Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 220 – tonight we’ll talk about 30 carbine, Inforce, Blue Alpha Gear, Highjak86 and more!
We Like Shooting Double Tap 035 – Wookie Sex Slave
Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 35, Tonight we talk about tech, we’ll answer your questions on Dear WLS, we’ll talk about NOT GUNS, and revisit past gear on gear chat revisited. We’ll also watch our resident movie critic review another WLS video!
Gear Review: Midwest Industries SCAR SOCOM Handguard
From Jack Clemons
In 2004 the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) solicited an upgraded modular assault rifle system through the SCAR Program (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle). The winner of the program was FN Herstal and their rifle holds the title SCAR.
The Mk16 and Mk17 were brought operational with US Forces in 2009 and are fast approaching a decade of service.
FNH, capitalizing on their win with SOCOM, commercialized the SCAR with the SCAR16s and SCAR17s systems, built minus select fire and with 16″ barrels. The SCAR now serves as a service rifle in over 20 nations and has a massive popular following commercially in the US and worldwide. It’s an impressive weapon system with a well developed reputation for reliability and endurance.
However behind the scenes the wheels are always turning in PIP’s or Product Improvement Programs.
The SCAR was designed in 2004 but fielded in 2009 with five years of modern development time in between and eight years more post fielding with US Forces and commercial release.
During that time both government solicited and private aftermarket PIP’s have given us a vibrant aftermarket for the SCAR. One of the most notable was in 2010, SOCOM stopped procuring the SCAR16/Mk16 variant in favor of having a new lower receiver, bolt carrier, and barrel developed for the more favored Mk17.
SOCOM (rightly so IMO) figured that the legacy 5.56mm weapon systems in inventory were mission capable and as such the Mk16 didn’t offer a capability the HK416, M4A1, Mk12, and Mk18 couldn’t cover… the Mk17 was the rifle to invest in and PIP’s should and did revolve around the SCAR17 platform to give SOCOM and the rest of the SCAR’s user base the rifles they needed.
Commercially the SCAR16 is more popular though I recently saw numbers that suggest a 4:1 favoring of the SCAR17. While anecdotal, my own experience fits that pattern with multiple close friends owning SCAR17s rifles and most who have SCAR16s rifles own both 16s & 17s. AR’s are still largely favored in 5.56.
Me personally… I will own a both a 17s and a 16s shortly, but my preference is the 17. Chosen along the same logical lines that SOCOM used the SCAR17s is the one I would keep as my “One Rifle” in the ever popular hypothetical ‘if you could only have one gun’ scenario.
But let us return to the topic of PIP’s and leave a SCAR review for the future.
I covered how government PIP’s work briefly. The end users request an update, change, or addition and the requisite company roles it out for installation across the platforms per the request. Magpul’s SCAR Safety is smaller example in addition the various Mk17 modularity options seen in the poster above, all of them that are changes from the original Mk17 are the result of a PIP.
Internal PIP’s within the company can come in two forms. The first, we don’t as often notice, are subtle design changes and improvements. The shape of a selector switch or gas block. The change in material, fit, or finish on a piece or multiple pieces. Small design upgrades for the purpose of making the system more durable, reliable, easier to manufacture, and more cost effective as production and use continue. Companies do this continuously. The second and more noticeable are advertised generational improvements. The product has been revised, redesigned, and evolved enough for the company to announce the updates as an entirely new product with the previous one as legacy. The Glock Gen5 and Smith & Wesson M&P2.0 are good examples.
The final type are third party commercial PIP’s and this is how we develop a thriving aftermarket. Companies see needs or perceived needs and develop products to fit. These help keep products up with emerging technologies, tactics, techniques, and procedures. Not every development is useful or widely adopted but so many variations are tried and can be tried that product improvement can and does happen very rapidly.
Grips, triggers, stocks, sights, safeties…
And Handguard Rails.
Midwest Industries SCAR SOCOM Handguard
Back in May the results of a NSWC-Crane study found that of the newly developed competing mounting systems, Magpul’s M-LOK and VLTOR’s Keymod, that M-LOK exhibited better overall characteristics. While both were improvements over the legacy MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails M-LOK exhibited enough of an advantage that SOCOM adopted it moving forward. The US Military as a whole is following the lead of SOCOM and this can be seen in the new M110A1, the first weapon system to sport M-LOK over Picatinny as standard.
Fun Fact: Midwest Industries handguards were a part of the USSOCOM test, along with Aero Precision and Seekins.
With M-LOK chosen as SOCOM’s Gold Standard companies went full bore into production. Even BCM who had long been a KeyMod supporter just released the MCMR.
Midwest Industries, having had their M-LOK emerge victorious from the fires, has since gone gangbusters developing and fitting a myriad of firearms. AR’s, HK’s (MP5 review here), IWI’s Galil ACE and Tavor, CZ Scorpion…
And the FN SCARs
Midwest Industries has 16 handguards available for the SCAR. They are not new to upgrading the platform with their standard Picatinny, SSR, and standard KeyMod and M-LOK extensions.
The SOCOM series (4 in total) are the latest in the lineup and differ by lowering the profile of the forward 12 o’clock rail closer to the barrel instead of paralleling the top receiver rail, this allows a DBAL or equivalent laser aiming solution reduced offset from the barrel. This shorter SOCOM rail also lightens the design by 3.5 oz over the legacy.
The SOCOM adds 4.75 inches of space with a 4 slot picatinny rail at 12 o’clock forward of the front sight. 2 M-LOK slots each at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock forward of the gas block. 3 M-LOK slots replace the 6 o’clock under barrel rail. 2 single M-LOK slots go on in place of the stock polymer picatinny rails at 3 and 9 o’clock and one has a machined QD swivel mount, end user placed left or right. Perfect to keep my 2-Point Vicker’s Blue Force Gear Sling on the rifle and with less necessary additional hardware. The portion directly beneath the 12 o’clock picatinny rail is machined into a straight tube allowing removal of the piston for cleaning and servicing without removal of the handguard. Along the entire length, approximately every half M-LOK slot, Midwest Industries added small oblong machine cuts that increase the available griping surface area.
One M-LOK picatinny rail section comes with the SOCOM Handguard allowing immediate attachment of at least one of your picatinny accessories. My BCM Mod 3 short vertical grip in my case.
Adding the SOCOM to the SCAR17s has several immediate effects. Griping the rifle becomes much more comfortable, especially for AR platform shooters accustomed to more handguard real estate. The rifles forward profile is more svelte and streamlined with the absence of rails. A c-clamp grip becomes much easier. The continuous lower portion extending around the gas block allows for grips forward of the receiver not possible otherwise.
While I don’t shoot with my support arm fully extended my most comfortable support hand position would put my index and middle fingers firmly grabbing the gas block, less than optimal…
Bringing my hand further back onto the receiver wasn’t an unworkable solution however anything mounted on either picatinny rail had the potential to interfere. The MI SOCOM simplifies that and doesn’t force me to compete for real estate or compromise where I want to place mission essential equipment for best control access.
The SCAR is light but front heavy in its layout and initially the MI SOCOM compounded that. Live fire though the control advantage of having my hands ideally placed mitigated the weight shift completely.
In the categories of increased ergonomics, improved modular capability, and aesthetics the MI SOCOM for the SCAR gets my full recommendation.
Installation
On Midwest Industries Webpage and on the directions that come with the handguard is a very important line
-Gunsmith Installation Recommended
Why?
Tools
You need a torque wrench with a T25 bit and able to be set at 62 in/lbs. Ideally one adjustable from 35 in/lbs to 62 in/lbs or more by single lb increments. There are several SCAR specific torque wrenches available on the market but a gunsmith or armorer is likely to have them if you do not feel like making the purchase.
In addition to the torque wrench and bit, a heat gun is useful. Failing that a high BTU blow dryer will work. The screws holding the bottom rail onto the rifle are threadlocked and heat will help loosen them.
A proper hex wrench/allen wrench is needed to remove the side rails also.
You will be removing the SCAR’s barrel. This is why the 62 in/lb is essential. Remounting the barrel requires proper torque.
Midwest Industries provides a full installation video
As an armorer myself I took the opportunity to justify buying more tools.
The install is not a hard process but you must use the correct tools and follow the directions. Failure to do so will result in an unsafe gun, broken parts, or both.
Conclusion
I stated it above. The MI SOCOM Handguard took my primary rifle and made significant improvements to ergonomics and accessory management. I highly recommend the upgrade.
What to look for in a crossbow arrow
Sneaking through the palmettos, in stealth mode, I could hear hogs feeding ahead of me. The lip smacking and social snorts gave their location away, without them knowing it. I had my TenPoint Carbon Phantom RCX in my left hand and my arrow in my right. When I finally got a glimpse of black hog rooting in front of me, I slid my arrow onto the rail and seated it in place to shoot.
Two hogs worked in and out of cover, and I watched over my bow until one came into a shooting lane. I quietly clicked off the safety, leveled my crosshair on the pig’s shoulder, and squeezed the trigger. The pig let out a hair-raising squeal as it took off through the dense vegetation. I could hear it bouncing off trees and cover; then all fell silent. Tracking wasn’t difficult, as I had a complete pass-through with my arrow, leaving a significant blood trail.
My outfitter had stressed over and over, to shoot the hog in the shoulder to get to the vitals and have a quick, killing shot. It is advice we often hear the opposite for—never aim where our broadhead and arrow will meet up with bone.
I’m here to tell you the shot was fatal and we recovered the arrow. I was shooting an Easton Full Metal Jacket, knowing it has more weight than a standard carbon arrow, which equates to more kinetic energy and hitting power. The arrow drove the broadhead through the hog, and the aluminum jacket helped, by increasing viscosity and reducing friction. It was the perfect arrow for shooting a solid animal through the shoulder blades.
There are times when different arrows play a significant role in success. On a Nebraska whitetail hunt, I opted to use my TenPoint Pro Elite carbon crossbow arrow. I knew I’d have a shot between 25 and 40 yards and wanted to gain every speed advantage I could get. Whitetails are notorious for jumping the string and knowing I’d be lining up the vitals, without shooting through bone, I wanted my fastest option.
After three days of sitting, I finally had a nice 10-point buck wander into range. With his head down feeding at 38 yards, I placed my crosshair for a heart shot and slowly squeezed the trigger. The buck must have heard the shot and ducked quickly, causing the arrow to hit him in the spine and kill him instantly. Although it isn’t the optimal shot or one that a crossbow hunter would deliberately take, it was fatal and a quick kill. Using a lightweight, carbon arrow made the difference in harvesting the buck despite shooting over it.
When fractions of a second count, speed becomes important. The two hunting scenarios provide a rationale for different arrow selections for different hunts or animals.
The Carbon Phantom RCX spits arrows at 385 fps, making it ideal for any game. Whitetails are nervous by nature and anyone how enjoys archery has likely experienced a deer jumping the string. As the name indicated, the Phantom is quiet, and on the hog hunt, the quarry never heard it coming.
The Pro Elite carbon fiber arrows are 20-inches long with a 22/64ths diameter, fletched slightly offset with Q21 vanes. The arrows are fitted with a 68-grain brass insert and TenPoint’s neon yellow Superbrite Omni-Nock. Pro Elite shafts are inspected for straightness to within .003 and hand sorted for weight tolerance to within two grains per dozen, with the standard-weight of 425-grains.
Blue Force Gear Micro TKN
Every day carry used to mean gun, wallet, phone, knife keys, and whatever tokens people carried on an almost daily basis. Since the founding of the immensely searchable term EDC, an entire industry has popped up. Everything under the sun carries the EDC label, from key chains to belts. Sometimes it’s a crap concept, other times it’s fairly interesting, and a decent step forward. The Blue Force Gear Micro Trauma Kit Now seems to fall into the latter.
Blue Force Gear is most famous for producing the Vickers Sling, the Ten-Speed Mag pouches, and the standard TKN. I’ve owned a TKN for well over a year and it’s my go to IFAK I keep with the ‘adventuring’ gear. The Micro TKN was an attempt to provide a minimalist first aid kit for everyday carry, general adventuring, and more discreet tactical use. The Micro TKN comes with options for either Belt or MOLLE mounting. You can also purchase the kit at three different levels, one is empty, one contains the basic kit and the last is the advanced kit. Each containing a different level of medical supplies.
An EDC Medical Kit?
I went with the belt mounted basic kit. I wanted it to remain as small as possible and the advanced kit is certainly better suited for mounting to a vest than a belt for EDC. I’ve been carrying this as a member of my EDC whenever possible, with some clothing options in certain situations making it difficult.
Some folks look at me a bit odd when I talk about carrying a med kit every day. It seems extreme to some people. However, it seems more necessary than a firearm when I look back and think about it. As a civilian I’ve only used a gun once to defend myself, and I didn’t even have to fire a shot.
I have been in several situations where a Med kit would have been extremely valuable to have. Traveling home on leave once I came to serious accident with a rollover and an ejected driver. Medical services weren’t on scene, but two other people pulled over to help. One was a nurse who began immediate lifesaving treatment, but she had to improvise with what she had to stop the bleeding.
I can say the same when my dad put a nail from a nail gun through his hand, there wasn’t anything close to a medical kit within 25 miles. I could go on and on, I’ve cut myself to the bone once, I’ve found my way down a hill or two the hard way, and so on and so forth. It took me 24 years to figure out maybe some basic medical supplies could be a lifesaver.
If I’m carrying a gun for the one in a million violent situation then carrying a medical kit for violent situations, car crashes and everyday ‘oops’ moments doesn’t seem so extreme.
What’s in a kit
The basic kit includes the following gear,
1) Hemostatic dressing for wound packing/clotting (1 included)
2) 4″ Emergency Trauma Dressing (1 included)
3) 9″ Medical Grade Easy Tape (6 included)
4) Tourni-Kwik Compression Tourniquet (1 included)
5) Heavy Duty Medical Gloves (1 pair of large sized gloves)
The gear included is all extremely high quality and designed to patch up traumatic wounds. You can also add some minimal gear to the kit. I’ve included some basic bandages and antibacterial cream. (I’m a dad these are all necessary for a 6 yo.) Too much more than this is likely going to start sticking out and making itself more apparent. Although it’s not a gun, and it’s not like you have to conceal it.
The idea behind the Micro TKN is to divide the kit into two main pieces. The first is the main pouch that attaches to the belt, and covers the kit. The left and right sides are open and the pouch is elastic. The second portion is the slider. The slider is what carries the medical gear, and is designed to be extracted from the kit when needed. The slider has two handles that are easy to grab. Grab either one of these handles and you pull the slider from the main kit. It’s that easy.
This is one of the more genius ideas of the kit. Like the standard TKN you can remove the supplies and work where possible. Instead of having to try and retrieve medical gear from a static location you can rip the kit out and lay it wherever it’s easiest to reach. Back in my Marine Corps days a lot of us went to belt mounting our IFAKs for this very purpose, we could remove the entire belt and put the IFAK where it was needed to treat wounds. Blue Force Gear just simplified that by making the kit accessible from every angle.
Carrying the Kit
The kit itself is quite square and block like, it gives a Glock grip a run for its money. All the basic gear is really crammed in there, and it doesn’t provide the smallest overall package. Wearing it strongside like a gun isn’t an option in my opinion because it sticks out so far. It’s also awkward to try and to reach with the opposite hand.
The best and most effective way I’ve found to carry it is in an appendix style position. It conceals a lot easier, and makes it possible for me to reach the grips and pull the slider with either hand. It allows instant access to the kit, and if you carry appendix already, just carry on your opposite side. I carry this kit, my CZ P09, and a spare mag on my Daltech belt without issue, and without compromising concealment too much.
Doesn’t that get heavy?
No, it gets comforting.
Gun Review: Zenith Z5RS, The Everyman MP5
Since it’s introduction in 1964 the H&K MP5 has been arguably the most successful pistol caliber carbine. With over 100 variants produced, several international licensed manufacturers, and adopted by 40 nations for their police, military, and special operations forces, the little German space magic 9mm has a prestigious history that has stretched into 2017 with no sign of being lost to history yet.
Several companies have tried to retire the old warhorse with an updated design but as of this writing no one has successfully dethroned the MP5 en mass. Even H&K in 1999 with the UMP tried to usurp their own well aged weapon and didn’t succeed. The simple, smooth, rugged, and reliable little carbine is holding its own in the modern era. Plus it has a character and class all its own from its well earned reputation.
The MP5 entered my life through a strange array of events. There had always been a draw to the gun but from a practical standpoint the modern PCC field held other very good options and my “need” for a small operational defensive carbine was well looked after by my LWRCi M6. The MP5 platform was firmly on the “wants” list on my acquisition schedule.
Then my plans to attend a carbine class fell through and I suddenly had quite a bit of disposable income in close proximity to Brownell’s.
Enter Zenith.
The Virginia based company had entered into a partnership with MKE of Turkey, one of the most well known and prolific licensed manufactures of the MP5 and many other H&K designed firearms for the Turkish Military, Police, and export. That Zenith/MKE partnership has resulted in a boon for the MP5 market because they were able to do two things that H&K was not doing.
They were bringing the widest variety of true to form MP5’s to the market built on H&K machines and tooling with high grade true to spec parts… And they were doing so at about $1,000 less than H&K.
As of my purchase and this writing H&K had only one new for sale variant. The SP5K, a modernized SP89 which was itself only imported for 5 years. That one H&K variant then had to be modified to add anything more genuine (*cough “paddle release” *cough cough) or muzzle threading, tri-lug muzzle, etc.
Zenith on the other hand was making their full MP5 “carbine” line-up available.
- Z-5 with 16″ barrel and A2 stock
- Z-5RS (Reverse Stretch) is the classic 8.9″ barreled MP5 configured as a pistol or factory SBR and comes with a tri-lug and 1/2×28 threaded muzzle.
- Z-5P is the MP5K with a tri-lug and 1/2×28 threaded muzzle. Pistol
- Z-5K is the shortest dropping the tri-lug and threaded end from the 5P
And they all had the paddle release from the factory, something I wanted. Zenith has expanded those four options considerably since I acquired mine.
Sidenote: The Z-5RS is not a true “reverse stretch” MP5 as purists like to note. The RS was for inventory control designation as the true RS MP5’s are K models with the traditionally longer receiver. Zenith does not do that variant.
Now back to Brownell’s
Like I said I wandered in kind of bummed about my class and with some extra spending cash and ended up leaving with the Z5RS being shipped back to Michigan to await my arrival. To top it off I found another course, this one was MP5 specialty and I signed up.
I considered the H&K and Zenith side by side for a long time when I decided an MP5 was coming home, I could’ve done either. The traditional configuration won my buy as it was evident both weapons were of excellent quality.
For anyone reading saying “No man! Dakota Tactical is the way to go.” Those exceptional guns were not available for impulse buying on Brownell’s shelf… just means I need another gun. Plus this Z-5 rocks, keep reading.
The Z-RS
I won’t waste your time going over the specs. They’re right here for those interested. We’ll see you folks back here in a minute.
I have, as of this writing, approximately 5,000 rounds through my Z-5RS. I set a grueling training pace to try and bring myself up to speed on the the little unknown pistol carbine as I only had about 9 weeks to prep for my upcoming course.
A case and a half of ammo went down the barrel prior to June, two and a half cases in June, and a case since.
What have I learned about the Z-5RS in that time?
Reliability
I can count the number of stoppages I’ve had with the Zenith on one hand. Three were operator error, once each for three different shooters all riding the charging handle and shorting the bolt. One was an ammunition failure on a round of unknown origin (range pick up) and the last one I failed to seat the magazine, again operator error.
The Z-5 has not caused or experienced a failure of its own yet. I’m keeping an eye on the extractor spring, the fastest wearing part, but everything still checks out. That extractor spring is incredibly easy to fix once it gets worn too, I can keep this thing maintained and running nearly effortlessly.
Round counts between cleaning have gone above 1,000 with no noticeable shift in performance. You pull the trigger and the Z-5 shoots
Accuracy
The Z-5RS far exceeded the stated accuracy standard of 3″ at 25 meters that H&K lists for the MP5 with iron sights. With a red dot sight a 2-3″ group was achievable firing supported at about 60 meters.
People love to put arbitrary limits on pistol calibers but in reality they’re effective at far greater distances than most think. It was this education that placed the Zenith from the fun classic collectible it started as into an operational part of my every day carry.
Breakdown and Maintenance
The Zenith uses the traditional push pin design from H&K. One rear pin, (two for K models) one front pin, and, if you choose, the handguard pin all come out and the gun comes apart.
The tailcap, brace, or stock comes off.
The lower and trigger group come off the receiver.
The bolt carrier and recoil spring come out the back and the handguard strips off.
The recoil spring, carrier, bolt head, and firing pin assembly all separate with a few partial rotations leaving you with everything you need to clean neatly laid out. Stash your pins in a safe spot since they are not captive. Zenith provides spares just in case. Cleaning with the supplied cleaning kit, your favorite cleaner, and a cloth is simple.
Operation, Upgrades, and Customization
The MP5 certainly is a dated platform, it’s 53 years old and has not received the modernization attention that the AR15 has for two reasons.
First, it isn’t a military standard service weapon. It is a more specialist weapon system that the Global War on Terror (GWOT) didn’t demand nearly as much evolution from.
Secondly the MP5 hasn’t been huge on the U.S. Market (with only brief import by H&K for the available models and high prices) therefore aftermarket development was largely in Europe and little demand in the U.S. beyond the agencies who had them inventoried. Most such agencies saw little use the in cost of chasing upgrades. Just look at the number of patrol rifles in squad cars running iron sights and 20 round magazines to get a sense or your average LEO’s organizational momentum towards firearm optimization.
That particular aspect of market demand is changing and companies like SB Tactical, Midwest Industries, and Dakota Tactical are working the leading edge of that demand to bring the MP5 on par with other 21st century systems. The customization and optimization factors are on in full now with braces/stocks, modular handguards, optics, and more.
Operating the MP5 in the modern day however is reminiscent of operating an AK platform. There are just certain features it lacks due to design. The most notable are no last round bolt hold open and consequently no bolt release.
How much value you put in that ergonomic feature set varies from shooter to shooter. Some consider a non issue, others say its an inferior archaic blunder and vastly out performed by newer designs.
I fall into more the non issue category.
It’s been my experience and observation that someone who is proficient with the MP5 (or any platform) can consistently out perform someone who is inexperienced but has an ergonomically “superior” design. The operator is always the key to the systems efficiency and the Z-5RS is still a world class system and will likely remain so, along with the AR15 and AK47. For decades to come.
I’m an AR guy by training. The Marine Corps taught me that weapon system first and transitioning to the MP5 takes some shift in methodology.
Here are the key differences
- Safety Manipulation: The grip and safety location seem to have been made with Andre the Giant as the operator. Breaking your grip to reach the thumb safety is normal on the Z-5RS and the detent is mighty. Those shooters wanting a smooth 90 degree throw, this is not it, however it is much easier than the AK. I find the technique similar to breaking your grip for a pistol mag change, just a slight rotation of the wrist.
- Charging Handle: The Charging Handle and cocking tube are at a 45 degree angle on the left side over top the barrel, this is a preferred location for me. Pulling the handle back and rotating it up into its slot is the only bolt lock method on the weapon. Manually locking the bolt is often part of the reload method and then “HK Slapping” to release and seat the bolt.
- Magazine Manipulation: The Z-5RS and MP5 are not a drop free magazine. While they don’t “rock to lock” like the FAL or AK they are meant to be removed manually from the gun, not through gravity. This action is easy to couple with paddle magazine release although there is a push button on the receiver too. It would take a might large hand to reach that button though from a traditional grip.I’ve seen three methods to run a reload on these weapons.
The first is strip, feed, wrack… you pull empty magazine, seat the full magazine, then wrack the charging back and release. This method is quick but the possibility of having the magazine not seat on the closed bolt makes it sub par.
The second is strip, lock, feed, rock… you pull the empty magazine, lock the bolt open, then seat the full magazine with no closed bolt pressure thus making it easy, finally you rock the locked charging handle down (HK Slap!) and the bolt feeds the fresh round. This is the method taught to me by Haley Strategic’s James Williamson and is also consistent with stoppage clearances.
The third is lock, strip, feed, rock… you lock the bolt open, pull the empty magazine, seat the full magazine, and rock the charging handle down. This I found to be the smoothest flow on economy of motion since your hand flows back and down the weapon, then up and forward. However it is not consistent motion flow with stoppage clearance.
Choose wisely, practice.
Beyond that the ergonomics and manipulations are similar enough to the AR, SCAR, and other modern platforms to have very significant cross over.
Conclusion
I’ve never had a firearm I didn’t really intend to buy so firmly plant itself into my everyday routine. After training with the gun all summer and coming to appreciate the realistic capabilities it’s a regular as my vehicle, home protection, and work gun. Shooting it beside H&K’s, DT’s, Sigs, and CZs illustrated the Zenith Z-5RS’s quality, form, and function in spades and it is assuredly worth your consideration if a pistol caliber carbine is on your get list.
MP5’s might not be for everyone
But this one is definitely for me.
The Thyrm Switchback 2.0
The latest out of California!
Sunnyvale, CA — Thyrm introduced the SwitchBack in 2014, dramatically improving the most popular flashlights for military, law enforcement, and civilian use. Features included a pocket clip and a finger ring that provided increased flashlight retention and opened the door for new flashlight techniques.
The SwitchBack 2.0 is the next evolution, incorporating new features and refinements based on 1000’s of hours of use by subject matter experts and customers. New features include:
- stronger pocket clip that also works with MOLLE/PALS webbing
- pocket clip position that allows for deeper carry
- optimized design to ease installation
- wider thumb rest with traction features
- small crush ribs on the lip that create a custom fit across a broader range of lights
- aluminum spacer that expands compatibility to Streamlight HL and HL-X flashlights and other manufacturers with similar designs
- finger ring that releases under heavy force/torque, but can be reset
“We spent the last year paying close attention to our customer’s feedback, working with our experts to test dozens of prototypes. We couldn’t be happier with the new design,” said Andrew Frazier, CEO. “As with our other gear, we are proud to design and manufacture the SwitchBack 2.0 in the USA.”
The SwitchBack 2.0 is in stock and available for purchase at Thyrm.com and at authorized dealers.
About Thyrm®
Thyrm, LLC creates innovative products for tactical and wilderness applications. They specialize in outfitting users for a wide range of environments, such as military, law enforcement, and outdoor enthusiasts – people who depend on the field-proven simplicity and efficacy of their gear.
Alright that was Thyrm, now back to me.
The Switchback is a high utility product for one huge reason. Handgun Accuracy.
With conventional techniques using a handheld light and pistol reduces you to one handed shooting in nearly every case. Pistol mounted lights present their own challenges and limitations too and in most cases I and many others opt for the convenience of a handheld light over a weapon mounted. The Switchback allows you to go back to a modified two handed shooting technique and regain a portion of the stability you lose otherwise.
After shooting handgun in the dark with the two handed technique for the first time this past summer there is no comparing how much more consistent this can make your shooting.
On Bump Fire Stocks
Travis brings us a look at the most controversial technology in the firearms debate today. My personal feelings on the devices closely mirror his observations here.
From Travis Pike
There has been a lot of back and forth about bump fire devices in the last few days. We know of their involvement in the Vegas shooting, and as far as I’m aware this is the first crime committed with one present. Almost overnight bump fire devices have quickly become the target of anti gunners, and even had the NRA pushing the ATF to take a second look at them. Of course the talking heads on TV haven’t stopped discussing them. Per usual the news has greatly misrepresented what a Slide Fire stock is, and how it actually functions. CNN Probably has the winning animation in that category.
Today my goal is to clear up some misconceptions about Slidefire stocks, and bump fire in general. If you’re familiar with bump fire I’m not teaching you anything today. This article is for those who are unfamiliar with guns and want to better understand what a bump fire stock does.
It’s Not Full Automatic
I served five years as an 0331 Machine Gunner in the Marine Corps, I know what full auto is. My job was literally the application of full auto fire. The best a Slide Fire bump stock can do is kind of mimic full auto fire by helping you pull the trigger over and over again faster.
No device can make a semi auto weapon fire faster than you can pull the trigger. These devices simply facilitate a faster pulling of the trigger. You could, with practice, fire a weapon pretty fast. Be it an AR 15 or a revolver. Pro Shooter and Gun Grandpa Jerry Miculek is an excellent example of this.
You Do Not Need A “Stock” To Bumpfire
I first bump fired a gun by just holding it down at my waist, holding it loosely, and putting my thumb in my belt loop. Wrapping a rubber band around the trigger and taking almost all the tension from a trigger accomplishes the same effect also. Both methods allow you to bump fire a gun without adding a stock.
It’s Not Very Effecient
Prior to writing this I’d only tried a bump fire style stock once and decided it was fun, but too gimmicky and expensive to justify the cost. At the time I figured a bump fire stock was the living embodiment of a regretful impluse purchase. They look dumb, they are expensive, and as an actual stock they suck compared to something from Bravo Company or Magpul. It’s about as practical as the iPhone scope, the very definition of a gimmick for entertainment.
In terms of actually firing them they are a bit of a joke. Normally full auto rifles are controlled in short bursts, most rifles even capable of full auto fire are never used as such because of the ammunition waste. With that in mind a rifle equipped with a bump fire stock is literally jerking and sliding back and forth, by design, in the stock. This makes it almost impossible to control and effectively aim.
Additionally the system only works about half the time. It’s tricky to master and you can easily induce a stoppage by doing something wrong.
I borrowed one from a friend of a friend for this article and the issues I’ve had include:
- Failure to reset the trigger.
- Stovepipes
- The stock sliding off the buffer tube rendering the weapon basically useless
Comparing a rifle equipped with a bump fire stock versus a rifle with a standard stock and the difference becomes very clear. I’m more accurate, even when firing rapidly, with a standard stocked rifle. When it does work the bump fire stock is difficult to aim, and hard to control. You can’t effectively use the bump fire stock in a variety of positions, with kneeling being difficult and prone being close to impossible.
What are they for?
Bump stocks exist because people shoot for fun. That’s all these things are for, is to turn money into noise. I’m a fan of turning money into noise, but the bump fire is one of those things that’s more frustrating than fun in my opinion. I have more fun with a Gat crank on my 10/22 than any bump fire stock. As far as I know there are several models out there, and I haven’t tested them all. My experience with them all boils down to them being dumb.
Does that mean they need to be banned?
I don’t think so.
The people pushing to ban them are the same ignorant anti gunners that try to ban the ‘shoulder thing that goes up’ once a year. Right now with the demand so high the prices are ridiculous, and if you are thinking of buying one due to the fact they may be banned I wouldn’t recommend it. They aren’t worth it, and you could certainly regret it down the road.
With that being said, banning them sets a dangerous precedent. Email your legislators, email the NRA, and make your voice heard. If you’re a media member and have questions about the bump fire stocks feel free to ask.
Final Notes
Did the Bumpfire stock contribute to the deaths in Vegas?
I can’t say for certain but I doubt it.
Aimed deliberate fire would have likely been a more effective causality inducer than bumpfire, the inconsistency and inaccuracy of the bumpfire in all likelihood reduced deaths with more rounds fired that didn’t cause injury than did.
RELOADING FOR THE 1911
In our continuing series on reloading education Joel comes to us again with specifics for the classic warhorse, the M1911
What causes feeding problems in 1911s? Well, there are a number of them and some are more difficult to assess than others. For starters, case length can have a lot to do with it. Published trim-to lengths vary. Lyman lists it at .888 inch while in the Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady manuals it is .893 inch. Unfortunately, cases on new ammo can be even shorter. I have once-fired 45 ACP brass as short as .884 inch. Generally, cases between .888 inch and .898 inch will shoot consistently, all other things being equal. You will probably never experience cases longer than .898 inch for the simple reason that .898 inch is the maximum allowable and manufacturers won’t ever use cases that are already at the published maximum. And because pistol brass seldom elongates to the point of needing trimming, many experienced reloaders don’t even bother measuring case length for pistol brass any more. But case length is definitely worth checking if you’re having feeding problems. Too long isn’t the problem. Too short could be.
Another cause for 1911 feeding problems is the configuration of the bullet. Some 1911s will shoot virtually anything. Others are finicky. If you own one of the finicky ones, you’ll probably be more limited. Ball-type and RN bullet selections are an excellent starting point if you suspect bullet configuration could be causing your problems. If your gun won’t shoot certain bullet configurations with commercial ammo, don’t expect it to feed them just because you reloaded them. Your gun can’t tell the difference.
Another possible cause for 1911 feeding problems is C.O.L. The overall length of the completed cartridge can impact cycling and feeding. Some manuals suggest “tweaking” the C.O.L in the event feeding problems occur. I would strongly advise against that for the simple reason that there is a direct correlation between C.O.L. and pressures generated. And it doesn’t take much change in seating depth of a cartridge this short to change pressures significantly. Better to experiment with bullet configuration than seating depth. The C.O.L.s listed in the manuals are safe for each specific bullet and should be adhered to.
And finally, another possible cause for feeding problems in 1911s that is seldom considered is the springs in magazines, especially combining worn out springs with loads on the “hotter” side. Old springs simply lack the “oomph” to push the next round up fast enough.
The bottom line for the reloader? There are a number of things that can cause 45 ACP feeding problems. First and foremost, don’t vary C.O.L. That’s not a good idea under any circumstances. If your firearm doesn’t like a particular bullet, change bullets. If your cases are shorter than .888”, try cases between .888” and .898”. If your magazines are only a few years old, chances are you’ll find your solution in bullet selection or case length and not by replacing tired, worn-out springs. Flexibility is one of the primary reasons to reload – the ability to experiment with loads other than what is available commercially. Use it to your best advantage.
Want to know more about reloading that is not typically found in the manuals? You need to read, “Things They Don’t Tell You About Reloading.” As a certified reloading instructor who started in the late 60s, I wrote this book for that very reason – there simply wasn’t enough detail in the reloading manuals for a beginner to be able to safety begin this wonderful hobby.
Joel Guerin
Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
Reality Check: Las Vegas and the Soft Target Nature of Western Society
I cannot begin to categorize the level of stupid I’ve seen and read online surrounding this from all sides of this devastatingly tragic event.
So stop it. STOP! Fucking stop.
Before we address some the utter horseshit passing as analysis let me address why these attacks can happen and do happen in a free society. I have in the past and because of how a free society operates I’m sure I will need to rehash this again…
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The only reason you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and anyone else goes home safely without deliberate incident each day or each night is because nobody decided you were worth harming. It’s an analysis of risk vs reward and you ended up that day, like every other you weren’t assaulted, not being worth the risk to anybody. There are several personal and external factors that can influence that decision for each and every member of society but the crux of it is you simply weren’t worth harming for any reason to anyone else.
That’s it.
It was not the police, or the law against it, or any moral or ethical reasoning.
Those are influences that can be, and in this case were, disregarded at will when the decision to attack was made. Every attack on any scale, the attacker judges risk/reward and decided the reward was worth the apparent risks. The police, security, venue rules, the law, and personal/societal ethos are ultimately only dissuasive not preventative.
Additionally all those influences count for next to nothing when the attacker/(s) decide surviving is optional or undesirable in itself.
How does this keep happening? Will it keep happening?
Because we are a free and social society we are soft targets and anyone who comes up with reasoning to do so can take advantage of the fact that we gather in places for work and entertainment.
We can and do mitigate these risks with certain amounts of screening, monitoring, and staffing for security and emergency response both public sector and private. But these do not eliminate risk, only lower it.
22,000 people were closely packed together to enjoy a concert and it was targeted. The “Big House” in Ann Arbor Michigan has had crowds as large as 115,000. We put ourselves in places that make tempting targets.
We aren’t going to stop gathering and living. Nor should we stop. We as free members of a modern society can, will, and should keep enjoying the benefits of that society and we should do so without fear.
This doesn’t equate to being reckless or naive, but that concern shouldn’t paralyze or stop us. Be aware, not afraid.
What we have a tendency to put out of our minds are the inescapable risks a free society constitutes. We also like to overestimate our mitigation efforts and ascribe to them effectiveness that is largely attributable to a lack of motivation on the part of potential assailants not the effectiveness of the policy.
Gun Free Zones, TSA Screening, even NICS (arguably the most effective of the three) have been circumvented. Nothing can make them foolproof and for the most part they cannot be made more efficient than they already are (or arguably aren’t). Most arguments to the contrary such as “Universal” background checks are more an emotional panacea than an effective or enforceable solution.
All multiple shooter, false flag, deep state conspiracy theory types can kindly stop reading. I’m not ascribing you the intelligence necessary to follow any of the analysis that follows.
While we still don’t know the specific motivator or particular circumstances behind the attack the overall astonishment and asinine “he couldn’t have done it/how could he do it?!” speculation is well…
How did he get that many weapons and that much ammo into the hotel?
Through the front door. The casino hotel serves hundreds to thousands of people daily, they all have bags and luggage. Some are even there for events related to shooting, training, or competition. Luggage is not out of the ordinary, firearms aren’t even that out of the ordinary. Among the thousands of bags and people coming and going who was going to pick up on the shooter specifically. Oh, and he was a known spender in Vegas which gives staff extra reason to not get in his way and be very helpful so that he spends more.
People assume something would be out of the ordinary… that’s an after the fact justification and not a sound theory based in reality. The reality is no one gave this guy any more mind than any other hotel casino guest, why would they. No threats on social media, calls to the venue, calls to the hotel, nothing to flag a threat.
How could a 64 year old do this? It was too far… How could he be accurate? No way he could shoot that fast and control it… and other nonsense..
There’s a 63 year old man wielding a 30lb rifle from the shoulder. But there’s no way this other guy in his 60’s could have effectively fired a notably low recoil rifle from a supported position… Makes sense…
No matter what utter pile of garbage reasoning you come across on the trolling depths of the internet, this attack was not as difficult or complex as people seem to believe.
From the 32nd floor he was 1100 ft (367 yards) from the venue.
The M16 has an effective point target range of 500 meters. A point target for those who do not know is a single man sized target standing on its own. The effective range against an area target is 800 meters. An area target would be a vehicle, equipment, or small cluster or troops (3-5). The shooter was well within both of those distances.
And while no, the AR is not precision controllable in full auto against a single target as people are tripping over themselves to point out currently. There were 22,000 people at the venue tightly packed listening to the concert.
High fire rate accuracy is dependent on the size of the target. A small target would require a shooter to reacquire and fire short controlled bursts. 22,000 people is not a small target.
The fact that the casualty count was 86 dead and 458 wounded is tragic, but not unbelievable.
My apologies those were the stats for Nice France, method of injury in that attack was a truck.
Las Vegas has 59 dead and 520+ injured as of latest count… again, tragic but not unbelievable.
So please… to all those perpetuating the idea that one determined evil individual could not possibly have committed this act… You are wrong.. and stupid.
We continue to await more information on the motives of the shooter and are watching the inevitable calls for gun control.. Apparently we need to ban Silencers because they were not present during the attack nor is one currently attributed to the shooters ownership.
Review: Midwest Industries MP5 M-LOK Handguard
I’m not sure what kind of space age super food the folks at Midwest Industries are pumping their mad scientist engineering department with… but keep that up. They’ve been going gangbusters on product design and bringing to market a smorgasbord of upgrade options for a multitude or weapons platforms.
One such platform, very relevant to my interests and recent acquisitions, is the MP5. I acquired the Zenith/MKE Z5RS pictured above back in April and Midwest Industries has brought the MP5, MP5k, HK93, and HK91 along on their accessory upgrade tidal wave.
The Z5RS is the traditional MP5 layout and Midwest’s MI-MP5M fits the bill to take the stock plastic shell handguard away and add a modern equipment interface. M-LOK recently proved the most resilient of the new negative space handguard accessory systems when pitted against it’s rival Keymod and both compared to the traditional 1913 Picatinny.
Zenith is offering the Z5’s with Midwest’s Rails as stock models with their SB Rail series too. You can get the very same firearm I modded together from a stock Z5RS straight off the shelf now.
The MI Handguard itself is 4.8 oz of 6061 hardcoat anodized aluminum. 1.6″ wide it sits slightly wider than the receiver of the Z5. It gives plenty of space and ventilation around the barrel and adds 15 full and 5 half M-LOK slots for mounting. The “dimpling” recesses on the corners of the M-LOK space add a bit more contour for your hands and a visual distinction I like.
2 anti rotation QD points are machined into the rail near the receiver and if paired with MI’s Tactical Sling Adapter allow a 2-Point to be run comfortably. Personally I run a single point sling but may explore this option later.
It slides right into place where the original plastic handguard was, a slim aluminum shelf mates up with the receiver and then a locking collar braces it from the front.
A single hex head solid cross bolt replaces the push pin. The two smaller hex screws can be loosened to angle the collar a bit for fitting.
All in all Midwest Industries continues to produce excellent upgrade options and these MP5 handguards are no exception and I’m excited to see the partnership with Zenith. But if you don’t grab a factory model you can still add it in about 5 minutes to your own to add lights, lasers, grips, or GoPro’s to your hearts desire.
So if you need it, head out to your local MI Stocking retail location or drop one to yourself from Midwest Industries directly!
Now off to play with their SCAR handguard… pay no mind to my gleeful cackling.
We Like Shooting 214 – We Like Shooteristing
Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 214, tonight we’ll talk about Rand CLP, Bullpup shoot roundup, Vortex Strikefire, Bigshooterist and more! Our panel tonight, the machine gun moses, Aaron Krieger, Jeremy Pozderac from River’s Edge Tactical, SavageAF, High Priest of the Great Old Ones – Nick Lynch, and my name is Shawn Herrin, Our guest is costar of Freedom Fighters TV, Author of the Evolution of the Black Rifle and YouTuber, Jeff Zimba aka, Bigshooterist – welcome to the show!
Practical Urban Carbine with Sentinel Concepts
I recently had the pleasure of attending a Practical Urban Carbine Class that was instructed by Steve Fisher of Sentinel Concepts. If you aren’t aware of who or what sentinel concepts is you find more information about them here. They offer a variety of classes in their training curriculum. I was pretty excited about this class because its different from a standard carbine class and is only offered a few times a year. Before I get into more detailed specifics on the class, here is what Sentinel Concepts has to say about the class.
The premise of this class is based on the US Census Bureau report that 80% of the American Population lives in Urban areas. An urban area’s location is characterized by high human population density and defined within an area approximately of 200-300 yards and surrounding. Using these metrics this mid-level course reintroduces students to their rifles, working in varied terrain, and over distances between 0 and 300 yards.
With that being the basis of the class, I quickly realized this wasn’t going to be a normal carbine class of shooting at a max distance of 100 yards. I have been to a few carbine classes over the years hosted by different instructors. Most of those classes consisted of a max distance of 50 yards. Don’t get me wrong nothing was wrong with going to those classes, but after attending a few and getting the fundamentals down I was itching to shoot at more intermediate distance.
The class took place at the Brownells Shooting Range in Searsboro, Iowa. They have a pretty beautiful range with tons of steel, barricades., and shooting bays to die for. We used the 600 yard range for the class. The class was about a 50/50 split of responsible armed citizens and Law Enforcement. The class was also about a 50/50 split of 1x power red dots to variable power optics. The gun I ran for this class was an ADM MOD 1 LE. The Practical Urban Carbine curriculum is a three day class and includes low light shooting. This was a two day class due to some range consideration and logistical issues. Not to worry, a lot of learning from the students still happened. Just a reminder this isn’t a synopsis of the entire class, it’s a few things I think are really important to get out to you guys and gals.
Steve started off with the medical brief and a basic introduction about the class and some of the information we would be covering. The first half of the day we talked about, debated, and zeroed our rifles. If you are unsure what the term zeroing means, I would take a second and read about zeroing here. Steve is a big fan of running a 200 yard zero, and no that wasn’t a typo. Notice I said a 200 yard zero not a 50/200 yard zero. Yes, there is a difference and the 50/200 yard zero is close but not the same. In the past five or so years the 50/200 yard zero has become pretty popular among the training community and law enforcement. Steve went on to explain a lot of people are switching over to a 50 yard zero due to range limitations which Is understandable, however they seem to think without confirming at 200 yards they have a hard 50/200 yard zero. Guess what we did next? Yeah, we got a good hard zero at 50 yards, and then shot 100-yard target to see the difference. Then we finally shot at 200 yards and made adjustments and everyone confirmed their 200 yard zero.
Notice in the pictures, I had a hard 50 yard zero, then my point of impact shifted at 100 yards, and finally my point of impact at 200 yards. I took these pictures to prove a 50 yard zero is not the same as a 200 yard zero. No adjustments were made after the 50 yard target was shot. The black boxes we were shooting are 3 inches by 3 inches. No adjustments were made after zeroing at 50 yards.
After getting the zeroes knocked out we went over Sling usage and sling positioning on the guns. I would love to talk more about slings and sling usage because I feel it’s a lost art, but Il let you guys go to a class and get your learning on. It would benefit you more than hearing me go on and on about it.
All of day two was pretty barricade heavy and it was great. “Barricades are one of the most underutilized and under taught subjects in shooting and Law Enforcement” explained Fisher. We went over the basic shooting positions like kneeling, sitting, squatting, and everything in between before we started playing using the barricades. This was important so students could understand the limitations they had with their bodies and how comfortable they were before the barricades came out.
When The barricades finally came out everyone ran through them left handed, right handed, kneeling, squatting, and sitting. Then we bumped back to a further distance and did it all over again. The best part was getting all these reps in made students more comfortable and they figured out very quickly what position worked for them individually as a shooter compared to the guy or gal to their right. Fisher was great about showing people a way to do something not THE way to do something. Options are great to have especially when you think real world applications of shooting from cover. Cover can change and isn’t always going to be the same piece and all perfect like what you practice with on the range.
At 200 yards things got interesting. Fisher introduced controlled pairs to us. One sight picture and two trigger pulls. This had a few teaching points to it. If you are doing everything correctly like using your sling, a good solid base, and proper recoil management, then your chances of getting both your hits on the steel were pretty good. Before anybody says it, its way harder than it sounds.
After all the fun was had at 200 yards we bumped back to 300 yards. This is where things got interesting. At 300 yards the sling becomes more important and a variable power optic becomes very useful. All the students running one power optics were really good shooters, but at 300 yards a lot of people were having trouble even seeing the steel plates let alone being able to get a clear sight picture. Some of these guys didn’t have an option on what they could mount on their rifle due to their department policy, but it was a good learning experience for them to see what their limits where with their rifle setup. Thus enter the Variable power optic, it was nice being able to crank up the magnification and gather information. Most of the students in the class hadn’t actually done all too much shooting at 300 yards, so it was nice to not only be able to shoot at that distance but also do it behind barricades.
Like I said before this wasn’t a full synopsis of Fishers class, it was a few key points and some important information I wanted to talk about. There were way too many golden nuggets in the class to talk about, and people need to hear and see for themselves. I literally have four pages of notes with awesome information on them I couldn’t fit into this article.
Here are a few important notes that most of the class seemed to key in on. Slings are important as well as sling setups on the rifle. Zeroes and knowing your zero is important. Knowing what your limitations are with your carbine setup are important, as well as how your setup works with barricades. Also barricades, barricades and more barricades. Cover is no joke when things get real and knowing how to use your cover to your advantage is something worth practicing.
All in all, the class was very informative and everyone learned something and had a few takeaways. If your someone who has been thinking about getting into a class like this are or looking for something different than the normal carbine class I would highly advise you give this class another look and sign up.
We Like Shooting Double Tap 029 – In 10 years
Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 29, Tonight we get all Techy, we’ll answer your questions on Dear WLS, we’ll talk about NOT GUNS, and revisit past gear on gear chat revisited. We’ll also watch our resident movie critic review another WLS video! All this and more on tonight’s Double Tap
We Like Shooting 213 – 4 Gatos
Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 213 – tonight we’ll talk about Brownell’s, Vortex, Ruger American, Propper, Magpul, Smith & Wesson, HB Industries, Conceal Carry, Black Rhino Concealment, Manticore Arms, JCAA Ammunition and more!