Are You OnPoint?

By: Erik Laracuente of Rican Havoc Productions

AK47. A combination of letters and numbers that quite possibly evokes more emotion than any other alphanumeric name in the history of our world. The ubiquitous AK47 has come to symbolize liberty, freedom, hope, and defense. It has also come to symbolize tyranny, oppression, and terrorism. No matter the association, the AK47 is the most commonly encountered military rifle worldwide. It has proven itself for combat, Homeland Defense, hunting, and good old fashioned recreation.  In recent years, we have seen the Kalashnikov become more fluent in the tactical language of today’s Law Enforcement and Military circles, with a multitude of rail systems, stocks, and grip options available.

Over the years, the aftermarket for the AK pattern rifles has really stepped it up. No longer are we tied down to the wooden furniture that is better suited  for smaller statures. A whole slew of butt stocks, hand guards, rail systems, and pistol grips as currently available to modify the Kalashnikov. Unfortunately,  that doesn’t mean that all of them are as tough as the gun they’re designed for. A lot of these components are very inexpensive, and for the most part, you get what you pay for. On the other hand, playing the used market and/or looking out for good deals, one can put together a quality package that best suits their needs, sensibilities and aesthetics.

Click here to see what I chose to do! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulMJaGIvbGI)

Enjoy,

Erik @ RHP

Sig Sauer finally hits black with its latest iteration of the 556: the Classic SWAT.  This is the way 556s were meant to be– with a real Swiss folding stock and grip!  If you’re like me, you probably see very little utility in an M4-style stock if the host weapon doesn’t require a buffer tube.  Personally, I don’t like them on AKs, Mini-14s, FALs, XCRs, or the legendary Sig Sauer 55x series.  We’ve been waiting years for this winning combo.
Make no mistake, the new 556 Classic series is the FIRE!  The Ergonomics are perfect.  The feel is authentic and the fit and finish is superb.  For the money, this is one of the best piston-driven rifles on the market.  It comes in a Sig Sauer lockable hard case with all the fixings inside:  a 30rd magazine, rail covers, front sights, and a nifty rear diopter sight– all standard.  Sig thought of everything here, right down to the integral locking mechanism on the stock that secures in the folded position with ease.  The trigger has a learning curve though, but it’s not too steep.  You’ll love it once you get used to it.  The 556 classic even comes standard with a flash hider that is compatible with AAC sound suppressors.  That gave me the perfect excuse to break out a new M4-1000 for a range test!  And believe me, I’m ALWAYS looking for an excuse.

So, Erik from Rican Havoc Productions, Khoa (our LE/Military Veep), and I headed to our friendly Antelope Club on Saturday morning.  I scraped together a sampler of various ammo that has been living in my range bag for months: XM193 on stripper clips, American Eagle 55gr FMJ, Wolf poly 55gr, Remington UMC, and some loose surplus 62gr of unknown origin.  My first task was to confirm zero at 50yds with iron sights.  That took all of 3rds with the XM193.  It’s good to know that someone took the time in New Hampster to zero this rifle at the factory.  Now, that’s the Sig Sauer that I know and love! [ watch our video of the shoot here ]
At the 100yd line, we continued to shoot irons for a while longer and got used to the trigger.  Then, the rear diopter sight was removed and an ACOG 4×32 took its place.  Each of us shot a few groups and enjoyed a respectable 1.5-2MOA.  Surprisingly, we shot the best groups with the Remington UMC.  (Erik rained on our parade though– shooting several subMOA groups through his trusty Rock River Arms CAR-A4 with Aimpoint CompML2.)

Once we twisted on the Advanced Armament M4-1000, the game changed.  Groups  stayed about the same size, but hit paper a few inches north.  We also noticed the heavier 62gr mil-spec ammo was performing better– even though it smelled like ammonia.  The M4-1000 is an entry level suppressor, but it used to be their old M4-2000, so the technology and craftsmanship is there– but it’s not as cutting edge as the current M4-2000 and SPR/M4 cans.  For instance, the SPR/M4 can adjust its orientation on the fly, so that you can retain zero even while suppressed.  The 2000 and SPR are also a few decibels quieter… and a couple hundred dollars more.

Clean up on the Sig 556 Classic SWAT is a breeze– not only because the piston system keeps the innards relatively clean, but also because field stripping is intuitive for most shooters. The upper and lower come apart just like an AR15.  The trigger assembly resembles the movement of a Swiss timepiece.  Simply remove the charging handle from the bolt, not unlike a Benelli shotgun, and the assembly is free to exit the receiver from the rear.  Removing the firing pin for maintenance requires punching out a pin, so I skipped that step this time. Next, remove the enclosed piston and two-position gas regulator from the business end of the rifle, and you’re all done.  It’s an elegant design and easy to maintain.

The Swiss Guard protects the Pope with 55x rifles, so you’ve got the Lord on your side if you’re arming yourself with one of these.  So, if you’re looking for a good Catholic assault rifle– this is it!   What’s not to love about the 556 Classic?

Have a good week and God bless. — Evan