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The 5.11 Tactical Maxgrip Trainers

Coming into the beginning of summer, I had a problem. I had started taking workouts more seriously and doing dedicated programs rather than just kind of winging it and changing my program every four weeks when I got bored. I outworked my dad-approved New Balances, and I needed new shoes. I need supportive shoes, tough shoes, and shoes with a good grip. Little did I know that my solution would come from a cargo pant enthusiast’s favorite source, 5.11 Tactical. The 5.11 Maxgrip Trainers were a solution to my problem.

I had a few problems, well, more specific problems. Namely, my feet hurt. I got hit with plantar fasciitis. Too many miles too fast resulted in near-constant pain in my left foot. I started with exercises and stretches but was also advised to change my shoes, so I did. Second, I run off-road and do lots of jumps on tires, and beyond. I would find myself slipping and needing more grip texture.

When I stumbled across the Maxgrip Trainers, I figured, why not? Trainers aren’t running shoes, but I don’t run that much compared to people who actually run. 5.11 Tactical was happy to send them for this review.

Breaking in the Maxgrip Trainers

The Maxgrip Trainers are tight-fitting at first. They aren’t necessarily sized small, but they don’t leave much, if any, slack. That’s not a bad thing. This helps prevent blisters and hotspots. The front of the shoes features a reinforced toe. It’s not metal but polymer, and for off-road running, that seemed great to me. Kicking rocks, literally, is a real pain.

On first wear, that polymer toe was not the best feature. When I did lunges, I felt it dig into and rub. After running two miles, the toe started to impact my actual toes. It was a bit discomforting, but preservation proved to be a good quality. The pain went away as I wore the shoes and broke them in. I’ve never had to break trainers in, but the Maxgrip can certainly use it. They loosened up a hair, making them easier to slip on.

Hitting the Pavement

Not pavement exactly, but a limestone road. I kept the slow increase of my miles, and my plantar fascitis slowly went away. I’m not saying the Maxgrip trainers cured me; that was likely the stretches and exercises, but the pain never came back. I kept up the exercises, but they weren’t doing much before I swapped shoes.

The shoes worked well on the limestone road. They provide a good deal of support, which a man my size needs. They don’t slack or give, and the thick soles prevent me from feeling the rocks, pebbles, and other crap beneath my feet as I rune. That front reinforced toe provides some significant protection, and it’s protection I appreciate.

Beyond running, they became my shoes for HIIT and lifting. The grip on the bottom is intense, and when doing box jumps and jump rope, the traction prevents slippage. That’s critical when you’re jumping up and down on a giant tractor tire. The Maxgrip name certainly lives up to its name.

Comfort and Beyond

The Maxgrip trainers are plenty comfortable. They have a good deal of support and a great insole. I typically toss the insoles and replace them, but I’m getting the 5.11 insoles around. The Maxgrip Trainers are solid shoes for high-intensity fitness. While they aren’t runners, they work fine for basic road work and sprints. When it comes to lifting and functional fitness, they are solid, high-quality shoes that dig deep and grip hard. Check them out here.

What’s the twist?

If you are curious about barrel twist rates and what they mean in the grand scheme of what you look for your firearm to be able to accomplish, hit play and let 9-Hole take it away.

If you don’t have 10 minutes right now, come back to the video later and read on below.

Rifling

For those newer in the space, rifling is the swirling cuts you see in the steel as you look down the barrel. The terminology gets as deep as anything else in the firearm sphere but for our sake here we will keep it incredibly simple.

Rifling is there to spin the bullet so that it stabilizes in flight, think of a proper spin on a thrown football.

Rifling does this by interacting with the bullet jacket, the outer surface of the bullet is a little thicker than the inner diameter of the barrel. When pressure from the powder pushes the bullet down the barrel the rifling starts it spinning.

The spinning results in greater stability once it leaves the barrel and therefore greater accuracy.

Rifle Twist Rate

In the US you will usually see the twist rate posted as 1:7 or 1:10. Variations exist like 1 in 7 and 1/7 but they all in denote that the rifling completes one full revolution in the span of 7, 10, 12 inches. In most other nations they will use millimeters for twist and barrel length both. So a 16 inch, 1:7 twist barrel would be a 406mm, 1 in 177mm twist barrel.

Twist Rate to Bullet Weight

Bullets have a fixed diameter, they will be exactly as wide as needed to go down the barrel. The bullet will also have an ideal weight, based on the length and shape. That weight is what will work ideally with the rifle twist to stabilize the bullet during flight.

The rule of thumb is the heavier, and therefore longer, the bullet the faster/shorter the twist rate should generally be. That is an oversimplification but it isn’t an egregious one.

So heavier 5.56/.223 should use 1:7 or 1:8 instead of 1:9 or 1:12 and heavier .308 benefits from 1:10 while lighter can use 1:12. These are again generalizations and real world performance is real world performance.

Getting Into Glock Mag Extensions

EBPs in holster

Mag Extensions, particularly Ergonomic Base Pads (EBP), are critical for those looking to improve their Glock’s capacity without compromising performance. These enhancements are essential in scenarios where reloading speed is key, such as competitive shooting or other more serious shooting scenarios.

Two EBPs on concrete.

Balancing The Pros and The Cons of Mag Extensions

The primary goal of a mag extension is to add ammunition without hindering the pistol’s handling. The best extensions offer additional rounds while preserving the firearm’s balance and ease of use, ensuring that the modification is beneficial, not burdensome.

Ergonomics and Concealability

Ergonomics play a significant role in the effectiveness of a magazine extension. It should offer a secure grip and integrate well with the shooter’s hand, all while maintaining the firearm’s concealability. The right design will feel like a natural part of the pistol, even with the larger mag size.

Mag extensions like EBP are designed to optimize a Glock’s performance while aligning with the shooter’s preferences and needs. Choosing the right magazine extension, though, involves a thoughtful assessment of capacity and ergonomic design. You should always ensure anything you add to your kit enhances the shooting experience efficiently and comfortably.

An intelligent choice requires considering several factors:

  • Ergonomic Grip vs. Concealability: The extension should provide a better grip without detracting from the weapon’s concealability.
  • Model Compatibility: Check that the extension is suitable for various Glock models for versatility.
  • Build Quality: Opt for materials that promise durability without unnecessary bulk.
  • Reloading Performance: Look for designs that ensure swift and reliable magazine changes, especially under duress.

Enter The GripForce EBP

GripForce EBP

The GripForce EBP offers Glock enthusiasts a blend of functional enhancements and practical advantages. GripForce EBP offers Glock owners a combination of available enhancements and practical benefits. 

GripForce EBP Design diagram

The GripForce increases the magazine capacity by five additional rounds, which can be a significant factor for users requiring more ammunition. The design of the GripForce EBP includes an ergonomic grip surface, which aims to improve the user’s hold and comfort during use.

Capacity and Convenience

The magazine extension increases the capacity without adding excessive bulk to the firearm, allowing more rounds to be carried discreetly.

Ease of installation is a primary feature of the GripForce EBP, as it is designed to be attached without needing specialized tools or professional gunsmithing. The durability is also one of the major selling points; it also comes with a non-reflective finish, which some users might find suitable. This combination of increased capacity, ergonomic design, and accessible installation positions the GripForce EBP as a significant upgrade for the Glock platform. Certainly, it is a solid option to consider!

GripForce EBPs on wood tabletop

Upgrading Your Glock Mag Extensions

Magazine extensions have become an essential consideration for Glock owners seeking additional ammunition capacity beyond what the standard magazine offers. When contemplating such upgrades, it is important to assess how they will affect the firearm’s balance, grip, and ease of carrying, ensuring that the handling qualities of the Glock are maintained or enhanced.

Compatibility is also a key factor; it is vital to ensure that the extension is specifically designed to fit your Glock model to avoid any potential fitting issues. Moreover, the build quality cannot be overlooked—the materials and construction must be robust enough to withstand the demands of regular use without compromising the structural integrity of the weapon.

For those in the market for a magazine extension, a thorough approach is recommended. This includes researching and potentially testing various models to ensure the chosen extension enhances the Glock’s performance without compromising its design.

Gunday Brunch 125: CCW for Parents Pt 2

Welcome back to part 2 of Caleb’s interview with Melody Lauer of Citizen’s Defense Research! In this episode they take an even deeper dive into CCW tips for parents. If you’d like to train with Melody, you can! Just search for “Citizens Defense Research Eventbrite” on google

Like Background Checks and Gun Free Zones, Police Notifications [AKA “Red Flag Laws”] Fail All The Time – Maine

“Suspect was known to Maine Authorities.”

This headline and variations of it are common out of Maine, as more information about the shooter’s actions leading up to his attacks on the bowling alley and bar where he killed 18 people and wounded 13 others severely with gunfire, is torn apart and examined.

Card, the shooter, was a career length Army reservist of Staff NCO (E-7, Sergeant First Class) rank and some manner of shooting instructor. He made threats against a Reserve or National Guard station in September. The Center followed up with police who then attempted to find Card… for about 2 weeks. They stopped when they couldn’t find him.

This was the nightmare scenario that pro-gun advocates dread. One of “our own” (at least on paper to anti-2A types) going rogue and causing a mass causality event. But the more we learn the more this looks like yet another failure of the authorities, perhaps an unavoidable one, to do the things they continue to promise the public they can do. But they cannot, it is physically and digitally impossible to do.

Card then shot 31 people.

Background Check

Robert Card was, until that attack, a citizen “in good standing” and probably owned several firearms as an instructor. Even with threats leveled against the Saco, Maine military instillation, the specifics of which I do not know but prompted the notice from Maine Army National Guard, none of that changes the prior clearance to purchase or the otherwise professional background of the man.

A background check, no matter how universal you want to pretend it is, would not be able to prevent this. The checks were already done and passed.

He was also recently denied a silencer transfer at the point of sale. I do not know if he answered the 4473 or the Form 4 as prohibited, but one of them terminated the process. There is, however, no follow up on prohibited transfers that do not happen, there just isn’t. It is far too common an event and usually amounts to nothing. NICS false positive rates are absurdly high, especially for initial denials. Improper record keeping accounts for a dramatic percentage of the denials. Mistakes on paperwork account for another massive chunk. But in the end, Card did not get the silencer due to the gun shop employee actions.

In Card’s attempted silencer purchase it was his own answer on the form that denied him the transfer at the point of sale. Not a background check, no governmental authority checked for his mental health institutionalization, he volunteered that information. The background check system certainly “didn’t work” to stop him from the governmental end.

Side note: Anyone claiming that the silencer purchase would have made things tremendously worse is a moron, unworthy of giving an opinion on the subject. A “silenced” 5.56 rifle shot at short distance, indoors, is still uncomfortably loud and getting shot at at interior distances is hard to mistake.

Gun Free Zones

Both the bowling alley and the bar were gun free zones. That fact did nothing to prevent the attack. It was ignored as easily as a speed limit sign. It is just a written rule. People ignore written rules all the time. Unless the premises has an enforcement mechanism that rule is effectively a polite suggestion. Nothing more.

Red Flag Law

I’ve seen it written a few places that Maine doesn’t have a “Red Flag Law” and that this is what failed to prevent the tragedy. They have a colloquially titled “Yellow Flag Law” which seems to function exactly the same.

Let’s break this down.

Card was treated for something at a mental facility for a two week period during the summer. This seems to have been involuntary, but no confirmation. If it was involuntary he became a prohibited possessor federally at that time. This does not mean any action was initiated by the authorities to remove firearms, merely that he was now required to answer ‘yes’ like he did on his silencer application to the mental health question.

When he leveled the shooting threat against the Maine National Guard station, this behavior was acted upon by the police. That is how a red flag law works. Concerning behavior, reported behavior, court backed law enforcement action to attempt intervention.

But the police never made contact with Card, after two weeks the attempts were shelved and the case was closed as incomplete, no contact with suspect, and so forth, as much as the police had for information on their attempts.

That is the hard limit of an ERPO or any other preventative. They require the resources and interaction to enforce. It is in all other respects just the polite suggestion of society.

Will gun laws change?

There is certainly a current push for both “Universal Background Checks” which are the most likely effort to be put in place, and an assault weapon ban. But with an assault weapon ban on life support in California, the oldest version of the law in the nation, that avenue is most likely political grand standing and base appeasement, not the concerted efforts for a legislative push. The government is also rather hit and miss on its message of arming civilians as it pushes arms to Ukraine, which definitely armed civilians, and Israel, who was warned not to arm civilians with its delivered armaments.

Into that quagmire we are most likely to see much harrumphing and beating of chests, but little to endanger democrat reelection efforts needing to be ramped up next year in a dicey economy and with unpopularity and strife points across many spaces.

The Most Important Self Defense Topic Nobody Talks About

There are so many facets to self defense:

– Pistol skills

– Knife skills

– Verbal skills

– Empty hand skills

– Medical skills

– Legal skills

And each one of those could easily take a lifetime to master. We all know black belts and GMs that are still working to improve. That being said, it is very easy to get caught up in the pursuit of all of this that we manage to forget exactly what it is that we’re working so hard to protect:

Our lives, livelihoods, and well-being. It’s possible to spend so much time refining these skills that the rest of life gets neglected and falls by the wayside. There are some folks who choose to live their lives around the gun, and refuse to go anywhere they’re not allowed to carry (or risk the legal consequences of carrying where prohibited).

Then there are those who go the Travis Bickle route, hardening themselves for what they are certain is an imminent battle. For me personally, I choose to live as fulfilling a life as possible. I enjoy good food and drink, the arts, and travel.

My study of predators, violent criminal actors, and defense craft are there to supplement this lifestyle, and make sure that I’m able to have the broadest and most varied range of experiences possible.

It’s an easy trap to get caught in, and it’s not discussed much. I just wanted to highlight this pitfall so that more people are aware that it’s out there. Ultimately it’s your life. Live it how you choose. But I do think it’s worth asking the question whether or not you’re spending more time training than you actually do living.

The Defender Tactical CoSight

I recently got to team up with the guys at Defender Tactical to help design a sighting system and optics mount for shotguns. To be clear, they did the vast majority of the work. I pitched an idea. They did the manufacturing, prototyping, and testing. I had input here and there with my ideas, but they really put in the work to develop the mount and perfect it. It’s called the CoSight, and it’s recently released to the world.

Who Is Defender Tactical?

Defender Tactical are the shotgun guys. They make shotgun accessories for a few different guns, and they have a good focus on the Mossberg 500 series firearms. One of their most popular accessories is an insert that allows you to use any length of shell in your shotgun, from 3-inch magnums to 1.75-inch mini shells. They also make a HighBall sight for Mossberg shotguns and a rear safety that doubles as a rear sight.

They are making some really cool stuff that’s innovative. Defender Tactical is a small company, and they are doing some really novel stuff for shotguns. They were a natural partner for the CoSight.

What’s the CoSight

The CoSight is an idea that implements both optics and iron sights onto a shotgun. I was searching around forever, trying to find a modern version of the rifle sights that companies like Ithaca used to put on their Deer Slayer shotguns. It seems rare these days, and I really like the speed and precision offered by those sights.

I wanted open sights on a shotgun, but I also recognized that red dots rule. Why not have both? The CoSight offers just that. The ability to have both a good, low-profile optics mount and a set of backup iron sights offers you a very capable option.

The CoSight has sight mounts for both front and rear Glock sights. It admittedly doesn’t offer you a very long sight radius, but it’s also a backup sight. Your red dot is doing most of the action. One of the benefits of a short radius is speed, and this is a fast way to get the gun on target. It’s quick and easy to align and, therefore, easy to get accurate lead on target.

With Ghost ring sights a suppressor height sight aligns perfectly.

Using the front sight is optional. If you have a Mossberg with ghost ring sights and have a rifle-style front sight, then you can just use a Glock rear sight. You’ll need a suppressor height .394 height rear sight. It aligns perfectly with the Mossberg front sight and gives you that long-eye relief you might want for accurate shotgun engagements.

Does it Work

I might be a bit biased, but yes, yes, it works very well. The open sights are quick and easy to get behind, which means you’re on target faster. You can cowitness right through the optic with most open emitter optics. Enclosed emitters may require a higher sight. For example, the 509T requires a taller rear sight.

With a Shockwave and just the CoSight irons, I put slugs on steel at 50 yards. I’d say that’s pretty dang accurate. With a Mossberg 590A1 and the longer sight radius, hitting targets at 100 yards with slugs was in the realm of possibility. (A rest helped a ton.)

Up close, I was getting sub-second snap drills with buckshot in the A-zone. That’s fast, and that’s just with the iron sights. I left the dot off. The dot adds a little more oomph, but we know dots work. I wanted to test the iron sight capability.

To be clear, I don’t receive any cut of the sales of the CoSight. My work amounted to some emails and text messages. I like the product. Obviously, there is a bias, but there isn’t a financial one. You can check it out here.

It’s Getting Colder, Use the Right Firewood Log Carrier

How do we move wood from one spot to another? Such as from the outside woodstack to inside for the woodstove? Many will say “just load up your arms” but there are other options that will make your life a lot easier. These options are called log carriers, a long bag that allows you to stack firewood and carry it away with two hands.

Below are some things to look for when choosing a log carrier and comparisons of a few specific carriers. Hint: A log carrier from amazon isn’t worth the savings of a few bucks.

The Material

Many higher quality log carriers are made with waxed canvas. Focus on the stitching such as the addition of cross-stitching and reinforced stitching.

The Shape and Design

Log carriers will come in multiple sizes and shapes. Size will go by inches and ounces.The two things to focus on are the side of the carriers and the handles. Some carriers will have walled sides. This helps with ensuring that the wood doesn’t slide out from the side and onto the ground (ask me how I know). The handles are important in the fact that you may want the option of either a strap connecting the handles together or even a strap connecting the bag together. This will also help in carrying the wood without any falling out.

Design additions such as a small pocket on the outside are always nice to throw extra tools in as well.

amazon and white duck comparison
On the left is the Amazon log carrier, on the right is the white duck outdoors carrier. Notice how much skinnier the amazon carrier is. Also notice how much more material surrounds the logs on the white duck carrier vs the amazon.

The Price

If you’re paying over 60 bucks for a log carrier, you’re paying too much. High quality carriers that aren’t small are averaging around 40-50 dollars. While log carriers are still a buy once cry once for quality kind of deal, it shouldn’t break the bank.

Options

Below is a comparison between an outdoors company making a log carrier, and a random carrier from Amazon. While White Duck Outdoors is a very trusted and high quality outdoors company, focus on the features that the log carriers have and not have rather than just the company.

White Duck Outdoors Boat Shaped Canvas Firewood Log Carrier

Price: $35.00
Size: 26x9x17 (21oz)

  • Built from premium waxed industrial-strength canvas
  • Reinforced corners and edges for added load-bearing strength and durability
  • Cross-stitched web handles for easy, reliable carrying
  • Completely collapsible and flat foldable storage design
  • Large capacity for carrying not just wood but also tools, toys, small pets or camping gear
white duck outdoors carrier
The walls on the white duck carrier encases the wood ensuring that it doesn’t fall out of the side.

Amazon Tenn Well Firewood Carrier

Price: $16.89
Size: 38×18 (16oz)

  • LARGE LOG CAPACITY – 38” long X 18” wide, with 6.5” handles, large enough to carry a fair amount of logs, firewood and kindlings. Side-open design allows to carry logs of any length
  • HEAVY CANVAS MATERIAL – Made of heavy duty 16oz waxed cotton canvas, the log hauler is tear resistant, waterproof and it cleans off easily
  • PRACTICAL AND SECURE – Reinforced stitching handles and a canvas protection pad with snap lock for easy grip; a metal loop closure with a strap on top to secure the load for safe carrying
This is the amazon carrier. The 16oz size was not large enough for a good amount of wood nor did the open sides of the carrier hold the wood inside the carrier.

Personal Experience

After using both the Amazon Tenn Well Firewood Carrier and the White Duck Outdoors carrier, I will never go back to the amazon one as my main carrier. I will keep it as extra in case I have more hands and help to grab wood, but the White Duck Outdoors blew it out of the water. The amazon carrier caused me to drop wood all of the time due to it sliding out which made me fill the carrier less. In one trip with the white duck carrier I can haul the same amount of wood as I could in two trips with the amazon carrier just due to those walls. I also like having the handle velcro option to close the bag instead of the ringlet strap that the amazon carrier has. If I could have one thing different about the white duck carrier though it would be to add a small pocket on the outside as some of their other carriers have.

These are more options from WhiteDuckOutdoors. Notice the small pockets or top strap on some of the carriers.

Slug Select Drills – Why and How

It’s no secret that I love shotguns. They are my favorite weapons and offer a powerful, versatile option. They excel at what we consider pistol ranges, and if you want to put a threat down with a single shot, a shotgun is your best go-to. Shotguns are close-range weapons, but slugs can extend that range and deliver one solid projectile on target. Most people load buckshot, but when they meet a slug problem, they are likely to swap buckshot for slugs using a slug select drill.

A slug select drill allows you to swap to that long-range target taker quickly and efficiently. There is an argument that it’s one of those skills we train for extremely niche situations. I’ve even people ask to be shown any documented evidence of a slug select drill ever being required. Up until a few days ago, I would have nothing to show, but I recently watched a video from a body cam from the LASD. They were responding to an active shooter, and the deputy rolled out with a Remington 870.

His side saddle carried slugs, and he very slowly did a slug select drill where he seemed to potentially empty more than the rounds necessary and take a lot of time to get the slug into play. With that in mind, what’s the actual procedure of a slug select drill, and why would anyone ever use one?

The Why Behind Slug Select Drills

The first and most obvious answer is range. Slugs enhance a shotgun’s range out to about 100 yards with a smooth bore, bead-sighted shotgun. That’s a good bit more than the 50-yard or so range we get with buckshot. Other than range, we get greater accountability. Buckshot spreads as it travels and at longer ranges, that’s eight to nine pellets spreadly rapidly, and they are liable to go a foot in either direction of the target at 50 yards. A slug increases accountability.

Slugs also penetrate very deeply and decisively. This makes them handy for large and dangerous game. If you run into an angry bear or upset elk, then a slug is a great choice for a decisive put-down. While dangerous game is an issue, so are engine blocks for police forces. A proper 12-gauge slug can chew through one. That’s a valuable trait of slugs in the world of intermediate-caliber rifles.

That same punching-through power can deal with barriers without the slug diverting too badly. Glass windows, doors, and the like are butter, and a slug is a hot knife. Slug select drills to make it easy to get a solid ounce or so or lead in your gun and on target quickly and efficiently.

The Universal Slug Select Drill

There are lots of great instructors out there to teach you this drill, and you should seek out a qualified shotgun instructor to really learn the best way to do a slug-select drill for your gun. However, there is a fairly basic way to do a slug select with most shotguns.

Assume the gun is cruiser loaded with a full magazine tube. Rack a round of buckshot into the chamber. Thread a slug into the tube. Rack the gun again, ejecting your buckshot and now loading the slug. That’s it. You now have a slug on tap. You can load a second slug into the tube just in case you need two.

Beretta and Benelli options

Beretta, Benelli, and many foreign semi-auto shotguns have a shell release button. You can manually trip the button and have to load a round from the tube to the chamber. When you fire the weapon, this will also release a round onto the shell lifter. The good news is for a slug select drill on a Benelli or Beretta semi-auto, the shooter simply needs to pull the charging handle rearward.

This ejects the live round and allows the shooter to directly load a slug into the chamber of the gun and fire it. It’s quite nice and very easy to do. Benelli’s SuperNova even has a magazine cut-off button in the pump, which makes slug-select drills really easy with a pump gun.

Slug Select Drills

Like everything, you have to practice and become proficient. It takes some serious practice to become quick and proficient at the task, but it’s worth working at if you want to master the shotgun. Sometimes, you just have to slug it out.

The Other Guy Gets A Vote

Whether you’re talking about a violent encounter against a resisting opponent, or someone’s perception and opinion of you, nothing we do happens in a vacuum. All of our decisions are going to come up against outside forces. We need to be aware of this, and have enough proficiency to be able to influence the outcome in our favor as much as possible. Because at the end of the day, the other guy get’s a vote.

The S&W Model 13 – The FBI’s Last Revolver

Smith and Wesson are the revolver guys, and it seems fitting that their revolvers were often the last revolver issued to numerous police and military agencies. In the case of the FBI, the last revolver they ever issued was the Model 13. Prior to the Model 13, the FBI had issued the Colt Police Positive and then the S&W M&P .38. When we came into a new era of revolvers, the Model 13 just made sense.

What’s Different About The Model 13

The FBI seemed quite partial to the six-gun, medium-frame revolver. Their caliber of choice with the Colts and later the S&W M&P (AKA the Model 10) chambered the classic .38 special rounds. That’s fine. Admittedly, it’s not a bad cartridge, but it was showing its age in the modern era. The Model 13 offered the FBI a .357 Magnum that wasn’t too tough to carry.

Most FBI agents aren’t gunfighters. You’ll likely find five accountants and lawyers for every HRT guy. They don’t have to use their guns often, so selling the FBI the big Model 27 in .357 Magnum likely wasn’t going to fly. A lot of this era’s .357s were N-frame or L-frame guns, making them large, heavy beasts.

The Model 13 was a K-frame. It’s not quite compact, but it’s much smaller than the bigger frame models. The Model 13 still chambered six rounds. It was essentially the Model 10, but in .357 Magnum. The Model 13 and Model 19 are nearly the same gun, but the Model 19 features accessible sights and an underlug. The Model 65 is the same as the 13, but stainless steel.

The FBI Model

The FBI Model 13 features a blued finish with fixed sights and the lack of an underlug. They utilized a 3-inch barrel and a round butt model. S&W also offered 4-inch models and square butt versions as well. This version would be quite handy and easy to tote in a suit for day-to-day investigative work. The revolver was first issued in 1981.

The FBI wasn’t the only person to issue the Model 13. The New York State Police issued the weapon to replace their Model 10s. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol liked the weapon but wanted it in stainless, so S&W Produced the Model 65. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice also issued the Model 65. Way across the world, the armed officers of the ICAC of Hong Kong issued the Model 13 as well.

It was a popular revolver, but admittedly, it came around at a time when the world was moving to automatics. It served with the FBI until 1991 before being replaced by a semi-auto pistol.

Why It’s the Last Revolver of the FBI

In 1986, the FBI was chasing two bank robbers in South Florida. It ended with a brutal gunfight that’s famously known as the 1986 Miami Shootout. Eight FBI agents faced off against two bank robbers. The majority of the FBI agents were armed with revolvers. The shootout was brutal and ended with two FBI agents killed and five wounded. In the aftermath, the FBI moved to semi-automatic pistols, as did the rest of law enforcement.

The Model 13 was a fine revolver, but for law enforcement, it was outdated. Sadly, its no longer produced, but maybe S&W will toss it into their classic lineup one day.

You’re Only the Good Guy in Your Mind

Everybody is the hero of their own movie. Whenever that idea is challenged, the response is typically a desire to defend one’s honor, or explain yourself so that people won’t think ill of you. Neither of those are usually the most ideal way to handle it. Paul Sharp had a great post that highlights some of these concepts that you really should read. Go check it out

https://www.facebook.com/paul.sharp.mma/posts/10157743891404526

IWI Issues Recall for 1,094 Carmel Rifles – Check Your Serial Number Here

From IWI,

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. 

CH001385 – CH003328 

CORRECTIVE STEPS – There two options 

1.  Pick

 • Option 1: Go to https://iwi.us/carmelrecall . Fill out the web form to initiate the return of the Carmel. 

 • 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. 

IWI.US

From the Editor:

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.

The MKC Hellgate Hatchet

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 Announces NSN for Romeo M17 Red Dot

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.

M17 red dot

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 Details For M17 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.

M17 red dot
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.