Clever Girl… Aklys Defense “Velociraptor” AKSV

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February 6, 2018

This year at SHOT was fairly sparse on truly new products. Obviously there were new models. Companies had more variants and accessories to improve their legacy products but it was a vanilla show in most respects.

But there is always an outlier.

Aklys Defense had this bizarre box muzzled Kalashnikov prototype.

Color me intrigued.

The Aklys Defense AKSV is a self contained auto-regulating integrally suppressed 7.62x39mm AK.

Aklys calls it the Velociraptor.

The AKSV is a change in thinking about the AK platform and integrally suppressed rifles as a whole. The Velociraptor utilizes the standard AK self-regulating gas system but captures all gasses including chamber gas and expels it out the front (note the pictured “snout” and gas dumps) and away from the shooter in a controlled manner. You will get no cloud of gas in the your face like you will experience with other suppressed platforms and suppressed AK pattern rifles. The recoil on the AKSV is the lightest impulse you’ll ever feel due to the gas regulation and braking effect of the suppressor.

We utilize a special 1 and 7 twist barrel blank with our own custom profile and nitriding for extended life. It is designed to stabilize both the heavy subsonic rounds and standard ammunition. Standard velocity rounds will retain enough velocity to make the rifle effective for “social” work needed. (Editors Note: Suppressed firearms are much gentler on the shooter in confined spaces like the home or a vehicle

The AKSV utilizes a modular suppressor and our special short gas piston system. Comes standard with Magpul AK MOE buttstock, pistol grip, 2 magazines and a custom forend.

The Velociraptor’s design is two part. The back half is traditional Kalashnikov. The front half is a complete redesign that’s surprisingly light and well balanced. The barrel, gas system, and suppressor assembly work together to keep all the increased gas pressure from firing suppressed away from the shooter. I’ve fired similar systems suppressed and the gas during rapid fire is… obnoxious is probably the polite word.

Weight : 7lbs 15oz (6 oz lighter than a standard AK)

Barrel length: 9.33″

Tube Length: 12″

Over All Length: 32″

Material: 17-4 Stainless and Nitrided 4340

DB Drop: over 27 DB with no gas in the face

Aklys Defense has opened pre-order for the AKSV with a substantial incentive.

MSRP $4285: Early Adopters will receive the option of a Custom Serial Number, plus, an Aklys Defense Velociraptor Shirt, custom soft sided case, and a discount of $400 with Deposit of $1785 (remainder due at time of shipping). Once the initial 10 guns are sold price goes to full MSRP of $4285.

This gives you your tax stamps free essentially.

While most suppressor systems have been designed on the AR15 side of the house this radically forward thinking (and gassing) design from Aklys gives AK fans a uniquely functional system in their corner. The advanced engineering using the science of fluid dynamics has purportedly taken care of the single most annoying aspect of a suppressed firearm.

I’m looking forward to getting my hands on one and giving a live fire evaluation but the prototype was impressive… Just when you think you don’t want anything else.

Custom Cerakote by High Caliber Firearms

By

Keith Finch

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February 5, 2018

Tucked in a small one light town called Alamo just north of the one and only Kalamazoo Michigan sits High Caliber Firearms.

The stone faced storefront houses a cozy interior reminiscent of a hunting cabin. A fireplace centers the store. A few trophy whitetail hang on the wall to the right, over top a couple cases holding a small handgun selection. The wooden wall ensconces two long gun cases, split by a door, that hold a couple dozen rifles and shotguns. Many are on consignment looking for a new home.

It’s a quiet small town gun store. It houses some very talented custom gunsmiths. They’ve restored two flood wrecked firearms of mine, an older Marlin 336 and a Mossberg 5500, to complete operation. I honestly thought they were done for.

Probably their most impressive service, but far from their only one, is custom Cerakote.

For anyone unfamiliar, Cerakote is a high durability ceramic base firearm finish that comes in a variety of colors. It’s proper application to firearms adds increased resistance to abrasion, corrosion, moisture intrusion, UV wear, and can lower visible and non visible signature.

It’s a great option for refinishing firearms in base colors. High Caliber is happy to do so. But they can do so much more with Cerakote if you want.

I’d toyed with the idea of getting a gun done for awhile. The patterns and layering are an involved process. It’s time intensive to do correctly and keep operating tolerances, exponentially more so as you add colors and pattern complexity.

So naturally when I did give someone a Cerakote project I made it as challenging as possible. I’m fun like that.

I wanted a MarPat digital camouflage pattern. The squared off disruptive camouflage of my Marine Corps holds a special place of nostalgia for me and I didn’t really have anything else so why not. I wanted desert MarPat but the guys at High Caliber later suggested urban colors instead. Cerakote will not adhere well to flexible polymers like the SB Tactical Brace and so traditional Desert MarPat would’ve suddenly changed to straight black.

I liked the suggestion.

The color scheme was laid out with Graphite Black, Battleship Grey, and Glock Grey.

Now imagine the complexity of the task I’d set before the High Caliber team. In classic Marine fashion, I told them to make a square peg fit through a round hole.

I’m not kidding.

Cerakote is sprayed on. Spray does not form into nice block shapes. It does like to bead and run if not carefully applied.

So use of a stencil is necessary. Stencils work well on even square surfaces.

Look at all the even square surfaces. No curves or sharp angles at all…

I handed them what may be the tightest collection of changing angles and curved surfaces assembled on a carbine. Even MP5 magazines can’t be just a box. To keep the block pattern even and not look stretched or distorted over the changing surface took exceptional attention to detail.

Square pegs… round holes…

High Caliber accepted the challenge and they delivered as promised. Beyond promised. The team told me that the rcomplexity of the pattern and firearm may not turn out and we might have to go a new direction.

RAL8000 (The German Flat Dark Earth) would’ve be an alright second option, but I wanted my Urban MarPat .

As I burn some rounds through it and wear on the gun and magazines we’ll get a long term durability report. As of now I’m confident it will stand up, even in the next MP5 class.

Check out the some more of HCF’s Cerakote work and if you need something done give them a call.

Sunday Sermon: Carry Enough Gun

By

Keith Finch

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February 4, 2018

“Never attend a gunfight with a handgun the caliber of which does not begin with a 4.” – Ye Olde Sage Gunwizard

You can find the above sentiment floating around older circles in the firearms and self defense community. It’s an expression of overall good advice that hasn’t aged well.

A modernized version would read “Carry a handgun in both an effective caliber and capacity.”

The FBI study from 2014 that settled their agency choice on 9mm outlines solid criteria for making a personal selection. There’s a good summary here.

Any caliber hollowpoint (or similar tissue disrupting projectile) with high enough mass retention and depth of penetration is effective. The FBI data shifted the debate from “X Caliber is the best.” to “Here are performance criteria for an effective round.”

I use .380 ACP as the proverbial line separating the effective and substandard rounds for defense. Note: Ineffective or substandard is not saying nonlethal or useless. There are simply better options.

Choose accordingly.

The second concern is capacity. Larger higher capacity handguns are marginally more difficult to carry but easier to shoot effectively. Smaller lower capacity guns are the inverse.

PoliceOne pulled data around 350 officer involved shootings and we can use the data to better inform our firearm choice between a larger or smaller handgun.

Average rounds fired: 3.59 against one threat at close distance
Accuracy: 64% Day Light/ 45% Adverse Light
Adverse Light Shoots: 77%

Accuracy rapidly degrades as factors like distance, number of threats, and individual threat severity scale up. Lower accuracy and the addition of multiple threats drastically increases round requirements to cover the threat. On the extreme end of the data the North Hollywood Shootout involved two threats requiring 650 rounds to stop. The title Battle of North Hollywood is a fitting one.

A 5 round J-Frame or a 6 round .380 ACP is sufficient under certain circumstances. Selection of a firearm is hedging a bet on threat response coverage. The ‘pocket pistols’ combined with proficiency cover a single emergent threat.

While single threat is the most likely scenario the small guns are quickly expended. If the threat outlasts or overmatches your response you lose. Like a roulette wheel rolling 00 when you bet on red. Red is always the more likely result but 00 still hits.

For the medically minded imagine stocking an aid kit. Loading the kit with various adhesive bandages, disinfectant, and some aspirin covers many medical needs. But that same kit is unprepared for a broken bone, allergic response, or arterial trauma.

Carry the highest capacity handgun you can manage with a spare magazine when feasible. A P229 or G19 will give you 30 rounds contrasted against the 5 or 6 of the pocket pistol with only a minor increase in inconvenience. The advantages outweigh the discomfort.

Ultimately your choice needs to be an informed one. Have realistic expectations of your equipment, training, and what situations you can cover. Work constantly to improve the effectiveness of your coverage.

We Like Shooting 227 – Temple of Poon

By

We Like Shooting

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February 1, 2018

Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 227 – tonight we’ll talk about Mosin Nagants, Fightlite, NoiseFighters, Rosco Manufacturing and more!

Source: https://welikeshooting.com/show/227/

SHOT Show 2018: U.S. Optics

By

Keith Finch

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February 1, 2018

With a three decades long background in precision rifle glass, U.S. Optics is not a new name in the field.

Despite their long and well respected reputation the amount of information in the public sphere has been limited. Trying to pull up information or a review on any of their hand made optics usually reveals a good forum post at best, at worst the internet gave me nothing.

When contrasted against some of their more visible competitors and peers, U.S. Optics was an unknown entity with rumors of a sterling reputation.

Recently USO has been going through a system update. The entire company moved and they shed their legacy product line in its entirety to focus on the emerging demands on the optical market.

The result is their Bravo Series. Three optics that cover what nearly a dozen older models were sharing space over.

The B-10 covers short to mid range.

The Front Focal Plane 1.8-10x42mm optic pushes the edges of the LPV (Low Power Variable) territory comfortably into mid range. It’s capabilities completely eclipse the Leupold MR/T I was using on a Mk. 12. With a GAP or H425 Mil reticle for ranging and rapid engagement the B-10 has legs.

One will be in for review at earliest availability.

The B-17 and B-25 jump into the LR and ER spaces respectively of U.S. Optics legacy scopes. USO has shifted their focus from the limited full custom market to the production semi-custom/commercial off the shelf (COTS) model. COTS is a term you will hear in equipment procurement circles, the Barrett .50 was a COTS system. While it doesn’t sound as cool online as full custom in reality it is exactly what the market majority wants.

The Bravo scopes are all premium base models with add on options. This production model means shorter lead times on custom orders and in stock ready to ship optics. The features you want could already be on the shelf.

The Bravo series was not U.S Optics new launch though…

U.S. Optics newest offering. A 1-6x34mm wire reticle LPV, the SVS

USO is stepping back into the LPV realm in full with the SVS. Unlike the Bravo’s the SVS is a second focal plane optic.

Capped turrets, left side illumination, and a wire reticle round out this CQB rapid short to mid range optic.

The wire reticle, as opposed to more traditional etched glass, gives the SVS an optical clarity and brightness unlike anything I’ve seen. The SVS moves like a 1-6x solid state reddot.

The SVS will make four COTS offerings. U.S. Optics is set to cover options for all emerging and evolving shooter spaces at a quality speaking of three decades precision experience.

Gone in 60 Seconds: Rochelle Hathaway Gives a Demonstration in Professional Self Immolation

By

Keith Finch

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January 31, 2018

LV-gun-show-Rochelle — From Glamour. Rochelle Hathaway kicked a hornets nest.

It made the round online yesterday but in case you missed it the young lady pictured above demonstrated how to jump onto the industry blacklist.

Rochelle Hathaway gave an interview to Glamour magazine. You can find it sixth down the rolling page from the top as Glamour highlights several women they ran into.

Their interviewees ranged from 19 to 50 and answered the targeted questions about private gun ownership and mass shootings with the standard array of answers that amount to “If you want me to trash my own industry on record, no.”

Then there was Ms. Hathaway. Rochelle did not give those typical answers.

What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
I think that if there were less guns, there would be less shootings, period. If the government came in and decided to take the guns away, I wouldn’t be mad about it. I think it’s important to be able to feel safe in your home, but you don’t need more than three guns. You don’t need to own a semiautomatic weapon or a silencer.

When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
Going to the Second Amendment, I don’t think they had AK-47s and everything else in mind [when they imagined] the right to bear arms and protecting yourself. At SHOT show, you can kind of see how much it’s evolved into thousands and thousands of people dumping millions and millions of dollars into the industry…. I guess I’d say it’s almost unfortunate people think that they need so much.

-From the Glamour Article

Everyone is entitled to their views and opinions no matter how well informed or misinformed they may be. My opinion on pharmaceuticals is worth the equivalent of an empty McDonalds hash brown wrapper but I still have opinions.

Rochelle Hathaway may even have escaped more than the most cursory of industry grumblings and snide remarks if she were just another face in the crowd… but she was not.

Hathaway, a flight attendant by trade, is (was) an associated shooter with Taran Tactical Innovations. TTI has a reputation for holding a space in the firearms industry associated with young fit female shooters and some close ties with Hollywood.

We have Taran Butler and TTI to thank for entertaining adrenaline projects like John Wick.

TTI’s choice in Rochelle… let’s call it a lesson in lightning public and commercial relations combined with a necessity to understand the opinions and motivations of people who are front facing your company.

We were surprised to see an article recently published in a beauty magazine quoting a promotional model and friend of our company, Rochelle Hathaway, who made certain impromptu statements to a reporter during Shot Show.

We were unaware of the interview and we did not condone the interview or the statements made by Rochelle. Rochelle has never been authorized to speak on behalf of our company or its founder, Taran Butler. As of today, we have cut all professional ties with Rochelle.

While we respect everyone’s right to free speech, Rochelle’s statements were inappropriate and do not represent our company’s vision and beliefs. We have and will always support Second Amendment rights, and we will continue to educate and promote the safe, legal ownership and handling of firearms. – Taran Tactical Innovations, Facebook

So if anyone out there wants a very fast and public exit from the firearms community

Become associated with a large and public name (the more controversial the better) in the firearm industry.
Support gun control at the largest shooting sports show in the nation.

Exit complete. I can guarantee this strategy will work for other industries as well.

Henry Repeating Arms Introduces the ‘Patriot Series’

By

Keith Finch

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January 31, 2018

BAYONNE, NJ – January 30, 2018 – Following the release of several new models last week Henry Repeating Arms is introducing the Patriot Series- a new category of firearms and products available through their eCommerce store celebrating America, patriotism, and the Second Amendment.

God Bless America Edition Golden Boy

The God Bless America Edition Golden Boy is a .22 S/L/LR lever action rifle built on Henry’s time-honored and award-winning Golden Boy platform known for its smooth action, American walnut stocks and blued steel octagonal barrel. Intricate floral scrollwork engraving on both sides of the nickel-plated receiver cover frames iconic images of America’s heritage like the American flag, the Liberty Bell, and a bald eagle, all of which have details highlighted in 24-carat gold. A banner on the right side of the receiver cover contains the words, “Home of the Free Because of the Brave.” The stock is engraved and hand-painted with the Statue of Liberty’s torch, and in similar colors, the rifle’s forend displays the words, “God Bless America.”

God Bless America Edition Big Boy

Henry is also introducing a centerfire version, the God Bless America Edition Big Boy, featuring similar imagery on a rifle chambered for .44 Magnum/.44 Special with a 10. The God Bless America Edition Golden Boy, model #H004GBA has an MSRP of $1,208, and the Big Boy version, model #H006GBA has an MSRP of $1,523.

Stand for the Flag Edition Golden Boy

The Stand for the Flag Edition Golden Boy is a direct salute to the American flag with a full red, white and blue depiction applied to both sides of the receiver cover with a durable polymer-ceramic coating known as Cerakote. The finish adds a layer of further abrasion and corrosion resistance on top of the nickel plating. The buttstock features a hand-painted image of a man standing hand-on-heart with the words, “O Say Can You See” written underneath. The Stand for the Flag Edition Golden Boy, model #H004SFF is chambered in .22 S/L/LR with an MSRP of $1,208.

The Patriot Series also includes three plaques that include hardware for mounting on a wall or the lawn, all of which are available through Henry Pride, Henry Repeating Arms’ eCommerce store. The We Proudly Stand plaque depicts a soldier standing to salute the flag of the United States, rendered in full red, white and blue color across the plaque. Beneath the flag is the underlined text, “We Proudly Stand.” The Patriotic Home Plaque shows a New Original Henry rifle with the message, “This House Believes in God, Country & Family.” It’s finished with a French Bronze color. The Second Amendment Plaque carries the message, “This House Is Protected By the 2nd Amendment,” in a black and gold finish. All three plaques are made of highly durable cast aluminum to withstand the elements outdoors or in.

Henry firearms can be purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. Most dealers offer a discount off of the MSRP.

For more information about the company and its products visit henryusa.com or call 866-200-2354.

About Henry Repeating Arms

Henry Repeating Arms is one of the leading firearms manufacturers in the country and the leading lever action manufacturer. Their company motto is ‘Made In America Or Not Made At All,’ and their products come with a lifetime guarantee backed by award-winning customer service. The original Henry rifle played a significant role in the frontier days of the American West and is one of the most legendary, respected and sought-after rifles in the history of firearms. The company’s manufacturing facilities are in Bayonne, NJ and Rice Lake, WI.

Run, Hide, Fight

By

Keith Finch

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January 31, 2018

GAT Editor running a 'Break Contact' drill at a Teufelshund Tactical/HSP MP5 Operators Course

Locate.

Close.

Destroy.

These are the focus words of the Mission of the Marine Corps Rifle Squad. To locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver.

These words were my formal introduction to gunfighting.

They have no bearing on use of force as a concealed or defensive carrier. Defensive carry has one goal and that is to keep you alive.

Run.

Hide.

Fight.

These are defensive focus words. Anyone packing a pistol or any alternative defensive tool needs a defensive mindset loaded with them too.

The shift in mindset from the infantry squad to the individual or small group defense is based on two critical factors, mission and legality. These two factors are linked but have individual aspects we will address.

Mission

Unless you are an infantry squad on a contact patrol actively hunting a fight with enemy ground forces you are not on the offense. Concealed carry is a defensive mission. Law enforcement response, even active shooter response is a defensive mission. The objective is preservation of life, yours and others.

Mission objective doesn’t change how you apply violence (swift, sudden, and overwhelming) but it sets your trigger criteria for becoming violent.

As a defensive carrier you are going kinetic when it is immediately necessary in order to extract yourself and those under your care from a lethal threat. You are not hunting an active engagement. That is someone else’s job and your involvement can cause that to become infinitely more complicated.

Legality

Tied to mission, legality is the list of written legal permissions and obligations you possess for your mission. You need to be critically observant of these. They will make or break whether or not you will be subject to legal penalty for your actions.

Even troops deployed overseas in combat must observe concern for the legality of their engagements.

A defensive carrier must be, at all times, within the bounds of the law regarding their use of force and any action that pulls use of force into question increases your legal risk. This usually accompanies an increase in physical risk which is directly contrary to your mission of staying alive.

So Run. Hide. Fight.

The prompt for this article was commentary on a corporate active shooter course. Most are a joke that pay lip service to the ideas while giving little to nothing in actual training. The courses are checks in boxes on business to do lists that make HR, Safety, and Liability offices happy.

The theory itself is sound. It just needs to be seriously addressed.

Run

If a violent threat presents itself in your vicinity and you are able to evacuate yourself, do do. If someone or someones are running people down with a truck in the market, leave the market.

If someone or ones are entering a building and shooting people then the nearest exit followed by distance is your safest option.

Getting yourself off of the X and out of the area of immediate threat should be your priority. If you can do the same for others, excellent. Be constantly aware of whether or not your actions are increasing your own likelihood of becoming a causality.

Hide

If distance from the threat can’t be gained safely staying out of sight and using barriers as cover and concealment is your next tactic. Use any object in your environment that offers you advantage.

Thick dense objects offer greater protection from gunfire while any object of sufficient size can hide your and others presence. If the threat is seeking targets of opportunity its likely they will move on if they don’t see any.

Keep in mind while hiding that you may need to switch quickly to either Run or Fight. These three aspects of defensive tactics are constantly inter-working. They are not mutually exclusive.

While concealed, picking points that will be advantageous to ambush the threat and gain a violent advantage is a parallel observation and process to picking an expedient escape route and staying out of sight. Remain flexible, choose quickly, act, react.

Fight

The moment both Run and Hide become lethally high risk then its time to fight. These decisions and transitions will need to be made as decisively as they are rapidly.

When you fight, FIGHT!

The threat must be swiftly engaged and the ability for the threat to continue acting effectively must be destroyed. At minimum hostile action must be disrupted for enough time to extract yourself from danger.

Conventionally or unconventionally armed is irrelevant beyond how you’re delivering damage. Plan a swift, sudden, and overwhelming engagement.

Swift – When you move, move fast, you don’t have a sneak skill and speed will trump perceived stealth.

Sudden – Ambush the threat. Greater distance is your friend while evading but closer distances are your advantage engaging. Let a threat close as much distance as you can before your attack, the closer you are the more time you take away from their reaction. Use an off angle if possible, threats can react quickest head on.

Overwhelming – Like stated above your mission now is to destroy the threats ability to continue being a threat. Shoot them, stab them, strike vulnerable areas, use objects of advantage. Cause trauma to a level that is irrecoverable, at least short term, so that you can now assert control or escape.

As for injury? The situation you find yourself in already presents near imminent threat of harm and death so what do you have to lose? Don’t be the paralyzed individual who says to the news later “I couldn’t do anything because they were right next to me.”

So Run, Hide, Fight. When you fight, destroy. When the fight is won, Control and/or escape.

Simple enough?

IWI US: SHOT Show 2018

By

Keith Finch

-

January 29, 2018

IWI kicked off in the United States by bringing the Tavor.

Five years later they are set to have over 60 active products from Jericho pistols to the Galil ACE line up and adding the Tavor 7 and TS12. The original Tavor SAR21’s have been retired.

The Tavor 7 was teased and previewed well before SHOT. The IWI US Facebook kicked off that campaign awhile back.

The 7 is a culmination of the SAR21 original, X95, and adding successful elements of other 7.62 rifles. The gas system is similar to the FN SCAR by IWI’s description.

The ability to switch ejection by the end user makes this a one rifle for all shooters SKU and in a couple minutes you can hand it to an opposite handed shooter with no problem.

My range time with the 7 was limited but still informative. It has a recoil impulse similar to the highly regarded SCAR17, gentle for caliber. The gas system and reciprocating mass of the carrier I credit.

It’s a 4 setting short stroke. Normal, Adverse, Suppressed, and Off. When IWI took it apart at the booth to illustrate the ejection port shift they went through several features.

Dual ejectors and a robust extractor. A reversible cam pin’s orientation dictates case ejection direction.

Probably the most convenient addition was the case deflection gates. The Tavor 7 has built on sliding gates that open and close without tools. No screw driver installation like the current caliber conversions.

The 7’s will be entering full production shortly as soon as all the pieces (literally) fall into place for supply.

The TS12 is a more radical departure from IWI’s root products. A high capacity rotating magazine shotgun with an adjustable gas system for low and high brass.

Like its predecessor high capacity bullpups, the TS12 shouldn’t be treated as high cap for active use. The rotating magazine is manually activated from the front of the trigger guard and serves more like two independent 5 round reloads in addition to the actively feeding magazine.

The TS12 takes Beretta thread chokes (good choice) and the gas system adjustment is easily accessible in front of the charging handle. Talking with IWI, the R&D team is continuing to optimize it to cover the widest range of ammunition.

The TS12 is further out than the Tavor 7, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

The space bugs and covenant will just have to be patient.

The Galil ACE line was on display in pistol, SBR, and carbine formats.

IWI also confirmed work an a factory SBR that mirrors the fielded IDF X95, they had examples on the range. Having owned an 18″ Tavor I can see why they went to the littler X95. The thing moves!

Casualty Report: SHOT 2018

By

Keith Finch

-

January 29, 2018

The Media chaos cannot be over stated at SHOT…

And sometimes it takes a price.

We raise our coffee mugs this morning in salute of my Lenovo. It had done the work of this network for many years and made it through SHOT… But the assassin baggage handlers came when everyone was exhausted and guards were relaxed.

Never trust the mandatory gate baggage check.

So a replacement was hastily acquired and work continues.

SHOT Show 2018: The Monday After

By

Keith Finch

-

January 29, 2018

SHOT Show has concluded.

Now the industry work for 2018 kicks off in earnest. Manufacturers and distributors have orders to fill. R&D has work to do. Production will ramp up and the consumer information for the consumer base is being thrust into the public sphere.

Monday brings us all back to work. The GAT Network had dozens of exceptional conversations over the week and as they roll out across the networks we will continue to make certain you readers are as informed as we are here behind the keyboards.

This week is about continuing conversations and our most important conversation is with you. Let’s keep it rolling.

We Like Shooting 228 – 3 Seconds of the Devil

By

We Like Shooting

-

January 28, 2018

Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 228 – tonight we’ll talk about Canik TP9SFX, Secret Santa, 180 Second Ideas and more!

Source: https://welikeshooting.com/show/228/

WLS Double Tap 48 – Bowl Cut B#$&

By

We Like Shooting

-

January 27, 2018

Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 48, 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: http://welikeshootingraw.com/podcast/wls-double-tap-48-bowl-cut-b/

We Like Shooting 231 – Friyay!

By

We Like Shooting

-

January 26, 2018

Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 231 – tonight we’ll talk about Chain saws, whiskey Binoculars, poop and more!

Source: https://welikeshooting.com/show/231/

Torrent Suppressors

By

Eric TGL

-

January 26, 2018

To say the firearms industry has seen a steady increase with suppressor sales in the last decade would be a huge understatement. In what has always been a niche’ market, suppressors have begun to gain a wider acceptance in the sporting / hunting world helping educate buyers and lawmakers in what suppressors can realistically do and what they can’t, regardless of what Hollywood movies would have you believe. (Besides, they’re just cool to shoot with, right?) During this time, industry heavyweights have ruled manufacturing and sales. Thanks to these recent increased sales and technology, smaller companies have been able to come onto the scene and offer more innovative thinking, breaking from the “old guard” ways of designing suppressors. One company making big waves early is Torrent Suppressors in Texas.

As a former SWAT operator, now firearms instructor and magazine writer heading up the Swanson Media Group, I have been privy to a wide range of suppressor designs from some of the largest names in the industry for almost 20 years in which I use on a weekly basis with reviews and professional training. When industry “mover and shaker”, Clover Lawson called my office and said, “Hey Trampas, I got a new suppressor company I want you to review,” I couldn’t say no to her. As Clover was explaining their growing pains as a start-up company, she went into depth as to what the designers have come up with for their suppressors. I was very impressed with what I heard, as I tend to be with all the major projects Clover has delivered in the past. I couldn’t wait to have a review sample sent for testing. A few short weeks later, I received a call from my local FFL holder, Henry Mimms with Second Amendment Guns and Range in Yulee, FL to let me know a .30 cal suppressor had just arrived with my name on it.

First Impressions

Once I arrived at the shop and started the paperwork, I opened the Torrent Suppressor box and gave the product a once over. My first impressions were simple. I liked the appearance, compactness and lightweight of the design. This suppressor was Torrent’s T3 model made from Stainless Steel with an optional Titanium construction. Being a .30 cal suppressor, it was rated for anything in the field of 7.62 / .308 / 6.8 SPC / .300 BLK / 6.5 Creedmoor. For immediate testing, I brought along my 9” barreled SBR AR-15 chambered in .300 Blackout with some of my favorite 208 grain loads from the new Hornady Black series.

Specs

Caliber rating: 7.62/.30 CAL

Thread Pitch: 5/8 x 24

Length: 6.2”

Diameter: 1.45”

Weight: 9. oz titanium, or 16.5 oz stainless steel (FA rated

Decibel Rating: 121.2 dB (.300 BLK Subsonic)

Manufacturer: Tactical Arms of Texas

Material: titanium, or 17-4 SS

Color: Black/FDE/Raw

Initial Range Time

Considering the paperwork was recently mailed off to the ATF, personal visits to the range in which the suppressor will legally reside until the tax stamp returns will be how the first few months of testing will subsequently go. As I screwed the T3 suppressor onto my rifle, I noticed how well-balanced the added weight made it feel. Being a short barrel rifle, I am used to the 9” barreled .300 Blackout or BLK having all its weight overloaded up against my chest. With only adding roughly 5” of its overall 6.25” length to the barrel, the rifle remained still very compact. Maneuvering around the range, I noticed the better balance was easier to move from target to target and around corners.

So, it looked good and handled well, so how did it shoot? As it turned out, this would be the best part. Having already had the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 scope zeroed at 100 yards, I held roughly a 1” high as I normally would at 25 yards to hit the bullseye. I was curious as to what the suppressed “shift” would be as I have seen using other suppressors on this rifle. Depending on load, I have seen suppressors cause rounds to strike as much as 4” left or right and just as much distance lower of zero. Given the fact I was shooting at a ¼ of the zeroed distance, I was expected to see anywhere from an .75” to an inch at least.

Once the first shot broke, I couldn’t help by think, “Wow, this thing is quiet!”. Despite wearing electronic ear protection due to range rules, the shot report was low enough to not trigger the noise blocking protection. When actively blocking sound, the “ears” allow for sound such as people speaking to be heard at a normal level and engages an electronic block to high decibel noises.

As I pulled the trigger the second time, I could clearly hear the couple in the lane beside me talking about how their gun “kicked” when one of them shot it. Through the shot breaking, I never lost volume of hearing the couple next to me talk. The only interruption was the noise of a rifle’s bolt working back and forth and a mild bang at the normal level of a living room television.

After the third shot, I had to pull my target in and double-check what I was seeing through the scope. With getting caught up on how quiet the suppressor made the rifle, I didn’t focus on where my hits scored on the target, just held over the bullseye and pressed the trigger without true follow-up. To my surprise, one shot was at the bottom of the 1” bullseye and the other two made one large hole through the center!

After resetting the target, I took the suppressor off and shot 3 additional shots. This time, shots 1 and 3 were touching at the top of the bullseye and shot 2 was center of the target. I was amazed at the lack of noticeable shift at 25 yards. The accuracy was right on with most of my previously recorded shots from last month’s unsuppressed testing found in our AAC review but with much less shift in suppressed results. I made several notes and photographed both targets for my DOPE book.

Reattaching the suppressor, I loaded up 5 rounds into my new Magpul .300 BLK specific PMAGS and sent them downrange during a slow fire string. As I watched through the scope and listened to the bolt cycle with a muffled report, I could see the top of the bullseye form a hole growing larger with each shot. I couldn’t help but smile while one of the range workers walked over to admire the shot group. I loaded up another 5 rounds and put another group down range a bit faster resulting in a 1” group at the 1 o’ clock of the bullseye.

To finish up my first range testing, I ran a target featuring two targets side by side out to 15 yards. I ran two shots to each target freehand quickly back and forth. The rifle handled impressively with minimum sound and great accuracy. This was just a teaser to being able to get on the range and work on shooting drills around barriers and varying distances.

Wrap Up (For now)

Once the suppressor paperwork comes back from the ATF and I can get the suppressor out of paperwork “jail”, I intend on doing longer distance shooting with the .300 BLK as well as push the distances suppressed with my recent 6.5 Creedmoor build out to around 1000 yards or beyond. I am eager to see if there is a noticeable shift as distances multiple and if so, to what effect compared to the “big name” suppressor companies I have worked with in the past.

Overall, I was very impressed with the T3 .30 caliber suppressor from this new company, Torrent Suppressors. While the company is new to the market, the great minds behind it have been around behind the scenes for years gaining the knowledge and technology to ensure success moving forward in 2018. To find out more about Torrent Suppressors, go to www.torrentsuppressors.com and check out their growing line up of suppressors from .17 / .22 to 7.62 thus far with new products dropping soon!

Source: http://www.thegearlocker.net/2018/01/torrent-suppressors/