FEATURES YOUR EVERYDAY CARRY BELT SHOULD HAVE: What To Look For So You can Purchase Wisely

By

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March 19, 2024

If there is one thing that the everyday carry crowd obsesses over it’s EDC belts, right after gun brand, caliber, sight type, carry position, shooting style, holster type, holster brand…point is we like geeking out over gear. We’re always looking for that thing that’s going to give us that little edge (as long as it isn’t dry fire practice or working with a shot timer).

EDC BELT

There’s already tons of videos and articles out there about the best belt for XYZ, or the new hotness, so why would such a niche page like mine want to wade into such an overly saturated pool? Simple really. Dress belts are generally too delicate to effectively support a gun, and most of the purpose built gun belts out there, while wonderfully effective, can be so robust as to look out of place through the belt loops of dress slacks or a suit. Case in point, the Mean Gene Shooter’s belt is advertised at “just over 1/4 inch thick”. Well, when you’re going for a sleek, streamlined silhouette, that’s a lot of hide to have hanging off your hips.

When it comes to any inside the waistband carry, but especially appendix, most of the conventional wisdom on belts is actually counter productive. Super rigid belts make it harder to conform to the contours of your body. This means that the belt can actually be pulling the gun away from you, increasing printing.

With traditional belts with holes, usually most people find that one hole is uncomfortably tight, but the next one down is too loose to where the gun flops around. Before these ratcheting belts came on the market, the only options we had for micro-adjustability were either web belts or the Wilderness style, neither of which is really appropriate in a suit. Now there are options that give us the functionality we need along with a more appropriate aesthetic, and at almost half the thickness of a leather gun belt, these ratchet belts are definitely worth considering.

Hopefully you find my trial and error helpful!

Joint Venture Between Taurus and India’s Jindal Defence Commences Production of Pilot Batches for Small Arms

By

Keith Finch

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March 19, 2024

Bainbridge, March 15, 2024 – The collaborative effort between Taurus Armas S.A., a leading Brazilian multinational, and Jindal Defense Systems Pvt Limited, a prominent Indian group, has reached a significant milestone with the initiation of pilot batch production at the new manufacturing unit in India. This joint venture, known as JD Taurus, marks a pivotal moment in the global firearms industry. Under the guidance of Taurus’ expert team from Brazil, the Indian facility has commenced the production of pilot batches of firearms in March 2024. This strategic move aligns with the transfer of technology (ToT) and knowledge, ensuring seamless integration and adherence to stringent quality standards.

TAURUS AND INDIA’S JINDAL DEFENCE

The primary objective of these pilot batches is to establish technical, operational, and manufacturing processes to guarantee the replication of high safety and quality standards on an industrial scale. The manufacturing unit is poised to cater to both military and civilian markets, with an initial annual production capacity of up to 250,000 weapons, subject to scaling based on demand.

JD Taurus is actively participating in major tenders, including the ongoing procurement process by the Ministry of Defense, India, for 425,000 Carbines. This endeavor underscores the company’s commitment to supplying cutting-edge firearms to bolster national security.
Taurus’ renowned reputation for competitive pricing, advanced technology, superior quality, and high production volume positions JD Taurus as a formidable contender in the global market. Notably, Taurus secured a significant tender to supply T4 carbines to the Philippines Army in 2022, further solidifying its global footprint.

The partnership between Taurus and Jindal Defense epitomizes a pioneering initiative in technology transfer, in line with India’s “Make in India” program. With a 51:49 equity participation ratio, the collaboration signifies a harmonious blend of technological expertise and financial resources.

India’s stature as one of the largest markets for firearms underscores the immense potential for growth and innovation in the defense sector. With a burgeoning population and substantial defense expenditure, India presents unprecedented opportunities for stakeholders in the industry.

As JD Taurus spearheads innovation in the Indian defense sector, it not only creates employment opportunities but also catalyzes technological advancements, paving the way for a transformative era in national security.

About Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.: Taurus Holdings, Inc. (“Taurus”) and its subsidiaries continue 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.

CAN YOUR PLAN WITHSTAND GETTING PUNCHED IN THE FACE?: Hill Country Combatives In-Fight Weapon Access

By

The Suited Shootist

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March 18, 2024

Here we are. The week after the force-on-force seminar that I was getting all wrapped up over. As it turns out, I was getting myself amped up unnecessarily. I did alright.

The Hill Country Combatives seminar was focusing on In-Fight Weapon Access, so the exercises were all based around the entanglement. Since it was run more like a jiu jitsu seminar, there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for me to get my own film, on top of taking notes and running the drills.

Borrowing from the Short Barreled Shepherd 3×3 Format, here are my takeaways:

Top 3 Things Covered:

– Grappling Positions (Standing at Grounded)

– Takedowns

– “Earning the Draw” (Timing)

My Top 3 Takeaways:

– Standing takedowns

– Reinforcing proper timing so you don’t mess up your draw

– I am making progress.

Yes there’s still plenty of work to be done, but it’s nice to see that the work I’ve put in so far is actually paying off.

3 Things I’ll Do Differently:

No major epiphanies on this one, no revolutionary discoveries. That being said – Improve my jits (there were a couple of very useful tweaks, especially pertaining to passing guard)

– Continue improving my cardio

– Continue exploring blade options.

*All Photo Credit Thanks to Hill Country Combatives*

Sig Sauer AXG Legion P365 Macro

By

Athlon Series

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March 18, 2024

The Sig Sauer P365 family of striker fired pistols is one of the hottest selling product lines today and within the years since their initial launch they’ve become so popular as one of the go to carry guns. In addition, Sig Sauer offers so many versions and sizes and trim levels that there’s something for everyone. In more recent times the Sig Sauer P365 XL and Macro versions, both which are on the larger end of P365 have specifically blown up in popularity because they almost handle like compacts while still maintaining a slightly smaller footprint. Now, the same attributes from the full size Sig Sauer AXG P320 Legion have found their way into the Sig Sauer P365 Macro frame while still having many of the goodies the AXG P320 Legion is known for.

From Our Friends At Athlon Outdoors:

The SIG Sauer P365 has experienced rapid popularity since its inception due to its perfect carry size, modularity, and capacity. However, although some loved the P365’s initial size and FCU, they wanted more capacity. For this reason, the company created the X-Macro, increasing the capacity to 17+1 and improving performance and handling. And now, SIG Sauer adds the P365-AXG to the LEGION family for even better performance and overall aesthetics.

Delivering the performance of an all-metal construction, the P365-AXG LEGION features the AXG (Alloy XSeries Grip) grip module. The module features the LEGION gray Cerakote finish for extended durability and has custom Hogue G-10 grip panels with the LEGION Chevron. Correspondingly, the textured front and back straps, textured grip panels, and extended beavertail ensure a positive grip while shooting. Likewise, the extended beavertail grip helps mitigate slide bite.

Click here to keep reading

To learn more about the entire Sig Sauer P365 family and other guns sold by them, please visit

www.sigsauer.com

Dry Fire Basics With Memphis Beech

By

P.E. Fitch

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March 17, 2024

I had the opportunity to attend Memphis Beech’s online Dry-Fire Basics webinar recently. This 90 minute online course not only covers the ABCs of practicing handgun dry-fire at home, but also delves into safety, setting routines, pistol training itself and many other relevant topics pertinent to both shooting and self-defense. While the information that Beech shares will probably be useful to most any gun owner, I think those that are either brand new to firearms or brand new to training more seriously with firearms will benefit the most from Dry Fire Basics.

This lecture is like an on-ramp onto the “defensive firearms training superhighway. To be clear, I mean that Dry Fire Basics would have been the presentation to listen to back in the day—the same evening that I decided that I’d “take firearms training more seriously.” I could only imagine what having been exposed to such a lecture and its concepts, examples, external references and relevancies early on would have led to. In the same vein, it stands to benefit new shooters serious about self-defense today.

DRY-FIRE BASICS WEBINAR OVERVIEW

Dry Fire Basics as a presentation is divided into different parts including safety, managing the activity with others who live in the same home, drills and examples and most importantly–the building of a dry-fire routine and habit. Beech goes into detail and gives examples for every part of his presentation. One of the things I particularly appreciated about Dry Fire Basics is that every so often, Beech would make a connection between whatever he was talking about at the moment and connecting it back to a bigger-picture concept of self defense with firearms.

The webinar is full of common sense advice that one would also hear any good instructor bring up at a live-fire pistol class. One that stands out to me particularly is the concept of micro-drilling or the breaking down of a complex movement into smaller nuggets. The case of drawing a handgun from a holster would be a perfect example as this skill has many moving parts and takes some experience to execute properly. In short, this 90-minute webinar is chock full of handgun training material beyond the practical dry-fire aspects of setting up or doing drills. I took notes throughout the entire lecture and ended up with six pages.

Beech also sends his students some helpful documents including an outline of Dry Fire Basics and a recording of the actual webinar which is available for up to two weeks.

THE TAKEAWAY

I first met Memphis Beech at Tac-Con 2022 during the Craig Douglas “experiential learning lab” module, and I think he is someone to keep your eye on as far as newer up-and-coming instructors are concerned. I’ve been following him on social media for a minute now, and it’s clear he is putting in the work by attending competition, other training and fostering discussion. Most of us would agree that dry-firing at home isn’t as fun as busting caps on the range, and yet Beech’s passion shines through during Dry Fire Basics and makes a “mundane” topic feel relevant and more engaging. As previously mentioned, this webinar is ideal for someone who is serious about self-defense training and either took their first handgun home that evening or is deciding to approach their already existing firearms from a different perspective.

Dry-fire practice isn’t the most exciting aspect of firearms training, and it can feel like a chore for many (it certainly does to me most of the time). However, it’s crucial for shooting success regardless of whether one’s goal is proficiency in defensive or competitive applications–or both. If you spend any time in any serious shooter’s circles, the topic comes up often enough and is made into these huge deals. Certainly, dry-firing is important but my single biggest takeaway from Beech is that it doesn’t have to be that huge event as a daily habit; that even at least five minutes of mindful and dedicated focus on the most important aspects of handgun shooting are helpful.

Gunday Brunch 141: Mission Drives the Gear

By

Keith Finch

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March 17, 2024

In this episode we’re talking about another one of those commonly misunderstood phrases: mission drives the gear

5.11 Tactical Collaborates with Activision to Celebrate the Launch of Call of Duty ® : Warzone ™ Mobile

By

Keith Finch

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March 16, 2024

Costa Mesa, Calif. (Mar. 14, 2024) – 5.11 Tactical, the global innovator of Purpose-Built Gear™, has teamed up with leading video game developer Activision to celebrate the release of the highly anticipated video game Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile with a specialized sweepstakes package, the Fender – 5.11 Stryker Operator Skin within the game, and a limited-edition “Ghost” patch available at
5.11 retail stores.

5.11 TACTICAL SWEEPSTAKES

The enter-to-win sweepstakes will offer fans a chance to win a robust prize package of 5.11 branded gear and in-game currency valued at $2,500. Entries will be accepted Thursday, March 21, 2024 through April 30, 2024. To enter the sweepstakes, view 5.11 products featured in the prize package and uncover a vast array of game-inspired gear available only from 5.11 Tactical, customers and players can visit www.511Tactical.com/WZM. No purchase is necessary, one entry per email, must be 21 years or older and a U.S. resident to enter.

The specialized Fender – 5.11 Stryker Operator Skin will be available for redemption within the game and will be outfitted as a hardened tactical professional with a full array of gear similar to many 5.11 products. To secure the 5.11 Stryker Operator Skin, logon to www.511tactical.com/wzm and sign up for SMS messaging.

Inspired by the famous and polarizing Call of Duty character Simon “Ghost” Riley, the limited-edition patch will be offered to 5.11 customers with an in-store purchase of $75 or more starting on Thursday, March 21, 2024, and lasting until supplies run out. Customers will also receive a code for a 20% discount on their next in-store or online purchase.

“Call of Duty is one of the most iconic, innovative and legendary video game franchises ever created,” said 5.11 Tactical’s CMO, Debra Radcliff. “The gameplan features a truly impressive collection of authentic gear and products similar to what we offer customers so they can live our mantra of Always Be Ready. We’re honored to work with a great partner like Activision and to help them commemorate this exciting launch.”

CALL OF DUTY: WARZONE MOBILE

The latest installment of the legendary Call of Duty franchise, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile ushers in a new era of mobile play for players. Featuring epic battle play with authentic operators, movement, vehicles, gear and maps, it offers world-class battle royales and much more right out of your pocket.

“To win in Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, the next world-class, authentic Call of Duty experience all in the palm of your hands wherever you go, it takes endurance, tactics and strategy. That’s why we are very excited to partner with 5.11 Tactical, robust outdoor apparel and tactical gear brand, made for your most demanding missions,” said Susan Kim, Senior Director of Marketing at Activision. “In addition to participating in the sweepstakes, we can’t wait to see players utilizing the 5.11 Operator Skin on the battlefield and the limited-edition Ghost patch out in the world.”

To learn more about Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile or the Call of Duty franchise visit, www.callofduty.com. To learn more about 5.11, its product offering or its latest events and sweepstakes, visit www.511tactical.com.

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About 5.11, Inc.

With offices around the globe, 5.11 works directly with end users to create Purpose-Built Gear™ to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and technical enthusiasts worldwide. 5.11 products exceed rigorous standards, which have allowed the brand to establish a reputation for innovation and authenticity, and become the premier choice for those who live the Always Be Ready® lifestyle. 5.11 products can be purchased online, through authorized dealers and retailers, as well as at 5.11 company-owned retail stores.

Learn more about 5.11’s best-selling gear and accessories at www.511tactical.com. Find a full list of 5.11 company-owned retail stores at https://www.511tactical.com/locations/. Connect with 5.11 on Facebook, Twitter @511Tactical and on Instagram @511Tactical and #511tactical

5.11, Inc. is a subsidiary of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI).

5.11, 5.11 Tactical, Always Be Ready, and Purpose-Built Gear™ are trademarks of 5.11, Inc.

AM I COMPLETELY FULL OF IT? Let’s Find Out If I’m All Talk or Actually About That Life.

By

The Suited Shootist

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March 16, 2024

Have you ever been struck by that moment of crippling self-doubt that made you question if you’ve wasted your life?

Well that hit me when I was driving home the other daaayyyyyy…

I found myself getting anxious over today’s upcoming Force on Force class (Shivworks-style evolutions…I think)

I’m about to find out if I’ve actually progressed past that flailing incompetent that first walked into “Thunderdome” 3 years ago. Truth be told, I’m a little apprehensive about it. I’d like to think that I’ll do better. I’m arguably better equipped in terms of knowledge and skills. I guess we’ll see about abilities. When was the last time you pressure tested yourself?

To quote a rather obscure movie: “You had your whole life to prepare for this moment. Why aren’t you ready?”

Now I very well could just be getting wrapped up in my own insecurities. Only one way to find out though!

Pistol Basics: The Super Test

By

P.E. Fitch

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March 15, 2024

_{Title Image: The most recent Advanced Super Test I shot on a cold and windy January day. Total score is 284. Also shot with the same S&W M&P 9 2.0 SPEC pictured below.}

The Super Test is a basic pistol drill conducted with an NRA B-8 target and a shot timer involving shots from 5, 10 and 15 yards with three distinct par times for each string of fire. It’s both a fun and easy drill to conduct. And if one isn’t careful, the time standards and minimum scoring requirements can also keep one honest. I’ve been enjoying working through this drill regularly over the past few weeks to help pass the time on the range. The Super Test has now been around for a few years and is attributed to Darryl and Wayne from Hardwired Tactical Shooting.

Since the normal par times aren’t super strict, I also think this is a great drill for newer shooters. I believe it is a great way to start shooting faster without having to go nuts, necessarily. Par times add pressure, practicing this drill is good for instilling urgency between shots for both newer and experienced shooters. The only difference between the normal Super Test and the Advanced is that the latter involves drawing from a holster as opposed to low-ready.

SETTING UP & SCORING THE SUPER TEST

The Super Test doesn’t require a lot of set-up which makes it extremely convenient to shoot nearly anywhere. All one needs is a shooting area with at least 15 yards from the target backer or berm. To clarify, the Super Test does not need a full-size NRA B-8. A repair center or a B-8 printed on a regular piece of paper will do just fine. Besides, too many shots outside of the black will only hurt the score.

This exercise only uses 30 rounds, and has three separate ten round strings of fire. For each 10 round string, shooters take shots at their B-8 from distances of 15, 10 and 5 yards. Formally, this exercise begins from the low-ready and the par-time for each string of fire corresponds to the distance. Shooters have 15 seconds to fire from 15 yards, 10 seconds to fire from 10 and 5 seconds to fire from 5.

Each shot is worth 10 points, so a perfect score is 300 aggregate. Traditionally, to pass the Super Test one needs a score of at least 270. Knowing Hardwired Tactical Shooting’s philosophy, missing isn’t allowed.

SHOOTING THE SUPER TEST

So far, I’ve shot the [advanced] Super Test with a few different pistols including the .45 Auto HK USP, .40 S&W Glock 22 Gen5, the new Smith & Wesson SD9 2.0 and the Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 SPEC series. Shooting the Super Test with a dot 100% makes it easier to shoot, and that’s a fact. It’s almost like cheating. However, from the four handguns I listed only the M&P 9 2.0 SPEC has a dot mounted, and the 5.5-inch bull of the NRA B-8 isn’t difficult to shoot with duty-grade iron sights at 15 yards either. My scores are indeed better with a dot, and I have the data to prove it.

I actually failed this drill with my USP 45, with humbling scores 253 and 255. If I recall, the best score I shot with my Glock 22 was either 268 or 270. With regards to the pistols chambered for cartridges other than 9mm, the funny part is that I hardly noticed the felt-recoil once the timer went off. I made all the par-times fine, so my lower scores have nothing to with the fact that I drew from concealment or the fact that .40 S&W or .45 Auto are stouter than 9mm. The honest truth is that I didn’t take full-advantage of the allotted time. Dropping too many shots outside of the bull is a guaranteed way to fail the Super Test.

GUNS & TARGETS

To date, the only 9mm pistols I’ve shot this drill are the new SD9 2.0 and the M&P 2.0 SPEC, both new products from Smith & Wesson. I was actually conducting back-to-back reviews for both of these guns and decided to shoot the Super Test. I have yet to shoot the Super Test with either of my Walther PDPs. Shooting this exercise with the S&W M&P 2.0 SPEC and scoring 288-289* made me a believer in that gun, immediately on the spot. In fact January 19, 2024 was the day my current and strange obsession with the S&W M&P 2.0 started because of the target pictured below.

FMJs on printer paper can be hard to count when so many are concentrated over one area. I incorrectly scored this target with 280. The **true score is 268** as there are actually four shots in the 8-ring. That said, I was just shy of cleaning it with the new 2024 SD9 2.0 9mm pistol. Times for each string are written on the paper.

The Super Test Smith And Wesson M&P 9 2.0 SPEC — FMJs on printer paper can be hard to count when so many are concentrated over one area. I incorrectly scored this target with 280. The **true score is 268** as there are actually four shots in the 8-ring. That said, I was just shy of cleaning it with the new 2024 SD9 2.0 9mm pistol. Times for each string are written on the paper.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Below are the actual times from the last time I shot the [advanced] Super Test towards the end of January 2024. (These correspond to the target in the lead photo). Even though these times are faster, I dropped points on my aggregate score.

And here’s a better picture of the “Green Machine,” the 9mm S&W M&P 2.0 SPEC I’m also reviewing. It’s got a lightened slide and some Performance Center parts, and this gun is the bees-knees (besides the PDPs).

SUPER TEST BENEFITS

Like I previously mentioned, the Super Test is an easy drill to set up since it needs a single B-8 target, a timer and some shooting space with at least 15 yards. As others have mentioned elsewhere, it’s probably indoor-range friendly at most places since it doesn’t have to be fired from a holster. The par times in each string add pressure which makes for great practice. Whether one shoots with a dot or irons, this drill will penalize the shooter for wasting too much time and trying to over-confirm their sight picture which is something I see with many newer shooters. As I learned some years back from John Johnston of Citizens Defense Research, “once you see what you need to see with your sights, pull the trigger.”

On the other hand, shooting too quickly and carelessly dropping shots will also result in lower scores; especially with time on the clock leftover. Being a grandmaster isn’t necessary to score 270 pass, but reaching it requires more than minimal effort too. Aside from points and scoring, I find the Super Test’s par times to be fair and reasonable. Advanced shooters are welcome to tweak and play with these times or increase pressure in other ways. I think applying some type of “hit-factor” scheme to the basic exercise could make things interesting and spicy.

JAMES BOND WAS WRONG!: How I Carry In a Tuxedo or a Suit

By

The Suited Shootist

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March 15, 2024

Of course anytime anyone things of carrying a gun in a tuxedo, the obvious solution is a Walther PPK in a shoulder holster. Back in 1962 when Dr. No was released, I’m sure that was one of the best options available.

Things change and evolve.

My thinking is this: The social situations that call for formal attire generally have a bunch of people in close physical contact with each other. Lots of hugging, dancing, etc. This means lots of opportunities to get made or accidentally bump-frisked. That’s why I opt for deeper concealment options.

Also, since tuxedos don’t have belt loops, that necessitates lighter weight options than you could normally hang off of a gun belt.

Here’s the overall breakdown:

– Pistol: S&W J-Frame w/ Barami Hip Grip or S&W Shield

– Holster: Smart Carry

– Pepper Spray: POM Industries

– Flashlight: Modlite Systems PHL-V2 18350 configuration with an RCS pocket clip

– Tourniquet: Tactical Medical Solutions SOF-T Wide

– Tuxedo: Ike Evening by Ike Behar

CAN I PROTECT MYSELF WITHOUT A GUN? First Steps To Start Being Safer Today

By

The Suited Shootist

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March 14, 2024

Right now we’re seeing a lot of folks expressing an interest in self defense who previously never gave it a moment’s thought.

Those of us in the self defense space recognize that firearms can be the most effective tools for that role but those new to the idea may find it a little daunting or off-putting. Combine that with the fact that many of us tend to enthusiastically launch into dissertations on the subject whenever a glimmer of interest is shown, and it’s very easy to overwhelm someone who is just starting out.

PROTECT YOURSELF WITHOUT A GUN

I made this video in the hopes that it will serve as a primer for folks who are coming around to the idea of taking a more proactive role in their own protection and security. This is not indented as the be-all, end-all solution, and if you just do the things mentioned no further action is required. It is however designed to serve as a jumping off point.

Whether you’re the “gun person” in your circle, or if you’re just starting out yourself this can be a handy reference.

Claude Werner: Th e Tactical Professor

Active Response Training

POM Pepper Spray & Inert Trainers

Fenix PD35

The Gift of Fear Gavin de Becker

Violence of Mind Varg Freeborn

Arrival of ShootingClasses.Com

By

Travis Pike

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March 14, 2024

I’ve always wondered why there wasn’t one beloved website where instructors could list their classes and locations. A website where students can search their local area and locate a wide variety of firearm classes. Practiscore more or less provides that for competition, and some instructors do post classes on Practiscor, but that’s never taken off in a significant way, at least not in my area. I see a ton of instructors using websites like Eventbrite, but ShootingClasses.Com is the first I’ve seen to focus exclusively on firearms.

What’s ShootingClasses.Com

Admittedly, I don’t know much about the people behind ShootingClasses.Com, but it’s obvious they are pro-gun. The website is tailored to firearms training and allows ranges and instructors to post their classes and students to peruse classes in their area and across the United States.

ShootingClasses.Com provides a pretty robust search function that allows you to enter your area and what specifically you want from the shooting class you’re looking to attend. You can narrow it by weapon type, class type, or various events and competition shoots. You can get super specific with categories for NRA and USCCA courses, scenario-based instruction, virtual simulations, medical classes, and many more options pop up.

Just checkmark what you’re looking for, and you can search through a wide variety of classes. The search engine is very easy to use. I really like the fact they added a difficulty selection. Whenever I’m looking for classes, I’m always curious about what Instructor A’s pistol class is compared to Instructor B’s. If I get to a beginner class, I’ll feel a little shorted. Allowing instructors to check the difficulty level is a great way to ensure good customer service.

I did a search in my local area and found several instructors and classes. A surprising amount, to be honest. I didn’t even know some of these companies even existed, and I’ve lived here forever and have been a part of the local firearms scene for quite some time.

The Catch

It sounds too good to be true, so what’s the catch? For students, the website is free. No subscription or payment is required. For Instructors and Ranges, there is a monthly subscription of 19 dollars a month. There is also a 5-dollar student fee for classes that cost less than 100 and a charge of 10 dollars per student for classes that cost more than 100 bucks.

Sadly, it doesn’t run itself. According to the website, ShootingClasses.Com does offer you marketing aid, discount code functionality, registration log, rosters, class calendars, online sign-up, payment processing, and more. It’s not just Craigslist-style ads. Admittedly, there is a fair bit of support offered for your membership.

You can also pause your membership at any time if you take a break for instructing or maybe book a residency at a training center. It seems like a good deal, and they seemingly offer you support, but I can’t say. It seems like it’s pulling in instructors, so maybe they are onto something.

Beyond Being Handy

I see ShootingClasses.Com being a handy website, but it goes beyond just being handy. While EventBrite is currently popular with instructors, it would take a change of the wind for that to end. I’m surprised it lasted this long. Once some Angry Moms Demanding Action find out, I can see EventBrite closing those opportunities for instructors. I wouldn’t depend on it. I think ShootingClasses.Com has some real potential to be a website on par with PractiScore.

Barrett MRADELR: First Shots!

By

Athlon Series

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March 13, 2024

The Barrett MRADELR rifle is a high end military grade ELR (extreme long range) shooting platform with the ability to chamber modern large magnum rifle calibers such as .416 Barrett. Although it’s considered a production level rifle, its attention to fit, finish and basic design makes it as capable as many other custom built ELR rifles. In the case of the Barrett MRADELR, besides its Barrett designed, one of a kind bolt action interface, (that comes with the ability to swap bolt heads for caliber changes), the MRADELR also has a quick change barrel swapping interface that allows the end user to not only swap out different barrels as needed, but also effectively turns the MRADELR into a multi-caliber rifle with both interchangeable barrels and bolt heads. Changing bolt heads is tool-less and swapping out barrels requires only one tool and not too much time.

BARRETT MRADELR BARRELS

Even though barrels are swappable, it does not mean that they do not get their fair share of attention as they are being manufactured. Barrett MRADELR barrels are all built from stainless steel to match grade specifications. When it comes to the rifling, these barrels use single point cut rifling and are hand lapped. Finally, as the MRADELR is designed to higher extreme long distance magnum rifle cartridges, it comes equipped with Barrett’s extremely effective three port QDL muzzle brake to tame down the magnum recoil.

The rifle’s name is a creative portmanteau of the abbreviations “MRAD” and “ELR”. MRAD stands for “milliradian”, a popular unit of angular measure used in optics and precision shooting. “ELR” on the other hand is simply an abbreviation of “extreme long range.” To learn more about the Barrett MRADELR and to see a better detailed and more comprehensive list of details, features, design cues and additional technical specifications, please visit Barrett’s website at https://barrett.net/

Williams Gun Sight LRS – The Low Reflex Sight

By

Travis Pike

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March 13, 2024

We’ve hit a few different points of stagnation in the gun world. Ammo doesn’t have much room to improve; guns have hit their foreseeable peak, and the same goes for red dots. While we probably won’t see anything revolutionary, we will see small improvements. Ammo cases are becoming lightweight, guns are getting smaller but hold just as many rounds, and Williams Gun Sight flipped a red dot upside down. By doing so, they created what they call the Low Reflex Sight, or LRS for short.

This isn’t a full review but an overview. I find it so interesting I think it’s worth two articles instead of one very long article. Williams Gun Sight is well known for creating iron sights for shotguns and rifles of various types. Their Firesights were one of the first to use high-visibility fiber optics for various iron sights. This is their first advance into the world of red dots, and instead of releasing another generic, mostly fine red dot optic, they released the LRS.

Let’s see what the LRS is and is not.

What The LRS Is

The LRS is a mini red dot sight that uses a unique design that takes the standard mini red dot and flips it upside down. They then mount the sight to a cover. At the bottom, we don’t have a traditional mounting platform. The bottom of the optic is open, for lack of a better term. It attaches to its various mounts via four screws that attach to the sides of the mount and not the top.

The LRS features a reticle that’s a 32 MOA segmented circle with a 2 MOA dot in the center. I’m a fan of designs like this for shotguns because they are big, eye-grabbing, and give you a method to zero your buckshot load inside the circle at certain ranges. With that said, this optic is designed for long guns, especially shotguns. Williams Gun Sights make mounts for Mossbergs, Remingtons, and Benellis.

The LRS comes ready out of the box with a battery and Picatinny rail. It features six illumination levels, and holy crap, does it get bright. The LRS has no problems with daylight bright situations. Two controls allow you to adjust the brightness level, and holding down the down button shuts the optic off.

The main benefit of the LRS is that it sits super low. It’s roughly 30% lower than most red dots. When I compare the LRS with other red dots, it appears that the LRS sits as low on a standard shotgun as the red dot on my Mossberg 940 with its receiver cut design.

What the LRS Isn’t

The LRS is not an enclosed red dot. Just by looking at the pictures, I can see why someone would assume it’s an enclosed emitter design, but it’s not. On the flip side, the emitter is better protected from the elements than the standard mini-red dot.

This is not a pistol red dot. It’s not rated for pistols according to William Gun Sights, and I don’t see a way for you to mount it to a handgun due to the design. The LRS doesn’t have any means to attach to a standard pistol. However, it will mount to handguns that lack reciprocating slides and have picatinny top rails, like the various Ruger MK pistols.

This isn’t your standard red dot. It’s designed for weapons that need optics to sit nice and low, which really makes it almost purpose-built for shotguns. However, it could work on lever guns and other more traditional platforms.

The Review

I haven’t had a ton of time to shoot with the LRS, but a full review is coming soon. Take this as a teaser. It’s the first red dot innovation I’ve seen this year, and I hope it works as well as it seems to. It’s currently mounted to my Mossberg 590 in 20 gauge, and I can’t wait to give it the full run around.

The KCI APC9 Magazines – Metal Feed Lips Finally!

By

Travis Pike

-

March 12, 2024

I love B&T and its dedication to subguns. Sure, they make other stuff, including great suppressors the APC223, but they are the most dedicated subgun producer I know of. Every gun they make is seemingly a banger, too. They make good guns, but their magazines often leave something to be desired. The mags for the APC9 series are used for several different guns, and they are the weak point of an awesome firearm. KCI’s APC9 magazines look to be a welcome upgrade.

It’s not that they don’t feed reliably. They do, and they tend to be as reliable as it gets. The problems come from the polymer design. It’s a bit brittle, and the polymer feed lips have been known to break and fail after a fairly short amount of abuse. B&T treats them as disposable parts, and admittedly, magazines are disposable, but they tend to be disposed of a bit quicker than other magazines. Plus, at $60, they aren’t cheap. Oh, and don’t drop them ever because if you do, they will spray out your loaded cartridges like a fountain.

The B&T magazines were just waiting for an aftermarket solution. You expect Magpul, or even Lancer, heck, or even ETS, to take the task to heart. Yet, it was the Korean manufacturer KCI who took the challenge and released a new APC9 Magazine. KCI is well known for producing affordable, fairly reliable magazines for ARs, Glocks, and AKs. They aren’t often considered duty-grade magazines, but they are very functional for the price point. The KCI APC9 magazines might be a reputation-breaking effort.

The KCI APC9 Magazines – Notable Differences

The first and most important difference is that KCI fixed the weakest part of the APC9 magazine, the feed lips. KCI uses metal feed lips. This reinforcement will help prevent the most common damage to APC9 magazines. Broken feed lips plague the B&T mags. The KCI APC9 magazines do lack the bumper that some B&T magazines offer, but I prefer metal feed lips.

When you drop the mags, they are less likely to break and won’t go off like a fountain when they strike the ground. The reinforced feed lips are a nice touch, but not the only nice touch. The KCI APC9K magazines are more translucent than stock B&T options. They are also a lot easier to load. There is a lot less pressure on the follower, and the last five rounds are easy to insert and load.

The magazines glide into the magwell with ease and lock in place rather nicely. Doing quick reloads won’t be much of a challenge, and loading a fresh mag on a closed bolt isn’t tough either. The B&T mags would often be quite difficult to insert on a closed bolt fully loaded. It’s surprisingly robust and seems very well made. Of course, a lot of nice features mean absolutely nothing if the magazines don’t run reliably.

To the Range

With a single KCI APC9 magazine, I hit the range, and to quote Frank Reynolds, I started blasting! In a safe and proper manner. Using my ammo to run drills rather than diving into the temptation to mag dump into trash I was able to track feeding reliability. I used a mixed bag of ammo for testing, with the majority being brass-cased 115-grain rounds. I mixed in some hollow points, some 147-grain, and some steel-cased stuff to find a weak point. In terms of just feeding, the magazine didn’t falter or fail. I loaded on an open bolt, a closed bolt, and more. There were no malfunctions to speak of.

I did some classic and largely useless shoot one reload shoot one drills just to test dropping the magazines. I only had one KCI mag, but the stock B&T mag worked fine for reloads. In this reload practice, I noticed the KCI APC9 magazine slid in easier and smoother than the stock APC9 mag. I let the KCI clash to the ground over and over.

Outside of reload drills, I loaded the magazine and let it drop on concrete. I dropped it at different angles, including directly on the feed lip. When dropped fully loaded, a round or two will fly out, but no more than two have ever popped out. The magazine body didn’t break, and the metal feed lips didn’t falter. The KCI APC9 magazines feel solid and well-made.

Three Cheers for KCI

The KCI APC9 magazine is substantially cheaper than the B&T model. If I go to GunMagWarehouse right now, I can get the KCI APC9 mags for $20 on sale. That’s a bargain compared to the stock standard B&T mags. My sample size is one, but if the KCI APC9 magazines function this well across the board, I don’t see a reason to buy OEM magazines anymore.