IWI US, Inc. (“IWI”) has determined that the Carmel Rifle has a safety issue with the firing pin blocker and is thereby subject to a Safety Warning and Recall Notice. IWI is issuing this mandatory recall to repair the safety issue in the specific Carmel rifles listed below. IWI will correct these recalled firearms at no cost to the customer, and this recall does not affect any other IWI products.
This safety recall notice affects 1,094 Carmel rifles shipped within the following serial number range. All Carmel rifle serial numbers within the below range are affected.
• Option 2: Call IWI US, Inc. Customer Service at (717) 695-2081 and have the rifle’s 8-digit serial number available.
2. Whether you choose option 1 or 2, IWI US, Inc. Customer Service will send you shipping instructions that include a pre-addressed shipping label.
3. Upon receipt of the shipping instructions, follow instructions found in the Owner’s Manual.
• Remove the magazine from the rifle.
• Clear the firearm of all ammunition.
4. Using the pre-addressed shipping label that was sent to you, ship the rifle to IWI US, Inc. Once received by IWI US, Inc. the rifle will be repaired and returned to you within 4-6 weeks.
IWI US, Inc. apologizes for any inconvenience this has caused and will service any affected rifle in the most expedited manner possible.
If you have any questions about this recall, the rifle, or its disassembly or reassembly, please contact IWI US, Inc. Customer Service at (717) 695-2081.
My personal rifle is one of the affected S/N’s and I am appreciative of IWI’s efforts to deliver a completely safe product if there is even a minor possibility of a component that could result in an unsafe gun. It’s a bad part in a good rifle and I look forward to running this gun heavily in 2024.
I never let an opportunity go to waste. While I sat in the eye of Hurricane Idalia, I saw plenty of opportunities to test gear. I tested boots, chest rigs, flashlights, and one of the handiest tools I had, the Montana Knife Company Hellgate Hatchet. The Hellgate Hatchet was released only recently, and the hurricane gave me plenty of opportunities to give it a trial by fire.
MKC, or Montana Knife Company, is a small American-owned business that is owned and operated by one of the most talented bladesmiths in the industry. This small company has developed a dedicated following due to its useful designs and extremely well-made blades. The Hellgate is their first Hatchet, and oh boy, did it become an instant success. I’m pretty sure it’s still sold out at the time of this writing.
The Hellgate is designed to be compact and easily carried but also made for heavy-duty use. It’s supposed to punch above it’s weight. That weight is only 14.9 ounces. It’s a little longer than 10 inches overall. The Hatchet is made from 52100 ball-bearing steel, which, according to knife nerds, is a very rugged steel. It doesn’t chip or break easily, and it can get quite sharp.
The blade is capped with a modern polymer sheath complete with a modular option for carrying it in all different manners. The handles are G10 scales and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Raising Hell With the Hellgate
My home survived the hurricane without issue. I was very lucky to only have the power go out. I’m not complaining, but I did have a few dozen trees down and hundreds of limbs across my yard of all sizes. When it came time to clean up, chainsaws and tractors were used. However, I did use several of the downed trees as cutting fodder for the Hellgate.
When you’re given the perfect opportunity to test a chopping tool, you get at it. The first thing you realize about the Hellgate is how lightweight it is. It feels more like a hammer than a hatchet. In fact, the grip and angle are more hammer-like than Hatchet. It swings easily with a single hand.
That’s great for when the other hand needs to get things done. The blade takes not only bites out of the wood but also chomps. Big swings took big bites. Since the Hellgate is so light and balanced, I could take quick swings without getting tired and cut through the limbs quickly. It was crazy how fast I could swing and cut through some decently thick branches. I made several that were too heavy to move into more manageable pieces.
My hand got tired well before the rest of me. It really was more of an issue with grip strength than the Hatchet. Chopping big things with a little hatchet isn’t easy, regardless of how nice the Hatchet is. My forearm became numb, but my hands never hurt or blistered when using the Hatchet. My grip also never slipped, even though it’s Florida and in the summer.
Packing a Piece of Steel
This is a nontypical use for a hatchet. You’d typically want a heavier tool for this kind of work. However, it worked fairly well for its small size. Given the choice, I’d take the power tool or full-sized axe, but it proved what the Hellgate could do.
I have used the Hatchet to trick broken limbs, split wood for the pile, and perform similar tasks, and it performed perfectly. That’s the work something like this is more accustomed to. It’s bow season, so hitting the field and trimming spots for a tree stand has been on the list. The Hellgate’s lightweight design and easy-swinging nature made it easy for me to hold onto the tree and swing it above my head and effectively clear a good spot to sit in my stand.
The Hellgate Hatchet was super easy to tote while walking. I hooked it up to my Skyweight chest rig, which is basically a fanny pack for your chest. The lightweight design and actively secured buckle kept it in place and gave me a hatchet that was easy to access without being stuck to my waist.
The Hatchet
Like many young men, I read the book Hatchet and longed for my own adventure and sharp mini ax. I have the Hatchet. Now, I need to find the adventure. The Hellgate is plenty suited for any variety of adventures. Primitive and standard camping, fishing, hunting, and even yard work. It’s light, well-made, and scary sharp. It’s a premium-grade tool, and if you want one, I’d sign up for in-stock notifications from MKC.
SIG Sauer is excited to announce that its Romeo-M17 red dot sight has been awarded a National/NATO Stock Number (NSN). This designation will significantly expedite the procurement process for the U.S. military, NATO members, and select allies.
This milestone is an integral part of the ongoing modernization initiatives of the Modular Handgun System (MHS) Program. The U.S. Army, in its quest to update the MHS Additional Authorized List (AAL), conducted rigorous evaluations on numerous pistol red dot sights from various manufacturers. Among those tested, the RM17 and R2 were successfully chosen. SIG Sauer is proud to highlight that the RM17 was notably superior, emerging as the best-performing and most robust sight evaluated.
Technical DetailsForM17 Red Dot
The ROMEO-M17 (NSN: 1240-01-713-9795) was specifically developed for the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System. It boasts features such as the proprietary SIG-LOC mounting system, which includes bottom-mount technology and five interface points with the pistol slide. This ensures an incredibly durable and secure lock-up. The sight’s design, combined with a side-mounted battery, offers a comprehensive sight picture that perfectly co-witnesses with the standard-height iron sights.
Modular Handgun System M17 pistol equipped ROMEO M17 red dot sight drawn from a Safariland SIG M17 holster. An M18 holster for the smaller version is also available.
Additionally, the SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ROMEO-M17 is a mil-spec, enclosed, and gas-purged red dot reflex sight. It features a distortion-free glass aspheric lens, is submersible up to 35 meters, and incorporates numerous other advanced features, including:
A robust flexure-arm adjustment system made from Beryllium Copper.
A housing forged and machined from 7075 Aluminum with an integrated loaded chamber indicator (LCI) gas deflector.
Machined anti-reflection grooves for reduced glare.
A high-efficiency point source red LED emitter.
Independent brightness adjustment buttons and multiple brightness settings.
A battery compartment design that negates the need to remove the optic for battery changes.
The M17 pistol is based on the SIG P320; the M18 pistol on the SIG P320C.
ROMEO-M17 Specs:
Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm
Reticle: Circle dot with 2 MOA Red Dot / 32 MOA Circle
Lens Type: Asphere
Brightness Adjustment Settings: 15 (12 Day / 3 Night Vision)
Water Resistance: Submersible to 20 meters
Overall Length: 2.4 inches
Overall Width: 0.9 inches
Overall Height: 1.1 inches
Mounting Footprint: SIG-LOC™ MHS
Battery Type: CR2032
Battery Location: Side
Weight (w/o battery): 1.5 ounces
Statements from SIG Sauer
Andy York, President of SIG SAUER Electro-Optics, expressed his enthusiasm: “The assignment of an NSN number is a pivotal achievement for our ROMEO product line. With rising global demand, the NSN will simplify procurement, expand our presence within NATO nations, and ensure swifter deployment. Additionally, this NSN designation attests to the rigorous testing and approval by the world’s most discerning military clientele.”
For clarity, the Modular Handgun System M17 pistol, which uses the ROMEO M17 red dot sight, can be drawn from a Safariland SIG M17 holster. There is also an M18 holster available for the smaller version. To provide further background, the M17 pistol is modeled after the SIG P320, and the M18 pistol takes inspiration from the SIG P320C.
The 2500 Pro Magnum Tumbler was a great replacement to my old tumbler. It is more quiet and has a large capacity for cases.
Cleaning brass is and will always be a personal preference/battle within the loading community. Some use certain kinds of media, some wet tumble, some dry, either way, there will always be different types of equipment to choose from to get the job done. Personally, I dry tumble with Hornady corn cob media. Specifically, Hornady One Shot. Due to this, I need a dry tumbler that can clean a good number of .223 brass and larger cartridges such as 6.5 Creed. The Lyman Tumbler allows me to do that both quietly and effectively.
Before going any further there needs to be some honesty here. The reason for buying the Lyman Tumbler in the first place is that my previous tumbler broke and was not replaced by the company. I won’t say who it was but it rhymes with Nornady. Basically it came down to that the tumbler is not manufactured in house, thus when the tumbler goes out of date of the warranty, it is pretty hard to fix or replace. This was in an email, I didn’t call.
Either way, I decided to go with the 2500 Lyman Pro Tumbler. Lyman has always had good reviews associated with its reloading equipment, the tumbler was readily available on amazon, and the price was right.
This was after a 4 hour tumbler with the Hornady corn cob media. It’s worth it to note that I did have to manually turn off the tumbler due to there being no timer to set which is a downfall of the tumbler.
“Lyman’s Pro Magnum Tumbler is designed for the high volume reloader, and high volume reloaders are always looking for value. The two gallon capacity bowl is engineered to deliver powerful cleaning action even at full capacity. Handling up to 1000 .38 Special cases at a time, the heavy-duty motor and advanced drive system deliver fast cleaning and long life”-Lyman
Voltage: 115cv or 220V
Note: Lyman tumblers can be converted to larger capacity tumblers by removing the bowl and replacing to a bigger bowl.
This tumber was very easy to put together and came with simple instructions that lists each model of tumbler. Simply throw the bowl on, tighten down a wing nut, and do the same with the lid.
Pros
The Lyman Pro is very very quiet, quieter than my last tumbler.
Good price, just over $100 w/ amazon free shipping. On Lyman the 115v is listed as $129.99
Easy Install with two flat washers and two wingnuts. These wingnuts have also not come loose during the use of the Tumbler which is great.
The tumbler came with a large instruction manual that listed all of their products. It was nice to compare and contrast with what else Lyman offers.
Cons
The largest con and difference between the Lyman Tumbler and my last is that there is no timer on the tumbler, just an on/off switch. Meaning, if I want to turn it on to tumble cases I only have the option to flick the switch on and walk away, coming back in four hours. With my last tumbler I could leave it on overnight knowing that it will stop after four hours and not waste power.
The Lyman 2500 Pro Magnum tumbler has a large capacity for media which means more cases can be thrown and cleaned at a time. If you already own a Lyman tumbler that has a smaller bowl than the 2500, just the bowl can be changed out without having to purchase an entire new tumbler.
Aridus Industry is an awesome company. I’m not just saying it because they make shotgun stuff, and I love shotguns. They are a small shop that is making innovative accessories for the shotgun market. Aridus Industries really helped the Beretta 1301 become the shotgun it is today. I follow them on social media, and they recently posted a photo of a shotgun covered in Witness marks and remarking that serious-use shotguns should have witness marks. Aridus Industries is right, but I figured I’d take the time to elaborate on the what and why of witness marks.
The What and Why of A Witness Mark
A witness mark, also called an index mark, is a small, visible marking used to help track the attachment of accessories. Specifically, it allows you to track accessories that are threaded onto the gun. Shotguns are heavy, recoiling, violent weapons that are always moving around. That movement makes things unthread and loosen and eventually come off or create malfunctions.
I first experienced this with a magazine tube extension, and they are common fodder for the problem. It’s not like the tube popped off, but my 930 started having failures. It was only when I realized the shells could move without resistance that I noticed the tube was just loose enough to create slack. It’s not always obvious.
Witness marks are placed on the threaded device, be it a mag tube nut or bolt for a mini red dot, and at the base, it’s attached. It’s one continuous mark. This way, when something rotates or loosens, it’s immediately obvious. You can easily see when the bolt is working its way out of your red dot or when the tube extension is starting to come off.
Where Should You Witness Mark a Shotgun?
Everywhere! Really, on anything that’s threaded onto your shotgun. This includes sights, optic rails, optics, magazine extensions, bolt release extensions, and beyond. If it has threads, a small witness mark finds a spot. I use a Birchwood Casey paint pen, and I don’t go too overboard with the entire thing. It’s just a mark big enough to see.
Let it dry, and occasionally give them a peek. It becomes obvious when they move. You’ll have to update them every so often because paint pens tend to wear away. Maybe one day, I’ll have them laser engraved, but for now, a paint pen works.
Put them everywhere and check them often. If you run a shotgun hard, you’ll be surprised at how quickly things can get loose.
This week, Caleb has Melody back on the show as they talk about concealed carry tips for parents. For more information on Melody, check out Citizens Defense Research.
Halloween is right around the corner. If you’re searching for a costume that can mix your interest with guns, then you’ve come to the right place. We often dress around our guns to conceal them effectively. For Halloween, we can dress around our guns to make them a fun part of the costume. Of course, this requires you to live in a state that allows open carry. That’s not exactly a ton of states, but a costume isn’t worth breaking the law.
If you don’t live in a state that allows open carry or you simply don’t want to open carry, you can always replace the gun with an airsoft option. Plenty of cheap spring-powered airsoft guns can fill your holster. Also, this is an article aimed at having fun. If you take some issue with me suggesting open carry, then I’ll have to ask you to lighten up, Francis.
Let’s look at a few costumes and the guns or airsoft props worth carrying when dressed as specific characters.
James Bond – Walther PPK (or P99)
Admittedly, going as a suited James Bond makes it pretty easy to conceal a gun. James Bond is an easy costume. Dress sharp, maybe steal a look from the films. A white tuxedo and red boutonniere set it off quite well. Throw on a Galco Miami Classic with a Walther PPK, and you’ve got a complete James Bond costume.
(MGM Films)
Add a prop martini and bam, you’re a secret agent man. While the Walther PPK is the classic James Bond gun, I am partial to the Pierce Brosnan Bond, who notably carried a Walther P99 on occasion. Even Daniel Craig had his hands on a P99 when necessary.
Any Cowboy – Colt SAA Clone (or Heritage Rough Rider)
If you want to go as a cowboy, that’s an easy Halloween costume to pair with a gun. You can go as Billy the Kid, Jesse James Butch Cassidy, Wyatt Earp, and many more and carry some form of Colt Single Action army. A real Colt SAA is a bit expensive, so maybe look to one of the many Italian clones. Even better, the El Cheapo Heritage Road Rider is another path you can take.
(Tombstone)
Of course, you need a classic leather rig with plenty of loops for extra cartridges. A real rig is pretty expensive, so maybe pleather is the better way to go. Either way, you can’t complete the look without the belt and the hat, and maybe a fake Marhsal’s star.
Lt. Dangle – Beretta 92FS
Sometimes you just want to chop it up, not be so serious, and maybe you wanna show off your legs? If you’ve been hitting the gym hard and can brave fall weather in short shorts, then a Lt. Dangle Halloween costume is for you. The leader of the police department featured in Reno 911 is known for his aviators, short shorts, and, of course, the Beretta 92FS.
(Viacom)
Okay, well, maybe he isn’t well-known for his Beretta. The comically inclined show isn’t known for its gunfights but for hijinks, mischief, and incompetence. The Lt. Dangle costume is perfect for not taking yourself so seriously and also sets up a group costume.
Deadpool – Dual Desert Eagles
Deadpool and his logo gracing so many guns has really become the new Punisher for the gun world, but what other Halloween costume allows you to carry dual Desert Eagles? Plus, the costume is pretty easy to find these days and makes for a simple grab-and-go costume. This is a great candidate for airsoft guns because Desert Eagles are notably expensive.
(20th Century Fox)
This can be the most expensive gag costume ever or just a fun option with cheap plastic guns. If you go the real deal, you’ll need a helluva belt and holsters to hold them both up and around your waist. Just try not to pretend to be the wisecracking merc cause it comes off try hard.
Indian Jones – S&W M1917 (Trimmed)
While the latest Indiana Jones movies weren’t a hit or really that great, the classic three movies are still well worth the world of costumes. The classic Indiana Jones costume stands out nicely and is easy to assemble. Your finish touches will be a Fedora, a satchel, and, of course, a S&W M1917 revolver.
Lucasfilm
Indy’s specific model is trimmed with a new front sight. The M1917s are big guns, so it makes sense to trim an inch of the barrel off. That might be tough to do with a real M1917, so maybe just carry a long barrel and leave the antique alone. A S&W 1937 Brazil contract model might be a better choice for trimming a barrel as they tend to be rougher guns.
Light, Camera, Guns, Costumes
Here are just a few ideas that pair well with classic and not-so-classic guns. Halloween is supposed to be fun, but I know people get wrapped around the axle with open carry. Keep in mind this article is supposed to be fun, and hopefully, we had some.
View of a damaged property after the arrival of Hurricane Idalia in Horseshoe Beach, Florida, U.S., August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Julio Cesar Chavez
After Idalia passed, there was an eerie calm. The power was out, so we fired up the generator and got it running. We turned the lights back on and got the toilet flushing. Once it’s safe to go outside, it’s smart to walk out and do a home assessment. Roof damage is common, and it’s something you may want to repair or tarp over if you safely can.
My home was perfectly fine. Our tree line was thinned out. The road was completely blocked. Trees were downed everywhere. My driveway had trees I couldn’t wrap my arms around blocking it. Powerlines were down everywhere. This kind of damage was spread throughout five counties. Roads were blocked everywhere. It became very clear that help was not on the way. No one was coming, at least not for some time.
What’s Next After Idalia
For safety’s sake and the location of my home, we had the entire family there. My parents and my wife’s parents all huddled up with us, but immediately afterward, my father-in-law wanted to check his property. I wasn’t going to let him go alone, so I tagged along, and we made our way there. We were able to drive about a mile in a four-wheel drive truck before debris prevented us from getting there. For the next two miles, we climbed over trees, through ditches, and even on our bellies under logs.
We remained vigilant for downed powerlines, and after an obstacle course of a road, we made it. His home was standing, but trees older than the both of us were not. After two miles of walking through the downed trees and power lines, we realized how trapped we were.
Getting Out
No one was coming for us, but we had chainsaws and tractors. We went to work cutting through debris to remove it and clear roads. I live in a small rural community, and we tend to be self-sufficient. With that in mind, have a chainsaw if you live in hurricane land, learn how to use it, and have all the necessary PPE. Getting to a hospital after Idalia wasn’t going to happen.
Entire roads were blocked off by trees, and our emergency response personnel were already spread thin. The state and county employees worked extremely hard, but the buzz of your average Joe with a chainsaw filled the air. There was a feeling of community in the process. When you stop saying ‘somebody should do’ and start being the somebody who does, it feels great.
The Value of Power
Power was gone, and it likely would be gone for weeks. We knew that ahead of time and had a generator ready. We had enough fuel for a few days and ensured our generator maintenance was up to snuff. When using a generator during a hurricane or any power outage, make sure you abide by basic safety rules.
Generators start fires all the time, and two houses in town were lost because of generator fires. Generators are hot, and if left near grass, they will and can set it on fire. Being an idiot while refueling or running the generator absolutely nonstop is never a great idea.
Having power is a great feeling, even if it’s just a few lights, fans, and your fridge. It’s worth the investment. It’s only as good as your fuel supply, so keep that in mind. Having three kids and surviving Idalia was easy thanks to a generator.
The Threats
In my community, there was no Katrina-style violence or looting. The violence was contained to people arguing and a few fights in the lines for free stuff, mostly gas. There was some looting from people who evacuated, but no overall violent encounters. Albeit we knew the hurricane was coming and had tons of law enforcement hit our small town.
Another threat we had was animal threats. Mostly snakes due to our area. There is also a threat with dogs now escaping from behind fences that have Beware of Dog signs. We chased more than a few off.
The biggest threats are the roads and debris, as well as downed power lines. Luckily, they killed the powerlines in anticipation of the storm’s damage, so we did get wildfires mixed with hurricanes. Threats like widowmakers, which are famously large limbs or tree tops being suspended in mid-air, falling were the most lethal problems in our community.
While not a threat to your safety, I was amazed at how many contractors descended on our town the day of Idalia. They were offering tree removal services at astronomical rates. Beware of these fly-by-night’ companies.’
At best, they’ll do the job and overcharge. At worst, you’ll make a deposit, and they’ll disappear forever. We had one quote from my inlaws for seven grand to clean up. Out of curiosity, I asked a local friend who does land clearing, and he looked at it and said he’d charge two grand on a normal day.
Staying Safe
My power is back, my A/C is working in full force, and my family is safe. I was quite lucky. Luck is often where preparation meets opportunity. Beyond being a little prepared, I can’t credit my own family enough. It’s family and community that pulse you through the rough times, and that’s one of the more important lessons to remember.
Image via Northern Provisions IG, officers search for suspect
Reports came out last night of a mass casualty event at two locations in Lewiston, Maine.
Between 6pm and 7pm last evening, a man armed with an AR attacked patrons of a bar and a bowling alley in rapid succession. Between 16 and 22 people are reported dead between the two locations and between 50 and upwards of 80 were injured by gunfire or sustained while fleeing.
The suspect, Robert Card, is still at large. He is reported as a 40 year old Army Reservist, with some 20 years service. He is also reported as a firearms instructor. He has been recently treated for mental health issues, including a 2 week stay in a facility. Those issues include “hearing voices” and he is believed to have threatened to shoot up his assigned or another Army Reserve location in Maine.
He is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Police have scheduled a conference for 10:30am with updates.
Of tangential note, so eroded is the faith in the institutions of the United States to work for the best interests and safety of the American people, that one of the most common comments I see in threads is “glowy” instead of “madman” or “lunatic”. Glowy, glowing, and similar phrases from comments indicate belief that an act was conducted, facilitated, or encouraged by the government as distraction or politically convenient for their current goals.
Occam’s razor is always in play, though. A madman is sometimes just a madman, and nobody was in place to stop him. This is giving me a strange parallel vibe to Christopher Dorner, the former LAPD Officer who went on a revenge spree in California, and Charles Whitman’s University of Texas attack. The victims selection seems more like UoT, those of convenience, however the manhunt for a dangerous suspect ready to fight feels like Dorner.
Lights and lasers..they can be a mess on your gun. Whether you are running your AR-15 build for home defense or for a low light competition you are probably going to have a light on that gun, maybe an actuator button for the light, and even a laser as well. All of that leads to a big mess of wires. So what’s the solution? A wire control kit. A simple to install guide on your rail that has wire housings allowing the user to route their wires for organization and to keep them close to the rail. No snagging!
Zip Tie Note: There will probably be people that will scoff at this article due to them using zip ties to control their wires. Users can do what they want, it’s their platform however. While zip ties are cheap and easy to remove and replace if you want adjustment of your wires, they also can slip if not cinched tight enough and if cinched too tight, they can cut into the wire. Yikes.
There are a lot of wire guides on the market for various platforms such as Picatinny or M-LOK. While it’s nice to have options, there are downsides to many of these wire guide options.
This is without any wire routing. Notice that the wire sticks out and can snag on items including your hands as you grip the gun.
The Problem
First, they can be expensive. High quality wire guides are usually going for 18-20 bucks just for a single piece. With multiple accessories users will usually want at least 2-3 per gun depending on the set up. Now add that to the cost of the already pricey lights and lasers set up, it get’s expensive.
Secondly, many of these guides are created for specific directional mounting. Meaning, some guides will created to route your wire 90 degrees on the rail, 45 degrees, some straight through, some even end clips. All of this can get confusing if it’s your first time setting up lights and lasers and it would be a bummer to order something that you’d have to return later just because it didn’t route your wire in the direction you wanted it.
On the top, a run through route, on the bottom, a 90 degree route. The WCK pieces have openings around the entire piece allowing for any directional routing. This means you don’t have to have your route planned before purchasing the kit. You can make it up as you go and won’t have to return anything. Photo: Magpul
The Fix
Well again, Magpul saw the issues and gave us a product that fixed those issues. For $19.95 you get a pack of 6 guides that allow for any directional routing.
Six pieces for the price of one is something that you cannot beat. They install tight, won’t fall off the rail, and don’t damage the wire.
The WCK ships with six easy-to-install M-LOK-compatible assemblies.
Each assembly is a half-slot size to allow for precise positioning and can route cables straight through, at 90 degrees, or at 180 degrees to accommodate different variations.
The WCK is compatible with metal M-LOK handguards and may not fit all polymer handguards. The WCK can route standard gauge cables.
Made in the USA
Weight: 1.75 grams each assembly
Dimensions (each): 0.78L x 0.63W x 0.25H in. (over rail surface)
Installing and Removal
The WCK pieces work by using serrated wings that push out onto the M-LOK slot, gripping and locking in once the button is pushed in, pushing the wings out.
Installation
To install, simply ensure that the large middle button is out/unlocked. Find your slot position where you want to put the WCK piece. Lock the wire into the piece in the intended direction. Ensure that the wire isn’t pulled too tight away from the light, this can damage the light. After the wire is locked into the piece simply push the piece into the rail and press in on the middle button. You may have to push a big hard dependent on your wires. Do this until you hear a click. It is now locked in.
Removal
Removal is a little more tricky, which isn’t a bad thing considering we don’t want the guide to fall out. To remove you will need to unlock that button again to release the wings from the slot. The easiest way I found to do this was by using a thick L shaped allen wrench. You will need to push the allen wrench through a rail slot next to the WCK piece. Then angle the allen wrench until you can press onto a small square on the backside of the piece that will unlock the entire piece. Practice unlocking the piece before it’s actually on the rail so that you understand what you will need to press.
After the piece is fully installed the middle square button will be locked into the rail. To remove, use a thicker L shaped allen and stick it into the rail and try to fish for the backside of the piece. There will be a small square that is in the middle of the piece. Press on that and the entire piece will unlock for removal. Takes a technique, but I’d rather have it be hard to remove than it fall off during my shoot.
GAT stands for guns, ammo, and tactics. Today is all about the tactics, primarily the tactics that apply to surviving a hurricane. I just went through Hurricane Idalia. I was dead in the middle of it. The entire thing passed through my town and left a wake of destruction. I sat through the hurricane and watched it out of my one non-boarded-up window. I went through recovery and cleanup, and now I can type out what works and what you should be prepared for if you face a hurricane.
Before the Hurricane Idalia
Situational awareness is always your number one tool. You should pay attention to the radio, the news, and the internet to keep up to date on the storm’s movement and what’s expected. If you are given the evacuation order, then evacuate. You won’t be reduced during or immediately after the storm, so leave if you’re told to leave. Plenty of people didn’t evacuate before Idalia and they suffered for it.
At the start of hurricane season, it’s a wise idea to start trimming trees and limbs. Limbs over your roof are never a good idea, and dead trees are prone to fall when hit by bad winds. Plenty of tree trimming services out there will help make you hurricane-proof.
Boarded up windows are necessary when this stuff happens.
Before the hurricane, there will always be a furry of activity. People will go a little nuts buying up all the bottled water they can. This makes things frustrating, to say the least. That’s why it is smart to have a stash of water in case of emergencies. I have enough to last my family a week, and I also have a pitcher pump on my well.
The same goes for food. Avoid refrigerated goods, and stock up on nonperishables and some dry perishables. You might be eating a lot of peanut butter sandwiches, but it’s better than being hungry. To avoid wasting food, I typically won’t refill my freezer much during hurricane season. You’ll still likely have frozen food, and when it comes to meat, you don’t want to waste time on day one of power being out the grill gets awfully handy. Make sure you have a grill and the charcoal or gas to run it.
Keep It Running
If you live in a hurricane-prone area, go out and buy a generator. Honda makes the best ones, but they are pricey. A CAT isn’t bad and won’t kill your budget. The size depends on what you want to run. If you want to keep your well running, some lights, and your fridge, then a 6,400-watt generator is good to go. As a comfort item, a window-mounted AC can be powered by a generator and makes at least one room comfy. It mad elseeping in Florida’s summer after Idalia much more comfortable.
Gas up your cars, and gas up any cans you have. I keep four five-gallon cans for generator gas. On top of a generator, a chainsaw can be an excellent tool to have. I keep enough chainsaw bar oil and 2-cycle engine oil to run my chainsaw for days. Gas stations might be closed after the storm, so having extra gas is a smart move.
If you use propane to power anything, then make sure it’s topped off and ready.
Around the Home
I keep some old wood around to board up windows before Idalia hit. These 100+ mile per hour winds make everything a projectile. Boarded-up windows maintain your home’s integrity. Also, make sure you secure anything outdoors. We laid down our basketball hoop, strapped the grill to a tree, etc.
Get flashlights and fresh batteries for the initial power loss, and candles help. Books, crayons, and card games will keep you, your kids, and any Marines occupied. Once the storm starts, you just ride it out! It’s fun, kind of, and all you can do is wait and be ready for whatever comes. Listen to the weather radio and stay hydrated. Oh yeah. Have a radio on hand. A hand-cranked radio or battery-powered radio is handy to have.
Once the storm comes, you’ll need to ride it out. Don’t attempt to evacuate in the middle of the storm. By then, it’s too late. Buckle in and stick to rooms without windows. Preferably interior rooms if possible. Once the storm passes, the real work begins. We worked out butts after after Idalia.
Social media is something you should really curate to make you happy. It makes too many people unhappy. My wife taught me this valuable lesson when I learned her social media is entirely cute animals, comedy skits, recipes, and family stuff. That’s it. Since I started writing about guns, I’ve learned a ton and become a constant student. This involved following god pages online and learning from experts willing to post their knowledge and know-how. It took me away from low-information groups, well, until recently. I dived back into some low-information groups and found that the myths I thought were long gone live on.
In 2023, it’s surprising that people who own guns don’t always seek out the best information. How certain myths that have been perpetuated for decades are still around and posted publicly and not immediately shot down is beyond me. I gathered the five myths I most commonly see and decided to debunk them the best I could.
The King of Myths – Stopping Power
Stopping power is this nebulous concept that surrounds ammunition. I’ve even seen calculations that put together velocity and mass to try and deliver a scientific method to stopping power. For years, people argued that calibers like .45 ACP and 10mm had greater stopping power. Stopping power is their ability to stop a threat. Grab a 1911 build kit and you can kill anything!
In reality, the idea of stopping power is flawed. What stops a threat isn’t the speed or size of your projectile but where it hits and what that hit does. Admittedly, a round has to be heavy and fast enough to penetrate deep enough to strike something vital in the human body. We use the FBI standards to determine if the round can at least do that. This standard involves a round penetrating at least 12 inches in a block of 10% ballistic gel.
If it can do that, we know it can reach deep enough to stop a threat. The human heart, brain, and lungs don’t really care if your bullet is one millimeter larger than another. If the hit hits, it stops threats.
The Shotgun Cone of Death
There are tons of shotgun myths, and I debated between the cone of death and birdshot for home defense. I decided birdshot needs its own article. The shotgun cone of death directly relates to the you don’t have to aim a shotgun myth. Just point and shoot!
In the year of our lord 2023, even the cheapest buckshot doesn’t spread fast enough to create a cone of death. Inside of a home defense situation, your pattern is likely less than 6 inches wide. It’s easy to miss with a shotgun, so make sure you aim the thing. If you use modern defensive loads like Flitecontrol, your pattern is even tighter! Aim the guns and get a red dot!
Competition Will Get You Killed In the Street
Competition is a big world, and maybe this myth is true if you carry a handgun and the only time you ever shoot is skeet matches with a shotgun. This competition gets you killed in the street has always been silly. It’s mostly tied back to the idea of Bull’s Eye shooting styles that weren’t uncommon with law enforcement before the 1970s. The Newhall Incident, for example, showed that CHP teaching cops to shoot Bull’s Eye style wasn’t conducive to combat shooting.
However, modern competition forces you to shoot fast, shoot straight, and do it in a wide variety of scenarios. Not everything you do in competition will translate to self-defense, but a lot of the basic skills remain the same. Each elite special operations guys use competition to train. Competition shouldn’t be your only defensive shooting practice, but it certainly tests your skills.
The 22LR Bounces Around
The .22LR can be a viable defensive option for some people. It can penetrate deep enough to shut down vital organs. It’s not optimum, but it can work. With that said, there is a subset of people who believe that .22LR isn’t just viable but is the ultimate option. The reason is that it bounces around like a pinball inside the body. The bullet will bounce off bones and create chaos inside a human.
This is a huge fabrication. Can bullets bounce off of bone? Sure, but they often lose energy rapidly when it hits bone. It’s certainly not zipping around the body and creating havoc. It might deflect on bone, but it might not.
Pistol Pillow Suppressor
Okay, I’ll admit this isn’t a common myth I see all that often. However, in one month, I saw it twice. Both people said they didn’t need to get a tax stamp or an expensive suppressor when a pistol would work fine. Admittedly, they didn’t just say pillow, but also nipple for a baby bottle and a potato will both make good suppressors.
Folks, a pillow cannot suppress a gun. Regardless of what movies tell you. It just won’t work, neither will a potato or nipple from a baby bottle.
Myths Abound
The gun community needs to do better. We need to find a way to make it common knowledge that the above myths are bull honkey. The World Wide Web was supposed to make us smarter, but sometimes I feel like we’ve stalled with the general population. Let’s continue to educate others and hopefully not bully them.
MARYVILLE, TN., (10/19/2023) – Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Select: SWBI), a leader in firearm manufacturing and design, today announces the release of its new pistol caliber carbine, the S&W® Response™.
This exciting new offering is Smith & Wesson’s first MSR-style PCC, which makes it easily compatible with many existing MSR parts and accessories. Chambered in 9mm, the Response has a 23+1 capacity out of the box and ships with two 23-round M&P double-stack magazines. The premier feature of this new carbine is rooted in its innovative and easy-to-install FLEXMAGTM System. Its design consists of interchangeable magwell adaptors that allow the firearm to operate using a variety of S&W and other manufacturer magazines. Included with the Response are two FLEXMAG kits that are compatible with either M&P double-stack or G17® /G19® magazines.
Loaded with features, the Response has a 16.5” threaded barrel, polymer handguard with Picatinny-style rail and M-LOK® slots, MAGPUL® MOE SL stock, flat face trigger, and an M&P® grip with four interchangeable palmswell adapters. It has an overall length of 35-3/8 inches fully extended and weighs just under 6.0 pounds.
“The Smith & Wesson Response is our solution for the PCC shooter that enjoys MSR platforms and prefers interfacing capabilities with various pistol magazines available in the market today. Its compatibility with the vast network of MSR aftermarket accessories allows the user to easily customize the Response to their specific preferences and needs. Smith & Wesson listened to the consumer and our goal was to deliver a completely versatile pistol caliber carbine that would be a perfect companion to your sidearm. This design is our response,” said John Myles, Senior Product Manager.
The new Smith & Wesson Response is built on a platform to optimize the user’s needs and breaks barriers for those looking to enter the PCC market. Embrace adaptability with the Smith & Wesson Response. MSRP $799. For more information on the S&W® Response, visit https://www.smith-wesson.com/.
- The Walking Dead: Dead City _ Season 1 - Photo Credit: Peter Kramer/AMC
I remember being a teenager and stumbling across Max Brook’s Zombie Survival Guide. The early 2000s was a great time for zombie fans. Zombies became everything, with movies, shows, and, of course, books. In fact, as most of us know, it even infiltrated gun culture. Hornady made Zombie ammo, zombie-themed guns were released by Mossberg, and zombie targets were the norm. Looking back, it’s a little cringy, but I do think it helped the gun industry break into mainstream pop culture.
I have no doubts the zombie fad helped drive gun sales and ammo sales. Most people prepping for the zombie apocalypse knew they needed a gat to keep things real. If we were to look for a singular point of when this whole thing started, I can’t help but think it was 2003’s Zombie Survival Guide. The book labeled itself as a real survival guide and took itself seriously til the end.
The Zombie Survival Guide – Two Decades Later
It built a world that was referenced throughout and noted fictional tactics and military responses. I remember reading it from cover to cover, but I haven’t done so since I was a teenager. I recently found my old copy and read through the old gun advice Max Brooks gave and figured 20 years later is a great time to do a retrospective.
I’m just covering the firearm’s portions. The book itself isn’t terrible, but very basic. I even credit him with creating the idea of using a bicycle when the world ends as brilliant. In reading the firearm advice, I am keeping the fact it’s written for fighting zombies. Zombies don’t react to suppression, they don’t wear armor, and they aren’t carrying guns.
That changes tactics and needs, and I’ve kept that in mind. However, how good was Max Brooks on guns? What kind of understanding did he have of firearms and how effective they are against zombies?
No Lawyers, Just Guns and Zombies
The firearm section covers nine pages of the guide and is essentially a rundown of different firearm genres and their pros and cons. Is the information great? No, not really. It’s mostly a high-level overview, and while the Zombie Survival Guide gets some stuff right, it gets a lot wrong.
Heavy Machine Guns
Everything from a SAW to a 50 cal is covered in this section.
120628-M-CV710-071 U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Andrew C. Bell loads ammunition into an M2 .50-caliber heavy machine gun while training at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 28, 2012. Marines conducted the training to familiarize themselves with different weapons systems. Bell is assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division. DoD photo by Sgt. Sheila Brooks, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)
The guide is right about how tough machine guns are to shoot on the fly and in a standing position. It completely ignores the capability and accuracy of a tripod-mounted machine gun against a horde of zombies at well over rifle distance. They even cover a fictional scythe tactic that didn’t work. It’s a nice world-building touch.
Submachine guns
His coverage of submachine guns is pretty correct. They have to be aimed, and single shots can be accurate. He talks about how short they are and why they work well in close quarters and mentions how they fire pistol rounds with limited range.
Assault Rifles
When he gets to assault rifles, it falls apart. He seems to dislike even the option of full auto and says it’s a downfall. The Zombie Survival Guide even publishes a lot of fuddlore on how unreliable the M16 is and why the AK is so great.
Lever Action and Bolt Action Rifles
The bad information spreads to bolt actions and lever guns, which are grouped together. He loves these guns because they encourage accuracy. He also ignores how slow they are to fire, how large they often are, and how slow they are to reload. The Zombie Survival Guide never touches on how the basic operation of the guns requires two hands.
Part of the section talks about how old military rifles are great for hand-to-hand fighting, which is true, but ignores that they had to be because they suck up close.
Semi-Auto Rifles
According to the Zombie Survival Guide, the semi-auto rifle is the best zombie killer, and I agree, but select fire weapons also have a semi-auto mode. Keeping in mind the book was written before the AWB sunsetted, the author’s choices aren’t bad. Sure, AR-15s still existed in this era, but they weren’t nearly as common or affordable as they are now.
The m1 Carbine and M1 Garand seem to be beloved. They are fine weapons, but they wouldn’t be my choice for a zombie-killing gun, even in 2003. We get into the SKS, Ruger Mini 14, and Mini 30, which, at this point, would have been excellent choices.
The Shotgun
The Zombie Survival Guide is a mixed bag on shotguns. It does cover their limited range and states you can use slugs and even mentions, but why not just use a rifle? However, it goes off the deep end with phrases like ‘scattering shot acts like a wall of lead’ and ‘a good shotgun blast can send several zombies sprawling.’
Pistols
The guide gets plenty right about pistols and how hard they are to shoot accurately. A mention of laser sights increasing accuracy is tossed in, but we know how that goes. It gets it right that they are convenient to carry and mentions it being a backup, not a primary.
Rimfires
The section on rimfires isn’t bad. A mention of stopping power is cringeworthy, but ultimately, the information is mostly accurate. Where the Zombie Survival Guide really goes off the rails is in stating the .22LR will bounce around inside the skull and ‘do as much damage’ as a .45.
Bad Info, Fun Book
I still enjoy the Zombie Survival Guide. It was a fun book in 2003 and is still fun now. It’s self-seriousness and inherent world-building are great. Of course, it’s fiction, so it’s not something that’s giving actual advice. I don’t think Max Brooks is a gun guy, but I think for a non-gun-educated person, he did a great job.
40 caliber has been on a slow decline for a while now. In this episode, Caleb takes a brief look at what he thinks the future of 40 is. It’s not bright if you love the caliber.
