Training With Riley Bowman

By

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January 17, 2024

I had the pleasure of attending Riley T. Bowman’s Pistol Intelligence back in June 2023. Although it was the only handgun class I took in 2023, I’m grateful it was Mr. Bowman’s class. He is a nationally-ranked, active competitive pistol shooter and teacher. He also spends a great deal of time traveling across the country to shooting matches and teach. I signed up for Pistol Intelligence after my friend, Greybeard Actual highly recommended it. Perhaps the most important factor in attending, is the fact that Mr. Bowman is an active competitor. When it comes to pure shooting skills, which is what Pistol Intelligence covers, few things validate an instructor’s knowledge and skill like participating in competition does. With the hassle, time and expense that going to a weekend training event entails, I feel better knowing that the instructor is confident enough to take those skills and throw down in the arena.

Pistol Intelligence is an advanced class best suited for those who are already comfortable shooting their pistols and drawing from the holster. It’s not a first-steps or beginner’s class, and since many discussions and topics can get into the weeds, it also wouldn’t be fair to those new students. Furthermore, I suggest you bring your favorite pen and a good notebook. Mr. Bowman spends a fair deal of time lecturing and discussing all manner of topics pertinent to shooting handguns quickly and accurately, and in this course, these lectures are as important (if not more) than the live-fire sections. I think I walked away with 8 pages of notes that weekend.

BOWMAN’S TRAINING FOCUS

I really enjoyed Mr. Bowman’s approach to teaching pistol shooting due to his first-principles approach for shooting. He breaks down what pistol shooting is and from there he discusses each part. He covers a myriad of subtopics that make up the calculus of shooting quickly and accurately. These topic included in-depth discussion about leverage and how the hand interacts with the handgun during recoil, for example. Mr. Bowman also keyed in on the role vision plays in fast-and-accurate handgun shooting, and this class covers topics such as target-focused shooting and target transitions. Beyond that, plenty of time is spent covering recoil management and shot-calling–also two significant elements of advanced handgun shooting. I thought one of the most eye-opening aspects in the curriculum was the discussion about riding recoil vs forcing the slide to stay flat. In short, I consider myself a serious handgun shooter and Pistol Intelligence felt extremely relevant from beginning to end. As an instructor, Mr. Bowman is not an absolutist and encourages students to play around with different techniques and see what works best for them. This is the first-principles approach, and what actually counts is speed, accuracy and control.

PARTICIPATING IN PISTOL INTELLIGENCE

I seldom use the word “amazing” because it gets overused, but I had an amazing experience during the weekend of our specific class. Pistol Intelligence was held in the dead heat of June at Temple Gun Club, my home gun club. That weekend, class was nothing short of amazing because it was scheduled during the same week as the USPSA Area 4 Championship [a major match], where Mr. Bowman made a detour in order to compete on staff day before arriving in central Texas. However, earlier that same week, his vehicle caught fire on the side of the interstate. He managed to ditch his SUV with most of his guns and gear before the flames completely consumed it. Considering that in the course of a few days Mr. Bowman experienced a catastrophic and traumatic event but still had the mental wherewithal to stand and deliver at a high-level USPSA match and then teach a group of 13 adult strangers for two scorching days in the Texas heat the same weekend, I think that what he pulled off was nothing short of amazing. What I’m saying is that this man can really keep it together. And it’s no wonder he shoots as well as he does. The fact of the matter is that being able to get a grip mentally is key for shooting success. Because after a certain point, performance shooting is driven by the mind.

THE STUDENTS

This weekend class was populated by serious students, all who were keen on learning and were very motivated to be there. It was noticeable that everyone in attendance had been to classes in the past, and a good handful also had match experience, be it IDPA or USPSA. The flip side of the coin of what I mentioned earlier about good shooting instructors validating their skills in matches is also that good instructors are perpetual students and never stop learning. They actively attend other instructors’ courses to learn and better themselves. Greybeard Actual, who teaches classes in his own right and competes, was also on the line as a student that weekend. The class ambiance was relaxed, but everyone in attendance was serious and focused.

MY PERSONAL TAKEAWAYS

This was the first class in which I shot from a competition belt instead of from concealment, and this class was my maiden voyage with my full-size Walther PDP along with the Holosun HS507COMP red-dot sight. In fact, I zeroed the optic the morning of the first training day. With regards to the Walther PDP being brand new to me, I was a bit leery of showing up to an advanced class with a brand-new pistol and un-zeroed dot, but the PDP is so easy-shooting, that it didn’t take much to acclimatize to its grip and trigger. My conservative estimate is that I fired 500 rounds (at least) through my pistol that weekend, with no issues of course.

I’ll also add that the next match I attended after taking Pistol Intelligence, also led to some personal bests and a level of confidence in my pistol shooting that I had never seen before. The best part is that it freed up mental space to best focus on stage plans and movement. Even now, in January of 2024, I am still coasting on some of that success and using it to focus on improving my match performance. While I did shoot my PDP from a competition belt, prospective students need not worry about that. That was a personal choice while Pistol Intelligence is actually fairly gear-agnostic. In reality all one needs to succeed is a reliable semi-auto pistol with at least three magazines. While there’s nothing with bringing an iron-sighted pistol to the course, I think the majority of students are better off bringing a pistol with a slide mounted red-dot. Dots can be very conducive to advanced shooting techniques.

My then brand-spanking-new Walther PDP 5″ Full-size. It was during this training class where I was able to really get a feel for this gun and how it shot.

Shooting-wise, my biggest takeaway was probably a better understanding of the relationship between both the firing hand and the support hand and their respective pressures to build not only a good grip, but one that allows the shooter to wring out the highest level of performance they can from their gun. Note: dead tight white knuckle grips are not always better!

THE CULMINATION OF PISTOL INTELLIGENCE

The climax of Pistol Intelligence is a series of standards and evaluations whose score is factored into something Mr. Bowman refers to Pistol IQ. To earn a good Pistol Intelligence Quotient, a shooter has to be well rounded. NRA B-8 targets, index cards, transitions, etc are all part of this evaluation. Those who score a PIQ of 144 or higher earn a nice keepsake in the form of a serialized Pistol IQ metal card. All aspects of the Pistol IQ assessment directly tie-in and call for the material covered in class for a good IQ score. Following Pistol IQ, the last event Mr. Bowman had for students was a mini USPSA style stage with a couple of IPSC cardboard cutouts and a few steel poppers. While participation in this stage was optional, the stage itself wasn’t too complex but it was still a very fun way to implement everything covered in class that weekend. The student with the best score won a voucher for a free holster from KSG Armory, one of Mr. Bowman’s companies.

Besides the breadth and depth of advanced handgun shooting concepts covered in Pistol Intelligence, this course is also very relevant to modern shooting. Like I mentioned above, it’s worthwhile to bring a reliable pistol with a properly mounted and torqued red-dot sight. For the level and quality of training one receives during class, at only $450 for a two-day weekend, Pistol Intelligence is one of the best deals available to the serious pistol student.

I can see clearly now… but just slightly OD Green – Magpul TMAG

By

Keith Finch

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January 16, 2024

Transparent magazines have been one of the most difficult things to accomplish in polymer. Most examples we see have flaws, usually fragility in the magazine body, and cannot be recommend as readily as solid color counterparts.

The GenM3 PMAG has been the international standard for STANAG Magazines and Magpul does not want to compromise this standard for a feature that is, in part, just a creature comfort. Magazines need to feed rounds into the weapon, being able to count the remaining rounds by sight is a luxury that does not improve efficacy if it compromises the weapon’s reliability.

The TMAG, offered in ODT (Olive Drab, Transparent) apparently meets Magpul’s GenM3 standards, but now with the estimate windows replaced by total transparency (in a manner of speaking). The windows and marked follower in the PMAGs were decent, but no substitute for total visibility.

In addition to TMAGs, the AMAG introduces the step into the aluminum magazine space for pistols

Starting with the institutionally popular P320/M17/M18, the AMAGs are going after the pistol markets that do not do so well with polymer designs. Rifle magazines tend to play well in polymer, but pistols limited space and designs originally metallic dimensions in mind make polymer unusable (at least at present).

Just as it is nearly impossible to make an AR-15 or AR-10 lower out of polymer because it is based upon the strengths and dimensions available out of aluminum, a space designed with aluminum or steel dimension requirements in mind can be very difficult to adapt to polymers.

If it isn’t broke…

AMAG. I’m hoping the M&P 2.0 and P365 will be hot on the heels of the P320’s

YOUR WARDROBE DICTATES YOUR WORDS: How You Carry Affects How You Communicate

By

The Suited Shootist

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January 16, 2024

This week I touch on some considerations about how your communication and awareness skills have to change, depending on how accessible your defensive tools are.

Sure, it would be great if we could go through life with our preferred carry setup that we practice all the time. The one that’s optimized for comfort, speed, and accessibility.

Sadly for many of us that isn’t a reality. Have you given any thought to how you might VERBALLY create an opportunity that would allow you to access something carried in deep concealment?

Are there alternate tools you keep staged to help create that window?

Whitmer’s Smart Approach to Gun Control in Michigan

By

Keith Finch

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January 16, 2024

Lansing — State Capitol Building, Michigan

Make no mistake readers, this is not praise for Whitmer’s policies. It is an acknowledgement that she is avoiding a great deal of the criticism and scrutiny that Illinois, New York, and California are receiving for their states’ policies by taking a more nuanced approach.

On February 13th Michigan will have new control slotted into place. These include safe storage mandates, Red Flag/ERPO updates, registration of long guns and Universal Background Checks, and an update to misdemeanor domestic violence conviction language.

MCRGO summarized the new safe storage rules thusly,

Firearms being stored or left unattended must be unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a person under 18 is or is likely to be present on the premises.

If the minor possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or possesses or exhibits the firearm in the presence of another person in a careless, reckless, or threatening manner: a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 93 days or a fine of up to $500, or both.

If the minor discharges the firearm and injures themselves or another individual: a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

If the minor discharges the firearm and inflicts serious impairment of a body function on themselves or another individual: a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to $7,500, or both.

If the minor discharges the firearm and inflicts death on themselves or another individual: a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Exemption: A minor obtains a firearm with the permission of their parent or guardian and uses or possesses the firearm under the direct supervision of their parent or guardian, or any individual at least 18 years old who is authorized by the minor’s parent or guardian, during the minor’s employment, ranching or farming, target practice or instruction in the safe use of a firearm.

Exemption: A minor obtains a firearm with the permission of their parent or guardian and uses or possesses the firearm for the purposes of hunting, if the minor is in compliance with all applicable hunting laws.

Exemption: A minor obtains a firearm through their unlawful entry of premises or the motor vehicle where the firearm has been stored.

Exemption: A minor obtains a firearm while lawfully acting in self-defense or defense of another.

Firearms safety devices are exempted from Michigan’s sales tax and use tax beginning 90 days after February 13, 2024 through December 31, 2024.

The detailed official legislative analysis of this bill package can be found HERE.

Safe storage education and mandates are gun control with the strongest correlation to efficacy. This makes them the easiest rules to encourage implementation, depending upon how stringent the implementation and language is.

This ruleset was undoubtedly shaped by the Oxford school shooting, and the parents culpability in that event. While a parent, guardian, or responsible adult cannot read minds any more than next person, it will now be a misdemeanor if a minor obtains and brandishes and a felony if a minor obtains and injures or kills someone. The exemptions are unlawful entry (theft), supervised use, and lawful self defense.

This puts a tremendous liability on owners with minor children, minor home occupants, or visitors, to properly store and lock their firearms. That in and of itself is not a bad thing, the problems arise when it comes to presuming what is secure enough for firearms and the storage of defensively oriented firearms.

Must a defensive firearm always be on the person of a responsible adult in the home? Can a home defense firearm be stored loaded but locked up if the adult isn’t home but a minor is? If the minor has some manner of access to defensive firearms for legitimate lawful defense of themselves or others that does give them access for any other reason too, how is that reconciled?

The policy isn’t a catch-22, but it isn’t far from it as the exception for self defense means that the minor did in fact have some form of unsupervised access to the firearm at some level and proving that a minor had access for self defense but did not have access for unlawful purposes is going to be a herculean task. That task leaves Michigan residents with only full secure storage, no access except fully supervised, as the only defensible legal option if a minor accesses their firearm. Saying that firearm access was for defense is unlikely to prove any defense at all in court.

This leaves minors with access that puts the owners at very high risk or no access even though defense is an acceptable exception. That is the damned if you do, damned if you don’t catch-22. It is one of those situations that if it is never a problem it will never be a problem, but if it becomes a problem suddenly you should have known better and its now dramatically your fault as the owner/guardian. And all of that risk sits in the head and on the shoulders of the minors, while the penalty sits upon the adults.

The Holosun P.ID HC – Light It Up

By

Travis Pike

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January 15, 2024

The shift from a focus on raw lumens to the power of candela has been led by two companies, Modlite and Cloud Defensive. They’ve each released ultra-powerful weapon lights that have proven the importance of candela versus lumens. In the pistol light world, there are only a few that have a high focus on candela. You expect Modlite, Cloud Defensive, and even Surefire to invest in high candela weapon lights. What no one saw coming was the Holosun P.ID HC.

The P.ID, a clever acronym for positive identification, is a weapon light aimed at the handgun market. The purpose of a light on a defensive weapon is to establish positive identification of a threat, and that’s exactly what the P.ID can do for you.

The Raw Power of the P.ID HC

There are a number of P.ID light models. Some focus on lumens, and others combine a white light with a laser. Then, we have the HC. HC stands for high candela. How high? Well, according to Holosun, it comes out to 42,000 candela backed by 800 lumens. That combination gives you a bright white light that travels the distance. The point of candela is to make those lumens useable.

One of those benefits is more range. The light carries further, which makes it easy to identify threats at longer ranges. You won’t just see the bad guy, but you’ll be able to see him in bright white light and make out features, clothing, and beyond.

Another benefit of the P.ID HC and its 42,000 candela is the ability to cut through photonic barriers. White lights and other light sources create visual barriers. So does fog, rain, dust, smoke, etc. The more candela you have, the better you can chew through photonic barriers.

The power of 800 lumens is nothing to sneeze at, either. It’s bright and powerful. The P.ID also has a low mode. The low mode cuts it in half, with 400 lumens and 21,000 candela. A low mode means a longer battery life.

The unit is powered by a 18350 battery. In a rather clever move, Holosun added a port to the P.ID HC to make charging the battery easy. There is no need to remove the light to charge the internal battery. Of course, you can always hot-swap 18350 batteries in the field. The battery lasts an hour or so on high.

The P.ID HC in The Field

With the light attached to my favorite handgun, the CZ P09, I hit the field in the middle of the night. The P.ID HC comes with a few different rail adapters, which makes it easy to mount it to most other guns. The light has two switches, which make it ambidextrous. We get both a momentary and a constant mode.

Holding the button for more than a second and releasing activates the momentary mode. A short press activates the constant-on mode. It’s simple and effective, and even a grunt can make it work. The buttons provide a nice amount of tactile feedback.

Out in the dark, the beam cuts through the darkness. It throws a tight and focused beam out. Even out to 50 yards, the beam throws enough light to positively identify a threat on a nice, normal night. The beam really does a great job of providing a very bright hot spot. It doesn’t have a considerable amount of spill, which may be a turn-off for a pistol light.

Pistols are close-range weapons, and, as such, spill helps fill your vision with light from edge to edge. That can really help with your situational awareness. Indoors, it’s fine just because of the sheer white light it’s throwing down. Once we step outdoors, the spill isn’t considerable by any means.

All the candela of the P.ID HC cuts through other light sources pretty dang easily. It shines through headlights, my porch lights, and through both rain and fog. That tight, focused beam of power does a fantastic job.

The Powerful Little Light

The Holosun P.ID HC blew my mind. I didn’t expect Holosun or any company to develop such a powerful and capable light for less than 200 dollars. That’s respectable and a great bargain for the power. The main problem I have, and the main problem most of us will have, comes down to holsters. Anytime a new light is introduced, it’s going to be tough to find holsters that will accommodate your gun and light.

For now, it’s scant. I don’t imagine it will be scant for long. The power and price make the light attractive, so I imagine it will get more popular sooner rather than later. There optics did.

Gunday Brunch 133: SHOT Show 2024 Predictions

By

Keith Finch

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January 14, 2024

SHOT Show starts next week, and it’s time for the boys to give their predictions! What do they think is going to happen?

Hold X to Doubt – CNN’s “300,000 Lives”

By

Keith Finch

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January 12, 2024

“Nearly 300,000 lives could be saved in the next decade if states followed California’s example on gun laws, study says”

The CNN headline is in reference to the very clearly non-partisan and unbiased study by the totally not Bloomberg owned and helmed Everytown for Gun Safety. So you know its legit…

Every time I see a headline making these bold and suspect claims, and then citing a gun control group helmed by blathering imbeciles, I just have to wonder who taught them statistical analysis.

Yes, their math “checks out” in so far as if you averaged the firearm related deaths nationwide and assume mirroring California magically results in California’s rate you “save” lives vs unchanged rates.

Here’s how they did that.

Everytown used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, looking at their rates of gun deaths in 2022, and compared those rates with 50 up-to-date policies for each state that they say are scientifically proven to be effective in preventing gun violence. The CDC’s data includes homicides, accidental killings and suicides committed with guns.

The team then weighed gun safety policies based on their efficacy, ranked each state on its implementation of those policies and compared that score with the rates of gun deaths in each state.

The group also looked at whether the strength of each state’s gun laws increased or weakened last year, depending on legislation. Measures that require universal background checks for gun purchases – enacted last year in Michigan – and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines – now in effect in Illinois – gave certain states higher rankings based on the strength of their gun laws.

But states like Florida and Nebraska became weaker on the gun safety scale last year due to passing legislation allowing people to carry concealed, loaded handguns in public without a permit.

Here’s the problem, the Everytown scores are made up nonsense with little basis in efficacy where as a region’s socio-economic history and analysis of current events are much greater predictors of future trends. The South won’t magically go to a 8.0 per 100,000 death rate if they suddenly adopt California policy because it isn’t “The South” by state. Gun laws have very little effect on suicide for example, the states with high suicide rates tend to have a high population of older white males. Areas with espcially high homicide rates tend to be dominated by young males 15-35 and in low income brackets.

None of these things are accounted for in Everytown’s study of the states, it is literally just a feel good score for how much they like each gun control law and how many a state has. Michigan is cited multiple times in the CNN piece as having done well by implementing Universal Background Checks, but now they are in a position to use the already declining murder rate, down from the Pandemic and riot spikes of 2020-2022, as “evidence” that the new rule is working when they are instead riding a complex combination of factors that are measuring the slow improvement of the Detroit area in general and assigning all that success to the stupid and easily ignored UBC rules that had to be amended multiple times just to work at all.

It is also notable that Everytown’s “Foundational Laws” does NOT include a ban on “Assault Weapons” as the label continues to be used.

Everytown designated five foundational laws that they say have proven to be the most effective in lowering gun violence rates – all of which are in effect in New York and California. They include requirements for a background check and/or permits to purchase firearms; a permit to carry concealed guns in public; the secure storage of firearms; the rejection of ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws; and the enactment of ‘extreme risk’ laws that temporarily remove a person’s access to firearms when there is evidence that they pose a serious risk to themselves or others.

They like UBC’s, permitted carry (which does have some positive evidence in its favor), secure storage (which has the only truly strong evidence of efficacy), ‘rejection’ of Stand Your Ground laws (hard to quantify), and any variant of a ERPO or Red Flag law (until it doesn’t work in which case it will be called a ‘yellow’ flag law by media).

Again, vague policy implementation on the books that generates a feel good score and does nothing to address the easily identifiable societal trends that result in likelihood of homicides or suicides if you break it down by social groups and not “states”. States are the ultimate

Leupold Announces New Mark 4HD Family of Riflescopes

By

Keith Finch

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January 12, 2024

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear sport optics, is pleased to announce the immediate launch of its brand-new Mark 4HD family of riflescopes.

No matter the use-case, the Mark 4HD’s optical clarity and lightweight design will get the job done at the range or in the field. The Mark 4HD series features a 4:1 zoom ratio and five magnification ranges, giving you an accurate and reliable option for close-quarter engagements, long-range dominance, and everything in between.

“The Mark 4HD family was designed to deliver incredible performance and versatility–there’s an answer in the line for every rifle, on every range,” said John Snodgrass, Tactical Product Line Manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “While its features will allow it to immediately find a home on the rifle of even the most experienced professionals, we’re also excited that, right away, the Mark 4HD offers shooters across the board the opportunity to make the jump to premium performance optics.”

The five magnification ranges available include: 1-4.5×24, 2.5-10×42, 4.5-18×52, 6-24×52, and 8- 32×56. The 1-4.5×24 and 2.5-10×42 models feature 30mm maintubes. All 1-4.5×24 models are Second Focal Plane, while the 2.5-10×42 model is available in First (FFP) or Second Focal Plane (SFP). The three higher magnification options have 34mm maintubes and are all FFP optics. MIL or MOA adjustments and reticles are available throughout the line.

Illuminated reticle options are available. It is push-button operated and features Leupold’s Motion Sensor Technology (MST) which will put the illumination to sleep after five minutes of inactivity, reactivating it as soon as the scope moves. The entire Mark 4HD family features Leupold’s Professional-Grade Optical System, which delivers the light transmission, glare reduction, and resolution that professional guides and shooters demand. The push-button ZeroLock dial system eliminates accidental dial movement and allows a rapid return to zero. Select models feature a similar ZeroLock windage turret.

New with the Mark 4HD is the PR3-MIL reticle. Building upon Leupold’s popular PR2-MIL reticle, the PR3 provides a clutter-free image for fast, accurate precision aiming. “Since we rolled it out, the PR2-MIL reticle has been winning competitions around the world,” Snodgrass said. “The PR3-MIL is based on direct feedback from those very same competitive shooters. It utilizes the .25-MIL increment foundation of the PR2’s vertical and horizontal stadia lines, while removing the ‘Christmas Tree’ portion in the lower field of view. It’s incredibly fast
and incredibly clear.”

The Mark 4HD is waterproof, fogproof, shockproof, and guaranteed to perform for life. Like all Leupold riflescopes, it is proudly designed, machined, and assembled in the company’s Beaverton, Ore., factory.

MARK 4HD™

Upgrade every gun in your safe with a rugged Mark 4HD riflescope. We took the legendary performance of our Mark 5HD and gave it a slimmer maintube that’s been packed full of professional-grade features. Whether you’re a dedicated enthusiast or a uniformed professional, the Mark 4HD’s optical clarity and lightweight design will get the job done at the range or in the field. The Mark 4HD series features five magnification ranges, giving you an accurate and reliable option for close-quarter engagements, long-range dominance, and everything in between. They’re available with a three-turn elevation dial for unmatched confidence at extreme distances, a precise ZeroLock windage adjustment that won’t budge when knocked around, and a side focus that’ll give you tack-sharp images down to 25 yards. And like all Leupold riflescopes, they’re waterproof, fogproof, and backed by our lifetime guarantee.

KEY BENEFITS

Leupold’s Professional-Grade Optical
System delivers the light transmission, glare reduction, and resolution professional guides and shooters demand
Eliminates accidental dial movement with the push-button ZeroLock system
Creates more adjustment travel for longer shots with available 30mm and 34mm maintubes
Engages targets at any distance with a 4x magnification range
Creates a visible aiming point in low-light conditions with illuminated reticles
Improves magnification changes with a removable throw lever
Disperses recoil energy for unrivaled durability with ultra-lightweight construction
Superior ruggedness is verified through Leupold’s Punisher testing process
Waterproof, fogproof, and guaranteed to perform for life

For more information on Leupold products, please visit us at Leupold.com.

Join the discussion on Facebook at Facebook.com/LeupoldOptics, on Twitter at Twitter.com/LeupoldOptics, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/LeupoldOptics. Founded in Oregon more than a century ago, Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is a fifth-generation, family-owned company that designs, machines, and assembles its riflescopes, mounting systems, tactical/Gold Ring spotting scopes, and performance eyewear in the USA. The product lines include rifle, handgun, and spotting scopes; binoculars; rangefinders; mounting systems; and
optical tools, accessories, and pro gear.

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., P.O. Box 688, Beaverton, OR 97075-0688, U.S.A.
Phone: (800) LEUPOLD or (503) 526-1400 • Fax: (503) 352-7621 • www.leupold.com

AUS available in 1.70″ and OD Green! – Reptilia

By

Keith Finch

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January 11, 2024

1.70 inch AUS™ Mounts

We’re excited to unveil the latest evolution in our AUS™ Mount series: the highly anticipated 1.70 inch bore height AUS™ Mounts, available in both 30mm and 34mm diameters. These mounts are a testament to our continuous innovation and commitment to your precision needs.

Elevate your gear with the debut of our 30mm AUS™ Mount “Limited Edition” OD Green anodized color-way. This fresh, tactical color option is perfect for shooters looking to add a unique touch to their setup. Available in Black, FDE and the new OD Green.

The 34mm AUS™ Mount continues to offer the reliability and versatility you expect, now in the convenient 1.70 inch height, perfect for a variety of shooting styles. Available in Black and FDE.

Editor’s Note, with the addition of the FDE 1.70 34mm’s I finally have the mount I want for my SCARs available. I’ll snag get a 30mm OD Green as well for my X95.

5.11 Tactical Partners with USCCA To Expand – ABR Academy Classes for 2024

By

Keith Finch

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January 11, 2024

Costa Mesa, Calif. (Jan. 2024) – 5.11 Tactical, the global innovator of Purpose-Built Gear™, today announced it will expand its popular ABR Academy in 2024 to host more than 500 classes in collaboration with the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA). Together, the companies will host the free instructional classes at 5.11 company-owned retail locations across the U.S. to provide tips, tactics and insight on readiness skills.

“Expanding the ABR Academy will allow us to better support individuals seeking to enhance their personal safety and self-reliance skills,” said 5.11 Tactical’s CMO, Debra Radcliff. “By partnering with USCCA, we aim to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate real-world situations and to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The ABR Academy clinics will provide first-hand learning and guidance on topics ranging from building emergency preparedness kits and bug-out bags to self-defense and trauma care. Each course is free to attend and will be hosted by certified experts, including instructors from the USCCA and brand ambassadors from 5.11 Tactical.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with 5.11 and the ABR Academy,” said Tim Schmidt, Co-Founder and Chairman of the USCCA. “Hosting more classes symbolizes our collective pursuit of widespread training and education. This is not just a partnership; it’s a shared commitment to be a positive force in the mission of saving lives.”

The USCCA is the largest, fastest-growing self-defense association dedicated to responsible firearm owners. It offers industry-leading training, lifesaving education and self-defense liability insurance to help members build preparedness and confidence. The partnership between 5.11 Tactical and USCCA brings together two industry-leading organizations to provide participants with a top-tier training experience.

For more information about 5.11 Tactical’s ABR Academy and collaboration with the USCCA, or to find an ABR Academy class near you, please visit 511abracademy.usconcealedcarry.com

# # #

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).

What Happened to War Sport and the LVOA

By

Travis Pike

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January 11, 2024

It was 2014, and I was quite broke. Like a lot of young infantrymen trying to convert their infantry skills to real-world applications, I was coming up short. Still, I was friendly enough with the local gun store that they didn’t mind me hanging around and ogling the wares. The owner spotted me one day and told me to check this out. He pulled out an AR-15 that was unlike any other I had ever seen. He introduced me to the War Sport LVOA. I knew nothing about AR-15s at this point, but man, I thought that was a cool rifle.

The Mighty LVOA

A price tag of $3,050 meant it wouldn’t be mine anytime soon. The LVOA series of rifles were the bees’ knees of 2014 and the next few years. LVOA stands for Low Visibility Operations Applications. Honestly, including Operations and Applications in your name was peak 2014. Their supposed claim to fame was a system that reduces the muzzle flash of your rifle with a special combination of handguard and muzzle device.

It was really this handguard and muzzle device that drew the attention of the AR-15 market. The handguard stretched over the end of the muzzle device, and the muzzle device didn’t blow the lid off of the handguard. Honestly, it still looks pretty sick to this day, and I see why the initial attraction to LVOA was so high. The LVOA rifles come with their own proprietary modular handguard that allows you to remove and replace rails wherever you want them.

Christ Costa used the rifles extensively, and they became a large part of their marketing. Plus, they were able to quickly get their rifles into movies, TV shows, and video games. LVOA rifles were used by name in several Tom Clancy games and became the rifle of a few Transformer’s movies. It was the hotness of that time period and was just so dang cool.

The LVOA Series

The LVOA series was comprised of 14.5-inch and 12-inch options. The 14.5 inch was the C model and had a pinned and welded muzzle device to avoid the stamp. The S model was the SBR variant. There were plans for a PCC in 2017, but I don’t think it ever materialized.

The LVOA rail and muzzle device weren’t just for looks. The idea behind the design was to cut flash in dark environments without using a suppressor. The rail extending over the muzzle device would prevent the flash from getting on the same sight plane as the shooter. It wasn’t designed to help prevent you from being seen in the dark but to help ensure it wouldn’t blind the shooter in low-light situations.

The muzzle device prevented the rail from kabooming by using a brake design that vented gas to the side. This also sends the flash to the side, which helps prevent the flash from coming up into the shooter’s sight plane. It was a neat idea, and the LVOA sold itself on the handguard and muzzle device.

The rifles were often put together using rather nice parts for the era. Nothing crazy, but you got Magpul and Seekins parts. You’d think if the handguard and muzzle device were the stars of the show, War Sport would love to sell them separately. You’d avoid the rigamarole of selling guns and the excise taxes.

From the very beginning, War Sport was adamant they would not sell the handguard and muzzle device separately. If you want it, be prepared to shell out three grand to get it. I’d imagine the profit margin was fairly high for each rifle since they weren’t as fancy outside of the handguard and muzzle device.

So why don’t you hear much about LVOA now?

It Was the Bungee Cord

Okay, it wasn’t totally the bungee cord, but can we talk about that? LVOA advertised and sold a bungee cord for their rifles. It was designed to be threaded through the handguard. Why? You could argue it provided more grip texture, I guess. War Sport advertised that the bungee cord offered a better grip in wet environments, lowered the noise signature of the rifle, and could be used for survival needs. I just had to get that out of the way.

What happened to LVOA and WarSport as a whole? I can’t seem to find definite answers, and the people I need to contact are tough to find. Going off forum posts, social media posts, and the like, it seems like War Sport had a big shake-up. The founder was ousted, and a new CEO stepped up. Some people say the founder caused these problems, while others say firing him caused them. I can’t say for sure.

These very expensive rifles weren’t always great rifles. Users complained about out-of-spec parts and pieces, especially on the receivers. Their rails were often out of spec, making it tough to add accessories.

The combination of the fancy handguard and muzzle device caused some interesting problems. The design often channeled muzzle blast backward and through the handguard. This would cause accessories to fly off the rifle and deploy BUIS with every shot. That backblast was vicious enough that Sage Dynamics banned the rifle from night vision classes.

People were paying three grand for a rifle and not getting anywhere near three grand worth of performance. The one desirable feature was turning out to have some interesting side effects. Who is gonna spend that kind of money on a rifle with all those issues?

The Phoenix Reborn

LVOA has had more resurrections than a Batman villain. War Sport is now owned by ZRODelta, and they produce the LVOA rifle for about 1,500 bucks. It comes with a cool handguard and what appears to be a blast can rather than a break. The rail is now M-LOK, and there isn’t a bungee cord in sight! Maybe this one will stick around?

5.7×28 – The Fanciest Defensive .22

By

Keith Finch

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January 10, 2024

5.7x28mm has had a resurgence in popularity with several new pistols and carbines joining the offering slate and some additional ammunition support.

It is a round to take seriously, the Belgian armed forces use the FiveseveN MK2 as their standard sidearm. This bucks the tradition of NATO 9mm’s and the FiveseveN pistol, the P90, and the 5.7×28 round have a few other serious niche homes they inhabit.

But there is also skepticism on whether or not the higher speed 40gr projectiles can serve as well as traditional 9mm, especially for the increased expensive logistically of fielding the rarer round.

A few more rounds in the magazine and the stupendously light recoil are well and good, but does it serve?

Watch Garand Thumb’s video and let us see, together.

My opinion remains that if a heavy .22LR, like Federal Punch, and .22 Magnum can be considered adequate then 5.7×28 is more than fine. It is likely better in certain niches, like with S&W’s easy to work M&P.

Taurus Optics Ready Option Revolvers are now California Approved!

By

Keith Finch

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January 9, 2024

Bainbridge, GA – The hottest revolver of 2023 is now on available for residents of California! The Taurus 856 T.O.R.O. and 605 T.O.R.O. (Taurus Optics Ready Option) revolvers were added to the California Department of Justice’s roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, commonly called “the roster.”

The 856 T.O.R.O. and 605 T.O.R.O. models available are the stainless-steel models, which feature CCW friendly compact grips, a black ramp front sight, and of course the one of a kind Optics Ready Option for Taurus revolvers. When they first launched in 2023, the T.O.R.O. revolvers were the first ever mass market CCW revolvers that allowed users to mount a red dot. The optic plate secures to the top strap of the revolver and supports any sight that utilize the Shield RMSc or Holosun K-series footprint.

“I’m thrilled to have the T.O.R.O. revolvers on the California roster,” said Caleb Giddings, Taurus’ General Manager of Marketing. “With their addition to the roster, residents of California now have access to three of the fantastic revolver products we’ve introduced in the past couple of years. They can have a 357 Magnum T.O.R.O., a 38 Special six-shot T.O.R.O., or the hand-built 856 Executive Grade. We’re committed to providing quality defensive firearms to the law-abiding citizens of California.”

The T.O.R.O. revolvers continue Taurus’ tradition of innovation and out of the box thinking. The most common complaint about small frame revolvers is often the sights, a problem which is easily addressed by adding an optic.

For more information on the 856 and 605 T.O.R.O., visit: https://www.taurususa.com/revolvers/taurus-t-o-r-o-revolvers

About Taurus:

Taurus Holdings, Inc. (“Taurus”) and its subsidiaries continues to evolve and produce revolutionary new products. In addition, new standards for quality and efficiency help deliver reliable and affordable guns to the market. Taurus is based in Bainbridge, Georgia. Taurus is owned by Taurus Armas, S.A. which is a publicly traded company based in Brazil. Taurus Armas S.A. manufactures a wide variety of consumer and industrial products that are distributed worldwide.

For additional information, visit www.taurususa.com.

Editor’s Note: With the restoration of carry rights by the 9th Circuit, dotted revolvers are not only approved but can be carried places legally by the residents of California. Excellent timing.

The Werkz Origin Holsters the Foxtrot365XR

By

Travis Pike

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January 9, 2024

Have you ever come across a gun and light combination that you can’t just live without? The new SIG Foxtrot365XR is a great light. It has 550 lumens but 17,000 candela! This makes it among the strongest, most capable mini weapon lights on the market. It’s got great levels of brightness and great range. However, this meant I needed a new holster, and thankfully, I found one. I’ve been carrying my SIG P365, which is equipped with the Foxtrot in the Werkz Origin OWB holster.

I love the gun and the light combination, but do I love the gun, light, and holster combination? That’s the real question.

The Werkz Origin OWB

The Werkz Origin OWB holster is a molded polymer holster that’s 100% modern. My main focus when purchasing a holster is this mental checklist. I need it to be safe, I need good retention, and I need to be able to draw with speed and efficiency. For concealed carry, I need it to be concealable as well. The Werkz Origin uses passive retention to retain the weapon, and the expert molding ensures the trigger remains protected and is impossible to fire when holstered.

What about concealment? It’s as concealable as an OWB design gets. It’s a pancake-type holster that molds around the body and hangs tight on the body. Werkz trimmed the holster down to reduce bulk and to make drawing easy, even if the holster is held tight to the body. I’m a pretty big guy, so it’s a bit easier for me to conceal OWB, and the Origin hides itself well under an XLT T-shirt.

The pistol has a slight inward twist, which helps it hang tight to the body and reduces that telltale shelf printing. There is a slight forward cant to the design for concealment and an easy draw. We also get a nice high ride for easy concealment under a shirt and nothing more.

It’s nearly winter, so OWB is easy, but when summer comes along, how do I plan to carry the Origin? Werkz made the Origin to be convertible. I remove the belt loops and install a set of clips to use the holster as an IWB design. It’s easy and simple to ensure concealment year-round.

Blasting Away

Comfort is my last concern, but it’s still a concern. The Werkz Origin holster is plenty comfy. Nothing pokes or prods, and the holster doesn’t rub ya wrong. It also keeps the gun just far enough from your body to prevent grip texture from digging into your body and causing discomfort.

I’ve recently obtained a sub-second draw with an appendix carry holster and have been chasing that high for some time now. The Werkz Origin and I haven’t met the sub-second mark just yet, but I can feel it coming, and I’ll keep practicing. From the get-go go, I’ve been able to draw in about 1.10 seconds with an accurate shot on an FBI Q target. I’m only a little practice away from achieving that sub-second draw.

The cut of the holster ensures I can grab the gun without my hands raking against the holster. I have big hands, and that issue has come up before. The Origin doesn’t freely give up the SIG, and that little passive retention is felt with every draw, but it is ultimately a comforting feeling.

Packing On The Mohaska

The combination of holster, light, and gun works out rather well. I get to use my ultra-bright weapon light with a comfortable, safe, and concealable holster design. The Werkz Origin is a mighty nice holster, and it’s made for a whole lot more than the SIG P365 and Foxtrot light. Werkz makes holsters for a wide variety of gun and light types, and even oddballs like the Polymer 80 80 percent lower handguns, Olights, and more. Check ’em out here if you need or want a modern, modular holster with all the fixings.

The Refettering of SB2

By

Keith Finch

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January 9, 2024

In the continuing saga of California’s newest restriction on concealed carry, the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dissolved the lower court ruling making Newsom’s latest scheme once again unenforceable.

Newsom, Bonta, and the California gun control think tank trying to outlaw carry by proxy rather than outright isn’t a new tactic, but it is the only one with even the most remote chance of passing constitutional scrutiny in a post-Bruen legal landscape.

The 9th Circuit has taken the logical step of halting putting the injunction back in place as the case is decided.

We are witnessing the very quick changes and the legal whiplash that can occur. The pattern of regional courts siding with the sentiments of the region also remains steady. Deciding to upset regional sentiments as little as possible and make higher courts the heavy of the legal battle is normal.