TAPCO G2 Double Hook AK-47 Trigger

The TAPCO G2 Double Hook AK-47 Trigger is probably one of the best upgrades you can make to your AK-47. Combat rifles such as the AK have notoriously sloppy triggers that require upwards of 10 lbs of trigger-pull. To make matters worse, many of the Com-Block semi-automatic rifles imported here have a hump on the back of the disconnector that creates the horrible trigger slap of many of these imports.

This guide walks you through the process of installing the G2 Double Hook AK-47 on a Romanian SAR-1 rifle. While the particulars of this install pertain to the Romanian SAR-1, they also apply to most other AK-47 semi-automatic imports, including most Yugoslavian models and Saigas chambered in 7.62×39. This particular trigger set should also fit both stamped and milled receivers. That being said: gunsmithing is required. We do not recommend that any of the procedures described here be performed by anyone but a qualified gunsmith.

The first step is to disassemble your AK according to TAPCO’s Instruction Manual. Always unload and clear any firearm completely before beginning to disassemble it.

With your disassembled rifle, lets compare the individual components to check for areas that may need filing or grinding for proper fitment. First, lets take a look at the trigger itself. Here, we compare the Century Arms trigger as installed on a Romanian SAR-1. Note that on the TAPCO the rear of the trigger has much more material than the Century trigger. It should also be noted that the TAPCO trigger uses a larger pivot hole that requires a bushing (included in the TAPCO kit) to slide over the pin.

The disconnector that is used on the Century trigger group has much more material on the rear of the part. Why Century decided to cast the part in this way is beyond us, but the result is horrible trigger slap. The TAPCO disconnector uses the traditional Com-block design and does not have the additional hump of metal.

Our Romanian SAR-1 has a single hook trigger design. Because of this, the receiver only has one notch for the trigger hook. We took a Dremel rotary tool and a medium stone to grind out a matching notch on the other side of the trigger slot. Be careful while grinding, go slowly, and don’t apply very much pressure – let the stone do the work for you. In this photo you can see that our stone slipped out of the notch and marred the finish a bit. Not a huge deal, but perhaps a bit more care while grinding could have prevented this.

After test fitting our trigger in the modified slot, we noticed some flashing left over from the mold in which the trigger was cast was interfering with the operation of the trigger. We ground this bit of metal off the front and the back of the trigger, taking a little bit at a time and test fitting in between grinds until it was just right.

At this point we reassembled the rifle to dry fire it and cycle the action a few times to check it for functionality and reliability. One problem quickly arose: the trigger would stick after being pulled and would not reset. A closer inspection revealed that the hooks were sticking in the notches. It wasn’t that the notches weren’t long enough, but it seemed that the hooks were grabbing on the sides of the trigger slot, like it wasn’t quite wide enough. So, we disassembled the rifle again and broke out the dremel one more time to take off just a tiny amount of material from the sides of the trigger slot.

After reassembling the rifle one last time, everything worked flawlessly. Instead of a creeping heavy combat trigger, we had a crisp clean trigger with very little creep. The action cycled well, and range testing showed that the rifle was just as reliable, and a whole lot more accurate.

We Talk To Sheriff Jim Wilson About Remington’s New Versa Max

When Remington calls you and asks if you’d like to go down to Argentina to test out their newest autoloading shotgun while hunting dove, there’s only one answer: Yes! Singer and gun writer Sheriff Jim Wilson got just that opportunity, and when he got back we got the chance to talk to him about his experience with Remington’s newest long gun, the 12 gauge Versa Max.

Let’s talk about your experience in Argentina with the Versa Max, we’ve heard a lot about how soft shooting it is. Well, I thought it was very comfortable to shoot. I did not weigh the gun, but they list it as a 7.7 pound shotgun. That’s not nearly as heavy as some of the autoloaders in the past. Yet, it shot very nicely. I probably shot in the neighborhood of 2,000 rounds while I was down there.

You really put it through it’s paces then. Did you have any issues with feeding or ejection? No, save for a time or two. I hate to say this, but the Australian shotgun shells use the dirtiest powder you’ve ever seen. The powder just burns really dirty. Late in the day I would have a couple of malfunctions, but it was not serious at all.

One of the problems that we had was that under Argentine law, at the end of the day the guns had to be kept at the lodge or wherever. I think one of the problems was that some of the bird boys were cleaning the guns for us and they really didn’t know how to clean the ports. Once the Remington guys figured that out, well the guns worked just fine.

The Versa Max has a pretty unique ported chamber design. What type of special attention do you need to give that when cleaning? You know, I really don’t think you would. I think with our American ammo it would just run, run, run. In those torture tests when they were first developing the gun they would just run gobs of ammo through it.

What size shells were you using? They were 2-3/4″ shells and as best as I could tell 1-1/8 ounce loads and #7, #7.5, and some #8. We did have some of the new Remington Hypersonic 3″ ammunition down there. That’s got the new accelerator wad. Those things send a load of #2 out at 1700 feet per second. It’s pretty cool ammo, I’ll tell you that.

I shot some of that, and gosh it was comfortable to shoot. Remington did a lot of research before they ever released this gun, and one of the specific things they wanted to work on was to have something that’s comfortable to shoot and I think they really did accomplish that. I’m not a real technician on this but I think the double recoil pistons that are used help smooth the gun up, help smooth out the recoil. The felt recoil is just not much at all.

Tell me a bit about the ergonomics of the gun. Remington has added an adjustable comb and shims to change the length of pull. That’s one of the coolest thing about it. It’s part of the package, you don’t buy it extra. In the package when the gun comes are several combs of different heights, and you can just grab them with your fingers and pop them out, you don’t need any tools or anything. You could just literally take them out to the range while you’re shooting clay birds and switch combs out.

The shims that go on the back for length of pull are almost as easy to change as that. The length of pull as the gun comes out of the box is 14-1/4″ and you can go to 15-1/4″. The shims would be a little harder to adjust, you have to screw them out.

Still, I imagine it couldn’t take more than a couple of minutes to install or remove them if I had a multi-tool handy. Exactly. Speaking of that sort of thing, the action of the shotgun, when you take it apart, breaks down into five pieces. You can do all of that with your hands, there are no tools necessary. There are a couple of pins in the bolt area, once you get that far, but you take out the firing pin and you can use that to punch those pins out. That’s it. You can disassemble the gun into five major parts with no tools.

Now, when I’m duck hunting or goose hunting, the weather can get pretty bad. How does the Versa Max hold up? When you’re duck hunting, if it’s sleeting or raining on you or something like that, the gun is just going to get absolutely wet. It snowed on us the first day we were down in Argentina. It snowed all afternoon, and the birds were flying great. It would have been a terrible day to be out working, but it wasn’t bad to go hunting.

I’m not sure the weather is ever quite bad enough to call off a hunting trip. Still, the ice and rain didn’t affect the Versa Max did it? No, and that’s what I was saying about how easy it is to take down the action. If you’re in a duck blind and you’re getting wet all day, you can go in in just a few minutes and strip that action down, wipe it off and lubricate it. You don’t need any special tools. You don’t even need a screwdriver to do that.

Was it picky about lubrication at all? No, it’s not. All the internal parts are nickel-teflon coated. It really doesn’t take a lot of lubrication.

Is that the same as Remington’s TriNyte coating? No, that’s a separate coating. The barrel is TriNyte coated, but all the internal parts are nickel-teflon coated. The TriNyte is similar to what I would call a baked-on finish.

The waterfowl model is also completely camo’d including the barrel. I didn’t hunt with one, but there were several down there that I got to handle.

Did you have the opportunity to try shooting any skeet or trap with the gun? No, but I think that’s where the “Versa” comes into the name is it’s versatility. I think for dove, pheasant, quail, ducks, geese, turkey, I think the gun will work for all of those, and certainly for skeet and trap.

In January they’ll come out with the 26″ barrel model which some people prefer for skeet. I don’t happen to, my biggest problem in shotgunning is stopping my swing, so I prefer at least a 28″ barrel. When I get tired, that’s the mistake I make is stop my swing. When I start missing targets, I guarantee you I’m shooting behind them.

What are the sights like on the Versa Max? It’s got a Hi-Viz front sight. The one that was on my gun was a lime green, which worked just fine. I think that you can also change it to what ever color you prefer.

Did you get to use the Hi-Viz under any low-light shooting conditions? You know, just late in the afternoon a couple of times, but not real low light. Of course I do my best to focus on the bird and not even look at the shotgun. Generally when I look at the shotgun I miss.

As I mentioned in the article I wrote on the American Hunter blog, it shot where I looked.

That’s really important, having an instinctive shotgun. You can really see how much effort Remington put into designing the ergonomics of the gun to be adjustable for just about every shooter and every situation. Being able to shoulder it naturally is incredibly important. Well exactly, I stand about 5′10 and weigh about 170 pounds. The shotgun that fits me is not going to fit some guy that’s 6′5″ and 250. The beauty of that Versa Max is that with the shims and the combs and all of that he can make it fit him.

You’re saying you could essentially order this gun, sight unseen, from our online firearm sales, and be able to adjust it to fit you perfectly? Absolutely, because everything is in there. I didn’t mention this yet, but once you take the comb out, you can see down into a compartment in the buttstock and there’s a metal plate in there. The instruction manual tells you how to adjust that metal plate and it changes the drop at heel and it changes the cast. You can make it cast off or cast on. You just buy the gun, and everything is in there that’s necessary that you need to fit the gun to yourself personally.

Here’s another point too: You get the gun fit to yourself, but now next week you’re going to be hunting doves in a T-shirt, while come January you’ll be hunting ducks in everything you own. That’s when you get your shims out and lengthen it or shorten it as you need it.

I can’t wait to get my hands on one, I don’t mind saying I’m a bit jealous that you got to try one out. I certainly enjoyed it and I think it’s a great shotgun. You can tell that these guys at Remington have spent a lot of time and put a lot of thought into this.

Click here to purchase your own Remington Versa Max.

Drug Detective Kit Makes Detection Quick and Easy

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A new drug testing kit, the Drug Detective, allows parents to check not only whether their children are using drugs, but also whether they have been exposed to drugs or drug paraphernalia by testing for residue left by the drugs. This new drug testing kit was developed by a South African company, and is available in the United States only through Cheaper Than Dirt!

South African Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) director Shamin Garda commented on the new drug detection kit, saying "It is very good for employers or even parents. You simply put a swab on the computer, a phone, a steering wheel or basically any surface and you can test if drugs have made contact with that surface. This is excellent for parents who suspect drug use in their homes.”

Most companies in the United States have privacy statements informing employees that employers have a right to search work areas for illegal activity such as drug use. While the kit may not be sufficient evidence to conclude whether or not a particular employee is using drugs in the workplace, it is an inexpensive method to initially investigate and determine if more expensive testing for individual drug use may be necessary.

The new drug testing kit was recently covered in a news segment by KDAF The 33 News. Cheaper Than Dirt! Chief Operating Officer Roberta Wilson was interviewed by the news team, and mentioned how easy the drug detection kit is to use. "Most other kits require samples of saliva or other body fluids to determine whether someone is using drugs. This system goes a step further and allows testing of fingers and hands, or nearly any surface, to see if an individual has even handled illegal drugs regardless of whether they actually ingested the drugs or not."

The kit is a one-time use system that consists of a swab, buffer liquid, mop, eye dropper, and chemical test strip. Detection can be accomplished in as few as 10 minutes. The system is able to detect drug residue left on virtually any surface, and can even be used as a saliva test to determine if an individual has drugs in their system. Other drug testing kits available in the United States are generally more costly and require samples be sent off to a lab for analysis with results coming back in days or even weeks.

The Drug Detective may prove most useful for parents who suspect that their children, who may not even be using drugs, are being exposed to drugs. One of the most useful aspects of the detection kit is that it is capable of detecting the presence of drugs even when those drugs have not been ingested. Simply by swabbing hands, bags, purses, or any surface that may have come into contact with drugs, Drug Detective kit users can determine whether or not drugs have come into contact with the user. This can allow parents to determine if their children are around others who may be using or carrying illegal substances.

The drug detection kit also works well as a deterrent. Simply owning a Drug Detective kit may give children an easy way to avoid the peer pressure to use drugs. According to Wilson, "Children can simply say 'I can't use drugs, or even be around them. My parents have a Drug Detective kit.' It's an easy way for kids to save face in front of their peers."

The Drug Detective one-time use kit sells for $29.97 and is available only at CheaperThanDirt.com

ModGear Tactical Magazine Chest Rig

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Our Tactical Magazine Chest Rig is outfitted with many features that make it a great value for those needing a modular vest with integral magazine pouches.

By taking a cue from the SOTech’s BLoCS and adding a padded harness and a sewn- in hydration bladder pocket, the Tactical Magazine Chest Rig supports a full combat load of ammunition without adding a single pouch.

The front opening rack secures with snaps and hook and loop closures. The removable bib secures to the top of the rack by hook and loop and to the harness via straps with snaps. The harness attaches to the front of the rack with two side release buckles, and at the rear with three adjustable straps with ladderlocs on each side. The Removable bib also features PALS webbing and an internal pocket.

The harness features a built in drag handle that tucks out of the way with a small piece of hook and loop above the Hydration bladder pocket. The Hydration pocket secures with hook and loop and the lid has a small piece of hook and loop tape perfect for morale patches or name tapes.

The internal map pockets also ingeniously double as a mesh lining for the magazine rack system.

The six built in magazine pouches can hold the standard M16 magazine or AK mags. Some of our customers have even used it for 10/22 and M14 magazines. Magazine retention is accomplished by holding most of the magazine deep pocket in the and is backed up by a bungee cord retention strap.

This rig is very adjustable and can be adapted to either fit over your body armor or be worn as a stand-alone rig.

This vest has rugged construction far beyond its price point, with nice stitching and quality material. There are enough MOLLE compatible PALS type webbing on this carrier to add any and all pouches you would ever need. There are 3 rows and 9 columns on each side of the rack and 3 rows and 4 columns on the bib. The Harness shoulder area has 2 rows and 3 columns and the hydration pouch has 5 columns and 6 rows.

There are some drawbacks to this chest rig. Any heavy pouches attacked to the MOLLE compatible webbing on the rack may sag if there is no magazine behind that pouch in the internal magazine pocket. This is only noticeable with the heaviest of items and only when the magazine is removed. It is also not available in MultiCam at this time.

New Choate PMAG Magazine Clamp

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We recently picked up a new product from Choate Machine and Tool at the SAR Show West in Phoenix Arizona this December.

Choate's newest offering is a magazine clamp for the enormously popular Magpul PMAG polymer magazines. It simply clamps two PMAGS together. The clamp is made up of a polymer center section with a steel front and rear sections, all held together with a long flathead bolt.

This magazine clamp feels substantial and looks like it is a quality product. It is hefty and looks overbuilt.

We tested this magazine clamp with two standard PMAGS. Fully loaded the two mags were of course over twice as heavy as a single mag, but the balance of a standard M4-style AR was not significantly negatively affected.

The PMAG magazines can be clamped up high, but not high enough to interfere with the magwell, or lower toward the bottom of the magazine.

We also performed some impromptu drop testing with the two fully loaded clamped PMAGs on the office floor and the magazines did tend to slide when subjected to this type of mistreatment, but they were still in the clamp solidly and did not move or rattle or slide inside the clamp once picked up off the floor.

Overall, at the $25 MSRP proposed price point, the Choate clamp represents a significant value, and the only option for clamping magazines for those using PMAGS. This clamp is far less expensive than the other options available for carrying two magazines at the ready, and this setup fits non-AR type guns, as well as non-standard AR-15 lowers.

FN Herstal Five-seveN 5.7×28mm Pistol

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The FN Herstal Five-seveN pistol has been in the news quite a bit lately, so we wanted to do a factual and honest review of the pistol.

When it was released in 1998 the Five-seveN pistol was marketed as a companion firearm for the P90 submachinegun, which fires the same round. Both are designed around the 5.7x28 cartridge which has a lower weight than standard intermediate rifle cartridges, allowing soldiers to carry more ammunition.

But the Five-seveN pistol has been controversial since it's debut. Detractors derided it, calling it high-powered and unsuitable for civilian ownership.

In 2004, the Brady Campaign began to claim that commercial ammunition available for the firearm penetrated level IIa kevlar ballistic vests. In their attacks on the pistol, they called it a "cop-killer." Investigation by the ATF found that no commercially available ammunition fired out of the 5.7 pistol was capable of defeating ballistic armor.

Even more recently, the pistol was allegedly used by US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan when he opened fire on personnel at Fort Hood in Texas. Again, the pistol was called a "high-caliber cop-killer" and even the Austin American Statesmen said that "One military expert said it was a weapon that no doctor — not even a military one — would normally carry." The newspaper was unable to provide a source for the comment, and did not have an exact quote.

The actual Five-seveN Tactical pistol weighs in at 1 pound 4.5 ounces empty, and 1 pound 11.6 ounces fully loaded. Indeed, one of the primary advantages of the Five-seveN pistol is it's light weight. This, combined with the low recoil and muzzle rise, makes the pistol very easy to fire and keep on target.

The 5.7x28 cartridge was initially developed as a low-weight high-velocity round with a AP (armor penetrating) steel core bullet. Designers of the 5.7mm cartridge wanted a powerful round that was light weight, so that soldiers would be able to carry more ammunition. The solution that they came up with is the 5.7x28mm cartridge loaded with SS190 bullets.

SS190 bullets are not available for sale to the public, and are heavily restricted due to their armor piercing capability. Instead, SS195LF (28 grain lead free hollow point) and SS197SR (40 grain ballistic tip hollow point) are the only ammunition available for purchase.

It is frequently and incorrectly reported that the 5.7x28 is an extremely powerful round. In fact, the 5.7 is a relatively weak round, carrying less energy than 9mm ammunition frequently carried by police and used by our own military in the standard issue M9 pistol.

On April 2nd, 2009, the Los Angeles Daily news reported on a shooting involving a Five-seveN pistol and they commented saying "Authorities have noticed an increase in high-caliber weapons in Los Angeles. One of the most startling incidents was when a Fabrique National 57, an assault pistol used to kill big game..." They went on to quote LAPD Deputy Chief Michel Moore who said about the pistol "You use it on large lions, tigers and bears."

Nothing could be further from the truth.


The 5.7x28 cartridge is not appropriate for use on anything except small game, such as squirrels and rabbits. Indeed, the ballistic performance of the 5.7x28 cartridge is remarkably similar to the .22 Magnum round. The table below gives a side by side comparison between various 5.7 loads and .22 magnum loads. Edited: The following data was gathered from cartridges fired from a 16" barrel. Actual muzzle velocities in autoloading handguns will be lower.

Cartridge	Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Muzzle Energy
5.7x28 SS190 AP FMJ	32 gr (2.1 grams)	2,350 ft/s (716 m/s)	397 ft·lb (538 Joules)
.22 Magnum HP	30 gr (1.9 grams)	2,200 ft/s (670 m/s)	322 ft·lb (437 Joules)
5.7x28 SS197SR JHP	40 gr (2.6 grams)	1,950 ft/s (594 m/s)	340 ft·lb (461 Joules)
.22 Magnum JHP	40 gr (2.6 grams)	1,910 ft/s (580 m/s)	324 ft·lb (439 Joules)

So, if the 5.7x28 is such a weak round, how is the SS190 AP ammunition capable of defeating ballistic armor? The answer is the high velocity at which it travels, combined with the steel penetrator at it's core. Most bullets, including 5.7mm ammunition available to the public, have a lead core. Lead deforms significantly when it impacts a ballistic vest, spreading out the force of the impact and preventing the bullet from penetrating the multiple layers of fabric. SS190 ammunition, only available to police and military, has a steel penetrator that, when fired at the high velocity of the 5.7x28 cartridge, is capable of cutting through kevlar vests because it does not deform as lead does.

Pictured below is the Five-seveN Tactical pistol, one of the early variants that featured a tactical rail and single action trigger. The Five-Seven Tactical has been discontinued, and was replaced by the Five-seveN USG.

Mossberg Maverick 88 Shotgun

The Mossberg 500 series is one of the most popular pump-action shotguns of all time. The popularity of this shotgun has bled over into the Maverick shotguns because of their value in this huge market segment. The Maverick 88 is made in Eagle Pass, Maverick County in the great state of Texas. It was developed and manufactured to compete with imported, low-priced slide action shotguns in the late 80’s.

This particular sample, an 88 Security Model, was purchased to be used as a new gun owner’s home defense weapon back in the mid 90’s. It has fired many rounds over its 15 year lifespan and has served as the owner’s bird gun, as a primary defense gun, and even as a competition shotgun a few times. A simple buttstock cuff and a light with clamp are the only current modifications.

There is nothing fancy about a 12 gauge slide-action shotgun set up for defensive purposes. The Maverick 88 is no different. With a 6 shot capacity and barrel availability the only practical difference in this model from its big brother the Mossberg 500A is the Maverick’s crossbolt safety. The sight is a gold bead and the stock and forearm are black synthetic. Users find the crossbolt safety and the action lock lever intuitive and easy to manipulate. Loading the magazine or through the ejection port is equally easy and instinctive. The 18.5 inch barrel patterns as can be expected form a cylinder bore.


Pros:

• Inexpensive
  
• Durable
  
• Versatile
  
• Crossbolt safety

Cons:

• Forend not easily replaceable
  
• Crossbolt Safety
  
• Fixed capacity

The Maverick forearm incorporates twin action bars. You can clearly see the Maverick 88s captive barrel bolt shared with the Mossberg 500. This bolt makes interchangeable barrels a snap, but limits the magazine capacity to factory levels. The bolt features dual extractors and the trigger guard assembly is polymer.

The Maverick 88 Security represents a terrific value to anyone looking for a first shotgun or an inexpensive defensive arm. The Maverick 88 Field is an equally exceptional value for those looking for a bird gun or a slug gun.

Gear Review - Watertight Pistol Case

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Multi Gun Black Watertight Case

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This case was brought to my attention by a coworker, and I had to see what all the fuss was about. I thought I would share what I found with my readers.

The case is from the Royal Case Company based in Sherman in the great state of Texas. While it is on the large side, it is definitely not a rifle case. Still, you should be able to fit three, or even four, full size pistols in the well padded interior. The interior of the case measures 20.4 inches long by 12.4 inches wide and is 6.75 inches deep. Tipping the scales at 9.25 lb, this heavy weight is no slouch. It is definitely a heavy duty item. It's a good thing that it features a heavy duty large handle that allows you to carry such substantial weight in relative comfort. This case is huge and can hold a ton of stuff it you want it to. The latches are positive locking without being as difficult as other brands.

The three foam sections that are included make cutting outlines for a customized case a breeze. Of course you can simply leave the foam intact for use as separating layers. The foam lid seal allows for weatherproof use while the pressure equalization valve permits changes in altitude without problems with air pressure equalization.

Overall at this price point I feel this case represents a real value. I think any similar sized case built “better” at any higher price point would be an case of pursuing diminishing returns.

Tornado Tactical Leg Holster

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This holster is another one of our “wow this is a surprising value” items. I thought I would share a bit of my impressions and give a quick review.

Background
When I first started using them I decided I not really like leg holsters. I found, and still find them to be next to useless in any sort of vehicle operations. I also find the weight on my legs annoying in the normal configuration, flopping about on the thigh.

Then I was turned on to the high-ride idea. Basically moving the holster as high as absolutely possible on your leg and as close to your belt as you can. This eliminates the upper of the two leg straps. This type of holster configuration moves the weight to your belt, still clears body armor and enhances the platforms stability ten-fold.

I fell back in love with the leg holster.

Features

The beauty of the Tornado holster lies in its design. This holster has a ton of adjustment. There is an adjustment for everything and I mean everything. Leg strap, belt strap upper portion, belt strap lower portion, holster body, muzzle rest, magazine flap, thumb break right side, and the thumb break left side are all adjustable. The adjustability of this design does not hurt the stability or the security of this holster either. The adjustments are not exactly easy to make and once adjusted these things are not going anywhere unless you want them to.

This holster features good grabby rubberized leg straps with shock absorbing elastic where they attach to the holster body keep you from cutting off your circulation while still staying snug and stable.

The Tornado is also quick releasable (QR), with a QR buckle on the belt strap and one each on the two leg straps you can don and doff this rig in an instant.

Conclusion

I tried this holster in normal and high-ride configuration and found it to be stable and just as nice as much more expensive nylon holsters from both the big name brands and the boutique brands. Plus it offered more adjustability. Check this baby out. I do not think you will find a better holster at twice this price point.



Tornado Tactical Leg Holster

Tapco G2 Double Hook AK-47 Trigger

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The Tapco G2 Double Hook AK-47 Trigger is probably one of the best upgrades you can make to your AK-47. Combat rifles such as the AK have notoriously sloppy triggers that require upwards of 10lbs of trigger-pull. To make matters worse, many of the Com-Block semi-automatic rifles imported here have a hump on the back of the disconnector that creates the horrible trigger-slap of many of these imports.

This guide walks you through the process of installing the G2 Double Hook AK-47 on a Romanian SAR-1 rifle. While the particulars of this install pertain to the Romanian SAR-1, they also apply to most other AK-47 semi-automatic imports, including most Yugoslavian models and Siagas chambered in 7.62x39. This particular trigger set should also fit both stamped and milled receivers. That being said: gunsmithing is required. We do not recommend that any of the procedures described here be performed by anyone but a qualified gunsmith.

The first step is to disassemble your AK according to Tapco's Instruction Manual. Always unload and clear any firearm completely before beginning to disassemble it.

With your disassembled rifle, lets compare the individual components to check for areas that may need filing or grinding for proper fitment. First, lets take a look at the trigger itself. Here, we compare the Century Arms trigger as installed on a Romanian SAR-1. Note that on the Tapco the rear of the trigger has much more material than the Century trigger. It should also be noted that the Tapco trigger uses a larger pivot hole that requires a bushing (included in the Tapco kit) to slide over the pin.

The disconnector that is used on the Century trigger group has much more material on the rear of the part. Why Century decided to cast the part in this way is beyond us, but the result is horrible trigger slap. The Tapco disconnector uses the traditional Com-block design and does not have the additional hump of metal.

Our Romanian SAR-1 has a single hook trigger design. Because of this, the receiver only has one notch for the trigger hook. We took a Dremel rotary tool and a medium stone to grind out a matching notch on the other side of the trigger slot. Be careful while grinding, go slowly, and don't apply very much pressure - let the stone do the work for you. In this photo you can see that our stone slipped out of the notch and marred the finish a bit. Not a huge deal, but perhaps a bit more care while grinding could have prevented this.

After test fitting our trigger in the modified slot, we noticed some flashing left over from the mold in which the trigger was cast was interfering with the operation of the trigger. We ground this bit of metal off the front and the back of the trigger, taking a little bit at a time and test fitting in between grinds until it was just right.

At this point we reassembled the rifle to dry fire it and cycle the action a few times to check it for functionality and reliabilty. One problem quickly arose: the trigger would stick after being pulled and would not reset. A closer inspection revealed that the hooks were sticking in the notches. It wasn't that the notches weren't long enough, but it seemed that the hooks were grabbing on the sides of the trigger slot, like it wasn't quite wide enough. So, we disassembled the rifle again and broke out the dremel one more time to take off just a tiny amount of material from the sides of the trigger slot.

After reassembling the rifle one last time, everything worked flawlessly. Instead of a creeping heavy combat trigger, we had a crisp clean trigger with very little creep. The action cycled well, and range testing showed that the rifle was just as reliable, and a whole lot more accurate.

Ace Case Tuckable Holster

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Here is yet another one of our excellent high-quality low-price items that really works, the Ace Case Tuckable Holster. I thought I would once again bring another of our values to your attention. According to our reviews our customers love this holster too. This holster is MADE IN THE USA.

For those of us who carry concealed every day the search for a good holster that fits our body, our wardrobe, our gun and our wallet can be a long and expensive one. For some it is never ending.

I have started with and have ended up with inside the waistband (IWB) carry. The search for a holster has led me to try many holsters of this style and I consider this particular one to be a bargain at twice the price.

The gun sits in the holster solidly with none of the movement I have found with some other major brand IWB holsters at this price point. The holster also sits very solidly in between your drawers and your pants.

The design lets the gun ride very low in the waistband getting it out of sight and out of the way.

This holster features a very strong steel belt clip that solidly mounts it on your belt. I have had zero problems with the clip coming off the belt.

At this price anyone who prefers IWB carry and anyone who has thought about IWB carry should give this holster a try.

UTG Weapon-Mount & Handheld Tactical LED Flashlight

The UTG Weapon-Mount & Handheld Tactical LED Flashlight has been around for a while and they have received good reviews on our site and my co-workers all have nice things to say. I am usually a bit of a flashlight snob but thought I should take look and do a little review as I am always looking for a value bargain.

The light is well packaged and includes the light with 3 CR123A batteries, a weapon mount body and a remote pressure switch. This light has a ton of o-rings and rubber seals throughout the body and in the tailcap and switches. I did not do any sort of "toss it in the toilet" waterproof test, but I imagine it will do fine for any sort of rain or moisture situation that it would come across.

The light itself is heavy duty and feels it. It weighs in at .6 lbs (9.6 oz) in flashlight mode and .8 lbs (12.8 oz) in weapons mount mode with the remote switch .75 lbs (12 oz) with the tailcap. The reflector is solid aluminum with an orange peel finish and functions as a heat sink. The beam is an appealing mix of spot and flood, with a very bright spot center with a ton of very wide spill. This light feels overbuilt and the quality seems well beyond its price point.

The tailcap is of the Surefire-type twist on or momentary push. The tailcap is an interesting two piece affair with the center section that contains the button as the actual switch and the treaded outer portion simply holding it in place. The center section is removed from the outer tailcap and replaced with the pressure switch for remote activation. This means that the pressure switch and cord must be threaded through the threaded outer portion of the tailcap for installation.

The weapon mount is well made and thoughtfully only one of the two cross-bolts is full round, allowing you more options on where to mount this light. Mounted on a weapon the light is no smaller but the light it throws and the pressure switch try to make up for the size. This light is big, heavy duty and well made, and at its price point it is hard to beat these features.

The Glock 30 in .45acp, A Review and Comparison

Today's Guest Blogger is Carteach0. He's a teacher and, not surprisingly, his well written posts are incredibly informative. He claims that "He's just this guy," but we see a well spoken educator with a wealth of knowledge on firearms and reloading. Here, we present his review of the Glock 30 subcompact pistol chambered in .45ACP

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Here in Carteach0 land, carry pistols have varied little over the years. In fact, they amount to three choices, depending on various factors. A Colt Combat Commander in .45acp, a Taurus model 85 snubby in .38 special, and a Smith + Wesson M+P 9c compact 9mm. 95% of the time the M+P won the draw, and was in my holster as I left the house.

The M+P has features I approve of in a carry pistol. Ease of operation tops the list, as it has no external safeties to deal with. The only controls that need be learned are the trigger, the magazine release, and the slide release. The M+P is also as reliable as any autoloader, and better than most. It gobbles up just about any ammunition, both factory and hand loads, and shoots them straight. It’s an accurate pistol… very accurate considering its size.

One builder glaringly missing from the CCW list is Glock, a pistol chosen by a great many people as their carry and duty weapon. A lot of folks swear by the Glock, speaking of unending dependability and ease of service. A few people swear at the Glock, calling it a plastic brick, and giving it the nickname ‘The Block’.

For most of my shooting life I fell squarely in the second group. The Glock series of pistols felt odd in my hand, and didn’t point instinctively. When I was young, my friends did a group buy on model 17’s, way back when they first came out. I opted out of the buy… and stuck with my old Colt. I still have the Colt, but their Glocks were sold or traded long ago. It wasn’t that I had anything against the Glock pistols…. they just felt wrong to my hand, and rather toy like.

Perhaps it was the years of experience with the S+W M+P, but the last time I looked at a cabinet full of Glocks, I didn’t turn away. Asking to handle a few of them, I found the new ‘SF’ models have a redesigned frame, and suddenly the Glock didn’t feel quite so ‘wrong’. Looking further, I encountered the Glock Model 30. It’s a compact CCW or backup pistol with a double stack magazine holding ten rounds of…. Oh My! The one true caliber! My old favorite, the beloved .45 acp.

Comparing the Mdl 30 to the M+P 9c on my belt, I found them to be akin in size. The Glock is slightly stockier, and slightly thicker, but only just barely. For man with big hands, as I have, the chunkier grip is welcome. The M+P 9c holds 13 rounds of 9x19mm, while the Glock 30 holds 11 rounds of .45acp (ten in the magazine and one in the pipe). Both come with decent sights, and both are available with night sights. Crimson Trace makes lasers for both as well.



The triggers are also comparable, with a slight nod to the M+P in crispness. Still, the new model Glock has a decent trigger, and is quite controllable in let off.

Both pistols have a minimum of external controls. The M+P has a take down lever on the left side, while the Glock uses the miniscule tabs on both sides of the frame. Other than that, they offer the same manual of arms. Immediately noted was the firmness of the magazine release on the Glock, as compared to the S+W. The M+P compact has had issues with magazine drops due to the design of the magazine catch. Clearly that is not an issue for the Glock, as it takes a firm gesture to release the magazine. It does not feel like it could happen accidentally.



Speaking of magazines… the M+P uses a steel magazine with a plastic base, while the Glock uses an all plastic magazine with a steel inner liner. The M+P magazine is easy to load, but the Glock…. is not. The tenth round going into the Glock magazine can be a real struggle. On the other hand, the Glock 30 feeds that ammunition as surely as night follows day, so the spring tension must work out just fine.

Shooting on the range, I found the M+P to be a pleasure as always. Easy to shoot well, accurate, and almost eager to put the bullet right where the shooter intends. The Glock, on the other hand, turned out to be a real surprise to this old skeptic. I had expected fair accuracy, and fair shootability considering it’s a small sized pistol firing a fairly large bullet. What I found instead was astounding accuracy, rivaling the Colt Commander. The Glock 30 also manages to absorb the recoil pulse in such a way as to make repeat shots relatively easy. All in all, a very pleasant surprise was dished up by the little Glock.

I managed to try two brands of factory ammunition in the Glock, and six different hand loads. It cycled all without a hitch. Even rather warm hand loads pushing Berries plated bullets turned out to be accurate, and that was a real surprise as well. The Glock uses polygonal rifling, and the company states categorically that only jacketed bullets are to be used. The Berries bullet is plated soft lead, and there was some doubt as whether they’d shoot in the Glock. Not only did they shoot well, but the bore looked pristine after fifty rounds of the snappy hand load.

In a blatant attempt to force a misfeed, I even shot a few dozen rounds loaded with the old Speer 200 grain hollow point. Dubbed ‘The Flying Ashtray’, these bullets had the largest



hollow point ever seen in a factory bullet. No longer available, Speer now sells the excellent line of ‘Gold Dot’ bullets instead.

The Glock digested the Speer ashtrays, and as if to sneer right back at me, spit the old style bullets into its tightest group yet. The bullet holes clumped together in a cluster just half the apparent width of the front sight from the fifty foot bench I was leaning on.

In roughly two hundred rounds of testing, the Glock 30 did not suffer one feeding or functional glitch. This was new from the box, as Glock delivers their pistols properly lubed and ready to go. I did nothing more than run a dry patch through the bore.

The Glock 30 is not without its detractors. Some owners of the SF (short frame) model have run into a problem with the slide rubbing on the trigger bar. I intentionally did not clean this example through several range sessions in order to let evidence accumulate. On stripping the pistol down, I did see a tiny shiny spot on the trigger bar where some have described it. It’s very slight indeed, and I doubt will be a problem so bad that a little polishing won’t cure it.

Cleaning is fairly easy with the Glock, and take down requires no tools. It does require brains, and a careful attention to detail. It's not that the procedure is complicated, but that it requires pulling the trigger to release the striker. Obviously, if this done with a round in the chamber bad things may happen. Not the least of which is embarrassment, and someone could easily be injured or killed. The answer? Just be smarter than a rock, and check to be sure the weapon is not loaded!


In holsters, a Dun Hume designed for the Glock is on order, but in the meantime I found it fits perfectly in the Galco JAK slide I used for both my M+P and my Commander. The pistol carries well, and does not drag down the belt at all. The chubby little spare magazine easily drops into a pocket, giving a total of twenty one rounds on hand. This compares well to the twenty five the M+P 9c offered, with a spare magazine. Given that it’s twenty one rounds of proven bad guy stopping .45acp…. that’s comforting indeed.

Regarding the subject of caliber and carry weapons, I refuse to enter the debate. My own thoughts are quite simple…. Any weapon is better than no weapon, any hit is better than any miss, and bigger bullets are always better. But… there is that old adage… “A 9mm might expand to .45, but a .45 will never shrink to 9mm”. I will say that the .45acp is one caliber that I don’t feel under-gunned with when carrying full metal jacket round nose slugs. Even these low tech bullets have a good stopping history in the .45acp.

To wrap the story up… the Glock 30 feels decent, shoots very straight, and if it lives up to the tradition of Glock dependability, it will join my list of regular carry pistols.