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January 24, 2013 Last updated on 1/26/13.
Defense Review first saw and shot photos of Mission First Tactical's (MFT) products at SHOT Show 2012, but we never published anything on them because, well, we just didn't. What can we say? We're busy over here. But the company really seems to be hitting its stride this year, and we're only too happy to cover their latest products from SHOT Show 2013.
"We started working with the guys from Kryptek about two months ago. Great guys. We asked them if they would mind if we took the pattern and put it on some of our kit. Obviously, you can see the camo pattern is completely different than most of anything you'll see out there. But this stuff, for our money and from all of the testing and the things that we've [conducted], is literally testing off the charts in likeability, as well as concealment," said Juranis. He continued, "We have a bunch of our stuff dipped just as a, kind of a prototype for all of it, but it really came out great. We're really excited about the way it looks, and I think the consumer base and some of the people that we work with will be just as excited as we are."
MFT's products/designs are highly influenced by the East Coast Naval Special Warfare (SPECWAR)/SEAL community based on assaulter/operator combat experience. This includes the MFT BattleLink Utility Stock, "manufactured using a specially developed reinforced, super tough polyamide [fancy name for polymer/plastic] from DuPont's Military Plastic Division", and integrating a low mounting point for a Garmin GPS module, multiple sling attachment/mounting points and a waterproof/water-tight internal compartment with sled (that "diminishes the rattle") in a visually appealing package. While the MFT BUS "pretty much launched Mission First Tactical" and is "probably the thing that we're most proud of" says Juranis, DR also likes the MFT BATTLELINK Utility Low Profile Stock (BULS). It also looks pretty good. But now that the company's introduced the MFT BATTLELINK Minimalist Stock (BMS/BMSMIL), the BULS may have a hard time out there finding its mission niche. As Juranis states in the video below, it's an "in-betweener".
The MFT BMS/BMSMIL is a really-lo-pro/lo-vis (low-profile/low-visibility) telescoping/retractable buttstock that would appear to be well-suited for V-SBRs (Very Short Barreled Rifles), especially if you want to hide it under a jacket. "This actually comes in at about 4.5 to 5 ounces, which is dramatically lower and will probably make it the lightest AR stock on the market, as well as the strongest. This has been tested against standard A-frame stocks. The strength-to-weight ration on this is probably double to triple [that] on a standard A-frame stock," Juranis told DR. He added, "With the addition of the [BattleLink] Minimalist Stock, this thing has been getting absolute rave reviews in testing. Some of the guys in-country, some of the [SEAL] Team guys that we work with…but this thing is literally, like I said, the brainchild of some of the consultant base that we work with and, ya' know, again, it's gonna' be…it is for the guy who needs to cut weight, cut everything that they absolutely need to the bare minimum."
It should perhaps be noted that DefenseReview.com (DR) has a lot of experience with telescoping/retractable AR (AR-15/M4/M4A1) carbine/SBR (Short Barreled Rifle)/sub-carbine buttstocks, including the Vltor Modstocks, MagPul Buttstocks and Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) SOPMOD Stock/SOCOM Stock. Our current favorite stock setup is the Vltor IMod Stock (Improved Carbine Modstock, MILSPEC version) with EMod A5 Buffer Tube/Buffer Kit for enhanced/optimal reliability, but we also like the MagPul CTR Carbine Stock – Mil-Spec Model sometimes for SBR/V-SBR/sub-carbines, particularly with 7.5-9" barrels meant to be carried lo-pro/lo-vis under a jacket. However, DR plans to try out the latest Mission First Tactical AR buttstocks for comparison, as soon as we can get our hands on some for testing. Hopefully, the MFT buttstocks can be integrated with the Vltor EMod A5 Buffer Tube/Buffer Kit.
Hopefully, all Kryptek camouflage patterns will be avaiable for MFT accessories. Kryptek has developed the following camo patterns, so far: Kryptek Highlander (arid/transitional terrain), Kryptek Nomad (desert terrain), Kryptek Mandrake (woodland terrain), Kryptek Typhon (urban terrain, Kryptek Raid, and Kryptek Yeti (arctic terrain).
Check out the video below to see what Mr. Juranis showed DR at SHOT:
Mission First Tactical AR-15 Rifle/Carbine/SBR Accessories in Kryptek Camouflage Patterns: Camo MFT BATTLELINK Utility Stock (BUS)/Minimalist Stock (BMS) Series, MFT REACT Vertical Grip Series, MFT TORCH Light/Laser Mount Series, MFT Engage Pistol Grip Series and MFT Rail Systems (Video!)
by David Crane
About David Crane
David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.