Here’s the thing – the technology regarding firearms, as with pretty much anything, evolves pretty rapidly hence evolving the top tiers of efficiency to a whole new level every now and then. The fact that these improvements happen to be introduced pretty fast, sometimes, it can be hard for people to keep up with everything, even for those that are quite experienced with rifles.
That being said, in order to make things a bit clearer, in this article, we are going to talk about several different aspects which make the latest rifles way more effective, so that you can know what to look for next time you decide that it’s time for an upgrade.
Muzzle devices
Having to battle muzzle climb and recoil in order to maintain accuracy can get pretty tiring after a while, and it affects rifle efficiency quite a lot. The answer to these problems is muzzle brakes, making them the main component in reducing recoil and keeping the barrel steady.
So, what do they do? As experts on AR 15 muzzle breaks explain, they work by redirecting the gas that follows the bullet out of the barrel, further pushing it through vents on the side as well as forward on the brake. Doing this ultimately keeps recoil and muzzle climb to a bare minimum. So, let’s talk about some popular options regarding muzzle devices.
Flash suppressors
These components are able to help reduce the flash that’s coming out of your barrel after firing a round. The main function of doing this is concealing the location of the person that’s shooting in low light.
Compensators
These are simple devices, and serve a similar purpose as the muzzle brakes. They work by venting gasses upward at the muzzle, further helping push downward and hence giving the muzzle optimal vertical stability.
Extended magazine release
When it comes to efficiency and speed, dropping a used magazine and then reloading is probably one of the most important variables. That being said, there are indeed ways for you to improve all of that, no matter if we are talking about magazine reload or tearing your rifle down quickly – extended magazine release.
This particular component is going to increase your speed immensely. Basically, by having extended magazine release, you don’t need to adjust your grip or change your current position in order to release, the increased surface area is going to make the process a lot easier. Every shooter is able to benefit from discharging already spent magazines as quickly as possible.
And not only does an extended magazine release allow the user to keep their grip as they discard a used clip, but they are designed with ergonomics in mind, hence providing a lot more enjoyable shooting experience overall. All of that being said, adding an extended magazine release to a rifle is one of the best examples of how newer technologies can improve efficiency.
Optics
Optics are one of the most important components when we’re talking about accuracy and hence efficiency as well due to the fact that they help immensely with making shots more clear and precise.
That being said though, of course, there are many different variations of optics that can be found on the market. The most popular options are red dots, scopes, and holographic sights, but hybrid sights are starting to get quite popular as well.
When it comes to assessing which optic component is the best, this can’t be done without taking the purpose of rifle use into consideration. So, how far are the targets, the time required for sighting the picture, and similar.
Red dot sights
While red dot sights are a more common option these days, don’t be fooled to think that they are mediocre. In fact, as the technology behind them progressed, they have become an invaluable tool when it comes to accuracy.
Red dot sights utilize objective lenses equipped with a partial mirror coating and there are two most prominent styles that are tube-body and heads-up. Heads-up optics components are lighter and can be mounted a lot farther down on the body of the rifle, hence making the rifle look less bulky.
Holographic sights
These optics place a reticle on the target view using a laser. They are quite smaller and lighter as well than previously discussed red dot sights. Holographic sights utilize only heads-up style, and this offers several different advantages. They allow a much larger field of view, as well as less sight occlusion and the possibility to modify the size and shape of the reticle depending on how you want them.
To wrap things up
In the end, there is a sea of options when it comes to upgrades, but if you’ve got efficiency on your mind, after reading this article, you now know what to look for. All that’s left is to assess what’s of biggest importance for you, continue to do your research regarding those parameters, and you’re ready to make that purchase!