Saturday, March 11, 2017

AR15 Lower Receiver


Sale!
ar15 lower
BLR-2TCC Lowerar15 lower

Critical Capabilities Billet AR15 Lower Receiver

$149.99 $119.99
Critical Capabilities Billet Aluminum AR15 Lower Receivers! Please provide FFL information of where you want yours sent.
In stock

Product Description

Critical Capabilities’ Billet Lower Receivers are functional, beautiful, and affordable. They are also packed with features:
7075 T-6 aircraft grade billet aluminum
Hard anodized per Mil-Spec 8625 Type 3 Class 2
Multi-caliber marked
Precision broached magwell with beveled feed lips
Machined and engraved to be compatible with 45/60 degree short throw selectors
Compatible with all Mil-Spec components and magazines
Compatible with most after market parts, such as the Magpul BAD Lever, Norgon mag release, etc.
Rear-takedown pin spring capture screw for easy installation
Bolt catch pin replaced by threaded rod for easy installation
Upper tensioning screw removes slop between upper and lower receivers
Ambi trigger finger rests with grooves above and below mag release/catch
Integrated large opening, ‘winter’ trigger guard
Manufactured to Mil-Spec dimensions
Manufacturer: Critical Capabilities LLC
Model: NC-15
Caliber: Multi
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HIP FIRE TRIGGERS


Sale!
HIPERFIRE® ECL
HIPERFIRE® ECLFeature-Chart-HPT-24sTRIGGER SYSTEMmat

HIPERFIRE®ECL

$275.00 $262.00
HIPERTOUCH® FCGs have uniquely solved two problems with stock AR triggers and AR trigger upgrades respectively: 1) High Trigger Weight, and 2) Low Hammer Fall Energy.
FREE AMERICAN RESISTANCE GEAR ARMOR’S MAT WITH PURCHASE OF HIPERFIRE® ECL!
Only 1 left in stock

Product Description

Trigger Weight: The real culprit behind high trigger pull weight is high sear impingement force that produces high friction. To get around that, the stock “AR” trigger and hammer mechanical advantage was changed and the toggle spring feature added to reduce the impingement force on the trigger sear. Designers of two-stage products changed the functional location of the primary sear; HIPERFIRE®’s design has not, retaining the stock design’s single-stage simplicity. This is important for when stock triggers are pulled, the hammer cam-action signals hammer fall is imminent. When 2-stage triggers are pulled, the final higher weight stage also signals hammer fall. This can lead to the flinching problem we all know about. Some like to say the better 2-stage triggers have glass rod or candy-cane like breaks to sell the idea that they don’t signal hammer fall. In any case, the HIPERTOUCH® ECL does not signal hammer fall because the trigger weight is constant over the entire stroke.
Hammer Fall Energy: HIPERTOUCH® features the unique toggle spring functionality that reduces trigger weight, but while doing so, it also increases hammer fall energy by over 35% over the MIL-spec stock design and every trigger upgrade in the market. This permits the shooter to ignite hard MIL and foreign primers as well as hard to ignite 22 rimfire ammunition.
HIPERTOUCH® FCGs retain Eugene Stoner’s design of simple elegance while remaining very robust, without the gritty feel. Shooting for high accuracy is no longer an almost impossible chore. It’s no longer necessary to improve the stock performance by manually polishing the high-friction trigger and hammer sear surfaces, where the end result was only marginally better anyway.
Ambitious sportsmen and marksmen have been turning to trigger upgrades with varying degrees of satisfaction. The better replacements have been one and two-stage triggers with fixed final weights ranging from between 2¾ and 4¼ pounds with what some have called a glass rod or candy cane trigger break. Some of these devices require factory or user calibration, maintenance, and/or replacement for wear or doubling. Some of these devices also employ reduced power springs, which have compromised reliable ignition for a “dream” trigger weight.
The HIPERFIRE® “AR” accessory response to those shooter’s looking for a single-stage and very much improved, match quality, “AR” trigger upgrade that delivers high performance is the HIPERTOUCH® ECL. It nests in unmodified standard AR-15® and AR-10® type lower receivers in the same way as stock “AR” triggers and hammers without having to remove the safety selector. It is comprised of three subassemblies: the trigger, hammer, and toggle, spring groups. All the parts are made from carbon steel alloys that have been hardened for wear and strength. It features exceptionally low trigger weights with smooth pre-travel, a very clean hammer release with no report to break, match action response, and faster hammer lock-up. Only now with HIPERTOUCH® trigger and hammer actions does “AR” trigger “squeeze” have real meaning.
Additionally, the HIPERTOUCH® ECL also sports the HIPERSHOE® adjustable finger pad as first introduced with the 24C, which can be positioned at five (5) different vertical detent locations along the straight trigger’s bow. By changing location, the shooter can further adjust pre-travel and weight within the broader spring range settings than without it as desired for even more trigger responsiveness. Also, the adjustable pad lengthens slightly the extension of the finger to the pad with respect to the pistol grip, which alters the feel and dexterity of the finger on the trigger for added comfort and/or control. The trigger can be installed and operated with and without the shoe.
HIPERTOUCH® 24, 24E, 243G, and 24C Specs Plus these Enhancements
  • Nickel Alloy Finish Applied to the Hammer and Trigger
  • Smoother Trigger Pull
  • Prolongs Useful Cycle Life
  • Can Be Easier To Clean
  • Sports a Black HIPERSHOE®
  • US Pat. Nos. 8,572,880, 9,052,149 and 9,175,917, Others Pending
The HIPERTOUCH® ECL is HIPERFIRE’s top-of-the-line trigger for AR-15® and AR-10® type rifles. The HIPERTOUCH® name is short for HIgh PERformance TOUCH, 24 for user adjustable trigger weights. The ECL was developed as part of a 3-gun promotion. But, one must realize that this and the other triggers aren’t just for 3-gun. It now sports a new evocative name since its performance eclipses that of even HIPERFIRE’s 24C. It installs and functions just like all the HIPERTOUCH® 24s. For installation and operational features of the HIPERTOUCH® family of AR fire-controls, go to the HIPERTOUCH® 24 page and watch the videos. A helpful read of the FCG Trouble Shooting Guide relates some issues customers will have during and after installation that are easily resolved with attention to detail and common sense. Found in the guide is this graphic, AR-15LowerCavity.PDF. HIPERTOUCH® FCGs may not work in lowers with pivot holes that are outside the MIL-Spec dimensions shown in RED.

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Monday, March 6, 2017

The Ruger AR-556

 The Ruger AR-556

When it comes to rifles in the U.S., none has ever been more popular than the AR-15.  I personally think that one of the reasons for the mind-numbing popularity of the AR-15 is because the platform has a military-proven pedigree, can be had at a reasonable price, and is ear-to-ear-smile fun all day long. It makes perfect sense then, that Ruger would make it a point to market an AR rifle for everyday Americans – because providing quality affordable guns to mainstream America is what Ruger does. And it did it with the AR-556.
The Ruger AR-556 brings a quality black rifle to the “every home” market at a sweet price. Photo: Ruger.
That said; one concern I had when I heard that Ruger was going to produce an AR-15 was that they might Ruger-ize it mechanically, by adding extra safeties or creating some sort of proprietary aspect. They have been known to be a bit overzealous in those areas in the past. Either of those would have rendered the rifle good for propping open doors, but little else in my opinion. Thankfully, the engineers at Ruger seem to have agreed. This rifle is essentially a mil-spec basic kit in a box. Don’t worry, if you are a Ruger fanatic there is nothing to fear – Ruger stamped their name and logo in just about every spot they could think of on the AR-556, but tastefully. What Ruger has given us is as close to a generic direct gas impingement black rifle as anyone, but with just the right amount of Ruger “flavor.” And, when I say ‘generic’ I mean it in a positive way. There is literally no shortage of AR builders in the marketplace that each try to separate from the pack by customizing the rifle, or adding more bling, or both. What they do, in reality is the opposite, especially when it comes to the new buyer. Buying a firearm can be intimidating for the unseasoned, and the AR platform is likely the most so. Ruger did what very few others have done by making the purchase of an AR-15 easy and comforting. They make it easy by building a “just what you need” rifle that doesn’t intimidate your skillset or wallet (with an MSRP of $799), and they make it comforting because – well, simply because the box says “Ruger”.
The gas block, milled from billet, has a serrated ramp leading up to the front sight post, and below includes a bayonet lug and QD socket.

WHAT MATTERS MOST

I said before that Ruger didn’t “Ruger-ize” this rifle. What they didn’t do was negatively change the specifications of the rifle in such a way that would either detract from its usefulness, or create a proprietary parts list. One thing Ruger did do that impressed this writer, was created a Delta ring that one person who has only two hands can remove – without tools or a vise. The Delta ring was designed so that one person could easily remove the handguard. Traditional AR Delta ring removal requires pulling rearward against some significant resistance, while simultaneously turning the ring, which can be tight. Unless you have a vise handy this can sometimes require the help of another person. With the Ruger AR-556, all you need to do is simply twist to loosen, and twist to tighten. It works wonderfully, and unless Ruger has a patent on it, we might start seeing this copied a lot.
The barrel of the AR-556 is topped with a Ruger-style flash suppressor and has a 1:8-inch rate of twist. Photo: Ruger.
A cold hammer-forged 4140 chrome-moly steel barrel with 1:8″ twist rate should handle bullets from 35 to 77 grains nicely, and the chamber is 5.56 NATO. The barrel is finished off with matte black oxide which reduces glare and provides corrosion resistance.  The barrel is not lined, nor is it coated. No chrome, no Melonite. In part, this keeps costs down. You can’t build a frills gun and sell it at a no-frills price. It is very likely too that the people at Ruger understand the reality that very few rifle owners are going to shoot out the barrel. It’s fun to put on tactical pants and skip a shave and talk about whether chrome lining or Melonite coating is better for accuracy and long barrel life – but in the real world, very few people will use their sporting rifle to the extent that it matters. And frankly, those who will are not looking at this rifle – except as a gift idea for a family member.
The pistol grip and other furniture bear the Ruger logo and are good quality.
Ruger did put money into the rifle in several places – just the right places, I think. The gas block that is milled from billet was one of the first things that caught my eye. The ramp up to the front sight post (which is adjustable for elevation) is nicely serrated to eliminate glare. It also has a quick-disconnect (QD) socket and the always necessary bayonet lug. Just rear of that is the most lackluster piece of furniture on the rifle in my opinion, the plastic handguard. It is the epitome of “no frills”, but it serves its purpose. Again, money saved here lets you take the rifle home cheap and upgrade later. The gas tube runs inside that, taking us back to the upper receiver. This is where Ruger cut no corners. The fit and finish is nice, and the parts are high quality materials and well made.  The bolt carrier’s inside diameter and the gas key’s inside diameter are both chrome-plated, which should provide very good resistance to hot gases. The gas key is staked so that it will not loosen after extensive firing. Once again, a matte black oxide finish on the exterior of the bolt carrier provides corrosion resistance. The bolt itself is machined from 9310 alloy steel and is shot peened and pressure tested to ensure strength, structural integrity and durability.
The six-position telescoping stock includes a sling mounting ring, and of course – the Ruger logo.
The upper receiver is a flattop, made from aerospace-grade 7075-T6 aluminum forging, and  includes a forward assist, dust cover and brass deflector, and is Type III hard coat anodized for maximum durability. The flattop includes an adequate portion of 1913 Picatinny rail, some of which is occupied by the flip-up rear sight. Mounting a short electronic optic can be done without removing the rear sight, but if you want a full-length scope on it, that rear sight has to come off. It’s easy if you have the right sized hex wrench, but the nut is not captured and easy to lose if you’re not careful. A scope mounted with just medium height rings easily clears the front post for a clear look down range.
Moving back along the mil-spec buffer tube, Ruger has equipped the AR-556 with a six-position adjustable stock. It proudly bears the Ruger logo, so the question of who supplies it remains a mystery for the moment. It is the essential stock we’ve come to expect on our sporting rifle, and though the cheek weld is a wee bit sparse, it’s a nice stock and it locks firmly into each position. It also includes a sling mount ring, an appreciated touch.
The lower receiver is also well built from top material and the fit between upper and lower on our test rifle was nice and snug. The pistol grip is a polymer material with some stippling for grip. I found it comfortable and practical, and as it does not have that annoying A2 protrusion for giant-sized fingers, I was pleased! The trigger is a single stage mil-spec type, and nothing to write home about. It is heavy and gritty, just like single-stage-mil-spec triggers are – but I found it to be consistent and it did not really prevent me from shooting respectable groups. If the buyer wants to sink $100+ into a new trigger, I have no doubt it will improve the rifle – but the average new buyer doesn’t need to pay for a trigger they can’t appreciate right off the bat. Once again, Ruger made smart choices with respect to which elements to spend the money on.
Ruger didn’t skimp on the important parts. The AR-556 has quality components throughout. And yes, the gas key is staked… do we really have to say so?

SHOOTING THE RUGER AR-556

The AR-556 is a shooter. During extensive evaluation and testing with this rifle, I put somewhere around five-hundred rounds through it. And the ammo ran the whole spectrum – from bargain bulk buy stuff, to the “holy crap, they want how much… for how many!?” exotic brands. I shot everything from 40 grains to 77 grains, and at varying distances and with different sighting systems. The rifle performed well through all of it, proving beyond any doubt that it can perform better than I can.
Starting with the open sights, it’s an easy rifle to get acquainted with. The front post is adjustable for elevation, and the rear flip-up sight is adjustable for windage. I didn’t make any adjustments to them because they were “close enough” out of the box for the ranges I’d be using them. Putting on a quality electronic optic like the Aimpoint PRO, allowed me to stretch the distance a little and increase the precision of my aim. But where I really started to learn that this Ruger rifle is serious was when I mounted a good quality scope. I was fortunate to have Burris provide their excellent AR-5.56 4.5-14x 42mm scope, which paired beautifully with the rifle. With the adjustable telescoping stock set to the ‘just right’ position for my hold, the cheek weld and eye relief of the Burris was perfect. Now, with a tack sharp view of my target, I could do some 100 yard tests and see how she groups. Of course, whenever I make such elaborate plans, the forces of the Universe get together in a huddle, point at me and giggle, and then unite against me. The first time I did my 100 yard tests, the wind was gusting and swirling at speeds up to 35 mph. That’s part of it – as they say, but I’m not skilled enough to do the hardware justice in those conditions. Those groups were understandably larger, but surprisingly impressive.
The AR-556 showed a preference for heavier bullets, like this Norma Match 77-grain ammo.
The rifle really liked the 69-grain Australian Outback load.
The next outing provided only ‘breezy’ conditions and yielded more consistent results. What I learned during both sessions was that I could trust the AR-556 to perform consistently. It likes the heavier bullets a little better, but across the range of ammo the results were good. The trigger is fairly pedestrian – basic mil spec single stage. I measured the break at about 8 ½ lbs. and it does have some grit. But it remained consistent, which was the important thing.
Testing the accuracy of the AR-556 was made much easier with the Burris AR-5.56 scope, which fits nicely on the Picatinny rail provided.
Ruger didn’t eliminate expected components like a forward assist, included sights or dust cover in order to keep the price down.

JUST MY OPINION

Trying to sift through the AR-15 marketplace is like trying to find a blind date in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. That confusion is only amplified for new gun buyers, who often fall victim to the sales pitch at the counter and wind up either over spending for gear they don’t need or being fed some bargain junk the store owner stocked up on during the pre-election panic. For decades, Americans have come to rely on the name Ruger for good quality firearms that won’t break the budget. Not having America’s favorite modern sporting rifle in their catalog was curiously conspicuous. Perhaps realizing that the next logical step from the iconic Ruger 10/22 is the AR-15, there was a lot of money being left on the table. If Johnny or Susie cut their teeth on the 10/22, why not let their next Ruger rifle be the most popular style – the AR? Whatever their motives, I think it was a good move to put the AR-556 SKU into the catalog. I also think the team at Ruger did a fine job of outfitting this rifle to be just what the entry-level user truly needs. I think if there was a Norman Rockwell painting that showed a black sporting rifle leaning in the corner, a closer look with a magnifying glass would probably reveal the Ruger logo. I can count on one hand the number of ARs I would recommend to a new shooter. Rugged and affordable; accurate and reliable – the Ruger AR-556 is one of them.
For more information, visit http://ruger.com/products/ar556/models.html.

The AR-556 comes standard with a flip-up rear sight mated up to a fixed front sight assembly. Photo: Ruger.

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Pietta Model 1858 New Army Brass Frame .44 Black Powder Revolver

Pietta Model 1858 New Army Brass Frame .44 Black Powder Revolver

And now it’s time for something completely different! Although many people purchase the Pietta Model 1858 as a display piece or to learn more about gun history, this is actually a serviceable revolver that is surprisingly quick on the draw. Therefore, if you’re planning to have any quick-draw competitions, you can’t go wrong with the Pietta Model 1858.

When you think about it, any future SHTF scenario during which you’ll need a gun will probably require a quick draw for survival, so you just might want to add this revolver to your weapons cache. The gun handles well and is accurate, but you will need some practice working with the caps if you want to be able to get the most out of the Pietta Model 1858.

Inexpensive Doesn’t Mean “Cheap”

Whether you choose one or several of these guns, remember to always make time to take them to the shooting range. As any skilled shooter knows, each gun feels and acts differently, and you must practice to be fully prepared to use your weapons during an emergency situation. Also, be sure to take all of the proper precautions so that you can access at least one gun in a hurry.
If you have to decide between two of these cheaper guns and one gun that costs around $500, be sure to carefully consider your overall usage and needs. Any of the guns on this list will offer you a much-needed advantage during an emergency, but they won’t necessarily be as powerful. Everyone needs one solid handgun, but if you have that covered already, it may be best to choose two guns instead of one to increase your cache.

CVA Hunter – .45-70 ,,MY NEXT PURCHASE

CVA Hunter – .45-70

cvahunter
Now something for you heavy metal fans out there. This single shot break action rifle is just one of those guns that folks tend to fall in love with.
Whether that’s due to the eccentricity factor, the low price, or the fact that this gun exceeds the expectations for its price point, it’s hard to say.
There is just something about a single-shot rifle that kind of draws us in. In fact, this rifle is available in several of our favorite calibers (.223, .243., .308, and 7mm-08) under our $250 ceiling.
Something about this unusual rifle, available with a 22″ or 25″ barrel, just seems like it’s calling out for a caliber that’s similarly off the beaten path. We could just as easily argue for any of the other variants, particularly the .308 and .243 Win.
This gun isn’t for everyone, of course, but if you’re looking for a great value that also brings some swagger, the CVA Hunter is an excellent candidate.

Taurus 738 TCP .380

Taurus 738 TCP .380


The Taurus 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol may not be on our list of best all-time handguns at any price point, but if you need something for less than $249, this is a very solid choice.
This super lightweight pistol weighs in at only 10.2 ounces, which makes it very useful as a concealed carry weapon. The construction and build quality of this pistol is solid, and the magazine release is ambidextrous for your convenience, lefties.
Taurus has been making huge strides in build quality and reputation in recent years and it shows on the range. The benefits also show up on the price tag

Hi-Point C9 Handgun – 9mm, I Love Mine

Hi-Point C9 Handgun – 9mm


The previously mentioned Taurus 738 TCP .380 may retail for more than the Hi-Point C9, but user reviews actually favor the less expensive C9 pistol.
This American made handgun can be found for well under $200, yes it’s true, and it features a nice ergonomic grip, a high impact polymer frame and a +P rating to handle powerful loads. It isn’t lightweight by any means.
All in all, this is a nice little piece for the price and it’s got a good reputation for refusing to jam or misfire. For a bargain basement price of $160 at Academy, this Hi-Point 9mm is one of the best values you’re going to find. Period.