Leather EDC Belts

By

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April 14, 2023

If there is one thing that the EDC crowd obsesses over it’s belts, right after gun brand, caliber, sight type, carry position, shooting style, holster type, holster brand…point is we like geeking out over gear. We’re always looking for that thing that’s going to give us that little edge (as long as it isn’t dry fire practice or working with a shot timer).

There’s already tons of videos and articles out there about the best belt for XYZ, or the new hotness, so why would such a niche page like mine want to wade into such an overly saturated pool? Simple really. Dress belts are generally too delicate to effectively support a gun, and most of the purpose built gun belts out there, while wonderfully effective, can be so robust as to look out of place through the belt loops of dress slacks or a suit. Case in point, the Mean Gene Shooter’s belt is advertised at “just over 1/4 inch thick”. Well, when you’re going for a sleek, streamlined silhouette, that’s a lot of hide to have hanging off your hips.

When it comes to any inside the waistband carry, but especially appendix, most of the conventional wisdom on belts is actually counter productive. Super rigid belts make it harder to conform to the contours of your body. This means that the belt can actually be pulling the gun away from you, increasing printing.

With traditional belts with holes, usually most people find that one hole is uncomfortably tight, but the next one down is too loose to where the gun flops around. Before these ratcheting belts came on the market, the only options we had for micro-adjustability were either web belts or the Wilderness style, neither of which is really appropriate in a suit. Now there are options that give us the functionality we need along with a more approrpriate aesthetic, and at almost half the thickness of a leather gun belt, these ratchet belts are definitely worth considering.

KORE ESSENTIALS:

I was first introduced to Kore Essentials by one of YouTube’s gun personalities. It seemed like a pretty great solution: a dress-looking belt that was purpose built for carrying a gun! What more could you ask for? So I ordered up a couple. Now this was about the time that I was also experimenting with appendix carry so, not knowing any better, I opted for the more rigid kydex-reinforced belt that they offered at the time. For those unfamiliar, these belts are cut-to-size, so you trim it down yourself and then attach the buckle. The micro-adjustability of the ratcheting system was not only convenient, but it also made appendix carrying much more comfortable. I even ran the belt through ECQC, and it didn’t fail. The leather was a little worse for wear, but that’s to be expected when you’re rolling around in the gravely dirt of Austin.

After wearing these belts daily for a few months, I did notice a problem. The release latch on the buckle was so pronounced that it was wearing a hole into the front of my pants. This was especially problematic with lighter fabrics like on my slacks and suits. My immediate solution was to not tighten the belt down as much, but that of course made the holster less stable. I’ve been told that Kore has subsequently updated the buckle design, but I cannot confirm if that redesign fixed this issue. ~~I have no reason to doubt that it has~~. Update: After looking at the website, the buckle design still seems to have the same configuration. This leads me to believe it would have the same issue.

That bass-clef looking knob wore through 3 pairs of jeans and 2 sets of chinos in 6 months

The second thing that I’m not super fond of is that the leather started to de-laminate from the kydex and bubble up. It’s pretty unsightly, and so now the belt is all but unusable unless my shirt is untucked, or if I’m wearing a jacket all day. I’ve made do, but I found myself wanting a better solution. I tried a couple of their non-kydex reinforced fashion belts, but still ran into some of the same concerns.

SLIDEBELTS:

I’ll be honest, I ignored Slidebelts for a while because I saw their ads for the “Survival Belt” with the integrated blade and fire steel, and pretty much wrote them off. It struck me as a ridiculous concept. I randomly decided to give them another look, and was encouraged that they specifically identified different quality tiers of their belts on the website (top grain vs. full grain). I ordered a set of their top grain belts, a black, a brown, and a walnut, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I got:

Firstly, the buckle design on the Slidebelt is far superior in my mind. It’s sleeker, and there are no protrusions to wear into your clothing. Also there’s a much wider selection of buckle options, which is nice. The next thing that struck me was that their belts come with a slightly more pebbled texture to them than the Kore ones, which I happen to like. Also, the smooth face of the Kore belts caused dimples and separation to be much more apparent, causing the belt to show its age much faster.

Now I’m not crazy that the inside face of the Slidebelt isn’t finished. Aside from the fact that it makes the measurements harder to read when you’re sizing the belt, it just feels a little sloppy. And for a product that’s ~25% more expensive (MSRP) than the Kore belts that do have a finished inside, it does feel like they cut a corner there.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, they’re both perfectly serviceable choices. I can’t speak to how well the Slidebelt will hold up over time, but based solely on how they felt coming out of the box and the buckle design, they’ve unseated Kore for my everyday dress belt option when I’m carrying a gun. The construction is solid, and they’re a little more upfront about the materials they use. Kore does list the type of leather in the product descriptions, but you have to dig for it. I DO know some folks that are having belts made out of shell cordovan, and commissioning them from bridle/saddle shops, but at that point you’re essentially going bespoke, and that’s a little outside the realm of most of my audience.

Now will these products survive the rigors of a plain clothed executive protection detail? Something where you’re having to run rifle mags, a radio, and who knows what else on your beltline? No, probably not. They will however support my standard loadout until such time as I can get one of those snazzy custom cordovan numbers…which is probably going to be a while.

I have been playing with Anson Belt & Buckle lately as another option, and so far have been pleasantly surprised. I’m going to give it a little more time before I make my ruling on them though.

DON’T SHOOT!

By

The Suited Shootist

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April 13, 2023

Do you ever practice not shooting?

That’s kind of a weird concept, right? It’s virtually impossible to practice not doing an action.

Why would we need to do that anyways?

In the training space, there’s been a heavy focus over the past few years on pushing the boundaries of human performance in terms of both draw times and splits (the time between shots).

There is always merit to holding oneself to a higher standard, never accepting the status quo, and trying to constantly improve, however this focus on pushing performance isn’t always tempered with the context of application in the context of the civilian defender.

This can pose some challenges.

Like it or not, we live in a society where public opinion can influence the course of the aftermath of a defensive encounter.

If you’re regularly banging out 2-second Bill Drills, that type of shooting can result in an attacker getting shot “excessively” or “in the back”. CAN these things be articulated, and a jury be educated as to why they can fall within the realm of reasonableness? Absolutely. But are you hoping that your attorney and expert witnesses able to sway the opinion of a retired school teacher who spent decades espousing “we solve problems with our words, not our hands?” Also yes.

There’s 3 different branches to this “not shooting people” angle:

#1: They Don’t Need Shot Yet

This is where scenario-based training such as Force-on-Force or Hardwired Tactical Shooting’s Counter-Robbery curriculum comes into play. Situations that put you under a cognitive load, and you have to determine if and when it’s appropriate to produce or apply a weapon.

#2: They Don’t Need Shot Anymore

Darryl Bolke likes to drive the point home that every round fired is its own individual use of force decision, requiring independent justification. Going back to the Bill Drill example, just because dude needed shot on round 1 doesn’t necessarily mean you’re cleared hot for all 6.

Whether the target drops their weapon, stops advancing, or whatever else, at some point they’re no longer presenting a reasonable threat to you. If you continue putting rounds into them after that point, it’s entirely possible that you’re at the very least complicating your defense and, worst case scenario, have surpassed the window of justifiable homicide entirely.

A glaring example of this was the Houston taqueria shooting, and a less clear-cut example was the officer involved shooting of Toni McBride, the LAPD officer who also shot competition. Despite the fact that her shots were by all accounts very measured controlled pairs, and she suffered no criminal charges, her department did find her in violation of policy with her last two rounds.

The Force Science Institute has done a ton of research on human reaction time and how it applies to defensive uses of force. I highly suggest people familiarize themselves with that data, and pursue some training that puts them in a position where they can make an inappropriate shooting decision.

#3: The Target Moved

People move when you shoot at them. Either because the initial round(s) had the desired effect, or because they’re trying to get out of the line of fire. Either way, there are examples from both Force-on-Force and real world encounters where the shooter sent rounds where the target was/should have been, but the target was no longer there. In the most recent FOF iterations I observed, this resulted in errant rounds being sent out into public, and landing on someone in the circle of spectators. Jared Reston also shares one of his experiences that could have ended a LOT worse than it did.

I’ll close out by saying that I’m not trying to claim shooting performance doesn’t matter. My point is simply that it’s the easiest component to focus on since it’s so quantifiable. All you need to work on your shooting performance is some ammo, a timer, and a time & accuracy standard. Working on the cognitive aspects of the defensive problem require more people, more time, and less measurable performance. But I’d argue that the skills are equally, if not more important.

To the critics who claim “I’ll slow down/make the right choice when it counts” I’ll just say that at last year’s Rangemaster Tactical conference, one of the attendees that made the top 16 man-on-man shoot-off found himself a little overwhelmed and bound up when it was his turn in the scenario based training. Yes, having automaticity in your shooting skills frees up RAM to focus on problem solving, but if that problem overwhelms your processing ability, you’re less likely to initiate the automated programs appropriately.

Thoughts on the Guns of Last Of Us

By

Travis Pike

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April 13, 2023

I’m just annoying enough to overanalyze TV shows and movies. I keep it to myself, but I notice when things make sense with guns and when they don’t. HBO’s The Last of Us just ended, and I watched it weekly. I enjoyed the game immensely, and I enjoyed the show. I think the game was better, just for the record. The Last of Us game and TV show are not gun-heavy games like Ghost Recon or The Division. Yet, after watching the show, I was pleasantly surprised by 95% of the Last of Us when it came to firearms. Just so you know, there will be some light spoilers, so deal with it or click Back.

The Setting and Timeline of the Last of Us

The game takes place in 2023, but the world ‘ended’ in 2003, as far as the story goes. The guns and gear are locked into the world of 2003, and I think it’s important we realize 2003 was a very different time for gun owners. Gun culture was much smaller and much different. The Assault Weapon Ban was still in effect, and the world of firearms was AR-centric.

Heck, it wasn’t necessarily Glock-centric. Glock was big, but not like they are today. Hell, PMAGs didn’t exist at the time! I think this is wisely reflected by the guns used in the show. People like the survivalist we know as Bill isn’t carrying an AR or AK. He’s a bit of a fudd who seems to prefer his pump action 870 and his 1911.

When we do see soldiers and freedom fighters, they carry M4A1s, AKs, and even the Mini 14. The Mini 14, in particular, is a smart choice as it was quite popular in this era. The M4A1s are adorned with period-correct optics like the ACOG, but most are just using carry handle sights. The guns and gear all may sense.

The Weapons of the Last of Us

We know the bad guys carry assault rifles, which are period correct. The aforementioned M4A1 and AK pop up, as do the M16A4. Rarely do they have accessories, but some have KAC grips and Surefire lights. I’m not enough of a light nerd to know if they are, period correct. There are Knight’s quad rails, and no M-LOK or keymod makes an appearance. There is also a healthy amount of wear and tear on the guns to look realistic.

Finishes are beaten to hell, and we see things like duct tape helping keep parts together. It’s neat to see, and it’s a smart move from the armorer. There is also a scene where Joel breaks his dominant hand, beating a man to death, and can’t shoot worth a damn. It’s a smart and realistic way to disable our hero and explain the mistakes he makes.

Throughout the Last of Us, Joel carries a revolver which is a Taurus Model 66. Funny enough, that’s the same revolver he carries in the game. He also seems to prefer bolt action rifles, and there is some good reasoning why when you apply some critical thought.

It’s been 20 years since the world ended and 20 years since the last factory round of ammo was loaded. Ammo is old, or likely some reloaded. Who knows the quality of the ammo of the era? Semi-autos require a certain degree of quality ammo to correctly cycle and function.

It makes sense that revolvers and bolt action rifles would be the weapons of choice if you are forced to scavenge ammunition. You can manually cycle the weapon easily, and revolvers can be underloaded and still function easily.

What It Gets Wrong

As I said, it gets 95% of it right. There is some really dumb stuff. First, Joel gets an M4 that clearly functions fine. Later he ditches it. His reasoning is that it’s tough to find ammo to use with it. That’s just wrong, but let’s say only FEDRA has the right ammo, and he’s not planning to fight FEDRA. Okay, fine, but he still has ammo for the gun and doesn’t have a better option anyway.

A much better excuse would be to explain that it would make them a target, and FEDRA soldiers they encounter might rightfully assume they killed a FEDRA soldier to take it.

Thats how I look at a classic Beretta too

Another scene has Bill getting shot while fighting raiders because he’s just standing in the middle of a street fighting. He isn’t taking cover, and there is plenty of cover to take. Later on, Joel is using a Mini 14 and kills a man with an M4. He takes an M4 mag to reload his Mini 14, but we all know that’s not how that works.

While Last of Us isn’t perfect, it gets a few things right, and I appreciate that it seems like the show was made with love and appreciation. You can always tell when people care, and it’s clear that the creators of The Last of Us cared, even when it came to the guns.

How do you ‘flag’ this?

By

Keith Finch

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April 12, 2023

b54f5b34-5665-4b03-8121-2ff6b9e3366c — Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, the interim chief of the Louisville police department, speaks during a press conference on Monday in Louisville. (WAVE) via CNN

We’ve already seen repeated calls for gun control in regards to yesterday’s shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville KY. It is the same tired refrain we’ve heard before, and we will hear again, when a person with no known flaggable background attacks people after a triggering event. Disgruntled employee or former employee is one of the highest risks any location has for workplace violence.

So surely gun control? Right? We should have red flagged this man.

Former classmate of Louisville shooting suspect says no “red flag or signal that this could ever happen”

That is, how we say, a slippery slope.

All indications we have are that the shooter was intelligent, polite, no prior history with police, was educated (bachelor and master programs simultaneously) and was otherwise a very normal person with normal struggles working his way into modern society. I work with half a dozen of these young college educated men and women.

So how do we reduce the likelihood of a repeat event?

No, don’t give me ban ‘assault weapons’ again. It’s a childish argument from an emotional source.

I and numerous others have gone on ad nauseum about how that won’t work, it is a waste of efforts, has significant secondary negative impacts, and is a violation of everyone’s rights to try. We aren’t going to vanish tens of millions of semi-auto rifles (and not even touch handguns which are 77% of crime guns) by passing a law. Even if we could, we can’t, but if we could vanish them upon signing a law, doing so wouldn’t shift the available method of injury index enough to matter.

Termination of employment, expulsion, or disciplinary action is a known triggering event and workplace/school safety policies for management tend to mention it, at least in passing, when an employee or student is let go. Most retaliatory actions, when there are any, tend to take the form of negative reviews or vandalism of some manner and not escalate to lethal violence. But there are many documented instances

So how does one go about filtering the mass shooters out from the *f*ck this place, it sucks!* online review leaver types, especially in a circumstance like this one where the attacker didn’t give off any pre-violence indicators and was not in any way a prohibited person. Prior to this act of retaliation for his termination he was a model citizen.

Red Flag?

The most obvious answer to this vexing question is a troublesome one, you flag everyone who gets fired. Everybody who is ever terminated from their job gets flagged. You add a question onto 4473s that asks, “Have you been terminated involuntarily from your job in the last 30, 60, 90 days?” You notify local police of terminations and they schedule a house visit to take temporary custody of firearms for those 30, 60, or 90 days.

If all this sounds like a nightmare that could never possibly work, that violates the rights of those recently terminated from employment for non-criminal reasons, and that would add additional stress and increase the likelihood of a triggering event occuring by harassing the terminated employees… well, you’d be right. All of those are significant negative downsides to ‘red flagging’ an exiting employee to try and lower the chances one comes back for retribution. The solution actively exacerbates the problem.

Even if employers could file a specific report, which they already can if there is any evidence the employee is a risk, all of that takes processing time, resources, and does nothing to truly inhibit (merely inconvenience) a motivated person from attacking their former school or job. This is further complicated by a lack of notable pre-assault indicators, all the screens can fail and they are most likely to fail for those most motivated to circumvent them. The most likely to circumvent them are the highest risk group.

We don’t have pre-crime. There is no accurate way to pluck future killers who have done nothing wrong from the general population who have done nothing wrong.

So an assault weapon ban is out, probably illegal and truly impractical. Red Flag laws aren’t going to be of any more help or any quicker about it than they already are. Additionally, the first instance a ERPO is used and someone it is used against ends up injured or dead for not being able to protect themselves there is going to be a new series of referendums that eat up more law hours on the constitutionality of the ERPO and the limits on them.

What to do

First, we stop pretending there is a law we can pass that will make these already illegal and immoral acts just enough more illegal and immoral that they won’t happen anymore. Gun control is one of the greatest Utopian delusions of our time, that we can prevent the most extreme examples of retributive human behavior by making it slightly less convenient.

The harder and more effective path remains shifting the social conscious of the nation, more specifically the various factions of society who feel threatened, into a more content and peaceable status quo. This is hardest, and most effective, because it cannot happen quickly and is easy to lose progress on. One of the key components, one that is sorely lacking, is trust. Especially trust in our political rivals, those whom we disagree with but would in better circumstance still be trusted to hold the offices and execute the duties of the office with diligence. We lack that. We lack that and we lack the ability outside our political circles too. Political broad stroking as part of how we construct our social circles and social interactions has infected most ways of how we interact with each other. There is nothing easy about this, but it will result in the most appreciable long term gains in safety and societal contentment while leaving people largely to their own cognisance.

Canik SFx Rival-S Has Entered The Chat

By

P.E. Fitch

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April 12, 2023

The Canik SFx Rival-S is a striker-fired, all-steel competition 9mm pistol that debuted a few months ago at the 2023 SHOT Show. It’s manufactured in Turkey and imported by Century Arms. Given the surging trend and variety of all-steel competition pistols, Canik adapted their original polymer framed Rival into this metallic monolith of a pistol. I’ve never fired or handled any Canik firearms prior to this one. But this is not a full review, rather this is just a preview. At the time of this writing, I’ve only fired a little more than two boxes of ammunition through the Rival-S. I have yet to even take it to a match, much less shoot it off a rest to evaluate its accuracy. But I’m quite pleased with the first 120 rounds and the accuracy results.

The First 50 Rounds

I fired a 50-round box of 9mm American Eagle 124-grain FMJ (AE9AP) at a 5 yard Dot Torture target. Dot Torture isn’t difficult at all, but it requires focus for every shot to be successful. Doing well means focusing on aiming and handling the gun. I scored a 49/50 at 5 yards, which is OK. I had a flier (the 8th shot on #7) which was my mistake. If you look at #1, you’ll see one shot dead at 6 o’clock on the line. That was the very first shot I took. The other four rounds center punched the middle of that circle, not bad for a first 5 rounds. Also helping the Canik Rival-S’ case is how easy it was to shoot circles #5 and #8. Arguably, these are the most difficult circles on the Dot Torture drill as they are fired with a single hand only. This all-steel competition pistol’s weight and light striker trigger really helped with one handed shooting. The first shot I took on #5 ended up stovepiping, but I think that was my fault due to the way I was holding the pistol. I tightened my grip and had no other issues with any single handed shooting for the duration of this exercise. This is also a match-grade all-steel competition pistol being fired for the first time. Maybe it needs to break-in some? I’m not worried about it either way.

B8s And The Next 70 Rounds

The real fun began after finishing the Dot Torture drill. I set up some B8 repair centers and fired the Canik Rival-S at seven different ten-round strings using various factory 9mm loads. These included the above mentioned American Eagle 124-grain FMJ (AE9AP), the Federal Syntech 124/150-grain FP (AE9SJ2)/(AE9SJAP1), American Eagle 147-grain FP (AE9FP), and CCI Blazer Brass 115-grain (5200). I am a modest shooter and still have much to learn, but I am more than pleased with the results of my shooting and these scores. Freestyle 25 yard shooting is something I’ve been working on in the past several months and I am finally making some inroads when it comes to shot-calling and baseline skills.

124-gr Syntech (96-3x)
150-gr Syntech (unscored)
147-gr AE9FP (unscored)
124-gr AE9AP (93-2x)
124-gr AE9AP (95-3x)
115-gr CCI (91-2x)
115-gr CCI (97-3x)

My best two B8 scores from this session, Syntech on the left and Blazer Brass on the right.

Overall, I am very pleased with my performance. Shooting B8 Targets freestyle at 25 yards with open sights also requires a lot of consistency and focus, not to mention precision. That said, getting scores in the mid to high 90s is great for me. Currently, I have not scored higher than a 97 on a 25 yard B8 target shot freestyle (with any type of pistol). I still have to shoot groups from rest and record them for my upcoming formal review. Given the circumstances of having a new to me pistol from a product line I was previously unfamiliar with and with shots taken at 25 yards freestyle I am feeling confident for the next step: matches. There is no doubt that the all-steel 43 ounce unloaded weight and the light trigger makes life with the Canik Rival-S easier, but then again this competition pistol has some fierce rivals indeed.

Sights On Target

The Canik Rival-S ships with phenomenal Tru-Glo fiber optic competition style sights (And extra fiber optic inserts). Out of the box, the front sight is calibrated to shoot lights out with 124 or 115 grain standard velocity 9mm Luger ammunition. Being well aware of how popular heavy-for-caliber 9mm Luger ammo at USPSA matches, I think that the balance and weight of the Rival-S make that somewhat of a moot-point. Besides my handloads, I shoot tons of CCI Blazer (Brass or Aluminum) and knowing that the Rival-S can shoot this dead on at 25 is comforting, as this CCI ammo is easy to find online and in stores. I did not score Strings 2 and 3 which were the ones I shot with the heavier 147 and 150 grain cartridges. Given that I am barely getting acquainted with the Rival-S, I really did not want to adjust the sights just yet. In fairness, the rear sight is adjustable, so you can shoot your favorite 9mm bullet weight with this pistol.

Here are the rest of my B8 targets: the good, the bad and the ugly.

With the Canik Rival-S’ all-steel competition based design, matches ought to be fun in either USPSA Limited or Carry Optics.

NTOA Launches the 2023 PFQ Fitness Challenge

By

Travis Pike

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April 12, 2023

The National Tactical Officer’s Association is kicking off the 2023 PFQ Fitness Challenge. They have hosted this for several years now and provide a ball-busting series of fitness tests. This is a nationwide contest aimed at police officers, SWAT Teams in particular. This Fitness Challenge is made up of five tests, and the competitor can earn up to ten points in each test. If you max out at 50 points, your name and agency will be recognized in the Tactical Edge publication. While this might be aimed at police officers, I think it’s an interesting test for any prepared person.

We like to LARP in our plate carriers and chest rigs, but can we walk the walk? The PFQ Fitness Test certainly aims to find out. If you are a police officer, you can submit your score for recognition, and you can begin submitting scores online on June 1st, 2023, with a deadline of June 15th. The SWAT team with the highest score will receive a plaque. The individual officer with the highest score will be recognized and receive a free trip to the Law Enforcement Operations Conference in Aurora, Colorado, in 2023.

If you are a civilian schlub like me, you can think of the PFQ Fitness Challenge as your athletic FAST Test, but I can’t get you a coin, so you get the satisfaction of a job well done.

The PFQ Fitness Challenge Tests

The PFQ Fitness Challenge is made up of five different tests. The tests much be run on the same day, and three minutes of recovery are required between tests. During that recovery period, commanders can assign an extra task to complete. It’s optional, but the tasks listed by NTOA as extra credit are:

Reload a magazine
Tie knots
Match a lock and key
Weapon system accuracy
Radio traffic
Memory cards
Assemble / disassemble weapon systems
Apply defensive tactics techniques
These might be fun to add in between your tests if you want to push yourself even harder.

Test 1 – 800 Meter Run

The first PFQ Fitness challenge is an 800-meter sprint. It will be run in training uniform and boots.

Scoring

3:14 or less = 10 points
3:15 – 3:29 = 8
3:30 – 3:44 = 6
3:45 – 3:59 = 4
4:00 – 4:29 = 2
4:30 or greater = 0

Extra credit – One point for every 15 seconds above MAX Score.

Test 2 – 400 Meter Run

Get ready to spring again. This time you will run 400 meters carrying a 25-pound weight in each hand and wearing a 20 lb vest and carrier with a donned gas mask. Like, it’s a ballbreaker.

Scoring

2:44 or less = 10 points
2:45 – 2:59 = 8
3:00 – 3:14 = 6
3:15 – 3:29 = 4
3:30 – 3:44 = 2
3:45 or greater = 0

Extra credit – One point for every 15 seconds above MAX Score.

Test 3 – Burpees

To be clear, the PFQ Fitness Challenge uses real burpees, which means you have to do the push-up. There seem to be multiple ideas for burpees, so let’s get that clear. This is an AMRAP test. So As Many Reps As Possible. You have three minutes to do as many burpees as possible.

Scoring

50+ = 10 points
46-49 = 8
43-45 = 6
40-42 = 4
38-39 = 2
37 or below = 0

Extra credit – One point for each rep above MAX score

Test 4 – Squats

Squats must be done wearing a 20lb vest and gas mask with no filter. The operator has to squat until their butt is below their knees for it to count as one repetition. This is another AMRAP exercise. You have 2 minutes to squat your butt off.

Scoring

75+ = 10 points
73-74 = 8
70-72 = 6
67-69 = 4
64-66 = 2
63 or below = 0

Extra Credit – One point for each rep above MAX score.

Test 5 – Pull-Ups

The pull-up portion rounds out the PFQ Fitness Challenge. It’s a bit interesting, so pay close attention. You can use a forward or reverse grip. Start with your arms fully extended at the bottom, hang and your feet off the ground. Your chin must clear the bar to make one rep.

The first five pull-ups must be strict pull-ups. After that, you can kip and butterfly all you want. You have 1 minute to do as many as you can.

Scoring

20+ = 10 points
18-19 = 8
16-17 = 6
14-15 = 4
12-13 = 2
11 or below = 0

Extra credit – One point for each rep above MAX score.

Boom, Get Some Water

We are done, and if you complete, your butt is likely kicked. The good news is you still have a month to get better, and NTOA offers a four-week prep plan on their website. Check it out here. Hopefully, this inspires you to get working on your fitness.

The Mossberg 590S- Not For Me!

By

V. Caldwell

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April 11, 2023

GATMS5 — These 12 gauge Shockwaves can be a lot to handle

I am not in executive protection although I have protected public figures and celebrities on occasion. In one case a mayor was threatened by a person who had killed two family members with an AR 15 rifle the previous day. Fran and I drank coffee together in a dark room well away from the windows. To even the odds I had a Colt HBAR leaning against the sofa. My cruiser was behind the home- I was interested in capturing the offender more than dissuading her. We received a call on the shortwave around midnight the perpetrator had been captured. When I need a long gun I want something capable and appropriate. Something that most of us can use well without beating ourselves up with recoil. Most of us feel the same. I have no use for AR type pistols but then I don’t fight from inside my car. I prefer a handy simple AR carbine. I find pistol caliber carbines not only a good choice for personal defense within their range but a great deal of fun. I prefer a rifle. I am continually impressed with the accuracy and reliability of AR 15 rifles. I own several Remington 870 ‘riot guns’ and a Remington Versa Max Tactical shotgun. Good experience with Benelli not to mention the Black Aces shotgun. In comparison the Mossberg Shockwave and Remington TAC 14 in my mind are practically worthless.

Well, ask me what I really think. Other than at very short range in the home or perhaps dispatching a thrashing shark on the deck of a fishing trawler I see little use for the Shockwave type. (The stocked shotgun with 14 inch barrel is another matter) To intimidate new shooters and create flinch they are great. Sure a very good shooter may get half way competent. But there is little point. Best to learn to use a folding stock 870 or something of that nature if you need a stow away shotgun. Having seen some interesting shotguns on both sides of the law while in uniform I was not impressed with the Shockwave. From double barrel .410 gauge shotguns with a short grip to 14 inch Remington 870s I have seen quite a few shotguns deployed. During these decades of practical experience I studied about two dozen shotgun defense incidents. In home invasions or defensive situations the rule was one load of buckshot and it was cancel Christmas. In one incident a homeowner defended himself against gang violence with a Browning Auto5 and destroyed a pickup truck with the deer load. Five shells fired and the fellow with a P 38 was killed , his friends, armament unspecified, were wounded by the five shells fired. In case another a store owner firing a pistol grip short barrel shotgun fired four buckshot shells and downed the robber he was shooting at although he did not really get a solid hit. The good guy fired from the hip. He did a lot of damage to his store!

The Nobel Sports NSI load, left, feeds well but isn’t as short as others. It seems out of print. The Aquila and Federal shells are fine for single shot and double barrel guns.

So- do the math. Almost one hundred per cent fatality with a single shot load of buckshot in every incident. Then there is my Uncle Arden’s many deer taken with buckshot. Buckshot, he told me, travels in pairs and worked great within 35 yards with Magnum loads. A deer is about the same size as a man and about as hard to put down save animals are not susceptible to shock. Modern loads are better. All of the police shootings were with 18 or 20 inch barrel riot guns and all were effective. Keep my experience in mind. Those working big city stake out squads or long time investigators I am certain will have experience that mirrors my own. The shotgun handles by feel and with a three point lockup of support arm cheek and firing side arm the lockup is steady and makes for a good natural point. Hit probability is high making a buckshot loaded shotgun our best choice for home defense in the majority of cases.

Another advantage of the shotgun is that they are affordable. For those on a tight budget an inexpensive Turkish pump action is reliable and effective. It isn’t as smooth or proven as a Mossberg 590 but it works. The Shockwave type shotgun has only two contact points. I have seen several types of firing stances used. Some shooters somehow raise the shotgun almost to eye level. Risking facial feature rearrangement isn’t something I look forward to. Even so this movement is so slow and unsure you are better off with a full size shotgun. But then the Shockwave is easily stored. True, and for some an under the bar under the desk or hidden under the steps shotgun may be viable. But it certainly would never be my only shotgun. Of course it isn’t a shotgun by legal definition but a firearm making it legal in its abbreviated form. That’s great but it fires shotgun shells. The superb ergonomics of a fast handling shotgun are ruined by the Shockwave and Tac designs. Since there is no shoulder stock and less stability you may shuck the shotgun differently by holding the forend tightly and ramming the shotgun forward. Then back. You may miss very quickly in this manner. The Shockwave should be fired from hip level in most defense situations. At 3 to 5 yards with practice the Shockwave type may be used with some effectiveness. Don’t worry about the front bead. You can surely miss with a shotgun and you will miss a lot with this shotgun. The Shockwave isn’t useful past very close range. Even with an effective load such as buckshot you must aim and get a solid hit. The Shockwave type shotgun along with the Remington TAC and H&R Honcho severely limits the hit probability and usefulness of the pump action shotgun.

After a number of range drills- I am a paid writer and I enjoy good experiments so the time was not wasted but it could have been better spent. I began with birdshot for practice. Recoil isn’t really that bad. After firing about 50 shotgun shells I found I could keep shells in the center of the B 27 target most of the time at five yards. If I left the range and came back two days later I had to begin again. I can shoot and have taken quite a bit of flying and running game with the shotgun. This isn’t a fast or comfortable firearm to use well. With a handgun you have both hands on the same part of the firing grip and may direct fire accurately. The Shockwave type gun with no shoulder stock is used with two hands and the hands are widely separated. If either hand is just a little off target then you will miss the target. There is accountability in every shell we fire in personal defense. The Shockwave isn’t going to promote accurate delivery and if you are not a very experienced shooter control is difficult. If you are experienced you will realize there are better choices. The Shockwave cannot be fired from cover in any manner I was to able to discover.

The new Mossberg 590S is designed for both standard and mini shells.

A very bad idea in wide circulation is the Mini Shell a short stubby shell that doesn’t feed properly in any firearm I have tried. A single shot or double barrel proposition only. I have actually met individuals who have stuffed their shotguns with these loads without test firing! A modified feed device available only for the Mossberg shotgun improves reliability. Mossberg’s 590S is modified to be reliable with both short and standard shells, quite an accomplishment. It isn’t quite as reliable as I had hoped. You will see this soon enough for yourself. So what do the shortie shells offer? Poor patterns and almost half the energy. The advantage? A Mossberg with a five shot magazine has an eight round capacity with short shells. An eight round 590 jumps to twelve shells. I am unimpressed. After all- all of those cases with a single shot of buckshot on each target. Even so perhaps four shells in the Remington is a bit short- but it is simple enough to deploy an eight shot 18 inch barrel pump shotgun or perhaps add the excellent XS magazine extension. So in the end we have a Shockwave type shotgun that practically ruins the effectiveness of the shotgun compared to full size types. In a firearm that emphatically does not need a change in load as the standard load is unquestionably effective we are choosing a load that limits effectiveness and most of all DOES NOT FEED properly save in specialized or modified shotguns. Lets look at comparisons. I used an eighteen inch barrel shotgun as consistent pattern testing is practically impossible with the Shockwave. The groups were fired at ten yards. Since I take my work seriously I use a Chronograph. I don’t rely on manufacturer’s figures.

Hornady Critical Defense 12 gauge #00 buckshot

1254 fps. 1501 ft lbs energy Pattern 4 x 3 inch.

Aquila shorty 12 gauge

1080 fps 788 ft lbs. Pattern 6.8 x 7.7 inch

Federal shorty 12 gauge

1125 fps 926 ft lbs Pattern 6.75 x 4.75 in.

I began writing as a trainer and peace officer to save lives. I believe that no one serious about personal defense should consider the Shockwave and short mini shells. I enjoy testing and firing these items as a lark is fine. But don’t bet your life on this nonsense.

The New Face of Subcompacts

By

Travis Pike

-

April 11, 2023

From 2018 til now, we’ve seen a massive change in subcompact pistols. We’ve seen them become an entirely new genre in the form of micro-compacts. Guns like the double-stack Glock 26 and even the single-stack Walther PPS were filtered into the subcompact realm, yet both of those guns have been tossed to the back burner in favor of the new genre of micro-compact. Subcompacts have improved in size efficiency and now hold a minimum of ten rounds while being the same size as a single stack 9mm.

More than just improving in size and ammo capacity, the guns have begun morphing in terms of accessories and capabilities. The new face of subcompact pistols isn’t a tiny pistol with barely visible sights. Gun companies have transformed subcompacts into capable weapons for defensive use. In many ways, they’ve grown alongside full-sized and compact guns into more capable weapons.

Modern Subcompacts – Modern Solutions

There have been three big advents in the world of subcompact accessories. First is sight systems. Shield developed the RMSc and began an entirely new genre of red dots. These micro-sized red dots allowed little guns to have red dots effectively mounted to their smaller slides.

Walther was the first company I saw to include a red dot on their handguns, and the PPS M2 premiered with the micro red dot. Subcompacts benefit greatly from red dots. These guns are already small, and their short sight radius makes them more difficult to shoot accurately. A red dot eliminates sight radius concerns.

The second accessory has been magazine extensions and modifications. Those stock ten-round magazines can be made to hold 12 to 13 rounds depending on the base plate and mag variation. Mag Guts has designed a spring system to allow a slight extension without increasing the size of the magazine. Companies like Shield Arms have developed 15-round magazines for weapons like the Glock 43X and 48. Capacity is king, and magazine accessories are taking them to new levels.

Finally, the last upgrade we’ve seen in lights. What started with the pen-light-powered TLR-6 has morphed into the Surefire XSC and TLR7 SUB. These micro-sized lights blast out impressive light from very small guns. These powerful little lights shine bright and far for their size and give the guns an edge in ensuring you have proper PID for engagements.

Why Have They Changed?

There are several reasons. Technology for lights and optics has advanced and shrunken. Demand for it has driven the market to innovate. We’ve also seen holsters get way better. Modern kydex and appendix holsters have made these guns much easier to carry and much easier to conceal.

In my opinion, what’s really driven these advances for subcompacts is gun owners seeking to be better shooters. It seems like more shooters than ever are training, practicing, and becoming better shooters. Who needs a PF940V2 when you can have a P365. Education has driven the demand for better technology and advances in firearm design.

Modern subcompacts morphed into weapons of convenience for carry into capable fighting pistols that are still pretty easy to carry. I welcome the changing face of subcompacts and can’t wait to see what’s next.

Measure 114 End Run in Oregon

By

Lars Smith

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April 10, 2023

Oregon Measure 114/SB 348 to restrict firearms ownership — Photo Credit: Andrew Selsky/AP Photo

Ballot measure 114 barely passed (with 50.7% of the vote, and only 1/6 of Oregon counties) in Oregon back in November. Along with establishing a permit-to-purchase scheme, it enacted a ban on the sale, transfer and manufacture of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Fortunately –as measure 114 is clearly counter to both the Oregon and US Constitution– it was immediately mired in lawsuits from Oregon Firearms Federation, Firearm Policy Center and others, resulting in an injunction –upheld by the state supreme court while the case proceeds– that is ongoing. Basically, the law cannot be implemented until the state has won this case. The most successful such suit against 114 to date was filed in rural Harney county (pop: 7,575), challenging the measure on state constitutional grounds.

In response to the checks and balances of the American governmental system working as designed, the Democrat-controlled Oregon legislature has decided to simply draft their own legislation (114 was a citizen-led initiative) to implement most of 114’s policies. You know, those same policies which have been validly challenged in court? The ones currently being blocked from implementation until the constitutionality of such can be determined by the state judiciary?

Not satisfied with simply trying to avoid judicial scrutiny of 114, the legislature is also adding some extra provisions: A mandatory 72hr waiting period for all gun purchases, removes the 3-day time limit for return of a background check, and they’ve proposed doubling the cost of the proposed permit. The included magazine capacity ban would be retroactive to 12/8/22, though no provisions for how an OR resident would actually prove their magazines were purchased prior to that date (or surrendered to police following it) is offered or even hinted at (likely because enforcement of such is a dubious prospect at best). Perhaps most absurd though, is the most recent amendment requiring any challenge to the law be filed in Marion county.

Why Marion county? One need only look at the state of 114 to speculate: 85% of Harney county voted against 114, and that is where the lawsuit that is currently slowly choking the ballot measure to death was filed. Marion county however is home to Salem, the state Capitol, and a lot more anti-gun sentiment. Restricting the citizenry’s right to self-defense with the most safe and effective tools available is bad enough, but restricting their right to legal redress of governmental overreach to 1 of 36 counties is a transparent attempt to circumvent a foundational concept of American governance: the checks and balances of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Where measure 114 was a single facet of oppression, Senate Bill 348 is a 5 carat diamond of abuse –designed, shaped, and mounted atop the rights of all Oregonians like a terrible crown jewel– the better to crush under its weight any resistance to a legislature who neither recognizes, nor cares about the human right to effective self-defense.

Close Range Alternatives for the M79 In the Vietnam War

By

Travis Pike

-

April 10, 2023

What’s old is new, and new is old. The first 40mm grenade launchers were stand-alone weapons, and in the United States, the M79 ruled. It became a force multiplier in Vietnam. Soldiers had a very man-portable option to chuck 40mm grenades at the enemy. It offered the squad some minor indirect firepower and made getting through entrenched enemies in hardened positions possible. The problem was that the grenadier was vulnerable to close-range enemy fighters, and the solution was the Beehive Flechette loads and the M576 Buckshot loads.

Soldiers carrying the M79 often also carried M1911A1 pistols as a close-range personal defense weapon. I will say that was likely an optimistic idea. Sadly the military likes to hand pistols to officers who really don’t need them and leave soldiers carrying multiple weapons or lack a personal defense weapon. Even if the soldier had an M1911A1, well, we have to accept that handguns suck for fighting. Long guns offer more lethality, range, and capability.

In the middle of a firefight, as you close on the enemy, your grenade launcher might become somewhat useless. At close range, you have two problems. First, 40mm grenades have a specific arming range before they explode. Second, grenades send fragments for tens of meters, and you can’t be extremely close when you use one. So, the Army went about developing close-range killing rounds to better arm grenadiers for combat.

The M79 Flechette Rounds

In Vietnam, the US Army was really fascinated with flechettes. Flechettes were stocked in shotgun rounds and artillery rounds, and eventually, the 40mm grenades. The Army had this idea that flechettes would act like buckshot in terms of spread but as regular projectiles in terms of penetration and range.

An example of a modern flechette grenade

Try as a I might, I cannot find an official designation for 40mm Flechette rounds. Some of the Vietnam archives at Texas Tech refer to them as Beehive rounds. Beehive was also a term used for the flechette artillery rounds used in combat. The 40mm flechette rounds packed 45 fin-stabilized needle-like rounds. They were loaded into a plastic sabot.

When fired, the sabot fell away, and the projectiles traveled onward. Like most flechette experiments, the darts never remained stable enough to make it very far. Even at close ranges, the flechettes would hit with the back o sides more often than with the pokey part. They were quickly done away with.

The Buckshot Option

The M79 isn’t much different than a shotgun. It’s an unrifled, break action tube. Shoving buckshot into one made it a modern blunderbuss. These became the M576 round. They held twenty 00 pellets. That’s more than twice of what a single shotgun round held. They did some experiments with 27 pellets without a sabot, but the round didn’t work well, so 20 was the magic number.

The rounds moved fairly slowly at 880 feet per second. For comparison, a military load of 9 pellet 12 gauge 00 buckshot moved at 1,325 feet per second. They offered a decent range, with 13 of the 20 pellets consistently hitting a 1.5-meter-sized circle. The other seven did whatever they wanted.

The round certainly offered a lot of firepower up close, and the spread helped ensure a good hit in a running gunfight. Sadly, I’m sure the grenadiers still felt under-gunned. Fighting in a war with a single-barreled shotgun against bad guys with AKs sounds and is terrifying.

The End of Close Range 40mms

Once the M203 came about, the grenadier position no longer needed a buckshot load. He had a rifle and grenade launcher at the ready. This more or less eliminated the idea of the M576. That’s not to say similar rounds don’t still exist, as the M1001 from General Dynamics promises a flechette round that’s much more effective and designed for the MK-19.

Tat’s a subject for another day. It seems that the US is returning to single-shot grenade launchers with the popularity of M302. However, this lighter, more compact 40mm grenade launcher is still carried alongside an M4. The days of buckshot 40mm seem to be at an end.

With that said, how big can we make a Flitecontrol wad?

Gunday Brunch 95: Constitutional Carry

By

David Reeder

-

April 9, 2023

In this episode we’re talking about Constitutional Carry, and how a majority of US states now have this written into law. Pretty rad

Faxon Firearms’ Glock 17 Gen 5 Barrel Enhancements

By

David Reeder

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April 8, 2023

Famed for its reliability, user-friendly operation, and precision, the Glock 17 Gen 5 has become a must-have for firearm enthusiasts around the world. While it is already a high-quality handgun, there is always potential for improvement through upgrades. One key aspect to consider is the barrel, which is responsible for guiding the bullet’s path as it exits the firearm. By upgrading the Glock 17 Gen 5’s barrel, you can experience significant enhancements in both performance and accuracy.

Glock 17 Gen 5 barrel (bottom) Glock 17 Gen 1-4 barrel (Top)

5 Benefits of Upgrading Your Barrel

Upgrading the barrel of your Glock 17 Gen 5 can offer a range of benefits that can improve its performance and enhance your shooting experience. Here are some of the top benefits you can expect:

Improved accuracy: One of the most significant benefits of upgrading your Glock 17 barrel is improved accuracy. A high-quality barrel will have a tighter bore and more precise rifling, which can help stabilize the bullet and keep it on target. This can be especially beneficial if you’re using your Glock 17 Gen 5 for competitive shooting or self-defense purposes, where accuracy is critical.

Increased range: Another advantage of upgrading your Glock 17 Gen 5 barrel is increased range. A high-quality barrel can improve the bullet’s velocity, allowing it to travel further and hit targets at longer distances. This can be particularly useful for outdoor shooting or hunting.

Enhanced safety features: Some aftermarket barrels for the Glock 17 Gen 5 may come with enhanced safety features, such as improved feed ramps or a tighter chamber. These safety features can improve reliability and reduce the risk of malfunctions or misfires.

Increased Reliability: Aftermarket barrels are often made with higher-quality materials than stock barrels, such as stainless steel or titanium. These materials can be more durable and resistant to wear and tear than a stock barrel, reducing the risk of failure or malfunction. Also, most aftermarket barrels are precision-machined to tighter tolerances, which makes the fit and function more consistent.

Ammunition Compatibility: Another factor that can contribute to increased reliability is the ability of aftermarket barrels to shoot a wider range of ammunition types. The stock barrel of the Glock 17 is designed to handle a specific type of ammunition, and using different types can sometimes lead to jams or malfunctions. However, many aftermarket barrels are designed to handle a wider variety of ammunition types, making them more versatile and reliable in a wider range of situations.

Glock 17 Gen 5 Barrel Differences

The Glock 17 Gen 5 features a switch to Glock 19 locking geometry.

While the Gen 4 and Gen 5 19 barrels have different geometries, the Gen 5 barrels do away with the slope at the barrel hood and instead go to the simple right angles that the 17/34 have always had, similar to most G19 Gen 1-4 aftermarket barrels.

Due to the shared locking block, a barrel can theoretically be used in a Gen 5 19.

However, it’s important to note that Gen 1-4 17 barrels are not compatible with a Gen 5 17.

Even though Glock improved the Glock 17 Gen 5 OEM barrels to make them more accurate (hence the name “Marksman Barrel”), there is still room for improvement.

Glock 17 Gen 5 barrel from Faxon. — Faxon Flame Fluting

Popular Glock 17 Gen 5 Barrel Options | Faxon Firearms

The optimized match barrels from Faxon Firearms have been redesigned to work better and with Gen 5 guns.

These Glock 17 Gen 5 barrels have been redesigned for improved performance and Gen 5 compatibility. A recessed target crown, a new match chamber, and a stylized barrel hood with engravings for caliber and model are some of the new features.

The proprietary broach-cut 1 in 14” left-hand twist rifling was developed to create the most accurate Glock aftermarket barrel available, and testing confirms a significant increase in accuracy over factory barrels in all standard bullet weights.

Manufactured from 416R stainless steel, which is an ideal material for making match-grade barrels because the material allows for the precise cutting of chambers and rifling, which results in a more accurate barrel.

Glock 17 Gen 5 Barrel

Specs

Handgun Type: G17 Gen 5
Barrel Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Profile: Flame Fluted, Drop In (Compatible with Gen 5)
Barrel Material: 416-R Stainless Steel
Barrel Twist: 1:10
Muzzle Thread: N/A
Crown: 11-degree Target Crown
Rifling Method: Button Rifled, Fully Stress Relieved
Rifling Type: Conventional
Inside Finish: Salt Bath Nitride
Outside Finish: Salt Bath Nitride

Glock 17 Gen 5 Threaded Barrel

Specs

Handgun Type: G17 Gen 5
Barrel Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Profile: Flame Fluted, Drop In (Compatible with Gen 5)
Barrel Material: 416-R Stainless Steel
Barrel Twist: 1:10
Muzzle Thread: 1/2×28
Crown: 11-degree Target Crown
Rifling Method: Button Rifled, Fully Stress Relieved
Rifling Type: Conventional
Inside Finish: Salt Bath Nitride
Outside Finish: Salt Bath Nitride

Some of the features highlighted on the Faxon Firearms website to explain why their barrels are superior to those of their competitors are as follows:

4150 or 416-R Stainless – When used in firearm barrels, these two types of steel are made for durability, longevity & accuracy.
9mm SAAMI Chambers – Superior Accuracy w/ complete SAAMI Compatibility & Boring Reliability.
Tighter Tolerances – A Drop In barrel with better fitment and a tighter lock-up than competing brands.
Conventional Rifling – Fully compatible with cast lead bullets.
11° Target Crown – This preserves and protects accuracy.

Glock17 Gen 5 Threaded Barrel and Compensator

The threaded barrel and compensator work together to enhance the accuracy and stability of the Glock 17 Gen 5. The compensator shown here for the Glock 17 called EXOS has a unique design with an angled front port and a single chamber.

This design helps to decrease the movement of the muzzle by reducing both the upward and sideward recoil, resulting in improved accuracy from shot to shot.

Muzzle flip reduction is baked into the DNA of Faxon EXOS compensators.

Upgrading your Glock 17 Gen 5 barrel can be a game changer for anyone who wants to take their firearm’s performance to the next level.

With improved accuracy, increased range, reduced recoil and muzzle rise, enhanced safety features, and increased reliability, the benefits of upgrading your barrel are undeniable.

With the right barrel, you can unlock your firearm’s full potential and take your skills to the next level.

Shotgun Basics: Patterning Your Shotgun

By

P.E. Fitch

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April 7, 2023

Patterning your shotgun is the best way to vet your chosen cartridges and shotgun. If you’ve read any of my writing about shotguns, you are probably aware of the fact that I am always pointing out that no two shotgun barrels shoot exactly alike. This is also true for different lots of the same slugs or buckshot. Patterning your shotgun is the best way to vet your chosen cartridges and shotgun. And patterning your shotgun is a simple and straightforward affair that does not take up too much time. The ultimate aim is to be able to get a roadmap of how your load’s pellets pattern at various distances to see what your shotgun can and cannot do.

Here Is What You Need

1. Access to an indoor range or shooting bay with at least 25 yards of distance and the ability to make shots at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards. Depending on your range’s set up, you can place the large target at the end of the bay and move back to the appropriate distances as needed. Or you can set up five different targets and shoot them in a line. It is up to you, but you must be able to make shots at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards once again.
2. A very large piece of paper or cardboard–the back of a B27 target works fine. If a large target is not available, using smaller individual targets is fine. Using individual IPSC or IDPA targets would be fine. You are looking for something with enough surface area for each pattern to print in its entirety.
3. The shotgun you’ll be patterning
4. Ten shotshells of the load you’ll be patterning

Here Is What To Do

1. Once your target(s) are set up in your shooting bay, make sure it/they have five fist sized aiming points with at least 10 inches or more of distance between them. Conversely, if you are shooting targets one by one, make sure they all have a fist sized aiming point and are ready to move or set up at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards. You can mark your aiming point with tape, steel target spray paint, permanent marker, etc–you just need to have a repeatable aiming point for consistency’s sake.

2. Carefully shoot at every aiming point twice at each distance.

3. With a ruler or tape measure, carefully the two widest pellets of each composite pattern for every distance. Record this information by writing it down, taking pictures, etc. This is your shotgun’s dope, so to speak.

It is better to fire more than one shot at each distance because a composite of two or more shots paints a better picture of what is going on.

What To Do With This Information

After you’ve shot some patterns, look at all of them and see how they printed on the target. Do the patterns look acceptable or do they leave something to be desired? Will they work at the maximum distance of your home or business or the place where you plan to keep and possibly use your shotgun? I suggest patterning at 25 yards for two reasons. Most self and home defense situation concerning civilians happen within 25 yards, and many 12 gauge buckshot loads will print the majority of their pellets at 25 yards allowing you to get a good read. It also goes without saying that contextually we’re talking about pistol distances, and the shotgun is king within these ranges. Patterning your shotgun is important because it provides your shotgun’s dope but most importantly, because we are accountable for every shot and every pellet we send flying.

_{I originally learned this approach to patterning shotguns from Erick Gelhaus’ instruction block at the first inaugural Thunderstick Summit held at Dallas Pistol Club on September 20}_{22. As always special thanks to my “shotgun colleague” That Shotgun Blog for support and photos.}

The Colt SMG DEA Model

By

Travis Pike

-

April 7, 2023

The Colt SMG was a true 80’s child. It might as well have a mullet and a pastel pink t-shirt. Colt wanted to compete for that Spec-Ops, SWAT Team, and Counterterrorism money that HK was eating up. The Colt SMG was a 9mm submachine gun with a 10.5-inch barrel that was externally an AR-type firearm. Internally it was a direct blowback gun. They saw some success withThe Marine Corps and numerous police agencies, including the DEA. The DEA bought standard SMGs, and they had their own special version made, commonly called the DEA Model.

The DEA Model, or RO636, only had one major difference between the DEA Model and the standard was an integral suppressor. The idea was to create what was essentially an Americanized MP5SD. The Colt SMG would be a light, handy, and quiet close-quarters weapon. This specific gun had a very specific purpose, and it wasn’t for DEA teams running quiet operations.

The Purpose of the DEA Model

The DEA has what’s called Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team. If you have a lab where you are creating drugs, then this team is specially trained to take you down and do it safely. Off the top of your head, you might think meth lab, and admittedly that is likely a common target. However, labs creating crack cocaine, fentanyl, and more are also in their purview.

These environments often have DEA agents wearing full hazmat suits and respirators and tackling these threats head-on. The original justification for the DEA Model was to reduce muzzle flash as much as possible. The suppressor and ported exhaust barrel would eliminate muzzle flash.

Why was muzzle flash elimination so important for the CLET teams? Well, apparently, there was some fear that muzzle flash and burning gasses could create a fire or explosion in these labs. Sure, I buy that meth labs are basically ticking time bombs, but I’m not so sure that’s the real reason.

But Really?

I’m also not an expert on meth labs by any means. What I am an expert on is coming up with fancy jargon to make excuses to make not-so-traditional things. I imagine the head shed of the DEA aren’t gunfighters and weren’t clearing rooms. They don’t know how awesome suppressors can be indoors to maintain communication and keep situational awareness high. If I was clearing a single-wide trailer that’s now a meth lab, I would also want a suppressed firearm.

Trying to justify a suppressor to the DEA head shed must have been tough. I imagine the bureaucrat at the DEA pictured assassins and whisper-quiet cans and couldn’t see the benefits of suppressors for clearing rooms. This was a great way to justify it. However, this 100% speculation is based on working for the government.

How It Got Made

Colt took the order and immediately teamed up with Knight’s Armament. They seemed to take things from there and produced and permanently attached the suppressor. They also used A2 length hand guards, with a cut for a front sight base, to cover the barrel and suppressor system.

It’s tough to say the steps KAC went through without an example, and there is limited information online. I found a print by an artist that does show a CLET team wielding them, but no actual photos. I can only dig up a few actual photos, and the majority come from a single ARFCOM post.

The DEA Model Colt SMG is an interesting mix and, certainly, something Colt didn’t take much advantage of. However, in the end, I guess the M4 won out anyway and replaced most SMGs in major military forces anyway.

The Scatterguns of John Wick

By

Travis Pike

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April 6, 2023

Much has been said about the many custom guns of gun guy favorite John Wick. Throughout the film series, he uses an impressive variety of handguns. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th films all feature a ton of Taran Tactical Innovations firearms, and each film delivers us a new custom handgun. Lots has been said about the handguns, but what about John Wick’s shotguns? Yeah, no one talks much about those, but as the resident shotgun nerd, I want to do a deep dive.

John Wick 1 – KelTec KSG

The first John Wick hardly feels like a John Wick film. They’ve grown exceptionally in budget and vision. While he carried a custom HK P30, every other gun was fairly standard. Near the end, he gets his hands on a KelTec KSG. Like many of John’s guns, he liberates it from an enemy. His model is featured with a hand-saving vertical grip and an EOTech optic.

The KSG is a dual-tube pump action shotgun. It’s capable of holding 14 rounds of 12 gauge, and it certainly seems to be an advantage to Mr. Wick as he fights around vehicles. Striking firearms are a big feature of these films, and the KSG has enough space gun vibes to stand out in the relatively modest first film.

John Wick 2 – Benelli M4

Described as ‘something bold, John Wick carries a Benelli M4 in the second film. During his escape from the catacombs, we see a 3-gun-inspired scene where John switches his guns around to incorporate a handgun, rifle, and shotgun. The Benelli M4 is arguably the king of combat shotguns and has a proper place in the film. This was when Taran Tactical began outfitting Wick’s weapons, and M4 has the TTI package.

This gas-operated semi-auto shotgun gets a brilliant display of effectiveness throughout the film. One of the highlights is when Wick faces armored baddies and blasts their unarmored legs out from under them before delivering the coup de grace. Wick is constantly reloading the gun, famously using a match save to finish a pinned bad guy down. He certainly makes use of the gun’s more than-capable action.

John Wick 3 – Benelli M2

In the third film, John and Charon resist a siege by the High Table’s armed goons. As the situation evolves, he gets to meet heavily armored bad guys that can’t be stopped. He returns to the armory with Charon, and they grab Benelli shotguns. Charon takes the M4, and Wick takes the M2 alongside some armor-busting slugs. We suspend disbelief for armor-piercing shotguns here. Like the M4, the M2 gets the TTI treatment.

The M2 is an inertia-operated semi-auto shotgun, and John uses it to turn heads into mush. Along the way, we see constant and competent quad loads and plenty of 3-gun gear. The M2 was and remains a great shotgun, but it felt like a bit of a step back and excuse to use a different TTI gun than the M4.

John Wick 4- Genesis Arms Gen 12

The latest John Wick film had our titular hero cutting his way through an Army of assassins. One group preferred the Genesis Gen 12 shotguns. These are AR-based, semi-auto 12 gauge shotguns that use a short recoil principle to function. They are mag fed and of extremely high quality. They’ve received the TTI treatment and are the TTI Model Dracarys guns in the film. These are certainly different, and what makes them stand out is the use of Dragon’s Breath rounds.

John Wick has great gun handling, but we have to suspend disbelief. Mainly because the Dragon’s Breath rounds are shown to be effective man stoppers. To be completely fair, John’s suit is bulletproof, but it seems like an incendiary round would be more effective than just buckshot against it. I’ve only fired DB rounds once, and they don’t cycle in semi-autos either….but movie magic is, well…magic.

Scatter Guns

I love shotguns and also perk up a bit when Wick gets his hands on one. The films do a great job of letting John and his guns be the stars of the show. Typically when a new gun is introduced, it gets some serious screen time, even to earn an Academy nod for best supporting actor. Every scene with these shotguns present is memorable, and for scattergun nerds like me, they truly stand out.