review

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Fusion XF-Pro

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Fusion Firearms

XF Pro Review

  I am a huge fan of new, feature rich, handguns at an affordable price. When I say new, I don’t mean just another Glock clone or Sig remake. Fusion Firearms has brought out a new compact handgun that is packed with features. It is the Fusion XF-Pro 9mm. They were gracious enough to send the Black and Bronze version out for this review.

  When you first see the Fusion XF-Pro, you notice a bunch of things. First is that they designed it to be an all metal handgun and the machining on the outside is just perfect. Next you notice the aluminum grip panels it uses. It came with the bronze camo ones installed and an extra set of all black grip panels. More important is that the XF-Pro uses common Glock magazines. It comes with 2 in the box. After that, you notice that it is optics compatible and comes with the plates you need. There is also a cleaning kit and some empty brass test shells in the box.

  The Fusion XF-Pro’s frame is made from aluminum. This gives the compact pistol some weight. It weighs in at 33.4 ounces with an optic and empty magazine, or around 31 without an optic. The XF-Pro’s frame design looks like a CZ-75 and a Glock had a kid. The backstrap dips in at the top, like a CZ-75. But then the grip kind of resembles a Glock. Both the front and rear backstrap have some curved lines on them for grip. It runs a large squared trigger guard with some texture lines on the front. Then there is a 3 slot picatinny rail for mounting lights or whatever. The magazine button is raised and only on the left side. The grip panels have small golf ball style dimples. Probably the coolest feature of the XF-Pro is the machined in thumb rest on the left side of the frame. At least if you are right handed, because on the right side of the frame is some indexing texture for your trigger finger, not another thumb rest. 

  Fusion did a nice job of designing the slide on the XF-Pro. It has front and rear angled serrations. These serrations look good, plus they are useful. I would personally like them cut a little deeper. That way you can grip them better if your hands are wet or muddy. The top of the slide has a cut out for a ported barrel. Fusion sells a ported barrel for the XF-Pro, if you want some extra recoil mitigation. On each side of the port cutout is also some very aggressive texture. This is so you can get some grip, if you need to rack the slide on a table or barricade. The XF-Pro slide also has some side window cuts that allow you to see the bronze Gen 4 Glock compatible fluted barrel. Both the barrel and slide have a Tennifer finish.  

  As we move back on the slide, you will find a cutout for mounting optics. Fusion uses a plate system for the XF-Pro. It comes with 2 plates. One is for an RMR footprint optic. The other is for Truglo, Docter, Meopta, Insight, or Vortex footprints. I would like to see a RMSc plate, but since there is an included RMR one, I don't need it. I mounted the new Primary Arms RS-10R and one of their Classic series to the XF-Pro. Both mounted up easily with the supplied RMR plate. The optics sit really high with the plate. Even slightly higher than the slide. This makes it so that back up iron sights will not work with an optic, even suppressor height ones. However, even if you could get high enough sights, the XF-Pro uses 2 different types. The rear sight uses a Glock dovetail and the front uses a Novak dovetail. Fusion, please make them compatible with both a front and rear set from something that matches. Maybe a Sig or Springfield cut if you want to keep a front dovetail.

  Trigger pull is important to some people, I am one of those. The Fusion XF-Pro has a decent trigger for a striker fired handgun. It is a flat face style with a little hook at the end. It also uses a trigger safety. Both of these make it function, and look, very much like a Glock trigger, but better. It has a long take up stroke that is a little grainy. But after the initial take up, the trigger hits a short wall that breaks pretty clean. Reset on the trigger is pretty good. You can shoot the trigger from reset if you like, and that shortens the pull a bunch. My sample has a 4.75 pound pull. It started out around 5 pounds but works its way down a little. In all, it is a pretty decent trigger. To go along with the trigger is a striker indicator on the rear of the slide. A nice touch to let you know that the firearm is ready to fire.

  Performance on the XF-Pro is decent. I really liked shooting the pistol. The all metal construction just shoots so nice. I have only had one problem with feeding and I fed it various different types of ammunition. That one malfunction was a stovepipe malfunction, with cheap 124 gr ball ammo, and that was in the first 50 rounds. The gun seems to run just about anything I put in it. After that, it has gone another 900 without any problems. The thumb rest really helps get a good grip to help reduce some muzzle rise. Having the texture on the other side lets you know when your finger is not on the trigger. However, I do have a few complaints about the XF-Pro. When mounting an optic, it just sits too high above the slide. Does it affect anything? Not really, but it is hard to pick up the dot because of this. Next is that the grips are a little slick and could use more texture. Since it comes with 2 sets, I would like one of them to have a more aggressive texture. The XF-Pro also has a “tail” on the back of the grip frame. This tail makes some mag extensions not work in the gun. Lucky for us, all the extended Glock style magazines work. Another problem with the XF-Pro is that there isn’t any holster compatibility. It needs a special holster because of the thumb rest sticking out on the left side. Before I put the optic on the XF-Pro, I found the iron sights to be very useful. The serrated blacked out rear and white dot front worked well. Another feature I really like is the magazine release button. It is extended and makes dropping mags super easy. Thus making reloads quick. The Fusion XF-Pro is a fun gun to shoot.

  The Fusion Firearms XF-Pro is a nice sporty compact handgun. It has a lot of nice features that you will only find in higher priced handguns. Coming in at $550 makes it a good deal. Using Glock magazines and a few Glock parts makes it a win for anyone that already has Glocks, and if you don’t, the magazines are cheap. If you are in the market for a new handgun, I would check out the Fusion XF-Pro and see what you think.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Newly designed, aluminum framed, pistol that takes Glock magazines

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a compact pistol

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 9MM

  • Magazine Compatibility: Glock magazines

  • Construction: All bar-stock materials, precision CNC machined

  • Barrel: 4" fluted Glock Gen 4 compatible, Tennifer finish

  • Sights: Fixed combat sights, optic-ready with RMR and others  included

  • Trigger: Competition flat-face, one-piece steel milled

  • Grip: Interchangeable panels, Bronze Camo & Black included, aluminum & poly construction

  • Frame: Aluminum with tactical rail, Sure Grip checkering, Thumb rest, hard coat finish

  • Slide: Pro Serrations, Pro Window Cuts, Tennifer Finish

  • Recoil System: Full metal, Glock Gen 4&5 compatible

  • Overall Length: 7.29 inches

  • Weight: 26.5 oz / 1.66 lbs

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black or Chrome

What others are saying?:

Christopher at fusionfirearms.com

Excellent pistol

This pistol is awesome. Received today and went straight to the range to shoot some freedom seeds. 200 rounds and smooth as butter. Only critique I have is wishing this came with a magwell like the XP pro did!

Link to other reviews:

Gammage on YouTube   

GB Guns  

Price point:

MSRP = $549.99

Retail = $500.00

I need it now! Availability:

Palmetto State Armory or Guns.com

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • All Metal

  • Shoots nice

  • Takes Glock magazines and barrels

  • Thumb rest

  • Trigger pull

  • Comes with optic plated

Cons:

  • Not ambidextrous

  • Optics sit extremely high

  • Slick grips

  • Holster compatibility 

Score: 7.50 Good

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Global Ordnance Monolith

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Global Ordnance

Monolith Review

  A little over a year ago, Global Ordnance teased their Monolith rifle and pistol. As is usual when introducing a new rifle, it took some time to get them into production. But alas, here we are. I was one of the first few to receive one to fully try out and review! The Monolith rifle has a ton of features over your standard AR15. I think you will like hearing about them. 

  To start with, the Global Ordnance Monolith is not your fathers AR15. Yes, most of the parts are semi-interchangeable with a standard AR15. Some of those compatible parts are the complete upper receiver assembly, trigger, and the safety selectors. For clarification, the Monolith upper can be used on a standard AR, but a standard AR upper can not be used on the Monolith. Other parts are proprietary, but in a good way. 

  You might ask what is in the name “Monolith”? That is where some of the improvements come in. The Monolith is designed with a single piece barrel assembly. So the muzzle brake, gas block, barrel, and barrel extension are all one machined piece. Unlike an AR15 where those would be four separate pieces. The Monolith also utilizes a 45 degree gas tube that uses a fuel injection style fitting. This eliminates needing a roll pin to hold the gas tube in place. So by re-engineering these parts, Global Ordnance has made a stronger and lighter barrel assembly that has less attached components, thus making a barrel system that has less failure points. 

  The first version of the Monolith comes with a Keymo style muzzle brake. As mentioned, this muzzle brake is machined into the barrel, so it is not removable. The Keymo muzzle brake was selected because it is a common muzzle device that can be used with a bunch of different suppressors. It also works very well as a muzzle brake, if you are not wanting to mount a suppressor, or live in a state that does not allow them. Threaded barrel options may be available in the future so that you can install your own muzzle brake of choice. 

  On the rear of the one piece barrel is the barrel extension. The barrel extension is what the bolt locks into to keep the cartridge in the chamber while firing. It also has cut outs, or feed ramps, machined into it. These help guide the cartridges out of the magazine and into the chamber. The Monolith uses an AR10 size extension. This is larger than an AR15 style, so you get more strength. The barrel is made from 4150 ordnance grade steel (the stuff they use on machine gun barrels) for added strength and barrel life. Therefore the extension is also 4150 since it is machined with the barrel. The barrel assembly/barrel extension is then thermal fit into the upper receiver. This is also done for strength, but also gives better accuracy than the slip fit of most AR15 barrels.

  Instead of the standard AR style recoil buffer system, the Monolith uses a bufferless system. The recoil system, as well as the bolt, are housed inside the upper receiver. This allows various things, but the main purpose is to get rid of the AR15's buffer tube.

  By getting rid of the buffer tube, one can install a true folding stock. Global Ordnance went one step farther and built the folding stock mechanism into the firearms lower receiver. The stock folds to the left side of the rifle. This gives you a rifle that can fire with the stock folded, all day long. The stock is a F5 ACR style modular stock system. The Monolith's stock is adjustable for length using some side buttons. It also has a little cheek piece that can be popped up higher. This is nice if using magnified optics. Inside the stock is also a little storage compartment for batteries or whatever. You can only access the compartment when the stock is folded. So if the stock is in the shooting position, those batteries are not falling out. 

  The manual of arms on the Monolith is a little different from a standard AR15. The Monolith's charging handle is a folding lever, forward of the receiver. Not the rear style like in that standard AR I keep mentioning. So the charging handle sits in the rifle's handguard, toward the top picatinny rail, on the left side. It folds forward when not in use. Otherwise, the handguard is a pretty standard MLOK style with a top rail. The charging handle can also be swapped over to the right side. The forward style charging handle works very well and is not hard to get used to. 

  One of my favorite features of the Monolith is that it is full ambidextrous. I already mentioned how the charging handle can be reversed, but there is way more. To start with, the lower receiver has full ambi controls. This includes the mag release, bolt release, and the safety. The safety comes with a short and long paddle, they are reversible to either side. If you want to take the grip off, you can change the safety from 90 degrees to 45. Both sides of the magazine release use a square button. The bolt releases are extended on the bottom to make it far easier to lock the bolt back. A key feature to the Monolith is the ability to drop the open bolt by just pushing down on the dust cover.

  There are only a few other things about that Monolith that need to be shared. First up is the trigger. It is a flat mil-spec trigger. It is slightly better than a standard mil-spec trigger. Its pull weight is about 5.5 pounds on this rifle and feels like it has a little less creep. Global Ordnance also spec’d out a B5 grip. The grip has good texture and matches the rifle nicely. Lastly, the Monolith only weighs 5.82 pounds out of the box! With a Primary Arms 1-10x28 and a full magazine, it only weighs 7.8 pounds. So the whole package is pretty light.

  The Monolith is a great rifle, but it does have some quirks. It comes with an extra recoil spring assembly. The extra is supposed to be for suppressor use. However, when I ran the Monolith with a suppressor and the “suppressor” spring, I had 2 short strokes and a failure to lock the bolt back on an empty magazine. This was in about 3 magazines. I switched back to the normal spring and it worked great, even with the suppressor. I ran around 200 rounds suppressed, after switching the recoil spring back to the original one. Other than those failures, the Monolith ran like a champ. Another problem I ran into was that I could not pull the charging handle back far enough to charge the rifle. After inspection, the charging handle carriage was binding where it goes through the receiver. I smoothed it out with a round file and have not had any problems since. The manufacturer has now since put a chamfer on the part, eliminating that problem. Lastly, the stock can flex a little if you really pull the rifle back into your shoulder. I never noticed it while shooting the Monolith, only when I was dry firing it. 

  Now to the good stuff. I really like how the Monolith shoots. The lightweight really makes it a joy to use. You can move from target to target quickly or get reasonable accuracy out of it. It averaged from 1.4 inches to 2 inches at 100 yards with almost any ammunition, from 55 grain up to the 75 grain. Global Ordnance supplied some 69 grain match ammo for the review, it grouped about 1.6 inches. I also really appreciated being able to drop the bolt by just pushing the dust cover down. The folding charging handle also works well as a kick stand so your hot suppressor does not touch the table and melt stuff. I also appreciated the folding stock, it is nice to have folding abilities in a rifle. Probably my favorite aspect of the Monolith is the one piece barrel assembly. Not only does it eliminate parts from the rifle, it is just a cool piece of engineering. 

  To improve the Monolith, I did add a few parts. Because I did not care for the trigger, I installed a flat Geissele SSP trigger courtesy of Primary Arms. This made a drastic improvement in how it feels and shoots. I am just not a fan of mil-spec triggers. During the testing, I also had a Holosun red dot mounted on it at first. Mainly it ran the Primary Arms SLx 1-10x28 with their Nova fiber dot reticle. This was a great choice for the Monolith. It let me do accuracy testing at 100 yards and do fast work up close. The Monolith was fine by itself, I just like better triggers. Plus, you can’t really do much without some sort of sight.

  If you are looking for an AR that is not an AR, but better, the Global Ordnance Monolith might be it. This rifle has all the features anyone could want. Plus the monolithic barrel assembly is just a great improvement. I enjoy the lightweight and ambi features of the Monolith too. Definitely go take a look at the Monolith, especially if you are looking for something different than your standard AR15.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Advanced AR15 style rifle

Target Market:

Anyone wanting an ARish rifle with the features mentioned in the review

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 5.56x45mm

  • Bufferless recoil system

  • Monolithic 1 piece barrel

  • Barrel Length: 16.1"

  • Barrel Material: 41v50 Black Nitride

  • Barrel Twist: 1:7

  • Gas Length: Mid Length with 45 degree port

  • Muzzle Device: Integrated Dead Air KeyMo 2-Port Brake

  • Heavy Duty AR10 size bolt

  • Safety: Ambidextrous Manual Safety

  • Weight: 5lb 14oz

  • Overall Length: 24.5" - 31.25"

  • Charging Handle: Forward Side Folding - swappable from left to right

  • Grip: B5 Systems P-Grip

  • Trigger: Flat AR-15 Trigger

  • Stock: F5 Modular Adjustable Folding Stock

  • Bolt Release : Ambidextrous with EP Cover Drop

  • Magazine Release : Ambidextrous

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

16” A2

12.5” Keymo Pistol 

10.5” Pistol A2   

12.5” Pistol w/Brace  

What others are saying?:

5 stars at GlobalOrdnance.com

I like that you did away with the two things I dislike about the ar 15. The buffer tube and the charging handle. I like the side charging handle and no buffer tube.

Link to other reviews:

American Rifleman  

RecoilWeb  

Price point:

MSRP = $1234.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Global Ordnance, Primary Arms, or your local gun store

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • One piece barrel assembly 

  • 308 size bolt for added strength 

  • No buffer tube

  • Lightweight 

  • Ambi controls

  • Built in folding stock

Cons:

  • Harder to charge compared to standard AR

  • Charging handle locked up (current models have been fixed) 

  • Stock flexes a little bit

Score: 8.00 Great

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Traser P99 A Tactical Carbon

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Traser P99 A Tactical

Watch Review

  A watch review was not on my radar. Then, Traser Watch sent me a press release. So I asked if I could review one of their new Tactical watches. Traser kindly sent me the new P99 A Tactical Carbon. It has tritium dials, an automatic Swiss movement, and a carbon fiber polymer case. 

  One might ask what a watch has to do with firearms, outdoors, or anything else we review? To start with, who doesn’t need to tell time? How are you supposed to know what time to meet up for the boogaloo, when to testify on the gun control hearing at the capitol, or more importantly, when to be home from the range for dinner. Either way, having a tacticool watch that winds itself should be reason enough. But mainly, if you are into the stuff we do here, there is a good chance that you are into quality watches also. After all, it is another piece of gear that helps you in your day to day life.

  The Traser P99 looks exactly like you would expect from a tactical watch. It has an outside bezel with corresponding 5 minute marks laid out around it. So every 5, 10, 15 minutes and so on. Inside the bezel it also has these same minute marks in a smaller font size. On the watch face, it has tritium vials at every hour mark. With the 12 o’clock mark being orange in color instead of green like all the others. Of course there are white minute marks going around the dial as well. Inside those are numbers 13-24, so if you use military time, Traser has you covered for that too. In the 6 - 9 o’clock space is also a date reading. This “date” shows a bunch of the day's numbers, but has a red chevron (arrow) pointing to the today date. The hour and minute hands are painted red but also have a green tritium insert in them to see them in darkness. The second hand has a little orange tritium insert in it. Besides just tritium inserts, the P99 also uses Super LumiNova luminescence, or glow in the dark. For the luminescence glow, there is a complete circle around the watch face along with the 15, 30 , and 45 minutes marks on the bezel. Covering all that is an anti-glare sapphire crystal. The P99 watch face is nicely designed and easy to read, day or night.

  Traser’s first watch was made in 1989. This watch was made for the US Army and was the first ever tritium watch. The first watch was made possible because of a company called Trigalight. They were the first to mainstream the manufacturing process of tritium into little vials, down to 0.3mm in size. These vials can be installed into anything that you want to glow. Trigalight probably produces tritium vials for most, if not all the manufacturers in the firearm space. Trigalight and Traser are sister companies under the MB Microtec umbrella, which helps explain the P99 watch from Traser.

Luminescent glow and tritium

Tritium only

  For the P99 A, Traser uses a Swiss automatic movement. The “A” after the P99 stands for “automatic”, if you have not picked up on that yet. The automatic movement winds the watch from movement in your wrist. So unlike solar watches, you don’t need light for it to keep time. It does have a power reserve of about 2 days, but also can be manually wound using the crown. I only wear a watch during the day and take it off at night. I have not had to ever wind the watch manually. One flaw with automatic winding watches is that they have a specification for how accurately they keep time. The Traser P99’s spec is plus or minus 30 seconds a day, with the best automatic watches being plus or minus 15 seconds a day. The P99’s movement is fully mechanical, so no batteries are ever needed.

  Surrounding the automatic movement is a carbon fiber reinforced polymer. This case also has a steel container to house the automatic movement of the watch. This carbon polymer case is what gives the watch its looks. It also has flake style carbon on the watch face itself. I am pretty hard on watches and I have not even marred the P99’s case. Hooked to the case is a choice of 3 different watch straps. You can either get a fabric NATO strap in grey camo or black, with the other option being a rubber strap. I opted for the camo NATO strap and couldn’t be happier. 

  The Traser P99 A has a few other features. The mechanical movement can be seen from the back of the watch, through a large clear window. All this really does is make it look cool and I am okay with that. The P99 A also has a water resistance rating of 20 ATM which is the equivalent of 200 meters under water. Helping to make this water resistance specification is a “screw down crown”. What is a “crown”? Well, the crown is the part of the watch that winds it, or adjusts the date and time. On the P99, to adjust the date or time, you must first unscrew the crown, which is the little dial thing on the side of the watch. Then just pull it out to the correct step and adjust what is needed. Push it back in, screw the crown down, and you will be back to getting wet and telling time, in no time.

  The bezel, or the outer ring of the watch face, on the P99 rotates. It rotates with a click for every minute. Why you might ask? It is so you can spin it to match up with the minute hand. Then you will be able to tell the elapsed time. So say you wanted to train pistol draw strokes for 20 minutes. Just turn the dial to the current minute hands position, then when the minute hand gets to the 20 on the bezel number, you know you have done 20 minutes worth. It is pretty easy and useful for certain things.

  I have worn the Traser P99 A for months now. It is not a small watch by any means, but it isn’t huge either. I like the size. There are a few aspects of the P99 that I do not care for, but they are minor. One is that this particular watch gains about 2-2.5 minutes a week. It is within the Swiss movement's specifications. I just turn it back 5 minutes every two weeks. Since it gains time, you will always be early for dinner. My only other complaint is that the bezel needs a stronger spring, or whatever is used in it for the detent positions. It moves sometimes. Like I mentioned, I am pretty hard on watches because I work with my hands, so the bezel is getting bumped and moved. On a positive note, I have yet to have scratched the crystal or marred up the watch case. A true testament on how rugged this watch actually is. I shoot with the watch on also. I have destroyed other watches while doing this, both analog and digital. The P99 has withstood everything I threw at it. The tritium in the watch is super bright. I really enjoy being able to tell time in dimly lit rooms easily because of this. The Traser P99 A Tactical has been a great watch

  If you happen to be looking for a “tactical” style watch that never needs batteries, the Traser P99 A might be for you. Its auto winding Swiss movement is nice. The tritium inserts are what really make this watch shine. They are super bright and placed just about everywhere on the watch. This watch is also almost indestructible. Maybe the most important aspect is that the Traser P99 A Tactical Carbon looks great. Go check it out, along with the other Traser products at www.traser.com. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Tritium watch with automatic winding Swiss movement 

Target Market:

Anyone wanting an analog tactical watch that never needs winding

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Trigalight self-luminous technology on the dial, hands and underneath the Traser logo

  • Luminescent glass seal

  • Trigalight cross insert in bezel, Super-LumiNova (SLN) marking on bezel

  • Luminescent ring on crown

  • Movement: Swiss made automatic

  • Size: Ø 46mm

  • Glass: Anti-reflective sapphire

  • Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer double case with internal steel container

  • Screwed-down crown

  • Transparent case back

  • Carbon fiber back face

  • Date window at 7.5 o’clock

  • Strap: Textile NATO strap and rubber strap

  • Water resistance: 20 atm / 20 bar

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Non Automatic, Different bands

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

A Blog to WATCH   

Price point:

MSRP = $1165.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Traser USA is your best bet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Tritium is bright! 

  • Luminescent dial

  • Carbon fiber case construction 

  • Automatic movement 

  • Water resistance 

Cons:

  • Gains time, so time needs reset every couple of weeks 

  • Bezel doesn’t stay in one place

  • Price

Score: 8.50 Great 

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Triclops Sights

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Triclops Sight Review

  I have a serious astigmatism and normal red dot sights are an issue for me. During one of our podcast episodes we discussed products from Triclops Sights. They manufacture, what can be best described as, an analog red dot. These are iron sights that contain fiber optics.

  The front sight is tall, like a suppressor height sight. The rear sight is a rectangle that has red fiber optics at the 12, 3 and 9 o'clock positions. 

  The sights are firearm model, caliber, and eye dominant specific. They have sights for the Beretta APX, Desert Eagle in 41 Mag, VP9, Smith & Wesson M&P line, CZ75 and many more. The pulldown menu is on their website. 

  I have a Glock 19. I'm right handed and right eye dominant. I received my sights in November 2023 and had them installed immediately. My friend Nick had a sight pusher. He got these sights installed quickly for me. All that was left for me to do was install the fiber optics by sliding them into place, cutting them to size, and burning the tip to keep them in place. It was quick and easy.

  The Triclops sights work due to your eye naturally centering the green front sight between the red rear fiber optic posts. I'll take a quote from Triclops Sights website, “Geometric centering is your eye's natural ability to find the exact center of a shape. This concept incorporated in the Triclops Sight allows you to aim and acquire your target faster than traditional notch and blade sights.” This new sight picture may take effort for some to run. It is simple if you don't overthink the sight picture. It is the same principle as centering your AR15 front sight post in the center of your rear sight aperture. 

  According to the company website, the Triclops sights help you fire with both eyes open. They help you shoot more accurately, faster, and assist in increasing your situational awareness when you're shooting.

  I planned on using these sights during different types of shooting and in various conditions. I used them at indoor matches, action shooting matches, Police Combat Competition, and training classes around the country. I fired the Triclops sights under the pressure of timed competition. I feel they were faster when shooting and transitioning from target to target than regular bladed sights. Close targets got smoked quickly!  The second I saw the green front sight anywhere on the target, I squeezed the trigger. When I moved back to the 25-yard line, it was easy to stay in the center of a B27 target or IDPA targets.

  I took the Dynamic Rifle 2 class with ROC Training at the South Jersey Shooting Club on a sunny October day. While running drills, we would transition to our handgun when our carbines ran empty. These sights really popped outside. Shooting and moving, firing weak hand, and from cover I was hitting the targets effortlessly.  During one training iteration at 50 yards, these sights easily equaled, or beat, other students that had more expensive pistols equipped with red dots. Sucseffully hitting a full size IDPA steel target five times in a row.

  My reviews generally are long term reviews. I've been using Triclops Sights for 15 months. They have been used and abused in training class, competitions, and practice. They are carried as my everyday carry in the Fattac Standard Holster. It also works in the JX Tactical Fat Guy Holsters and the Hailey Strategic G-Code Incog RMR tuckable holster. These holsters all have been designed for a red dot mounted Glock 19.

  I read concerns that the Triclops sight looked large. I saw comments that it looked as large as some red dots. I had the Vortex Defender CCW Micro Dot on hand. It has the Shield RMSc footprint. At 1.6 inches long theDefender CCW is considered a small red dot. It looks huge next to the Triclops Sight.

 The Triclops Sights have held up to my use, which is to put it mildly, rough. I have not broken the fiber optics. There is a small bit of surface rust on the side of the sight that lays against me while I carry. 

  Triclops Sights are what the website says and more. I believe these sights are in a category between traditional sights and red dots. Especially if you have astigmatism like mine. Which nearly every red dot looks like a rorschach test.

  These sights allow me to see faster, and shoot accurately faster, than regular bladed sights. My scores and times in competition reflect these facts. They cost less than all but the lowest priced red dots. They don't require batteries. They are tough. These sights have been used to rack the slide during one hand manipulation drills. There's been no damage or loss of zero. I recommend these Triclops sights to anyone that has astigmatism or just wants to try an “analog red dot” sight. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

This product is great for people with bad astigmatism. It's also a good alternative to suppressor height sights. It's a step between traditional sights and a red dot optic. 

Target Market:

It is faster than iron sights with much less of a learning curve than red dots. It has a smaller footprint than every red dot on the market with fast sight acquisition. Triclops Sights are less expensive than every quality red dot on the market. 

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product 

  • Triclops Sights are for people who have problems seeing traditional sights 

  • They are an analog red dot for people that have issues with astigmatism 

  • They help shooters shoot accurately faster due to a larger sight picture and faster sight alignment 

  • Constructed from 4140 steel. 

  • Red and green fiber optic rods are included

  • Available for a bunch of different handguns

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Much like Henry Ford's Model T, You can have it in any color. As long as that color is black. 

What others are saying?:

"I want to thank Sean at TriclopsSights.com for hooking me up with this sight system to test and evaluate. Pretty much an analog CCO and NVD capable. First 15 rounds with the sight were at 7 meters doing first round draw drills. First two were flyers b/c I wasn't using the sight correctly. I was skeptical at first but now all I can say is wow. Put the threat in the TV screen and squeeze.” - Colton Baitch

I took my small little sub compact to the range with my new Triclops sights. Started close around 7yds to get a feel for the sight. It happened quickly, around 5 shots before I was in a small ring. This was amazing as it is but what really surprised me was being able to shoot quite a long distance somewhere around 25 yards with my small little carry gun and be extremely accurate. I was also happy with how quickly I could now shoot my carry gun. I plan on trying these sights on one of my larger full size competition guns and can’t wait to see the results. So more to report later- Hope Lewellen

Link to other reviews:

Triclops Sights Review: New Sights for Old Glock

Price point:

MSRP = $119.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Triclops Sights

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • High-quality iron sights 

  • The sights are faster to acquire than traditional sights at close range 

  • The sights are faster and easier to shoot at long range than traditional notch and blade sights 

  • They are tough. I haven't been able to break them

  • They have no batteries

  • They double as suppressor height sights 

  • Fiber optics are inexpensive and easy to replace 

  • They are easier and faster to learn and acquire a sight picture to those untrained in the use of a red dot 

  • They are easier to conceal and are less likely to snag clothing because they have a smaller footprint than every red dot on the market 

Cons:

  • It looks unusual. Instructors and friends all have, initially, look at this with suspicion. 

  • It has a slight learning curve. It took a few range trips to understand how to get the most out of the product 

  • If you don't have one of the firearms models listed on their website you'll have to call the company to inquire if the sight will work on your firearm 

Score: 9.25 - Amazing

I think it's a sighting system between traditional sights and red dot optics.

, ,

Walker Defense Dark Matter BCG

, ,

Walker Defense Dark Matter

High-Polish DLC BCG Review

  The heart of an AR15 is the Bolt Carrier Group or BCG. A quality BCG can make your rifle perform like a champion. A mil-spec BCG might work, but will not perform as well, especially if you are trying to get the best performance out of it. Walker Defense Research has released their Dark Matter Bolt Carrier Group. This highly polished, fitted, and DLC coated BCG is of the utmost quality.

  When looking for a Bolt Carrier Group, either to replace one or for a new build, there are things to consider. Do you want cheap, or are you looking for top quality that will last forever? The Walker Defense Dark Matter BCG is in the top quality group. To start with, it is a M16 style full auto carrier. So if you are fortunate to have a full auto M16, M4, etc, it will work with that. More important is the fact that the M16 carrier has the full mass, which allows it to run more smoothly, at least in my opinion. This Dark Matter carrier is also made from 8620 tool steel for a lifetime of use. 

  The Dark Matter BCG has a bunch of hi-end specifications. Some of these I will describe more in depth later. This BCG is for standard calibers and for use in direct impingement guns. These include 5.56/.223/300 blk, etc. It weighs 11-⅝ ounces and is made to true mil-spec dimensions. On the front end it has a C158 bolt that is magnetic particle inspected and high pressure tested. The 4130 gas key is properly staked using Optimized Carrier Key Screws (OCKS). These screws are deeply knurled to allow the staking to dig in, making them almost impossible to come loose. Lastly, the Dark matter BCG is DLC coated.

  Walker Defense is all about small batch quality. Here is what they have to say about the Dark Matter BCG: “We’ve always leaned into our advantage as a company specializing in small-batch production, but we’re taking it further. Those extra touches of quality add up and give us the ability to do things that larger companies just can’t. A few quick tangible examples of this:

Each carrier is matched by hand to each bolt and cam pin to prevent tolerance stacking and to ensure ideal, consistent fitment as the bolt cams back and forth.

We also pair each bolt with its firing pin to confirm adequate protrusion for reliable primer ignition.

Using OCKS screws for ultra-aggressive staking of the gas key, so it won’t loosen at high round counts”

Those are just a few things Walker Defense does to give you the best BCG around.

  DLC, or Diamond-Like Carbon coatings have been around for a while, but the Dark Matter BCG takes it to a new level. DLC coatings by themselves are extremely hard, corrosion and wear-resistant, and very slick, which gives them low coefficients of friction and superior dry lubricity. Walker Defense takes this up a notch by aggressively polishing the bare metal, before it is coated. As with most machined parts, a BCG is only as good as its base metal. This polishing is a very labor intensive process which makes the Dark Matter BCG super slick and mirror-like shiny. Then after a high quality dark black DLC coating is applied, they polish the DLC coated BCG again. This makes the BCG even more slick (and also hard to take pictures of because of the mirror finish it produces). By polishing the BCG before and after coating, you get an extremely smooth surface that carbon has a hard time sticking to. Cleanup on the Dark matter BCG is super easy. One can literally just wipe it off with a rag. Carbon just doesn’t stick to this BCG.

  I am using the Dark Matter BCG in a 300 blackout AR pistol. This pistol ran suppressed for around 60% of the review. Why does this matter? Because the pistol gets a lot dirtier. The upper on this pistol is nothing special, just your off the shelf AR upper receiver. Before installing the Dark Matter BCG, I was running a Mil-Spec BCG. After I installed the Dark Matter BCG I could tell a smoothness difference. Not just in how the gun cycles under use, but also when hand cycling the action. The AR pistol is just way more pleasant to shoot now. Another thing I noticed was that the brass ejection was more consistent than with the mil-spec BCG. I attribute this to the action cycling smoother. After around 800 rounds, I can’t even really notice any wear on the Dark Matter BCG, a testament to that fantastic polished DLC coating. 

  The Walker Defense Dark Matter BCG is slick, pun intended. This BCG is of the utmost quality. It has all the standard features you would want in a high quality BCG: MPI and HPT tested, DLC coated, quality base metals, and true mil-spec dimensions. That does not even count the “extras” Walker Defense puts into these. One would be hard pressed to find a better, or smoother BCG. The price on these is very reasonable for what you get, definitely a high value to price ratio. If you are looking for the slickest, highest quality BCG around, definitely go look at the Dark Matter High Polished BCG from Walker Defense. These are literally super slick.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Super slick, high quality bolt carrier group that is easy to clean

Target Market:

Those wanting a superior BCG

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Coating: Highly-Polished DLC

  • Compatibility: M16/ M4 / AR-15 Using Direct Gas Impingement (not for use in piston guns)

  • Calibers: 5.56x45mm NATO / .223 Remington / .300 AAC Blackout

  • Profile: Full Auto Style Carrier w/ Properly Staked Gas Key

  • Bolt: C158

  • Carrier: 8620 Tool Steel

  • Total Weight: 11 5/8 OZ.

  • True Mil-Spec dimensions

  • 4130 steel gas key

  • Staked with OCKS Screws

  • 4140 steel extractor and cam pin

  • Hard chrome ground 8740 steel firing pin

  • Magnetic particle inspected

  • High Pressure Tested (HPT)

  • Made in the USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Nickel Boron, Titanium, & Flat Dark Earth DLC

What others are saying?:

Couldn’t find anything as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

VSO Gun Channel on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $269.99

Retail = $229.49 with discount code “Insider15”

I need it now! Availability:

Walker Defense or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Super Slick mirror finish

  • Easy to clean

  • Deep black DLC coating

  • Properly staked OKCS screws

  • Polished before and after coating

  • M16 profile

Cons:

  • May not always be in stock

Score: 9.00 Amazing

,

Tactical Kinetics 300 blackout Barrel

,

Tactical Kinetics 300 blackout

Barrel Review

  Have you ever had something so long that you end up going down a deep hole of what you want to do with it? Well I did with this barrel. I had it on the shelf, looked at it, and wanted to do so many things with it that it soon became a thorn in my side. Now this thorn is me, not the barrel. The Tactical Kinetics 300 blackout barrel is fantastic. It is well machined and looks better than some of the big name rifle makers barrels. Tactical Kinetics sent me this barrel for review almost a year ago. No excuses but life happened and that's why it has taken so long to do this review.

  I mounted the barrel in a no name, unbranded, upper and put it on a PSA lower that has a Sylvan folding adapter. Fitment of the Tactical Kinetics barrel was plain and simple: great machining, the coating in the barrel looked good, and the threads for the barrel nut were properly machined. I ended up taking it apart three times, changing out gas tubes, gas block, and finally going with an adjustable gas block from Velocity Precision. 

  After completing the first build, it ate everything I fed into it when I was firing for reliability. Except for the subsonic 220 grain ammo I had for testing. I knew this was either a gas issue or a buffer weight issue. So back to the drawing board. Build two was now completed and the Tactical Kinetics barrelled upper was placed on a SBR lower. In a bout of frustration, it still would not run my subsonic ammo. So for the third and final time, I reassembled all the same parts. The rifle worked with all my ammo now. What a relief. Then I realized everything I had done, when I put all the parts together, was my fault. We won't go into that now.

  At the range, I took the little 8.5” barrel out and sighted it in at 25 yards. It fired all different weights of ammo. The barrel grouped best with 204 grain subsonics with a suppressor attached to it. I only had a red dot on top and was shooting from a rolled up jacket. Then I went to dumping magazine after magazine through it to see what it would do when it was hot. Well there was not a lot of shift in impact, maybe 1” and that was probably me. The accuracy was far better than a Bear Creek upper that I have with the same length barrel. Groups off the rolled up jacket were about 2.5 inches. For me and my intended use of this rifle, I thought it was great. 

  This is my first barrel review and it has been hard to do. What I can say about the Tactical Kinetics barrel is that the machining is quality, the rifling was good, and it grouped well. I know comparing it to a BCA upper is not fair, but that is all I had. 

  Would I recommend this company to buy from? Damn skippy I do. I already have a wish list going for a few 6.5 Grendel barrels they offer. Tactical Kinetics is one of the company’s you want to do business with. Quality parts, great customer service, and patience for not sending headhunters out for the review. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

The Tactical Kinetics 300 Blackout Barrel is recognized for its accuracy, reliability, and is compatible with various 300 Blackout rifle builds.

Target Market:

This barrel is ideal for shooters looking to upgrade or build a 300 Blackout AR platform. It’s particularly well-suited for home defense, tactical shooting, and hunting enthusiasts who value subsonic and supersonic versatility.

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Material: Made from 4150 CMV steel

  • Medium profile

  • 0.750 Gas journal

  • Twist Rate: 1:8 twist rate, optimized for stabilizing both supersonic and subsonic loads.

  • Length: 85” also available in 5”, 7.5”, 10.5”, and 16” length

  • Gas System: Pistol-length gas system

  • Finish: Nitride coated

  • Threading: 5/8x24

  • Chambering: 300 Blackout

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different barrel length and twist rates are available

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing worthwhile found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $110.00

Retail = Depends on barrel length

I need it now! Availability:

Tactical Kinetics

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • Reliable cycling with subsonic loads.

  • Durable nitride finish.

  • Accurate 1:8 twist rate.

  • Good price point for quality.

Cons:

  • Limited to one finish option.

  • May require fine-tuning with certain subsonic ammo and gas blocks.





Score: 8.50  Great

,

Primary Arms SLx 1-10x28 ACSS NOVA

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Primary Arms

SLx 1-10x28 ACSS NOVA Review

  A few years ago, Primary Arms started making their NOVA fiber dot reticle. This bridged the gap between the Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO) and the red dot. Primary Arms has recently put the NOVA reticle into their SLx 1-10x28 optic. This is huge for those wanting more magnification over the SLx 1-6x24 NOVA. 

  The Primary Arms SLx 1-10x28 NOVA is packed with features. For starters, they increased the tube to 34mm from 30mm’s in the 1-6. This allows more light to get into the optic and back to your eye. This larger tube lets you see better at lower light levels as well as at the full 10x magnification. They also throw in flip up lens caps to keep the glass clean when not in use.

  Next on the feature list is the capped turrets. The turrets are a vital part in setting up your optic. Or at least getting it sighted in. I am not super thrilled with the turrets that Primary Arms uses on this LPVO. The clicks are fine and can be felt easily. My gripe is that they remind me of something that was used on scopes 20 years ago. They are small plastic knobs with a flat piece of metal that rotates to set your zero position. Then there is a tiny recess, in the threads, to line up your “zero” with. I was just hoping for something more like the SLx 1-6x24 NOVA. The caps that cover the turrets are nice. They have good texture to unscrew them. The windage knob cap also has storage for an extra 2032 battery. Yes, it comes with an extra battery already in the cap. On the left side of the LPVO is the brightness knob. It has 11 brightness settings from low light to burn your eyeballs out bright. However, it is not night vision compatible. The SLx 1-10 does not have Primary Arms’ Autolive. However, I did install their Autolive battery cap and it works like a charm.

  Eye relief for the SLx 1-10 LPVO is pretty good. Primary Arms states 3.2 - 3.5 inches, which seems about right. I did notice that the eyebox is pretty forgiving. I did not need to be exactly in the stated window to see through the optic clearly. The SLx also has a fast focus diopter so you can adjust the reticle to be crystal clear. Also, on this end of the optic is the magnification throw lever. Of course it goes from a true 1x all the way to 10x. The magnification adjustment is very smooth and rotates right at 180 degrees from 1x - 10x. Primary Arms also uses their removable throw lever. This one is about ¾ inch long. You can get different height ones from Primary Arms, as well as a fold down lever. 

  Now it is reticle time. The SLx 1-10x28 uses Primary Arms ACSS NOVA fiber wire reticle. This gives you a daylight bright red dot in the center of the reticle’s crosshairs. Basically a red LED travels through a fiber optic cable to the reticle, thus illuminating the reticle dot much brighter than a normal illuminated reticle. The center dot is roughly 0.6 MOA. Some people say the dot is too small to use it like a red dot. I am not one of those people, I love the Nova red dot. The rest of the ACSS NOVA reticle is a Mil based Second Focal Plane optic. So the reticle stays the same size throughout the magnification range. This also makes the Mil subtensions only accurate at the highest power, or 10x in this case. For elevation, there are 4 mil stadia lines below the center red dot. They are spaced 1 Mil apart, with ½ mil dots between them. These Mil stadia are wider at the top and progressively get narrower as you go down the reticle. This is so you can use them to range distance on an 18 inch wide target. On the horizontal stadia, there are 2 dots. These 2 dots represent approximately 3 mile per hour wind holds each. The crosshair taper can be used as a 3rd wind hold. The reticle is very useful for all kinds of things. I am a huge fan of the ACSS NOVA Mil reticle.

  When I first received the SLx 1-10x28, I had not received the rifle I was hoping to put it on. Since I had a “Range Day” competition coming up, I mounted it to my Primary Weapons piston AR15. Primary Arms had also sent their GLx 34 mm cantilever mount to use with the 1-10. It is a great mount by itself and puts the optic at just the right height for an AR. During the competition, I was able to use it like a red dot at 3-7 yard targets. Then I moved it up to about 3x to shoot some index cards at 50 yards. The optic performed great for that particular competition. And no, I didn’t win anything. The SLx 1-10 Nova now sits on a Global Ordnance Monolith, which was the rifle I was waiting to install it on. The 1-10 fits the rifle well and doesn’t add too much weight to it. After all, the SLx 1-10x28 Nova only weighs 19 ounces. I have also done a bunch of drills with the SLx on this rifle. The SLx worked great on it also. When I was shooting for groups, I had the SLx’s magnification turned up to 10x. On 10x the targets were easy to make out. The only problem I ran across was that at 10x, the scope is not as clear as at 1x. There was not a bunch of difference, but enough that I could notice. Even though it was noticeable to me, I could still make out 22 caliber holes at 100 yards easily enough. 

  I am a huge fan of the ACSS NOVA reticle in the SLx 1-10x28. Not only can you use this LPVO as a normal optic, it also can double as a red dot. You can even range targets with the Mil reticle. Pair it with the Primary Arms Autolive battery cap and you have an optic that is ready to go when you are. So if you are looking for that LPVO that has a little bit more magnification,  but still can be used fast and up close, give the Primary Arms SLx 1-10x28 ACSS NOVA a look.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality , inexpensive 1-10x optic with good features

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a quality LPVO at a fair price

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Battery Type: CR2032 3V Lithium Coin

  • Click Value: 1/2 MOA

  • Exit Pupil Diameter: Low: 9mm / High: 2.8mm

  • Field View 100: Low: 110 ft / High: 10 ft

  • Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane

  • Illuminated MRAD NOVA fiber reticle, red color

  • Eye Relief: 3.2” - 3.5”

  • Length: 10.5 in.

  • Magnification: 1X - 10X

  • 34mm tube

  • Objective Diameter: 28mm

  • Total Elevation and Windage Adjustment: 40 MOA

  • Low Profile Capped Turrets

  • Warranty: Lifetime

  • Weight: 19.1 oz.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

ACSS Raptor and ACSS Griffin reticles

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars at PrimaryArms.com

Coyote Hunting 25-200 Yards

by Coyote Cam - 

  So, as we all know... the SLx 1-6x24 Nova has been the standard for the red dot bright LPVO with the Gen4. When I saw that they now make the exact same Nova illumination in the 1-10x28, it was time to pull the trigger on a 1-10x LPVO, but with any 1-10x I was a bit hesitant at first... but let me tell you, I am amazed at how clear this is out to 200 yards on 10x.

  Now... understand that this is for my dedicated Coyote setup out to 200 yards max, but also I have a heavy brush/timber area that I need to dial it back on and this 1x is running amazing.

  The red dot illumination helps when the reticle fades in the sun/tree line, which is why I wanted the Nova, but I needed more than 6x for target identification in dim light.

  If you are wanting something for the same reasons as I did, do not hesitate, the glass is actually super clear.

Link to other reviews:

Lynx Defense

Price point:

MSRP = $449.99

Retail = Same, but Primary Arms runs sales that take it below $400

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms or your local dealer

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • Red Dot NOVA reticle

  • Mil lines for ranging

  • Lightweight for size

  • Battery storage in windage knob cover

  • Capped turrets

  • Decent throw lever

Cons:

  • Old school turrets with no real zero setting

  • Little fuzzy around the edges at 10x

Score: 8.00 Great

,

True Blue Suppressor Cleaner & Syrup

,

True Blue Cleaner Concentrate

and Suppressor Syrup Review

  I recently received some, new to me, True Blue Gun Lube products. Those products are True Blue’s Gun Cleaner Concentrate and Suppressor Syrup. I previously reviewed their Gun Oil and it performed great, so I was excited to see how this stuff performed.

  Both of these products are purposely built for suppressor cleaning. The Cleaner Concentrate and the Suppressor Syrup can also be used on regular firearms for cleaning and preventative maintenance.

  Let us start with the Cleaner Concentrate. As advertised, this is a water soluble cleaner and degreaser for firearms and suppressors. This is not one of those harsh chemical cleaners. Therefore it takes time to break down carbon fouling. True Blue says to soak the heavy carbonated parts for 2-3 hours to start, and increase soaking time if needed to break up the carbon fouling. 

  I used the Cleaner Concentrate on 2 different suppressors. One was sealed, and the other has removable parts. For the sealed suppressor, plug one end and fill it up with Cleaner Concentrate. True Blue states you can use it undiluted or diluted in a 5:1 ratio for best results. Since I was cleaning two suppressors, I diluted it to 5:1. I let both suppressors sit for around 3 hours. The carbon did not want to come off of the baffles on the one with removable parts. So I let both soak for another 12 hours. After sitting, the carbon gummed up and came off pretty easy with a wire brush. But it did not get all the carbon. So I proceeded to pour the mixture in my ultrasonic cleaner. I dumped all the parts in and turned it on for 30 minutes with heat. That took the rest of the carbon off of the baffles. My suggestion would be to use the Cleaner Concentrate in an ultrasonic cleaner for best results. However, I think soaking it for a full 24 hours would have done the same thing. For the sealed suppressor, I then just blew air through it to dry it out. From what I could see, it looked cleaner.

Dirty suppressor internals. Previously coated in Suppressor Syrup

  Now that we have the suppressors clean, it is time to use the Suppressor Syrup. The Suppressor Syrup is a thick, kind of sticky oil. Imagine that, they call it syrup for a reason. The Suppressor Syrup is meant to prevent carbon from sticking to metal parts. That means you can use it on adjustable gas blocks, choke tubes, muzzle brakes, suppressor threads, suppressor adapters, or anything else that might get carboned up. The one drawback to the Suppressor Syrup is that it has to be reapplied. When? Basically any time you do maintenance. So it really is not a big deal.

  The Suppressor Syrup worked well for me. After cleaning the suppressors, I followed the directions for application. On the sealed suppressor, I put 10 drops into the connection end of the can. One went on the threads since it is a screw on suppressor. Then I shot a couple rounds through it and looked for the end to be wet. It was, so I knew that enough had been applied. On the suppressor that can be taken apart, I put a thin layer on each baffle and reassembled it. Then off to the range I went. 

Same internals after 30 minute ultrasonic cleaner bath using Cleaner Concentrate. Wiped with rag

  Since I am not the sharpest tool, I didn't get any pictures of how dirty the baffles really were before I started this process. I proceeded to disassemble the suppressor again to take some pictures. It was not as dirty as before, but it also didn't have as many rounds through it. Or was it because of the Suppressor Syrup? Either way, I threw the baffles in the sonic cleaner for 30 minutes and then wiped them off. You can see a difference in the pictures. I do think the Suppressor Syrup made a difference in how easily the carbon came off. 

  The True Blue Cleaner and Syrup are a good option to help keep those suppressors clean. Especially if you want something safe. The Concentrate Cleaner also works on just about every aspect of a firearm. As for the Suppressor Syrup, it makes cleaning easier by helping to prevent carbon from sticking. Go check out True Blue Gun products and see if they have something that might help you. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Easy to use suppressor cleaner and preventative 

Target Market:

Anyone who hates to clean suppressors

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

Cleaner:

  • Breaks down and removes carbon build up

  • Water Soluble

  • Safe on metals, plastics, neoprene, coatings used for firearms, suppressors, and knives

  • Ammonia free

  • Cleaner and Degreaser

Syrup:

  • Reduces carbon bonding

  • Eliminates Carbon Locking

  • Works on: 

    • Suppressor Internals

    • Compensators/Muzzle devices

    • Suppressor Barrel Mount

    • Modular Suppressor Threads

    • Shotgun Choke Tube

    • Threads

    • Adjustable gas blocks

    • Flashlight Lens

    • Any high carbon area

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Syrup:

Karl S. - Palmetto State Armory, from Truebluegunlube.com  

What we found in our testing was that applying the Suppressor Syrup to the screw of an adjustable gas block allowed us to keep the adjustment screw usable over the life of our testing. Without the Suppressor Syrup this screw tends to become carbon locked within about 300 rounds and we are sometimes not able to free it.

Cleaner:

Luke H. - Integrity Elite Firearms, from Truebluegunlube.com   

We soaked a suppressor in the Cleaner Concentrate for several hours and successfully salvaged this one that was heavily saturated with carbon to the point where it resembled a barrel extension. This stuff works wonders.

Link to other reviews:

Kids Safe Foundation 

Syrup review   

Cleaner review 

Price point:

MSRP:

Syrup = $18.99 - $26.99    

Cleaner = $24.99 - $99.99   

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

My Life @ Speed or your local gun shop

Our Rating:

Pros:

Cleaner:

  • Water Soluble

  • Safe for just about anything

Syrup:

  • Reduces Carbon build up

  • Makes Cleaning easier

  • Easy application

Cons:

Cleaner:

  • Not very aggressive at getting carbon off

  • Have to let sit for a bit

Syrup:

  • Must reapply periodically

Score: 

6.50 - Okay for the cleaner

8.00 - Great for the syrup

Favorite Link:  True Blue Gun Oil Review

,

Sharps Bros Livewire

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Sharps Bros Livewire AR-15 lower receiver review

Written by: Buddy Murphy

  This is a review of the Sharps Bros Livewire AR-15 lower receiver. Yes, these are the same guys that make lowers with skulls, warrior helmets, or other goofy things on their magazine wells. But when they get serious, they make a quality, functional piece of kit.

  One of the first things you'll notice is the heavily flared mag well, which not only looks great but also makes reloads faster and more intuitive. The ambidextrous bolt release is another welcome feature, providing ease of use for both right and left-handed shooters. This particular design for a right side bolt release has the perfect amount of force needed to release the bolt. Some other receivers take too much effort to release the bolt, forcing you to move your hand off of the fire controls, like the PWS Alpha.

  The right side bolt release is especially useful for me (right-handed shooter) when shooting CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) courses of fire. The first and last stages are single load stages. Meaning, you have an empty magazine in your rifle (or a specialty mag), you drop a round into the ejection port, close the bolt, and fire your one round. You repeat that 10 or 20 times depending on the stage. This forces you to break position between each shot. By having the bolt release on the right side, I can hold my rifle against my shoulder with my left hand, and get another round, drop it in the rifle, grip the rifle with my right hand, and close the bolt, minimizing my movement between shots.

  The transition between the integrated, oversized trigger guard and the magazine well is stepped, giving it a distinct and clean look. The threaded bolt catch pin and rear takedown pin recess also add to its overall precision and durability.

  As of July 2021, Livewire has undergone a significant upgrade, it is now made from a forging. The process begins with a 7075 aluminum billet, which is heated to 800 degrees and then forged into a near-final shape using a custom tool in an impressive 4100-ton press.

  Post-forging, the receiver undergoes final machining on CNC machines. This reduces material costs and machine time without compromising quality. The result is a receiver that feels incredibly robust and well-finished, with every detail meticulously crafted. The anodized black finish, done to MIL-A-8625 standards, ensures durability and a sleek professional look.

  Putting the lower parts in the receiver was a standard affair except for the left side bolt catch. Instead of a roll pin holding the bolt catch to the receiver, it has a small hex-head screw. This makes it much easier to attach the bolt catch than tapping in a roll pin. Also, before you attach the bolt catch, you must insert the included transfer bar. The transfer bar allows the bolt release, on the right side, to push the bottom of the bolt catch toggle (causing the top to move in towards the receiver as if you pushed it), releasing the bolt.

  In summary, the Sharps Bros Livewire AR15 receiver delivers on every front; strength, precision, and aesthetics. It’s a top-tier choice for anyone looking to build or upgrade their AR15 with a receiver that truly sets itself apart from the rest. While it maintains the classic AR15 aesthetic, it brings its own unique flair and functionality to the table: like the oversized integral trigger guard, beveled magazine flare, and ambidextrous bolt release. It is fully compatible with mil-spec parts and magazines. Weighing around 8.7 ounces, it strikes a perfect balance between weight and durability.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

AR-15 lower receiver with right side bolt release.

Target Market:

Lefties, Competition shooters, those that want ambi-everything

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Large integrated trigger guard

  • Right side bolt release

  • Flared mag well

  • Forged lower

  • Mil-spec

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Only black anodized finish

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars from Dave K. at Brownells

Absolutely the best value for the $$$

I am very impressed with this lower receiver. Everything fit perfectly. Best value for the money! All of my future builds I will use this receiver.

Link to other reviews:

The Firearm Blog

Price point:

MSRP = $136.79

Retail = $124.99 at Brownells

I need it now! Availability:

Brownells

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Forged Receiver

  • Flared Magwell

  • Right side bolt release

  • Integrated trigger guard

  • Oversized trigger Guard

  • Mil-spec dimensions

Cons:

  • None

Score: 8.00 Great

, ,

Vosteed Parallel

, ,

Vosteed Parallel Review

  Vosteed has a brand new knife out and it’s called the Parallel. It’s designed to be a very thin and lightweight pocket knife. And let me tell you, they succeeded! So if you are looking for a tough, lightweight and thin knife. The Vosteed Parallel could be the knife for you.

The Handle 

  The Parallel features a non textured titanium handle complete with a lanyard loop. For this knife you can get in 3 different styles. I received the gray handled knife and I was completely blown away by how thin the knife is! Coming in at a thin measurement of 0.28”, I couldn’t even tell it was in my pocket sometimes. There were even a couple of moments when I actually thought I lost it, because I couldn’t feel it in my pocket. And that’s also due to the knife being so lightweight coming in at 2.29oz. When I first opened it, I was a little worried about it not having a textured grip handle. It wasn’t a problem for me at all. I can get a great grip on the knife without it trying to slide around in my hand. Having no gripping also helps make it slide in and out of your pocket very smoothly. But thanks to the very strong pocket clip, that can be swapped to either side of the knife, it stays clipped in your pocket really well. It is probably one of the strongest clips I’ve had on a knife. 

The Blade

  Now here is where it gets really awesome! The Vosteed Parallel has one of my personal favorite blade styles on it, a 2.90” reverse tanto blade. For me personally, I love that style of blade and I feel that it is one of the best for piercing and cutting. On the back side of the blade it has some really great rough jimping. This helps keep control when I’m cutting something up like boxes or plastic straps. I have had knives before with smoother jimping and it definitely takes away some of that control you get. The blade steel is 154CM and because Vosteed designed the knife to be thin, the blade is only 0.08” thick! I was worried about the blade breaking due to it being so thin, but it has proven to be way tougher than I thought. Plus it has stayed sharp for a while now. When the time comes to sharpen it, 154CM sharpens very easily. This blade steel is also highly corrosion resistant so you don’t have to worry about it getting ruined by harsh chemicals.

Opening 

  The Parallel comes equipped with only two styles for opening, that is a thumb stud and pulling back the crossbar lock and flipping it open. I personally like having more ways to open a knife like front and back flippers. Or being able to flip it open using a button lock. And this is one of my complaints with this knife. As you open the blade, the spring loaded lock parts move so that the crossbar lock can engage when the blade is fully open. This causes the blade to not want to smoothly open when you take your thumb off the stud while opening. It can kind of push the blade back towards your fingers. So you have to sort of guide the blade open with your thumb on the thumb stud. Or give it a flick when you start to open it. 

The Lock

  Something that is handy about this knife is you can adjust the stiffness of the crossbar lock and that also makes the blade opening a little bit easier. However, It does not fully fix that stiffness. It definitely helps though. You can do this by essentially taking apart the knife, which is not complicated, and moving both springs (one on each side) to 1 of 3 different pin holes. This can definitely help with making it lighter or stiffer to open. It just depends on how you like your knife to open. When I first opened the knife, the lock was very stiff to pull back when the blade was open. So I did that spring adjustment and that made it a lot easier to open and unlock. This is my first pocket knife with a crossbar lock on it, and I have really come to like it. The lock tabs have great gripping on them, so you can pull them back easily to fold the knife closed. 

Summary

  I have come across so many different pocket knives over time, but I have never come across one so thin and lightweight! I sometimes forget I have it because of how well it fits in my pocket. It has been through quite a bit of cutting and slicing. I work in an industrial environment, and this knife has been doing a fantastic job cutting just about anything I need it to. I do wish that it had more ways to open and not such a stiff lock. But that being said, it is still a great knife! This is my second knife from Vosteed, and both the knives have such great quality and designs. If you are looking for a knife that fits perfectly in your pocket and doesn’t have much weight to it, I highly recommend the Vosteed Parallel. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Super thin and lightweight folder

Target Market:

Those wanting a super thin pocket knife

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Blade Length: 2.90" | 73.85 mm

  • Overall Length: 7.04" | 178.90 mm

  • Blade Width: 0.96" | 24.50 mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.079" | 2.00 mm

  • Blade Material: 154CM

  • Blade Grind: Flat

  • Blade Style: Reverse Tanto

  • Blade Finish: Satin

  • Hardness: HRC 60±2

  • Handle Length: 4.13" | 105.00 mm

  • Handle Width: 0.92" | 23.40 mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.279" | 7.10 mm

  • Handle Material: Titanium

  • Color: Gray

  • Weight: 2.29 oz | 65.00 g

  • Opener: Thumb Stud

  • Lock Type: Crossbar Lock

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Pocket Clip: Reversible | Stainless Steel

  • Carry Position: Tip-up

  • Knife Type: Manual Folding

  • Backspacer Material: Aluminum

  • Backspacer Color: Green

  • Thumbstud Material: Aluminum

  • Thumbstud Color: Green

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

There are 3 different styles that you can go with:

Black titanium handle with a black SW blade.

Grey titanium handle with satin finish blade.

Black titanium handle with Satin finish blade.

What others are saying?:

Both from Vosteed’s website

“Only one major flaw, otherwise a very nice knife

Deployment is unpredictable for a crossbar lock. There is a place between the closed and open positions where the blade swings free. The lightweight blade often bounces back towards the handle as blade approaches the open/locked position. I can’t be sure blade is locked open without looking at it”


Great knife for the money

Super thin
Feels good in the hand no real hot spots
Super sharp out of the box
Great knife and super nice to carry with how thin it is, feels sturdy for its size. My only complaint is the springs are super stiff and you have to really send it to open and on my office hands it can be a bit uncomfortable to hold the cross bar back to have the blade drop closed. I opened it up, it has adjustable spring tension, three positions and it was in the weakest position. Definitely needs break in but will enjoy flicking it until it does

Link to other reviews 

Melissa Backwoods on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP = $129.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Vosteed or Blade HQ

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Love how thin and lightweight the knife is! It fits in my pocket so great. 

  • It cuts so dang smoothly and has held a sharp edge for a while now.

Cons:

  • I do wish it had more ways to open it than just a thumb stud or using the crossbar lock to flip it open. 

  • I don’t really like how stiff the lock is and that I had to take it apart to adjust that stiffness.

  • Because of the stiff lock, it makes the blade opening not too smooth. You kind of have to guide it out with your thumb otherwise it pushes the blade back towards your fingers.

Score: 6.50 Okay

,

Sencut ArcBlast

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Sencut ArcBlast Review

  With the prices of so many things going up, the amount of money in your wallet goes down. But if you are looking for a good quality knife that won’t take a massive hit on your wallet, then the Sencut ArcBlast would be a fantastic knife for you. Let’s check out all of the things that this great knife features and how it’s a great bang for your buck.

The Handle:

  The ArcBlast features an aluminum handle with a smooth finish. I normally like to have gripping on the handle. So when I took the knife out of the package and noticed that the handle was smooth, my first thought was “oh I’m not going to like this”. But I actually really like it. I feel like I can get a solid grip on it. One that doesn’t allow the knife to slip in my hand. The handle also has a great shape that fits really comfortably in my hand. Because of the smooth aluminum handle, the knife slides out of the pocket very easily. But not easy enough to fall out, due to the great pocket clip that comes on it. It will stay where you want it!

Opening:

  I’ve used a lot of different pocket knives over the years. Normally thumb studs aren’t my favorite style for opening, but I know it’s good to have different options for opening the knife. But on this knife in particular, I like how quickly the thumb stud deploys the blade. I find myself using the thumb studs more than the flipper. Although the flipper gives it a real quick opening and works fantastically. One thing that definitely helps with this quick opening is that it uses bearings at the pivot point. This gives it a quick and smooth opening.

The Blade:

  The Sencut ArcBlast features a 2.98” drop point blade made from 9Cr18MoV. This is a great steel for this price, and it’s widely used in lots of other knife brands knives. I have been using this blade for a few months now and working in an industrial environment. I use it a lot to cut open boxes, plastic wraps, and various other items. So far… I haven’t needed to sharpen it, but 9Cr18MoV does sharpen very easily. Another reason why 9Cr18MoV is an awesome steel, is that it is corrosion resistant. This is a great material for harsh environments where liquids and other corrosive materials may be present. So you will not have to worry about wrecking your knife.

The Lock:

  I have come across quite a few different button locks on different knife brands, but this is definitely one of the best in my opinion. The ArcBlast uses a standard button lock. This lock is used a lot in the Sencut, Civivi and WE Knives line of knives. They really have designed a fantastic lock, which is probably the reason they use it so much. The lock is great because it is easy to unlock, but not easy enough that it will unlock when you don’t want it to. This is due to the button being flush with the handle. So when you grip the handle, you don’t run the risk of accidentally pushing the button and unlocking it. 

  I have had a couple of Civivi knives, but I haven’t had a Sencut knife before. I definitely like this knife for many reasons. It’s a very sturdy knife with a smooth and comfortable grip. It also has a great 9Cr18MoV blade that has stayed sharp through lots of use. If you are wanting a great quality pocket knife that will not cost an arm and a leg, you should definitely check out the Sencut ArcBlast.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Smaller inexpensive quality folding knife

Target Market:

Anyone who doesn’t want to spend a fortune on an everyday carry pocket knife

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Overall Length: 7.07" / 179.5mm

  • Width: 1.3" / 33.1mm

  • Overall Height (Include Clip): 0.66" / 16.8mm

  • Blade Length: 2.98" / 75.7mm

  • Closed Length: 4.09" / 103.8mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.1" / 2.6mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.46" / 11.6mm

  • Weight: 2.96oz / 83.9g

  • Blade Material: 9Cr18MoV

  • Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC

  • Blade Grind: Hollow

  • Blade Finish: Black

  • Blade Type: Drop Point

  • Handle Material: Aluminum

  • Handle Color/Finish: Black

  • Pocket Clip: Tip-Up, L/R

  • Clip Material: Stainless Steel

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Manual
Opener:
Thumb Stud
and flipper

  • Locking Mechanism: Button Lock

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

There are 4 different color options for this knife, but the materials are all the same. For the black blade you can get a black or red handle. And for the satin finish, you can get a black and blue handle.

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars from Benjamin B. at Sencut.com

A Really Good Knife

I love the simplicity of the button lock. Also I think that the knife looks great and works like it should. Seems like it is very well made and I carry it all the time. I recently purchased another one to use at work. I plan on using my all black one at work because I work in a dirty environment, and the one with the red handle I will use as my e.d.c. when I am not at work.

Link to other reviews:

Stassa23 Knife Therapy  

Price point:

MSRP = $55.00

Retail = $46.75 on Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

Sencut or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • It’s a fantastic knife for the price

  • Comes with tons of goodies and a case

  • It’s a very well made knife that holds an edge for quite some time. 

Cons:

  • I did accidentally bend the pocket clip when I sat down in a chair, but I was able to bend it back into place very easily.

  • A good amount of the anodizing around the top of the knife (opposite end from the clip) came off within 2-3 months. But that doesn’t affect the functionality of the knife at all.

Score: 8.50 Great

,

PR Trigger

,

PR Trigger review

  PR Triggers has come out with a product that is just plain fun. It is their G model Pull Release Trigger for Glock Gen 3 style pistols. What is a Pull Release trigger you might ask? It is a trigger that fires when you pull the trigger, and when you release the trigger. So essentially you get two shots fired with every full press/release cycle of the trigger. 

  Since I already mentioned what the PR Trigger does, let us get into what it is. The G model trigger is a drop in trigger assembly for Glock gen 3 and Gen 4 style small frame pistols. For instance, a G19, G17, or equivalents. The PR kit contains a trigger, red colored backplate, a new striker plunger, and a new trigger housing. So it is a complete drop in swap from your original trigger. 

  Installation is pretty straightforward. Basically remove your old trigger group and install the PR one. The exception is the new striker plunger. To install the plunger, you will need to take the backplate off your slide. Then remove the old plunger. The PR’s new plunger has an arrow on it. This arrow must face the front of the pistol. Once installed, PR Triggers recommends installing the included red backplate. This is so that you can visually tell that this is the pistol with the pull/release trigger. If you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself, please have a gunsmith install the PR Trigger.

   Once installed, it is time to head to the range, or garbage pit, to do some shooting. On some pistols a break in period is needed. I dry fired mine a lot, so that may have helped. When I first tried the PR Trigger out, I only loaded up a few rounds to get the feel of the pull/release system. This seemed to work well. When I loaded up more, the trigger did not always want to fire. I was getting light primer strikes. I ran a bunch of different style ammunition through it, all with the same problem. So I took the PR Trigger home, took it out of the Lone Wolf Arms and installed it in a Polymer 80. When I returned to the range with it, I was still having problems. I contacted PR and they had me send the trigger back. Customer service was fantastic and promptly sent out a new one.

  Once the new PR Trigger was installed in the Polymer 80, I returned to the range. The new trigger was running much better. So much so that I could get through a full 30 round magazine without any problems. Every so often I will run into a problem if I am using iffy magazines or really cheap ammo. Good quality ammo seems to run decent.

  After using the PR Trigger in just a pistol, I proceeded to add something that takes it to a whole new level. Recover Tactical sent me out one of their 20/80 stabilizer kits for the Polymer 80. The Recover 20/80 is a folding chassis system for various pistols. It uses a clamshell design that just encapsulates the pistol. The Chassis easily installs and removes by just one screw. The price is right on Recover 20/80 also. They run $100. All I can say is that this little chassis system takes the PR Trigger up about 3 notches. You now have support to help control that second shot. The Recover 20/80 just makes the PR Trigger so much more fun to shoot.

  Besides the initial problems, I do have one complaint. If you pull the trigger back, firing a round, and want to stop shooting, you have to hold the trigger back while you unload the gun. This is very awkward. Try this, drop the mag and cycle the slide sometime, all while holding the trigger back. Did I mention pointing the pistol in a safe direction while doing this? It is not super easy. I do hear rumors that PR is making one with a switch so you can just flip it and release the trigger without the pistol firing. Besides this one complaint, The PR Trigger is still great fun.

  The PR Trigger is just plain fun. I know I have mentioned it before, but when you shoot this thing, it just puts a smile on your face. It is probably one of the closest things you can get, legally, to a machine pistol. Especially if you run it in some sort of chassis like the Recover Tactical one. You definitely need to experience it for yourself.

  If you are in the market for something different, check out the PR Trigger. It is well made and reasonably priced. Especially if you compare it to other triggers that are similar in function. It is not really practical, but sometimes fun overrules practicality. And the PR Trigger does that with flying colors. Go check out the G model over at PR Triggers.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Glock Trigger that fires on the pull and release of the trigger 

Target Market:

Anyone who likes to have fun

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Drop in complete system

  • Fits gen 3 glocks and some copies

  • Fires on pull and release

  • Increased rate of fire

  • Easy install

  • ATF Compliant

  • Lifetime Warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None as of now

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Chris from the 740 on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $249.99

Retail = $199.99 at JSD Supply

I need it now! Availability:

PR Triggers or JSD Supply

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Fires on pull and release of the trigger

  • ATF compliant 

  • Fun

  • Works even better with some sort of chassis system

  • Lifetime warranty

Cons:

  • First trigger sent didn’t seem to work with my setup

  • Doesn’t always fire depending on ammunition type

  • If trigger is pulled back and you don’t want to fire, you must unload the pistol

Score:  7.00 Good

Civivi Elementum Limited Edition

  It is Civivi’s 10th anniversary, so they came out with some limited edition knives. Since the Elementum is Civivi’s flagship folder, of course the limited edition one is in the Elementum series. The basic Elementum is a flipper style knife available with a variety of options. Special features of the Limited Edition knife are the blade steel, handle, and markings.

   The main reason I am doing the review on a sold out Limited Edition knife is because Civivi periodically makes versions like it. So the information on blade steel and handle material will still be useful. If you look at the Elementum on Civivi’s website, you can see how many options are available. They typically also do dealer only collaborations with places like Knife Center and Blade HQ. 

  This Limited Edition (LE) Elementum’s specifications are essentially the same as most in this series. It is a liner lock, flipper style knife. Yes, the flipper is the only way to effectively open the blade up. The LE Elementum uses the same ceramic ball bearings which give it that smooth Civivi opening. All the number specs are down below, so I will not bother you with them here. The Elementum series also has a lanyard hole. Civivi’s Elementum series are usually very thin, and the 10th Anniversary LE is also coming in at 0.43 inches. This slimness makes pocket carry very easy, as does the knife only weighing 2.8 ounces. 

  There are a few differences in the 10 anniversary LE Elementum. I will start with the short one. The LE Elementum has a titanium pocket clip instead of stainless steel. Also, this click is coated to match the knife's looks. My only complaint about the pocket clip is that it can not be reversed. You are stuck with tip up, right hand carry. That is how I carry my knives anyhow, but if you carry a knife in your left pocket, it might not work as well for you. The clip is very strong and works like it should.

  For the handle on the LE Elementum, Civivi uses carbon fiber. This is not your everyday carbon fiber. Civivi calls it “Jungle Wear Fat Carbon Fiber”. What does that mean? Well, essentially it is a flake style carbon fiber with black, gray and green colors to it. These colors and flakes give the handles a camouflage look, hence the “Jungle Wear” name. Since the handles are carbon fiber, they are smooth. There is no texture at all. I do not mind the lack of texture because it makes for a knife that slides smoothly in and out of your pocket.

  It is time to discuss the last main factor in the LE Elementum, and that is the blade. Being a limited edition knife, Civivi stepped up the blade steel. The LE Elementum has S35VN blade steel. This high quality blade steel is rarely seen on Civivi knives. I really like S35VN steel. It holds an edge for me extremely well. Yes, it does take a little longer to sharpen, but since I do not have to sharpen it as much, I am okay with the trade off. This LE Elementum uses a drop point style blade that is hollow ground, just like most of the knives in the Elementum family. The blade is 2.96 inches long and comes very sharp. Lastly, there is some impressive jimping on the top of the blade. A nice, useful, touch for this knife.

  Even though this Civivi Elementum is a limited edition, I had to carry it around for a while. I really enjoyed the LE Elementum. It is the perfect size and weight for an everyday carry pocket knife. The flipper smoothly opens the blade out when needed. Probably thanks to those ball bearings. Granted I would like another way of opening the Elementum besides just a flipper, but I doubt most people would even notice that it is a flipper opening only knife. All of the Elementum series are great EDC knives, this one just happens to be a little fancier. Being that this is the Civivi 10th Anniversary knife, it came with a challenge coin. It is individually numbered with only 2014 being made and comes with a Signed Certificate of Authenticity.

  So if you are in the market for a really good EDC knife, check out the Civivi Elementum line. If you are looking for something like the Limited Edition version, check out some of the dealer only collaborations. The Limited Edition Elementum is just a fantastic knife due to the S35VN blade steel and the awesome looking carbon fiber handle. You can check out all the Elementum series knives HERE.  

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

10th anniversary limited edition Elementum

Target Market:

Knife users that want a great blade steel

Collectors

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Overall Length: 6.99" / 177.6mm

  • Width: 1.19" / 30.3mm

  • Overall Height (Include Clip): 0.66" /16.8mm

  • Blade Length: 2.96" / 75.2mm

  • Closed Length: 4.03" / 102.4mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.12" / 3mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.43" / 11mm

  • Knife Weight: 2.81oz / 79.7g

  • Blade Material: CPM S35VN

  • Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC

  • Blade Grind: Hollow

  • Blade Finish: Satin Finished

  • Blade Type: Drop Point

  • Handle Material: Jungle Wear Fat Carbon Fiber

  • Handle Color/Finish: Green, Black

  • Liner Material: Stainless Steel

  • Liner Color/Finish: Gray

  • Pocket Clip: Tip-Up, Right Carry

  • Clip Material: 6AL4V Titanium

  • Clip Color/Finish: Green

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Locking Mechanism: Liner Lock

  • Only 2014 made

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Many

What others are saying?:

4.5 out of 5 stars, 4.9 stars total at Civivi.com

Awesome EDC

Lightweight, no hard edges. S35VN!! This is 4.5 stars for sure but the bearing action could be a tad bit smoother. Other than that, I love it!! Will be rotating this in my everyday carry!!

Link to other reviews:

None found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $103.50

Retail = Good luck

I need it now! Availability:

Civivi possibly

Check online

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Collectors Edition

  • S35VN blade steel

  • Carbon fiber Handle

  • Great size for EDC

  • Smooth function

Cons:

  • Sold Out due to being a limited edition knife

  • Only one way to open

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Civivi Conspirator review

CP Firearms Dragonfly

  When it comes to the Ruger 10/22, or its variants, there are tons of options for customization. CP Firearms has one of them. It is the Dragonfly kit. The CP Firearms Dragonfly kit eliminates any part of the rifle that adds weight. They do this with carbon fiber and nylon. I was sent a Dragonfly kit to try out and it does exactly what CP Firearms said it would do.

  The Dragonfly kit comes with everything needed to upgrade that 10/22. In this case it is pins, a handguard, a stock, and the receiver to stock adapter. It does not supply the 10/22 receiver or trigger pack. However, CP Firearms make two different Dragonfly kits. One is for the standard style receiver and the other is for an extended rail receiver. The Dragonfly will not fit Take-Down receivers. However, it should fit just about any standard 10.22 receiver.

   Before I go into the individual parts, I want to mention a few things. The Dragonfly kit is primarily designed for .22 rimfire action events, like Steel Challenge and Rimfire Challenge. With these shooting disciplines, you want a lightweight rifle that swings very quickly from target to target. Especially since winning is based on the fastest time. Because the Dragonfly kit strips down the 10/22 to just the essential parts, some people may find it to not be very attractive. I however kind of like the carbon fiber, stripped down version. It reminds me of something like a Baja 500 racer.

  Starting at the front of a 10/22. The Dragonfly gives you a tube style carbon fiber handguard. You still use your supplied barrel. I used my Faxon flame fluted tapered barrel. Super lightweight barrels are available from various sources including CP Firearms. By using one of these super lightweight barrels, one can lose about a pound over what I have and make the whole 10/22 weigh in at 3 pounds. The Dragonfly’s handguard has that really nice carbon fiber look to it. It also is very functional with a diameter of 1.58 inches and a length of 10.5 inches. To install the handguard, CP Firearms has a barrel clamp that the handguard then screws to. So you must first remove the old barrel clamp and install the CP Firearms one. Once this is done, you can slide the handguard onto the clamp. The Dragonfly kit they sent me was super tight. I had trouble sliding the handguard onto the adapter. I ended up tapping the handguard on with a rubber mallet. Once on, just snug up the screw for the handguard and you are ready to rock. The Dragonfly’s handguard allows for barrels up to 0.924 inches in diameter, so most barrels will fit under it. The tight fit makes the handguard extremely rigid.

  Since the Dragonfly kit does not use any kind of chassis, or typical stock, it needs a way to attach the receiver to it. CP Firearms includes pins and screws to keep the trigger pack attached to the 10/22’s receiver. Pins are also provided for the receiver extension.

  Once the Receiver Extension is pinned onto the receiver, you can mount up the other parts. You will need an AR style pistol grip. CP Firearms says to use one with a beavertail, but ones without will work. I tried both and found out that the beavertail AR grip does work far better than one without the tail. The Dragonfly’s receiver extension is threaded using standard AR buffer tube threads. 

  Lastly, we have moved toward the rear of the 10/22 and the stock. The CP Firearms stock is also comprised of a carbon fiber tube. It has those AR buffer tube threads, so you can screw it into the Dragonfly’s receiver extension. So screw it in and tighten down the castle nut. The carbon fiber tube is covered by a soft rubberish cover. This cover gives one a comfortable cheek weld on the stock. At the end of the tube is the adjustable butt plate. The butt plate itself is slightly curved and decently sized. On it are raised bumps to give a good purchase on one's shoulder. It is hard, but I didn’t even notice when shooting the Dragonfly, probably because it is a 22. The buttplate is adjustable for tilt and rotation. So you can twist it left or right and/or tilt the butt plate up or down. I really like the adjustability of the stock. In the stock form, the stock is an inch longer than the factory 10/22 stock. Technically one can also adjust length of pull, but only by about ½ inch until the tube hits the butt plate. I ended up cutting 1 inch off of the tube to make the length of pull more comfortable for me. To cut the carbon fiber, just wrap it in masking tape at the place you are cutting and saw through it. Then sand the end of the tube to get any imperfections out. 

  When CP Firearms asked if I wanted to try out the Dragonfly, I was a little hesitant. But then I shot the prototype at a steel match. So when they asked if I wanted one of the production versions to do a review on, I jumped at the chance. Even though mine weighs in at 4 pounds, a pound heavier than the prototype, it still shoots fantastic. As previously mentioned, I used a 16” standard style tapered barrel and not one of the super lightweight ones available. I mounted up a Gideon Optics Omega to the Dragonfly. It is a great optic for this type of shooting. I was able to score really high up in the rankings, at the local steel matches, with the Dragonfly kit installed. The Dragonfly kit just screams “Speed”. 

  If you are looking for a way to make your 10/22 as light as possible, the CP Firearms Dragonfly kit might just be it. If that is you, you probably shoot some type of rimfire speed shooting competition and need the benefits of the Dragonfly. I also see the advantages of having a super lightweight 22, even if you don’t shoot competitively. Either way, you should probably check out the CP Firearms Dragonfly kit.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Lightweight kit for 10/22’s

Target Market:

Competition shooters or anyone who wants a really lightweight 10/22

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Weighs virtually nothing

  • Receiver Extension - included

  • CP Complete M4 Style Buttstock - included

  • CP Front Carbon Fiber Handguard - included

  • All Necessary Hardware is included

  • Fits most 10/22 receivers except take down style

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $400.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

CP Firearms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Carbon Fiber

  • Comes with all hardware to install

  • Super lightweight

  • Fast from target to target

Cons:

  • Long stock

  • Hard to install forearm

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Faxon 10/22 barrel review

Jacob Grey AR trigger

Jacob Grey

Signature Drop in AR flat faced trigger

  I recently got an AR trigger from Jacob Grey Firearms. This is a flat faced 3.5 lb cassette style trigger. It came nicely packaged and also includes anti walk pins with it. Jacob Grey (JG) is known for their high end 1911 double stack 9mm handguns. When I got the trigger I had to figure out what rifle I was going to put it in. So I chose a Palmetto State lower with a Delton 16” upper. I had an LPVO on this rifle and was taking it to a class. This gave me the chance to run the trigger and get a good feel for it.

  After installing the Jacob Grey trigger I had a small hiccup with it. I followed the instructions that were in the box and I could not get the trigger to function right. I spent several hours working on trying to make it work. I reached out to a few friends, that I knew had the answers. I also called JG customer service and left a voicemail. After using my lifeline, I got the trigger running right. I didn’t realize there were two small set screws on the trigger that you have to run down until they meet the bottom of the receiver. Right after I figured this out the customer support team called me. There were two gentlemen on the phone and one was the head armorer. He gave me a run down and told me how to adjust the trigger after installing it. This was a refreshing relief to get a real person that knows what they are doing to call you back. The big aggravation I had was that there were no instructions on or in the box.

Image from Jacobgreyfirearms.com

  Installing the JG trigger was very straightforward, just yank out that old GI junk, and drop this one in. It came with anti walk pins to secure it. I did use some blue loctite on the screws, after I had one of the screws back out during a training class. So the loctite was definitely an after the fact thought. 

  When I took the rifle to the range I was really impressed with the very short trigger pull. There was no take up, the trigger break was crisp like glass. It was almost scary the first few rounds. After getting used to it, making double taps and triples was no problem. The travel of the trigger was just a out 1/16” of an inch. The reset was very noticeable and tactile. It was refreshing to be able to know where it broke and reset. I did a lot of single shots and held the trigger down and let up on it after the round had impacted. The reset was audible and very noticeable. 

  I took the rifle to a class and the JG trigger performed flawlessly. Granted I already had about 200 rounds on the trigger before this. The trigger was smooth, crisp, broke like glass, reset was wonderful. It almost felt like you could outrun the rifle with the trigger. It is not very often that I find something that I have to tell other people, “you just have to try this”. With the JG trigger I did. I asked several people to shoot it and tell me what they thought of it. Everyone was surprised at the crisp, light break and the reset. 

  So after having well over 1000 rounds on the Jacob Grey trigger it is staying in my go to rifle. The 3.5lb trigger pull is fantastic. I probably would not recommend this trigger to someone starting out just because of how light it is. I would recommend some range time doing drills before I ran it in a class or competition. After someone is used to this trigger, it would make a great all around do anything trigger. You can check the trigger out at Jacob Grey Firearms.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Made in the USA AR trigger

Great quality 

Consistent trigger pull

Target Market:

Competition shooters

Skilled shooter looking for a great trigger

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product): 

  • Clean break

  • Repetitive trigger pull

  • Quality machining

  • Easy instal with instructions 

  • Trigger Shoe Type: Flat

  • Trigger Action: Single Stage

  • Creep: Zero

  • Overtravel: 0.050"

  • Rest Feel: Tactical mild force

  • Hammer Strike: Full

  • Pin Size: Standard Mil Spec 0.154" - Anti-Walk Trigger Pins Included

  • Warranty: Lifetime

  • Weapon Platform: AR15, M4, AR10, AR9

 What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars from John D. at OpticsPlanet.com

Alrighty, let me tell you about the Jacob Grey Drop in AR15 Trigger. If you're looking for a trigger that's super crisp and has a super short reset, then this trigger is the real deal, my friend.

I gotta say, I was a bit hesitant at first since I've tried out some other triggers that were supposed to be "crisp," but they just didn't cut it for me. But let me tell ya, the Jacob Grey Trigger definitely lives up to the hype.

First off, installation was a breeze. I'm no gunsmith, but I was able to install it without any issues. And once I got it on my AR, I was absolutely blown away by how smooth and crisp the trigger pull was. Seriously, it's like butter.

And let's not forget about that super short reset. It's insane. You barely have to move the trigger at all to get it to reset. And when it does, you're right back at that crisp trigger pull.

Now, let's talk about the price. For the money, you simply can't beat this trigger. I've seen other triggers out there that cost two or three times as much, but they don't even come close to the performance of the Jacob Grey. It's an absolute steal, in my opinion.

Overall, if you're in the market for a trigger that's crisp, smooth, and has a super short reset, then look no further than the Jacob Grey Drop in AR15 Trigger. It's a total game changer and worth every penny.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $179.99

Retail = Currently $102.00 at OpticsPlanet

I need it now! Availability:

Jacob Grey Firearms or OpticsPlanet

https://www.opticsplanet.com/jacob-grey-custom-one-piece-3-5lb-drop-in-trigger.html

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Quality made

  • Light and crisp trigger pull

  • Good price point

  • Good reset

Cons: 

  • No instructions to adjust the set screws

Score: 8.50 Great 

Swampfox Tomahawk II

  Not too long ago, Swampfox Optics released an updated version of their Tomahawk Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO). It is rightfully called the Tomahawk II. Along with other upgrades, it also offers a new style of reticle called the Bright Fiber Optic or BFO. The Tomahawk II still retains its second focal plane as well as coming in either a 1-4 or 1-6 magnification range. Swampfox sent me the 1-6x24 Tomahawk II with the Blue color BFO to review.

   LPVO’s are all the rage right now. The Tomahawk II falls nicely into this category with the magnification going from a red dot style 1x, to a useful 6x. It also has a pretty standard 30mm tube. Of course it has multi-coated optics, a fast focus diopter, an optional throw lever, and a great warranty. 

At 6x, Brightness is around 7 or 8

  Swampfox’s Tomahawk II Bright Fiber Optic reticle is probably part of the reason you are looking at this. The BFO has a brightly illuminated dot inside the scopes crosshairs. This particular LPVO has the Blue dot.  An Amber, Red, or Green center dot are available. The only illuminated part of the reticle is the center dot. The Dot size is listed as 0.6 MOA. Because of the crosshairs, the tiny dot size just looks like a normal size 1-2 MOA dot, at least to me. The crosshair itself is very useful too. In the reticle are hash marks spaced at 5 MOA increments. Since this is a second focal plane (SFP) optic, the stadia marks are only correct at 6x, or the largest magnification range. The reticle’s visual size also does not change with magnification increases or decreases due to it being in the SFP. There are 6 stadia marks for elevation and ranging. While there are 3 stadia marks, in each direction for windage. You can use the MOA stadia marks to range with if needed. The big advantage of the BFO reticle is that you can run the LPVO like a true red dot at 1x. Or in this case, a Blue dot. Why blue? Because it is easy on the eye and is picked up quickly due to our eyes color sensitivity. Then if you need ranging ability, you can turn the adjustment ring to 6x and use the MOA stadia of the reticle while still having the illuminated blue center dot.

  Magnification adjustments on the Tomahawk II are pretty straightforward. To adjust it, there is a large adjustment ring toward the rear of the scope. Turn it to the left to increase magnification, and to the right to decrease it. From 1-6x is a little less than one half turn. The adjustment ring has deep grooves in it to aid in getting a grip on it. This adjustment ring is smooth to operate and not too stiff. Swampfox also includes a separate throw lever. This throw lever just clamps on with a little screw. They send 2 screws with it, but do not give a torque specification. Which is probably why I needed the extra screw after breaking the first. The throw lever is very usable. At first I did not think I would like how it clamped on. But this feature allows you to put the throw lever in any position you desire. An actual plus over some of the fixed throw levers. 

  Illumination for the BFO is done by the knob on the left side. This knob also houses the 2032 battery. There are 12 levels of illumination for the BFO dot. Essentially from night vision dim to needing sunglasses bright. Yes, the dot is super bright at the 12 setting. So bright that even in direct sunlight I did not use the 12th setting. Between each brightness setting, on the dial, is an off setting. This is a feature that I really like. Especially since the Tomahawk II does not have any type of auto on/off feature. If you want this feature, the Tomahawk II does work with an Auto Live battery cap, as I did try it. 

   Swampfox installed some pretty nice reticle adjustment knobs on the Tomahawk II. Both the windage and elevation knob have 0.5 MOA click adjustments. These clicks are pretty decent, but the elevation knob’s are better than the windage ones. The windage knob is capped. However, the elevation knob is not capped. Instead it uses a pull up to turn knob. One must first pull the knob up, then it can be adjusted. Push the knob back down and it locks that adjustment into place. With the turret being locked into place, there is no need to worry about it moving if bumped or bashed around. Both the windage and elevation knobs can be set to zero so you know where to turn them back to. I’ve used push to lock style turrets before, and always like them.

  Glass quality on the Tomahawk II was pleasantly surprising. For an approximately $400 LPVO, I was impressed with how clear the Tomahawk II is. Images appear clear and bright with very little distortion around the outer edge. The eye relief is pretty forgiving, even at 6x. There is also a decent 20 foot field of view at 6x. Lastly, the fast focus diopter lets you get the reticle adjusted for a picture perfect image. I could not ask for anything more out of this optic.

  Swampfox also sent one of their Hostile Engagement Mounts for the Tomahawk II. This is their top of the line one piece mount. The Hostile Engagement Mount (HEM) includes a place to mount an RMR footprint reflex sight directly to the rings, at a 45 degree offset. I didn’t use the RMR feature, but it does have steel inserts for the screws, so they probably will not strip out. The HEM has some really nice recoil lugs built into it. So I would not hesitate to install it on something with a little more recoil than my standard AR. It is available in a 30mm or 34 mm size. I used the 30mm one because that is the tube diameter of the Tomahawk II. Being that the HEM weighs a bit over 8 ounces, and the Tomahawk II weighs 20 ounces, this combo does add a bit of weight to your rifle. So if you are looking for something super light, maybe use one of Swampfox’s other AR mounts.

  I like the Swampfox Tomahawk II. The BFO is fantastic for close up work. It literally is like using a 1x red dot, or should I say blue dot? The MOA style reticle also works well for me. I like the 5 MOA stadia marks as I can use them for bullet drops or ranging. My one dislike is that I can definitely tell the weight of the scope/mount combination. Especially when transitioning from target to target. However, the clear glass and bright dot make this an excellent option in the LPVO market.

  The Swampfox Tomahawk II is a stand up LPVO. The BFO reticle makes it both fast and precise. That center dot of the reticle is probably why you are looking at this anyhow. Why not have an LPVO that you can use as a dot style optic? Plus, you will be able to see your target nicely due to the clear glass. The lock down turret knob is also a nice touch. So if you are looking at fair priced LPVO's that work as red dots, take a look at the Swampfox Tomahawk II.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Affordable 1-6 LPVO with a bright colored illuminated center dot

Target Market:

Anyone, Hunters, Target shooters, Competitors, Law Enforcement, etc

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Magnification: 1-6x

  • Tube Diameter: 30mm

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

  • Exit Pupil (mm): 7.6mm-3.9mm

  • Eye Relief: 3.39”-3.54” (1x-6x)

  • FOV @ 100 Yards: 120.43’-20.9’ (1x-6x)

  • Click Value: 1/2 MOA

  • Parallax Setting: 100 yds

  • Travel Per Rotation: 100 Clicks/50 MOA

  • Max Windage & Elevation Adjustment: 100 MOA

  • Fully Multi-Coated / Anti-fog / Hydrophobic lens coating

  • Illumination: 12 illumination settings with intermittent on/off positions

  • Side-mounted CR2032 Battery

  • Second Focal Plane Bright Fiber Optic Reticle

  • Fast Focus Diopter: -2 to +2

  • Push/Pull Locking elevation Turret with Zero Reset and capped windage turret

  • Length: 10.55”

  • Weight: 20.59 oz

  • Waterproof Rating: IPX7

  • Impact Resistance: 1,100 G Force

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

1-4x

Red or Green BDC reticle

Red, Green, or Amber BFO reticle

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Parallel Defense on YouTube    

Price point:

MSRP = $449.00

Retail = $380 at Brownells

I need it now! Availability:

Swampfox Optics or Brownells

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Super clear glass

  • Bright Fiber Dot MOA reticle

  • Locking Turret

  • Useful magnification range

Cons:

  • Weight

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  Swampfox Liberty Green Dot review   

Lucid Optics E7

  Small, fully enclosed, red dots have become commonplace. These dot sights can be used on rifles, shotguns, or pistols. That makes them very useful. Lucid optics has one of these enclosed “dot” sights named the E7. The Lucid E7 has something special under its hood. That special twist is a BLUE colored reticle instead of your standard red dot.

  Besides the blue reticle, Lucid’s E7 reflex sight is pretty standard. The E7 is essentially a square rectangle with a length of 1.78 inches. Okay, it is not a true square, but you get the idea.  It uses the industry standard footprint for these types of sights. That standard is the ACRO footprint. The nice thing about the ACRO footprint is that you can get a multitude of adapters to fit it on just about any firearm. The E7 comes with a tall picatinny adapter that is pre installed. Also in the box is a MOS adapter should you choose to run it on a Glock pistol. I used the tall picatinny adapter because I mounted the E7 on a Foxtrot Mike AR’ish pistol. It worked great in this configuration. 

  Before I get into the blue reticle design of the E7, let’s get into some of the specifications. This is a 1x reflex sight, so there is no magnification. The exterior is made from 7075 aluminum. So you should be able to bash it around if needed. The E7 tips the scales at a lightweight 2.65 ounces. It runs off of a CR2032 battery with a 50,000 hour life, thanks to the “shake awake” feature of the E7. The auto on/off feature is really a favorite of mine. The rest of the specs can be seen down below in the “Features” section.

  The Lucid Optics E7 is the first reflex sight with a blue colored reticle. Why blue? Blue is calming to the human mind. That leads to less fatigue if seeing it for extended periods of time. It also appears very sharp, making it ideal for reticle designs. But most important to us shooters, is that blue colors are typically not found on things we shoot at. Now if you are shooting in a field of blue flowers, that might be an exception. The blue reticle just doesn’t blend into stuff like a green one might. Even against blue sky, you can still see the reticle of the E7. So if you are training and have different color targets. When someone says “shoot the red target”, you don’t lose track of your dot with the blue, like you might with a red dot.

  Now for the reticle design. Lucid Optics uses their M5 reticle in the E7. I will do my best to describe it, but look at the picture of it. In the middle is a 4 MOA dot. This dot is surrounded by about two thirds of a 32 MOA circle. Then, on the bottom, at 45 degree angles, are two lines. Having both the 32 MOA circle and those two lines help to draw your eye straight to the center dot. Lucid Optics says that between the blue color and this reticle, it helps to give up to 30% faster target acquisition over just a dot. I do not know if I was 30% faster with the E7, but the reticle is pretty fast and does draw my eye into it, so it is easy to pick up a sight picture. I really like the design of the reticle. 

  Since the Lucid E7 is an enclosed sight, it does have some advantages. The most obvious is that the guts of the E7 are protected from dirt, water, oil, and other objects that might cause problems. If you have ever gotten water on the emitter of an open reflex sight, you know what advantage having a closed system does for you. If you happen to get something on the E7’s 21x18mm lens, you can just wipe it off. The enclosed system also puts all the controls on the outside where they are easy to get to. In the E7's case, the brightness up/down is on the left side and the battery compartment is on the right side. The windage adjustment is also on the right side. The elevation adjustment is on top, as one would expect. Both of these have positive click adjustments for easier use. However, they are small and need a small flathead screwdriver to adjust. I was pleasantly surprised with the adjustment clicks, being that they are so small.  

  I am pretty happy with how the Lucid E7 performed. It is a great little 1x reflex sight. I really only have one complaint. If you turn up the brightness on the M5 blue reticle, it blurs together for me. This is due to my astigmatism. So do not worry about the reticle being clear, unless you have bad eyes like me. Because the reticle has more in it then just a dot, that is why it is worse for me. HOWEVER, if I turn the brightness down a little, the reticle clears up nicely. Plus, due to the blue reticle, I can get a clear reticle at a lower brightness setting than if it were red in color. This really only plays a role if I am shooting at distant targets. Up close I just use the bright blue as a larger dot. Just put the reticle on the target and engage. I also like the size and weight of the E7. It is the perfect size for a lightweight AR pistol or SBR. Having the ACRO footprint also lends the E7 to be right at home on a handgun, if you were to choose that option. The E7 has been a great little reflex sight and has stood up to my abuse.

  Since the Lucid Optics E7 is the first blue colored reflex sight, it stands out against all the other ones. Yes, you will pay a few dollars more, but you get an actual reticle in a blue color, not just a red dot. The construction is nice and sturdy with easy to use controls. It has great battery life thanks to the “shake awake” feature. So if you are looking for a good enclosed style reflex sight, but with a blue twist, check out the Lucid Optics E7. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Blue illuminated reflex sight

Target Market:

Those wanting something different. Sight can easily be used for just about anything from handguns to rifles

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Finish: Matte Black

  • Material: 7075 Aluminum

  • Magnification:  1x

  • Lens Diameter:  21mm x 18mm

  • Reticle: M5

  • Illumination Color:  Blue

  • Emitter Type:  Enclosed

  • Battery Life:  50,000 hours

  • Length:   1.78″

  • Weight:  2.65oz

  • Field of view: 60 ft @ 100 yds

  • Footprint:  Aimpoint ACRO

  • Mount:  Picatinny/ACRO adaptor mount included

  • Battery: CR2032

  • IPX7 Waterproof

  • Shake Awake

  • 90 MOA Windage and Elevation Adjustment

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

3 out 5 stars at OpticsPlanet.com  

Blurry for my eyes and sons eyes

I had trouble seeing the optic clearly and so did my son. My buddy had no issue seeing it. He doesn't wear glasses and neither does my son. I do. Was bummed. However I still hit the target. So far not a horrible optic, just wish I could see it clearly.

Link to other reviews:

Shooting News Weekly  

Price point:

MSRP = $299.99

Retail = $239.95 at OpticsPlanet.com   

I need it now! Availability:

Lucid Optics or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Blue reticle is easy on eyes

  • Reticle design is fast to pick up

  • Shake Awake

  • Acro footprint

  • Actual click adjustments

Cons:

  • May not be good for people with astigmatisms

  • MSRP is a little higher than other optics in this class 

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Lucid L7 1-6x24 review   

RITON 3 TACTIX 1-8 X 24 LPVO

RITON MAN

THE RITON 3 TACTIX 1-8 X 24 LPVO

  Up for review today is the RITON 3 Tactix LPVO 1-8 x 24 rifle scope. In the world we are in now, it is either red dots or LPVO on your rifle. Well I can’t tell you which way to go because I run both. What I can tell you is the LPVO that RITON makes is a good choice if you're looking for a mid tier rifle scope. Is it the best? No. Is it the worst? Not by a long shot. It has good and bad features that you have to choose what you like. 

  To start off with the 3 Tactix is solid, I would also say it is duty grade for sure. I dropped it on the ground and beat it back and forth around in the truck, on my body while on a sling and so on. It never lost zero. The mount they sent to me was one of their own and is a rock solid mount with a level built in the back bottom. I would assume this is for when you’re taking longer shots and have to keep the reticle level to play the wind. Or it could just be an aid when mounting the scope. This is a tactical scope that has all the features you would expect in a high dollar optic for twice the money. It has a patent pending dual throw lever for adjustment, capped turrets, 6 different brightness settings and is available in black or FDE. For some reason they sent me a black optic with an FDE mount, but that doesn’t matter to me. 

  Under the windage and elevation caps are zero resettable turrets. There are three different height throw levers and a flush mount one. Windage and elevation adjustment are ½ MOA. There are 6 levels of red illumination with an off position between each level. It features a fast focus eyepiece. They state it is 100% waterproof, fog proof  and rugged design ready for the toughest environments. I could not find a waterproof rating on the website or in the documentation so I am just going to take their word for it. 

  Mounting the optic was easy just like any other, just follow the directions and torque specs and you will be fine. The clicks on the dials were fantastic and probably some of the best I have turned. Once you have the scope zeroed at your preferred distance, you can loosen the screw and set the dial to zero and tighten it back down. 

  This Riton optic is a second focal plane which means the reticle stays the same at all levels of magnification. Second focal plane, or SFP, optics have the reticle behind the magnifying lens. The advantage is that the reticle always stays the same size. The disadvantage is that if you are going to use the holdovers that are listed in the manual you have to have the optic at max power. I use different power levels and keep a dope card taped to the stock of my rifles so I know where I am with that magnification. Just be mindful this is a capped turret optic, so if you want to dial for wind you have to take the caps off. 

  The reticle is a unique design to me, I have not used one like this before and it is easy to use. It can be a little busy at first. Once you learn what everything means you are good for elevation, windage and it also has a dot in the center that works well for close up work. The reticle is called an OT reticle, once you look at it you will understand. It has a broken circle that is 20 MOA in diameter with a 1 MOA dot in the center. After that you have a T, with the bottom of the T hanging out of the bottom of the circle. It has 4 vertical lines that run out from each side and bottom from the 10 MOA center out. Each line is 0.5 MOA wide, the distance between each line is 5 MOA and the lines are 5 MOA tall. Then there are horizontal lines in between each vertical line. There are 3 of these that are 3 MOA long and 0.5 MOA thick. So once you have all of this math figured out you are golden. I see it no different than people that use tree reticles and call wind and elevation on the fly with them. This is just something different that works.

  I mounted the 3 Tactix 1-8 on 2 different rifles and went to the range numerous times with both of them. I even used this optic in a Kevin Dixie rifle class. It definitely took some abuse that day. So far I am around 1500 rounds with this optic, out to distances of 200 yards. I mainly ran it at 50 yards and in. I ran it like a red dot in various light situations. The good thing about the illumination setting is that there is an off setting between each brightness setting. The optic never lost zero at all. I did my own little repeatability test with it at 100 yards. I took one shot that landed close to the center of the bullseyes. I then cranked over 10 clicks to the right and took a shot then I went 20 clicks to the left and took a shot. These out laying shots were almost in identical places. I then cranked back to my original setting and was within a ½ inch of my first shot.

   I am not going to bore you with all the details of the Riton 3 Tactix 1-8 LPVO. I will list this down below so you can read them or go to their website. I can tell you that this optic impressed me more during a training class and a competition than it did on the range. It is a little cluttered to me. But I am used to more simplified optics. So take that with a grain of salt. This optic might be right up your alley. I know it is on my go to battle rifle and will stay there until I find something better. Have I figured it all out? No, but I am still working on it. The glass is clear, the turrets are tactile, the lights are bright, and the scope mount is wonderful. I have used better optics but not for the money that this one offers. I like it, it works. Riton is not known for making cheap optics, so you know you're getting quality glass. I do not know anything about customer service but the folks at Shot Show 2024 were amazing when they talked to me about the scope. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality glass

Tactile turrets

Good price point

Great light transmission

Easy Click turrets

Great finish

Good clarity for the price

Target Market:

The average consumer that needs extra for their money

Will serve most people well without breaking the bank

Average working Joe

FEATURES, BENEFITS, AND SPECIFICATIONS OF THIS PRODUCT:

  • Magnification: 1-8

  • Parallax Adjustment: Fixed at 100 yards

  • Tube Diameter: 30mm

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

  • Focal Lens Position: Second Focal Plane

  • Lens Coating: Fully Multi-Coated, Full Wide Band, Waterproof Coated, Low Light Enhancement

  • Reticle: OT, Illuminated

  • Field of View at 100 yds: 105.8ft-13.1ft

  • Material: 6061-T6

  • Eye Relief: 3.5in/90mm

  • Exit Pupil: Low 7.5mm - High 3mm

  • Click Value at 100 yds/m: 1/2”

  • Adjustment Range: 182 MOA

  • Mounting Length: 6.75in/171mm

  • Length: 10.87in/276mm

  • Weight: 19.3oz/547g

  • Included Items: Flip Up Lens Covers, Lens Cloth, Allen Wrench

 What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

FDE version

What others are saying?:

3 out of 5 stars at OpticsPlanet.com    

Not terrible for the price

I purchased this scope from an individual who "decided to go another direction" with their setup. Pros: Clear glass, seems well built(time will tell), reticle and illumination are crisp/clean and turrets are tactile and audible. Cons: The magnification throw is VERY stiff(may loosen up over time). The reticle isn't very intuitive, but will work for my needs. The biggest downside to this scope is what others have said, THE EYEBOX SUCKS. Anything past 5x your head/eye has to be in the 'sweet spot' or you'll lose it all to scope shadow. Also the owner of a Burris rt6, the box is much better on the rt6 compared to this and basically the same reticle as the X3 moa model. Long story short--a 1-8 that's only good to 6x is a 1-6. The glass on the Riton is better than the Burris(I think), but if you can't see through it, it doesn't matter. If you're considering this Riton, get the Burris rt6. I paid 200 for the Riton, so I don't feel cheated, but at retail prices, there are better options.

Link to other reviews:

The Truth About Guns

Outdoor Hub

Price point:

MSRP = $479.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Riton or Amazon   

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Light weight

  • Clear glass for the price

  • Large turrets

  • Easy to mount

  • Good price point

  • Illumination is on point

Cons: 

  • The reticle can be cluttered at first

  • It is not Leupold quality glass

  • You have to adjust the diopter quite a bit

Score: 8.00 Great

Black Talon Tactical AR trigger

  The AR market is saturated with aftermarket triggers. If you want to stand out from the big names, you need to do something better and different. Black Talon Tactical has done just that with their Single Stage Calibrated Adjustable Drop In trigger. Yes it has a long name, but it really does describe the Black Talon Trigger quite well. They shipped me out their Improved Finger Position (IFP) profile trigger to try out. For the $180 price tag, I was not disappointed. 

  Black Talon Tactical’s drop in trigger is different in many ways. These differences are all good in my opinion. One, it has an adjustable trigger pull weight from 2-5 pounds. Two, this particular version uses the Improved Finger Position (IFP) trigger shoe that I’ll describe later. Lastly, the Black Talon triggers also have zero take up, very minimal break travel, and a tiny bit of overtravel.  

  When Black Talon Tactical says the trigger pull weight is adjustable, it is even more than that. As mentioned, the trigger’s pull weight is adjustable from 2.0 pounds to 5.0 pounds. I am pretty sure they specify the decimal point because the trigger has a precision adjustment scale on it. Black Talon Tactical also states that the trigger is calibrated to within 1 ounce of the marked adjusted trigger pull weight. Plus, the trigger pull weights are repeatable on the scale. The only noticeable drawback to the IFP trigger is that it must be removed to adjust the pull weight. To adjust the pull weight, just use the supplied allen wrench to turn the screw to the setting you want, it’s that easy. For a small fee you can send Black Talon Tactical a stripped lower receiver and they will modify it so that the trigger can be adjusted without removing it. I did not send in a receiver, so I can not tell you anything about the modification. I will testify to the fact that the adjustment is repeatable. I adjusted the trigger a few times, and then set it back to a 2.5 lb pull. My trigger pull gauge reads 2.5 lbs pretty much every time I check the trigger’s pull weight. 

  While Black Talon Tactical makes these triggers in a standard curved and flat trigger shoe, they also have something different. This different shoe is called the Improved Finger Position (IFP) profile. Essentially the IFP shoe is a flat trigger until you get down toward the tip. Then the trigger has a little curved section that is angled toward the shooter's finger. This little section is about 5/16 inch long. What it does is allow for really precision trigger manipulation. Yes, you can get a really precise feel out of it. The straight portion of the trigger is then used for normal or fast shooting. I thought the IFP trigger shoe was great. It works just as described. When I want precision shots, I just move my finger down to the bottom. When I want to go fast, I just use the flat section of the trigger as normal. And this trigger is fast.

  Installation of the Black Talon trigger is pretty standard. Remove the safety and old trigger. Slide the Black Talon trigger into position. Slide in the supplied anti-walk pins. Tighten anti-walk pin screws. Install safety. Now for the important step: tighten the two rear screws that put upward pressure on the trigger housing. If these screws are not tightened properly, the trigger may not work correctly. I originally had the trigger in a polymer AR lower and had a few failure to fire’s. My best guess is that the polymer flexed enough to cause problems, since those two rear screws couldn’t get tight. When I installed it in a standard aluminum AR lower receiver, those problems stopped. It has over 500 rounds in the aluminum AR receiver and has run flawlessly for over 500 rounds. All the necessary allen wrenches are also included so there is no need to run around trying to find some.

  My favorite aspect of the Black Talon Tactical Single Stage Calibrated Adjustable Drop In trigger is the actual pull, or lack thereof. The actual amount of movement in the trigger, to fire the AR, is minimal. Black talon states 0.5 mm, which is 0.020“. I just know that when I tested it, it was less than 0.040”. The break on the Black Talon Tactical trigger is also fantastic. I wouldn’t say glass rod, even if it is close, but I will say it has a super short tactile feel to it. Overtravel is stated at 1.25mm, or 0.050” maximum. I don’t think the one I have is that long. I will mention that the overtravel feels shorter because it is not the normal free travel that most triggers have. Instead it feels kind of spongy, but it is so short that maybe I am just feeling the end of the total movement. Either way, the overtravel is not really even noticeable. The reset on the trigger is good and a little forceful. The reset is a little better than most drop-in triggers in this price range. Click here for a short video of the trigger movement. 

  I’ve put quite a few rounds through the Black Talon Tactical trigger. It is just so much fun to use. I have another trigger that feels a bunch like this one. The difference is that the Black Talon trigger is adjustable. Plus the IFP trigger shoe is unique in how you can go from fast to precision easily. When I was running a bunch of bill drills with the IFP trigger, I could get 0.10 second splits. 0.12 seconds were really common. If you want a really fast trigger, this may be one to look at. I probably wouldn’t recommend this trigger to a novice shooter. The break is just too short and quick in my opinion. But, the nice thing about this trigger is that you can set the pull weight up to 5 pounds, then as you get more proficient with it, you can turn the pull weight down. 

  If you can not tell, I became a big fan of Black Talon Tactical’s Single stage trigger. It really does everything an aftermarket single stage AR trigger should do. It has adjustable pull weight, a super short trigger pull, and a great trigger break. You also get the IFP trigger shoe for more precision shots. Go check out the Calibrated Adjustable Drop in Single Stage Trigger from Black Talon Tactical, it is worth a look.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Single stage adjustable AR trigger 

Target Market:

AR users who want a super fast, adjustable pull weight, trigger

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Improved Finger Position (IFP) trigger shoe

  • Adjustable pull weight between 2.0 - 5.0 lbs

  • Repeatable adjustments to within 1 ounce

  • Zero take up

  • 0.5 mm break

  • 1.25mm max over-travel

  • Cartridge style drop in housing

  • A2 tool steel construction

  • Anti-walk pins included

  • Lifetime warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Curved bow and Straight, all options in fixed pull weights too    

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars at Opticsplanet.com   

Love this trigger

I'm always looking for new/different products to upgrade my rifles and this is my favorite recent discovery. I love that it's adjustable and I set the weight at about 2.5 lbs and it is amazing! The IFP design is great as it gives you multiple positions for finger placement and it makes it easier to rapid fire. The hammer design on this trigger is unique and the housing feels extremely durable.

Overall I would recommend this trigger to anyone looking for something new and better.

Link to other reviews:

None found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $179.99

Retail = $161.99 at Optics Planet    

I need it now! Availability:

Black Talon Tactical or Optics Planet 

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Super short trigger break

  • Good reset

  • Adjustable pull weight

  • Super fast to shoot

  • Improved Finger Position (IFP) profile trigger shoe

  • Precision shooting option due to the IFP

  • Drop in design

Cons:

  • Might not be the greatest trigger for novice shooters

  • Must take the trigger out to adjust

Score: 9.00 Amazing

Favorite Link:  Magne-Tech Rigel II review

Primary Arms GLx RS-15

  When it comes to mini reflex red dot sights, everyone seems to have one or more in their catalog. Primary Arms has them also. The difference is that Primary Arms has broken the “same old dot” mold by designing and using an innovative reticle called the ACSS Vulcan. They have put this reticle in their brand new GLx RS-15 mini reflex sight. I tested the GLx RS-15 on a shotgun and a pistol just to see how it worked. 

  For everyday purposes, the Primary Arms GLx RS-15 is a reflex red dot sight. That is only the beginning of the story. First, the RS-15 is in Primary Arms’ GLx line. The GLx line is Primary Arms’ mid-tier optics line. That means you get a higher class of technology and materials at a fair price. The RS-15 comes in at $359 dollars, which isn’t bad when you count how many features are in it. In this line you tend to get new and innovative reticles and sharper glass, leading to a crisper dot. It also has the ACSS Vulcan reticle. Which I will explain, at length, later. Some of the other features it has include: A top load battery, 7075 aluminum housing, and Autolive technology, just to name a few.

Camera is closer to optic, to give an almost complete view of the reticle

  The GLx RS-15’s ACSS Vulcan reticle is an innovative design. For simple explanation, it is essentially a 3 MOA red dot. Then it has an outer ring around that dot. That outer ring is 250 MOA. So what happens is that when you hold the RS-15 at arms length, the outer ring is not seen if the dot is in the center of the window. If you move the sight up/down or left/right, the outer circle starts to come into the window's view. This allows the shooter to see which way the gun needs to move, so you can get back to having the dot centered. Take for instance you see a curved line in the right or left side of the window. Just move the muzzle of the firearm toward the direction of that curved line, and you should then see the aiming dot. Same with up or down. If the curved line is on top, move the muzzle up, if it is toward the bottom of the window, move the muzzle down. The ACSS Vulcan reticle is a great reticle to learn how to shoot red dots on pistols. Yes, it even helps out seasoned shooters like myself. After you use the Vulcan reticle for a while, and want to try just a normal dot sight picture, it has an option to turn off the outer ring so that it is just the 3 MOA dot. Just hold down the brightness down button for 3 seconds and it will cycle between the two modes. I’ve been really impressed with the ACSS Vulcan reticle.

  Primary Arms’ Autolive function is also built into the GLx RS-15. However, it works a little differently than their normal Autolive version. After around 10 seconds of no movement, the RS-15 shuts off the 250 MOA ring and leaves just the 3 MOA dot. Then after around 4 minutes of no movement, it shuts down the dot reticle. Have no fears, just barely move the RS-15 and the full Vulcan reticle will come back on. This helps aid in longer battery life. Battery life is pretty good. Primary Arms states 25,000 plus hours on medium setting with just the dot, and around 5,000 hours with the Vulcan reticle. It may sound substantially less, but 5000 hours is still 200 days of continuous “on.” And with the Autolive, it will not be continually on for 200 days. I’m a big fan of Autolive, or any of the auto on/off systems. 

   Mounting the GLx RS-15 might lead to some hassles. The RS-15 uses a C-More mounting footprint. Trying to find an actual C-More footprint optics cut is not easy. Slides with these optics cuts are available, but not nearly as prevalent as a RMR footprint cut. However, If you have a slide cut for a Delta Point Pro (DPP), and it doesn’t have the recoil lug bosses built in, the RS-15 will mount right up. This is because the screw hole spacing is the same for a DPP or a C-More footprint. This mounting footprint is the GLX RS-15’s biggest flaw. First I mounted the RS-15 up to a shotgun, with the help of a Warne Red-dot Shotgun Rib Reflex Mount. On a side note, the Warne mount is fantastic. It mounts to the shotgun's rib, securely, and has options for just about any red dot footprint imaginable. I then proceeded to put it on a P320 with a Grey Ghost Precision (GGP) slide. I did this because the GGP slide is cut for a DPP and doesn't have any recoil bosses to make the RS-15 not bolt up. That is where it stays. Not because it didn’t work on the shotgun, but because I like it better on the pistol.

  Besides the ACSS Vulcan reticle and Autolive functionality, the GLx RS-15 has some other great features. First up is the actual window size, which is 26x20mm’s. The window size is decently large and seemed easy for me to get on target with. Next is the RS-15’s top load CR2032 battery. Which also comes with a combo wrench to make removing the battery cover easy. The 7075 aluminum housing is stronger than comparable sights that use 6061 aluminum. Probably most notable, is that the RS-15 has 0.5 MOA click adjustments. Almost all mini reflex sights use a 1 MOA adjustment, and some do not have clicks. Lastly, the buttons on the right side control brightness. It has 13 brightness settings, 3 of which are night vision compatible. The top brightness settings are super bright. 

  The GLx RS-15 is one of the clearest red dots I have used. The clarity is just amazing. I say this because with my astigmatism, red dot’s are usually a little starred out for me, making them a little blurry. Not the RS-15. I don’t know what Primary Arms did to get this red dot so clear, but I like it. Maybe it is the very slightly tinted blue lens. Either way, it works. In fact, it is the first time, in a while, that I can turn the brightness all the way up and not have the dot look distorted. 

  I mentioned running the GLx RS-15 on a shotgun. I wanted to try out a non conventional use for it. I really liked shooting trap with the RS-15. However, the 250 MOA outer ring didn’t really do anything for the shotgun. Something about looking down a long gun barrel that tends to line up the sight. I am not sure if it helped me shoot trap better, but I see how having something like the RS-15 on a field shotgun could be immensely useful. The dot just made aiming at a moving target easier.

  After the shotgun try out, I proceeded to go conventional. Using the GLx RS-15 on a handgun is where it really shines. This is where the ACSS Vulcan reticle can be used to its full potential. I ran some drills with the RS-15 to test it out. I am a little faster, shot to shot, under recoil thanks to the Vulcan reticle. One because it is so clear, and the other because the reticle just helps you find the dot faster. This is definitely a more useful sight on a handgun.

  If you are looking into a red dot that can help you shoot better, the Primary Arms GLx RS-15 might be a good option. Partly due to its innovative ACSS Vulcan reticle. For new red dot shooters, it helps you find the dot and get used to it. For seasoned shooters, it helps you to find the dot faster. The GLx RS-15 even works for non-conventional uses like a shotgun. I have a hard time deciding what would be my favorite feature of the RS-15. Is it the Vulcan reticle, or the sights' clarity? Go check out the Primary Arms GLx RS-15 and see for yourself.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality red dot with the ACSS Vulcan reticle

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a quality red dot, but also those who will benefit from the ACSS Vulcan reticle

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • 7075 Aluminum construction

  • Hardcoat anodized black

  • Top loading CR2032 battery compartment

  • 5,000 Hour battery life with full reticle on medium setting

  • 25,000+ Hour Battery life with dot reticle on medium setting

  • Side mounted buttons for brightness (13 settings with 3 night vision)

  • Red Dot Bright® ACSS Vulcan Dot reticle (3 MOA center dot with 250 MOA outer circle)

  • Multi-reticle select can be changed between circle/dot and just the dot

  • 0.5 MOA windage and elevation adjustments

  • Autolive® functionality

  • Waterproof and shockproof construction

  • Multicoated lens

  • C-More footprint which is very similar to the Delta Point Pro footprint

  • Includes GLOCK MOS compatible mounting plate

  • Length: 1.84"

  • Weight: 1.11 oz.

  • Aperture diameter: 26x20mm

  • Lifetime warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Dot only version

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars at primaryarms.com

SUPERB RDO WITH DIRECT FITMENT ON SIG PRO-CUT SLIDE

This optic is my third with the ACSS Vulcan reticle, but first PA-branded open reflex (others are HS 507k & 507c). I've become a real believer in this reticle, in either red or green.

Target and sight acquisition are super-fast and consistent -- intuitive, too, once a little muscle memory is achieved. For me, it also had a minimal learning curve, with the added benefit of presentation depth feedback, making it simple to verify the gun is in the correct position for each round fired.

Too far away, the 250 MOA outer ring disappears. In too close, the outer ring circles the 3 MOA dot. At just right, the outer ring guides the dot to perfect target alignment. It's a system beneficial to both experienced shooters and new RDO users, and it just plain works.

This optic, like the HS RDOs, checks all the right feature boxes too, including shake awake, top-mount battery and side-mount brightness.

It’s a real winner. A+ performance and value.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing 

Price point:

MSRP = $359.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • ACSS Vulcan reticle

  • Clarity

  • Autolive motion activation

  • Window Size

Cons:

  • C-More mounting footprint

  • Slightly higher price when compared to similar reticles in red dots

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Primary Arms SLx 1x prism review  

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