New from Magpul Industries and LaRue Tactical is a line of AR accessories in the urban dark earth color. Shown is the CTR stock and M.O.E. pistolgrip.

Bound to happen because LaRue Tactical traces its roots to CNC machining, while Magpul Industries Corp. primarily offers injection-molded products. So when the two companies came together to offer a kit sold exclusively through LaRue Tactical, it seemed brilliant.

And the idea's simple - offer a package with everything to upgrade your favorite AR-15 rifle, plus add a new UDE two-tone facelift in the process.

The UDE Kit thus includes the following: one LaRue Tactical Forward Universal Grip (F.U.G.) with all three interchangeable tail-caps, one Magpul Mil-Spec CTR Stock, one Magpul Original Equipment (M.O.E.) pistol grip, and twelve sets of Magpul XTM Rail Panels.

Dark Matter

So what exactly is UDE? LaRue notes the UDE color scheme is a "subtle cross between FDE (flat dark earth) and foliage green."

I view the UDE color as a deeper, muted form of flat dark earth consistent with colors often seen in many urban environments. The color resembles cement after a period of exposure, or colors often seen on outdoor monuments.

Installation Test

I installed the UDE Kit on my new Spike's Tactical 22 Long Rifle AR-15 that I'd purchased for some economical shooting.

The UDE Kit's CTR stock installs like any other Mil-Spec collapsing stock. But it's a nice upgrade from other collapsing stocks due to Magpul's locking mechanism, which prevents auto-collapsing and adds an overall increase to stability and accuracy.

Included in the kit is a LaRue FUG forend grip with three endcaps and three sets of XTM rail covers.

The F.U.G. uses LaRue Tactical's Adjustable Speed Lever Mount, found on all its optic-mounting solutions. What makes the F.U.G. so appealing is its ability to change from a longer forward grip to a shorter "stubby" grip by simply unscrewing the bottom tail cap and replacing it with one of the others supplied with the UDE Kit.

Furthermore, the internal cavity of the F.U.G. provides yet another space to store batteries, a spare bolt or other small items.

Finally, the twelve sets of XTM rail panels are a likely improvement over any other rail cover you may have had experience with. These panels attach in small sections, which allows for previously mounted accessories to remain in their location while adding a panel or two along either side. Also, the XTM panels lock into place to they won't move, even under the most strenuous conditions.

The UDE Kit costs $225 and for everything that's included, it's a great value. I say this because if each part was purchased separately from the respective manufactures, the total cost would be over $240 (before shipping and tax).

As an added bonus, every item purchased from LaRue comes with the famous assortment of "goodies." These can range from T-Shirts, bumper stickers, BBQ rub, hats, paint mixers and of course, Dillos.

The UDE Kit is an inexpensive way to upgrade and update your favorite AR-15 rifle, and it's the result of a collaboration between two of the most popular manufactures in the tactical firearms industry.

Notable

> For more information on the manufacturers mentioned in this review, visit Larue.com, Magpul.com, and SpikesTactical.com.

The opinions contained in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of TacticalGunFan nor its staff.

J. Thomas Jones currently attends a Top 100 law school in the state of Georgia. He owns and operates 68forums.com, 458SOCOMforums.com and moderates the "AR Variants" section of AR15.com. Mr. Jones' training experience includes Valhalla Training Center, ProTac Global, I.C.E. Training Company and he just finished a 10-week tour with the US Attorney's Office in Boston, attached to the anti-gang task force. An avid IDPA, USPSA and clay shooter, Mr. Jones also enjoys big-game hunting and cattle ranching in the Midwest. He may be reached via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or at any of the aforementioned sites.