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STREAMLIGHT® LAUNCHES TLR-9™ RAIL MOUNTED TACTICAL LIGHT

EAGLEVILLE, PA, January 23, 2020 – Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, introduced the TLR-9™ rail mounted tactical light, designed for use with full frame handguns. Featuring a slim, compact design, the new light offers ergonomic rear switches with either a low or high position to match users’ shooting styles, while providing 1,000 lumens for a variety of tactical and home defense uses.

“This lightweight new tactical light is engineered to be both sleek and powerful, featuring a high power LED for extreme brightness and extensive range, as well as good peripheral coverage,” said Streamlight President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Sharrah. “It also features an ambidextrous on/off rear switch with low and high positions to suit user preference. And it fits a wide variety of full frame handguns, making it an ideal light for first responder and tactical applications.” 

The TLR-9 uses a power LED to provide 1,000 lumens and 10,000 candela over a 200-meter beam distance with a run time of 1.5 hours; the light’s strobe mode offers 3 continuous hours of run time. The light is energized by two 3 Volt CR123A lithium batteries.

Securely fitting to a broad range of weapons, the TLR-9 features a one-handed, snap on and tighten interface that keeps hands away from gun muzzles when attaching or detaching it. The light also includes a Safe Off feature, locking it to prevent accidental activation. A key kit is included to securely fit the light to a broad array of handguns.

Constructed with durable 6000 Series machined aircraft aluminum with a black anodized finish, the TLR-9 weighs 4.26 ounces and measures 3.87 inches in length. 

With extensively live-fire tested, impact-resistant construction, the new model features an IPX7-rated design, making it waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

The TLR-9 is packaged as the TLR-9 FLEX that comes with a High switch mounted on the light, plus an included Low switch. It has an MSRP of $240.00, and comes with Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.  

About Streamlight

Based in Eagleville, PA, Streamlight, Inc. has more than 45 years of experience making tough, durable, long-lasting flashlights designed to serve the specialized needs of professionals and consumers alike. Since 1973, the company has designed, manufactured and marketed high-performance flashlights, and today offers a broad array of lights, lanterns, weapon light/laser sighting devices, and scene lighting solutions for professional law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications. Streamlight is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company. For additional information, please call 800-523-7488, visit streamlight.com or connect with us on 
facebook.com/streamlight; twitter.com/Streamlight; instagram.com/streamlightinchttps://www.linkedin.com/company/streamlight-inc./; and youtube.com/streamlighttv.          

The AK-12, Prototype to Service Rifle with Garand Thumb

Garand Thumb’s latest video jumps into the modern service rifle of the Russian’s. The evolution from the AKM to AK74M to the modernized AK-12.

You can see the parallels when looking at the AK74M/AK-12 and the original M4 into the modern M4A1. Modern optics and ancillaries are accounted for. Customizing the rifles to the users are accounted for with the stock and LOP adjustment. Everything is pulled to the 21st century picatinny standard.

Why not one of the negative space attachment methods? M-LOK and Keymod are the way? Right?

Because those aren’t a standard yet, not like 1913 rail is. M-LOK is still a very American development. European nations are still largely using picatinny or H&K’s keymod variant in a few militaries. Every optical platform still uses picatinny as the standard. The AK-12 is a recognition, like the M4A1 of what the modern state is, not the near future state.

That, in my opinion, looks like this.

SIG MCX SPEAR NGSW AR
MCX is the way.

Seeing Red in Virginia

(from preparedgunowner.com)

[Ed: Dr. Petrocelli plans to write Virginia state legislators along these lines about the perversions inherent in Red Flag laws. This is a good example of necessary citizen involvement with otherwise clueless and self-absorbed government representatives.]

I am writing to you to ask that you consider the following information before taking action on any so-called “Red Flag law.” 

No one wants “dangerous” people armed. I have worked as a forensic psychiatrist in maximum security forensic psychiatric hospitals and prison special housing units, and am well aware of the harm persons with or without mental illness can do with guns. As I’ve written before, the aspirational goal of violence risk assessment—to identify persons who are likely to act violently—is laudable.  Red Flag laws are offered to intervene with such individuals who cannot be identified through either the criminal justice system or the mental health system. 

In the abstract, this makes sense: there must be persons who are dangerous but not mentally ill and have not yet committed a crime. Without these laws, they could fall through the cracks and commit atrocities.  Those of us who oppose these laws realize that this abstraction doesn’t play out so neatly in reality, and are accused that our opposition means we want to arm dangerous persons.

The most solid argument against the red flag laws lies in the fact that there is no widely accepted, scientifically validated procedure to make such a determination. Don’t take my word for it—instead, take it from anti-gun David Rosmarin, MD, in his presentation to the Massachusetts Medical Society (emphasis added):

“While the base rate for violence may be 20% for forensic populations, the 6-month incidence of violence in even urban populations is closer to 6%. This yields a positive predictive value of .14, which results in a false positive rate of nearly 90%.

“Even a test with an impossible 0.9 accuracy for both true positives and true negatives will be wrong more than nine times out of ten at a base rate of 1% for severe violence.  Even with a 5-10% (hypothetically high)base rate of violence, the clinician who always predicts “no violence” will be more accurate than the clinician who identifies 20% as ‘violent’.”

We simply do not have methods of accurately assessing peoples’ risk of violence.  This gets worse when trying to predict rare events, for example, mass atrocities. In fact, our methods are so poor for uncommon events that our predictions would be wrong more than nine out of ten times.  This fits with the rest of the literature, which indicated that guns have to be removed from ten to twenty people to prevent one gun related suicide, notwithstanding the fact that once the guns are removed, suicidal people find other ways: “Connecticut’s estimated reduction in firearm suicides was offset by increased non-firearm suicides.”

Although there is great debate over how to approach risk assessment, it is generally agreed that the evaluator ought to use some structured method:

“Over the last two decades a number of actuarial formulas have been developed to predict various types of risk. Some have been the subject of extensive research and active debate in the field. Respected researchers have opined that risk assessment should be totally based on actuarial formulas, and asserted that such a procedure is superior to any clinical judgment (Quinsey et al., 1998). Others have decried reliance on these methods, saying that the day will never come when clinical judgment can be replaced by statistical calculations (Litwack, 2000). Still others have suggested that an integration of the two approaches may produce the most valuable results (Hanson, 1998).”

What do red flag laws offer in this regard?  Virginia’s Senate bill offers nothing of the sort.  Instead, it merely requires the court to entertain evidence of risk: 

“In determining whether clear and convincing evidence for the issuance of an order exists, the judge shall consider any relevant evidence including any recent act of violence, force, or threat as defined in § 19.2-152.7:1 by such person directed toward another person or toward himself.”

There is no guidance as to how to reason about that evidence, or whether that evidence is outweighed by protective factors that mitigate the risk of violence-protective factors do not even have to be considered at all.  The irony of all of this is that the law requires the court to make a determination that, if offered as testimony by an expert, would fail to meet the requirements of admissibility, because the finding would not be based on any method commonly used by experts in the field. Nor would its reliability (or error rate) be known.  This is probably why New Jersey eliminated the rules of evidence for its red flag hearings.

Having established that risk assessment isn’t up to the challenge presented by red flag laws, these proceedings are an affront to the concept that underlies procedural due process:  fundamental fairnessFundamental fairness has been defined as the “most comprehensive protection of liberties,” and “the trenchant commitment to fair play and civilized decency in the relations between the state and the individual.”  How can there be “fair play” and “decency” towards red flag respondents when the arbiters of the fate of their inalienable rights have no scientifically valid procedure to apply to the evidence presented to them?

The Virginia Senate falsely compares its oppressive Red Flag law with Virginia’s civil commitment statutes because both begin with ex parte actions—so red flag laws’ must be constitutional. This is absurd, because what civil commitment lacks in front-end procedural due process it makes up for with fundamental fairness and decency. 

Virginia’s mental health commitment scheme has three parts. The first, the Emergency Commitment Order, is issued ex parte, and orders law enforcement to bring a person to a place of evaluation for a short period of time. The subject is evaluated by a mental health professional authorized by the Commonwealth to perform assessments to determine whether or not the person is mentally ill and if so, on that basis, a danger to themselves or others.

Only then can the person be brought to a psychiatric hospital under a Temporary Detention Order (up to 72 hours). During that time the hospital staff evaluate whether or not the respondent needs commitment for treatment, can sign in voluntarily or should be released. 

A full hearing, with counsel provided, is held before a Judge or Special Justice to determine whether or not the respondent should be committed for up to 180 days if that was recommended.  In summary, although civil commitment begins ex parte, two professional evaluations are done and a formal judicial hearing with the subject present with representation is required if further commitment is recommended.

Red Flag laws so far provide none of this. They require no expert evaluation before property is confiscated:  police arrive, announcing they have come to remove the respondent’s guns, and need not provide any additional information. This triggers notification to the NICS database that the respondent is now a prohibited person. Red flag laws do not permit the respondent to voluntarily and privately relinquish their guns once confronted. Instead, after two weeks of the seizure of their firearms and without mandatory counsel, a hearing is held to determine whether the guns should be returned or held for an additional 180 days.

Perhaps the greatest distinction between red flag laws and civil commitment is that civil commitment provides treatment under the doctrine of parens patriae—the State as parent to those who are in need of protection or care. The deprivation of rights that accompanies civil commitment is balanced against the need for that deprivation along with the treatment available to remediate the condition that led to the action in the first place.

Red Flag laws provide the respondent nothing: not counsel, not professional examination, and no intervention intended to restore the rights taken from them.  The importance of this divergence cannot be overstated. The courts have consistently held that intended purpose of civil commitment laws—provision of treatment—balances any up-front procedural deficiencies:

“The judicial approval of involuntary commitment rests upon the assumption that the state is pursuing beneficent purposes for the general society and for the person committed.”

Grafting procedural due process on to Red Flag laws does not rehabilitate them in the slightest.  Consider a pop culture analogy, Agent Smith’s interrogation of Neo in The Matrix. Just apprehended and facing a host of charges, Neo replies to Smith’s litany of allegations by saying “You can’t scare me with this Gestapo crap. I know my rights I want my phone call.”  Agent Smith replies, “What good is a phone call, if you’re unable to speak” and he disrupts the Matrix so that Neo cannot speak. In this scene Neo’s procedural rights are preserved—he is offered a phone, counsel, and presumably the opportunity to rebut the charges—but he is rendered unable to use them.

This parallels the problem with Red Flag laws. All the procedural due process in the world—being present for the hearing, confronting your accusers, etc.—does nothing to ensure fairness, decency or respect if the ultimate issue can be decided without the respondent’s participation in a meaningful evaluation or, perhaps even worse, by emotionally charged accusations of feared future violence.

Unfortunately, the fact that Red Flag laws do not function as billed is a feature, not a bug, because they are used as Trojan horses for even more infringement.  Consider Dr. Rosmarin again: 

“So in our state of 6.7 million — almost twice that of Connecticut’s — we are petitioning only one-fifth as frequently. In my experience as a forensic psychiatrist, I see two dozen cases meriting petition a year, easily.

“Massachusetts should modify our ERPO law to allow certain categories of licensed clinicians to petition the courts for an extreme risk protection order. Clinicians should be allowed to do so via a downloaded document, such as exists for initiating mental health involuntary commitments. This will allow clinicians to petition the court without leaving their clinical settings.

“Massachusetts should also enact a law that allows certain categories of licensed clinicians to report to the police chief where the patient lives and that the patient should not have gun access. This should be based on a judgment about dangerousness, not mental illness. The disclosure of medical information relating to dangerousness should be as narrow as possible. Something like:

“Chief, this is Dr. Rosmarin. In my opinion this person is dangerous and should not have a gun.

“The chief would then have discretion to interview the owner, revoke the license and to seize any guns.”

Are gun owners content with the idea that their clinicians can petition law enforcement online after determining them to be “dangerous”?  Will the police chief be more likely to phone the respondent for an interview, or conduct a no-knock raid out of “an abundance of caution” and a desire to “err on the side of public safety”? 

Let’s put all this in the context of the events surrounding the Virginia Citizens Defense League’s annual Lobby Day.  I was pleased to be able to speak directly with my Delegate and Senator before attending the rally. I was too late to enter the fenced in, gun-free Capitol grounds, as 10,000 attendees were already there by 9:30 am, so I participated from outside the fence.  I met people from all walks of life, all ethnic backgrounds and all political persuasions, who were united in advocating for their inalienable Second Amendment rights. 

Many openly carried the guns that our Governor seeks to prohibit. Despite the presence of all those guns, there was no violence. The Governor insisted that he and law enforcement “diffused a volatile situation” but the attendees were never “volatile.”  Criminals, not lawful gun owners, are the problem, and we were shocked that every real crime bill was left tabled in committee. This is an unconscionable response to the criminal homicide problem that exists in inner cities related to gangs and drugs.

The Virginia House of Delegates must recognize reality about Red Flag laws, and direct their efforts instead towards mental health and crime.  Red Flag laws address neither, and are an affront to the constitutions of our Commonwealth and our nation, and to the inalienable rights these governments exist to protect.

.

.

–Dennis Petrocelli, MD is a clinical and forensic psychiatrist who has practiced for nearly 20 years in Virginia. He took up shooting in 2019 for mind-body training and self-defense, and is in the fight for Virginians’ gun rights.

All DRGO articles by Dennis Petrocelli, MD

“Kung Flu” and Preparedness

The novel Coronavirus outbreak in China popped into the news while I was busy at SHOT Show last week. Since then it has become a “viral” news story (groan).

Regardless of the virus’s source (seafood market? Biological lab?), the bottom line is that it is transmissible among people and containment has not thus far been successful.  With today’s rapid travel, a local epidemic can shortly become a worldwide pandemic. That’s why this has been all over the news, and that’s why it’s making people nervous. But is it really a risk to YOU?

I’m here to say – don’t be jumping to push the Armageddon button just yet. But there is a wake-up call in here somewhere. I want to shake people out of their stupor about infectious diseases in general and their potentially serious social impact. I also want to remind people what their personal responsibilities are.

First of all, I need to say that if you are blasé about garden variety infectious diseases, but then are panicking about the Coronavirus, you are being stupid – sorry.

If you don’t make sure your vaccinations are up to date against the viruses and bacteria we CAN control, but then panic about a disease in the news, I have to question your good judgement.

CDC estimates there were over 61 THOUSAND deaths from Influenza just in the United States alone in the 2017-18 Flu season. Did you even give a flying fu__ -lly formed thought about that at the time? Did you get your flu vaccine THIS year?

No? Then why are you all wrapped around the axel about the novel Coronavirus outbreak and researching containment bunkers, if you didn’t even bother to protect yourself with what is already available against an existing threat?

The bottom line question I’m asking is – are you prepared for ANY infectious disease outbreak at home which might impact your family and interrupt public services for a few weeks – or longer? Not just some new virus overseas. Have you done what you can to protect yourself and your family from even local garden variety infectious disease outbreaks? (That includes vaccinations, hand washing, etc) 

Have you done what you can to help protect your community? (That includes staying home from work and school and sports when you are sick.) I know these aren’t popular things to say, but in my day job I don’t get paid to be popular. My job is to try to keep your kids and the community healthy, and tell you the truth. I’m saying take care of the more local already existing risks and own-up to your own responsibilities to your family and the community before you go getting all bent out of shape about a virus in China.

Now, I’ll step off one soap box and onto another. 

*Ditches stethoscope and dons camo “prepper” hat*

I have to ask – do you have a month or more’s worth of stored food in case the grocery store trucks aren’t allowed through a quarantine of any sort? What if it’s as simple as you and your spouse both being down with Influenza and can’t get to the store for several weeks? Can you get by without a grocery run? This is stuff to at least think about, if you haven’t already.

Do you have a thermometer in your supplies? How about basic meds like Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen? Can you take care of a basic case of regular flu or even viral diarrhea without leaving the house or running to the doctor? Do you keep basic care and recovery foods like bullion cubes, crackers, chicken soup, and oral electrolyte solutions on hand without a store run? If you don’t, why not? You should. 

If your child is sick you don’t want to drag him/her out to the store and expose everyone else in the public (Or him to them.) If YOU are sick, you shouldn’t be out in public either, nor will you feel like being there. And if there is a quarantine you may not be permitted to go out at all. You should plan ahead.

You are not being a crazy prepper if you simply have more food (and water and soap and medicine) in the cupboard than your neighbors. You don’t even have to tell them about it (and probably shouldn’t). 

You don’t need a worldwide pandemic as an excuse to stock up on basic supplies for a health emergency. You should be doing it anyway, and you should be prepared against the “boring” seasonal illnesses too – not just the Killer Zombie Virus.  The peace of mind provided by even basic preparedness will be worth it even in a normal flu and “daycare crud” season. 

Even without Kung Flu in the picture, being able to simply reach into the cupboard for Pedialyte – rather than being forced to drive to Walmart at 3am with a puking kid  – is simply priceless.

Connecticut Proposes New ‘State Police’ to Police State.. I mean Police the State.. yeah.

Image via Middletown Press

Connecticut Democrats in the state’s Senate have proposed creating a new state police department that would be tasked with specifically combating “far-right” extremism.

The proposal, which was unveiled Wednesday as part of the state Senate Democrats’ “A Just Connecticut” agenda, would publicly fund a new state police department that specializes in investigating “far-right extremist groups and individuals,” according to a news release.

Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney said the proposal is aimed at combating “potential” hate crimes but stressed that his caucus has no intention of persecuting people for their political beliefs, the Hartford Courant reported.Washington Times

I’m sure this has no potential for abuse…

“Unfortunately, people who entertain hateful beliefs … are protected as long as [those beliefs] don’t result in hate-crime actions. That’s what we’re talking about,” Mr. Looney told reporters Wednesday. “We want to be more aggressive in enforcing our laws and identifying likely sources of potential domestic terrorism acts against religious institutions and ethnic institutions.”

Nevermind…

Remember folks, the NRA, GOA, FPC, VCDL, and on… and on… and on… are considered ‘terrorist’ organizations by men and women who love donations from Michael Bloomberg. The same one who’s promised $60 million in donations to keep pushing the success they’ve seen in Virginia. $2.5 million helped handily deliver Virginia to the anti-2A folks pushing the agenda at present so a warchest of another $60,000,000… be ready for a big push. He’s running for president after all.

But back to CT, the terrifyingly open admission that they want a “wrong think” police branch is astounding. Now comes all the terrible weight of subjectivity. Who determines what is a “hateful” belief and what is a political opinion? Why is it only right-wing extremism and not all extremism?

I’m not particularly concerned whether or not the bomber was screaming, “Hail Hitler!”, “Allahu Akbar!”, or “Save the whales!” when they’re planting explosives in a sports stadium or attacking a gathering for political and ideological gains. Terrorism is not monoplied by a single ideological wing.

Our insistence on shoving everything into a binary oversimplification of motives continues to erode necessary civil discourse on subjects we disagree upon. This proposal should terrify the public. It stinks of all the hallmarks of thought policing and pre-crime in the name of ‘public safety’ and ‘the greater good’.

‘The Greater Good’ is just whatever agenda whoever happens to be at the helm wants it be. Unless that agenda is securing the individual liberties of the citizenry it should remain highly suspect and under our most critical eye.

I am all for better training, tools, and techniques for Connecticut and all LEOs to do their jobs. But their jobs are the investigation of crimes (damages against a person or persons), the pursuit of criminals, and to be emergency responders. Theft of property, assault of persons, and to support and defend a community in a crisis natural, accidental, or violent, those are the jurisdictions of our cops. They don’t need ‘wrong think’ chaser added to that already prodigious list and to be exercised as political tools.

It is lunacy… but then again it’s Looney so…

Best of SHOT Show 2020

SHOT this year produced a surprising number of hidden gems when it comes to items of need and desire so, without further adieu, what were the ‘Best of SHOT Show?’

Best Retro – Robinson Armament M96, the Stoner 63 returns!

Robinson Armament M96 Stoner 63

The Stoner 63 is a Vietnam era legend of the SEALs and 3/1 Marines. While it wasn’t widely used due to complexity and some issues with fire rate shift it did remain in service until the 80’s when the M249 phased it out of the LMG role. The 63, like the HK roller lock guns, is an exercise in 20th Century modular ingenuity. It has all the nostalgia points.

And Robinson Armament is bringing it back! Around 200 M96 rifles are set to be available around summer time and I believe these take the cake even from the expansion of the Brownells BRN-180 line up. Primarily because the M96 has the full classic layout where the BRN is a modern-retro take on the 180 this take it.

Pure win for RA.

Best Pistol – Walther Q4

Walther Q4 Steel Frame PPQ Quick Trigger

This win almost went to the Alien. But when I get into what I want out of a handgun every single day the Walther Q4 is the undisputed heavyweight champion.

While the Q5 is a race gun through and through the Q4 is shaping up to be the solid carry piece for the discerning shooter. People get wrapped around the issue of ‘weight’ in a carry gun and tend to dismiss all the positive aspects heavy frames when in reality these people need a better method to carry the gun. Good holster systems make the weight issue a non-issue, and mass makes these 9mm’s incredible to shoot. Combined with the legendary trigger held over from the PPQ and the Q4 is setting itself to be a premium EDC piece.

Best Rifle – Sig MCX Spear

SIg MCX Spear NGSW

While we won’t see this commercial side until 2021 at the earliest, the MCX’s ‘Heavy’ iteration is an impressive machine. It is lightweight, fully ambidextrous, trim, and with all the modern accoutrements we could want.

The 13″ standard carbine barrel still produces an impressive effective range in their 6.8/.277 load the chassis will run 7.62 and 6.5 Creedmoor just as easily. Sig wants that NGSW win hard and this is looking well placed in that space. The rifle’s greatest subtle strength is the familiarity it breeds in the user who picks it up, if you’ve shot an M16 or M4 it feels like natural evolution on the tract. The other two submissions pay little mind to size/bulk and the bullpup seems to be relying heavily on barrel length.

The MCX exhibits the flexibility we’ve come to attribute to the AR-15 when it comes to size, but built around the new ammo from the ground up we can expect far more efficiency. The only unknown, since it’s the law of the universe, is the physics of a high pressure round and what we can expect from parts endurance.

Sig Sauer MCS Spear NGSW

Best Magnified Optic – Vortex Razor HD Gen III

The Chosen One

Optics went in heavy for 2020 with the undisputed winner amongst a field of quality options being the Razor Gen III 1-10x. My review called it and I couldn’t find a contender to shake up the field.

Vortex set the new bar for what a general purpose rifle optic should be. End of story.

Best Red Dot(s) – Holosun

Sage Dynamics review of one of the new sights

Holosun Optics played a full hand of products at SHOT, but their 507k, the updated controls on the 507/508, and the new 509 chasing the ACRO market were all we wanted in more out of dots. The gold reticle 512 and emerging DBAL format laser systems just rounded out a strong show.

A whole lot to love and run.

Best Light – Cloud Defensive REIN

From IG

Cloud made a name with the OWL. The OWL is arguably the among best stand alone long gun lights on the market.

But the OWL doesn’t play nice with others. It didn’t work around other rail mounted end control devices or particularly well on any but a top rail orientation. It was as nearly indestructible and weather impervious as one could desire.

Cloud has introduced the REIN to fill that niche. The Rail Mounted Environmental Illumination light uses a far lower profile series of mounts, including M-LOK, to place it around systems like the MAWL or a DBAL/PEQ in an industry recognized pattern for controls. The incredible illuminative capabilities of the OWL are intact and the durability of the system remains true also. It’s good to see Cloud Defensive continuing to push, even after knocking in a huge win with the OWL.

Best in Apparel – Beretta

No, not kidding. Beretta is a famous for its firearms, especially the incredible 92X in handgun circles, here in the U.S. firearm market but their product catalog is far more vast, and they own it.

Beretta has been struggling to let our discerning selves know that they have a whole lineup of jackets, pants, shirts, tactical and casual wear, and bags made to some of the finest specs imaginable. We all know the dead bird was the name but in the game and that 5.11 markets their pants off to keep marketing their pants but… holy saints of the ages Beretta has this enormous crate of gear to cover mild climate to extreme cold… and nobody knows!

They’re webpage tells the story, the first firearm product is listed… 3rd, after two apparel categories. Beretta doesn’t just want to be your carry gun, your field shotgun, or your precision rifle. They want to be the refined image of your outdoor lifestyle in any environment.

There you go! Click stuff! Go forth!, It’s the internet so have fun.

Remember when the G36 became the worst rifle ever…?

The G36 made headlines in Germany awhile back when it was anecdotally attacked for being inaccurate after it got hot.

Now, I was writing a SHOT show round up but then I got distracted by Ian, so now you all are too.

Quick recap. The video explains it pretty well too.

Reports start coming in that the German’s H&K G36 rifles can’t hit squat under “field” conditions. Hot, dirty, Afghanistan and Iraq type conditions. H&K says, “Nein! Gewehr is fine!” And it met the original contract requirements.

Speculation abounded about the source of the problem as independent small sample testing came back around the world that ‘their’ G36’s or near clones worked fine. Eventually the problem was blamed on ammunition, I believe, as the German variant of M855 was performing even worse than our Lake City batches which are not known for their accuracy to begin with.

But not before the German Military promised to get a new rifle to fix the ultimately non-existent problem, which gave us updated variants of the 416 and HK433. But, as Ian points out, the motives look increasingly political as a method to throw shade at H&K.

In short H&K, despite their dubious communication on the issue, was pretty much right. The rifles work exactly like the German Military originally wanted. If the German military requirements have shifted then a new rifle must be sought, the old one cannot be held accountable for requirements it never was given.

The same reasoning we keep updating the M4 is we adjust materials and parts to match requirements, sometimes in an assbackwards manner *looks at M855A1 and magazines*

But I digress.

Actually this whole post is a digression. Watch and enjoy. I’m clicking over to Tommy Built now for a ‘T’36… Because America.

Meopta USA Sport Optics Introduces Optika5 Riflescopes

Meopta USA Sport Optics is pleased to introduce the 1-inch, Optika5 series of premium riflescopes.  This newest Meopta riflescope line features a 5x zoom, zero-reset turrets, and advanced MeoBright lens coatings that deliver edge-to-edge clarity and exceptionally bright, sharp images.

Available in 2-10×42 RF (rimfire), 2-10×42, 3-15×44, 4-20×44, 4-20×50, and 4-20×50 RD models, the Optika5 riflescopes are available with reticles in the second focal plane.  All come with capped hunting turrets made of rubber-armored metal for the perfect combination of durability and functionality. The rear-facing magnification display allows for easy viewing of the power setting from behind the scope, and the zoom ring comes with a multi-position throw lever for quick adjustment of the power setting in the field. Windage and elevation adjustments are ¼ MOA.

“We wanted to offer a more advanced line of 1-inch riflescopes and have achieved this with our new Optika5 series,” said Pavel Stastny, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing at Meopta. “In addition to exceptional low-light performance, these scopes offer popular features like the rear facing zoom display and multi-position throw lever on the magnification ring.  Now hunters have a choice between our award-winning 30mm Optika6 series, and our new 1-inch Optika5 series of riflescopes with many different models available in each line.”

All Meopta Optika5 riflescopes are made of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy and feature:

–  One-piece tube design

–  Zero-Reset setting for quick return to zero

–  Zoom ring with a multi-position throw lever

–  Rear-facing zoom display for easy viewing of power setting from behind the scope

–  MeoBright anti-reflective lens coatings

–  MeoShield anti-abrasion lens coatings

–  MeoDrop hydrophobic lens coatings that repel rain, dust and grease

The new Optika5 riflescopes will be on display in the Meopta Booth (#10176) at the 2020 SHOT Show.  

Retail Pricing:  From $349.99 – $549.99

Follow Meopta on FacebookInstagramTwitter, and YouTube for the latest news and product announcements.

About Meopta

Meopta has been producing high-end European optics for over 85 years and is a leading manufacturer & partner to many of the world’s finest optical brands. Meopta conceives, develops and manufactures precision optical and electro/optical systems for semiconductor, medical, aerospace and military industries as well as for consumer markets.

For more information regarding Meopta, please visit www.meoptasportsoptics.com.

STREAMLIGHT® LAUNCHES TLR RM 1 and TLR RM 2

EAGLEVILLE, PA, January 21, 2020 – Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, introduced the low-profile TLRTM RM 1 and TLRTM RM 2 tactical lighting systems for long guns. Packaged as a system, each rail mounted light features independently operating push-button and remote pressure switches; the kit provides everything users need to mount to long guns. Also available in light-only models, the TLR RM 1 delivers 500 lumens and the TLR RM 2 delivers 1,000 lumens.

“The sheer power and beam range of these new models, along with their solid peripheral coverage and switch options, provide the security of knowing you’ll always have light in tactical and other applications,” said Streamlight President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Sharrah. “The light-only models offer another option to users.”

The new rail mount systems include an ergonomically friendly, multi-function tail switch, along with a remote switch input option. The remote switch is designed to exit the weapon at a 90º angle, improving wire routing while preserving rail space. 

The TLR RM 1 and TLR RM 2 are designed to quickly and securely attach to any long gun with a MIL Standard 1913 Rail, without the need for hands in front of the muzzle. The lights offer highly accurate sight repeatability when remounting. Each light includes a key kit to securely fit the light onto a broad array of weapons. 

The lights each feature the latest in power LED technology, and include a custom TIR optic that produces a concentrated beam with optimum peripheral illumination. The TLR RM 1 offers 500 lumens, 5,000 candela and a beam distance of 140 meters; the TLR RM 2 provides 1,000 lumens and 10,000 candela with a 200-meter beam distance. The lights also include a selectable strobe feature.

The TLR RM 1 includes one (1) 3 volt CR123A lithium battery, measures 3.2 inches in length and weighs 2.74 ounces. The TLR RM 2 includes two (2) 3-volt CR123A lithium batteries, is 4.55 inches long and weighs 4.55 ounces. Both models are 1.18 inches wide and 1.27 inches high. Both feature 1.5 hours of continuous run time and three hours on strobe. 

The new lights are made from 6000 series machined aircraft aluminum with a Type II Mil-Spec anodized finish. The switch housing is made from impact- and chemical-resistant, high-impact engineered polymer. The lens is constructed from high temperature, shock mounted, AR coated, and impact-resistant Borofloat® glass.

Both lights are IPX7 rated for waterproof operation to 1 meter for 30 minutes and have been extensively live fire tested.

Available in black, the TLR RM 1 and TLR RM 2 Lighting Systems have MSRPs of $255.00 and $270.00, respectively. The TLR RM 1 and TLR RM 2 Light-Only models have MSRPs of $210.00 and $225.00 respectively.  Each comes with Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime Warranty. 

About Streamlight

Based in Eagleville, PA, Streamlight, Inc. has more than 45 years of experience making tough, durable, long-lasting flashlights designed to serve the specialized needs of professionals and consumers alike. Since 1973, the company has designed, manufactured and marketed high-performance flashlights, and today offers a broad array of lights, lanterns, weapon light/laser sighting devices, and scene lighting solutions for professional law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications. Streamlight is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company. For additional information, please call 800-523-7488, visit streamlight.com or connect with us on 
facebook.com/streamlight; twitter.com/Streamlight; instagram.com/streamlightinchttps://www.linkedin.com/company/streamlight-inc./; and youtube.com/streamlighttv.          

Armament Systems Unveils New Law Enforcement Products at SHOT Show

ASP Infinity Baton

Appleton, WI, January 27, 2020 Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP), a leading manufacturer of law enforcement products, bowed more than a dozen new additions to its product lines at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas last week. ASP is expanding all its key categories—expandable batons, restraints and tactical flashlights—with new products, including: 

Talon Infinity Expandable Batons—advanced design, unprecedented performance

ASP calls its new Infinity series “the most advanced tactical batons ever developed.” These pushbutton-closing impact weapons incorporate fewer moving parts for more precise, reliable operation. Exclusive materials and construction ensure faster, smoother deployment and retraction and eliminate the need for routine lubrication. Available in black chrome-plated steel, Airweight aluminum and steel, or electroless nickel-plated steel, with two different grip and activation options. The new Talon batons are backed by ASP’s unprecedented Infinity Warranty—guaranteeing repair or replacement if the product fails for any reason, at any time, forever.

Transport Plus—modular, four-limb restraint system with emphasis on officer safety and efficiency

The Transport Plus is the latest addition to ASP’s growing line of restraints designed for corrections, transport and courtroom use. Like the original Transport Kit, the “Plus” has at its hub the company’s unique Rigid Ultra Cuff wrist restraints, which provide a central connecting point for other system elements, and keep the subject secured while components are added, removed or adjusted, for officer safety. The Transport Plus includes the rigid cuffs, a set of ankle cuffs, an extra-long chain to secure around the waist and connect the upper and lower elements, high-security auto-locking blocks and keys, all in a custom-made, molded carrying case.

Spectrum DF Tactical Flashlight—four-LED-color, feature-packed light at a compelling price point

The Spectrum is the company’s first-ever multi beam-color tactical flashlight. In addition to its primary white light, it offers red, green and blue beams, as well as a low level and strobe, for a total of six total modes. The high white mode is always the default, while any of the others can be user-programmed as a secondary level, activated with a double-tap of the tail switch. The all-aluminum light is built to demanding law enforcement duty standards, can be upgraded from its included CR123A battery power to Dual Fuel rechargeable, and carries a value-driven suggested retail of $79.

For more information on ASP products and training, visit www.asp-usa.com.

Take My Gun . . . Please!

(from mid-day.com

With all due respect to Henny Youngman, King of the One-Liners, I mean exactly that in certain cases.

We fight hard against any form of confiscation that denies us our natural right to keep and bear arms in self-defense. That includes opposing all the “red flag” laws so far enacted and proposed. None incorporate adequate or timely due process, and all can and will be abused by government and acquaintances to harass innocent subjects. This is already happening, and one man is dead because of it. We don’t and can’t know if anyone anywhere has been save by these.

However, this shouldn’t be our greatest concern, believe it or not. That’s because approximately 2/3 of all shooting deaths for many years have been suicides, while half of all suicides are by gunshot. Shooting is one of the most lethal ways to attempt suicide—85% of these attempts kill, comparable to jumping from heights. When rumination becomes an impulse to act, an available firearm may serve a final, fatal action.

So there is strong reason to try to get guns out of the hands of anyone thinking of suicide. Aside from the dangerous limitations of current “red flag” laws, there is an even bigger problem. There is no way to know if someone is suicidal without knowing them well, or by their trusting someone sufficiently to share their distress.

Most people who are seriously suicidal have a major depressive illness. Some are personality disordered and their suicidal thinking and threats happen in the service of handling stressful experiences.  Occasionally people may have psychotic disorders, with hallucinations telling them they’re worthless and commanding them to remove themselves. Substance abuse raises the risk. But most, no matter what the cause, will show signs of the illness and will indicate their intent to someone in some way. [Note: Rarely, someone communicates a more rational desire to end intolerable, untreatable pain during a terminal illness. This is a very different matter, and not our topic.]

What happens then? Hopefully, they get help. And someone caring removes whatever means by which they are contemplating killing themselves. This may be surprising, but in most cases the distressed individual will appreciate the intervention.

Unless someone already has psychiatric help and shares this, most often families and close friends are the first line of defense. Ideally, they will address the problem in both ways.

But: What if they are in a jurisdiction where “transfer” of a weapon is illegal without all the formalities of a commercial sale? For example, background checks, waiting periods, may-issue determinations, etc.  Or what if the owner is uncomfortable with giving over firearms to whoever is intervening, for whatever reason?

There is an excellent solution to these dilemmas, which can be exercised by willing gun owners who may need temporary protection from their own impulses. Hold My Guns is a new non-profit that is taking on the mission of enlisting gun shops and FFLs nationwide as places to hold firearms for people who shouldn’t have them right now. This can be done either at the individual’s request or, with the owner’s permission, for those who are intervening. This is absolutely voluntary and has no legal implications whatsoever. MUCH better than the government getting involved, which should be the last resort whatever the law prescribes.

While there is nothing new under the sun, Hold My Guns is the first attempt to develop a national network of collaborating FFLs who can be identified at need anywhere. Check out their brochure here. Smaller projects have been in progress in Vermont, Colorado and Washington State with encouraging results.

There is now empirical data supporting the need for this. Just published in Annals of Internal Medicine, “Firearm Storage Maps: A Pragmatic Approach to Reduce Firearms Suicide” appeared January 21. Authors Kelly, Brandspigel, Polzer and Betz are from the University of Colorado Schools of Medicine and Public Health. They discovered that there are lots of requests as it is for temporary firearms storage out of the home throughout the Mountain West; about half of all retailers and 2/3 of law enforcement agencies “reported having received storage requests in the past year.” There is no reason to think these calls for help would be not occur as often anywhere else in the country. 

The outcome of that finding was the creation, in conjunction with the Colorado Firearms Safety Coalition, of an “[o]nline map of Colorado locations willing to consider voluntary, temporary firearm storage.” 39 retailers and 17 law enforcement agencies have so far agreed to be listed. Any Coloradan can now use the map to find a place nearby that will help.

This work is a true and appropriate public health approach to saving lives at risk from misuse of firearms. In that way, it is comparable to a growing number of urban programs that are trying to identify the individuals most at risk of either committing or becoming the victims of murder. (They are one and the same.) These sorts of interventions focus where they should—on the people at risk, trying to reduce the misuse of weapons and save lives, rather than blaming and imposing on the vast millions of Americans who live quite safely, thank you, with dangerous tools of all kinds at hand, including guns.

Many thanks to Sarah Joy Albrecht, founder and president of Hold My Guns for alerting DRGO to their plan to create nationwide access to urgent safekeeping of firearms for anyone who needs it. She’s at SHOT Show in Las Vegas this week, and would welcome your visiting! 

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Robert B Young, MD

— 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

SHOT 2020: Post Part 2

Best ad placement ever

We kick things off with the polymer wizards at Magpul and their latest and greatest. Magpul announced MP5 grip, selector, and trigger housing last year along with an MOE type handguard, Jon says they’re nearly ready go. It will likely be the first item set shipping for 2020.

Plus D50’s for Glock Pattern and CZ Scorpion 9mm!

Add to that the Ruger PCC Takedown and Savage stocks among the various other stand alone nicknacks and Magpul is setting up a solid 2020.

The AK folks over at Arsenal and MSR are breaking into the domestic rifle market against such giants as Krebs and Rifle Dynamics with the AK20 series of adjustable gas guns. Rocking monolithic tops and M-LOK round out the modernized Kalashnikovs that look like they’re in all 3 major calibers.

No firm timeline but the prototypes feel fantastic.

More tomorrow… so many emails… 2020 is gonna be fun!

The Walther Q4 – Steel Frame Greatness

I love guns designed for competition because they are typically insanely easy to shoot. Last year we saw the Q5 steel frame from Walther hit the market and it was an impressive gun. Ergonomics were spot on. It has the brilliant PPQ trigger, and Walther’s famed ergonomics packaged into a steel-framed pistol. Add in a magazine well, red dot compatibility, and well, you have a very capable pistol. A capable pistol for competition, or maybe home defense. For carry, well, you’d have to buy a very good belt and holster combo. However, the Q4 may change that.

Walther spun that around this year by trimming an inch off the barrel and releasing the Walther Q4 steel frame. For all intents and purposes, the Walther Q4 steel frame is a Walther PPQ with a steel frame. The Walther Q4 does come in an optic’s ready model as well as a standard model. The big question is what’s the point?

Aren’t striker-fired, polymer-framed pistols the future? 

Well, sure, probably, but there is plenty of room on the market for a classic steel gun. The ole’ Walther PPQ has the best stock striker-fired trigger on the market. Especially at the standard PPQ price range. The Q4 takes that fantastic trigger and combines it with 39.7 ounces of steel. The end result is a fine trigger with very little recoil after the shot breaks. I’ve been a big fan of the steel frame SIG P series and the CZ series of guns because there is no replacement for steel. 

The Walther Q4 is the overall same idea as the Q5 but in a more handy package. If you are like me and like heavy, all-steel guns for self-defense then the Walther Q4 might be for you. While the CZ and SIG guns give me a DA/SA option, the Q4 gives you that consistent striker-fired trigger. It’s nice to see an option in the striker-fired realm for those of us who want big, heavy steel guns. 

The Walther Q4 At Range Day

This gun handles like a dream. The recoil and muzzle rise is nearly non-existent. It just jumps a hair between shots. The Walther Range is 15 yards with several different types of targets. One being a hostage target with a small steel popper you can knock from side to side.

I drove the popper from side to side with an easy rhythm. I could transition from side to side and engage it as soon as it cleared the head of the ‘hostage.’ The Q4 made recovery between shots simple and quick and the same could be said about transitioning from left to right.

The Q4 is designed with incredible ergonomics and it quite comfortable. It retains or even improves on the famed PPQ trigger. It’s light and short with minimal overtravel. It’s not a trigger for beginners, but experienced shooters will adore it. The Q4 promises to be an expensive gun, but it’s likely worth every penny.

Dr. Miguel A. Faria: My Life

[Ed: Dr. Faria originally published this December 16 on his website, Hacienda Publishing. His is an extraordinary story, standing for liberty throughout his career, carrying on a proud family commitment. Formatted for DRGO.]

I was born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba in 1952. Sancti Spiritus and the surrounding area have been traditionally hot beds for revolution. The Escambray Mountains are in the vicinity, which rebels notoriously used for guerrilla warfare. That same year (1952) Fulgencio Batista carried out a successful coup d’état and became dictator. Although subsequently he was elected President, he was despised by the intelligentsia and not considered the legitimate head of the Cuban Republic.

At first, the common people were for him because he brought tranquility and prosperity to the island. But the following year in 1953, Fidel and Raul Castro began the revolution by attacking the military Moncada Barracks near Santiago de Cuba in Oriente province on July 26, 1953, a day that was immortalized as the name of their rebel movement. On March 13, 1957, a second group of rebels led a celebrated and more intrepid (although also suicidal) attack against the Presidential Palace in Havana in an attempt “to decapitate the government from the top” by killing Batista.

Cuban Revolutionaries

They failed and many rebels were annihilated, but the survivors, led by Faure Chomón and Rolando Cubela, formed a second movement. Because this group had began with students and recent graduates of the University of Havana, they called themselves the Student Revolutionary Directorate (RD). My parents joined the RD and became dirigentes of the 13 of March (RD) underground movement in Sancti Spiritus.

Following the Presidential Palace attack, my parents hid and protected the leader of the group, Chomón, for weeks in our home, while still planning and conducting underground activities from our kitchen. Even as a young child, I was aware of what was happening and feared for my parents’ lives. Nevertheless, my clandestine duty was to help entertain Chomón, who we code-named “Ricardito,” and who told me stories.

So there were two fronts waging war against Batista. Fidel’s group in the Sierra Maestra mountains included communists, such as Che Guevara and Raúl Castro, and fought desultory guerrilla warfare in that very isolated, rural and mountainous area of eastern Cuba. Fidel had charisma, lied to the press, and was helped to power by both the American and Cuban news media. All of this is narrated in detail in my 2002 book, Cuba in Revolution: Escape From a Lost Paradise.

My uncle Julio Martinez during Cuban Revolution

By contrast, the RD or 13 of March Movement, centered in Havana and Sancti Spiritus, used extensive underground and urban guerrilla tactics, fighting in major cities. No communists were allowed in this group. The RD also had a rural guerrilla front in the Escambray Mountains to which my uncle Julio Martínez (pictured center in photo above) served under Rolando Cubela, whom he called fearless.

My parents used to take arms and recruits to the rebels in the Escambray, as this battleground was close to our farm. Once we were halted at a check point, but when the military police learned it was my father, one of the three cardiologists in our town, they waved us to continue and did not search the vehicle. I remember hiding my toy guns under the seat of the car and fearing for our lives. We triumphed but soon it became obvious the nationalist revolution had been betrayed by a communist revolution.

Fidel’s charisma made him “maximum leader,” and the 26 of July Movement with communists in its ranks became the new Cuban government, and the Soviets were invited into the island. When Faure Chomón threatened to oppose Fidel and wanted the RD and the Cuban people to keep their firearms, Fidel refused. In a major speech he clamored, ¿Armas para que? Guns for What? There would be no more insurrections. Not only the members, but also the common people were disarmed.

Osvaldo Ramirez

Some RD leaders, such as Osvaldo Ramírez (pictured on right in photo, left), went back to the Escambray Mountains and led a powerful insurrection against the communist regime, from 1961 to 1965, but eventually Ramírez and his peasant rebel army were wiped out. They did not have enough arms and ammunition.

That same year, 1965, Rolando Cubela, who had been working with the CIA (Operation Mongoose), was arrested in Cuba for conspiring to assassinate Fidel. We were warned that the secret police was also on our tail, and my father decided we needed to flee the island. We did so on February 13, 1966. We “sailed” south to the Cayman Islands, and after a three-month Caribbean odyssey, which I as a 13-year old considered a great adventure, we legally entered the United States.

Later we were told that the Cuban secret police (G2) had learned of our escape and searched our homes and interrogated my mother. A small G2 plane searching for us crashed, killing the G2 officials in it and infuriating the regime.  Some of my relatives were also interrogated and arrested.

I reached freedom in the US, became an American citizen, and was brought up and educated in the South. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, receiving my BS degree (Biology and Psychology) and graduating magna cum laude in 1973. I then attended the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, and was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society (1975). I graduated with honors, receiving the Merck’s Manual Award for scholastic achievement, and earning my M.D. degree in 1977. I completed my neurosurgical residency at Emory University (1978–1983) in Atlanta, Georgia.

JMAG March 1994 cover

I became a clinical professor in neurosurgery in Macon and the editor of the Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia in Atlanta. At the time, the AMA, our “umbrella organization,” was conducting a public relation campaign against domestic violence, which led to a campaign against “gun violence.” This was deliberately linked to gun ownership and supposedly backed by the scientific “gun research” conducted by public health officials at the CDC and various schools of public health.

I began writing about gun rights as soon as I discovered, first hand, that the Medical Establishment (ME), headed by the AMA, and the Public Health Establishment (PHE), headed by the CDC, had a bias against gun rights and civilian gun ownership, and that the purpose of their “guns and violence research” had a hidden agenda — namely, to push for draconian gun control. Moreover, the related giant medical publishing empire at their disposal was bent on publishing one-sided medical propaganda masquerading as objective medical journalism.

I was horrified to learn that true science, medicine, and public health did not really enter the picture; but rather that politicized, result-oriented junk science with preordained conclusions was used as the vehicle for their gun prohibitionist propaganda. I was in a central position to learn about this since I had also been elected a Delegate to the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) in the 1990s and was now the duly appointed editor of the state medical journal. In conjunction with a PR campaign against domestic violence and the “guns and violence” propaganda that was being promulgated, I was expected to toe the politically correct line that “gun violence was a public health issue” and that “guns are like viruses that must be eradicated” from civilian ownership.

I refused to comply and found myself in the middle of the storm, arguing that we as physicians, could be compassionate but also honest and had a duty to at least publish both sides of the gun control debate. In other words, that law-abiding gun owners not only had constitutional protection, but also that guns had beneficial aspects in self and family protection, which needed to be aired in debates and publications in medical journalism. As a result of my stand, I lost my position as editor of the state medical journal in 1995 — so much for the much-touted free exchange of ideas and academic freedom! I narrated the story of my travails at the Medical Association of Georgia in my book Medical Warrior: Fighting Corporate Socialized Medicine (1997).

What happened in Cuba via revolution, I see happening here in the U.S. via evolution. Batista allowed civilians to keep their firearms, but the guns had to be registered. After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution and consolidation of the communist regime, Fidel Castro had his “militia” go to the registry offices and using the registration lists go door-to-door confiscating all firearms from the people. In Cuba, registration led directly to gun confiscation.

America, Guns, and Freedom dust jacket

Taking the lessons I learned first hand in Cuba regarding civilian disarmament and what I saw happening in my adoptive country—namely, the misuse of science for political propaganda—I felt the need to write a comprehensive book that would cover the entire field of gun rights as well as public health and gun control. America, Guns, and Freedom: A Journey Into Politics and the Public Health & Gun Control Movements (2019) is the result of my labors and I think it has accomplished that goal.

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faria-13wmaz-sml

—  Miguel A. Faria, Jr., M.D. is a retired professor of Neurosurgery and  Medical History at Mercer University School of Medicine. He founded Hacienda Publishing and is Associate Editor in Chief and World Affairs Editor of Surgical Neurology International. He served on the CDC’s Injury Research Grant Review Committee.

All DRGO articles by Miguel A. Faria, Jr., MD

SHOT 2020 Wrap-up and Teasers

This is what my brain feels like during SHOT Show.

I’m home from SHOT now (well actually I typed some of this on the plane),  but there are still some things that I did not have the time or brain cells to write about during the week. I wanted to do a wrap-up post and some teasers of products that I’ll know more about, or will have demo items for, later on in the year. 

Buck Knives

I won a knife for knife throwing!

I won another knife this year (three years running!) by successfully sticking the target at Buck Knives Range Day Knife Throw! Plus I drank some of Buck’s free beer at the close of Day One, so I kinda felt obligated to do a little more reading about them. I found out that Buck Knives has another line that I didn’t know about. I talked to the rep about that, and I may have a post cooking about that in the future.

Colt Python

The Python on Range Day.

I got to shoot the Colt Python on Range Day! I’m already a bit of a revolver girl, and I have shot revolver category in IDPA matches just for giggles in previous years.

I really like what Colt has done with the Python. It sounds like they’ve re-engineered the whole thing, honestly. The cylinder locks up tight. There is a nice, smooth, double action trigger pull and crisp hammer release. It didn’t bother my former grip strength issues, and I hit the steel every time. No space for a big technical review here, but I did really enjoy shooting the Python. (Even impressed the guy at the booth with my mad revolver skillz- ha!) It won’t be a true carry gun for me personally, simply because of its size – 4.25” or 6” barrel – but maybe a woods gun? I’m thinking hard about that possibility.

Colt Night Cobra

I want to find a Night Cobra in the wild at home!

In one of those serendipitous “while you’re at it” deals,  while I was at the Colt booth on the show floor, I saw a different Colt model that’s a couple years old that might be a viable carry option for me. It’s called the “Night Cobra”. This is a .38+P 6-round Cobra platform snub nose with a matte black finish and night sights. The hammer is bobbed so as to not snag on clothing and the grip is non-rubber so as not to be sticky. Pulling the trigger in the booth made it seem like a winner, so I need to track one of these down at home and pursue this one further, too.

1791 Holsters

Molding your own holster at home? Hmmmmm.

1791 is known primarily for their leather holsters. But this year they are introducing a custom-moldable holster. Yes – like doing it at home. 

What they demo-ed in the booth was a basic holster covered in leather but filled with some sort of thermoplastic. You put the holster in a bag, immerse it in hot water for a specified length of time in a specified temperature range, then pull it out, insert your gun, mold it to the retention and shape you want, and let it cool.

It seems like a great idea, as long as it holds up in a hot car and other such conditions. It is apparently re-doable over and over, so that would solve the problem of having a holster left over from a gun you sold two years ago. You could remold it to a new gun in that same size range.

I am intrigued and will be receiving a sample from 1791 toward spring/summer. I’ll definitely keep you posted on that.

Bushnell Game Cams

I’ve written periodically about my loves and hates involving my remote cellular game cam. When it works, I love it, but there are bugs. Bushnell has already revamped their online platform this year which supports the photo storage and uploads, and it’s much better. There is a new camera version as well – they just didn’t happen to bring one to the show. ARGH.

BUT – the rep took my card and promised to get me hooked up with the new version. If/when that actually happens I will be sure to write that up as well. Fingers crossed.

Walther CCP in .380

Walther CCP .380 on Range Day.

Here’s a new little semiauto carry gun that I also got to shoot on Range Day. This .380 version follows after Walther’s CCP in 9mm. Aimed specifically at the concealed carry market, it has a few features that will appeal to the extra safety-minded. 

For instance, it only comes with a manual thumb safety. The trigger pull, though soft, seems quite long, making this gun difficult to fire accidentally. The reset is also longer than I’m used to, but that goes along with the trigger pull.

The CCP .380 has been designed for tool-less takedown and it sports a fixed barrel, so cleaning and tear down has fewer steps. The design makes slide manipulation a little easier too. Overall this gun is a very nice addition to the carry market.

Frogg Toggs

Frogg Toggs is much more than I thought!

I confess that I used to think Frogg Toggs only made those rainsuits you see in the sporting goods section of Walmart. I was very wrong, and will have a lot more to say about that in the coming months.

Target Factory

Last but not least, I’m glad I stayed to poke around on Friday, because I ran into a very nice man with a great small business. His business, Target Factory, makes plastic/polymer type reactive plinking targets. (Think – if Little Tikes made targets – see the cover photo) They are lightweight but sturdy, colorful, portable, shootable, and were just what I was looking for to work on rimfire plinking with my daughter (although they will hold up to larger calibers as well).  Who am I kidding – I want to shoot them too! The owner actually lit up when I said I was a pediatrician. He has a passion for getting these targets to 4H and Scout groups and encouraging the next generation.

With a newish Ruger 10/22 Takedown in my safe, and a Glock 44 in the works, we are going to need some fun rimfire targets at my house. I have a sample, but I’m going to order the whole (relatively inexpensive) shebang from him and then write up a report. Stand-by for that one too.

Final Words

I think that about wraps up what I have to say about SHOT for this year. Although exhausting, it is always an awesome experience. It’s great to see friends you only see once a year, and it’s fascinating to be on the front edge of new gear – sometimes before they have a webpage built or even a name for the product! It has once again been an honor and privilege to be able to attend and bring this all to you. As always – thanks for reading!