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32 Law Enforcement Technology May 2014 www.officer.com FIREARMS TACTICS would have made my job easier. In addition, MMC Armory uses 4140 chrome moly vanadium steel for their barrels. The 1:8 twist is an excel- lent happy medium between a 1:7 and 1:9. It stabilized the heavier bullets for those longer shots and gives the agency excellent performance with a wide latitude of cartridges, including specialty munitions. The gas system is staked mid length, with a low profile block, which, along with the barrel is completely suspended under a TROY 13-inch Alpha handguard. Why do I like the MMC upper with the Troy Alpha handguard, rather than the Troy Bravo handguard, which is on the MMC Recon Upper Receiver? It's more comfortable under recoil. I don't need all the Picatinny rail cuts in my hand, but I think the Troy handguards are durable and well manufactured for the price. For officers who like more rail cuts, get the MMC Recon. If anyone was wondering, I mount my light on the MMC C14.7 using a Safariland RLS (Rapid Light System). This is designed for a handgun, but works fine on anything with rails. VLTOR makes a product called the Offset Scout Light Mount that works for this, too. Furniture This test wasn't complete without optics and furniture. I was trying to make it a compact and light package so I started with The Mission First Tactical BATTLELINK Minimalist Stock (BMS) with a NEMO Rapid Assault Team Strap or NRAT Strap and Engage Tactical Pistol Grip—an ergonomic grip with a waterproof compartment. The BMSNRAT is one of the lightest AR-15 stock on the market. The NRAT part is approximately seven feet of (real) paracord woven onto the stock, giving the user emergency cord when one needs it. The stock slips right over a standard buffer tube. MFT has a commercial and MILSpec version. The first noticeable thing about the BMSNRAT is the kicked up toe of the stock. Put this up against an external vest and you'll understand how much of a difference just a little tweak can make. This stock makes rolling through door- ways, muzzle up, then down, easier than ever. For shooters who rotate 45 degrees to access their same-plane fixed sights, it allows a little more clearance for the extended shooting arm. The BMSNRAT also has better feel for cheek indexing than a standard stock and gave me rattle- free shooting on the range. Since I accidentally spilled three different solvents onto it, I can attest to the chemical resistance of the mate- rial. I tested the Engage grip and the BMSNRAT during rainy weather and the textured surface works when wet. The Engage Tactical Pistol Grip has a water-tight storage compartment and a grip angle that was twice as comfortable than a standard one, especially when shooting prone. Optics Before I shot the MMC Tactical Upper Receiver C14.7, I speculated that it would group at 100 yards and wanted an optic with a little magnification. As usual, the upper shot better than I could. It needed a decent optic that allowed the officer to engage at interior distances and deliver accurate fire half a block away. For me, the AR-15 is a perfect "traffic stop gone bad" tool, where the rifle may engage a barricaded suspect. For the optic, I picked the Konus Sight-Pro PTS1, a 3 by 32 prismatic optic with a four-color ballistic reticle. This is a prismatic optic, which gives pretty good eye relief and a little less parallax at carbine ranges. The Sight- Pro PTS1 is bright enough for an AR-15, light enough (14.1 ounces) to We shot our AR-15 from prone at 100 yards. Besides the tack- driving upper, the BATTLELINK NRAT stock added to the comfort when shooting prone. However, the BATTLELINK NRAT really shines in close quarters, where officers have to move quickly, pause, run, and go from high to low muzzle seamlessly. LET_30-33_FirearmsTactics0514.indd 32 4/18/14 3:29 PM