by Scott Smith Contributing Editor
Command Arms AK47 buffer tube and adjustable stock with Limbsaver’s Tactical Sling
Call it the Modern Sporting Rifle, AR15, M4, this semi-automatic rifle is one of the most popular rifles in history. The MSR is favored for its weight, number of calibers it can be had in, ease of operation and familiarity with the platform, thanks to the number of veterans who are shooters and hunters. Owners of the MSR use it for hunting, self-defense, duty—yes, many agencies issue the same M4 you can purchase—and it is the dominant long gun in three-gun competition.
Another reason the AR/MSR is so popular is the number of accessories available to customize the carbine to your needs.
When you look at an AR, the most noticeable part of the firearm is the forearm. The reasons to swap this out range from being able to mount lights, additional optics, back up sights, or to give you a longer, more supportive shooting position and/or to have a free-floated barrel. The problem with most rail systems is that you have to remove the barrel nut and secure a new one which in many cases is proprietary.
This is generally a pain and increases the expense because you need the appropriate nut wrench as well as a torque wrench to ensure the barrel nut is properly tightened.
Fortis Manufacturing (1224 17th Ave SW, Dept TGM, Puyallup, WA 98371; phone: 253-230-7285; online: fortismfg.com) and Centurion Arms (online: centurionarms.net) offer user installable rails which use the existing barrel nut. Both of these systems will free float the barrel to increase your firearm’s accuracy. Centurion offers rails that will fit around your front sight, if your MSR has a fixed front sight. If you have a low profile gas block, you can install Fortis’ and Centurion’s full length rails systems.
Both systems have quick detach inserts at 3 and 9 o’clock to accommodate right- or left-handed shooter’s slings. To install Fortis or Centurion rails lock the upper receiver in a vice with a receiver block and carefully cut the delta ring off, do the same thing with the spring and “C”clip, then drift the roll pin that secures the gas tube to the gas block. At which point you can carefully remove the tube. Now you can cut and remove the hand guard retaining cap (or you can install a low profile gas block at this point by removing the roll pin from the sight base). Next you can install the rail system. The rails secure around the barrel nut and give you a rock solid platform no matter the shooting position.
Centurion C4 (top) and Fortis Mfg. Rev (bottom) forearms
For those who need more mounting points, the C4 by Centurion would be my choice. This rail is a standard four-sided rail system. It has been milled out to reduce weight and to meet the harshest use. Centurion’s owner is a highly respected former Special Forces operator and Centurion’s rails and complete uppers are in use by his former teammates.
That is the highest recommendation anyone can give. Centurion Arms rails prices range from $229.95-$350.
Being a minimalist I like Fortis’ Rev Rail System. There are rails at 3, 6, 9 and12 o’clock positions on the front of the rail, making forward mounting accessories a snap. If you require additional mounting points the forearm has keyholes which will fit most of the aftermarket rails for sale today.
Removing the additional rails reduces the diameter of the Rev Rail, making it an ideal rail for shooters with smaller hands. Prices for the Rev Rail vary from $209.95-$229.95.
One of the most commonly mounted accessories on ARs is a white light and/ or a laser. I have found Elzetta’s M60 (PO Box 54364; Dept TGM, Lexington, KY 40555; phone: 859-707-7471; online: Elzetta.com) series of lights to be one of the most versatile systems on the market. Elzetta lights can be had with a rear cap or pressure pad activation, variable light intensity and mounts for long guns. The light mount is ambidextrous and can be mounted for vertical or horizontal use.
My test M60 is a simple constant or temporary on/off click cap. This M60 has a high/low output 235/15 lumens; the tail cap rotates approximately 1/8- ½ turn to vary brightness. Keeping it simple ensures ease of operation under stress. Variable output makes this light useful for duty, self-defense, and varmint hunting. The M60 one of the most versatile, affordably priced lights on the market (our T&E model was $195).
Elzetta’s M60 light and Laser Max’s Uni-Max mounted on Centurion’s C4 Rail
With more green lasers being introduced, I have become a bigger fan of them for long guns. LaserMax’s Uni- Max (3495 Winton Place, Bldg B, Dept TGM, Rochester, NY 14623; phone: 800-527-3703; online: lasermax.com) is one of the best packages available.
With an MSRP of $359 the Uni-Max package is not cheap. This is a complete green laser system to attach on a Picatinny rail and is activated by the Momentary Activation Switch (MAS). Laser Max ensures the activation cable will not dangle, thanks to MantaClips and the MantaRail which houses the MAS. A unique feature of the Uni-Max is the Picatinny rail molded into the body so you can mount your white light on it, reducing the amount of real estate lights/lasers take up on your front rail.
One of the best features of the Uni- Max is the repeatable zero (verify this on your firearm). This is important if you are not going to leave the laser attached to your AR. Once “zeroed” I was able to see the green laser at distances out to 50 yards during the day (something you will not do with a red laser), and follow-up shots were quick and accurate. If you are going to use your AR/MSR for self-protection, duty or varmint hunting, consider the Laser Max Uni-Max. This is a first rate piece of kit and will expand your carbine’s usefulness.
A piece of kit that is not an option on your MSR/AR is back-up sights. Knight Armament (701 Columbia Blvd, Dept TGM, Titusville, FL 32780; phone: 321- 607-9900; online: knightarmco.com) offers a 45-degree offset back-up sight system: 45 Offset Flip Up. These sights are offset and are ambidextrous. While the rear is fully adjustable for windage and elevation, I would stick with the tried and true method of using the front sight for elevation and the rear for windage. The 45 Offset is rugged and simple to use. Simply push the sights into position or fold them down when not needed. They lock into place with a ball detent and under normal use they are rock solid. With many of us choosing to use our MSR/AR for multiple uses, invest the $281.25 and it will be money well spent.
BLACKHAWK Offset Thumb Safety and Rail Mounted Thumb Rest with the neon green and pink LowPro Ladder and Slime Line rail covers with Ergo Grip in neon pink
Making the AR “feel right” is one of the other reasons it is so popular.
BLACKHAWK (6160 Commander Pkwy., Dept TGM, Norfolk, VA 23503; phone: 800-694-5263; online: blackhawk.com) is bringing their experience and innovation to the AR market. The first of the AR accessories is the Rail Mounted Thumb Rest. The RMTR attaches to a horizontal rail of your AR/MSR forearm to give you a solid thumbs forward grip to mimic your shooting grip with a handgun.
This gives you more recoil and muzzle control for faster follow-up shots and quicker target acquisition. The RMTR is glass-filled polymer selling for $19.99.
The Offset Thumb Safety is another innovative part that makes your AR/ MSR more shootable. Standard AR thumb safeties require you to move your shooting grip, with the short 45- degree offset of BPG’s safety you can simply swipe your safety on and off without altering your grip. This part can be either a strong side or ambidextrous safety, and will set you back $19.99 for strong side, with the ambi model retailing for $34.99.
Limbsaver (50 W. Rose Nye Way, Dept TGM, Shelton, WA 98584; phone: 360-427-6031; online: Limbsaver.com)is not a name often equated with firearms, but they make several items for AR/MSRs. These include a recoil pad, Sharpshooter X-Ring, Pro Handgun Grip; which make up the Assault Pack ($54.99) and Sling ($44.99). The Snap- On Recoil Pad uses Syms’ proprietary recoil reducing polymer (NAVCOM) which reduces recoil and gives you a solid shooting platform over those of a standard adjustable stock. The X-Ring reduces barrel vibrations to enhance accuracy. It has made my M&P22 shoot tighter groups. Limbsaver addresses one of the biggest issues with the AR/ MSR: the grip. The GI style grip is anything but comfortable, but with the Pro Grip this is not the case, Syms’ grip material is comfortable and gives you a good purchase in wet weather or while wearing gloves.
Limbsaver’s last AR accessory is the SW Tactical Sling. Like other Limbsaver products, the body of the sling is made from NAVCOM which keeps your rifle from sliding when slung, distributes the weight of the firearm and will not roll like other slings. This sling can be used as a twopoint sling or should you prefer it, quickly configures the SW into a singlepoint sling, thanks to the H&K style clips. With the SW Tactical Sling, Limbsaver has a sling to meet the needs of competitors, operators and hunters.
Mission First Tactical’s Battlelink Utility Stock (right); Battleline’s SAPR (center); Limbsaver’s Tactical Snap-on Recoil Pad (left)
Ergo Grips (PO Box 1459, Dept TGM, Moriarty, NM 87035; phone: 877-281- 3783; online: ergogrips.net) has been improving the feel of AR/MSRs for many years now. Ergo Grips has been known for making comfortable grips that fill your hand and give you a secure purchase in the wettest conditions.
Ergo is now offering their grips in fun-wild colors—neon pink or green.
For $26.40 these grips will add flare and comfort to your AR/MSR.
Ergo also offers some of the lowest profile rail covers in the industry. I have been using the black LowPro Ladder polymer covers for years. As the name implies these covers look like a ladder and fills the gaps between your forearm’s rails. This gives you a smaller grip than many of the large panel rail covers.
If you prefer a cover for the entire rail, the Slim-Line is an option. These covers give the rails more protection than the ladder, with very little appreciable size increase. Both the LowPro and the Slim-Line are available in traditional tactical colors or the bright neon green and pink. The bright colors adorn my M&P22 and Daniel Defense LWM4. A three pack of either set will set you back $31.50.
Changing out the stock on your AR/ MSR will give you a better fit, one I suggest is the Battlelink Utility Stock (BUS) from Mission First Tactical (780 Haunted Lane, Dept TGM, Bensalem, PA 19020; phone: 267-803-1517; online: missionfirsttactical.com). This stock gives you numerous options for attaching sling swivels, or slots to attach your sling directly to the stock. The rear of the BUS opens for batteries or to store other small parts. The most unique feature of the stock is the longer toe to allow you better stock-to-shoulder placement when prone or sitting. The stock can be as much as an inch longer than other adjustable stocks to better fit those with long arms. You get all of these features for $124.99, which is more than competitive in today’s market.
The newest piece of kit for 2013 is the SAPR from Battleline Industries (9888 W. Belleview Ave. #134, Dept TGM, Littleton, CO 80123; phone: 303-917- 8231;online: battlelineindustries.com).
Knight Armament’s 45-degree Offset back-up sights (mounted together for photographic reasons) mounted on Fortis’ Rev Rail
SAPR stands for Stock Attachment Precision Rifle. If this sounds like GI speak, good; the company owner is an Air Force small arms instructor and former Navy gunner’s mate. The SAPR was designed to overcome the shortcomings of AR/MSR stocks today. The popular SOPMOD and Magpul stocks do not adapt well to large precision optics or to various red dots with risers. When operating with these stocks you sacrifice cheek weld and proper weapon placement.
Attaching the SAPR gives the shooter a solid cheek weld when running optics that require the use of extra high and super high mounts. To get the best performance out of high power optics you must install cheek risers, but they are a general fit, not a specific fit for you. The SAPR allows the shooter to adjust the cant of the butt pad, height of the riser and can easily be rotated out of the way to use an offset iron sight or mini-red dot. You cannot do that with the clip-on factory risers. I have been running the SAPR on my Stag 3G, which is set up for duty and 3Gun. The riser works well when used with my Leupold MkIV CQT or with an EoTech and offset iron sights. I found the SAPR to live up to Josh’s description of it. If you have various uppers and mixed optics for your AR/ MSR, this is a must have.
The last item we looked at was for the AK47 from Command Arms (911 William Leigh Dr., Dept TGM, Tullytown, PA 19007; phone: 215-949- 9944; online: commandarms.com).
Command Arms offers a polymer buffer tube and M4 style adjustable stock set for $99.99. Having a six-position stock allows the AK to fit more body sizes.
While some will poo-poo the polymer buffer tube, it is durable enough to fit my needs. Command Arms offers it in aluminum with a recoil reducing system, if you prefer a beefier option.
I hope this gave you a few ideas on items to enhance your AR/MSR. I’ve barely touched all the accessories on the market today. Remember, shoot straight, shoot safe, have fun and to be able to keep shooting join the NRA, SAF, or GOA.
