The 100% American Made AK: The Ras-47

Visit the Century site: http://www.centuryarms.com/

Made in America

Recently, American consumers have been clamoring for American-made goods. From baby toys to dog food, few things have escaped the ire of these patriotic purchasers. Once exception is Mikhail Kalashnikov’s namesake, the AK-47. For years AK elitists have considered anything not made behind the Iron Curtain to be cut rate; and in many cases they’re correct. However, Century Arms, the largest importer of AKM carbines, has decided in light of recent importation sanctions to shatter the myth with their own all-American AKM, the RAS-47. How does it stack up against decades of AK-manufacturing experience of overseas builders? Better than anyone could have guessed.
Though it begs the question why. Why would Century undergo the tremendous cost, time and effort to produce a 100 percent American-made AK when countless countries fielded hundreds of millions of the rifles that can be parts kitted out, saving them millions of dollar?
In a word, sanctions. In two: import restrictions.
In response to the aggressive military actions of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, President Obama issued punitive economic sanctions against them. One of these actions was the restriction on imports of Russian-made firearms into the United States. While some manufacturers were spared, the largest Russian manufacturer of AK rifles, Izhmash, was not. This lead to increased fear that all AK rifles would face importation restrictions VIA executive order. This, combined with the huge time delay on imported firearms stuck in US Customs and so-called sporting clause limitations caused by section 922r, created an unstable AK resource market.
Rather than be subject the whims of a notoriously anti-firearms president or the trepedacious nature of hawkish Eastern European oligarchies and their country’s seemingly nebulous borders, Century decided to create their own parts source market.

The RAS-47 has stamped receiver and a bolt-hold-open safety–an easy, but highly useful upgrade.

RED ARMY STANDARD (RAS) 47 Semi-Auto Rifle

• Caliber: 7.62x39mm
• Capacity: 30 rds.
• Receiver: Stamped
• Barrel: 16.5″ with a 1:10 twist, 14×1 LH
• Overall: 37.25″
• Weight: 7.8 lbs

A note on Century

Before we continue, it’s important to address the concerns of gun forum-goers everywhere. Yes, Century Arms made some mistakes in the past with their builds. Given the volume of their products, this is unavoidable. Also, given the company’s prolific nature, the reports of these issues are often overstated. How many times do shooters buy a gun from any maker, and excitedly post online that it runs as advertised?
Additionally, the majority of issues with Century’s most problematic rifle, the Romanian WASR, had nothing to do with Century’s mechanical or manufacturing capabilities. Since the most prominent issue were canted iron sights and these are a result of poor build quality by the Romanian armory where they were made. In that case, the alterations Century made had nothing to do with the front sight. Still, there’s no denying that Century should have caught these issues with their quality assurance team.
Previously Century was known as the economical (read: cheap) way to get into the AK game. Their new approach centers on building the best, without having a cost-prohibitive price point. Though their approach is sure to aggravate purists and collectors alike.

The iron sights on most all AKs are basic, at best. While the RAS-47 is no different, the sights are appropriately durable. And the barrel is threaded, too. Bonus.

The new Century?

Instead of simply checking off every box on an AKM build checklist for what it takes to make a mil-spec AK, the new RAS-47 seeks to surpass it. While many of said improvements are obvious upgrades, some of the areas where Century made alterations offer questionable benefits. Such as the lightening cuts made to the bolt carrier to reduce lockup time and the omissions on the bayonet lug. Neither of these bother the overwhelming majority of prospective buyers, but the remaining five percent malcontents are disproportionately vocal. Other deviations include the lower handguard interface which is made to Russian standards, so Romanian-type furniture will require minor fitting, and the addition of their own proprietary polymer, finger-grooved pistol grip. The latter of which is precisely what Century ships on their N-PAP series of rifles – though more traditional replacements can be purchased online for as little as $10.

Grooved grips are one-size-fits-all, which isn’t exactly true. That said, they’re easily replaced.

Which is great, because personally, I detest grooved pistol grips. This is because these grips are meant for someone who perfectly fits them. Nine times out of ten, I’m not that guy. While less of an issue with Hogue rubber grips that have some give, these hard plastic grips are pretty uncomfortable especially when holding the rifle with one hand during tactical reloads. That said, many of my larger-handed compadres found the Century grip to be much more comfortable than factory ones. The best solution would be to try and handle one yourself before buying, but again it’s only a $10 fix if a shooter determines they aren’t correct for them. Though this isn’t the only furniture option available on the carbine.
Shooters have their pick of the more traditional wood-stocked version or the tactical Magpul one. The Magpul version features the wildly popular new series of polymer AK furniture announced just prior to SHOT Show 2015. The handguard of which features Magpul’s proprietary accessory-mounting system known as M-Lok. This is great news for both tactical gear-lovers and pragmatists alike since most other mounting options add considerable weight forward of the magazine well. Anyone who has ever carried an AK or fired one extensively can attest that the gun is sufficiently weighty as it comes, and the added forward weight shifts the balance towards the muzzle, making the carbine feel sluggish and needless heavy.

Shooting the RAS-47

Shooting the RAS-47. The optic here is a Zeiss Z-Point on the Midwest rail.

All groups in the data below were fired from the prone position and are 5-round groups achieved at 100 yards. Each shot was taken approx 10 seconds apart to allow proper barrel cooling. Loads were measured 10 feet from muzzle with RCBS AmmoMaster Chronograph and are the rounded average of 3 five-shot groups.

• Red Army Copper-jacketed 123gr FMJ–1.74″ – 2411 FPS
• Hornady 123gr SST–1.12″ – 2306 FPS
• Prvi Partisan 123gr FMJ–1.91″ – 2403 FPS
• Silverbear 125gr  SP–2.24″ – 2367 FPS
• Tulammo 123gr FMJ–1.44″ – 2321 FPS

Though it’s what’s beneath this handguards that really sets the Century RAS-47 apart from competitors. Whereas military specification AK carbines feature a chrome-lined steel barrel to better resist corrosion, Century’s new carbine uses a stainless barrel coated in black nitride. The result is a remarkably accurate rifle that defies the AK’s reputation as a crudely-made, inaccurate leadslinger. In testing, the RAS-47 proved more accurate than many off-the-shelves AR-15 carbines; achieving five-round groups just over one MOA at 100 yards with Hornady SST ammunition–a feat I deemed impossible for the platform prior to shooting this rifle.

A decent mount will allow you to use precision optics to their full potential. This is a Hi-Lux 1-4x24mm CMR-AK762 mounted in a Midwest Industries 30MM AK Side Mount (barely shown).

Unfortunately, the rifle’s iron sights do little to assist shooters in obtaining this sort of accuracy. Which is why it’s great that Century decided to add a side rail mount to the RAS-47. Shooters looking to achieve similar levels of precision from the carbine, should invest in a quality mount and clear optic. Russian-made optics mounts are either prohibitively expensive, or simply mount too far above the receiver for shooters to effectively use without having to rest their chin on the buttstock. The two companies I found to best address this issue are Midwest Industries and market-newcomer, RS Regulate.
Both offer great mounts that were utilized in this review, and drastically increased the carbine’s usability, while assisting it in reaching its potential. This is especially true when paired with a high-quality magnified optic; shooters can’t hit what they can’t see.

The extended mag release is a nice standard feature on the RAS47.

Below this mount is another non-traditional addition to the AKM, an extended magazine release – Though referring to it as such is misleading. The release isn’t simply extended, but also widened so shooters can more easily release empty magazines. In testing, this upgrade offered little time savings to more experienced AK-runners, but newer shooters appreciated the wider controls. In my experience they are greatly helpful for shooters using alternative reloading techniques, such as dislodging the spent magazine with the middle finger of the firing hand, without leaving the pistol grip. Not simply because it’s easier to reach, but also because the extended portion offers greater mechanical advantage, thus reducing the amount of force required to do so. Again, mostly unimportant for traditional shooters, but those running an AK under the clock will appreciate the precious milliseconds saved.
Even though the RAS-47 has a myriad of atypical features for an AK, it still retains many iconoclastic details that function well and maintain the traditional AK aesthetic. For instance, unlike Century’s first attempt at an domestic AK clone, the C39, the RAS-47 uses a standard AKM post and notch iron sights. The rear leaf sight is adjustable for drop and has pre-measured distances notched out for rapid target engagement.

The RAS47’s slant muzzle brake.

Another classic feature is the slant muzzle brake topping the RAS-47’s barrel. It features AKM-standard 14X1mm LH threading, so shooters can purchase alternatives designed to fit any AKM carbine that doesn’t use the larger mount on AK-74 or AK-100 series rifles. Although this addition is aesthetically pleasing and functional, I feel Century would have been better served introducing their own brake, but only if it wouldn’t have affected the rifle’s price point.
Prices range from $669.99 to $859.99 depending on furniture. This model regularly sells for less than $600. Given the high price of the optional Magpul furniture, shooters are getting what they pay for in both instances. So whether a shooter is looking for their first AK rifle, a remarkable accurate carbine in an inexpensive caliber or simply an attractive, ultra-reliable plinker – the Century Arms RAS-47 won’t disappoint.
Ammunition for for this review provided by Hornady Manufacturing and Century Arms.

The traditional safety selector on the RAS-47.

The trigger pull on the RAS-47’s RAK-1 trigger comes in at 4 pounds.

The side mount makes mounting traditional AK style mounts easy. For those of you who want railed optics mounts, you’ll need to look to after-market upgrades.

The wooden furniture, maple in this case, gives the RAS-47 that traditional look. Polymer furniture is also available from makers like Magpul and others.

There are a wide variety of mags available for the RAS-47, which will take any traditional AK mags.

The Magpul AK mags are a solid American made option.

Maintenance and cleaning are easy on the AK platform, which is notoriously forgiving. The RAS-47, like a lot of AKs, runs well, even when dirty.

Sling mounts? Traditional AK. No QD mounts.

SIG SAUER P320 Grows up – to .45 ACP (Review)

Check out the SIG P320: http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p320-full.aspx

When the SIG SAUER P320 was introduced, it was met with cautious optimism. After all, the P250 platform that first introduced the polymer framed, modular component concept at SIG didn’t exactly set the world on fire. But then few innovations really do take off on their first flight. The Wright brothers made several piles of scrap in their field before making history. The P320 is a striker-fired, rather than hammer-fired platform that uses an internal chassis or fire control group as the serialized gun (SIG calls this the “frame” to make things really confusing) – everything else is just “parts” and not a firearm. If this is all old news to you, then you’ve seen it before. The P320 series has been out for a while now – about a year. But not in .45 ACP – until now. Initially expected in the early spring of 2015, it has been slow in coming for those of us who love the P320 and love 230 grain projectiles.
I do admit without shame that I am a fan of the Sig Sauer P320. The consistency of the platform is very impressive, as is the ability to quickly re-purpose your firearm from a subcompact 9mm to a full sized .40 or .357 Sig in mere seconds. It’s like Transformers for gun geeks! But I remember thinking, as I lifted the first 9mm P320 that I fired, “boy, I really wish this was a .45!”. I don’t know why it is, among many gun-folk, that a handgun somehow becomes more legitimized when offered in .45 ACP. But as long as I’m confessing, I will also admit that I buy into it too.

One reason .45 ACP is not a mix-and-match with other calibers is the magazine size, and magwell difference.

Modularity and Compatibility

And then there is the issue of compatibility with other P320’s. It’s not. So let’s start right off with the disappointing part. By compatible I mean the ability to remove the chassis from a .45 and insert it into the kit (grip frame, side, barrel, etc.) of a 9mm, .40 S&W, or .357 Sig. With no official information that I could find, I was left scratching my head as to why that might be – and more importantly, why Sig would devalue the product line that way. After all, the pressures of the .40 and .357 are greater than the .45… so maybe it was a cartridge diameter issue.
The first thing I did when I got the P320 .45 on my work bench was pull a 9mm version apart and try mixing parts. Everything looks promising at first – but they do not interchange. The reasons, as I’m able to observe, are two: First and foremost it is a magazine size issue. 9mm, .40 S&W, and .357 Sig can all fit into a magazine of identical box dimensions. The .45 ACP cannot. The box of the .45 magazine is both wider and deeper to accommodate the bulky cartridge, and therefore requires a specially molded grip module. Reason two is the ejector.

The other reason is the ejector size and geometry, which is unique for the .45. A preventative tab is present on the smaller calibers to prevent use with .45 Auto.

The only functional difference I could see between the smaller caliber chassis and the .45 chassis is the fact that the latter uses a shorter ejector. Not surprising, once I realized it. I have no doubt that there would be malfunctions if that were not so. The chassis for non-.45 calibers also includes a metal tab to prevent the .45 magazine from being loaded in. For all intents and purposes then, the .45 Auto variety of the P320 family stands alone. There is still the good news that you can eventually have several sizes (four, if they follow the Full, Compact, Carry, and Subcompact offerings) in .45 ACP that use just one serialized chassis.
Like its smaller caliber siblings, the P320 .45 comes with two magazines and a convenient (and actually quite good) polymer paddle holster. The full sized magazine for the full sized grip panel (what we would call the ‘frame’ of any other pistol) holds 10 rounds. This puts it on par with the majority of .45 autos, but comes up short of several models offered by Glock, Springfield Armory, and others. Never is the “Size vs. Capacity” argument so relevant as with the massive .45 Auto cartridge. I don’t mind 10+1 and I think it allows for a “just right” sized pistol stock.

Grip frames are a replaceable commodity with the P320. This is the full size, medium grip. With five grooves of picatinny rail out front and E2 style texture, it provides a stable base for the gun.

My copy of the P320 came equipped with the optional SIGLITE® night sights. The standard sights are 3-dot contrast. That is the only optional choice with the P320 line, except for some marketing driven color options for the grip modules such as flat dark earth (FDE). Night sights raise the price of the gun, but the various color offerings generally do not. Fit and finish is typical Sig Sauer. In other words, excellent. One may be tempted to poo-poo the look and feel of the dull poly lower on these guns, but remember – Sig does not consider these a permanent part of your firearm and replacements are $46 as of this writing.
That said, the design of the grip module is fantastic from an ergonomics and practical perspective. The look is pure Sig, and your hand feels right at home wrapped around it. The grips are available in three hand sizes for each module size for each caliber. Scratching your head yet? Okay, it works like this: For each caliber offered, the P320 is (or will be) available in Full size, Compact, Carry, and Subcompact. Then, each of those sizes can be had in small, medium, or large. That’s twelve permutations of each caliber P320! And that’s not considering the fancy colors like FDE. Essentially, the S,M,L sizing changes only the circumference and reach aspects of the grip surface, making them thinner or thicker in the handle. The length and height don’t change. Each grip module has molded-in grip texture that is very akin to the modern E2 style grips on newer Sig pistols. I like this texture and find it very effective.

The trigger on the P320s is pure SIG SAUER. No compromises here.

What made me fall in love with the P320 though, was the trigger. I was pleased to see that Sig did not follow the crowd when it comes to striker-fired triggers, but instead made the P320’s bang switch out of steel and left it smooth faced and thick. It has a Sig shape and feel. But most of all what it has is an incredibly crisp break and reset. I was hoping that the .45 version would be just as good as the 9mm and .40 that I’m accustomed to. Sig specs the trigger pull at between 5.5 and 7.5 lbs. My measured average tipped the scale at just under 7 lbs. But I have often opined that the weight of the trigger is far less important to a good shooting experience than the cleanness of travel and crispness of break. And because both those elements are superb on the P320, the feel of the trigger is much lighter than those numbers suggest.
Sig Sauer supplies the P320 pistols with two magazines and a polymer paddle holster. Before you scoff at the “free holster”, I’ll tell you that it’s a pretty good one. Of course it fits your new Sig perfectly, and it’s sturdy and very practical. I’d be happy to wear it out before I felt the need for a new one – even if this were to be a competition gun. The magazines hold 10 rounds, and are manufactured by Mec-Gar in Italy. They functioned flawlessly in all my testing – as did the pistol. Not a single malfunction of any kind after nearly a half-case of Remington UMC, some Winchester, Federal, Freedom Munitions, and steel cased Tul Ammo. I even fed it a whole box of my handloads for good measure. Everything feeds, fires, and ejects without a hitch.

Sig Sauer P320 .45 ACP Fullsize

The P320/.45 was put through its paces with several types of ammo.

25 Yard Results – Rested
Ammunition Brand	Ammunition Type	5-Shot Group	3-Shot Group
Winchester White Box	230 gr. FMJ	2.382	1.050
Remington UMC	230 gr. FMJ	2.319	0.978
Federal American Eagle	230 gr. FMJ	4.535	1.997
Freedom Munitions	230 gr. FMJ	4.113	2.082
TulAmmo	230 gr. FMJ	4.264	1.660

I did some 25-yard accuracy tests, rested on a bag. The results were good overall, with a pretty wide spread between best and worst. The P320 seemed to like the Remington UMC the best, followed closely by Winchester white box.
Looks like we’ve got a blue collar gun here that likes to shoot what you can find at the local discount store. I shot five-shot groups, and then from those I also chose a “Best Three” subgroup. The best performance was a three shot group from Remington at just under 1 inch.

Just edging out the Winchester, the best groups were achieved with Remington UMC 230 grain ball.

The SIG SAUER P320 takes its design inspiration from the X-Five line, making it one sharp looking handgun.

Most P320s ship with the Medium sized grip module, but are available in Large and Small too.

Form and Function

If you like Sigs, you’ll find the feel of this gun in your hand to be a familiar one. Yet, though both are double-stack .45’s, it is thinner than the Sig Sauer P227 because it is a one-piece molded grip body that needn’t be any larger than necessary. On this molded grip, Sig has placed texturing very nearly identical to the E2 grips on their new handguns. I like this texture and feel it does a great job of providing superior grip without the discomfort of some more aggressive styles. You’ll understand just how good that grip texture is, when you see the skin embedded in it after a shooting session. I hear it’s great for removing callouses, too. The beavertail on the P320 full sized frame is a generous one. It gives the web of the hand a comfortable and secure place to wedge itself and aids in the stability of the pistol during recoil. Opposite that is a nicely undercut trigger guard. My smallish hands find the reach to the trigger to be just about ideal with the medium module (which is the most common one shipped for stock orders).

The author’s only pet peeve with the P320 is the over-sized takedown lever.

Controls are sparse, well placed, and function very well. The slide stop/release levers appear on both sides of the pistol for all P320’s. It’s not as high quality as you may be accustomed to on a Sig, but it’s part of the removable chassis and had to be designed for universal fit. Easy to reach without altering one’s grip, it operates just fine. The triangular and aggressively grooved magazine release is one of the best I’ve used. The button is large and easy to depress. You don’t feel like there is an automobile suspension spring behind it. Magazine ejection is clean, fast, and very positive. The control is reversible for lefties. The only remaining control you’ll find out the outside of the pistol is the one that bugs me. It’s the takedown lever, and in my opinion it is far too large – mainly in the thickness department. It adds about 1/8” to the thickness of the pistol. Not a big deal maybe on the full sized frame – but a very big deal on a subcompact. The takedown lever is part of the serialized chassis – and moves with it from module to module if you buy kits. It also interferes with the thumbs forward shooting grip – sitting right where your thumb wants to be. Sure, I can move my thumb under it, and I do (or it takes a beating), but I have to think about it every time I grip the pistol. Maybe there is an engineering reason for the mass of this lever, but if not I would like to see that thing put on a serious diet. Someone at Sig needs to talk to someone at Springfield Armory – they’ve got this figured out.
The trigger guard is square and large with serrations on its flat front for those who use that as a finger-hold. The magazine fits flush to the grip frame and does not protrude on any side. There is a tabbed area on either side of the grip to allow grabbing and assisting the magazine’s exit, should that ever be necessary. The grip is finished off with a lanyard ring at the heel.

Magazine fit is perfection. Perfectly flush on every side with finger tabs in the unlikely event that assisted removal is necessary.

The Gun Parts

The important parts of the P320, aside from the removable chassis (or FCU) are all up top. The slide is stainless steel coated with Sig’s impervious Nitron® finish. The 4.7” barrel is typical Sig Sauer and its coating is nearly impossible to mar or scratch with normal use. It sits atop a dual captured recoil spring and guide rod assembly made of steel. A nicely milled and polished breech face and short external extractor finish it off. Taking its design cues from the X-Five series of pistols, the side presents a ruggedly beautiful aesthetic, with its geometric angles and cuts, and large forward serrations.

Every field strip can easily be a detail strip by removing the FCU. It adds only seconds to the process and allows you to inspect and clean every part.

The entire line of P320’s is just a year old, and the .45 ACP is still so new that Sig Sauer still lists it as “coming soon” on their website. How it will fare over the long haul is still a question to be answered. Whether or not LE agencies will adopt it as a duty gun or full service platform remains to be seen. But as I said up front, I’m a fan of the design concept and I think can become a proven warrior. Where I think Sig stands to hurt itself with the P320 line is in the accessories and kits department. Exchange kits are still hard to obtain, and Sig has recently raised the price of them significantly (about one third!). If you cannot get a grip module or caliber conversion you want, or have to pay nearly the price of a whole new pistol for it, there isn’t a lot of value in the concept. Let’s hope that they find a price point that works for them and us – and that they fill the shelves soon.

Removable serialized chassis/frame/FCU = gun (top). Gun-shaped polymer parts and slide assembly – not a gun.

Tritium powered SIGLITE ® night sights are optional, but are among the best factory-installed night sights because they also provide great daytime visibility.

The trigger might measure a tad on the heavy side, but it’s so smooth and crisp that you won’t believe the numbers.

It’s nice to see that full-sized bore on a full-sized gun!

The author got almost all of these 20 rounds in one ragged hole at 10 yards offhand.

The included paddle holster is not just ‘okay’, it’s quite good.

Jade Helm 15—What if Martial Law Was a Reality?

By Suzanne Wiley published on July 18, 2015 in Camping & Survival

There is a saying here in my great state that I relate to, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could”… and one thing I quickly learned after getting here, was brisket is barbecue, Dublin Dr. Pepper does taste better and in particular, you don’t mess with a Texan and their Blue Bell ice cream. Before I convinced my parents to join me in the Lone Star state, my dad used to tease me about liking another brand better. I always responded, “You can’t be a true Texan if you don’t love Blue Bell!” He has since come to his senses and loves classic Homemade Vanilla just as much as I do and both him and I have carried on the tradition of having a scoop—or three—every night before bed. You’re probably wondering where I’m going with this… Don’t worry, I’m fixin’ to tell ya’ll…
This story is lighthearted and sweet until it becomes tragic.
On what now has become the darkest day of spring 2015, On April 20, Blue Bell ice cream announced an entire recall of all of its products and immediately pulled all its ice cream off the shelves. Due to findings of the listeria bacteria in the company’s “Scoops” ice cream, Chocolate Chip Country Cookie Sandwiches, Great Divide Bars and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, dating back as far as 2010, it was advised to throw out any Blue Bell you had in the freezer, as well as the company voluntary recalled every. Ice cream. Product. Ever. As of this writing, Blue Bell is still off the shelves. (Testing of products in the Alabama factory began in July—meaning, the nightmare will soon be over!) I have jokingly deemed this sad state of affairs “The Summer Without Ice Cream.”
But when I found out that some were theorizing that the shutdown was related to the U.S. Military’s large training operation called Jade Helm 15, the joke wasn’t so funny anymore.

In the Jade Helm 15 military exercise, Texas is labeled as “hostile.” Does that sound like “routine training to maintain a high level of readiness for Army Special Operations Forces” to you?

Announced in late March 2015, Operation Jade Helm—which began earlier this week—is a large military training operation which will last about two months involving at least 1,200 troops spanning all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and at least seven states on private and public lands. The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) claims they picked the seven states, including Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado because the terrain in those areas match the types of terrain special forces face in the battlefield, with an emphasis on “overseas” diverse terrain. Though the military issued a press release announcing Operation Jade Helm, the training exercises aren’t completely transparent. When some plans and maps of the operation were made public, many people got speculative of what the training was all about. Texas, Utah and a very small part of Southern California are labeled “hostile” in the map. After reviewing the maps and plans, it isn’t far-fetched to think the military is practicing for what essentially could be martial law or military take-over of our country after a government overthrow or coup or similar massive civil disturbance.
Things became even more suspicious when without warning, Wal-Mart closed five of its stores in Texas, California, Oklahoma and Florida—all states slated for Jade Helm 15 operations—for at least six months due to “plumbing problems,” despite the fact none of the closed stores have filed for permits for construction. Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria, an Army Special Operation Command spokesperson who has fielded questions for months about Jade Helm now says that the Wal-Mart closings were due to labor and pay disputes. Spawned by rumors surrounding the quick closings and possibly from talk show host and Jade Helm 15 conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones, the citizens of Bastrop, Texas increasingly became concerned.

Is the military preparing to take over Texas?

Even Chuck Norris has something to say about it, “What’s under question are those who are pulling the strings at the top of Jade Helm 15 back in Washington. The U.S. government says, ‘It’s just a training exercise.’ But I’m not sure the term ‘just’ has any reference to reality when the government uses it.”
Operation Jade Helm 15 has become such a big deal that Texas Governor Greg Abbott called on the Texas State Guard to monitor Jade Helm operations. In a letter to Major General Gerald “Jake” Betty, Gov. Abbott wrote, “I am directing the Texas State Guard to monitor Operation Jade Helm 15. During the Operation’s eight-week training period from July 2015 to September 2015, I expect to receive regular updates on the progress and safety of the Operation. During the training operation, it is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed.”
It has also inspired the founder of Defense Techniques Academy to start a group called Counter Jade Helm. The group, who reiterates their support for the United States Military, will be watching and reporting on everything members see in relation to Jade Helm. The Counter Jade Helm website says, “Counter Jade Helm, aka CJH, is a training exercise for the people. In response to the military’s multi-state training, called Jade Helm 2015, citizens will participate in an unofficial fashion to practice counter-insurgency, organizational and intelligence gathering and reporting skills…The objective is not to stop or countermand the military’s training, but to practice our own skills.”
In other words, if you want to practice, assess or improve your bug-out or survival skills, Operation Jade Helm 15 is the perfect opportunity.

Is the military preparing to take over Texas? (Photo taken in Ferguson, MO during riots.)

Martial Law

Is it crazy to think that the government is training for nationwide martial law? According to Stars and Stripes, Lt. Col, Lastoria says, “This exercise is routine training to maintain a high level of readiness for Army Special Operations Forces because they must be ready to support potential missions anywhere in the world on a moment’s notice.” It is safe to assume our country’s military does in fact have a plan if Congress or the President declared Martial Law. After all, it is the military’s responsibility to be in charge during Martial Law.
The legal dictionary defines Martial Law as “The exercise of government and control by military authorities over the civilian population of a designated territory.” During Martial Law, citizens can be stripped of their basic civil rights and civil liberties, including Habeas Corpus, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, as well as the freedom of movement. Only Congress, the President or a state Governor can declare Martial Law. In the history of the United States, it has only happened on a national level once during the Civil War. However, local authorities have declared Martial Law numerous times, including after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, during the 1914 Colorado Coalfield War, the entire state of Hawaii from 1941 to 1944, Alabama in 1961 and in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina. During Martial Law, there is the possibility of mandatory rationing of food, gas and other essential supplies and services, confiscation of firearms, ammo and other weapons, and forced relocations, curfews or lock-ins.
I don’t see much hope in this frightening scenario. If you are forced to leave with only the clothes on your back—good luck. Or perhaps you are lucky enough to have an excluded and extremely secure location you can bug-out to in anticipation. If bugging-in is the only option, not only do you need to have plenty of long-term food, drinking water and survival supplies stored, but a high level of OpSpec skills.
Now is the time to ask yourself these questions:

• How secure and fortified is your house?
• Do you have a ham radio or other form of alternative communication plan to talk with other patriots?
• Could you survive completely under the radar?
• Are you too open about your preps?
• Do you have a secured/hidden location for water, food and other supplies?
• Do you pay for everything on credit card or cash?
• How self-reliant can you be with your current preps?
• Do you live in a state where your firearms must be registered? Remember that in many states it is legal to buy from an individual without filling out a Form 4473.

Do your preps include a plan on what you and your family will do during Martial Law? (Photo taken during Hurricane Katrina)

Preparing for Martial Law is scary and difficult. Even the greatest survival experts don’t have much to offer except for elaborations on making sure you have all the above suggestions covered. I wish I could close this article out on a high note, but I can’t. I haven’t quite reached for my tin foil hat yet, but I’m definitely taking this time to monitor my surroundings, pay close attention, and take stock of all my survival inventory to see where I’m lacking and how I can improve.

Build an AR-15: Tools and Materials

Editor’s note: This is complex topic. My list of parts may not look like your list of parts. It depends on what you intend to build. So I’m looking for constructive criticism. We want to be exhaustive, so let us know what we’re missing.

• What’s missing from the list?
• If you have built an AR, what tools proved useful to you?
• Have recommendations about the best brands, or where to find the best prices?

Let us know in the comments below. We’ll be editing this as a work in progress until we cover all of the possibilities.

If you’re new to this series, it is time to get caught up!

Part 1: Build an AR-15: The Series Introduction
Part 2: Build an AR-15: AR Calibers
Part 3: Build an AR-15: Direct Impingement or Piston Operation

Breaking it down

In order to tackle this project effectively, you have to have a clear understanding of where to start. If you’re reading at your computer–in relative privacy–I’d suggest you fire up some Johnny Cash. I’m not suggesting that you steal all of the parts from your employer (if you’re lucky enough to work for a company that sells or makes rifle parts), but you have to take it one piece at a time.
Think about your future rifle in terms of its most basic parts. When it is fully assembled, it is one cohesive unit. The most basic breakdown begins when you separate the upper from the lower. The upper has the actual upper, the bolt carrier group, the barrel, the forend…. The lower has the serialized receiver, the stock, the grip, the controls, maybe the magazine. Each of these items breaks down into smaller groups of parts. While it might look like an odd pile of scrap metal when it is all broken down, every little piece has its place.
And many of these little parts require special tools. That’s the other kicker here. If you are looking at building one AR–only one–then you may end up spending more than you plan on tools and parts. Most of us justify the expense of dedicated tools by openly acknowledging that we will be building and maintaining multiple guns.

Upper Receiver

Upper Large Parts

• Stripped upper Receiver
• Crush Washer
• Ejection Port Cover
• Ejection Port Cover Pin Snap Ring
• Flash hider
• Forward Assist
• Barrel
• Barrel Extension
• Bolt
• Bolt Carrier
• Firing Pin
• Charging Handle
• Charging Handle Latch
• Free Float Tube Handguard
• Gas Tube
• Gas Block

Often retailers will have helpful schematics designed to illustrate the placement of parts. This one is from Midwest Gunworks.

One of the good things about parts is that they can be mailed directly to you–all but the receiver itself. This A2 parts kit is a package from Brownells.

Springs

• Forward Assist Spring
• Ejection Port Cover Spring
• Charging Handle Latch Spring

Pins

• Forward Assist (Roll) Pin.
• Ejection Port Cover Pin
• Bolt Cam Pin
• Firing Pin Retaining Pin
• Charging Handle Latch Roll Pin
• Gas Tube Roll Pin.

Lower Receivers

Lower large parts

• Stripped Lower Receiver
• Bolt Catch
• Buffer
• Buffer Retainer
• Castle Nut
• Disconnector
• Hammer
• Magazine Catch
• Magazine Catch Button
• Pistol Grip
• Pistol Grip Lock Washer
• Pistol Grip Screw
• Receiver Plate
• Selector
• Stock
• Trigger
• Trigger Guard

Blueprints are useful, but not as handy as a well illustrated schematic. You’ll need to know a lot about your lower, maybe not this much. But if something doesn’t work right, you could be looking at these numbers very closely.

Most parts kits look the same, but there are some distinctions we’ll get into in greater detail. This lower kit is from Midway.

Springs

• Bolt Catch Spring
• Buffer Retainer Spring
• Buffer Spring
• Disconnector Spring
• Hammer Spring
• Magazine Catch Spring
• Pivot Detent Spring
• Selector Spring
• Takedown Detent Spring
• Trigger Spring

Pins

• Bolt Catch Buffer
• Bolt Catch Roll Pin
• Hammer Pin
• Pivot Detent
• Pivot Pin
• Selector Detent
• Takedown Detent
• Takedown Pin
• Trigger Guard Roll Pin
• Trigger Pin

Tools

We’re not done yet. That list up top may seem daunting, but you have to have almost all of those little bits and pieces in order to make things work like they should. Tools, on the other hand, are a different matter. A tool is a tool. If you have one made specifically for the job, you may have an easier time getting that job done. And there are a lot of tools designed for AR builders.
And now would be a good time to talk about the difference between an AR builder (one who is capable of building an AR), and Armorer (one who might build an AR, keep it running, trouble-shoot, fix problems, etc.), and a gunsmith (one who could make parts for the rifle from raw ingredients). Armorers require a certain level of expertise that comes from training and (more often than not) apprenticeship. Gunsmiths have more training, and often have a set of skills that extend to a wider variety of firearms (whereas an armorer may only have expertise in one platform). Each of these people will need a more specialized set of tools.
Since we’re talking about building an AR, and not milling steel, we’ll keep it confined to the basics. The tools in the list below can be picked up from any of the parts supply houses. Some are available at a hardware store. You may already have some. If you want a specialized set, they come pre-packaged.

• Bench with vise (you’ll need to clamp some things down before torquing nuts)
• Receiver bocks for upper and lower (specially made blocks hold aluminum parts secure without crushing them)
• Punch set (pony up for one with a wide variety of sizes)
• Roll pin punch set (a normal punch mauls roll pins–ask me. I know)
• Nylon/brass hammer (these do a number of jobs without marring metal)
• Ball peen hammer (sometimes a steel hammer is needed)
• Combo wrench for the buffer tube, barrel nut, flash hider (these are great to keep handy–a specialty tool)
• Torque wrench (we’ll be getting scientific later in the process, and this will help with measurements)
• Screwdriver set with hex heads (useful for all sorts of tasks)
• Head space gauges (again with the precise measurements)

Are all tools the same? Obviously not. Think about it in this dichotomy. You can buy a $300 .45 ACP that will hurl a small piece of lead down range. You can spend $3,000 on a .45 ACP that will hurl a small piece of lead down range. Can the target tell the difference? Negative. Can you? I bet you could.
Some tools, like screw drivers, are purpose built to break if you exceed the recommended torque. This is a good thing. Normal screwdrivers may not be so forgiving. And some tools that are made from brass are designed to strike steel without chipping, scratching, or (for you muzzle-loaders and re-loaders) sparking. Brass hammers, nylon hammers, nylon blocks, blocks of wood… it is really up to you. As with most hobbies, there is someone out there who will sell you the exact thing you need to achieve a very specific task. And it will get ludicrously expensive. But you’ll have a kick-ass tool box at the end.
Or you can do like most of us do, and wing it. When I’m building something, I’ll run across a specific need, and see what tool I already have that will solve the problem. If I can’t with what I have on hand, I’ll hit the hardware store in-town. If I can’t find instant gratification there, I’ll hit the internet and wait a couple of days.
It is really up to you and your budget. How much do you want to spend on the one build? Are you going to get use out of other tools–enough to justify the expense? Is it better to buy a set of tools, or pick up only the ones you need?
Regardless of how you decide to do it, you will need some parts and some tools. And if you’re playing along at home, and getting ready for the build, now’s the time to start spending money.

Wheeler Engineering’s Professional AR Armorer’s Tool Kit. Everything you need?

Or you can go lighter. But there are kits available for a wide variety of budgets and needs.

Micro Black Aces Shotgun! Is it Legal?

Black Aces is offering a discount for GunsAmerica readers. If you’ve been thinking about buying a DT now might be the time. Use the code GA10 when ordering and get 10% off. Check out Black Aces: http://www.blackacestactical.com/dt
These aren’t easy to find, either. Ordering is easy enough, but they’re not languishing on store shelves, if you know what mean. As of the writing of this, only one lucky reader can buy one on GunsAmerica: http://www.gunsamerica.com/Black Aces DT
During the course of this review, I asked Black Aces Tactical’s Eric Lemoine what DT stands for. “DT stands for Delirium Tremens,” Lemoine replied. “Back in November, when we announced that it was going into production and we published our ATF letter, the shockwaves that it sent across the internet were profound.  The AR community was not pleased.  So that weekend, as we sat at the bar, we thought the appropriate name of the weapon would be DT, considering the tremors and horrors that it was sending across the community.”

Introducing the Black Aces DT

Black Aces Tactical isn’t a household name. Yet. They don’t have the longevity of Colt or the pedigree of Browning, but we think the Black Aces brand will grow because these guys are building guns that no one else even dares to develop. The best example is their redesign of the classic the pump shotgun, the DT. With their billet receivers, removable magazines, and pistol grip stocks, these shotguns are the Ferraris of pump guns.

Looking for a compact 12 gauge? Check out the Black Aces DT.

8.5″ barrel and a folding adapter for a Sig brace. And it doesn’t require any extra paperwork.

Black Aces has also brought to market a gun that seems to defy law and logic. The Pro Series 5 DT is an 8.5” barreled Pistol grip “gun” that does not fall under NFA restriction. Utilizing a (fixed or side folding) SB15 Arm Brace, the DT falls in to the murky category know as PGO (pistol grip only). We will get into the legality of all this later, but what you need to know is this gun is legal for you to own with no NFA strings attached. And if that weren’t enough, the DT is beyond bad ass.

Features

• Short 8.5” barrel
• Pro Series 5 mag fed receiver
• ATI talon stock with pistol tube adapter (side folder optional)
• Sig SB15 Arm Brace
• Billet Safety
• Despoked Barrel Clamp
• Billet Magazine Tube
• Billet 5 sided multi positional action tube
• Magpul RVG
• Choice of (2) 5 round magazines or (1) 10 round magazine
• Choice of Cerakote color
• All ATF letters included
• No AOW of SBS NFA stamps required
• No 6-8 month wait

The DT from the business end.

The DT starts with a Mossberg design, but moves way beyond the typical 500.

Design

Built around the Black Aces Tactical hybrid pump action billet receiver, the DT is a purpose built scattergun. The gun feeds from Saiga 12 magazines and drums, making its capacity whatever you want it to be. 3 round sticks for hunting, 20 round drums for range fun. It only fires 2 ¾ shells, so you high power 3 ½ or 3 inch magnum guys are out of luck. Birdshot, buckshot, slugs, flares, less than lethal–the DT will eat them all up with out a second thought. The DT is built like a brick shit house, so you can expect this gun to function reliably for a lifetime.
The biggest part of the DT’s design is its short overall length. It is built to meet a minimum length requirement of 26 inches for a PGO (pistol grip only shotgun), technically it is considered a firearm by the ATF. We will go more into detail about what a PGO shotgun is and where it falls exactly in the ATF’s eyes.
The DT utilizes a cut down Mossberg 500 barrel measuring in at 8.5 inches. It is then teamed up with an ATI Talon pistol grip stock system that uses a pistol buffer tube and Sig SB15 Arm Brace. This brings the overall length to 28” and 19” folded. As far as the ATF’s concerned, a firearm is measured from extreme ends–so a folded Sig brace is good to go.

Even with the 8.5″ barrel, the DT is still not a short barreled anything.

Legal Perspective

Before I go any further, let me make this clear. This is not an NFA weapon. There is no stamp required. This gun is legal in the ATF’s eyes, but not every state feels the same. New York and California restrict the gun. The other 48 are good to go as long as you find an educated firearms dealer who is willing to transfer you the firearm. You may also want to carry a copy of the supplied ATF paperwork that comes with each gun in case you run into someone who is not convinced.

What it isn’t

The DT is not a SBS (short-barreled shotgun) nor is it an AOW (any other weapon). If you want to do the research for yourself, here is a link to the ATF’s NFA Hand book.

Even though it fires 12 gauge shotshells, it isn’t a shotgun. Don’t let the nomenclature confuse you.

For those willing to take my word, here are the abbreviated definitions supplied by the ATF that are relevant to this weapon.
Short-barreled shotgun: A weapon modified from a shotgun that has a barrel less than 18 inches long.
The key phrase there is “from a shotgun.” In other words, it had to be a traditional shotgun first. And a shotgun is a gun designed to be fired from the shoulder.

Any Other Weapon: A weapon manufactured without a shoulder stock that is less than 26 inches in overall length.
For shotgun type guns, this means that they have never had a shoulder stock attached to them. So they’re not shotguns.
Firearm: By legal definition the DT is considered a “Firearm.” In the ATF’s definitions, a firearm (at least in this sense) is a  gun that has never had a stock that has an overall length of at least 26 inches.
Though we call it a shotgun, it is not legally defined as a shotgun. It is simply a firearm. Confusing? For more information, read up on the history of the National Firearms Act here.
Or read this review of a PGO Mossberg 500. It covers a lot of the same ground.

The DT is compact enough to be easily concealed.

What it really is

The DT isn’t just a weapon, it’s a revolution, it changed the way we perceive guns that shoot shot shells. With its development we can chop 10 inches off of the normal shotgun, incorporate the folding arm brace and roughly lose another 10 inches off the firearm and find ourselves with package that is the same size as a normal shotgun’s barrel.

Shooting the DT

Shooting the DT is an experience! The recoil is modest, the muzzle flash is more reminiscent of a cannon, and the percussion that you feel every time you pull the trigger is similar to being inside of an explosion. Will any of this stop you from enjoying every second of your trigger time? Hell No! Every shot you take with the DT is a shot of adrenaline. It’ll put a smile on your face–guaranteed.
When you actually run the gun, you begin to appreciate the generous tolerances of the action bars as they keep the gun from binding. You begin to appreciate the speed and ease at which you can reload the gun. You notice that the magazine release is precise and easily actuated with your off hand or your trigger finger. The magazines fit to the receiver with little play while still inserting eassily. The DT is built like a Swiss watch where it should be and built like an Ak47 where it needs to be. Out of the hundreds of shells I fired (both brass and steel rimmed) I had no jams, no malfunctions, no problems what so ever.

Rock out the magazine.

Rock the new mag back in.

Reloads with the DT consist of a click when the pin falls on an empty chamber. Rack the slide. Drop the empty magazine.  Rock the new magazine into place and close the action. It all happens very quickly and is smooth as silk. It is not as fast as reloading a GLOCK, but a hell of a lot faster than re-stuffing a magazine tube.

Can you actually hit anything with it?

Though it has a short little barrel measuring in at 8.5 inches, the DT is capable of putting lead on target. Realistically we accept that we are short 10 inches of barrel, and a cylinder bore choke away from a modest group, but the DT is actually capable of consistent and somewhat tight patterns. From 7 yards, Estate 00 buck patterned a 4 inch group. Moving out to 15 yards, the DT put down a 7.5 inch group with 6 of the 9 pellets hitting inside a target. Moving to slugs, I repeated the test at 7 yards and was able to put 4 Fiocchi low recoil slugs into a 1.5 inch group. Again moving out to 15 yards, I was able to put 4 of the Fiocchi slugs into a 3 inch group.

Buckshot from 7 yards.

Buckshot from 15 yards.

Inside of 25 yards the DT is capable of making consistent hits. The obvious choice for me is to run slugs in this gun. Moving outside of realistic shotgun engagement distances, the DT suffers from a decent drop in velocity that makes buckshot inconsistent. And long range work with slugs requires a bit of Kentucky windage.

Slugs from 7 yards.

Slugs from 15 yards.

Ergonomics of the DT

The DT is designed to be comfortable to shoot. It has padding built into the pistol grip, it has a Magpul vertical grip that is offset to the left, but able to be positioned at 4 other locations around the action tube making the gun ambidextrous. The gun also has an ambidextrous magazine release and safety.
The DT takes all of the good traits of the Mossberg 500, combines them with the capacity and quick reloading of the Saiga 12, and gives it to you in a package that is well within the size of a normal shotgun’s barrel.
One shortcoming of the weapon is that it doesn’t come from the factory with any accurate way to place shots. It has no sights. It is drilled and tapped for the addition of a standard Mossberg 1913 rail. The assumption here is that you’ll top it off with some sort of red dot. I picked up an inexpensive rail for $10 that did the job. On top of this rail I put an old Primary Arms Microdot that lasted right around 200 rounds before the glass shattered out of the front from the percussion.
Still. Adding an optic to this gun is a must. The addition of a PA microdot allowed me to accurately place slugs on human sized target with ease out to 50 yards and inside of 20 yards it made shots with slugs as precise as with a full sized shotgun. The addition of the red dot sight took what would most certainly be a range toy and made it into a functional working gun.

Conclusion/ Should you buy one?

In an effort to perfect the DT, Black Aces Tactical is launching a new model called the DTR in early August 2015 that will address the lack of mounting surfaces on the DT. The model designated as DTR fixes the problem of mounting optics and or lights/lasers to the DT. Constructed form a single piece T6 6061 aluminum the RB7DT quad rail acts as both a mounting surface and as a barrel shroud  protecting you form the inevitably hot barrel while you are blasting away at the range. The DTR retails for $1328 making it roughly $150 more than the DT.
Even without the extra mounting space, the Black Aces Tactical DT is a shotgun evolved; it redefines what is capable and legal from a pump action shotgun. If you are looking for the next cool toy, force multiplier, or work gun–the Black Aces Tactical DT might be the firearm for you. The DT comes retails for right around $1200, it is available for sale directly through the Black Aces Tactical website as well as online on GunsAmerica from one of our many dealers.

When folded, the DT fits inside this 5.11 backpack.

The DT isn’t flat, but it is compact.

Iran: We Won

Iran declared it won the decade-long struggle with the West to rein in its nuclear program after it signed an agreement with the U.S. and five world powers Tuesday. “To our neighbours: Do not be deceived by the propaganda of the warmongering Zionist regime. #Iran & its power will translate into your power,” President Hassan Rouhani tweeted. During a state TV address, Rouhani said Iran had achieved all of its objectives through negotiations. “All the sanctions, even arms embargoes and missile-related sanctions… would all be lifted,” he said. Fars, the state-run news agency, reports that Rouhani boasted that “Iran will only be placed under certain limited arms deal restrictions for five years.” Fars continued: “Iran will inject gas into its highly advanced IR8 centrifuge machines, continue its nuclear research and development, and keep its Arak Heavy Water Facility and Fordo and Natanz enrichment plants under the agreement.” Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif called the deal "not a ceiling but a solid foundation." "We must now begin to build on it," he wrote on Twitter.