Microtech Small Arms Research STG-556 and E4 Rifles Review

 

I am very torn in this situation, due to so many factors.  My personal experience was both pleasant and unpleasant. I bought the rifle new and unfired from an individual on GunBroker. Once I received it and got the drool wiped off, I  took it out for a test drive.  I loved it! The rifle fired well with anything I  gave it, but the very next day a problem arose.  My greatest fear was confirmed on this dream gun that I  had scored such a deal on and saved on months end for.

I found a crack in the rear trunion of the cast receiver. I immediately called MSAR and was promptly placed in contact with a nice older gentleman named Paul.  He was VERY professional and kind and asked me to ship it to him and he would take a look. By this point in time, MSAR had already been fighting bankruptcy and restructuring, attempting to develop the E-4 rifle.  MSAR had several instances where there were issues with a few of their rifles and I won't go into all that, a quick google search and you will have your fill of all the haters online. Long story short, MSAR made it right for me.  They hunted down a brand new receiver and placed my serial number on that new piece, then gave it a complete factory overhaul with all the updated parts. I asked them to shoot it until they felt confident it was fixed, so they did.  When I got the rifle back it was perfect, updated and has never missed a beat since!

Now the reason I say it was also unpleasant, as a member of a class 3 firearms business myself, I have attempted to become a dealer for them ( multiple times) because I  was SO blown away with the service Paul gave me in the shop.  Unfortunately Paul doesn't run MSAR, he is actually in retirement, the company struggles with customer service in returning calls and email department.  So with all that said, I am extremely happy with my stg-556 but will most likely not be buying anymore MSAR rifles due to such unstable management.  If i'm going to drop $2000 on a new rifle, I want to be reassured that company will be around if and when it breaks so I can get replacement parts and service. With that being said, I hate to be a Judas, but I'm going to have to say I  would go with a STEYR if purchasing another.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Quality construction and capabilities.

Target Market: Military, LE Officers and gun lovers alike.

FNB's (features and benefits of this product):

• Bull Pup semi auto rifle
• Gas operated rotating bolt, short piston drive
• Comes in 5.56 and 300 AAC
• 16.5’ or 18.5’ barrel
• STG-556 accepts proprietary aug mags only( 10,20,30,and 42) , but the e-4 accepts regular ar-15 magazines
• Last round bolt  hold open
• AR style bolt catch lever on left side of stock
• well machined fluted barrel ⅛ twist chambered for 556 NATO
• cross bolt safety
• 1913 picatinny top rail
• optional 1913 rail for right side
• QD sling swivels on top front  and rear side
• built in forward vertical grip

What other aesthetic options are available ?:  Available in black, OD and tan.

What others are saying:

• MSAR testimonials

Price Point:

• MSRP = not listed
• Retail = $2,000
• Used = $1,500 +

Our Rating:

+ High quality polymer construction + Very impressive fluted quick detach barrel + High 42 round magazine capacity + Ambidextrous design + Easy disassembly and assembly for cleaning + Very well balanced center of gravity when fully loaded + Adjustable gas settings for different ammunitions or when firing suppressed

- Hard and sloppy trigger - Short sight radius if using BUIS - Little room to spare on top rail for optic and BUIS - Knuckle buster charging handle if using an EOTECH or QD optic mount - Ejects expended brass right into your teeth when shooting transitions such as a right handed shooter firing left handed ( E-4 comes standard with brass deflector)

Score: 7.5

Cold Steel Master Tanto

There are some brands that when you hear the name you automatically think, “its gotta be good!”, and Cold Steel has always been on that list for me.  When I was about 16 years old my grandfather passed down a fixed blade Cold steel Master Tanto that he had taken in a gun trade years ago.  The funny thing is, it was my dad's partners knife on the police force years earlier.  Boy... were there stories about this knife that I now hold in my hand. Stories of prying open car doors, among MANY other tasks that I would never dream of putting a blade through! But all that aside, this knife still looks like it has been carefully cared for it’s entire life.

It features a Kray-Ex™  space age rubber like material for the handle and  a six inch VG-1 San Mai III® blade.  the blade is super hard steel on the outer edge but seems to have a softer steel in the middle, which makes sharpening to a razors edge pretty easy to do...even for an amateur knife sharpener as myself. The fixed blade goes all the way through the handle and has a shiny brass hilt.

There really isn't much more to say about this awesome blade than….. IT WORKS! It’s super sharp, holds an edge like a champ, it’s there for fine cuts such as trimming meat, or hacking a leg bone off a wild turkey when cleaning it with one swift whack.  This knife has been around for well over 20 years and I suspect the one I hold in my hand will be around for quite a few more years. The Master Tanto comes with a fairly hefty price tag in a market flooded with cheap knives but there's one thing for sure, its quality will outlast a dozen of the cheapies.  I have ONE complaint… the leather sheath it comes with has a poor design belt loop and Velcro strap...but they do sell a hard concealex sheath and I would advise getting one!

 Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Super sharp and very durable.

Target Market: Knife collectors, police, military and hunters.

FNB's: (features and benefits of this product)

• 6”, VG-1 San Mai III® blade
• 5.5 “ Kray-ex rubber like handle  “ will not crack or rot”
• Broad tanto style blade
• Blade Length: 6"
• Overall Length:11 1/2"
• Weight:9.5 oz
• Blade Thickness: 3/16"
• Handle:5 1/2" Long Kray-Ex™
• Master Tanto

What other options or finishes are available?:  Black handle with satin brushed blade.

What others are saying?:  The Master Tanto (and its larger siblings) are remarkably well made... I have a fixation for Tanto's and the more hardcore ones at that, and apart from one other maker, I have yet to find a Tanto that compared for durability, comfort of use (even extended use) and sheer power in doing what the design was born to do... and that is tear stuff apart... violently.  Read more 

Price Point: 

• MSRP: $399.99
• Retail:  $215.65

Our Rating:

+ Super durable + Extremely sharp + Quality made (will last a lifetime...or three)

- High price tag - Poor sheath design

Score: 9

Kimber Eclipse Target ll

I have had this gun for about 10 years now and its still my gun safe queen!  Recently I have resolved to bring her back out and start using it more often.  After all isn't that why we buy guns...so we can enjoy them right?  As soon as I got this Kimber in hand, I decided to put on an extended magwell and Kimber tactical grips.  But that's it! Those were the only mods that I deemed necessary for this beautiful piece of firearm bliss.

OK ... time to get into the meat of the matter.  I have fired approximately 1,500 rounds through this Eclipse.  To be completely honest with you guys, when I first took it to the range, I had some feeding issues with the first 300 rounds.  However after getting it tall broken in, the gun ran flawlessly for the last 10 years.  If you have never held a Kimber, they are extremely tight tolerances with no loose rattling like most other 1911”s.  Everything is worked by hand to ensure maximum accuracy and it is very accurate! My ol’ man can punch an 1”-1 ½” group with this firearm. The Kimber Eclipse has a crisp 4-5lb aluminum match trigger and when you pull the slide to the rear, its very smooth.  In fact, everything about this gun is crisp and smooth. I do have one major qualm with the Kimber …. the black oxide finish seems to wear off too easy, especially on parts like the safety that get a lot of skin contact.  Other than that, the pistol has a solid steel slide and frame that is very well balanced.  The target 2 model comes with a 5” match steel barrel and meprolight adjustable night sights.  Last but not least, the Kimber Eclipse has 30 LPI checkering on the front grip (I love this feature) and come with two 8 round mags.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Superb detail, accuracy reliability and smooth operation.

Target Market: Serious 1911 fans, competition and law enforcement.

FNB's (features and benefits of this product):

• 5" match grade barrel and bushing
• Aluminum match grade 4-5lb trigger
• Meprolight adjustable night sights
• Contrasting brushed stainless finish over black infill
• 30 lpi front strap checkering

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  Brushed stainless flats/ black oxide contrast

What others are saying?:  "Kimber 1911's are what 1911's should be"

• The Firing Line
• GUNS

Price point:

• MSRP: $1,393.00
• Retail: $1,210.00

Our Rating:

+ Accurate + Reliable + Beautiful + Superb Quality + Balanced

- Expensive - Break in period - Black finish wear

Score: 8.0 Great

Surefire G2ZX Combatlight

 

I got this Surefire G2ZX Combat light in about a month and a half ago, I use it on a daily basis as part of my EDC, at first I was worried it was going to be too big for my pockets because I was used to an old E2D defender I’ve used since my first deployment in Iraq in 2006…But thats not an issue, fits perfectly, which leads me to why I chose Surefire over a competitor.  Surefire make solid products, but yes sometimes companies who make great products get so proud of them that they price themselves right out of business.  I think this was becoming true for Surefire and they had the due diligence to see it and came out with a new line of awesome polymer bodied lights that also come with increased battery life, more powerful LED lamps with increased lumens over the exact same lights they had a couple of years ago.  So thats enough for my rant, here are the specs and first impressions I have with this light.

The G2ZX Combatlight takes 2 cr123A lithium batteries, has a powerful 320 lumens with a 2.5 hour solid runtime and comes with a rubber ring for using the “Surefire” method when shooting a handgun in low light (which is my preference and found it works VERY well for maintaining a good grip on the light in your non-shooting hand, while also using that hand as support for the handgun.  Momentary pressure switch, with an option to turn the rear section for constant on.  It also comes with a steel lanyard ring and black lanyard.  The lamp head is made from Surefire's quality aluminum, and the rest of the body is very high strength polymer.  Overall length is 5.2 inches, weight is 4.3 OZ.  Very bright!  I shined it across a field and could see the trees pretty clear that were about 150 yards away! (and I have poor eyesight)  This is a great light, I would recommend it for anyone including Military, police, fire & rescue, and the everyday CCW holder. REMEMBER even if you are “just a ccw” holder, its very important to have a light.  Don’t be that boot who gets into a sticky situation where you cannot clearly see or identify your target.. it may mean your life, the life of a loved one or land you in the slammer if you take a bad shot.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Great for unattached light for pistol shooting.

Target Market: Great for police, military, fire/rescue and or CCW holders.

FNB's (features & benefits of this product):

• Very bright 320 lumens
• Long lasting LED lamp
• Uses 2 common 123a lithium batteries
• Rubber combat grip ring for using the “surefire method”
• Very tough Nitrolon polymer body
• Anodized steel lanyard ring with lanyard
• Momentary pressure rear switch or turn for constant on
• 5.2 INCHES OVERALL LENGTH
• 4.3 OZ

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  Black

What others are saying?:

• Would Expect Nothing Less
• This is my third Surefire and the G2ZX is what I would expect from Surefire. Superb quality and a precision piece of equipment. I use this one as my nightstand light since it has a higher output than the others.Reviewed by R Capiola (Posted on 1/5/14)
• Amazing!
• One of the best illumination tools I have ever used! Extremely bright and goes very far too! It really is a handheld spotlight! I would choose nothing else for my lighting needs than surefire!Reviewed by Dunaj (Posted on 10/24/13)
• G2ZX
• Surefire is not a flashlight it's like holding a piece of the sun. I'll never own anything else after having my Surefire.Reviewed by Jerry (Posted on 10/12/13)

Price Point

• MSRP: $97
• Retail: $80

I need it now! Availability: Optics Planet has them listed as discontinued by the manufacturer but LA Police Gear has them in stock.

Score: