Berryville, AR, US – (October 1, 2018)Nighthawk Custom, innovative manufacturer of “The World’s Finest Custom made 1911’s, introduces the newest member of The Boardroom Series 1911, The President.
The President is the second pistol in our sharp shooting Boardroom Series.This range ready government 1911 is the 5-inch version of our Boardroom Series and is modeled after The Chairman.Sleek, tough, and expertly engineered, The President is sure to please the 1911 purist, and is guaranteed to catch attention on the range.The President includes the following features:
Heavy Angle Lightning Cuts on the Slide
Extra Aggressive Front and Rear Cocking Serrations
Gold Bead Front Sight
Heinie Ledge Solid Black Rear Sight
DLC Finish
Available in 9mm & 45 ACP
“Our Boardroom Series combines elegance and performance to create a shooting experience that is unparalleled, “says Mark Stone. Owner and CEO of Nighthawk Custom.Stone adds, “at Nighthawk Custom there are no shortcuts, and I take pride in the fact that we build pistols with a combination of the finest materials and old-world craftsmanship.”
The beauty is in the details. The faceted design on the slide, accented by the heavy angle lightning cuts, create the sleek, stylish look of The President. The one-piece magwell, barrel bushing, grip safety, thumb safety, and slide stop, all add to the stunning looks and make this pistol a fully functional modern 1911 made to run hard and fast.
Railscales G10 grips have been designed to maximize grip texture without being overly aggressive or rough, and the lightweight aluminum tri-cavity trigger complete this pistol and make it a must get for every gun enthusiast.The President is an absolute delight to shoot and the Nighthawk Custom accuracy is awe inspiring.
The President is also available with a Stainless-Steel Barrel and VZ 320 Black Medallion Grips.For more details, visitwww.nighthawkcustom.comto see The President, or you can call a Nighthawk Custom Account Manager at 877-268-4867 to place your order today.
I was having dinner with friends a while ago who like me are of the 2A persuasion. We discussed the current gun control voices in the U.S. and the discussion ultimately turned to Britain, their strict gun control, and rising knife crime. It has gotten so bad that British parents are apparently even buying stab vests for their kids?
British gun control has now slippery-sloped into knife control and the ridiculous demonization of any sharp pointy tool. There is even now talk of filing down the points on kitchen knives because, in the words of one British judge, the only people who “need” pointy knives are butchers and fishmongers.
We are left to wonder if back when Britain instituted civilian disarmament that anyone could have imagined the current anti-knife push. It’s almost as if people bent on violence will find any means to harm their fellow human beings. But Brits are still determined to blame the tool rather than human agency.
Brits seem to sit back and just let these ridiculous restrictions happen to them, and sometimes even appear welcome them. Our dinner table group concluded that this must be because the Brits have a completely different mindset about firearms and their rights than we have here in the U.S. They are still “Subjects” in mindset, despite all the Parliamentary changes that have happened over the past few hundred years.
British firearm restrictions implemented after WWI ensured a disarmed populace during WWII – leaving the general population unable to defend themselves against impending Nazi invasion. Even before the U.S. government’s Lend-Lease Act took effect, American citizens donated thousands of privately owned firearms for the defense of British homes. Then when the war was over, those firearms so freely donated were unceremoniously destroyed (except for one) proving that Britain still hadn’t learned its lesson.
Thus it makes me laugh when gun grabbers try to point to Britain or other English-speaking countries as examples of civilian disarmament which they think the U.S. should emulate. These numbskulls cannot grasp that we Americans will NEVER be “like” Britain, Australia or even Canada. Our attitudes and history are completely different.
The Brits have a history of centuries of being subjects with “rights” being granted to them by the throne – or by the upper classes in Parliament – and just as easily taken away. The Parliament even still technically serves at the will of the monarchy, and the monarch asks the elected Prime Minister to “form a government”.
Despite Britain being the “mother country”, rights guaranteed to British citizens are not at all like American rights – especially when it comes to self-defense and weapons possession. This makes any comparison between British and American firearms law a comparison of apples and cabbages.
The Australian model of gun control is another much touted example that the U.S. should supposedly follow. What the people who propose this scheme fail to grasp is that that we are not “like” Australia either, and never have been. The histories of our two countries are completely different.We were both originally British colonies, but that is where the similarities end.
Australia gained independence by an Act of the British Parliament in 1901. Even then, the British parliament retained certain powers over Australia until the Australia Act of 1986. Yup – Nineteen. Eighty. Six.And as a Commonwealth Realm Australia STILL honors Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. They are still subjects of the British Crown.
Australia got “permission” to leave, and did not gain their independence through violence and bloodshed as the United States did. They also don’t have our Constitution or Bill of Rights, which contains the Second Amendment – the codification of our natural right to self-defense – whether from criminal attackers or despotic government.
Neither is Canada “like” the U.S. in foundation and means of gaining independence. Canada didn’t gain full legal autonomy from Britain until 1938, and they still maintain their allegiance to Queen Liz, as another Commonwealth Realm. Canadians too remain subjects of the British Crown. Canada has tried various gun registration schemes throughout its history, because they don’t have their own version of the Second Amendment either.
Unlike Australia and Canada, American rights and freedoms were secured by years of bloodshed – not by amicable permissive agreements with the British Government. This imparts a wholly different feeling among the American populace – or at least it SHOULD.
U.S. Citizenship carries responsibilities as well as rights. One of those responsibilities is honoring and preserving the Constitutional Republic which was paid for with so much blood and treasure by the Founders and those who followed after them. Wishing away our unique heritage in order to get along with other countries who are not like us is irresponsible andantithetical to the ideals the country was founded upon.
An understanding of our history, and WHY the Founders set up our system of government as they did – especially the Second Amendment – should be an essential element of responsible American citizenship. Alas, the gun-grabbers seem to be missing this piece of their education, and would wish us all to be “Subjects” again.
We would do well to remember the words of Benjamin Franklin when he was asked whether the Constitutional Convention of 1787 had settled on a Republic or a Monarchy. His reply was, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
Mech Tech Systems Carbine Conversion Unit or CCU for short is by far the worlds most versatile pistol accessory.
A CCU is essentially an upper for your semi automatic pistol, so if you own a Glock, 1911, or an XD pistol you can convert your current platform into a pistol caliber carbine. Essentially functioning as an AR-style upper receiver once mounted in place, the non-serialized CCU replaces the host gun’s slide and barrel assembly. The new configuration allows the carbine to retain the pistol’s superb single-action trigger and comfortable grip angle.
The Mech Tech CCU is legal to own and is not a firearm so it can be shipped right to your doorstep. It also installs on your pistols frame with no tools and takes only seconds to go from handgun to carbine. It really is the ultimate pistol accessory. The CCU transformed my pistol into an absolute beast at the range. It is small, easy to operate, and can be converted back to a pistol in just seconds. The CCU increases the performance, accuracy, and ballistics of the host gun also.
Installation is fast and easy and doesn’t require any tools.
Seriously, with no tools and just a few seconds you go from pistol to carbine. Remove the host gun’s barrel assembly and slide. Then just align the rails inside the CCU with those on the frame and then slide the frame forward as far as it will go.
Re-installing the 1911’s slide stop secures the components together and viola, you went from pistol to carbine in seconds. Changing it back to a pistol is just as easy. You just have to pull the slide stop pin out, pull back on the frame to release it from the CCU, then just reassemble your pistol.
Mech-Tech makes the CCU out of rolled steel with a powder-coated finish and a corrosion-resistant interior coating. The rolled steel does make the CCU a bit on the heavy side, however that weight does cut recoil down a lot.
A charging handle is found on the left side of the unit to replace the action of the slide in the pistol. The bolt can be locked in the open position by retracting the handle and then pushing in on it until it engages a small round notch in the wall of the housing. Even after conversion to a rifle, the CCU still utilizes the host 1911’s grip and frame-mounted thumb safeties as well as its magazine release button.
You can customize with 4 different stock options, different rail configurations, lights, lasers, sights, and vertical foregrips. I ordered my unit with the adjustable, M4-style stock, the mini rail kit, and flash hider. I wanted to stick with the Sig Sauer theme so I went to Sig for a brand-new Romeo 5XDR red dot to mount on top.
So, this accessory adapts to your existing pistol frame in seconds, utilizing your existing magazines and ammunition, and has multiple uses. It really is a great product. The Mech Tech CCU can be used in a wide variety of situations and applications. It is extremely fun to shoot at the range, you can hunt small game with it, use it for home defense, or just throw it in the truck or trunk.
The CCU as tested costs $698.80 and utilizes my existing magazines and ammunition. Although it is probably around the same cost as purchasing a separate rifle when you add all the options it is just a very cool and usable accessory to own for your existing pistol. Mech Tech’s CCU represents a paperwork-free accessory that boosts ballistics in a platform that you are already familiar with. It will make your pistol more versatile and easier to shoot.
It is very easy to see why someone who already possesses a compatible handgun would find such a product appealing. If you own a Glock, 1911, or anything in the XD family you can order your very own Mech Tech CCU and transform your standard pistol into a long-distance monster at mechtechsys.com
Specifications: Mech-Tech CCU
Caliber: Many available (tested in .45acp)
Capacity: Same as your pistol (8 rounds tested)
Barrel length: 16.25″
Overall length: Varies from around 24″ to over 33″ depending on the stock choice
Weight: 5.3 lbs. in the “basic” configuration from Mech Tech
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” –Maya Angelou
My name is Jase Winner. I am a competitive USPSA/ 3-Gun shooter and tactical trainee.
The Beginning
I’ve been shooting as long as I can remember, which I mean literally because I actually don’t remember a time where I didn’t have the ability to say “ Dad, grab the guns and ammo and targets and stuff. I’ll get dressed, we should go shooting” and 45 mins later I was on my way to my happy place.
I started shooting trap and skeet when I was 10 years old. I loved being on the line and shooting those birds, and for about three years it was as far as I thought I could go in the shooting world without going military or Law Enforcement.
Then, in 2016 I found out about this wonderful thing called 3-Gun. I went to my first 3-Gun match with an 870, one of my dads old AR’s, and a stock Glock-19. I had my dads extra mag pouches and shotgun caddy’s from his deployments and a can-do attitude.
3 Gun World
The day of my first match was a day that truly changed my life. Fast forward two years and I’m a sponsored shooter going to train with industry leaders and competing in multi-gun nationals. I am an A-student and a Boy Scout, I do both 4-H and youth leadership Spokane. I’m both a runner, and a wrestler.
I have a lot of passions, but the one I always come back to is shooting.
Tactical Shooting
My introduction into the tactical shooting world was at the beginning of my competition years and my dad and I (honestly I just tagged along but whatever) observed a Bill Blowers/Tap Rack Tactical class. I played some roles for the boys so they could actually have a target or something to look for. It felt like a really thorough game of hide and seek.
In retrospect I did learn a little bit on how to clear a house, info every 13 year old needs if you ask me. Between local comps and occasionally seeing Mr. Bill I was satisfied. Then being the very money conscious person I am, decided I needed to start posting videos and and getting my name out there (sponsors are life) because if not this great thing wouldn’t last as long as I wanted.
After a few months of videos and pushing my name I was fortunate enough to get sponsored by Team TUFF and Sentinel Concepts. Over time I’ve picked up a dozen more sponsors and trained with several instructors. I’ve attended the inaugural Shooters Symposium, the Friends of Pat memorial weekend, among a few courses. I’ve met some of the best people on the planet through my shooting. I’ve done things at 15 that 30 year old’s have only dreamt of. I have lived an amazing life so far and I can attribute a lot of that to my shooting.
Jase
That is a little about me and my journey so far, which brings us to the present.
You’re reading this article because one of my amazing sponsors, GAT Marketing, reached out and asked me if I would be interested in writing for their publications.
Apparently it’s uncommon to find a 15 year old who has done both competition and tactical shooting. (Editor’s Note: Uncommon AKA NearlyImpossible) So with this peculiar perspective of mine I plan to bring something different to the table. Not the same potato salad everyone else is bringing but maybe a macaroni salad instead. I hope to bring something different that will either make you scratch your head, shake your head, or share what you read. I have been given an opportunity and I plan to capitalize on it.
Heat. Warm enough to be comfortable while moving and cool enough to not melt while running up and down the range.
So as we roll into Autumn I’m heading to the range with Sentinel Concepts Essential Carbine Employment.
Fast paced courses are a rush. They can be intimidating too but a word of advice. Do it. Buy the training. You bought the rifle now buy into running it. REALLY running it.
Continue pushing your skill development. Spending this year pushing mine and helping others develop theirs has put me in a better place as a shooter and a professional than I have ever been.
We’ve all heard the adage “Physician Heal Thyself”. This ancient proverb was originally intended as an admonition to mind one’s own problems rather than advising others on theirs. Physicians (even ancient world ones) have always been notoriously bad at taking care of others’ “business” before their own. Physicians’ own needs often come last in the hierarchy of demands. But this concept has broader implications in today’s world, and physicians really do need to work on “healing” themselves. The concept of “self-care” has become an important one because physician suicide is on the rise.
It might seem odd then to say that for this particular physician/writer, firearms, rather than being a “suicide risk” during times of stress, actually provide a much needed outlet and social support.
At my residency graduation dinner, a wise physician mentor reminded my graduating class of the importance of having friends outside of the medical community. He emphasized that as we launched into our careers, having experiences outside of medicine would provide much-needed perspective and change of mental gears. He reminded us that as busy physicians we would need to come up for air occasionally and get a look around at the real world.
I have found that the shooting sports and associated comaraderie provide me with such friends and social support.
Time spent at shooting matches with friends has never been a wasted effort. Though my scores have often left room for improvement, the experience of mutual support, mutual ribbing and joking, and “shop talk” about calibers and features has never left me wanting for laughs and common interests.I have had more fun standing in the pouring rain with friends on the range than one could ever imagine. As the saying goes, “A crummy day at the range beats a good day at the office”.
In the same way, time spent afield with trusted hunting friends or alone in the woods in a ground blind can be wonderful therapy.
The scent of freshly spent shotgun shells combined with the smell of damp earth in the Autumn is a tonic to the spirit – especially while watching a good bird dog work a field.
The smell of pine trees and dead leaves, with a half moon shaded by misty clouds as a guide to the ground blind can be a positively spiritual experience for an exhausted soul.
Greeting the sunrise, breath steaming in air that crinkles the nostrils, while the birds slowly awaken in the trees, is a slice of heaven.
Even when the only “quarry” is Autumn Olive berries, my time outdoors in nature provides much-needed recharging, while the S&W .357 on my hip provides some personal security when alone in the woods.
The real world perspective that my firearms experience has given me also reminds me that not every predator lives in the woods and walks on four legs. The self-defense end of firearms training has given me some different perspectives from that of my pediatric colleagues.
While most pediatricians tend to be the sensitive and kind-hearted type, I’ve learned that my own nature in that direction has limits. If it comes down to my life or that of a predator, I will do my best to make sure that the predator doesn’t win. This is because I have been taught that my OWN life has value too. This has been the biggest blessing that my association with the firearms community has bestowed upon me – the lesson of valuing my OWN life and providing me with the means to defend it.
From my perspective, firearms have not been the evil death-dealing public health “disease” that Organized Medicine would have the public believe. Rather for me, firearms have provided life-affirming opportunities and friendships. Firearms have provided the means of saving my own life – both literally and figuratively.
Ballistic comes to us with some long range shooting tips.
Today’s tip is simple. Muzzle velocity is important. Getting an accurate reading from the rifle you are using will always give you the best results. Use a chronograph and get a good average.
With all the talk around 3-d printed guns, I’ve seen an increased interest in building your own guns. Not just assembling, but building a firearm off the books. The increased interest seems to be largely built around not skirting laws, but almost as a political statement. A declaration that you can’t stop the signal. With a renewed interest in this type of build, I wanted to put a quick list together of all the guns you can build from 80 percent receivers. 3-D printing guns is cool, but they aren’t great or effective guns. 3D printers are expensive and the average Joe is going to be printed 1911s. 80 percent receivers are the more realistic route when it comes to building guns. There are more options than you’d expect.
1 The AR 15 and AR 10 series
When it comes to 80 percent lowers the number 1 name in the game is the AR 15. In all fairness in the firearms world the AR 15 kind of rules everything. The AR 15 and AR 10 series, in general, are extremely popular and when it comes to 80 percent receivers the AR 15 series is one of the easiest to jump in. 80% guns require 80 lower jigs, and the AR 15 series gives you tons of options for jigs and tooling. From a simple drill press jig to the almighty 5D tactical jig.
The AR 15 series, of course, allows you to easily build pistols and rifles and because of the selection out there, you also have a multitude of calibers. 5.56, 9mm, 300 Blackout and many more. An AR series weapon can be whatever you want it to be. The 80 percent lowers out there are plenty representative of the market with forged, billet, and even polymer receivers out there.
2 The AK Series
The second most popular rifle in the United States is, of course, the AK series. The AK 80 percent receivers are fairly common and their simplicity makes them pretty easy to complete. Building an AK is a bit more difficult than simply assembling an AR 15.
Not as many options exist for building AKs and it has become the more expensive route compared to the AR, but if you want to feel like a Kyber pass gunsmith then the AK is the way to go.
3 The Glock
I think its fair to say the Glock is the AR 15 of pistols. Everyone owns one, and the options for customization are truly astonishing. It’s not a big surprise someone made a polymer frame that’s completely off the books and unserialized. The Polymer 80 series are popular for a reason. These guns are actually very easy to finish and the polymer nature makes them easy to dremel and finish. The frame just so happens to include an awesome jig. This is a great beginner’s pistol build.
4 The 1911
The venerable 1911, just the mere mention has people in the crowd yelling, “Two world wars!” The gun itself has been around since 1911, not a big surprise. The gun is the 45 ACP killing machine designed by our Lord and savior John Moses Browning. The 1911 was a gun designed to be built mostly by hand and fitted so being able to build one isn’t that big of a surprise. Complete 1911 build kits are widely available and you can assemble government and commander size 1911s in 45 ACP and 9mm without much challenge. This is another gun with a massive aftermarket.
You can really customize each and every piece that goes into the gun. The barrel, the magazine, the sights, hammer, beavertail, and more. I mean seriously down to the grip screws you can finish and then build the 1911 of your dreams. The metal frame makes these a little trickier to mill, and you’ll need some more professional grade tools to finish the job. Building a 1911 is a labor of love.
5 Ruger 10/22
Is this America’s favorite rifle? I mean the AR 15, in general, has outsold the gun, but I’d bet the Ruger 10/22 has outsold any one company’s AR 15. The rifle is reliable, accurate, affordable and easy to use. I was honestly surprised Ruger 10/22 80 percent receivers exist, but it makes sense. You can buy nearly every part of a Ruger 10/22 without having Ruger stamped on it. The aftermarket is massive and Ruger 10/22s are used for nearly everything from precision shooting to popping squirrels.
The Ruger 10/22 is a simple gun, and its far from temperamental. It doesn’t take much to assemble one and you can do it at home. The 80% option allows you to start from scratch and build whatever you want whenever you want.
6 Sten Guns
Yep, a Sten gun. Did I save the best for last? I like to think so. The Sten gun was a gun made to be a cheap gat to beat back the Nazi menace. These guns are a little more than a tube, some springs, and a bolt. It worked though, and the gun is cheap, easy to build and Sten gun kits are an actual thing.
The 80 percent receivers are very cheap and finishing one is very simple. If you ever wanted to feel like a partisan a Sten gun is the way to go. It does take some more complicated tools. Grab a receiver from Indianapolis Ordinance and sit back and take a ride back to WW2. You can build Sten rifles or pistols, and it’s relatively affordable. You will have to convert a bolt to semi-auto only and to work as a closed bolt, do a bit of welding, and ultimately darken your home and enjoy some Newcastle as you do it.
80 Percent Receivers
Building guns have always been an American past time and it’s not a difficult task. The ability to build, customize, and make your own guns is also an American tradition and way back when our forefathers did it to fight the British. The tradition continues, and if you enjoy building unserialized, untraceable guns then 80 percent receivers are for you.
As I mentioned in a previous article I had never heard of Robinson Armament before this year. After a little research I am glad I finally got my hands on one. The Robinson Armament XCR was developed in 2006 to meet the requirements of The United States Special Operations Command SCAR Contract. At the time SOCOM wanted a family of Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifles, the so-called SCAR, designed around two different calibers but featuring high commonality of parts and identical ergonomics. The winner of that contract went on to be commonly know as the SCAR.
The XCR is a completely original design. Robinson Armament borrowed ideas from the best rifles and improved on them. The action is a lot like an AK, easy to operate and a very reliable gas piston system. The grip and feed system are very much like the AR-15. If you are used to running an AR-15 or one of its variants magazine changes will be intuitive. Add the quick change barrel and you can have a reliable rifle in a plethora of calibers that seems to conform to you. Speaking of barrels, Robinson armament fired a full power round through a barrel which was obstructed with several squib loads and came out smiling. It can even shoot while full of water.
Take down is performed by the push of a small button on the upper portion of the receiver. Upon disassembly the first thing you will notice is a very robust three lug bolt and ejector. The barrels are chrome lined and easily swapped out with the turn of just one screw.
I have AR-15’s, bolt guns and AK-47’s, knowing this my wife asks why I need another rifle. In her mind the XCR can fill the roles of most of my other guns. She is right. If I could only have one gun the XCR-M would be at the top of my list. It is portable and accurate. It is chambered calibers capable of penetrating light masonry, wood, and level 3 body armor. It can be used for hunting, survival, and excels in the designated marksman rifle category which is the role I chose for my XCR.
The XCR-M is very popular in Canada where it is unrestricted unlike the AR-15. Canadian residents can own and enjoy shooting their XCR’s just like us Americans. The 3-Gun crowd is giving the XCR glowing reviews in reliability. They are saying the XCR is more reliable than the AR-15 platforms being used. My XCR-M will be put to the test in the Precision Rifle Series next year and should yield some pretty impressive results.
Recent tests at the range proved Robinson Armaments quality and accuracy have only gotten better as the company aged and grew. My best shot groups in .308 win were 5/8moa using factory loaded Lapua Scenar 155gr HPBT. That’s pretty impressive for any gun let alone a semi-auto gas gun. For more information about the range testing see the article titled “Robinson Armament XCR-M: Zeroed In“.
The Robinson Arms XCR-M weighs between 9 and 10 pounds. That is average for most battle rifles. Take a close look at one and you will see why its in that 9 to 10lb category. The main body of the XCR is one piece aluminium monolithic rail and receiver. The stock is adjustable and fold-able made from aluminum. With a quick turn of the adjustment screw the stock stays in position with no play. The XCR comes standard with flip up sights. I chose to mount a scope on mine as I want expect it to hit targets consistently out to 800m.
I put the XCR-M up side by side with the FN SCAR 17. Both rifles are chambered in .308win. Coincidentally the FN was the winner of the SOCOM contract. It is lighter than the XCR, has many of the same features, but to me the XCR-M feels more solid. FN used a lot of polymer to keep weight down which I think makes it feel a little cheaper. One of the greatest features of the XCR is its ability to change calibers easily, unlike the FN. The Robinson Armament XCR-M out shot the SCAR on the 100 and 200yd ranges.
One thing I would like to see improved on the XCR is their options for triggers. The standard trigger works and feels great, however in the marksman role I would like to see a lighter, crisper feel to it. Standard AR-15 triggers do not fit the XCR so the only options are to have a gunsmith modify it or send the gun back to Robinson Armament for an upgrade.
Don’t expect to walk into your local gun shop and put your hands on one. A quick look on their website shows only 21 dealers in the United States. The closet one to me is a 3 1/2 hour drive each way. The best way to experience Robinson Armament is through their website. Robinson Armament makes customizing and purchasing their firearms easy. They make sure yours does not look like every other gun at the range. The process is just like ordering a car online. You pick the color, barrel length, profile and caliber. They also let you pick your muzzle brake, gas system, and whether you want M-LOK or Key Mod for your forearm. Once all of your options have been selected the production process begins.
Robinson Armament may be the newer kid on the block but they are quickly making a name for themselves. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of their pistols. Now I just have to decide if I want it in 5.56 or .308. They say XCR stands for “eXchangeable Caliber Rifle” After shooting my XCR-M I say it stands for “eXtremely Capable Rifle”.
Pop Quiz, what was the first successful semi-automatic rifle for the civilian market? The correct answer is the oft-forgotten Model 8 by Remington. Designed by our Lord and Savior John Moses Browning the Model 8 was a magazine fed, semi-automatic rifle that carved its own way into American history. The Model 8 later evolved into the Model 81 Woodmaster. The Woodmaster made numerous improvements over the Model 8 and was introduced in a couple of new calibers. The Model 81 Woodmaster was a rifle I was able to recently pick up quite cheaply and has fascinated me since I purchased it.
The Bubba
Okay, half you are furious at me and the other half are wondering why is it camo? Both are valid. Unfortunately, the gentlemen who owned it before me Hydro Dipped the wood and spray painted the rest of the rifle black. I intend to remove this as time goes by and when I have the time to take my time to preserve the wood and metal as best I can.
The Legacy Of the Model 8
The Model 8 really deserves a place in the rifle Hall of Fame. Right beside the M1 Garand and the Winchester 1894. Unfortunately, it seems to lack the same amount of fame those rifles achieved. The Model 8 and later Model 81 was advertised heavily by Remington as hunting rifles. They promised 5 rounds of rapid fire to quickly put down big and dangerous game.
Legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer apparently loved the rifle. He owned a variety of them and his favorite was a customized model in 35 Remington that fed from a special high capacity magazine. Reports state the magazine is either 20 or 15 rounds. This model was customized with a removable magazine so its possible he had a 15 and a 20 round magazine. Frank Hamer reportedly used a Model 8 when he and his posse killed Bonnie and Clyde.
These removable magazines were often offered by gunsmiths and were a Special Police factory option. A number of companies produced these conversions and you can still find advertisements for these conversions here and there. Rifles converted to a removable magazine platform are quite popular and widely available.
Inside the Remington Model 81
The Remington Model 81 was designed to add a few improvements to the Model 8. This included a more robust stock and forend, as well as the addition of a pistol grip versus a straight stock.
The Remington Model 81 is still the same rifle internally as the Model 8, it is a semi-automatic rifle with an internal 5 round magazine. The gun works off of a long recoil-operated system with a rotating bolt head. When you fire the gun the bolt, bolt carrier and barrel actually recoil together. The barrel and bolt move together against two springs. The springs then force the barrel forward, which unlocks the bolt and barrel. Once the barrel and bolt separate the bolt ejects the fired round and picks up the next round and chambers it. It’s pretty simple and very robust.
Remember the design came to be from the Model 8, which was invented in 1905. No gas is used to regulate the system, and the design is similar in nature to the M2’s short recoil operation. This is a very reliable system when used correctly.
She’s a Beaut
My gun is well into its seventies and round after round, it goes bang. The Model 8 and Model 81 even feature a last round bolt hold open. A pretty nifty feature for a gun designed in 1905. Since the magazine is fixed you load through the top of the action. Round after round, and it’s easy to do so. The right side charging handle is nice and large and does require a bit of force to rip rearward.
By now you’ve seen the safety, and I’m sure you recognize it. It’s very AK like in nature and functions identically to an AK safety. It’s easy to use, but obviously a little slow and far from modern. I love the fact a somewhat obscure American rifle had an influence on the AK series of rifles.
You can also easily remove the barrel and barrel shroud form the gun, but I won’t call it a take-down design. You have to remove the wooden fore end and then unscrew the barrel from the receiver. For transport this is neat, but it’s not practical if you ever needed the gun in a hurry.
Shooting the Remington Model 81
The Remington Model 81 is a heavy gun for what it is. At 8 pounds without an optic, and only a five round magazine the gun feels heavier than it should be. It is made of real steel, so like a classic car its a tank.
That weight does help with recoil control but I imagine the recoil is slightly increased due to the rearward force of the barrel and bolt. The sights on the rifle are dinky open sights mounted on the barrel shroud. They are very small, but would likely be fast for close quarters and brush hunting.
Redfield made a peep sight you could mount on the rear of the receiver, but these are rare and expensive these days. Mounting a scope was possible, but difficult. It has to be offset mounted on the left side of the receiver due to receiver design. It’s an accurate gun though. At 100 yards I can make respective groups with those little iron sights.
My best groups averaged around 3 inches with high quality 300 Savage ammo. That’s no optic, no bipod or rest. Just me, open sights, the prone position, and good ammo.
It’s a fun gun to shoot and something entirely different. Most full powered semi-auto guns are tactical in nature. The Remington Model 81 is far from tactical, and the combination of steel and wood and a semi-auto action just screams classic. It really is like driving a classic muscle car. Without a doubt, a modern car is faster and more efficient, but there is just something about driving a classic piece of American steel that makes it appealing.
In 2009 the FN SCAR entered service and joined the ranks as a U.S. service rifle platform, first deployed with 75th Ranger Regiment of the United States Army.
After 5 years in development and testing, winning the US SOCOM solicitation, it was put into service and sent to war.
Nine years later the SCAR is in use by 20 nations in various configurations. There is no doubt it is considered one of the preeminent modern carbines developed in the 21st century.
It’s 7.62x51mm ‘H’ Model, the Mk. 17 in U.S. service, has been of particular note due to its lightweight, accurate, reliable, and robust construction delivering a combat rifle of exceptional firepower in a weight most can only field a 5.56mm.
The FN SCAR has seen success worldwide but technology advances at a breakneck pace even in the firearms world.
While the core tech surrounding modern centerfire rifles hasn’t leapt forward, the steady evolution and refinement of the designs and the recent explosion of advances in supporting tech (optics, lights, lasers, etc.) has.
During this advancement the SCAR’s technical data package remained very early 2000’s. The stock SCAR 16’s and 17’s are as they have always been.
With AR-15’s being the popular everyman’s rifle that they are technology had focused very heavily on them. I love the AR-15, I own six at this point, it is and will be a mainstay defensive rifle for decades to come.
But I believe the SCAR is the superior platform. Data from the DoD supports this conclusion, most telling in my opinion from the USMC’s IAR trials.
As such I set out to retrofit a SCAR 16 as a modernized technical data package.
I set out to make a rifle designed for SOCOM’s early 2000’s requirement list keep up with the decade of advancement. Keeping the SCAR a premier 5.56 carbine.
Old parts needed to be updated. Newly developed parts needed to be added to conform to changes in supporting gear used and tactics.
The conversation I had with FN illustrated their interest. However ultimately they understood the rapid prototyping and development by smaller after market sources outpaced them, plus SOCOM and their other purchasers were buying the TDP’s as they were being produced.
It was resource inefficient to develop a theoretical update on a system their large buyers take as is. It made more sense for the aftermarket to innovate then for FN to tool up and vastly complicate the process of finishing the rifles that are already selling like wildfire.
FN’s people have high praise for their aftermarket partners. They’ve innovated and kept pace with the AR, skipping a great deal of the noise and nonsense that the larger market experienced.
The Hardware
So what items made the cut for MOD1?
The Barrel and Muzzle
The barrel was shortened to an approximate 14.5″ and capped permanently with a new muzzle device for legality. I would, if given the option, just keep it a 1/2×28 thread for end user muzzle device selection however the NFA does not allow me that luxury. I have found 14.5’s are very maneuverable without cutting the SCAR’s barrel length so short that muzzle velocity starts being dropped at a substantial and detrimental rate.
It is still a Title I rifle by BATFE definition, keeping legal life easy. Bonus: In my state it is a handgun (legally) and it is conferred the benefits of being a handgun. I can conceal carry my SCAR MOD1.
The barrel modification was done by Parker Mountain Machine. Jarod and Travis not only properly cut, recrown, and thread the barrel, they also reoptimize the gas system for the altered dwell time for proper cycling.
There is a wait time on the services, as they offer a wide variety, but the work is premier tier and the attention to detail is superb. I couldn’t be happier with the performance of the reworked barrel.
The old Primary Weapons Systems muzzle break was, in my opinion, an inferior choice for a fighting and defensive rifle (good for competition but still a little overkill on a 5.56) I chose a BCM MOD1 Compensator to reduce muzzle flash and direct gas forward during shooting. Better indoors and designed for short barrels.
Any task appropriate muzzle device and a change to the shorter 14.5″ barrel summarize this MOD1 upgrade.
The Handguard
PMM MRE
The original handguard system for the SCAR rifles is integral to the receiver. The small side rail sections, the under barrel rail, and the monolithic top rail all end at the front of the receiver. This designs accounts for a factory short barrel that can be dropped into the rifle, quickly torqued into place, and equipment made mission ready.
This design decision didn’t leave much mounting space. Many users, myself included, wanted to push our grip further forward too and our AR’s had allowed this luxury. The stock configuration just wasn’t conducive to these desires.
Parker Mountain Machine had this solution too, or rather several solutions. Replacing the side rails with longer sections of M-LOK and then extending the rail and handguard around the barrel and gas block with their MRE.
This upgrades the mounting space to the smoother, lighter, stronger system NSWC Crane tested variant, M-LOK won the blessing over Keymod. These negative space mounting systems are additionally much more comfortable than their older picatinny predecessor.
Greater ergonomic freedom to the end users and more mounting space for the supporting mission essential equipment. More protection for the hands around the barrel. Everything I felt needed greater utility is served by this series of modifications.
Parker Mountain Machine even sells the whole kit of upgrades in a discounted package.
The Light
Surefire leads the weapon light market for a reason.
This one is simple. No one is making better lights than Surefire at the moment. I picked up an M600DF. With rechargeable 18650 cells and a 1,500 lumen output the light, like the entire Scout line, is durable, reliable, and bright. A serious choice for a deadly serious topic.
Before almost any other item a light is a necessary addition to a fighting/defensive carbine. See it. Blind it. Light it up.
The Optic
The Trijion ECOS, a version of the TA31 ACOG in widespread use across the U.S. Armed Forces. Variants for the Marine Corps, the Army, and USSOCOM exist for various applications. This is a SOCOM variant for the M4 and Para SAW (Both having 14.5″ barrels)
I’ve covered the optic selection process thoroughly here, here, and here. Trijicon’s ACOG is arguably one of the most combat proven and durable optical systems in circulation today. The selection of the ACOG for an all purpose fighting rifle, especially mine, is not a hard conclusion to come to.
The Trigger
A functioning trigger is a must on a rifle. The SCAR’s single stage offering from the factory is a functional, solid, reliable one. Vitriol that spread around the stock SCAR trigger, as is also common with mil-spec AR triggers, is repetition of something someone heard from someone who heard from someone whom that individual assumed knew what they were talking about.
That said this upgraded trigger is a Geissele Super SCAR, a refined 2-Stage combat trigger that is precisely engineered for a trigger pull allowing a shooter to minimize sympathetic movement during trigger press. It improves the inherent accuracy of the weapon system when properly utilized. The Super SCAR reinvents Geissele’s SOCOM approved SSF/SSA triggers.
I prefer Geissele triggers in every platform that can utilize one. This isn’t to indicate the stock triggers are bad, most are good, excellent even. But as an optimized rifle, failing to take advantage of a refined trigger would rob the rifle of capability. This upgrade allows any user, experienced or novice, results closer to the raw undisturbed potential of the SCAR. The shooter can access more of the practical mechanical accuracy of rifle.
The Controls
Smaller upgrades, and less expensive than many, were quicker to implement on the rifle. Adding the BCM foregrip to the handguard and swapping the A2 style pistol grip to the modernized ergonomics of the BCM MOD3 continue the rifle’s style shift. These upgrades ergonomically drift the SCAR to be shot with greater ease. This is especially true in the squared off isosceles stance variations taught in modern courses for shooting.
The A2 pistol grip was from an era where it was still the assumption the rifle would be slow fired from the prone position most often. Our knowledge of the situational reality has evolved since that time in the 1980’s.
Also upgraded was the safety selectors. The stock selector is perfectly serviceable. But even I have to wonder who phoned in the two backgammon disks with legs as the final SCAR selector design. The Magpul selectors bring it back closer to the AR-15 with better texturing for positive engagement both on and off.
The Sling Mounts
If you are carrying a service rifle you should be using a modern 2-Point sling. A single point is passable in certain circumstances on small platforms. A two point is the best option in nearly all situations.
Parker Mountain Machine makes the solution once again. The greatest of which is the rear sling mount. The PMM SCAR Stock QD allows for the best sling placement you can acheive on a rifle. The sling runs from front of the receiver, around your body, and the into the far side of the stock. The rifle maintains full contact with the shooter through the stock and isn’t compromised by sliding nylon. The sling isn’t placed between the shooters body and the rifle unlike many earlier designs. It further minimizes any sort of pressure point creation and allows the shooter to swap shoulders without choking.
The MOD1
This SCAR is a culmination of purpose driven upgrades. A top down technical data package that mitigates discovered weak points and optimizes strengths in the design.
In the latest corporate effort at political posturing over “gun violence”, a major denim pants manufacturer recently threw their hats and money in with Everytown for Gun Grabbing.
Why that statement is both worrisome and amusing is because when large organizations get a case of the impotent “Something’s” – as in “We have to DO Something!” – we need to prepare to be baffled by bullshit. It apparently doesn’t matter if that “Something!” is useful, productive or actually addresses the problem, as long as the organization is seen to be “Doing Something!”. It’s the visibility that’s the important thing, not the viability of the plan or the production of actual results. Levi’s seems to be following that playbook precisely.
According to Levi’s press release, what is supposedly on the agenda are,“…common-sense, measurable steps — like criminal background checks on all gun sales — that will save lives.”
This, after claiming that they aren’t after a repeal of the Second Amendment, or claiming that gun owners are irresponsible. Apparently no one has told Levi’s that all the recent adult mass shooters DID pass background checks, and that other criminals buy their guns on the street illegally, or simply steal them from someone else. More background checks only affect people who buy their firearms through legal channels.
As far as “saving lives” goes, even the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently published research indicating that urban youth criminal activity drives most of the statistics on shootings of young people. Despite all of the breathless headlines about “child deaths from gun violence”, toddlers are NOT dropping like flies in the streets of suburbia, and lawful firearms owners are NOT the ones who are doing the shooting.
“In previous research, it has been identified that male sex, nonwhite race, low median income, and older adolescent age are risk factors for sustaining both fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries; these data, however, are largely driven by firearm assaults in urban settings.”
“Urban 15- to 19-year-olds account for >75% of all pediatric firearm-related hospitalizations, and they average over 5500 hospitalizations each year or ∼15 hospitalizations per day. Specifically, more than two-thirds of these hospitalizations are related to firearm injuries due to assault, and 15- to 19-year-olds in urban areas are hospitalized for firearm assaults at a rate 8 times higher than 15- to 19-year-olds in rural areas.”
It would seem then, that Levi’s sinking their money into programs addressing the social ills that produce youth gangs in places like Chicago might be a better strategy to “save lives” than additional background checks targeting lawful citizens. Chicago is already a “gun free zone” yet regularly experiences appalling levels of “gun violence”
Stringent gun control hasn’t worked out so well for places like Chicago thus far. But we wouldn’t want facts and logic to interfere with Levi’s virtuous “Something!” plan, now would we?
Considering that suicide also drives a huge number of annual “death by firearm” statistics, there are plenty of programs working on suicide prevention that Levi’s could funnel their money to that would NOT involve infringing on the rights of lawful citizens. But that is apparently not what is going to happen.
Levi’s will be establishing something called “The Safer Tomorrow Fund” which will supposedly send money to “non-profits and youth activists”.Despite the lofty yet vague name of the fund, it remains to be seen whether that money will go to combating youth gang activity (where it might actually help), or to funding “activists” like that loudmouth kid from Florida instead. We probably shouldn’t hold our breath on that one.
In the end this is just another politico-publicity stunt by a name brand corporation. It seems the move was motivated less by civic-mindedness than by an attempt at marketing-by-moral-posturing.
The real question is – Do overpriced blue jeans even HAVE a morality? We’d probably have to ask the Asian sweatshops they’re made in.
Wayne County Commision member Reggie Reg Davis has a proposal to reduce gun violence.
From Fox 2
With the macabre background of a local cemetery to generate a properly somber mood, Davis has proposed a superbly asinine method for curbing the violent actions of violent people.
Tax ammo and make the cops sell it. Oh and “Mental Health” background check.
Why is this a terrible idea that would never in the slightest legitimately influence violence rates for the positive in any meaningful way? Let’s count it down.
Mental Health Background Check
This over touted piece of vaguebooking is a fancy way to say you are doing something while actually not. There is HIPA and every other legal right a patient has to have their records be kept private except in the most extenuating circumstance already covered by law.
The only database already in place to accomplish screening on this scale is NICS and its parameters are established. If you are flagged as a prohibited person for a mental reason instead of a criminal one it is a rare occurrence. What new magic parameters are going to take a bite out of violent crime? What new situation are we filtering?
So a vague ‘new’ background check with a new fancy title, similar to New York’s SAFE Act, is supposed to stop criminals already happy to ignore rules, like the fact homicide is illegal.
Brilliant. Thank You Mr. Davis
Ammunition Sold by Law Enforcement
You know what LEO’s have better to do than operate a retail counter for ammo? Everything. They have everything better to do than use tax dollars to sell and stock ammunition.
Does Mr. Davis understand just how many types of ammunition their are? Does he comprehend the colossal task he wants to saddle departments with in addition to all their other duties?
Selling anything requires an inventory and sales system. Since this is a government office and it isn’t a retail store the process will probably take as long or longer than any other government purchase.
Do the officers running the store have to have relevant knowledge and experience to answer questions from customers? Probably not. With the exception of those officers that are into firearms technology they have no basis to answer whether a customer is asking for .17 HMR, Hornet, or Fireball.
Are the officers then liable for making mistakes? Selling wrong ammo. People getting hurt. Do they have to stock all ammunition in order not to show a bias, are they allowed to profit from the sales? This is a logistics nightmare anyone sane in the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is shaking their heads at while trying to grasp the depth of the stupidity.
Don’t make cops do retail. Ask all the retail employees how bad this will be.
Raise Taxes on Bullets
This is the money grab. The criminal isn’t buying a 200 rounds pack of 9mm from Walmart, Cabela’s, or Gander Outdoors. But your average firearm consumer is. This move will not impede ammunition acquisition for the criminal element. It can’t, it’s a logistical impossibility.
Starting with the fact you can just leave Wayne County to avoid this brain dead rule and buy from a location with a lukewarm IQ, you can also purchase ammunition online or… steal it! Since this preemptive preventive is supposedly to impede crime, there is a crime that solves that problem.
In reality this is a barely veiled attempt to make buying ammo a pain for the consumer and pocket a few extra dollars for the state. Which will then all be spent by the state on creating an additional logistical nightmare for law enforcement to track by making them into an ammo store.
Mr. Davis you have managed to congeal an impressive pile of terrible ideas veiled by good intentions, I’m not even mad.
Anderson Manufacturing has been floating a new red dot sight around.
Anderson Manufacturing?
Yes.
Like “Poverty Pony” Anderson Manufacturing?
That’s the one. The company known for its incredibly affordable selection of AR-15 receivers and lower parts kits has purchased space in the game of rifle optics. Since micro red dots are the current trend setter for general purpose rifles chasing this space does make sense. However, the space is crowded. Sig Sauer, Vortex, and Holosun all have contracted designs with the expected list of features in value optics.
With 50,000 hours of battery life in an IPX sealed housing that will, in theory, keep the rain and mud out this optic is sporting the standard pedigree. Will it last? In my opinion, maybe, it has its place and China has a reputation for electronics at certain price points. The key will be the quality control from the contractor. But I suspect this will work out fine for a plinkster rifle or a .22 clone like a 15-22.
When it comes to weapon lights, there are two big names in the industry, the Surefire X300, and the Streamlight TLR-1. Today we are going to look at the TLR-1. The Streamlight TLR-1 comes in a wide variety of different lumen models. They range from oh that’s nice to holy hell that’s the light of God! Well, maybe I’m exaggerating (editor note: he’s not). The TLR-1 comes in 300 lumens and 800 lumens. Both have their place and mine is for inside the home, so I went with the 300 Lumen model.
This handgun weapon light mounts to nearly any handgun and Streamlight includes a small set of adapters to fit a variety of different rail systems. The Streamlight TLR-1 is a full-sized light, so it works best on full sized guns. As you can see it’s found its way onto my CZ P09, where it stays for home defense duty.
The Ergonomics and Controls
The Streamlight TLR-1 is a simple design, and it does have three modes and ambidextrous controls. The controls are a rotating switch, so they are slightly different for right and left-handers. The controls are placed perfectly for access with your trigger finger when it’s off the trigger and alongside the frame of the weapon.
The modes are constant on, momentary on, and strobe mode. It’s everything I need in a weapon light. The strobe mode is a little complicated it requires you to double tap the switch into either the momentary or constant on mode. It’s easy with the momentary mode, but tricky with the constant on.
The constant on typically locks the gun into always on. It takes a soft touch to turn the light on without flicking it entirely into the constant on mode. I couldn’t do it under stress.
Attaching and detaching the light is easy, and you don’t have to place your hand in front of the gun to attach the light. That’s a nice touch.
The Streamlight TLR-1 In Use
I’ve owned this light for several years now. It’s been on an extensive variety of firearms. This, of course, includes my CZ P09, your standard AR 15, and even my Mossberg Shockwave. It’s had hundreds if not thousands of rounds downrange. It’s never dimmed, never flickered and never shut off due to recoil or round counts.
The TLR-1 keeps going and its proven to be a reliable and robust choice on a variety of weapons. It runs for over two hours continuously and uses easy to find CR123A batteries. The light weighs only 4.18 ounces and is 3.39 inches long.
The Streamlight TLR-1 is a very robust light, and I don’t notice any forward weight imbalance with a full magazine. With an empty mag you will feel some of that forward weight, but if you are out of ammo, the imbalance is hardly a problem.
The 300 Lumen light is perfect for indoor use. It’s bright enough to fill an entire room with light. The beam is full and does give you a full field of vision, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it lights an entire room up. From wall to wall your have illumination.
Logistics
One of the significant benefits of buying the Streamlight TLR-1 is the logistics of choosing it. Its popularity makes it easy to find holsters that are light-bearing. The TLR-1 can also be fitted with a rifle kit with a pressure switch. This makes it easier to adapt the light to multiple weapons and to carry the light and a handgun in a concealed way. Their popularity is a significant reason to own them. Also, the TLR-1 is an affordable option, and you can find the basic 300-lumen model without strobe for about a hundred bucks if you shop around.
The Streamlight TLR-1 is an all-around excellent weapon light. It’s perfect for home defense, and even duty use. The light is bright, throws a precise beam, and is ergonomic and easy to use. The light’s sturdy and long lasting as well. I give it a hearty thumbs up, and it’s not my first or last Streamlight product.
I have AR-15’s, bolt guns and AK-47’s, knowing this my wife asks why I need another rifle. In her mind the XCR can fill the roles of most of my other guns. She is right. If I could only have one gun the XCR-M would be at the top of my list. It is portable and accurate. It is chambered calibers capable of penetrating light masonry, wood, and level 3 body armor. It can be used for hunting, survival, and excels in the designated marksman rifle category which is the role I chose for my XCR.
The standard trigger works and feels great, however in the marksman role I would like to see a lighter, crisper feel to it. Standard AR-15 triggers do not fit the XCR so the only options are to have a gunsmith modify it or send the gun back to 
