The Thyrm Switchback 2.0

By

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October 13, 2017

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

By

Travis Pike

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October 13, 2017

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

By

Keith Finch

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October 10, 2017

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

By

Keith Finch

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October 4, 2017

Every Internet Expert on Vegas right now...

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

By

Keith Finch

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October 4, 2017

Zenith Z5RS with MI Handguard and SB Tactical brace, now factory options Photo credit Jack Clemons

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

By

We Like Shooting

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September 26, 2017

Complete show notes here!

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

By

Joe Neuroth

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September 26, 2017

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

By

We Like Shooting

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September 26, 2017

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

Complete show notes here!

We Like Shooting 213 – 4 Gatos

By

We Like Shooting

-

September 25, 2017

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!

Full show notes here!

We Like Shooting Double Tap 028 – It’s really prolapsed

By

We Like Shooting

-

September 25, 2017

Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 28, Tonight we’ll roast people losing their minds, and body parts, 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

Source: https://welikeshooting.com/show/double-tap/dt028/

We Like Shooting Double Tap 030 – Reading Rainbow

By

We Like Shooting

-

September 24, 2017

Complete show notes here!

Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 30, 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! All this and more on tonight’s Double Tap

GC-150 Carbine Stoppages | Part 2

By

248 Shooter

-

September 24, 2017

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-150 Daniel talks about carbine Identifying and clearing stoppages and reloads.

If you want to catch a live recording follow me at www.facebook/danielshaw0369

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Source Article from http://www.gunfightercast.com/gc-150-carbine-stoppages-part-2/

NEW FROM NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM: Tomahawk!

By

Keith Finch

-

September 23, 2017

On the evolving trend of “Firearms” per ATF classification NHC has developed another finely tuned pump gun

The Tomahawk Pistol Grip Firearm is Nighthawk’s answer for your self-defense needs. With an overall length of only 26”, this firearm is able to hold 5+1 rounds of 12ga shotgun shells in a compact and maneuverable package. The Tomahawk has received the full Nighthawk Custom treatment to insure maximum reliability, smooth function, and the attention to detail that is expected in a Nighthawk. The Vang Comp backbore and barrel porting system helps minimize recoil and make this firearm as easy to shoot, as it is to maneuver.

Nighthawk Custom has received a letter from the ATF classifying this weapon as a “firearm,” but not a Short Barrel Shotgun. Therefore, it is not an NFA/Class 3 weapon.

Overall Length: 26.1″
Barrel Length: 16″
Hogue Overmolded Pistol Grip and Forend
Vang Comp Barrel Porting and Backbore
4 Round Side Saddle
Hi Visibility Front Bead Sight
Big Button Tactical Safety
Hand Honed Action and Rails
1-Shot Machined, Solid Billet Extension Tube to Match Barrel Length
Black Cerakote Rust Resistant Finish

As a compact, potent, and finely crafted home defender the Tomahawk and I without a doubt need to get my hands on one. In the meantime we can check it out here and speak with Nighthawk directly.

Now let me take this opportunity

Wanderer by Duluth Packs

By

Eric TGL

-

September 23, 2017

This week, Jared Peltz of Swanson Media Group takes a look at the Wanderer by Duluth Packs, and gives us his thoughts and feedback.

It isn’t every day that I get the opportunity to review a product from a company that has been in business since the end of the Civil War Reconstruction Era. This was a time in US History when the west was still being settled and covered wagons were the SUV’s of society.

Even more rare when the product is made with the same care, attentionon, and craftsmanship today, as it was when they were founded. The sad fact is, in this digital day and age of instant gratification, most things are simply not made the way they used to make them. This month’s article takes a look at a pack that is the exception to this rule, the Wanderer.

BE WARNED!

This backpack doesn’t come with an iPhone holder, slots for earbud wires, bottle openers, Molle attachments, or a number of other things you may consider necessary. If you can get past that, the Wanderer is the pack for you from a company about as “old school” as it gets. Enter Duluth Pack. This company has been manufacturing canvas backpacks and products since 1882 in Minnesota. Know any other companies that used to repair covered wagons? No? Me neither.

How could a company that hasn’t molded to the modern world still make it in today’s time? Simple, by providing quality products that function and last. Take the Wanderer pack that I had the pleasure to review recently. It is a scaled down version of their very popular Rambler pack designed for bushcrafting, hiking, camping and other rigorous outdoor activities. The Wanderer is made from 15 oz. canvas and a simple box style design. The top flap straps are copper riveted with premium leather and roller buckles. They were surprisingly thick straps in comparison to the buckle down side and front pockets.

In addition to the thick leather straps, leather reinforcement is provided for all riveted and high stress seams. The pack offered a main compartment measuring 16” high, 15” wide, and 6” deep for the main storage area. The side pockets are approximately 9” high, 4.5” wide and about 2” deep. The front pocket measured about 9” high, 8” wide, and 1.5” deep. It definitely had enough room for a quick day+ pack. Much more than that, the original Rambler may be a better option. This one came in Olive Drab, but there are thirteen options to choose from, one of which is waxed. If you are going to consistently be in wet or damp environments, I would recommend the waxed option. Given an opportunity in the future, I would likely consider trying the waxed edition. A second option Duluth Packs offers is a canvas wax kit for those who wish to wax their packs later after purchasing one of the other packs.

The roomy, unobstructed main compartment is cinched closed via a leather draw cord with a fast and easy to use cord lock. The long leather straps attached to the top flap offer 7 holes of adjustment to allow for a bedroll to be placed on the inside of a fully loaded main compartment and still be cinched down to give the roll protection from the elements as well as the rest of the inside contents. Along the top was a well-supported “grab and go” handle for hanging the pack or simply loaded and unloading into a vehicle. The wide shoulder straps were designed from cotton webbing. Four leather re-enforced attachment points for lashing any additional gear was located around the top of the pack. Keeping with the simple design, you won’t find however, a waist belt for long-range lower back support.

So, just how well did the pack work over the 5-month test period, you ask? Not bad. I took the Wanderer on a couple kayak trips, used it as an office work bag, took it out on family outings for blueberry picking, and a few hikes. I found the Wanderer was easily used as a day pack. The canvas is solid, but didn’t offer much breathability as was expected. The cotton shoulder straps are slightly angled to allow ease of use, but made for awkward adjustment at times. The side pockets are buckled with noticeably thinner leather. This made opening and closing easier, but left me feeling that they were a little too thin compared to the sections of leather boot that hold down the top flap. Since the design is a simple box style, users may find the pack sag or load shift without a supporting frame. In reading other comments about the pack online, I had found one suggestion about using a small office waste basket to give the main compartment structure. I didn’t find it an issue as most of my outings had the pack filled to capacity.

One of my favorite points about the Wanderer was the fact there were no plastic zippers in the design to burst open or break off. The leather strap system was easy to use and offered a sound piece of mind that my load was secured. I loved the overall simplistic look and rugged feel of the Duluth Wanderer. It carried well and filled the role of a medium day pack just fine. A waist support could have been helpful on a few heavy loads, but the pack performed well without it.

With a quality product and a lifetime warranty on craftsmanship and hardware, the Duluth Pack Company can provide a well-made pack for a number of scenarios and uses. I was glad to see the packs were proudly made in the USA sadly unlike too many products in our industry today. The old-fashioned attention to detail with the Wanderer was just as impressive as the overall classic look of the pack. Oh, by the way, did I mention you can rent a pack whenever you plan a trip around the Boundary Waters or Quetico area near the company’s base of operations in Duluth, Minnesota? Sounds like a good excuse to plan your next adventure. For more information on the Wanderer and other great products from Duluth, take a look at www.duluthpack.com and see where a Duluth Pack can fit in your life.

Source: http://www.thegearlocker.net/2017/09/wanderer-duluth-packs/

GC-149 Carbine Stoppages | Part 1

By

248 Shooter

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September 23, 2017

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In Gunfighter Cast episode GC-149 Daniel talks about carbine stoppages and reloads. Up next is Identification and clearances

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