In this episode we’re talking about another one of those commonly misunderstood phrases: mission drives the gear
5.11 Tactical Collaborates with Activision to Celebrate the Launch of Call of Duty ® : Warzone ™ Mobile
Costa Mesa, Calif. (Mar. 14, 2024) – 5.11 Tactical, the global innovator of Purpose-Built Gear™, has teamed up with leading video game developer Activision to celebrate the release of the highly anticipated video game Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile with a specialized sweepstakes package, the Fender – 5.11 Stryker Operator Skin within the game, and a limited-edition “Ghost” patch available at
5.11 retail stores.
5.11 TACTICAL SWEEPSTAKES
The enter-to-win sweepstakes will offer fans a chance to win a robust prize package of 5.11 branded gear and in-game currency valued at $2,500. Entries will be accepted Thursday, March 21, 2024 through April 30, 2024. To enter the sweepstakes, view 5.11 products featured in the prize package and uncover a vast array of game-inspired gear available only from 5.11 Tactical, customers and players can visit www.511Tactical.com/WZM. No purchase is necessary, one entry per email, must be 21 years or older and a U.S. resident to enter.
The specialized Fender – 5.11 Stryker Operator Skin will be available for redemption within the game and will be outfitted as a hardened tactical professional with a full array of gear similar to many 5.11 products. To secure the 5.11 Stryker Operator Skin, logon to www.511tactical.com/wzm and sign up for SMS messaging.
Inspired by the famous and polarizing Call of Duty character Simon “Ghost” Riley, the limited-edition patch will be offered to 5.11 customers with an in-store purchase of $75 or more starting on Thursday, March 21, 2024, and lasting until supplies run out. Customers will also receive a code for a 20% discount on their next in-store or online purchase.
“Call of Duty is one of the most iconic, innovative and legendary video game franchises ever created,” said 5.11 Tactical’s CMO, Debra Radcliff. “The gameplan features a truly impressive collection of authentic gear and products similar to what we offer customers so they can live our mantra of Always Be Ready. We’re honored to work with a great partner like Activision and to help them commemorate this exciting launch.”
CALL OF DUTY: WARZONE MOBILE
The latest installment of the legendary Call of Duty franchise, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile ushers in a new era of mobile play for players. Featuring epic battle play with authentic operators, movement, vehicles, gear and maps, it offers world-class battle royales and much more right out of your pocket.
“To win in Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, the next world-class, authentic Call of Duty experience all in the palm of your hands wherever you go, it takes endurance, tactics and strategy. That’s why we are very excited to partner with 5.11 Tactical, robust outdoor apparel and tactical gear brand, made for your most demanding missions,” said Susan Kim, Senior Director of Marketing at Activision. “In addition to participating in the sweepstakes, we can’t wait to see players utilizing the 5.11 Operator Skin on the battlefield and the limited-edition Ghost patch out in the world.”
To learn more about Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile or the Call of Duty franchise visit, www.callofduty.com. To learn more about 5.11, its product offering or its latest events and sweepstakes, visit www.511tactical.com.
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About 5.11, Inc.
With offices around the globe, 5.11 works directly with end users to create Purpose-Built Gear™ to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and technical enthusiasts worldwide. 5.11 products exceed rigorous standards, which have allowed the brand to establish a reputation for innovation and authenticity, and become the premier choice for those who live the Always Be Ready® lifestyle. 5.11 products can be purchased online, through authorized dealers and retailers, as well as at 5.11 company-owned retail stores.
Learn more about 5.11’s best-selling gear and accessories at www.511tactical.com. Find a full list of 5.11 company-owned retail stores at https://www.511tactical.com/locations/. Connect with 5.11 on Facebook, Twitter @511Tactical and on Instagram @511Tactical and #511tactical
5.11, Inc. is a subsidiary of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI).
5.11, 5.11 Tactical, Always Be Ready, and Purpose-Built Gear™ are trademarks of 5.11, Inc.
AM I COMPLETELY FULL OF IT? Let’s Find Out If I’m All Talk or Actually About That Life.
Have you ever been struck by that moment of crippling self-doubt that made you question if you’ve wasted your life?
Well that hit me when I was driving home the other daaayyyyyy…
I found myself getting anxious over today’s upcoming Force on Force class (Shivworks-style evolutions…I think)
I’m about to find out if I’ve actually progressed past that flailing incompetent that first walked into “Thunderdome” 3 years ago. Truth be told, I’m a little apprehensive about it. I’d like to think that I’ll do better. I’m arguably better equipped in terms of knowledge and skills. I guess we’ll see about abilities. When was the last time you pressure tested yourself?
To quote a rather obscure movie: “You had your whole life to prepare for this moment. Why aren’t you ready?”
Now I very well could just be getting wrapped up in my own insecurities. Only one way to find out though!
Pistol Basics: The Super Test
Title Image: The most recent Advanced Super Test I shot on a cold and windy January day. Total score is 284. Also shot with the same S&W M&P 9 2.0 SPEC pictured below.
The Super Test is a basic pistol drill conducted with an NRA B-8 target and a shot timer involving shots from 5, 10 and 15 yards with three distinct par times for each string of fire. It’s both a fun and easy drill to conduct. And if one isn’t careful, the time standards and minimum scoring requirements can also keep one honest. I’ve been enjoying working through this drill regularly over the past few weeks to help pass the time on the range. The Super Test has now been around for a few years and is attributed to Darryl and Wayne from Hardwired Tactical Shooting.
Since the normal par times aren’t super strict, I also think this is a great drill for newer shooters. I believe it is a great way to start shooting faster without having to go nuts, necessarily. Par times add pressure, practicing this drill is good for instilling urgency between shots for both newer and experienced shooters. The only difference between the normal Super Test and the Advanced is that the latter involves drawing from a holster as opposed to low-ready.
SETTING UP & SCORING THE SUPER TEST
The Super Test doesn’t require a lot of set-up which makes it extremely convenient to shoot nearly anywhere. All one needs is a shooting area with at least 15 yards from the target backer or berm. To clarify, the Super Test does not need a full-size NRA B-8. A repair center or a B-8 printed on a regular piece of paper will do just fine. Besides, too many shots outside of the black will only hurt the score.
This exercise only uses 30 rounds, and has three separate ten round strings of fire. For each 10 round string, shooters take shots at their B-8 from distances of 15, 10 and 5 yards. Formally, this exercise begins from the low-ready and the par-time for each string of fire corresponds to the distance. Shooters have 15 seconds to fire from 15 yards, 10 seconds to fire from 10 and 5 seconds to fire from 5.
Each shot is worth 10 points, so a perfect score is 300 aggregate. Traditionally, to pass the Super Test one needs a score of at least 270. Knowing Hardwired Tactical Shooting’s philosophy, missing isn’t allowed.
SHOOTING THE SUPER TEST
So far, I’ve shot the [advanced] Super Test with a few different pistols including the .45 Auto HK USP, .40 S&W Glock 22 Gen5, the new Smith & Wesson SD9 2.0 and the Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 SPEC series. Shooting the Super Test with a dot 100% makes it easier to shoot, and that’s a fact. It’s almost like cheating. However, from the four handguns I listed only the M&P 9 2.0 SPEC has a dot mounted, and the 5.5-inch bull of the NRA B-8 isn’t difficult to shoot with duty-grade iron sights at 15 yards either. My scores are indeed better with a dot, and I have the data to prove it.
I actually failed this drill with my USP 45, with humbling scores 253 and 255. If I recall, the best score I shot with my Glock 22 was either 268 or 270. With regards to the pistols chambered for cartridges other than 9mm, the funny part is that I hardly noticed the felt-recoil once the timer went off. I made all the par-times fine, so my lower scores have nothing to with the fact that I drew from concealment or the fact that .40 S&W or .45 Auto are stouter than 9mm. The honest truth is that I didn’t take full-advantage of the allotted time. Dropping too many shots outside of the bull is a guaranteed way to fail the Super Test.
GUNS & TARGETS
To date, the only 9mm pistols I’ve shot this drill are the new SD9 2.0 and the M&P 2.0 SPEC, both new products from Smith & Wesson. I was actually conducting back-to-back reviews for both of these guns and decided to shoot the Super Test. I have yet to shoot the Super Test with either of my Walther PDPs. Shooting this exercise with the S&W M&P 2.0 SPEC and scoring 288-289* made me a believer in that gun, immediately on the spot. In fact January 19, 2024 was the day my current and strange obsession with the S&W M&P 2.0 started because of the target pictured below.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Below are the actual times from the last time I shot the [advanced] Super Test towards the end of January 2024. (These correspond to the target in the lead photo). Even though these times are faster, I dropped points on my aggregate score.
And here’s a better picture of the “Green Machine,” the 9mm S&W M&P 2.0 SPEC I’m also reviewing. It’s got a lightened slide and some Performance Center parts, and this gun is the bees-knees (besides the PDPs).
SUPER TEST BENEFITS
Like I previously mentioned, the Super Test is an easy drill to set up since it needs a single B-8 target, a timer and some shooting space with at least 15 yards. As others have mentioned elsewhere, it’s probably indoor-range friendly at most places since it doesn’t have to be fired from a holster. The par times in each string add pressure which makes for great practice. Whether one shoots with a dot or irons, this drill will penalize the shooter for wasting too much time and trying to over-confirm their sight picture which is something I see with many newer shooters. As I learned some years back from John Johnston of Citizens Defense Research, “once you see what you need to see with your sights, pull the trigger.”
On the other hand, shooting too quickly and carelessly dropping shots will also result in lower scores; especially with time on the clock leftover. Being a grandmaster isn’t necessary to score 270 pass, but reaching it requires more than minimal effort too. Aside from points and scoring, I find the Super Test’s par times to be fair and reasonable. Advanced shooters are welcome to tweak and play with these times or increase pressure in other ways. I think applying some type of “hit-factor” scheme to the basic exercise could make things interesting and spicy.
JAMES BOND WAS WRONG!: How I Carry In a Tuxedo or a Suit
Of course anytime anyone things of carrying a gun in a tuxedo, the obvious solution is a Walther PPK in a shoulder holster. Back in 1962 when Dr. No was released, I’m sure that was one of the best options available.
Things change and evolve.
My thinking is this: The social situations that call for formal attire generally have a bunch of people in close physical contact with each other. Lots of hugging, dancing, etc. This means lots of opportunities to get made or accidentally bump-frisked. That’s why I opt for deeper concealment options.
Also, since tuxedos don’t have belt loops, that necessitates lighter weight options than you could normally hang off of a gun belt.
Here’s the overall breakdown:
– Pistol: S&W J-Frame w/ Barami Hip Grip or S&W Shield
– Holster: Smart Carry
– Pepper Spray: POM Industries
– Flashlight: Modlite Systems PHL-V2 18350 configuration with an RCS pocket clip
– Tourniquet: Tactical Medical Solutions SOF-T Wide
– Tuxedo: Ike Evening by Ike Behar
CAN I PROTECT MYSELF WITHOUT A GUN? First Steps To Start Being Safer Today
Right now we’re seeing a lot of folks expressing an interest in self defense who previously never gave it a moment’s thought.
Those of us in the self defense space recognize that firearms can be the most effective tools for that role but those new to the idea may find it a little daunting or off-putting. Combine that with the fact that many of us tend to enthusiastically launch into dissertations on the subject whenever a glimmer of interest is shown, and it’s very easy to overwhelm someone who is just starting out.
PROTECT YOURSELF WITHOUT A GUN
I made this video in the hopes that it will serve as a primer for folks who are coming around to the idea of taking a more proactive role in their own protection and security. This is not indented as the be-all, end-all solution, and if you just do the things mentioned no further action is required. It is however designed to serve as a jumping off point.
Whether you’re the “gun person” in your circle, or if you’re just starting out yourself this can be a handy reference.
Claude Werner: The Tactical Professor
POM Pepper Spray & Inert Trainers
The Gift of Fear Gavin de Becker
Violence of Mind Varg Freeborn
Arrival of ShootingClasses.Com
I’ve always wondered why there wasn’t one beloved website where instructors could list their classes and locations. A website where students can search their local area and locate a wide variety of firearm classes. Practiscore more or less provides that for competition, and some instructors do post classes on Practiscor, but that’s never taken off in a significant way, at least not in my area. I see a ton of instructors using websites like Eventbrite, but ShootingClasses.Com is the first I’ve seen to focus exclusively on firearms.
What’s ShootingClasses.Com
Admittedly, I don’t know much about the people behind ShootingClasses.Com, but it’s obvious they are pro-gun. The website is tailored to firearms training and allows ranges and instructors to post their classes and students to peruse classes in their area and across the United States.
ShootingClasses.Com provides a pretty robust search function that allows you to enter your area and what specifically you want from the shooting class you’re looking to attend. You can narrow it by weapon type, class type, or various events and competition shoots. You can get super specific with categories for NRA and USCCA courses, scenario-based instruction, virtual simulations, medical classes, and many more options pop up.
Just checkmark what you’re looking for, and you can search through a wide variety of classes. The search engine is very easy to use. I really like the fact they added a difficulty selection. Whenever I’m looking for classes, I’m always curious about what Instructor A’s pistol class is compared to Instructor B’s. If I get to a beginner class, I’ll feel a little shorted. Allowing instructors to check the difficulty level is a great way to ensure good customer service.
I did a search in my local area and found several instructors and classes. A surprising amount, to be honest. I didn’t even know some of these companies even existed, and I’ve lived here forever and have been a part of the local firearms scene for quite some time.
The Catch
It sounds too good to be true, so what’s the catch? For students, the website is free. No subscription or payment is required. For Instructors and Ranges, there is a monthly subscription of 19 dollars a month. There is also a 5-dollar student fee for classes that cost less than 100 and a charge of 10 dollars per student for classes that cost more than 100 bucks.
Sadly, it doesn’t run itself. According to the website, ShootingClasses.Com does offer you marketing aid, discount code functionality, registration log, rosters, class calendars, online sign-up, payment processing, and more. It’s not just Craigslist-style ads. Admittedly, there is a fair bit of support offered for your membership.
You can also pause your membership at any time if you take a break for instructing or maybe book a residency at a training center. It seems like a good deal, and they seemingly offer you support, but I can’t say. It seems like it’s pulling in instructors, so maybe they are onto something.
Beyond Being Handy
I see ShootingClasses.Com being a handy website, but it goes beyond just being handy. While EventBrite is currently popular with instructors, it would take a change of the wind for that to end. I’m surprised it lasted this long. Once some Angry Moms Demanding Action find out, I can see EventBrite closing those opportunities for instructors. I wouldn’t depend on it. I think ShootingClasses.Com has some real potential to be a website on par with PractiScore.
Barrett MRADELR: First Shots!
The Barrett MRADELR rifle is a high end military grade ELR (extreme long range) shooting platform with the ability to chamber modern large magnum rifle calibers such as .416 Barrett. Although it’s considered a production level rifle, its attention to fit, finish and basic design makes it as capable as many other custom built ELR rifles. In the case of the Barrett MRADELR, besides its Barrett designed, one of a kind bolt action interface, (that comes with the ability to swap bolt heads for caliber changes), the MRADELR also has a quick change barrel swapping interface that allows the end user to not only swap out different barrels as needed, but also effectively turns the MRADELR into a multi-caliber rifle with both interchangeable barrels and bolt heads. Changing bolt heads is tool-less and swapping out barrels requires only one tool and not too much time.
BARRETT MRADELR BARRELS
Even though barrels are swappable, it does not mean that they do not get their fair share of attention as they are being manufactured. Barrett MRADELR barrels are all built from stainless steel to match grade specifications. When it comes to the rifling, these barrels use single point cut rifling and are hand lapped. Finally, as the MRADELR is designed to higher extreme long distance magnum rifle cartridges, it comes equipped with Barrett’s extremely effective three port QDL muzzle brake to tame down the magnum recoil.
The rifle’s name is a creative portmanteau of the abbreviations “MRAD” and “ELR”. MRAD stands for “milliradian”, a popular unit of angular measure used in optics and precision shooting. “ELR” on the other hand is simply an abbreviation of “extreme long range.” To learn more about the Barrett MRADELR and to see a better detailed and more comprehensive list of details, features, design cues and additional technical specifications, please visit Barrett’s website at https://barrett.net/
Williams Gun Sight LRS – The Low Reflex Sight
We’ve hit a few different points of stagnation in the gun world. Ammo doesn’t have much room to improve; guns have hit their foreseeable peak, and the same goes for red dots. While we probably won’t see anything revolutionary, we will see small improvements. Ammo cases are becoming lightweight, guns are getting smaller but hold just as many rounds, and Williams Gun Sight flipped a red dot upside down. By doing so, they created what they call the Low Reflex Sight, or LRS for short.
This isn’t a full review but an overview. I find it so interesting I think it’s worth two articles instead of one very long article. Williams Gun Sight is well known for creating iron sights for shotguns and rifles of various types. Their Firesights were one of the first to use high-visibility fiber optics for various iron sights. This is their first advance into the world of red dots, and instead of releasing another generic, mostly fine red dot optic, they released the LRS.
Let’s see what the LRS is and is not.
What The LRS Is
The LRS is a mini red dot sight that uses a unique design that takes the standard mini red dot and flips it upside down. They then mount the sight to a cover. At the bottom, we don’t have a traditional mounting platform. The bottom of the optic is open, for lack of a better term. It attaches to its various mounts via four screws that attach to the sides of the mount and not the top.
The LRS features a reticle that’s a 32 MOA segmented circle with a 2 MOA dot in the center. I’m a fan of designs like this for shotguns because they are big, eye-grabbing, and give you a method to zero your buckshot load inside the circle at certain ranges. With that said, this optic is designed for long guns, especially shotguns. Williams Gun Sights make mounts for Mossbergs, Remingtons, and Benellis.
The LRS comes ready out of the box with a battery and Picatinny rail. It features six illumination levels, and holy crap, does it get bright. The LRS has no problems with daylight bright situations. Two controls allow you to adjust the brightness level, and holding down the down button shuts the optic off.
The main benefit of the LRS is that it sits super low. It’s roughly 30% lower than most red dots. When I compare the LRS with other red dots, it appears that the LRS sits as low on a standard shotgun as the red dot on my Mossberg 940 with its receiver cut design.
What the LRS Isn’t
The LRS is not an enclosed red dot. Just by looking at the pictures, I can see why someone would assume it’s an enclosed emitter design, but it’s not. On the flip side, the emitter is better protected from the elements than the standard mini-red dot.
This is not a pistol red dot. It’s not rated for pistols according to William Gun Sights, and I don’t see a way for you to mount it to a handgun due to the design. The LRS doesn’t have any means to attach to a standard pistol. However, it will mount to handguns that lack reciprocating slides and have picatinny top rails, like the various Ruger MK pistols.
This isn’t your standard red dot. It’s designed for weapons that need optics to sit nice and low, which really makes it almost purpose-built for shotguns. However, it could work on lever guns and other more traditional platforms.
The Review
I haven’t had a ton of time to shoot with the LRS, but a full review is coming soon. Take this as a teaser. It’s the first red dot innovation I’ve seen this year, and I hope it works as well as it seems to. It’s currently mounted to my Mossberg 590 in 20 gauge, and I can’t wait to give it the full run around.
The KCI APC9 Magazines – Metal Feed Lips Finally!
I love B&T and its dedication to subguns. Sure, they make other stuff, including great suppressors the APC223, but they are the most dedicated subgun producer I know of. Every gun they make is seemingly a banger, too. They make good guns, but their magazines often leave something to be desired. The mags for the APC9 series are used for several different guns, and they are the weak point of an awesome firearm. KCI’s APC9 magazines look to be a welcome upgrade.
It’s not that they don’t feed reliably. They do, and they tend to be as reliable as it gets. The problems come from the polymer design. It’s a bit brittle, and the polymer feed lips have been known to break and fail after a fairly short amount of abuse. B&T treats them as disposable parts, and admittedly, magazines are disposable, but they tend to be disposed of a bit quicker than other magazines. Plus, at $60, they aren’t cheap. Oh, and don’t drop them ever because if you do, they will spray out your loaded cartridges like a fountain.
The B&T magazines were just waiting for an aftermarket solution. You expect Magpul, or even Lancer, heck, or even ETS, to take the task to heart. Yet, it was the Korean manufacturer KCI who took the challenge and released a new APC9 Magazine. KCI is well known for producing affordable, fairly reliable magazines for ARs, Glocks, and AKs. They aren’t often considered duty-grade magazines, but they are very functional for the price point. The KCI APC9 magazines might be a reputation-breaking effort.
The KCI APC9 Magazines – Notable Differences
The first and most important difference is that KCI fixed the weakest part of the APC9 magazine, the feed lips. KCI uses metal feed lips. This reinforcement will help prevent the most common damage to APC9 magazines. Broken feed lips plague the B&T mags. The KCI APC9 magazines do lack the bumper that some B&T magazines offer, but I prefer metal feed lips.
When you drop the mags, they are less likely to break and won’t go off like a fountain when they strike the ground. The reinforced feed lips are a nice touch, but not the only nice touch. The KCI APC9K magazines are more translucent than stock B&T options. They are also a lot easier to load. There is a lot less pressure on the follower, and the last five rounds are easy to insert and load.
The magazines glide into the magwell with ease and lock in place rather nicely. Doing quick reloads won’t be much of a challenge, and loading a fresh mag on a closed bolt isn’t tough either. The B&T mags would often be quite difficult to insert on a closed bolt fully loaded. It’s surprisingly robust and seems very well made. Of course, a lot of nice features mean absolutely nothing if the magazines don’t run reliably.
To the Range
With a single KCI APC9 magazine, I hit the range, and to quote Frank Reynolds, I started blasting! In a safe and proper manner. Using my ammo to run drills rather than diving into the temptation to mag dump into trash I was able to track feeding reliability. I used a mixed bag of ammo for testing, with the majority being brass-cased 115-grain rounds. I mixed in some hollow points, some 147-grain, and some steel-cased stuff to find a weak point. In terms of just feeding, the magazine didn’t falter or fail. I loaded on an open bolt, a closed bolt, and more. There were no malfunctions to speak of.
I did some classic and largely useless shoot one reload shoot one drills just to test dropping the magazines. I only had one KCI mag, but the stock B&T mag worked fine for reloads. In this reload practice, I noticed the KCI APC9 magazine slid in easier and smoother than the stock APC9 mag. I let the KCI clash to the ground over and over.
Outside of reload drills, I loaded the magazine and let it drop on concrete. I dropped it at different angles, including directly on the feed lip. When dropped fully loaded, a round or two will fly out, but no more than two have ever popped out. The magazine body didn’t break, and the metal feed lips didn’t falter. The KCI APC9 magazines feel solid and well-made.
Three Cheers for KCI
The KCI APC9 magazine is substantially cheaper than the B&T model. If I go to GunMagWarehouse right now, I can get the KCI APC9 mags for $20 on sale. That’s a bargain compared to the stock standard B&T mags. My sample size is one, but if the KCI APC9 magazines function this well across the board, I don’t see a reason to buy OEM magazines anymore.
ODDS vs. STAKES: WHICH MATTERS MORE? Balancing Your Lifestyle w/ Preparing for Sentinel Events
We’ve all heard the expression used. Generally it’s when someone is insisting that you HAVE to carry a full sized handgun (preferably with a +5 mag extension), at least one spare mag, a backup gun, a fighting knife, and there’s usually some kind of gimmicky impact weapon in the mix too.
If these same people truly subscribed to this mantra, they’d be in peak physical condition, drive the safest vehicle as they could as little as possible, and live such risk averse lives that there’d be question as to whether they were actually alive or not!
The fact is that it’s both. Everything we do is a balancing act, making sure that we’re not taking undue risks, and the ones we do assume are calculated and mitigated as much as we realistically can.
Yes, given a choice I’ll always opt for my dotted G19 above anything else in the inventory, however there are circumstances where trying to cram that solution into the equation would be inappropriate or unrealistic.
Just as with “it works for me”, if there’s a clearly articulable reason for what you’re doing, and you’re taken an honest assessment of your needs and knowledge, skillset and abilities, then run with it. But don’t expect to be taken at face value just because it hasn’t failed for you YET.
Wilson Combat’s ACP 1911
The aptly named Wilson Combat ACP pistol encompasses all of the essentials envisioned by the crew at Wilson Combat in what an elementary fighting single stack 1911 needs. The Wilson Combat American Combat Pistol (ACP) is available in both .45 ACP and 9mm Luger. Build wise, the Wilson Combat ACP makes use of the company’s Eagle Claw texturing around its grips, frontstrap and backstrap. In addition, the slide features only rear cocking serrations and uses Wilson Combat Battlesights, which consist of a plain black rear sight and a fiber optic front sight with a red fiber optic insert. Projectiles are sent downrange by way of a fitted match grade 5-inch barrel that sits flush and beveled with the bushing at the muzzle. Likewise all of its internal parts and mechanisms come from Wilson Combat’s famed line of Bullet Proof parts.
WILSON COMBAT ACP
In the case of the American Combat Pistol, basic doesn’t mean no-frills, it means that this pistol has the required attributes needed in a good fighting 1911. The American Combat Pistol is still hand built and hand fitted, after all. With that being said, as an “elementary” fighting 1911, the Wilson Combat ACP is also a prime candidate for further customizations and enhancements like some of the other pistols in Wilson Combat’s lineup.
Wilson Combat American Combat Pistol Specifications:
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Full Size Carbon Steel frame
- Eagle Claw front strap/mainspring housing treatment
- High-grip Bullet Proof® beavertail grip safety
- Tactical Bullet Proof® thumb safety
- 3.5 lb – 4.5 lb crisp trigger pull with medium pad
- Bullet Proof® magazine release
- Contoured magazine well
- G10 Eagle Claw grips with black medallions
- 5 inch Carbon Steel slide
- Eagle Claw rear cocking serrations
- Battlesight with red fiber optic front sight
- 5 inch Stainless match grade barrel and bushing, flush cut
- MSRP: $3285
Visit www.wilsoncombat.com to learn more.
Why Is The B8 So Popular These Days
While I don’t believe that B8 targets are a replacement for your personality, I do believe that the B8 is an awesome target. I used to be of the opinion that you needed a hyper-realistic target to train with. While I still see the benefits of realistic targets, I’ve learned of the benefits and the advantages of the super simple B8 target.
The B8 doesn’t have a ton of documented history. Who designed it and when it was first used seems to be lost to time. We know it’s an NRA target and that the NRA Bullseye matches have been using the target since 1941, so it’s at least that old. The B8 is named because the ‘black’ portion of the target is eight inches in diameter. It’s designed to be a rapid-fire bull’s eye target.
The design is about as simple as it gets. It’s a five-ring target, with each ring wearing a designator. The centermost ring is the X and is 1.695 inches in diameter. The 10-ring is 3.36 inches in diameter, the 9-ring is 5.54 inches wide, and finally, the 8-ring is 8 inches in diameter. The 9, 10, and X rings are all black and often referred to as the ‘black.’
The Rise in Popularity of the B8
I don’t think NRA Bullseye Matches have exploded in popularity, especially amongst the tactical community. Obviously, one of the big reasons why the B8 is famous is the memes. If you hang around the higher-informed gun social media circles, you’ll see the B8 mentioned, you’ll see tag groups, and people asking to see your B8 in the midst of an argument. Those memes have an origin with reputable instructors.
Instructors like Steve Fisher and Bill Blowers are champions of the B8. I’m sure they aren’t the only two, but they are the two that come to mind. The B8 provides a very simple target and versatile target. I’m not saying this is why those instructors use these targets, but logistically, it makes sense. They are cheap, easy to find, and can even be printed if you so choose.
These targets provide an understandable and easy-to-read scoring system. This scoring system provides you with objective information that allows you to improve. It’s a bit like a shot timer, but it shows exactly where you’re hitting. The target can be used at a multitude of ranges and for a ton of different training applications.
A Vital Target
The size of the B8 very conveniently matches the sizes of most human vitals. Hold it up to your chest. It’s roughly the same size as your heart, lungs, and the artery area in the chest. Hold it up to your head. As long as you’re hitting within the black, you’re effectively making headshots. The B8 even makes a great replica of a human turned to the side.
The B8’s dimensions are close to other common targets and can be used in place of them. Fold in the sides of one, and it’s basically an IPSC A-Zone. The B8 is also the subject of numerous drills aimed at improving shooter’s skills.
The B8 forces a shooter to aim small and miss small. Rather than be happy with a shot hitting a massive man-sized target, the shooter is forced to improve their shooting skills and shoot smaller targets.
While the B8 seems so old and out of date, it turns out it’s one of the most versatile target options out there. Plus, it’s cheap, readily available, and easy to stash in a range bag. Give one a spin, and it becomes self-explanatory.
3D Printing & Self-Defense Training Gear
Gun owners have a weird crossover with a number of other hobbies. These include the predictable, like archery, but also, for some reason, including planes, anime, and 3D printing. Obviously, the world of 3D printing is pretty friendly to firearms, with the movement of 3D-printed firearms gaining plenty of steam. I’ve been functionally curious about 3D printing, so with some Amazon gift cards I got for Christmas, I purchased a basic 3D printer from Creality and have been learning the ropes.
3D Printing & Self-Defense Gear
I’m still an amateur with a lot to learn, and while I plan to one day try to print and build a Glock clone, I’m waiting til I learn a bit more about printing. A 3d printed frame is a lot easier than an 80% lower. Learning about printing means printing things, and since I can only print so many Warhammer 40K figurines, I’ve looked into gun-adjacent gear I can 3D print. This led me to a few interesting and easy-to-print items related to firearms training. Well, that and tactical bean holders. Here are my favorite 3D-printed pieces of training gear.
Target Stand (By Bucky11)
Over at Printables, I found a target stand that makes building a target super cheap. Outside of the stand, you’ll need a furring strip, a cardboard target backer, and two tent stakes. The total construction of the entire thing costs less than $10. The target stand at the core of this design is very simple but super effective. It’s what really convinced me that 3D printing and firearms training gear can work out well together.
It’s a pyramid-like design with a slot for a furring strip to drop in the middle. It holds the strip upright, and a set of tent stakes keeps it set into the dirt regardless of the external conditions. It’s perfect for holding cardboard IPSC/USPSA targets or just cardboard backers to support your B8, your A zone, 3×5 cards, or whatever. The target stand takes several hours to print with a basic printer but came out pretty well till the very end, where my printer slipped a layer. It happens, but it was an easy fix with a file.
MantisX Rails
So you’ve got a MantisX, but your weapon doesn’t have a Picatinny rail. Maybe it’s a Beretta 92 or a revolver. You can probably buy a rail and stick it to a magazine, but you could also print an entirely new magazine baseplate or slip-on adapter. There are tons of different MantisX rail adapters for tons of different guns. These baseplates are designed by a multitude of creators.
A quick glance shows models for SIG, Glock, 1911s, Berettas, and many more. I’ve even seen a few for revolvers, which is a nice touch. These are quick and easy to produce and allow you to use your MantisX series device on various handguns. They’re great if your gun doesn’t have a rail or that rail might be occupied. Either way, these give you a cheap way to get your MantisX training in. Unlike a lot of 3D printing, these are quick and easy to print.
Slide Stop Disabling Dry Fire Dummy Round (By Michael_227585)
If you want to work your dry fire reloads without having to deal with the slide locking open, then the Slide Stop Disabling Dummy Round is for you. This simple little device is super neat and very handy. This device pushes the magazine follower downward just enough to prevent it from engaging with the slide lock and locking the slide open.
When you place one in your magazine, you can work your reload on the fly and dry. These are super handy for dry fire training, and you can work reloads, malfunctions, and more. If you don’t want the slide to lock to the rear, this five-minute 3D-printed wonder is for you.
Training Weapons
There is an entire culture of ‘blue’ weapons across the world of 3D printing. We all know the value of blue guns and how a nongun can be a very handy piece of training gear. They can be somewhat expensive, and if you want a simple option for training, 3D printing makes it easy to get a cheap one. I printed a training knife just because.
(Although the print went a little awry, again, I’m still new to 3D printing and learning.)
I’m planning to print a P32 replica so I can practice drawing from my pocket indoors without needing to unload my P32 and without having any safety concerns. These can be longer prints, especially if you want a durable model with complete infill.
The 9mm JamCap V3 (By Raft3r)
Our final addition to the 3D printing firearm training hall of fame is the 9mm JamCap V3. This is designed to sit inside your magazine and can be randomly placed amongst a field of live ammo. When it comes to its term feed, it creates a complicated malfunction, similar to a double feed. While it looks like a cartridge, the ‘projectile’ stand-in is a big ball that can’t load successfully.
These are fairly disposable and will likely get beat up pretty quickly. Print with 100% infill to make them as tough as can be. Still, they are only plastic and will likely break after a few uses. Luckily, they cost literal cents to make. (The JamCap V3 does not work in Glock mags, sadly.)
3D Printing & Training
While a ton of people focus on building guns with their 3D printers, the ability to print numerous firearm accessories seems to be almost limitless. These provide a cheap and easy way to train in new and different ways on demand. A creative instructor could use 3D printing to produce on-demand firearms training gear, and a stickler for saving money can do the same. I think 3D printers will continue to be a growing part of firearms culture, training, and even our rights.
Gunday Brunch 140: Conspiracy Corner
In this episode the boys are definitely not government agents. For real. They’re just three guys doing a podcast. Nothing more.