First off to avoid any confusion, we’d like to say that no law was violated by who police are calling the “Good Samaritan”. In Indiana, as well as many other states, if a company decides to institute a policy for their private property that disallows legally carried firearms, they’re welcome to. That policy, if broken, means that upon discovery of this company policy violation, the violator must immediately leave when asked, or be trespassed. Generally, trespassing isn’t a major crime, but the seriousness of that escalates when one is armed, so while it’s always a good idea to leave private property when asked, it’s even moreso in such a situation.
So no, he wasn’t carrying illegally, he was flaunting a policy on par with “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service”. In fact, the shooter with the rifle wasn’t in violation of the law either, up until he levelled his weapon at innocents with malicious, criminal intent. So now that that’s settled, we can stop braying about charging the person who stopped what could easily have been an even worse tragedy with a crime that doesn’t exist, and focus on what actually happened.
Which is precisely that the “Good guy with a gun” narrative was borne out in dramatic fashion. After weeks of holding up the Uvalde police’s complete breakdown in command and control as an exemplar of how wrong the RTKBA community is about the net good that gun ownership is to our society, this tragedy-cut-short lands firmly in their lap, handily proving them wrong. Does this cause any introspection, reconsideration, or really just… thought?
One can dream apparently, but no.
What it has caused the anti-gun proponents in this country and abroad to do, is to continue to ignore the fact that the Uvalde PD has clearly demonstrated that while they do indeed have guns (lots of them), they are the furthest thing from a group of “good guys”, and call for punishing an actual good guy who stopped a mass murderer.
Admittedly, Uvalde PD should probably all resign, publicly apologize for their abject failure to do even the bare minimum expected of peace officers in such a situation (ignoring over 2 decades of established best practices) and find a different career, but that doesn’t change the reality in Indiana one iota. Is the Uvalde tragedy the result of publicly attempting to defund and demoralize police in this country? Is it the result of the well-known and discussed issue of lackluster, often absurdly minimal police training? Is it just a small town department with an incompetent leader? In truth it’s probably a shit footlong with a hefty dose of all of the above, but what’s missing here is any sort of introspection or analysis of the situation by the media and gun control proponents amplified by them, instead parroting the same line regardless of the context.
Disgusting? Yeah, absolutely. Depressing? By the truckload, yes. Surprising? Unfortunately not in the slightest, if you pay attention to the schizophrenic positions they’ve been pushing. The most obvious example is the fact that many working against the 2A seem to think you can defund the police while instituting sweeping gun control laws, up to and including confiscation.
Let’s do a little thought experiment, shall we? If: Law enforcement in America is racist, classist, too heavily armed, and too quick to violence, particularly against POC/LGBTQ+, And: Gun control proposals like an “assault weapons” ban require the expansion of police powers to detain, investigate, and arrest violators, as well as confiscate such arms from those who flaunt the law, by force if necessary, Then: The ACAB/Ban Guns crowd are proposing to expand and empower a heavily armed, overly violent group who is murdering minorities, and whose gun control enforcement efforts will necessarily involve over-policing marginalized groups of Americans.
So in summary, the exact thing we are told never happens in this country, happened in what preliminary reports seem to indicate was a wildly heroic and dramatic fashion, and the messaging doesn’t pause, shift, or change in the slightest. Reality is substituted with a narrative-friendly fiction that “cops are bad, but also the good guys”, and “they should be defunded, but also expanded to enforce laws I like”. They continue plowing the same field of dust and rocks, expecting it will magically produce. Unfortunately, as polarized as this country is, it will likely yield a bountiful crop of votes no matter how absurd it is.
If this depresses you as much as it does us, do your best to reach out to people you know in real life who aren’t as pro-gun as you, and have an honest, respectful, civil discussion with them about why you disagree. If you want to hear an thorough dissection of how to accomplish exactly that, check out an amazing breakdown of the topic by the PHLster crew. It’s not an easy thing to do, but personal connections like that are the only thing that can penetrate the wall of media bullshit and willful ignorance that propagates this sort of mindset. Godspeed, and good luck.
I don’t go bigger than small arms here often, for obvious reasons, but the new Panther Tank is freakin’ sweet.
Rheinmetall has debuted its new KF51 Panther at Eurosatory 2022. The latest member of Rheinmetall’s family of tracked vehicles (KF is short for “Kettenfahrzeug”, i.e., tracked vehicle), the KF51 Panther is destined to be a game changer on the battlefields of the future. The main battle tank concept sets new standards in all areas – lethality, protection, reconnaissance, networking and mobility. – Matsimus
Contrary to what some have suggested out of Russia’s performance, the Main Battle Tank is far from obsolete and is set to remain part of combined arms doctrine for the foreseeable future. The Russians have just sucked at combined arms. The Rheinmetall KF51 is looking at setting a true 21st Century standard for MBTs where current projects like the M1A3 are upgrade packages.
If Rheinmetall sounds familiar, they designed the Abrams main 120mm gun. They gave this new tank 10mm more. They are a serious armor company.
Image via Northern Provisions IG, Greenwood Park Mall Shooting
For those who haven’t heard yet, Greenwood Park Mall in Indiana was the scene of another mass attack in a public space.
However, Indiana just implemented Constitutional Carry and the shooter was stopped by a 22 year old who was legally armed. This limited the casualty count to three dead and two wounded before the shooter, who was armed with a rifle and multiple magazines according to reports, was killed by the heroic samaritan.
Concealed carry works. Armed people able to respond quickly save lives. Decisive decisions save lives (unlike certain other recent situations).
But all is not well, oh no! Even as the Greenwood Police Chief and Mayor hail the young man as a hero, Gun Control Proponents want the young man to face charges since he violated the mall’s no firearm policy… you know, the one that worked so well at stopping the guy armed with a rifle.
We can’t charge that guy, he’s dead. So charge the guy who stopped him to prove… what?… that gun control works? What we’ve just seen in action is that providing for your own protection works best, fastest, and first.
I know Lars will have some more commentary on this event in a bit, but I just have to get my mind wrapped around the absolutely epic level blinders that gun controllers continue to wear.
They literally cannot mentally accept the failure of their policies. That ‘gun free’ is nothing of the sort as long as a singleindividual for anyreason decides to ignore the policy. That bans only work if you can exercise full control over every aspect of the population and product. That both of these things that they continue to erroneously claim work ‘if only we’d do them right’, only operate on thoughts, prayers, and the intentions of good people.
If 100% of people would just comply with an assault weapon ban we’d have no mass killings with assault weapons!
Now say that for homicide or drunk driving.
Sound stupid?
Good.
Oh, and to top this rant and rave of “He shouldn’t be celebrated!” off, despite the Mayor and Police Chief both saying otherwise, is that the ‘gun free’ isn’t the law. It was mall corporate policy. So legally, should the mall choose to be particularly stupid about this situation, they can ask the man who saved more of their patrons from being murdered to never return or face legal actions.
Which, ironically perhaps, could work as well as their original no firearms policy did should someone decide to make a deal of it.
Laws and policies remain pieces of paper and ink unless there is someone to enforce it upon the non-agreeable types. Everyone gets along… until they don’t.
But sure, let’s punish and deride the one person who did the decisively correct thing and saved lives. Punishing those who act positively, but contrary to the ‘can’t we all just get along’ utopian fallacy, has never backfired negatively, right?
Faxon Firearms’ recently partnered with RE Tactical to write up what they call the definitive guide to finding the best AR-10 barrel. Buying after-market barrels can be a pain. So we’ve brought it here to share with you all. Let’s get into it.
A Definitive Guide To Finding The Best AR-10 Barrel
The purpose of the AR-10 platform is to get more power and long-range precision out of the AR platform. Who doesn’t want more power and precision?
To capitalize on that power and precision, it makes sense to get the best AR-10 barrel you can find. The right barrel will allow you to maximize the benefits of using the larger 308 round in a semi-automatic AR-10 battle rifle.
Faxon Firearms’ high-quality, affordably priced AR-10 barrels are all manufactured in the United States and ready for reliable and accurate long-range shooting. So whether you’re shooting 308 WIN, 6.5 Creedmoor, or the new 8.6 BLK, Faxon has the right barrel for you.
Their stock of AR-10 barrels are available in various lengths up to 24″, Salt Bath Nitride outside finish, gas systems (carbine, mid-length, and rifle-length), and barrel fluting.
Faxon AR-10 barrels are also available in Big Gunner, Heavy Fluted, and Pencil profiles. They are made with the finest 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium or 416R Stainless Steel and rifled for the best possible velocity and accuracy.
Before we get into finding the best AR-10 barrel, let’s answer some of the most common questions about AR-10 barrel selection.
AR-10 Barrel Length Considerations
There is more to consider about the barrel length than its effect on velocity and accuracy. For example, your barrel length will dictate your choice of accessories, such as handguards. Do you want something that just goes past the gas block or something that runs the full length out to the muzzle?
This can be important for aesthetic or practical reasons, such as ensuring that a suppressor or other muzzle device has enough clearance between the end of the muzzle and the handguard. In addition, a longer handguard provides more real estate for accessories like optics, sling mounts, and bipods. Finally, keep in mind that the length of the barrel will play a major part in the rifle’s overall weight, which is something to consider if this is a hunting setup.
What is the optimal barrel length for 308?
Barrels lengths for AR-10 calibers range from 16″ up to 24″. Although 20″ seems to be the sweet spot for the 308, with the right barrel, you can get away with using a 16″ barrel.
How accurate is a 308 16-inch barrel?
A 16″ barrel will do you just fine until you get out to and past 600 yards. Unfortunately, the 308 round will drop significantly past 600 yards, so if you’re going to be engaging targets at distances past 600 yards, you’d be better off with a 20″ barrel.
Is an 18-inch barrel good for an AR-10?
Most 308 WIN loads get full powder burn at roughly 18 inches of barrel length. So for a general-purpose AR-10 build, an 18-inch barrel will do you just fine.
However, even in 18-inch barrels, the profile and gas system length can determine weight. 18-inch barrels can range from a Faxon pencil to a thicker Big Gunner profile and come in both mid and rifle-length types.
What is the most Accurate AR-10 Barrel?
The Faxon Match Series AR-10 barrels take renowned performance and value up a notch.
Manufactured in-house from gun-barrel-quality bar-stock, the Match Series barrels start with 416-R in 5R rifling. 5R is a hybrid rifling with lands opposite grooves and reduced sharp angles that reduce jacket deformation, increasing velocity, and easy cleaning. After rigorous testing, the barrels are Nitride treated inside and out, locking in the bore, extending barrel life, and keeping the elements at bay.
The extension is coated in a Nickel Teflon coating that maintains incredible dry lubricity and corrosion resistance. The Nickel Teflon coating also tightens up the fit between the extension and receiver, further improving accuracy. As a result, the Faxon AR-10 Match Series barrels are ready for when duty calls with unrivaled performance.
Best AR-10 Barrel | Faxon Firearms
Below you’ll find a list of AR-10 barrels available for your next AR-10 build or upgrade.
The AR-10 is an excellent platform for reaching out with larger calibers.
Choosing the right barrel is a significant decision, one that is based on your needs as a shooter. Long-range competition shooting, close-quarters shooting, and hunting all have different needs, so choose wisely.
Faxon Firearms barrels are some of the best barrels for the money on the market right now. They’re well-designed, and the performance is hard to beat. That’s why the Faxon Firearms 308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor Big Gunner Profile Barrels are some of the best AR-10 barrels on the market.
Sometimes you want a simple, affordable pocket knife that does the basics right. I love fancy knives, and I have knives that I think are absolutely fantastic. I also tend to be less likely to carry expensive knives and stick to what’s simple. The new Icarus DP Mini from 5.11 Tactical checks the box for a simple, effective, affordable pocket knife.
The Icarus DP Mini is the knife I found when searching for an excellent little knife for my son. He’s of age and can be trusted. I wanted to get him a good knife, but not an overly expensive one. He tends to lose things, so he’s not getting an Emerson or Spyderco just yet. At 32 dollars, the Icarus DP Mini won’t send me into much debt.
The Little Icarus DP Mini
The Icarus DP Mini is a simple pocket knife with a name longer than its blade. The little 2.8-inch blade features a simple drop point tip and a fairly simple design. When opened, the knife is 7 inches total, and when folded, it’s 4-inches overall.
The blade is made from 8CR13MOV, which is admittedly a cheaper steel made in China. The equivalent most would know is AUS8. This steel is perfectly useable for a folding pocket knife as long as it’s heat-treated properly, and that doesn’t seem to be an issue here. For a first pocket knife, it’s a great choice.
It’s easy to sharpen, resist corrosion pretty well, and get’s quite sharp. A dull knife is a dangerous knife. For a new user, they’ll get plenty of practice sharpening a knife.
The Icarus DP Mini utilizes a simple, ambidextrous thumb stud for opening and a liner locking system to keep the blade in place. Ambidexterity is the name of the game here, with a removable and reversible pocket clip. While it can jump from side to side, the knife always carries tip-up. The pocket clip is made from metal and is quite short but efficient.
The Icarus DP Mini comes with a polymer grip. Specifically, fiberglass reinforced nylon. This keeps the knife fairly lightweight, and the whole setup is nice and thin for easy carry. At only 2 ounces, it disappears in your pocket.
The Icarus DP Mini in Action
The little Icarus DP Mini opens in a flash with a press of the thumb stud and a wrist flick. It’s not like a Kershaw or Emerson with speed, but who’s racing? The slow but smooth opening design is rather nice. Popping the blade out with a single hand isn’t difficult, and you can keep one hand busy while popping the blade out.
From 5.11 Tactical, the blade is ultra-sharp and has a nice touch. I hate a dull knife, and 5.11 ensures I don’t have one. The grind has a brilliant edge, and the grind is smooth and even. This makes the cutting action smooth and easily slices through your basic EDC tasks. The drop point isn’t fancy but great for all-around work.
I have big hands, hands you describe as mitts, and the grip perfectly fits my hand for a little knife. A slight hump accommodates your trigger finger, and a series of serrations, aka the jimping, at the back of the handle and blade, give your thumb a purchase for leverage and control.
It slices, dices, and does so comfortably. The grip is heavily textured and doesn’t slip in your grip while you work. It doesn’t create hot spots, but that’s also for typical EDC tasks. If you start doing heavy-duty work, you’ll feel the burn a bit. That’s what happens when you put an EDC knife to survival tasks or general heavy work.
Ninja Style
The little Icarus DP Mini is a heckuva knife for the price point. I’ve used it for a few weeks for various tasks, including cutting open bags of concrete, slicing thick plastic bands on stacks of lumber, opening boxes, and more. It’s dug in, done the work, and I’ve been more than satisfied with it.
Now it’s going into the pockets of my son for summer adventures, and I’ll let you guys know after summer break is over how well it can hold up! You can check it out here and tell them we sent you.
This article has been updated after it was pointed out that one of the 1911s shown here was unintentionally misattributed as a Hoag build.
James Caan recently passed away at age 82—a man whose superlative and illustrious career as an actor was greatly appreciated and enjoyed by so many audiences over the years. “Gun guys” (and gals) and fans of classic films will no doubt especially miss Mr. Caan as he starred in a couple of iconic flicks that have captured the imagination of firearms enthusiasts since at least 1981, the year the film Thief was shown to audiences for the first time. Caan is also remembered as Joe Sarno, the old gangster in the film Way Of The Gun where he and his crew of enforcers duke it out with snub nosed revolvers in that famous gunfight scene at the Mexican whorehouse against Parker and Longbaugh and their 9mm 1911s (and Remington 870).
Ask any firearms enthusiast to name a few of their favorite gun flicks and chances are that director Michael Mann’s films will be mentioned. His films and TV shows have always been known and appreciated for the attention to detail pertaining to firearms and tactics; actors who star in Mann’s roles are typically sent to take firearms training courses to learn how to handle them and make their on-screen roles appear more convincing. This is something we also notice in champion shooter Jim Zubiena’s hyperspeed appendix draw when he makes his cameo as the curly haired assassin in Miami Vice. It is something we appreciate amongst the cops and robbers in Heat and how they operate in their respective spaces. And who wouldn’t remember Vincent’s famous “briefcase scene” with his HK USP 45 in Collateral?
Thief was Mann’s feature length cinematic film debut. The movie is about an experienced freelance jewel thief and safe cracker named Frank (played by Caan) who ends up pulling difficult scores down for mobsters and their fences in Chicago and then settling with them.
Michael Mann sent James Caan to Arizona to train with Jeff Cooper at Gunsite (known as the American Pistol Institute in those days) to learn how to shoot, handle, and move with a 1911 pistol. Training with Jeff Cooper at API and shooting a .45 Auto 1911 pistol while going over the finer points of the Modern Technique at that time was considered to be avant-garde and only something that the most serious shooters did. That Mann sent Caan to train at API specifically at this time during the history of the American firearms training industry only reinforces just how serious Mann is about attention to detail. And just like the details concerning firearms, Mann also hired real safe crackers and thieves to provide technical advisory for the heist and robbery scenes. The techniques and procedures shown in the movie are considered serious and professional contextually in that time period.
In an interview, Caan recollects how Mann recruited him for a role in Thief. He adds, “The next thing I know, I’m in Gunsite, AZ with a guy named Jeff Cooper, who teaches like these CIA guys how to sweep a house. We were there for two days and I learned how to handle this .45—that was important to Michael.” Perhaps many readers’ minds instantly shifted to the famous scene leading up to the movie’s final climatic scene, where we observe Frank entering a suburban home in the evening, while carefully sweeping all angles and corners, holding his Jim Hoag 1911 Longslide pistol in a Weaver stance and high thumbhold grip. There are other subtle details that experienced gun guys (and gals) might also pick up on, such as a scene where Frank carries out an old school press check and ensures his pistol is properly loaded prior to entering a building.
One of the best angles in the entire film of the Hoag Longslide 1911. In this still one can clearly see the profile of the Bo-Mar rear sight and the distinctive Colt Gold Cup trigger shoe of the era. You can also see the squared trigger guard in this shot.
There is a bit of a myth surrounding Caan’s visit to API as some have alleged that Colonel Jeff Cooper did not want to associate his Modern Technique material with thieves and criminals and thus had declined to instruct Caan after learning that he was playing the role of a career criminal in his upcoming film. Purportedly, Chuck Taylor, another high level instructor at API had taken Caan offsite to personally coach him for his role as Frank.
The most iconic firearm in Thief is of course that Jim Hoag customized 1911 .45 Auto Longslide pistol that Frank possesses. Jim Hoag was a vaunted southern California gunsmith who was famous for his customized longslide 1911 pistols that usually sported a squared trigger guard, checkering on the frontstraps, commander style hammers, and Bo-Mar adjustable rear sights. Different Hoag builds have different styles of triggers installed; for example, the 1911 Longslide featured in this film has an old school Colt Gold Cup trigger with its unique vertical skeletonization. This little detail is perhaps one of the most distinctive things about that pistol. Additionally, Hoag was also known for setting the Bo-Mar rear sight units as low as possible relative to the top of slides in order to make them as low profile and snag-free as possible.
There are two other 1911 pistols that Frank uses in the movie that were also provided by Hoag Gun Works. One of them is a 5-inch customized Colt Gold Cup (which careful viewers will spot throughout certain parts of the film such as the press-check scene). The other is a chromed Colt Combat Commander. In the scene where Frank flashes that gun to the bar bouncer, one can immediately observe the classic commander style hammer and Bo-Mar sights. The Colt Combat Commander is just a variant of the Government model that has a shorter slide and barrel (measuring 4 ¼ inches instead of 5) and that distinctive commander hammer which replaced the original spur hammer to reduce hammer bite. Hoag built all three pistols by hand and set them up with barrels modified to fire theatrical blanks. Nevertheless Hoag ground and fitted only the lugs of the barrels and not the locking lugs on the slides so that they could later be fitted with the Bar-Sto barrels Hoag Gun Works was using at the time.
Colt Combat Commander, carried in Frank’s waistband. Ideal placement (preferably with a holster)
In short, Thief is an interesting film that showcases a character that is very serious about what he does and how he does it. That Frank arms himself with 1911 pistols such as a Jim Hoag Longslide or a Combat Commander with Bo-Mar sights only shows viewers the extent of his professionalism. For readers under the age of 30, his gear choices are equivalent to Frank arming himself with a 9mm 2011 pistol topped with slide mounted red dot and a Glock 19 (also with a slide mounted red dot) had the plot been set in the current year.
Rest In Peace Mr. Caan—and thank you for sharing your skills and your talent to entertain us on the silver screen for so many years!
Closeup shot of another Jim Hoag 1911 Longslide build, shared here to showcase the fine craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. Note the checkering on this build which is said it was something Mr. Hoag did by hand until his later years. The Two-Tone look was the style many custom 1911s were finished in back in the day.
When one of my favorite rifles does well under conditions, I like to share that.
Since Henry and Josh are running their SCAR 16 in a not so different way than how I run mine, I especially enjoy this demonstration of capability.
LPVO and smooth G trigger.
Author of course uses the more accurate and reliable FDE model.
Being able to confidently shoot to 650 out of any 5.56 with a reduced barrel (under 18″) and good ammo is a rifle with exceptional ability to compliment its shooter’s talent and skills.
Add to everything the very reliable and smooth operation of the SCAR rifles and you end up with an objectively fine platform.
The SCARs main detraction remains, and will likely forever remain, its cost of acquisition. Just like with the PTR91, you’re getting a system for a price tag and you can buy 3 PTR91 rifles for the price of a single SCAR.
Translated to a single user, that means you can buy a stolidly reliable AR-15 without any of the modern creature comforts rifles like the SCAR offer, and then add an equally high quality ancillary setup that covers slings, optics, and illumination.
There will always remain something to be said about the cost/gain of the highest quality firearms, just as their will remain things to be said of personal preferences. Every selection, and especially personal selections, are a balance of objective criteria and preferences. The SCAR excels in the objective criteria categories, but it has a price tag better than a lot of mortgage, car, and utility bills combined. Its physical characteristics might also be outside a users preferences.
If cost or characteristics on a rifle make it a no for you, then it’s a no. “Great rifle, but it costs too much for me.” is a perfectly valid backed opinion. The same can be said of H&K, KAC, LMT, LWRC, SIG and other high tier rifles that run well but come with a deep cost well.
If that means you run an 18″ Aero Precision with a PA SLx scope and a streamlight that didn’t break $2k all said and done, that’s a fine way to put something together too. An FN, or BCM, or IWI topped with a P4Xi and an older on sale Surefire with some internal preference mods like new trigger will dress out nicely for under $3k, probably.
But if you want to go all in because you want to, because you want the performance, it is only money and you can’t take that with you, then get the expensive gun and have some fun with it.
Because you can.
You don’t have to justify it with its extra 1.2% reliability or that its accuracy is better than the M4A1, just do it because you want to and the performance gains are a happy bonus.
So as to avoid any misquoting, misunderstanding, or general missing of anything, we will provide you with the text of the bill as written, before proceeding.
“This bill, beginning on July 1, 2023, would establish a firearm industry standard of conduct, which would require a firearm industry member, as defined, to establish, implement, and enforce reasonable controls, as defined, take reasonable precautions to ensure that the member does not sell, distribute, or provide a firearm-related product, as defined, to a downstream distributor or retailer of firearm-related products who fails to establish, implement, and enforce reasonable controls, and adhere to specified laws pertaining to unfair methods of competition, unfair or deceptive acts or practices, and false advertising. The bill would also prohibit a firearm industry member from manufacturing, marketing, importing, offering for wholesale sale, or offering for retail sale a firearm-related product that is abnormally dangerous and likely to create an unreasonable risk of harm to public health and safety in California, as specified.
This bill would also authorize a person who has suffered harm in California, the Attorney General, or city or county attorneys to bring a civil action against a firearm industry member for an act or omission in violation of the firearm industry standard of conduct, as specified. The bill would authorize a court that determines that a firearm industry member has engaged in the prohibited conduct to award various relief, including injunctive relief, damages, and attorney’s fees and costs.”
The promised functional definitions do not arise later in the bill, despite promises to the contrary. The closest we get is “reasonable controls” which is defined as a gun manufacturer taking “reasonable procedures, acts, or practices…” that will somehow stop straw purchases, prevent user loss or theft, and to abide by a “Firearm Industry Code of Conduct”, which sets out an equally poorly defined standard of behaviors that involve nebulous terms like “assaultive purposes”, “abnormally dangerous”. Surrounding this half-baked dictionary writ law, is a theme of generally establishing that a gunmaker who either produces products that are legal under the law, but effectively reduce the impact of their failed AWB. Also, anyone whose products are at any point involved in criminal activity after their legal wholesale or retail sale, is liable, and can be sued by functionally anyone who can claim to have been affected by gun violence, and every attorney employed by the state or local government. In addition, marketing by gunmakers is now subject to somewhat less vague, but equally punitive restrictions.
We recommend you read the text yourself. Most news articles hit on one or two major points, but I have yet to see any of them publish the truly buried lede, which is the final sentence of the bill. Perhaps Newsom and his comrades are more intelligent and aware than their vaguely worded legislative windmilling would suggest, because tucked in at the very end like a favorite stuffed animal is the following gem.
“If any provision of this act, or part of this act, any clause within this act, any combination of words within this act, or the application of any provision or part or clause or combination of words of this act to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions, clauses, words, or applications of provisions, clauses, or words shall not be affected, but shall remain in full force and effect, and to this end the provisions of this measure are severable.”
It’s almost like they know this was dead in the water before they wrote it, given Heller, McDonald, and Bruen. They have seemingly tried to obey the letter of those rulings while pissing on their spirit, and I expect everyone with an inch of skin in the California RTKBA movement is currently smelling the blood in the water and starving their lawyers to make them meaner for the upcoming fight.
Gov. Newsom reportedly said, when asked about the obvious potential for legal challenges “Bring it on, they’d be crushed.”. Well, be careful what you wish for, Governor. The wave of lawsuits coming to CA on the heels of this legislation may not be the one you were anticipating.
The topic came up in one of the gun groups I frequent and after the discussion I felt a post was in order. It was a good discussion.
What is a “Bag Gun?”
Superb acting by Ken Ross in this photo. I think The Division II had just released.
A bag gun, or a truck gun in some parlance, is a carriable carbine of some manner in a more discreet container that doesn’t scream ‘I am a person armed with a rifle’ upon casual observation. The bags are made to look like backpacks or gym bags, and sometimes are just that, but they pass as more mundane carriables while also holding a more capable firearm than your EDC piece.
How is a Bag Gun used?
Mostly?
For fun and for flex.
A bag gun, in most of our lives, is a conversation piece. It is. Don’t get mad.
Outside of professional circles, like the Secret Service or low profile LE event security, a discreetly carried carbine is not particularly useful. It ends up being a bunch of effort for no practical gain. Your EDC is your emergency tool and your bag gun is not your EDC, even if it’s around you daily.
Fun, certainly, but not useful.
What the Bag Gun becomes is a way to discreetly transport, again not ‘carry’, but transport a carbine into places and spaces where you don’t want everyone and their aunt knowing you brought a long(er) gun.
On vacation, staying with friends or family, at a longer event with residency or a place you are staying, wherever you might feel it handy to have fairly quick access to a more capable firearm in case of a sudden environment level shift in your safety status.
This is typically associated with a static location you can safely keep the carbine. Even if it remains in the bag, it has a storage point that you, and perhaps others in your party, know about in case anything in the bag is needed. The bag likely contains more than just the carbine too. Medical gear, restraints, less lethals, even typical items like electronics might be compartmentalized in the bag.
“Quick” draw?
You may or may not have seen a video, or reel, or TikTok of someone very quickly going from their allegedly “discreet” carry of a carbine, to the carbine out, and about, and ready to workout.
Cool for the Gram, certainly. They had fold away armor too.
The reality of these drills is more a proof of concept that a stored firearm can be prepared rapidly, not an actual ‘under time’ stressed draw for a fight. You don’t need to run Bill Drills from a bag to a set XX:XX time, you do need to run drills from the bag to make sure you can smoothly get the gun into readiness and identify snag points.
If you need to draw for a fight in progress, use your EDC. 100% of the time it will be faster, every time. Then at a safe moment prepare the carbine, if necessary.
The “quick” deployment showcases that you need little, not none, but little notice in order to ready the gun, and perhaps extra equipment with it, into an effective state because a fight, or openly detering a fight by being overtly armed, is imminently necessary and unavoidable.
Run Riot
If all of this is leading your thoughts down the path of ‘This sounds useful if my city breaks out in riots’, then you’ve stumbled upon the most likely use case for a non-professional user. Besides flexing that is.
Where you are at, the event or location you are attending, goes feral in a hurry and you need to get you and yours gone from this now suddenly unsafe space.
Bag Gun Setup
I have a few SBRs and “pistols” that can be used in the role, but I tend to default to my Zenith MP5 clone.
GAT Editor running a ‘Break Contact’ drill at a Teufelshund Tactical MP5 Operators Course
After shooting it with James Williamson a few years back, and discussions and shooting with Tom Alibrando, I just like it. It does the job well enough and checks the boxes I want checked.
Suboptimal? Maybe. But not in enough areas where I feel a particular need to go out and buy into a .300BLK Rattler, or a MK18 with a LAW Folder, or any other variation on the theme of compact carbine, the MP5 does the job fine.
I’ll get into why at the end.
The Bag
The Sentinel Concepts Revelation 2.0 by TUFF Products does a really good job of looking far more like commuter backpack than tactical gun transport bag. It isn’t perfect, nothing is, but it is comfortable and doesn’t scream ‘Gun Within!’
Vertx Commuter Sling XL 2.0
Longer bags able to accommodate more rifle, even broken down upper/lower, still tend to be out of place if they’re taller, longer, heavier looking than a school bag dimensioned bag. They can get away with life as adventurer, backpacker, hiker, camper bags, but any time you step into the world with this much gun carried on your person at some point you are going to start stretching someone’s limits of credulity.
Especially gun people who know what to look for. Things meant to carry guns tend to look like they’re meant to carry guns, at least to some degree. Things that aren’t meant to carry guns tend to be very bad at carrying guns because they aren’t structurally meant to do the thing you’re asking them to do.
So pick your bag based on the job. Is it a permissive but discreet environment where as long as you aren’t dragging in a pelican case covered in industry stickers you’re fine, or are needing deep concealment that people are going to dismiss as a regular backpack for clothes, laptop, and other daily devices?
Your answer selects your bag choice, and your bag choice will select your available firearms.
Opening the bag
The interior of the Revelation 2.0 conceals the gun in the back behind nylon, so opening the bag and having a computer, hoodie, or whatever in the front pocket can easily maintain the discretion. Any longer examination inside will tell an observer, “Hey! Another pocket!” so there is that. But the interior, like the exterior, avoids being festooned with MOLLE and in OD, FDE, MCT, or Multicam whatever.
Although tactical colors and patterns have their own fashion niche that isn’t always gun guys or gals, so it isn’t as much of a tell as some might thing.
Behind the nylon sits, surprise, the MP5!
Magazine in, chamber empty, sight on, light recently checked, no sling.
Magazine In
30’s fit comfortably, 20’s would probably be a little more smooth removing, I have yet to try the Magpul 50rd drum but I suspect that will work nicely as well and may become the go-to magazine.
Chamber Empty
“Why would you carry chamber empty!?
I’m not, my EDC is chambered and holstered as usual. This bag is a gun case, not a holster. I am uncasing and readying the MP5, not drawing it. One is accomplished swiftly and efficiently at need, but an immediate need will always be the EDC draw and not the gun in the bag.
The bag gun means I have a minute. How many minutes will determine what else comes out of the bag. Loading procedure on the gun is going to be the first thing after it clears the bag.
Sight On
Using a high efficiency dot or solid state reticle makes a quick look through the tube confirm my sight is working, adjust brightness real quick and continue.
If time is short, you know that you keep the sight ready to use so
If you keep the sight off, whatever, turn it on. However with battery saver tech on current sights there is no real need to conserve power.
Light
Light recently checked so that it will turn on when you ask it too, unlike your sight though checking your light might not be something you can do discreetly.
If you can, check it, but if not having recently checked it (and your sight) you should be ready to go.
No sling
In this instance I do not want a sling needing to be unwound or untangled, I am bring thing out because I might need it on very short notice and may not be in a position where slinging the gun brings me value.
30 Seconds Out
Again, the bag isn’t a holster. That said, you should be able to go from a stored weapon to a ready weapon with one full magazine in a 30 second window, checks included.
So if, hypothetically, you’re caught on a road heading right into a riot with no better way to go but through you can also put a gun in your lap (or equivalently convenient space) that has more staying power than your comfortable P365, G19, or J-Frame.
In short, you see trouble coming fast but you still saw it coming.
You’ll notice no sling, but you will notice QD sling points.
Time gives you options (and accessories)
You (or I) now have a functioning carbine in hand. We can handle the immediate problem and start taking the next steps.
If that immediate problem is continue preparing, we can further set ourselves up to support running the gun.
The next most accessible pocket gives me more magazines. I might be in a one magazine situation, hopefully, but I also might not, so having the time to stuff my pockets or place these in a more accessible location comes next.
This leaves me with the carbine and more ammo, but still no sling.
Fix that next, add the sling.
2 Minutes and Go
These extra steps are treated similarly to when you should tactically reload, time and opportunity. Getting the gun ready was the immediate thing you needed time and opportunity for, now these are additional time/opportunity/necessity steps.
Get moving.
Get to the spot where you can start putting these things back away and zipping the bag shut again.
Why 9mm?
In a world of .300BLK, 5.56 NATO 77gr, and 7.62×39, which all do fair in short barrels, why would I stick with 9mm?
A. I want to
We can just get that in right away, I want to stick with 9mm because I do. The same reason I am running an MP5 clone and not a modern MPX, I want to.
B. Size, Weight, Capacity
Fairly simple, I can keep 3-4 loaded MP5 magazines in the space of 2 rifle magazines. The gun is reasonably light. The gun is low recoil.
C. Concussion
While I know there are ways to run a can, and I will probably add a can to the extra equipment list, the bag is not conducive to running a can on the gun.
So if I am pulling this thing for real because I will need it, it is getting fired unsuppressed. It may also be getting fired inside a vehicle.
If you’ve never done that, it is loud an unpleasant. It is drastically louder and more unpleasant in rifle calibers.
D. Carbine, not Caliber
Here’s a bit of advice for those chasing the min/maxer angle on this whole thing.
After reminding everyone that this is mostly a flexercise because it is fun, in the event you’re using this in the actual emergency you built it up for your most drastic change in your capability to fight, protect, and otherwise project force to your advantage was by going from a handgun to a shoulder fired higher capacity weapon.
You became more accurate, with more rounds on hand, probably faster, and your physical presence as a fighting force to be reckoned with changed. You’ve changed how you’re showing up to the fight and that could help avoid the fight. Now there’s every chance in the world that riding toward that fight in an APC with an armed and armored squad wouldn’t avoid that fight, but you’ve set yourself up for the last ditch avoidance of what looks to be unavoidable as best you can.
The July 4th weekend granted me a nice opportunity to kick my feet up and relax. I started early, taking Friday off, which proved advantageous. A little show called the Terminal List premiered. I’ve been awaiting the premier since the early tease from Chris Pratt on Instagram. I enjoyed the novel and met the author fairly quickly one year. He was very humble and kind and autographed my copy of Terminal List.
So when Friday night rolled around, I settled in with a Guinness, my lovely wife, and dived in. The series is streaming in its entirety on Amazon Prime and is eight episodes, roughly an hour long each. I dived in quite content and happily finished it in a single weekend.
The Terminal List was the first book published by Navy SEAL Jack Carr. Jack Carr served 20 years as a SEAL and served as both an enlisted man and an officer. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander and became an author with a total of five books starring his protagonist James Reece. James Reece is a SEAL because writing what you know is a valuable strategy.
The Terminal List – A Revenge Tale
I love a good revenge tale. It’s one of my favorite genres, and that’s what gripped me originally about the Terminal List. Jack Carr said he wrote the word revenge on a piece of paper to act as his guiding light while he wrote the novel. I’ll try my hardest not to spoil the show, so I’ll keep things vague.
James Reece is an LCDR and troop leader who nearly meets his end when a mission goes bad. He and another team member are the sole survivors of their SEAL team. After returning home, his wife and child are killed, and he’s plagued by hallucinations, headaches, and false memories. His world is unraveling, and it’s all being done to him by outside forces.
Once Reece realizes this, he decides revenge is the only option left. Thus we get the story of James hopping from palace to place, uncovering a conspiracy that leads higher than he could have ever imagined. He travels internationally even to take names off his Terminal List.
After reading the book, I knew what would happen, but I still appreciated how they made Reece an unreliable narrator. He has a brain tumor that is making him slowly lose his grip. If I hadn’t read the books, I could see myself doubting the main character and his interpretation of events.
Actors Taking the Wheel
It must be terrifying turning your character over to an actor. Surprisingly Chris Pratt did very well as Reece. He gives a great performance, especially when he doubts his sanity and in the dark moments of the show where revenge is all that matters to him. He’s akin to less crazy Anton Chigurh in drive and will.
Another standout is Constance Wu, an intrepid reporter who wisely questions everyone, including our hero. She’s a bit of a double agent but dedicated to the truth. To the point where she doesn’t necessarily believe anyone.
Taylor Kitsch plays Ben, Reece’s close friend and former SEAL compatriot. He’s a CIA Ground ops guy but also seems to be a bit of a hard-partying surfer. He’s Reece’s main partner throughout the series and helps him repeatedly as he crosses names off his list. Taylor is great in the role and occupies it with a laid-back gravitas with an undercurrent of violence.
Other than those three, not a lot of actors get to shine. Everyone delivers a solid performance, but their characters aren’t very interesting. Sean Gunn owns his small role, but the book and the series focus on Reece as a character, leaving some characters and actors in his wake.
The Sound of Thunder
The Terminal List keeps things simple. The story isn’t exactly new, but it’s well-told and doesn’t get convoluted or overstay its welcome. The Terminal List does a great job of moving through the story headfirst and without much restraint. Eight episodes seem to be the perfect length and keep the show from bogging down like way too many streaming shows do these days.
My main problem and complaint is this ultra-dark filter Amazon seems to have put over the show. Sometimes you can’t see anything, and it’s ultra annoying. The first episode has the worst case when the SEAL team infiltrates a series of tunnels. I couldn’t even tell what had happened.
The Tactics
One thing that impressed me about the Terminal List is the action. The actors are well trained and handle firearms brilliantly.
The show’s creators wisely sought out real veterans as advisors in the show. This includes SEAL Jared Shaw, who Pratt worked with on Zero Dark Thirty and befriended. Kitsch played a SEAL in Lone Survivor, and in that experience, he worked with real Life SEAL Ray Mendoza, who also advises on the Terminal List. SEAL Kevin Woulard acted as an advisor and the stunt coordinator.
This vast swath of experience made sure the actors looked authentic, and it.. The guns and gear they pick are all top of the line and make a ton of sense. Pratt rocks a BCM rifle with an Aimpoint and a Cloud Defensive OWL, and Ben Edwards uses the Beretta 1301 outfitted with Aridus Industries gear to great effect. We even see a pair of the SEAL favorite Winkler axes.
It’s impressive to see Pratt reload a Glock like it’s a reflexive function or Kitsch do a slug select drill with his shotgun. They don’t just reload when they run empty. They reload every chance they have, which is a good idea in a gunfight. If you are not moving or shooting, you should be reloading.
Little things stand out, the plate carriers don’t hang low, slings are used, and the little things that most shows and movies ignore go a long way in the Terminal List.
The Terminal List
I enjoyed the Terminal List. It’s a great little psychological thriller with good action and solid performances. If you approach it blindly, I think a few of the twists will get you. It’s not a 1-for-1 remake of the book, so even readers will have some surprises.
NEWINGTON, N.H., (July 14, 2022) – SIG SAUER, Inc., is pleased to announce the official Grand Opening of the SIG Experience Center (SEC) on the campus of SIG SAUER Academy in Epping, New Hampshire.
The SIG SAUER Experience Center is a state-of-the-art facility bringing the SIG brand to life in an exciting, hands-on, immersive way. The SIG Experience Center is home to the SIG SAUER Flagship Store, the SIG SAUER Academy Shooting Facility, the SIG SAUER Museum, the exclusive members-only Club 1751, along with a complete conference and events facility. The SIG Experience Center serves as a true extension of the SIG SAUER brand and serves as the corporate showcase to the world.
Ron Cohen, President of SIG SAUER, Inc. was joined by The Honorable Asa Hutchinson, Governor of the State of Arkansas – home to the SIG SAUER Ammunition manufacturing operations — dignitaries from the State of the New Hampshire, and the leadership, employees, and distinguished guests of SIG SAUER to officially cut the ribbon and open the SEC.
“The SIG Experience Center marks the next phase in our company’s evolution, and we are immensely proud to have the opportunity to share the excitement of our brand and our accomplishments with the world,” began Cohen. “The timing of this facility is serendipitous as over the next eighteen months we will begin to deliver one of the largest small arms contracts in U.S. history, the Next Generation Squad Weapons to the U.S. Army. The museum at the SIG Experience Center (SEC) affords us the opportunity to share the story of our military beginnings in 1751 to our emergence as a modern defense industry leader transforming squad level weapons for the U.S. Army and world with the XM5, XM250, suppressors and hybrid ammunition.”
To celebrate the opening and achievement of the SIG Experience Center, the SIG SAUER Academy will be hosting a Grand Opening Celebration kicking off on Friday, July 15, 2022 and Saturday, July 16, 2022 from 10:00am to 9:00pm each day. The festivities include an events stage with presentations from Team SIG professional shooters, product walk-throughs, including the Next Generation Squad Weapons, and a live acoustic concert with country artist and SIG fan Brantley Gilbert on Friday evening. Additional events include signings with local sports legends including Boston Bruins Brad Marchand and Kevan Miller, also of the hunting company March & Mill Co., and former New England Patriot Adam Vinatieri, a vendor village and raffle opportunities. For a complete schedule visit sigsauer.com.
“The economic development benefits of this facility are substantial, and our Grand Opening Celebrations are the start of our commitment to host events and opportunities to bring visitors to the New England region from all over the world, create new jobs, and share the SIG Experience. This is just the beginning, and we could not be more excited about it,” concluded Cohen.
The SIG Experience Center is located on the campus of the SIG SAUER Academy at 231 Exeter Road in Epping, New Hampshire and open daily from 8:00am to 9:00pm.
About SIG SAUER, Inc. SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, suppressors, airguns, and training. For over 250 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision. Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters and responsible citizens. Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of tactical training and elite firearms instruction at the SIG SAUER Academy. Headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, SIG SAUER has over 2,900 employees across eleven locations. For more information abo ut the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.
Although I did not realize it at the time the purchase of the Remington V3 Tactical was a timely acquisition.
They were affordable at the time, just a few years ago, and today they are very difficult to come by and pricey. If you do find this rugged and businesslike shotgun for sale here are a few words on performance.
There are quite a few good quality automatic shotguns on the market today. Some are designed gor sporting use, others well suited for 3-Gun competition straight out of the box. The Remington V3 Tactical, a shotgun based on the proven V3 sporting shotgun, is among these quality choices. While I have used the Remington 870 pump action and Remington 11 87 automatic as emergency guns for many years, the V3 is superior in every way to these classic formidable shotguns.
The V3 is a gas operated self loading 12 gauge shotgun. The V3 is famously reliable with 2 ¾ inch and 3 shells, from game loads to heavy buckshot. The V3 uses a gas regulation system that is innovative and effective. More of the gas ports are exposed with low brass short shells. The system simply uses whatever gas is generated efficiently. This makes training possible with lighter less expensive shotgun shells. Another advantage is that the V3 kicks less than many shotguns. While I do not consider the Remington 1100 a hard kicker the V3 kicks less. The system uses relatively small recoil springs as the gas is bled into a gas block. If you are familiar with the Benelli M4 system the V3 operates on a similar principle.
The V3 Tactical features an oversized bolt release and safety. Speed and positive handling are the goal. The loading port is enlarged for fast and easy loading. I have occasionally made a very fast reload with two shells at once. The young and fast may do the same with three shells, or even a quad load. I am not saying the V3 will allow this feat without a tremendous amount of practice but there is no shotgun faster than the V3 when it comes to a speed load in my hands. The operator is most important, the V3 compliments a trained shooter.
The V3 also features an enlarged ejection port. This makes for positive ejection and ease of speed loading a shell into the chamber. The rotating bolt head is a positive feature. The V3 also features a wide trigger and an extended bolt handle.
The shotgun tested features XS sights. The rear sight is a cross between a true speed sight and a rifle sight and the front ramp sets in a dovetailed base. The XS sight combination offers a good balance between speed in rapid work with buckshot and precision with slug loads.
The barrel is 18.5 inches long. The magazine is an extended type with a seven shell capacity. The forend and buttstock are synthetic with a good abrasion and adhesion. I don’t fire my shotguns as much as rifles and handguns. Just the same, in the past three years I have fired about five hundred shells in this shotgun getting the feel of it and attempting to master its handling. I have fired cheap shells and the best types of buckshot. There have been no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject.
The Remington V3 handles quickly, with a good natural point. The shotgun as issued with its open choke will center buckshot on the target to 15 yards, a bit longer with some loads. Compared to a pump action shotgun the V3 is much faster to a follow up shot, transverses between targets quickly, and offers lighter recoil. I have used a good deal of the Federal Flite Wad buckshot load. This load seems to hold the tightest pattern of any shotgun load I have tested. I have also fired a good quantity of the Federal non toxic lead free frangible training buckshot. While it is designed to break up on steel targets making for safe training it would serve for home defense as well.
It is good to learn the point of aim and point of impact with slugs. The V3 has been carefully tested with Federal Tru Ball slugs to 50 yards. It isn’t unusual for the V3 to put three slugs into four inches at this range- excellent results. I find the V3 as good a choice as any shotgun for defense use. I am hoping it will become more available soon.
Remington V3 Tactical Semiautomatic Shotgun Specs
Manufacturer: Remington Arms; remington.com Type: Gas-operated autoloader Gauge: 12, 3-in. chamber Magazine Capacity: 6 rounds Barrel: 18.5 in. Overall Length: 39.5 in. Weight, Empty: 7.63 lbs. Stock: Synthetic Length of Pull: 14.0 in. Finish: Black oxide receiver and barrel, black stock Sights: XS Low Profile rifle sights Safety: Crossbolt Trigger: 6.03-lb. pull (as tested)
I wish I had more time to read, and I wish I had more time to train with firearms. Sometimes I don’t have enough time for both, and that’s when I try to combine the two. I recently finished T.A.P.S. by Patrick McNamara. Patrick McNamara, aka Pat Mac, is currently a firearm instructor but is also a 22-year veteran of Army special operations. This includes time with the Army’s Premier Special Mission Unit, aka Delta force.
As the name applies, T.A.P.S. is the Tactical Application of Practical Shooting and is a guidebook for tactical shooting. This isn’t your typical guide to shooting for the individual. This book was more or less written for law enforcement agencies and military forces who are looking to start or improve a training program. It’s a book written for firearm instructors more than individuals, but I think it has something for everybody.
T.A.P.S. Inside the Information
T.A.P.S. presents the information throughout the guide very simply but also concisely. Each chapter is fairly short and doesn’t waste much time breaking down various concepts. Everything is presented with rapid-fire, fast-paced energy, which seems to match Pat Mac’s energy.
Each chapter is just a few pages that don’t meander or slowly walk you through every little thing. Instead, here are the safety rules, here’s why they are important, and how to present the information to the person you are training.
The book is fairly short, and I read through it in one day. It’s not a technical manual but a down and dirty breakdown of various concepts related to training. T.A.P.S. presents the information in a very logical order. We get introduced to training and some brief concepts, then safety, then fundamentals, creating standards, and more and more until we get to the back half of the book.
The Back Half of T.A.P.S.
In the back half, we get a ton of drills, courses of fire, and even some IPSC courses. These drills and training portions are built for the individual and even for team efforts. The team drills and training are perfect for law enforcement and military units and can be nice if you’ve got a group of friends dedicated to hard-core training.
Some of this training will be more difficult to accomplish than others. This is especially true if you are an individual and need to have access to a 300-yard range that allows movement.
Although some of the drills and courses of fire are very clever and I hope to get a few friends who are willing to try them out. They are very competitive-driven, and that always adds in a flair of pressure.
Always Thinking
One of the running themes throughout T.A.P.S. is thinking. Think, think, think, and Pat Mac really stresses on shooters making decisions on the fly with a gun in their hand. One of my favorite lines from the book is: “Understands that TTPs are SOPs with a shelf life.”
Evolve, learn, and constantly educate yourself on what’s new and what works is a key takeaway from the book.
T.A.P.S. isn’t going to be well suited for new shooters. They won’t find much use here, and as mentioned, it’s aimed at instructors, trainers, military members, and police officers looking to create a program. With that in mind, it’s not a program but a book aimed at giving you the tools to create a program.
With that said, there is plenty of good information for the individual shooter in the manual. Lots of great drills, great explanations, and a good mindset are portrayed throughout the book. T.A.P.S. takes shooters and makes them self-aware. For the meager price tag, it demands T.A.P.S. is well worth the cost.
TAMPA, FL, July 12, 2022 – Meopta Sport Optics is now shipping the new MeoPro HD Plus binoculars. Available in 10×42 and 8×56 models, this Gen 2 version of the award-winning MeoPro binocular line features an upgraded HD optical system, delivering sharper, brighter images and better contrast than previous models. The edge-to-edge clarity, wide field of view, and outstanding low-light performance make this mid-priced line a top choice among hunters seeking high performance and value.
The focus wheel has been redesigned for a smoother, faster, and more precise focus. The modern exterior, with durable rubber armoring, provides a better and more comfortable grip in all weather conditions. The lightweight magnesium alloy body is built to withstand the most brutal hunting conditions and is tripod adapter ready. Twist-up eyecups are metal with a soft rubber exterior, making them extremely durable and comfortable while eliminating the risk of breakage. They are also designed for easy removal and cleaning.
“The new MeoPro HD Plus binoculars deliver an improved user experience,” said Erik Muller, Product Specialist, Meopta Sport Optics. “The advanced lens coatings and new optical system deliver outstanding low-light performance, allowing hunters to see fine details in challenging conditions. Improved handling and comfort are also key upgrades.“
Meopta’s MeoShield anti-abrasion lens coating offers added protection to exterior lenses while the MeoDrop hydrophobic lens coating easily repels rain. The diopter adjustment is located under the right eyepiece. Both models are nitrogen purged, shockproof, and fully sealed for fogproof and waterproof performance in the most demanding conditions. Like all Meopta optics sold in the United States, they are backed by Meopta’s Lifetime Transferrable Warranty.
MeoPro HD Plus
10×42
8×56
Magnification
10x
8x
Objective Lens Diameter (mm)
42
56
Field of View (°)
6.2
6
Field of View (ft at 1,000 yds)
325
314
Eye Relief (in)
.59
.68
Close Focus (ft)
9.8 ft
7.2 ft
Exit Pupil Diameter (mm)
4.2
6.7
Dioptric Comp
+/- 4.0
+/- 3.5
Weight (oz)
22.9
36.3
Length (in)
5.42
7
Depth (in)
1.92
2.62
Width (in)
5.00
5.6
Retail Pricing:
MeoPro HD Plus 10×42 $649.99
MeoPro HD Plus 8×56 $799.99
About Meopta
Meopta has been producing high-end European optics for more than 89 years and is a leading manufacturer & partner to many of the world’s finest optical brands. Meopta conceives, develops, and manufactures precision optical and electro/optical systems for semiconductor, medical, aerospace, and military industries as well as for consumer markets.
