Heh...

I was getting dressed up for my little sister's wedding today, and realized that the dressiest belt I have is a black leather, kydex reenforced, 5.11 belt I got for free with some 5.11 pants.  On the upside, it is a nice looking belt.

Multitasker Tube

I was introduced to the Multitasker line of AR15 specific tools a couple months back on the Weapons Evolution forum.  The one that really caught my eye, especially having just cleaned my carbine, was the Multitasker Tube.  Well lucky for me, Shane, the man behind the magic, hooked me up with a sample Tube and the expansion pack/case.

First off, the main tool is sweet, but the expansion kit is like the mercury icing on Murderface's birthday cake (well, not quite as toxic anyway.)  The kit consists of a semi-hard case and spare bits for the driver portion of the Tube.

The inside of the case has elastic loops for the Tube itself, and a couple slots for the pick and whatever else you want to stick in there.  The other side has a couple mesh dividers and a velcro retention strap for the extra bits whatever you want to stick in that side as well.

As you can see, everything fits inside quite nicely, and doesn't bounce around.  I carried the whole kit in my day pack over the weekend through the LandNav course, and it was silent.  No rattles or clunks.

As mentioned, the expansion kit includes a range of spare bits in a rubber holder.  The bits include a #1 Phillips; a 3/32 and #5 Flathead; a T-10 and a T-15 Torx bit; and 3/16, 9d/64, 1/8, 7/64, and 3/32 Hex drivers.  That should cover most of your bases in the AR15 world of field maintainence.

Cool stuff.

Now on to the Tube tool itself.

Multitasker is a fitting name for the company, seeing as they produce a full range of weapon specific multi-tools, and the Tube is no exception.  Being similar in size to a marker, it still packs some nice features.  The cap unscrews to reveal the magnetic socket for the driver bits, and the tube comes with an AR15 front sight tool (four pronged A2 type.)

The inclusion of a front sight tool is one of the reasons I thought this tool was a winner right out the gate.  Anybody who's spent more than a week in the Army can remember numerous zero ranges with a handful of finishing nails scattered about for front sight adjustment.  I still don't understand the Army's refusal to issue front sight tools.

Making the sight tool a separate bit was a genius move on Multitasker's part, as the prongs are somewhat fragile, so the bit is easily replaceable.  The cap also has a little nub sticking out of the top, which is perfect for stubborn takedown pins, and the pocket clip pulls double duty as a flathead screwdriver.

The other end features a threaded peg that accepts the included dental pick and AR15 bolt scraper.

The pick is great for getting into those tight spots, as well as for those of you who have problems getting out the firing pin retaining pin.  Just hook the little sucker and pop it right out.

The scraper was the biggest reason I was attracted to the Tube.  Anybody who's cleaned an AR after a couple hundred rounds of rapid-ish fire is familiar with the baked on layer of crud that will accumulate on the bolt tail right behind the O-rings (you know that criticism of the AR for crapping where it eats? Well that's the diner plate.)  The blade of the scraper is cut to match the contours of the bolt tail, and is the best way I've ever had of scraping that crap off.

Here's the bolt from my A2 clone.  That's at least 500 rounds of crap that's had about a year to settle on there.

I didn't soak it or anything, just scraped away for about 30 seconds.  Some Hoppes and cloth will take care of whatever's left no problem.

The threading on that end of the Tube is also the same as the threading on the Otis cleaning kits that the Army issues now, meaning you can use the tube as a handle for the pull-through.  I don't have an Otis kit handy, but I'll probably pick one up in the near future to try out in conjunction with the Tube.  (Toss the pull through in that big empty pocket on the top of the above case, a little bottle of CLP, and you should be good.)

If you're the type who regularly shoots an AR, especially if you're like me and put 100+ rounds through in a regular range session, the Multitasker Tube is well worth looking into, even the basic tube alone.  The Tube and expansion kit is available from Brownell's.

ETA: Update here.

Envy

I'm full of it.  A friend is letting me borrow her Nikkor 18-200 zoom for my sister's wedding this weekend.

So relaxed for lodging a claw halfway through my thumb moments before...
Taunting the kitty with a treat is a dangerous gambit.

I'm going to hate giving it back...

(oh, and if that wasn't a big enough dose for me, I just saw this post from Uncle.)

Battle Comp 1.5

Battle Comp has announced the new BattleComp 1.5 brake.

The key difference is that the 1.5 is extended and pre-drilled to bring a 14.5" barrel up to the legal 16.1" when permanently attached.

They're available in Black Oxide and Matte Stainless.

Mandatory Waiting Periods

Are plain stupid.  Especially when you're obviously carrying one while you fill out the paperwork.

Just thought I'd put that out there...

Double Squee!

Mailman dropped off a box today.

Number two!

ETA:  Looks like MHV is hitting the scene hard.  #27 on the New York Times best seller list coming out tomorrow, #4 in Fantasy nation wide.  Good for Mr. Correia.

9 milli

Cro was in town for one last pass before heading over for a year or so.  Obviously it meant we'd turn some money into noise and smoke.  One last hoorah for him with targets that don't shoot back for a while.

Cro & his M9

Me & the Sig

More to come... got 700+ photos to sort through and find the good ones.

Shoot 'Em 'Till They Stop

Brigid has a great post about why.

(h/t: The Warrior Class)

Blaugh

Burned out from the FTX over the weekend, fighting a wicked head cold, six hours of class earlier today, and 8 hours of work tonight...

Back in a couple days, I swear.

Just how quiet is it?

If you were wondering how quiet the 300BLK is when suppressed and firing subsonic, here you go:

Darn timing...

Got some cool new gear over the last couple days, no real time to play with it though.  Army stuff all weekend.

Rest assured there'll be some cool stuff coming up in the next couple weeks as I mess with stuff and put it through it's paces.

More on the 300 AAC Blackout cartridge

Looks like there's a full website up for the new round.

Lots of pdf's and some pictures of the cartridge.  It's beastly.

From 300BLK Site

WCI vs MPD

The suit has been filed, full email can be read after the jump (it's long)  A copy of the full suit can be read here.

Rifle Grenades

Somebody asked me a couple weeks ago if anybody still uses them.  This month's Afghanistan pictures from the Big Picture had this one in there:

So apparently, yes, the French do at least.

Remington's new AR Platform

And more importantly, whole new caliber, 300 AAC Blackout.

Stickman teased us for a bit today on WEVO with talks of a new item sitting in front of him, but he couldn't talk about it quite yet.  Well, he was talking about the new 300 AAC Blackout Cartridge, and linked to the story he wrote up for Gear Scout.

Image from Gear Scout

Here's the kicker:

As interesting as a new caliber is to some of us, it gets better.  Start thinking about a M4 with a 9″ barrel that has  37% more energy than 5.56mm M855 from a 16″ barrel (the standard M4 is a 14.5″).

The new cartridge is 7.62x35mm.  From the Gear Scout article:

Current ammunition types are the 123 gr. MC 300BLK, 155 gr. OTM 300BLK, and 220 gr. SUBSONIC OTM 300BLK.

The plan was to build something with similar ballistics to the ol' 7.62x39, and that could use current magazines without a loss of capacity.  AAC already has a can in the works as well (looks like buying them up was a smart move by Cerberus more and more every day.)

Usually I'm pretty skeptical about new calibers, but they put a lot of thought into this one.  On top of using standard 30 round mags, it also uses standard AR bolts, so all that is truly needed is a barrel swap for the budget conscious armorer.

Anywho, lots of info and great pics over at Military Times Gear Scout.

Wisconsin Eye

WCI President Nik Clark and MPD Chief Noble Wray do some talking.

I can see why the Chief has his job, he seems like the touchy-feely kind of guy.  I guess if somebody calls you in for OCing in a shirt they think is ugly, you'll get nailed with a DC charge.

I'm also glad I'm not a member of M&I bank.  Not for the gun thing, but no hats? Really?

How did I miss this?!

Apparently it's National Coffee Day.  Well poop.  I did have quite a bit of it today though, at two separate coffee shops.

Dan's First AR

Not his first blaster, but we assembled his very first AR yesterday afternoon.  Eventually he hopes to drop a UBR stock on it, which should balance out that 20" barrel pretty nicely.  Overall it's a pretty decent looking gun though.

Obvious Counterfeit...

...is Obvious.

Seems Dan got taken on the Gun Broker (counterfeit UBR and set of MBUS, same seller.)  He's filed a claim with them and let the boys at Magpul know.  Just beware though, there are fake UBRs out there.

Withee Appleseed Shoot

The Withee, WI Appleseed shoot has been rescheduled for October 30, 2010.  Hopefully I'll be able to make it.

We're safe...

...but for how long?

Internet's back up again.  If it's like a couple days ago, it'll be gone in about 20 hours.  Hooray?

AT&T + Water

Apparently don't mix. No internet at home again.

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"You apes wanna live forever?!"

Take this:



and add this:



The day is coming my friends...

(h/t ENDO)

Wonder how long it'll last...

Internets are back up at the house... for now...

Madison 5 Update

From WCI:

We plan to file the federal lawsuit against Madison tomorrow.


In addition to WCI as an organization, our attorneys have suggested that our case has better standing if we add some individual WCI members as plaintiff's.

Because of the memo that the Madison Police Department issued, our attorneys maintain that there has been a chilling effect on the ability of WCI members to exercise their right to carry in Madison for fear of police harassment/unlawful detainment.

If you live or work in Madison and are concerned about getting detained/unlawfully searched/firearm seized during a non-consensual stop, please contact me asap.

Being added as a plaintiff means that you would be listed on the official complaint. You would not need to speak to media at all (in fact we would prefer you do not) but you may at some point be deposed during the lawsuit so that we can prove that Madison's unconstitutional policy of detaining people merely because they are OC'ing is infringing on people's right to carry.

Please send me an email asap if you live or work in Madison and are reluctant to carry their for fear of unlawful police contact.


Nik Clark
Chairman/President - Wisconsin Carry, Inc.
nik@wisconincarry.org

Ow... my pride...

At least that's how the Brady Bunch feels.

Apparently Jon Stewart hurt Paul Helmke's fragile feelings. I guess Stewart was on Oprah (I didn't watch it... and I can't bring myself to sit her and watch it...) and said something along the lines of-

that if all the guns were gone that there would be "a 100,000 percent increase in school bludgeonings"

Some people just can't wrap their heads around the fact that tools are just tools and that some people are just prone to violence, regardless of the tools on hand.

(h/t Uncle)

I so called it.

Magpul Dynamics is coming out with a new DVD set, and it's the one I've been asking for since the first Carbine set.



That news just made my day much better.  (Telephone and internet's been out at the house for three days or so due to the flooding. Of course I've been working all weekend, so I haven't really noticed.)

Monster Hunter Vendetta

Is available now. Go buys it and enjoy. Get the first one if you haven't yet too.Is now on shelves.

Larry made the announcement earlier today.

Some Coolness

I love Science Fiction, especially military Sci Fi, so this link from Soldier Systems is just packed full of coolness:

10 Upcoming Devices That Will Protect Future Soldiers

Meat on the Gun

As I was perusing some pictures on the facebook, I came across this-

Notice the GIANT space between the butt of his carbine and his shoulder.  At this point the shooter has as much stability as you would shooting an over-sized pistol, probably even less due to the length and weight of the rifle, especially with how close his vertical grip is to the receiver.

One of the most common pieces of advice I give shooters is to "get as much meat on the gun as you can."  I don't remember where I first heard it, but it is one of the most solid pieces of advice I've ever been given.  A good solid cheek weld, buttstock firmly in place against your shoulder.  And it's an AR/M16 type of weapon, don't be afraid to get your face close to it, it's not going to kick you in the nose.

Example:

Damn I look good!













Good solid hold, what recoil there is on this gun is going straight into my shoulder.  Solid cheek weld, which enables you to maintain a consistent sight picture.

Another picky point about the first shooter.  Notice how high up the rifle is in relation to his shoulder.  Here's a classic MS paint visual aid-

The red line is going straight through the boreline of the rifle.  Notice how Mr. Stoner conveniently placed the stock on that same line.  Pretty smart guy.

Unfortunately, the soldier in the picture has the rifle high up in his shoulder.  Notice the arrow sailing straight over and past it.  If the carbine was in contact with his shoulder, it would just be the toe end, and combined with the high force vector, this causes the toe of the stock to act as a pivot point, causing an increased amount of muzzle climb.

Scroll back up to the pic of me, and notice the empty case hanging just past my shoulder, and note the photo is at the moment of firing.  Quick controlled pairs on that rifle are lots of fun.  Full contact of the butt transfers the force evenly against the shoulder, and preventing that pesky rotation, which is the reason that the stock is in line with the action in the first place.  Having full contact with the buttstock on an AR/M16 type weapon reduces the muzzle flip to nearly zero.

Just had to get that out of the system.