JULY 2017
CONTENTS 4 TRAINING: TOP LEVEL TRAINING WITH P2 CONCEPTS PMCI SPEAKS TO ROBBIE ALLMON, INSTRUCTOR/OWNER OF P2 CONCEPTS, TO GET THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT’S ON OFFER 8 BOOK REVIEW: “FOUR FLAGS” 10 TRAINING: CLOSE PROTECTION BASICS GUEST CONTRIBUTOR PAUL ATTENDS A TASTER CP COURSE RUN BY FORMER SAS SOLDIER BOB PODESTA 15 EDITORS COMMENT: BIG NEWS FROM FIRST TACTICAL! 16 GEAR ON TEST: PMCI TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE LATEST GEAR. 20 TACTICAL INNOVATION: NOTCH BALLCAPS HOW DO YOU UPDATE A CLASSIC? TRAMPAS TELLS HOW! 24 GOOD GEAR TO GO: 5:11 UPDATED BILL TAKES A LOOK AT SOME GREAT GEAR FROM 5:11 HE’S BEEN PUTTING THROUGH ITS PACES 28 TECH: LAYERING UP! WHAT DOES GO INTO MAKING A COMPLETE LAYERED CLOTHING SYSTEM, AND WHY DO YOU NEED ONE? 32 KNIVES AND TOOLS: ATHENA KNIFE COMPANY TRAMPAS GETS TOGETHER WITH UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN JOSH CURRY TO SEE HOW PASSION FORGES SOME EXCELLENT BLADES. 36 FIREARMS: THE SP5K ON THE RANGE WITH THE SMALLEST OF THE H&K FAMILY! 40 TECH: GM TACTICAL BESPOKE KYDEX GEAR FOR YOUR HANDGUN AND ACCESSORIES 44 SKILLS AND DRILLS ANDY GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL WITH PART 1 OF HIS VEHICLE DRILLS 48 SPECIAL REPORT: WHAT THE HECK IS A GET HOME BAG? WE SPEAK TO THE GUYS AT THE SURVIVOR TOWN BLOG 51 BOOK REVIEW: “NANOWEAPONS; A GROWING THREAT TO HUMANITY” 52 INDUSTRY VACANCIES: LOOKING FOR WORK? JUST CHECK HERE
Copyright © Calibre Publishing 2017. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The Editors reserve the right to edit submissions prior to publication. Thank you for downloading this Edition of PMCI, the FREE digital publication dedicated to PMC Operatives. PMCI is written by individuals with first hand knowledge and experience of the subject they write about - people like Col. Gerry Schumacher (USSF Ret.), author Simon Chambers and ex-TL Dan E, all of whom have an intimate understanding of what the role entails and the day to day challenges faced by PMCs. PMCI will provide a platform to review and discuss the things to matter to all of us, such personal equipment, training, employment and lifestylestyle management - and these are also our core fundamentals. We hope you enjoy this Edition of PMCI and if you have any feedback or comments, or would like to contrubute to future issues, please let us know by email to: editor@pmcimagazine.com
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Editor (UK): Bill Thomas Editor (International): Dan Eastes Graphic Design: Baz Thakur Publisher: Nigel Streeter PMCI Magazine is a digital-only publication, published bi-monthly and available FREE OF CHARGE via the PMCI app on the following platforms: Apple iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Windows Phone. For more information visit our publishing partner: www.PocketMags.com PMCI can also be read online at: www.issuu.com Calibre Publishing Limited Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.pmcimagazine.com ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2014
Letter, idea or question? Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the editor (editor@pmcimagazine.com), write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.
TRAINING: P2
CONCEPTS
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TRAINING:
P2 CONCEPTS A number of us that contribute to PMCI are actively involved in tactical training; we speak to others involved in the industry worldwide on a regular basis and this month we’re turning our attention to firearms and self-defense training at the very highest level again as we speak to Robbie Allmon from P2 Concepts.
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MCI: Robbie, in your own words please tell me what led you to set up P2 Concepts? I started my career in the United States Marine Corps where I was instilled with strict Corps values; Honor, Courage, and Commitment. These values are still the foundation of my personal and professional character today. Although, I was tasked with instructing in the military, I didn’t develop the passion or understand the responsibility of being an instructor until my law enforcement career. During my 12 years, I held various roles from team lead of SWAT, SORT, FTO and Firearms Instructor. While in these capacities, I noticed there was a common trend and a bit of an “old school” mentality in the way they were training, I began attending other training and eventually developed my own style that would translate back to my students. This is where the original idea for my company was formed, I saw the need and decided to fill it. PMCI: When and where did you start running your courses? I initially started developing my courses in 2006 during my law enforcement career. I then entered into the private sector in 2010 and continued development and instruction while serving as a contractor overseas. In 2015 I opened P2 Concepts and hit the ground running.
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PMCI: What exactly do you specialise in? We provide a variety of customized/specialized training programs for Law Enforcement, Military, and Private Security. Our programs range from basic tactics to special operations and are based upon years of tactical and real world experience. My areas of expertise range from live fire to reality based force on force immersion techniques. The principles I use focus on obtaining the maximum outcome by creating consistency through proper training and understanding how the body functions under real world high stress situations thus developing a controlled combative mindset. PMCI: Could you tell me a little more about your courses and their content? Some of our courses are live fire and some are reality based force on force training and range from Advanced Patrol Tactics, Tactical Rifle Applications, SWAT, Hostage Rescue, and Low Light to name a few. I believe in order to hone your skills and be well versed, you need a good balance between the two types of training. That said, in my opinion, training in static, stress-free environments can limit officers/operators in high-stress situations. Reality based training (RBT) that replicates real-life encounters is the only way to provide them with the training and experience needed to survive. No one individual has the same response to a stressful situation. Those who train based on real-life experiences can learn to perform and control stress while in dangerous situations. RBT exposes them to the psychological and physiological responses of various shoot or no shoot scenarios. By combining the proper concepts, tactics and strategies with the ability to manage the body’s normal and natural responses to a stressful event, we create an environment for success. PMCI: Who do you see as your target customer for your courses? We primarily work with Law Enforcement and specialized teams within the private sector. We plan to continue to saturate these markets as we feel this is where the greatest need for our type of training is.
PMCI: I know that you have access to excellent training facilities that you make use of worldwide; can you tell me more about them and what you do there? It all depends on the client, the type of training needed, and what they have access to. We primarily train at law enforcement facilities across the country most are designed for live fire training as well as force on force training. The facilities can range from indoor, to abandoned structures seized or donated to the department etc.. PMCI: You also provide training to professional units; what does this entail? This also depends on the type of client we have and can range from SWAT to specialized task forces. Each unit is different with specific needs and specialties. We also have to factor in things like demographics, budget, policies so it requires us to be extremely adaptable and versatile.
TRAINING: P2
CONCEPTS pmcimagazine.com
TRAINING: P2
CONCEPTS
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PMCI: Do you train just military and police personnel or civilians too? Most of our training consists of law enforcement and military but we still do a lot with the private sector and training for civilians. PMCI: Do you offer training in specialized equipment? Yes, we provide Armored Vehicle Operations courses in which the participants will learn conventional and non-conventional uses for their armored vehicle. We also offer training in night operations utilizing night vision goggles, thermals etc.. We offer mechanical breeching & shotgun breeching with future intentions of explosive breeching. Last but not least, we provide a “Train the Trainer” Instructor course in reality based training utilizing non-lethal training ammunition, non-lethal converted training weapons, protective gear and scenario development. PMCI: Do you have all the equipment available as part of your courses? Yes, in our force on force scenario courses we provide all of the non-lethal training ammunition, converted weapons and safety gear. PMCI: Once trainees have successfully completed one of your courses can they buy the equipment from you or are you able to direct them to the correct supplier? Yes, we have a direct supplier, Gunfighter Supply, where you can purchase the training equipment and gear used in our courses. For agencies with limited budgets, we have also partnered with Cops 4 Cops TX to provide the training and equipment at a reduced or no cost.. This helps these agencies that otherwise wouldn’t have the ability to receive the much needed training and equipment.
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PMCI: Without going into specifics, who do you, and your successful trainees, work with? Various Law Enforcement agencies, military and specialized units across the United States.
PMCI: If someone reading this article likes the sound of what you offer, what should be their next step? Head to our website: www.p2-concepts.com Email: rallmon@p2-concepts.com Phone: 214-631-9116 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p2conceptstraining
CONCEPTS
PMCI: Robbie, thank you for taking the time to speak with us and give an insight to what you do. I’m certain that there is something you offer that would be pertinent to each and every one of our readers!
TRAINING: P2
PMCI: Where do you see P2 Concepts in the future? We want to be known as a leader in the training industry stateside and internationally where we will be working more with foreign and specialized units around the world.
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FOUR FLAGS The Odyssey Of A Professional Soldier Part 2: Rhodesian Security Forces 1979-80, South African Defence Force 1981-83
BOOK REVIEW Four Flags
We may think that serving under the flag of another country is a relatively new thing, and that having to deal with the adversity of losing not one limb but two would preclude most from a life of service and adventure. Dave Barr tells us differently on both counts. Dave Barr joined the US Marine Corps when he was 17 and served in Vietnam on a helicopter gunship. After his discharge from the Marines in 1972 he lived in various locations around the world and served in the armed forces of several countries, including: two years with the Israeli Parachute Regiment and one year Rhodesian Light Infantry. He was in the middle of two years of service with the South African Defence Force when he was injured in a land-mine explosion in Angola in 1981. In 1981 while riding in a military vehicle in southern Angola, his vehicle drove over a land mine and the resulting explosion cost him both of his legs, above the knee on the right and below the knee on the left. Prosthetic legs allowed him to complete his tour of duty.
and Dave was finally allowed back onto active duty and doing what he did best, being a soldier. Dave Barr is an American veteran of the Vietnam War and a motorcyclist best known for being the first double amputee to circumnavigate the globe. In 1994 Barr set a world record for riding a Harley-Davidson 83,000 miles around the world, including a 13,000 mile Atlantic to Pacific segment across Northern Europe and Siberia. Barr also set a second world record for riding the so-called Southern Cross. In just 45 days during 1996, he completed the first motorcycle journey ever between the four extreme geographical corners of the Australian continent. He lives in Bodfish, California where he runs a motorcycle tour company. He is also the author of several books and was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.
Dave Barr knew from 12 years old he wanted to be a Marine. Following a series of menial jobs - including working at a shoe shine boy in a barber’s shop and in service stations, at 17 he joined the US Marines before shipping out to Vietnam. This was his dream come true, flying as a helicopter gunner, and he ended the war with an impressive 57 Air Medals, one Air Medal for every 20 combat missions. After leaving the Marines, like many veterans, Dave found it hard to hold down a good job and stay out of trouble. It was then that he read about Israel. Always looking for a rush, Dave learnt to skydive before deciding to take his chances by emigrating illegally to Israel. He was inducted into the Israeli Army and then the Paratroopers, where the training was difficult, involving long tough marches, as well as learning Hebrew. This is all chronicled in Part 1 of his story and Book takes up where the first left off. After serving his time, he left Israel, and back in the USA, Dave was stuck in a rut and ready for his next adventure. This is the second volume of Dave’s memoirs and is just as rich and colourful an account as the first instalment; the book portrays a professional soldier’s view of the ‘sharp end’ of war. Following on from his time in the Israeli Army paratroopers, Dave travelled to Rhodesia and fought alongside the Rhodesian Light Infantry. His next assignment was with the South African Defence Force in operations in South West Africa and Angola. Then came the fateful day and near fatal injuries as a result of a land mine explosion; almost a year later following 20 operations
Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Helion and Company (15 Mar. 2017) Language: English ISBN-10: 1911512498 ISBN-13: 978-1911512493
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tactical
CROPS Tactical specialises in ‘Small Team Tactics’ for operations within high risk environments.
Delivering our enhanced training packages to Military, Law Enforcement, Government agencies and civilians within credible security positions, from both foreign and domestic communities.
Our training facility is based in the United Kingdom, close to the midlands and within 350 acres of private countryside. It’s at this location we conduct our ‘craft’ away from the general public. We fully understand the discreet nature of work our candidate’s undertake in their daily operational roles.
We ‘the instructors’ come with decades of operational experience within high stress theatres, working as small teams and individuals. We are current, and still, very much an operational organisation. Over the past twenty years, we have operated in 42 countries.
For more information please contact us at: info@crops.uk.com
www.crops.uk.com
TRAINING : A SQUADRON | CLOSE PROTECTION COURSE
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A SQUADRON | CLOSE PROTECTION COURSE For this issue guest contributor Paul returns to experience yet another course run by ex-SAS soldier, Bob Podesta and learns there is a lot more to being a professional CPO than meets the eye!
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have spent over half of my life looking after people when they are injured and at their most vulnerable - that’s the path in life that I chose and during this time I have been witness to how cruel one human can really be towards another. I have only ever dealt with the aftermath of violence, so I thought that now was the time for me to learn how to protect a person from being attacked.
I should make it clear from the start that to work as a Close Protection Officer (CPO) within the UK, you will need to obtain a license to do so from an organisation called the Security Industry Authority (SIA). To get a license, a person will need to attend a Close Protection Officer training course because to work as a CPO unlicensed is a criminal offence. The Close Protection Course that is provided by A Squadron is not a certified SIA Course which means that you cannot operate as a CPO after completion. But what the A Squadron course does give you, is a unique introduction into the world of the Close Protection Officer though the eyes of a professional who really has a vast scope of experience in real life CP work. The A Squadron Close Protection Course was held over one day in Hereford and taught by Bob Podesta and Faith Cowling. On previous courses I have had a reasonable idea on what the
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day will probably involve but with this course, I genuinely was entering unknown territory and could only guess what Bob and Faith had in store for us. There were around ten people attending the close protection course which made a good size group. Most of us had worked together on previous courses but there were also some new faces amongst us.
I MANAGED TO GRAB HOLD OF BOB’S ATTACKING ARM WHILST ANOTHER TEAM MEMBER MANAGED TO KEEP BOB PINNED AGAINST A STEEL GIRDER AS I DELIVERED SOME (VERY GENTLE) KNEE STRIKES TO THE ATTACKER’S GROIN. I WAS FEELING QUITE PLEASED WITH MY REACTIONS UNTIL BOB CALMLY SAID “YEAH OKAY BUT YOU COULD HAVE JUST SHOT ME INSTEAD! The course started with the standard briefing which addressed the administration side of things and then it was quickly followed by an introduction into the general role of the Close Protection Officer. A distinction was made between how a
The make-up of a CP team was broken down into individual roles, starting from the 1IC. It became clear that each member of that team - regardless of status - had a vital role to perform in keeping the VIP safe. The first type of close protection scenario to be discussed was foot drills. When a VIP is walking around, it is known as “Foxtrot”. There are various team formations to adopt when the
Principle has “gone foxtrot” which provide varying levels of all round protection. Certain VIPs are difficult to work with and do not want to be crowded by their protection team, whilst others might not wish to have their team visible whatsoever. What was made clear is that all of the foot drills are well-rehearsed beforehand and need to be fluid and adaptable to deal with
situations that are encountered when out on the ground. Routes are pre-planned and (ideally) a recce is carried out by members of the CP team prior to the event. Security advice is relayed to the Principle by the OC of the CP team – but it is just that, advice. The Principle cannot be ordered around by the team and the VIP can often leave the team in situations where they will need to think on their feet and adapt plans when the Principle makes spontaneous changes to a route. Communication between each member of the CP team is vitally important. Each team member carries a radio and wears a covert ear piece with microphone. This is worn underneath a civilian jacket and the wires need to be fed along the inside one of the jacket arms so that the radio PTT and mic rest inside the palm of the hand, ready to be discreetly used. Because I have long arms, I found that the wire was not quite long enough to feed the PTT and microphone fully down into my left hand, which meant that I ended up walking around with a slightly bent elbow and arm position which probably made me look slightly “different”. The course was split into two groups and a 1IC and 2IC were nominated for each of the teams. Everyone was given an alpha numeric call sign. Because we were rehearsing foot drills, each call sign started with “Foxtrot” and followed with numbers, such as Foxtrot one, Foxtrot two etc. The only difference to this was for the 1IC who was known as “Sunray”. Faith assumed the role of a VIP and each team took it in turns to escort her around the buildings. It was during my team’s rehearsal that I encountered my first crazed attacker, who was trying to get close to the VIP as she walked around. I was to the rear of the formation, which was the direction from where the attacker appeared. Bob had already covered in detail what drills needed to be carried out in the event of an attack, so whilst I was holding the attacker away
TRAINING : A SQUADRON | CLOSE PROTECTION COURSE
professional Close Protection Officer operates with a genuine VIP (also known as “the Principle”) and the over-the-top-bouncertype “body guards” who closely surround some “celebrity” just to boost an already over-inflated ego!
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TRAINING : A SQUADRON | CLOSE PROTECTION COURSE
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The next scenario involved a double attack, where an attacker appeared at the front of the formation, so Faith was quickly shielded and turned around to escape with me to the rear only to be faced with a very determined second attacker with a knife, who was now blocking our escape route. Both attackers had been quickly taken down by the rest of the team but in my eagerness to protect the VIP, I spun her around for a second time to escape the knifeman but in doing so lost my balance and ended up in a very undignified heap on the floor with the Principle! After covering foot drills, we moved on to look at vehicle convoy drills. There was a considerable amount of detail to remember about driving in formation and entering and exiting a vehicle with a VIP. Again communication is the key, with the only difference being the call signs had changed from being “Foxtrot” to “Charlie”. Each car is numbered, for example, if there are three cars in the convoy they will have the call signs Charlie one, Charlie two and Charlie three. We practised the vehicle drills which included dropping off and picking up the VIP until the detail began to sink in. The intense repetition involved in the A Squadron style of training is a very effective method of learning – especially for somebody like me who grasps new subjects better by doing and making mistakes, rather than listening to someone talk in a classroom environment. There was one final surprise in store for us during the afternoon session.
at arm’s length, the rest of the protection team had swung into action and ushered Faith away to safety. The attacker that I had to deal with was unarmed but they could have easily been carrying a knife or gun. Bob explained about the risks from different weapons (including explosive devices) and it was made quite clear to us that the safety of the VIP came before that of the protection team. Apart from the specialist police and security service units that are responsible for protecting The Royalty and Politicians, private close protection teams will be operating unarmed within the UK. Because we were looking at close protection from a military perspective, it meant that we could practice with training weapons. Enthusiasm fuelled the A Squadron indoor firing range with team members practicing the pistol and primary weapon drills previously taught by Bob. We then had a chance to run through some self-defence techniques. Faith resumed her role as VIP and each team took it in turns to protect the Principle from a range of armed and unarmed attacks. When it was the turn of the team that I was part of, the attack came from my flank in the form of Bob lunging towards the VIP with a knife. I managed to grab hold of Bob’s attacking arm whilst another team member managed to keep Bob pinned against a steel girder as I delivered some (very gentle) knee strikes to the attacker’s groin. I was feeling quite pleased with my reactions until Bob calmly said “Yeah okay but you could have just shot me instead”!
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We were to put all of what we had been taught into practise by taking part in a live close protection training exercise, which was going to take us all into the public eye. The team had been tasked to provide (unarmed) close protection for a VIP (played by Faith) as she visited various shops and public places around Hereford. The key here was to blend in and not look like a CP team, something that I struggled with due to nerves. The first drop off and “going Foxtrot” phase with the VIP around a large supermarket on a busy Saturday afternoon was an experience that I will never forget. Once I recovered from my nerves, I found that I could focus more on the task in hand. The VIP proved to be quite the diva when it came to changing plans at the last minute and not wanting to fully co-operate with her CP team. A few observant members of the public did notice what we were doing, which made it all the more important to appear professional even though it was only a training exercise. After visiting a few more shops, the car and foot drills started to take shape. The entire team seemed to all sync together and quickly became able to adapt to a constantly changing situation, allowing the VIP to return home safe and well. The training exercise was hard and extremely intense but it gave us all an insight into what is involved in being part of a close protection team. Although I did not gain an SIA license from attending this course, what I did still walk away with was a vast array of personal knowledge on the subject of close protection and this knowledge could one day get me, or somebody else, out of trouble.
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G, GERMAN
NUREMBER
hall 9 booth 222 Large carry-all bag designed for bushcraft use – perfect for daytrips. It has a wide shoulder strap, two zipper secured pockets for smaller items and PALS/MOLLE compatible side panels with additional sleeves for folding saws, knives or axes. Features: YKKŽ zipper closure, One external zippered pocket one internal, 2 internal waterbottle pockets,
Built in sheaths for Knife/axe/saw, PALS/MOLLE side panels, Compression straps, Detachable, adjustable wide carrying strap.
EDITORS COMMENT First Tactical opened in late 2015 and has been steadily
readers will know we have a great relationship with the team at
growing in the industry since. Founded by Dan Costa, a proven
First Tactical and have been really pleased to see them go from
industry leader, First Tactical strives to meet the needs of public
strength to strength so you can imagine my true delight when I
safety professionals with new, innovative ideas in apparel,
received the following!
footwear and accessories. “In this rapidly changing world today, the need for public safety
“Pompano Beach, Florida, April 17, 2017
officers to have advanced protection is at an all-time high,” said
Representatives from Point Blank Enterprises and First Tactical
Dan, “Merging with Point Blank allows us to provide a world-
announced this week that the two companies have merged and
class body armour system with our rapidly growing apparel line.
will build an integrated clothing and body armour system.
By offering a one-stop-shop for departments we will be able
Point Blank Enterprises is currently the premier source of
to provide an unprecedented shopping experience. Creating a
body armour systems in the world, with 44 years of experience
uniform and body armour system that works cohesively and
providing innovative personal protection products to the public
effectively is vital for the safety of our nation’s peacekeepers.
safety community and military. The merger is a result of Point
The entire First Tactical team is excited to present it.”
Blank’s desire to work with a cutting-edge apparel brand
The companies will maintain their names and will begin
designed for the demand of the public safety personnel with a
collaborating to develop an integrated apparel and body armour
contemporary perspective and a track record for elevating industry
line immediately.”
standards. Together, Point Blank and First Tactical will introduce
This is absolutely super news, and as Point Blank are the guys
a line of holistically integrated products desperately needed by
behind Point Blank Body Armor, Protective Apparel Corporation of
public safety professionals. These products shall be designed with
America (PACA), Protective Products, PARACLETE, The Protective
Officer Safety as the priority along with the quality and image
Group (TPG), and the Advanced Technology Group (ATG), that’s an
of the personnel being in the forefront in today’s demanding
awful amount of heavyweight support in First Tactical’s corner. I for
environment.
one look forward to a continued, mutually beneficial relationship
Commenting on the game changing merger, Daniel Gaston,
between First tactical and PMCI, and to the fact we’ll be even
Chief Executive Officer of Point Blank Enterprises said,
better set to bring you the best coverage possible in the future in
EDITORS COMMENT
At PMCI we are truly graced with some great partners; as regular
relation not just to tactical apparel, but to some righteous armour “As the leader in personal protection equipment we continue to
solutions too!
lead the way in providing public safety personnel the latest design
Wherever you may be people, train hard, stay vigilant and
and highest level of protection at the lowest possible weight. This
keep safe.
merger will provide for the next generation integrated system that will maximize protection, optimize wearing comfort, and promote the image of public safety personnel today and into the future.”
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SNUGPAK IONOSPHERE
GEAR ON TEST
Need overnight comfort on the go? Bill finally finds his perfect solution for a personal shelter that’s lightweight, robust and good to go in a model from the UK’s very own Snugpak! The Ionosphere by Snugpak is an extremely compact and lightweight two pole, one person shelter. The Ionosphere has an extremely low profile and is great for those looking for a stealthy sleeping solution sturdier than a basha, tarp, or bivi bag but not as bulky and heavy as a traditional tent. The Ionosphere flysheet is a lightweight 210t Polyester RipStop PU with a 5000mm waterproof polyurethane coating, whilst the inner is constructed of 190t Nylon and 50D Polyester “No-See-Um-Mesh”; all seams are tape sealed. Both poles are high-quality DAC Featherlite NSL anodized models with easy and quick to use pressfit connectors, made from TH72M aluminium, and there’s also some great alloy stakes included. Both inner and outer feature a single, angled door with two way zips. There’s also a small Repair Kit included should you need to make repairs can be made on the move The weight of the basic tent (Fly, Inner Tent & Poles) is a measly 1.2kg/2.64lbs with the total weight (Fly, Inner Tent, Poles, Stakes, Repair Kit & Carry Case) coming in at 1.52kg/3.35lbs. The Ionosphere takes up little space in your pack but offers a (relatively!) luxurious 240cm x 111cm x 96cm sleeping space once erected. The black inner is pitched first, and can be used on its own in dry, hot weather environments where you still need protection from biting bugs and nasties, and it’s simply a case of pushing the two individually marked
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poles through corresponding, colour coded pole sleeves and then pegging it out with the alloy stakes. If the fly is needed it has velcro attachment points which are affixed to the poles, and then this too is pegged out as well. Once you’ve practiced a few times you can get the whole thing up in a matter of minutes. Once up this is exceptionally sturdy, and although I haven’t yet used it in very high winds, given the low profile and amount of pegging/guy points I guessing that it would stay put once properly set. The angled inner and outer doors make ingress and egress straightforward, and there’s even enough space to drag in your pack with you. The minus side of the low profile though is that you’re not going to sit up straight once you’re in, but there’s certainly enough length for me to lay out flat, and I’m 6’2! This is a very impressive small compact tent by anyones standard, and the design allows a free flow of air, negating condensation build up; for this reason only I’d have to say this is a three rather than four season design, but the fly certainly shrugs off even the heaviest of rainstorms as I found out in the Brecon Beacons on a recent trip! The Snugpak offers excellent value for money given the standard of materials and construction, and is very highly recommended for those looking for a lightweight overnight shelter, and as always the Ionosphere shows Snugpaks adherence to finding the best and neatest solutions that they possibly can! For more information on the Ionosphere and all the other great kit offered by Snugpak please pay them a visit at www.snugpak.com
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GEAR REVIEW FIRST TACTICAL RANGE BAGS
Once again I’ve come away very impressed indeed with two exceptionally well designed and bomber tough items from First Tactical. For more information on the full line-up from First Tactical please visit www.firsttactical.co.uk, and to purchase go to www.military1st.co.uk
GEAR ON TEST
First Tactical are focused on providing the end user with product that is specific to their requirements, guided by innovation and reliability. Their design process combines both advanced technical materials with state-of-the-art components. First Tactical products are built to offer fully functional gear precisely created for professionals in the military, emergency and police services. Their range of tactical clothing and equipment has been designed to tick all the boxes; it’s durable, it’s functional and it works. With a wide range of clothing, knives, torches, pouches, packs and footwear, you will be able to kit yourself out with equipment that was built to last, and not break the bank doing so! In the first part of this year I received one of their packs and have been subjecting the Tactix 1 Day Plus Pack to some of my very own “Field Testing” since then; it’s been dragged up mountains, thrown in the corner of the tent and the footwell of the jeep, and it’s even been dropped in a river! So far it’s just shrugged and seems to say “what next?” This gives you great confidence in a brand, so when First Tactical asked me if I would like to check out a couple of their range bags, then I was happy to oblige. The Recoil Range Bag at £79.95 is the dedicated range bag in the line, and it’s copious 40.5 litres of storage allows you to carry your airsoft pistols, magazines and ammunition safely and securely. Made with tough 600D polyester and closed foam padding to keep your reserve organized while on the go. Specialized internal pockets and compartments suit all your storage needs in this first class tactical bag.
Stiff padded dividers compartmentalise pull out carriers for easy organisation. It comes complete with two pistol pockets and ten pistol mag pockets which are outlined on the front to keep your shooting simple. There’s also a specialised compartment for storage of tactical cleaning tools. The pocket flap unzips and folds down to reveal an oil resistant lining made for your cleaning needs. Depending on your needs, the main compartment has a velcro flap, which opens the zip loop allowing the zip sliders to overlap for easy locking. The Recoil is available in Black or Coyote Tan. The fully functional Guardian Patrol Bag provides ample space for essential gear and supplies while on the range. Durable 600D polyester and premium hardware provide a tough, sturdy exterior, while stiffened dividers and a hard bottom which helps the bag retain its shape provide an unbeatably functional interior. At 41.5 litres it’s a different configuration to the Recoil, and it’s easy to find a place for everything with three mesh internal pockets and external admin panel. The main compartment opens to three full panels of velcro, allowing for ultimate customisation, and the shoulder strap has a non-slip design for added grip, security, and comfort. Priced at £59.95 the Guardian is available in Black.
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GEAR ON TEST
SALOMON SPEEDCROSS 3 FORCES
After two years of hard, everyday use Bill Thomas reports back on a footwear models that he has come to trust and gives us his long-term thoughts on the Speedcross 3 shoes from Salomon. The current trend for clothing, footwear and gear is for it to be lightweight, dynamic and ergonomic, but should this have an effect on longer term durability? With their 50+ year heritage in making outdoor performance footwear Salomon should know all about what makes a good shoe, and my experience with their Speedcross 3 model has reinforced in my mind that they most certainly do! To recap the Speedcross 3 “Forces” model has been developed from an already tried and tested design in Salomon’s athletic line; this iconic running shoe is what brought “hi-speed, lo-drag” to the trails! Light, fast, and featuring a super precise fit, the Speedcross 3 can provide the ultimate grip in any conditions. These off road or “trail” shoes offer increased outsole traction and uppers with toe bumpers along with reinforced stitching for more durability. The foot also sits in the shoe slightly lower to the ground than usual for stability and responsiveness. “Trail” shoes usually have less cushioning than a road running shoe because they’re designed for softer surfaces. That’s not to say though that they are any less fully featured as the Speedcross 3 is full of Salomon’s very latest technology. An Ortholite sockliner combines a specific foam insole with an EVA heel cup. Ortholite foam creates a cooler, drier, healthier, better cushioned environment under the foot. It will not break down or lose effectiveness over time, and it features recycled tire content to protect the environment. The EVA heel cups allows for better heel support and added cushioning, and Salomon’s Sensifit system works to cradle the foot providing a precise and secure fit. The Quicklace system offers a minimalistic and strong lace for one-pull tightening, and this tucks away into its own small tongue pocket to keep everything tidy and snag free, these really are “easy-on, easy-off.” The outsole is a mud and snow non-marking Contagrip unit which has some very aggressive lugs; these give superb traction on even the very loosest surface underfoot, and the antidebris mesh used throughout keeps the loose stuff out. I’ve been wearing the Speedcross 3 shoes on a daily basis for nigh on two years now, and although they were immediately comfortable straight from the box the fit and feel has just got better and better as the Ortholite insole shaped to my foot. They’ve been run out in sand, mud, wet clay, chalk and gravel and have travelled with me to shows and ranges around the globe. They have never felt anything less than 100% positive; although they are a “low cut” shoe the cuff is well padded and gives excellent support to the ankle. Weighing in at a miserly 325g per shoe in UK size 9 they are also truly feather light which takes a lot of strain off the foot and the lower leg.
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FAIR WEAR AND TEAR Now as you’d expect the Salomons have indeed worn over this time, and I’m not at all surprised as I have given them a thorough “beasting”; apart from a quick wipe-down when they’ve got dusty or muddy I’ve just worn and worn them, and they’ve always been up to the task. Apart from one small split in the fabric alongside the little toe area on the right show the uppers are still going strong and the original “speedlaces” which I initially thought a little insubstantial are still “good to go”. Where the shoes are really showing wear is on the soles, where the original aggressive lug pattern has in places been worn down to nothing; again, this does not surprise me as given their “design spec” the soles are of a softer compound than many for use on trails and grass, where of course with me they’ve been used unforgivingly on some pretty abrasive surfaces; the Speedcross 3 models have really become a bit of a “must have” for the Practical Pistol fraternity recently, and I can totally see why! The Speedcross 3 “Forces” come in a subdued black/ grey colour combination which works very well with most tactical gear, and are available in UK sizes 7-12, including half sizes; if you fancy something a bit brighter than the standard “running” models come in multiple colourways. They retail iro £100 and are available from most good retailers; for that, rest assured you are getting a lot of shoe for your money. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a “tactical athlete” or just want a great pair of performance shoes then you’re not going to go wrong with the Speedcross 3 models, and suffice to say that although my existing pair will be given an “honourable burial” I shall be replacing them with the exact same model. Thoroughly recommended!
MEET THE MAKER - NOTCH CAPS
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NOTCH GEAR HATS A good while ago while surfing the web, I stumbled across a Facebook page representing a company called Notch Gear Hats. Almost immediately, I was captured by the unique design. These hats were no ordinary team themed baseball caps, these were the first specifically made caps to address a common annoyance in the shooting sports world; the battle of the hat versus the eye protection! Those of you, who have ever worn both on the range know exactly what I’m talking about, for others, let me explain.
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oming from a law enforcement background, it was common to be required the standard “eyes” and “ears” to be worn on the range, but also caps. In our department, like most, the patrol guys had their traditional “campaign” hats but also low profile caps similar to the ones issued to me and my team on SWAT. Either way, everyone had to endure the squared eye protection either pushing the cap up unnaturally high or the hat pushing the eye protection down and causing vision problems. The main problem was always the brim of the cap. As a grown man, not wearing gold chains and having a rap album, I like to wear my caps appropriately with a good amount of curve in the brim to protect my eyes from any blinding light or flying debris.
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MEET THE MAKER - NOTCH CAPS
Even the slightest proper curve in a cap’s brim normally will engage with the top of the shooter’s eye protection and start to cause problems. The only ways to traditionally wear both items is to either wear the cap very high up and look like Gomer Pyle or to flatten the brim and look like today’s modern pseudo-male, Justin Bieber wannabe, who apparently never watched a John Wayne movie a day in his life and leans too much to his effeminate side. What I saw on the Notch Gear website was a way around this little fashion battle through the use of the company’s “notch” system. These adjustable and flex fit caps made by Notch Gear feature a notch cut out on each side of the cap’s brim wear it would normally engage the top of common eye protection, thus allowing the curved brim to come down around the eyepro without obstruction. I immediately reached out to Notch Gear and inquired about field testing these hats on an upcoming trip to SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas. Within a week, I had a pair of the new operator FlexFit hats ready to go!
MEET THE MAKER - NOTCH CAPS
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HOME ON THE RANGE When the hats arrived, I contacted fellow writer and friend, Craig Reinolds about trying one of them out for himself. A few weeks later, Craig and I arrived in Las Vegas for the firearms industry’s largest event of the year. To kick the week’s events off; Industry Day at the Range was a full day of shooting stations from nearly every firearms manufacturer in attendance. What I discovered while wearing the Notch Gear hat for the entire day in combination with my Oakley Tombstone shooting glasses is just how comfortable the hat was over the course of events. The hat seemed to lock my eyepro into place so I didn’t have to worry about any adjustment at all. What I didn’t expect was the comfort while wearing hearing protection. Traditional hats have a metal button on the top of the crown, but instead, the Notch Gear caps are flat, buttonless with a small patch of Velcro on top for either IR ID patches or to work in conjunction with Velcro altered hearing protection bands. On top of working well, the hats simply look good. Throughout the day on the range and through the week on the show floor, people would stop Craig and I to ask about the hats. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from all of our firearms industry contemporaries assured us that Notch Gear was definitely on the right track! Aside from making a great hat, the company is making a difference in the world as well. While researching the company, I came across this statement from Notch Gear
discussing the background of its founder, why the company was started and what they contribute outside of the sport cap business. “Our founder, Paul Cunningham, is a veteran of the US Marines who had always been frustrated with traditional hats because he loved to wear them and sunglasses but was never able to wear them together the way he wanted to; he was always forced to choose one or the other. Notch was born out of his search for an answer to this problem. A Yuma based company, Notch was also founded on the principle that it is better to give than it is to receive. So for every hat you purchase, you provide 5 meals to children in need through our partner, Children’s Hunger Fund. They’ve been rated as one of the most cost effective charities around by Forbes.com.” Now the Swanson Media Group and most of the PMCI crew has spent a considerable amount of time wearing caps from Notch Gear, I can speak for us all in saying these hats are highly recommended for not just shooters but anyone who has to spend time wearing hearing and eye protection. The caps are comfortable and form to the wearers head quickly. Retailing between $24.99-$27.99, this is a best buy for the quality product offered. To find a Notch Gear hat that’s right for you, check them out at http://www. notchgear.com
TAC GEAR - 5.11
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FADE TO GREY For this issue Editor Bill looks to the continuing trend of urban mission-specific clothing and gear, and pulls together a great set of gear working in conjunction with 5:11 Tactical.
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very so often something just catches your eye and sends you in a completely different direction; when I received a copy of the Military1st 5:11 catalogue a while back I was immediately drawn to the cover shot showing a stack of guys decked out in “Grey Kit”, with Ops Core and MICH lids and some fancy tricked out rifles and carbines. As I’d just completed a rifle build similar to those shown in the images things just came together really, especially when I approached Military1st and asked for the loan of a full set of kit to work with. A good sized box duly arrived and it was time to drive on!
THE FADE
The whole “Grey Thing” has been another of those trends in the tactical world that has just caught on, and virtually every manufacturer out there have their “Wolf, Slate, Storm, Frost” or simply put, grey. This has particularly come into focus in the UK recently as our CTSFO teams have made grey their uniform “colour of choice”. Now the idea behind this is a straightforward one; in todays modern urban environment we have a LOT of concrete and tarmac so grey is an obvious choice to “blend in” to the
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background. Previously tactical teams would inevitably be drawn the traditional “black gear”; in reality black actually sticks out like a sore thumb in most urban situations as black is not a naturally occurring colour. Are shadows black, is it black at night? You could argue that in both cases the answer would be yes, but in reality, if you’ll pardon the expression, it’s all shades of grey. Arc’teryx LEAF in fairness were probably the first of the “Big Names” to drive this forward in any meaningful way, but others were lightning fast to follow their lead and numerous manufacturers came together to create mutually supportive and compatible clothing and tactical gear that all worked well together. 5:11 Tactical though took their time about things. They are a huge international company that have the luxury of being able to really work things through rather than just jumping on the bandwagon for the sake of a quick buck. As much as 5:11 gear has always been popular they really do build for the “real world” so every single thing that they make has to be 100% fit for purpose. No corners are cut in terms of fabrics, materials and construction, so when you buy into 5:11 you really are getting the “real deal”, not a Far Eastern copy that’s going to come apart just because you look at it.
As I always say, spend your money wisely! Yes, you’ll pay a little more for gear from brands like 5:11, but in the long term it will wear much, much better than cheap copies; I’ve got a pair of ten year old original Tactical Pants that are still going to this day that attest to this fact!
INTO THE SHADOWS
TAC GEAR - 5.11
I wanted to create a modular set of kit based on one “core” set of gear, so the first choice I had to make was the basic uniform. 5:11 now offer a considerable range of shirts and trousers, but something on their stand at IWA 2015 had really taken my eye; enter the STRYKE Tactical Duty Uniform (TDU)! This uniform is really a three component set that gives a lot of flexibility. Crafted from highly durable 4.84 oz. Flex-Tac mechanical stretch fabric and treated with DuPont Teflon Shield+ fabric protector for superb stain, liquid and soil resistance, the new Stryke TDU Shirt from 5.11 features two canted front chest pockets and sleeve pockets for increased storage, hidden document pocket, together with Velcro adjustable cuffs and mandarin collar for a truly personalised fit and overall comfort. Additionally, the Stryke TDU Shirt comes with a YKK concealed zip front, reinforced articulated elbows for added durability, loop patch platform and an epaulette kit which can be sewn on where you want them. This highly practical shirt features the Flex-Tac, a revolutionary fabric utilising proprietary fibers and developed exclusively for 5.11 Tactical. The lightweight, breathable, Polycotton Ripstop
incorporates mechanical stretch yarns, meaning the stretch and recovery of the fabric is achieved without the use of Spandex. As a result, the breathability, colour retention, and durability of the Flex-Tac are superior to other Cotton / Spandex fabrics currently in the market. If you favour more of a UBACS style shirt the Stryke TDU Rapid Shirt is probably the one to go for. This new model has a torso made from a highly flexible blend of Polyester and Spandex material, and the shoulders and sleeves are made of an exclusive 4.84 oz. Flex-Tac mechanical stretch fabric, again treated with Teflon. Crafted from a specialised proprietary blend of mechanical stretch Polyester and Cotton material, the new Stryke TDU Pants are perfect for general use; they are made from a specialised proprietary blend of mechanical stretch polyester and cotton material, and are the perfect partner for either of the shirt models. The TDU pants feature canted ergonomic cargo pockets, double layered articulated knees and fully gusseted crotch for superb freedom of movement in virtually any tactical situation. The TDU pants come with stretch panels at the waist and behind each knee, and are Teflon treated for stain, liquid and soil resistance, and enhanced bartacking is used throughout for increased durability and longevity. If however you like to run a little more “Hi Speed Lo Drag” then 5:11 offer some super “low profile” gear that’s made to the same standards as the uniform pieces but will be equally at home in the pub as in a firefight! The Covert Flex shirt is something
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TAC GEAR - 5.11
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that I would wear daily as the “Volcanic” colourway mixes grey with a muted orange check and looks really good. Designed to grant immediate access to a holstered secondary, the new 5.11 Covert Shirt Double Flex is a comfortable and cool to wear short sleeve shirt with the unique 5.11 RAPIDraw placket, sewn-on “fake” buttons hide breakaway snaps. Crafted from a durable and highly breathable Polycotton moisture-wicking material, this concealed carry shirt is extremely comfortable to wear; it’s a contemporary fit and style with hidden document pockets, and fast, reliable sidearm accessibility in urgent situations. Keeping with the more relaxed vibe, a real favourite amongst the clothing line is the Diablo Hoodie. Made from 100% anti-pilling brushed Polyester fleecel, the Diablo features a classic kangaroo-style hand warmer pocket at the front, large protective hood with integrated adjustable draw cord and zippered utility pocket on left sleeve for additional storage. The Diablo Hoodie also comes with loop patch on the upper right sleeve, and tonal contrast stitching gives it a great look. The Diablo features genuine YKK zippers for extra durability. Thanks to its reinforced pockets and weather resistant construction, the Diablo offers excellent freedom of movement with superb protection against the wind, rain, and weather; I feel like I may well be parting with my own pennies for one of these!
GETTING TACTICAL
With clothing options sorted now it was time to get down to business. First up I wanted a simple belt system so that I could carry a secondary, in this case a G17, and affix a dump pouch. The 5.11 Traverse Double Buckle belt is a strong, durable and comfortable multi-purpose belt with a low profile design
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which makes it ideal for casual or tactical wear. It’s perfect to carry a holster and sidearm without rolling or deforming, and it features two-tone lightweight aluminium anodized buckles, ribbed weave nylon webbing, a reinforced signature 5.11 belttip, and subtle logo touches throughout. Talking of holsters then 5:11 have a great system which can be worn either belt mounted or as a drop leg when combined with the correct platform. The Thumbdrive holster system is model specific and comes in both left and right hand variants. The right handed the one I received for testing was suitable for Glock 17/22. It’s reinforced for increased Level II weapon retention. The basic holster package includes belt slide and
paddle, and the belt slide adjusts to fit up to 2.25” width. If you prefer a leg rig there are drop and offset kit available as accessories. To complete my belt I went with another long-time favourite (I own three to date!), the 5:11 Large Dump Pouch.
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CARRYING KIT?
No problem as 5:11 offers a multitude of solutions. I chose the Tac Tec Chest Rig as a) it’s the one shown in my reference pictures, an b) because it’s a lightweight, breathable and versatile bit of kit! One size fits all and it has eminently customisable configurations. As standard you can carry up to six internal M4 mags with a either a nylon cover or bungee retention; the bungees are included. Two outside compartments can be converted to carry 500ml water bottles, and there is an internal web platform for holster, pouch or knife attachment along with a map pocket. The front of the rig has extensive MOLLE so I decided to mount two further two cell magazine pouches, and spare pistol magazine pouch, and a medical pouch to cover all eventualities.
The final bit of gear required was a ruc, and keeping with the more “lo-profile” look I decided for once to ditch all the MOLLE and have a look at something different. Designed for speed, agility, and dependability in any environment, and crafted from abrasion resistant 1680D ballistic Polyester material, the 5:11 COVRT Boxpack is a lightweight and highly durable concealed carry tactical backpack with comfortable to wear construction and multiple externally-accessible pockets. The pack features a quick roll top main compartment opening, durable padded carry handle, CCW pistol compartment, two side magazine pockets and fleece lined sunglass pocket. The COVRT Boxpack also comes with an internal hydration pouch and padded laptop storage, reinforced padded shoulder straps with minimal MOLLE, and a sternum strap and waist belt for added security and custom fit. With all this pulled together I simply needed to add some boots, lightweight TAC A2 gloves, and 5:11 shooting glasses and I was good to go! For the “relaxed” look I simply added a ballcap, and 5:11 offer a whole range of these. So, my inspiration for this loadout came specifically from a single picture, and then I let my mind wander to create something a little different that would work either on or off duty. All the gear is beautifully put together from first rate materials and even though this is by no means the cheapest setup I’ve ever put together everything is going to last for some considerable time and will work in virtually any urban environment. If you find something that inspires you then follow your heart and go for it, no matter what it may be, but as always I’ll say do your research, buy right and buy once! My thanks go to www.military1st.co.uk for their kind cooperation is pulling this article together. Please visit their excellent website for all your 5:11 Tactical needs and so much more!
TAC GEAR 5.11
All prices quoted were correct on www.military1st. co.uk at the time of writing. Please note that all models are available in multiple colours should “Storm Grey” really not be your thing! Stryke TDU Shirt Storm £70.20 Stryke TDU Rapid Shirt Storm £67.50 Stryke TDU Pant Storm £72.00 Covert Flex Shirt Volcanic £54.00 Diablo Hoodie Storm £47.70 Traverse Double Buckle Belt Storm £22.50 Thumbdrive Holster for G17/22 Black £48.60 Large Dump Pouch Storm £18.99 Tac Tec Chest Rig Storm £72.00 Double Bungee AR/G36 Pouch Storm £26.10 Single Bungee Pistol Pouch Storm £13.50 Med Pouch Storm £22.99 COVRT Boxpack Storm £90.00
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LAYERING UP!
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LAYERING UP! The summer is a great season to get out and train with the minimum of kit needed, but this month Editor Bill explains it’s also a good time to look forward to the colder months of the year and get your kit sorted in advance!
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ith what (hopefully!) promises to be a long, hot summer ahead of us it may seem a strange time for me to be talking about kit for the autumn and winter but if you think it through there are many good reasons to be doing this sooner rather than later. I’ve often seen training and range sessions in the cold, wet months of the year have to be called because personnel are ill prepared in relation to their gear. Getting the right clothing setup can mean the difference between a long, hard days training or shooting and an early trip home due to becoming mildly hypothermic (or worse!). You may think that this is a rare occurrence, but believe you me it’s more commonplace than you might think. Many shooters, even seasoned ones that I know will spend many hundreds of pounds on their firearms and tactical gear but very little on their clothing. I’ve heard the excuse “I don’t have the money for expensive winter gear” all too often, but what it really comes down to is a lack of forethought and preparation. Setting yourself up with a system which will allow you to hit the range year round is actually not as expensive as you might think. If, during the summer you budget for just a single piece of kit each month you’ll be surprised how quickly your system builds. Add to this that many retailers are selling off old stock at good prices to make room for new models, and
By understanding what you are buying and why the choice becomes straightforward. What you are aiming to do is create a set of gear that will actively work together. The base layer draws moisture away from the skin and lets it transport through the insulating mid layer. The shell layer allows moisture inside the system to escape whilst keeping wind and rain out. By juggling with these layers you can be comfortable in any climatic situation.
LAYERING UP!
that shooters are getting rid of surplus gear at shows and boot fairs and you can really snap up some “off season” bargains! First off though what do I mean by a “system”? Quite simply put a clothing “system” is a selection of garments that will work as standalone pieces in their own right, but that can be combined effectively to give you a set of gear that works all year round. This “system” will normally consist of: Base Layer – Your base layers are the items of clothing that are worn directly next to the skin. They come in different weights and thicknesses of fabric for summer and winter use, although a mid-weight set will work for different seasons. The fabric properties will be mainly to do with moisture management as they will actively “wick” moisture away from you skin, keeping you dry and comfortable. Mid Layer – The mid layer is all about levels of insulation, allowing you to regulate your body core temperature. Mid layers can be fleece or “lofted” insulation; it’s best to avoid down jackets and vests in the UK as we’re often dealing with wet cold rather than dry “snow” cold. If down gets wet it stays wet and actually draws heat from your body trying to dry itself so it’s better to look at synthetic fills. Shell Layer – Exactly as it sounds; your shell layer forms the outer barrier against the elements. This layer will be of a waterproof and windproof fabric and these days may be either “hard” or “soft” shell; hard shells are normally fully waterproof with taped seams but many tend to be noisy due to the face fabrics used. Soft shells may or may not have taped seams and whilst they are sometimes not fully waterproof, they will be highly water resistant; they also tend to be made of softer, quieter fabrics.
ONE STOP SHOP!
When it comes to creating a hard wearing and functional clothing system you really have to work with manufacturers you can trust and for many of us one of the “go to” brands for this is Helikon-Tex. Trousers and shirts, waterproof and breathable jackets, fleeces, synthetic fill vest and jackets and headgear are all available within their range. The range that they now offer is a really comprehensive selection of uniforms, tactical clothing, backpacks, boots and equipment that have gained recognition amongst professional users, soldiers, law enforcement officers, survival and outdoor enthusiasts all over the world, and each and every year their offering drives forward with new designs. I always look forward to visiting their stand at trade shows as undoubtedly there will be something improved or even brand new to see. The range is absolutely huge these days and they offer all their clothing and gear in multiple colourways; should you need camouflage they work with some of the most up to date, cutting edge patterns available but if you want to run “low key” then you’ll also find muted hues ideal for tactical situations. They also work very closely indeed with technical fabric manufacturers so when it comes to getting real performance from your clothing system then Helikon-Tex can pretty much
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guarantee they will have what you are looking for; if you visit their website and check out their “Partners” page you’ll see exactly what I mean!
LAYERING UP!
A SYSTEM THAT WORKS!
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For my own system I will always look for a mixture of three things; performance, comfort, and durability. Most of us need to travel light these days so you can add lightweight and packable as a sub-criteria. It’s a real struggle for many manufacturers to bring all of that together but not so with Helikon-Tex as they design all of their clothing to work together seamlessly. If you’re going to be somewhere hot then you want to look at clothing that offers good movement and ventilation. Quite often a simple polo shirt such as the Defender will suffice when married up with a decent pair of tactical trousers. For my own system I chose the SFU NEXT pants in Coyote. Based on the classic Special Forces Uniform (SFU) design, the SFU NEXT trousers are made of durable and hard-wearing polycotton ripstop material and feature nine easily accessible pockets, reinforced seat and knees, knee pad compartments, adjustable waist and cuffs, and D-rings for optional attachments. These breathable and anatomically cut tactical pants come with buttoned fly and additional compartments with elastic bands inside the cargo pockets for securing spare magazines, first aid equipment or other small tactical essentials. Rather than the simple polo I chose to go with something a little beefier, the Combat Shirt in Olive green. This is a lightweight and breathable close fitting UBACS shirt, with a flexible 95% polyester/5% spandex torso, and strengthened polycotton ripstop shoulders and sleeves. There’s a nice high, “mandarin” style collar, bicep pockets and forearms pockets, and hard, removable elbow pads for extra protection. This shirt has been designed to be worn underneath body armour systems, assault vests or chest rigs. When things get a little cooler you have two options really. The first is to layer up from the skin with a decent base layer. Helikon-Tex offer two levels of base layer, now in their third generation of development; the Level 1 lightweight
underwear which consists of a light undershirt and leggings and was designed for use in mild climates to provide light insulation when worn next to skin. However it can be used also in colder climates as a base layer or in conjunction with other levels for added insulation and to aid in the transfer of moisture. Level 2 midweight underwear consists of a heavier shirt and leggings and was designed for use in harsher climates to provide more insulation. Both levels are made of super fabrics that are extremely comfortable next to the skin.
PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER!
LAYERING UP!
The other option for adding insulation is to layer up externally over your shirt and Helikon-Tex offer a fabulous selection of performance fleece products in various weights so you can custom tailor your gear to your own performance level or task. I decided to go with one of their new Alpha grid fleeces. This 100% polyester fleece is warm, comfortable and lightweight and a part of Helikon’s Urban Tactical line. It features a high collar with chin guard and a strong full-front YKK zipper, which can be fastened to the neck. It also has one zip chest pocket with a comms port inside, two lower zip pockets and an elastic drawstring with cord locks on both sides sewn into the waistband. If you really need to push up the insulation levels though, then it’s seriously worth considering some form of lightweight lofted garment. Although Helikon-Tex offer a number of full jackets unless I’m going to be somewhere uber-chilly I find that a vest is often the ideal solution for this as it will pack down smaller. The Malamute Vest can be used as an individual layer or worn underneath outer layers, and has a high collar, full front zip and two chest pockets which are lined with fleece for extra protection against the cold. Its durable yet breathable Nylon outer layer provides wind and water resistance, and thanks to the hydrophobic (water hating) properties of the 67 g/m2 Climashield Apex insulation it dries immediately when exposed to moisture, keeping you warm and dry in cold, wet weather conditions. These days I pretty much always go for a synthetic fill rather than down; I’ll reiterate that synthetics retain a high percentage of their insulative properties even when wet whereas down retains moisture and will try to use your own core body heat to dry itself! The Malamute vest is also highly compressible and can be easily stuffed into a pack or cargo pouch without any damage to its properties which is yet another plus point.
Soft shell garments are becoming increasingly popular as they offer extremely light weight along with high levels of water/ wind resistance and breathability, and the “APCU Level V Version II” jacket from Helikon-Tex conforms very well to these requirements. The face fabric of the garment is a 98% nylon/2% spandex mix and feels surprisingly solid given its light weight. The cut is reasonably generous as it is designed as a predominantly “shell” or outer layer to be worn over other insulating garments. There is no lining and the seams are not tape sealed so I would never describe it as waterproof although the water repellancy applied to the outer face fabric worked well as new, and has given consistently good performance to date. The jacket is well constructed, and although the seams are not “flat locked” they are very low profile. The main closure zip is a good quality YKK. In terms of features the jacket has a hood which rolls away into the collar, venting pit zips, two large venting pockets on the torso, and a small pocket on the upper arm of both sleeves. Wrist closures a simple, low volume fabric/”velcro” affair. There are drawstrings for the hood (including volume adjustment) and the hem. “Velcro” is used to good effect throughout, with space for your favourite unit patches and name tapes. To work alongside the jacket Helikon-Tex also provide a matching trouser. Their Soft Shell Trousers (Version II) are based on the Soft Shell APCU (Advanced Protective Combat Uniform) Level V. They are designed to be worn in combination with various base layer garments when additional warmth and water resistance is required. The trousers are durable, yet lightweight and comfortable, and made from a 98% nylon/2% spandex breathable fabric. This stretch nylon soft shell fabric is water repellent thanks to a Du Pont protector, making it highly breathable and windproof. In terms of features the trousers have two front pockets, two cargo pockets with Velcro and button flaps and drawstring, elastic waist with provision for suspenders, side zippers at the hips, calfhigh side-zippers with elastic cuffs, and polyester reinforcements on the bottom of calf to avoid abrasion damage. They are lightweight and easy to store, and designed to provide perfect protection against wind and water, whatever the weather. To fully round things off Helikon-Tex also offer a great range of ballcaps, boonies, fleece watch caps and balaclavas. All of these are once again made of great fabrics and are lightweight and packable. Helikon-Tex really are a brand that I know and trust as my heavyweight and hooded Patriot fleece jacket is now knocking on for eight years old and is still performing splendidly. Looking at their ever expanding range of gear there will quite literally be something that will suit everyone, and at prices that won’t break the bank. Helikon-Tex offer their gear in camo and non-camo so if you want to buy gear that you can use away from work then that’s no problem; as I will always say buy wisely and buy once, and use the summer months fully to your advantage! You can check out the full range and download catalogues by visiting www.helikon-tex.com. All HelikonTex products are available in the UK from www. military1st.co.uk and most good tactical retailers.
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KNIVES AND TOOLS
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FIRST LOOK: ATHENA KNIFE CO
A common quality of most highly successful people is the fact they all had to start from the bottom and work their way up the ladder through blood, sweat and tears. The same is true of the blade industry with some of the biggest and best knife makers in the world starting their craft in a crowded garage, storage building or backyard storage barn.
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often wish I could go back in time and meet these wizards of steel during their early days and personally watch their progression as they hone their skills to be as razor sharp as the blades they make. Last year, I had the pleasure of coming across a talented United States Marine Corps veteran by the name of Josh Curry whose hard work and skills were about to break through to the next level with his one man company, Athena Knife Co. In just a short amount of time, Josh’s passion of knife making and his hell bent determination to build only the best blades possible would cause Athena Knife Company to be one to watch as time progressed. Even the way I came to discover Josh would frame out the character behind the company. Locally here in north Florida, there is a large Facebook based firearms and gear related page called Jacksonville Gun Trader (JGT) in which I am a member and proud supporter of it and its co-founder, Douglas Brooks. During a relatively slow office day, I noticed a lot of chatter online about a work place related shooting that had just taken place at the office of a local landscaping company. The shooter had been stopped and held at bay by a co-worker brave enough to retrieve a pistol from his vehicle when he arrived at work and discovered what was going on. The local authorities arrived on scene soon after and took the killer into custody.
Unknown to me at the time, Josh lived only a few miles from there and exclusively used the same company to build all the sheaths for his custom blades. Finally getting to check out some of Josh’s impressive work in person and directly speaking to him, I was impressed by both blade and maker. After our first meeting, Josh and I began talking on a regular basis and become fast friends through collaborating on a couple of special projects along the way.
KNIVES AND TOOLS
Turned out, this hometown hero was named Josh Curry, another member of our JGT community. A day or two later, I saw a post Josh had made in response to tons of messages of support and praise some of the over 2000 JGT members had sent him. In his response, I could tell Josh was very humbled by the experience and still taking everything in. He thanked everyone for the support and mentioned he would be taking some time off from his job at the landscaping company to get his mind clear and focus on his passion for building knives. Stunned that I was not aware we had a blade maker in JGT, I was very impressed by Josh’s maturity and openness to what happened. I may not personally have known Josh, but 12 years of being in law enforcement and having served as a SWAT team member, I knew very well what Josh was currently feeling. I decided to private message him and just state if he ever needed anyone that understood how he felt, please reach out anytime to talk. I got a short message back some time later, thanking me for the offer and he would be focusing on building some blades to clear his mind. I had by then checked out his Athena Knife Co Facebook page and been very impressed by his work to say the least. I made a note to discuss this much later once Josh was back on his feet. Months went by and I had heard things worked out well for Josh as he was able to move on and even got mentioned in a national magazine for his heroic act as a “good guy with a gun”. Flash forward 6 months as my business partner, Craig Reinolds and I were standing in the workshop of master kydex holster maker and good friend, John Phillips’ of Survivor Creek Tactical. During a discussion for a couple of custom holster builds from upcoming gun reviews, in walks none other than Josh Curry.
FORM LITTLE ACORNS…
Originally working in 1080 steel, Josh now offers 1095, 440c and the always popular D2 tool steel. Starting his quest into the knife making industry in the most basic ways, Athena Knife Co started with a small forge on the back porch of Josh’s home. Over the span of two years, Josh saved up enough money through building blades to invest in a barn to move his base of operations after accidently burning a hole through the floor of his porch. Currently, this new workshop has all the classic signs of big success in the making with oil, blood and acid stains adorning the wooden floor. Of this hard labour, several great designs and complete knife projects have since been born. Athena Knife Co now has blades for sale in a very popular local gun shop named Predator Ordnance as well as a thriving online order presence for both standard and completely custom builds. Last year, I commissioned custom blades for fellow writer, Craig Reinolds and myself for use in the field while bushcrafting. Craig’s knife was built in the style of a small chopper featuring a full tang 1080 steel design. The blade was acid treated with a ferric chloride finish which gives it a tough exterior with the look
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KNIVES AND TOOLS
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of elephant skin. At the bottom of the grip was a lanyard hole, which on this knife due to its length, gives you a little more grip when chopping. The thickness of the blade gave it enough weight to successfully do any small chopping tasks around a campsite. The blade could decently split wood as well due to its profile although a small axe is always recommended. On the other end of the spectrum, I had my personal blade constructed from D2 steel and designed similar to a Habilis bush tool. With its signature “beak” style tip, the blade profile is strong enough to baton through small logs while still being controllable enough to process deer and fish. The notch added to the spine of the knife worked well with a wide range of ferro rods for starting fires while the straight blade edge helped with working it as a draw knife. As with all the knives from Athena Knife Co., the grip was extremely comfortable even after a couple of hours working blade. Like Craig’s “chopper”, the grip
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featured a lanyard hole to help secure blade retention while working. Not only was this knife a pleasure to test, it quickly became my “go to” blade when hitting the woods. During our time field testing our Athena Knife Co blades this past summer in 90 – 100-degree heat, afternoon storms, extreme humidity, blood and sweat, this tale of two blades had one result, success. After spending a good amount of time getting to know Josh Curry, his mind set and work ethic as well as working with his creations firsthand, it is easy to say Athena knives are built much like the knifemaker himself, nothing flashy, pretty or polished, but willing to work through pain, blood, sweat and adversity to get the job done. At the end of the day, when I reach for a survival tool to get me out of a situation alive, I want to make sure it bares the small owl makers mark from Athena Knife Co!
FIREARMS: HECKLER & KOCH SP5K
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HECKLER & KOCH SP5K Throughout history, few firearms are ever created in which they transcend the shooting industry and become iconic symbols across the world. Colt’s Single Action Army, John Browning’s 1911, Kalashnikov’s AK-47 and Stoner’s AR-15 are just a few rare examples of this phenomena. For the German based company, Heckler & Koch (HK), they too have had the honour of contributing to this elite list of iconic firearms in the form of the MP-5 submachine gun.
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his “wonder gun” of the tactical world is a selective fire, delayed blowback operated 9×19mm Parabellum platform with a rollerdelayed bolt. It’s widely versatile use has gone on to spawn over 100 different variants worldwide. Once such variation eluded shooters for years in the form of a semi-auto version of the classic roller-block action pistol titled the SP5K. This month we look at this new release from HK, talk about its origins and find out why it’s so highly in demand.
ORIGINS OF A FAN FAVOURITE
Since the MP-5 first saw service in 1966, this lightweight, pistol caliber submachine gun has been highly sought after by military, law enforcement and collectors “in the know” within those communities. In 1980 its popularity would explode as the MP5 was introduced to civilians around the world because of its use on live television by SAS commandos in Operation Nimrod. During this military action, British SAS stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, rescuing hostages and killing five terrorists. Afterwards, the HK MP5 was a household name to civilians and the law enforcement that protected them
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BIRTH OF A UNICORN
Finally, in June of 2016, Heckler Koch decided to release the long awaited “unicorn” to the US market with a few minor adjustments to allow importation and dubbed it the SP5K pistol. Shipping in a lockable hard case from HK’s world famous Oberndorf factory
in Southwest Germany, the SP5K chambered in 9mmx19 caliber uses the same cold-hammer forged barrel with fluted chamber as its MP-5 predecessor. Firing from the closed bolt position, this roller block, delayed blowback system operates mechanically exactly like its predecessors as well. The fire controls are clearly marked with the classic universal pictograph markings to span any battlefield language barrier. Feeding the SP5K are traditional 10, 15 and 30 round steel MP-5 magazines as all the original designs. Depending on where the SP5K is to be shipped two 10 round or two 30 round magazines will be included in each case. Unlike those that came before, the SP5K comes direct from the factory with a removable Picatinny-style rail for mounting optics although the classic HK Diopter front sight and barrel rear sight that are included on every pistol as well do a great job. Heckler & Koch recognize how taxing the SP5K can be shooting in the traditional pistol format over time and have included a bungee-style sling system with each pistol they sell. If you aren’t familiar with shooting submachine guns, this harness may take some time to get comfortable with the push method of shooting. To aid in the proper safe grip stance for shooting from the sling method, the SP5K’s shrouded handguard has a built-in finger stop to protect the support hand from slipping in front of the muzzle. Once you get the hang of it, the SP5K can produce some very accurate strings of fire in the close quarter environment is was designed for.
SPECS
Overall Length 13.9” Height 8.66” Barrel Length 4.53” Sight Radius 10.2” Weight w/o Mag 4.2lb Trigger Pull 6.7lb Magazine Capacity 30 rounds Barrel / Land Profile 6 Grooves / Right Hand Twist
FIREARMS: HECKLER & KOCH SP5K
alike. The MP5 quickly became a mainstay of specialized tactical units of law enforcement agencies in countries such as the United States since then. During the next 20 years, a Law Enforcement agency wouldn’t dream of having a tactical team such as SERT, SRT, SWAT or whatever acronym sounded best to call their team to help get Federal funding, without equipping their operators with the MP-5. As with any firearm that sees popularity in Law Enforcement and Military circles, it is only a matter of time before this translates into the civilian market. The MP-5 firmly entrenched into the hearts of gun enthusiasts everywhere when everyone’s favourite Christmas action movie, DIE HARD hit theaters in 1988. Gun owners searched high and low to find a civilian version of the MP-5 with no luck. To feed this demand, HK released two semi-auto versions of the MP-5 platform during the early 1990’s. The HK94 in 16” barrel rifle form and SP89 in a pistol configuration. These two firearms were popular among civilian HK fans but sadly this came to an abrupt halt during President Clinton’s infamous 1993 assault weapons ban. This ban put together by uneducated and uninformed extreme anti-gun politicians specifically named both the HK94 and SP89 among the firearms demonised by the liberal cronies of US government at that time. Since the bans’ expiration, several clones have hit the market to some success and some failures. Great companies like Black Ops Defense, Brethren Armament and Dakota Tactical have since produced some top-quality reproductions using authentic HK parts while some foreign imported clones have left a bad mark on the MP-5 platform. Regardless of others’ success, a true MP-5 semi-auto “HK” stamped version remained on everyone’s wish list.
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FIREARMS: HECKLER & KOCH SP5K
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OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
If you are a regular follower of PMCI, you already know we are no stranger to reviewing HK products, so it was no surprise to discover a sample of the SP5K would be available to review very soon. When I was offered the opportunity to be the one to test and evaluate the new SP5K, I jumped at the chance! Having first gained some limited experience with the MP-5 during the late 1990’s, it was while attending SWAT school in 2001 that I really fell in love with the MP-5 platform. Ever since that intense training experience, I found a way to annually shoot some sort of variant or clone of the MP-5 each year whether it has been a local range rental or during SHOT SHOW range day each January. In any case, my time with this iconic firearm has never been nearly enough to fully satisfy me. Once the SP5K arrived from HK at my local gun shop for transfer, I decided to dedicate the next couple of months getting an up-close and personal, learning its ins and outs thoroughly. In short, I was not disappointed in my time invested gathering more firsthand experience and information to share in this review. During this time taken for various trips to the range and over 1000 rounds of top notch ammunition from Fancy Brass Co sent down range, I noticed several “table top writers” rush their thoughts to the media. From what I read with amusement between test sessions, I began to wonder if any of these YouTube “experts” had any experience what so ever with the MP-5 platform. A lot of the photos used were either generic press release photos direct from the HK website or old “stock” photos of the SP89 and NOT the SP5K! This fueled an even harder look at HK’s new release during each range trip based on over 16 years of experience with the MP-5 specifically.
RANGE TIME
As previously mentioned, this review was spread out over a couple of months of testing at our private training grounds better known as “The Swamp”. Fellow gun writer, Craig Reinolds and my cameraman, Eric Adam were also recruited to help document breaking in the gun as well as share in the fun that only Heckler and Koch firearms can produce. By teaming up on this project, I benefited from having two other opinions coming from novice to former military / law enforcement backgrounds on how well the HK pistol performed as well as some great video and photos. During multiple range trips, the SP5K was run with targets set up to mimic the close quarter situations it was designed for. Targets ranging from 3 to 10 yards were set up using both paper and steel torso designs. These targets were shot in both static and moving situations such as in personal protection drills. The recoil of the SP5K using the 115-grain full metal jacket 9mm ammo provided by Fancy Brass Company was pleasantly soft and controllable considering its pistol format. Overall, the SP5K was surprisingly accurate and stable for its size. Head shots and offhand groupings in 3” circles at 10 yards were easily obtained with the traditional HK front post sight and barred style rear sight just by using reverse tension produced by the adjustable bungee sling. Sight picture is very clear and fast to acquire, even during movement drills. When running a full kit or even just a simple chest rig, the bungee sling keeps the pistol close to the body and can tangle with your gear. I was glad the ambidextrous left and right levers were a bit stiff in switching from safe to fire and back because it gave me a positive feeling the safety would not accidently disengage when running strenuous drills. For most of the testing, attire was “casual contractor” with simple tactical pants and polo, no heavy gear as more closely associated with long guns. The freedom of movement
happy to report there were zero stoppages or misfeeds caused by ammunition or magazines. The only stoppage reported was due to a shooter unfamiliar with how to charge the pistol using the cocking handle who didn’t allow the round to fully go into battery prior to firing it. Thankfully, only a stove top was caused by firing it. (Side note – If you are new to shooting the MP-5 / SP5K series, their magazines will actually hold 31 rounds, but will not function correctly when inserted into the magazine well. This is one of the first items mentioned when attending a Heckler & Koch subgun course.) Since the MP-5 platform played such a pivotal role in law enforcement and close protection for so long, I wanted to see if the SP5K would feed hollow point ammunition as reliable as it had with all the full metal jacket rounds I had feed it over various range trips. I chose 200 rounds of Federal Hydra Shok 124 grain and 150 rounds of Speer Lawman 124 grain ammunition because these would be commonly found as carry rounds in officers’ duty pistols in which the SP5K would complement. Just like the Full Metal Jacket ammunition, the Jacketed Hollow Point ammunition performed flawlessly. This is a huge plus for those who would put the SP5K into service for VIP protection details.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As genuinely authentic to the original design as the SP5K succeeds in being, one feature dearly missed from the MP-5 was the paddle-style magazine release used in conjunction with the left to right magazine release button. Due to importation restrictions, the new SP5K features only the button style magazine release. While the left to right cross button release is easy to use, it does NOT offer magazines changes on the move as fast as the original paddle-style. The two 30 round magazines provided by HK worked flawlessly and offered a firm surface to grip and quickly load into the relatively small magazine well. Through over 2000 rounds spent through the SP5K during the test period, I am
In wrapping up my time with the SP5K, I believe Heckler & Koch has scored yet another success in offering fans of the MP-5 a true semi-auto version of their iconic weapons platform. Even in the semi-auto configuration, I can see the SP5K combined with its single point style sling filling the roll of a close quarter protection firearm for private security firms that was once filled by the original MP-5. The SP5K is easy to handle in and out of vehicles, conceals closely to the body and virtually disappears under a light jacket while still quick to get on target and deliver superb accuracy for its class. With its traditional 3 pin system, maintaining and cleaning the pistol is fast and easy without the need for special tools. Being in “spec” with the original MP-5, there are a wide range of pre-existing products ready to be quickly switched out (with proper licensing). This would be a quick and easy answer to the lack of side rails for mounting white lights, lasers or other aftermarket devices commonly added to weapons platforms such as this. To date, I have already made future plans for adding one of these pistols to my private collection for an upgrade project we will cover later in the year. This will include a look at US 922(r) compliance requirements for using US made parts on this German import in preparations to obtain a Federal Tax Stamp for converting the SP5K into a legal short barreled rifle by adding a side folding stock and YES, retrofitting the magazine well with an authentic paddle-style release. The addition of a stock and traditional vertical foregrip will be a true game changer with getting the SP5K back to its original awe-inspiring status the MP-5 platform as well earned. With the help of companies like TPM Outfitters and HKParts.net, the SP5K has all the bones to make one hell of a semi-auto SBR! With a MSRP of $2699.99, most shooters like me will need time to “fund raise” a bit before making that sort of investment. While the retail price may seem a bit high for a pistol, it’s my opinion, when compared to finally owning a true “unicorn” of the HK world is well worth it versus the prices of lesser quality clones. Let’s face it, at the end of the day, even the best MP-5 clone will still never be a true HK product!
FIREARMS: HECKLER & KOCH SP5K
afforded by the lighter dress allowed the versatility of the SP5K pistol to really shine. One drawback in this handgun set up is the horizontal forearm and hand stop instead of a traditional vertical grip in which “legal issues” prohibits until a proper tax stamp can be filed to allow one thanks to our wonderful ATF regulations. Shooting such a short barrel using the forearm hand stop in an under-grip stance as you would a long gun causes pain in the wrist from an unnatural angle. I found myself shortening my hold and using the magazine well as a secondary grip. While I was happy to see the inclusion of a Picatinny rail on the top SP5K for mounting a red dot or other form of optic, I did not like how much it blocked the charging handle when it was in the locked back position. Per SOP, the shooter normally just reaches forward and slaps the charging handle downward and lets it freely fly forward to charge the first round. I found the corner of the rails forward left end snagging my glove or scratching the palm of my hand when swiping down on the full profile of the handle. An extended aftermarket handle or just simply removing the rail may need to be in order for future shooting experiences later this year.
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TECH: GM TACTICAL
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GM TACTICAL INTERVIEW All shooters like something a bit “Gucci” and what could be better than having your favourite pistol nestling safely in a custom made Kydex holster? Bill speaks now to the founder of GM Tactical to find out just what goes into creating excellence.
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ne of the things that makes shooting and tactical training special for many of us is that you can be truly individual in how you set up your kit and firearms. Some go truly down the “operator” route with a set of gear that is as close to the “military” as possible, whilst others look to other areas of the tactical world for their inspiration. Many of us though just want a set of gear that works and lets our individuality
shine through. One area that’s developing a lot of fans out there is custom holsters, pouches, pods and accessories; whether you want your handgun secured, a tourniquet swiftly at hand, or your mags easy to grab for fast reloads, the guys that are really beginning to specialise in this area have spent a great deal of time, effort, and no small financial investment setting themselves up with the right software, tools and machines so that they can ensure a perfectly finished work of art with every project they undertake. I met Graham, the guy behind GM Tactical some years ago now and believe me that he “knows his onions” when it comes to tactical shooting and he’s a very friendly approachable chap
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who has taken his time to set up very professionally. Although I’m already a big fan of Kydex products I was intrigued though as to what REALLY went into taking a project from concept to fruition, and Graham kindly offered to make me a holster for a SIG (a handgun I often choose when training abroad) and to provide some other samples of his work and I believe that when you hear how they went about achieving this, and see the finished product, you will be as impressed as I am!
PMCI: Without giving away any “trade secrets” what’s the basic process for creating a holster for example? The basic process sounds rather simple when put on paper, it comprises of 4 main steps • Step 1- heat and mould the Kydex • Step 2 - hardware placement • Step 3 - cleaning and coating (if requested) • Step 4 - a quick test before distribution Obviously if it really is this simple everybody would be making them in their living room, right? We make sure we take our time nearly every order goes out earlier than the advised lead time but we will never deliver a rushed product, our range is out there carrying serious tools that need to stay secure and be deployed rapidly over and over again; a rushed holster for the real world is going to be bad news. PMCI: From speaking to you I know that you’re as passionate about trademark infringement as I; does this mean there are designs that you would steer clear of? So some companies have some Patent Pending for parts, hardware and/or designs, however all weapon holsters are quite similar with regard to how they retain the weapon system, the difference is in the materials used and mounting hardware etc. We steer clear of any products that are unique to a company whether they have a patent or not, and work on trying to keep our cuts very unique in a generic product so you can tell it’s a GM Tactical piece. PMCI: Since I first spoke to you about what you do I have seen some great comments on social media from really happy customers; to what do you attribute your success? Success? We aren’t even close! Let’s talk in a few years, but however successful we become we will always be striving for more!
TECH: GM TACTICAL
PMCI: Firstly, thanks so much for speaking with us! Could you tell me a little about the history of GM Tactical and what you do? Hi Bill, and thanks for having me! So, GM Tactical all started when I first got my hands on a Kydex holster about 5 years ago, I tried various holsters each time I changed my training sidearm from a Glock 17 to a Sig 226, I loved the holsters but had to wait out a serious lead time and pay heavy import duty for them, after doing a little research I thought to myself ‘why not’ as there was clearly a small gap in the UK and European market. Since the first press in my living room for a friend, to the last batch in our workshop for our Police Force we have not looked back! We create products that are hand made in the UK with smaller lead times than our main competitors in the US; we offer a range of holsters and holstering aids for mission essential equipment, from sidearms to combat tourniquets. The ethos of GM Tactical has always been to improve equipment carry, to simplify usability and move to a more ‘tactical approach’ on your gear stowage and deployment. PMCI: What is the usual process in creating a custom design? I know I advised a model for the holster and then you did a mockup very swiftly, but once an order is placed, what happens next? So a custom design; these are dependent on whether we have the weapon system mold first of all. If we do not have it then we always recommend other companies that might have what you need first (we believe there is enough market out there for everyone). If we have the weapon system then the angle of cut or type of mounting hardware is discussed and a design to the clients specification is drawn up. Once all specifications are confirmed, we get to work; cutting, pressing drilling, sanding and perfecting the custom holster.
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TECH: GM TACTICAL
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But the one thing that makes us immensely proud is having our range on the “thin blue line”; we take great pride in looking after those guys and I think pride and passion in our products helps a lot with customer satisfaction, that and the ability to be an agile business model helps a lot.
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PMCI: Where do you see GM Tactical heading in the future? Where do I see us heading, hmm? I’d love to see us heading down the military contract route, with a small but perfected product range, but there are so many ideas bouncing around the GM Tactical headquarters for other avenues within the industry, you’ll just have to watch this space! PMCI: If someone is interested in having a custom design created what should their first point of contact be? There are various ways of contacting us for custom designs and orders, specifically for custom designs go to our website and contact us though that, we also have a Facebook and Instagram account where you can follow and message us too. http://gm-tactical.com https://www.facebook.com/getmoretactical/ https://www.instagram.com/gm_tactical/?hl=en https://plus.google.com/100238656579762497331 PMCI: Thanks so much for talking to me Graham, and I’m intrigued to see just what you create next! The GM tactical range of products is small but beautifully formed so please do go and check out the website. I’ve been using my SIG holster, a Q-CAT Tourniquet Carrier and some of Graham’s innovative Mag Inserts for a few months now and they all work exactly as they should; this is kit made now for hard use and abuse and is going to be just perfect for your tactical and training needs!
AR FOLDING STOCK ADAPTER GEN 3-m The only AR compatible folding stock adapteR • Works with direct impingement or gas piston systems 5.56 to .308 • Fits A2, carbine, mil-spec, commercial or pistol buffer tubes and stocks
hinge
Low hinge reduces interference when charging weapon
Retaining Pin Uses standard, bu mil-spec buffer retaining pin
Ionbond
4140 HARDENED Steel Low-profile housing, locking lug and latch
SET SCREW
Prevents adapter loosening from receiver
DLC finish
ADJUSTABLE hinge tension
TOOLESS BOLT CARRIer EXTENSION Install and remove without tools for easy maintenance REPLACEABLE O-RINGS Prevent additional damage to the adapter in the folded position SYMMETRICAL DESIGN Eliminates interference with buffer retaining pin Installation Tool and Flange included
QUICK DETACH
Sling attachment point
SPECIFICATIONS Housing Weight: 8.5 oz Bolt Carrier Extension: 2 oz Adds 1.3 inches to length of pull CNC Machined 4140 Steel
www.LAWTACTICal.com Copyright © 2015 Law Tactical LLC. All rights reserved.
SKILLS AND DRILLS: VEHICLES
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SHOOTING FROM VEHICLES PART 1 There will always an element of danger when it comes to firearms and that danger multiplies when you start shooting in confined spaces. Add stress and confusion into the mix and you can be sure of things going wrong very quickly.
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t’s essential that we perform to the best of our ability, especially when we are under duress. Training in specific areas of skill is one sure way to overcome potentially dangerous situations. So it’s important that we conduct the right training for the right situations, and to make sure that we keep on top of that training once learned, and also to update our skills should equipment and technology advance. As PMC’s we often find ourselves in transit, be it on route to or from work or with a VIP. The chances are that we will be safe, if all goes to plan that is, but in our line of work we all know that that’s not always the case. In fact we should always plan for the worst case scenario and train accordingly. Shooting from vehicles isn’t hard to do, it just needs time and practice to achieve the desired skill set. Like all shooting skills, shooting from vehicles is a perishable skill and will soon be lost once it has been mastered if you don’t keep up to date with training. Like all good drills, one must have the right mind set right from the start. There is no place for a half-hearted attempt at a drill if it’s one that’s going to save your life. Total control and focus of the mind is paramount to successful training. The fact that you will be shooting in a very confined space and with other people around you will increase the need to be focused and on true form. Shooting from any type of vehicle needs to be learned slowly and methodically. Any mistake could lead to life altering injury or even death to oneself or others around you.
Unlike most other drills where rounds have a clear path to the backstops, shooting from vehicles posess other problems. The extreme close proximity of hard objects that will throw a round back at you as soon as you have pulled the trigger are plentiful and unforgiving. Not to mention the noise and danger of flying debris caused by the fabric of the vehicle as the round passes through it. If there is any hint of danger, and there usually is if we need to carry firearms for protection, then it’s a pretty good idea to wear eye protection at all times when traveling in a vehicle. There are many different styles of eye pro on the market that won’t look out of place in any scenario that you may find yourself in, so make a habit of wearing eye pro when in transit. A general rule of thumb is that if the vehicle is still operational then use it as either a means of extraction or as a weapon. The best solution to a contact while in transit is to create distance. The further away from any danger you are the less likely you will be an immediate target. If your means of escape is blocked, yet easily overcome, such as an adversary in your line of escape, there may be a possibility to use the vehicle as a weapon. The size and weight of a vehicle hitting someone at high speed is just as convincing as a high velocity round. If at all possible, if the vehicle is still running, use the vehicle as a weapon and make good your escape. If however your vehicle is dead or it’s impossible to move the vehicle, then you may have to resort to firearms and fighting your way out of the situation. If the vehicle is immobile then there are several safety factors that we must consider before the shooting starts. These safety considerations cannot be made at the last
WEAPONS:
The type of vehicle we ride in will usually dictate the type of weapons systems we can use to maximum effect. The use of a large armoured vehicle may mean we can add as much firepower that the vehicle can carry. However if we find ourselves in a low key covert situation we may also find ourselves in a small civilian vehicle with little room for any kind of suppressive hardware. Having firearms stored in the vehicle and ready for immediate deployment is probably a good idea but you may not always have that luxury. So it’s important to train for what you have on your person at the time, handgun, rifle or both.
RIFLES:
As this is an article on fighting from vehicles I’m not going to go into all the specific weapons that will win the fight but just suggest what configuration of platform may help you when things get a little hot. Go for the largest calibre you can manage in such a small space. Remember that you must be able to deploy it with ease and be able to control it at all times. You also need to abide by all the rules of safe gun handling. Customised weapons are great but what if you are not carrying your custom weapon? What happens when you are carrying a standard weapons system that isn’t yours? Train with as standard weapon as possible, one that you are most likely to be carrying on the job. A little research into what is available to you will be a valuable piece of intelligence before you sign your contract.
HANDGUNS:
Although handguns are considered to be a secondary weapon or a backup gun, the handgun really does come into its own when fighting from vehicles. Small, light and easy to deploy, the handgun will probably be the first weapon of choice when having to fight your way out of trouble and stuck in a tiny space. No doubt if you are sanctioned to carry firearms on detail, then you will have a handgun as a secondary weapon. Depending
on your method of carrying the handgun, ISW, OSW, Shoulder Holster, ankle, depends on the draw while in the vehicle. As most carry OSW I’ll concentrate on this method of carry. However if I know I will be in transit I also have an ankle holster to suit my sidearm for easier draw from a seated position. As a driver, it is common for you to concentrate on the driving and leave the defence of the vehicle to one of the other members of the team. There may, however, be a time when you are on your own and compromised and you may have to fight your way out of trouble. Due to the lack of space that surrounds the driver it is advisable to utilise a handgun only. As a passenger it is most likely your job to defend the vehicle and it’s occupants. You will have a greater choice of weapon system as you will have more space to accommodate larger weapon systems and you will not be as restricted to movement as the driver. Handguns and SMG or carbine’s are ideal vehicle defence weapons as too are shotguns. RIGHT HAND DRIVE VEHICLE
DRIVER
Threat To Left Window: Using the left hand to release and remove the seatbelt. The right hand and arm should be placed flat across the chest so the seatbelt does not get caught up when it returns home. Lean forwards and reach for the handgun with your right hand. It’s important to make sure that the seatbelt is clear of your body before you draw the handgun from the holster. The biggest problem here is the proximity of the steering wheel. Once the handgun is drawn and out of the holster trace the muzzle of the weapon over the top of the steering wheel as you present it to the threat. The method of tracing the weapon over the steering wheel ensures that the muzzle of the gun does not flash any part of your body, nor is it likely to be knocked out of your hand by catching on the steering wheel itself. Either way it’s not good and the reaction to the threat will be slowed down considerably. If you have a passenger in the vehicle, then the first action is for the passenger to push themselves as far back into the
SKILLS AND DRILLS: VEHICLES
minute when the all hell breaks loose and your fighting for your very survival. This is where training and practice comes into play.
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SKILLS AND DRILLS: VEHICLES
pmcimagazine.com seat as possible. Reach down with your left hand and unlock the seatbelt from its anchor. The right hand and arm should be placed flat across the chest so the seatbelt does not get caught up when it returns home. Lean forwards and reach for the handgun with your right hand. It’s important to make sure that the seatbelt is clear of your body before you draw the handgun from the holster. Draw your weapon being cautious of the orientation of the muzzle at all times. Trace the muzzle the weapon over the steering wheel and in front of the passenger. DO NOT muzzle sweep the passenger. Extend the weapon towards the threat. This will give you room to shoot to the left with the weapon passing the passengers front. Use your weak hand to assure the passengers position. (This drill will ensure that spent cases will eject away from the passenger. Care must be taken not to fire the weapon in front of the passengers face. To do so would cause serious harm and burns to the passenger).
cases will be thrown to the right and will not cause any harm to anyone else in the vehicle; however is a slight chance that spent rounds will fall into your lap as they bounce off the side window.
PASSENGER
DRIVER
Threat To Right Window : Using your left hand reach down and release the seat belt from the anchor. At the same time the right hand and arm should be placed flat across the chest so the seatbelt does not get caught up when it returns home. Lean forwards and reach for the handgun. Making sure that the seatbelt is clear of your shoulder, turn your body to the right and lean back as you present your handgun to the target. It may help if you push down hard with your right foot to help twist the body. Make sure that you do not present the gun out of the window as this is a sure way of losing the weapon should your adversary be in a position to take the gun away from you. Keep the weapon in a close quarters retention position as you shoot.
DRIVER
Threat To The Front: You still have to remove the seatbelt as described above, however the draw is the simple task of presenting your weapon to the target. Of course care and attention must be paid to safety. There is still a great risk that you can flag yourself with the muzzle. Unless you have armoured glass in your vehicle then all the shots you fire can go straight through the windshield. Ejected
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Threat To Left Window: Just like the driver it’s important to fully remove the seatbelt. Reach down with your right hand and unlock the belt from the anchor. The left hand and arm should be placed flat across the chest so the seatbelt does not get caught up when it returns home. With the seatbelt out of the way you can lean forward as you reach for your chosen weapon. If your weapon is to your right, such as a holstered a handgun, trace the muzzle of the weapon over the dashboard to avoid the muzzle flashing any part of your body. It is also very important to make sure you don’t muzzle flash the driver also as you draw the weapon. Twist your body to the left towards the threat. Again do not present your weapon out of the window as you engage the threat.
PASSENGER
Threat To Right Window: This is by far the most dangerous drill when firing live rounds. The first thing that needs to happen is that the driver needs to lean as far forwards as possible. Remove the seatbelt as before and grasp your weapon of choice. Remember that the vehicle is dead so the driver will not be trying to drive away. Draw your weapon being cautious of the orientation of the muzzle at all times. Bring the weapon up from the holster, with the muzzle pointing towards the roof of the vehicle, then bring it around the back of the diver. DO NOT muzzle sweep the driver. Extend the weapon towards the threat. This will give you room to shoot to the right with the weapon behind the drivers back. Use your weak hand to assure the drivers position. (This drill will ensure that spent cases will hit the drivers seat and not the driver, also it negates muzzle flash burns to the drivers face). Do not shoot in front of the driver as the empty cases and muzzle flash will cause serious harm and burns to the driver. In the next issue I’ll wrap this all up by looking at the differences when operating in a left hand drive vehicle.
SPECIAL REPORT: GET HOME BAG
pmcimagazine.com
SPECIAL REPORT:
WHAT THE HECK IS A GET HOME BAG?
Sometimes you come across a website or blog that immediately appeals to you; after seeing a particularly interesting article http://survivortown.com/blog-2/ I contacted them to see if I might share it and very kindly they agreed, so “What the heck is a Get Home Bag?”
S
o you just spent all this time and money putting together a bug-out bag. Now you need a get home bag too? What is a get home bag anyway? Being prepared for an emergency can seem like an overwhelming and never-ending endeavour. Typically, preppers will prepare their home first for an emergency, which makes total sense. But at some point, you will want to make sure you are prepared when you are away from home as well. This is where the get home bag comes into play. This article will answer the question: “What is a get home bag?” and will also discuss the recommended contents.
WHAT IS A GET HOME BAG?
The purpose of a get home bag is to make sure you can “get home” during an emergency, for example, during a natural disaster, power outage, weather event, car trouble, or something even worse. If you are away from home during these emergencies, your bug-out bag sitting in your closet will do you little good. So think of a get home bag as a miniature bug-out bag. Your bug-out bag should be designed for at least three days of survival while a get home bag is typically designed for 24 hours. The purpose, as the name implies, is to make sure you can get home in the face of an emergency.
WHAT TO USE FOR A GET HOME BAG
Typically you can use a small backpack or even a small sling bag for your get home bag. The size will be dictated by how far you are from home and how much gear you need to carry. I work relatively close to home and it would only be about a 2-3 hour hike, so I can get by with a small tactical sling bag. Here is a photo of my get home bag and contents.
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GET HOME BAG CONTENTS
Here are the 6 basic survival needs that should be met by the contents of the get home bag: 1.Water 2.Food 3.Shelter 4.Fire-Making 5.First Aid 6.Security Water - You should plan to carry about one litre of fresh water. We want your get home bag to be small and light but water is very heavy by volume. You can also carry filtration products such as a Life Straw, which is basically a straw with a built in filter, or water purification tablets. Food - Pick food that requires little preparation (no cooking) and has a long shelf life. For example, I have a few protein bars and granola bars in my bag. I change them out every few months and they will stay fresh for a long time. Remember you can easily go one day without a meal, so don’t pack too much. Shelter - You may have to spend at least one night outdoors so make sure to prepare for weather, mosquitoes, etc. Tents provide great shelter, but are very heavy and take up too much room. Instead, carry a few emergency thermal blankets and some paracord. You can put one on the ground and use one for your cover or for the roof of a makeshift shelter. Fire-Making - There is something about a fire that adds comfort to any campsite, so make sure that you are prepared to make one. Standard store-bought butane lighters work great. They are small and light so you can easily throw two or three of
First-Aid and Hygiene - Chances are you’ll be using this get home bag only in situations where you are facing grave danger, which also means situations where you might be injured. Get a small first aid kit from your corner drug store to deal with cuts, scratches, minor injuries, and prevent serious infection. You will also want some pain relievers (aspirin) on hand. Security - Obviously the best choice here would be a handgun and ammunition. Make sure you are fully trained and know how
to use any firearms before packing them away in your get home bag. The time to learn how to shoot a hand gun is not during an emergency. If a gun is not for you, look for non-lethal weapons such as tasers or pepper spray. We hope this article has helped to answer the question “What is a get home bag”? For our Bug-Out Bag Checklist and other useful free manuals please see our Resources page http://survivortown.com/ prepper-resources/
SPECIAL REPORT: GET HOME BAG
them in your bag. You should also carry wind-proof matches and a magnesium striker. Hint: Starting a fire without kindling can be very tedious and time consuming. Carry some kind of tinder with you. I carry a product called Wet-Tinder, but there are several options for this.
pmcimagazine.com
NANOWEAPONS: A GROWING THREAT TO HUMANITY Writing online on http://www.louisdelmonte.com the author asks the question; microelectronics and sensors and developed patents fundamental to the fabrication of integrated circuits. He is the author of The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Will Artificial Intelligence Serve Us or Replace Us? and How to Time Travel: Explore the Science, Paradoxes, and Evidence.
Book Review
“First, let us address, What are nanoweapons? Here is a simple definition: nanoweapons are any military technology that exploits the power of nanotechnology. This begs another question, what is nanotechnology? According to the United States National Nanotechnology Initiative’s website, nano.gov, “Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers.” To visualize a nanometer, it is approximately 1/100,000 the diameter of a typical human hair. Therefore, we are discussing weapons that have one or more features that are invisible to the naked eye. The existence of nanoweapons is not a secret, but the United States and other governments are extremely tight lipped about their existence. Even though the United States and other countries are deploying nanoweapons, they garner little to no media coverage.” Nanoweapons just might render humanity extinct in the near future, a notion that is frightening and shocking but potentially true. In “Nanoweapons” Louis A. Del Monte describes the most deadly generation of military weapons the world has ever encountered. With dimensions one-thousandth the diameter of a single strand of human hair, this technology threatens to eradicate humanity as it incites world governments to compete in the deadliest arms race ever. In his insightful and prescient account of this risky and radical technology, Del Monte predicts that nanoweapons will dominate the battlefield of the future and will help determine the superpowers of the twenty-first century. He traces the emergence of nanotechnology, discusses the current development of nanoweapons, such as the “mini-nuke,” which weighs five pounds and carries the power of one hundred tons of TNT, and offers concrete recommendations, founded in historical precedent, for controlling their proliferation and avoiding human annihilation. Most critically, “Nanoweapons” addresses the question of will it be possible to develop, deploy, and use nanoweapons in warfare without rendering humanity extinct? Del Monte states: “One critical finding from my research is that China, Russia and the United States are competing in a multi-billion-dollar nanoweapons arms race. Why? Nanoweapons promise to become more devastating than nuclear weapons. This means the superpowers of the future will be those nations with the most capable nanoweapons.” Louis A. Del Monte is an award-winning physicist and speaker and is the chief executive officer of Del Monte and Associates, Inc. During his thirty-year career as a physicist and business executive at IBM and Honeywell, he led the development of
Hardcover: 264 pages Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc. (1 April 2017) Language: English ISBN-10: 1612348963 ISBN-13: 978-1612348964
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Longmoor Group
Naval Guards
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Lotus Projects
NNK Group
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NYA International
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Ocean Protective Services
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Maritime Risk International
Oceaneering International
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Marsec
Olchon
http://www.marsec.eu.com
http://www.olchon.co.uk/
MAST
Olive Group
http://www.mast-commercial.com
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McRoberts Maritime Security
Orchid Security
http://www.mcrobertsmaritime.com/
http://www.orchid-office.com/
Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre
Oxberry Risk Strategies
http://www.mmwc.org/
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Minimal Risk
Pilgrim Group
http://www.minimalrisk.co.uk/
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MSS
Pilgrim Security
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Protect Asia Group
Securescot
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PVI Ltd
Securewest International
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Shield Risk Consulting
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Shipguard
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SMS
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Tor International
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Pilgrim Group
Triskle TSL
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Maritime Risk International
Triton Security
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International Maritime Security
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Salamanca Risk Management http://www.salamancarm.com
Sea Marshalls Ltd UK http://www.seamarshals.com
SEAL http://www.sealsecurity.com/
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