Midwest Industries is an industry name that is well established in both the 2A community and among professionals alike. The company has been designing and manufacturing weapons and weapon accessories for over 20 years. With so much time and innovation, it's always eye-opening when a seasoned manufacturer continues to innovate. Industry StandardsThe firearms industry is as technical as it is competitive. Midwest Industries has survived in an industry for well over two decades by making reliable, well-engineered accessories and firearms that meet and exceed industry standards for reliability, durability, and quality. I have been using Midwest Industries accessories and even their firearms since the early 2000s. As an 18B, Weapons Sergeant in Special Forces, I have put an emphasis on knowing quality weapon parts and their implementation. Midwest Industries has been a player and has been on my downrange weapons with the highest level of reliability in combat.There are many choices today with great designs and reputations across the board; not many companies have the time that Midwest Industries does to innovate for so many different platforms. Troy and the Midwest Team have taken the time to create a wide variety of products, and these are well documented. What we as end users haven’t seen as of yet is the wide variety of improved products and new designs that Midwest has brought to market. In this article, we will look at some of these new products, from the improved Gen. 2 optics mounts and the new Combat HD handguard designed from the ground up to be a tier-one performer competing with the best handguards on the market. The products manufactured by MI are all made from 6160 hard anodized aluminum. Combat HD HandguardMidwest Industries is most likely known for its various handguards, most notably its AR-15 and AK handguards. Today, with the massive amount of mission diversity that is necessitated by modern warfare, the ability to reliably mount a significant number of various accessories to a handguard is a greater demand for rigidity and adaptability for AR-based weapons. The need for increased rigidity in handguards has been recognised. Several companies have stepped up their game to facilitate these needs, and Midwest was also paying attention.The new Combat HD handguard is the culmination of the Midwest Industries handguard experience, evolved into a top contender for multirole use. The Combat HD is preset in length to facilitate the use of suppressors with the application of Rifle Speed adjustable gas blocks. The Combat HD is purpose-built to be a suppressor-compatible handguard. The lengths are pre-machined to support the quick-adjustable gas block for adjustments on the fly based on current needs or weapon status.Another necessity for the design was maximum rigidity. With day/night accessories that require a zero, end clients demanded increased rigidity to ensure no shift in zero. The 4140-steel barrel nut was increased more than twice in length to stabilize the handguard, and the anti-rotational wedges were also increased, providing more surface area while increasing strength significantly.The 12 o’clock rail remains and is scalloped to reduce weight, increase ergonomics, and provide easier routing of cables for better management. QD sling mounts are improved by angled placement and steel anti-rotational inserts. The M-Lok slots are on the rest of the side of the handguard at 7 different angles, providing significant mounting options. The thickness of the handguard has been significantly increased, adding to the rigidity. With the added thickness, Midwest has machined scalloped reductions into the handguard, and where M-Lok was not advantageous, relief cuts were made to lighten the handguard. This includes special relief cuts for hand traction.The Combat HD handguard is also fully deburred, removing any sharp angles, even those regularly seen and felt on Picatinny. The patented locking system with hex is continued for secure lock-in and completed in a type 3 hard anodization. To say the new handguard is combat-ready would be an understatement. While not the most expensive, the new Combat HD handguard is cross-platform compatible with other standard milspec uppers and is not relegated to being used on special upper receivers. When combining all of these characteristics, the Midwest Combat HD handguard performs at the top level and directly rivals other more expensive handguards, and it does this at a price point that does not disappoint. Midwest Industries Optics Mounts Midwest Optics MountsRingsAnother area of recognition Midwest Industries has built a reputation in is optics mounts. MI is known for its wide variety of optics mounts. The scope mounts are of note; with version 2 now released, the 30, 34, and 35mm ring mounts are available with the option of QD or non-QD. The design is backwards compatible, allowing upgradable rings that facilitate mounting optics and accessories on the scope rings and will also interface with the first generation of ring mounts. The non-QD mounts are quite nice if removing is not a needed option; by removing the QD lever, the mount is kept slimmer and doesn’t interfere with the lines, and no protrusions get in the way. Less complexity equals greater overall reliability due to fewer points of failure or required maintenance.I set up primarily 30mm rings, but have two with 34mm. The mounts are solid; even with QD, the tension can be set up as needed to ensure a very snug fit. The top rings can be set up with a variety of footprints: Acro, RMR, and T2 with your choice of 12 o’clock or 45-degree offsets. The rings offer the most common footprints for small red dots or other mission-specific optics. The offering of a Picatinny rail is available for ranging and other mission devices. The quality of machining is excellent, and the weight is comparable to other high-end brands. Midwest Industries MK2 Optic Mounts with Vortex AMG 1-0 and Viridian RX45 Risers and Red Dot MountsThe MI MK2 M1913 riser is also a smart mount. It is not simply a riser; it’s an elongated Picatinny riser allowing pairing of optics on one focal plane paired on one riser. This ensures that space is used economically; couple this with the bevelled front and rear so there is universal mounting while reducing the mounting footprint space and you have an optic riser that is universally applicable for most end uses.Finally, I tested the MI red dot risers. These riser red dot mounts are, like the rings, optic-specific with the most common footprints offered. The mounts stand at a lower 1/3 co-witness; this offers the end user usable height without the worry of going too far over the bore axis, so adjustments need to be taken into account. The lower 1/3 is almost an industry standard for raised optic mounts; the more specific “heads up” height of 2.26” is available with other standard heights. The design is simplified with direct thread-to-receiver mounting or QD if needed. The mounts are small footprints, allowing maximum flexibility for the end user to choose the intended mounting solution. Midwest Industries Alpha Dustcover and Rear Picatinny Stock Adapter AK AccessoriesFinally, the tested MI accessories are the Alpha series of AK products. While I only tested the railed dust cover and gas tube mounts for optics, I can say without hesitation that both solutions offer stable, repeatable mounting that provides an excellent solution for zeroed optics and accessories. The Alpha series is without a doubt one of the finest upgrade kits I have used thus far. The improvements over the older MI AK accessories were a welcome upgrade to an already proven industry standard.The dust cover is well engineered, with an obvious influence from the Zenitco line-up; MI took these concepts and furthered the design and quality to a new standard. The option to use the stock dust cover and simply use a small optics mounting solution was a welcome offering. The full-length dust cover optics mounting was my first choice. Both options lock into the handguard at multiple points and easily pivot without losing zero. The aesthetic improvements complement the investment one makes when modernising and customising their platform.The Alpha handguard is also extremely well designed and made to function in combat conditions. With a variety of options, length and lower handguard or gas tube only, one can also combine the two with the addition of the optics mounting. There is no shortage of choices. I did not test the traditional designs of the side-mounted platforms, so I can not personally attest, but reviews have always been excellent. Midwest Industries Alpha Stock mounted to LAW Tactical Picatinny Adapter The Alpha stock is another Zentico-inspired but highly improved offering. Not only is it an excellent choice for many combat rifles, but I have found it to be exceptional for precision needs as well. With adjustable length of pull, comb, and butt pad, the Alpha offers a wide variety of options for meeting exactly the position an end user requires. Another point is the ability to mount it high or low on a rear Picatinny for better fitment, while the option to fold is there. Making transporting or storing the weapon more advantageous. As with all MI lockups on the folding mechanism, the lockup is solid with zero movement that I experienced. While folded, the design supports folding but does not lock in place. This is more advantageous in my opinion, due to the ability to rapidly deploy the stock; it is more than likely not requiring a locking mechanism to remain folded. Midwest Industries Inline Compensators Muzzle DevicesFinally, we will touch on MI’s compensators. There are a few to look at. Up front, it was a more advantageous approach not to look at every suppressor need and try to facilitate the industry. MI instead focused on actual compensation; those that needed QD solutions could approach the suppressor industry directly with a litany of results. Those options are offered on MI’s website, but MI keeps their in-house designs focused. Ported CompensatorsMI makes a well-established ported compensator; the Two Chambered Compensator is reminiscent of the AK74 design but with some improvements. With the obvious Western thread patterns, M14x1L is available, as are standard Western thread pitches for 5.56, 7.62x51, and 9mm. There is even an AK12-inspired compensator threaded in three offerings: M14X1LH / M24X1.5RH / 1/2X28. For those looking at lever guns, there is also an entire listing of common lever gun thread pitches available. I have found the compensator to work extremely well and reduce recoil and climb. While not the best choice for CQB, most compensators are not intended for use in close spaces, especially when blast is an issue, as seen with adjacent shooters or glass. Midwest Industries Alpha Inline Compensator Inline CompensatorsThere are three different inline compensators I have personally used and can attest to. The first point is to understand why an individual may opt for the use of an inline compensator. Inline compensators are normally good at reducing felt blast to the environment adjacent to the end user. This reduces the concussive blast felt on either side of the muzzle. This matters when shooting in confined spaces and/or when directly next to another person. This is achieved by directing the blast forward. In some cases, if the compensator has an expansion chamber built into the design, it can nearly or completely reduce flash. Another use for inline compensators is to also create back pressure. For some shortened platforms, this adds operational reliability, helping the platform to cycle correctly when not enough back pressure can be created due to the shortened barrel.The Blast Can is a smaller diameter elongated chamber that creates added back pressure but offers porting at the end to allow safe use. This is excellent for improved operation and highly reduced compensation to the sides of the platform. The Blast Diverter is a small front-ported inline compensator that minimises length for platforms like a PDW while again minimising the side overpressure seen with traditional ported compensators. It will not reduce flash but is good for small packaged rifles. Finally, there is the Alpha Blast Diverter; this is a modern take on a traditional Russian design for creating improved cycling while massively reducing flash. The Alpha comes in both standard Soviet thread patterns as well as 1/2x28 for Western use.There are a few other indigenous flash hiders and compensators with proven design profiles. I have not used these personally but have used other devices exactly like these in the past on issued firearms or on platforms I have experimented with. Their performance is well documented, and many other companies utilise these same design cues. Final ThoughtsThe weapons market is flooded with a massive number of manufacturers and vendors offering thousands of different products. I could not cover in a year the number of products offered just domestically. Choosing a brand is a personal experience, and every end user has their own personal bias, myself included. I have used many brands issued for actual combat use. My personal use at home and in combat with Midwest Industries has always been one of success and dependability. I have yet to have used an accessory or rifle that did not meet or exceed my expectations.Midwest Industries has been, in my opinion, a solid performer that sets standards and performs well above its cost. The commitment to create high-quality products that are fairly priced and perform as expected is not an easy accomplishment. To be objective, some products may edge out Midwest Industries in some areas based on user-specific needs, but I have not found them yet in my last 20 years of use. Starting with my SCAR 17 handguard upgrade, I deployed to Afghanistan, and the handguard was a serious upgrade, allowing for exceptional flexibility during deployment, never lost zero for my laser and gave me a much-needed upgrade on real estate.Again, the objective is to provide you, the end user, with a look at why Midwest Industries is a viable, combat-proven option for accessories. Some individuals will remain brand loyal; I too have my opinions based on experience. The objective facts are that MI is performing at a level expected by professionals and affordable to the masses. In a market where cloning and copying what influencers and media show, it's nice to choose a path of personalisation that isn’t exploited by social media, but still performs at the highest standards. I have bet my life on these products and been pleased with the result. Midwest Industries is a product that is money well spent on a name that has earned trust and respect over two decades of providing products.