AR 15 Upgrades! A.K.A. The Project

The AR-15, an iconic image almost as familiar as the American flag itself. The AR=America's Rifle. I've had a 20" AR style rifle in my collection for almost 10 years. It's a fine rifle, accurate and easy for just about anyone to use. I guess I just have extra money or something, but I'm currently in the process of turning my boring old A2 rifle into a badass, hippie-scaring, super-duper rifle... with a flashlight, cup holder and fuzzy dice hanging off the barrel. Due to the cost, this is going to be accomplished over some time. Acquiring the funds, deciding on the exact components and actually LEARNING how to do this will take some time. I'll start with the current state of my rifle, and then walk you through the installation and modification process.

My rifle is a Bushmaster XM15-E2S. 20" chrome lined barrel, chambered in .556 in the A2 style (full length rifle, carry handle, etc). The rifle was bought during the so called "Assault Weapons Ban" of the mid 90's, therefore, it does not have a threaded barrel or bayonet lug(because these were so evil). The plan is to buy a shorter 16" barrel, free float hand guards, a collapsible stock and a flat top upper receiver. Basically change everything but the lower receiver... and eventually change that out too. I'll leave all that for later posts, but today I'll be discussing the current modifications that I have made to the rifle.

These modifications are first because they were available(many AR parts are in high demand) and they were relatively low cost. I'll explain the usage, provide a link and rate the difficulty of installation on a 1 to 5 scale. Here are the products, their purpose and installation:

BCM Gunfighter Charging Handle (mod 4)- $44.95: Built for Bravo Company by Vltor, this is a super duper charging handle. It's made to be stronger than the traditional charging handle, and made with an extended latch to allow for one handed operation. If you can do it better and faster with one hand than two, why not? There is a joke somewhere there... that's what she said? I don't know.

Installation: Difficulty: 1, tools required: none. This part is drop in, literally. When field stripping the AR-15, the charging handle is probably the second part to be removed and comes out in about 2 seconds. First, you push out the rear receiver pin, letting the upper receiver hinge forward. Then you pull the charging handle rearward and the entire bolt assembly and charging handle will fall out of the receiver. Simply insert the new handle and bolt carrier group into the receiver and reinsert the pin.

Magpul Enhanced Trigger Guard- $18.95: Manufactured by the famous Magpul company! This is an aluminum(also made in polymer) trigger guard replacement, it's purpose is to allow a gloved finger to fit inside the trigger guard. This part also gets rid of the annoying space between the grip and standard trigger guard... this is for looks, but that's important too. The number one rule in life is to look cool(that or something about treating others like you want to be treated)!

Installation: Difficulty 2, Tools required: 1/8" punch (roll pin punch is best), pin punch hammer, bench block (or roll of tape), blue masking tape. This one can be a little tricky without the right parts, so invest in a nice punch set if you are going to do this yourself. PROTIP: Put some blue masking tape in the area around the pin hole. This will keep you from marring your lower receiver with the pin punch. Use the 1/8" punch to push the front detente pin in, this will allow the original part to swing down. Then using the same punch, drive the rear roll pin out. Using a bench block, or roll of tape on the backside will help facilitate this. The installation is basically the reverse. Install the new roll pin (included). This can be a little tricky, use the bench block and a stable platform. Then install the allen head screw (included) with the corresponding allen wrench (not included) in the front pin hole and you are done!

Magpul B.A.D. Lever- $28.45: Another product from Magpul (yes, I'm a Magpul fanboy). The B.A.D. lever, or Battery Assist Device, is made to streamline reloads. It's a pretty ingenious device and makes for a wonderful addition for the lazy or ubertactical shooter. Basically, it allows you to use one hand instead of two to operate the weapon. Again, there is a joke somewhere in that too.

Installation: Difficulty: 1 Tools required: Torx wrench (included). This one is pretty easy too. Place the backing plate behind the bolt catch paddle. Place the level over the paddle and install the torx head screw(included) using your torx wrench(included). Easy as pie.

These modifications are simple and only the beginning of my journey. Stay tuned for part 2 in the 87 parts series: AR15, "The Project".

Douchebaggery, It's A Problem.

This is kind of a public service, for those of you who aren't quite sure if you are a douche-bag or not. This list isn't completely comprehensive, but these are the most glaring. If you suspect that you may be a douche-bag, but your condition is not on this list, consult your physician.

1. You go "tanning". Either a spray on tan, or tanning bed.

2. You wear flip flops in public. Normal people can wear flip flops at the pool, gym shower or around the house.

3. You "pop your collar". Self explanatory.

4. You've worn a wife beater in public. That's an undershirt, people.

5. You wear a flat brim baseball cap or a "trucker" hat. These hats look stupid on anyone, men or women. Brims of a baseball cap are meant to be rounded, they only come flat for shipping purposes. Only truck drivers, farmers and rednecks may wear a "trucker" hat.

6. You ALWAYS wear your blue tooth ear piece. It's annoying, it looks ridiculous, and you need to stop it. The bluetooth should only be worn while driving or performing a task that requires both hands (such as masturbating... trust me, I need both hands).

7. You wear a basketball jersey, but are not on a basketball team. This does not apply to sporting events, but you shouldn't wear this to your sister's wedding or to a job interview.

8. You spend more than 15 minutes each day playing with cell phone apps. Nobody cares about your tip calculator or your Star Wars lightsaber app.

9. Your jeans/shirts have sequins, glitter or patches. I thought the bedazzler was for little girls and old women, you are a douche.

10. You wear anything Ed Hardy. Yeah.

Border Wars, Check It Out!

National Geographic, not just for checking out boobs of indigenous tribes anymore!

That's right, with the advent of specialty programing on cable comes new shows and new perspectives of the world we've never seen. The National Geographic channel offers a plethora of interesting and educational programing but one show in particular has caught my eye, It's called Border Wars. Shining a spotlight on the controversial and ever politically charged subject of customs and illegal immigration. This show gives a unique perspective on the day to day jobs US Border Patrol and Customs. From border inspection to immigrant capture and drug seizure.

So check out the show if you get a chance, it's awesome. New shows start on Mondays, for more info check THIS link.

Buy Tuffer Buffers Here and Support The NRA!

This one is for the gun lovers out there. Anybody who is a gunny owns or has owned a Ruger 10/22, arguably the most customizable gun ever. Well, here is an offer for the first upgrade you should make to your rifle. A polymer buffer pin! w00t. Here are the details:

• - LIFE TIME UNCONDITIONAL REPLACEMENT WARRANTY
• - HIGH IMPACT RESISTANCE
• - OIL AND SOLVENT RESISTANT
• - HIGH CUT & TEAR RESISTANCE
• - GOOD LOW TEMP FLEXIBILITY
• - PREVENTS SHOCK DAMAGE
• - SUPERIOR LOAD BEARING PROPERTIES
• - INCREASES SCOPE RELIABILITY
• - QUIETS YOUR RIFLE
• - ELIMINATES METAL ON METAL CONTACT
• - REDUCES RECOIL IMPULSES
• - PRECISION MADE TO HIGH TOLERANCES
• - FITS DIRECTLY INTO YOUR 10/22 RECEIVER

So there you go. Plus I'll be donating a portion to the NRA to help protect our 2nd Amendment rights! This buffer can be used with .22LR - .22WMR & .17MH2 calibers.

Special deal for ZEBRA NINER fans, $7 for 1.

Send your orders/questions to zebraniner@gmail.com

Tuffer Buffer Bulk Pricing

Tuffer Buffer- 1 buffer $7.00 Tuffer Buffer- 3 Pack $15.00 Tuffer Buffer- 5 Pack $20.00

Sons Of Anarchy!

Every once in a while I find something that I thoroughly enjoy. Sons of Anarchy is one of those things. It's a cool show about outlaw bikers being badass, shooting stuff, and pounding chicks. What does that mean? It means that any red-blooded American male is going to like it. There is also some great writing for those of you interested in the story and not just the visuals. This show will make you want to buy a Harley, strap your .45 to your hip and break a chair over someone's head. Check it out on FX, Tuesdays at 11PM. Also buy season one on DVD.


Also, Katey Sagal (A.K.A. Peggy Bundy) is in this show(looking very hot)!

Ruger LCR, The Light Compact Revolver

I received a Ruger LCR as a birthday gift in May. After a couple of months shooting and carrying this pistol I have formed some opinions about this gun and I'm going to share them.

Let's start with the name "LCR", that stands for Light Compact Revolver.

• Light-13.50 ounces with the Houge grip, 13 ounces with the Crimson Trace grip and only 15 ounces when fully loaded.
• Compact- With a barrel length of 1.78 inches, it's no bigger than your stander J-frame Style revolver.
  
• Revolver- Umm... it's a revolver, duh. 5 shot, .38 special +P, snub nose revolver.

We'll get to my opinions and range reports in just a bit, I want to mention what makes this revolver so special. It's the very first revolver in the world to be made with a polymer frame(fire control housing). That's right, the same kind of stuff your Glock, Springfield XD, or Smith and Wesson M&P are made out of. Some might call it combat tupperware or just generically call it "plastic". To be specific (and to sound like a douche), the actual description is Glass-filled Polymer Fiber.

I mentioned the polymer fire control housing, the reason it's important to make that distinct is because the entire frame isn't made from polymer. The grip, and the part of the frame that covers all of the fire control components is made from polymer. The rest of the frame is made from aluminum.

The cylinder is probably the most recognizable part of this gun, in that it's radically fluted for weight reduction, but it makes quite an impression visually. It's really cool looking. Of course this piece is made from aerospace grade steel as is the barrel sleeve.

So as you can see, it's the hot new thing that all the kids are talking about. By kids I mean grown men in photographer's vests. I'm not one to jump on the bandwagon of new stuff, but I've always had a special spot in my heart for Ruger and I've never owned a pocket gun. So this little bad boy has been on my wish list since it's announcement this January.

Every gun has a use, a spot that it fills best. This particular gun is best suited for deep concealment carry. It's small. lightweight, and packs a punch. It fits in a pocket well is comfortable to carry, in fact you forget it's even there. However, it does have drawbacks. It's only a 5 shot, it has a very small sight radius and it can be difficult to shoot well.

The standard Hogue Grips are really nice. They are a bit tacky, which may cause some problems with concealed carry, but they feel awesome. The grips make the gun feel like it fits in my hand much better than other J-framed size guns. I'm sure the relatively manageable recoil can be attributed to the grips, even with +P loads. The gun can also be outfitted with Crimson Trace laser grips, which I have also. The laser makes target acquisition fast and easy. It's also a great tool to practice trigger control. Dry fire the gun, and use the laser to gauge trigger movement and diagnose any flaws in your trigger pull. One other note on these grips, the back strap and front strap are made from a soft rubber that provides a good grip. The sides of the grip are pretty thin and made from a harder plastic/rubber and therefore do not catch on fabric very easily.

Accuracy is another facet of short barreled revolvers that is addressed often. It's not that these guns are inaccurate, but that they are difficult to shoot accurately due to the short sight radius. This gun has a great trigger, and a pretty good sight picture so it was pretty easy to shoot well. The grouping was pretty impressive for such a small gun. I'm very used to shooting striker-fired guns(Glock, XD, etc), and the longer pull of a double action isn't my territory. The trigger pull on this gun was WAY better than any double action S&W or Taurus I've ever fired. This trigger is really nice with no hint of stacking, but that IS one of the selling points of this gun.

I'm currently carrying this gun in a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster. It's lightweight, protects the gun and grips the inside of my pocket, making presentation of the firearm swift and smooth.

This gun is a good backup gun or primary gun. I find it useful in situations where a full size or even compact gun is not practical. It's small enough for a pocket carry in dress pants and light enough to carry in gym shorts or track pants(anything without a belt). I normally carry this gun at work or when I'm wearing something without a belt. It's also good as a second gun either in the pocket or on the ankle.


Bottom line, it's a great gun. It's comfortable, accurate, and powerful enough to meet my self defense needs. Try one out if you can.

Glock 30: The Subcompact 45 ACP

As long time readers know, I like to pack heat... That is, I'm strapped with a gat... In other words, I carry more hardware than Home Depot. Ok, now that all the slang is out of the way, I encourage the carrying of firearms by law abiding citizens. Nothing is more American that a .45 caliber pistol... well, maybe a pickup truck or a wet t-shirt contest.

Enter my Glocks. Yes, yes... I know I said nothing is more American that a .45... well, this gun is made in Austria. That's kind of like America, except for the whole "World War/Jew killing" thing. I mean, the past is the past... right? Besides, next time you see a uniformed police officer, check out what they are carrying. I bet dollars to donuts(whatever that means) that it's a Glock.

Regardless of the country of origin, this gun design has been around for more than 25 years. It's been carried and used by me for more than 8 years. It's stood the test of time, and it's been proven in combat time and time again. Nothing says reliability like a Glock.

I've recently taken to carrying my guns in a more discreet manner, that is concealed. I've always enjoyed the feeling of a big ass .45 on my hip, but when it came time to conceal that bad boy, I faced some issues. Some of the issues were overcome with proper holster/belt combinations (stay tuned for a report on that stuff). I was finally forced into looking at a smaller, lighter, more concealable weapon.

Not wanting to downgrade into a smaller caliber, I was faced with only a few options on pistols. For the sake of uniformity in training, grip, controls. I decided to go with the Glock's subcompact .45 the G-30. I want you to take the term "compact" loosely. This gun is a fair amount smaller than my full size G-21, but it's still larger than offerings from other companies (Kahr, Springfield XD, 1911 variants, etc). Two positive benefits by keeping it in the Glock family, are the interchangeability in accessories. My 13 round G-21 magazines fit into the compact version and my Crossbreed Holster accommodates both guns very well.

I was also a little concerned about accuracy with a smaller gun. You see, I've been shooting my Glock 21 for a while, making upgrades here and there, steadily making progress in accuracy. Usually what you gain in comfort and concealment, you sacrifice accuracy and firepower. While the standard magazine only holds 10 round, the 3 rounds is a worthwhile trade for the difference in size and weight. As far as accuracy goes, I'm more accurate with this smaller, stock gun than I ever was with the larger, upgraded full size pistol. I can't really explain it, but that's just the fact.

All in all, I'm quite pleased with the gun. It's small, comfortable to wear, accurate, and Glock-reliable. What more can I ask for? A small pocket gun, that's what... we'll save that for another post (hint, hint).

NRA Annual Meeting 2009

Each year the NRA holds a large meeting and exhibit. Each year, it's in a different city. This year, it happened to be in my state and my city! So, being a card-holding member of the NRA, I'm obligated to drag my butt down there. I'm glad that I did go, because I got to fondle and grope every gun that I've always dreamed about!

The show floor was a bustle of people, exhibits that were larger than life, and legends in the gun world walking around with mere mortals. All very exciting, but what about the important thing? The preservation of your rights to freedom? No. The networking with people in the firearms industry? No. The free schwag? Yes! Just kidding... but seriously, there was free stuff everywhere and I helped myself to more than my share.

I met a few interesting people, including Eric Shelton from Handgun Podcast fame, Carl from the Gundudes(who I called Stan... for no reason), and Tony Brown from the Firearms Cafe. I also ran into some more well known people like R. Lee Ermey and Tom Gresham! An exciting day for any gun nut.

I also got a chance to play with Ruger's new AR platform, the SR-55.
I fondled it and massaged it, basically I molested it. They actually asked me to leave the booth... well, they asked me to put my pants back on then leave the booth.

We have to keep supporting the NRA, not only to protect our rights and our freedoms, but to continue with productive events like this one. I'm glad that I got a chance to go, and I would jump at the chance to go again. Then again, it's in North Carolina next year... I don't see that happening.




One last thing... There were over 60,000 people attending the NRA meeting this year, I would bet good money that many of those people were armed (myself included). How is it that there weren't any mass shootings and gun violence?! Seems that law abiding ARMED citizens are peaceful. Keep that in mind the next time you hear about the "Evils of guns".

Yipeekiyay Mini Sirloin Burgers!!!

Ok, it's been a while but that's because I've had nothing worth posting about. That's all changed thanks to Jack in the Box and their Mini Sirloin Burgers. Well, the advertising for the mini sirloin burgers. 

A bunch of cowboys, tiny and bold....

Check the sweetass video below. 

Arizona CCW Permit: My Experience

W00t! CCW permit here I come! That's right folks, I finally got off my ass and went to get my CCW certification. Though I live in AZ, where open carry is permitted, I want to carry concealed every once in a while. Now I'm not saying that I don't still carry dual chrome .45s with ivory grips to a wedding or bar mitzvah, but now if I want to tone it down a little... I can.

So I chose to go to Scottsdale Gun Club for my certification. Now, it's a bit... "snooty" for some, but I like it. The range is always clean, the people are friendly, and it's in town(not 20 miles out... *cough* Ben Avery *cough*).

In Arizona you are now required to take an 8 hour class to receive your CCW permit. My class was scheduled for 8AM-5:30PM, with and hour break for lunch. So it's more of an 8ish hours of instruction. I arrived about 10-15 minutes early (as instructed) and still had to wait until 8AM to be let in the doors. The parking lot was relatively packed with people waiting to get inside. I wish I had taken a picture, because the cross section of people was rather amusing. Of course you had the older guys wearing military BDUs and black berets... and then you had the ultra redneck types, sporting the shooting vests and flannel clothing. There were a few of the stereotypical "independent and self empowered" women in the class, and a few college-aged douche bags. What category did I fall into? I did forget my kevlar tac-vest and ghillie suit at home, so I couldn't be grouped with the mall-ninjas... I guess douche bag? I don't know.

The instructor's name is Kevin Neal, he is a practicing attorney and judge for the city of Scottsdale. The lawyer/judge combo couldn't be a more perfect person to explain Arizona gun laws and how fucking lawyers can twist them. He's a personable guy, funny and made the class really interesting. He was also more than willing to answer ALL the stupid questions that people were asking. They say there are no stupid questions... that's not true at all. There ARE stupid questions, and very stupid people that ask them.

We started the morning out with basic stuff, signing the liability waiver and going over safety instructions. After all the prerequisite legal stuff was out of the way, we were instructed to head out the range for qualification. This part is probably what most people are worried about, and as it turns out it's the easiest part of the entire process. You are presented with a humanoid target, within the target are a rings labeled 10, 9, 8, etc. You are required to fire 10 rounds at the target (you must hit 5 shots at 15 feet and 5 at 30 feet) while keeping 70% rounds fired within the 8 ring. The 8 ring on the target we used measures 13" x13", a pretty large surface area. You can literally throw the gun and hit the 8 ring at 15 feet. If you can get the first 5 in the 8 ring, you are only required to get 2 more shots in at 30... most will get all 10. If you, by some chance, fail to do this on your first try the instructors will come by and personally ensure that you pass the test. That may involve some instruction or some tips on shooting. If you know how to handle a weapon this should not prove difficult.


The rest of the day was filled with legal speak and "what if" scenarios. SCG uses a power point presentation during the class to show videos, pictures, and various laws and regulations. I found that the videos were a very powerful way to show certain techniques or mistakes executed by real people. This part was very informative. Basically going over carry laws and when it's legal to use deadly force. It was very interesting stuff and I think that the class should be longer, just to thoroughly cover all the legal aspects.

Towards the end of the day, we had to do a fair amount paperwork. Filling out the application and fingerprint card took a long time. There are certain codes and ways to write things on those forms, and they have to be filled out perfectly. Luckily, the instructor will go through all this with you. Of course, you must be fingerprinted to acquire a CCW permit. If you've never been fingerprinted before, it's kind of weird.

The very last thing we did was take the written exam. It's a short test, 20 questions, all in multiple choice. Throughout the day, the instructor would note when a subject he covered was a test question. You could make mental note, or actual notes. All of the questions are either common sense, or very specific answers. You must get 100% on your test to pass, but if you do fail you can review and retest... immediately. You will pass this test, everyone in the class did on the first try.

I learned a lot about gun laws during this class. What I've taken away most from this class is that most laws fall into a "gray area" when it comes to interpretation. Ultimately every action you take will be decided by a jury of your peers... most of which will probably not own guns. Then again, they always say that it's better to be judged by 12 then carried by 6.