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Soft Target America… Parkland Florida

By
Keith Finch
-

I do not want to write this article.

I did not want to write the previous article.

I hate this topic. I hate the immediate politicization. I hate that 17 families have had a hole ripped into them by the violent choice of one oxygen thief.

But above all I hate the sphincter torrent of valueless bloody shirt waiving.

There is a small group right now that has every justification to be emotionally rent. The families, students, and faculty in Parkland who are living this nightmare. I do not expect a level head from any of them, not right now. Those wounds are still fresh and deep.

When the father of a victim stands in front of a camera, voice breaking from grief, saying “Do not tell me there is no such thing as gun violence! It happened right here in Parkland.” I will not offer a word of rebuke, condemnation, or correction. They can hate my position. They can be angry at me. They are wounded and grieving.

I grant no such leeway to the politicians who pick up those grieving people and use them. They know better.

There is no such thing a gun violence. It is violence and its motivations are always the same.

Violence comes from a select few motivations.

Acquisition

Retribution

Statement

Defense

An individual’s or group’s reason for using violence will fall under one or more of those categories.

In the case of Cruz, this appears to be retribution. While the authorities in Parkland investigate further and the mental health aspect will be dissected and speculated on cyclically by every outlet that believes they have a “solution” the basic motivator appears to be planned punitive retribution.

Revenge for slights perceived or real is among the oldest of violent motivations. Vengence isn’t going anywhere. It’s a trait of human nature and when that trait surfaces, disregarding the sanctity of human lives, the mind rationalizes violence.

What should we do? What can we do?

We can do just about anything. We can ban. We can limit. We can regulate. We can confiscate.

In each of those cases we will fail to prevent violence. We will not limit violence. We will not alter the motivations for violence.

What else can we do?

We can take the threat of violence seriously and realize that our responses are entirely devoid of any need to know the motivation. The motivation does not matter.

It does not matter if the person or persons threatening me and mine want my wallet, want revenge, or want to harm me for being American, male, white, tall, thin, or for a differing view on God. My response will follow the same progression in any of those cases.

What should we do?

Tend to the wounded. Mourn with the grieving. Take the threat seriously.

There continues to be no softer nor more vulnerable target than free society. Part of the reason is we DO NOT take this risk seriously. We continue to prefer believing it won’t happen. We continue to accept half measures and window dressing security in place of effective responses.

It starts with us. It starts with us asking what the plans are? Who have they vetted those plans with? How often is it rehearsed? How often is it updated? What does it realistically cover?

There’s no school nurse aid station that can handle a mass casualty event, not even when paramedics arrive. Why? They make trauma kits orderable online that cover everything from splinters and sprains to gunshot wounds and shrapnel in multiple people.

What real security was in place that this shooter could walk in with a rifle and pull a fire alarm? Why was there access? Why wasn’t there physical and digital observation? If there was what was the failure point or weakness that he exploited?

Now what are the answers to those questions in your school district? If those answers suck, fix them.

If violence comes to you… can you get violent?

The answer should be yes. You will live longer.

How effectively can you become violent? How well armed are you? How well armed can you become?

Again, if the answers to those question suck, fix them.

What shouldn’t we do?

We shouldn’t listen to anyone who says there have been 18 school shootings this year. Only two fit that description, 19 dead total. The rest of the incidents range from random rounds coming through windows, to suicide, to a 3rd grader discharging a police officer’s sidearm (yes, really). Using any event that happens on our near a school to pad the number of school shootings does nothing to address any of the specific incidents.

We shouldn’t listen to anyone who believes our violence is more violent than someone else’s somewhere else. The motivations remain consistent. Twenty one dead in Chicago since February 1st. France currently has a higher mass casualty count and a drastically higher rate (including just shootings) than the U.S. from 2009 onward. Our violence is not unique and we need to stop wasting energy pretending it is.

We shouldn’t listen to anyone who is advocating a half measure like a high capacity magazine ban, an AR15 or assault weapon ban, or any variation on the language surrounding “high powered assault weapons”. They are either lying or stupid. If they believe the problem is firearms the only viable position that mitigates that threat is a total ban and confiscation. While it isn’t a solution to violence nor a remotely executable possibility it is the only logical position for someone to hold if they rationalize firearms held privately as the threat.

It is a tale. Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,. Signifying nothing.

 

Let our hearts do the hurting for those lost and injured. Let our heads come up with the solutions. Real viable effective solutions to save lives, end these events more quickly, treat the wounded, and prevent more of these incidents by fostering a culture where human life is too valuable to take.

That is #ProfessionallyViolent

We Like Shooting Double Tap 049 – I would not drink that

By
We Like Shooting
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Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 49, Tonight we talk about gun tech, we’ll answer your questions on Dear WLS, we’ll talk about NOT GUNS, and revisit past gear

Source: https://welikeshooting.com/show/double-tap/dt049/

The FN SCAR MOD1 Project: Status MOD 0.2

By
Keith Finch
-

The modern rifle market has been updating at a pace that parallels digital technology. The new developments for the AR15 specifically has been ludicrous.

If you don’t understand this reference culture yourself

The AR is a ubiquitous platform being produced in the millions by hundreds of sources in varying volumes. More proprietary platforms have had a slower developmental pace.

The SCAR, first deployed in April 2009, is among the most popular 21st century platforms and its commercial 16S and 17S models command a premium while AR15 prices tanked. Quality AR offerings can be had for between about half the price of a SCAR16s up to and exceeding the SOCOM contracted modular carbines.

I won’t argue that a well made AR can’t pace the SCAR16 in many respects. FN’s M16A4 and M4 served admirably in my hands for years and companies like LWRCi, Daniel Defense, and Bravo Company all produce excellent duty grade rifles.

None of them are quite a SCAR though. The ugg boot stocked 50 shades of flat dark earth carbine has an exceptional reputation for reliability, accuracy, and an almost mythical durability from data collected by the USMC and Battlefield Las Vegas independently.

But again, the SCAR is a proprietary system. It’s commercial price and market coverage combined with its development for SOCOM and the other Department of Defense entities had kept its technical data package stunted compared to the wider viability of the AR15.

A Technical Data Package (TDP) is the specific list of components, their properties, and their sources within a given tool. There are both military and commercial TDP’s. One exists for every product these companies produce.

Compare commercial offerings on the AR15 market to the SCAR and and you see the SCAR continues to use older technology in it’s TDP layout. If AR’s had stayed similarly they would all be sporting quad rails and fixed front sights still. The SCAR’s factory TDP is still, in practicality, the 2009 offering with only the standard product improvements companies roll out gradually and without fanfare done internally by FN.

The aftermarket, however, has worked very closely with both FN and end users and the optional upgrades have become very well developed. From that selection of upgrades I have launched my own private product improvement program (PIP) to develop a SCAR MOD1.

A new SCAR16s will be the base for this commercial of the shelf (COTS) PIP.

Not every part of the rifle will receive attention but the ultimate goal is to have a simple list of parts that bring the SCAR rifle parallel to premium AR offerings. I will keep you apprised.

MOD 0.2

This PIP has already been set into motion.

Geissele Automatics Super SCAR trigger was installed. This is probably the single most effective modification that can be made to the SCAR rifle improving weapon performance. The factory single stage triggers are crisp, effective, and reliable but the break weight is heavy beyond even mil-spec AR15 offerings.

Geissele is a company that works closely with serious rifle end users. They hold several DoD project contracts including their select fire improved two-stage trigger for the M4 and MK18 rifles.

Paralleling this development Geissele has developed an extensive line of upgraded triggers across multiple platforms for different applications. At their core the designs revolve around increased combat reliability, a component of which is accuracy.

The Super SCAR Trigger and SCAR Heavy Hammer Spring replace the stock components of the trigger group to deliver a lighter crisp two-stage trigger which will aid accuracy without compromising the trigger’s reliability.

A Hogue overmold grip, this one modified for the SCAR by Hi-Desert Dog, is more a comfortable alternative to the A2 style factory grip. I prefer a grip with a sharper angle and it will likely change in a later upgrade series but the Hogue are my preference for A2 angled grips.

These two simple upgrades, grip and trigger, already alter the feel and performance of the SCAR16 in a noticeable positive direction. Improvements to barrel layout and mounting space require a greater investment in time and material.

Several possibilities exist and as the rifle progresses you will see it here. The selection process for each and reasoning behind inclusion will be detailed.

Let the MOD1 PIP continue.

Pardon our Dust: GAT Daily is Becoming Better, Stronger, Faster

By
Keith Finch
-

Our apologies to anyone who experienced any oddities online with us today. We have just completed a system wide update. That’s good news for you all moving forward!

Our primary concern was with load speed. We’ve laid some enhancement work behind the scenes to drastically reduce article load times. Some minor formatting changes have been imbedded also and you may find a few items in different spots.

As our readership continues to increase we need to shake things up on the servers to make sure everything continues to flow to you all as you want it and when you want it.

So enjoy the newest improved GAT Daily!

Thank you for reading,

GAT TEAM

Life as an Oxymoron

By
Keith Finch
-

Editor’s Note: There is prevailing attitude that the medical community and the gun owning community in the United States are diametrically opposed. While it’s true many major medical community groups are allied and associated with gun control the medical community is diverse and holds its own collection of repressed firearms owners and advocates. Like Second Amendment advocates in gun control heavy states, doctors and medical professionals wage a quiet information shadow war where their pro-2A views can have serious professional consequences.

From Dr. LateBloomer

Sometimes, life as a pediatrician AND firearms enthusiast can make me feel as though I am some sort of double-agent. That feeling becomes magnified when it comes to political activism.

For those who may not be familiar, my professional society – The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) – is rabidly anti-gun. This link connects to their 2013 policy recommendations.  https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/federal-advocacy/documents/aapgunviolencepreventionpolicyrecommendations_jan2013.pdf

Despite the stance held by my organization, I personally have managed over the past nine years to become a safe and accurate shooter with semi-auto pistol, revolver, semi-auto rifle, and shotgun. I participate in local matches and have made friends all over the country because of the shooting sports. I’ve sought out additional instruction – attending classes from Kay and Jerry Miculek, Kathy Jackson of the Cornered Cat, and even Gunsite Academy. Last year I obtained my NRA Basic Pistol Instructor credentials. I am almost as serious about my firearms training as I am about my continuing medical education.

Yet, I work very hard to keep these two parts of my life as separate as possible. I don’t mind if my gun friends know what I do for a living, but I’d rather my shooting hobby not become well known (or even notorious, given my sometimes scathing online rants) amongst the medical community. I am frankly afraid of professional push-back.

As an illustration of my frustrating situation I received an email update last week from my state citizen gun rights group regarding some upcoming legislation involving campus carry. The email urged me to contact my legislators in support of the bill.

In the very same batch of email, I received an urgent message from my state chapter of the AAP with a headline of “Protect our Children!” (Yes, literally). This urgent notice begged me to contact my legislators to protect the state’s college students from dangerous guns on campus. A link was provided to propaganda from Moms Demand Action.

The names included in the letter were physicians I trained under in residency, who are well-respected in the state and at the University medical center.

It is incredibly hard for me to accept that these respected physicians can be so ignorant, and blind to hard data. Let alone so susceptible to propaganda. I had to grit my teeth and vent to some friends, to keep from replying to this letter with the blast of rebuke it deserved. That would have been a career-ending move for me. It was incredibly frustrating.

This is the oxymoronic position I exist in.

Don’t get me wrong – I have great respect for these physicians in a professional capacity, but their obvious blind spots when it comes to firearms frustrate me to no end. Especially when they buy into and promote propaganda from the “Demanding Mommies”, without any critical analysis whatsoever. In my mind, that’s almost as bad as if they’d let Jenny McCarthy be their vaccine spokesperson.

I’m feeling the kind of disappointment one experiences when first realizing that one’s parents are not omnipotent, but are merely human beings with faults of their own. It makes me sad as well as frustrated.

Contributing to my frustration is my inability to speak out publicly against this kind of academic medical propaganda. These people are well-respected in the state medical community and are highly placed in the large state academic medical center. My voice means nothing compared to that and speaking out publicly would put an end to my professional reputation, and therefore my career and livelihood. It leaves me grinding my teeth.

But all is not lost. A few years ago, I became a member of Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership, which is a project of the Second Amendment Foundation. DRGO is a group of physicians and other health professionals who work to dispel the myth that firearms are a public health hazard. In them I have found kindred spirits.

I am not the only physician who shoots. There are many more of us than most people realize – of many ages and specialties. The challenge lies in encouraging these professionals to find their voices and stand up to the misguided and emotion-driven propaganda of Organized Medicine.

 

1791 Gunleather: Multi-Fit Leather Holster Review

By
Keith Finch
-

The modern materials of the firearms industry are polymer, aluminum, nylon, and steel. Proprietary blends of these materials dominate the market space forming our guns and their accessories.

I had a discussion a few weeks ago and during that discussion out came an interesting statement.  “Modern gunsmithing is a machinists game.” In many respects that is true. The art is evolving as more and more platforms are mode modification capable.

But as the industry evolves certain classics remain. The 1911 handguns. Beautiful single action revolvers. Wooden stocked hunting rifles. Artistic over and under shotguns.

Quality leather holsters to carry your sidearm.

Kydex and the other hybrid polymers are the modern holster materials of choice and I have my share. They have significant factors in their favor including chemical resistance no break in period.

None of those factors eclipse the allure or function well made leather still gives you.

1791 Gunleather is a brand new company with two major goals. Manufacture simple high quality leather holster systems and make a true functional line of multi-fit holsters to simplify the holster search process. In the two years since opening production they have made tremendous efforts toward both goals.

The first goal is accomplished through material quality and detail oriented craftsmanship.

The second is a feat of engineering that has been so elusive the typical response to the advertisement of ‘multi-fit’ is one size fits none.  1791 claims to have solved this with a couple holster designs.

To back up their claim they sent me two holsters. Their model BH2.1 and model BH2.3 are their strongest contenders in a multi-fit crafted leather holster.

I have a Glock 19 and a Sig P226 to test the claims. In most conventional fitment respects Sig Sauer P22X series and Glock models are too dissimilar in frame to fit well in one holster.

BH2.3, 1791 Gunleather with P226 Legion

Before the holster arrived I did a once over of the 1791 product line and website. I found a continuous stream of gushing pro-2A advocacy and amourous enamorment with handcrafted gun leather products. Even the name 1791 Gunleather is used to invoke the Constitutional Ratification and patriotically armed Americans bearing arms patriotically.

It felt almost comically overdone… and then I spoke with the 1791 crew on the phone and at SHOT Show and found out that they aren’t overdoing anything. The webpage is a toned down version of 1791 in person. They possess a passion for their products and the exuberance of a young company looking to firmly entrench their name in the industry.

The staff has the attitude but did the product live up to it?

BH 2.1, Deals well with Glock 9mm/.40S&W Models and many similar frames.

Both the 2.1 and 2.3 arrived in storefront quality transparent plastic display boxes. An 8.5×11 sheet with the standard warranty (Lifetime), terms, and safety information was folded inside the holster bodies.

I had no expectations for these holsters beyond the baselines. 1791 was an unknown entity with no prevailing reputation. They were challenging a market space held by names like Desantis and Galco who both make several products I recommend.

From my conversations with 1791 the BH2.1 would suit my G19 best and the BH2.3 my Sig P226. I decided I would carry with the BH2.3 first.

Both holsters exhibited excellent initial characteristics. Leather was thick, well formed, and unblemished. The stitching was tight, even, and unfrayed. The base material quality and effort put into crafting felt excellent.

As new leather should be, the holsters were stiff. Sliding the P226 and the Glock 19 into the BH2.3 resulted in a firmly held pistol without any belt or body support. The BH2.1 is not crafted with a railed alloy gun in mind so only the G19 would fit but it was the same experience, hun held firmly.

Leather requires break in. I knew this but I wanted to evaluate the factory state. Putting the BH2.3 on my belt felt like wearing something akin to a brick. The leather was rigidly holding its original form. Sliding my P226 into the 2.3 pushed the slide out of battery, I corrected this with my thumb. With the added weight of the gun the brick comparison became more accurate still.

I tried drawing my P226 and was rewarded for my effort with my pants firmly seating themselves much higher and the BH2.3 firmly retaining the pistol. A second attempt with a full fledged wedgie freed the P226.

Believe it or not these are all things I wanted the holster to do.

Leather stretches and forms around the gun and your body as it gets used. If leather starts loose it will fail at retaining the pistol much more quickly. 1791’s holsters did not exhibit that often mischaracterized flaw.

To break in leather I use my Sig Sauer Sock. The very same product doubles as my Glock Sock. It is, in fact, just a clean thin sock you can wear on your foot. Leather flexes and compresses at a fair rate but a thin dress sock will accelerate the flex and compress process. Placing the sock over the gun and seating it into the holster provides a soft non marring layer that exerts additional outward pressure on the holster body. This increases the speed the leather will break in. Using the gun’s shape as the base inside the sock provides a more even expansion and does not over stress or under stress any one part of the holster.

After an hour of sock clad break in I could feel a difference. After a night the holster was usable. After a second night the holster was right where I wanted it and has remained so in the months since.

The broken in 1791 holsters are more comfortable than paddle or belt mount equipped plastics. The leather hugs the waistline with firm pressure from the belt and conceals well under a sweatshirt or jacket very comfortably. Due to the angle of carry and how close the holsters keeps the pistol to the body OWB concealment is possible with minimal printing, especially with compact and subcompact pistols.

The compatibility list 1791 gives for the 2.1 is broadly encompassing but vague.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 

Think links go to the applicable 1791 products for that pistol or brand

They don’t have an equivalent list right now for the 2.3 but the largest change between the 2.1 and 2.3 is the inclusion of railed alloy frames so it is likely a greater compatibility list.

From my own use I found 1791’s claims to be accurate within my testing capability. The BH2.3 worked equally well with my Sig P226 and my G19. Retention was comparable on both pistols resulting in similar draw strokes for both from the same position. When I picked up the P229 it’s results were comparable to the other two sidearms.

Wearing the BH2.3 for 6 weeks, working usually 12-14 hours with it on, the stitching and leather have endured beautifully. The only sign of wear is the fact it is worn in and more giving to body contour. It is the most comfortable OWB holster I currently have now that the early stiffness has been worn into a sturdy flexible form.

Ultimately I’m a kydex and polymer holster fan. I carry IWB most days with a G-Code INCOG Eclipse. On the range I use a G-Code Optimal Drop and an RTI OSH. I don’t often deviate outside these two holsters and I have several alternatives that see no use at all because of that.

This 1791 BH2.3 is the currently only exception.

You Can’t Regulate Ethics

By
Keith Finch
-

A pair of bucks ran across the rolling sandhills of Nebraska, making their way towards the woodlot I was watching. There had already been an abundance of doe and small buck activity, and as the sun made its way into the western sky, the big boys were making an appearance.

The lead buck had my attention with five even points stretching off each antler. My heart rate quickened in anticipation at the opportunity to level my crossbow at his big body. The bucks entered the cedars and deer started moving in every direction. Does were running through the trees, and smaller bucks were getting out of the way and watching carefully. I caught glimpses of antlers moving through the dense cover and eventually spotted my target buck about 200 yards down the fence line freshening up a scrape and raking the bark off an adjacent tree. The rut had obviously kicked it.

I worried the buck had run through the thicket and checked the does, and would continue his way to the next block of cover when a commotion caught my attention. The two biggest bucks were chasing a doe, and they ran right to the edge of the small field I was situated on. The doe kept looking back, and my target buck edged his way up the fence until he was right in front of me. I ranged him at 72 yards and dropped my crossbow to my knee.

 

The buck was perfectly broadside and busy working on a new rub. I had plenty of time to level my crosshair, double check the range, and let an arrow fly, but it didn’t seem right. Any shot at a whitetail over 50 yards is risky business. To begin with, they are spooky creatures that can jump a string at 20 yards, let alone 72. The arc on the arrow would make it more susceptible to the gusting prairie winds, and all the deer had to do was take half a step in the time it took for my arrow to get there and my season would be over with no deer to show for it.

I let the buck carry on, and he was soon chasing does and letting every creature in the woods know he was boss. The doe that had drawn his attention early tried to sneak back down the tree line, and the buck resumed his chase. This time he passed in front of me at 61 yards but never stopped walking. I reminded myself to be patient.

As the sun started to set below the horizon, I thought my day was done. I had watched the buck off and on for nearly two hours, and although he was close, he wasn’t within my comfortable crossbow range.

I was taking in the pastel-painted skyline and couldn’t believe my eyes when the big buck returned, jumped the fence and focused on his stomach instead of the ladies. I felt like I was in the chess game of my life, as the buck would feed towards me only to turn and not offer a shot. He would wander too far away, then tease me by feeding back into the field. With light fading fast, the buck finally stopped at 46 yards, offering a perfect quartering-away shot. My arrow found its mark and the buck only traveled 50 yards before piling up.

Targets Are Not Wild Game

 

Patience is a virtue, but ethics help define a hunter. With the long-range crossbow craze getting attention, some good advice would be never shoot at a live target in a hunting situation at yardages you have not practiced and are not comfortable with at the range.

Fact: A crossbow shooting a 400-grain arrow at 400 fps will drop 92.8 inches to hit a target at 100 yards. That is a significant arc, from what would be the fastest bow around.

 

My 50-yard maximum forced me to pass the big buck I hoped to harvest. Anything beyond that has so many elements of risk that I can’t justify trying it. I owe it to the animals I pursue to make clean, ethical shots every single time.

Anyone that thinks they can make a 100-yard shot when hunting needs to run some tests. Set up at the range and shoot your crossbow so you can see the actual arrow flight. It should astonish you how big the arc is, looking like a bold rainbow after a good rain. Video the exercise and play it back in slow motion. The time it takes for the arrow to get to the target should make it clear that it isn’t an ethical hunting shot.

Have fun target shooting at extreme ranges, as it will only make you more accurate at distances you intend to hunt, but don’t confuse long-range target shooting with how far to push a crossbow when hunting.

 

This article was originally published on Shoot-On and is reposted by request.

A Year with the Maxpedition Riftcore

By
Eric TGL
-

The Riftcore has been on the market for roughly two years now. It debuted with their AGR line. Standing for Advanced Gear Research the AGR line was a departure from the brutal bomb proof 1000 Denier Cordura bags they built their company on. The pros of 1000D Cordura is that is nearly indestructible. The downside is that it is heavy and, in a pinch, can double as light duty sandpaper. The AGR line is billed as a smarter design. Still utilizing 1000D where high durability is needed it substituted the lighter yet still strong 500D hex weave in most places. Gone also is the 1000D heavily stitched PALS webbing. It is replaced by a Nylon-TPU composite in an ATLAS configuration. Also replacing the traditional adjustment strap fabric is a new seatbelt like material. The intention being a bag that is as durable if not more so for real world use while being lighter and more comfortable to live with. Sounds great but when you are being asked to pay north of $200 for a relatively small backpack you want to make sure the fancy new materials and design lives up to the billing. I will attempt to answer that in this article.

As the name of the article suggests I’ve used the Riftcore daily for now over a year. Now I am no operator dragging this bag around the world from one covert mission to the next. I am an IT professional and shooting enthusiast that takes self-defense and personal protection seriously. The day I purchased it the bag became my daily use bag. It has carried my laptop, headphones, various cables required to do my job, sunglasses, flashlight, first aid kit, Glock 19 and two spare mags with me to work every day. It is on me or in my truck 100% of the time. It even made it to Costa Rica with me for some hiking in the Manuel Antonio National Park. I am by no means extremely hard on my gear but I’m not gentle either. I have dropped, kicked, scuffed, stabbed, this bag and even had my 80 pound black furball drool all over it. I think I have accumulated enough data to assist you in making an informed buying decision.

 

The Good:

The biggest positive of the Riftcore is the bag’s structural design. This thing bends the laws of physics in what it allows you to cram inside. Then the yoke like shoulder straps and padded back make it extremely comfortable to wear. In its daily carry configuration my bag weighs over 20 pounds and it easily is the most comfortable bag I’ve daily carried. This is due to the aforementioned straps but also the design that keeps things very compact and tight to the body. Once you get it up on your shoulders and cinched into place you forget about it until it’s time to get something out.

I will commend Maxpedition on the choice of fabrics. The softer materials are easier to live with and their lighter weight allowed Maxpedition to pack more features. Interior pocket utility and waist strap comfort and utility are greatly increased over the comparable legacy pack. The end result however is a pack that weighs a little more. That’s definitely a knock against the original concept however you do get more for the weight at least in my opinion.

You’ve also lost nothing in durability by the selective use of 500D CORDURA over 1000D. 15 months of daily use loaded to capacity and there are no signs of fraying or structural wear. The grab handle is still solidly attached. None of the mesh on the padding is even showing a hint of wearing through. Even the seat belt material is holding solid despite constant adjusting. This bag has been rained on, peed on (incident with the dog that we’re not going to go into), dragged through dirt and mud, had a pygmy goat climb on and chew at it, and grabbed at by monkeys with hardly a mark to show its age.

All in all my complaints are largely superficial and minor. They just eat at me because of simply how much this pack gets right. It’s clear a lot of thought went into the details. The pull tabs on the zippers are perfect. The loops given at the end of the adjustment straps are exceedingly useful. The compartments are well laid out and either mesh or semi transparent. The middle compartment with the soft side velcro lining is eminently usable even if you do not take advantage of the velcro. The way each compartment opens completely to fold flat is brilliant. The back padding provides just the right combination of pad and airflow to keep you comfortable even in the humid jungles of Costa Rica. Well as comfortable as is possible in 90 degree heat, 80%+ humidity, and no breeze.

The Bad:

First and foremost is the cinch strap material. This seatbelt like material while soft and comfortable is awful in the roll of adjustment strap on a bag. When you reduce the natural friction of a strap and put it in the same friction based buckle as the previous straps you are setting yourself up for annoying the hell out of your customers.It is good they put the handy pull tabs on the bottom of the shoulder straps because you will be using them a lot. As a cruel joke played on those of us more OCD inclined they have placed elastic keepers on these straps to contain the tails. Same friction based problem applies. If you are like me you will find yourself adjusting strap lengths and keeper placement at least once a day. In their credit, while in use they do not move. It is when the bag is taken off and put back on repeatedly where things find their way out of place.

The next biggest complaint is the lack of laptop friendliness. The pocket in the back that is ostensibly designed to hold the water bladder or a laptop comes far too high up on the back panel to be of use as laptop storage. The elastic keepers along the front of that flap are stitched in the middle so as to preclude any securing of a laptop in the main compartment. “But it’s not designed to hold a laptop.” you may argue. My counter to that is why not? Who is not carrying some form of electronic computer with them on a daily basis now days? Especially when you have an admin panel clearly designed to accommodate office supply type objects. It is baffling to me that the opening of the back pocket was not lowered enough to allow for a laptop to easily slip in. As it sits even putting a water bladder in there is an exercise in frustration. On the topic of water I would have also appreciated an exterior water bottle pouch rather than an accessory you have to purchase.

The final gripe is with the bag’s CCW compartment. My complaint here is two fold, first the opening is not spacious enough to allow quick and easy access to your weapon. Second while sounding nice on paper accessing the compartment from both sides of the bag creates a potential for confusion under stress. For this reason I regularly practice getting my weapon out of the bag with it in various starting positions both on and off my body. I highly recommend if you choose to carry in this method that you do the same.

In conclusion, in my position at work I’m given a lot of tech oriented backpacks. Five high end packs have been given to me in the last year in fact. My Riftcore that I paid for with my own money is my daily pack and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I can thoroughly recommend it for anyone who wants to bridge the gap between tech/business and preparedness/self defense. It comfortably lives in both worlds and will not let you down.

Sunday Sermon: Use a Gun that Works EVERY Time

By
Keith Finch
-

Reliability is essential in any tool. If you are using a tool for a given task you need that tool to work. When a tool does not work your progress on your task stops and you must spend time fixing or replacing the tool.

Now in a task that is not critical or time sensitive this is an aggravation.

In a situation where the task is critical, time sensitive, and necessary to save life… In that case reliability is non negotiable.

If you are approaching the purchase of a life saving tool like a firearm from the standpoint of likely never having to use it. YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG.

Someone walks into a gun store and utters the phrase “I just need something cheap for self protection.” Are you out of your mind?

Go bungee jump or climb with the cheap imitation carabiners, cord, and harnesses. I’ll let your broken body tell me how that went. This is your life and that of your family we are talking about. Your emergency equipment needs to work. Your gun must work when you need it or your very likely to never need it again.

Imagine kitting an ambulance out with the sketchiest version of every life saving item it needs from the tires on up and then being one hundred percent certain it will be able to save your life. That is an identical attitude to “something cheap for self defense”.

In an emergency certainty is already long gone. You’re now playing beat the odds with whatever quality equipment you invested in and have on hand.

Will that investment help or hurt your odds?

I’m not here to tell you what to buy. I am telling you to take buying it seriously.

SIG Sauer Introduces the Legion RX

By
Keith Finch
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Sig Sauer’s LEGION series has expanded again with the addition of their RX reddot optical options.

All the P226 and P229 9mm Legion pistols can now come equipped with a Romeo1 RDS. With the popularity of optics on sidearms continuing its evolution this move from SIG on their premium duty line is a natural one. Optic ready and equipped straight from SIG.

U.S. Firearms Icon Remington Seeking Sources to File for Bankruptcy

By
Keith Finch
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According to sources close to the matter Remington Outdoor Company Inc is seeking information to restructure it’s nearly billion dollar dept. The company is looking to finance operations during bankruptcy in order to keep production running.

Remington has had a rough time during the “Trump Slump” gun market. While some of the loss in sales is attributable to the overall settling of the market as a whole that hasn’t been Remington’s sole issue.

Remington has had several non starter project launches.

With the exception of their R1 1911 series their handguns have an abysmal reputation while trying to compete against a crowded field. The RP “service” handgun has been seen selling below Hi-Point prices. The R51 was a well documented dumpster fire. The RM380 is a solid meh at best with far more popular options surrounding it.

The reputation on their rifles and shotguns have, anecdotally at least, slipped from international standards into a realm where people look for better or less expensive alternatives in an increasing populated field.

Their tactical rifles had promise when it was announced they would be supplying M4A1’s for the U.S. Military but as of this writing I believe FN still builds them all. They killed their ACR project by meeting none of their stated goals despite now producing a decent rifle. Remington’s AR15 and AR10 lines are in demand next to nowhere as AR sales sagged, other brands command the field.

It seems that Remington’s biggest problem is producing a product the consumer market wants to buy. For lessons on that topic see Ruger.

 

The full financial story here at Reuters.

 

Review: Armament Systems and Procedures TUNGSTEN, EDC Handheld Flashlight

By
Keith Finch
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Tungsten is a remarkable element. Notable for having the highest melting point of any other element at 6,192 degrees Fahrenheit. It can take some heat.

I’m not sure whether or not that fact and a high lumen light’s tendency to test heat tolerance while on in a pocket is related but Armament Systems and Procedures has produced an impressive handheld light by that elemental title.

The ASP Tungsten is an every day carry sized pocket light. 5.75 inches long, 0.9 inches in diameter, 4.2 ounces with the 18650 battery make the Tungsten a comfortably unobtrusive daily carry companion.

ASP describes the handheld thus

Make no mistake―it might be pocket-sized, but the distinctive Tungsten packs a punch, blazing 450 lumens for more than a football field in distance. Dual Fuel technology means you’ll never be without a power source―it runs with either a rechargeable 18650 battery (included) or 2 CR123A primary (single use) cells (sold separately). The included battery charges inside the flashlight, using the supplied cord and adapters, or any micro USB phone/electronics charging cord―no separate battery charger needed. The Tungsten is machined from 6061 T6 aerospace aluminum, type III hardcoat anodized in a proprietary matte black finish. Premium components include Cree XPG2 LED, gold-plated connectors, polished aluminum reflector and optical glass lens. In keeping with our emphasis on intuitive design and simplicity in our law enforcement tools and training, activation of the Triad is via a single pressure switch on the tail cap. A 3-position twist selector allows choice of intermittent, constant-on, or locked.

ASP prides themselves on purpose driven design. They build lights for a mission requirement, not to build the next bright light. The Tungsten projects that philosophy in the straightforward blended ergonomics and durability.

The body is 6061 series anodized aluminum and o-rings seal the battery compartment and bezel electronics suite from elemental intrusion. In my months of carrying the light next to knives, phones, multi-tools, and keys the finish has no notable wear. Dropping the light has resulted in no damage either, the listed drop rating of 2 meters has held accurate.

Unlike my older INFORCE handheld the Tungsten has had no functional issues. The light comes on and maintains brightness every time and functioned in the selected mode without issue. The INFORCE by contrast has had three failures to function during this testing period, two where I needed to adjust the already tight cap and one where I needed to remove and reinsert the batteries to resume function.

The control scheme on the tungsten is a simple intuitive 3 setting switch.

The left setting is constant. The middle is lockout. The right setting is momentary. There’s about a 45 degree rotation between the settings with an audible tactile click.

The design of this rotary tail cap switch is based on deliberate use ergonomic. ASP referred to it as “up on”. The light was designed for law enforcement and in nearly every situation, regardless of hand used, the light will be held in an overhand method with thumb by the tail cap.

From this position you naturally push “up” with the thumb and the light will go to the  desired mode. While holding it in my left hand and pushing up it selects momentary. If I or any user, especially law enforcement, am using the light in my left hand there’s a highly probably chance I want my right hand free for my sidearm. If I’m using or may use my sidearm I don’t want a constant stream of light illuminating my location, momentary setting. (apologies to the south paws but its a right handed world, plus its an easy work around).

In the same lane of thought if I’m using the Tungsten in my right hand its use is likely in a more administrative role with the need for a constant light. “Up on” activation on the tail cap gives me the constant on setting. From that constant on I can move the tail cap back to lock and the light will remain locked on until I disengage the lock and turn it back off, useful if I belt mount the Tungsten in the Tactical Light Case (TLC) giving me hands free lighting.

From an ergonomics end user stand point this light has been the single most usable illumination tool I have owned to date. There is no Morse Code series of button taps to get to a desired function that passes rave mode (strobe) three times before finally settling in on the desired setting. Momentary, Constant, Lock, On, Off. Five functions all with simple mechanical separation.

At the reflector end we find more interesting technology behind the thankfully simple function. The bezel has the nearly universal crenelations to break automotive glass or automotorists as the need may arise but under the hood…

By twisting the whole bezel reflector assembly counterclockwise we reveal a micro USB charge port, o-ring protected. You can plug the light in to recharge it without removing the 18650 battery. Anything with a USB port can now charge your carry light. Confirming if the Tungsten is charged is now as simple as plugging it in, like your phone it will tell you. Red light: Charging. Green light: Charged.

The hardware needed is included. Vehicle lighter adapter, AC Adapter, and retractable USB cord in a nylon case.

The Tungsten still takes CR123 batteries as a backup power source. If you run the rechargeable 18650 down two batteries gets you back on. Bonus, the 450 lumen output of the Tungsten goes up 10-15% on CR123’s.

On the topic of lumens. I didn’t know this officially but the evidence is certainly rampant that the “Lumen Wars” are real. The most lumens you can advertise for the cheapest in many instances. ASP brought to my attention that many manufacturers are rather loose on the definition of their lumen rating. If they were able to achieve it with one battery configuration or on initial activation of the light, even if it changes later as the light is on for a time, they will say X light is an Y lumens light.

ASP’s criteria for rating a light has been stringently laid out. They aren’t playing the number game they’re playing for accuracy of delivered product. Their lights that use their 18650 batteries are rated for the output with those batteries, not the higher output achievable with CR123’s even though it is technically an achievable illumination level.

I like the honesty. I certainly appreciate that ASP is focused on the product mission instead of a number.

The light from the Tungsten is rated for 129 meter usability. Indoor distances produce an efficient focused cone with a clean secondary ring approximately three times the focused diameter. It is not blinding off of bright surfaces at any indoor distances (minus mirrors) making it comfortable to use room to room.

Using the standard handheld lighting techniques moving within, searching, and clearing a room with a pistol was easily accomplished.

The Tungsten hits every requirement I have for an EDC light and it will be retaining its position as my carry light moving forward. I would highly recommend its consideration to anyone.

The MSRP at $130 (Free Shipping as of now) is an exceptional final incentive.

The Number of Bumpstocks Relinquished in Mass. via State PD… 3

By
Keith Finch
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Image from WBZ4 via The Maven

While the national debate over bumpfire stocks is still open, the devices themselves under review by the ATF, and silence largerly resonates from the U.S. Congress several states and local municipalities did enact controls after the Las Vegas attack.

Massachusetts took a scorched earth approach to the rifle stocks and trigger cranks with a statewide prohibition. Currently owned devices would not receive grandfathering. It was made immediately illegal to sell or transfer the stocks back in November but the deadline for turnover just passed.

The deadline for compliance was February 1st.

The Massachusetts State Police were handed three. The full article from The Maven.

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security sent letters to all licensed gun owners within the state of Massachusetts in December of 2017 to notify them that bump stock and trigger crank accessories would need to be surrendered to law enforcement agencies by Feb. 1.

In similar form to the California high capacity magazine ban and the New York SAFE act there is increasing evidence of the of mass noncompliance. Irish Democracy.

I don’t know how popular the largely gimmick novelty stocks were in the state but count me as skeptical that the one turned into Essex PD and the three to Massachusetts State Police were the whole state’s privately held inventory.

Gun owners seem to have stopped caring about rules they find ineffectual, overreaching, and asinine. In spite of Massachusetts’ up to 20 year prison sentence, residents have held onto or otherwise moved (illegally since November) their property.

What does the State do now? What can they do now? And how does this offer insight into the national attitude should a nation wide rule be implemented?

STREAMLIGHT® LAUNCHES HPL MODEL OF PROTAC® TACTICAL LIGHT

By
Keith Finch
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ProTac® HPL USB Features 1,000 Lumens; Uses Three Battery Types

EAGLEVILLE, PA, February 7, 2018 –Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, introduced the ProTac® HPL (High Performance, High Lumen) USB, delivering an incredibly bright 1,000 lumens and an intense, down-range beam. The new model, which uses a Streamlight lithium ion rechargeable battery, includes a built-in USB charge port, permitting it to be charged from a laptop or most USB wall chargers.

The next generation of ProTac® design, the ProTac HPL USB is capable of flooding an entire room, vehicle, or area with sweeping bright light, while also delivering a far-reaching “hotspot” beam. The light includes a sliding sleeve that reveals a USB charge port as well as a charging light indicator. For added convenience, the flashlight operates from multiple battery sources, including a rechargeable 18650 lithium ion battery or two CR123A lithium cell batteries.

“The ProTac HPL USB throws its beam far out in the distance while casting plenty of peripheral light along the way,” said Streamlight Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Michael F. Dineen. “Tactical, professional and consumer users can use it to flood a dark alley, job site or outdoor path with light, while also seeing objects at long distances. And, for even greater versatility, users either can charge the light on the go, or insert cell batteries when a charging source is not available.”

Powered by the latest in LED technology, the ProTac HPL USB offers three modes – high, medium, and low – plus a strobe.  On high, the light delivers 1,000 lumens and 35,000 candela over 374 meters. Run times range from one hour and 30 minutes on high to 20 hours on low, while the strobe runs for 3 continuous hours. The new light also features Streamlight’s TEN-TAP® Programming, allowing users to select among three programs to suit their preference or operating needs: high/strobe/low (the factory default); high only; or low/medium/high.

The ProTac HPL USB runs on an included Streamlight lithium ion rechargeable battery pack; it also functions with two 3V CR123A lithium cell batteries or a commercially available 18650 rechargeable lithium ion button top battery.

The light is fabricated from 6000 series machined aircraft aluminum with an anodized finish, and includes a convenient multi-function, push-button, tactical tail switch.  This tail switch provides easy, one-handed operation of the light’s momentary, variable intensity, or strobe modes.

Measuring 7.08 inches in length and weighing 9.24 ounces, the light has an IPX4 rated design for water-resistant operation and is two-meter impact resistant tested.  Available in black, the ProTac HPL USB comes packaged with a USB cord and a ballistic nylon holster.

Depending on the configuration, the MSRP of the ProTac HPL USB ranges from $180.00 to $200.00.  The light comes with Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

 

About Streamlight

Based in Eagleville, PA, Streamlight, Inc. has 45 years of experience making tough, durable, long-lasting flashlights designed to serve the specialized needs of professionals and consumers alike.  Since 1973, the company has designed, manufactured and marketed high-performance flashlights, and today offers a broad array of lights, lanterns, weapon light/laser sighting devices, and scene lighting solutions for professional law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications. Streamlight is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company.  For additional information, please call 800-523-7488, visit streamlight.com or connect with us on facebook.com/streamlight; twitter.com/Streamlight; instagram.com/streamlightinc; and youtube.com/streamlighttv.

At the Workbench: SCAR16 MOE PMAG Modification

By
Keith Finch
-

I have a lot of magazines. It comes with the territory.

I buy half a dozen here and there and have done so for years. This has resulted in quite an inventory that has come and gone over the last decade.

Within the pile sat eight old original Magpul FDE PMAGs. Back in the “dark ages” of AR15 magazines where the black and green follower GI’s were standard and issued magazines were a crap shoot, I purchased these eight.

They worked flawlessly in my M16A4 and served me for several years. I was forced to retire them from military use with the rise of the M27 since the original design was incompatible with the magazine well of the new rifle (now the USMC uses PMAGs as standard, victory is mine!).

The current generation M3 magazines are stronger, lighter, more compatible, and more capable than the legacy magazine. Due to their flawless service to me I have not retired the eight and I do not plan to.

A situation has arisen that required addressing though. The PMAG was originally designed to address the flaws of the M16’s magazine. Not the STANAG standard as a whole but the M16A4 and M4 specifically.

Concurrently with PMAG development other rifle systems were being developed and deployed. They were using the STANAG as the magazine standard, not the emerging PMAG. There is a substantial amount of engineering lenience that can keep a rifle able to feed STANAG magazines but the magazine well will not be the same as the M16. The HK416, FN FS2000, ARX100, and the FN SCAR16 were all not compatible. Either the magazine or the rifle required modification.

I’ve acquired a FN SCAR16s for a long term project. The rifle is arguably one of the best available and I was, to my surprise, lacking a standard 5.56x45mm carbine. My eight legacy magazines were not ready for use in the SCAR16s.

There’s a simple modification that corrects that.

When you look at the back of a standard aluminum STANAG magazine you can see the squared up portion of the body where the magazine follower interacts with the bolt catch.

On the PMAG you can see I’ve ground away a small amount of material on the left side making the profile more consistent with the STANAG.

It’s necessary to remove a small amount of material from the magazine body due to the way the original magazine bodies were formed. The polymer in the rounded cut out area where the follower will interact with the bolt catch would lift up the catch on its own. This causes the catch to constantly ride against the bottom of the bolt carrier during cycling resulting in premature and unnecessary wear.

After the modification the function of the PMAG will be unaffected but it will no longer partially lift the bolt catch.

Bolt catch remains flush with its housing in the receiver while the magazine body is inserted. It will only lift with the follower as intended now.

If you have MOE or older generation PMAGs and want to modify them for proper function in the SCAR16 the steps are simple.

  1. Insure the magazines are empty and your work place is prepared. Using a rotary grinding tool is recommended but a hand file will work. Use of safety glasses with the rotary tool is recommended.
  2. Disassmble the magazine by pushing up into the magazine follower spring base on the bottom and then sliding the magazine base plate partially forward.
  3. Support the magazine follower spring base while you slide the magazine base plate the rest of the way off since it is under spring tension.
  4. Slowly decompress the spring and then pull the spring, follower, and spring base out of the magazine body.
  5. Support the empty magazine body (a table or bench is recommended) and use your rotary tool or hand file to slowly remove material from the left side of magazine body in the follower slot. From its equilateral original form you should make the left side into a more L like shape. Similar to a STANAG magazine.
  6. A perfectly squared profile is not necessary. Only enough material needs to be removed to prevent it interacting with the bolt stop. Insert the empty magazine body into the SCAR16 lower (separated from the rifle) and observe whether or not bolt stop raises above flush. 
    Note that the MOE PMAG Bodies are thicker than Gen3’s. They will generally fit tightly and not drop free.
  7. If you see the bolt catch sitting above flush remove the magazine and go back to Step 5. Remove more material incrementally until the bolt catch sits flush when you insert the magazine body.
  8. Reassemble the magazine.

My full compliment of matching PMAGs are now SCAR compatible, I have plenty of M3’s and they’ll get run most often in the rifle but… those eight magazines mean a little more to me than just feeding 30 rounds, and now they can continue to serve.

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