AARR--1155 SPECIAL ISSUE BACK BY DEMAND BBEESSTT BBBUUUYYYEEERRR’’’SSS MMSSRRss GGUUIIDDEE RRIIFFLLEE--MMOOUUNNTTEEDD TTHHEERRMMAALL SSCCOOPPEESS PPGG.. 3300 GGAAMMEE--CCHHAANNGGIINNGG DDEESSIIGGNNSS,, TTOOPP RRAANNGGEE GGEEAARR FR O M TH E ED ITO RS O 8AA RRss FFOORR F W O LLEESSSS TTHHAANN R LD O AA GGRRAANNDD F FIR EPO PPEERRFFOORRMMAANNCCEE W AER DDDDIIIIYYYY BBBBUUUUIIIILLLLDDDD OOOONNNN AAAA R-15 BBLLUUEE--CCOOLLLLAARR BUDGET 6KKEEYYSS TTOO AACCCCUURRAATTEE SSHHOOOOTTIINNGG PATRIOT OORRDDNNAANNCCEE’’SS UNIQUE 30 RREEVVOOLLUUTTIIOONN 12 AADDDD--OONNSS CYCYOOUUSSUUTTRROO RRMMIIFFIIZZLLEEEE RNEEDDWUEC CWTIBAIOVENEL SUPPRESSOR NNEEXXTT GGEENN PPCCCC JJPP EENNTTEERRPPRRIISSEESS’’ FACT & FICTION GMR-15 WHATY TOOU FRE AEDR F UR.SO.M $ 9T.9H9E •E DDIISTPOLRASY O UFN WTIOLR: 2L/D2 0O/F1 8FIREPOWER 9 2 BULRABCAKN R RAIIFNL’ES 0 74369 01506 7 ENGAGED MEDIA INC. AR15_New.indd 4 8/2/17 8:21 PM AR15_2017_C2 7/26/17 1:53 AM Page C2 (cid:44)(cid:70)(cid:90)(cid:46)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:53)(cid:46) (cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:2) KeyMod™ is the tactical industry’s new modular standard! • Trijicon AccuPoint TR24G • • BCM®Diamondhead 1-4x24 Riflescope $1,020.00 American Defense Folding Front Sight •BCM®Diamondhead RMEoCuOnNt $X1 8S9co.9p5e $99.00 Folding Rear Sight $119.00 •BCM®KMR-A15 KeyMod Rail •BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Handguard 15 Inch $199.95 Compensator Mod 0 $89.95 • • BCMGUNFIGHTER™ KMSM • BCMGUNFIGHTER™ KeyMod QD Sling Mount $17.95 BCM®Low Profile Stock $55.95 • Gas Block $44.95 BCMGUNFIGHTER™ • BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Vertical Grip Mod 3 $18.95 QD End Plate $16.95 BCM® A2X Flash • • GEARWARD Ranger BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Suppressor $34.95 Band 20-Pak $10.00 Grip Mod 0 $29.95 B5 Systems BCMGUNFIGHTER™ SOPMOD KeyMod 1-Inch Bravo Stock Ring Light BCM® KMR-A $58.00 Mount KeyMod Free Float For 1” diameter Rail Handguards lights $39.95 Same as the fantastic original KMR but Blue Force machined from aircraft aluminum! BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Gear VCAS BCM 9 Inch KMR-A9. . . . . . . . $176.95 KeyMod Modular Sling $45.00 BCM 10 Inch KMR-A10. . . . . . $179.95 Scout Light Mount BCM 13 Inch KMR-A13. . . . . . $189.95 For SureFire Scout BCM 15 Inch KMR-A15. . . . . . $199.95 Light $39.95 BCM® PNT™ Trigger Assembly BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Polished –Nickel –Teflon KeyMod Modular $59.95 PWS DI KeyMod Rail Handguard Light Mount Wilson Free float rail for AR15/M4 pattern rifles. For 1913 mounted PWS DI 12 Inch Rail . . . . . . . . $249.95 lights$39.95 Combat PWS DI 15 Inch Rail . . . . . . . . $249.95 Tactical PWS KeyMod Trigger Polymer Bipod $269.95 Adapter $23.95 Arisaka Inline KeyMod Inforce Scout Mount $34.00 WML-HSP Arisaka Ring KeyMod $119.00 1” Light Mount $44.00 Daniel Defense SLiM Rail Handguard Slim, Light, Modular KeyMod Free Float Thorntail KeyMod Offset Trijicon DD SLiM Rail 12.0. . . . . . . . . . $265.00 Adaptive Light Mounts TA31RCO-M4 DD SLiM Rail 15.0. . . . . . . . . . $265.00 Thorntail ACOG 4x32 Daniel Defense 1.030 Mount $70.00 KeyMod Bipod Thorntail M3M6 $1,422.05 Adapter 1913 Mount$50.00 $47.00 Arson Machine Company KeyMod Aimpoint Daniel Defense Light Mounts PRO KeyMod 1 O’Clock Scout M600 Patrol Rifle Optic Offset Rail Assembly Mount $48.00 $424.00 $39.00 1” Ring Mount$44.00 All pricing is subject to change without notice. Please see our website for current pricing. Hartland, WI U.S.A. / Toll Free: 1-877-BRAVO CO (1-877-272-8626) / Fax: 262-367-0989 / BravoCompanyMFG.com AR15_2017_3 7/26/17 1:53 AM Page 3 KeyMod is here! TM KeyMod™ is the tactical industry’s new modular standard! • • • Midwest Industries Aimpoint Micro H-1 2 MOA Midwest Industries Folding Front Sight $79.95 with LRP Mount $709.00 ERS BUIS $93.95 • GEARWARD Ranger Band 20-Pak $10.00 •BattleComp 1.5 $155.00 •BCMGUNFIGHTER™ • KMSM KeyMod QD Sling BCMGUNFIGHTER™ 1913 Mount $17.95 • Modular Light Mount, BCMGUNFIGHTER™ • KeyMod $39.95 BCM®KMR-A13 KeyMod Rail QD End Plate $16.95 •BCMGUNFIGHTER™ KAG Handguard 13 Inch $189.95 •BCM® •BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Kinesthetic Angled Grip, •TangoDown ARC MK2 PNT™ Stock $55.95 KeyMod $18.95 30 Round Mag $14.95 T$5ri9g.g9e5r •BCMGUNFIGHTER™ PWS FSC556 Tactical Grip Mod 3 $17.95 Compensator $98.95 •BCM®Polymer Trigger Guard $6.95 BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Vltor Carbine Comp Mod 0 - 556 EMOD Threaded 1/2x28 for 5.56 AR15 platform Stock $89.95 $119.65 Comp Mod 1 - 556 Threaded 1/2x28 for 5.56 AR15 platform $94.95 VTAC MK2 Wide Sling IWC KeyMod QD $44.95 RL Sling Mount BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Accepts heavy duty or Enhanced Lower Parts Kit BCMGUNFIGHTER™ standard QD swivels VG MOD 3 $17.00 With BCM® PNT™ Trigger Assembly, BCM® Mod 3 Grip, BCM® Trigger Guard, Low-profile length and Mil-Spec hardware kit. for increased mobility IWC KeyMod Hand Stop and decreased “snag”. BCMGUNFIGHTER™ ELPK, semi-auto$99.95 Made in the U.S.A. Mount-N-Slot design $34.95 from impact resistant polymers, available in Black, Flat Dark Earth, BCM® Foliage Green, Wolf Gray. KeyMod BCMGUNFIGHTER™KAG VG-KM-MOD-3, KeyMod Version . . $18.95 Picatinny Kinesthetic Angled Grip VG-1913-MOD-3, Picatinny Version. $19.95 Uses biomechanically efficient Rail Sections Aimpoint forward rake, small profile Mil-Std 1913 rails, Nylon textured front and back for positive engage- Comp M4S Rails available in Black, FDE, Foliage Green. ment. Impact resistant polymers, in Black, Flat Red dot sight, Nylon Rail, 3 Inch . . . . . . . . . . . . $8.95 Dark Earth, Foliage Green and Wolf Gray. fully NVD Nylon Rail, 4 Inch . . . . . . . . . . . $11.95 KAG-KM, KeyMod Version . . . . . $18.95 compatible, Nylon Rail, 5.5 Inch. . . . . . . . . . $14.95 KAG-1913, Picatinny Rail Version. $19.95 with QRP2 Aluminum Rail, 3 Inch, Black . . $19.95 Picatinny Rail Mount $846.00 Aluminum Rail, 4 Inch, Black . . $24.95 Aluminum Rail, 5.5 Inch, Black. $29.95 EOTech HOLOgraphic Weapon Sights PWS KeyMod Model 512 Picatinny Rail BCM® KeyMod Rail Panel Kits $429.00 Polymer Rail, 5 Slot. . . . . . . . . . $11.95 5.5 Inch Rail Panels, in Black, Flat Dark Earth, Model 552 Aluminum Rail, 5 Slot. . . . . . . . $28.95 Foliage Green, Wolf Gray - 5-Pack . $9.95 $529.00 All pricing is subject to change without notice. Please see our website for current pricing. Hartland, WI U.S.A. / Toll Free: 1-877-BRAVO CO (1-877-272-8626) / Fax: 262-367-0989 / BravoCompanyMFG.com 52 14 102 CONTENTS COVER STORY 14 Silent & Accurate 46 Eight Under 1,000 70 Pimp Your Black Rain Ordnance’s Urban For less than a grand, you Custom Build Rifle is something truly different. can score a reliable and With an MOA bite, build your By Stan Skinner accurate AR. own performance AR on a By Brad Fitzpatrick blue-collar budget. By Kevin Reese FEATURES 52 Catch the WAVE Daniel Defense’s new WAVE 78 Ammunition 101 10 High-Mounted suppressor is turning the The facts and fiction of what Optics tide; plus, a look at its new to feed your AR. A science-based approach DDM4V7S SBR. By Steven Lieberman to fast, accurate shooting. By Sean P. Egen By Jason Falla 62 Custom Rig 86 Put the Sport 24 Rock & Roll For all budgets, make your in MSR For your best performance, AR super sweet with this Challenge yourself in competition select the best gear. ultimate add-on guide. ... and improve your skills in the By Thomas Carlson By Brad Fitzpatrick process. By Brad Fitzpatrick 4 AR-15 TOC_CX.indd 4 8/2/17 8:35 AM 122 10 70 94 46 94 Cutting Edge 122 A Not So PC, PCC COLUMNS Scope Good for competition or home 08 First Shot EOTech’s Vudu 1-6x defense, JP Enterprises’ GMR-15 is 130 Journeys precision rifl e optic is solid, a category-defi ning 9mm carbine. robust and intuitive. By Gordon Meehl ON THE COVER Photo by Rick Peterson By Drew Pruhs Gun: Black Rain’s Urban Rifl e Designer: Eric Knagg 102 The Revolution BUYER’S GUIDE Rifl e Patriot Ordnance Factory’s 30 Rifl e-Mounted Thermal IImmaaggiinngg SSccooppeess game-changing .308 AR. By Fred Mastison 114 Full Exposure Thermal versus night vision: dark side differences. 130 By Kevin Reese 5 AR-15 TOC_CX.indd 5 8/2/17 8:35 AM AR15_2017_6 7/25/17 11:03 PM Page 6 AR15_2017_7 7/25/17 11:04 PM Page 7 FIRST SHOT OF PAGES AR-15 EDITORIAL Doug Jeffrey Editorial Directorr WISDOM Scott Wolff Editor Wendy Wilson Managing Editor DESIGN Eric Knagg Design Director CONTRIBUTORS Larry Atil, Thomas Carlson, Sean P. Egen, Jason Falla, Brad Fitzpatrick, Carlos Galinato, Corbin Hubbard, Steven Lieberman, Fred Mastison, Gordon Meehl, Rick Peterson, Ryan Price, Drew Pruhs, Kevin Reese, Stan Skinner, Straight 8 ADVERTISING Gabe Frimmel Ad Sales Director (714) 200-1930 [email protected] Casey Clifford Senior Account Executive (714) 200-1982 Mark Pack Senior Account Executive (714) 200-1939 Charles Dorr Account Executive (714) 200-1931 RRY ATIL JJoohhn(n8 B 6Ca6ar)bt 8ur6ali6ln -A 5Ad1cv4ce6or tueinsxittn . Eg2x 7De4ec6suitgivne O: LA Gen Enriifce Gr oMmererzid Aadyv Aedrtviseirntgis Tinrga ffiTrca Cffioco Crdoionradtionrator OT PH MARKETING Elise Portale Content Marketing Manager Michael Chadwick Digital Marketing & Media Coordinator Welcome to the world is for a specific arena of engagement Brooke Sanders Content Marketing Specialist of the black rifle. and equipped accordingly. Though ma- Eric Surber Content Marketing Specialist Andrew Dunbar Videographer Love them or hate ligned by some, and even referred to OPERATIONS them, the AR-15 is everywhere. as the Evil Black Rifle, the combination Robert Short IT Manager As a modern sporting rifle, all of reliability, accuracy, versatility and Parveen Kumar Newsstand and Circulation Analyst Shailesh Khandelwal Subscriptions Manager the top competitive shooters overall ease of operation is difficult to Alex Mendoza Administrative Assistant Victoria Van Vlear Intern Program Manager in the world run one of them beat. If you look at units responsible in some flavor or other. Some for handling some of the toughest EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92614 fantastic manufacturers of arenas of combat—be it military or law (714) 939-9991 • Fax: (800) 249-7761 www.gunworld.com competition-ready rifles are out enforcement—you’ll see the AR-15 (or www.facebook.com/eembybeckett there—Cobalt Kinetics, Ander- some variant thereof). AR-15 is published by son, Christensen—and you’ll read Engaged Media Inc., LLC, 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92614. more about that in a great piece We’re not here to politicize the rifle. © 2017 by Engaged Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole by Brad Fitzpatrick. Though some may jump to conclusions or in part is strictly prohibited. about the “real” purpose for the AR-15 CUSTOMER SERVICE The AR platform makes a very fine or even about the type of people who Engaged Media, Inc. 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250 varmint gun, especially when you ac- own them, we are here to educate Irvine, CA 92614 cessorize it to your own requirements. and provide wisdom on how you may Subscriptions, Address Changes, Renewals, Missing or Damaged Copies It is said buying an AR-15 (much like maximize your rifle’s performance, as (800) 764-6278 (239) 653-0225 Foreign Inquiries buying a 1911) is simply payment to- well as enhance your experience as a [email protected] [email protected] ward your license to spend more mon- shooter. That’s all. Back Issues: www.engagedmediamags.com ey. Be it thermal optics, night vision, Books, Merchandise, Reprints (800) 764-6278 • Foreign (239) 653-0225 stocks, aftermarket triggers, reflex-type We encourage you to seek training Letters to Editor, New Products, or to Contribute a Story or Photo systems, you name it … there is a de- from vetted professionals. We encour- [email protected] mand. Because of the sheer quantity age you to accessorize your gun with of options, many shooters have even products made by reputable manufac- taken up the hobby of building their turers. We encourage you to buy qual- own. Look for Kevin Reese’s take on ity ammunition—more on that in this ENGAGED MEDIA INC. that on page 70. volume—so you can truly realize your Mike Savino CEO Nathaniel Phillips HR and Office Management potential, and that of your platform. Philip Trinkle Newsstand Sales Director Jason Mulroney Director of Content Personally, I have two AR-15 platforms, Sabra Morris Director of Marketing and they are both “work” guns. One Educate yourself. Have fun. Most Pinaki Bhattacharya Vertical Manager Bob Husly Director of Business Development is a build with a 16.1-inch barrel, and importantly, stay safe. This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the the other is a Daniel Defense SBR, understanding that information presented is from various which has an 11.5-inch barrel. Each Scott Wolff, Editor AR-15 respsoounrscibeisl iftryo bmy wEnhgicahg ethde Mree cdaian Ibnec. ,n aos w toa rtrhaen tleyg oarl i ty, completeness or technical accuracy. 8 AR-15 EDIT.indd 8 7/25/17 12:13 AM AR15_2017_9 7/25/17 11:06 PM Page 9 THE HIGH-MOUN TED OPTIC Ih ave been using a high-mounted optic set on a riser plate for a long time—over the past 20 years, in fact. I was initially exposed to some of the benefits of a high-mounted optic while serving in the Australian Army, specifically within the Special Operations Com- mand. We were using then-venerable HK MP5s at the time for the domestic counter-terrorism role, and we had to qualify using iron sights before being able to progress to an optic. Once we qualified successfully with the irons, we then switched to Aimpoint CompM2 red-dot sights, utilizing HK’s own riser mount. 10 AR-15 OPTICS.indd 10 7/25/17 1:03 AM
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