Black Market

     There’s no question that, for every tactical rifle or shotgun sold over the counter, civilian users want the latest and best accessory to be a part of their new firearms acquisition. Who buys a car with no AC? No MP3 player? No hand-free cell phone? No dual zone heating and cooling? No heated front seats? No GPS navigator? Tactical guns are no different, and the consumer wants to continually upgrade his or her guns with collapsible open sights, rail mounted optics, flashlights, lasers, side saddled mag caps, mil slings, etc. The list goes on and on.

      In 2006, sales of hunting and firearms products in the United States surpassed those of golf equipment. This ballooning category includes firearms, ammunition, reloading equipment, and knives. Also part of the total are firearms accessories, a segment of the market that, while always significant, has grown to gargantuan proportions since the tactical rifle market took off several years ago.

      One of the biggest advantages of the AR-15-based black rifles is their modularity and flexibility. Originally designed to be adaptable for a wide range of needs, developments during the evolutionary four-decade service life of the weapon have brought shooters a nearly unlimited number of options and accessories to choose from.

      It only takes one look at images from the combat zones in the War on Terror to see that America’s fighting men and women rarely carry bare-bones assault rifles. Instead, they pack a wide range of gear including optics, lasers, lights, and forward vertical grips. While the gear needed to fight Taliban militants and Iraqi insurgents won’t always be the same thing needed at the shooting range or in competitive three-gun matches, sport shooters are learning that military-grade gear, already proven under fire, is often the way to go.

      Another thing to consider is that, once a gun owner has invested in a tactical rifle, adding accessories and aftermarket parts is a good way to upgrade without investing in an entirely new weapon. The modularity makes adding gear and gadgets easy, and even changes to calibers and barrels are a snap. “Once an owner realizes how truly modular the gun is, they start taking advantage of that,” says Larry Weeks of Brownells, the world’s largest supplier of firearm accessories and gunsmithing tools. “Think of it, by pushing out two pins you can change the gun from a home defense carbine to a long range prairie dog blaster. Push them again and you can mount an upper chambered for a deer cartridge.”

      He also points out that it’s not just a functional need that can be met by customizing a rifle. “By changing the gun we can make it reflect our personality and individuality. We all have an idea of the perfect gun, and the AR is easy to adapt to what we think is best.”

      Accessories provide a major boost in sales for tactical sellers, helping keep numbers up even in these uncertain times. The tactical market remains red-hot, and as more gun owners join the tactical club, the demand for top add-ons will only grow. Weeks adds, “I think if you made a cup holder that fit a Picatinny rail and said it was ‘tactical,’ you could sell it.”

      Here is a rundown of the most popular categories of AR accessories, with some background, tips, and examples for each.

Rail Systems

      While the AR design itself is modular, it was the introduction of the Picatinny M1913 rail systems that opened the floodgates of the accessories market. These brackets, generally on the rifle’s forearm or on top of the upper receiver, allow the simple and secure attachment of scopes, lights, lasers, grips, and anything else designers can dream up. Slide the accessory on, tighten the latch or screw, and you’re ready to rock and roll. Rails are the basic foundation for most AR accessories and there are a large number of options available.

      Rails mounted on the forearm are available in three basic styles. First, rail sections can be simply screwed on to the standard forward handguards. This is the cheapest and easiest approach, and it will work well for shooters who have only one or two accessories to mount or who don’t plan to use them very often.

·        The Universal Mounting Platform by Falcon Industries, available in a number of sizes, is an excellent example of an inexpensive rail section for standard handguards. It is attached with a pair of screws using the handguard’s vent holes and requires no alteration to the original equipment.

·        The Triple Rail Mount by Command Arms Accessories mounts on either the upper or lower side of the handguard and provides two rails offset by 45 degrees and a removable center rail. It’s made of reinforced polymer.

      While a screw-on piece of rail may work for a shooter who only wants the option to mount a small light on his weapon once in a while, gun owners who have heavier-duty requirements are going to want a dedicated rail handguard to replace the standard plastic forearm. These are available in two types, drop-in and free float. Drop-in rails, as the name implies, simply replace an AR’s original handguard and can be installed without tools. The handguard can be put back on the rifle in the future.

·        Two Piece Forearms by Midwest Industries are a solid, no-nonsense drop-in forward rail. The slots are T-marked for quick, consistent accessory location. They are available in a number of lengths and colors.

      The other option for full rail forearms is a free-float tube with rails. These require modification to the rifle, but give a more solid base than drop-ins and outside forces, such as pressure on a forward grip, won’t affect the barrel.

·        Predator Extended rails by P.O.F. USA  offer four-sided rails on the free-float forearm tube, plus the top rail extends all the way to the rear of the upper receiver, providing an unbroken rail surface for hyper-accurate optics mounting.

·        The Half Quad Aluminum Free Float by Rock River Arms  provides rails on the forward half for accessories and a faceted aluminum section for better grip and comfort on the rear half.

·        The Smooth Carbine Forearms by Yankee Hill Manufacturing   feature a smooth design on the sides and bottom for a more comfortable grip while incorporating a full-length top rail. Short side and bottom rails extend beyond the front sight post.

Besides the forearm, there are a few additional rail mounting alternatives. These may be the right choice for specialty needs.

·        Brownells’ Modular Gas Block replaces the standard front sight and gas block with a modular design that features a fixed rail on top for lights, lasers, or flip-up iron sights. Rails can attach to the side and bottom for additional accessories as needed. A lug for a bayonet or lug-mounted bipod can also be attached.

·        For ARs with fixed carry handles, the Carry Handle Scope Mount by Smith Enterprise screws right on to the handle and provides rails for optics without interfering with the fixed sights.

·        Dovetail Angle Mounts by Yankee Hill mount on rails and provide 45 degree offset rails for lights, lasers, and other gadgets, keeping them out of the way of primary sights.

·        The ERGO XPRESS Lever Mount line by Falcon Industries features quick-install/detach levers to add or remove accessories in a hurry. Several sizes and mounting platforms are available, including one designed specifically for the M203 grenade launcher.

Grips

      One of the quickest ways to up the cool factor of an AR is to install a forward vertical grip. Vertical grips can speed target acquisition, whether in combat or competition.

·        The BattleGrip Quick Detach Vertical Grip by TangoDown   features a throw lever system that locks the grip in place on the forward rail. A push button releases it and allows lightning fast removal. It also sports a sealed storage cavity and a pressure switch pocket for mounting light switches without tape or rubber bands.

·        TAPCO’s FUSION Vertical Grip has flat sides for more secure mounting of tape switches and also features a sealed storage compartment.

·        The Grip Pod by Grip Pod Systems  is a vertical grip with an internal bipod that that deploys at the push of a button. Aluminum and lighter polymer models are available, depending on the weight of the weapon and the intensity of use.

·        SIG SAUER’s Stoplite vertical grip incorporates a 300 lumen LED. The light also has a strobe function to disorient an assailant and a powered hot shoe for add-on accessories such as lasers or a digital camera.

Additionally, the rifle’s standard pistol grip is easily replaceable with an upgrade, adding to comfort and accuracy.

·      The ERGO Tactical Deluxe Grip by Falcon Industries features finger grooves and a textured finish to minimize slippage, even while wearing gloves. They are available in a variety of colors and with or without a large palm shelf.

·      The Mission Adaptable Grip (MIAD) by Magpul Industries   features replaceable front and rear panels for a custom fit over multiple hand sizes. It comes with a plug for storing three emergency rounds in the grip, and waterproof plugs for storing batteries or a spare bolt and firing pin are also available.

Stocks

      The AR’s standard rifle stock is functional but leaves a little to be desired. The carbine-style stock, while adjustable, leaves a LOT to be desired. This fact has not been lost on accessories makers, and a number of improvements are available, including:

·        The CTR Carbine Stock by Magpul, featuring a polymer A-frame profile for strength and lightness and a rubber butt-pad for positive shoulder purchase. “Plastic is the new wood,” says Magpul’s Booras.

·        Also by Magpul, the Precision Rifle/Sniper (PRS) stock is a precision-adjustable butt stock for rifles with A1/A2 full fixed stocks. It is adjustable for cheek riser height and length-of-pull, and adjustment allow easy, tool-less adjustments.

·        The Enhanced Modstock by VLTOR  is a new version of an extremely popular aftermarket stock and incorporates improvements based on lessons learned in the combat zone and from user feedback. The clubfoot design provides better control and a firm, tight grip.

Optics

      Depending upon the expected use of the rifle, it’s likely that optics will be called for. The iron sights on the AR are good enough for basic field use, but any sort of competitive shooting or medium to long-range sharpshooting will require an upgrade. Standard riflescopes can be mounted with the right gear and will serve well for hunting and sniper work. For truly tactical use, however, advanced red dot type optics are going to be what most shooters want for lightning-fast target acquisition. It’s important to remember that most red dot manufacturers have a very wide range of models available, each with a specific application. Since these accessories are relatively expensive, making sure the gun owner gets the right model will take a little extra work.

·        Aimpoint’s CompML3 is a 1x red dot and a great choice for professionals, hunters, and sport shooters who don’t need magnification or night vision device compatibility but want an extremely tough and reliable sight. New technology called ACET allows up to 50,000 hours of operation on one battery.

·        The Trijicon ACOGs (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights) are compact telescopic sights with tritium illuminated reticle patterns for use in low light or at night. The distinctive fiber optic coil gathers ambient light to illuminate the reticle and adjusts the brightness based on the environment’s light level. No batteries required.

·        The HWS (Holographic Weapons Sight) by EOTech is another popular model with the troops and law enforcement personnel. It features a 1 MOA dot surrounded by a 65 MOA circle for quick aiming. Model 512 is perfect for sport shooters and agencies that want the best in CQB speed and versatility, without the need for night vision compatibility.

      Mounting traditional-style scopes on ARs is easy with the proper equipment. Here are a few examples of what’s out there for the task.

·        Badger Ordnance offers a full line of AR scope rings at various heights. The MAX-Alloy Ultra High (1.4” rise) brings 30mm rings up to eye level and are almost 50% lighter than regular steel rings.

·        The one-piece Nightforce Unimount remains on the scope at all times, allowing quick attachment or removal from the flat top upper receiver rail while retaining zero.

·        The Brownells Flattop Riser mounts on top of upper receiver rails, providing raised rails to allow positioning of optic sights at eye level.

Sights

      High tech optics make it easier to reach out and touch something, but high tech also makes shooters a bit nervous. The glass and electronics are more sensitive than iron sights, and no one wants to be out in the field with dead optics and no way to hit the target.

·        The Flip-Up Front Sight by Midwest Industries folds down when not in use and up when needed. It’s offered in two heights, one for mounting on the forearm rail and the other for mounting on a gas block.

·        Yankee Hill’s Flip Front Sight Towers With Bottom Rails mounts with four screws in place of the standard AR front sight tower. The sight folds down when not in use and a bottom rail provides a mounting location for a light or laser.

·        Wilson Combat’s Flip-Up Rear Sight features include a 2 bolt mounting system, adjustments for both windage and elevation, and a large aperture peep sight.

·        The Same Plane Low Profile Flip-Up Rear Sight by Midwest Industries is only .4375” high when folded down and offers a micro-style windage knob.

      Not everyone is going to mount advanced optics on their rifle, and some will want to go with fixed iron sights co-witnessed with their optics. A number of great upgrades for standard open sights exist to improve accuracy.

·        TAPCO’s Colored Front Sight Set includes five different-colored composite front sight posts to replace the standard posts and facilitate quick target acquisition.

·        Hi Viz Shooting Systems offers a Front Sight post with interchangeable red and green lite pipes that gather light to illuminate a dot in the post for easy visibility in all conditions.

·        Trijicon’s Tritium Sights are self-luminous replacement sights and are guaranteed to remain bright for 12 years.

Magazines

      Anyone who has spent any time researching the M16 and M4 in military use will know that the magazines are a common source of complaint. The components have been modified several times over the years, but upgrades are still a common product in the aftermarket sector.

·        Magpul’s PMAG, available in 20 and 30-round models, has quickly become a favorite among those willing to give polymer magazines a try. “For years there has been a stigma about polymer magazines because past attempts have failed miserably - they were weak, brittle, and had poor chemical and heat resistance,” says Magpul’s Booras. “I think the PMAG's performance speaks for itself, and it has taken the market by storm. We have over 100,000 PMAGs currently in theater in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that number is growing by thousands, maybe tens of thousands, every month.” A new model, the MagLevel PMAG, adds a transparent window and painted spring to allow a quick visual check of remaining round count.

·        For those that prefer to stick with aluminum magazines, the Brownells Tactical Magazine takes Brownells’ chrome silicon spring magazine and adds Magpul’s Self-Leveling Follower and Ranger floorplate, which incorporates an integral loop for quick magazine changes.

·        The Elite Steel Magazine by Elite Arms is constructed of one-piece steel for extra strength and toughness. All parts are made from 1050 steel, including the follower, and it’s only 2 ounces heavier than a standard aluminum mag.

·        Cammenga’s EasyMag is a steel magazine with a front section that slides down and locks the spring and follower back, allowing quick and easy loading (or unloading) of rounds by simply dropping them in and re-closing the front slide.

      For those that want or need to stick with standard aluminum mags, there are a number of parts and accessories available to upgrade performance.

·        Magpul’s original Magpul is a simple thermoplastic loop that installs on the base of standard magazines to help provide speed and controllability during tactical magazine changes. The design was inspired by parachute cord loops and duct tape tabs used by special warfare units around the world. They are available in a range of colors.

·        The Braided Wire Replacement Spring by CMMG provides 40% more pressure than standard springs and is coated to provide durability, even in salt spray.

·        CMMG also makes a Stainless Steel Anti-Tilt Follower that rides evenly on all four corners to provide smooth, reliable feeding.

Tactical Slings

      Like handgun holsters, slings are a very personal item and the type of sling used can be easily limited by the exact requirements of the shooter and his mission. Wide ranges of slings are available covering all sorts of needs and situations. Here are a few representative examples.

·        Blackhawk’s SWIFT slings are based on the classic and combat-proven 3-point design. They’ve been updated to use a 300 lb. test buckle that allows for quick removal of the sling and a transition buckle that creates enough slack to fire from either left or right shoulders.

·        Also from Blackhawk, the Storm single-point sling is encased in compressed tubular nylon sheathing for smooth, silent, bounce-free retention.

·        The Mamba Sling by Spec-Ops has a custom positioning “Speed-lok” feature that allows the wearer to position and balance the weapon on the fly based upon the situation. It also has a stretch zone that allows the wearer to strike an opponent with the weapon muzzle while keeping the weapon slung and in ready position. The Mamba is also available in an extra-wide “Geronimo” version.

·        The Lonestar Rig, also by Spec-Ops, is a single-point sling with stretch zones similar to the Mamba and a “Center Point” rapid length adjustment feature allows fast resizing. A dual quick release configuration allows instant ditching of the weapon and/or the entire sling in an emergency situation.

·        The Competitor Plus sling by Brownells is a premium leather reproduction of the 1907 Military Sling with extra heavy hooks and an extra six inches in length. Also available with numbered reference points for quick resets between stages and shooting positions during competition.

More Accessories

      There are many additional accessories out there that don’t fit neatly into one of the above categories. With the exploding popularity of ARs and other tactical weapons, manufacturers are putting in overtime trying to capitalize on the market with new products. Here is a small sampling of some of the best.

·        Brownells Enidine AR-Restor is a drop-in replacement for an AR’s standard spring buffer that uses hydraulics to reduce felt recoil, improving accuracy and speeding follow-up shots. Also, it reduces rate of fire in fully automatic weapons from 900 rounds per minute to 650-700, further improving accuracy and increasing reliability.

·        Versa-Pods are bipods incorporating spring-loaded legs, a variety of foot designs, and tilt and pan functions with control knobs to fine-tune movement. One bipod is easily attached or removed from the adapter, and can be used on multiple weapons using extra adaptors. 

·        The Badger Ordnance Tactical Latch is an extended charging handle latch and was developed to allow rapid operation of the charging handle with either hand, when wearing gloves, or in wet, muddy, or icy conditions. Flat top ARs with scopes and other accessories can limit access to the standard latch.

·        Magpul’s Enhanced Trigger Guard has a shallow ‘V’ shape to give a little more room for shooting with gloves.

·        The LULA loader/unloader is a military-quality magazine tool that makes loading loose rounds quick, comfortable, and painless.

·        Otis Technology’s AR-15 Grip Kit keeps a cleaning kit at your fingertips. Most of the adjustable stocks on ARs don’t have room for the standard cleaning kit, but no one wants to be without one in the field.

·        Remington MoistureGuard Rifle Plugs slide into the weapon’s chamber while in storage and exude vapors that blend with the moisture and oxygen in the air to prevent rust and corrosion.

·        Though not technically an accessory, Magpul’s ‘Art of the Tactical Carbine’ is a 3 DVD set based on the classes taught by Magpul Dynamics, the training division of Magpul Industries Corp. The DVD is primarily geared toward civilian shooters who have an interest in becoming more proficient with their weapons. “The goal was to create a DVD that was both entertaining and beneficial to shooters of all skill levels,” says Booras. “Although the DVD does address some of the most basic fundamentals of shooting, it also goes into enough depth to allow even advanced shooters to learn and fine tune their skills.”

      The market for tactical accessories is hot, and there are dollars to be made. The sales of accessories makes a rifle sale last month pay off today and for the next year if the customer keeps coming back to upgrade and customize. A little homework to get the right gear and a little extra effort to sell it effectively can pay off big.