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DECEMBER MESSAGE
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2024 is coming to a close. I hope you met your training and preparedness goals for the year. Here are some memories from this year to help inspire you to think about more training in 2025
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It was a fun year, and I sincerely appreciate everyone who spent time on the range with us.
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ON FIXING WHAT AIN'T BROKE
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Recently, I received a phone call from one of my armorer class alumni who was experiencing some issues with client AR's. It's a pleasure and honor when I receive these calls, so if you have training or equipment issues and want to pick my brain on it, I welcome the opportunity. In this circumstance, the client rifle was a .300 Blackout AR build that wasn't cycling reliably. The .300 blackout cartridge doesn't hold a lot of powder, so it doesn't generate a lot of gas to reciprocate the bolt. Manufacturers usually remedy this by equipping barrels with very short, pistol-length gas systems. In this case, the rifle configuration sounded good, except the client had built the rifle with a Geissele Super 42 Braided Wire Buffer Spring and Heavy Buffer.
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Geissele makes excellent products and there's nothing particularly wrong with this piece of equipment, except it states right on their website that these aren't designed for the .300 Blackout cartridge.
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In the world of firearms accessories, there are thousands of "problem solving" accessories that are marketed so successfully, brand new builds are equipped with these gadgets before they are even fired, before diagnosing any problems that need to be fixed. In this case, a standard carbine spring and buffer (at 1/3 the price of the Geissele) would be more than adequate and ensure reliable function.
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This accessory is a "problem solving" accessory, meaning it's an add-on meant to fix existing issues.
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The client in this case was a victim of advertising. They were sold on the idea that a mil-spec spring and buffer somehow weren't good enough, and they spent 3 times the money for a component that actually caused problems.
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Before you start adding aftermarket components to a firearm, especially components that are tied directly to the cycle of operations, make sure 1.) they are needed to fix a problem 2.) they don't cause any new problems.
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Not every accessory will work with every configuration. Just because a component fits, doesn't mean it won't impair function or reliability. My hit list of these items include:
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- Adjustable gas blocks - the AR was designed to be over-gassed, attenuating the gas flow means more carbon will build up in the gas system more rapidly. It is common to see rifles stop functioning reliably in class after as little as one magazine on adjustable gas block rifles.
- Obnoxious muzzle brakes - with very few exceptions, the only valid purpose for a muzzle brake on a short-action rifle (in my opinion) is as a mount for a suppressor. Muzzle brakes increase flash, blast, and noise - particularly for spotters and neighboring shooters. Go with a reasonable flash-hider like a G.I. or our "Rook" flash hider.
- "B.A.D. levers" - these levers attach to the bolt release and give the shooter an extension to the bolt release in the trigger guard. With good manipulations skills, these are unnecessary and are just another moving part that something can go wrong with. Philosophically, I see these as a hardware solution to a software problem, but you can't effectively fix weak manipulations skills with gear.
- Angled foregrips - these are starting to go out of fashion, which is all for the better in my opinion. They were a very effective marketing scheme to promote training with the C-clamp grip style of shooting. Unless you have a very slim handguard and run the carbine with your support hand thumb at the 12 O'clock position, an angled foregrip prevents getting a solid grip on the forearm. Most shooters would be better off with a "stubby" vertical foregrip instead.
- Captured buffer springs - rather than a traditional buffer and spring, these use a spring and weights unitized to a guide rod. I've tried these before, and found them to get gummed up quickly and slow down extraction, ejection, and feeding - particularly in cold weather. There's nothing wrong with a GI buffer spring and conventional buffers.
If you feel a compelling need to upgrade your rifle, some components and accessories I' ve found that improve function with low risk of impairing it include:
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- Ambidextrous selectors - even for right-handed shooters, a good ambi selector is beneficial.
- Ambidextrous charging handles - I only started using ambi charging handles within the past 3 years, I find them helpful.
- "Ranger plates" - these are a replacement for magazine baseplates that incorporate an angled rubber pad. This facilitates using the magazine as a monopod on hard-surfaces and gives the shooter a better grip when inserting and withdrawing mags.
- Heavy buffers - if a rifle is suffering from excessively violent extraction or gas blowback when suppressed, try upping the buffer weight. Most carbine and mid-length gas systems on 5.56/.223 builds can safely run an H2 buffer and see some benefit in slightly delayed extraction and firmer lock-up with no bolt bounce.
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LATEST GEAR REVIEW
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ARMORY
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Need a last minute gift? Check out our Armory page to purchase ADC gift certificates. These are valid for armory products or training and are available in denominations of $25, $50, $100, or $200. As a special, the $200 gift certificate will cover any 1-day 2025 training class and include an ADC swag pack with patches, stickers, T-shirt, and hat. Gift certificates are also valid for our handguards and complete uppers:
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Complete Upper - 20" Rifle Length
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These upper receiver groups begin with a T-marked government-contract M-4 upper receiver laser engraved with our logo. Barrel flanges are lapped and "trued" for top-notch accuracy. Builds feature mid-length Adaptive Defense Armory handguards and gas blocks with black nitrided gas tubes. Uppers are headspace checked and test-fired.
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- Barrel: Chrome-lined and phosphated 1-7 twist HBAR profile.
- Bolt: No bolt, Phosphated mil-spec bolt, Nitrided "enhanced" bolt
- Charging Handle: No charging handle, USGI, or Adaptive Defense Co-branded \"Rack\" charging handle by Battle Arms Development.
- Flash Hider: None, USGI A2, or Adaptive Defense "Rook."
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Complete Upper - 18" Rifle Length
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Barrels are Mk12 SPR/DMR contour 18\" nitrided stainless barrels with a 1-8 twist.
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- Bolt: No bolt, Phosphated mil-spec bolt, Nitrided "enhanced" bolt
- Charging Handle: No charging handle, USGI, or Adaptive Defense Co-branded \"Rack\" charging handle by Battle Arms Development.
- Flash Hider: None, USGI A2, or Adaptive Defense "Rook."
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Complete Upper - 16" Midlength
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- Barrel: Chrome-lined and phosphated 1-7 twist Government Profile, Chrome-lined and phosphated 1-7 twist HBAR profile, Nitrided Stainless 1-8 twist medium contour.
- Bolt: No bolt, Phosphated mil-spec bolt, Nitrided "enhanced" bolt
- Charging Handle: No charging handle, USGI, or Adaptive Defense Co-branded \"Rack\" charging handle by Battle Arms Development.
- Flash Hider: None, USGI A2, or Adaptive Defense "Rook."
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Newsletter subscribers who purchase products with the code ADC1224 between now and December 31 will receive a 10% discount on all Adaptive Defense Armory products.
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AMMUNITION
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A few days ago, a major player in the American ammunition market (The Kinetic Group, formerly Vista Outdoor, who owned ammunition brands CCI, Federal, Remington, Speer, and Alliant powder), was purchased by The Czechoslovak Group. The Czechoslovak Group has key manufacturing plants in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Italy, India, Great Britain and the USA and exports its products all over the world. It goes without saying that this acquisition has some folks anxious, even though The Czechoslovak Group website claims they aren't changing day-to-day operations, manufacturing, or marketing. Let's say my experience with companies keeping their promises has taught me to be a little suspicious. In the meantime, the prospects of a second amendment-friendly administration has ammo demand and prices down. It's a good time to buy if you need ammo. If you aren't running out of places to put it - you need ammo.
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