Part two of the custom SOCOM 10/22 features a combat-inspired mini-carbine weapon system. It’s a modern evolution of a vintage, exotic style 10/22 of the 1980s. For decades, the configuration of this gun has been virtually unchanged. Its original features are still a formidable close-quarter arm by today’s standard. However, with the availability of better parts and accessories, its evolutionary stage goes on to suit contemporary sensibilities without compromising its timeless classic military beauty. The previously covered SOCOM I 10/22 build is geared towards creating a multi-purpose, compact rifle system complete with a dummy suppressor to lend an air of authenticity and good looks. On the other hand, the mod-2 design is tailored towards defensive capability in a formidable package offering maximum firepower (with various high-capacity magazines available), optics, railed iron sight, and shorter match barrels for accuracy. This rimfire battle gun comes complete with fixed and folding stock to suit specific needs and is bipod adaptable.

This build is an alternative to full bore battle rifles for those who are unable to control the recoil or can’t stand the concussion of a centerfire cartridge. Another advantage of rimfire is its cost-effective ammunition compared to centerfire cartridges. The extra savings amount to regular combat shooting practice and more time in simulated scenarios. There has never been more choice in .22 LR ammo than ever before; from target practice and hunting to pure defensive loads. In today’s economy, the value of .22 rimfire ammo is unbeatable. The market is flooded with all sorts of rimfire guns today – some good, some bad, and some in between, but a well-built vintage Ruger 10/22 rifle remains my top pick. The quality of this rifle (along with all the included companies’ product lines) is unsurpassed among its competitors when Bill Ruger still has total control of the manufacturing operations.

For example, 10/22’s that are manufactured during his time have displayed better quality inside and out. The anodized receiver feels smoother when you cycle the action compared to the new paint finishes. You only have to compare the parts made today with vintage guns and you can see the difference in overall quality, fit, finish, and workmanship. The majority of the investment-cast parts of the older models are beautifully machine-finished and rarely need additional work. Rarely, do any other parts of this gun break or need replacing except the firing pin, extractor, and their springs, when they wear out.

The SOCOM II retains the vintage Choate Zytel folding stock in a rare camo accent. The old-style metal folding stock assembly has been replaced with a more sophisticated combination of ACE folding stock mechanism and AR-style buttstocks. This new arrangement raised the position of the buttstock allowing the use of optics and receiver-mounted railed iron sights such as the versatile Nodak Spud NDS-22 sight set. The ACE folding stock mounting hardware is installed directly to the original cutout at the rear of the Zytel stock by two 12×1.5 pan socket-head tapping screws. The screw heads will require minor trimming to fit the ACE assembly slot. A one-inch-thick black polymer spacer (laminated wood can be used as a substitute) was added as a filler to the back to make the mounting space more proportionate. The mounting screws secure both the folding stock mechanism and spacer to the back of the stock. For best result, apply adhesive to the spacer before mounting it to the stock. Pre-drill the location for the mounting screw (use a drill bit that’s half the diameter of the screw) after positioning the ACE hardware in the right spot.

The front end of the stock needs to be shortened and the barrel channel widened toward its front section to accommodate the diameter of the heavy barrel. The front hollow section of the forearm after cutting was filled with J-B Weld then re-contoured after drying and spray painted with automotive crinkle-type finish to match the ventilated handguard. The handguard was fabricated from 1.5-inch aluminum tubing split in half. Skateboard tape was wrapped around the forearm for a non-slip gripping surface as a finishing touch. An optional side rail was added just below the ejection port for mounting extra accessories. A Magpul bipod mount is positioned at the front of the forearm for a Harris bipod attachment. A sling mount for an Uncle Mike’s sling swivel is positioned at the front-left side of the forearm to match the ACE folding stock mechanism sling mount.

The fixed stock version uses a standard Ruger polymer stock that is shortened on both ends for a more compact format. A rubberized material is used to plug the open end of the buttstock and is glued in place. Hardwood can be used as a substitute. The CAA adjustable cheekpiece (discontinued, but still available from Iron Eagle Tactical) is added for high-rise optics. After shortening, the open front-end section of the stock is also J-B Weld-filled and re-contoured once hardened. A Magpul 11-slot polymer rail is mounted to the bottom and right side of the forearm for tactical accessories such as a vertical grip, light, or laser. To accommodate a Harris bipod, an Uncle Mike’s sling swivel base is mounted over the bottom rail of the forearm.

Chosen for this setup was the Fabsports 10.5-inch threaded heavy barrel. This barrel was part of a batch of half-a-dozen barrels fabricated by the company from commercial barrel blanks as part of their Thompson 10/22 kit. This kit was to be marketed with a choice of the finned or semi-tapered barrel. After the Thompson kit prototypes were completed, it was followed by the FS-556 kit (only 50 of which were produced) and the full profile magazine cover (MACOV) for Butler Creek high capacity magazines a year later. Sadly, after a brief advertising effort by the company, the Thompson .22 kits did not attract enough interest to warrant the tooling cost while the FS-556 and MACOV barely sold all the units that were made. This eventually led to the closure of the small Montreal company years ago, unable to compete with more sophisticated U.S.-made kits for the 10/22. I acquired the last of the unmodified barrels from Fabsports just before the company closed its doors. This heavy barrel proved to be quite accurate and capable of 2- to 2.5-inch groups with 40-grain CCI Mini-Mags and Browning BPR ammo. The length of the shortened buttstock has been precisely measured and combined with the rifle’s barrel length so the gun’s overall length surpasses the 26-inch length needed to avoid a tax stamp without a muzzle device.

Overall, this highly upgraded 10/22 proved its value in every bit it was designed for. It has all the much-desired accouterments and ergonomics for a practical, highly effective little bore battle carbine that is worth keeping for many more years to come.

Introduced in 1964 as the Ruger 10?/22 carbine, this remarkable 54-year-old rimfire self-loader has achieved the feat of continuing to evolve unlike any other firearm in its class. Over 6 million units have been produced, without any apparent end in sight. What makes the ?? extra special among the others? The answer is quite simple—reliability, robust overall construction and adaptability to changing times. Perhaps it is the third element that truly counts, since there are other early models in this category that can also boast reliability and a robust overall construction, primarily those designed by John Browning in the early part of the post-war era and produced by well-known U.S. and European gun makers. However, as the decades passed by, most of these vintage classics lost their luster. They simply faded away and were forgotten, while the 10?/22 stood its ground better than ever.

Needless to say, as one of the millions of 10?/22 fans, it is difficult not to be lured in by this amazing little carbine and join in with the fun of creating the epitome of a modern-day tactical 10?/22. Many dress-up kits have hit the market in the past ten years, ranging from CNC-machined aluminum chassis to polymer clamshells. Among these entries, the Nordic Components (NC) AR22 (also used by Ruger on their SR-22 model) stands out for its aesthetics and acceptance of genuine furniture and accessories made for the AR-15 rifle. Its aluminum construction is very well made and finished; it is far superior in material and styling to any other chassis. The NC chassis is therefore the ideal candidate for this project, particularly when complemented by polymer furniture from Hera Arms and Magpul for the Ruger 10?/22, hence the term “NC HAMR” came to designate the ideal formula for constructing these project guns.

To create the perfect and long-lasting tactical firearm of truly unique design, you have to build it yourself using the right components and accessories. Many 10?/22 owners probably own more than one and have tried dress up kits to make their pet gun stand out from their shooting buddies’. This is what makes personal builds more desirable and exciting: the combination of parts and accessories made by various companies to create an extraordinary firearm concept, either to broaden an owner’s gun-building expertise or simply as a pastime. Whatever the reason, there is no denying that customizing the 10?/22 is quite addicting.

Each NC HAMR project can be made unique with Hera Arms CQR AR furniture. After completing an article on the “Futuristic AR” featuring Hera Arms CQR furniture (SAR V21 N8 issue), the attention of this article now shifts to the possibility of adapting this furniture to the NC chassis, which has been perfectly tailored to accept AR furniture. Nonetheless, prior to installing the CQR stock into the NC chassis, we should ascertain whether it will actually fit. The CQR stock comes with an integral pistol grip, and the possibility that the stock, grip and grip screw will not line up properly with the chassis is a major concern. I have both the first and second (current) versions of the NC chassis. The CQR stock fits almost perfectly to the first version, with just a tiny gap between the top of the grip and the chassis. The grip screw lines up properly once the stock is fully seated. The grip screw was tightened, and no major problems were noted.

The second version of the NC chassis, however, is a different story. For some unknown reason, Nordic made changes to the dimensions of the chassis in the web area. This section appears to be wider, and the bottom of the chassis—parallel to the grip—appears to have been raised by a few thousandths of an inch, leaving a larger gap between the chassis and grip. The good news is that the grip screw still lines up properly. The drawback created by this gap is that it will force the seam at the back of the grip to open up when the grip screw is tightened. To remedy this issue, some fitting at the internal radius of the beavertail (where the web of the chassis will rest) is necessary to allow the chassis to seat properly, thus minimizing the chance of the beavertail section opening up when the screw is tightened. In addition to this fitting procedure (if you are using the current NC chassis or the Ruger SR-22), a cross screw (6-32 x 1 inch) must also be added just below the beavertail to prevent the back of the grip from opening up when the grip screw is tightened. The screw head should be flush fitted to the grip. The opening at the back of the grip is the result of the gap between the chassis and the grip. When the screw is tightened, the grip is pulled up, closing the gap between the grip and chassis, which in turn causes the reduced section of the grip (just below the beavertail) to buckle up and a seam to open below it. The installation of the cross screw in this critical area is a must to eliminate this problem.

One of the best design features of the Nordic chassis is the incorporation of a “forearm adaptor.” The adaptor allows the use of a wide range of one-piece or two-piece forearms, metal or polymer. Switching to various weapon configurations is quickly and easily achieved by acquiring spare adaptors with pre-assembled forearms. Adaptor and grip filler for the NC chassis is available from Iron Eagle Tactical. This allows preferred accessories from different brands to be combined with ease, maximizing the potential for the NC HAMR formula to create the epitome of a modern-day tactical 10?/22. There are dedicated dress up kits (mostly two-piece polymers) that can transform the 10?/22 into the P90 format. The CQR stock system, however, is more distinctive and practical; it still allows the host weapon to be operated in the same way but with much improved ergonomics. For the 10?/22, CQR furniture offers this basic advantage plus compatibility with other polymer furniture, such as that from Magpul, something not possible with other P90-style kits with one basic setup.

The CQR stock/front grip set is used in combination with the classic YHM four-rail pistol forearm to create a “Compact Carbine” format utilizing the Dlask Arms custom 9 ¼-inch heavy barrel. The CC version meets the minimum legal overall length of 26 inches when used with a fixed stock like the CQR. The CC will take virtually any high-capacity magazine made for the 10?/22. However, for the mini PDW type, the front grip was positioned closer to the magazine chute to mimic the placement of the P90 front grip. Moving the grip in this manner will require fitting its top rear section to match the contour of the forearm adaptor. In addition, the back section of the grip must also be trimmed down and the bottom loop removed until most available banana-type magazines can be inserted and removed freely. Trimming this section of the grip will expose the hollowed-out section inside and therefore require filling with J-B Weld epoxy steel resin. Once dried, the epoxy-filled section can be sanded clean and painted with the same color as the grip or, in this case, a two-tone black/OD green accent.

Naturally, not everyone fancies short-barreled guns or metal handguards. In this case, let us substitute a Magpul MOE polymer handguard. To complement the two-tone CQR stock with the addition of the Magpul ¼-inch-high cheek riser, the MOE forearm is also made two-tone (OD green and black combination), and the overall contrast is quite stunning. The riser fits snuggly to the stock; it is a perfect fit. Installation of the cheek riser to the CQR stock will require drilling and tapping of the stock all the way to the top wall of the aluminum buffer tube for a 4-40 socket head screw. The two holes for the riser screws must be drilled precisely at the center of the cross rib on each end of the riser underside, which is a beefed up section of the part. The screw holes at the top of the riser will be counterbored to allow the screw head to sit flush. The vintage M60 LMG flash hider and Fabsports full-profile MACOV with newly introduced magazine coupler is a great touch up for this ultimate rimfire tactical package. The 10?/22 is truly a phenomenal design that can readily adapt to changing times. From classic to hi-tech, it is a hands-down winner. Note: Parts or accessories mentioned or shown in the article but not listed in the sources section below can be purchased directly from Brownells.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

rugerfirearms.com
hera-usa.com
magpul.com
nordiccomp.com
wolverinesupplies.com
dlaskarms.com
fabsports.com
brownells.com
ironeagletactical.com

In the past few years, the resurgence of interest in takedown style 10/22 rifles was at its peak since Ruger introduced their long-awaited version in March 28, 2012. It was not Ruger who first came up with the idea of converting their best-selling .22 carbine to a takedown style gun; it was Ram-Line who first mass-produced in limited quantity a takedown kit back in the 1980s, about the same time their classic aerospace polymer folding stock hit the market.

The big difference between the vintage Ram-Line kit and the Ruger version is in the overall set-up. The Ram-Line takedown kit consisted of their folding stock and 16-inch Ultralight polymer-lined steel-lined barrel (the very first of its kind that became an inspiration to many ultra-light, steel-lined bull barrels we see in the market today). Completing this set-up was a replacement oversized polymer barrel “V” block with thumb-operated retaining screws and a large knurled thumb-operated takedown screw that would allow a no-tool assembly and disassembly of the action from the stock. When fully assembled, the complete gun is very light and can be fired quite easily like a pistol with one hand, with a 50-round double stack magazine, another Ram-Line innovation. Complementing the Ram-Line takedown kit was a light gym style bag with multiple internal pockets to accommodate the action, barrel, the V block unit and spare magazines. This vintage takedown kit was created by Ram-Line basically to compete with the then very popular Charter Arm’s AR-7 Explorer survival carbine utilizing the same basic multi-sub component assembly and disassembly procedure but with a different approach on the in-storage system.

Ruger, on the other hand, took the procedure one step further and truly revolutionized it by developing a quick detach barrel system mated to the separate forearm allowing a two-piece sub group for a more compact storage during transport. While the factory takedown model accomplished its main purpose in normal scenarios where the user has time to take it out from its case or storage and was able to snap the two halves together to deal with a situation, there may also be a time when seconds mean life or death wherein a fully assembled gun takes the edge. Naturally, a fixed stocked 10/22 is not the answer when what is required is a very compact rifle that is easy to carry and store without the bulk and weight of a full-size rifle but still meets the legal overall minimum length of 26 inches. This specification is perfectly legal in Canada for a non-restricted .22 caliber firearm assuming the barrel is not cut down but a regular production barrel. Dlask Arms in Canada had at one time marketed a limited number of non-restricted short-barreled DAR-22 (their 10/22 clones) using Dlask 8-inch heavy barrels and custom Barracuda style laminated stocks. Although the handiness of the DAR SBR can be appreciated here, it proved to be bulky and heavy as a practical Mini-Scout rifle but not suited as an effective multi-function survival tool. In the US, this weapon size may fall under the short-barreled rifle (SBR) category and requires special license and fee from the BATF.

While a folding stock 10/22 with a light 16-inch barrel may fill the bill in most cases, it is still heavy and cumbersome, and the stock needs to be deployed in order to make a quick accurate shot placement. A light ultra-compact 10/22 with a wooden fixed stock and a good set of iron sights with optional rail for mounting optic is the perfect candidate for this requirement. The overall design features of the MSG are the culmination of a classy vintage scout rifle but with the advantages of a modern tactical arm in its simplest form. It’s attractive, very compact, user friendly and effective for the role it is designed for. The perfect harmony of wood and steel in the classic tradition makes this gun truly adorable to handle and to shoot and less offensive to those who despise the so-called evil black guns and their derivatives. This is where the 10/22 takedown challenger project takes its inspiration not only as an experimental interlude for the advance tinkerer but rather as an evolutionary offspring for future 10/22 siblings in its purest form.

Creating the MSG required a bit of work most particularly with the factory wooden stock. Both the forearm and the buttstock required shortening and streamlining to trim as much weight as possible while improving its ergonomics in a slim-line format. To give the remodeled gun a nice touch, the original plastic butt plate was replaced with a surplus M1 .30 Carbine part. The 10/22 barrel band was retained to maintain the integrity of the assembly of the original design. To further complement its military-style heritage and to protect the operator from the exposed hot barrel above the forearm, the polymer MFT AK-47 upper handguard was utilized. The bottom section of this part was trimmed down to lower the height to line its top rail with the rail of the NDS-26 rear sight. The handguard is secured into position by a standard black #8X1 trim screw available from hardware stores. The NDS railed rear sight with matching front sight offers the best sight picture for the 10/22 and was the ideal choice here with the additional advantage of being able to accommodate varieties of red dots and rifle scopes. The NDS rear sight is mounted over the receiver making it higher than the factory sight. While the standard factory stock cheek rest is compatible when using the NDS iron sight, some higher mounted optics may no longer offer a comfortable aiming position. The CAA adjustable cheek piece is found to be the right accessory here; it is light, well-made, simple to adjust and easy to install, requiring only four small self-threading screws to mount it at the right side of the buttstock. The CAA adjustable cheekpiece and MFT AK-47 upper handguard complements the wooden stock perfectly keeping the overall format quite attractive, handy and streamlined.

Used in this set-up is the Dlask SR-22, 12.5 inches trimmed to the factory’s original standard barrel specs to fit the barrel channel in the stock and to further shave more weight from the semi-tapered 0.750 O.D. barrel to keep the gun as light as possible. The front end was turned to 0.610-0.611 O.D. to fit the matching rear sight (NDS-44). The Dlask barrel comes complete with 1/2 X 28 TPI to take any AR-15 muzzle devices which makes this set-up even more versatile especially when using hot, high-velocity ammunitions for defensive application in combination with ultra-high-capacity magazines such as the Black Dog 50-round and GSG 110-round drum magazines. To keep the minimum overall legal length of the gun to 26 inches measured from the end of the butt to the tip of the barrel (not muzzle device), complete with a muzzle device such as the DoubleStar adjustable comp and the NEAG flash hider with helical slots, three small funnel shape vent holes were drilled perfectly in line with the DS and NEAG slot at the top of the barrel pass the threaded section. This arrangement not only proved practical but very effective in muzzle control compensating its lightened barrel, producing excellent groups averaging 1 to 1 ½-inch groups at 50 and 75 yards with hot CCI HV .22 rounds to include Mini Mags, Stingers and Velocitors. Overall, the custom Mini-Scout Gun proved every bit a remarkable companion that can be effectively employed as a life saver with the right ammunition and accessories, be it in urban or wilderness environments.

SOURCES

www.ruger-firearms.com
www.dlaskarms.com
www.nodakspud.com
www.missionfirsttactical.com
www.doublestarcorp.com
www.northeasternarms.com
www.armsmounts.com
www.hi-luxoptics.com

I had the privilege of meeting the great gun inventor Maxwell G. Atchisson at his residence in Doraville, Georgia, back in the late 70s through Donald Thomas. Don was Atchisson’s business agent at the time and is also SAR’s archivist. Visitors to Max’s residence were received via strict invitation only, since it was also his private research, development and testing facility. His guest book (to which I had the honor of adding my name) contained the names of dignitaries and high-ranking military officials from around the world—proof of his status as one of America’s best in the 20th century. The lower section of the house had an indoor range facility where guests were allowed to shoot Max’s inventions (except guns in the prototype stages with patentable features), many of which had never been shown to the public before. Some of the guns he presented and tested were his Vietnam-era M16 rifle containing his .22 conversion kit and three .22 semi-autos he converted to select fire, namely the H&R Reising M65 “Leatherneck” rifles and Jager AK22 (just introduced to the U.S. market at the time). The biggest surprise of my visit was seeing and firing his revolutionary full-automatic shotgun with a 20-round drum magazine. I also glimpsed a prototype 40-round drum in the works but was unable to test and examine it. Although Remington did come up with a select fire conversion of their M1100 shotgun, which earned the U.S. military designation M7188, it was Atchisson who truly revolutionized the concept that inspired many of the modern combat shotguns we see on the market today.

Although Atchisson’s inventions were mostly geared toward military and police purposes, such applications proved quite elusive, including for his much-touted full-auto shotgun. His AR15/M16 .22 conversion kit, on the other hand, became a commercial success years after he sold the rights to others. It was one of the most copied devices in existence and constantly improved upon by others, primarily by CMMG, the leading producer of these types of kit, who came up with various set-ups and related accessories. Since its introduction in the early 70s by Military Armament Corporation (MAC), the Atchisson .22 conversion kits have been produced by various manufacturers, including Jonathan Arthur Ciener, Brocal Inc. (WAC), Spike Tactical, CMMG, Tactical Solutions, Tactical Industries, Stag Arms, Mega Arms and others. The kits were offered as drop-in or dedicated uppers. The drop-in type utilized a chamber adapter, while the dedicated type was normally a complete upper with a .22 rimfire barrel. For accuracy purposes, dedicated uppers normally perform better than the drop-in installed on AR15/M16 (.223 caliber) since its rifling specs are not for .22 caliber long rifle rimfire. When used in a .223 rifle, the kit will tend to clog the barrel gas port with lead after prolonged firing with rimfire rounds and can affect the operation of the gun once it is switched back to its original caliber. To minimize this problem, it is best to fire a few rounds of .223 for every hundred .22LR. This will help to keep the gas port clear of obstruction. However, the gas tube still needs to be scrubbed due to the build-up of lead particles.

In the past 40 years, various .22 conversion devices for the AR15/M16 have been offered by such companies as Colt Industries, but the Atchisson device remains the undisputed leader. What makes the Atchisson device more attractive than others is its high capacity magazine (other kits normally boast 10-shot), available for both semi-auto and select-fire models and good reliability with the right ammunition. The Atchisson kit is a well-designed unit for its intended purpose. Just like its competitors, however, its reliability varies from one maker to the next, even though the parts (in most cases) are interchangeable. My first Atchisson kit, purchased 25 years ago, was marketed by Bro-Caliber and made by WAK Inc., followed by the Colt kit designed by Henry Into, Colt’s chief engineer in the 80s. Five years ago, these two vintage kits were joined by the Spike Tactical and CMMG version for my test and target practice. It has been noted that the old and new kits still share the following same basic malfunctions:

• Empty shell getting caught uderneath the charging handle groove and bolt during recoil with the top round loaded halfway.
• Failure to feed—normally a bent cartridge preventing the bolt from moving forward.
• Hammer follow and misfire—double or triple shots/light dent on the rim of the cartridge.
• Failure to extract the empty shell.
• Failure to complete cycle.

Among the five problems noted above, it was the empty shell getting stuck between the charging handle and bolt that proved to be the most bothersome to clear. This is especially difficult when, at the same time, you have a double feed with a halfway-loaded round locked with the round just coming out of the magazine. This malfunction also happened using the Colt kit on numerous occasions. Having experienced this problem with the WAK kit firing both standard and high velocity rounds on many occasions after acquiring it in the 80s, fixing the pesky bug became a priority. After some careful analysis and tinkering, the solution to the problem came into light. A drawback of this solution, however, was that it required disassembly of the gas tube each time the gun is fired with rimfire ammo. In addition, a plug to the connection port of the gas tube was required to seal the gas pressure in the barrel. This part is easy to make using a drill rod the same size as the gas tube, 2 inches long. Ideally, it is best to build a complete dedicated upper just for shooting .22 ammo using the modified charging handle. The modified charging handle will require filling in the underside grooved section. CMMG currently sells what they call an “anti-jam” charging handle made of glass-filled nylon for dedicated .22 conversion units. The usual deep underside groove was replaced with a shallow groove, but the front-end section for gas tube clearance for kits utilizing chamber inserts was unchanged. Since there is still an open space at its critical point, it may not completely eliminate the chance of empties getting lodged between the bolt and charging handle, but it minimizes it to the point that overall reliability is greatly improved. It is definitely a great improvement to these kits. Remember, the handle does not move with the bolt when it recoils, which leaves the open section at the front of the handle still exposed for the empty to get lodged at any given time. A better solution is to cover at least three-quarters of the charging handle underside groove starting from the front, leaving no gap for empties to get caught during operation. This requires obtaining a separate charging handle for this purpose and keeping the original when switching back to .223 caliber. You need not buy an expensive spare; get the cheapest you can—even a used one will do. To make a filler for the charging handle groove, you will need a 5/16 dia. steel or aluminum rod. Mild steel material is ideal here. Aluminum being softer can still be subject to faster wear, dings and scrapes. The steel material provides smoother operation and lasts longer. The minimum length of the filler required is 4 inches, but you can cover the full groove if you wish. A grinder and file are needed here. The thickness is .200 inches, with the top of the filler approximately .050 inches below the rim of the groove to compensate for the radiused section of the recoil spring housing, allowing the bolt to cycle freely with a minimal gap. The filler is pinned into place at the front-end section of the handle by a 1/16 diameter roll pin. The pattern of the filler used here has an extended section (reduced diameter) at the front that loops with the gas tube hole of the upper for better stability. This part will only work with the gas tube removed to allow the kit to seat properly into place. The modified handle will work perfectly with other dedicated .22 uppers without a gas tube.

Failure to feed can be associated with a faulty magazine follower and spring. A malfunction of this nature normally happens when the magazine is fully loaded and the top cartridge nose-dives while being pushed forward by the bolt. A simple test is to simulate a loading sequence by pushing out the loaded rounds with a small wood dowel and see if the cartridges are moving upward unimpededly. If not, check the follower and inside the magazine body for obstruction or mold overruns and polish them with medium-grade grit until the tightness is eliminated. Check also the spring for binding and straighten it up. If no binding is experienced during this test, check the feed ramp for roughness and sharp edges. The ramp should be polished smooth and the chamber must accept the cartridge without hesitation or tightness. The cartridge should go in freely and be released from the chamber freely. Another area to check is the looseness of the magazine when inserted into the gun. Looseness in fore-and-aft movement of the magazine is also very critical during loading. When the bolt moves forward to load theAtop round from the magazine, it will exert pressure and cause the magazine to tilt slightly forward, thereby causing the bullet being chambered to point toward the bottom of the feed ramp instead of upward toward the chamber. This would normally result in a jam, with a bent cartridge loaded halfway into the chamber. A quick remedy for this is to tape the rear upper section of the magazine to minimize the loose fit. Brownells’ vinyl-coated cloth tape is ideal for this purpose and comes in black and coyote brown color. Taping should prevent the magazine from falling freely but leave it loose enough to be pulled out easily when reloading.

Hammer follow is normally associated with using older units with a notched (Colt type) hammer, although this may vary from one make to another. This hammer will work fine in some ARs, while it won’t in others due to dimensional tolerances. For example, the old WAK kit will not depress the notched-type hammer far enough to engage the secondary sear on vintage models but will work fine with (most, if not all) newer ones. The underside of the bolt appears higher. When installed to vintage ARs, the WAK kit will not work reliably with the Black Dog magazines except the steel Ciener type. This is also the reason that this vintage kit is not compatible with a notched hammer. Hammer follow tends to create a dangerous runaway gun firing double, triple and even continuous full-auto fire (deemed illegal by definition, although unintended) followed by misfires with a very light dent on the rim. Misfires occur when the hammer hits the bottom corner of the bolt, not the back of the firing pin. If your AR has a notched hammer and is experiencing this kind of issue, the simplest remedy is to replace it with the (unnotched) MIL-SPEC type along with a reduced power spring kit (both available from Brownells). This will not only smoothen the action and lighten the trigger pull, but will also lessen the resistance to the bolt during recoil, which in turn permits the use of a stronger recoil spring for more positive bolt closure. In most cases, light recoil springs also contribute to misfires as they create a gap between the breech face and barrel chamber as the bolt tries to overcome the resistance of the extractor hook resting against the inclined barrel notch. To overcome this, some manufacturers resort to using a weaker extractor spring in conjunction with a lighter recoil spring to allow the bolt to close, which is a serious drawback that will result in extraction problems. It is best to keep everything strong and find the right ammo and magazine to work with it.

Failure to extract the empty shell normally occurs once the gun is heavily clogged up. However, if the gun fails to extract even before this stage, check the condition of the extractor itself with the following simple test. Place an empty shell in the breech face with the extractor holding it in place. With the bolt underside facing down, lightly tap the center point of the bolt on a table. If the extractor is good, the shell must not fall or come off. If it does, replace the extractor if the hook is worn out or barely engaging. You may gradually file the bottom section of the hook that rests over the bolt to increase the contact point of the extractor with the rim. The spring must also have enough power to positively activate the extractor. If everything looks fine with the extractor, focus your attention on the chamber itself. Some chambers may not be reamed or finished properly and could be tight and unpolished. It should also be checked that the notch for the extractor on the chamber adapter or barrel is cut properly. If the extractor hook is sitting high or binding when the bolt closes, it will likely miss the rim and will jam the action.

Failure to completely cycle during operation can also cause other malfunctions, such as failure to eject and feed. This can normally be attributed to weak ammunition in relation to the recoil and hammer spring resistance. This can be further improved by simply modifying the square bottom corner at the rear of the bolt to a radius and polishing it smooth to minimize hammer drag and resistance. The combination of parts and polishing on certain areas is quite critical if the gun is to be fired with various ammunition. With readily available parts for the AR, solving reliability issues such as these can be done right with minimal effort. If the procedures mentioned above are followed correctly, your .22 conversion kit should work with utmost reliability no matter what type or make it is. For parts and accessories requirements contact Brownells (www.brownells.com).

Just when we thought everything has already been explored and marketed when it comes to ideas on how to make the famous Ruger 1022 even better in terms of versatility, performance and good looks, there is always someone that comes along with a pleasant surprise. Not until the entry of such big names in the Canadian gun manufacturing industry in the likes of Para-Ordnance, North Eastern Arms, Dlask Arms and others, it’s not often we hear about a sensational gun related invention in Canada by small time operators. That does not mean average Canucks has not created any, it’s just many of these small time talents just simply did not have the means or know-how to promote or finance their wares to a more competitive level in the big league. One such talent in the name of Fabrice Nevue the founder and owner of Fabsports in Montreal, Quebec is a prime example that is worth the attention.

Fabsports is a solely focused on general merchandising of gun related accessories and tactical outfits as well as survival equipments. For a short time, the company imported the now defunct RB Precision Evolution 1022 tactical chassis in very limited numbers then tried to secure distributorship for the more modern Nordic AR22 when it first hit the market years back but failed the volume requirement imposed by Nordic due to limited financial resources. Fabrice was only able to import two samples of the AR22 chassis and is believe the only two that exist in the country with the exception of the SR22 version used on the Ruger production guns. It was from this set back that prompted this Canadian entrepreneur to explore other venues utilizing his own talent and expertise in CAD and CNC programming that leads him to design and create his own aluminum dress up kits for the 1022 for the Canadian market to include the M122 Thompson and the FS 556 based on the famed SIG assault rifle receiver platform. These kits are only made in very limited numbers and destined to be collector items.

Just very recently, Fabrice introduce another of his 1022 related innovation – the MACOV (magazine cover) system for various aftermarket 25-shot Ruger 1022 banana type magazines made by Butler Creek, Tactical Innovation, Black Dog Machine and Pro-Mag. At this point, there is no doubt the 1022 is the most technically refined rimfire self-loader in existence in terms of mechanics and good looks. While many of these aftermarket dress up kits are well made and quite authentic to the full bore weapon they emulates, the skinny type magazines simply lacks the profile necessary to maximize its facimily to the real thing, with the exception of the Pro-Mag G36 style polymer dress up kit called Archangel Nomad utilizing a standard 25-shot banana type enclosed by a full profile external housing. Full profile magazine for the 1022 is gaining popularity with another company coming out with their own version called BattleDyne also a 25-shot with a 10-shot version.

Unfortunately, both the Pro-Mag and Battledyne magazines only exhibit mediocre reliability and very finicky with certain type of ammunition that must be used just to try to make it work. The Pro-Mag has a wire spring sticking out of the feed lips that is suppose to prevent jams but most of the time contribute more to jams that actually preventing it- definitely needs more refining. The BattleDyne on the hand, although well made comes short in the reliability department due primarily to dimensional problem in its upper section that encloses the steel section. The design of the feed lips is less than perfect in its cartridge release point that occasionally causes stovepipe made worse by the undersize upper section that encloses the steel lips that is narrower than the factory made magazine. This dimensional flaw causes the BattleDyne to move side to side freely greatly affecting the overall performance and reliability of the device.

In designing his magazine accessory, Fabrice had chosen the Butler Creek 25-shot banana type magazine as its primary platform due primarily for its reliability and quality as compared to other similar devices in its class, but mostly primarily because to date, Butler Creek has already produced millions of them – something Fabrice had hope cashing in to reward the amount of work and effort he had put into his new innovation. Indeed, the MaCov system is quite unique, very well made and extremely attractive. The two-piece clamshell design is made of indestructible type polymer material same as those ones used in many high end full bore polymer magazine like Magpul, in fact even the exterior design has Magpul styling truly maximizing the bold exterior aesthetics of the accessory.

The beauty and versatility of the MaCov system did not stop from looks alone but also improved the overall reliability of the magazine itself by eliminating the unnecessary fore-and-aft and side to side movement with any stock used (wood, polymer or aluminum chassis) by simply adjusting the MaCov upward (with the magazine on the gun) before tightening the screws until there is bare minimum play (gap) between the underside of the stock and the magazine cover itself. Tactical Innovation incorporated four adjustment screws to prevent movements of the magazine that affects the feeding cycle of the magazine. The Macov system accomplished this task in a much simpler solution without the use of adjustment screws that must be set right in order to work properly.

The MaCov was tailored to fit the Butler Creek, Black Dog and Pro-Mag 25-shot banana type magazines, however; Tactical Innovation will require a rubber spacer (supplied with the kit) being narrower (side to side) as compared to the dimension of the other 3 brands. The MaCov is retained in place by 9 sturdy screws that clamps tightly unto the magazine body. Its width is comparable to a Magpul .308 AR magazine allowing it to be compatible to a .308 magazine pouch used in Magpul magazine. In summing it all up, The Fabsports MaCov is truly an outstanding magazine accessory for the 1022 for a total tactical upgrade in both aesthetics and improved reliability. The MaCov can be purchase directly from Fabsports. (www.fabsports.ca)

Over the years, there have been countless articles written about Marlin’s popular rimfire self-loaders starting with the Model 99 (M99) originally designed by Ewald Nichol. The M99 family soon expanded to about a dozen variations along with its econoline brand, the Glenfield. A refined version of the M99 was introduced in 1967 which was soon to be known as the Marlin Model 60, the gun that virtually outsold every other .22 semi-auto, magazine or tubular feed combined. In 1964, Bill Ruger introduced what became the main rival of Marlin’s bread and butter, the 1022. Ruger’s little carbine became an instant success. Although it holds the title as the world’s most popular .22 semi-auto with possibly between 5 to 6 million sold to date, it is the Marlin Model 60 that possesses the crown jewel as the best-selling .22 autoloader of all time with over 11 million guns sold—almost double the 1022’s overall sales record.

Exploring the Marlin

For nearly 15 years, my nickel-finish Papoose was collecting dust in the safe and was almost forgotten while I had been busy dressing up the 1022. Then one day I finally got bored with the Ruger and decided to check on the old Marlin. After long thought, the urge to sizzle a sleeper took over. The Marlin, being ignored for so long, suddenly became a point of interest. By taking advantage of its already amazing accuracy from its 16 micro-groove rifling (developed by Marlin in 1953) and a sound mechanical design, all it really needed now was a modern make-over from aesthetics down to ergonomics. In other words, I wanted to make it a winner by elevating its status from being a casual plinker to an adorable, extraordinary tack-driver. Independent accessory producers should start taking a close look at the Papoose for its money-making potential. So much focus has been given to the Ruger 1022 over the years that it has virtually saturated the market with not much left to be done to it. The take-down Marlin, on the other hand, is fresh for exploration. Given the proper facelift, it could be the next big thing on the horizon.

The Papoose debuted in 1986. Its action is based on the original M70 (currently listed as M795). In 1993, an updated version of the Papoose, the M70 PSS, was introduced featuring a last-round magazine hold-open device. The trigger lock work of the Papoose (as well as its other semi-auto siblings) has been well-established in the past 50-plus years, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement.

Improving the Papoose

There are several areas that need refinements to further improve the Papoose that can also benefit its siblings—primarily those that improve the trigger pull and assembly simplification. The hammer let off of the gun itself is excellent and has a very fast lock time. However, the problem lies in the positioning of the trigger in relation to the sear bar that trips the hammer when the trigger is pulled. These two critical parts are assembled into two separate units instead of one, creating an inconsistent gap which normally results in trigger slack or non-uniform trigger pull and poor re-set. To correct this, an adjustment screw must be installed to the trigger section that is directly in contact with the sear. This simple remedy improves the trigger pull considerably with faster re-set by simply adjusting the set screw to lessen the gap between the two parts. Ideally, the side plates of the trigger module should have made room to accommodate the trigger assembly rather than on the trigger guard. With the trigger assembled to the same housing with the hammer and sear assembly, the engagement between the trigger and sear bar is more consistent and precise. This arrangement will only require one piece of stock with an integral trigger guard minimizing the number of parts and providing faster assembly and disassembly. In addition, the trigger guard is subject to breaking at its hold-open assembly slot and front end screw assembly hole.

Another noted area that requires attention is the assembly pin. This is the part that connects the side plate assembly to the rear of the receiver. This part is made of polymer material. Over time, this part will wear out and will cause some looseness in the side plate assembly thus creating unnecessary movement that affects both the trigger pull and feeding sequence during gun cycle. Replacing the plastic pin with a steel rod is the best solution, and you will never have to buy another one again. The diameter of the side plate holes is slightly larger than the receiver hole where this pin is assembled. Therefore, the steel pin is turned to two-step diameter to fit both the holes of the side plate (one side only) and the receiver hole. Both ends of the pin are secured by “C” clips to keep the plates tightly secured in place. The clips must squeeze the side plates tight when assembled to the receiver to assure tight mating of the upper and lower parts. This basic improvement further lightened and improved the consistency of the trigger pull but also improved overall reliability as well.

Another area that needs improvement is the firing pin. This part is subject to breakage if the gun is dry-fired consistently. It appears too thin and fragile. Thickness must be doubled, and better heat treatment must be undertaken to allow dry firing when adjusting trigger pull or practice.

Maximizing Accuracy

To maximize the inherent accuracy of the Papoose to its highest level with the use of an iron sight, the standard factory sight must be replaced with a GI style, which offers excellent sight picture, precise windage and elevation adjustments and has the provision to accept an assortment of modern optics (red dots and scopes) via a built-in Picatinny rail. Unfortunately, the ideal sight I am looking for is not yet available for this gun, except for one without an integral rail made by Tech-Sights. The good news is, after a brief tinkering, it was determined that the NoDak Spud 1022 sight set can be adapted perfectly to the Papoose. The rear radius of both the Marlin and Ruger receivers are quite identical, with the Ruger being slightly wider. Installing the NDS-26 railed rear sight to the Papoose only required drilling and tapping three holes (6X48 TPI) at the middle of the serrated scope mount in line with the holes of the railed sight. The matching front sight (NDS-44) has a .610-inch inside diameter slightly larger than the skinny, slightly tapered barrel of the project gun. This will require a shim with .500 I.D. and .610 O.D with the same length as the sight itself. The shim will be slit to allow it to open a bit while inserting and sliding it to the barrel where it would seat (a turned section of the barrel .500 O.D.). The shim can be made from heat resistant plastic or steel tubing for flexibility. Surprisingly, although the NDS sights are made for the 1022, they co-witness perfectly and produce amazing accuracy with CCI Mini-Mags, the only ammo used in the test that performed flawlessly with the magazines used.

Dress up the Papoose

To complement its superb NDS sight, it is fitting to give the improved Papoose a better image—something pleasant to look at with enhanced ergonomics and user friendliness. As it is, the take-down rifle lacks the ergonomics for instinctive shooting with the absence of a forearm. Aiming is a bit awkward if not backward primarily to those who embrace the modern way of shooting a rifle with a stretched arm grasping the front end of the forearm. To improve its practicality, a 1-inch diameter, 6-inch ventilated aluminum forearm that can accommodate a short or long Picatinny rail was added where assortments of tactical accessories can be mounted such as vertical grip, laser or bipod. For foregrip, the Hera Arms P90 style grip was selected for its ultra-modern styling and comfort. A mini rail was added to the left side of the grip where a micro-laser or light can be readily mounted for night application. To accommodate a medium to high optic mounting to clear the rear sight when using a full-size scope for long-range shooting, the versatile CAA CBS adjustable stock rest was added to the stock to provide the necessary cheek rest elevation. The upgraded gun complete with small red dot scope can be taken down in the usual manner and can still fit inside the Papoose nylon case. However, the barrel can no longer be stored in its usual pocket without detaching the Hera grip from it. Should you opt to carry the gun as a conventional rifle, Hera Arms’ ambi-quick detach swivel mount mounted at the rear of the stock is a perfect match for the P90 front grip accessory. An issue M1 Carbine sling mated to Uncle Mike’s QD sling swivel complements the Hera hardware nicely.

Needless to say, this special project yielded great results proving that this goofy little plinker has a lot more to offer than it actually looks when given the proper attire and equipment. It has definitely met or even exceeded my expectation in the quest to create a marvelous take-down companion with a tack-driving accuracy to back it up.

SOURCES

marlinfirearms.com
nodakspud.com
hera-arms.de
commandarms.com
shootersridge.com
cci-ammunition.com

By J.M. Ramos

Over the years since its initial adoption as the official U.S. military sidearm in 1911, the legendary Colt .45 automatic has seen countless upgrading that includes mechanical redesigns such as double action conversions, high capacity magazine enhancement, cosmetic improvements and the introduction of many recoil reduction devices that were made popular by the action shooting circuits of the 80s and the 90s. In the aesthetic department, it was the custom grip that never ran out of style. The market is continually flooded with stylish 1911 pistol grips that are made from so many different materials; from aluminium, titanium, ivory, stag, exotic woods and the popular G-10 fiberglass composite just to name a few. This line of custom grips comes in different patterns and checkering cuts to maximize purchase and overall appeal. Despite all the differences in materials, color and styling, they all share the same commonality – plain and slab sided. That old tradition in 1911 grip innovation is about to change with the introduction of the revolutionary Recover Tactical CC3 grip system. The CC3 is truly a superb 21st century upgrade for the veteran service handgun. The unique design and styling of the CC3 can be attributed to the exceptional talent of Tamir Porat, a world renowned Israeli weapon engineer, also responsible for the creation of the Tavor combat rifle recently adopted by the Israeli Defence Forces. With his impressive firearm design background, it’s not surprising that Mr. Porat was able to accomplish a remarkable feat when creating his CC3 grip system. It has truly benefited the 1911 aficionado on a tight budget by instantly transforming this century old warhorse to an ultra-modern pistol equalizer capable of accepting tactical wares such as weapon light, laser and even vertical grip (where allowed by law) for maximum control with
a large pistol caliber.

The CC3 grip system consists of two halves that virtually cover the receiver (frame) of the pistol except the back side where the main spring housing and grip safety is located. It is made of high-grade polymer – the same material used on the Tavor rifle. The CC3 is tailored to be a universal fit to a standard 1911 type pistols. While most 1911 pistols produced by various gun manufacturers are designed to Colt specifications, there are some makes that differ in certain areas – primarily in the grip fore-strap contour for raised checkering purposes and the dust cover being beefed up a bit for strength and added weight as an aid to muzzle flip reduction without the aid of a muzzle device. To check out the fit of the CC3 with various 1911s, the grip was installed to the Series-70 Colt; then to the Caspian Arms, utilizing an early manufacture frame kit. The fit to the Colt Series 70 frame is near seamless with just a tiny line appearing below the trigger guard. On the Series-80 gun, the CC3 grip fit perfectly and seamlessly. The Caspian frame kit on the other hand had a very prominent .042 inch wide gap at the front of the grip. This could be the result of the added material from the raised checkering as well as the overall contour and dimension of the front strap radius. Another production brand 1911 pistol that has the same issue in this area is the Taurus PT 1911. Both 1911 frames have a noticeable square edge at the rim of the front strap (not a full radius like Colt) precluding a seamless fit. The large ribbings on all sides of the CC3 afford excellent purchase and the portion of the grip that covers the front strap improves the ergonomics. The CC3 appears to have better feel and ergonomics than any 1911 grip this author has tried before (wood or plastic). The styling is great, the material is light and strong but most of all, it offers the versatility of a railed 1911 pistol at a fraction of the price all without the
added weight and bulk.

Installation of the CC3 to the pistol is quite straightforward and takes about three minutes to complete. Simply remove the original grip of the gun and substitute the Recover. The only added work is the installation of the two small screws (comes with the kit with a hardware) that tightens the front end of the part. The halves are surprisingly snug when mated to the frame with no looseness whatsoever once all screws are tightened. The cut out for the magazine catch is very well thought out providing easy access, while the opposite side has an identical profile that gives the trigger finger excellent clearance for trigger reach and pull. In addition, the CC3 thumb safety clearance is also commendable focusing primarily on the shooter’s comfort and ergonomics. The profile on this area is also the same on both sides, truly ambidextrous and very nicely done. The CC3 fully encloses the dust shield of the frame and extend just a bit to increase the length of the rail and was perfect for the TLR weapon light, SIG-Arms mini-laser and Fab Defence folding front grip (made for a Glock pistol) for PDW conversion. Naturally, it is even more exciting to dress up a vintage 1911 carbine utilizing a detachable shoulder stock to a more sophisticated modernized PDW conversion complete with a folding front grip. In Canada this setup is perfectly legal for restricted firearms license holders. In the USA, stocked handguns or a handgun with a forward grip falls under a different class of weaponry and is subject to NFA rules and regulations. Having a forward grip on a railed stocked handgun makes a lot of difference in weapon control and comfort. It provided the handling characteristic of shooting a short barrelled rifle. The stock and grip in the carbine set-up really does make a lot of difference and it’s quite pleasurable to shoot specially with a compensated top end or a long slide with a match barrel. This can only be accomplished with a railed frame and the CC3 system made this all possible almost instantly without all the extra work or expense.

Although the overall design characteristics of the CC3 is quite impressive, there is still a little bit more room for improvement to further enhance its ergonomic and user friendliness. One desirable feature that can be incorporated with the system is an elevated serrated thumb rest to be positioned just forward of the slide stop and behind the CC3 marking on the dust cover. This would be a perfect location for locking the thumb of the non- shooting hand in a two hand hold position to attain maximum control of the gun as well as comfort. The built-in thumb rest can be made ambidextrous for all shooters and ideally the same height and profile as the slide stop serrated section. The right half of the grip of the CC3 first production batch has no cut for an ambidextrous safety. The ambidextrous cut is now incorporated on the latest production grips. A square bottom type grip for Smith & Alexander type mag-wells for those who prefer to use this popular accessory as an aid for speed reloading would also be a welcome addition to the series. A very useful tactical accessory for the CC3 that can be put to a good use is an optional one-piece scope mount that can be slid and secured directly to the rail of the grip. The mount will shroud the top of the slide just forward of the ejection port to allow unobstructed ejection of empty shell during firing. The top of the mount that covers the portion of the slide would have a built-in rail similar to that one already incorporated in the CC3 for mounting a small red dot or reflex type optic. The scope mount can be tailored to have a clearance underneath the shroud for aiming with an iron sight without removing the mount in the event the optic becomes unserviceable. If the overall dimension of the bridge module that encloses the slide can be kept streamlined and flat, it can be a phenomenal outfit for defense, competition or hunting purposes. A very versatile hi-quality optical mounting system is currently available for this tactical set up. It is called the handgun Universal Scope Mount (USM) by Fab Defence, one of Israel’s leading weapon accessory producers. This accessory is made from CNC machined 6061 T-6 aluminum and beautifully anodized to match any handgun finish. The USM features a top and bottom rail system allowing the mounting of an optic at the top and the bottom for a folding forward grip such as the Tactical Folding Fore-grips (FGG-S and FGGK-S for Glock pistols) also made by Fab Defence. Unfortunately, the USM is not compatible for use with the CC3 due to the low position of the rail in comparison to rails cut directly to the frame of the pistol. The good news is there is an alternative mount to the USM that can be used with the CC3 and is available from SIG Sauer called bridge mount. This accessory is made of high strength polymer and a bit bulkier than the USM but lighter. The bridge-mount features top rail (for miniature reflex type optic) and bottom rail (for weapon light, laser or forward grip). Just recently, Recover Tactical expanded their grip system series with the introduction of the new BC2 grip system for the Beretta 92F pistol.

Sources

www.recovertactical.com
www.fabdefence.com
www.missionfirsttactical.com
www.sig-sauer.com

Over the years, the Stoner military M16 rifle has evolved into many weapon configurations, more than any of the current military hardware in its class combined. A Personal Defence Weapon (PDW) is a unique breed of weapon that is both fascinating and intriguing. For decades, many of the leading AR weapon producers created countless variations of the AR in compact configurations, primarily of the CQB/SBR genre. This Personal Defence Weapon is smaller than the CQB type and definitely posed more challenge to the weapon engineer who has to extensively re-design the overall mechanics of the gun to create a functional pocket gun out of an AR platform. The main stumbling block in creating a true micro size AR is the recoil spring being housed inside the butt stock. This obstacle, however, was already solved a decade ago by ZM Weapons with their variation of the AR (LR300) featuring a metal folding stock and a shortened bolt carrier incorporating a forward extension that retains the recoil spring assembly, working in tandem with the original direct gas impingement system. The right to manufacture the LR-300 was acquired by Para-USA sometime in 2008 and lasted only for several years, with Para reverting back to making only their 1911 type pistol in 2013. Current AR PDW/CQB type models utilizing a short receiver extension are the Heckler & Koch 416C and Colt Sub Compact Weapon (SCW). H&K’s 416C stock pattern is reminiscent of the vintage M3 SMG dual metal telescoping stock design, while the Colt SCW has a more unique approach by combining a folding to a collapsible stock as a single unit. It is interesting to note that North Eastern Arms Group (NEAG), an AR manufacturer in Canada, also jumped onto the bandwagon in creating their own version of a telescoping style stock that appears to be strikingly similar to that of the H&K design, which they designated as the Compact Carbine Stock (CCS). The CSS stock is sold separately as an option. Ideally, creating a true mini AR-15 PDW would require a light compact folding stock (not telescoping) since you need at least 4 inches of receiver extension for the bolt carrier to recoil past the rear of the receiver. Another interesting recent development of a side folding AR is the Rock River Arms’ piston-driven system (PDS) model. The PDS features an ambidextrous cocking handle that is non- reciprocating. This particular design can be tailored to create a micro AR no longer than 16 inches overall with the stock folded with a six inch barrel. Although the Colt SCW stock design is a folding type in a sense, it still incorporated a receiver extension to accommodate the space required for bolt recoil and spring assembly, therefore; it is more likely that it is only about two inches shorter or less than a standard M4 stock when collapsed, really not much to gain.

The micro AR concept presented here is a PDW weapon system with emphasis on concealment, ergonomics and user friendliness. As a cal. .223 set-up, it can be employed as a very formidable personal defence weapon for undercover operatives, escorts for VIP’s or as a stake out gun for DEA agents. Although the AR platform and its mechanics are very suitable to handle smaller hi-velocity cartridges in the likes of 5.7×28 mm (FN-P90 PDW), 4.6mmx30 (H&K MP7A1 PDW), 6x35mm TSWG (KAC SR-635 PDW), it is best to stay with standard service ammo like the .223 for their accessibility and availability no matter where the mission in the world would be. The shortest .223 AR barrel that is readily available is somewhere between 7 and 7.5 inches and is offered by majority of AR-15 manufacturers. They vary in quality and prices. This also holds true with many brands of AR lower and upper receivers. To achieve the 15-16 inch overall length (stock folded) to fit in a standard size briefcase, a 6 inch barrel is ideal. Obviously, with the barrel being this short, there will be major drawbacks that must be addressed. This will include excessive muzzle blast, noise, flash and loss in velocity. However, this gun is not intended as a long range weapon but a pure close-range PDW. Having closely examined the advantages and disadvantages of the compact stock design features of H&K, Colt and NEAG, I feel that the original ZM Weapon and RRA PDS folding stock ARs still holds the edge when it comes to creating a super compact AR in PDW format in .223 caliber. Ultimately, the piston driven RRA with a 6 inch barrel utilizing an ACE folding mechanism mated to Mission First Tactical Minimalist polymer stock (to keep weight to bare minimum) is definitely as close to what my ideal full bore Micro AR should be. Back in the 70s and 80s, the most sought after battle rifle was not the AR but the M14 or the AK-47. I felt the same way after the M16 had earned a reputation as a jam-a-matic during parts of the Vietnam War. Although I have personally met its creator and almost became a part of ARES legacy, I never did any work on the AR or focused much attention to it, anticipating it would be replaced soon, that even Stoner himself was counting on his new FARC assault rifles as a possible replacement for the M16.

The AR is still here, better, more refined and sophisticated than ever before, thanks to all the gadgets and upgrades it has gone through over the years. As compared to decades ago, designing and building a prototype AR the way one would want it is not only a huge undertaking on the drawing board but a costly one trying to fabricate every part from scratch. Today, you can get virtually anything you need from the internet delivered right to your door step and all you have to do is put them together. If I have to create my ideal AR PDW, it will be extreme in size, really small. It must not exceed 16 inches with the stock folded with a 6 inch barrel. For mechanics, I highly favor the RRA PDS system. It has the AK-47 bolt carrier group working in harmony with the AR trigger group. I also like the ambidextrous side cocking handle that is non- reciprocating but will activate the carrier in the event of a misfire or ejection problem. Now, in order to keep the barrel length within my specs to meet the minimum OAL, the gas block must be made as an integral part of the muzzle device. The DPMS Levang linear compensator system can be incorporated here to address the muzzle blast concern from a very short barrel. This device directs all the noise away from the shooter through its front ports while its large expansion chamber helps control muzzle flip and felt recoil. Of course the choice between opting for the classic or flat top upper in this miniature gun is up to the builder. I choose the classic carry handle type for its originality and nostalgic appeal. Undoubtedly, the flat tops are more versatile with the capability to accommodate more sighting accessories than the vintage type. For the vintage upgrade, the YHM 4-rail mini-lightweight forearm with matching end cap is selected here. It’s well made, has a pretty matching end cap and priced accordingly. It’s perfect for mounting optics, laser, light and foregrip. The choice of BUIS and optics will depend on the operator and the amount of cash he or she is willing to spend.

Obviously, everyone has a different opinion when it comes to dressing up their favorite AR or AK. We all know the market is flooded with accessories when it comes to ARs, with no end in sight. A professional tactical gun builder has to have the vision on how to combine the right accessories for the type of weapon being built in order to be effective to the environment it is going to be deployed and must work in harmony with its operator. Prices of accessories always vary, depending on the maker and the quality of the product. Although many would say, the more expensive the part, the better it is. That is not necessarily true. Having seen and tested countless AR accessories over the years, made by some of the biggest names in the industry, I say there are quality products out there that are as good and less complicated than most of the super expensive weapon attire that are less bulky, lighter and simpler to install. I recently acquired several AR accessories from Mission First Tactical (MFT) after surfing the net trying to find other alternatives to the usual brands currently flooding the market. Needless to say, I am very pleased on how efficient and quick my order has arrived. The styling of MFT’s product line is quite original and distinctly space age in styling. They have heavy input from professional weapon operators from around the world. These superb accessories are designed and made in the USA. The company currently produces a wide array of accessories for the AR and AK. I picked their latest stock, the Minimalist, along with the MFT Engage pistol grip and React Torch Grip (RTG) for combined forward grip and illumination mount to outfit my PDW Extreme.

The Minimalist stock is being touted as the lightest stock in the market, weighing less than 6 ounces. When installed on the gun, you can hardly tell it’s there. The Minimalist is quite strong and can easily take a pounding and hard use. It is made of specially develop re-enforced super tough polyamide from DuPont’s military plastic division. The Minimalist is truly an outstanding design. I am particularly impressed with its simplicity, user-friendliness and fit to the extension tube – no rattle, no wiggle, just a perfect fit. Even the locking pin fits snug to the receiver extension index holes, something I found undersize on other brands causing excessive fore-and-aft play of the stock. This is as good as it will ever get, all without any extra fancy tightening gadget that may or may not work due to poor dimensional tolerance. The downward angle of the butt is so perfect that it works in harmony with the operator in super quick target acquisition once the gun is shouldered. The cheek weld is very comfortable with just the perfect width and angle that resulted in its streamlined format and good looks. Other brands with over-emphasized cheek welds are just too wide, bulky and heavy for my taste. Wide cheek welds sometimes can affect the natural aiming posture of the operator causing neck fatigue and slower reaction time aiming with BUIS. The Minimalist stock is available in both Mil-Spec and commercial sizes. The price of this stock is unbeatable at just $59.95 it’s a winner hands down. For those who prefer built-in compartment on their stocks, you may want to try their Battle Link Utility Stock (BUS).

The MFT AR-15/M16 pistol grip features a finger groove grip design that is complemented by an all-around textured surface with deep large serrations at the back assuring a very positive purchase with wet or gloved hands. Inside the grip is a water tight storage compartment with plug retention for one handed storage access. A customizable storage sled with quick access tab diminishes the rattle. The REACT Torch and vertical grip is another excellent innovation from MFT that really enhances the versatility of this micro AR in those shoot-no-shoot situations that may involve hostages being kept in dark rooms or poorly lit areas. I have tested similar accessories made by other big names in the industry that cost a lot more than the RTG but offer little real advantage. In fact, the RTG feels more comfortable in comparison because it is shaped more like a grip, not excessively long and not round like a post. Its front and back has deep groove textured gripping surface that helps eliminate hand slippage in wet conditions. The RTG can accommodate three sizes of light or laser with a diameter of .750, .825 and 1.000. An additional feature of the RTG included is a push button safety switch to prevent unintentional activation of the light source, a side mounted pressure pad well that allows activation for right handed shooters and a thumb activation switch for wireless operation. The quality and fit of these grips are superb and they fit to the gun and forearm perfectly. For those who prefer a folding type forward grip on their PDW, the Fab Defence FGGK-S is a very suitable alternate. It was developed primarily for the Glock pistol but adapts perfectly in this PDW set up. This two-position foregrip can be instantly transformed from vertical to horizontal with a push of a button.

Now, if I can only magically transform this concept gun into a lead breathing infidel tool to join the long list of Stoner inspired AR miniatures, I am quite sure it will serve well in the right hands. (WARNING: building this type of firearm in the United States will require registration as a Short-Barreled Rifle and payment of the $200 tax.)

For complete MFT product line, visit their website at (www.missionfirsttactical.com). Fab Defence products and other related accessories featured in the article are available from Brownell’s, Inc. (www.Brownells.com). In Canada from Wolverine Supplies (www.wolverinesupplies.com).

The year 1994 will be remembered by many as the dark cloud that brought the dreaded “Assault Weapon” ban in the paramilitary market among civilian shooters. This controversial law killed importation of sporterized military type weapons and their rimfire look-alikes. The fallout soon affected many independent aftermarket accessory producers solely dedicated to the development and production of hi-capacity magazines, folding stocks and dress up kits for sporting arms to eventually close their doors after their pre ban hardware was depleted. Owners of sub guns and hi-capacity guns and look-alikes saw the value of their wares climb sky high overnight and lasted for a decade. The Clinton ban finally sunset in 2004 marking the beginning of yet another era in the hi-tech weapons development geared for both military and civilian market. Back once again are the high capacity magazines for short and long arms, dress up kits and folding stocks as well as few rimfire look-alikes of the golden 80s. Regretfully, the big difference this time is that not all states have been freed from this bureaucracy as legislators in anti-gun strongholds opted to live with the restriction and are likely to stay with it for an indefinite period of time.

When hi-tech exotic weaponry first entered the scene back in the 80s, its primary goal was to fill the enormous demand in transforming semi-auto sporting arms to military format. Aftermarket accessories for the very popular Ruger 10/22 self-loading carbine undoubtedly stirred more money-making innovations among independent manufacturers than any other models ever produced in the American market. Hi-capacity magazines for this gun became the hottest selling item to date followed by folding stocks and dress up kits. Bill Ruger’s masterpiece self-loader is unquestionably one of the most advanced and sophisticated U.S. made rimfire carbine in the world. With nearly five million produced to date, no other model in its class will ever come close. This gun is as hot a seller today as it was when it was first introduced 42 years ago. Out of the box, the 10/22 can be best described as a subtle cross-breed between a sporter with just a slight dash of the famed M1 .30 Carbine with the absence of the clip sticking out below the gun. Perhaps, the hottest selling point of the gun is its unmatched reliability and ruggedness as compared to other models in its class that are many times more expensive. The ten-round rotary magazine of the 10/22 is a masterpiece of design as well as reliability. However, for a more serious defensive application, its limited firepower becomes an issue. It is a pure fun gun that barely encounters any malfunction; but its limited capacity keeps the fun a bit too short, especially when used by paper punchers and plinkers. In today’s standard, a ten-round magazine is considered a handicap, particularly for a self loading carbine designed to be a work horse. Selling the 10/22 is no problem and is always the first one to leave the dealer’s shelves. The maker has a hard time catching up with the demand of seemingly never ending orders. The main problem confronting the dealers is supplying their 10/22 customers with the demand for a truly reliable large capacity magazine that can equal the factory produced magazine in overall reliability. Whether Ruger ignored the idea of developing this device for their bread and butter gun or simply hadn’t time for it, still remains a mystery. One thing for sure however, it has left an open market for a very desirable item.

The mid 80s opened the door to many private entrepreneurs who entered the race in the development and production of hi-capacity magazines for this hot selling little carbine. The first contender to enter the market was the ill fated Condor. In its first month, the 25-shot plastic magazine was a sensation. A month after, customers who bought it cursed it to the moon. In a desperate bid to calm down the complaining buyers, the manufacturer enclosed a small instruction sheet, suggesting that the buyer has to throat the barrel until it works. Nice try, but this didn’t solve the problem. A few months later, the company closed. The Condor was followed by the Sanford-50, a drum type magazine boasting an impressive 50-shot firepower. This magazine was marketed by Eaton Supply. This item was also offered by Arcadia Machine & Tool Company (AMT) as an optional accessory for their “Lightning,” a stainless steel clone of the 10/22. The Sanford-50 gives the gun and awesome look and feeling of confidence seeing the large number of rounds neatly stack around the rim of the clear plastic housing. The Sanford drum is the first 10/22 magazine to feature a see-through viewing using clear Lexan plastic for its exterior casing. The magazine also features a loading gate wherein the ammo spool can be manually turned while loading. This excellent feature makes for easy loading advantage by simply dropping the rounds into the feed lips, while turning the spool. The magazine lip is made of cheap cast zinc oxide material that is somewhat fragile and out of dimension. The Lexan plastic easily cracked in its rear half casing when accidentally dropped to no higher than a foot on a wooden floor.

Did the Sanford 50 work? Unfortunately this is another matter. During the test, this awesome looking drum proved to be a great pretender. It develop multiple loading problems with hang-ups leaving the chamber empty because the next round for battery got stuck halfway below the feed line and was not scooped up by the bolt during the loading cycle. It was also plagued by ejection problems with empties barely clearing the ejection port. When the magazine is loaded to capacity, the spool is slower than a turtle walk, leaving no round positioned in the magazine lip when the bolt passes through resulting in an empty chamber. With just about ten rounds remaining in the magazine, the tension of the clock-type spring becomes erratic, causing the top round in the magazine lips to occasionally jump out of its seat. This causes a loading jam with the cartridge caught between the breech face and barrel chamber in an almost vertical position, with the tip of the bullet lodge in the chamber mouth. As much as the quick and easy loading feature of the Sanford drum was a big plus, it failed miserably with every type of ammunition used. A few years later a new version of the Sanford drum was produce and marketed by Pro-Mag. Gone was the see-through Lexan material being replaced by what appears to be an unbreakable material. Externally, the Pro-Mag drum appears solid and impressive. This first impression quickly changed during the actual test firing. Pro-Mag made the same mistake as on the first Sanford construction by using a soft metal instead of steel in the magazine lips. After the last round is fired, the bottom section of the breech face that pushes the cartridge to the chamber is hitting the top of the magazine feed ramp and deforming quite easily. Another fatal flaw of the design is the very short protrusion of the round metal in front of the magazine that connects to the receiver. When the gun is fired, the magazine tends to disengage and fall off the gun since this part of the magazine is barely engaging the gun. The magazine connection to the receiver is loose and it tends to rock back and forth when it is seated to the gun. The overall reliability of the gun is acceptable when using solid point cartridges; however the magazine must be supported by the non-shooting hand while the gun is being fired to prevent the magazine from falling off. The forward racking action of the magazine as the bolt moves forward when not supported by hand tends to jam the cartridge nose against the edge of the chamber as it is being pushed out of the magazine lips. The Pro-Mag 50 is far from being perfect. It definitely needed more refinements on the above noted areas of concern. Next in the market was the Black Dog 50-shot polymer drum magazine for the 10/22. This magazine looks promising and is very well made as compared to both the Sanford and Pro-Mag drums. The Black Dog version appears to have borrowed some features from the Sanford employing a back window to access the winding mechanism as well as its clock-type spring. However, its inherent reliability can be attributed to the features borrowed from the Italian made Bingham PPS-50 steel drum design incorporating plastic dummy cartridges as part of the magazine follower system. The PPS-50 drum magazine is possibly the finest 50-shot drum magazine ever made and Black Dog certainly made a great choice in employing its design characteristics. The Black Dog drum works best with solid point ammo. When hollow points are used there is an average of 3-4 jams per mag.

The quick demise of the old Condor magazine was quickly followed by yet another 25-shot all plastic banana magazine called the Eaton. Both the Condor and Eaton are virtually identical except the Condor utilized steel feed lips while the Eaton is an all plastic construction. Is this the improved Condor? During testing, three Eaton banana-type magazines were used. For a while, the magazines seemed to work fine but after 300 rounds were fired, malfunctions started to appear. The follower started to get tight and loading problems become frequent. The ejector shoulder on the magazine lip started to wear out fast causing frequent ejection problems. It appears that the plastic material used is not geared for this type of device. One time during the test, a rim blow-up occurred while firing a Remington Yellow Jacket hi-velocity cartridge. The unsupported section below the breech face diverted the exploding gas towards the magazine forcing it to disengage from its seat. As a result, the small protruding section that engages the magazine catch at the back of the magazine broke off, rendering the magazine totally unserviceable. As the Eaton magazine fell off the gun, it split into two halves as it hit the ground scattering the remaining ammo during impact. The two halves appear not to be bonded together. The Eaton 25-shot magazine is a standard item for the AMT Lightning when it entered the commercial marketed in the 1980s. Interestingly, Black Dog resurrected the Eaton magazine design as one of the primary offering in the banana type magazine market. While the early Eaton magazine are made to 1980’s standard, the new Black Dog version is much refined employing unbreakable polymer materials in their overall construction.

The new and much touted Butler Creek 25-shot “Steel Lips” magazine appears to bear a strong heritage to the old Condor magazine in overall design and construction. The difference between the two is that the Steel Lips works and the Condor doesn’t. By close examination, there are subtle differences between the original Condor and Steel Lips primarily in the feed lip and follower design. The exterior format is virtually identical between the two, however, the Butler Creek magazine proved to be far superior to the Condor in both quality of workmanship and reliability. The Steel Lips works reliably as long as it is kept clean. However, once the inside is exposed to heavy powder residue built up after prolonged use, the follower tends to hang up and will not push the cartridges upward leaving an empty chamber. The Steel Lips was also offered in all plastic format called the Hot Lips (clear plastic) and are both available in ten and 25-shot capacity. Three ten-shot version can be clipped together to form a unique “Star” shape configuration for a 30-shot firepower. In addition to its excellent magazines, Butler Creek also produced and marketed a very compact loading device for their magazines. Unfortunately, this loader will not work with other brands due to their different magazine lip opening.

Yet another 50 rounder entered the scene. This one has a unique teardrop type configuration. This magazine was originally marketed by Mitchell Arms designated as the 50/22. It was given good advertising and publicity when first introduced. Class II manufacturers for the 10/22 were also at its peak during this period. It was hoped that the Mitchell magazine was the final answer to the long search for a reliable hi-capacity magazine in their full auto wares. Two magazines were ordered with the same expectation. Unfortunately, after few try outs, the enthusiasm towards the Teardrop magazine quickly faded away. This device does not load to capacity without jamming. The drive belt is prone to hang-ups, just like the spool design of the Sanford drum. Worst of all, the Mitchell magazine has the shallowest ejector shoulder of all the hi-cap contenders tested. As expected, ejection problems plagued this magazine next to feeding hang-ups, caused by frequent stopping action of the drive belt. The Mitchell 50/22 has good possibility to be a top contender in the 50-round category once all the bugs are ironed out.

Twenty two years after its initial introduction, the Mitchell teardrop magazine once again came to life in the form of the new MWG 50-Rounder. This author was quite skeptical whether the MWG version was any better than the original despite the flowery advertising. The MWG is not cheap retailing at $80 but was not as expensive as the Pro-Mag drum which at one time sold for $100. Nevertheless, two of this new version was purchased for testing. As usual, prior to the actual reliability test, a visual comparison between the old and the new was made. The first thing noticed was the belt clip on the old Mitchell magazine was omitted on the MWG. The new version sported an all clear plastic construction in its shell casing versus the two-tone plastic of the old. Further examination revealed that the new MWG incorporated identical steel feed lips to the factory rotary magazine, while the Mitchell design had a narrow ejector and slightly different cutouts in the release point of the lip area. Internally, everything seemed to be identical except for the new type of material used in the loading belt. The old type has some sort of strands coming off the belt while the new one is clean. Range testing consisted of 500 rounds of Stinger and two 10/22s for heavy duty workout. Out of the 500 rounds fired, only three malfunctions were experienced which occurred only when the magazines were fully loaded. One of the 10/22s has an extra power recoil spring purchased from Brownell’s. The other has the standard factory recoil spring, which is basically tailored to work with their magazine. The bolt seems to have difficulty pushing the top round from the magazine lip, which is under heavy tension with the factory standard recoil spring. However, with the heavier recoil spring, the magazine worked flawlessly with 300 rounds fired. That is quite impressive. Finally, a 50-round magazine for the 10/22 that really works. MWG has indeed done their homework on this one. So what makes the MWG work and not the Mitchell? After stripping both the Mitchell and MWG magazines, the only valid explanation as to why one works and the other don’t is the difference in magazine lips. To test my theory, I switched the magazine lips on both magazines and retested both. The MWG, now having the lips of the old Mitchell, did not work. The Old Mitchell, now with the new magazine lips of the WMG, worked very well. Now on the right track, the metal lips were borrowed from two factory magazines and installed them on the old Mitchell magazines. They fit perfectly, and at last, worked perfectly. Puzzle solved. Why Mitchell did do not use identical lips as the factory rotary magazine to begin with is a mystery. Unfortunately, such good things do not last. Barely two months after getting the new MWG magazines, with just over 1,000 rounds being used in each mag, cracks started to appear on the top of the magazine just around the cap nut that controls the tension of the upper half of the belt. In addition, the bottom of the magazine housing also exhibited multiple cracks now rendering this expensive magazine totally unserviceable. Nevertheless, the old Mitchell mags are very much intact and still working great after their defective magazine lips were replaced with original Ruger parts. If MWG changes the housing with a better material that does not crack easily, I may but them again. For now, they work, but they don’t last very long.

Just at the time when more and more large capacity magazines were starting to flood the market for the 10/22, Bingham Ltd. of Norcross, Georgia introduce an all steel 30-shot banana type magazine of Italian manufacture. Bingham at this time was busy promoting its upcoming PPS-50, a rimfire clone of the famed WW II Russian PPSh burp gun. The Bingham magazine is very well made. A magazine adapter was utilized to compensate for the wide opening of the stock’s magazine chute for the factory rotary type magazine. The Italian magazine produces only marginal reliability, however. It also suffered multiple ejection and loading problems when fully loaded. It worked best with only 25 rounds loaded to give the spring and follower more leverage for movement. The magazine lip appears easily deformed and needs to be re-adjusted from time to time, especially the built-in ejector to minimize ejection problems. The magazine also tends to disengage accidentally from its adapter during firing. To correct this drawback, the writer installed built-in spring loaded plungers positioned on both sides of the adapter. The protruding ends of the plungers locks securely on their corresponding detent holes at the front of the trigger housing.

For few years, the Sanford, Eaton and Mitchell magazines dominated the 10/22 hi-capacity market despite their shortcomings. In the later part of the 80’s Ram-Line and Eagle International, both based in Colorado at that time, set to compete in this open market. Eagle International introduced a very attractive 30-shot banana type polymer magazine in both smoke and black color. The Eagle has a few interesting design features not found in any magazine in its class. It features a built-in magazine catch activator that is more convenient to operate than the factory flush-in catch if a high capacity magazine is used. The bottom of the magazine had a sliding trap door that would allow internal cleaning if needed. There were notable malfunctions experienced with the Eagle that occurred mostly after several thousands of rounds had gone through it. The magazine lips appeared to have opened up and caused the top round to jump out of its seat when firing hi-velocity rounds, particularly Stingers. A custom nylon buffer will help alleviate this problem by softening the recoil impact. When new, this magazine worked quite well with very few malfunctions noted. The Eagle magazine is available again and now offered in various colors ranging from black, smoke, orange and clear. This magazine not only proved to be one of the more reliable 30-rounders available in the market today, it is also one of the cheapest with some retailers selling them for as low as $10.

Perhaps, among the half dozen or more independent aftermarket accessory producers, no one can claim the top spot in the development and manufacture of hi-capacity magazines in the banana type category than Ram-Line. Famous for their extensive line of fixed and folding stocks made of indestructible polymer material and dress up kits, the Colorado based company has undoubtedly offered more selections of banana-type magazines than anyone else in the industry. Their first 30-round single stack magazines are the most reliable in their lineup. I still have five of these which I have extensively used in the past 20 years and they still work as good as when they were new. These magazine were soon followed by the more sophisticated double stack versions that were offered in 15, 20, 30, and 50-shot capacity, as well as a 25-shot single stack magazine called “Truncator” designed to work primarily with truncated type ammo such as the Remington Yellow Jacket. Ram-Line can be credited to the final breakthrough in creating a double column type magazine, something thought impossible at one time with .22 rimfire ammunition. These double stack format magazines however are very hard to load due to their very powerful dual clock type springs. To solve this problem, the company developed an autoloader device that can load the magazine almost as fast as you can shoot it. Unfortunately, as good as it sounds, the loader does not always work reliably. Their double stack magazines are also subject to this type of criticism. I have a dozen of this magazine that I acquired back in the late 80s. Out of twelve, half actually worked as long as they were not loaded to capacity and with certain type of ammo. Winchester Super-X appears to work best with these mags. The others have varying problems that I can attribute to excessive spring power of the follower. The most common problems encountered with this type of magazine is the tendency of the top round’s front end to lift itself up to almost 50 degrees as the bolt hits the back of the receiver during recoil. As the bolt comes back to battery, the lower end of the breech face that normally scoops the cartridge will miss the rim (now below the feed line) and instead glides over the lifted front end of the bullet, scraping it and finally stopping as the breech face dug deeper into the bullet nose. Another frequent malfunction using this magazine is the tendency of the bullet nose to hit the upper section of the chamber mouth as it is being pushed by the bolt towards the chamber. Again, the excessive magazine spring power appears to be the culprit here. There seems to be imbalance in the distribution of spring tension with much of the pressure directed to the front end of the follower. It is this author’s opinion that Ram-Line should have combined a full power spring and a half power spring rather than using two full power springs to make the system work reliably – and it would also make loading easier.

Never before have so many shooters and collectors become so interested to learn how to create their own dream guns with the aid of modern accessories. This is rightly so because it has never been so easy to install these magnificent accessories and the selection available is mind boggling. To complement the M412 article published previously in SAR that covered the compact CQB version of the Remington M870 shotgun, this article is focused on power and precision while keeping the well established tactical format so revered by today’s modern battlefield warriors. While the weapon configuration presented in this project is geared primarily for law enforcement and military applications, it is also ideally suited for civilian defense and tactical sport shooting competitions. The writer designated the project gun as “Tactical Road Blocker” simply because that is exactly what it is being designed to accomplish. Road blocks are normally set up by police to corner a fleeing felon who in most cases drives a motorized vehicle. Often the driver of the target vehicle will try to ram through the blockade and create damage to police vehicles or in some cases cause serious injuries to the officers manning the block. Patrol officers are normally issued with service handguns and a 12 gauge riot shotgun. Riot type police shotguns are not equipped with precision sights since they are normally used as short range buck shot spreaders.

Law enforcement strategists are constantly looking for more effective ways to improve their policing techniques in order to save lives and property. Tools of their trade are unquestionably a vital importance in being able to accomplish their dangerous tasks effectively and efficiently. The shotgun has for over a century been the most favored tool by American lawmen and security couriers of the old west. That well established tradition continues to this very day; clear proof that scatterguns are truly unbeatable as a close quarter combat arm wherein multiple numbers of projectiles are discharged with a single fire. The development of more lethal ammo and rifled barrels for this new generation of arms has made the 12 gauge even more attractive as a duty or a hunting arm. Although primarily employed as a scattergun, shotguns can now perform as a precision big-bore rifle when equipped with a rifled barrel. A 3-inch Magnum with a one ounce slug is now capable of 2,000 fps muzzle velocity. This is quite powerful when used as a precision road blocker. A good reloader can further enhance the Magnum power of the big round well beyond the factory loads for more destructive capability: enough to blow away an engine block using special exploding projectiles or steel penetrators that can instantly disable an engine upon impact. An officer equipped with this arm will have a much better chance of taking down a suspect vehicle before it can create havoc to police cars or hurt anyone before it impacts the road block. To accomplish this task, a special type of arm must be devised. The M412 Tactical Road Blocker is an attempt to create such a weapon system using available tactical accessories that can be easily put together by police or military armorers to become standard equipment for road blockers utilizing the proven Remington M870 action as a starting point.

What’s Required

As clearly stated, this is a specialized gun for extreme situations. Although nothing would probably beat the .50 caliber rifles now available as the ultimate car stopper, this is simply not the ideal hardware for the urban environment. Therefore, the next big thing is a 12 gauge shotgun in 3-inch Magnum or larger. Since the primary target is the vehicle, the choice of ammunition is extremely important for the round to do the most damage to the engine or tire. Tests at different distances must be undertaken to determine the effective ranges in order to give the operator the idea when to fire to the incoming target vehicle and what damage to expect when the moving target is hit at a certain point. The 12 gauge Tactical Road Blocker weapon system being equipped with optical sight, rifled barrel and bipod can be fired like a precision rifle at the intended target and those big slugs can do a better job more safely than an AR or AK within 50-100 meters – especially when bystanders are nearby.

The M412 Tactical Road Blocker is basically the same Remington M870 used in the CQB versions but with a longer factory 20-inch rifled slug barrel complemented by an 8-shot capacity using a magazine extension. A shorter 18-inch cylinder barrel version can also be employed allowing both buck shot and slugs to be fired. This will have a capacity of 7-shots using the factory magazine extension as employed in their tactical gun series. These replacement parts are readily available from sporting goods or gun stores or mail order outlets like Brownells. For furniture, The CAA RS870 M4 buttstock/pistol grip assembly remains the author’s top choice. This accessory is the most authentic among this type of accessory that are currently available for this gun in the market. The AR’s straight stock format affords comfortable shooting stance and milder recoil absorption. For a more compact requirement utilizing the 18 or 20-inch barrels, folding stocks are available. One of the classic folders originally offered back in the 80s is still produced today by Choate but shorter in length. However, the Choate design still retains the original sloping pattern as opposed to the most desired modern straight stock format for high sights and optics thus exhibiting more pronounced muzzle flip and heavier felt recoil. An ideal folder that can work in conjunction with the CAA RS870 pistol grip and stock base is the Ace AR15 FX folding stock. The FX folder is patterned after the famed FAL Para design but much improved in a sense that it can be set up to be folded either to the left or to the right side of the gun. When the stock is in the extended position, it provided a straight stock format perfectly working in harmony with the AR high sights or optics. It also offers less felt recoil and enhanced ergonomics. The overall quality of the metal stock is excellent and quite robust in overall construction. Ace made good use of their Para side folders by creating numerous adaptors to fit varieties of popular arms to include the AR, AK, SIG 550, FAL, Saiga, Daewoo and even the Ingram M11 machine pistols; just to name a few. The machined aviation grade aluminum of the RS870 stock base is assembled to the M870 receiver by the usual stock screw. The rear of the CAA part has been bored and threaded to accept the matching AR buttstock tube that came with the kit. This threaded opening will also connect to the front end extension of the Ace FX folding stock base where the stock itself is fastened using two large socket head screws. If the operator wishes to install a side saddle shell holder to the gun, the best section to put it is on the right side of the skeleton stock. The shell holder made by Tac Star is ideal for this set up. It has a loop for six rounds and features an aluminum back plate which can be drilled through over the plastic part to connect to the matching (threaded) assembly hole of the aluminum tubing of the stock. Four 6-32 socket head screws assembled on both ends of the shell holder is more than enough to secure the part in place.

Standard AR or BUIS sights can be incorporated to the Road Blocker using the appropriate mounts. For the rear sights, the B-Square receiver saddle scope mount is ideal. It’s the longest available that can accommodate the length of the AR carry handle type sight and features the popular Weaver type rail. For the front sight installation, the CAA Shotgun Rail Adaptor (SGRI) is a perfect mount. The Israeli made accessory features a fully machined high quality aluminum construction utilizing a unique dual clamp design with the two halves connected to a short Picatinny/Weaver type rail on each end. The lower two halves of the clamp tightens the assembly to the front end of the barrel using four screws. A BUIS type sight is then mounted to the rail as usual. The SGRI is a very solid and attractive sight mount originally designed by CAA for mounting lights, laser or bipod but it is also perfect for iron sights installation as used in this project. There are now many tactical type forearms for the M870 available with built-in rails for mounting forward grips, lights, laser, etc. These are mostly polymer in construction and quite affordable. If you want a first rate Tri-rail aluminum Picatinny rail forend, the Wilson tactical version is true to its reputation: a workhorse accessory that commands a high price tag. One of the drawbacks noted on this tri-rail accessory is its bulk. A forward grip is definitely a must for those with small or even average size hands to grasp around it. For forward grip requirement, the CAA VG1 Combat grip remains the author’s favorite. It’s a perfect combination for the UPG47 finger groove pistol grip used in the RS870 stock. The Carry Handle sight (CH) selected is again a CAA product and is a quality part that is surprisingly affordable. Matching the Carry Handle sight is the DPMS steel detachable front sight in the classic AR front sight configuration. For those who may prefer a low profile BUIS back up sight, the popular YHM Rear Flip and forearm flip sight (not gas block front flip sight) is an ideal combination for correct sight level format. The YHM sights are well designed and economically priced and an excellent value in this category. The Carry Handle sight features elevation and windage adjustments as well as further elevation adjustment for the front sight post if needed. With this type of sighting system, the rifled shotgun with a 20-inch barrel can be fine tuned to an outstanding accuracy never before experienced with this type of hardware specially when mounted in a bipod such as CAA’s three-position heavy duty bipod system. Perfect for this set-up is the Bipod Short Length (BPOS). The pods can be folded neatly on the lower side of the forearm or forward when not in use. The design of this accessory is truly outstanding. It’s compact, sleek and revolutionary with all mechanical components being self contained within the pods. It’s one of the best bipods ever produced for tactical long arms. There are two ways to mount the bipod to the gun. One is to the forearm assuming it has a bottom rail. This will require a different way of cycling the action of the gun during the firing sequence. With the bipod planted to the ground or on top of the hood of a vehicle, the operator will hold firmly on to the forward grip and maintain a steady hold via a downward pressure against the bipod. While firing, both the forearm and bipod remains steady, but the entire gun will move along with the shooter’s body as the gun is rocked back and forth during the reloading sequence by the action of the rear pistol grip being push forward to eject the fired shell and then pulled backward to reload. This sequence of operation is undertaken while the shooter’s shoulder rests steadily in the buttstock while maintaining sight alignment at all times. It’s actually a unique and surprisingly fast and accurate shooting technique for a pump action shotgun with a forward grip and a bipod mounted on the forearm.

For the more traditional set-up, there are two gadgets that can be acquired and installed to the magazine extension where a rail mounted bipod such as the CAA BPOS can be installed directly. Bipods that are designed to be installed to a sling swivel stud, such as the Harris brand, can also be installed on this accessory using the CAA Universal Accessory Mount. The 3-rail Picatinny shotgun mount made by Lite Mount Technologies is designed primarily to be assembled to the magazine extension. The bottom rail will take a bipod and the two side rails are for lights or laser or any other small tactical accessory. Another accessory that can function as a bipod mount for those who would prefer less bulk is the single rail accessory mount made by Tactical Night Vision. This accessory is primarily designed as a one inch scope or laser mount but the author found it to be perfect as a bipod mount as well when mounted to the magazine extension tube.

Finally, when its time to choose optics, lasers and lights, the ultimate choice is for the end user to decide: with many amazing sighting devices to choose from depending upon the need. If this M412 Tactical Road Blocker is to be put to a specialized role to save lives and property, it is fitting to get the best sighting system and trigger work to maximize its true tactical capability now that its ergonomics and handling characteristics has been optimized.

Sources

Command Arms Accessories (CAA)
76 Vincent Circle
Ivyland, PA 18974
www.Commandarms.com

Brownell’s, Inc.
200 South Front Street,
Montezuma, Iowa 50171
www. Brownells.com