can.  Cause time is running out!

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Hawkeye’s Gear

Published by in Optics, Tactical Accessories on July 19th, 2012 | No Comments »

  It’s been a hot, dry summer… In fact, they’ve banned shooting here in Utah due to fire danger.  That really threw a wrench in my plans as I have a whole new video series in mind, but I need to be able to shoot.  I won’t go into the details here, but I think you’re going to really like what I’ve got in mind.  So… once the fire restrictions are removed we’ll be back in the video business big time!  It’s also been a very busy summer and I apologize for not writing in the BLOG more.  In trying to decide what to write about, I was looking over some of the emails I receive and came across a common question… “What kind of scopes and accessories do you use?”  I sell all this stuff and lots of folks want to know what I pick for myself.  As you know, I tell everyone that I actually use the items I sell.  What most of you don’t know is that I am a part-time deputy sheriff so I actually use this stuff for real!  This picture was taken after coming back from a recon on a suspected marijuana farm.  This is a custom rifle built on a LAR lower receiver.  I have the Magpul MIAD grip and Magpul ACS Stock.   Of course you will notice the Magpul PMAG loaded with Hornady TAP ammo.  I prefer the PMAG with the window so I can easily see how much ammo I have remaining.  I also have Magpul MBUS Sights.  The free floating quad rail is by Yankee Hill.   The rail covers are from Tango Down.

I have an Insight WL1-AA Light/Laser mounted on the quad rail.  I don’t use the laser much.  I chose this unit because it has “kill switch” on it.  That way the light or laser doesn’t turn on accidentally.  Many of these smaller tactical lights don’t have that kill switch so that’s why I have the version with the light and the laser.

Of course I have one of my favorite accessories… the Grip Pod LE.  The LE version is made from polymer – making it much lighter than the regular grip pod yet just as strong.  On the business end of the rifle I have a Troy Medieval Muzzle Brake.  For the sling I went with the Condor STRYKE Sling.  The STRYKE sling has quickly become my favorite sling due to its versatility.  It can be used as a One-Point or Two-Point sling and rapidly adapts to your needs.

Up top is my Trijicon TA26SR ACOG.  The TA26SR is a 1.5×26 ACOG and perfect for combat or self defense weapons.  For more on this TA26SR, check out my video.  This is one of my all time, favorite tactical sights.  The 1.5x is super fast for target acquisition and gives you a tiny amount of magnification that makes the target “jump” out at you.  I’ve used EOTechs and Aimpoints and this little ACOG is the better choice.  Sure it costs a little more, but I think it’s worth it.  No batteries needed so it’s always ready and it gives you that sling magnification to zero in on the target.

I have a number of AR15 rifles, but this is the one I trust my life to.  With all the gear, optics and accessories out there, these are the items I depend on.  Now not everyone needs items you can bet your life on.  That’s why at Valhalla Armory we offer a wide range of optics and accessories to meet everyone’s needs and budget.  But whether you go with a $99 scope or a $1500 ACOG, we stand behind everything we sell.  You can trust the gear we sell to perform… or we’ll replace it or give you your money back.  Valhalla Armory isn’t just a business… it’s my way of life.  It’s who I am and what I do.

So… in response to many of your emails, this has been a look at some of the gear I use personally.  I hope this answers some of your questions and maybe gives you some points to consider for your own needs.  When it comes to your gear, Valhalla Armory’s got your back.

 

Unrealistic AR15 Scope Expectations

Published by in Optics, Tactical Accessories on April 18th, 2012 | No Comments »

Something that I try to address in my videos, and somewhat here on the blog, is realistic expectations of scopes and accessories that I discuss.  But this issue is coming up so frequently that I want to dedicate an entire post to it.

Scenario #1: person buys a $150 red dot sight for his AR15.  While at the range, and prior to mounting it, the red dot is sitting on the table.  It gets bumped, falls off the table to the concrete floor, and breaks.  The person then posts all over the internet what a piece of junk that red dot is and bad mouths the brand name and manufacturer.

Scenario #2: person buys a $150 scope.  It’s a short, compact scope with a “tactical” look to it and claims to be made for AR15s.  Decides to take the AR deer hunting.  While climbing into his tree stand, his rifle somehow comes loose and falls to the ground.  The scope is broken.  He then gets on the internet forums saying how that scope is worthless and “I’d never trust my life to that brand of scope”.

 

Ok, these are not real scenarios, but based on actual complaints I hear regularly so I want to address this issue and hopefully shed some light on realistic expectations.  Since the expiration of the assault weapon ban in 2004, the AR15 has become the most popular rifle in America.  Needless to say, with that type of demand, the market for accessories has exploded.  Prior to 2004, about the only optics made specifically with the AR15 in mind were Trijicon, EOTech, Aimpoint, and Leupold.  If you’re familiar with those brands, you know they are expensive.  That’s because their optics are made for combat.  Prior to 2004, most AR15 scopes were actually being used on rifles for military or law enforcement duties.  Some civilian shooters were buying the expensive optics for their rifles, but a lot of them were just mounting regular scopes because they didn’t want to spend the big bucks for a combat grade optic.

Fast forward to the present day… with the explosion of the “tactical” industry, there are all kinds of scopes and accessories out there.  Here’s the problem… and in my mind it shouldn’t be a problem, not everything marketed and sold for the AR15, or any other tactical rifle, is made for combat.  You cannot buy a $100 scope, even if it looks “tactical and really cool” and expect to get the same quality you would in a $800 scope.  Nor should you trust your life, or anyone else’s life, to it.  I just don’t understand what people are thinking.

When an EOTech costs $550 do you really think you can by a $129 Sightmark reflex sight and get comparable quality?  Do you really think you can buy a $199 NcSTAR and get the same durability and optical clarity as you do with a $1600 Trijicon ACOG?  It’s totally unrealistic.  This doesn’t mean Sightmark and NcSTAR are junk.  It just means they are made for target shooting and light hunting.  If you drop them, they will break.  If you drop your gun on a rock, they will break.  It’s kind of like buying a stock Ford Mustang and then being pissed off when it doesn’t perform like a Ferrari.

Low cost scopes are meant for plinking, target shooting out to a couple hundred yards, hunting in optimal conditions, etc.  They are not combat grade scopes.  They are not meant to “trust your life to”.  They are great for what they are designed for.  Now if you want or need better performance from your scope, then you must spend the money for it.  That’s the cold, hard, reality.  If you want a scope you can “trust your life to”, then you better save up your money because it’s going to be almost as much, if not more, than what you spent on your rifle.

I’m not trying to be rude here.  I just want to say it plainly though.  It seems like there’s this big misunderstanding out there.  People buy a $100 scope for their AR15 and then they’re not happy with it because they don’t feel like they can trust their life to it.  Why would you ever feel like you could trust your life to a $100 scope?

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Back Up Iron Sights – BUIS

Published by in AR-15 Basics, Optics, Self Defense, Tactical Accessories on March 26th, 2012 | No Comments »

Sometimes I feel the need to address what I consider to be a “fad”.  And I should make it clear that I hate fads.  I don’t like anything that people do just because its what everyone else is doing.  Now if it makes sense and you understand why you are doing it, then have at it.  But don’t just follow along because I’ll share a little secret with you….  Most people are clueless!

The topic today is Back Up Iron Sights or BUIS.  BUIS evolved when we started putting red dots and other optical sights on our rifles.  Just in case these electronic gizmos quit working, we want some way to stay in the fight so the BUIS was born.  Now I want you to consider two key phrases in the sentences above; “Back up” and “stay in the fight”.

There is only one reason for a BUIS on your rifle and that is because your optical sight has failed or quit working for some reason and you’re in one of those “I’M ABOUT TO DIE” situations.  The BUIS only exists because that high dollar EOTech, Aimpoint, Leupold, or Trijicon quit working on you.  Maybe it got blown up by an IED, took a round, or just went FUBAR for no particular reason… AND someone is still out there trying to kill you.

Now we don’t put BUIS on our hunting rifles and yet every fall thousands of hunters take to the field with only one sighting device on their rifle.  People fly into Alaska and pay big money for a hunt, but they don’t have BUIS on their rifles.  If their rifle scope fails on them then they’re just out of luck.  Now a lot of people are buying AR15s and other similar style rifles and putting scopes on them.  If you’re just buying it for plinking and having fun, do you really need BUIS on it?

The BUIS is a combat invention.  It’s based on the military philosophy that “two is one and one is none”; meaning if you have two of something, then one of them can get broken or lost (fairly common) and you still have one.  If you only have one, and it gets broken or lost, then you’re just SOL – shit out of luck.

I guess I’ve just talked to a lot of guys who are putting a lot of time, money and stress into figuring out how mount a scope with a mini red dot on top and still be able to use the BUIS and they’re using the rifle on prairie dogs and wild hogs.  It’s just not needed.  Save your money and spend it on ammo.  “Invest in Lead”, that’s what I’m telling everyone!

Now I’m not trying to make light of anything.  If you’re going into combat or plan on using the rifle for self defense, then I’d have a BUIS on it.  I try to live by the “Two is one and One is none” philosophy, but it’s also because I look at every one of my weapons as a self defense tool…. and I think that’s a lot of what is driving the desire for BUIS.  I think a lot of guys look at their AR15 as a self defense gun if the need ever arises.

I prefer the Magpul MBUS Sights.  Thanks to Magpul, we no longer have to spend over $200 on a BUIS set.  The MBUS sights are excellent and I just don’t see any reason to buy anything different.  The only drawback it that you can’t use the front MBUS on a gas block – it con only be used on a forearm rail.

Now if you’re looking to Co-Witness your scope and your BUIS, see my Learning Center Article on my website at , https://www.valhallaarmory.com/kb_results.asp?ID=20  There’s a lot of misunderstanding when it comes with co-witnessing and that article will help explain the whole concept.

So is the desire for a BUIS part of the “tactical fad” or legitimate?  Only you can decide as only you know what you plan on doing with the rifle.  I just want you to make the decision based on fact and not just because everyone else is doing it.

 

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GunTec 300 Lumen Tac Light

Published by in Tactical Accessories on March 13th, 2012 | No Comments »

The GunTec 300 lumen tactical light is new to us at Valhalla Armory and I’ve been very impressed with it.  It’s super bright, reliable, and amazingly affordable!  This is a perfect tactical light for outdoor situations where you need to light up longer distances or large areas.

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Tactical Lights

Published by in Tactical Accessories on February 22nd, 2012 | No Comments »

A lot of people have been asking about tactical lights lately and, like tactical scopes, there are too many to choose from.  I’ll try to give you a few points to consider when shopping for tactical lights that will hopefully narrow down the options.

1) LED

I wouldn’t consider any light that is not LED.  Regular lights have bulbs that will eventually burn out… probably when you need it the most.  With the new, high-power, LED lights on the market, I just don’t see any reason to buy anything else.  The LED will last a lifetime so all you need is extra batteries to keep it running.

2) Switch Type

What type of switch do you want?  Most people think they want something with a remote pressure switch shown on this Insight M3X below.

Personally, I am not a big fan of remote switches unless the light also features a “constant-on” switch.  The remote switch illuminates the light when you squeeze or put pressure it.  This is OK for brief episodes of illumination, but if you are searching a large building, or varmint hunting, holding that switch down for more than a few seconds becomes annoying.  I like a switch that you can push on and then push again to go off.  Additionally, pressure switches can easily turn on the light inadvertently.  Most lights designed for long guns come with remote switches, but you can use the “handgun” model lights on long guns.  I use the lights designed for handguns on my rifles because I prefer the switches that come on them over the remote switch.  The exception to this is the Insight Technology Long Gun lights.  They come with a remote switch, but also have a constant-on switch – which is one of the features that makes them my favorite lights.

3) Mounting

How are you going to mount your light on your weapon?  Where do you want it positioned?  Once you put the light on your gun, will you be leaving it mounted or do you need “quick release” mounting so it can easily be removed?

Almost all of the lights out there mount to picatinny rails.  The tubular type lights will come with rings that mount around the body of the light and attach to the rail.  Many others, like Insight and Streamlight, come with integrated mounts.  The big thing to be aware of is how fast you can mount or dis-mount the light from your weapon if you cannot leave it mounted all the time.  For example, if you have a holster that will not accept your handgun with the light mounted, and you plan on attaching the light when you need to do building searches and then removing it to re-holster (not a good idea) then make sure you get a light with a quick release mount.  My recommendation is to buy a holster that fits the gun with the light mounted.

4) Output

Most guys want the most powerful unit on the market.  Doesn’t matter if it’s a truck or a tac light, we just want the most powerful one made.  Well, with lights sometimes you can have too much power.  Most tac lights on the market today are so bright that they “wash out” your night sights.  If you’re running an EOTech and you have the illumination set really low, because its dark outside, and then you turn on the light, it can also wash out your reticle leaving you with nothing to aim with.  These lights are so bright, that when used inside, the reflection coming off walls, etc can wash out your sights or aiming reticle.  This is something you need to be aware of and test it so you know what to expect.

I consider Surefire to be the originator of the modern tac light.  Back when they first came out, most of their models were putting out about 65 lumens…. which is bright enough for typical self defense or tactical situations.  Of course everything now is much brighter than 65 lumens and I think this is mainly overkill.  There are situations that warrant the high output of today’s lights; hog hunting, searching large warehouses, border patrol type activities, etc.  So don’t feel bad about buying a 65 or 90 lumen light.  It will most likely be bright enough for any practical need.

My Favorite Tac Lights:

These are not listed in any particular order.

Insight M3X LED

The Insight M3X is an excellent light.  It’s available in both handgun format (as shown here) and a long gun version with a remote switch.  But like I mentioned above, it has a constant on switch so this is one long gun light that I really like.

Be careful when shopping for M3X though and there is a standard version and a LED version.  Make sure you buy the LED version.

The M3X is made from polymer, is super lightweight, yet very strong and rugged.  The version shown here has the ambidextrous rocker switch on the back.  Push it one way for momentary activation and then push it the other way for constant.  The slide-lock mount allows the light to be mounted or removed in seconds.  Very easy!

Specifications:
Peak Output: 125+ Lumens
Run Time: 2 Hours
Interface Options: Slide-Lock®
Dimensions: 3.4”L x 1.6”W x 1.5”H
Weight: 3.3 oz. w/Batteries

Streamlight TLR1

The Streamlight TLR1 is one of my favorite lights.  It’s rugged, powerful, and inexpensive (as lights go).  It has an aluminum body so its very tough and puts out 135 lumens.  It has more of a permanent mounting system.  See the round bolt head on the side with the slot in it.  This is the mounting bolt.  Loosen it and the mount opens up, put it on the rail, and then tighten it back down.  You will probably need a flat head screw driver to get it tight enough to stay on the weapon.

It has a rocker switch similar to the M3X above.  You can purchase a long gun back plate and remote switch for it as accessories.

Specifications:

135 Lumens!
Strobe Feature!
Impervious to shock. Will not break or burn out!
Extremely durable anodized aluminum housing
Waterproof to 66 feet
Up to 2.5 hrs continuous run time

GunTec 300

This GunTec light puts out an amazing 300 lumens.  The light is integrated with a vertical grip so there’s no loose wires, etc hanging off your gun.  I highly recommend this light for tactical rifles and shotguns.  If you hunt hogs at night, this is the light you want!

It also features dual LED “navigation” lights for those times when you need to see where you’re going, but don’t need the full 300 lumens of the main light.  It features built in pressure switches an has a constant-on switch on the back of the light.

You will be surprised to know it sells for under $200!  The light body is made from aluminum and the grip is polymer.  The entire unit, with batteries, only weighs about 15 ounces!

Insight WL1-AA

The Insight WL1-AA is the first tactical grade light to use AA batteries.  Just about every other light on the market uses the CR123A lithium batteries.   That’s one of the reasons I really like this light.  I also light it because of its sleek, low-profile design, and it puts out 150 lumens.

The WL1-AA is available in the version shown here and the long gun version with a remote switch.  The info from Insight lists it as having a quick release mount, but the latch is so tight that I have trouble getting a fingernail under it to open it very quickly.  Of all the lights I’ve listed here, the WL1-AA is probably my favorite because of it’s small size and the fact it takes AA batteries.

It has a polymer body and ambidextrous rocker switches on the back.

Specifications:

Peak Output: 150+ Lumens
Run Time: Up to 90 minutes with Lithium batteries
Waterproof: Rated to 1 meter for 5 minutes
Interface: Quick Release Rail-Grabber™
Dimensions: 3.618”L x 1.435”W x 1.74”H
Weight: 3.4 oz

Insight X2

If you need a light for the little sub-compact, concealed carry handguns like the Springfield XD or Glock 26/27, etc, then you’re pretty limited on what will fit your gun.  The Insight X2 was designed specifically for these sub-compact handguns.

Specifications:

Peak Output: 80+ Lumens
Run Time: 60 Minutes
Fits sub-compact handguns like Springfield XD, Glock 26, 27, S&W M&P sub-compact, etc
Interface Options: Slide-Lock®
Dimensions: 2.4”L x 1.4”W x 1.6”H
Weight: 1.7 oz. w/Battery

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Picatinny Rails

Published by in Tactical Accessories on January 25th, 2012 | No Comments »

Picatinny Rails are the most common accessory for AR15s and other tactical rifles.  Like everything else, the choices are overwhelming.  There’s simply too many to choose from.  In this video, I break down the different types of rail systems as well as a few of my favorite.  Prices for Picatinny Rails range from $50 to over $300 and a lot of people wonder why there is such a huge range in price.  In this video, I answer that question.

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Improving AR15 Accuracy & Performance

Published by in AR-15 Basics, Tactical Accessories on December 12th, 2011 | No Comments »

One of the great things about AR15 rifles is the ability to customize them.  Most of the modifications do little to improve the rifles performance.  They’re mostly cosmetic (makes them look cooler)!  Today I want to talk about practical modifications you can make to seriously improve your rifle’s accuracy and performance.

Trigger

Lot’s of people ask about improving AR15 accuracy and I rarely see too many people talk about the trigger.  AR15s come with standard, military grade triggers which aren’t that great for accuracy.  Now, the trigger doesn’t really affect the accuracy of the rifle itself – it just makes it easier for YOU to shoot it more accurately.  That’s why I think a lot of folks overlook the trigger when talking about AR15 accuracy.  Upgrading the trigger doesn’t make the rifle shoot more accurately, but in my experience, installing a single stage, 3 pound (or less) trigger dramatically increases your ability to shoot the rifle more accurately.  And therefore your accuracy improves.  I really like the CMC AR15 triggers and use them in my own rifles.  I like them because they’re a complete module, install easily and work very well.  Choose large pins for Colt and small pins for all other AR15s.  You will not believe the difference.  I think it’s the most practical upgrade you can make to your AR15.  Beware… once you shoot an AR15 with a good trigger, you’ll never be satisfied with normal trigger again!

Free Floating Forearm

We’ve talked about Picatinny rails and forearms before, but here I’ll talk about them in the context of accuracy.  A free floating forearm attaches to the barrel nut of your AR15 and does not touch the barrel at all.  This improves the accuracy of your rifle by not exerting any external pressure along the barrel.  Unless you really know what you’re doing, and have the right tools, it’s best to have a gunsmith install your free floating forearm.  Free floating forearms tend to cost a little more than the standard versions, but if you’re trying to improve the accuracy of your rifle, they are well worth the extra money.

Fail Zero Bolt Carrier Kit

I first saw the Fail Zero Bolt Carrier Kit at the Shot Show a couple years ago and couldn’t believe my eyes.  They had it installed in an AR15 and then had a regular AR15 right next to it so you could compare them side by side. The difference is nothing short of amazing!  The Fail Zero bolt carrier is so smooth.  It seems like its floating on precision ball bearings inside your upper receiver.  So what makes Fail Zero so special?  Fail Zero parts are coated using their proprietary EXO Technology that “creates a permanently lubricious surface” that never needs grease, oil, etc to make it slide easily.  Additionally, this coating never flakes or rubs off.  It enhances reliability and makes cleaning a lot easier.

So with all the modifications you can make to your rifle, here’s three easy steps to dramatically increasing the accuracy and performance of your AR15.

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VTAC Slings

Published by in Tactical Accessories on November 2nd, 2011 | No Comments »

If you’ve done any looking at Tactical Slings or AR15 Slings, you’ve probably been blown away by all the choices out there.  I’ve personally tried most of the tactical slings on the market and the VTAC is my personal favorite.  The VTAC sling is highly versatile and provides for multiple rifle carry positions.  A lot of slings on the market, especially single point slings, lock you into one particular mode of carrying your rifle.  They work great until you need to hand your rifle off to someone else, climb a ladder, or just want to sling it over your shoulder.

I prefer the VTAC sling because it’s so flexible.  You can sling your rifle over your shoulder, slide it behind your back to climb a ladder, easily transition from right to left hand shooting, and on and on.  It just does everything.

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