More Details From SIG on the DVO

By

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November 9, 2020

M4withtango6t — Ooga Booga Booga - Assault Rifles, apparently

The Army announced the nearly $80 million dollar contract award to SIG for up to 120,000 optics in recent weeks. The LPVO that won was their popular Tango 6T but the reticle design and final selected specifications were not know.

I suspected that the Big Army was picking up the M855A1 S-VPS like SOCOM selected. I was mistaken, they got something new.

With the announced feature set, both M4A1 and M27’s will begin fielding illuminated reticle front-focal-plane optics with the United States Marines and United States Army. The Air Force are also fielding optics out of this award for their M4’s if my memory serves me correctly.

As exciting as the NGSW program is to follow, if we look at procurement operations and wider acquisition programs the current crop of AR-15 based service rifles will be around for a good long while yet.

Sig’s release:

SIG SAUER TANGO6T Riflescope Selected by U.S. Department of Defense for Direct View Optic (DVO)

NEWINGTON, N.H., (November 9, 2020) – SIG SAUER, Inc. is proud to announce the TANGO6T has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense for the Direct View Optic (DVO) in response to a solicitation to enhance squad performance with a variable powered riflescope. Unlike older generation non-magnified or fixed-magnification optics, the TANGO6T is a 1-6X variable-magnification riflescope that enables the soldier to engage both close quarter targets and targets at extended ranges.

This award from the U.S. DoD is the third award for the SIG SAUER TANGO6T; previously selections for the TANGO6T include the Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDMR) and the USSOCOM Squad-Variable Powered Scope (S-VPS). The TANGO6T riflescope is currently in use with the U.S. Army Squad Designated Marksman and U.S. Military Special Forces.

“After rigorous and stringent testing, where the best of the industry competed, we are proud to confirm the SIG SAUER TANGO6T riflescope has been selected by the U.S. Army as the Direct View Optic,” began Ron Cohen, President and CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. “This is a three-peat for the TANGO6T as the riflescope continues to prove it will withstand the rigors of U.S. military testing making it the choice for use with our soldiers. The further proliferation of the riflescope into the U.S. Military’s M4A1 operating system is an exciting achievement for SIG SAUER Electro-Optics and further proof that the TANGO6T is the direction of the future.”

The TANGO6T 1-6×24 DVO riflescope will be used on M4A1 carbines and is a first focal plane ruggedized riflescope with a Flat Dark Earth (FDE) anodized aircraft grade aluminum main tube. The riflescope features the DWLR6 reticle capable of providing range estimation and wind holds at extreme distances, the advanced HELLFIRE illumination system for fast target acquisition, a locking illumination dial, Power Selector Ring (PSR) Throw Lever, the ALPHA4 ultralight mount, and a laser-marked scope level indicator for intuitive installation.

“The TANGO6T riflescope platform has been ruggedized and battle-hardened over the course of both the SDMR and S-VPS programs,” added Andy York, President, SIG SAUER Electro-Optics. “We are proud to assemble the TANGO6T here in the USA to support our warfighters with a variable powered riflescope that was developed to match the engagement requirements of today’s battlefield.”

The SIG SAUER TANGO6T 1-6x24MM riflescope is available commercially at local retailers and at sigsauer.com, in first and second plane, and varying reticles including 5.56/7.62 Horseshoe Dot, HELLFIRE MOA Milling, HELLFIRE FL-6 and the new DWLR6. “This award solidifies the TANGO6T as the premier riflescope of the U.S. military as it continues to exceed the highest standards for ruggedization, range, and accuracy throughout testing protocols, and in the field with our soldiers. We are honored to partner with the U.S. Department of Defense as they continue to modernize their weapons systems and look forward to the continued proliferation of the TANGO6T amongst our fighting forces,” concluded Cohen.

All SIG SAUER TANGO6 riflescopes are designed and assembled in the USA at the state-of-the-art, ISO-certified, SIG SAUER Electro-Optics facility in Wilsonville, Oregon.

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 2,000 employees across eight locations. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.

Rapid Anti-Gun Administration Ineffectually

By

Keith Finch

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November 9, 2020

President Trump is not the expected winner of the 2020 election. We still have certification and recounts and the like to go through but do not expect that to likely change that Biden won by a razor slim margin due to the events of the year and the perceptions surrounding them.

With that said whoever the Democrats lost ground in the house and failed to take the Senate which will be either 50 to 52 Republican seats. The Supreme Court is also comfortably 6-3/5-4.

The MCRGO released a good summary.

MCRGO Statement:

Once again, American voters proved the polls wrong, returning a mixed verdict on Election Day 2020 that denied either party a mandate. That’s good news for gun owners.

As anticipated, Joe Biden appears likely to become president-elect after the Electoral College votes next month. However, he’s very unlikely to achieve his promised ban on modern rifles, a $200 tax on standard capacity magazines, the elimination of internet sales of firearms and ammo, or removing liability protections for firearms manufacturers.

At this point in the time, the prospects of Republicans retaining control of the U.S. Senate are high. Republicans will control at least 50 Senate seats with the possibility of two more after Georgia holds its special election on January 5, 2021. Even if Democrats were to accomplish the improbable and win both Georgia seats giving Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote, Senate Democrats would be reluctant to subject their more vulnerable members up for re-election in 2022 to controversial votes.
The same holds true in the U.S. House of Representatives where Republicans picked up at least five and possibly as many as 16 seats on Tuesday leaving Nancy Pelosi with a very small majority. She’s unlikely to have the votes to pass any major gun control legislation.

On a more limited scale, executive orders remain an option for a president. But Biden would not risk any orders that could head to the United States Supreme Court where a new 6-3 conservative majority appears willing to issue a far reaching decision on self defense rights. The most we are likely to see from the federal level over the next two years would be expanded ATF restrictions on items such as pistol braces, ghosts guns, and binary triggers.
The results are much the same on the state level. The Michigan House of Representatives retained its pro-gun majority. Only two state House incumbents lost their seats -both Democrats. The Michigan Senate was not up for reelection this year. Districts will be redrawn next year by the new Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. However, the historic trend heavily favors Republicans in 2022.

Perhaps the worst news for Michigan firearms owners was the Supreme Court flipping to a 4-3 liberal majority. While we were successful in winning an injunction against Benson and Nessel in their attempt to ban open carry at polling places, we will not be able to be as confident of victory next time in the Michigan Supreme Court. Speaking of open carry at the polls in Michigan, despite all the fear mongering and media type, there wasn’t a single reported case of firearms-related voter intimidation.

Michael Bloomberg spent over $1 billion dollars this election, much of it through Everytown for Gun Safety, in an attempt to take control of state legislatures. He failed spectacularly across the county last week. Montana voters passed a pro-gun preemption measure despite it being heavily outspent by gun control groups. With a rapidly expanding and increasingly diverse population of legal gun owners in the United States, any new attempts at gun control will come at a heavy political cost.

Thank you for protecting legal gun ownership and self-defense rights with your ballot.

In short, it isn’t great.. but it could have been much worse. Local races told the story of many a referendum against the local leaders and their handling (or lack thereof) of recent events.

Lumber Crayon – A Discreet Stabber

By

Travis Pike

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November 9, 2020

Discreet carry weapons have a special place in my heart. The majority of us prefer to keep our weapons concealed and hidden when necessary. Knives, guns, nunchucks, and such can be effectively concealed, but sometimes the best way to conceal a weapon is to carry one so invisible you carry it openly, and no one would ever notice. The GLG Knifeworks Lumber Crayon is one such weapon.

If you have never been a carpenter, you may have never used a lumber crayon or lumber pencil. These are wide rectangular pencils that are used to draw straight and easy lines to make accurate cuts and fitments on wood. They are weird pencils essentially, and the GLG Knifeworks Lumber Crayon looks like a weird pencil, but it doesn’t write.

The Lumber Crayon

It stabs, shivs, shanks, and generally makes an attacker feel more uncomfortable and leaky. The GLG Knifeworks Lumber Crayon is made entirely from G-10. G-10 is a fiberglass laminate originally used for printer circuit boards. It’s become a popular material for numerous tools, including gun and knife grips, because it’s easy to texture and mold. G-10 is the strongest of the glass fiber resin laminates, and when you are planning to stick it into someone’s face, that’s important.

The genius of a device like this is that it looks and feels like a pencil. I could carry this in my hand or tucked behind my ear, and no one would be the wiser. The lack of metal in the design makes it undetectable, albeit you shouldn’t violate any legal weapon-free zones with it. Some weapon-free zones have no legal bearing but are enforced via a metal detector. That is not a problem with the lumber crayon. It’s disguised and painted realistically in the handle, tip, and lead portion.

Why Not a Normal Pencil?

The Lumber Crayon is 6.75 inches long from tip to butt and a hair over half an inch wide. That seems larger than it needs to be, right? Why not just make a G-10 pencil. A lumber crayon stands out a little bit more than a standard pencil, and it’s a good question. The Lumber Crayon design was used because the extra width and berth give you two things, strength and grip.

The wider and bulkier design gives you a stronger tool. This is a pokey impact weapon, and when you drive the tool into a soft or hard target, there is always the risk it will break. The stronger a tool like this is, the better, and being wider makes it stronger.

Near the tip, the design is considerably thicker than a normal pencil, and this reinforcement in this critical area is an absolute must. Remember, it’s just the tip doing most of the work.

The wider, more rectangular body is easier to grip and drive into a threat. If you stab something, your hands will likely get a little bloody, and then things just get slick, and you’ll want that extra grip.

In Use

The tip is quite pokey, and I wouldn’t suggest tossing this in a pocket without something covering the tip. It’s likely to dig a hole in your jeans as you walk, and that’s not great. That tip is awfully sharp and will its job when it comes time to stick, stab, and poke.

The design allows for both an ice pick style grip and a standard grip. With your thumb over the rear of the Lumber Crayon, an ice pick grip feels like the most stable. Since you won’t be cutting with this thing, an ice pick grip makes a lot of sense. Drive a tool like this downwards into your target is more powerful than a standard stab.

The Lumber Crayon is a simple tool that appeals to your caveman-like brain when in use. It’s sharp, easy to grip, and robust in design. It’s also discreet; you could say it’s downright deceitful. Check out GLG Knifeworks for more discreet designs and get your hands on a Lumber Crayon.

Shotgun Tips 101 – Increase Your Pellet Accountability

By

Travis Pike

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November 6, 2020

They say every bullet has a lawyer attached to it, and the same goes for shotguns. Except you are firing 8 to 24 lawyers per trigger pull. Each pellet from a shotgun has the potential to kill another person should it miss your intended target. Pellet accountability is a critical component of using the defensive shotgun. If a pellet misses and strikes an innocent person, you are legally and morally liable for that.

Pellet Accountability and You

There are three ways you can increase your pellet accountability among all shotguns.

Use the Right Ammo

The best ammo you can use is Federal Flitecontrol 8 pellet buckshot. The next best is Hornady Black 8 pellet buckshot. Both these loads use a specialized shot cup that keeps your pattern tight. Within ten yards, the concentration of pellets is still one big hole. These are the two tightest grouping shotgun loads I’ve ever used.

If you can’t find either of those loads, I’d look for a 00 load with eight pellets. Nine pellet buckshot gives you one more pellet, but nine pellet buckshot will often have a ‘flyer.’ A flyer is a pellet that separates from the shot and hits somewhere randomly. Eight pellet buckshot is less likely to have a flyer.

I also suggest 00 buckshot because it’s hard to find purpose-built loads in other shot types. You can find No 1 and No 4, but they are rarely loaded and intended for defensive use. They’ll work, but their spread is likely to be increased. A higher spread with a greater number of pellets creates more of a chance for a stray pellet.

Pattern Your Ammo

If you have a defensive shotgun and you haven’t patterned it, go do that right now. Patterning is the act of shooting a paper target at various ranges and observing how your shot patterns. This won’t tighten your spread or increase your pellet accountability all by itself, but it allows you to observe and notate what performance you can expect from your gun and your chosen load.

Two different loads from the same gun at the same range

I pattern at 5, 10, and 15 yards, and that’s it. My shotgun is for use inside the home, and the furthest shot I can make inside my home is 12 yards. If you use a shotgun tactically, it might be wise to pattern out as far as 25 yards.

If you pattern at 10 yards and find your spread to be too wide, then you should swap ammo or check your shotgun’s choke. Most defensive rounds are made for cylinder bore chokes. Imagine my surprise when my Benelli M4 was throwing garbage patterns with great ammo. I then popped out the choke and realized, for some reason, Benelli put an improved choke in the gun. Adding a cylinder bore choke fixed that up just right.

Add an Optic

Yep, believe it or not, adding an optic can help you with pellet accountability. The optic, in particular, should be a red dot with a circular reticle design. The Eotech type reticle is well suited for it, but tighter reticles are even better. I love the 32 MOA circular reticle on my Holosun 507C. Optics like the SIG Romoe5 XDR standard and Predator can work, as can an Eotech or other red dots with circle-based reticles.

These types of reticles allow you to increase pellet accountability by combining your ammo and known patterns. You can use the reticle to enforce your pattern on the fly. I patterned my Benelli with the Holosun, and it’s 32 MOA reticle with my chosen load. I know that my pattern will stay perfectly inside that circle at 12 yards and almost 15 yards.

Knowing how far your shot pattern stays inside of that reticle allows you to know on the fly the risk of losing some pellets or having flyers. For inside the home, it’s a great solution and makes it easy to tighten up and know what is going where.

Train, Train, Train

Obviously, the best way to make sure your shot is hitting the target is to be able to accurately shoot your gun. That’s the first step, and I hope most of you are there by the time you start implementing these procedures. Pellet accountability is paramount when using a shotgun. Keep it tight, keep it ready, and know where that shot pattern is going.

2020 – The State of Optics

By

Keith Finch

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November 6, 2020

SCAR rifles heavily kitted with optic and rail upgrades — SCAR 16 and 17 Rifles wearing SIG Tango6T Optics

It is not secret that optics are the technology that has progressed the furthest in firearms during the 21st Century. In 20 years we have gone from a state where iron sights were the standard to the mass adoption of the daylight bright illuminated low power variable optic.

Both the United States Army and the United States Marines have selected an LPVO, Sig and Trijicon respectively, to top their service weapons and the optics outperform anything that would have been available when the ball dropped on 2000.

The Army DVO (Direct View Optic) is a Sig Tango6T. One that will populate the inventory for years to come on the M4A1 and probably until that rifle is replaced in its entirety. The SCO (Squad Common Optic) Trijicon VCOG will likely have equal longevity on the M27’s and M4’s it is procured for. Even as both services move into whatever future platform the NGSW provides it is unlikely we will see a divergence from the equipment by too far. The 1-8’s that are part of that program aren’t all that different from the two recently adopted optics, apart from the smart ranging/reticle technology which is as yet unknown, unproven, and of unknown live utility.

Optics have also exploded into use on sidearms.

Single plane aiming is the name of the game. Simplifying the shot process.

So where does that leave the optical categories?

Let’s summarize

Low Power Variable Optics – LPVOs

The current general purpose daylight optic standard. 1-4, 1-6, 1-8, and 1-10 power variants exist to give users the speed and utility of red dot and non magnified optical solutions combined with the ranging, observation, and precision target engagement of a magnified option.

It is very much worth noting that the LPVOs now serving on carbines possess near or beyond the observational capability of optics considered top of the line for precision rifles even just 10 years ago. The Leupold Mk4 that was part of the original M110 set up (and still a plenty sturdy optic in service) cannot compare in capability to something like the Vortex Razor Gen III. Both top out at 10x but the newer optic benefits from lessons learned since the older emerged.

Red Dot Optics (and Holos)

From niche, to mainstream, and now sliding back towards niche a little. The red dot has had its own stellar development arc. The greatest advancements have come in durability and endurance as todays optics can literally run for years on a single battery and endure quite a bit of abuse without losing their ability to be used. Where they once gained major ground on rifles they have lost it to LPVOs a little. They are maintaining it by being still a degree more rugged (being able to be made out of sturdier grades of aluminum or titanium and with simpler internals) and much more affordable than comparable LPVO counterparts. The top of the line red dot optics, and yes I include holographic here too, still run a under $1,000. $500 will get you into a very serviceable and durable device depending upon your need. LPVOs are generally 20% to 150% above that cost for equivalent items.

Take the current (in wide service) carbine optic standard, the CompM4, can be had around $900 individual cost. The Sig Tango6T that is replacing it is around $1300 individual cost, however that is lower in total investment and more useful than the addition of a magnifier to current dot systems.

But as dots faded as primary rifle optics they have exploded onto pistols and brought all their lessons learned on rifles with them, learning a few new ones as the miniaturized. They are also finding a lot of love as offset optics in conjunction to to the LPVO for a close zero and fast shooting. Something end users have used improv for in the past is now getting a dedicated device.

Red dots have also maintained their hold under alternative lighting conditions, aka use with night vision. The ability to use a low set dot or an IR spectrum LED/Laser dot in conjunction with NODs as passive aiming has been a huge factor in their retained use on carbines. Laser systems like the MAWL or PEQ, active systems, are great for mitigating the need to place your head in normal position behind the sights but if the opposition has NODs, they can see you.

But this capability is maintained as offset optics continue to manifest and more LPVOs are becoming night vision compatible. That is still far more complicated than using dots.

They are here to stay for the long haul.

Fixed Power Magnified Optics – The ACOG

Obsolescent.

The incredibly durable optic that Glyn Bindon developed and first released in 1987 has had its golden age. The increased durability of electronics and variable optics has led to the shelving of the concept for future sights. Fixed power is just not as useful when variable is viable. The durability and simplicity used to be the defining factor but time and trials have proven the soldiers benefit from the LPVO.

The ACOGs will continue to live on however, they will only be retired when a replacement is readily at hand and will likely survive longer in service outside the US as many militaries are still picking fixed optics for their simplicity and durability. The ACOG (and other fixed power optics) benefit from many of the same advantages that red dots do for their strength in construction. Simple, few moving parts, able to use stronger materials. Needing to conform to one magnification setting, parallax setting, and with no electronic illumination (at first) the optics were easy to be made nigh indestructible.

Their advantages over iron sights were noted immediately during testing and the use of the Bindon Aiming Concept (BAC) was highly viable for CQC. But like the other tricks of improv that had been used in the past, BAC was ultimately a trick and red dots proved faster in close. LPVOs have proven themselves beyond both systems and red dots are the ones to have maintained a solid position.

ACOGs and other high durability optics like the Elcan SpectreDR will endure for a long while yet but it is a concept that will fade just like top fed rifles from stripper clips. Rifles like the FAL, M1A, and VZ58 that have that tech still work quite well, but it isn’t a desired feature. It does not fit a current or near future need.

Iron Sights

Zero them. Keep them on. Don’t touch them. Practice a little every now and then. Fixed front sights still work.

Iron sights are the back-up that is usually only killable if the gun itself is out of action. But they do not hold any other advantage.

2020 – The State of 5.56 AK’s

By

Keith Finch

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November 6, 2020

The AK rifle is a legend know to most. The details of which the legend is known to each individual vary and the myths in place of fact or fun fib on place of mechanical reality are what they are.

Bu one inescapable fact that has been born out in many hands and one professional military (Polish) is that the AK really does thrive in 5.56 NATO. When properly built is has next to nothing for a recoil impulse and negligble muzzle movement. Combined with its reliability and ability to power through just about anything short of total immersion in thick grime and you have the making of a completely capable fighting gun.

My personal rifle is an RD 14.5″ permanently muzzled to 16″ on a Surefire brake with a Magpul Zhukov-U and it is simply the finest example of Kalashnikov’s art I could ask for. The handguard superbly addresses heat and allows a Surefire DF light and BCM short vertical grip while the Ultimak rail hosts the Aimpoint CompM5 2 MOA RDS.

Simple. Elegant. Effective. Accurate. Reliable. And very soon, suppressible.

This all too say that I support Henry’s and Josh’s ongoing AK endeavors for the exceptional platform the AK is continuing to emerge as in the 21st Century. The AR is not the sole inheritor of exceptional longevity in the service rifle category. I believe the two will serve throughout the whole of this century in some manner. We are 20% through and we have yet to replace either in any meaningful way. The M4 and M27 against the 5.45 AKs are essentially the standards of today. Although the AR-18/180, in spirit, is certainly resurging as just about every modern service rifle variant is using that system that isn’t an AR or AK.

Moving forward, nothing will truly be new until a drastic change in projectile/energy technology moves us away from gas operated self-contained cartridge weapons and there is no sign of that yet. But that is something I’m looking forward to seeing also. The continued refinement of proven technology is a fine sight to behold but when new things emerge, that is why I got into this writer’s seat.

Back to the Range

By

Keith Finch

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November 5, 2020

Training is ongoing. Practice is continuous.

So this weekend I will be trucking out to my last course of 2020. Yes, even at these ammo prices I’m going to shoot Tavor III.

You should be looking at what class(es) you want to jump in for 2021 already too. This craziness will abate and the next insanity will follow, such is the nature of people. But the tensions being as high as they are with no serious immediate abatement in sight, keeping the skills dusted off is never a bad idea. So round up some spare ammo somewhere and find a way to make it work for you.

With that said lets go through some items that can make range life easier.

Fully Loaded Range Bag

Beretta is an underappreciated champion of bags

I’m dropping reviews on some of their outwear next week (hopefully) but I have to appreciate how Beretta has subtly invaded my range weekends with a helping hand. There bags are strangely titled sometimes, but damn if I don’t drag two of them everywhere I go.

The “Field Patrol” seen above is a perfect 3-Day bag to keep in a truck or take on a trip and live out of in a resource rich area. Hotels or homesteads, pack it with your daily and outer layers plus hygiene stuff and you are set. I have never found a better bag for ‘sustainment’. Not patrol necessarily, in fact at all in the military sense of slinging a pack. This is vehicle and travel location supply. You can add basic meds, liquids, and some ammo if you want too but that is what bag two is for.

The “Tactical Range Bag” isn’t all that tactical. But it is a perfect 2-day ammunition hauler. I cannot stress how nice this bag is for moving around loaded magazines.

It fits 28 neatly stacked 30 round 5.56 magazines with room in the main compartment to spare. 14 fit perfectly aligned across the bottom and then the next 14 go on top. Throw 2-6 more on that loose (there’s plenty of room) and there’s your 900 to 1,000 rounds for your typical carbine course without having to load a single magazine at the range.

Best. Idea. Ever. Load mags before, if you don’t already. If you don’t I am about to Aladdin’s ‘A Whole New World’ you into a new era of range time bliss. And readers, that’s just the main compartment. It will also fit AK mags, 308 Mags, and just about anything else you would like neatly too and mixing them doesn’t really kill you space by much if you’re shooting multiple guns or calibers. Its pretty much 28+ full capacity fighting rifle magazines of any variety.

The other pockets have plenty of space for ear pro, and other range goodies. The dedicated pistol magazine pocket holds 6 in the sleeves and many more loose, my record is 23.

This bag single… baggedly? Handily doesn’t seem correct, whatever. It removes the need to pop open ammo cans every couple drills and instead you just feed your gun out of it like a bag of Doritos. Leaving you free to munch on an actual bag of Doritos in your downtime. Snack time is important, I am not joking there. You are burning calories and running yourself harder than usual day-to-day and doing so for longer than your typical 30-60 minute workout. Maintenance on you is crucial. Pack water and snacks.

So, in conclusion, you should have a good range bag ready to simplify your time management on the line. The less time you have to spend jamming mags the less split focused you are. The more of your effort you can put towards maintaining your body and absorbing the lessons. You wouldn’t think that something as little as managing your ammo would make the difference, and that is because you are letting the simplicity of loading a single round or a single magazine cloud thinking about the resource cost of loading 1,000 rounds. Driving a mile isn’t hard, walking one isn’t particular challenging for someone in general good health, but now make it 1,000. Now add a bunch of other tasks that you need to pay attention to on top of the walking.

It is easy to overwhelm you resources when you improperly gauge just how much effort something involves. It’s the same tendency that makes us say, “just five more minutes” or “that will just take a quick second” on simple tasks that do still have an allotted time it will take because it is just that much of your resource required.

Beretta’s bags make resource and time management easier and that’s something, I cannot overstate, makes life easier.

Screw politics, let’s get back on the range.

E-Day +2

By

Keith Finch

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November 5, 2020

We are still waiting on several states and a bunch of folks are crying foul for one reason or another. Granted, there is plenty I would like explained too. Sharpies instead of ink pens not counting when ballots specified ink pens but poll workers handed out sharpies instead is high among them.

The two Michigan related ones are of the 140,000 jump and the reported result vs the SoS certified result are, however, both easily bunk and should not be held onto as cause for a fraud case. The ~140,000 all Biden vote jump was a fat finger input that was corrected to the ~14,000 that it actually was for the reporting county. It was fixed within a few minutes but that didn’t stop screen grabs from immediately hitting the internet airwaves and the meme to be unleashed.

It’s a bunk argument and there is an evidence trail for it. Uncounted or invalid ballots due to poll incompetence might be something but that is something for the recount.

The second is easily explained too as the Secretary of State has the duty to report on the finalized numbers while the media can report ‘reported’ and ‘projected numbers’. In other words the Secretary of State has paperwork to do and file before officially tallying a county where Facebook, the Associated Press, Fox, etc. can just take the number they hear from the pollster and go. This is also why everyone’s election maps look different right now.

Another popular one I am seeing is Wisconsin having “more votes than voters” which is also easily bunk, with an easily found chain of evidence. They were referencing the 2018 voter roll not the Nov 1 2020 voter roll. The number of votes in Wisconsin is less than total voters. This also an avenue Trump supporters should avoid if they do not want to look like fools.

There’s plenty that seems somewhere between sketchy and incompetent out there to want certified. Recounts need to happen and be certified. But as it looks right now we will have a Biden Presidency sworn in with a Republican Senate, a closer but still Democrat House, and a 6-3/5-4 Conservative Supreme Court.

Arizona

Now, I expect Biden to have narrowly won Michigan and Wisconsin even after the recounts. If Nevada gets called for Biden, he is at 270 exactly. But Arizona is still a very close margin as well with 12% votes outstanding. Arizona is currently called for Biden by several locations. If it, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia end up in Trumps hands Trump remains the President.

This will not be over quickly

Harkening back to 2000 and Florida expect this one to take a minute to sort out. This was a very close race, a highly charged and contentious race, but just because you saw a meme about fraud or voter intimidation (whichever your camp’s pet line is) does not make for evidence. Evidence, data given in full context, may emerge as we navigate through this. But navigate it carefully we must.

October is another month of record gun sales

By

Caleb Giddings

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November 5, 2020

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, has released the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) results for the month of October, and we’ve had another month of incredible numbers from firearms retailers. October had 1.76 million NICS checks for a firearm sale/transfer, giving us another month of record gun sales.

NICS checks aren’t a perfect indicator of record gun sales, because not all states use the NICS system. Most notable is the so-called GunShine State of Florida, which uses the Florida Department of Law Enforcement portal to conduct background checks. FDLE doesn’t publish background check numbers, but from talking to dealers in the state, they’re just as busy as everywhere else, with guns flying off the shelves at a record pace. What that means is that the actual number of firearm sales is higher than the NICS report for background checks.

October’s record gun sales also helped break another record: the most NICS checks done in a single year. The previous record was 15.7 million background checks in 2016, during the presidential race where everyone assumed Hillary would win and that a new assault weapons ban was around the corner. Before October, NICS had reported an annual total of 15.45 million background checks, and the highest October in history pushed that number past the record, to a staggering 17.2 million background checks. With two months left in 2020, and as of this writing, the presidential election and control of the Senate still in doubt, it’s entirely possible that 2020 could break the 20 million background checks mark.

As the country holds its breath waiting for the election results, it seems that months of record gun sales show one thing with absolute clarity. When Americans get concerned, they do the most American thing possible: buy guns.

Translating Old Gun Commercials

By

Keith Finch

-

November 4, 2020

I’ve already commented on the election a little, I will probably more later. But as we hit recounts and challenges and all the other items that will undoubtedly commence before we see a clear winner in the election let’s just enjoy some good old “Gun Porn”

And I do mean old. These videos are ancient artifacts by internet standards. But they are fun. And we need fun. So take a break from the counts and enjoy a few minutes of GP.

Masterful.

The rest are here.

Election 2020 and Gun Rights

By

Keith Finch

-

November 4, 2020

As most of you are aware, an election happened. The winner was.. or will be someone.. the rest of us have to go to work.

The Presidential Election is a toss up and will come down to how swing states land. There are any number of ways that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump could swing a win and the other could dispute it in the courts. Recounts like we saw in 2000 with Florida could easily be demanded by the candidate called as the loser, but across multiple states.

As of now, this moment in time I am writing this, if either of them take Nevada and keep what they have leads in they are the POTUS. If Trump takes back Michigan or Wisconsin, which are close calls too, he will remain the President.

If the map stays as it is, Biden will hit 270 exactly and take over the White House. Beginning the most openly anti-2A administration we have experienced.

The President covered, it looks fair the Republicans will keep the Senate at 51, but not certain. The House has shifted toward Republican hands a little too as the are currently up 5 seats with about 61 left to call.

No Riots? No Winner yet.

I expect the usual, “It was rigged and fraud!” from the losing team. It will be cast as voter intimidation if Trump wins and as mail in ballot fraud if Biden wins.

I do expect riots and violence but I also expect a stronger and swifter crack down from locations that allowed it previously (except maybe Portland, they seem lost). I do not expect a concession, graceful or otherwise, from either party and see this being dragged into a long legal fight.

Part of me, one that occasionally looks at my aluminum food wrappings and taking up millinery, thinks that no posted result and the upcoming legal challenges are an attempt to prevent the rioting. By dragging it out people get bored, lose interest, and it will only be getting colder out so. Maybe, but cooling peoples heels by pacing the winner could be a viable strategy.

It could also back fire spectacularly so, like the POTUS result itself, we shall see.

We realistically knew this would be a close and contentious one folks, hang in there. Stay safe.

More Health Care Professionals Buying Guns

By

DRGO

-

November 3, 2020

(from mandascott.co.uk)

Cam Edwards brought to my attention Stephen Gutowski’s October 27 article in the Washington Free Beacon, “Health Care Workers Help Drive Gun Surge, New Study Says”. We talked about it yesterday on his show on Bearing Arms — Cam & Co, which I always enjoy. Unfortunately, my side of the audio is nearly incomprehensible, so I’ll share the meat of our conversation here.

We know that American firearm sales have dramatically increased since the spread of SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19, coronavirus, etc.). This study’s methodology is nothing to write home about. Their total population was 1,432 of whom 263 bought guns “during the pandemic”. A randomly selected, nation-wide sample that size might have been meaningful, but it was neither. It did turn up a fairly broad range of respondents, but they were self-selected by choosing to self-administer an online survey. So the results are skewed and cannot represent the U.S. population. It was “administered” at the end of May, asking about decisions since February.

With those caveats, the survey found that “Firearm buyers differed statistically significantly . . . from non-buyers based on sex, age, ethnicity, marital status, education, having children at home, employment status, income, political orientation, location, and region of residence” and in perception of the societal impact of increased firearm ownership. Most of the differences follow well-known patterns. The more interesting discriminants were that “young, single, urban dwellers, healthcare professionals, and Hispanics were more likely to have purchased a firearm.”

That being “employed in healthcare professions” was the 3^rd highest correlation of their 18 predictor variables with purchasing a firearm aroused our curiosity. Gutowski reports that 69% of those purchasing firearms were healthcare professionals. My knowledge of statistics doesn’t pull that number from the study analysis, but it certainly is substantially more than any of us imagined. Congratulations to Gutowski or his source for finding that interesting tidbit amid all the rather expectable findings that were highlighted by the authors.

Why? is the question Cam and I discussed. As we all began to realize the early impact of this virus, health care personnel knew they were going to be overwhelmed. Recall New York City’s severe infection, illness, and death rates from March and April. It was bad everywhere until we began learning not to over-ventilate COVID pneumonias, that there were frequent blood clotting problems perhaps couples with a degree of general vasculitis, that treating the immune response is key to recovery, etc. During this time, selfless nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals answered the call from hard-hit urban areas (especially NYC), traveling there in order to relieve stressed out local staff.

These were scary times, and deciding to enter places described as “war zones” included questioning one’s personal safety. And perhaps taking measures to try to ensure that, as well as our families for those of us overworked at home. We in health care may have found it easy then to anticipate a virtual zombie apocalypse, as this plague was threatening to infect and kill a large portion of the population in short order. Thank God it didn’t, thanks to the inconsistent lethality of this virus, and the common sense of people enduring plagues over millennia, to mask up and avoid close contact.

In addition, we suspect that highly variable gun laws from state to state reduced the numbers of providers who were willing to temporarily relocate to serve the inundated areas. NYC was a particularly undesirable to anyone who relied on carry for self-protection, since it essentially prohibits that for all. But the patchwork of laws and varying reciprocity similarly blocked too many volunteers who would otherwise have been glad to help.

Beyond that, who knows? George Floyd was killed May 25, which set off our “summer of love” and violence in the streets, which has given further cause for fear and preparation. That occurred just as the survey was being taken, but it shouldn’t have affected the number of gun purchases reported during preceding months.

DRGO hopes that medical personnel are waking to the fact that our sort of work makes us highly vulnerable to assault. As a group, ER staff are at highest risk, as they take over the care of sometimes confused, upset, agitated patients without further help from the police who brought them in. Within the specialties, psychiatrists like me are at greatest risk of harm, since we usually treat the mentally ill one-to-one without ready help available, especially in our own offices.

A corollary worry of ours on which Dr. John Edeen is particularly focused is the likelihood of terrorist attacks on medical institutions. These have already occurred many places internationally, and it is only a matter of diminishing time before U.S. hospitals and care facilities are targeted.

Even in the era of COVID precautions, limiting visitor access and stationing unarmed “security” at access points means nothing to a couple of vehicles worth of well-armed fanatics eager to die for their cause with as many bodies as they can accompany. Insiders are all too often part of these plots as well.

Once inside, they’ll find hundreds of undefended, disarmed victims to garner, many essentially disabled and sitting ducks. I am encouraged by one of my area’s largest hospitals employing more and more armed security, but that is still a rarity across the medical world.

The article’s authors, of course, conclude by worrying about the general increase in legally owned firearms, recommending . . . what? Additional gun laws!

Our bottom line remains that being prepared to fight is the best bet to prevail if and when the fight comes to you. As important is to be able to protect the vulnerable people who trust us to care for them and, in extremis, vigorously defending them too.

.

— 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

Just Slow Down

By

Keith Finch

-

November 3, 2020

Take a minute to appreciate the wonders of high frame rate image capture, aka slow motion video.

There is nothing quite like watching a machine that works its entire cycle of movements in fractions of a second dialed back so the details can be observed.

I wrote a post yesterday about how gas systems work like a hydraulic system and it uses timing to properly leverage each of the parts to do their jobs. Well the AK is one of the best systems to see that process work in real time. It had large parts that can be seen in operation safely with the top cover removed.

Kalashnikov Group has helpfully filmed this in action and in high resolution. Under the high frame rates and excellent image quality we can track each movement as it occurs. The hammer dropping to ignite the primer and powder, firing the round. The bullet passing the gas port and sealing the system to push the piston. The point where everything is in motion and we can see the order of operations take place at a pace we can track and process. You also pick up on all the extra, completely normal, motions and flexes and movements that occur when firing a firearm.

Fascinating really.

Oh yes, and it is election day so go do your thing.

Do pistol compensators work?

By

Caleb Giddings

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November 3, 2020

One of the questions I get asked frequently about the Modern Fighting Revolver is “how well does that compensator work?” To find out, I took both the 686+ and the 586 L-Comp to a local gun range to find out: do pistol compensators work?

The 586 L-Comp features a single chamber compensator at the end of the barrel. This style of compensator works best with higher chamber pressures, as the comp needs more gas to redirect up in order to do its job. To find out if pistol compensators work, we grabbed a sample of three different rounds that operate at three different chamber pressures. A standard pressure 130 grain 38 Special FMJ, a Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P JHP, and a 125 grain full house 357 Magnum JHP.

First up is the standard pressure 38 Special round. Remember, comps get more effective the higher pressure the round is, and standard maximum pressure for 38 Special is 17,000 PSI. Compare that to a 9mm, whose maximum chamber pressure is 35,000 PSI. That’s a significant difference, so it wasn’t a surprise that at such a low pressure the compensator on the 586 L-Comp didn’t make much a difference. I noticed a difference behind the gun; the muzzle blast and felt recoil with the comp seems milder, even with 130gr FMJ. Up next was the Speer Gold Dot. A +P round is always going to be hotter than a standard pressure, and this definitely was. You could really see the pistol compensator work for the first time in the video. The recoil isn’t as sharp on the 586 L-Comp, the muzzle flash is less dramatic, and the muzzle doesn’t flip as high.

Last round to test was full pressure 357 Magnum. There is a point of diminishing returns on compensators; while they work better with higher pressure rounds, at a certain point the blast and recoil becomes a problem, and we found that with 357 Magnum. The pistol compensator worked, which you can clearly see in the linked video. However, the 357 Magnum cartridge has so much muzzle blast and flash from a short barrel that it increases the difficulty of shooting past any ballistic benefits. One area where the compensator really worked was reducing muzzle/chamber flash. The non-compensated gun had such a bright muzzle flash that it would light up my entire shooting booth, the 586 L-Comp didn’t.

So, do pistol compensators work? Yes they do. For revolvers, the butter zone appears to be with +P defensive rounds, where the comp provides the benefits of enhanced recoil control, lower muzzle/cylinder flash, and faster return to target without the excessive noise and recoil of a magnum cartridge.

Holosun Announces New X2 Series Pistol Optics

By

Keith Finch

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November 2, 2020

City of Industry, CA (November 2, 2020) – Holosun takes pistol optics to a new level with the X2 series. Based on the popular V2 series, new technologies deliver major upgrades that increase control and tactical abilities in the field. The X2 series’ technological advancements are a major advantage for shooters looking for an edge.

The X2 series incorporates updated programming that improves performance and usability. The new Lock Mode is a key feature that prevents unintentional setting changes while the firearm is being carried. The Lock Mode is a critical element of the new design, and it ensures the settings are never inadvertently changed and are duty-ready at any given moment.

Adapted from our 2018-2019 L/M (Law Enforcement Model) pistol optics, Lock Mode has been incorporated with a new button configuration that combines for easier control of settings and prevents unwanted setting changes while carrying.
X2 Series pistol optics also feature Holosun’s side mounted battery for painless battery replacement and our Solar Failsafe and Shake Awake technologies (depending on model).

HS507C and HS507K X2 Series are shipping now with all other models rolling out in the coming weeks. For more information visit www.holosun.com or email us at info@holosun.com.

HS407C X2
HE407C-GR X2
HS407CO X2
HS507C X2
HE507C-GR X2
HE508T-RD X2
HS407K X2
HS507K X2

Holosun Technologies, Inc., located in City of Industry, California, is committed to creating innovative optic and laser/IR technologies that benefit a broad range of shooting, hunting, law enforcement and professional needs. Using the quality
manufacturing standards demanded by some of the best-known optics brands in the world, with a wide range of affordable options, Holosun is at the forefront of development of new sight technologies. Key innovations include Shake Awake TechnologyTM, 50,000-hour battery life, Solar FailSafeTM, Multiple Reticle SystemTM (MRS), Super Green LED, and IR/Laser units that utilize the most recent advancements in laser and LED technology. At Holosun, we pride ourselves on providing cutting-edge equipment at a competitive price that astounds the competition and the end-user.

For more information, please visit WWW.HOLOSUN.COM