13 Sept 02

Flashlight/forend mounts:

The three-dollar Weaver #36 base works perfectly as a mount for the M3 flashlight. It is vastly superior to the twenty-dollar mount sold by Streamlight, the thirty-dollar aluminum base sold by GG&G, and the bulky and obtrusive Surefire forend. By positioning the Weaver Base on different longarms, the same M3 light ($125) may be used on them all.

Friend Chris Dwiggins from Gunsite recommends the two o'clock position, where the flashlight is conveniently manipulated by the support hand's second or their fingers.

The beauty of the Weaver Base/M3 combination is that the only thing on our longarm during the day is the small, unobtrusive base. The M3 may stay on our belt in a carrier until needed. It then may be attached to our longarm in seconds. There is no real downside to this system. Highly recommended!

/John

13 Sept 02

On short rifle stocks from a friend in the Philippines:

"I think the ‘STS' stock you mentioned is a much better arrangement than a multi-position, collapsible stock. Multi-position, collapsible AR-15 stocks may not be readily available in the USA, but my countrymen are flocking to them like mad.

However, once one finds the ‘ideal' notch position, how does he quickly and unerringly deploy to that particular notch in an emergency? Most people will store the rifle with the stock fully collapsed. It then unnecessarily complicates matters if they are rudely awoken in the middle of the night and then have to immediately use the rifle to defend their home. Fumbling for the 'right' notch about then would not be my idea of a good time!

I believe a short, nonadjustable stock (such as you described) is a superior solution."

Amen!

/John