AR-15 SPECIAL ISSUE U.S. $12.95
Featured Material
War Belt Setups Bill Geissele’s Beginnings • DIY: Hydro Dipping at Home • AR Platform BCG Buyer’s Guide • •
Included
UN12 x Aero Precision ATLAS R-ONE Patch UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
Feature Firearm
Chambered in .224 Valkyrie 1,200+ Yard Precision Shooter
Transport of Dangerous Goods Ammunition, such as for rifles, handguns, shotguns, starter’s pistols and power tools that contain explosive material are dangerous goods listed under Class 1.4S. The information presented here is for the following UN numbers only:
Custom Cerakoted & Outfitted
Custom AR-15
APOD Valkyrie
ISSUE
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Skull FUK-AR
Feature
: : Dedicated 9mm pistol
: : First use of Strike Industries Viper PDW Pistol Brace/Stabilizer : : Many innovative parts
A Custom Built 9mm AR Pistol
Text by MARTIN ANDERS
Images by MICHAEL GREY
“Over-the-top builds are now common to see at SHOT Show, so this looker felt right at home.”
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Feature
W
hen you work at a firearms parts company and the company needs to build up a gun
to display at its booth for SHOT Show, what do you do? Do you do the “selfless” thing and donate one of your lower receivers to the cause and “allow” the company to built it up? Hell yes, of course you do! Well, at least, that’s what Craven Moorehead did when he was given the chance to do the right thing for the company he works for. The AR pistol that you see before you was displayed at the Strike Industries (SI) booth at the 2018 edition of SHOT Show. This eye-catching build, which was named “Skull FUK-AR” by its builders, was commissioned to showcase SI’s latest innovations in an eye-catching way. Over-the-top builds are now common
“Take an at home. AR, dip it Chambered in 9mm, in a vat of the AR-15-based pistol was built as a equal parts collaborative effort creativity, amongst Moorehead’s fellow Strike Industries artistic employees. Together, talent and they collaborated on the build and built it out-ofusing SI’s latest parts the-box as well as parts and accessories from engineering industry partners. It and you helps to have friends in the industry, doesn’t it? have the When asked if Skull FUKthere was anything in particular he wanted us AR.” to see at SHOT Show, so this looker felt right
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you have the Skull FUK-AR. On the surface, you’ll first notice the fine, custom distressed Cerakote finish that was executed by Blowndeadline Customs. True to form, the artistically applied ceramic coating not only looks good, but also protects the pistol’s surfaces from abrasion and corrosion and provides chemical resistance. As good as they may be, looks are only skin deep. Pretty much every part used to build up the Skull FUK-AR is of the non-standard
to know about the build,
variety. That is to say that you won’t find the
Moorehead succinctly said, “The build speaks for
components that make up this pistol in your
itself, really...” One look at it and we’d have to agree.
run-of-the-mill AR. The more time we spent with
Take an AR, dip it in a vat of equal parts creativity,
the pistol, the more we realized just how innovative
artistic talent and out-of-the-box engineering and
each component, no matter how small, was.
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DIY: Hydro-Dripping at Home
11 Clear & Complete After the item is completely dry, spray it with a protective clear top coat. You can choose from matte or a gloss coats depending on what look you’re going for. If you want extra protection, several clear coats can be sprayed on but make sure you let each coat dry before spraying the next one.
BOTTOM LINE Compared to other customizing processes that I’ve tried, I’d say that hydro dipping isn’t hard, but requires finesse and a good deal of experience to pull off well. I did make a couple of mistakes along the way but learned from them pretty quickly. Overall, it’s fun and rather addicting. This was my first time working with hydro dip
Finish
and it certainly won’t be the last. Now, what should I dip next? [ UN12 ]
Made a Mistake? WHEN THINGS DON’T GO AS PLANNED
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On the left is my second try
perfect conditions and plenty of
at hydro dipping and on the
experience in working with water
right is my first. Not a pretty
transfer film. I quickly realized that if
sight. I’m not going to sugar
I found a mistake immediately after
coat it—there are a ton of
dipping, I could spray activator
things that can go wrong when
directly on the item and manually
hydro dipping. If the water
remove the film and undercoats of
temperature isn’t just right or
paint and primer and try again. It’s a
there’s too little activator or too
messy process, but it was doable.
much activator or if water gets
It’s probably best to practice on
onto the film… yeah, a lot of
a chunk of wood or other scrap
factors to look out for. Getting
before dipping something of value,
professional results will require
just in case.
Feature
: : Built for long-range plinking : : Original Cerakote scheme by Nevada Cerakote : : Chambered in .224 Valkyrie
APOD Valkyrie
Text by JAMES YORK Images by MICHAEL GREY
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Feature
Danger Close Armament
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
: : Customized by Danger Close Armament : : Chambered in 9x19mm Text by DAVE TIMM Images by TracerX
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: : Available as complete gun or customize your own
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Feature
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
“Danger Close offers customers several customization options to enhance not only performance but aesthetics as well.”
hen one looks to enhance a factory handgun
its own, the CZ offers plenty of great features directly
story about handgun manipulation
there are often conflicting opinions to sort
out of the box—but that doesn’t mean things can’t
with front serrations, but the short
through. These opinions are usually based on the
be improved upon. Danger Close offers customers
version is that I am a fan of front serrations.
perceived benefits, cost, quality of work and mindset
several customization options to enhance not only
The added top serrations are placed in alignment
behind the modifications. The reality is quality
performance but aesthetics as well.
with the factory serrations and are executed so well
W
enhancement that improves the performance of a
were perfect. The added serrations give a very positive
custom lower 1/3rd co-witness iron sights and an
grip when manipulating the slide, when conducting a
customizing company Danger Close Armament (DCA)
INFORCE APLc compact light. The whole package
status check or when used for one-handed clearances
at Triggrcon 2017, I was immediately impressed
was lightweight and well balanced for a mid-size
if needed. The slide was refinished after machining
with the customizer’s attention to detail and level of
handgun of this configuration. I carried this gun in an
with a very durable and clean AlTiN (aluminum titanium
craftsmanship. The Danger Close modified handguns I
off-duty role for a short time with a locally made Kydex
nitride) coating. Several other available services offered
handled showed a level of execution that is among the
inside-the-waistband holster. Even with the light and
best I have seen. When the opportunity to check out
optic, the gun carried well and wasn’t uncomfortable or
the CZ Signature Build arose, I immediately said yes. It
overly heavy.
When I was first handed a gun serviced by firearm
has been a handgun I was looking forward to shooting since I first handled it.
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you’d swear they were factory. Their angle and depth
The customized sample we spent time with came equipped with a Trijicon Type 2 RMR with DCA’s
pistol can often be a wise investment.
The real focus of this enhanced P-10 C is on the work that was done to the frame and slide. Starting with the
01 One main focus of the enhanced P-10 C is work that was performed on the frame and slide.
include a sprayed finish; this, again, shows the level of dedication to quality by DCA. Where I spent some significant time admiring this gun was on the grip and texturing. Out of the box, the P-10 C is a comfortable gun to handle. The grip angle,
The featured gun you see before you started out
slide, DCA added top serrations that perfectly matched
width and lack of finger grooves all make for a nice
as a factory stock CZ P-10 C chambered in 9mm. On
the factory front serrations. I could easily write another
grip. With some slight re-shaping and the application of
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E X P L O D E D VIEW
Danger Close Armament
CZ P-10 C Specifications: Caliber: 9x19mm Magazine Capacity: 15+1 Barrel Length: 4.02 in. Height: 5.2 in. Overall Length: 7.3 in. Width: 1.26 in. Weight Unloaded: 1 lb. 10 oz. Finish: AlTiN and Cerakote MSRP: starting at $1,025 URL: danger-close-armament. myshopify.com
Featured Accessories: Trijicon Type 2 RMR Danger Close Armament Custom Lower 1/3rd CoWitness Iron Sights INFORCE APLc Pistol Light
Customize Yours Do you own a CZ P-10? Instead of buying another gun you already have, you can send your P-10 in for Danger Close Armament to work their magic. See danger-close-armament. myshopify.com for more details.
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UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
BUYER’S GUIDE
Bolt Carrier Group
AR BCG Guide Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by MICHAEL GREY
A
s you have undoubtedly noticed
Some AR shooters prefer certain BCGs
by now, every single part of the
for functionality reasons such as tuning
AR platform has been redesigned,
for less recoil or a faster shooting gun.
reworked and reinvented to ad infinitum.
Others may just like the look of a certain
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why
BCG. The beauty of it is that now AR
the rifle and its variants have been so
users have more choices than ever
popular with gun enthusiasts over the
before.
decades. Its modularity is infinite and the customization possibilities are endless. While every part on the AR is important
The following guide includes close to 40 BCGs in a wide selection of calibers, but believe us when we say that there
to its function, the Bolt Carrier Group
are many more models out there. Some
(BCG) is perhaps the hardest working
of the BCGs in this guide are the latest in
component in the system. The major
cutting-edge innovation and some are old
parts of the BCG include the bolt, bolt
classics. Take a look to see which ones
carrier and firing pin, which along with
pique your interest.
its smaller parts contribute to a smooth shooting, accurate and dependable firearm. Back in the day, there weren’t many BCG options available for AR owners. You basically had them in your choice of parkerized or phosphate coated and in semi- or full-auto configurations. Nowadays they can be had in every sort of high-tech coating in a rainbow of colors, profiles, calibers and weights.
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“While every part on the AR is important to its function, the Bolt Carrier Group (BCG) is perhaps the hardest working component in the system.”
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FEATURE
Product Review : : Soft-shooting AR-based pistol : : Unique-length gas system : : Created for reliable suppressed & unsuppressed shooting
Arsenal Democracy Text by STEVE COULSTON Images by ZERO7ONE & STEVE COULSTON
nnovation in what seems like an
Democracy offers a variety of services and
One,” referring to its unique gas system,
already saturated black gun market is
products to include innovative long guns,
which is approximately one inch longer than
becoming harder to come by these days. No
handguns and parts for the discerning
a standard carbine-length system found on
sir, arriving at the largest firearms convention
shooter or warfighter. While some of the parts
the traditional M4 and M4 clones. More on
of the year with a new color option for your
used in their firearms are sourced from other
that later. The CPO features ambidextrous
three-year-old pistol or rifle doesn’t cut it.
manufacturers, the majority of components,
controls. This includes Arsenal Democracy’s
There has to be more, so firearms companies
including major assemblies, are machined
own AMR (Ambidextrous Magazine Release
need to figure it out or they will slowly regress
and fabricated in their Freeport, Florida, shop.
Assembly) and F-117 Ambidextrous Selector
and die while others pick up the reins. Think
Calling their weapons “Life Support Systems”
Switch. Also included is an ambidextrous
outside the box and move forward.
means Arsenal Democracy employees
charging handle specifically made to Arsenal
I
While the legacy operating system of the AR-15 has basically remained the same since its inception, it has been fine-tuned over the decades. Manipulating materials, barrel lengths, twist rates, gas port sizes, buffer springs/weights, round size, muzzle devices and gas system length all have an impact on what kind of shooting experience will be had with America’s favorite rifle to love (or hate, depending on which way you roll). Dave Pavlick is an innovator. He has to be. In his previous line of work, if you didn’t innovate, adapt and overcome, you or
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Democracy specifications. The upper and lower receivers are all made by Arsenal Democracy from billet 7075T6 aircraft-grade aluminum. As would be expected, the aesthetics of the upper and lower feature the legacy Arsenal Democracy elongated and beveled magazine well and the sleek, sloping lines of their forward assist housing. The trigger is the tried-and-true, and wicked fast, flat-faced Geissele Super Dynamic SD-C. The rail is of their own making, comes in at 10.75 inches on the CPO, and features the MLOK attachment
someone else on the team gets hurt or dies.
take their jobs very seriously. They pride
system with integral anti-rotation QD
Spending multiple combat tours as a Green
themselves as being veteran owned and
attachment points. These are all the same
Beret in the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group,
operated and being 100% American-made.
standard components that can be found on
he saw first-hand how well, and how poorly,
Carbine Plus One
“Firearms companies need to evolve, or they will regress and die while others pick up the reins.” In the spirit of full transparency, this author
their AD-16 series of rifles. It almost feels
his issued M4 carbine performed in some of
was one of the original purchasers of their
strange calling these high quality parts
the harshest environments on Earth. Taking
first rifle offering, as well as an owner of their
“standard.” The barrel and gas system
those lessons learned on the battlefield, he
original Blackside Glock pistol conversions.
combination are unique.
would go on into civilian life and create a
Because of those early positive experiences
new firearms company, Arsenal Democracy.
with the young company, it only seemed
was working on a project that had specific
His goal is to “wring out the last tidbits of
natural to keep tabs on how they continued to
requirements for an upper receiver that
technological advances out of the M4.”
progress and develop.
would run reliably both suppressed and
Pavlick has worked for the past five years trying to do just that and more. Arsenal
One of their new offerings for 2018 is the CPO. CPO is an acronym for “Carbine Plus
The backstory: Over a year ago Pavlick
unsuppressed. This project was known as SURG (Suppressed Upper Receiver Group).
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Product Review: Arsenal Democracy Carbine Plus One
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UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
OPTIC Mercon Optics MK1 1-6x, American Defense Mfg. mount
01 ARM BRACE
05
Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod2
GAS SYSTEM “Carbine Plus One”— 8.5-inch gas tube
02 RECEIVERS Billet 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum
07 BARREL 5.56 NATO, 11.5 inches, 1:7 twist
08 SUPPRESSOR
03
Crux titanium, 5.56mm
MAGWELL Proprietary design, elongated and beveled
06 FOREGRIP Magpul AFG positions support hand high on bore centerline
back into the shooter’s face. Too little dwell
carrier groups, neither of which can be found
carbine-plus-one gas tube. The standard
gas system was overly gassy, especially
time can result in a short stroke where there
on the CPO.
carbine gas tube is approximately 7.5 inches
running the weapon suppressed and full auto,
is not enough gas to cycle the weapon fully,
Fast forward a year and Pavlick used the
in length, so the “plus one” bumps it to 8.5
which started affecting performance.
ejecting the spent round and/or feeding the
lessons learned developing the SURG project
inches long. The result was a soft-shooting
a thing now thanks to those supposedly in the know. We digress. Regardless, the CPO was designed to do
work. As of SHOT Show 2018 they plan to
next live round. This is a delicate balance,
to create a firearm for those who wanted to
AR that can be had in either a pistol or SBR
can on it almost tricks it to thinking it has even
also offer the CPO in .300 Blackout with a
looking at different gas systems, gas port sizes
especially when shooting suppressed, wherein
shoot both suppressed and unsuppressed
configuration and will weigh in at around 6.2
more dwell time, so it actually shoots smoother
10.5-inch barrel. Pavlick cautioned against
and barrel lengths. He jumped from a carbine
the suppressor creates more blowback.
while maintaining the shorter length of a short-
pounds, depending on which stock or pistol
with the can on than off.” He goes on to
going much shorter primarily due to the lack of
length to a mid-length system, but found that
Blowback that, if not mitigated, fouls up the
barreled rifle or pistol. Thus the CPO was born.
brace is used for the configuration.
compare shooting the 11.5 CPO suppressed
real estate (or rail estate, if you will) on the top
there wasn’t enough dwell time on an 11.5-
internals more quickly and ends up, again, in
to shooting a 16-inch AR-15 suppressed.
rail, as shorter rails reduce the ability to mount
inch barrel with a mid-length gas system. Too
the shooter’s face. There are ways to reduce
difference between a carbine length and mid-
it doesn’t feel like a normal 11.5. It doesn’t
Pavlick wanted to make sure his latest brain
the back-up iron sights, lights and lasers often
much dwell time and you get an over-gassed
this effect while shooting suppressed through
length gas tube settling on a reduced gas port
feel like a 10.5. Unsuppressed it feels pretty
child worked suppressed, unsuppressed, fully
used by shooters.
gun, which will beat up the internals of the
advancement in suppressor technology, as
size, a custom 11.5-inch barrel and 1:8 twist
close to your typical 14.5. It has about an extra
automatic and semi-automatic, as well as the
firearm, rip rims off cases and feed gasses
well as with adjustable gas blocks and bolt
rate, chambered in .223 Wylde with a custom
2.5 inches of dwell time, so when you put the
now-popular full-semi-automatic. Yes, that’s
Because of these issues Pavlick started
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He found that using a typical carbine-length
“The standard carbine gas tube is approximately 7.5 inches long, so the ‘plus one’ bumps it to 8.5 on the CPO.”
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For the CPO project, Pavlick split the
According to Pavlick: “When you shoot this,
The test sample we received was the pistol
version. Instead of a stock it featured the
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