FAB Defense

FAB Defense KPOS Scout stretches Glock power

July 12, 2018 By Eve Flanigan Leave a Comment

KPOS and 17 — **The FAB Defense KPOS Scout under a Glock 17–truly a compact package!**

Anyone who’s been around Glock fans for a while is likely familiar with some version of the refrain, “I wish Glock would build a rifle.” Thanks to a couple manufacturers, including FAB Defense of Israel, Glock owners won’t have to wait a lifetime—or even more than a couple weeks.

FAB Defense designed the KPOS Scout, an aluminum and polymer shroud that slips over and around the slide and frame of most Glock pistols to create a short-barreled rifle (SBR). Ported models aren’t excluded from use with the Scout. The sample shown in this review fits the Glock 17 and 19.

You’re likely thinking “fine, but an SBR is NFA-regulated, and the waiting period for registration is a heckuva lot longer than two weeks!” And you’d be correct, of course. Add a 16-inch barrel to this kit, though, and you’ve got yourself a Glock rifle that’ll add some accuracy, and a lot of fun, to your plain ol’ Glock.

With the 16-inch barrel by IGB inserted in the Glock 17, assembly looked straightforward enough—but the included instructions and all but one of the very few online tutorials lacked a vital piece of information about moving a non-obvious tab at the rear of the receiver portion of the stock out of the way. Knowing that, installation was quick, easy, and free of fiddling with tiny parts that are easily lost, putting the Scout a notch above at least some of its competition in this department

Glock 17 with IGB barrel — **Glock 17 with a 16-inch IGB barrel**

The KPOS Scout upper is formed of 6061 aluminum. Bridging the ejection port is a 1913 Picatinny rail. Up front, a fat flash hider of sorts extends a couple inches (exact length depends on which model Glock is inserted) beyond the real muzzle, making its mean look just a little more so. The false muzzle device also inspires a serious warning in the product manual to not place the hand closer to the end than the foregrip.

Speaking of the pistol grip-style foregrip, it’s part of what makes this setup cool. It folds rearward, flat against the upper, for storage or transport. When folded, it also acts as an effective trigger protector. It flips down and is ready for action with just a flick of the wrist. The foregrip is well textured and, while it’s quite unnecessary for recoil management, it provides an important and tactile index point for a device that may well be used in dark conditions. FAB Defense outsourced here; the foregrip is by FGGI.

An AR-style charging handle, sans a lever, performs the task of racking. The Glock’s grip and fold-down foregrip offer two points of manual contact. Shoulder contact is via what Fab Defense calls the lower, or folding stock.

This skeletonized stock folds nice and flat against the upper, making the package very compact and easy to transport. A pushbutton release allows to unfold and lock into place in full extension. A stylized butt and hiking boot sole-like pad round out the tactical appearance. The hard rubber butt pad makes for a solid point of contact and looks great. It’s a little surprising there’s not a molded polymer butt, which would make the Scout even lighter than its already light 1.44 pounds, without a firearm installed.

Buttstock — **A padded buttstock borders on overkill, but gets an “A” for being compact and cool. The sling swivel is handy**.

Other useful features are a sling swivel and loop on the upper where it meets the stock. FAB Defense kindly provides a bungee-construction single point sling with the Scout. On each side of the forend is just enough rail to attach a light or other device. These small rails are placed well forward so as not to impede handling, as well as minimizing the shadow cast by the false muzzle device if the kit is used with a light.

All the features of this device come in a very compact package. The Scout is just 6.70 inches tall, 12.84 inches long, and 2.87 inches wide. With the stock deployed, the length increases to 21.34 inches, shoulder to flash hider. The width decreases to 2.36 inches with the stock open. Keep in mind, these are maximum dimensions for the largest parts of the device. It’s truly compact in comparison to most carbines and even mot SBRs.

Folding grip — **KPOS Scout with stock deployed. With the G17 in place, it’s easy to see why there’s a warning about keeping mitts off the forend in front of the folding grip.**

The KPOS Scout isn’t the first Glock carbine conversion on the market, in fact DownRangeDaily covered this kit by CAA in December 2017. The KPOS Scout is a variation on this theme, but has its own unique look. Unlike the CAA Micro Roni, the Scout comes in a choice of four colors to contrast or match black: gray, olive drab, desert tan, and of course all black.

Accuracy shouldn’t be affected by firing the Scout with a standard Glock barrel, though the addition of a stock can certainly help operator stability, and thus enhance accuracy at distance. As a baseline, our best five-shot group with Speer Gold Dot 147 grain ammunition at 25 yards, from a bagged rest and seated shooter position, was 2.1 inches—an impressive result for a “naked” Glock, but the way it was obtained is unrealistic for any practical purpose.

With the 16-inch IGB barrel on board, the accuracy test was repeated in the same manner, first with Federal 115 grain aluminum-cased ammo—this inexpensive option was supposed to be a baseline for zeroing the Aimpoint Micro red dot, but turned out the best group. Here are the results:

Load Five-shot group size

Federal aluminum FMJ 115 grain 1.5 inches

Sig Sauer Elite Match 147 grain 3.4 inches

Precision Delta PDP Pro 124 grain 4.0 inches

It’s possible that heat, both ambient and shooting-related, played a role in this test. The rounds were fired in order of grain weight, from lightest to heaviest, on a 100-degree day.

**KPOS Scout and G17, right view. The stock stays folded unless released by a push button.**

With an NFA permit and pistol in place, the KPOS Scout makes an extremely portable pistol that handles like a carbine. With the longer barrel, the NFA requirement is negated and the user can enjoy a true dual-purpose tool for target practice and home defense.

The FAB Defense KPOS Scout isn’t easy to find in the States, but is available by order from Israel. Currently ZFI, Inc. offers it for $299.95. ZFI knocks 10 percent off for customers who register on their website. American-based distributors are needed. Potential dealers should contact ZFI for information.

The KPOS Scout and G2- Whats the Difference?

June 26, 2018 By Travis Pike Leave a Comment

Some time ago I reviewed the KPOS G2 for Down Range Daily. To me, it was a fun, well made and impressive way to turn a Glock into a modern tactical carbine. I’ve handled some carbine conversion kits and found the KPOS G2 to be my favorite overall. In 2018, FAB Defense decided to tweak the KPOS design and showed us the KPOS Scout. The Scout was an exciting development and showed FAB Defense wanted to modernize the KPOS design and make it a little more appealing to a western audience. My friends at ZFI-Inc were kind enough to send me one to compare with my KPOS G2. So let’s take a look at the two and dissect some differences

What the KPOS Scout and G2 Have in Common

Both of these systems are compatible with the Glock series of medium frame pistols like the 17, 19, 22, 23, etc. They turn your handgun into a rifle, which could be an SBR. An SBR is a short barreled rifle that’s a heavily regulated title 2 firearm.

The good news is both systems are compatible with Glocks using the IGB 16 inch rifle barrel. The presence of a 16-inch barrel turns the entire system into a standard, non-NFA, rifle. This makes life a little more hassle-free for anyone looking to turn their Glock into a rifle.

Both systems feature full-length scope rails, side Picatinny rails, and folding stocks.

Material Difference

The material difference is the first and most obvious difference. The KPOS G2 is made almost entirely from 6061 T6 billed hard anodized aluminum. It is comparable to a standard submachine gun and gives it a hefty, but manageable weight.

The KPOS Scout is made from a hybrid of polymer and aluminum. The upper portion of the Scout is made from a 6061 T6 hard anodized aluminum, and the lower section and stock are made from polymer. The aluminum upper ensures it can withstand the heat from long sessions of fire, and use with ported Glocks.

Dimensional Differences

The use of polymer in the Scout’s design cuts about 10 ounces of weight from the entire system. This is a substantial little weight saving. That’s almost half the weight of the Glock 17 I’m installing into both systems. The Scout weighs 25.39 ounces, and the G2 weighs 25.80 ounces.

The Scout is also slightly shorter with a length of 21.3 inches with the stock deployed. The G2 has a length of 23.2 inches with the stock deployed. The G2 is half an inch thinner, and a little less than an inch shorter when it comes to overall height.

The two differences in overall length and weight are the most important to note. The Scout is lightweight, and therefore easier to carry. If you go the NFA route and register your Glock as an SBR you then have a shorter, more comfortable to carry package. That 2 or so inches make it easier to squeeze the gun into a bag for discrete carry.

Modularity Differences

Another difference of note is the fact the KPOS Scout features shorter rails than the KPOS G2. This isn’t likely to be a big deal since it has enough rail space to accommodate the majority of pistol sized accessories.

The G2 also has a removable stock that allows you to add different stocks from FAB Defense, or even a Pathfinder tube and pistol brace. The Scout lacks the modularity to swap stocks.

Use Differences

One thing I love on the Scout that I noted is lacking from the KPOS G2 is an extended charging handle. The G2 features a standard size AR 15 charging handle, and the Scout uses an ambidextrous extended charging handle. It is much easier to reach and rack than the G2’s. The Scout also has an excellent QD sling point for easy use and install.

I will say installing the Glock when it’s equipped with the IGB barrel is easier with the G2. It just slides right in, and there is plenty of room due to the rear latching plate. With the Scout, you have the remove the Glock slide with the barrel, install that and then reinstall the grip.

Using a SIRT Glock look alike it is easier to install a standard Glock into the KPOS Scout. Both systems are intuitive, but the Scout’s one button assembly design you can do it very quickly versus the KPOS G2’s hinging back and front system.

On the range, both systems perform admirably. The wide ejection port ensures brass flies well away from the system and doesn’t jam anything up.

Price Differences

Price is a significant factor for a lot of people when choosing one of these kits. The Scout is about half the price of the G2. The G2’s all metal body undoubtedly contributes to a good bit of that price difference. The KPOS Scout goes for around 300 bucks, and the KPOS G2 retails for about 600.

Both systems very well made, and this isn’t something I’d call overpriced when quality is factored in. It’s not for everyone but rarely is anything. Both systems perform admirably, and the Scout is a bit more functional for the everyday civilian. The KPOS G2 is a little more rigid and would better in the hands of armed security and LEOs. Regardless of which way you go, make sure you check out our friends at ZFI for these kits, and the tons of accessories, optics, and slings they offer for these systems.

Savage 10 BA Stealth 6.5 Creedmoor Review

April 13, 2018 By Terry Nelson Leave a Comment

Savage 10 BA Stealth 6.5 Creedmoor Review — An affordable 1,000 yard rifle.

Hornady Cartridge Company first introduced the 6.5 Creedmoor centerfire rifle cartridge in 2007. It has taken a few years to catch on but it has taken off in popularity and by all appearances won’t be slowing down anytime soon. While talking with the folks at Savage Arms in the last couple of years, it’s obvious just how popular 6.5 Creedmoor has become.

This cartridge has finally come into its own, they say, and Savage has at least two dozen different rifle offerings chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. Many other major gun manufacturers including Ruger, Kimber, Browning, and Howa, to mention a few, offer the 6.5 as well.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve had the great privilege of being able to test one of Savage Arms’ rifle offerings in 6.5 Creedmoor, the Model 10 BA Stealth (the newest model for 2018 is the 10/100 BA Stealth Evolution). While hitting a mark at 1,000 yards and beyond was once mostly a sought-after benchmark for rifle shooters, today it has become almost commonplace.

I will have to admit however, the 6.5 Creedmoor has made that distance and beyond seem almost too easy. Don’t get me wrong, you have to do your part, especially if you have those nasty crosswinds. With relatively high sectional density and ballistic coefficient, 6.5 mm (0.264-inch) bullets, in general, are known for their success in rifle competitions.

For some loads, the 6.5mm Creedmoor is capable of duplicating the muzzle velocity or trajectory of the 300 Winchester Magnum with only minimal felt recoil. Along with its success as a competition and target cartridge, the 6.5 Creedmoor is exploding in popularity in the hunting and tactical markets.

bolt action — **Features include a Picatinny rail and Savage’s AccuTrigger with an extra-wide trigger guard. A ten-round magazine is included.**

The primary features of the Savage 10 BA Stealth 6.5 Creedmoor are: factory blued and printed Savage Action, monolithic aluminum chassis machined from solid billet, M-LOK forend, a one-piece EGW scope rail, Fab Defense GLR-SHOCK six-position buttstock with adjustable cheek piece, a 5/8×24 threaded muzzle with protector, detachable 10-round box magazine, and a Savage AccuTrigger.

Savage also offers more traditional style rifles that are chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor along with at least two semi auto models.

**The adjustable FAB Defense GLR stock on the 10 BA Stealth is truly functional.**

The first day I had the Savage 10 BA Stealth on a long distance range, I was hitting steel out to 1,000 yards. Admittedly I had the use of good ammo, American Eagle 140gr OTM (open tip match), a great optic—a Bushnell Elite Tactical LRS 6-24x first focal plane scope, and I made use of a good ballistics table.

There seems to be quite the discussion on the gun blogs of the effective range of this cartridge, from as little as 400 yards and out to 1,200-plus yards. Suffice it to say with the right ammo, 400 yards is child’s play with the 6.5 Creedmoor, and in the hands of a good rifleman 1,000 yards-plus is attainable for many.

There is a wide selection of good, factory ammo and volumes of data for reloaders. Muzzle velocities for the 6.5 are in the 2700 to 3200 fps range depending on bullet weight and load.

**Some of the more recent ammo offerings for the 6.5 Creedmoor from Federal.**

Recently with the aforementioned Savage Stealth in 6.5 Creedmoor (Savage offers the Stealth in 308 Winchester also), I harvested a mule deer buck in New Mexico during the fall rifle deer season. Using Federal Fusion 140 grain soft point, I made a 330-yard uphill, one-shot kill and the deer never moved, a very minor feat for the Stealth Creedmoor. I say this while holding the greatest respect to the animal and only to point out that the 6.5 Creedmoor is in fact a very suitable cartridge for the hunting environment.

**Mule Deer harvested in NM with the Savage Stealth in 6.5 Creedmoor**

If you’re considering a rifle in a newer cartridge that is ultra-flat shooting with mild recoil and want to challenge yourself at the 1,000-plus yard mark, the Savage BA10 Stealth 6.5 Creedmoor is worthy of consideration. And, I’m still enjoying the venison steak and jerky in case anyone is wondering!

savage 10 ba stealth 6.5 creedmoor — **The 10 BA Stealth is Light enough for the field and very capable for long range work. Bipod not included.**

(note: Federal Premium Ammunition provided ammo for this rifle test). Do you have any time spent with the Savage 10 BA Stealth? Let us know in the comments below.