Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on AR Arm Braces. (See the Instructional Videos and Gear sections.)
Books:
Planning and Installing Micro-Hydro Systems: A Guide for Designers, Installers and Engineers
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Lettering and Modern Calligraphy: A Beginner’s Guide: Learn Hand Lettering and Brush Lettering
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Fight Autism and Win: Biomedical Therapies That Actually Work! Second Edition by Jan Martin
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Movies:
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The Armed American’s Complete Concealed Carry Guide to Effective Self-Defense
Instructional Videos (AR Arm Braces):
Now that AR arm braces are becoming ubiquitous, this video of a semi-scientific test is quite timely: Best AR Barrel Length for Home Defense. Legal Proviso: Be reminded that in the U.S. you can only install a barrel less than 16″ on an AR Pistol built on a virgin receiver (not previously built as a rifle), and you can only use an ATF-approved arm brace. Installing a shoulder stock instead would create an unregistered Short-Barreled Rifle (SBR), which would be a felony!
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How to install a SBA3 Arm Brace
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This video on AR uppers has far more detail than most others I’ve seen: AR-15 upper receiver assembly video
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At Zox.ee: How to Build a Snare
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Ian McCollum had this advice for widows and estate heirs: I Found a Machine Gun: What Should I Do?
Gear (AR Arm Braces):
I’m currently building several AR-15 pistols for my grandchildren. I’m planning to build each of them with a set of two 10.5″ barrel uppers: one in 5.56mm NATO, and one in .22 LR. These should make great transitional trainers for the grandkids! Which brace to use? My favorite is the Maxim PDW Brace. But those are something wicked expensive–around $400, which is more than the cost of an entire standard M4 parts kit, these days! So I’m mainly using the Gearhead Works Tailhook MOD 2. I like these because they have nearly the same ergonomics of a stock, and they are multi-position adjustable. But legally they are still approved by the ATF as an arm brace.
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An often overlooked safety item for your home shop: Justrite J09100 09100; Galvanized-steel; Safety cans; For Oily waste; Red; Foot Operated cover; Raised, ventilated Bottom; Reinforced ribs; Self-closing; UL listed; FM approved; Capacity: 6 gal. (23L)
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I was surprised to see that GunMagWarehouse (one of our affiliate advertisers) now has some of the new and fairly scarce Glock factory-made 9mm 24-round magazines available. These fit the Glock 17, 19 and even the Glock 26 Mini Glock. They are currently on sale at $31.99 each. At their web site, search for “SKU: 39385”. I believe that it is wise to stock up on magazines, since ban legislation is now pending in the U.S. Congress.
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Life Story Black Stackable Closet & Storage Box 55 Quart Containers, (6 Pack)
That “Fight Autism and Win” book is excellent for anyone who needs to chelate mercury, not just people with autism. Millions have been poisoned by half-mercury “silver” dental amalgams, etc. It’s the clearest description of the late Andrew Cutler’s methods that I’ve found.
This is not on what was in this article today. But I am trying to find a GOOD set of safety/shooting glasses for myself. Hopefully someone can help. And I have found that the Polarized BROWN tinted has worked for me in the past. I got them while in the Navy and can not find anyone in my area that will do the brown tint. As I said any help will be appreciated.
iraude, You’re wanting
them in prescription?
might want both, but the prescription is for reading. Distance vision is, or was, 20/20. Will find out the end of the month when have my annual eye check at the VA.
Glasses are our business. We do a lot of safety glasses, with and without prescription. The solution will vary depending on the RX and the type of shooting, but we can help for sure. You are definitely on the right track with brown lenses for shooting or any action sport where you’re trying to focus on a moving or stationary object. (Golf too) Reply to this if you need help when you’re ready. We’re in Kansas but we ship all over.
Forgot to mention I also want these to hopefully meet Mil-Spec tolerances. Partly because I do work in a firearms shop and hopefully will look a little more professional instead of just wearing the reading glasses I normally do. If you have a web site, please send so I may see some of what is available. And my search all started after reading an article on another site about protecting your eyes. Thank you very much for your assistance in this matter.
I wouldn’t get too wrapped around the mil-spec or safety rating. There are a lot of brands out there that exceed the Z87 safety requirements but don’t have the safety rating. It adds a lot of complication and liability to go thru the trouble of certifying them to be safety rated. For example, most of the Oakley models for consumers don’t have the safety stamp, but when Oakley makes them for .gov they put the stamp on the frame. And it’s the exact same frame. Generally for your application we’d use polycarbonate for the lens material which would be thin, light, and impact resistant. If your eyes are not super sensitive to bright sun, then a brown Transitions would be a really versatile option for your first pair. They’d work inside on the range and then transition to brown outside. And even in the clear, un-activated state it would still give 100% UV protection. I’d steer you towards a Wiley X (which is Z87 safety rated) or similar. Your RX will be very forgiving in a wrap around frame and I’d suggest a progressive (no line bifocal). It’ll have your reading at the bottom and from what you said about your RX, Plano or maybe a little distance correction at the top. Depending on the type of shooting and how purpose specific you want the glasses to be, we can do something different – for example we could even tailor one lens to focus on the front sight and the other eye for distance. But that would be very specific to shooting and not for driving. Our website is very much still in the construction phase but does have Wiley X listed. Specsrx.com.com
You’ve probably also seen the Magpul line of sunglasses? They are all Z87 and prescription ready. Remember, when we’re making RX lenses the originally lenses that come in the frame will be discarded. The lenses will be completely custom for you, color, lens type, mirror, transitions, polarized, etc. So don’t worry too much about the stock lens color on a frame. In the end, if you really are Plano or very close to it, Maui Jim has an amazing bifocal product that we can order stock on 80% of their line. It’s only a $50 add on top of their Plano product price and represents a great value.
Please tell us more about the 22lr uppers you’re building. I’ve been looking into options. I keep coming back to the CMMG conversion kit, but I have concerns about reliability.
Thanks.