Recently I was given the opportunity by Hogue to
accessorize my newest rifle, a Smith and Wesson Model M&P 15, chambered in. 5.56 mm NATO / .223. I had never accessorized an
AR-style rifle before and was excited to take on the challenge. When the box
arrived from Hogue, I felt as giddy as a child on Christmas morning! Opening
it, I was not disappointed! The rifle-length aluminum free float forend, collapsible
butt stock and beaver trail grip came in hot pink and black. The trigger guard
is a lovely lighter shade of pink, from the G10 line of accessories. My AR was about to scream style and have a
personality all her own.
First though, a little about the G10. Hogue has a
patent-pending method of making its G-10 line – a high-pressure thermoset
plastic laminate that is made of several layers of woven fiberglass mesh
combined with epoxy resin binder – in different patterns within the colored
material, producing a unique look and not a typical flat layer. It’s called
G-Mascus, and that’s what is unique about the trigger guard in this get-up.
Since I had never tackled this task on this
particular style rifle before now, I hit a snag and my brain was stumped. I
called Hogue's 800 number and was quickly rewarded with a real live person to
speak to in customer service. Let me tell you, this lady new her stuff. She
wasn't suffering from the same blockage I was having that day. She quickly
asked me a series of questions (that began pulling the fog from my brain) as
she deduced that the particular style of rifle I had was fitted with a carbine-length
gas tube instead of a rifle length one. She was then able to relay this to her
specialist, with whom I discussed some
other minor issues I was experiencing, and he quickly made a list of
inexpensive easy-to-find parts to complete my task. Hogue believes in its
products, but more than that, it believes in helping its customers with simple
solutions that don't degrade quality and make all parties happy.
I could not be happier with the way my finished
rifle looks and feels in my hands!
Hogue makes great quality products, is an
American-made, family-owned business, and they obviously take care of their
customers. What more could you ask for?
Visit www.hoguestore.com for
more great products.
The pink AR kit comes with the finger groove
beavertail grip, rifle length forend with accessories, and overmolded
collapsible buttstock. The kit also includes a mil-spec buffer tube and
hardware http://www.hoguestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16_679_833&products_id=8203.
MRSP: $319.95
Raychel
Shaw owns East Texas Firearms Training, and is an NRA-certified firearms instructor,
and a Shoot Like a Girl staff/instructor.
