Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 234 – tonight we’ll talk about Welcome to the We Like Shooting Show, episode 234. Tonight we will talk about Buckeye Targets, Muzzle Breaks, SOG Spirit, 22Plinkster and more! and more!
A Pediatrician Explains the AR-15
The Doctor will school you now.
From Dr. LateBloomer
The “AR-15” is the common name for a style of semi-automatic rifle which is perhaps the most misunderstood firearm in modern history. To listen to gun controllers, one would think that this style of firearm had emerged from the depths of hell, become sentient, and started attacking residential subdivisions across the country. I am here to attempt to explain in layman’s terms what this firearm is, why it is so popular, and to dispel ignorance and myths about this useful rifle design.
The main caveat is that I am doctor not a gunsmith. I am merely an owner and enthusiast of this style of rifle. I have shot my own versions many times for recreation and in competition. I have torn down and reassembled them myself on many occasions. I should also note that my particular rifles spend their evenings locked up in my safe to prevent them from escaping and terrorizing the neighborhood at night. Which is more than I can say for several neighborhood dogs.
Semi-automatic
The “AR” is NOT, repeat NOT a “weapon of war”. Why? Current military rifles are select-fire – the gun fires a burst or continues to fire as long as the trigger remains depressed until all the ammunition is gone. There are already restrictions in place on fully automatic firearms, and there have been since 1934.
The AR-15 is a SEMI-automatic rifle – one pull of the trigger results in one shot fired. That’s all. It is NOT a “military” weapon. Semi-automatic firearms have been around for well over 100 years. There is nothing new or insidious about the mechanics of semi-automatic firearms. People have used them for generations, and it is the dominant style of firearm in current use.
Origins
The AR in AR-15 stands for “ArmaLite Rifle” – which is the name of the company which came up with the original design in the late 1950’s. Armalite subsequently sold the rights to Colt, which went on to manufacture the full-auto military version. “AR-15” has become the popular generic name for the style of rifle, but the AR does NOT stand for “assault rifle”, and average citizens may only purchase semi-automatic versions. Here is a timeline for those who may be interested. https://www.ammoland.com/2016/04/ar-15-rifle-historical-time-line/#axzz57hEpGDub
Modularity
The reason for the popularity of this style of rifle is its modularity. Parts can be swapped out for different versions with relative ease. That means that the average gun owner (or pediatrician) can make his or her own cosmetic modifications without paying a gunsmith to do the work. The problem is that those cosmetic modifications are widely misunderstood by the non-gun owning public. Many people (including lawmakers) who are ignorant about how firearms actually work, assume that those cosmetic features somehow make the rifle more “deadly”, when in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. None of the features that “define” an AR in the public’s imagination change the way the firearm functions. The internal mechanics remain the same as any other semi-automatic firearm. An analogy would be to say that just because you’ve added racing stripes to a car’s paint job, and hung fuzzy dice from the rear view, doesn’t mean that you’ve done anything to actually make the car go faster.
Flexibility
One of the advantages to modularity is that the AR is easy to disassemble. It is composed of two main parts – the upper receiver and the lower receiver – which separate by pushing two pins. The reason this is advantageous is that many uppers and many lowers are interchangeable, allowing flexibility for different uses. For instance, I have a whole separate upper receiver designed for a slightly different caliber ammo, so that I can use the gun for hunting large game. I just pop one upper off, and pop the other upper on, and I’m ready to transition from target matches to deer season. Additionally, I have a bolt adapter (an internal part that slides into the gun) which allows me to shoot an even smaller caliber of ammo for steel target matches. Thus, my particular AR – with the right parts – allows me to shoot three different calibers of ammo for three different types of shooting, without having to own three separate rifles.
I’ll now attempt to explain some of the cosmetic features, and why they make for a popular and useful rifle.
Adjustable stock
The adjustable stock was one of the features singled out during the failed “Assault Weapons Ban” of the 1990’s. This feature simply allows the firearm stock length to be adjusted to fit different size users. In other words – it can be made comfortable for the arm reach of a small-to-average size woman like myself. Without an adjustable stock, I would be forced to find (and pay) a gunsmith to saw off and reshape a solid stock to fit me. Because of the AR’s modularity, I was even able to perform a swap-out of one style of adjustable stock for another – all by myself. Banning adjustable stocks sounds a bit silly and even sexist now, doesn’t it?
Pistol grip
This feature was also on the banned list. There is nothing nefarious about a pistol grip. It is simply a chunk of rubber or plastic which allows the user to keep a firmer hold on the firearm. Maintaining better physical control of a firearm sounds like a safety feature to me, not something “dangerous”. I have personal experience in swapping out the pistol grip on my rifle for one of a different color (an operation performed at my kitchen table), and I can confirm that this piece of hollow plastic isn’t any more “dangerous” than a doggie chew toy.
Barrel shroud
This is yet another feature that was on the banned list. Though the word “shroud” certainly sounds menacing, another name for this component is “hand guard”. The purpose of this feature is to keep the user from burning their hands on a hot barrel, because firing a gun generates heat. There is nothing dangerous or evil about keeping someone from burning their hands. In a traditional style rifle, wood serves that purpose. Modern hand guards are now available in a variety of colors, designs, and materials for those who like to personalize their firearms. (like myself)
Flash hider
This is another previously banned piece of metal. Its only purpose is to reduce the amount of flare/flash that comes out of the end of the gun when it is fired. That flash can sometimes interfere with the shooter’s vision in lower light conditions. I consider this one to be a safety feature as well, as you never want a shooter’s vision to be obscured. It in no way makes the firearm more “dangerous”.
Magazine
This is a “gun part” that is not actually part of the gun. (it is NOT a “clip” – a clip is something entirely different)
A magazine is nothing more than a spring-loaded tube that pushes ammunition upward into the gun. It works almost exactly like a Pez dispenser. A magazine is composed of a square-ish hollow plastic tube, a spring with plastic on both ends, and a bottom sliding lid to keep the spring inside. That’s it. Nothing evil there either. The capacity of the magazine doesn’t mean a whole lot because with a little bit of practice changing magazines can take about 2 seconds (even less if you are a competitive shooter). That means that in place of a standard 30 round magazine, using three 10-round magazines would take only 4 seconds longer to fire the same number of shots.
To summarize all of the above:
- The colloquially named AR-15 is NOT a “military” rifle, or a “weapon of war”.
- The AR-15 style rifle has been around for some sixty years, and semi-automatic firearms in general for over one hundred years.
- “AR” stands for ArmaLite Rifle, NOT Assault Rifle.
- The AR-15 functions like every other semiautomatic firearm.
- The external modifiable features of an AR-15 do NOT make it any more “dangerous” than any other semi-automatic rifle.
- Those external modifiable features DO however make the AR-15 more comfortable, more safe, and more user-friendly for people of all different sizes and body types, thus making the AR-15 the most popular rifle style in America.
USPSA Ladies Handgun Championship Sponsored by SIG SAUER
CNN Analyst: Women Carrying Guns Is Not Practical
Editor’s Note: Ha! Okay.
While I’m busy informing all the armed women I know that they are being impractical (I’m certain that will go over splendidly) SIG SAUER is impractically sponsoring the USPSA Ladies Handgun Championship being impractically hosted at Rockcastle Shooting Center in Kentucky. Who is attending?
AUSTIN TX – A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League (AG & AG) is pleased to announce that SIG Sauer is the Title Sponsor of the first-ever USPSA Ladies Handgun Championship to be held at Rockcastle Shooting Center on Sunday, October 7, 2018. This match comprises the final day of the A Girl & A Gun Fall Festival, which includes shooting clinics and competitive events for women throughout the Mammoth Park, KY, property.
“We are so honored to have the confidence of Mike Foley and USPSA to roll out the first-ever all-ladies match,” says AG & AG Founder Julianna Crowder. “We have so many talented female shooters in this sport, from A Class to Grand Masters. It will be fun for us to have an opportunity to come together for competition as well as camaraderie.”
The SIG Sauer USPSA Ladies Handgun Championship match consists of 8 fun stages with a round count of over 250 rounds. It will have a combination of challenging small, medium, and large courses of fire to test every skill level. Event staff includes experts in match design and match management to deliver an exceptional experience. The event concludes with a prize table and awards ceremony.
John Scoutten and crew will be on-hand covering the action for Jim Scoutten’s Shooting USA, and Tony Pignato will be covering the match for direct to social media production. This match will welcome more than 100 women from across the country. Membership to AG & AG is not required. Registration is open at AGirlandAGun.org/fallfest.
About A Girl & A Gun
A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League (AG & AG) is a membership organization whose events have been successful stepping stones for thousands of women into the shooting community and fostered their love of shooting with caring and qualified instructors to coach them. AG & AG breaks barriers for women and girls in the area of self-defense and in pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooting sports by welcoming beginners to learn the basics of safe and accurate shooting and providing experienced shooters with advanced-level opportunities. The club has more than 5,000 members in 48 states, with chapters that host recurring Girl’s Nights Out at more than 150 ranges throughout the nation.
Assault Weapons Ban of 2018, Introduced by David N. Cicilline of Rhode Island.
Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) formally introduced a bill on Monday to ban assault weapons.
From Cicilline’s webpage
The Assault Weapons Ban of 2018 will prohibit the sale, transfer, production, and importation of:
· Semi-automatic rifles and pistols with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine;
· Semi-automatic rifles with a fixed magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds;
· Semi-automatic shotguns with a military-style feature;
· Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds;
· And 205 specifically-named and listed firearms.
As of this morning the full text of the House Resolution is not in the official record however Scribd has what appears to be the text here. It’s 126 pages.
From the surface it looks to prohibit the future transfer of just about every semi-automatic firearm.
The term ‘semiautomatic assault weapon’ means any of the following, regardless of country of manufacture or caliber of ammunition accepted:
(A) A semiautomatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any 1 of the following:
(i) A pistol grip.
(ii) A forward grip.
(iii) A folding, telescoping, or detachable stock.
(iv) A grenade launcher or rocket launcher.
(v) A barrel shroud.
(vi) A threaded barrel.
(B) A semiautomatic rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds, except for an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.
(C) Any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle but not convert the semi-automatic rifle into a machinegun.
(D) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any 1 of the following:
(i) A threaded barrel.
(ii) A second pistol grip.
(iii) A barrel shroud.
(iv) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
A semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.
(E) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
(F) A semiautomatic shotgun that has any 1 of the following:
(i) A folding, telescoping, or detachable stock.
(ii) A pistol grip.
(iii) A fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 5 rounds.
(iv) The ability to accept a detachable magazine.
(v) A forward grip.
(vi) A grenade launcher or rocket launcher.
(G) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
It then lists the 205 specific models banned from sale and transfer. ARs, AKs, SCARs, Tavors, Etc. all on the ban list.
The real insidious language is in the pistol ban.
A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any 1 of the following:
(i) A threaded barrel.
Every pistol which has a barrel that can be removed can accept a threaded barrel. That is nearly every modern semi-auto since the 1911.
Good news! So far they are not taking our chainsaw bayonets though, just our stash of rocket launchers. (vi) A grenade launcher or rocket launcher.
There is, of course, a law enforcement and government carve out.
These congressmen do of course support the second amendment so you can keep ones that were legal prior to the enactment of this ban but those guns die with you because they cannot be transferred.
There’s also language for establishing a government database for tracking crimes specifically with assault weapons. The FBI’s UCR is not good enough apparently.
As for the chances of passage. That depends entirely on Republican support. If they cave and give the support it could hit the president’s desk.
If they don’t support it they will be vilified as uncaring NRA pocketed child murder supporters just like anyone who currently owns any of the firearms covered and dares to question the logic or effectiveness of this measure.
It would be ineffective.
Of the hundreds of millions of firearms in circulation today this covers a large percentage and even assuming 100% compliance (an impossibility) this still leaves those millions in private hands for the better part of a century and does nothing against firearms not covered or people who will ignore the law.
When the law is ignored and another headline grabbing mass homicide happens this law and that tragedy can be leveraged for immediate forfeiture of all ‘assault weapons’. Just remember they aren’t coming for your guns, they respect the Second Amendment.
That confiscation would also be ineffective without 100% compliance.
Like I wrote last week. If someone believes private firearms are the problem and are advocating for anything less that a total ban and forfeiture they are either lying or naive.
Sunday Sermon: Accuracy > Speed
Can you hit your target?
If YES, how quickly?
I see plenty of video evidence all over the range of social media showcasing speed but almost, with a select few exceptions, none showcasing accuracy at anything beyond arm’s length. Many people move to the second point before thoroughly addressing the first because the second looks better on camera or that is what they are seeing over and over online.
In any fight involving gunfire there are two ways that fire can be considered accurate. Effective fire and suppressive fire. Effective fire hits the target directly, damaging and disabling. Suppressive fire controls the target’s movement.
From a personal protective standpoint effective fire is what we are dealing with. It would be a wildly rare defensive gun use that sees a civilian or LEO using a sidearm (or rifle) for suppression. With the exception of belt fed weapons or a team using multiple rifles a single defensive shooter does not have the ammunition to maintain suppression. Suppression also damages the area suppressed, a significant concern where collateral damage to bystanders and property must be accounted for.
Effective fire, shots delivered to the center mass of the chest cavity or CNS to disable a threat’s ability to fight.
What do you do to assure you can deliver those shots at necessary distances? I’ve seen shooters miss an 18″x30″ target at 5ft. The shooter was so focused on getting a shot off they didn’t bother to make sure it hit what it needed to.
https://gatdaily.com/skills-maintenance-evaluation-speed-accuracy/
The drill at the link is my humbling favorite. Dot Torture requires one box of ammunition. It works two handed, one handed, and off handed shooting. It works multiple targets. It works drawing from a holster. It works reloads. It does this all in 50 rounds using 10 small targets.
You get no points for speed in Dot Torture. Only hits count.
You may very well get no effect on a threat if you do not connect rounds.
Someone trying to kill you will not care how blindingly fast you missed them.
Many Reloading Accidents are Preventable
The following pictures are not intended to scare people away from reloading. Literally millions of rounds of ammunition are safely reloaded by consumers every year. But these pictures are intended to point out the need for quality education in order for someone to be able to reload safely. There are risks associated with either a “careless moment” or a freak accident that still could have been prevented.
The injury depicted in this first picture occurred before the reloader in question even used his priming equipment. He was filling an aluminum priming tube the way countless aluminum priming tubes are filled, by pushing the soft plastic tip against primers to push them up into the tube. The only difference is, one primer accidently ignited as it was being picked up, which caused a chain ignition of only seven other primers that had already been loaded into the tube. One can only imagine what would have happened if he had been near completing loading the 100 primers the tube was capable of holding.
Priming tubes with proper shielding (typically a steel tube surrounding the aluminum tube that holds the primers) are quite safe. But as you can see, loading that tube in the first place could be a tad dicey. This reloader now uses a vibratory tube filler. It is also possible static electricity, rather than pressure, caused this ignition. A simple $5 static-guard wrist strap could have prevented that from occurring. And SAAMI recommends all presses that use bulk priming devices be properly grounded (against static ignition) and the tubes of primers be properly shielded to protect the operator (regardless of the source of ignition).
This second picture resulted from a very experienced (thirty-year reloading veteran!) having a momentary lapse in judgment. While it is possible to safely seat a primer more deeply in an empty case (if it were not seated to the proper depth initially), it should never be attempted –as this person did – to seat the primer more deeply once the cartridge is complete, that is, including powder and bullet! While the subsequent explosion of the cartridge “only” threw shrapnel from the case as it split apart, the operator was close enough to the explosion that a piece could just as easily hit an eye.
Want to know more about these two occurrences and other avoidable risks, accidents and hazards associated with reloading? Read, “Things They Don’t Tell You About Reloading” by certified metallic cartridge reloading instructor, Joel F. Guerin. Click here (https://ReloadingAtoZ.com) to buy the book. Use coupon code “GAT” at checkout for free shipping!
We Like Shooting Double Tap 049 – I would not drink that
Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 49, Tonight we talk about gun tech, we’ll answer your questions on Dear WLS, we’ll talk about NOT GUNS, and revisit past gear
We Like Shooting 233 – Lack Toast Intolerant
Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 233 – tonight we’ll talk about Flamethrower Bayonet, GSG MP40, AGP Arms Mag extension, Athlon Outdoors, guns, shooting, firearms, nra, 2ndamendment and more!
Nobody is Coming to Save You… No Matter Their Job
Scott Peterson, former Deputy Sheriff of Broward County, had one job.
He failed.
Four minutes, the time Peterson spent outside the building while students and faculty were under attack. Four minutes where he let them fight and die when he was the only one equipped for that fight.
His job was that fight.
He failed.
Peterson was the School Resource Officer for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He held that post since 2009. He was a 23-year veteran of Broward County Sheriff’s Department.
He was the assigned police officer. The county resource. The government response.
He failed. The government’s man extending civic protection, did not.
Scott Peterson may be the most reviled man in the country this morning. It’s a special cowardice that leaves an armed uniformed officer doing nothing while those specifically in his care are killed.
Hundreds of thousands of officers and veterans, millions of citizens are wishing today to have taken Peterson’s place… even had they died in the effort.
Peterson’s shame will live forever. He failed.
Peterson is not the title image of this article. That man is Scott Israel, Sheriff of Broward County.
Sheriff Israel, you failed.
Peterson failed in the moment. Israel failed much earlier. Israel has gladly thrown Peterson to the wolves.
The Sheriff failed to provide Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School an officer who could do the duty assigned. The one duty that surpasses all others in importance. The Sheriff too failed Peterson by putting him there in a position he was not ready or trained to shoulder. He failed to lead a department that would follow up on the information about the shooter, Cruz.
The FBI failed to communicate their information.
The systems put in place for protecting Parkland’s children…
Every. Single. One…
Failed
The loudest response to this failure is to give that system more to do. Great plan.
I read and hear vague vaporous concepts calling out for gun bans and the abolishment of the second amendment. Yet when challenged to solidify why those would be effective solutions suddenly…
“Well I don’t know exactly, I’m not an expert.” Understanding that is crucial to the value of your contribution on shaping policy.
“We HAVE to do something.” How about something effective in place of something emotionally driven but logically misguided according to readily available data that happens to be politically convenient to ignore at the moment.
“You just love guns and hate kids.” You’re absolutely right. My hatred of children drove my discussion with my close friends about the security at their children’s school. Whether or not they had surveillance and controlled access and is it effectively enforced. Are there active shooter plans and how thorough they are. Were they interested in any personally accountable steps like a panel of armor in their kid’s bags, talking with the faculty about communication between rooms and persons. Volunteering at the schools to be an extra set of eyes if nothing else.
“THE STUPID EVIL TERRORIST NRA IS PREVENTING THE GOVERNMENT FROM PROTECTING US!!!” No firearms rights organization had any hand in the influencing the FBI or Broward County Sheriff (Who seems to be politically opposed to the NRA anyway). Feelings to the contrary are just that, feelings.
Unproductive emotional projectionist concepts do not produce good policy.
Nobody is coming to save you.
Again. Still. And always. The first responder to a situation in front of you… is you.
We Like Shooting Double Tap 050 – Imbecile
Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 50, Tonight we talk about gun tech, we’ll answer your questions on Dear WLS, we’ll talk about NOT GUNS, and revisit past gear
Strength and Disability
From Dr. LateBloomer
I have always been a relatively strong woman physically. Not in a “gym rat” sort of way, but in a naturally “built like that” kind of way. I’ve never been the wispy, delicate sort. As a result, I have always taken for granted my ability to easily rack a slide and handle a double action revolver trigger. Although I understood on an academic level that some women had trouble with these things, it was not something that I had to take into consideration on a regular basis. Until now.
For the past few months I have been dealing with a slowly creeping nerve impingement issue. The result is numbness, tingling, and slow loss of grip strength and fine motor skills. It is worse in my non-dominant hand, but the right is also involved. My physician and physical therapist have been working on pinpointing and correcting the cause, but these things take time.
I realized this morning that the local IDPA season starts in about 6 weeks. I also realized that this hand issue may affect my shooting choices. Although I have never managed to get classified in revolver (I was out of town when the past few classifiers were held), I have puttered around with shooting my S&W 686SSR at matches for the past few seasons. With this revolver, stages requiring support-hand-only shooting have been challenging but do-able. This year, I fear they may be impossible.
The little bit of basement dry fire I have attempted confirms that I’d best leave the wheel gun at home in the safe and shoot semi-auto SSP instead. Even racking the slide on my Glocks and M&P takes much more effort than it used to. This is deeply concerning to me, but I am hoping that this is a temporary condition.
Nonetheless, I am trying to be philosophical, and take this situation as a learning experience. The elderly, the disabled, and the less physically strong may have to deal with obstacles in learning to shoot which I have heretofore taken for granted. I’m going to do my best to pay attention to these things as I go along in the future. Life, as they say, is the ultimate teacher.
So, I’m going to take this opportunity to urge firearms instructors and internet keyboard warriors to occasionally “disable” themselves in some way, and then try to shoot like that. Besides the obvious non-dominant hand use, perhaps try wrapping a hand in an ace wrap and then shooting with that hand to adversely affect grip and dexterity. Using double or triple layer trauma gloves will affect touch sensitivity. Try smearing lip balm over shooting glasses to simulate cataracts. Tie shoelaces together or use a locking knee brace to simulate mobility issues.
Not only would all of these drills be a good “tactical” exercise in how to stay in the fight if one is wounded, it might also grant some clarity and understanding about the challenges faced by future students or comrades. We know that the elderly and disabled are often chosen as targets by the criminal element. Understanding their physical challenges may help us as instructors better help them to be able to defend themselves with firearms.
If nothing else, you will have moved your own self farther up the learning curve, and that is never a bad thing.
Let’s Make a Deal: President Trump’s Line on Gun Control. Proposes Bans
Yesterday the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, signed a memorandum directing the attorney general to set rules “banning all devices that turn legal weapons into machineguns.”
“GUN AND MAGAZINE BANS. Gun and magazine bans are a total failure. That’s been
proven every time it’s been tried. Opponents of gun rights try to come up with scary
sounding phrases like “assault weapons”, “military-style weapons” and “high capacity
magazines” to confuse people. What they’re really talking about are popular semiautomatic
rifles and standard magazines that are owned by tens of millions of
Americans. Law-abiding people should be allowed to own the firearm of their choice.
The government has no business dictating what types of firearms good, honest people
are allowed to own.” – From Donald J Trump on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
This view apparently hasn’t held, was never held to begin with, or is simply not politically convenient right now so they are going to play on technicalities .
“Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!” President Trump tweeted.
It appears bans are and ‘universal background checks’ may be back on the table from the President who promised, “The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.”
Readers, I am a reasonable man with friends and family who run the political opinion spectrum. I am willing to entertain and discuss any possible solution to help respond to, reduce casualties from, and prevent attacks.
I am not willing to give merit to meritless ideas for the sake of security theater. I am not willing to let a platitative measure that feels good and will fail to prevent a massacre pass on merits it does not possess.
I’ve been part of the security industry for over a decade. This has all been in a post 9/11 world. I’ve seen effective security and I’ve seen security ‘shows’. I’ve participated in both. It was part of the various jobs and individual assignments. There were situations we could handle and situations we couldn’t, regardless of the public perception.
“The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end.” – President Donald J. Trump
Until it was restarted because “Do Something” Trumps “Do Something Effective”
STREAMLIGHT® INTRODUCES PROTAC® HL 5-X USB
Brightest Addition to Tactical Light Series Offers 3,500 Lumens, Multi-Fuel Options
EAGLEVILLE, PA, February 15, 2018 – Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, introduced the ProTac® HL 5-X USB rechargeable system, the newest and brightest addition to the ProTac® series of tactical lights. Delivering up to 3,500 lumens, the new light comes with two of Streamlight’s new 18650 lithium ion batteries with an integrated micro USB charging port and a charge cord. A ProTac HL 5-X with four CR123A batteries is also available.
The ProTac HL 5-X USB offers three selectable programs and is powered by either two rechargeable 18650 USB batteries or four 3-volt CR123A lithium disposable batteries. This multi-fuel capability enables users to charge the light on the go, or insert cell batteries when a charging source is not available.
“The ProTac HL 5-X USB is one of the brightest tactical lights on the market, with flexible battery options for every situation,” said Streamlight Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Michael F. Dineen. “The ideal hand-held flood light, the ProTac HL 5-X USB lets you see what is all around you, including hard-to-reach perimeters and corners.”
The ProTac HL 5-X USB uses the latest in power LED technology for extreme brightness. When using 18650 batteries, it delivers 3,500 lumens on high, and a run time of one hour and 15 minutes. It also provides 2,500 lumens and a run time of 1 hour and 30 minutes on the high setting when using CR123A batteries. Run times on low are 10 hours and 30 minutes, and 11 hours and 30 minutes, respectively.
The light features a TEN-TAP® programmable switch, which allows for user selection from among three programs: high/strobe/low (factory default); high only; or low/medium/high.
Fabricated from 6000 series machined aircraft aluminum with an anodized finish, the ProTac HL 5-X USB features a multi-function, push-button tactical tail switch that permits one-handed operation. It also has a “sure grip” rubber sleeve to ensure users never lose their grip.
The ProTac HL 5-X USB is 9.53 inches in length and weighs 1 pound, 2.4 ounces with four CR123A batteries and 1 pound, 3.4 ounces with two 18650 rechargeable batteries. The light has an IPX7-rated design for waterproof operation to one meter for 30 minutes, and is impact resistance-tested to one meter.
Available in black, the ProTac HL 5-X USB and the ProTac HL 5-X have MSRPs of $175.00 and $145.00, respectively. Both come with a lanyard and Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.
About Streamlight
Based in Eagleville, PA, Streamlight, Inc. has 45 years of experience making tough, durable, long-lasting flashlights designed to serve the specialized needs of professionals and consumers alike. Since 1973, the company has designed, manufactured and marketed high-performance flashlights, and today offers a broad array of lights, lanterns, weapon light/laser sighting devices, and scene lighting solutions for professional law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications. Streamlight is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. For additional information, please call 800-523-7488, visit streamlight.com or connect with us on facebook.com/streamlight; twitter.com/Streamlight; insta
A Lesson in Self Immolation Chapter 2: X-Products
X-Products CEO James Malarkey believes in the Second Amendment but…
But believes that right is actually a privilege. Believes that licensing is not an infringement.
Apparently believes the $350 50rd magazine that his company designed and sells is a right but not a right to own because there should be a heavily regimented process to acquire it… like a National Firearms Act or some other series of stringent controls on this inalienable right that he so strongly supports.
Mr. Malarkey seems awful full of his namesake.
Malarkey; Noun, informal.
meaningless talk; nonsense.
“don’t give me that malarkey”
Soldier Systems has two full pages of Malarkey’s malarkey where he lays such pearls of wisdom as:
“Instead of outright banning it, allow people to have some kind of licensing,” he said. “I think it would weed out a lot of crime.” – from an earlier interview he did with CNN
“…I also believe gun ownership is a privilege and that is nearing a tipping point.”
That which is a right is not a privilege, James. That which is a privilege is inherently not a right.
“… however there should be a regimented well-regulated structure to how you should achieve those rights.”
You keep using that word… right… I do not think it means what you think it means.
We regulate the abuse of rights.
We illegalize a right’s violation.
If we “structure” how you use the right, it is not a right.
He then goes into his full licensure layout of this fundamental inalienable right we should not give an inch on… he says that too, I’m questioning his abilities in english comprehension at this juncture.
You can read his whole plan about how to regulate a right through license here at the SSD Screen Captures.
I will say… James, I disagree vehemently. I’m far from alone in that view. Good luck in the immediate sales future within the firearms industry.
Magpul makes an awesome drum magazine that holds ten extra rounds for a third the price and loads easier by the way. Oh and they do not heart the gun control.
SCAR MOD1 Project: MOD 0.5, Optics
A crucial part of modern rifle systems is their optical suites. Optics enhance the ability of the shooter to take advantage of the rifle’s base capabilities. However, optics are specialized instruments and their individual designs reflect their specializations.
Picking an optic, regardless of quality, that does not fit your rifle’s mission profile is a good way to waste resources.
A red dot or holographic sight is valueless on a 400-600 meter prairie dog rifle. A 3lb 35x zoom rifle scope will do nothing for you efficiently hitting targets inside 25 meters.
There are two methods for covering the optical choice conundrum.
The first is picking a primary optic and supplemental solutions. A variable power optic, a red dot (offset or top mounted on the scope), and iron sights is an often utilized set up. Many optics suppliers sell a combination of an optic and red dot as a package.
The second is picking one optical solution that covers the widest spectrum of performance and recognizing that you are making a compromise.
In actuality you’re compromising in either case.
If you utilize multiple optics you are increasing the size, weight, and complexity of your system. More possible failure points have been introduced. More maintenance and system checks are now involved to keep the optical system accurate. Utilizing the combination takes a more disciplined shooter who needs be able to decide between those optical system components quickly to address a shot.
If you utilize the single optic system you a compromising on the specializations the multiple gives you. You’re limiting control complexity and failure points. Simplifying an interface but removing a degree of flexibility by putting limitations on the capabilities of speed and/or precision.
The end user must make a careful study of not only the rifle’s required capability but the user capability and what system will allow the user greatest ability to meet the role requirement.
This choice was, in all honesty, the most difficult on this project.
The MOD1 is a modernized service rifle concept. It’s role is jack of all trades. It needs to be able to stretch its legs and effectively reach to 500-600 meters with an acceptable hit percentage. Equally it needs to perform in a close quarters setting.
The choice was the Trijicon ACOG Model TA31. While LPVOs continue to emerge as excellent optical solutions with increasing adoption and reflex optics are also very accurate in their own right, the ACOG is still my preference 10 years after I started using them.
Reflex optics were dismissed. The MRO, RMR, EXPS3, and CompM5 all posses strong merits and would serve the role but I felt they underutilized the accurate range potential. To increase that range potential a magnifier must be added. I did not want two optical mechanisms on the rifle to limit complexity. Reflex optics under performed on the requirement of simplified range and accuracy exploitation. The addition of magnifiers added more complexity and bulk than I deemed advantageous to gain back the range. Astigmatism was a contributing factor in the decision too, with the ACOGs solid reticle interacting better with my eyes than any projected or holographic reticle. I am able to utilize the reflex optics but I am more comfortable and confident with the ACOG.
Low Power Variable Optics (LPVOs) were dismissed. There is an increasing use of LPVOs within the serious rifle employment fields of special operations and competition. Several DoD solicitations are currently open for increased development and potential deployment of these optics. The merits of the optical system are strong however three factors placed the ACOG ahead. The rifle is not being employed in a precision or semi-precision role. The ACOG is a fixed system requiring very minimal manipulation to zero and none during operational use. The ACOG is a smaller and lighter system than any current LPVO.
I own one LPVO system with a second on the way. The rifle that optic is on is currently in a semi-precision role. The second optic will be going on a rifle in a precision/semi-precision role. The optics will allow easier exploitation of the maximum effective ranges on both rifles for the trade off of a mild increase in control complexity.
The reflex optical systems I own serve their purpose very well also. The practical range limits the systems are employed on are 200 meters and 300 meters respectively with 50 meters being the optimum target range. They are fast and accurate but begin to lose precision exploitation capability at range. That isn’t their operational strength and the carbines they are on reflect that mission and aren’t set up to be used in that role.
The SCAR MOD1 project is, again, building a service rifle. The target optimum range is 300 meters with capability to strike with effective sustained fire at 500-600 meters and be utilized in close quarters reflex style shooting. The system needed to be as minimally complicated and durable as possible while still offering increased ability to engage and exploit targets at any viable distance.
The TA31 best suited all these role requirements. It increases the ease of effective shots at distances greater than 100 meters through magnification and reticle design. Once properly zeroed it requires no manipulation to use the full optical feature array. Using the BAC the optic is effective in CQB and offers distinct advantages over iron sights in both speed and accuracy.
The SCAR MOD1 PIP continues. Optic chosen.