Sunday, December 16, 2012

B5 Bravo SOPMOD Buttstock

I love America.  I believe in American exceptionalism, our entrepreneurial spirit, and support un-apologetic patriotism.  While the socialistic tides are flowing against the foundations that this great country was built on, the opportunities for success are there for those who are willing to use their ingenuity, work hard, and persist when faced with adversity.


Those values and beliefs are clearly evident not far from the gals and I here in southwest Ohio up at B5 Systems... in a plain, nondescript facility on the outskirts of Xenia, Ohio... well... nondescript except for the large B5 Systems logo on the side of the building.  Taking decades of experience in precision, mil-spec military and aerospace contracting, manufacturing, and engineering... Judd Burke and the good folks at B5 opened their new business in 2008 and quickly made a name for themselves in the firearms community when they were awarded the military contract to produce the mil-spec Enhanced SOPMOD Buttstock back in 2009.  


B5 is now in the process of designing and developing their own line of mil-spec, quality firearm accessories... and they just introduced the first of several with the announcement of the BCM/Haley Strategic The Jack Carbine.  The B5 Bravo SOPMOD Buttstock keeps the mil-spec quality B5 Systems is known for as a government contractor and manufacturer... and offers many of the advantages of the Enhanced SOPMOD without the battery storage in a lighter, more compact unit.


The angle of the Bravo's anti-slip, cushioned and removable butt plate has been designed with a cant and fits my hold point much better in a forward-facing CQB type of stance.  The overall profile for the cheek-weld has been kept the same as the Enhanced SOPMOD.


You can easily see how much narrower the profile of the Bravo is when placed next to the Enhanced SOPMOD.  I personally could not tell a difference in the feel and fit when actually switching back and forth between the two stocks in terms of cheek-weld, but I did find that for my body, chest, and shoulder... the new cant of the Bravo fit better and provided a more solid, parallel contact point for me.


I think a lot of folks will probably not need the extra battery storage on the rifle, so I doubt that most will miss that feature.  B5 does offer the buttstocks molded in various colors.


You can really see the slender, sleekness of the new Bravo when comparing it to the Enhanced SOPMOD and viewing both of them from the front.  Speaking of slender... weighing the two buttstocks on our digital scale... the Enhanced SOPMOD weighs in at 10.6 ounces with the battery compartments free of batteries while the new Bravo weighs just 8.2 ounces... that's 2.4 ounces less.


The ambidextrous, position-locking, quick-detach sling mounting points... in addition to the two traditional slots for threading through web-strapping of of other slings... provides many options for folks whether you're running with a two-point sling set-up or a one-point sling.


Our one-point Troy Battle Sling attached positively and easily... although I wouldn't attach it all the way back on the stock as in the photo, but I don't currently have any quick-detach two-point slings.  The sling attached with precision, but the fit wasn't so tight as to make attachment or detachment difficult.  Mark Keller... B5's Director of Marketing, Firearms Fanboy, Industry-Connected, AR Guru... has worked with key players in the AR world, military, and firearms industry throughout the entire design and development process for the Bravo... and I think it shows in the details, quality, and versatility... especially with the sling attachment options.


I found the Bravo's six-position locking-lever to be slightly more rounded and ergonomic than the original Enhanced SOPMOD and those on standard M4-style, six-position, adjustable stocks.  The fit of the stock on our Ruger SR-556c was perfect... snug, no play, or wiggle, and adjustment was easy with positive positioning on the buffer tube.


Folks are going to find that the military and aerospace engineering and manufacturing expertise and capabilities that B5 Systems brings to the table allows them to produce quality mil-spec gear and accessories for the AR-platform at price-points that will keep the competition hoppin'.  

B5 will be be hard to beat and... in full disclosure .. I am acquainted with these folks... and they provided the new, still packaged stocks for me to use and evaluate... and they're good people with terrific products... which is American exceptionalism and entrepreneurship at it's best... These are patriotic Americans with American designed and American made products putting Americans to work.

B-Smart, B-Aware, B-Ready... B5 Bravo SOPMOD Buttstock

8 comments:

  1. Thank you for this. I've been to Xenia before on business and drove around that beautiful area that came back so well from so much loss years ago after the killing tornado.

    Glad to see the spirit of freedom and capitalism still shining on. I will be checking out their products, you can be certain of that.

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    1. Brigid... I'm just praying the mis-guided folks in DC don't make a stupid law against citizens possessing those "mean looking" adjustable stocks...

      Dann in Ohio

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  2. Ordered in black. Thanks Dann.

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    1. Six... if you have a mil-spec buffer tube, you'll like it a lot... Hope all is well with you and Lu...

      Dann in Ohio

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  3. Found your blog through another. I'm a hunter (deer, ducks, upland birds), and not sure how these would be used in hunting. Target practice, perhaps? They look rather military.

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    1. @Fish... If you'd prefer another color, or some camo... B5 has a lot of color options for you... I'm not sure what else makes them look "military"...

      They would be perfect for a hunter who uses an AR-style rifle or any rifle with a similar mounting option... it provides s great cheek-weld which any hunter with a rifle will appreciate and the adjustable length of pull the stock allows is terrific for accommodating shooters of various sizes... I'm 5'11" while be daughter is half my weight and 5'6"... an adjustable stock is wonderful... I often run across old wood-stocked rifles that have been cut down for a youth or smaller person, sometimes with the cut off piece glued and/or screwed back on... probably as the hunter grew older... no need for that with an AR-style adjustable and interchangeable stock...

      Dann in Ohio

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  4. Nice! Thanks for the info! That is if I can get anything else now for the Colt 6940.

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    1. @Keads... I think 2012 will be another record year for gun and gun accessory sales...

      Dann in Ohio

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