For anyone who spends time on the range, or tuning their firearms at home, the right tools are essential. And if you are a PRS shooter, or use a holographic/red dot optic, you will have a need to disassemble/reassemble/adjust the optics that go with it. The Rifle and Optics Toolkit by Fix It Sticks offers a compact kit, with some of the most common bits to adjust a multitude of optics and accessories, and includes a calibrated torque driver that can meet the needs of most challenges.
The Rifle and Optics Toolkit comes inside a zippered nylon pouch measuring 5.25” (L) x 3.75” (H) x 1.5” (W), and secured into a molded polymer insert that secures each component of the ROT to prevent any excess movement or contact with other parts.
Central to the Rifle and Optics Toolkit is a T-way wrench that has three integrated slotted points for inserting any of the kit’s ¼” bits and gain additional leverage as needed. The wrench also includes a free spinning collar that allows the end-user to hold the wrench in place, but spin it freely for use.
The All-In-One Torque Driver is calibrated at factory to offer a range of marked tension limits (between 15 – 65 in-lb). The internal mechanism of the torque driver is ramped that gives consistent pressure while turned (meaning the end user doesn’t set the desired torque limit and it breaks that tension once the limit is reached).
The Rifle and Optics Toolkit includes 15 different electroless, nickel-plated ¼” bits that are commonly associated to firearm optics that includes:
- T10
- T15
- T20
- T25
- Hex 3/32″
- Hex 5/64″
- Hex 1/8″
- Hex 5/32″
- Hex 3/16″
- Hex 2.5mm
- Hex 3mm
- Hex 4mm
- Hex 5mm
- P1 Phillips
- Slotted 5mm Flathead
- 1/2″ socket with 1/4″ bit adapter
The Rifle and Optics Toolkit only comes in a black nylon pouch, with genuine YKK zippers.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Good (4/5): With its list price of $120, the Rifle and Optics Toolkit is a consolidation of hand tools specifically for adjusting, mounting, and care of optics, optic mounts, and other minor accessories commonly associated with long guns. Its multiple tool bits bring together a broad range of sizes end-users are most likely to need at home or in the field, while a hand wrench and torque driver help to ensure consistent and proper tension every time. All of this in a compact zippered case that fits easily into a pocket or range bag. It is difficult to equate the comparative value of the Rifle and Optics Toolkit to other tools on the market as most would have to be purchased either individually, or be selectively chosen from different kits. Real Avid offers the Smart-Torq ($79.99) and its Smart Drive 90 Gunsmithing Set ($99.99), but both these are larger tools dedicated to firearms and on a work bench. Nightforce does offer an Optics Mounting Kit ($275.00), but its contents are tailored specifically for their own optics line. If one were to try and piece together a similar kit citing individual components (such as from Lowes or Home Depot and of lesser quality in manufacturing), they would need to either purchase individual bits and torque wrench (which would still be “mechanical” sized and bulky), or piecemeal it together from a few larger tool kits (still just as bulky and now more expensive). Thus for its price, size, and included components specific for optics, the Rifle and Optics Toolkit is at a good cost and balance for the items needed to its specific purpose.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): From a comfort aspect the Rifle and Optics Toolkit really came down to its compact portability, and tool assembly when needed. As a small toolkit, the overall size easily fit into a pocket, range bag, glove box or in many other places without taking up an excessive amount of room. The zipper itself moved easily and securely, regardless of how the kit was otherwise treated during transport. As for assembly, the polymer insert securely held all the pieces of the kit in place so there was no rattling or items coming loose. Each was held independently in its own space, and when needed, easily removed. During usage, snapping the bits into the torque driver or wrench held a small amount of physical resistance, before locking into palace. At no point during evaluation did the bits come out unnecessarily or when removing the wrench itself. The free-spinning collar on the wrench was a bonus for comfort that allowed removal of small screws to be done quickly as opposed to an Allen key or bar. One recommendation for FixItSticks would be to think about magnetized bits so any screws removed would be held to the bit, rather than immediately falling away.
- Durability – Average (3/5): The durability of the Rifle and Optics Toolkit was appropriately (or average) for the materials of the bits themselves, and as the other parts and pieces. The bits appeared to be made from heat-treated Cr-V steel as found in many common tool bits on the market. The darker tone of the bit’s exterior was almost certainly due to the electroless nickel plating that was added in the manufacturing as an anti-corrosion measure to protect against moisture, oil, or other liquids. The torque driver itself and T-way wrench were likewise crafted in steel to ensure rigidity and durability. Over use during the evaluation, neither wear or slippage, marring of the metals, nor surface corrosion was noted and the long-term viability of the tools was an almost certainty.
- Functionality – Good (4/5): Functionally, the Rifle and Optics Toolkit did a good job at what is was designed to—i.e. provide a small, compact toolkit to service optics and smaller necessities (such as pistol grip screws) in the field or at home. The toolkit could be stored with minimal space, taken out and used without parts running all over, then packed away. It was in no means a kit for precise scientific torque use, and end-users should bear that in mind when it comes time to consider tools needed for proper torque on rifle builds or other larger-scale projects. But for adjustments on the range, last minute swap-outs, or just at home trying different optic or mount alternatives the Rifle and Optics Toolkit easily met those needs. Perhaps one suggestion to Fix It Sticks in the future would be the inclusion of a window pocket on the inside of the nylon pouch so that end-users could create/store a torque cheat sheet, for which screws or points need what torque limits, would be a good inclusion to elevate the product with minimal added cost. Alternatively, a small hook-and-loop (female) field on the exterior could be added so that stitched labels or patches (that Fix It Sticks could produce) could be added to easily identify, from the exterior, what kit it is. The ubiquitous all-black nylon pouches could get difficult to easily discern if multiple ones are all in a range bag together. Labels would easily resolve that.
- Weight – Good (4/5): At an overall weight of 12.9 ounces, the Rifle and Optics Toolkit took up only a minimal amount of space and weight for the diverse number of alternative screw bits and torque driver it held. Each bit itself was minimally weighted, with in fact the torque driver and T-way wrench being the heaviest items in the kit. When in contrast with the rest of the tools and items typically carried in a range bag, the amount of space saved in lieu of the alternatives tools needed to equal the same type of kit was significant in the favor the Rifle and Optics Toolkit. In comparison, the Real Avid Smart-Torq (25.6 ounces), the Smart Drive 90 Gunsmithing Set (59.4 ounces), and the Nightforce Optics Mounting Kit (27.2 ounces) are all heavier in that they are larger tool kits, with more parts, that accomplish much the same function. As such, the Rifle and Optics Toolkit from Fix It Sticks is at a good functional weight for the tool kit available and amid the market alternatives.
Overall Rating – Above Average (19/25)
Product Link: https://store.fixitsticks.com/collections/all-shooting-hunting/products/rifle-optics-toolkit-all-in-one-torque-driver
I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, LLC, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.
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