Category Archives: Review

Grizzly Targets Reactive Auto Reset 220

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I have had the pleasure of testing out the Reactive Auto Reset 220 from Grizzly Targets for the past few months. I have to say that I am extremely impressed with this piece of gear and would highly recommend it to anyone. Mine will be a trusty range companion for years.

Reactive Auto Reset 220

Reactive Auto Reset 220

As the name suggests, the target automatically resets after a hit, negating the need to walk downrange to reset your target.

This thing is heavy duty. It’s so strong that it started to tear through the box it was shipped in. The target is heavy enough to stay put no matter the punishment.

Construction

Construction

As with any steel target, it’s important to follow safety procedures. This means maintaining a safe distance and wearing shooting glasses. When firing at the Reactive Auto Reset 220 with a.357 Magnum, I did have a piece of a copper jacket come back and lightly scratch me in the neck. Nothing to worry about as it didn’t even draw blood, but an important reminder that shooting steel is not the same as shooting paper. I did have shooting glasses on at the time.

The target not only met, but exceeded all my expectations. After repeated use, there is very little surface pitting.

Surface

Surface

Honestly, I cannot recommend the Reactive Auto Reset 220 highly enough. Go get one for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

Grizzly Targets

Grizzly Targets

OPMOD Waterproof 10×42 Binocular Giveaway

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This month we have a pair of OPMOD Waterproof 10×42 Binoculars sponsored by our friends at http://www.opticsplanet.com. While I didn’t get exactly what I wanted or was hoping for I still got a pretty decent product. This was a pretty simple review for me as all I really did was stay very close to my house and test them inside and outside to give them different light and weather conditions. First lets start with the specs.

Power: 10X
Obj.Lens Dia.: 42mm
Type Of Prism: BAK4
Prism Coating: yes
Number Of Lens: 8 pieces/6 groups
Lens Coating: Fully multi-coated, Phase coating
Focus System: Center
Focusing Lens: Internal
Exit Pupil Diameter: 4.17mm
Exit Pupil Distance: 15mm
Field Of View: 6.3° (330ft at 1000 yards / 131m at 1000m)
Min. Focal Length: 2 meters
Resolution: 4.8″
Diopter System: Right eye piece
Diopter Compensation: ±4
Interpupillary Distance: 55mm – 73mm
Weather Proof: yes
Waterproof: yes, 1 meter for 10 minutes
Nitrogen Filled: yes
Eyecups System: Twist-up
Silica Gel: yes
Dimensions: 34mm x 125mm x 52mm
Weight: 700 gm
Warranty: Limited lifetime repair or replacement

With a list price of $249.99 and an Optics Planet price of $149.99 with free shipping you won’t go broke but at the same time you won’t get the best pair out there, what’s the saying? You get what you pay for, in the case I that is accurate.

Let me now get to the tests I performed on these bad boys. I did quite a few and my favorite were definitely the water and snow tests. For the water test I wanted to put the waterproof feature to the test so I went to the creek out back which is about 3 feet and threw them in for about 5 minutes. While the specs say water proof in almost 4 feet for 10 minutes I didn’t want to over do it because I’m giving them away. Who wants a broken pair? They passed with flying colors, I patted them dry and let them sit for a while and then took a peek through and still as clear as when I first opened them. Now for the snow test, I wanted to see if they would fog up because if you’re out hunting, bird watching or whatever you want to be able to see. I left them outside in the snow for 10 minutes then set them on a table outside in 20 something degree weather then took a peek through and they were still good to go. I then took them inside and let them sit for about 30 seconds to fog them up. I was a disappointed when I didn’t see any fog. But hey that’s what a good pair should do in my opinion.

For ease of carrying they come with their own case and strap so you can either connect the strap to the case or binoculars so you can carry any way you want. They even come with their own nifty cleaning cloth so you can keep them shining like the day you got them.

While I would say if you have hundreds to spend on whatever you want then by all means get the most expensive pair you can find but if you are like everyone else in this economy then I would recommend this product so you can save a few bucks on the product and on the shipping. On a scale of 1-10 I would give this product a solid 7.

The binoculars can be found on http://www.opticsplanet.com or by following this link

http://www.opticsplanet.net/opmod-waterproof-10×42-binoculars.html.

To get entered to win the product reviewed here, all you have to do is like Weapon Blog on Facebook. If you’ve already liked Weapon Blog then you’re already entered. At the end of the month, one lucky person will be chosen as the winner.

Diamondback 380 Review / Giveaway

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The Diamondback DB380 – What a great piece to add to your ever-growing collection. I went looking for a good conceal carry firearm and ended up with this very small, 5.25″, pistol. The pistol has an MSRP of around $430. I had seen others fire this same weapon at other ranges and liked what I saw. Before this Diamondback, I never had a chance to fire this specific caliber.

 

    Specs

  • Capacity: 6+1 Rounds
  • Weight: 8.8 Ounces
  • Width: .750″
  • Barrel Length: 2.80″
  • Firing Mechanism: Striker Fire
  • Trigger Pull: DAO 5 lbs

First Impressions
Small, light, great optics – and best of all, they didn’t skimp on caliber size for a pocket pistol. I know some will say a .380 ACP isn’t ideal for defense but lets be honest, how many people are going to keep coming at you with 6 rounds in them? At the very least it will give you time to get away and get help.

Let’s start off with the sights. The DB380 comes with standard 3-dot sights for quick acquisition. When comparing this model to other .380 ACP calibers of the time, most of the other pocket pistols have standard black-post sights. The black-post-style sights are horrible in low-light conditions. In a self-defense situation, I don’t see many opportunities for the “wolves” to corner a “sheep” or “sheepdog” in well-lit conditions. The set that came with the DB380 are not Tritium, or any sort of light-gathering optic, but they are a lot better than most other .380 models.

The gun weighs close to nothing! The firearm (unloaded) rings in at just over 10.1 ounces. This is a little heavier than similar .380 ACP models like the Ruger LCP, etc – but the added weight seems to help with the recoil.

The DB380 comes standard with one magazine. The magazine does not have a finger extension. Without the finger extension, my pinky wanted to slide under the magazine as I have very large hands. This is the smallest pistol I have fired – so it felt a little weird, but after a few rounds, I didn’t notice that my pinky was under the magazine at all. It would fit someone without my fat fingers or a female a bit better than me. All and all still not a bad fit.

The DB380 is set up primarily for right-handed shooters. The ejection port is on the right side, and the magazine release is on the left – for a standard right-thumb release. The magazine release is very stiff – which is a plus for a pocket pistol, and a minus for attempting fast reloading.

The Diamondback company seems to be quite proud of their products. They place their logo and name just about everywhere they can on the firearm and accessories. They even place their name on each side of the magazine. The magazines are engraved both with the logo/name of the company, and with clearly visible loaded-round indicators. This is especially handy on most firearms, to see how many rounds you have loaded into one magazine. I like their attention to detail with this handy feature, but with a six-round firearm, I don’t know if it was entirely necessary.

Cons (in the opinion of some)
There are a few cons with this firearm. There is no loaded chamber indicator. On new-model firearms, a safety feature built in is a loaded chamber indicator. This indicator will generally pop up to signal there is a round in the chamber. The DB380 also has no ACTIVE safeties. Active safeties can be defined as a button, switch, or lever that PREVENTS accidental discharge of firearms. With that being said, the DB380 has internal passive safeties. These safeties include: Double-Action operation ONLY, five-pound trigger pull, and a drop safety. What this equates to is a semi-automatic pistol that acts very similar to a revolver, only with a more crisp and smooth trigger pull.

Field Tests
So far I have tested three brands of ammunition in this firearm:
• Remington 95 Gr FMJ
• Hornady 90 Gr XTP Critical Defense
• Blazer 95 Gr TMJ.

The ball-type ammunition of the Remington FMJ seemed to feed the best into the chamber – but I had the best performance out of the Hornady XTP. I would love to keep the Hornady XTP ammunition in this pistol all the time for self-defense, but as a back up for law enforcement due to the misfeeds I got with these rounds. I believe this is because of the rubber tips that are inserted into the hollow point. From what I have researched on this ammo, the rubber tip is designed to keep the bullet from mushrooming or fragmenting out until it passes through both clothing and some soft tissue. This makes all of the stopping power go into the main part of the body. I have put about 100 rounds of the XTP through the DB380, with around 15 misfeeds. Some misfeeds were bad, since the firearm has no slide lock, it sometimes took one person to rack the slide back and hold it, while another person pulled the misfed bullet out. In a self-defense situation, a misfeed could spell disaster, but a misfeed requiring two people to clear definitely spells death. From what I can tell, the rubber tip was causing too much friction on the feed ramp, causing the misfeeds. A freshly clean gun resolved the problem – BUT after around 12 rounds (2 magazines full) the misfeeds started happening again. I then switched to Remington UMC 88 Gr. Jacketed Hollow Point. After the switch, and about 100 rounds, only one misfeed. This ammo (so far) has the best track record. Although it took a bit of time to find the right ammo for the firearm it is still a reliable gun in a CCW situation, as long as you are carrying the right ammo.

Disassembly
The breakdown/takedown of the firearm is very simple. Many people refer to this DB380 as the “Mini-Glock” – and it breaks down almost the same. There is a takedown lever just in front of the trigger guard. The lever goes all the way through the frame. The first step would be to remove the magazine from the weapon, and verify there is no round in the chamber. After clearing the firearm, point it in a safe direction and dry-fire the pistol. I like to place the firearm in my off-hand (left for me) and use my left thumb and index finger to pull down the takedown lever on both sides of the frame. Once pulled down, use your main-hand and gently pull the slide to the rear position until you hear an audible click. This won’t take much, generally about 1/4″ distance. With the takedown lever still pulled down, pull the slide forward and off of the frame. The barrel and guide rod can be removed, and then you can break it down further by pulling the spring off of the guide rod. This is the basic breakdown for the firearm, and is all that is needed for standard cleaning.

To reassemble – simply reverse the steps. Place the spring back on the guide rod. The barrel and guide rod can then be placed back in the slide. Holding the frame in your off-hand, place the slide back onto the slide rail, and slowly pull the slide into the rear position – as if you were chambering a round. I also like to cycle the firearm a few times by moving the slide back and forth to verify the process “feels right”. The magazine can then be inserted into the magazine well, and the weapon is now ready for ammunition and shooting fun!

Company History
From my research, Diamondback Firearms, LLC is based out of Cocoa Florida. Some of the owners of Kel-Tec have branched off to make this new firearm company. Diamondback have been around for years – just making airboats, and have recently come into the firearms market. Just like all products – I believe a good firearm stems from a good quality, determined manufacturer. From all of the reviews and forums I read, I haven’t seen many bad comments about any Diamondback-made firearm. They are proud of their product and happily stand by it with great warranties.

THE REALLY GOOD PART
I am giving away this firearm and a few accessories around Christmas time. That’s right all you will have to do is find an FFL and pay the transfer fee. Well there is one catch, for me to get the firearm free I had to add a stipulation. You have to sign up and complete the free Firearm Safety course at http://www.dbgunsafety.com. I know, too easy right? Then once you finish just email a copy of your completion certificate to bkeally@nc.rr.com with your full name. Entries can start on the first day this is posted and will go through Dec 20, 2011. I will then draw for a winner on December 21, 2011 and announce it on http://www.weapon-blog.com. In the meantime I will contact the winner by email to get the transfer all set up. What are you waiting for? Get Started…

This guest post was written by Brian Keally.

Fiddling with Ruger’s Scout Rifle

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This guest post is courtesy of Richard Mann, author of Empty Cases.

I’ve been playing with the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle for several months now. Long enough to develop an informed opinion and long enough to try various sight arrangements. One of the great things about this rifle is the versatility it offers which is indeed the hallmark of the Scout Rifle concept.

Out of the box the rifle is fitted with a forward rail that will accept Weaver or Picatinny rings. The action of the rifle is set up to accept Ruger scope rings and comes with a rear aperture sight. This is a versatile but slightly cumbersome arrangement because you’ll need a hex wrench to remove the rear sight if you want to mount a scope in the conventional manner. And, your conventional scope and scout scope will require different rings.

Quick release rings on a scout scope let you switch between optics or optics and open sights as the need dictates.

Not all scout socpe have to be 1X or 1.5X. This new Weaver Scout scope is 4X.

Even before the Ruger Scout Rifle was launched, XS Sights began development of an aftermarket rail for the rifle. I got to try out this rail and made some suggestions that XS has incorporated into their final production version. First, I suggested that the bottom of the rail section above the action be slightly relieved and beveled to make access to the open action easier. I also suggested that the back of the rail be dehorned or beveled to protect against sharp edges snagging your flesh during hurried operation. This is indeed a practical accessory for the Ruger Scout Rifle. The XS rail for the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle is not on their web site as of yet. You’ll need to call to order: (888) 744-4880.

There are several reasons I prefer the XS rail as opposed to the factory approach. First, the XS rail has an integral aperture sight giving you the option of mounting a conventional scope, albeit a bit high, without removing the aperture. Better yet, you can mount an extended eye relief scope (not a scout scope) just forward of the aperture sight. Second, the rail allows you to mount all scopes with the same type quick detach rings.

Just because you have a scout rifle does not mean you must use a scout scope. An extended eye-relief scope will work too.

This Bushnell Elite 6500 extended eye-relief scope can be mounted just forward of the aperture sight on the XS Ruger Gunsite Rifle rail

I’ve found three optical sighted configurations I really like for this rifle. The first utilizes Weaver’s new K-Series 4X Scout Scope mounted well forward on the rail. The second uses a now discontinued compact Weaver 6X conventional scope, with extended eye relief, mounted just forward of the XS aperture sight. This give you three, pre-zeroed, sight options; scout scope, conventional style scope and aperture sight.

I think my favorite configuration utilizes a Bushnell Elite 6500 extended eye-relief 1.5-8X scope mounted just forward of the rear aperture sight in quick release Leupold QRW rings. Though a tad heavy, this might be the ultimate in versatility because you can use this scope as a scout scope on low power or as a conventional scope on any power. Also, this riflescope has target turrets in case you want or need to try shooting at extreme ranges. And then of course, in seconds you can remove this scope and utilize the excellent XS aperture sight.

In all, I really like the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle, mostly because of its versatility and the dependability of the Ruger 77 action. The factory trigger was not too bad either but if yours is, Timney Triggers offers an excellent and affordable, drop-in replacement. Another accessory you might consider is the Galco Safari Ching Sling. When this rifle is matched with the right sighting options its ready for just about any chore a rifleman can throw at it.

Galco's Safari Ching Sling is an additional accessory that can compliment the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle

NGA X7

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This guest review of the NGA X7 was written by Michael Z. Williamson. I spoke to Michael this morning, and he put another 500 rounds through the NGA X7 last night. An updated review to follow tomorrow.

NGA X7

The X7 is billed as extremely accurate, durable and low maintenance. To test this, the first thing I did was degrease it with brake cleaner.

Upon examining this rifle, one realizes a lot of effort went into ergonomics. The VLTOR stock has Quick Detach (QD) swivel mounts on both sides, the receiver end plate has one and there’s one on each side of the hand guard. The hand guard is an aluminum monobloc that carries the receiver rail forward to the gas block, with side mounted rail sections as well. Next Gen is considering making those removable for future models.

Mechanically, it has a crisp Geissele trigger, a Noveske stainless polygonal barrel, mid-length gas system, BCM bolt carrier group (properly staked) and Gunfighter charging handle, a billet lower with forged upper, a proper impact extruded 4 position buffer tube, also staked, and a very advanced ceramic coating all over. This provides a low friction surface that most gas particulates simply can’t adhere to. The magazine well is flared and cut so even Magpul PMags and Thermolds will drop free easily. The rails are perfectly to spec so no force is needed to slide accessories on. The muzzle brake is loud and blows a lot of gas at bystanders, but recoil is reduced to negligible levels. The charging handle can be slightly stiff for smaller shooters, due to the heavy recoil spring.

From a 16″ carbine, sub 2″ 10 shot groups were easily attainable at 100 yards using commercial ammo and a sandbag. Best group so far was 5/8″.

So far, I have 250 rounds through the gun with no lube and no cleaning.

Two minor problems have presented themselves, and both prove the excellence of this design.

First, one day I was prepping the rifle for photos, and found the charging handle tough to work. It felt as if it were jammed. Some examination and research reminded me of previous incidents; it was not being cleaned to test durability, but had also been put it in the case damp. In the previous incident, on active duty, this had resulted in a weapon rusted shut and scrapped due to carbonic acid. The X7 was simply a little sticky with congealed carbon inside, and a few cycles of the charging handle freed it up. The carbon had stuck to itself inside the BCG, rather than to any components. (There is some accumulation on the tail of the bolt, but I expect it will remove easily when I do clean it).

Second was a double feed with a round severely stuck above the bolt, which we attribute to a bad magazine–we had a similar problem with the same magazine in another rifle, and the same magazine at one point popped three rounds out at once. Nor would it stay seated. However, in the X7s favor is its amazing toughness. The round was jammed between carrier race and bolt face, and would not dislodge. With a staked carbine extension, there was no way to easily remove the BCG from the rear. The only way that presented itself was to grasp the bullet tip with needlenose and crush it enough to get a firm grip, then beat the charging handle back with a rubber mallet. An ordinary charging handle would be destroyed by this process. The Gunfighter was unharmed. The ceramic coating on the handle and the ejection port was unharmed. The coating inside the receiver and on the bolt and carrier was unharmed. It literally looked new when done.

I can’t think of another precision rifle that can take that kind of beating and come back for more.

I will be torture testing the X7 further over the coming weeks, to see just how long it lasts without lube, cleaning and maintenance, though I must advise readers that this is an examination of emergency capabilities. All weapons should be properly cleaned and maintained, and repairs, especially with live ammo in the weapon, should not be attempted by anyone not properly trained.

So far, I am convinced this is a rifle one can trust one’s life to. It is a pleasure to shoot, amazingly accurate, and tough as a keg of nails.