Springfield Hellcat

By

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May 1, 2021

It’s a jungle out there. Protect yourself with the all new 9mm Hellcat™. Featuring a patented magazine with best in class capacity of 11+1 and 13+1 with included extended magazine, the Hellcat is designed specifically for every day carry with Adaptive Grip Texture™ and high visibility sights. Also available in an optics ready OSP™ configuration, the Hellcat gives you The Capacity to Defend.

HELLCAT™ 3″ MICRO-COMPACT 9MM – HC9319B

Caliber 9mm
Slide Billet Machined, Melonite® Finish
Sights U-Dot™: Tritium/Luminescent Front, Tactical Rack Rear
Grip Width 1″
Height 4″ w/ Flush Mag, 4.5″ w/ Extended Mag
Weight 18.3 oz w/ Flush Mag, 18.6 oz w/ Extended Mag
Barrel 3″ Hammer Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, 1:10
Frame Black Polymer w/ Adaptive Grip Texture™
Recoil System Dual Captive Recoil Spring w/ Full Length Guide Rod
Magazines (1) 11-Round, (1) 13-Round Extended
Length 6″
MSRP $569

EAA Girsan MC9 Sootch Review

By

248 Shooter

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May 1, 2021

The Girsan MC9 is 9mm pistol that comes from the factory with the Micro Red Dot included. It’s imported by EAA Corp. In business since 1984, Girsan is a NATO-approved arms manufacturing facility located in Turkey. They make firearms for militaries all over the world. It is a state-of-the-art facility, which has produced a number of different firearms. Typically, they excel at reverse engineering.
The MC9 is an upgrade of the MC28 and comes with optics already mounted. There are a number of excellent features, and it comes in at a very reasonable price point – with great quality!

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus

By

248 Shooter

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April 30, 2021

The Smith & Wesson performance center pistols are a cut above. One of the first things we notice about the M&P Shield Plus is how super thin it is. Here’s a list of other notable & features:

• Flat face trigger for consistent trigger finger placement that allows for more accurate and repeatable shooting.
• Enhanced grip texture allows the user to manage recoil, keep a firm grip and delivers comfort when concealing.
• Extended magazine offers 13+1 round capacity. For more concealable option, we offer a flush-fit 10 round magazine.
• 13 round and 10 round magazines included.
• Tactile and audible trigger reset.
• Extremely thin and lightweight – can be comfortably carried all day.
• M&P’s patented take-down lever and sear deactivation systems all for disassembly without pulling the trigger.
• Optimal 18-degree grip angle for natural point of aim.
• Armornite® durable corrosion resistant finish.
• Backed by Smith & Wesson’s Lifetime Service Policy.

Ruger Tech Tip – Ruger 57

By

248 Shooter

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April 30, 2021

Ruger introduced the safe, reliable and proven Secure Action™ fire-control system in 2016 with the LCP® II, followed by the Security-9®, and the Ruger-57™ pistols. The Secure Action™ combines a protected internal hammer with a bladed-safety trigger. The trigger has a short, smooth pull, clean break and positive reset. Two new Ruger Tech Tip videos, The Ruger-57™ Secure Action™ and Ruger Secure Action™ Pistols, give an inside look at the robust safety features and innovative engineering behind these exciting Ruger® products.

Dan Wesson 715 Review

By

Caleb Giddings

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April 30, 2021

In 2020, Dan Wesson once again discontinued the Dan Wesson 715 revolver. It lasted longer than I thought, running a full six years in their lineup before lagging sales and expensive production costs once again put this curious wheelgun to rest.

Legendary name

Dan Wesson revolvers occupy an interesting place in the world of enthusiasts. The company itself was founded by the great grandson of the original Daniel Wesson, and Dan Wesson II’s roundguns eventually gained a respectable cult following in revolver circles. Their party trick was an interchangeable barrel system, which allowed the end user to swap barrel lengths at their leisure, making a 6-inch silhouette gun into a 4-inch duty gun or a 2-inch carry gun with relative ease.

The company went through a long period of financial troubles starting in the early ’80s, which lasted until 2005 when they were purchased by CZ-USA. Initially, CZ didn’t do much with the Dan Wesson brand, they announced some new products would be coming, but instead of a big flashy launch like you’d see from other companies, they focused on ensuring the product was right before they pushed it out. Then in 2015, after a decade on hiatus, you could buy a new Dan Wesson 715 again.

Luxury Performance

The Dan Wesson 715 was the Cadillac of the lineup, and the 2015 model is faithful to that heritage. It came from the factory with a 6-inch vent-rib barrel with a full underlug, finger-grooved rubber stocks, and excellent target-style adjustable sights. With the 6-inch barrel, it weighs exactly 48 ounces unloaded, which in units you’d actually use is 3 pounds. That is a lot of gun. The DA trigger pull is 10 pounds, with a relatively short length of travel, minimal stacking, and a very positive reset. It also has an overtravel stop, which is a nice feature for a gun like this. SA trigger pull was 4.5 pounds, which was heavier than I was expecting. The one part of the gun that is unusual is the location of the cylinder latch. As you can see in the header photo, it’s located on the crane. If you’re familiar with Smith or Ruger revolvers, that will take some getting used to.

My memory of the Dan Wesson 715 always associated it with being a very accurate gun, so with that in mind I put it to the test. Step 1: get a bunch of different loads that I know from previous tests are accurate. Step 2: shoot them at standard 50-foot bullseye targets and see how well they group. Here’s the ammo I used:

DoubleTap .38 Special +P 158 grain LSWC
Magtech .38 Special 158 grain LSWC
American Eagle .357 Magnum 158 grain JSP (my favorite “general use” magnum load)
Federal Gold Medal 148 grain Wadcutter

The first three loads I fired slow fire for groups, trying to squeeze maximum accuracy out of each. The last, the Federal Gold Medal, I put to the test under match conditions, shooting strings of timed and rapid fire with it. We’ll get to that in a bit. First, the DoubleTap:

Using a six o’clock hold on the black, the DoubleTap 158-grain LSWC shot into 1.7 inches at 50 feet from a freestyle unsupported hold. This load has always shown tremendous accuracy from all my guns. The downside is that because the madmen at DoubleTap are pushing an all-lead bullet at 1000 FPS, this round can get kind of smokey in a hurry. In fact, I’ve had this load tie up other revolvers from carbon and lead build up after just 50 rounds. That wasn’t an issue for the Dan Wesson 715 however. It also did an excellent job of eating up the recoil of the hard hitting (for a .38) DT loads.

Up next, I went to one of my favorite “budget/accurate” loads. This is the Magtech 158-grain LSWC at standard .38 Special pressures.

The Magtech had a decent showing, a slightly-over-2-inch group at 50 feet. Felt recoil was like shooting a popgun, because 3 pounds of Dan Wesson steel laughs at the puny recoil impulse of standard pressure .38. Beyond that, there’s not a lot to say about this load. It’s relatively cheap, it shoots well, and it’s not as smokey as the DoubleTap.

Then it was time for the fun stuff: full house .357 Magnum in the form of American Eagle’s 158-grain jacketed soft point.

I took my time with this one, because even with doubled up ear pro, shooting full house magnums at an indoor range can be a bit of an experience. When it was said and done, the American Eagle turned in the best group of the day, 1.4 inches at 50 feet, standing unsupported. Recoil was exactly what you’d expect from a 3-pound gun firing full house magnums: it was there and you noticed it. But the accuracy that the gun turned in with these rounds was very impressive, and I think an excellent testament to the gun’s ability.

After shooting the magnums, it was time to put the gun on the clock. I sighted it in for 50 feet, and set up to shoot timed fire. In standard bullseye courses, timed fire is 5 shots in 20 seconds, or about 4 seconds per shot. I expanded the par to 24 seconds to shoot 6 shots, and loaded it up with Federal Gold Medal Match. I shot four strings of 6 shots of timed fire, 24 shots total. My score was 225-12x out of a max possible 240. Here’s one of the targets:

Federal 148 grain WC timed fire 2.1 inches

That’s also a 2-inch group, shot timed fire at 50 feet. Using the Federal Gold Medal Match, this gun is an absolute laser beam. Shooting Gold Medal Match wadcutters out of this was an amazingly pleasant thing to do. The gun makes a wee little “pop” noise, it wiggles around a bit, then that big front sight is right back where you left it, and the gun is all “let’s go again!”

What I Like

The world needs more good revolvers, because having S&W and Ruger is great, but just two choices isn’t really enough. It’s a shame that the Dan Wesson 715 was discontinued, since it would have fit nicely into the niche in-between Smith & Wesson and the resurgent Colt. As far as the gun itself, it does everything I want a revolver to do. It’s accurate right out of the box, it has great target sights right out of the box, the trigger is even pretty good without me messing with it. That’s last part is special, because the first thing I do to either a Ruger or a Smith when I get them is start messing with the trigger. You could probably improve the trigger on the 715 as well, but it’s honestly good to go already.

What I Don’t Like
I’m going to say it, and I’m sorry: I don’t like the cylinder release. It’s in a weird place. Located on the crane like that, it makes it impossible to do a reload without changing hands, which for some people means they’d have to change how they reload the revolver. The grips have to go, but that’s because I hate finger groove grips. I would need to bob the hammer as well; with as high a grip as I want, the hammer actually hits my hand during the DA pull.

As far as mechanically, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this gun. It fed everything, shot everything accurately, the only issues I have are really more of personal preferences from shooting revolvers for so long.

Technical Stuff
According the internet, the Dan Wesson 715 uses speedloaders that also fit S&W K-frames, which is good. I don’t have any K-frame loaders around the office to test that, because shockingly I don’t actually own any K-frames right now. I can say for a fact that Security Six and GP100 loaders don’t work. However, Safariland lists the same model of loader for the K-frames as they do the 715, and they’ve never led me astray before.

Holster fit might be a a bit trickier. I tested it with various Smith and Ruger holsters around the office, but that enormous underlug prevented it from fitting any of those. Speaking of the barrel, this gun shipped with the 6-inch version as I mentioned above. You used to be able to actually buy different barrel lengths direct from CZ’s web store.

If you can find them, all the old barrels fit and would work just fine with the new manufactured guns.

The Verdict
Here’s what’s interesting about the fate of the Dan Wesson 715, at least to me. It’s a well known fact that CZ owns Dan Wesson, and it’s an additionally well known fact that CZ just bought Colt. Yes, that Colt. The Colt that is experience a very fun revolver resurgence, bringing back the Python, the Anaconda and the Cobras. Now, the 715 was discontinued in 2020, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the decision was made to kill it in order to avoid internal competition with their new lineup of snake guns.

Regardless, I like the 715. It was an interesting gun that did interesting things, but was ultimately never competitive in the market during its heyday, or it’s in 6 year reintroduction.

Blackhawk Stache IWB Holster

By

248 Shooter

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April 30, 2021

The Stache IWB from Blackhawk is designed by concealed carriers, for concealed carriers. It is the ultimate solution for everyday carry, with features such as ambidextrous, impact-reinforced polymer, a spare magazine carrier, a low-profile shirt guard, friction-adjustable passive retention, and much more. The Stache IWB is the most technologically-advanced modular holster system that was designed never to be seen.

Staying Warm and Dry in Foul Spring Weather

By

Scott Smith

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April 30, 2021

DSCF7535 — Viktos' Combonova and 5.11 Tactical's Braxton will keep you warm and dry in those cold spring and fall rains.

While the calendar says it is April, the weather has been more like late fall over a good portion of the north. This means it is still jacket weather. If you travel a lot you know that same quality jacket is needed year round.

I found a couple of jackets that you can put to use year round. They light enough to pack for a hike, tough enough to endure serious range training and look good enough to wear out to dinner or when being a tourist. Our jackets are made by two major forces in the shooting business; 5.11 Tactical and Viktos.

Viktos is a relatively new company that debuted at the 2019 SHOT Show. Even though they are new, Viktos has developed a devout following. The reason for this is simple, their designs are innovative. The Combonova Jacket is one example of this.

This jacket is offered in black Multicam yoke with a black body or Multicam yoke with a coyote body. These combinations allow you to blend in to either night/urban or most field settings. If you are not wearing this jacket for duty, it also looks good going out to dinner, at the range or out hiking.

You can see the stretch fabric at the shoulder and the routing loops under the collar for commo cables.

You will find the Combonova is loaded with features, starting with the material. The shell is water resistant 50 % nylon/50% cotton for durability; it is insulated with gridded microfleece and has stretch fabric in the shoulders, elbows and back for unrestricted movement. I can attest to it keeping you warm and dry, because I wore it out in our late April snow this week.

This image shows the flap closure pocket (top) and the low profile pocket below it that can accommodate magazines or a cell phone.

The lower hand warmer pockets zip closed and have a divide to segregate gear.

Other features of the Combonova are; magnetic closure chest pockets that can be accessed under body armor, low-profile wrist closures, interior communication ports and cord routing, as well as one cargo pocket on each side of the body zipper. Whether you are wearing the jacket for duty or daily wear, the Gunvent zippers give you easy access to a concealed pistol.

The Gunvent has two way zippers allowing you to close the vent around your pistol and magazines in foul weather.

The only weak point of the Combonova is the sizing; Viktos sizes their outerwear small to fit snugly under ballistic vests. It seems they are roughly two sizes smaller than other multi-function jackets. Overall Viktos’ Combonova is built to survive duty wear while looking good enough for daily wear and not be out of place in either environment. With a $195 MSRP it is competitively priced with other jackets of this genre.

5.11 Tactical is not known for resting on its laurels, especially where outerwear is concerned, the Braxton is one of their latest jackets. This jacket is 92% polyester/8% elastane, double weave, 304-gm/m2, DWR; to give you four way stretch for comfort and is wind, rain as well as stain resistant. Available in black or grenade (grey parkerize color), the Braxton will look good in any setting.

You will find the Braxton is sized to allow you to layer under it. During our recent chilly mornings I wore a sweatshirt under it and had plenty of room to move. It was a perfect combination in our mid thirties, rain/snow mix April showers. Another nice feature in these late season snow squalls was the hidden hood, it kept my hat from getting soaked. I found the two way zipper kept the jacket from bunching up while driving.

The hood lays flat and does not rub your neck, even when driving.

This is the interior of the hand warmer pocket showing the Rapid Draw zipper. This is also a slash pocket for additional storage.

One thing 5.11 is known for is their clothes have plenty of pockets. The Braxton is no exception. There are zipper close main pockets with RAPIDraw, zipper access to your CCW weapon or other items on your belt. On each side of the zipper, mid-chest; there are Dual Ready Pockets that are hook and loop closure. These are ideal for securing your cell phone. At the bottom of the yoke there are zipper close pockets.

The zipper main body pocket, the Dual Ready Pocket zipper is accessed inside.

The small concealed pocket will secure items such as keys or a cell phone, while the large one gives you fast access to larger items such as a notebook.

5.11 is known for hidden pockets, the Braxton is no exception. They are located on the chest and just under the front yoke. The chest pocket can fit larger items while the yoke pocket is ideal for a cell phone or flashlight. The last features of the Braxton are hook n loop sleeve adjustments and a loop logo patch for an ID or morale patch on the right shoulder. 5.11 Tactical’s Braxton will set you back $149.99. For a jacket that will break the wind, keep you dry and looks good, that is a good deal.

You can attach an ID or morale patch to 5.11’s loop logo.

In 2021 clothing choices for range, duty and street are as varied as the folks wearing them. Viktos and 5.11 Tactical are leading the way with options to keep you warm and dry. You cannot go wrong with either the Combonova or the Braxton. Keep them on your short list for new outerwear this spring.

The Uzi – A Historical Retrospective

By

Travis Pike

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April 30, 2021

“Never again” is a phrase I don’t think anyone but a Jew would truly understand. Uziel Gal understood it as he fled from Germany as the Nazis rose to power. After the state of Israel was established, he quickly took to making the phrase a reality. “Never again” means nothing without the ass to back it up. Uziel Gal became an arms designer for the state of Israel, and if you cannot tell by his name or the title of this article, he invented the Uzi submachine gun.

Interestingly enough, Uziel didn’t want his name attached to the weapon, but the request was denied. Speculation can come up with a half dozen reasons why, but if I had to guess, it was a message—a message to the world in the form of a gun.

Israeli armed their police and military forces with a variety of rifles. Kalashnikovs, the M1 Garand, SKS rifles, FN FALs, and a miss-match of pistols, machine guns, and bolt action WW2 rifles populated their army. The Uzi showed that Israeli could not just create a submachine gun, but a damn fine submachine gun. Israel needed domestic arms development, and the Uzi proved they could do it.

The Uzi entered service in 1954 with Israeli forces and quickly made its way through the ranks. In the 1950s, submachine guns were still the hotness of military arms. World War 2 was fought by a combination of full-powered rifles, heavy machine guns, and submachine guns. The Uzi was as modern as it got in 1954.

Breaking down the Uzi

The Uzi was a product of its time. An open bolt 9mm SMG adorned with a 10.24-inch barrel was nothing new. However, Uziel did make a few unusual choices for the time. He built the magazine housing into the pistol grip because of the ethos, “hands find hands.” This space-saving design kept the gun short and maneuverable, while being intuitive to reload.

Like most SMGs at the time, the Uzi utilized a blowback design that uses the force from the first cartridge fired to cycle the weapon. Another unusual design choice was the telescoping bolt design. The bolt wraps around the breech end of the barrel. This allowed the gun to use a pistol grip magazine housing, slowed the cyclic rate, and better balances the weapon.

Israel loves their safeties, and the Uzi features both a full-on grip safety and a manual safety that doubled as a selector switch and safety. Operators had the option of semi-auto, safe, and fully automatic.

Another smart design was the non-reciprocating charging handle. Since the charging handle sits on top of the weapon, it’s ambidextrous. The magazine release is a European-style paddle release at the bottom of the pistol grip, also ambidextrous.

The gun was made from stamped steel which simplified production and lowered the price of the Uzi. A low price and simple production was most certainly a necessity for the new state of Israel. The Uzi’s mass production was easy and allowed Israel to mass-produce to their requirements with a vengeance. Stocks included a bulky wooden option that’s comfortable and robust, as well as a compact folding design.

Warfighters with Uzis

Israeli invaded Egypt in 1956 after Egypt blocked the Suez canal for Israeli trade and sponsored terror attacks across Israeli settlements. In 72 hours, 100,000 Israeli troops answered the call, some armed with a mish-mash of rifles and others wielding the new Uzi submachine gun.

These early Uzis were adorned with wood stocks and, during the siege of the Sinai peninsula, apparently did rather well. No major complaints or changes were made to a weapon after the Sinai war.

In 1967 the Six-Day War erupted with Israel launching a preemptive strike into Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. The Israeli soldiers moved and fought with ferocity; again, the Uzi found its way to war. At the same time, rifles like the FAL were the main armaments, special operations, tankers, artillerymen, radiomen, and more carried the Uzi to war. Again the weapon serves the Israelis well as they conquered the Sinai peninsula, the Gaza strip, and the West Bank.

In the fighting, the Uzi was invaluable for clearing out bunkers and machine-gun nests where the fighting was tight and difficult with full-sized battle rifles. Yet, war was changing, and the World War 2 era SMG tactics were fading away in the light of faster firing, long-range rifles.

In 1973 the Uzi found itself fighting once more in the Yom Kippur war. Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on October 6th. Three weeks of brutal fighting began, and the Israelis pushed the Egyptians and Syrians back; again, the Uzi performed admirably but began showing its age in modern warfare.

Modern Warfare and Counter-Terrorism

The Uzi began aging out of traditional warfare but found a spot in counter-terrorism teams. Israel was beset with terrorist activity. In 1976 terrorists hijacked an Air France passenger plane. The plane diverted to Entebbe, and slowly all hostages were released, except for the 94 Israeli passengers and Air France crew.

Israel would not let this stand and attempted to resolve the crisis diplomatically with the mad man Idi Amin. However, negotiations fell apart. No one saw what was coming next. Israel began an offensive plan, and on July 3rd, 100 Israeli commandos launched an organized attack. The Israelis disguised themselves as Ugandan soldiers and even had a mocked-up limousine to resemble Idi Amin’s own personal ride.

The commandos were armed with a variety of weapons, including the now famed Uzi submachine gun. The hostage rescue operation saw the death of three hostages and the elimination of 100% of the terrorists. Israel also destroyed dozens of jets to allow for Israeli planes to land and ferry the hostages to safety.

The message was very clear, “Never Again,” and the Uzi punctuated it.

The SMG For All

The Uzi was phased out of frontline service in 1980 but hung around for quite some time in reserve forces, counter-terrorism operations, police, and security forces. More so than that, Israeli sold over 2 billion dollars in Uzis around the world.

The Germans, the Dutch, the Irish, and even certain forces in the United States adopted the Uzi. In the 1980s, the Secret Service adopted the Uzi, and we saw Special Agent Robert Wanko draw an Uzi from a briefcase during the Regan assassination attempt.

The Uzi and its variants eventually armed over 90 country’s police and military forces. The Uzi was the most produced submachine gun in the world between 1960 and 1980. To this day, variants of the Uzis still serve in numerous countries as a mainline submachine gun.

My Uzi Weighs A Ton

The Uzi has become a household name in the firearms world. It’s joined the AK47, the Glock, and MP5 as a gun everyone knows, and everyone recognizes. There are lots of ways the Uzi gained its fame. First, its widespread use in over 90 countries certainly contributed to the gun’s fame.

The picture of Special Agent Wanko became published from sea to sea due to its dramatic nature and the fact a U.S. President was targeted.

The Uzi also had a name that rolled off the tongue. Uziel Gal may not have wanted his name on the gun, but it’s fame in pop culture has a lot to do with its name. It’s short, sweet, and isn’t filled with a combination of letters and numbers. It’s a word, much like MAC and TEC are words.

Public Enemy proclaimed their Uzi weighs a ton because it was easy to say and rhyme. “My M3 Grease Gun weighs a ton” doesn’t have the same rhyme to it. We saw the Uzi become a popular bad guy gun and is named check-in popular 90s film, New Jack City.

While the general populace may have thought the Uzi was a criminal’s firearm, it rarely, if ever, showed up in crime. I couldn’t find a single case of an Uzi used in a crime.

….To an Uzi (uff) everything looks like a watermelon….

The Family

Submachine guns have gotten smaller as their role in conventional operations shrunk. It’s almost as if their use in counter-terrorism ops shrunk the SMG designs. The big Uzi is no different. The weapon engineers in Israel made the Uzi two little brothers.

The Mini Uzi
In 1980 we saw the birth of the Mini Uzi. This little fella wears a 7.76-inch barrel and has a total length of 14.17 inches with the wire stock folded. That stock doubled as a foregrip when placed in the closed position. The Mini Uzi cuts a few pounds off the gun and increases the fire rate.

The Micro Uzi
In 1986 the baby of the Uzi family was born. The Micro Uzi got its barrel trimmed to 4.6 inches and became a gun that walks the line between machine pistol and SMG. This tiny guy has a firing rate of 1,200 rounds per minute. It’s quite hard to control without its stock. Unlike the other Uzi, this little fella operates on a closed bolt.

The Modern Uzi
In 2010 a new Uzi hit the scene. The Uzi Pro was born, and we saw a modernized Micro Uzi. The modernized variant features a much more ergonomic pistol grip, rails for optics and lights, as well a left-side charging handle. The Pro comes as both a proper submachine gun variant and a pistol variant for civilian ownership.

Uzi Money

Two billion in sales, adoption by over 90 countries, and starring roles in films and music have made the Uzi one of the most popular firearms ever created. Its service in the Israeli military and in numerous warzones proves the Uzi deserves its famed reputation. As the world marches further from submachine guns, the Uzi still remains a cultural icon.

Classic Beams with 9-Hole Reviews

By

Keith Finch

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April 30, 2021

When the MP5 broke from its quiet unknown little corner of the professional firearms world as the new face of the submachine gun, it was the SAS who broke that seal. But while the storming of the Iranian Embassy, on TV no less, propelled the SAS and the MP5 to international fame, the maglite played a prominent role as well.

Today’s lights are smaller, brighter, and more capable. They can be headed to work with night vision or for extreme distances. Certain flashlight heads begin to qualify as lasers they have so much concentrated throw. The light game has come far in 41 years. But this assault was a marked proof-of-concept for many modern CQB schools of thought and validation for a great many gear selection choices.

Light techniques and visible light CQB doctrine was developed extensively for missions and raids just like the one in South Kensington, London. Those tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP’s), are not so different today as they were then, our lights are better though.

We tend to call these “foundational” doctrine or principles. They are the bedrock, they establish the need for the equipment and TTP’s and the necessary considerations any developed TTP must cover. Use in clearing rooms in larger structures was pretty much set in this raid. It’s one of those neat pieces of developmental tech where a need was met ad-hoc and then refined.

Weapon Mounted Lights (WML) are at an incredible developmental level. LEDs, modularity, size reduction, intensity increases, purpose designed bezels, magnitude increases in lumens and candela, and common use has become far more common knowledge. Weapon mounted lights for home defense firearms is now an accepted and rarely resisted notion. In most circles of expertise it’s the most important single addition after the ammunition.

There is always something to be said for tracing developmental lines. Happy Weekend All.

Resistance… Is Futile

By

Keith Finch

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April 29, 2021

SIG SAUER Modular MODX-45 Pistol Suppressor Now Shipping

The most Borg-like suppressor on the market has entered the Alpha quadrant. Seriously, this thing looks like it should be flying in orbit in 1996’s First Contact instead of gracing the end of a .45. I’m certain someone with a little creative studio tooling could do just that. Maybe I will…

Anyway the titanium stacked modular sections are now shipping to locations near you. The Borg are floating somewhere in space doing creepy assimilation things.

NEWINGTON, N.H., (April 29, 2021) – SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to announce the MODX-45 Pistol Suppressor is now available and shipping. The MODX-45 is the extension of the SIG SAUER MODX line of pistol suppressors made of titanium baffles, for the ultimate in lightweight strength and performance that allows the user to personalize their suppressor for overall length, weight, and sound.

The SIG SAUER MODX-45 Suppressor is comprised of seven, 3D-printed titanium baffles and an encapsulator with 21-points of impact adjustment. The length is adjustable from 3.25 inches to 9.25 inches, the weight is adjustable from 5 ounces to 9 ounces, and the sound is adjustable from 133dB to 149dB. The suppressor is easily user-configurable and comes with two pistons, disassembly tools, .578×28 and M16x1LH pistons, and a fixed-barrel spacer and includes the most popular imperial and metric position for its given caliber.

MODX-45 Suppressor Specs:
Overall Weight: 8.75oz.
Overall Length: 9.25in.
Overall Width: 1.35in.dB
Average: 133dB
Caliber: .45
Finish: Black DLC
Baffle Material: Titanium
Mount: .578×28 and M16x1xLH Pistons

The SIG SAUER MODX-45 Suppressor is now shipping and available for purchase at retail stores. For more information about the SIG SAUER MODX-45 Suppressor, the previously released MODX-9 Pistol Suppressor, or the full line of SIG SAUER Suppressors visit sigsauer.com.

About the Borg.
The Borg are an alien group that appear as recurring antagonists in the Star Trek fictional universe. The Borg are cybernetic organisms linked in a hive mind called “the Collective”. The Borg co-opt the technology and knowledge of other alien species to the Collective through the process of “assimilation“: forcibly transforming individual beings into “drones” by injecting nanoprobes into their bodies and surgically augmenting them with cybernetic components. The Borg’s ultimate goal is “achieving perfection”.

About SIG SAUER, Inc.
SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, and training. For over 250 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved, and thrived, 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 elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy. Headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, SIG SAUER has over 2,300 employees across nine locations. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.

Your Brain on Range Day

By

DRGO

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April 29, 2021

(from thereloadersnetwork.com)

Shooting a firearm can raise a lot of emotions, especially for people who have never fired a gun before. A few may experience anxiety, fear, even burst into tears. Anticipation, and maybe some healthy wariness, are more typical reactions.

Most don’t have problems; wanting to learn usually makes it exciting. What follows is usually a healthy rush of adrenaline and a good day. After you flip the safety on and pack up, a sense of relaxation usually follows on the drive home. Why does all this happen?

First, your heart rate and blood pressure rise. Your breathing speeds up. Shooting can be extremely intense the first few times. A lot of energy comes out of a gun and your first time might be one of the most powerful experiences you’ve ever had. Even seasoned owners still experience these effects but rather than fear, they feel positive anticipation and exhilaration. Such impact typically evolves as people become more accustomed to shooting, especially if they live in an area with strong 2nd Amendment support.

Now your brain is alive with a rush of endorphins. These endorphins trigger a primal reaction. Your adrenal system is active and is helping increase your mental focus. You’re able to take in a large stream of information which can make time feel like it’s moving slower.

As the mental high of shooting starts winding down your body is releasing multiple chemicals to bring you back to normal. This is where a sense of calm begins to envelop you. Your heart rate drops, blood pressure starts to return to normal, and a feeling of relaxation hits. After all, it’s basically just putting a dot on a target, squeezing a trigger, and making a loud noise.

Of course, with avid shooters and professionals, range day after range day may dull these feelings or erase them completely. That’s not to say it’s no longer enjoyable, they just don’t get a big hit of adrenaline or shaky hands afterward.

Shooting firearms can become just another fun activity or sport which offers its own suite of psychological benefits. Range day can be a social event for many that includes benefits like quality time with friends and family and improving your mood. It still provides benefits like mental engagement when focusing on a target or polishing technique and relaxation after the fact.

Members of the firearms community have been called “gun nuts”, but shooting is really like any other hobby or sport. People want to have a good time and get better at it. The psychological effects are of similar to other high adrenaline activities like racing, bungee jumping, or skydiving—but shooting is safer and can be done by anyone regardless of physical capacity.

Try it, you’ll like it!

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—Richard Douglas founded Scopes Field, reviewing different scopes and guns on the market. He’s a strong 2nd Amendment advocate and believes in science-backed gun solutions to our nation’s biggest problems.

All DRGO articles by Richard Douglas

The Top 5 American Gunfighters

By

Travis Pike

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April 29, 2021

What makes someone a gunfighter? Trust me, any idiot can get in a gunfight. It’s not that hard. Gunfighters separate themselves by not only being victors but by fighting with distinction. Gunfighters fight with a cool head, keep their aim true, and tend to be one-man force multipliers. I’ve chosen five of America’s most distinguished gunfighters and I want to explain why they are considered as such.

Wild Bill Hickok

Wild Bill Hickok goes down as one of the OG American gunfighters and the man we picture when someone says cowboy. Hickok lived an interesting life as a soldier, a scout, a lawman, a frontiersman, a gambler, and even an actor. He fought in the American Civil war and was at one time a spy for the Union army.

Wild Bill and Davis Tutt invented the famed quick draw duel in 1865. The reason we don’t remember Tutt but remember Hickok is because Tutt died that day. Hickok later served in various positions as Sheriff and Marshall in various cities and towns throughout the west. Along the way, he killed his way through criminal after criminal.

He famously wielded a pair of Colt 1851 Navy Model 36 caliber cap and ball revolvers. The secret to his success was famously his calmness in a fight. Hickok remained cool under pressure and bizarrely accurate even when lead was being tossed at him. He reportedly killed Davis Tutt at 75 yards.

OG Gunfighters

Wild Bill wore his guns calvary style with the butts forward. He didn’t use a holster, instead he preferred a sash to carry his guns. He could reach the guns in a cross-draw manner or with an underhand dragoon draw.

The only way for a man to kill Hickok was to shoot him in the back. At the time of his death, he carried a smaller Smith and Wesson Model 2 revolver, which was a bit easier to carry concealed or casually. At the time, he was a gambler and not a lawman, so the Colts were left at home.

Dan Daly

Dan Daly joined the Marine Corps looking for a fight. I’m serious. He joined, hoping to see some action in the Spanish-American war. Sadly, at least for Dan, the war ended before he finished basic training. Luckily, Dan Daly got his opportunity in 1900 while he was stationed in China. Along the way, he became famous among both gunfighters and machine gunners.

A group of Chinese Nationalists known as the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists rose up seeking to throw out foreign influence. Dan Daly landed in China, and he and his unit were assigned to defend the Tartar Wall. Well, one day, Private Daly was standing guard by himself as the other Marines moved out to gather supplies to improve the wall and fortification.

The Boxers saw their opportunity to attack with only a single man on guard. Sadly, for the Boxers, that one man was Dan Daly. He stood watch with an M1895 Colt ‘potato digger’ machine gun chambered in 6mm Lee Navy. Dan Daly used that machine gun to kill the 200 boxers attempting to lay siege to the wall. For his actions, he earned his first Medal of Honor.

Not Just One

Fifteen years later, he earned his second Medal of Honor. Now a Gunnery Sergeant, Daly leads a 35 man platoon in Haiti. The Marines received fire from 400 fighters as they crossed a river. They dropped the platoon’s machine gun in the river as they crossed.

Finally, they set up a defensive position without a machine gun. After night fell, Daly went back to the river quietly and retrieved the machine gun. As the sun rose, the Marines began sweeping the jungle, and that gun downed dozens of fighters. That 35 man platoon fought off the 400 fighters, and Daly received his second medal of honor.

Robert Howard

Robert Howard was one helluva warfighting badass. He served in the US Army’s secretive MACV SOG as a Green Beret. He received three Medal of Honor nominations in just 13 months and received one of the three. Col. Howard earned other medals like the Silver Star, four Bronze Stars, a Distinguished Service cross, and eight purple hearts. Heck, he almost has the same amount of wounds as he does medals. In 54 months, he was wounded 14 times.

He’s clearly a warfighter, but what made him one of the best gunfighters? Well, in one battle, he killed what sounds like about a dozen men. He started his day by blasting four North Vietnamese with a long burst from his rifle. A machine gun immediately laid down the hate on Howard’s position, and Howard returned it. Before he could do that he crawled under fire to kill an enemy sniper, then charged the machine gun bunker.

He shut the bunker down with his rifle, only to immediately be fired upon by a second machine gun emplacement. Robert directed close air support to punish it, yet it persisted, and while inspecting the damage done by the air support, the machine gun came back to life.

One More Time…

This time Howard silenced it with a grenade and maneuvered away from the gun as the grenade bought him precious time. He wasn’t done yet though, he retrieved a light anti-tank weapon and permanently destroyed the machine gun emplacement as it fired on him a third time.

His rifle was likely a CAR 15, as was the norm with MACV SOG gunfighters at the time. Alternatively, the rifle could’ve been an M16 which would have been another option seen in SOG commando hands. The light anti-tank weapon was likely a LAW, which is used to this day.

That was just one battle. Reading his various commendations painted a picture of a very capable soldier and hellacious gunfighter. Robert Howard received a direct commission to 1st Lt. and served until 1992 when he retired at the rank of Colonel.

Edmundo Mireles Jr.

Edmundo Mireles Jr. started his gunfighting life as a Marine and served two tours in Vietnam. The war ended, but Edmundo wasn’t ready to stop being a gunfighter. He joined the FBI and became part of the stakeout team that was hunting a pair of armed and violent bank robbers. Edmundo Mireles Jr.

The Miami Shootout occurred on April 11th, 1986, and changed law enforcement forever. A pair of bank robbers with a history of military service had been robbing armored cars and banks violently with long guns. These violent robberies were federal jurisdiction, and the FBI sent teams of agents to pull a rolling stakeout throughout Dade County.

Things went sideways when the FBI initiated a stop. It quickly devolved into a running gunfight in which 8 FBI agents armed with a smattering of shotguns, revolvers, and semi-automatic pistols quickly became outgunned by two men armed with rifles and shotguns. Nine out of ten people got shot, most people hit multiple times. Two FBI agents were killed almost immediately. It was hellacious.

A Gunfighter In Action

Edmundo Mireles Jr. took a round to the left arm and a graze across the head early in the fight. He was one of two agents wielding a shotgun, a pump-action 870, and he wasn’t going to drop his long gun. Even when injured, he fired all five rounds from his shotgun, wounding one. Keep in mind he had been shot in the arm but still kept his pump-action shotgun running.

Edmundo functioned on pure rage for the next 120 seconds and became a legend among gunfighters. He worked his weapon until empty, and during a lull in the fight, he heard the two bank robbers planning their escape. They attempted to steal an FBI vehicle, and Edmundo wasn’t having that. He left his empty shotgun behind and pulled his Smith and Wesson 686, and shut them down.

A man who had already been hit twice, who had all the excuses in the world to let these two escape, said no. He persevered, pursued, and punished the two. He approached both armed men and gunned them down with his S&W 686. Edmundo continued to serve with the FBI until 2004, when he retired. Rarely can gunfighters retire peacefully.

Clint Romesha

In 2009, Afghanistan was the wild west of the middle east. Firefights occurred across the country as NATO forces increased their presence. In Eastern Afghanistan, US Army soldiers occupied COP Keating, a poorly placed combat outpost surrounded by mountains full of Taliban fighters. On October 3rd, over 300 Taliban fighters descended on COP Keating.

The Battle of Kamdesh saw the award of two Medal of Honors to two very different soldiers. One of those men, Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha, distinguished himself as a gunfighter second to none. After the Taliban claimed an ammo depot, Clint decided that was not acceptable. So he led a team to take it back. After taking back the ammo depot, he decided that some Taliban machine gun positions needed to shut the %^&* up.

Never Stop

He silenced two after already being wounded twice and still had work to do. Romesha directed air support that killed 30 Taliban fighters and then laid down suppressive fire that allowed troops to reach an aid station for life-saving medical attention. Gunfighters that are leaders are rare, but Clint was both.

He directed fire, reorganized troops, including several Afghan National Army gunfighters. In the midst of constantly killing bad guys, he led his troops to fight back effectively. At the end of the battle, there were eight fallen American soldiers and four fallen Afghan National Army soldiers. The Taliban reportedly lost 150 fighters in the attack. Over a one-fifth of those kills were brought down by Clint.

The Gunfighter Life

America was founded by the gun, and we have a long history of producing gunfighters. It’s hard to pick five when we live in a country that produced so many valiant men. The above five showed an entirely different level of courage in the face of danger. These gunfighters acted under fire, defeated their enemies, often at great personal cost to themselves. They distinguished themselves as soldiers, Marines, police officers, and general rogues, and while years separate them, they all share the traits that make them gunfighters.

SIG SAUER President & CEO Ron Cohen Highlights U.S. Army Next Generation Squad Weapons Program in Exclusive Video

By

Keith Finch

-

April 28, 2021

NEWINGTON, N.H., (April 28, 2021) – Today, SIG SAUER, Inc. is proud to release an exclusive video featuring President & CEO, Ron Cohen highlighting the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) Program. The NGSW Program is a historic undertaking by the U.S. Army to develop weapons that will enhance squad-level lethality and is inclusive of a lightweight belt-fed machine gun (NGSW-AR), a rifle (NGSW-R), 6.8×51 hybrid ammunition, and suppressors.

“The Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program is the most audacious effort in decades. It is the ability to participate in writing history and whatever happens now will dictate the next twenty, thirty, forty years” began Cohen.

The MCX SPEAR is the Sig Sauer Submission for the NGSW-R (Rifle) and a belt-fed 6.8mm is the NGSW-AR

Each component of the SIG SAUER NGSW system offers significant advancements in battlefield weapons performance beginning with the SIG SAUER 6.8×51 hybrid ammunition – a lightweight cartridge designed to handle higher pressures resulting in increased velocity and terminal performance. The SIG SAUER Lightweight Belt-Fed Machine Gun (NGSW-AR) doubles the effective range and is 40% lighter than the current M249 while maintaining the preferred belt-fed operation, with reduced felt recoil increasing soldier lethality. The SIG SAUER Rifle (NGSW-R) is built on the foundation of the battle tested MCX platform with the added firepower of the 6.8×51 round; both the NGSW-AR and NGSW-R feature familiar AR-style ambidextrous ergonomics designed for a seamless transition from the legacy weapons to the SIG NGSW system. The final component of the system is the SIG SAUER Next Generation Suppressors for reduced sound signature.

SIG SAUER has committed virtually every part of the company to develop the NGSW weapons, engineering resources, manufacturing resources to develop the most advanced system possible. This program is a result of the Army’s push for a transformational change in small arms requiring significant integration within the system to achieve its goals of greater lethality and capability.

“We are the only company that makes the ammunition and the weapons so we were able to harness the engineers on the weapons side with the engineers on the ammunition side. We are the picture of readiness. We are the singular small arms company in this competition, and SIG has the engineering resources, manufacturing resources, asset base and commitment to do this,” added Cohen.

Hear more from Ron Cohen, President & CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc., and visit sigsauer.com to learn more about the U.S. Army selection and delivery of the SIG SAUER Next Squad Weapons.

About SIG SAUER, Inc.
SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, and training. For over 250 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved, and thrived, 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 elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy. Headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, SIG SAUER has over 2,300 employees across nine locations. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.

EOTech Wins Award For Most Boring Press Release

By

Keith Finch

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April 28, 2021

Ann Arbor, MI (April 28, 2021) – I’ve been asked to write a press release on EOTECH’s new offering of a consumer financing option on their website. Boring. It couldn’t be something cool like a new scope, or a new technology they discovered. Nope. It’s gotta be financing. Ugh. Alright. Whatever. Here it goes.

So, financing. I guess it’s kinda cool. I mean it is another alternative to high interest credit cards. Oh, and it is easy to apply for and in seconds provides instantaneous approval for immediate purchases on the EOTECH website. And it does break down expensive purchases into more manageable payments to hide from your significant other, so that’s pretty cool too.

Hmmmm. Let’s see. What else. EOTECH did set a goal to be industry leaders in customer and consumer service. Adding another convenient payment option that doesn’t impact consumer’s credit scores but in fact may help boost scores with on-time payments, definitely checks that box.

I was told to add a quote. Ok. Here is what the lady that worked on this said.

“Historically, under Big Corp, EOTECH was known to be difficult to work with. Since the divestiture, the new ownership and leadership team has set a goal to become industry leaders in customer service, at all levels. Our relationship with Credova offers consumers interested in purchasing EOTECH products another payment option and convenience.” Said Lisa Kemp, Director of Marketing. “Our products are not inexpensive, so offering an alternative to high interest credit cards may make the purchase process easier, more manageable, as well as address a customer who may not have purchased otherwise.”

Oh yeah, here is another thing. The financing firm EOTECH partnered with is Credova®. They have been around for years and offer several financing solutions, a seamless approval process for the consumer, have an approval rating around 80% and they take on the risk of repayment from the manufacturer. But what is really cool is that they are proud supporters of the firearms industry and 2A community.

So anyway, if you want to check it out, the Credova financing option will be live on EOTECH’s newly launched website at www.eotechinc.com.

There. Done. I guess it’s not as boring as I thought. Right. Who am I kidding?

Now, I gotta go find some coffee.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, EOTECH® designs, manufactures and markets electro-optical products, Vudu® rifle optics, thermal devices, and night vision systems. Due to its advanced technology, EOTECH Holographic Weapon Sights (HWS®) are among the fastest and most intuitive sighting systems on the planet. This is exactly why you’ll find them on the weapons of America’s most elite law enforcement professionals and special operations warriors. You’ll immediately see the advantage the instant you engage a target.

Support NY S3196 Legalizing Suppressors

By

DRGO

-

April 28, 2021

(from ruggedsuppressors.com)

[Ed: A slightly different version of this piece was just published in SCOPE-NY’s March-April 2021 Firing Line newsletter. DRGO strongly favors the hearing health benefits of using suppressors on firearms. The points discussed describe our position on laws everywhere that affect suppressor availability to shooters.]

Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership has been working for more than a quarter century to correct the biased positions of much of organized medicine against firearm ownership. We also advocate for rational laws that promote firearm safety and gun users’ health. Suppressors (not “silencers”) are an important tool to protect hearing from gun blast.

Loud noises such as gunshots are proven to cause progressive, irreversible Noise Induced Hearing Loss. Any sound over 120 decibels even briefly will cause such damage, as can longer exposure to lower volume. This is thoroughly documented by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders, the Centers for Disease Control, as well as academic and military research.

15% of American adults already have hearing problems, such as older guys like me who grew up shooting without ear protection, not knowing better. Hearing loss is the most common cause of service-connected disability for veterans.

Earmuffs typically reduce noise intensity from 20-30 dB (each increase of 10 dB equals a doubling of intensity). That lowers the typical sound of gunshots from 140-170 dB to more tolerable levels. Earplugs can add another 10 dB of protection when used with earmuffs.

But the best protection comes from muzzle-mounted suppressor devices. They reduce muzzle blast 50% more, so when noise at gun ranges routinely hits 160 dB, they can save the hearing of shooters and bystanders while permitting normal conversation. That communication is critical for safety purposes as well.

No one knows how or why the registration and taxation of suppressors was included in the 1934 National Firearms Act. But that made them hard to afford and acquire, directly causing far more NIHL during the past 90+ years than Americans should have endured.

The myth that making suppressors generally available would create corps of silent assassins is bunk. The reason they are not properly termed “silencers” is that they do not silence gunshots—they are still as loud as chainsaws and jack hammers. Despite near 13 million suppressors legally owned in the U.S., and common items easily adapted as such, criminals don’t use them. They make handguns long and bulky, very difficult to conceal. The extraordinarily rare prosecutions of “suppressor crime” occur for illegal possession, not use in crime.

Yet they are readily available (often over the counter) in New Zealand and much of Europe, not exactly pro-gun places. Why not in the United States generally, or in New York particularly? They are still illegal in 8 “progressive” states (New York, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island) that prefer controlling individuals’ rights over protecting their health.

New York Senate bill S3196 is a long overdue correction of this travesty that would protect the hearing of anyone in earshot of firearm discharges. I hope that New Yorkers value the precious sense of hearing enough to press the Legislature and Governor to make it law. There is nothing progressive about forbidding simple, inexpensive health protection for the people of this state.

The Marine Corps is now equipping all its long arms with suppressors. The Army is expected to follow. Our service members deserve that protection and enhanced communication. Don’t all Americans deserve the same?

For more information, see the DRGO Position Paper on Hearing Protection & Suppressors (Executive Summary here).

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— DRGO Editor Robert B. Young, MD is a psychiatrist practicing in Pittsford, NY, an associate clinical professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

All DRGO articles by Robert B. Young, MD