By David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com November 10, 2009 Back in April (2009), DefenseReview has published a short “heads-up”-style article on the FailZero AR-15 Basic Kit, which is a bolt carrier group (BCG) and hammer upgrade kit with a proprietary and patented self-lubricitous/self-lubricating nickel-boron (Ni-B) coating that the company calls EXO Technology. In the video below, DefenseReview.com contributor …

By Chen Lee (a.k.a. “SMGLee”) smglee (at) gmail (dot) com All photos and video contained in this article are courtesy of Chen Lee, writer/photographer. November 2, 2009 For the longest time, I was against the idea of adding a bipod to a tactical carbine or rifle. I thought “why in the world do you need a bipod on a gun …

The following is a UCT Arms/FailZero Press Release: 10/22/09 UCT Arms Introduces its FailZero 1911 Upgrade Kit and Expands its Exo Technology Coating Service to Include Consumer Firearms Stuart, Florida — UCT Arms, LLC introduces its latest product under the FailZero brand of tactical upgrades. The FailZero 1911 kits, featuring EXO-coated Caspian slides and frames, provide consumers the foundation from …

By David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com Photo Credits: Sturm Ruger & Co., Inc. June 7, 2009 Updated on 6/16/09 Ever since the late

By David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com May 20, 2009 According to Army Times magazine, The 75th Ranger Regiment is scheduled to battle test the Special Operations Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) very soon. The Rangers will reportedly be taking 600 FN SCAR rifle/carbine/subcarbine/SBR (Short-Barreled Rifle) weapons packages into battle, but DefenseReview doesn’t know how many of these are the …

by David Crane May 6, 2009 The April 2009 issue of Special Weapons for Military & Police (SWMP) (Gun Buyer’s Annual #74) has an article on the Smith & Wesson (S&W) M&P15R 5.45x39mm Russian (a.k.a. 5.45x39mm Soviet a.k.a. 5.45x39mm Kalashnikov) semi-auto tactical AR-15 carbine. It’s an interesting offering, since the 5.45mm Russian is an interesting little cartridge, and combining it …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com April 23, 2009 All photos contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com, and are copyrighted.

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com All photographic images contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com, and are the exclusive property of DefenseReview.com. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. All photos were shot with an Olympus Stylus 790 SW 7.1-megapixel digital camera, which is advertised as "shock + waterproof". February 19, 2009 The CMMG AR-type semi-auto …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com February 8, 2009 While DefenseReview was at the CMMG Inc. booth at SHOT Show 2009, CMMG co-owner Jeff Overstreet showed us a very interesting prototype gas-piston/op-rod-driven AR-config semi-auto 12-gauge shotgun. The new shotgun features aluminum billet upper and lower receivers and winter triggerguard, and it will utilize a proprietary CMMG box magazine …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com December 30, 2008 As long was we’re on an M4/M4A1 Carbine (and semi-auto tactical AR-15 carbine) and 4179 STANAG box magazine kick, we might as well cover the Lancer Systems L5 Translucent Magazine (30-round 5.56mm NATO polymer magazine) in a little bit more detail, particularly since it’s already been mentioned in previous …