Hodge Defense--Best Carbine money can buy?
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...e/IMG_9679.jpg
Where do I begin…..?
Hodge Defense systems is one of the best kept secrets in the industry. Jim Hodge started his small business a little over a year ago, but his name has been well known to the industry insider for as long as the GWOT has been waging. Jim has been in "public service" with various government organizations for more than 2 decades. During his spare time he had been building rigs for teammates, associates, and been heavily involved in assisting various manufactures in development and design to help better refine their products. So you still wonder who is Jim Hodge? HDSI is working with Alcoa Defense in refining the next generation forgings for both upper and lower receivers. So why would a multi-billion dollar company like Alcoa work with a small company from San Antion, Texas? You get the hint.
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...e/DSC00056.jpg
Currently Alcoa and HDS are working on a new alloy compound and new forging die design to revolutionize on how we view and build M4/M16 systems. Along with a new handguard that is also due out in the near future. HDS will raise some serious eyebrows.
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...e/DSC00043.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...e/DSC00049.jpg
The HDS AU-Mod1 arrived about three months ago. I am usually the type of person that will not write a report on a gun unless I can get some time on it. Over the past three months, I used this rifle in a Frank Proctor carbine class, few local training, and one LE carbine class, totaling about 3000 rounds. I only used Fireclean to break in the gun, and continue to lube the weapon with Fireclean.
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...e/DSC00053.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...e/DSC00065.jpg
Out of the box, I took it to the range to check for accuracy, I set up the rifle with US Optics MR-10, 1.8-10x scope with an American Defense Scout Mount. Ammunition used for the accuracy started with Lake city M193 to zero and later move to Mk262Mod1 for the final accuracy test. Two TEN round groups were fired and the gun exhibited a 1-1.5MOA* with the Mk 262 and about 3-4MOA with the M193. Pretty standard affair with the accuracy. Later I mounted my EOTech EXPS and zero the gun once more for Proctor’s class.
*I would love to be able to claim my awesome shooting skill, but truth be told, the two groups were shot by a local Metro PD officer with long range precision training… EOTech group was shot by none other than me…
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...e/DSC00059.jpg
The build and finish of this weapon is akin to a Wilson 1911, that is the quality you see when you first handle the AU-Mod1. I chatted with a lot of folks about this rifle, most everyone seems to cringe at the 2000.00 price tag, but as soon as they handle the rifle, you begin to see why the price tag. Of course, this isn’t some extreme price, it is about on par with all the high end rifles on the market. Believe me, this is probably the best high-end rifles you can buy for your money. Just one quick example…. When you get a tight upper to lower fit, the take down pin and the pivot pin would be difficult to remove. But not so with the AU-Mod1, the fit of the upper and the lower on the AU-Mod1 is tight, but the pins would slide out with butter smooth effort. The safety clicks into place with a firm click but the travel feels like it's on bearings. The staking tab on the buffer tube castle nut is also being centered perfectly on the buffer tube, just a lot of little details that you would never realize unless you have the AU-Mod1 in your hands. They use enhanced pivot and takedown pins, bolt catches, and bar stock components to replace cast parts. The wonder of workmanship of this gun is seeing is definitely believing.
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...e/DSC00064.jpg
About 3000 rounds fired over the past three months, mostly are all Winchester white box, I also tested with Wolf, Wolf Gold, PMC and some local reloads. There were no malfunctions of any kind, the gun ran as it should. I did not clean the weapon after each session, I just lube the gun prior to the start of the day with Fireclean and never experienced any problems.
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...e/DSC00047.jpg
Is AU-Mod1 worth the 2000.00+ price tag? I would whole heartedly believe it is worth every penny. From the components used on the weapon to the unrelenting workmanship, and the industry respect he has earned, this is the Porsche of M4 carbine. The HDSI rifle is also used by some of the industry heavyweights as their work gun, as well by people who work on teams, units, groups, and agencies, etc....you get what I mean.
Price is something you have to justify to yourself, but if you are in the market for a high end carbine, if you want the best, look no further than the HDS AU-Mod1…. It is a choice carbine.
http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/...hoto%20_6_.JPG
Approved by Jesse Jane