Thanks to the Bron i Aamunicja Facebook page we are all getting a sneak peak at the new Aimpoint pistol mounted optic.
You will notice a very clearly marked Aimpoint on the left-hand picture of this new service pistol. The design looks fantastic, and we are all very excited to get our hands on it.
The gun also appears to have a:
Inforce light system, one of our personal favorites.
Extended magazines
Folding stock
Threaded barrel
Suppressor
chambered in 9×19
It is interesting the optic appears to be mounted to the frame and not the slide. This is often preferred to increase the life span of these optics. The reduction in force by not being thrown back and slammed forward with each round reduces wear and tear on the optic.
No doubt this new gun looks very space age. What do you think of the new B&T weapon system and its accessories? We will be releasing more on this as more information surfaces.
Editors Note: When you look at a publication that makes it’s money selling ad space for firearms accessories and modifications and you see repeated articles encouraging gun owners to train and focus on raw skill vs buying the next gadget take note. Bill’s bio speaks for itself and he is the type of man that has had to defend his actions that involved shots actually being fired. Head his words and those of past articles when making your decision to purchase upgrades.
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One of the more common questions asked by my students is whether or not they should modify their defensive firearms. My response to this comes in two parts: first, what are the changes being considered and are they of legitimate value? Second, is the shooter at the point where they can capitalize on the modifications or are they attempting to bypass proper practice with technology? There are numerous additions and enhancements that can improve the handling and use of stock firearm for a skilled shooter. On the other hand, there are some things that are questionable at best, dangerous at worst, and which can actually hurt you.
First and foremost is the question of whether modifications are needed? The unfortunate reality is that many shooters seek to shortcut quality training and proper practice by seeking the latest gizmo that promises to elevate them to master class ability. With limited exceptions, most folks would be better served with a stock firearm, a sizeable supply of ammo, and formal training followed by a regimen of proper practice (for more information onproper practice, please refer to our previous article, “Building the Combat Mindset”). My advice to students is to learn how to use the gun that they have before they start thinking about “fixing” it. Until you’ve shot it, you won’t know what you do or don’t like.
Additionally, there are certain modifications that will be more relevant and useful with greater experience. A new shooter may be able to feel the difference between a stock trigger and a match trigger but will not have the skill to really maximize any advantage conveyed by the better system. For most, a quality firearm out of the box should be sufficient to get started. Seek out quality instruction and follow up with proper practice until the basics of trigger control and sight alignment are firmly established. Fundamentals are fundamental, regardless of the platform – it will always be the shooter and not the song. With a baseline of experience, decisions on when and what to modify will be easier and make more sense.
Sexy and effective
Once the decision has been made to make changes to a defensive firearm, we need to approach those modifications from two perspectives: functional and legal. First, how does the change affect the operation of the firearm and enhance our ability to use it? Second, what effect does the change have towards future court proceedings should we have to use the weapon in a defensive situation?
The first question that needs to be asked is: Why are we making the modification? Almost everyone has heard of the acronym CYA. Most would say that this stands for “Cover your ass.” I use and teach a different meaning, one that I originally learned from Massad Ayoob. For me, CYA means “Can you articulate?” For our purposes here, we should be able to articulate that the modification enhances our ability to use the firearm and thus makes us a more accurate and safer shooter or conveys some other benefit. What we should be looking for are upgrades which increase our performance or improve our ability to interface with the gun. Improved sights or a match grade barrel, for example, can assist with greater practical accuracy while the removal of sharp edges and the application of a more corrosion resistant finish might make the weapon more comfortable to use and carry and decrease maintenance issues.
On the flip side, we want to avoid such changes as excessively light triggers, deactivation of safety devices, and inflammatory embellishments such as engraving “Smile and Wait for Flash” on the muzzle. Such modifications can actually make the weapon less reliable or even unsafe and will be difficult to defend later.
Some will argue against any modifications for defensive firearms, stating that any changes from factory specifications can lead to legal attacks. My feeling on this is that if the work makes us more accurate and precise, this will help us win a gunfight. This is a good thing and something that can be defended later on. Carefully consider what you do to your defensive firearms and be able to explain why you did it.
Finally, make sure to thoroughly test the firearm after customization to make sure that reliability has not been affected and that the weapon functions properly.
Throughout the course of my career, I have endeavored to stick to the principles discussed above when modifying my working guns. From a practical standpoint, I live in north central Florida where it can get very hot and humid. This can have negative effects on guns in terms of corrosion and in manipulation issues due to sweat. I am also a lefty and look to set up my guns to allow efficient, ambidextrous use.
Before undertaking any customization, I spend considerable time on the range, shooting the guns to see if they will be reliable and to determine if anything could be improved. I also carry the guns, because certain issues will manifest themselves in day to day use that one may not encounter during a range session.
Here are two examples of my carry guns, the one that I currently carry on duty today and one from the beginning of my career.
My current primary on-duty handgun is a personally owned/ departmentally approved Glock 17 that has received extensive attention from ATEi (www.ATEiGuns.com). The
Sentinel Designs Magwell now made by Raven Concealment as the Freya
pistol has been cut for a red dot optic, has had the rear serrations on the slide deepened and front serrations added, and has had serrations added to the top of the slide. The serrations are a great help when manipulating the slide, especially with one hand or if the gun is slippery due to water or some other substance. The gun wears a Trijicon RM06 red dot with backup iron sights from Ameriglo. I prefer a front night sight with a plain black rear. The backup irons are essential, in my opinion, for any gun carried on duty or for personal defense, in case the red dot fails. The red dot increases my accuracy potential and significantly extends the range at which I can confidently engage targets.
The frame has been stippled to ensure a firm grip even if my hands are, well, sweaty, muddy, or bloody. Index points were stippled near the
Serrations and light
take down lever to provide a spot for my thumb and trigger finger. I have added an extended slide stop and magazine release from TangoDown, as they help me manipulate the gun, particularly being left-handed. The gun wears a magazine well from Sentinel Designs to aid in reloads (now produced by Raven Concealment as the Freya). I have attached a Surefire X300 Ultra weapon light with a DG switch. The light always rides on the gun and allows for target discrimination in low light.
Finally, I have upgraded the trigger to the Agency Arms flat faced trigger. I selected this trigger for two primary reasons. First, the flat shoe has a much improved feel that helps me press the trigger straight to the rear. Secondly, the other parts to the trigger are stock, albeit polished. The springs are factory weight and all safeties are maintained. I think that people get too wrapped around the axle with triggers. What I look for is a trigger that I can manage. I don’t need perfect; I am happy with good enough.
When I started in law enforcement, the trend towards double action/ single action semi-automatics was in full swing. I started my career with an issued Smith and Wesson 4506 but later transitioned to a personally owned, departmentally approved S&W 4576, which is the mid-sized, decocker only version of the larger 4506. I found that this gun carried better but still gave me full size performance. There were, however, several things that I wanted improved and, for the work, I sent the gun to Novak’s .45 Shop.
Novak’s performed a carry bevel, removing all sharp edges and making the pistol more comfortable to shoot and carry. The action was smoothed, resulting in a better double action press that was still within factory specs. The barrel throat was polished to enhance reliable feeding of different types of ammunition.
This was before weapon lights were common, particularly for handguns, but I did have night sights installed as I was working midnights at the time and felt they would aid in low light. Finally, much later, I sent the grip to David Bowie at Bowie Tactical Concepts and had it textured for an improved gripping surface.
In both cases, the modifications performed are things that I can clearly articulate as improving my ability to control, manage, and carry the guns. Nothing fancy or flashy, just basic modifications to enhance performance.
Many defensive firearms can benefit from customization. Sights, triggers, and new finishes can significantly enhance performance and durability. Just take the time to figure out what you actually need and can articulate. This will save time and money and can avoid creating issues down the road. Finally, never forget that technology cannot and will not supplant skills. The only sure way to become an effective shooter is to invest the time on the range with quality instruction and proper practice.
A large number of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants have already been trained for suicide attacks with chemical bombs, Iranian FARS News Agency (FNA) reported a general within the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) as saying.
“ISIL has equipped its terrorists with chemical bombs to use them in a suicide attack in Iraq, Syria or any other country,” General Akram Mohammad Abdulrahman said. Claiming that “scores of youngsters” have been instructed to be part of such attacks, he added that “both explosive and chemical material” might be “simultaneously” used by the terrorists.
In April, the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ahmet Uzumcu, said the intergovernmental watchdog was “extremely worried” that terrorist groups in the Middle East might be developing such explosives.
Saying that the OPCW had discovered evidence suggesting that sulfur mustard chemical agent had been used in attacks in Syria and Iraq, Uzumcu added that “there are strong suspicions” the weapons might have been used and produced by Islamic State. “It proves that they have the technology, know-how and also access to the materials which might be used for the production of chemical weapons,” the OPCW director general said.
Earlier this year, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the threat of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of non-government groups is widely recognized, warning that chemical terrorism is now a reality. Extremists from IS and other terrorist groups possess the technical capabilities to produce “proper chemical war agents,” Lavrov said.
NATO and EU security chiefs have also shared information on IS’ alleged intentions to use chemical or nuclear weapons to attack Britain, while US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief John Brennan has warned of a “number of instances where ISIL has used chemical munitions on the battlefield.”
Kurdish YPG militias have already suffered from reported chemical attacks in Syria. A neighborhood in the city of Aleppo held by Kurdish fighters was reportedly shelled with chemical agents from territory held by Islamist and Free Syrian Army factions. Video footage from the scene showed yellow gas rising over the neighborhood, also capturing several men experiencing difficulty breathing.
The YPG previously accused Islamist fighters of using yellow phosphorous in another chemical attack in the area, saying its victims suffered from itching skin and other symptoms of chemical poisoning.
Islamic State have released a shocking video game-style ‘first person shooter’ film footage from Iraq in their latest propaganda move. It shows fresh from the battlefield clips of the terror thugs fighting unknown assailants – shot from the viewpoint of the fighter.
ISIS claims it shows militants conducting attacks on coalition forces.
The 20-minute long video features raids, missile launches and a capture of a weapons’ haul- and even what it is like to witness a suicide bomb attack. In the edited clip shown by Mirror Online, a group of camouflaged men can be seen entering a rickety shack – or factory outbuilding made of corrugated iron – apparently in search of something… or someone.
Gunfire can be heard on the audio soundbed alongside flashes of bright light where the gun the cameraman is wielding is discharged several times. It is not clear if anyone is shot, caught or injured in the fracas – or if the fighter is just ‘showing off’ or trying to scare someone.
He then peers out of a door screaming wildly and firing his gun – similar in looks to an AK-47 and from the sound of it, certainly capable of firing single shots and semi-automatic rounds. As the footage then plays out and the fighter explores the location the scene will be reminiscent to many as looking like something out of a video game – but it is far from fun to watch.
The accompanying soundtrack is a well-known ISIS Nasheed (a kind of hymn) synonymous with some of their combat operations. It has been used in some of their most brutal military operations and massacres.
The rest of the video – which the Mirror Online has decided not to screen – begins with drone-shot aerial footage that first identifies and then depicts a giant explosion in the distance. Huge puffs of smoke can be seen about two miles away.
It then switches to show a heavily-armed armoured convoy of masked militants travelling through muddy wasteground.
There is at least one tank among the armoured vehicles – which number at least a dozen, some carrying heavy artillery that look capable of firing at aircraft. Several fighters can be seen in trucks apparently celebrating some kind of victory by waving their arms and fists and smiling and chanting.
The fighters are seen raiding an enemy arms cache , their arms full of rifles, yelling: “Look what the cowards have left us!”
The convoy passes by a number of burnt out wrecks while it apparently goes on patrol. Soldiers disembark and start firing around brick walls at undisclosed targets. At one point an ISIS fighter can be seen standing over a charred human corpse of an enemy fighter – still burning in flames, possibly from being hit by a rocket – and pointing at the unknown victim proclaiming “we will burn all of the crusader army, just like we have this Kafr”.
The group appear to be well stocked with ammo as they appear to not be sparing any bullets. One short clip shows a flat bed truck piled high with weapons – a supposed cache they have seized. Another truck has been modified with heavy steel armour – with thick several inch steel and grills and lights on the front.
Mortar rounds are also fired at unknown targets – together with heavy duty machine guns either held by fighters or secured on the backs of trucks. Large plumes of cloud can be seen rising in the distance from undisclosed targets.
At another point a prisoner can be seen being held up to camera and forced to speak. It is not clear what he is saying.
Towards the end of the video fighters appear to be in pursuit of a vehicle – firing rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and some kind of shoulder-mounted missile launcher which looks like the type which could down a helicopter. Tracer fire from weapons shows how close they come to it – and seconds later a vehicle can be seen burning in flames.
The video – which continues with further scenes of sporadic shooting and vehicles being targeted – was released to ISIS channels by its ‘Wilayat al-Anbar’ media centre in Iraq.
Past ISIS attempts to produce propaganda have backfired – like when a fighter captured the moment he died on his headcam. On that occasion the militant’s first-person view ended with a pair of trainers in the frame after the shot thug tumbled to the ground.
Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 148 – tonight we’ll talk about Sig Foxtrot, Caracal C, Peltor Ear Pro, Sig Sauer, Suppressors, Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership and more!
Our guest tonight is a private practice doctor that worked hard to get his previous hospital to take down their gun free zone signs and is working hard to bring the digital generation into the fold.
In the last couple weeks I’ve had a great number of conversations circulating around the topic of good carry guns and how to win and survive a violent encounter. There are a great deal of nearly mythic attributes that a great many people assign to firearms and other defensive tools and I want to make a general address here that sums up a conversation I’ve had about 50 different variations of recently.
Let’s do some Myth Busting.
1. I’m not planning to get into a gunfight so I don’t need a *Insert Modern Duty Sized Semi-Auto*
Let’s start here. You’re lying. Yes you are planning to get into a gunfight that is the reason why you are trying to pick up a defensive handgun for home or concealed carry. Now you are not deliberately seeking out a gunfight or other confrontation, I understand that, but you are deliberately planning your response to an attack and are therefore “planning to get into a gunfight”.
Let’s use some numbers now. From PoliceOne’s Force Science Institute using Baltimore County and LAC (considered by the study to be well trained and competent LE organizations) lets look at accuracy over 350 incidents.
Daylight, close quarters shooting against one hostile: 64%
Impaired lighting, close quarters shooting against one hostile: 40-45%
Average number of rounds fired against one hostile: 3.6/3 to 4
Impaired lighting shooting incidents: 77%
So using comparative logic a trained individual carrying a firearm who has to use it in defense can expect about 3 of 5 shots to hit the threat in “perfect” conditions with rapid declination in accuracy to below 10% as conditions worsen and complications arise.
So that five shot snub-nose or six shot .380 ACP is realistically only an effective response to a single close range threat. The presence of a second or greater number of threats significantly increases the potential dangers with a lower capacity firearm. You’re now relying on their reaction to flee when you engage over your ability to continue to effectively engage.
Now this does not mean drop your J-Frame and grab a 33rd mag and a Glock 9mm. It is to be illustrative of the realistic capabilities of your carry firearm regardless of what that carry firearm is. While those five shots of .38 SPL is an impressive force multiplier in a J-Frame, it is still only five shots and plan accordingly.
2. She needs a laser/I need a laser/a laser will make it easier so I don’t have to aim/laser will scare the bad people off
These are extensions of a couple of biases and a result of good advertisement.
She needs a laser = She can’t aim like a normal person because she’s a woman. It sounds a lot more ridiculous when you put it like that. She can train and learn just like everyone else, probably quicker.
I need a laser = With the notable exception of having eyesight issues that a bright green or red dot can overcome, no you don’t. A laser is not an auto aim, it isn’t even an effective crutch for poor aiming technique.
A laser will make it easier so I don’t have to aim = It is a battery operated electronic that can and has failed because it is attached to something that shakes violently every time you fire. Also batteries run out, and most people don’t pay attention to that until they’re dead (the battery, hopefully not you). That laser is going to move with every single movement of your body, every twitch of your wrist, arm, shoulder, chest, legs, etc. It does not stay steadily and menacingly in the chest of a threat, it will flit here and there and your cat will chase it.
A laser will scare the bad people off = This is an extension of the “magic talisman” theory of self defense. Relying solely on the presence of the defensive tool and not your own skills and plan to get yourself to safety and win a fight. Hollywood has established this troupe and loves to use it. Laser sight makers like to slide parallel to that Hollywood stereotype because it sells sights, that’s just advertising nothing malicious. But reality being what it is the presence of a laser on a firearm won’t deter, to any greater degree, an in progress attack than the visible presence of a firearm already did or didn’t.
Now that I’ve ragged on lasers enough go ahead and use them, just use them properly. A laser on a pistol, rifle, or shotgun can be a force multiplicative tool. When practiced with properly they can make aiming faster and more effective, especially in adverse lighting. They can blind a threat and cause disorientation. When properly maintained they are very reliable. But, just as with that little comfortable carry gun, be very realistic about the capabilities and limitations of your tools… Next
3. She needs a small lady’s gun.
False.
Full frame firearms are easier to shoot: Fact
This does not change with gender: Fact
Small frame firearms are only good at one thing, being small. They trade ease of shooting, good sights, good triggers, and sizable controls for a greater concealment factor and convenience. This convenience is purposely designed to make it easy and more likely that you will carry. It is a trade off.
The only time a smaller frame firearm will fit properly is on particularly small hands in which case it is a properly sized firearm for control. This is also a gender neutral fact.
When picking a small framed firearm be certain it fits objective criteria and not picked based on notional conceptions.
4. Brand Myopia
Now for the most subjective of all but it is a great disservice to shooters, new shooters especially. The most recent iteration I heard went thus…
“Glock? No, f*ck that I won’t use a throw away gun.”
To pull just one objective counter here, Glock is currently authorized as the sidearm for USSOCOM, procured for Naval Surface Warfare (SEALs) and MARSOC (Marine Raiders). Two elite military direct action units would not pick a throw away gun.
Now this little fight seems to crop up between different brands and is usually the byproduct of hearsay, conjecture, and personal bias. There are absolutely different levels of quality on firearms, but the category of firearms that routinely competes with highest marks for police and military contracts should be given their objective due. To believe otherwise is naive.
Lancer Systems is making a big move to the M-Lock standard. One of the “hot off the press” products I spotted at the NRA Annual Meeting was the Lancer Carbon Fiber Stock for the Sig Sauer MPX pistol-caliber carbine. The big plus for carbon fiber products is the significant weight savings. This guard is about 50% the weight of the standard Sig factory model.
The Sig MPX ships with a KeyMod rail system, so as far as we know, the Lancer option is the only M-Lock alternative for MPX owners. Why M-Lock? According to Kas McManus, Business Area Manager of Lancer’s Advanced Weapons Division, “We think that M-Lock provides the best solution for quick-attach to carbon fiber.”
The new MPX rail is M-Lock all around with attachment slots at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions.
Lancer is looking to invest in M-Lock as they see it as the winning rail attachment standard. McManus adds, “We’re eventually going to migrate everything over to M-Lock. We started with the MPX model to make sure it was robust enough to meet our standards, and it is. Now we’ll start to switch over other products as well.”
Lancer’s Beth Meiklejohn agrees. “This is where the industry is heading based on what we’re hearing from our customers, so we’re making sure we’re adapting and providing what those customers need.”
Also, as it turns out, M-Lock works much better on carbon fiber platforms and is more convenient as the user doesn’t have to access the rail from the inside to attach gear. The MPX handguard embraces the M-Lock standard all around – not even the top rail is Picatinny, it’s M-Lock too so you’ll also want to stock things like M-Lock-compatible back up sights.
The unit is a turnkey package and ships with the standard Sig MPX support pin in place. Accordingly, the guard can be installed in a couple of seconds without the need for tools. Just open the front takedown pin, slide the old handguard off and the new one on. That’s it.
Initially, Lancer will offer the new handguards in lengths of 4.5, 6.5, 8, and 10-inches. A 14-inch model will be available a little later this year.
Pricing is not yet finalized, and the units will be available through the channel in the next few weeks. Contact Lancer Systems for dealer support assistance.
Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 147 – tonight we’ll talk about Smith & Wesson 642 Pro, sheilltec mag dispenser, rowland 460, tac-con 241 trigger, manticore Arms and more!
Every year during the NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, there is a midweek underground race event which breaks up a busy work schedule by pitting a number of company’s teams against one another in one-off, home-brewed vehicles, with mandatory themed costumes. This past year’s jungle theme sparked some interest in the exclusive artwork that we created for our team. So for the first time, we are now producing limited runs of the race-themed artwork for those who couldn’t attend the race.
The “Banana Clips” Tee pokes fun at incorrect terminology for standard capacity magazines, and is very similar to an element of the team Magpul uniform, while this “RAB” Tee commemorates Magpul’s own Baboon Race Bike.
The Fine Cotton T-Shirt has been designed and engineered from the fiber to finished garment to be the softest, most comfortable, mid-weight T-shirt available. Using 100% ring spun cotton and preshrunk, these T’s are constructed with a cut-n-sew pattern exclusive to Magpul. This method of construction features a side seam that controls twisting and torque and is finished off with our own rib collar and custom neck tape.
The Megablend T-shirt, in a similar weight to our Fine Cotton model, offers a more athletic look and feel, with its soft breathable blend of 50% cotton, 38% Poly, and 12% Rayon.
Preshrunk and constructed with Magpul’s own Cut-N-Sew pattern engineering, this tough T will hold up to plenty of abuse and repeated wash cycles. We finish it off with our own rib collar and custom neck tape.
The Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) was fired on May 25 from a Gray Eagle UAV, a variant of the US Predator platform, and hit a moving pickup truck at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.
The JAGM flew just over 8km before hitting its target, which was traveling at a speed of about 20mph (32km/h), the US Army’s Joint Attack Munition Systems project manager, Col. James Romero, said.
“This missile has several modes and the missile successfully engaged the target without having to track and perfectly aimed the platform at that target,” Romero said, as cited by Defense News. “So this missile is really flexible in that it allows the pilot to sometimes be engaged or track the target the entire time or to leave the engagement and let the missile finish its engagement on its own.”
In contrast to the JAGM, a Hellfire missile hit on a moving target from a drone “is highly dependent on the skill of the operator and the maneuverability of that moving target, and the latency of the Predator platform itself,” the manager added, according to FlightGlobal.
The test was conducted on a clear day with no atmospheric distortions or countermeasures used, Romero said, adding that the seeker missile performed “perfectly.”
The missile was previously tested six times on Apache attack helicopters and Marine Corps Cobra helicopters. The Gray Eagle drone used in the test is still years from full integration with the new missile.
The Pentagon awarded the $66 million JAGM missile engineering and manufacturing development to Lockheed Martin in August 2015 in an uncontested tender. Defense contractor Raytheon had declined to offer a competing missile.
Lancer Systems is making a big move to the M-Lock standard. One of the “hot off the press” products I spotted at the NRA Annual Meeting was the Lancer Carbon Fiber Stock for the Sig Sauer MPX pistol-caliber carbine. The big plus for carbon fiber products is the significant weight savings. This guard is about 50% the weight of the standard Sig factory model.
The Sig MPX ships with a KeyMod rail system, so as far as we know, the Lancer option is the only M-Lock alternative for MPX owners. Why M-Lock? According to Kas McManus, Business Area Manager of Lancer’s Advanced Weapons Division, “We think that M-Lock provides the best solution for quick-attach to carbon fiber.”
The new MPX rail is M-Lock all around with attachment slots at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions.
Lancer is looking to invest in M-Lock as they see it as the winning rail attachment standard. McManus adds, “We’re eventually going to migrate everything over to M-Lock. We started with the MPX model to make sure it was robust enough to meet our standards, and it is. Now we’ll start to switch over other products as well.”
Lancer’s Beth Meiklejohn agrees. “This is where the industry is heading based on what we’re hearing from our customers, so we’re making sure we’re adapting and providing what those customers need.”
Also, as it turns out, M-Lock works much better on carbon fiber platforms and is more convenient as the user doesn’t have to access the rail from the inside to attach gear. The MPX handguard embraces the M-Lock standard all around – not even the top rail is Picatinny, it’s M-Lock too so you’ll also want to stock things like M-Lock-compatible back up sights.
The unit is a turnkey package and ships with the standard Sig MPX support pin in place. Accordingly, the guard can be installed in a couple of seconds without the need for tools. Just open the front takedown pin, slide the old handguard off and the new one on. That’s it.
Initially, Lancer will offer the new handguards in lengths of 4.5, 6.5, 8, and 10-inches. A 14-inch model will be available a little later this year.
Pricing is not yet finalized, and the units will be available through the channel in the next few weeks. Contact Lancer Systems for dealer support assistance.
The big news from the folks at Springfield Armory this NRA Annual Meeting and Expo is the new XD(M) OSP, or Optics Service Pistol. Seizing on the market flood of micro-profile red dot pistol sights, Springfield Armory has created a new XD(M) built for direct optics attachment.
The Optical Service pistol is built on the full-size XD(M) platform and includes the expected base features like 4.5-inch barrel 19+1 capacity, and all black finish. The big difference is the milled slide. A mounting “cavity” is cut just in front of the rear sight for attachment of optics mounting plates. As every optic choose a different peg and hold pattern, the mounting plates provide the “conversion” from the optic base to the slide itself.
The OSP is built on the full-size XD(M) frame and slide.
Initially, Springfield Armory is shipping three mounting plates with the XD(M) OSP. These will accommodate the most popular optics on the market including the Trijicon RMR, Vortex Venom, Leupold Deltapoint, Burris FastFire 2 and 3, and Docter Optics red dots. The company intends to monitor the optics market and provide additional adapters as demand warrants. Also included is a cover plate that matches the slide. When customers want to shoot with irons, such as in production division competitions, they can simply remove the optics adapter plate and install the cover, at which point the pistol will be nearly identical to a stock XD(M).
The included Vortex Venom red dot sight has 10 brightness adjustments for daylight or low-light use.
The stand out feature of the XD(M) OSP is that it comes ready for immediate use. The company has partnered with Vortex Optics to provide a Venom red dot sight mounted and ready to go with the XD(M) OSP. The Venom offers a three-minute of angle red dot for clarity in day and night conditions without sacrificing precision. The optic has adjustable intensity with ten different brightness settings.
The Springfield Armory XD(M) OSP ship with two 19-round magazines. Initially, it’s available only in 9mm, but the odds are good that the company will expand caliber, and possibly frame size options in the future. While the pistol ships with an optical sight, irons are still included and installed. The front sight is a red fiber optic tube, and the rear is a ramped two-dot model.
You can order the OSP with or without the Vortex Venom. MSRP for the adapter plates only version is $724. The Vortex Venom model lists for $979. For more information, visit Springfield Armory.
Three years after its launch, it’s pretty clear Texas-based Republic Forge was onto something.
Though there were ripples on the horizon that customized 1911s might surge in the market, it was still a gamble to put together a company that claimed shooters could build a 1911 up to their specifications and get it in their hands in less than a year.
But today, Republic Forge offers a variety of options to build a 1911 that meets the dreams of just about any pistol customer, costs less than $3,000 in most configurations and can be put together by a single, specific gun builder at the Republic Forge factory and delivered within 6 months.
And it’s 100 percent American made to boot (unless you order the Damascus steel slide, which comes from Sweden). Heck, even the tools that make the guns are American made.
The coolest thing is that Republic Forge has an online gun building tool that’s modeled off of popular car brands that allow online shoppers to put together the the exact car they want. It’s as simple as building the pistol online, finding a Republic Forge dealer near you (or becoming a Republic Forge dealer) and you’re done.
“A lot of dealer’s hands are tied because they get the gun the custom shop builds and don’t have any choice,” says Republic Forge salesman Larry Pancake. “They’re slaves to what the custom builder can produce not what the customer wants.”
The Republic Forge site has helped propel the company to build a 300-plus dealer network and crank out 30 guns per month. And with interest in cool, “barbecue” guns like custom 1911s, Republic Forge could be a great option for dealers looking to provide new designs for their customers.
There are times when I lay it all on the line for Shooting Sports Retailer Magazine. This is one of those times.
I’m here at the 2016 NRA Annual Meeting and Expo. If you haven’t been, imagine all the people on the planet between the ages of five and 95 stuffed into a mobile home. It’s about that crowded. I’m talking 2-3 hour adventures just to park and three straight days of seeing nothing but the back of someone’s head.
To top things off, finding the hottest products for retail sales involves spotting the crowd within the crowd. Which booths are bursting at the seams with interested shoppers and tire kickers? This year, one of those “overflowing booth” categories was tactical furniture and gun storage. Two different companies, with very different solutions, stood out in a category that’s exceptionally busy here.
The Tactical Walls Concealment Shelf.
When closed, the Concealment Shelf looks perfectly natural.
I think both are excellent examples of products that make sense for local retailers. Why? They’re not gun specific, so unless your customers choose the Mk-19 Automatic Grenade Launcher for home defense, they’ll be compatible with what your customer already owns. As a result, you don’t have to invest in all sorts of variants of the same product. These two pieces of gear also range in price from $15 to $700.
Tactical Walls makes home décor that securely stores guns. I’m not talking about actual furniture, but things like wall shelves that fit into most any home décor scheme. The company makes a few simple concealment only items like a clock, lamp and tissue box, but I think the real bread and butter are the in-wall units like picture frames and mirrors and the shelving units. These in-wall units take advantage of the space between wall studs. The storage compartment there is hidden by a wall mirror or picture of your choice. The shelving units mount on the surface of a wall. The bottom drops down, revealing pistols, rifles, shotguns, or whatever else one wants to store in there.
The neat thing about the solution is that it not only provides concealment but security with near instance access. Tactical Walls uses either specialized magnets or RFID to unlock the devices, so they’re child and guest safe provided you don’t leave the “keys” lying around.
Tactical Walls has an active dealer program, and margins are solid for products that range from $50 to $700 or so. Most of the wall units and shelves seem to be in the $300 to $700 range.
Simplistic but clever. Vertical Gun Racks makes supports for handguns and long guns.
On the other end of the spectrum is a gun organization invention, Vertical Gun Racks. These fall in the “why didn’t I think of that?” category. The two basic styles of racks for handguns and long guns are rubber coated so they won’t muck up guns and are shockingly simple. The shaped gun holders are designed to fit most any handgun or long gun. These nifty racks can be attached to most anything. Walls, the interiors of safes, vehicles, benches – wherever one needs to store a gun. List prices range from $14.95 to $19.95 try hanging a couple hear the cash register and store a couple of blue guns in them. Once people see it in action, they’ll almost always stop to look – and buy.
Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 145 – tonight we’ll talk about New Order 9, Handi-Racker, Sharps 1874, Scorpion Evo, IFAK’s, and a guy in a garage and more!
