Iron Hammer Armory .300 Blackout Upper Review

A couple months back I started talking with Iron Hammer Armory about the AK's that they have been producing and also the line of AR's that they have been working on putting out. There have been a lot of conversations between Martin and myself and I have come to really appreciate the information that I get from him whenever I ask questions. So when I was asked if I would be up for testing and reviewing the IHA .300BLK complete upper I told them heck yes, I would love to get my hands on any AR upper to take out and test anytime I can.

When I picked up the upper from a friend's shop I was really impressed with the way that it looked, with the Stainless Steel Barrel coming out from under a black hand guard it has such a cool look to it. What I thought was really awesome was that the Hand Guard was from ODIN Works which is another company whose products I have heard great things about and had hoped at some point I would get to check out in person.

While I personally prefer a longer hand guard on my AR uppers the 9.5" that the IHA is outfitted with does give it a very clean look since it allows the SS barrel to really stand out. I took some time to field strip the upper and give it a good cleaning and applied FIREClean to it like I do with all of my other firearms (yes even when I do testing for companies I still give it a good clean before and after shooting), this gave me the chance to check out the workmanship that has gone into the building of this upper.

First thing that I noticed was that there was not a single blemish to be found inside and out, and the BCG was staked correctly and everything fit together really well. It was very noticeable that there was great pride taken in assembling the upper. The laser etching on the receiver and the charging handle is a very nice touch and adds some character to the overall build also.

The ODIN Works hand guard is very sleek and very comfortable to hold since it is smooth on the sides with one small section of rail on the bottom side at the front. The rail matches up perfectly with the receiver and gives it a nice continuous look. The overall construction of the ODIN Works hand guard is really good, while being lightweight it did not feel cheap or flimsy like it could break at any second. Just from the short amount of time that I have had with it I have decided I will be using one of their longer hand guards on one of my future builds.

When I was able to take the upper out to the range it was both too windy and too busy for me to be able to setup the cameras to capture any good videos of me firing it, there was also the issue of the wind blowing down the target stand that I was trying to use to zero it in. So finally I gave up and just aimed for the steel plate that we had setup down range. Even though the scope I was using was garbage I was able to figure out where to place the reticle to ring the steel, and once that was figured out I can tell you the steel just kept ringing. 

Every shot that I was sending down range was hitting it's intended spot, and even though I did not have a paper target to measure exactly how accurate this upper is, the side by side and stacked marks on the steel were enough for me to consider this an accurate barrel and with a properly sighted scope and a worked up hand load it should be hitting Sub MOA (I am not an expert marksman but I have shot both well made and crappy made barrels and this is well made). 

While the price for the upper is still up in the air until IHA is able to get the production of them moving I will say that it is a very nice upper with some very nice features, I am sure that the price will contend with many of the other companies that are building uppers, and even if it is a little higher the quality and craftsmanship that is put into it shows. Below you will find a graphic that has the breakdown of the parts used for this upper, all of the parts are nice quality parts that should give you a long happy service life from it.

I would like to thank Martin at Iron Hammer Armory for allowing me the opportunity to take this upper out to the range and check it out, this was the first time that I have been able to test a new product for a company before it's release and I am hoping that I will get the opportunity to do that more often.

EnGarde Level III and Level IV Armor Plates

Last month I took out a couple armor plates from EnGarde Body Armor to the range so we could get some video of them being shot by multiple rounds and multiple calibers. Since I am still very new to body armor this was a very educational trip, however if I do ever get the opportunity to shoot plates again I will be setting them up with clay so the damage done behind the plate can be seen.

The video of the plates being shot at the range can be seen HERE.

The Level III plate from EnGarde is constructed of Dyneema and measures out at 10"x12". It is curved so it fir very comfortably when I wore it in the EnGarde T.R.U.S.T. carrier, and it is meant to withstand multiple hits from a .308 and when you watch the video you can see that it withstood shots from .223, .300BLK, 7.62x39, and .308 . The only round that it did not stand up to was the 7.62x54R fired from a Mosin Nagant, that round pierced clean through the plate.

The plate is meant to work in conjunction with a Level III-A to provide complete Level III protection.

One noticeable thing with this plate is the weight at 2.75 pounds it is very light compared to the Level IV and I think would be easier to wear for a long period of time while offering a great level of protection.

The Strike Face of the Level III Plate

A view of the plate from the side, you can see the curve that is molded into it.

The Level IV plate from EnGarde is constructed of Aramid and Ceramic, it measures out a 10"x12" and like the Level III plate it is curved, however there is not as much curve to it due to the ceramic plate used on the front of it. Level IV plates are meant to stop everything up to a 30-06AP round, while I wasn't able to get my hands on any AP rounds for the range trip I was able to use the poor mans 30-06 on the plate. The 7.62x54R round fired from the Mosin Nagant was stopped by this plate, even after the plate had been hit multiple times with the other rounds that we used that day.

At 7 pounds the plate does feel a bit heavy (just opinion of a new guy who hasn't had the fortune of handling other plates) but the level of protection that is offered is pretty amazing.

Front (Strike Face) of the Level IV Plate

A view of the slight curve that is built into the Level IV plate.

As I stated at the beginning of the post, if I ever have the opportunity to shoot body armor plates again there will be a few things that I will do differently. First would be to setup a block of clay behind the plates so the affects of the plate being hit can be seen by the amount of damage that was done to the clay. In all honesty I believe that if you were shot at 25 yards with a couple of these rounds you would die from your heart being stopped or extreme internal bleeding, the plywood behind the plates after the .308 and 7.62x54R was splintered and broken.



I would also make sure that the next time I shot plates they would be in a plate carrier, this would add more stability to the plates and also would give a much better idea of how the plates would react when actually wearing them.

Level IV Plate after being shot with .223, .300BLK, 7.62x39, and 7.62X54R

Level III Plate after being shot for the last time with a .308

Level IV plate after taking multiple hits throughout the day. The bottom left side of the plate is where the 7.62x54R hit it.

These are the rounds used. Left to Right- .223 (55GR FMJ), .300BLK (125GR SP), 7.62x39 (123GR FMJ), .308, and 7.62x54R.

Waffen Werks AK-74: My Thoughts So Far

Recently I was able to get my hands on a Waffen Werks AK-74 from Classic Firearms, for a very reasonable price when compared to all of the craze pricing we have been seeing. For $799 plus the cost of shipping I received the AK-74, 4 Tapco Mags, and a Bulldog Rifle Case.

The video below was my pre range review and thoughts on the rifle, make sure to check it out.




Yesterday I was able to finally run it out to the range and put some rounds through it, I currently have 6 magazines for it and all of them were full when we headed out, when we headed home they had all been emptied.

Even though my main goal yesterday was to get out and test the rifle I also wanted to check and see just how far off the sights were, the accuracy of the rifle will be tested on the next trip out when I remember to take the proper tools to do so.

After running the rifle for 180 rounds yesterday there was one hiccup that it had, which I am hoping I can just chalk up to being a new rifle and needing some break in time. The main issue that it had was stripping the next round from the magazine and loading it into the chamber, this happened at least 4 times on 3 of the six mags. Normally I would blame the Tapco mags for the issue but it also happened with the Bulgy surplus magazines that I have, so I am not 100% sure what the issue may be at this point other than maybe the bullet guide needs a little more time to be broken in.

The loading was the only issue that I had run into with the rifle as far as function goes.

As far as the sighting goes I will have to take a little time this upcoming weekend to get it sighted in, where it sits as of right now it is shooting extremely low right which will be an easy fix.

So far I am happy with the rifle, even though it is having an issue with loading the next round sometimes the rifle is backed by a 1 year warranty from Waffen Werks, which I have heard they are extremely good at honoring and making sure that any issues are fixed and the customer is happy. I will put another 200 rounds through this weekend and see if it's just in need of a good break in or if there are still issues at which point it will be headed back to WW.

On Your 6 Designs Holsters

A few weeks back I received a few holsters from On Your 6 Designs for the Glock 19 FDE that I picked up recently. In the package was an In Waistband (IWB) holster, an Outside the Waistband (OWB) holster, and a magazine pouch that can worn either IWB or OWB thanks to the J-Hook piece on it.

When I opened up the packaging I was very impressed with the professionalism and time that they took in packaging up the holsters, each one came in it's own separate bag which was labeled and marked with the information about the holster it contained.



After I had taken the holsters out of their packaging I messed around with them for a little while, checking the quality of work that was put into them. Overall I was extremely satisfied with the craftsmanship that had been put into the holsters.

I will admit that the IWB design was a little different to me since most of the other companies that I have worked with before typically put a lot of definition into the Kydex, where this was more rounded over the firearm but the retention was perfect. One of the other things that I personally prefer when it comes to IWB holsters, is that the sweat guard be low or not there; mainly because for me it is more comfortable than having a high or medium sweat guard jabbing my side or stomach. Having the "reverse" J-Hook is actually very nice since it fits very snug over my Shellback Tactical Cobra belts, which gives a very secure feeling when drawing and holstering.

I have been carrying with this holster for the past few weeks, and other than my preference of a low sweat guard, I have been very comfortable with this holster. As I said before the retention on it is perfect, I don't fight with it to release my gun, and when holstering my firearm slides easily into the IWB holster.



The OWB holster design does not change much from company to company, sure you will see subtle differences in each one like colored rivets or screws, multiple layers of kydex, and even designs that have been pressed into the kydex to give your holster a more "custom" look.

Now what matters the most is the draw, some companies use blue guns and others use the actual firearms to press their kydex. This can lead to the holster "clamping" your firearm, which basically means it takes all of your might to pull your firearm free from the holster. This can usually be fixed with a little heat from a hair dryer or heat gun and holstering and drawing your gun until you feel the retention has improved.

This was not an issue with the OWB holster that I received from On Your 6 Designs, the holstering of my Glock offers some resistance which is nice because it lets you know that you are in the right spot, when the firearm is completely holstered you get an audible and tactile "click" when the trigger guard drops into place. This is something that I like since there have been other holsters that once my gun was in I wasn't sure if it was actually being held in place, so having a tactile feedback is just another reassurance that everything is good to go. When drawing from the OWB it is smooth, with just the right amount of resistance, there is no fighting to get your firearm out which is extremely important.




One of the other really nice things about the On Your 6 Designs OWB holster is that the belt loops aren't riveted in place, instead you have the option to move them around; changing the height of the holster and even the cant. This is a nice option, even though I personally won't be changing anything because the way that it comes from the shop works great for me.



The magazine pouch is a piece that I have spent the least amount of time with so far, partly because I forget to toss a mag in it and carry it with me. I will say that having the ability to wear it as either an IWB or OWB pouch is a great option; the times that I have worn it I have tossed it on as an IWB and it disappears under my shirt and is comfortable enough to wear all day. The retention and tactile feedback when inserting the mag are perfect, again giving me confidence that if I ever needed to pull my mag in an emergency there wouldn't be anytime spent fumbling around trying to get it out.




Overall I am very impressed with the holsters that On Your 6 Designs are putting out, they are taking the time to make a quality product; and with today's craze in the market that is one of the most important things to do. I can honestly recommend them if you are in the market for a new holster.

The First 200 Rounds Bersa BP9CC

A few weeks ago I was able to hit the range with the Bersa BP9CC, and the initial impressions I had of the pistol changed a bit after taking it out and running 200 rounds through it.

First off, the fact that the trigger has no sort of safety mechanism really urks me now, with the trigger being as light as it is there is no possible way that I would really feel comfortable carrying the pistol with one in the chamber like I have done with all of my other handguns. There literally is no stopping the trigger from going back if it gets snagged during holstering and that just is not a good thing. The Bersa manual even says not to carry the handgun with one in the chamber, but this is supposed to be a concealed carry gun.... This means that you would have to have super fast reflexes to draw, rack, and fire the gun. Not sure how many of you feel about carrying with one in the chamber, but I know that I am not that fast and would rather my gun be at the ready.

Second, out of the 200 rounds (100- 115gr FMJ and 100- 124gr FMJ) that I fired I had 3 malfunctions. First was a double feed, easy enough to fix on the fly but it is still a malfunction. Second malfunction was a failure to load, I felt the slide go through it's full motion but it failed to pick up the next round on the way back. I also had a few issues with the slide not locking back once the magazine was empty, I know this has happened on a few of my other guns when I have run a ton of rounds through them without cleaning them, but this is a new gun that I gave a deep cleaning to before I took it out for the first time. The third malfunction was a stovepipe when firing the 124gr rounds, again this is a quick and easy fix on the fly if you train for it. These issues were not caused by a limp wrist or holding the gun too tight, they were just issues with the firearm.

While the firearm itself is very well made I will not be keeping it in my collection, being that it is supposed to be a "Concealed Carry" gun that you are not supposed to carry with one in the chamber, I feel that it fails to fit the niche that it is looking to fill. So for now my search continues for a sub compact concealed carry pistol that I feel comfortable with.


Maybe I will look into the XDS at some point, it has caught my eye a few times when I have seen it in the shop.

Bersa BP9CC Pre Range Thoughts

I recently picked up the Bersa BP9CC (Bersa Polymer 9MM Concealed Carry). I had been watching BP9CC since last year when I first learned about it. As I do with all firearms products, I wanted to wait a little while for Bersa to work out any quirks with the first round of production. 

Before I begin, I’d like to add that I think Bersa may have turned over a new leaf and this fine weapon is an example of their improvements. So before you say, "Ugh it's a Bersa, I would rather stick with XXXX brand before I bought a Bersa”, please do avoid judging the BP9CC before you finish reading.

The BP9CC is a single stack polymer handgun with an 8+1 magazine capacity. When fully loaded with 9 rounds of 115gr Hornady Z-Max 9mm it weighs in at a very light 24.84 ounces. The grip is 0.94" wide - which is very thin - yet it is still long enough (4.8") that it handles very well. Unlike other compact light weight handguns, your pinkie finger will not uncomfortably hang off the end of the BP9CC. 

The BP9CC’s total length is 6.35" with a 3.3" barrel. The gun’s small size makes it extremely easy to conceal in the appendix carry position. I have found it to almost disappear when I have it in the DeSantis Soft Tuck holster, regardless of the position that I am carrying it. 

The sights are very easy to acquire because the front sight's dot is much larger than the dots on the rear. Making the sights one of the things that I really like about the gun.

There are a few interesting features on the gun that I wasn't sure if I would like. One feature is the lack of a safety. Having owned and carried the Glock and M&P I was perfectly fine with this.

Additionally, when you look at the trigger you will notice something that is different. The trigger rocks backwards like a hinge before it engages to fire. It makes for a slightly longer trigger pull, but once it breaks it is extremely smooth and somewhere around 3.5 and 4 pounds. 

The amount that you have to move the trigger forward for your next shot is so minimal it is surprising, and the tactile feedback that you get once the trigger resets is impressive.

Next is the slide safety. There is a spot where you use the provided "key" to lock the slide so it will not move. This is a little weird, but I have come to the conclusion that it is not that big of a deal. It is definitely not a deal breaker.

Third is the magazine disconnect, it's inconvenient that you cannot fire the gun if the mag is out; however there is one advantage to this feature. If you were ever in a situation where you were forced to give up your firearm you could release the magazine, effectively rendering the gun inoperable. This feature could potentially give you enough the chance to pull a secondary weapon and use it to defend yourself.

Overall I am looking forward to getting some time out at the range with the BP9CC. I am planning on running a few hundred rounds of various weights through it on the first trip out. Keep an eye out for the upcoming after range update!