By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com December 17, 2008 DefenseReview has been using TangoDown "Rail Grip" polymer rail covers (a.k.a. rail panels), "BattleGrip" vertical foregrips and "Rifle Grip" pistol grips (for rifles) on tactical AR-15 carbines and subcarbine/SBRs (Short Barreled Rifles) for quite awhile, now. These products have always performed well, and we’ve been satisfied with them. TangoDown’s …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com November 24, 2008 Updated on May 6, 2009 Ever since he won the presidential election, the press has been following President-Elect Barack Obama around Chicago like a bunch of hungry (and annoying) puppies. Whether he’s going to his transition office in the Kluczynski Federal Building in the Loop (dowtown Chicago professional district, …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com November 13, 2008 DefenseReview has been publishing information about Springfield Armory XD (eXtreme Duty) series pistols for quite awhile now, since a number of our professional contacts in the tactical community swear by them, particularly the .45 ACP models. To date, the most interesting XD pistol is the Springfield XD(M) a.k.a. Springfield …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com November 10, 2008 On November 3, 2008, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) issued a Sources Sought Notice for a "Semi-Automatic Precision Weapon System" (SAPWS) (Solicitation Number: M6785408R1011), i.e. a semi-auto sniper rifle, capable of firing the 7.62x51mm NATO (7.62mm NATO) M118 Long Range (LR) Cartridge. The SAPWS, which would essentially be the …

By C. Todd Lopez U.S. Army News Service October 31, 2008 WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 29, 2008) — The Army announced today the awarding of three contracts for technology development on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Together, the three contracts are worth a combined total of approximately $166 million. They have been awarded to: BAE Systems Land & Armament …

By David Crane defrev at gmail.com All of the photos contained in this article, with the exception of the first/top photo, were taken by Chen Lee a.k.a. "SMGLee" at the 2008 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exhibition, and he owns the copyright on these photos. Colt Defense, LLC provided the first/top photo. October 10, 2008 While I was visiting with Colt …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com October 9, 2008 A company called Numa Sport Optics is manufacturing and marketing a line of tactical eyewear called Numa Tactical, the purpose of which is to provide military and law enforcement (LE) tactical operators with eyewear that’s resilient and rugged enough to withstand combat operations. The key to this is Numa …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com September 28, 2008 A company out of Apopka, Florida called Spike’s Tactical is making and marketing some interesting products, including Class III AKM SBRs built on the Arsenal SLR 107UR Krink shorty AKM (updated Kalashnikov AK-47 with stamped receiver). Spike’s is building these guns in 7.62x39mm Russian (7.62mm Russian) and 5.56x45mm NATO …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com September 26, 2008 Speaking of M14/M1A tactical rifles, just in case you’re not quite ready to go bullpup, J. Allen Enterprises, Inc (JAE) has a good-looking M14/M1A rifle stock comprised of a composite polymer skin chemically-bonded over an aircraft-grade aluminum skeleton. So, what’s the point. Well, first, it looks pretty slick. But, …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com September 19, 2008 Adams Arms, Inc. is offering an "AR15 Fix" a.k.a. "Retrofit Gas Piston System (RGPS)" (Patent Pending) that will all you to easily convert your direct-gas-impingement (DGI) tactical AR carbine (tactical AR-15 carbine) into a short-stroke gas piston/op-rod system in about ten (10) minutes. The RGPS, described by the company …