Ever wondered how the parts inside an AR15 work together? Just exactly how does the reciprocating bolt carrier feed rounds from the magazine? How do the elements in the trigger group work and reset after each shot? How does the gas system bleed gas from the barrel and operate the bolt carrier? These and other questions are answered in this eye-opening video from 45Snipers. Using “cutaway” 3D computer animation, this 5-minute video shows all features of an AR15 inside and out. This fascinating firearms animation allows the viewer to look inside the upper and lower receivers, into the bolt carrier, chamber, barrel, and magazine.
This video starts off slow and has annoying background music, but it is well worth watching if you own or shoot any AR-platform rifle. It illustrates all the key operations during the charging, loading, firing, and ejection processes. The cutaway animation shows how rounds are stripped from the magazine and then chambered. It then shows how every part of the trigger group works, and how the firing pin strikes the primer. You can even watch the bullet move down the barrel before the empty shell casing is removed from the chamber and tossed out the ejection port. Here are sample frames from the video:
Video find by Grant Ubl. We welcome reader submissions.
Forum member Kevin (aka “N10Sivern”), revealed he needs some help with a compulsion — a compulsion to keep buying more and more guns and ammo. Particularly ARs, all shapes and sizes of ARs. Way too many ARs. You could say he has an ARdiction….
In a Forum Thread, Kevin posted: “I may need an intervention. Trying to clean my office and pulled this stuff out. I’m missing an AR10 lower somewhere and an AR15 upper. I’ll find them before the day is done. I have a big box full of parts as well, and 4 barrels still in the cardboard tubes. Sigh. This is gonna be a lot of Cerakoting for me.”
Another Forum member said: “For the love of God, man. Delete this thread lest you be accused of hoarding!”
Kevin replied: “I guess I am hoarding a little. But it’s good hoarding right?”
And then he posted this “Mail Call” photo:
Kevin’s caption: “It only gets worse. Mail Call today: 20″ .308 Ballistics Advantage barrel, 26″ Savage 25-06 barrel, 700 pieces of .38 special, 300 pieces of .357 magnum, 500 pieces .308 Win, gas tube, Hornady Modified Case Gauge. I have more crap on the way too.”
Forum Member’s Chime In…
Kevin’s “Need Intervention” post drew plenty of comments from other Forum Members:
“God! It is so refreshing to see that my illness is widespread with little hope (or desire) for a cure. I smiled reading each post.” — Gary0529
“You know you have a problem when you open a drawer and find components you forgot you bought.” — JoshB
“It’s not hoarding if you intend to use it. Says he who has 12,000 primers.” — Uthink
“I guess I’ll go ahead and volunteer to help you with your obviously much needed intervention… send me the pictured items and then you’ll no longer have to deal with those nasty temptations. Just think about it, you’ll have less clutter in your office plus you’ll not have to fret over the need for any cerakoting either. I’m just one human being volunteering to help out another fellow human being who needs help!” — PikesPG
Kevin Muramatsu’s black rifle book, the Gun Digest Guide to Customizing Your AR-15, is a great resource for fans of AR-platform rifles. All the AR options you can imagine are covered: suppressors, premium barrels, adjustable stocks, free-float handguards, ergonomic grips, buffer systems, tactical lights and much more. Those planning an AR rifle build will find application-specific suggestions for 3-Gun, Service Rifle, High Power (Space Gun), Hunting, and Self-Defense use.
Firearms expert Muramatsu offers advice on choosing the right stock/barrel/optics configuration for your particular game. He also discusses the wide variety of options for slings, grips, magazines and other accessories. With over 520 photos, the book includes a large photo gallery of customized ARs, and includes bonus coverage of the FAL and other “tactical” firearms. The Gun Digest Guide to Customizing Your AR-15 is available from Amazon.com for $20.13, and a Kindle eBook version is offered for $14.99. The book is also sold by Barnes & Noble, and most other major booksellers.
Democratic Presidential candidate Beto (Robert) O’Rourke famously declared “Hell Yes” he is coming to take your guns, starting with AR-15s. In response to that threat, Palmetto State Armory is producing the limited edition PSA “No Beto” AR-15 Stripped Lower Receiver. This precision-made forged aluminum lower can be pre-ordered for just $49.99. On this AR-15 lower, the Fire Selector reads “Hell Yes” (Safe), “Hell No” (Fire), “Snake Bite” (Full-Auto).
All net proceeds from the sale of this receiver will be donated to the nonprofit South Carolina Second Amendment Defense Fund. NOTE: This is a Pre-Order item. Due to unprecedented demand related to the recent political events, please expect lowers to start shipping within 8-9 weeks of order placement.
Palmetto State Armory’s limited-edition “No Beto” AR-15 lower will only be available once and is a limited edition offering. The “No Beto” AR-15 lower is one of the industry’s finest forged, MIL-SPEC lowers. These quality, MILSPEC-designed forged lowers are made with 7075-T6 Aluminum. The Palmetto State Armory “No Beto” AR-15 Lower will accommodate all AR-15 platform builds and is marked “NOBETO-15 MULTI”. The finish is MIL-A-8625, Type III, Class 2 black.
3-Gun competitors must be wicked fast (and accurate) with rifle, pistol, and shotgun.
What’s the most exciting, physically challenging shooting sport? An argument can be made that three-gun shooting (also called “multi-gun”) tops the list. To succeed in the 3-Gun world, competitors must be fast and accurate with rifle, pistol, and shotgun. They must exhibit blazing speed in the short-range stages plus serious accuracy during long-range stages.
America’s top 3-Gun shooters held to Florida next month. The 2019 3-Gun Nation (3GN) Nationals take place October 12-13 at Southern Tactical Range in Holt, Florida. There will be plenty of fast action, plus some long-range accuracy stages. Watch the video below for a preview of the event:
If you’d like to try your hand at 3-Gun shooting, you can still register for the 3GN Nationals, by visiting 3GunNation.com. This match will feature a minimum of 8 stages of fire over a 2-Day Format. Southern Tactical Range offers a mixture of natural terrain and bay stages, featuring a long range area with targets up to 1000 yards.
Blast from the Past — 3-Gun Nation Championship Shoot-Off 2013
In this video 2019 3GN Champion Dan Horner wins a dramatic shoot-off at 2013 3GN Nationals. Horner, after leaving the USAMU, now shoots for Team SIG Sauer.
Hardware for 3-Gun Competition — Guns & Gear
In this NSSF video, Top Shot Finalist Chris Cerino reviews the hardware you’ll need for multi-gun matches. Chris talks about carbine configurations — including barrel, handguard, and optics options. Cerino also demonstrates pistol techniques and explains the key features of a belt/holster rig.
In case you didn’t think your mag-fed, semi-automatic rifle was being targeted for confiscation, think again. It’s not just bump stocks the anti-gun forces want. Given their druthers, the gun-control forces would seize and destroy all ARs, also known as “modern sporting rifles”. These would be banned in the USA, just as they have been banned in Australia and the United Kingdom…
The emphatic call for semi-auto rifle confiscation was made by former U.S. Congressman Beto (né Robert Francis) O’Rourke. At the latest Democratic Presidential candidates debate, Beto roared: “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47, we’re not going to allow it to be used … anymore!”
The National Shooting Sports Foundation commented: “The Democratic Presidential debate in Houston [addressed] firearms. Former U.S. Congressman Robert ‘Beto’ O’Rourke doubled down on his pledge to confiscate modern sporting rifles, of which nearly all candidates agreed to in previous debates. ‘Hell yes, we are going to take your AR-15, your AK-47, we’re not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore!’ O’Rourke said the [El Paso TX shooter] was ‘inspired to kill by our “President’, in his opening statement, and again blamed President Trump … in his closing statement[.] U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) joined the chorus shifting the blame of a murderer to President Trump saying, ‘[Trump] didn’t pull the trigger but he certainly has been tweeting out the ammunition’.”
The positions of Democratic Party candidates on gun control have become more extreme in recent months. Beto now wants to confiscate all ARs. But just last year, in 2018, Beto stated that AR owners should be allowed to keep them — as reported by Breitbart.com:
During an April 2018 interview on The Chad Hasty Show, Beto O’Rourke claimed people who own AR-15s ought to be able to keep them. Fox News quoted an exchange between O’Rourke and Hasty that began with the host saying, “I own an AR-15. A lot of our listeners out there own AR-15s. Why should they not have one?”
“To be clear, they should have them,” O’Rourke responded. “If you purchased that AR15, if you own it, keep it.”
After Confiscating ARs, What’s Next on the List?
O’Rourke has completely reversed his position, and now advocates mandatory confiscation of mag-fed semi-auto rifles. So, if ARs and semi-auto rifles are now on the chopping block (or should we say “confiscation list”), what’s next? Should semi-auto shotguns be banned? What about semi-auto pistols? This really is a slippery slope, and at some point the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Second Amendment will be lost.
AR-Platform Rifles are Widely Used in Marksmanship Competitions
AR-platform rifles are used in High Power and Service Rifle competitions around the country, such as the historic President’s 100 Match at Camp Perry (photo above). Semi-auto ARs are also used for 3-Gun matches, varmint hunting, and self-defense. Beto O’Rourke wants them banned and confiscated.
Trigger images from PrimaryArms.com, which sells all the triggers reviewed here: Geissele, Elftmann, Timney, and ALG Defense.
Are you thinking of upgrading the trigger system for your AR-platform rifle? There are dozens of options available, from $45 up to $300. Thankfully, Brownells has created video reviews of some of the more popular AR trigger options from Timney, Geissele, and ALG Defense. And we included a video review of the highly-regarded Elftmann Match Trigger. If you want the best solution for Service Rifle competition, you might favor the Geissele. For ease of installation, it’s hard to beat the Timney, a “drop-in” module. Like the Timney, the super-smooth Elftman is a drop-in module. At $249.00 it’s pricey, but it is one of the best AR triggers out there. If you’re on a tight budget, the best “bang for your buck” may be the “Perfected Mil-Spec” ALG which starts at around $45.00.
Multiple AR Triggers, including the Elftmann and Geissele, Are Reviewed in this Video
Though pricey ($249.00 at PrimaryArms.com), we really like the Elftmann AR trigger. It combines the best of both worlds — the precision and smoothness of the Geissele with the Timney’s ease of installation. This single stage trigger is user-adjustable from 2.75 to 4 pounds pull weight. It is offered with either straight or curved trigger blade. Primary Arms says: “The amazingly short take-up, glass-rod crisp break and [near-zero] over-travel can be compared to the finest custom 1911 triggers.”
Geissele Enhanced Two-Stage Trigger
Geissele makes a variety of quality AR trigger sets both single-stage and two-stage. Many High Power competitors like the two-stage Geissele trigger. This delivers a repeatable, controlled pull through the first stage with a very clean break in the second stage. The Super Dynamic Enhanced Trigger, shown above, features a distinctive, trigger blade. Reviewer Thomas Conroy says: “The flat surface is very easy to press against. Both stages are light and very distinct.”
Timney Drop-In Trigger Module
This trigger module is available for both the AR15 and the AR10 platform (see above video). Timney triggers are easy to install and come with multiple pin size and pull-weight options. Reviewer Thomas Conroy confirms that the single-stage Timney “breaks cleanly and crisply. This trigger is modular, meaning that the trigger, sear, hammer, and spring are all encased in a bright, shiny yellow aluminum housing.”
ALG Defense Trigger — Higher-Quality Basic AR Trigger
According to Thomas Conroy, ALG triggers “are the perfected version of the standard, non-adjustable mil-spec original trigger. They have the same geometry, but are made to higher quality standards, and come with … hardened and smoothed-out sear contact surface to eliminate all grittiness.” These are also offered in a nickle-boron coated version. Available for under $45.00, the ALG is a well-made, low-cost option for shooters who want a better factory-type trigger system.
For More Information about These Triggers
Learn more about Geissele, Timney and ALG triggers, plus two more AR trigger options (CMMG and Rock River Arms) in a Trigger Comparison Review by Thomas Conroy on Ammoland.com.
The AR15 is America’s rifle, right? Well it is apparently China’s rifle too, at least when it comes to replacement stocks, buffers, hand-guards and other spare parts/accessories. It seems China’s factories have been churning out plenty of Black Rifle components. Only one problem — U.S. Federal government policies ban importation of many types of gun parts from China. Washington has an embargo on Chinese-made gun components.
Because of these import restrictions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents recently seized over 52,000 illegal gun parts. ABC News reported: “U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Thursday that [it] seized a total of $378,225 worth of firearms parts in violation of the Chinese Arms Embargo. [Seized items] included sights, stocks, muzzles, brakes, buffer kits, and grips which arrived in three shipments from China.” Many of the seized items were for AR-platform Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs), but other types of gun parts and accessories were seized also.
“This seizure is an exceptional example of CBP officers and import specialists vigilance, commitment and keen focus in enforcing complex arms embargo regulations,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Field Operations Director in Los Angeles.
Three Shipments of Gun Parts Were Seized at the Port of Long Beach in California:
The products were seized at the Port of Long Beach in the Los Angeles metropolitan region. This is a major entry point for a wide variety of products from China, Japan, and other Pacific Rim countries.
Yet another .300 Blackout disaster. Unfortunately, that .300 Blackout cartridge can fit in a .223 Rem chamber. Shooting a .308-caliber bullet in .223 bore is a recipe for disaster.
The .300 AAC Blackout aka “300 BLK”, is a compact 30-caliber cartridge designed to work in AR-15 rifles. It has a shorter cartridge case to accommodate the bigger 30-caliber bullet while still fitting in a standard AR-15 magazine. Unfortunately, that’s the danger. A careless shooter can toss a .300 Blackout cartridge in with .223 Rem rounds without noting. And because the case-head size is the same as the .223 Rem (5.56×45) the rifle’s bolt assembly will happily chamber and fire the .300 BLK round. Problem is, that forces a .308 diameter bullet down an undersized .223-caliber bore. Not good!
This images were provided by Tactical Rifle Shooters on Facebook. The message was clear: “Don’t try to run 300 Blackout in your .223/5.56mm. It won’t end well. The problem is identical rifles and identical magazines but different calibers.”
For those who MUST have a .300 Blackout, here are some things you can do:
1. Use different colored magazines for .300 Blackout vs. .223 Rem.
2. Fit all your uppers with caliber-labeled ejection port covers.
3. Mark .223 Rem upper handguards with the caliber in bright paint.
4. Mark all .300 BLK Rounds with heavy black marker.
Comments by Folks Who Viewed these .300 Blackout Disaster Photos:
“The .300 Blackout is simply a badly-designed round. A properly-designed round would have had a feature in the shape that would have prevented cross loading in the first place.” — D. Santiago
“I almost made that mistake… I had a magazine of 300 BLK inserted in my .223/5.56 all night. Fortunately, I never pulled the trigger. Once I realized the mistake, I almost got ill. [After that incident] I no longer own a 300 BLK.” — B. Welch
“Happened to me hog hunting from a helo. Gun exploded in my face.” — B. Hood
“Fire-forming projectiles [is] so wrong in centerfire!” — M. Stres
“Had some dude come into the store the other day wanting .300 Blackout ammo to shoot in his 5.56 AR. It took 15 minutes of explaining for him to understand you got to have a .300 Blackout Upper!” — R. Williams
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Palmetto State Armory — Complete AR Lowers $120-$150
Guys, this is the lowest price we’ve seen for non-blem, name-brand AR-15 platform complete lowers. If you are building an AR for varminting, 3-Gun, or home defense, check out Palmetto’s Going Overboard Sale. Get the MOE FDE Edition for just $119.99. Or for $30 more choose the STR Edition or ACS-L edition, both offered for $149.99. All these models have quality Magpul stocks and grips and include full trigger groups. Use the money you save with these bargain lowers to buy a top-grade barrel for your upper.
2. Brownells — Lapua Scenar-L Bullets
Lapua Scenar-L match bullets are extremely consistent in weight and base to ogive length. In our experience they shoot great, and they definitely deserve a try-out along with Bergers and Sierras. We’ve seen success in various calibers and even found some barrels prefer them over anything else. If you want to try these excellent Lapua projectiles, right now Brownells is selling Lapua Scenar-L bullets at up to 28% off! These discounted Scenar-Ls are offered in .224, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm and .308 (30 Caliber) — all the most popular match calibers.
3. Amazon — Tipton Ultra Gun Vise, $125.99
Cleaning and working on your guns requires a solid platform. Most gun cleaning stands aren’t adjustable enough, or are too flimsy. Not so the Tipton Ultra Gun Vise. Weighing-in at about 10 pounds, this beefy gun vise provides a steady base. The frame is metal for strength. It features stout adjustable jaws, specialized AR holder, and several accessory trays. Threaded feet allow the vise to be leveled on your bench (or the ground). With this system you can work on just about anything including bolt-action rifles, AR-platform rifles, shotguns, pistols, and even compound bows and crossbows. To fit 3″-wide forearms you may have to remove or modify the front pad(s). Our Deals Editor, who owns this gun vise, reports: “this is a phenomenal vise — the best anybody makes — it is well worth the $125.99″.
As optics technology advances, scope performance-for-the-price improves too. A good example is Vortex Optics, which offers fine scopes at very reasonable prices. The Vortex 3-9x40mm Tactical has good features and a rock-solid warranty. It’s a lot of scope for $279.99 but now you can grab this versatile Vortex for the crazy low price of $189.49 at Natchez.
5. Bruno Shooters Supply — Berger Bullets at Great Prices
Match season is in full swing — so make sure you don’t run short on bullets. One of our go-to sources for reloading components is Bruno Shooters Supply. Bruno’s just recently updated its website, so you should check out the new features. While you’re there, look at Bruno’s selection of Berger bullets advertised at “lowest prices on the internet”. Berger match bullets are in high demand, but Bruno’s is offering great prices on many popular calibers and bullet weights.
6. EuroOptic — 50% Off Minox with Mauser Rifle Purchase
The Mauser M18 is a proven hunting rifle offered in many popular hunting calibers/cartridge types. If you’re looking for a fine, affordable hunting rifle definitely consider the M18. And for added incentive, right now you can get 50% off a Minox scope with the purchase of a Mauser M18 rifle from EuroOptic.com. CLICK HERE to get the Mauser coupon which you can redeem with Minox USA after your purchase. This is a great promo that can save you a ton of money.
7. Grizzly — 60″ Padded Rifle Case, $40.97
Do you cringe every time you place expensive rifles into old cases that are dirty or damaged? Here’s a great case for long match rifles at a great price. Grizzly is now selling excellent 60″ Bald Eagle rifle cases for just $40.97. These cases are well made, heavily-padded with lots of pockets. They compare favorably to other soft cases costing $65 or more. It can be hard to find quality cases that hold very long rifles. NOTE: Grizzly has other case colors and sizes on sale for a few bucks more.
8. Midsouth — Nosler 6.5 Creedmoor 140gr Ammo, $24.99 per box
Nosler 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition features top-of-the-line 140gr ballistic tip bullets (0.509 G1 BC). These B-Tips feature tapered jackets to control expansion and allow good penetration and a deep wound cavity. These are excellent hunting bullets for deer, antelope, and hogs. Nosler used top-quality brass, powders, and primers for its 6.5 Creedmoor B-Tip ammo. These cartridges have a 2550 FPS Muzzle Velocity.
9. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite, $99.99
Lots of people love wet-tumbling their brass in stainless pins but not everyone want to do it in a giant unit. We found a sweet deal on the Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite. Amazon has this unit on sale for $99.99. This tumbler is small enough to fit on a counter but still big enough to hold 300 pieces of .223 Rem brass. For folks on a limited budget who want to get started with wet tumbling, this is a solid choice.
10. Amazon – Proster Wind Meter, $16.99
This Proster wind meter is a great bargain. The previous model had a very impressive 4.2 star overall rating (with 300+ reviews), and the latest version has some improvements (including a square base so it can stand). Now on sale for just $16.99, this is a very useful tool for a bargain basement price. To provide reliable wind inputs for ballistics calculations, you really do need a Wind Meter. And unlike a costly Kestrel, with this budget wind meter, you won’t feel too bad if it gets lost or misplaced.
Trigger images from 
The AR15 is America’s rifle, right? Well it is apparently China’s rifle too, at least when it comes to replacement stocks, buffers, hand-guards and other spare parts/accessories. It seems China’s factories have been churning out plenty of Black Rifle components. Only one problem — U.S. Federal government policies ban importation of many types of gun parts from China. Washington has an embargo on Chinese-made gun components.
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