Category Archives: Product review

Products and equipment

Gideon Optics Alpha Red Dot

February 13, 2024Optics, Product reviewalpha, gideon opticscoldboremiracle

Red dot sights have become more and more popular, and mounting them to pistols has become more than just a trend. As an optics nerd, I find myself squarely in the middle of all the activity. Which has allowed me to bring you another optics review, this time of the Gideon Optics Alpha red dot sight.

Years ago a curious development in the optics market occurred; a new brand popped up that offered all the good features folks were after. And not only did the brand present these features at a competitive price, they stood behind it. And thus a new star was born. Those of us who’ve been around the industry for a while have seen this cycle repeat itself over and over again. And these budding brands continue to battle for the same section of the market.

The Gideon Alpha

Gideon Optics is a more recent brand on the optics market, I was made aware of the brand through a friend who showed me some of Gideon’s red dot sights. They produce several different red dots of various footprints, so there is likely one that will fit your needs. Gideon is a sister company to JSD Supply, well known for a variety of firearms products.

The Alpha red dot uses the very popular Trijicon RMR footprint. This gives you the advantage of a great variety of mounting options due to aftermarket support. In addition to the RMR footprint, the Alpha comes with a Picatinny rail mount option as well. This comes in handy for mounting to your favorite carbine.

Function

Since a plain dot has become a little boring, I really appreciate the circle dot reticle that comes standard in the Alpha. The large window of the Alpha allows maximized use of the circle dot red dot, it is also available with a green circle dot. Another popular feature incorporated into the Alpha red dot is the motion sensing illumination, which helps increase battery life. When motionless for a time, the red dot automatically shuts down. As soon as the weapon is moved, the red dot resumes illumination instantly ready to use.

the **CR1632 battery** for the Alpha is centrally located, so you don’t need to re-zero after battery changes

Like most red dot sights, the Alpha comes with two small adjustment screws for elevation and windage corrections. The included tool allows you to turn the screws which equate to one MOA per click of movement. And speaking of included, besides tools the Alpha also comes with a couple different screw sets for different mounting. This is always a welcome practice.

The **Sig Sauer P320 X5 Legion** and **Surefire X300** made a good host for the Alpha

Mounting the Gideon Alpha to a Sig Sauer P320

Of the many hosts that awaited the Alpha, the first pistol was my Sig Sauer P320 X-Five. The X-Five has RMR cuts and threads from the factory, making the drop-in easy. After lining everything up, and torquing down the screws everything looked fantastic. A few simple turns on the set screws to get the reticle zeroed and we were ready for the range.

I carried the P320 Legion with the Gideon Alpha for a month or so, and used it for a variety of range trips. I found that the combination to be very comfortable to shoot. The reticle of the Alpha was very effective for shooting, and helped naturally move the aim onto target.

With the motion setting on, the Alpha was on everytime I presented it. Drawing from a holster dozens of times a day for weeks at a time, I got more and more accurate with my presentation. I really grew to like the Alpha on my pistol.

Swapping Optics On My Pistol

After a good deal of shooting with the Alpha on my P320, I decided to swap it over to my Shadow Systems DR920. Both pistols allow mounting of RMR footprinted sights without an adaptor plate. Which made them ideal for testing the Alpha.

After torquing the screws down holding the Alpha to the slide, I made a couple simple adjustments to co-witness sights. Once again, it made a fantastic sight picture every time I presented the pistol. The lighter weight of the DR920 changed a little bit the way I presented the pistol, but the different grip angle made it seem faster and cleaner every time. And like I experienced with the Sig, the large reticle of the Alpha made it very easy to bring the aimpoint on target.

Concluding Thoughts

Normally I feature a Pros and Cons section, but I couldn’t really find anything I didn’t like about the Gideon Alpha. It has been reliable for the past few months carrying it daily, it’s always on when I look through it. It’s easily zeroed and has stayed zeroed since I put it on. The popular RMR footprint means it will fit a wide variety of popular pistols. And all this comes in a box for a street price under $200, which I think is a pretty good deal compared to other optics on the market.

As I continue to build an army of red dot sights, I am glad to have this Gideon Alpha in my collection. The refreshing selection of affordable quality optics we enjoy today sure makes it feel like the good old days. As always, if you’d like to see how this red dot endures, follow me to see how it performs over time. If you too are looking to broaden your red dot selection, check out the red dots from Gideon Optics, you’ll be glad you did.

-CBM

Guardian Defense Manufacturing 30M suppressor

February 10, 2024Product review, suppressors30m, guardian defense manufacturingcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Suppressors have become as much of my hobby as firearms themselves. It’s almost become a secondary collection all its own. As a suppressor enthusiast, I often get to play with new offerings. And today is one of those, I’m pleased to present to you the Guardian Defense Manufacturing 30M Suppressor.

the 30M mounted on the **Bergara HMR Carbon**

The Guardian Defense Manufacturing 30M

The 30M from GDM is a one pound thirty caliber suppressor built from grade five titanium. With experience in other defense industry manufacturing, GDM has great experience in fusion welding titanium. This gives the 30M and its siblings incredible strength and durability.

The 30M is 1.61 inches in diameter, and eight inches long. Like many other modern suppressors, the 30M has a threaded end-cap at the back to allow users modularity in mounting solutions. It also features an interesting muzzle feature, and aluminum insert called a caliber-nut that threads into the muzzle end of the suppressor. Various sizes can be threaded into the muzzle to use with different caliber host firearms. An added benefit is that should you experience a strike at the muzzle of the can, the aluminum cap is designed to become sacrificial. To either be pulled out by the offending bullet, or removed afterwards by the user. The caliber-nuts are easily replaced using supplied GDM tools, and are available separately in 5.56, 6mm, and 6.5mm. They also make a K model of the can, with most of the same features but a bit shorter.

With a rating up to 300 Winchester Magnum, the 30M is likely to serve most folks for a wide variety of shooting purposes. Whether you are a law enforcement sniper or just a redneck like me who likes to shoot deer, this suppressor offers a great deal of purpose. I took the 30M into the field to see how it compared to other cans I am familiar with.

On the Range

the **Savage Impulse 7PRC** made a great host for the GDM 30M

For shooting with the 30M, we brought an assortment of rifles. First up was a Bergara HMR Carbon in 6.5 Creedmoor, with a threaded 5/8-24 muzzle it was a great example of what folks might use as a host. Next up was a Savage Impulse chambered in 7 PRC, to see how the 30M would perform on a magnum. We also shot the suppressor on a couple carbines chambered in 5.56 and 7.62.

I would have loved to try one of the 6.5 caliber nuts from GDM, but it worked fine using a 30 caliber one across all rifles. The 30M made shooting the Bergara very pleasant, both sound and recoil reduction was more than adequate. This came as no surprise as the 6.5CM is pretty easy to quiet down.

the **Lucid MLX scope** and GDM 30M mounted to the Bergara

Next up we installed the 30M suppressor on a Savage Impulse chambered in 7 PRC. The much larger case capacity would definitely be a bigger challenge to keep quiet. We shot through the Savage for a while, and it too sounded great when suppressed by the GDM 30M. Recoil was also mitigated well, at least as well as the factory muzzle brake. And the sound reduction was also excellent. I might be half deaf already, but the 7 PRC was very tolerable when suppressed. Especially in this open country, no hearing protection was used.

the Impulse topped with the **Primary Arms GLx 3-18** was a perfect combination with the 30M

With the 1/2-28 thread cap installed on the suppressor, we also attached it to a typical 5.56 carbine. And as you might imagine, the large volume of the 30 caliber suppressor made the rifle very pleasant to shoot.

Pros and Cons

I would have liked to use some testing equipment, to come up with perhaps some more data for all of you to read. But after all, I am but a humble redneck. So all of my data is based simply on experience.

Sound signature of the 30M was very nice, without a direct comparison it’s hard to say it is the quietest cans I’ve ever used. But it certainly is among them. Not only does it keep down the noise of the host rifle, but I don’t recall seeing any muzzle flash. Shooting outside and inside buildings it seemed there was no flash speak of.

Shop all suppressors at Silencer Central

The lightweight construction of the Guardian Defense suppressors is another great feature. Less than a pound is real easy to go without noticing on the muzzle of most of my guns. Ideal for the lightweight hunting style rifles shown here today.

With an MSRP of $1099, they are not inexpensive. But for the features they bring to the table I think it is still a good bargain. You get modularity with the ability to use hubs from many other popular manufacturers, and caliber variations using their caliber nut system. And the durability of the fusion welded design also commands a bit higher price.

Final Thoughts

With so many great options available today, it’s not difficult to find a good suppressor. But finding a suppressor that has all these great little qualities and modularity does require some additional homework. In my opinion it is worth a little extra investment to have a higher performing suppressor. The 30M from Guardian Defense Manufacturing can cover a great many suppression tasks, and its modular design will allow you to use it on a variety of host rifles.

If you find yourself looking for a new suppressor in the 30 and under category, I would strongly recommend giving these a look. Or better yet, go shoot one at your local dealer. You will likely end up leaving with one.

-CBM

Check out other suppressor reviews here

Sako L579 Forester

February 5, 2024Product review, Shooting hardware.243 winchester, l579, sakocoldboremiracle

Introduction

Sako certainly needs a short introduction. The Finnish firearm manufacturer is as well known as Winchester or Remington, and well known for good reason. Sako is responsible for a great many popular designs and features as old as bolt action rifles nearly. Today we are looking at one of Sako’s popular rifles from the more recent past, the Sako L579 Forester chambered in .243 Winchester.

There are various Model L579 rifles available on the market, but the one we are testing today is the Forester featuring a heavy profile barrel in a varmint-like configuration. With a twenty three-inch heavy barrel, the forester weighs in around the nine pound mark. Not exactly a packing rifle but most varmint rifles aren’t.

The Model L579 Forester

When the Forester was more of a new item, these Sako’s were highly sought after. They maintain a fairly high market value due to their reputation. They still sell for $1200 to $1400, which is a bit of a surprise were it not a Sako.

This classic rifle comes with a dark walnut stock, machined finely to fit the barreled action well. Checkering the stock was a common practice, as was the hard buttplate. Probably not a comfort issue though with a nine-pound .243.

Both the barrel and the action are what make the L579 interesting. The heavy profile barrel is made from the Bofors Steel, an oil hardened steel that is prone to high durability and strength. Chambered in .243 Winchester with a one-in-ten twist, this rifle promises to hammer like only a .243 can.

The L579 action is actually quite interesting. The bolt-body is more petite than anticipated, and uses what appears to be a Mauser-type claw extractor. But instead uses the Sako extractor cut into the side of the bolt head.

The safety is located on the right side of the bolt-shroud, and opposite the safety is the bolt stop to remove the bolt. Underneath the action itself is the hinged floorplate.

Range Preparations

First up this Sako was going to need a scope. My inventory of one-inch tube rifle scopes is dwindling, and the rifle had come with rings mounted. So I grabbed the first decent scope I could, which was an inexpensive Nikko Stirling 4-12X40.

After tightening up the rings, I pulled the bolt from the rifle to do a quick boresight job. Then I grabbed a Harris Bipod to attach to the front sling-stud to use as front support while shooting. With all my gear in tow, I swung by the local ammo hub and grabbed a few boxes of Norma Whitetail 100 grain ammunition which was all they had.

Shooting the Sako L579 Forester

In typical fashion, I retreated with the sturdy Sako into the frozen Rocky Mountains nearby. I’d much rather test the rifle in the actual conditions it was designed for.

With a target setup at 110 yards, I lay prone with the rifle and stuffed three rounds into the magazine. Let me take a moment to say how classy these Sako actions are. Running cartridges through the action was as smooth as could be, extraction and ejection are fluid and fast. Furthermore, the L579 gives you incredible control of ejection. If you are in a hurry to reload, slamming the bolt back sends the spent case clear. Whereas if you are target shooting like I was, a slow pull leaves the spent case sitting right in the action port to remove by hand.

Adjusting for point of impact was quick, and I was soon shooting a few patterns to see how the rifle shot. On average the Norma Whitetail ammo produced three-shot groups just under an inch. Nothing too exciting, I also shot some hand-loaded Hornady 75-grain Vmax, they performed better. With groups averaging around .5 MOA. The hundred grain ammunition is designed for animals like deer and antelope, for which it would perform well. The seventy-five grain Vmax’s on the other hand would be devastating on coyotes, groundhogs and other varmints.

This gun was built for smacking coyotes and light big game animals based on the cartridge. I think for those purposes it would shine, I would certainly feel adequate hunting Mule Deer in these steep Rocky Mountain canyons. And with the legendary Sako quality and performance I could do it with some class as well. The older standard barrel twist does limit it to the traditional bullet sizes and weights, if it had a 1:7.5 twist it would be a monster. Shooting modern heavy 6mm bullets at incredible speeds would push the distance envelope of this rifle significantly. But even as it is, there isn’t a coyote safe inside six hundred yards.

The trigger in the L579 is fantastic, a single stage that breaks clean and reliably. Like everything else with this rifle, there is a high quality feel to every moving part. I believe the smaller shank of the bolt reduces the amount of friction when it is pushed fore and aft. This is likely part of why the bolt is so smooth running.

Pros and Cons

I’ll preface this by saying I have a slightly different taste in firearms, but I cannot deny the great things about the Sako L579 Forester. The action design and function are as good as they come, the smooth operation is pure elegance. The heavy Bofors barrel shoots accurately, likely aided by the great trigger.

The only things I could hold against the rifle are these; It is heavy for what it is, the thick barrel adds significant weight to the rifle. That might be an issue if you plan on hiking very far with it, but if you are sitting in a blind calling coyotes perhaps not so much.

Also, the scope mounting system isn’t as mainstream as I would have liked. Granted this rifle is from another time, but its limited mounting system left me wishing for a different one. I would have loved to drop a pic rail on the action to run one of my better scopes. Shooting as well as it does I would love to put a better scope on this rifle, and terrorize the local coyote population.

Continue Reading Here

-CBM

Area 419 Tactical One-Piece Scope Mount

February 4, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewarea 419, scopecoldboremiracle

Introduction

Even the nicest rifle scope in the world must be mounted properly to function as designed. And as rifle scopes have advanced, so too have the devices we use to mount them to our rifles. An unprecedented selection of options are available to today’s sharpshooter, and today we will be taking a look at one. Area 419 is well known in the precision rifle community for manufacturing many high quality shooting products. Today’s subject is Area 419’s Tactical one-piece scope mount.

Scope Mounts

Some out there might be asking; why a one-piece scope mount over rings? It’s not a bad question, and I’ll give you my answer. A one-piece scope mount is much more rigid than a pair of scope rings. It better holds your scope in a solid position on the rifle. Added benefits are things like built in cant, and greater clamping surface on both scope and rifle interface. And perhaps one of my favorite benefits, is the ability to easily swap scopes between one rifle to another.

Un-Boxing Area 419 scope mounts

As per usual, Area 419 products come in incredibly nice packaging. These scope mounts came in a waterproof locked hard-case, much like you’d store your rifle in if it was 6 inches long. Inside the foam lined case was the scope mount, the appropriate tools needed to install it, loctite to apply to fasteners, and enough instructional material for even a chimp to mount it properly.

installation instructions were very clear and informative

The mount itself also looked immaculate. I really like the machined finished surface, and high quality coating. Even more so I like the large fasteners, something I wish more optic mounts would use. I was curious why the inside of the rings was raw aluminum, more on that later.

I looked at the base, and at first it seemed like perhaps the picatinny clamps could have been spread out a little bit more. But the more I looked at it, the less of a concern it became.

I must say, this thing looks extremely robust. Large screws holding down caps, and additionally secured and aligned by stainless dowel pins. Which I thought was an exceptional touch. The overall initial impression of these mounts was absolutely top notch.

note raw aluminum interior, and stainless steel dowel pins for alignment

Rifle Scope Installation

After playing around with these mounts for a bit, it was time to put them to work. I had a couple different ideas as far as where to use them. The first one would be on one of my heavy precision rifles, the Desert Tech SRS M2 in 338LM. I mounted a US Optics FDN25X in one of the Area 419 one-piece scope mounts, and because I’m a gear queer I added the diving board as well. The diving board attaches to the front scope ring cap, and serves as a mounting position for additional accessories. The Vortex Impact 4000 for example mounted up nicely on top of the scope, and would be right at home there. You can also mount a Wilcox Raptar fire control system with mounting holes made specifically for that device.

a US Optics FDN25X mounted in conjunction with a Vortex Impact 4000

As I mounted various scopes in the Area 419 one piece scope mounts, I quickly found out why the rings remained raw inside. If I remember correctly I was told by the manufacturer that the rings are finish machined last, for a perfectly round cut for better holding of your scope. The raw aluminum additionally creates and incredibly cohesive grip on the scope tube. So much in fact that several times while mounting scopes I found myself cursing it.

note diving board details, captured screws and threaded holes for Wilcox Raptar

When leveling a scope in the rings, we are all used to snugging the screws down while keeping the scope level. But the grip of the Area 419 rings is so impressive that even with minimal screw tension it was very difficult to move the scope. The rings grab the scope so well that even without the scope caps installed it is hard to move the scope in the mount. I can’t imagine how strong the grip must be once the rings are torqued down.

two **Eotech** optics mounted together on my **Desert Tech MDRX**

Accessory Mounting

Mounting accessories to the top of the ring cap is easy. There are two Torx screws to attach either a short pic rail section, a diving board, or one of the other accessory options. I mounted both of the options mentioned. The picatinny section is easy as can be, whereas the diving board was a touch more sensitive. The screws are captured within the diving board itself, using internal snap rings. And it is mounted using a tapered boss patented by Area 419. This requires the screws to be tightened equally as the diving board seats to the ring cap, and removed in the same fashion. Pushing the diving board up against the snap rings as the screws are loosened.

Other accessories can be mounted to the smaller screw receptacles. Area 419 makes level indicators, red dot mounts and other accessory mounts that easy screw into the side of the scope mount.

Rifle Interface

I mentioned at first that I thought maybe the picatinny clamps could have been placed wider. Maybe I’m mistaken but I like the idea of having as broad and integral mounting surface as I can. Close inspection of the picatinny clamps on the Area 419 mounts show more than enough clamping pressure and surface. Part of me thinks the bottom of the scope mount should have reciprocal picatinny teeth to better engage the rifle. But I’m also pretty sure the Area 419 engineers would have an explanation as to why they didn’t need such a feature. For such a well thought out device, I find it hard to believe they didn’t think through that idea and eliminate it.

I also found when mounting scopes to rifles that the picatinny clamp screws were a touch shorter than I would have liked. Perhaps this was done as a weight reducing measure, or to simplify the mounting. But on several different firearms I found that I had to basically remove the screws before I could get the mount onto the rifle’s pic rail. Maybe they are designed to be that way, but even if they aren’t I find it to be a very minor inconvenience.

the Area 419 mounts made a perfect fit for this **Primary Arms GLx** and **Savage Impulse 7PRC**

Once attached, it is very obvious how well these mounts work. The ability to add or remove accessories to your optic mount is easily done. And with such precise manufacturing, zero’s are easily maintained even when removing and reinstalling them.

Final Thoughts

Having used the Area 419 one piece scope mounts on several different rifles now and mounting an assortment of scopes in them, I’ve gotten a good feel for them. Rifles chambered in 338 Lapua magnum, 7mm PRC, 308 Winchester and even 223 Remington. They are another outstanding product from the good folks at Area 419, and certainly worthy of their place in the niche market of high-end precision riflery. While they are not inexpensive, they are well within their asking price for $330. Other competitors like MPA offer similar robust design for less, but with less modularity as well. You can also find other options with equivalent strength and modularity from manufacturers like Sphur , albeit for significantly more money.

Like most products I have experienced from Area 419, you simply cannot go wrong with the products or service offered. If you are looking for a quality mount for your darling new precision rifle scope, look very hard at these before passing on them.

-CBM

Read about more Area 419 products here

Kriss Vector

January 30, 2024Product review, Shooting hardwarekriss, vectorcoldboremiracle

Introduction

As a true gun nut you simply cannot look past some cool designs, regardless of their utility some firearms simply must be experienced. Today we are looking at one of those, the undeniably unique Kriss Vector. We’ll review it in full.

Specifications


Model	Vector CRB
Caliber	.45ACP
Capacity	30rds
Barrel Length	16.0″
Overall Length Collapsed	35.25 in / 895 mm
Overall Length Extended	38.25 in / 978 mm
Operating System	Closed Bolt, Delayed Blowback
Action Type	Semi-Automatic
Stock	Folding Stock
Color	Duotone Black/FDE
Weight	8.0 lb / 3.6 kg
Barrel Material	4140 Chrome Moly
Barrel Finish	Black Nitride (QPQ)
Twist Rate	1:10″ RH
Trigger Type	Pivoting, Single Stage

Kriss Vector Background

The Kriss Vector utilizes a very unconventional operating system, which gives the firearms its very unique look. With a strong base both here in the US and Switzerland, the Kriss brand promises to be much more than a flash in the pan.

Part of the design that makes the Vector so unique also aids in the gun’s operation. It also is what gives the gun its stand alone profile. Unlike most semi-automatic carbines, the bolt is blown down and back. Instead of straight back in the traditional fashion. This compound motion of the bolt and carrier creates an opposing inertia to the recoil impulse, making the gun more controllable than its straight recoiling counterparts. Another benefit to the design is that it creates a lower bore axis, which again makes the gun more controllable.

These are very desirable features for a sub-machine gun. And the Vector was built to be a venerable version of exactly that for those who need one.

Other Kriss Firearms

Kriss USA supports the North American firearms market, while its Swiss counterpart sells their products worldwide. With such a recognizable firearm, you might think it is the only thing that Kriss is known for. My children even knew what the Vector was from seeing it in video games like Call of Duty. But Kriss also manufactures other firearms.

A pistol called the Kriss Sphinx SDP is a 9mm duty pistol with several options for those interested. Additionally Kriss offers an AR pattern rifle called the Kriss DMK 22c chambered in 22lr for rimfire enthusiasts. Kriss USA offers up to a 2 year warranty on their rifles and a lifetime warranty for their Sphinx pistol line. Be sure to follow them if you too are curious to see what the future will bring from the company.

Kriss Vector Features

Super V operating system- The nonlinear system reduces muzzle climb
Glock Magazine compatibility- Popular design makes magazine options simple
Tool Less Takedown- Making cleaning and maintenance easy
Suppressor Ready- A gun this smooth needs a good suppressor
Broad Picatinny Rail- Gives you ample sight mounting options.
Folding stock- For more compact storage and transportation

Other Models

In addition to the CRB Origin model tested here, there are Canadian and various state complaint models available. As well as a rimfire .22Lr model. And if you find yourself among those who get to practice freedom without infringement, the submachine gun version of the Vector is also available. Depending on the model, Vectors can be had in 9mm, 40S&W, .45ACP, and even 10mm.

Kriss Vector Review

I was excited to get the Vector onto the shooting range. Additionally, I had brought along a SilencerCo Osprey suppressor to enhance our shooting and testing of the gun. On the sight rail I had some pop-up iron sights, as well as a Holosun 509 red dot mounted on a riser. The whole thing seemed pretty compact and ready for quite a few scenarios.

I’d brought along a few boxes of Sellier & Bellot 230 grain ball ammunition for testing purposes. Loading magazines for PPC’s always seems to be so tedious for me, they seem to empty so much faster than they fill.

Read this and more about your favorite guns at Gun University

First thing, I wanted to zero the red dot, by shooting some cardboard hung targets at 25 yards. After a few course corrections, we were hitting very close to the point of aim. From there we sorta went nuts, shooting a wide variety of targets from 15 to 75 yards.

kriss vector — the folding stock made the Vector easily transported

My immediate impressions were these; it was clearly a .45Acp and not the 9mm I was used to shooting. While certainly not excessive recoil, it surely felt like more than I had anticipated. Based solely on the size and weight of the gun, as well as suppressor and other factors. Perhaps the gun was a little more violent due to being suppressed. I was also quite impressed with how accurate the Vector shot. Hitting targets at PCC ranges was all but guaranteed if you did your part right.

The Vector definitely takes a minute to get used to as far as controls and handling are concerned, let’s start at the front. If you get the short barrel version of the Vector, your hand could get pretty close to the muzzle if shot unsuppressed. Using the Kriss vertical foregrip made it a little less of a concern. Grabbing the magwell is also a good option, particularly if you’re a magwell grabbing kinda shooter. The down side to that is the potential for accidental magazine releasing, which is probably something you can easily train out.

The Super V action definitely shined during our test. The low bore axis of the design, and the bolt riding on rails made followup shots fast and accurate. It was incredibly fun to shoot, even though I could see dollar signs piling up on the ground around us. The Vector is for sure a different experience in shooting, and one you are going to pay a little more premium for.

The Kriss design is definitely made for right handed shooters, the charging handle and bolt controls are on the left side of the gun. There is a hold-back and release type paddle control much like an AR, but it is a fore and aft design vs. a top and bottom. The safety is on both sides of the grip area, allowing either side use. The charging handle has a different feel than I anticipated, there are varying resistance sensations as the bolt is pulled to the rear.

It took a little getting used to, but in what seemed like short order the Vector felt like second nature. Swapping mags during reloads was a touch more of a challenge than I expected due to the small target size of the magwell.

Cleaning

After some range time, I disassembled the Kriss Vector CRB to see how easy it was to maintain. As well as to gain some insight to its curious design. Removing four push-pins made disassembly a snap, and the upper and lower were easily separated. There I could see the function of the Super V recoil system, which is quite genius. The recoil spring is seated down into the lower receiver, and pushes up on a yolk that harnesses the bolt. The receiver has a track that carries the bolt on a path back and down into the lower receiver, to be pushed back up by the spring.

Another strange part of the Vector, is that the hammer swings down and forward into the back of the bolt. Near completely the opposite of what we are used to, and also a feature shared with the Laugo Alien 9mm pistol. Cleaning up the Kriss with some towels and oil, I snapped it back together to finish out our test.

Pros and Cons

Compact size for easy maneuvering
Glock magazine compatibility
Suppressor ready
Accurate shooting
Very controllable under fire
Ample sight mounting area
.45Acp firepower
Cool factor +10

Whole new manual of arms
Unique design has reduced aftermarket
Cost more than other PCC’s

Report Card

Shootability (A) The Vector shoots very well, and easy to handle

Reliability (A) We experienced zero malfunctions during testing

Ergonomics (B+) Some of the controls were easy to hit by accident

Accuracy (A) The Vector shot much better than expected for a PCC

Value (B+) Not inexpensive, but people who buy Vector’s have a reason

Preferred Ammunition

We only shot the S&B 230 grain ball ammo through the gun. It functions flawlessly. For defense ammo, I would use the Federal HST 230 grain personal defense ammunition.

Accessories

A good red dot like I used is a must in my opinion. While I quite enjoyed shooting with the Holosun, I think I would have preferred the Trijicon MRO a little more with its larger window.

The SilencerCo Osprey was a definite must have for the Vector. Whether you use the Osprey or another .45 caliber suppressor, I would highly recommend one. The hushed report of the typically subsonic .45Acp cartridge is like therapy.

The Magpul MBUS 3 sights would also make a good option for the Kriss, and with plenty of room there’s not really a reason not to run two options.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed shooting the Kriss Vector. It is a little different when it comes to practice and use, but certainly something you can get used to. It was fun and reliable, and is sure to catch the eye of any gun fanatic.

-CBM

Shop Kriss Vector Firearms at Sportsman’s Warehouse

Also shop Kriss Vector models at Palmetto State Armory

Rifle Bipods: Two Legs to Stand on

January 19, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewbipod, warnecoldboremiracle

Introduction

Though many shooters still use the same practices that are generations old, rifle shooting has changed over the years. One of the many things born from the current precision rifle shooting craze is a wealth of new support devices. Rifle bipods, in particular, are a popular option. They’re easily attached to the front of your rifle and extend to give a solid front shooting support.

You could use backpacks, shooting sticks, and other things, but it is hard to beat a good sturdy bipod. So let’s dive into some of the legs and feet that make up the modern bipod market.

EARLY STANDARD SETTERS

Bipods come at a variety of price points and build qualities. But it would be impossible to discuss this topic without mentioning the Harris bipod, which is probably the most well-known and widely used bipod in the U.S. market. It is also probably the most copied design, but do not waste your money on the knockoffs. Even the clones made cheaply by well-known U.S. companies are not as good as the original Harris.

Harris Bipod on Sako 85 Finnlight Rifle — The **Harris bipod**, like the one shown here on this **Sako 85 Finnlight**, helped set the modern trend for solid, affordable, practical rifle bipods.

The Harris became so popular because it did a couple of things well. It gave solid support to the front of your rifle and was easily attached to any firearm with a front sling stud. That made it pretty universal. It also folded neatly out of the way when you weren’t shooting. It did all these things for a fairly modest price – especially by today’s standards – so it flourished.

After Harris’ success in dominating the bipod market, it became apparent that there was more to be done. Not much has changed with those original bipods in the 20 years I have been buying them, so someone else was bound to pick up the torch and move it forward.

The Harris is sometimes found on even expensive sniper rifles like this Desert Tech SRS A2 Covert

B&T INDUSTRIES

B&T Atlas Bipod On AR Rifle — The B&T Atlas bipod mounted to a **Ruger Ar** with **US Optics scope** and YHM suppressor.

The Atlas bipod made by B&T brought bipods into the 21st century with a much better design and construction. The Atlas used machined aluminum and steel parts, bringing incredible strength and durability. Features like replaceable feet and spikes, 180-degree pivoting legs, and locking points at 45 and 90 degrees were just some of the improvements that tantalized marksmen. They also offered much better mounting solutions such as Pic rail clamps, but it came at a heftier price.

The Atlas bipod surely took the entire bipod market a step into the future and opened the door for a whole new world of innovation. This, of course, led to more cheap Chinese copies.

THE ATLAS BIPOD

The current selection of Atlas bipods has grown significantly. While not cheap, they still offer an excellent value for American-made innovation. For years, the standard was the Atlas V8. It offers an assortment of mounts. I use either an ADM Pic rail QD clamp or an Area 419 Arca lock clamp to attach it to my rifle.

One of the features that made the Atlas so popular was the easy ability to deploy or stow the legs. They fold forward or back and lock in either position. They can also be locked at a 45-degree angle. For that matter, they can be locked individually to give you a solid shooting position regardless of the terrain or support.

The Atlas bipod mounted on my **SRS M2**

The legs are easily extended to varying degrees by pulling down on the knurled collar on each leg. Hard rubber feet offer great traction on firm surfaces, but they can also be swapped out for spikes, skis, or cleats. The bipod rocks and pans left or right to allow leveling of the rifle on uneven terrain.

Tension is controlled by a knurled knob underneath. This is the only thing about the Atlas that I never really loved. At times, it seems like the bipod will tension up or not regardless of the way you turned the knob. This is not an issue with the popular CAL Atlas bipod, which uses a tension lever. The Atlas V8 does everything a bipod should do, and B&T Industries continues to keep the Atlas line at the cutting edge.

THE WARNE SKYLINE BIPOD

Warne Skyline Bipod on Rifle — Warne upped the game with their **Skyline bipods** that offer nicer features for adjusting the bipod from a shooting position.

Warne has long been well known in the industry for robust mounting solutions for optics, but they have also jumped into the bipod game with their Skyline bipod. The Skyline features a strong aluminum body and legs with a tensioning ball clutch to allow rocking and panning. There is a knurled knob under the pivot point that the shooter can adjust for tension. The legs are extendable and have a ratcheting catch to set leg length.

Much like the Atlas, the Skyline’s legs can be folded either to the front or the rear and locked at 45 or 90 degrees. They are different in that the detents for leg locking are only on one side of the pivot. So if you fold up the legs to the rear, they can be deployed without releasing the detent, and they will fold directly to the 90-degree detent. If you prefer them to be locked, you can fold them to the front. This could easily be reversed by rotating the mounting clamp.

The Skyline can be used with either a Pic rail clamp or an Arca clamp. I use the latter for my purposes. Another great feature on the Skyline is the ratchet catch on the leg extensions. The legs can be extended and catch on the ratchet teeth. You can then either push the ratchet lever in to drop a tooth, or you push it in and down to release the ratchet entirely to retract the legs. It also has a mechanical cam feature to lower the leg height from the shooting position. You will love this feature if you’ve ever tried to reach out and adjust your bipods from a shooting position.

In addition to these features, the Skyline has available adaptors to use Warne cleats and spikes. Or you can even use an Atlas foot adaptor to take advantage of the wide variety of feet options for Atlas bipods. You can also get 3-inch leg extensions that make the Skyline up to 12 inches tall. This is welcome for me because one of the only gripes is that I wish it was just a touch taller.

IN THE FIELD

Hunter With Captured Game — As hunting tools, bipods offer some great advantages.

Shooting in the field with these two bipods quickly revealed the pros and cons. Both are very robust, which makes them a little heavy if you’re going to be hiking in the backcountry for a week. But the Atlas is a few ounces lighter. Both also provide stronger support than the old Harris thanks to the quality construction.

The quick change out of the rifle interface only takes seconds with the Skyline, and tool less removal of the Picatinny clamp to install the Arca clamp is easily done in the field. The Atlas definitely has fewer snagging points. While it is built like a tank, there are fewer places for gear and clothes to get hung up. The assorted levers and buttons on the Skyline can get caught up on some things. Though I love the ratchet lever of the leg extensions, I could see small debris getting into the small spaces.

Shop all Bipods at Palmetto State

Optics Planet also has a great selection of Bipods

CONCLUSION

These are both excellent bipods, and the only way I would force myself to choose between them would be on a lightweight backpacking hunt. I think either of them would work great in a competition like a PRS, though the Skyline might have an edge when it comes to quickly leveling the rifle. But if I’m going on a backcountry hunt where ounces are pounds, I might choose the Atlas over the Skyline due to its lighter weight. If you are looking for more support in your shooting, look at either of these bipods. You can’t go wrong.

-CBM

For more ancillary shooting equipment click here

Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro

January 15, 2024Product review, Shooting hardwarecoldboremiracle

Introduction

Controversy isn’t usually a topic I bring up in many product reviews. And it surely wasn’t on my mind when I began this project, I’ll tell you more about that in a moment. Today we are looking at something new to me, from the very well known manufacturer Daniel Defense. The company has made quite a name for itself in the AR market, with many of its AR models reaching legendary status. But today we are looking at something different, the Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro.

The Delta 5 is a precision rifle marketed towards the competition and sharpshooting public. Having been a part of that community for a few decades, I was intrigued by this opportunity. Daniel Defense is frequently in firearms news headlines, and I was aware of their products but never got much time with them. Like many, I assumed they must be good with all this hype.

The Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro

With precision rifle shooting becoming more and more popular, it should come as no surprise that every manufacturer dips their toe in the market. The Delta 5 is a three lug bolt action fed by a detachable box magazine. Mating the action to an aluminum chassis seems to be becoming the norm very quickly.

The model we are testing here today features DD’s sixteen-inch hammer forged 308 Winchester barrel. Varmint Pro models feature the heavy and short barrel. The muzzle is threaded and adorned with an Area 419 Hellfire muzzle brake.

The Area 419 Hellfire muzzle brake does an excellent job at keeping the rifle still under recoil

The Delta 5 Chassis

The chassis itself is another great feature. It’s aluminum chassis has a fully adjustable buttstock allowing you to fit both length of pull and cheek rest height. Using the same pattern grips as the popular AR, also gives you countless options to change should you wish to customize.

Underneath the chassis you will find a barricade stop machined into the front of the magwell. And beginning right in front of the barricade stop is a an Area 419 ARCA Lock rail machined into the foregrip. This is an incredibly handy feature many manufacturers are adding. It allows the user to quickly adjust bipod, bags, barricade stops, etc. fore and aft on their rifle. I love this feature and use it frequently. The Delta 5 comes with a Timney Trigger from the factory, and it feels fantastic.

note chassis details: barricade-stop and ARCA Lock rail

Removing the AICS pattern magazine is done by pressing down either side of the trigger guard. I like the position of the magazine release, it made for easy and quick changes. Just behind the bolt knob there is an adjustable thumb-rest attached to the chassis. It can be swapped to either side based on shooter preference.

Range time with the Delta 5 Pro

After opening up the box, I must say I was pretty excited to get this rifle on the range. I’m a sucker for short and sweet precision rifles. But before we could hit the range, the Delta 5 needed some accessories.

First up was mounting a scope, for that I chose the Kahles 318i. It is a fantastic riflescope, and its stubby complexion would match the Delta 5’s compact nature. I bolted a set of Vortex 34mm rings on to the Delta 5’s 20 MOA scope rail. After nesting the little scope the rings were torqued down properly.

Next I grabbed an Atlas bipod that had an Area 419 ARCA Lock clamp on top. It was easily attached to the rifle, and we were ready to start making some noise. I grabbed a few boxes of 308 Match ammunition and off we went.

Shooting the Delta 5 Pro

Avoiding public ranges is a serious hobby of mine, so getting the Delta 5 into the high desert was a better option for me. I set up a target at 100 yards to get the rifle zeroed, and get some initial accuracy baseline.

Once I had boresighting the rifle, I loaded the magazine with a few Hornady 168 grain Superformance Match cartridges. After just a couple adjustments we were hitting point of aim, so I fired five shots. Then I loaded another five shots but this time using Desert Tech 175 grain Match. After shooting those five, I walked down to my target to see just how wobbly I was that day.

To my surprise both groups were not bad at all considering my hurried state. The five shot groups from both ammo types were .75 MOA for the Hornady and .68 MOA from the Desert Tech. That’s good enough to do some definitive damage on quite a few targets. I’m positive had I taken a few more minutes to breath and take time I could probably shrink those groups a little further.

five-shot groups from the Desert Tech 175 match (left) and Hornady 168 Match (right)

Pushing the Distance

Since this rifle is being sold as a competitors rifle, and a precision gun. I wanted to test it at some greater distances. To be fair, I knew that if the rifle is shooting .6 and .7 MOA groups, it would shoot well for quite a ways.

I picked out a flat rock on a distant canyon edge. As I looked through the scope, I could see the mirage waving across the plain before me. Only the distant call of a Raven could be heard across the landscape, until the familiar sound of clicks as I dialed up the elevation turret. After correcting 7.8 MRAD for the 780 yards to the target, I settled in and focused on the mirage.

Aside from the spin-drift, I could tell I would need a little bit of extra wind-hold to hit my point of aim. I favored into the wind my estimated call, and began pressing the Timney trigger-shoe. As the shot broke and I watched through the scope to see how good my wind call had been.

The bullet hit a few inches into the wind, meaning my call had been too aggressive. I corrected and sent five additional shots making a nice stack of white bullet impacts on the smooth face of the rock. I smiled to myself, and muttered something about a broken clock.

the Delta 5 Pro shot very well suppressed by the **Yankee Hill Machine R9**

Contradiction?

I mentioned a contradiction at the beginning of this story, let me explain it now. When starting a review of a product, whenever possible I attempt to enter without an opinion. And in the case of the Delta 5 I had very little to go on besides the rifle in my hands. I can honestly say that after playing with the rifle for a few weeks, I really do like it. What’s more, I can’t really come up with anything about it I dislike. At least no more than any other rifle.

But after gaining my own opinion, I looked into the internet and found all kinds of hate for the Delta 5. Surely some of it came from earlier models still working out bugs, that happens to many products. I was surprised how many people were quick to discount the rifle. No doubt some complaints are valid, or perhaps I was lucky.

Pros and Cons

It was a challenge to come up with something I genuinely dislike about the Delta 5. The rifle looks great, and the craftsmanship looks superb. It’s fit and finish are absolutely on par with the price point. It shoots accurately, the action is smooth and cycles rounds flawlessly. The features of the Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro seem above average. And to be completely fair I’ve shot comparably priced rifles that offered far less in various categories.

Many of the arguments I’ve heard is that it is overpriced for what it is. I think part of that might be the DD name on the rifle. But even at the $2000 mark it doesn’t seem unreasonable.

Continue Reading the Conclusion Here

Underdog Shooting Glasses

January 13, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewppe, shooting glasses, underdogcoldboremiracle

Introduction

If you’re not using shooting glasses, you should be. Nobody ever expects a gun to detonate, but having seen it happen I can assure you that was all I needed to convince me to wear glasses. With that said, wearing glasses while shooting can often be cumbersome. Today we are going to take a look at a product that promises to make shooting safely a little easier to do. That product is Underdog Shooting Glasses.

**Shooting pistols** or rifles is easier when your eyes and ears aren’t fighting

Safety Shouldn’t be Uncomfortable

Wearing glasses while shooting can often be an issue. Whether it be because your hat interferes with glasses, or hearing protection doing the same. We’ve all been in the situation where your ears are pinched between hearing protection and temples of your glasses. The other common issue is glasses being pushed by the brim of your hat, or vice versa.

**over-ear hearing protection** can often interfere with glasses

Either of these conditions often result in people removing one or more articles, exposing them to safety concerns. Underdog Shooting Glasses have found an interesting way to overcome these issues.

Underdog Shooting Glasses

The Underdog Shooting Glasses are polarized lenses that attach to the brim of you ball cap. Using a flexible plastic clip on either end of the lens, you can clip the glasses to your hat. The lens itself is hinged on the two clips, allowing you to fold the lens up against the underside of your hat brim.

The brilliant thing about these glasses is that you can adjust their proximity to your face. And you can adjust the angle of the lens against your face. The result is an incredibly comfortable experience where there is little to no contact to your eyes, ears or nose. The lens can float in front of your face, as close as you’d like it to be even resting on your nose. That makes them exceptional at protecting your eyes from sunlight, as well as shooting debris.

The Underdog Glasses do this without interfering with your hat, or hearing protection. And they are easily stowed out of the way by folding them up. The clips that attach to your hat are quite stiff, and they feature tactile detents as you flip the lens up or down. The detents are quite resistant to prevent the lens from sagging down into your face.

Considerations

Let’s discuss a couple potential downsides as compared to regular glasses. Additional weight (though very little) can cause your hat to ride down depending on how it fits. If you wear your hats fairly tight like I do, it won’t be an issue.

I also found myself adjusting the ride of my hat more frequently while wearing the glasses. Perhaps I was just more aware since my glasses were attached. When used in conjunction with over-ear hearing protection this might be a bonus, as the ear pro will help keep your hat in place.

check out that fat 53rnd Desert Tech Quattro magazine

Final Thoughts

With that said, I think that for shooting, these glasses are fantastic. Especially if you are on a busy range that requires over-ear hearing protection. They may or may not fit your ideal purpose for everyday sunglasses, but for wearing on an active range I think they are hard to beat.

-CBM