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AR15

Kyle Defoor on lubing your M4 carbine during training

Kyle Defoor on lubing your M4 carbine during training

I took a student’s carbine that was completely dry and showed how I lube an M4 without taking anything apart by dropping oil in the bolt carrier exhaust ports then firing 5-7 rounds. Obviously, this is mostly used in training although some have used it for real. This will lube the necessary parts of the DI M4 system without putting oil where it doesn’t need to be or having oil dripping onto the top of the magazine. Been doing it for years.

*Photo courtesy of Defoor Proformance Facebook page

Ladies V Seven

Ladies V Seven Nightingale | Quick Look

“I would like to see every woman know how to handle guns as naturally as they know how to handle babies.” Annie Oakley.  If you’ve been reading Loadoutroom articles for long, you’ve likely spotted more than a couple V Seven rifle and parts reviews and references.  Owner Joel Allen has been working hard to push the bounds of exotic metal used in the AR-15 platform, and it’s hard not to be impressed by the quality of these products.  We’re talking magnesium and lithium-aluminum alloys, as well as titanium being precision-machined for use in even the smallest of parts.  A couple of years ago, a new idea was born.  To build rifles designed for, and with the input of, female shooters.  Thus Ladies V Seven (or LV Seven) was created as a special division project of V Seven Weapon Systems.

Ladies V Seven Nightengale | Quick Look

LV Seven clearly involved more than just tossing on a pink buttstock or a cutesy bunny custom paint job.  The ladies in the shop had significant influence and design input into the final products.  Straight from Lvsevenweapons.com:

 From the beginning, our focus has been to create a product for female shooting enthusiasts.  No matter your age or skill level, our goal is to build a firearm that fits you.  The overall feel, the carry weight, and handling of our rifles is different than what is currently available in the AR industry.  Each L V Seven piece is designed to be aesthetically pleasing, ergonomically sized and comfortable for women.

LV Seven has sent out a rifle to be reviewed, but I’ll not be the primary shooter responsible for the testing.  My wife (a capable shooter) will be handling the heavy lifting there, but for the moment I’d like to offer up my initial impressions of the LV Seven Nightingale.

LV Seven rifles are currently offered in four types, the Hummingbird (5.56), Swan (5.56), Nightingale (.300 Blackout) and Quail (.224 Valkyrie).

Ladies V Seven

 

Rex Nanorum

@Rexnanorum

Cover photo of ladies from Lvsevenweapons.com used with permission

V Seven Weapon Systems Enlightened AR-15: Long live the King

V Seven Weapon Systems Enlightened AR-15: Long live the King

I’ve featured a large number of AR15 parts from V Seven Weapons Systems in build articles on this site.  The reason is simple, they are at the bleeding edge of AR parts quality.  This stems from their investment in high-tech alloys (such as 2055 lithium-aluminum, titanium and magnesium blends) as well as a commitment to excellence.  However, this combination comes at a higher price, as fancy metals and precision machining don’t come cheap. Thus far, all the individual parts I’ve tested out from V Seven were well worth it.  Lighter, stronger and just plain better in every aspect I have the means to test.  Until now, I hadn’t had the chance to run a factory-built rifle from V Seven, only components. Recently, Owner Joel Allen cut loose an AR from the Enlightened line-up, which uses many of the aforementioned lightweight parts.  Here’s my experience with it.

Scallop cuts are everywhere, shedding weight

Let’s take a quick look at the tech specs, as provided on V Seven’s website:

V SEVEN Upper Parts:
Enlightened 2055 Lithium-aluminum upper receiver
Hyper-light 13.5” KeyMod or M-LOK handguard w/7068 alum. barrel nut (specify handguard type in the comment box on order)
14.5” 5.56 Stainless Lightweight contour fluted barrel with .625 Titanium gas block
Barrel is 1:7-in. twist poly rifling
Titanium BCG-5.56 with Titanium firing pin
Lightweight AR-15 charging handle
Ultra-light AIR AR-15 port door
Ultra-light Enlarged end port door rod
Pinned & welded 1/2 x 28 Extended Titanium A2 style compensator- Ionbond (DLC) black finish

V SEVEN Lower Parts:
Enlightened 2055 Lithium-aluminum lower receiver w/QD endplate
“Slick & Quiet” Teflon coated 2055 Lithium-aluminum 11 position carbine buffer tube
7068 Lightweight castle nut
Titanium buffer retainer
“Slick & Quiet” Teflon coated Carbine buffer spring
Enhanced H1 buffer with “Slick & Quiet” Teflon coating
Hybrid RH 57 degree selector w/ grade 5 titanium core
7068 Ultra-light mag catch/release w/diamond button
Lightweight S7 tool steel bolt catch- Ionbond (DLC) black finish
Ultra-light AR-15 Takedown/pivot pin set
Grade 5 Titanium trigger/hammer pins Geissele .155” diameter
Grade 5 Titanium grip screw

Additional Components:
Geissele G2S trigger
MFT Battlelink Minimalist Stock- black
BCM MOD-0 grip- black
TangoDown ARC mag 30rnd (where legal)

As you can see, there’s a lot of titanium, Li-Al and “Ultralight” in there.  That’s why the end weight for a factory rifle with a 13.5″ handguard and 16″ barrel/flash hider is only 4 pounds, 9 ounces.  It is truly ultralight and it’s difficult to quantify just how awesome it feels.  You can get a rough estimate by pulling off parts from a “standard” weight rifle until you get down around 4.5 pounds.  More importantly, there isn’t one part of this rifle that feels weakened by virtue of it’s lightweight status.  Quite the opposite, this rifle feels like one of the beefiest and strongest I’ve ever held.  It seems quite the contradiction but it’s a marvel to behold.

Starting in on dry fire and manipulation drills, the teflon-coated (and nicely greased) buffer, buffer spring and buffer tube combined for a complete lack of “cheese grater” noise from the back third of the rifle.  The Geissele G2S trigger is an excellent 2-stage bang switch, in keeping with their stellar reputation.  Just racking the bolt a few times leaves you with the distinct impression that this isn’t a collection of properly installed parts, this is a purpose built rifle that feels like an industrial machine.

On to the range, I brought along a limited quantity of Norma Tac-223 match ammo and some Fiocchi FMJ, both rounds in 55 gr.  Forgetting I had packed along my Nikon 1-4x, I started the day with a Lucid optics fixed 4x scope.  After getting a quick zero, I knocked out a few groups at 90 yards.  The out-of-spec base on the scope meant the thumbscrews came loose every shot or two, and despite that, I printed nice groups.  Below are the notables from the day.

.57″, center to center. Norma Match, 5 rounds.
Fiocchi, 12 round group, .765″
.94″, worst group of the day. Fiocchi, 5 rounds. That hole on the far right was from zeroing, not some horrible flyer

Shooting 90 yard groups between 1/2″ and 3/4″ is no joke, especially on the sub-par glass.  After I had used up all my Norma match and most of the Fiocchi ammo, I found the Nikon 1-4x and mounted it.  I spent my last mag popping clay pigeons at 150 yards, with ease.  One might imagine that such a reduced mass rifle, using a reduced mass Ti bolt-carrier group would have a subsequent increase of recoil, right?  Not so.  The Ti BCG provided less reciprocating mass, thus less mass hammering on your shoulder.  This is one of the softest shooting (non-muzzle brake equipped) AR’s I have ever shot in this caliber.  Also, the lightest factory AR I’ve been able to get my hands on and it’s been 100% reliable thus far: the most accurate AR I’ve shot, whether factory built or garage assembled.  Until proven otherwise, this is the King of all AR15’s in my opinion.

V Seven Weapon Systems out of Grants Pass, Oregon is making some of the finest guns and gun parts out there.  The combination of weight, strength and accuracy they’re achieving is unsurpassed.  If you’re looking for an AR15 that is out-of-the-box an impressive spectacle which needs no upgrading, check out their Enlightened series of AR’s.  This rifle as shown runs $2800, with the upper at $1797.  If bargain basement is your thing, titanium isn’t for you my friend.  If you want a rifle that will compete with any other on day 1, take a gander at V Seven.

-Rex Nanorum

M16 and AR-15

How the M-16 and AR-15 work | Detailed animation

When Eugene Stoner designed the AR-10 platform in the late 1950s, it is unlikely he could have imagined the success this rifle (and it’s progeny) would achieve.  While the total number of AR platform rifles in civilian hands isn’t known, estimates range from 2-30 million.  Combine that with the multitude of M-4’s and other descendants of the AR-10 in the US military’s armory’s, and it’s easy to see why the AR-15 is hailed as “America’s Rifle”.

While most people reading this article are probably already informed to a degree as to the general operating mechanics of an AR-15/M-4/M-16, the following video does a great job of detailing (and showing) the specifics of each function.  This includes going into detail as to the operation of the auto sear and three-round burst cam.  Check out the following video!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMIBUIN30yU

 

Rex Nanorum

@Rexnanorum

Tips for cleaning and maintaining your AR-15

Tips for cleaning and maintaining your AR-15

Kyle Defoor’s teaching methodology is second to none. He takes what he learned as an assaulter in the SEAL Teams and breaks it down for us to learn. There are a lot of instructors out there and videos on YouTube explaining how to clean and maintain your carbine rifle, but how reputable are they? Kyle is one of those guys that walks the walk and talks the talk. Take a look at the following video to see what Kyle recommends for cleaning and maintenance of the AR15 platform.

“Any oil right into those two holes and it will work. This is the best way to lube while completely loaded as well. After shooting approximately 5-6 rounds the lube will be spread to all the internal parts properly.” – Kyle Defoor

 

 

*Featured image courtesy of Defoor Proformance Facebook page

Photo of the Day: Short, Sweet and Quiet

Photo of the Day: Short, Sweet and Quiet

One of my favorite rifles to use at work and for play.

Maxim Defense CQB Stock on a Colt Lower with a Spikes Tactical Compressor Upper.  Magpul magazines, back-up Iron Sights, and sling.  Trijicon MRO and Phase 5 Extended Bolt Release.

 


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