Kid 10/22 Guide Rod and Spring Kit

Not many 10/22 owners will replace their guide rod and recoil spring... but some will. Maybe their guide rod was bent. Maybe their spring is old and tired. Maybe they're trying to smooth up the action, or tune for heavier or lighter loads.

If you are in the market for a new guide rod and spring, point yourself right to the Kidd guide rod and spring kit. You get a guide rod that is much smoother and higher-quality than the original, and three different weights of recoil springs. And at the time of this writing, the entire kit is under $13. They're smooth, they're strong, and they rock.

Rock River Arms 2-Stage National Match Trigger

Rock River Arms has a reputation of making good stuff. And their two-stage trigger is no exception. The standard triggers that come with most AR15s leave a LOT to be desired, and this is a quick and easy way to fix that.

Installation is, like most things on an AR15, very easy, and Rock River has very good support. The first stage is nice and light. The second stage is very crisp. Just what you'd expect!

Out of five of these, one arrived feeling pretty gritty. I made a call to Rock River, and they immediately replaced it - and they even paid for shipping both ways. You can't beat that!

The pins that come with these are very slightly oversized. Many lowers, like those from Essential Arms, have very slightly oversized trigger/hammer pin holes, and they fit just fine. Some, like the Spike's Tactical receivers, have holes drilled exactly to specification. In those cases, some people like to swage the receiver to fit the pins. I'm not a fan of that, I just use standard-sized pins with the NM trigger. Function has not been impaired in any of the sets I've used.

I've also noticed a little variation between the five sets I've used. I believe that they have a nominal pull of 3-4 pounds, and that seems about right. Most of the sets have been closer to 4, with one seeming to be right at 3 pounds.

The weight of pull should tell you that these aren't benchrest triggers, these are triggers for rifles that get carried around. The two-stage design is terrific for accurately placing single shots, but many people prefer single-stage triggers for rapid fire. It's all about what you prefer. But if you're looking for a nice two-stage trigger and don't want to break the bank, then this is a pretty safe bet.

Spike's Tactical ST15 AR15 Lower Receiver Review

Spike's Tactical is a great company. They do an excellent job of making very high quality products at very reasonable prices. I've had the pleasure of using three of their lower receivers. All three of them were of impeccable quality and finish. Spike's has a long history of doing things right.

So, what sets them apart? Besides the value, a lot of people like their spider logo. They also have lowers available with the Jolly Roger, if that's your style. And they also have billet upper/lowers as well. You can get semi/safe markings, or semi/safe/auto. And if you want, they'll color the markings as well.

These lowers have fairly tight mag wells. If you're using Pmags, it might take a dozen or so insertions before they start to drop free.

Overall, these are good, high-quality lowers, and you simply can't go wrong.