Tactical Clothing for Christmas

By

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December 23, 2018

From Scott Smith

One item shooters are forever searching for is the perfect pair of pants to shoot in. Most of us look for pants that are not only good for the range, but ones that look good enough to wear to the store or travel in. It is an even bigger bonus if they do not break the bank. Two companies offering pants that fill that meet those requirements are Tru-Spec ( www.truspec.com ) and 5.11 Tactical ( www.511tactical.com ).

When it comes to innovative clothing for duty, casual, range or field wear; Tru-Spec is leading the way. They offer a variety of products; shirts, pants, outerwear with a number of price points and the latest in fabric technology. This year the 24/7 Xpedition Pants was introduced as one of their flagship products.

What sets the Xpedition apart from other pants in Tru-Spec product line is the material. It is a four way stretch DWR treated fabric that resists stains and gives you freedom of movement no matter the position you are in. To further reduce odds of pinching the crotch is gusseted from knee to knee with a stretch nylon. This gusset also allows for better airflow to reduce chafing. Tru-Spec uses this material in the back of the waistband as well. For added comfort and fit there is a French fly with hidden expandable waistband.

Since these pants are designed for hard use the articulated knees double layer with internal knee pad pockets. The backs of the knees use the same stretch fabric as the gusset. These might seem like minor items; but they greatly increase your ease of movement over other “tactical” pants. Simply try bending any of the duck canvas pants versus the Xpeditions; you will immediately notice the difference.

Tru-Spec ensures you have plenty of pockets to carry your stuff. The front pockets are L shaped slash with reinforcements to prevent your clip-it knife from wearing a hole in them. The right rear pocket has a zipper closure while the left one had a flap closure. Each of the cargo pockets has a snap flap closure and the left one has a zipper to keep your gear secure. Both pockets have carbineer loop and a separate magazine slash pocket behind them.

You will find the Xpedition is designed to keep you cool in hot sticky weather as well. Along the seam of each cargo pocket is a zipper closure over a mesh panel. Both legs the same panel at the opening as well. This creates airflow allowing you to dissipate a lot of heat. The taper of pant legs traps a lot of heat these panels will reduce that build-up much better than rolling our BDUs up to our boot tops did in basic training.

An area often overlooked on pants it the belt loop. The loops on Xpeiditions are bar tacked to help prevent them from pulling off. Loops are also placed to not interfere with placement of a holster. Many companies put a loop along the out seam, right where many folks wear a straight drop holster. There are two rear loops to evenly distribute the load and prevent your pants from sagging.

The Xpedition is available in a number of sizes for men and in a number of colors; navy, black, OD, khaki, coyote, charcoal and Multicam. As you can see Tru-Spec builds the Xpedition to give you the most bang for the buck. After wearing them for a while in my humble opinion they are worth every penny of the $117.95 MSRP. You will find them under $100 online.

Over the last twenty plus years we have seen more and more women taking up hunting and shooting. This has led to demand for pants designed to fit ladies, not just men’s pants made smaller. From their humble beginning with the 5.11 pants and shorts; 5.11 Tactical has been one of the companies that started designing pants built to fit a woman. At last count 5.11 Tactical has over thirty pants for ladies.

Two of their latest ladies pants are the Mesa and Defender Flex Slim Jeans. Both pants are designed for and by women to fit the active lifestyle. They are also designed with functional belt loops that easily accommodate a belt for range and concealed carry. For comfort both are made from fabric that gives when you move. Either pair will set you back $69.99

The Mesa is a low profile tactical style pant with its low profile zipper thigh pockets, traditional slash front pockets and rear patch pockets. The front pocket’s slash is flat at the bottom to allow a clip-it knife to lay flat. You can easily stash an AR magazine or smart phone in the rear pockets. To ensure you do not lose your phone, I would zip them in the thigh pocket.

When it comes to comfort you will be hard pressed to find pants that beat the Mesa. The DWR polyester elastane fabric is four way stretch. The eight inch tapered pant leg allows for easy on/off while giving you a fitted look when worn. The extra wide rear belt loop keeps them from gapping and sagging when you are wearing a pistol.

I have on good authority from my oldest friend in the world that the fabric is comfortable for all day wear, even when it is flying a desk. It was also passed on to me that these pants wash well after surviving the rigors of grandkids and their spills. Reality is not every one is Laura Croft nor do we all shoot. The Mesa can be had in sizes 0-20 in regular and long lengths. You can choose from black, lunar (grayish), python (light OD), or raisin.

If you prefer jeans the Defender Flex Slim Fit Jeans should suit your needs. Unlike teenage slim fit, these pants are not second skin tight. You would be hard pressed to tell these jeans from popular brands. They have traditional riveted front slash pockets, with a front “watch” pocket in the right front. The rear pockets are patch style with magazine pockets at the bottom of the waist band. The rear pockets have stylish stitching and a flag logo on the right pocket.

While the Slim Fit Jeans do not not have eight inch legs, they will are easy on/off thanks to the 76/24 cotton poly blend of the 10 ounce T400 stretch fabric. If you wear boots these will tuck neatly and comfortably into the shaft, it was not recommended to wear them over cowboy boot shafts. Blouses tuck neatly into the waist without feeling snug thanks to the fabric’s stretch.

For daily wear the Slim Fit Jeans are ideal. My dear friend avoid jeans for work because they are stiff and uncomfortable. She says these jeans do not wear you out sitting for eight to twelve hours like traditional cowboy style denim jeans do. More importantly they give you freedom of movement when you need to knee, climb or any other daily activity. She tells me unlike the Mesa’s; the Slim Fit Jeans are not immune to the messes of a pre-schooler…pre-treat before washing.

You can pick three shades of denim color; Pacific (stone washed), light wash (worn look) or Indigo. Size wise you can choose from 0-16 in short, regular and long lengths.

After having worn both the Mesa’s and Defender Flex Slim Fit Jeans, I was told they are amazing pants. They wash and machine dry well. There is no shrinkage and the sizes run true. Both pairs get worn about every five days, that’s how much she likes the fit. Having heard complaints about women’s clothing be it her uniforms when she was an EMT, casual or dress wear over the last thirty years, I can tell you this is high praise.

5.11 Tactical has really taken their commitment to their women’s line seriously and it shows. The Mesa and Defender Flex Slim Fit Jeans will serve you on the range, hiking the fields, out on the town or at work. They will make good gifts for yourself or others on your gift list.

ZORE Gun Lock Hits The 10,000 Mark

By

Andy Grossman

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December 22, 2018

Continue

Real Avid: Gifts for the Gun Bench

By

Keith Finch

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December 21, 2018

From Scott Smith

When you own firearms or those you buy gifts for do, you can never go wrong with quality tools to maintain them. Over the last few years one of the most innovative companies for firearms maintenance is Real Avid. From a humble start with a few pocket sized tools Real Avid has branched out to include specific tools for ARs, AKs, 1911s as well as bench tools and kits.

Since my days in the USAF Reserve the only tool out there was a simple AR wrench to remove the barrel nut, receiver extension nut and possibly the muzzle brake. Other than that they were pretty useless. At the 2018 SHOT Show, Real Avid introduced the Master Armorer’s Wrench (MAW).

What sets the MAW apart from traditional AR tools is the ergonomic hammer design. The tool head is built into the hammer area to give you control when needed and the handle gives you leverage to bear down on stubborn nuts or muzzle brakes. The MAW is multi-head hammer giving you the steel head of the body with nylon of brass inserts so you do not mar or damage pins or punches. The MAW can be attached to a torque wrench to apply proper pressure on the barren nut, it fits most free float barrel nuts not just Mil-Spec ones, receiver extension nuts and it fits virtually all muzzle brakes on the market. Real Avid engraves proper PSI settings so your nuts are tightened correctly.

I have used the Master Armorer’s Wrench for the last year. It is one of the best tools around for working on ARs and the hammer is ideal for other applications. At $59.99 it is competitively priced with other AR wrenches that cannot do all the things the MAW does.

Real Avid addressed the issue of how to remove and install gas blocks, trigger guard pins as well as making it easier to repair the bold assembly with the Master Bench Block. This block is truly unique. It is a padded polymer block with cutouts for all the parts and pins clearly labeled. Not only are they labeled but magnets are embedded in the block to secure them. Having lost more than my share of roll pins over the years I can tell you this is a god send.

The Master Bench Block also has holes to punch out the pins, including those that retain a front sight gas block. This comes in handy when upgrading and rebuildingARs. Instead of fighting to get a secure place to drive that pin out, simply set the barrel in the MBB and simply drive out the pin.

What I found to be the most amazing feature of the MBB was the ejector removal tool. You set your bolt in slot that looks like and is marked bolt and simply screw in the red handle. This takes tension off the ejector so you can remove the spring, retaining pin and ejector. You can also remove the extractor parts in this slot and secure the pins in the appropriate spot on the backside of the MBB.

You will find the MBB also has a slot to work on the charging handle. The cutout secures the charging handle so you can replace the catch latch and spring and not need a third hand.

Thanks to the anti-slip frame, the Master Bench Block will not slide across your bench while working on your AR. At $29.99, this must have piece of kit will not break the bank.

Lastly you need a good set of punches to work on firearms. Real Avid’s Accu-Punch Hammer and Punches has been my go to kit since I received it.

The first thing you notice about this tool kit is, all the tools are stored in a locking case that flips open to become its own stand. Next all of the size of each punch is etched clearly and large enough to be seen without a magnifying glass on each punch. A nice feature of each punch is they have two anti-slip strips of rubber at the pin end of the punch so you have a secure grip even with oily hands. This is a feature I have not seen on other tools.

You will also find a pair of polymer pin alignment tool that wraps around a pin to aid you in the installation of pins. While the pin alignment tool allows you to tightly grip a pin, it will also allow the pin to move it when hit with the hammer or punch and hammer. Pliers will not do this, which makes installation of pins harder than it needs to be. There is also a non-marring punch to drive out stubborn pivot and take down pins on an AR.

To drive out the pins with the Accu Punches is the most unique part of the Accu-Punch; the hammer. This hammer has four heads, all of are interchangeable. There is a brass, steel and two densities of polymer heads. This will allow you to customize the hammer to the task at hand. I found the handle fits the hand well and the hammer balances so you get the most power with each strike. The handle is a hard polymer wrapped with a softer more “grippy” polymer. When driving out fitted takedown/pivot pins on one of my ARs, the hammer did not slip nor did the non-marring punch damage the finish of the AR I was working on. I venture to say you will not find another kit this complete with a $39.99 price point.

If you want to see more great tools to maintain your firearms, go to www.realavid.com . Hopefully this will give you a few ideas to make someone’s Christmas or Hanukkah merry. Remember to get to the range or field; shoot safely, accurately and have fun.

ATF Raids Office Depot

By

Dr LateBloomer

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December 21, 2018

*Insert tongue firmly in cheek*

Newsflash: The BATFE today raided Office Depot and confiscated an illegal cache of what it called “machine guns”. The machine guns in question were manufactured from natural rubber latex and found packaged in one pound boxes. The illegal firearms were reportedly manufactured in the U.S. from imported components and were shipped all over the country.

Loyal Americans are asked to report any stores of these highly dangerous firearms components that they may find in their homes, workplaces, and houses of worship. Loyal Americans are advised to not attempt to remove these hazardous items on their own, but to notify local law enforcement, who can then safely secure the items in question.

BATFE spokesman, I.M. Gubmint stated that the Bureau will be following up on the supply lines for these illegal items, and investigating reports of other illegal machine guns currently being hidden in the waistbands of many Americans’ pants, and in the eyelets of their shoes.

An unnamed source reported rumors of similar raids being planned against online office supply retailer Quill, and a rumored raid being planned in Louisiana to confiscate the right index finger of shooting legend Jerry Miculek.

This is a breaking story…

PITTSBURGH MURDERS PROMPT JEWS TO ATTEND FIREARMS INFORMATION SESSION

By

A Girl and a Gun

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December 20, 2018

DALLAS — More than 20 members of an Orthodox Synagogue attended a Firearms Information Session on November 27, 2018, in Dallas, TX. A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) Executive Director Robyn Sandoval and AG & AG Dallas Chapter Facilitator Dawn Rodriguez led the question-and-answer presentation that addressed a variety of topics, including armed self-defense in a place of worship, with children, and in the home.

“In the aftermath of the Pittsburgh murders, many Jews who have long been uninterested in firearms ownership have been awakened by the heinous crime,” says Yehuda Remer, who organized the event. “The first step to owning a firearm is education, and I wanted to give members of my community the chance to actively learn from knowledgeable firearms instructors.”

Remer, who is known by the moniker The Pew Pew Jew, is the author of Safety On, a book on firearms safety for children. He reached out to Sandoval to meet with families in the Orthodox community.

“It can be scary for families to accept that there are evil people who want to hurt others,” says Sandoval. “As a mother and firearms professional, I am able to address both the mindset and marksmanship needed to protect one’s family. Educating new gun owners includes providing facts on the safe use and storage of firearms, while dispelling misinformation that may have been obtained through movies and news media.”

Sandoval and Rodriguez provided information on upcoming AG & AG training opportunities, as well as resources on where to find classes on tactical medicine and other safety topics.

The event was successful and Remer is planning additional information sessions for his synagogue and others in the Dallas area.

Yehuda Remer and Robyn Sandoval prior to the Firearms Information Session.

About A Girl & A Gun

A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) is a membership organization whose events have been successful stepping stones for thousands of women into the shooting community and fostered their love of shooting with caring and qualified instructors to coach them. AG & AG breaks barriers for women and girls in the area of self-defense and in pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooting sports by welcoming beginners to learn the basics of safe and accurate shooting and providing experienced shooters with advanced-level opportunities. The club has more than 5,500 members in 48 states and hosts recurring Girl’s Nights Out at more than 180 ranges throughout the nation. Learn more at AGirlandAGun.org.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/pittsburgh-murders-prompt-jews-to-attend-firearms-information-session/

The Ultimate Tacti-cool Glasses

By

Andy Grossman

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December 20, 2018

You only get one pair of eyes in life and many shooters struggle finding the proper eye protection. Let’s be real here, we all want to protect our eyes but we want to look cool doing it. I always struggled finding the proper eye protection. I need my eyewear to provide comfort and functionality. I want it to look good doing it.

Glasses can be uncomfortable when under a set of shooting muffs. When you find comfortable glasses, they normally often use very cheap materials.

Gatorz bridges the gaps between functionality, comfort, protection, and looking good. Offering fully adjustable, aluminum frames with a variety of lenses. These glasses work and look great.

The Gatorz Brand

The Gatorz brand emerged in 1989 under one principle. Create something as bold and unique as the people who would wear them, the elite. This new type of eyewear was designed and engineered to hit the trifecta of fit, form, and function. Proudly made in the USA for nearly 30 years now.

Gatorz sunglasses, with their signature aluminum frame, maintain a reputation for exceptional performance in any situation from the extreme to the everyday.

Unlike typical plastic sunglasses, the thin, lightweight frames easily fit under the helmet of athletes, motorcycle riders, sky divers, and even navy seals and elite operators. They provided full coverage from wind, dust, and debris while looking just as badass as the people wearing them.

Warranty

Every pair of Gatorz comes with a lifetime warranty against any manufacturer’s defects for the life of the product. They will repair or replace your glasses without hassle. The company even offers a 90-day hassle free return policy. Any pair of glasses can be returned within 90 days for a full refund. Gatorz proudly offers a 25% off discount for all military and first responders, including all veterans and retired professionals.

Lens Technology

Gatorz utilizes an advanced injection molding process, with high optical grade polycarbonate materials. Every pair of Gatorz lenses are crafted with unmatched optical standards that exceed global sunglass standards.

TruRay optics represent years of research and development on lens color, tints, and light transmissions. Carefully formulated by the Gatorz team to optimize visual performance for various activities, by carefully adjusting the color wavelengths desired to give the highest definition possible.

Multi-layer Coatings provide a highly durable scratch resistant coating that makes Gatorz lenses 5x stronger and more scratch resistant than the competition. Some models offer anti-fog coating providing you with unrestricted vision under any condition. The anti-fog coating worked great out at an event I attended in Arkansas a few months back. It was about 95 degrees outside with 110% humidity. Everyone on the range was having issues with their glasses fogging up except me. My Gatorz stayed clear while protecting my eyes and looking great the entire time.

These lenses provide maximum protection for your eyes by blocking out harmful UV rays. Unlike lenses with a UV coating, these are built with the technology inside the lens itself. This ensures consistent protection over the life of the lens. If you prefer polarized lenses Gatorz has you covered as well. Using the latest in film technology by fusing the polarization film inside the lens. This creates a polarization that will never wear off like lenses with an exterior coating.

Standard Impact Resistance

Unlike traditional sunglass lenses, Gatorz are made from high quality, ballistic grade polycarbonate. Giving them unparalleled impact resistance. Every pair of Gatorz glasses exceed global impact resistance standards. The ANSI Z87+ line the glasses meet and exceed US safety ballistic standards, giving you the ultimate protection against impacts. The ANSI rated products can withstand impacts from projectiles at speeds of up to 250 feet per second.

Personally, I have not worn another brand of sunglasses since I wore my first pair of Gatorz about a year ago. Whether you’re jumping out of a plane, breaching a building, engaged in battle, driving around town, or at the range, the Gatorz brand has earned its tried-and-true status among those who demand the best. these sunglasses are up to every challenge.

Why You Should Own Body Armor

By

Travis Pike

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December 19, 2018

There was a time when a civilian owning ballistically rated armor was a very rare thing. It was expensive, hard to find, and mainly being purchased by police forces around the country. In 2018 the exact opposite is occurring. Body armor is everywhere and its dropped in price so much so if you can afford a Hi-Point you can afford a set of hard plate body armor. The civilian market for armor, especially AR500 steel, has exploded. If you don’t own armor yet, now is the time to buy and here is 5 reasons why civilians should own body armor

Dangerous Jobs

Outside of police and military forces, there are plenty of dangerous jobs civilians do without the joy of backup and other armed persons. When I was younger I often did a job where I had to collect money or collect property. I was threatened, harassed, and often felt vulnerable. A set of armor could at least let me escape a bad situation with most of my body protected.

How many other jobs do civilians do that could warrant body armor? Repossession work of any kind, process servers, bail bondsman, private security, and so on and so forth. Dangerous jobs are dangerous jobs and body armor, soft or hard, can save a life. Hell, Paramedics in Cleveland are required to wear body armor on the job.

It’s Just Another Option

Body armor is like a gun, its an option you can use. Its one of those, “Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.” Body armor is affordable, easy to find, and most armor will last forever if it’s not shot of course. Having it at home or in a vehicle as a just in case bad things happen isn’t a crazy decision.

Bad things do happen, and body armor is so affordable it’s not like you are going to spend a fortune for something that has a very small chance of happening. Also like a handgun having it doesn’t mean you have to use it. It’s just an option.

It can be Both Covert and Overt

Gone are the days of massive and bulky plate carriers that leave you feeling like that kid in the Christmas story. Light and minimalist carriers are everywhere and they are well suited for the typical civilian’s needs.

Additionally, body armor can be extremely covert. From t-shirts that hold plates to my favorite Briefcase that is secretly a plate carrier. Made by Phalanx Defense this carrier can hold soft or hard armor and turns into a briefcase when not in use.

Other carriers like this Emergency Personal Carrier are a single panel for a single plate that is small, light and easy to carry. Body armor options of all kinds exist and you can go as overt or covert as you want.

Keeps you Prepared

Bad things happen, from man-made and natural disasters to riots and protests and a prepared individual has to be ready to escape and to live. Body Armor should be part of that escape plan. Additionally, if you keep a rifle for the reason the 2nd Amendment was written why wouldn’t you have body armor?

Some People Don’t Want you to Have It

If you truly want me to buy something, introduce a bill to ban it from civilian use. At this time body armor is regulated lightly. Felons can’t own it and using it in the commission of a crime can lead to a longer sentence overall. A Representative named Mike Honda introduced a bill to ban certain types of armor for civilian use, basically all armor that exceeds type 3. Yep, and the guy is an avowed anti-gunner. He wants to ban body rmor, guns, and even 80% lowers. Body armor can’t hurt anyone unless you take it off and beat them with it. This makes me want it more than anything else.

Body Armor and You

The decision to buy body armor shouldn’t be a hard choice anymore. It’s widespread in the gun community, it’s affordable, and it’s effective. Carriers of all types exist and it could save your life. Civilian ownership of body armor is a freedom you should enjoy.

From NPR: Justice Department to Announce “Bump stocks” are Machine Guns Officially Friday

By

Keith Finch

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December 18, 2018

The Trump administration is banning bump stocks, the firearm attachment that allows a semi-automatic weapon to shoot almost as fast as a machine gun. -NPR Politics

Current bump stock owners will have the 90 days before the new rule takes effect to either destroy the devices they own or turn them in to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The new regulations, which were signed by acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, will take effect 90 days after being published in the Federal Register. A Justice Department official said that would likely happen Friday.

The new regulations could face legal challenges from the National Rifle Association, bump stock owners or manufacturers. A Justice Department official said the department is confident in its analysis and is prepared to defend the new rule in court if needed.

IWI Academy Tavor Operator III, The Bullpup School Finale

By

Keith Finch

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December 18, 2018

IWI Academy’s Tavor Operator III, an exceptional and chilly (not chilling) conclusion to this training saga.

This review dedicated to the memory of Tom Alibrando… He’s fine, I talked with him just a moment ago and confirmed my X95 SBR order, but this looked too much like a touching tribute photo stuck to the barricade to pass the opportunity. Photo Credit – Adam L.

Tavor III

Part 3 of the Tavor/X95 operator series is all on the gun. No more powerpoint. No more of the “why are you here… here is the outline”. We all knew why, having done it at least twice before, time to run out the X95 like it was born to run.

Plenty of snow and just above freezing to give us a nice soupy mess to play in.

Tavor I establishes what the Tavor/X95 is and sets you up with foundational fundamentals.

Tavor II is the honing of those fundamentals into competence. As the shooter you shouldn’t be mystified or searching for a control on your rifle anymore.

Tavor III brings it all in with individual tactics application, extreme conditional problem solving, and darkness/low light shooting.

Tom brought to me my holy grail X95 this time. The FDE X95 SBR

Magazines jammed with Double Tap 55gr, I would be sending a full case of 1,000 rounds of this down range through the cold and wet. No ammunition failures, clean and accurate, perfect for the course.

Day 1, Morning

A shotgun blast rehash of Tavor II with a reshoot of the qualifier. In total about 200-300 rounds warming up our bodies to working in the cold and wet, especially with gloves. The last time most of us were on these guns for this many rounds… it was warmer.

There’s nothing like the satisfaction of training paying off and seeing measurable improvements. My score on that fine sunny day was passable, adequate to advance to the next course, but on this cold wet Saturday I had improved to 4 points shy of a clean 300.

Training

Works

Folks

Get on the list.

Day 1, Afternoon

After lunch we hit the shoot house.

Individual room clearing tactics.

The full Tavor X95 program is a fighting gun program designed from an individual end user standpoint.

The whole curriculum is set up around the idea that when something goes bump in the night you grab your carbine and take care of defending you and your family as safely and efficiently as possible.

Squad tactics are really really cool! Believe me, I’ve run every position of a squad through dry and live drills. But you (and I) don’t need squad tactics here, we’re individuals in a defensive combat space. Honestly team tactics get pretty easy if you know your individual stuff anyway.

Room clearing is always a tactical gamble.

Room clearing by yourself is the most dangerous version of that gamble.

When you clear with a team or a squad you own the space you take and you have someone standing by with a weapon in case the bad guy(s) try and take it back. When you clear alone… it’s just you.

Moving on your own, every room you leave is surrendered territory unless there is no way to get around you. There will be a point where you cross into space where someone can move and get behind you. The further you move the more likely that is.

Do I have to move from where I am at?
Yes: Spouse/Kids are in the another room and I need to get to them, weapon is in another location, there are too many entrances to this room to cover safely.
No: Everyone is here, I have the door covered, police are on the way and I told them the room I am in.

Progressing beyond running the rifle and thinking about the whole fight.

Day 1, Night

Oh yes, room clearing in the dark.

The amount that visual sensory deprivation (you can’t see) makes you focus is astounding. Add to that tactile sensory deprivation (cold, gloves) and the amount you slow down and zero on what you can see, feel, and hear actually improved our shooting. We weren’t cocky anymore.

Shooting at night is something you need to train every now and then. You need to learn how to properly work a light, preferably from either shoulder and with either hand (the Tavor/X95 makes that pretty easy actually)

Knowing the limits of your equipment and what your asking it to do is just as important. Is the Streamlight TLR-7 I had on my X95 good for 50 meters? 100? 150?

A better question is what can your light do? Don’t have one? Fix that.

Day 2, Morning

It works in the daylight, it works in the dark. Does it work at odd angles?

Super Prone! An RHIB Prone keeps you as low as physically possible for when objects and micro terrain are sparse.

Working through several variations of awkward shooting position for different situations there are two key takeaways.

First, remember that gravity is a constant but your gun was designed to be fired from a vertical orientation and arc the bullet parabolically.

Second, these are ‘tool box’ positions for disadvantaged situations.

Low Cover. From this position the rifle is also shooting the round arcing left.

After working odd angles the final lessons were on one handed shooting and manipulations. Literally the worst of the worst case scenarios: being limited to one arm and clearing a double feed. Doable, just a pain… and it beats losing a gunfight.

Final Quiz Time

What’s on your training calendar for 2019?

Seriously, quality training is the best money you can spend in the gun industry. You’re never going to get to shoot more rounds, in a wider variety of ways, and with some people who are going to become the best to know.

All the analytics of why you should take a course aside, there’s a reason beneath the practical.

It’s the most fun I’ve ever had shooting. No contest, every dime and minute of time spent getting to these courses has been the greatest investment, beating every optic, rifle, or handgun I’ve ever purchased. Nothing surpasses running the guns like they were meant to run.

Get on the calendar.

Grab a case of rounds.

3i HOLSTERS

By

Keith Finch

-

December 13, 2018

From Scott Smith

Over the last twenty years I have used and seen many kydex holsters from many makers of holsters, they have changed since the days when you simply folded a piece of kydex to fit a pistol. Kydex holsters these days are as closely fitted to a pistol as hand boned leather is. You can find inside the waistband holsters, numerous types of outside the waistband holsters, single/double/quad magazine pouches; whatever you want, pretty much you can have. All you have to do is be able to foot the bill and it’s yours.

A few years ago I was shooting with a number of junior shooters and they all had kydex rigs molded from wild colors. I come to find out one of the kids dads made them. Scott Frank is the owner of 3i Holsters (www.3iholsters.com ) in Zanesville, Ohio and he makes unique holsters to fit his customers needs. We emailed back and forth to meet and have him make a couple holsters for me. It was agreed he would make a holster for my Canik TP9SFx and a Sig P320X5. My criteria for these holsters were they to be bright or camouflage pattern and both of them be outside the waistband. Other than that, Scott could have free reign on what he was making.

When I arrived at the 3i Holsters shop, I was impressed. Blue guns were in marked boxes on the wall so employees could see what was being built, there were numerous sample holsters in the front case, there were holsters in progress, color swatches allowing customers to see actual material and the staff was hard at work cranking out product. 3i is busy building stock holsters for several shops in the Zanesville area that stock their holsters and having product for popular pistols when they take the shop to local gun shows. Scott is busy building a business that is far more than a hobby. Several local officers use 3i holsters for duty and competition shooters are using their gear all over the country.

What truly impressed me was the attention to detail that is holster is given. The guys cut the kydex for each holster, vacuum fit it to each pistol or knife, and then excess material is removed. After this the edges are given a sanding and polish job that eliminates all sharp edges and any tool marks. This detail is given to every holster built by 3i. Scott told me he believes every holster; be it a stock holster or full custom build, should be given the same care. Every customer gets the best product the shop can turn out.

The first holster I have built was ready when I arrived. It was a custom adjustable height paddle holster for my Sig P320 X5. I was blown away with the holster. This straight drop holster is a three layer holster in black, blue and a subdued blue line flag for my service as a LEO. The black layer is the piece that has adjustable retention via two Chicago screws. The blue and flag layers are secured with the paddle screws. To keep range dust from collecting in the holster it is open bottomed. Even with a fully loaded pistol this holster rides close to the body and is as fast as any holster I have used. If I cranked the tension screws down, I do believe the 320 would have stayed put in a hurricane.

Scott finished the holster for the TP9SFx while I was there. He did this because the Canik was just starting to gain popularity and he did not want to invest in the inert pistol if the pistol was not going to have a following. This holster is an open bottom pancake style with formed belt loops. To meet the request of bright, the front is Kryptek Pontus with a royal blue back. I am generally not a fan of formed polymer loops because they are too hard to thread a belt through; however these are boxy enough that a belt slips right though. The slight angel locks the holster in place when you snug up your belt.

I figured I would put 3i’s custom work to the test on a Cold Steel knife I had been given a few years ago. The OEM sheath was not what I needed. Since Scott had told me he does custom knife sheaths I sent 3i the knife. My desire for this sheath was simple; a camouflage to compliment the handle and a clip that will stay secure when I carry the knife. The end result was a sheath the rides perfectly behind my handgun, if need be it will attach to my field pack.

After using these holsters off and on for well over eighteen months I feel they are outstanding pieces of kit. The attention to detail is amazing, the workmanship rivals that of much better known kydex holster makers and Scott’s passion to give customers the finest holsters around is unsurpassed. If you are looking for a holster for yourself or as a Christmas gift for someone else, get them a 3i Holster; you or the recipient will not be disappointed.

Remington 700 Magpul Enhanced

By

Andy Grossman

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December 12, 2018

In 1962 Remington released the Model 700 BDL. This was the first rifle chambered in 7mm Rem Mag. 56 years later Remington is still producing the Model 700. Actually, they are making about 34 variations of this iconic rifle. Just about any rifle caliber you can imagine today has a 700. I wanted one but I wanted a modernized version of this iconic rifle. Remington had that too. The Remington 700 Magpul Enhanced model in the newest round for the rifle, 6.5 Creedmoor.

Magpul Hunter Stock

Remington’s Model 700 Magpul Enhanced features an incredible Magpul Hunter stock in a flat dark earth color. Equipped with M-LOK mounting points and a folding bipod. The Magpul Hunter stock uses a reinforced polymer body for stability and durability, without the unnecessary additional weight. Weighing just over 3.0 pounds, the Magpul Hunter stock is much more pleasurable to field. The Hunter stock is designed with an embedded anodized aluminum bedding block to ensure the action is securely in place and ready to perform. This type of bedding has proven to be one of the most effective designs in precision rifle performance. The Magpul stock can be customized to the user in just minutes with different provided cheek rests and stock extensions.

Enhanced Model 700

The Enhanced model boasts a 20” heavy threaded barrel with 5R rifling. The muzzle on the 20”, fluted barrel is threaded, making the rifle suppressor or muzzle-brake ready. The 700 Magpul Enhanced includes a 10-round Magpul detachable magazine. The rifle uses a butterfly style magazine release that is located on the front of the trigger guard. For me the mag release was a bit difficult to operate but with a little practice it was not horrible. Lastly, The Remington 700 action is everything one would expect out of a legendary rifle and the oversized bolt handle works great and feels great to throw. The X-mark Pro Externally adjustable trigger felt great right out of the box for me, no creep and a light break at only 3.5 lbs. Remington really pulled out all the stops on the this 700.

6.5 Creedmoor

My friends kept asking me why I would choose this rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor rather than 7mm or 308. Well, the superior trajectory, and outstanding terminal ballistics of the 6.5 Creedmoor, have really made me consider this to be the best overall rifle round on the market. The 6.5 Creedmoor round should really excite most center-fire rifle shooters. Target shooters get a round with high ballistics creating a very flat trajectory for extremely accurate shots. While hunters get a round with amazing energy levels over long ranges, and just a slightly reduced bullet diameter to provide acceptable expectations for humane kills.

Leupold VX-3i LRP 6.5-20×50 Scope

A precision rifle of this caliber needs a great piece of glass to bring it all together. Atop the Magpul Hunter stock I decided to mount the Leupold VX-3i LRP 6.5-20×50. It has the right magnification and elite optical performance I was looking for in order to get on target quickly and accurately. The Leupold VX-3i LRP features Diamond Coat 2, an ion-assist lens coating that gives the glass higher light transmission and the greatest level of abrasion resistance possible. It is waterproof and fog resistant, which is very important when out in the woods of Michigan where the weather changes every time you blink your eyes.

The VX-3i gives you a 3:1 zoom ratio and a side focus parallax adjustment for fast, easy parallax focusing from any shooting position. The range from 6.5x to 20x is a broad variable that allows the scope to cover a wide spectrum of capabilities. Crafted from 6061-T6 aircraft quality aluminum and weighing only 21.7 oz.

Upon sighting the rifle in with the Leupold VX-3i I found it to take a little longer than normal to get it where it needed to be but once it was dialed in, I had complete confidence in the setup.

Testing and Performance

Accuracy was impressive. At 100 yards and firing from a rest, my best five-shot group was 0.95 inches with the Remington Premier ammunition. The Barnes Vor-TX ammunition produced several five-shot groups around 0.75 inches, while the Hornady American Whitetail averaged very respectable 1.1-inch clusters for five shots. The more I shot the more comfortable I became with the rifle. Any long-range shooter or hunter who chooses a quality piece of glass and puts in the range time should be able to nail 0.50-inch groups with this rifle with ease.

If you are in the market for a modern precision rifle built on an iconic time proven platform the Remington 700 Magpul Enhanced in 6.5 Creedmoor is a perfect choice. With an MSRP of $1249.00 it is definitely on the higher end of the price range for a Remington 700. However, you get one incredible rifle that feels like it came out of the custom shop built just for you. I found the same rifle online for as low as $935.00. With the proper scope setup, the Remington 700 Magpul Enhanced is ready to go win a long-range shooting competition then out to the woods to harvest a deer pretty much right out of the box.

Egypt Begins Yellow Vest Control

By

Dr LateBloomer

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December 12, 2018

This crossed my newsfeed this morning.

Apparently Egypt seeks to keep protests from happening in their own country by keeping regular people from buying yellow vests. Ummm, because no protests will happen WITHOUT yellow vests? Because would-be protestors cannot ever get their hands on any yellow vests that already exist? Or find back channels to buy them?

Is the government of Egypt attempting to control human behavior by controlling access to a tool that is sometimes used by people who exhibit unwanted behavior?

Hmmm, does that sound familiar somehow??

When oh when will people realize that you cannot control human behavior by controlling an object? Especially when the object is used widely by people throughout the population for other legitimate pursuits.

I wonder if Egypt will now restrict internet shopping in order to keep people from buying yellow vests online. Will they require that trash collectors and highway workers register their yellow vests so that the government can keep track of them? I wonder if safety workers will now have to go through mandatory training and be licensed by the state to prove that they can wear their yellow vests responsibly? (And presumably not organize protests).

Will they eventually outlaw the color Hi-Viz Yellow completely? Because if protestors can’t get vests, maybe they can get jackets instead. Or hats. Or bandanas. The horror.

People in Egypt would never dream of protesting WITHOUT yellow vests, would they? And yellow vest protests are the ONLY kind of protests that ever happen, right?

When power is about control (and it almost always is), anything that is a threat to power MUST be controlled. Even a piece of clothing. Or a color. Unless the people have the means to limit that control.

If that isn’t an object lesson in the importance of the Second Amendment, I don’t know what is.

SOCOM’s New LPVO: Nightforce ATACR 1-8.

By

Keith Finch

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December 12, 2018

The Nightforce ATACR 1-8x was the winner of the SOCOM solicited variable carbine optic solicitation. The LPVO category continues to gain ground in a few key categories, weight, clarity, durability, and affordability.

Now… I know the price tag isn’t low. Affordable is a relative term. But now that I am using glass in this category.. There is no comparison, there is no “just as good”

We can talk about good and we can talk about better. My ACOG is a great optic, no plans to change it. This type of system is starting to plant itself firmly in a new operational category.

Sport Optics has a few by the way.

On the ATF…

By

Keith Finch

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December 11, 2018

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (BATF&E or ATF) released a notice from the Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch (“FTISB”) stating they would no longer be taking submissions on devices without a firearm attached.

Meaning?

Meaning that if a developer puts together a product that they say is a “firearm stabilizing brace” and not a buttstock, to get the ATF to give a ruling on the new product they must ship it attached to a gun like it is intended to be used.

There are some obvious causes here, bumpstocks and pistol braces.

The Galil ACE 5.56 with SB Tactical SOB Brace on the IWI folding mechanism. GAP556SB

On the surface the rule makes sense. It delivers a working and installed version of the submitted product to the ATF for the evaluation. Also the ATF doesn’t have to rely on their store of firearms and their non manufacturer knowledge to install the item.

What this introduces is the far greater hassle of shipping a firearm to the ATF. It puts a much more stringent burden on someone trying to introduce a product. Shipping $1,000 dollars worth of property to the ATF instead of $50-100 changes the risk involved, to a small business especially.

And that’s before the nebulous implication that now the items submitted on a firearm could sway the ruling on an emotional basis based on the function instead of on the actual function.

We don’t know if the ATF would change a single ruling they have made… but the unspoken implication sits heavy that, going forward, items like pistol braces will have a much greater hurtle to approval.

Clap back? Probably.

Jase Winner: Take Your Buddy Shooting!

By

Keith Finch

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December 11, 2018

From Jase Winner

A couple of weeks ago I brought my friend Anthony out to a local USPSA/Steel Challenge Match to introduce him to the shooting sports. The day was all about showing him what the shooting sports was and how he can be involved. It was a really good match, especially as a first match to bring a new shooter to. It’s a solid group of people who make up a good culture for him to be introduced in. There was also a fun shoot after the match that he enjoyed. (I mean who doesn’t like a Burn Down race to see who can shoot a 2×4 in half the fastest…. And then everyone just mag dumping to make splintered wood?) All things considered I’d say it was a pretty good day of shooting.

Let me preface this by saying the dude I brought out is my best friend, so it was pretty easy to get him there. Like me, he grew up around guns, the difference is I just focused in on them and made shooting a huge part of my life, and he went down a different path.

So over the last year or so I’ve been trying to get Anthony out to the range with me but scheduling between him and I hasn’t exactly been easy. So when we finally had the ability, I was ecstatic. Once we got there he was a nice guy and helped with Stage set up, which was completely unnecessary but helped give him an idea of what was to come. Once that was done and I was getting my belt on and mags loaded we went over some ground rules: keep your eyes and ears on, follow the basic firearms safety rules, don’t do dumb things, pay attention, and most importantly to have fun (I know that rule is cliche but whatever).

Till almost halfway through the day he didn’t even touch a gun. He just talked, asked questions and watched people gunning through the stages, which was impressive because that is a lot of self control if you ask me. Then while I was on the stage next door my dad took the bay we were just on and let Anthony shoot his Glock 19 (Roland Special) a bit, which was good because I felt his attention wandering off and his interest dwindling. I walked up after Anthony had just shot through the first magazine and was listening to he and my dad talk. You could hear the excitement in his voice. I tossed Anthony a fresh magazine and said “Bro, I wanna see… Fire it up!” Dad gave Anthony the commands and he let it rip… He did a damned fine job of letting freedom ring on all that steel.

When the competition was a wrap and the Burn Down Race was over we began tearing stages down but kept one bay up for a bit for a fun shoot. It was also a bay where folks could shoot each others guns, test out the hotness, etc. One of our friends called us over. On the table he had a PCC (pistol caliber carbine) and a 1911. I still had my Victory First/ Overwatch Precision Glock 17 on my hip and dad had his Roland Special.. I’m not going to describe every detail of the fun he had shooting everything, but I will say that it was awesome to see his eyes light up and a permanent smile set in as he continuously hit steel… ringing Liberty’s sweet Bell.

At the end of the day I’m just happy that he had a good time and that I could introduce someone new into the wonderful world of the shooting sports.

So what did Anthony think?

So when I asked my buddy what he thought of the day his initial response was “it was awesome!!” Seeing as this isn’t really an answer I asked him to elaborate. After reading the, honestly quite lengthy, paragraph that he sent me I think the biggest thing he took away from the weekend is that anyone can be involved in the shooting sports. He said he enjoyed the type of people that were on the range and how respectful and considerate they were towards each other, as well as the good sense of humor we carried.

He wrote “It was welcoming to young competitors, such as Jase, even though he’d been doing it for quite some time. I liked how even though he’s 15 everyone treated him with the same respect as the older shooters as an equal. There was no intentional talk down, and I admire that so much because competitive shooting is NOT something for any ‘kid’ to just show up and do. It does require training and knowing the ‘how to(s)’ but if you know how to shoot, you know how to be safe and the rules of proper gun handling and you carry yourself in an honorable manner, then it doesn’t matter your age”.

The Value of it all

Truthfully my trip to the range with Anthony was all about showing him a side of my life that takes up so much of my time. He’d seen my videos, heard my stories and had an idea of what I did, but now he not only got to see it first hand but also experience it for himself… behind the trigger. He’s an athlete by nature, so I am excited to get him on the range when local 3Gun starts up again in Spring. I think when he sees and feels Multigun for the first time the hooks will be sunk deep. When that day comes, I’ll let my Dad give his parents the sales pitch! Lol

I did my part, I brought a new guy to the range, a new guy to a match and I got him interested. The more folks who are interested in Shooting Sports, not just target shooting or hunting, the better… Because at the end of the day we need more interest and more people that understand our passions as we move forward in our efforts to ensure our Liberties as gun owners remain free. I did my part, now will you do the same?