PMCI - November 2021

NOV2021

4 SPECIAL REPORT - APACHE KNIFE FIGHTING; AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT REDFEATHER! THROUGHOUT TIME, MASTERY OF THE BLADED WEAPON HAS BEEN THE HALLMARK OF WARRIOR CULTURE; IN THE UNITED STATES, ONE OF THE PUREST FORMS OF THE KNIFE CULTURE LIES WITHIN NATIVE AMERICAN LORE, AND TRAMPAS GOT TOGETHER WITH ROBERT REDFEATHER TO LEARN MORE. 10 TRAINING – MANTIS BLACKBEARD! OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE FIREARMS TRAINING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HIT PARTICULARLY HARD WITH THE STORAGE AND RISING COST OF AMMUNITION, YET DESPITE ADVERSITY, FORWARD THINKING MANUFACTURERS AND TRAINERS TURNED TO TRAINING ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS THE LATEST TECH FROM MANTIS… BLACKBEARD!

Editor (UK): Bill Thomas

16 GEAR ON TEST: “GEAR FOR THE GOOD GUYS” COURTESY OF THE PMCI TEAM

Deputy Ed (USA): Trampas Swanson

18 GEAR: HRT RAC: IN THE PROFESSIONAL OPERATIONS WORLD, IT IS OFTEN A MISNOMER THAT HIGH END GEAR WILL MAKE AN OPERATOR BETTER, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SPEED, MOBILITY, AND PERFORMANCE THAT ALLOWS THE USER TO DO WHAT THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO RATHER THAN HINDER THEM, ENTER THE HRT RAC!

Graphic Design: Baz Thakur/

24 GEAR: GLOVE LOVE! BILL TAKES A LOOK AT GLOVES HE’S BEEN USING, WHAT HE’S WORN IN THE PAST AND WHAT HE’S WEARING NOW SO YOU CAN REALLY GET “HANDS ON” IN ANY SITUATION, ESPECIALLY AS THESE DAYS AS EVEN HE IS USING A SMARTFONE! 28 TECH: LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT! IS THE PISTOL RED DOT A FRIEND OR FOE? THIS IS A QUESTION JIM OFTEN GETS AS A PROFESSIONAL FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR. TO EXPLORE THE ANSWER, HE TO DIVE INTO TESTING THE LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT PRO NV FDE 32 BLADE: SPARTAN BLADES PROFESSIONAL SERIES: IN THE UNITED STATES TRAMPAS BELIEVES THAT LIVING IN THE MOST CULTURALLY DIVERSE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD MEANS THAT SPARTAN BLADES CAN DRAW ON DESIGN INFLUENCES ACCORDINGLY TO CREATE SOME TRUE MASTERPIECES.

Deadshot Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover pic: STG www.swansontraininggroup.net PMCI magazine is a digital-only publication available FREE OF CHARGE via the PMCI App on a wide range of digital platforms, including iOS, Android and Windows. For more information, visit www.pocketmags. com and search “PMCI”.

36 FIREARMS: UZI PRO: FEW FIREARMS THROUGHOUT HISTORY ARE MORE RECOGNIZABLE THAN THE ICONIC UZI! IT’S SHORT, STOCKY APPEARANCE FITTED WITH A SEEMLY ENDLESS STREAM OF 9MM AMMUNITION VIA 32 ROUND MAGAZINE AND A CYCLIC RATE OF 600 ROUNDS OF MINUTE MADE IT A HOLLYWOOD ACTION MOVIE DREAM, AND CERTAINLY HAS ENDEARED TO TRAMPAS!

PMC I c a n a l s o b e rea d o n l i n e at : www.issuu.com, www.magzter.com and www.readly.com

40 TECH: GSL SUPPRESSORS: MANY LONG-TERM SHOOTERS SUFFER FROM PARTIAL HEARING LOSS FROM WORKING WITH OR IN EXTREME CLOSE PROXIMITY OF FIREARMS. SADLY, MANY OUTSIDE THE PROFESSIONAL ARMED COMMUNITY DO NOT REALIZE JUST WHAT AN IMPORTANT PART OF OPERATOR SAFETY A QUALITY SUPPRESSOR CAN REALLY BE, AND THOSE FROM GLS ARE PURE QUALITY!

Calibre Publishing Limited

44 TECH: WILLIAMS GUNSIGHTS: ONE OF THE MOST DISAPPOINTING ITEMS TO ENCOUNTER WHEN SHOPPING FOR A NEW DEFENSIVE HANDGUN IS TO FIND A GREAT DEAL ON THE PISTOL YOU WANT, BUT REALIZE, IT COMES WITH LESS THAN STELLAR FACTORY IRON SIGHTS, SO TRAMPAS TAKES TIME TO LOOK AT, AND ADDRESS, THIS ISSUE WITH WILLIAMS GUN SIGHT COMPANY. 47 BOOK REVIEW: “GUNSHIP ACE: THE WARS OF NEALL ELLIS, GUNSHIP PILOT AND MERCENARY” 49 6MM TRAINING – BCM MCMR GBBR: VEGAFORCECOMPANY PRODUCE SOME FABULOUS “6MM TRAINING” GAS AR PLATFORMS, AND WORK CLOSELY WITH REAL-WORLD FIREARM MANUFACTURERS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR RECREATIONS ARE 100% SPOT-ON, SO THIS TIME BILL TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THEIR TAKE ON THE BCM MCMR, AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC GAS “TRAINER”!

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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 - and all of whom have an intimate understanding of what the role entails and the day to day challenges faced by those working in this industry.

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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SPECIAL / APACHE KNIFE FIGHTING

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ROBERT REDFEATHER & APACHE KNIFE FIGHTING Interview by: Trampas Swanson

Throughout time, mastery of the bladed weapon has been the hallmark of warrior culture. The Japanese Samurai, English Knights Templar and Nepalese Gurkhas are all excellent examples how brave fighters used the edged weapon to carve their place in history; in the United States, one of the purest forms of the knife culture lies within Native American lore, and Trampas got together with Robert Redfeather to learn more!

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f the many tribes originally spread across North America, the Apache are often regarded as the most feared warriors of their nation. With famous warriors such as Geronimo, Cochise and Mangas Coloradas to their credit, white settlers impinging on the Native American lands lived in fear with tales of Apache fighting proficiency. The training, discipline, and spirit of the Apache warrior in detail remained virtually unknown for centuries.

Perhaps one of the most highly regarded experts on the Apache combat is well-known author, actor, producer and Hall of Fame Grand Master martial artist, Robert Redfeather.

Through books, videos, and seminars, Redfeather has diligently worked to bring the knowledge and skills of the Apache warrior to students who have traveled from around the globe to train with him. As a direct descendant of the Apache, he has spent a lifetime training, researching, and developing the following Apache fighting movements into a modernized system for civilian, law enforcement, elite military, and private military units.

This issue, we have the honor of sitting down with Robert Redfeather to share with our readers information about the Apache culture and the modern knife fighting system he created.

PMCI: Robert, welcome to PMCI Magazine and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to spend time with us. It’s a true honor to have experts in our industry drop in each issue to connect with our readers. Let’s start off by discussing, how does the knife historically play into the Apache spiritually and the everyday culture?

Redfeather: The knife is an everyday part of the Ndee culture (Ndee means “the people” in the native tongue). Not having a knife is like being a tiger with no teeth. Everyone carries one

as an essential tool. From gathering food, making equipment, cutting rope to self-defense and war. The Warrior Society had a very difficult, four day knife ceremony to earn the right to become a member of the society. Some societies had markings behind their left ear to show their affiliation.

PMCI: As a martial artist, what discipline did you start with and what point did you get started in knife fight training?

Redfeather: I started Kung Fu at age 5. Over the years I also studied Chinese Boxing, Judo, High School Wrestling, Boxing, Wing Chun and many others. The Los Angeles area is a wonderful place with a huge variety of arts to study! When I was 13, my grandparents decided it was time to for me to learn the family traditions of the Ndee culture and the Way of the Blade.

PMCI: What sort of knife is typically used in Apache Knife Fighting?

Redfeather: A sharp one! We usually train with a Ka-Bar USMC

SPECIAL / APACHE KNIFE FIGHTING

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knife because I like the design and frequently teach the Marines.

Originally, we used obsidian, bone, or antler. When steel became available - that’s what we used. Many have said it before, the best knife is the one you have. We train with knives of various lengths to adapt to distance. I like the handle to have a slight curve at the back or with a pommel, so the hand doesn’t slip off the back. The grip should be textured and not round. I prefer a guard, so the hand won’t slip off the grip and onto the blade. For a fixed blade you really don’t need anything over 8-9 inches. A pocket knife blade should be about 5 inches (depending on your local laws), have a textured grip and if possible, a guard of some type. Having a wave type design for fast opening is also desirable. A slight curve at the back of the handle is also desirable. Knives should not be shiny!

PMCI: With so many knife styles being taught by instructors, how does the Apache Fighting system differ?

Redfeather: We don’t stand our ground. We fight like the wind!

Why stay in place? We do not fight as if we were dueling but as if we are on a battlefield. We don’t train for points but more of a freestyle method. While teaching the use of the knife we incorporate the Native Culture as well. We want our students to understand the reality of the knife. It is something to avoid!

PMCI: What role does the fighting knife play into the military, law enforcement and private military application as well as a civilian world filled with concealed carry firearms?

Redfeather: The military and law enforcement has always carried knives both for utility and CQB. Training to access the blade when out of ammo or when the firearm is grabbed is vital. A knife is no match for a firearm but a man with a knife can sometimes access their weapon quicker. There are a variety of knives out there specifically designed for easy access from a utility belt or vest.

PMCI: Are they any specific exercises you would recommend for those looking to contour their strength and dexterity for knife training?

Redfeather: We have specific routines that can help develop reflexes and dexterity. Among those routines we train using a war post (also called a pell), using different patterns of cuts and stabs, and starting slow to learn both edge alignment and good body mechanics. Training in water also teaches control and adds strength.

PMCI: For those looking to get into knife training, where do you suggest they start for training?

Redfeather: With us! We have seminars on a regular basis which you can sign up for in my website, www.apache-knife.com PMCI: Before we go, could you please let our readers know a

SPECIAL / APACHE KNIFE FIGHTING

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little about your amazing book and how they can find a copy of, “Fight Like the Wind Apache Knife”?

Redfeather: The book took me over a year to write and put together with the help of Stace Pitts, Robin Price and Morgan Ferry. It has 243 pages and includes not only training but Ndee culture and history. The colour edition is available at Amazon under the name, Apache Knife - Fight Like The Wind. The black and white edition is available at Lulu.com under the name Fight Like The Wind - Apache Knife.

PMCI: I think our readers will really enjoy the knowledge and history you share about your culture just as I did when I discovered your book last year. Sir, it’s been an honor and a pleasure working on this interview. Thank you greatly for taking time from your busy schedule to share with us.

Redfeather: As the founder of Apache Knife Combat it has been my pleasure to introduce you to this system.

- Robert Redfeather, member of the Chiracahua Apache Nation.

- 2018 Martial Arts History Museum’s Hall of Fame - Apache Knife One of the Oldest Traditional Native American Arts.

- 2014 World Head of Family Sokeship Council - Grandmaster for Apache Knife - One of the Oldest Traditional Native American Arts - 2005 Represented the United States at the 8th Chungju World Martial Arts Festival in Chungju South Korea. Happy to represent the USA, the Ndee people and Apache Knife Combat.

MANTIS BLACKBEARD

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MANTIS BLACKBEARD

BY: TRAMPAS SWANSON OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE FIREARMS TRAINING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HIT PARTICULARLY HARD WITH THE STORAGE AND RISING COST OF AMMUNITION. AS A CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR, TRAMPAS HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW THIS HAS AFFECTED BOTH THE PROFESSIONAL AND CIVILIAN CURRICULUMS. DESPITE ADVERSITY, FORWARD THINKING MANUFACTURERS AND TRAINERS TURNED TO VIABLE TRAINING ALTERNATIVES TO CONTINUE SAFELY HELPING OTHERS DEVELOP CORE FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS.

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ours have been shortened, round count requirements have been adjusted and even some courses taken off the schedule altogether. The hard truth is these adjustments and shortcuts have simply hurt the end users who need the repetitions and hours toward the mythological “10,000th hour” of becoming expertly proficient. Some have shrugged and simply said “it is what it is”, whilst others like our friends at Mantis, have addressed the situation head-on with more innovation to aid us.

For example, one common training option for smoothing out trigger press is what is formerly known as dry fire practice, now officially rebranded by the National Rifle Association (NRA) as dry practice. This new verbiage makes sense due to the lack of actual “fire” taking place. The use of training devices such as snap caps, SIRT pistols and the Mantis X10 have been extremely helpful with honing these basic skills.

Through private one on one training sessions and fulllength courses, our Swanson Training Group instructor staff have regularly used these devices not only in the classroom but on the range as well to enhance success in true learning of information retainment. As mentioned in many of our PMCI Magazine articles, our instructors regularly use Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger (SIRT) training pistols from

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NextLevel Training. These pistols are designed to replicate various popular models of Glock, SIG and S&W semi auto handguns which feel and weigh similar to a fully loaded live fire pistol. For readers not familiar with these devices, these pistols emit a red or green laser when “fired” and reset the trigger afterwards for the next shot.

With the success of the SIRT pistols, many shooters have wanted the same opportunities for training with their AR-15 platform rifles. Over the past year, there has been one device on the market that is clearly head and shoulders above any other available options for laser training with the most popular rifle platform in the country. This issue of PMCI, we are going to discuss a new trigger resetting drop-in laser unit called the Mantis Blackbeard and why this may be your best option for AR-15 training.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

A few months ago, a sample of the Mantis Blackbeard arrived at my office for testing and evaluation (T&E). From our work with the original Mantis X and current Mantis X10 devices, I came into this review already knowing how innovative and helpful Mantis products are with any issues that may arise with our students. From the sales department to customer service, my past experiences have only been top notch with Mantis.

With my initial test shots, I noticed the laser was slightly skewed from not being completed concentric with the barrel yet. Inside the case was a small Allen wrench that allowed me to make windage and elevation changes via small set screws accessible on the bolt unit through the ejection port. With just a few quick adjustments, the laser was aiming true, and I could then adjust the red dot optic on my rifle to line up together. Since the bulk of our group’s urban rifle training comes within the typical distances of home defense from across a room to across the front yard, I sighted the red dot and laser to 10 yards.

Over the next few days as I prepared for an upcoming class, I used the Blackbeard device to work through my house with the rifle while shooting electronic interactive targets from Laser Ammo called the IMTTS system. These small targets were staged around the house to allow me to practice not only moving to cover, working angles and scanning for targets but making notes as I took my available shots to reevaluate what was beyond my targets as well. Simply amazing CQB / Home Defense rifle training!

IN THE CLASSROOM

Since the ammunition shortage issues have hit our industry, one of the most popular courses our team offers is one we call a Defensive Firearms Simulator Workshop. This course is based around the Smokeless Range simulator computer program from Laser Ammo. By using a 9 ft screen, a short throw projector and short throw camera, our instructors create an indoor firing range using laser equipped devices such as the SIRT pistol and Mantis Blackbeard. With multiple programs, students can train with static targets, moving targets, shoot / no shoot targets and even video scenarios designed to enhance cognitive decisionmaking skills as well as basic and advanced fundamentals.

MANTIS BLACKBEARD

While this may not mean as much to the average consumer, I have had the displeasure of discovering many great products in the industry that were produced by companies who made it difficult to enjoy working together. In turn, this always seems to cement my desire to continue using their products. Mantis will quickly make you a loyal customer.

When I unboxed the Mantis Blackbeard, I was impressed with the carry case that housed the device. As I unzipped the case, there were two pieces that make up the laser unit well cushioned inside. The main unit is in the form of a drop-in AR15 replacement bolt with the other part being a rechargeable battery unit shaped like a rifle magazine. As I removed them both from the case, I retrieved one of my AR-15 rifles from the gun safe.

Installation consisted of only three steps. First, I cleared the rifle and then opened the receiver and removed the LIVE FIRE bolt. Next, I inserted the Blackbeard laser equipped bolt and closed the receiver back shut. Finally, I inserted the battery unit into the magazine well as I heard it attempt to electronically reset the hammer which was already in the ready position with the safety on. Switching the rifle back to LIVE FIRE mode simply requires reverse these three steps in the matter of less than a minute.

To test fire the rifle using the Blackbeard device, I pointed the rifle in a designated safe direction, switched the safety to FIRE and pressed the trigger. As the green laser emitted from the barrel of the rifle, I could hear and feel the unit immediately reset the hammer / trigger in a blink of an eye. With each additional trigger press, the device “fired” the laser and made the rifle ready to fire again as fast as I could pull the trigger. With all the training benefits of using the Mantis Blackbeard we’ll discuss; the reset factor alone is enough to put this product light years ahead of other AR-15 platform laser training devices.

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MANTIS BLACKBEARD

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Throughout the eight hours of training, the day is divided into basic and advanced skill building with the students’ choice of laser equipped devices such as SIRT pistols, Laser Ammo drop in shotgun shells with Mossberg 590 pump shotguns and the Mantis Blackbeard in our custom “in house” built AR15. The last two hours of video scenario-based challenges with their choice of armament as the instructor can change the direction of each video based on the response of each student.

Our students vary in experience from new shooters to current and former military, contractors, and law enforcement.

Those who come through class the first time may first start with the SIRT pistols until they learn the training and technology used then migrate to the AR-15 platform. With over 80% of our students, they will return to the next month’s scheduled simulator class. With having run the course primarily with the SIRT pistol, this is when many will choose to run the entire course with the AR-15. This is when the Mantis Blackbeard has really shined. The focus on the returning students is no longer the tech or programs used but now the sight picture, sight alignment and trigger press.

The top comment from armed professionals who have used the Mantis Blackbeard during class is always about the trigger manipulation. With other rifle laser trainers used in the past, the device was activated using the slack between the trigger and the lock back caused by the unit not allowing the hammer to actually trip and travel beyond the trigger

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catch. Regardless of specialized triggers used in class on several rifle triggers from 8lb mil-spec to 3lb RISE ARMAMENT and Timney drop-in units, all have allowed the shooter to use the true trigger press and have the unit reset for the next shot.

With the M4/AR-15 rifle specific training programs offered on the Laser Ammo Smokeless range, I have even been able to do rifle only private training for individuals and small groups of professionals outside of our standard classes.

From moving targets to varying sized targets at perceived “distances” for time and score, the Mantis Blackbeard has been instrumental in developing needed trigger control and discipline. Many first time rifle students better prepared themselves physically and mentally before getting onto a live fire range by taking our courses and using this device.

ON THE RANGE

When using the Mantis Blackbeard unit on the LIVE FIRE range, I believe it offers just as many advantages for our students as it does in the classroom. For first time rifle shooter, the laser unit can be used to work through any trigger press or anticipating recoil issues before or during LIVE FIRE drills. With safety ALWAYS being our first and most important concern, the Blackbeard unit offers immediate point of aim (POA) / point of impact (POI) feedback in the safest possible environment when learning how to move with the AR-15 and work in and out of firing positions.

FINAL THOUGHTS

By using the Blackbeard unit, the Mantis product line continued to impress as our staff and students got more time training with it. This sample unit sent for T&E turned out to be everything I had been hoping for with rifle training. The full range of movement and reset of the trigger combined with the ability to have students develop a real feel for the actual trigger pull of their rifle set this device miles apart from any similar products currently on the market today.

While I enjoyed using the easy to see green laser version of the Blackbeard, I did have to contact Mantis and switch it out for a red laser version in order to use it in classes with the Smokeless Range by Laser Ammo. As always, the company representatives understood the issue and quickly resolved it.

Mantis currently offers the Blackbeard in four options: Red Laser, Green Laser, Infrared Laser and No Laser depending on your training goals and needs. I have a feeling the Infrared Laser version is in our company’s near future.

As a former SWAT operator/ Sniper Unit Leader and current rifle instructor, I learned a long time ago, if you haven’t mastered your rifle’s trigger pull, you have NOTHING. The Mantis Blackbeard is the perfect way to get thousands of important repetitions. Retailing between US$219 - US$249, this device offers a relatively low cost out of pocket and very little wear on your rifle compared to how many thousands of live fire rounds it would take to match the same benefits as the Blackbeard. To learn more about this device and others from Mantis, visit www.MantisX. com discover the next level in quality rifle training.

MANTIS BLACKBEARD

Even for experienced shooters, when movement with a rifle in introduced, safety concerns naturally heighten.

Dynamic movement involves so many moving parts to training. Finger off the trigger, safety engaged, eyes down range, muzzle control, finding cover or designating direction of travel, heel/toe steps with purpose and no crossing feet.

A lot of things can go wrong and do some quickly when learning with a loaded rifle.

Traditionally, we used solid plastic rifle shaped inert training aids called “red guns” made by ASP to teach students how to safely move before focusing on carrying life fire rifles. By using the Mantis Blackbeard devices that cost almost to the penny the exact same price, students can safely work through movement drills using their own rifles.

A huge benefit comes in students being able to take shots with immediate laser feedback while working on movement skills prior to their progression to live fire drills. This builds shooter confidence faster and helps develop higher levels of information retention.

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RINGIN’ THE STEELS, RINGIN’ THE CHANGES! Once again I find myself sitting behind a screen in my home office after another very strange year, and in the words of the song, “Times, they are a’ changin’” and I find myself feeling that more than ever.

After several years of facing up to “The Big C” (and thankfully coming out the other side!), I also find that recent events that have dominated the world have been somewhat lesser for me, as I’ve already had to spend a lot of time “down” and on my own.

After major surgery and mid 2017-early 2018 disappearing during my recovery, followed pretty swiftly by a worldwide pandemic lockdown, there was one thing that kept me going at full speed, and that was the love and support given unconditionally by my family, friends, and my awesome team at PMCI. Friendship as you grow older is a strange thing in and of itself.

The “friendships” of our school years, and indeed those of early adulthood, morph into something different, something deeper as our personal experience-bank grows. As older figures, parents and mentors, age and take their final journeys, you are left with those close to you increasingly being of your own peer group, and younger. Without recognising it, YOU become the older, steadfast figure in a group, and you start to support and mentor others, taking joy in seeing them grow and reach their own maturity and rejoicing in their successes.

And so it is with PMCI. Regular readers may have noticed that over the past couple of years PMCI has grown, matured and thanks to you that read it, become successful itself, and those involved have grown too. When we first kicked off in August 2014 the world was a very different place, and the magazine reflected this. I was a very wet behind the ears Editor who lived and breathed “guns n’ gear” who quite literally fell into the role, and Trampas, as someone who had only recently started writing, fell into it along with me.

And he has been the most steadfast of friends to me throughout this journey,rising from writing the occasional article to become

an integral and vital part of what we do, and his recent role as Deputy Editor reflects this. We have truly helped one another along the way, and I take great joy in seeing both his family, and his standing in the shooting/tactical/training communities continue to thrive.

Now those times are ‘a changin’ once again, and as we head towards a new year it’s time to let PMCI move forward too; PMCI will be changing in 2022 to reflect that fact that we have become an integral part of the move by many to a more informed and armed lifestyle; although we will ALWAYS work with those that have honoured us by serving, and look to them for guidance, we will continue to focus on and champion the ethics, rights and positive mindset of the civilian shooter.

And to do this it’s time for a change at the top! My personal role within Calibre Publishing continues to evolve, and having taken on the task of directing the business as a whole into a new era, it’s is rightfully time for Trampas to take his next, very hard-earned step too, so as of this issue I will be handing the reigns over to him to move things forward into both a new year and a new iteration of the magazine as Editor!

I pass the torch with some sadness as PMCI has been a major part of my life for the last seven years, through good times and bad, and I will ALWAYS be proud of what Trampas, Baz (our designer), Nige (MD of Calibre) and I have created, and that our experienced and committed editorial team will continue to create… I have every faith that “what happens next” will be astounding, and even though my direct input will diminish, Trampas knows that just as he did for me when I was at my lowest, I will have his six for the next part of this magnificent journey!

For now, I wish you all the very best for Christmas 2021, and I hope that your personal journey in 2022 continues to lead to health, wealth, and happiness. I look forward to one day ringin’ those steels with you all, but for now, “Wild Bill” out.

EDITORS COMMENT

EDITORS COMMENT

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Gear on Test

Christmas is nearly upon us, so what are YOU looking forward to finding under your family tree (other than a lightly oiled and beautifully wrapped new AR that is!)? Bill takes a look at a couple of “Winter Warmers” this me, garments designed for shooters when the temperature on the range starts to fall, and both would make ideal gifts!

GEAR ON TEST

HELIKON WOLFHOUND HOODIE JACKET It’s that time of the year again that I start to look at gear specifically for the coming winter months, and a good “Range Jacket” is one of the things that I place high on my list of must haves.

What do I mean by a “Range Jacket”? Pretty much exactly what the name would suggest, a jacket that can be kept easily stowed in your Range Bag or pack to throw on for immediate warmth and comfort when you come away from some dynamic training with a head of steam up!

The first new jacket I’ve been looking at closely this year is the HELIKON WOLFHOUND HOODIE JACKET; made from lightweight and durable 100% WindPack Nylon shell with additional Climashield® Apex™ insulation, the Helikon Wolfhound Hoodie Jacket features hard-wearing YKK main zipper with glove-friendly zip pull, chin guard and warm stand up collar and multiple zipped pockets.

The thinner elasticated VersaStretch fabric in the armpits area improves air circulation and provides the maximum comfort of wearing. In addition to that, the left hand loop panel allows you to attach unit or morale patches while the elasticated wrists and bottom hem ensure maximum body warmth. Highly recommended for security and armed forces personnel, the HELIKON WOLFHOUND HOODIE JACKET is also a fantastic choice for shooting, camping, trekking, and other outdoor activities.

FEATURES: • Lightweight and breathable water repellent jacket • Extra warmth with Climashield® Apex™ filling • Designed for everyday use in urban and outdoor environments • Main zipper with glove-friendly zip pull, chin guard and a wind flap • High stand up collar with warm, adjustable hood with an elasticated edge • Spacious left chest pocket • Right chest inner pocket for extra storage • Two zipped hand pockets with fleece lining • Loop panel on the left bicep for additional patches and

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IDs • Thinner elasticated VersaStretch fabric in the armpits area improves air circulation and enhances comfort • Elasticated wrists and bottom hem • Genuine YKK zippers with glove-friendly zip pulls • DWR coating (Durable Water Repellent) protect against wind, light rain or snow • Shell material: 100% WindPack Nylon • Filling material: Climashield® Apex™ insulation (67 g/m2) The HELIKON WOLFHOUND HOODIE JACKET is a great choice for something that’s easily packable and quick to either stow or deploy! Available in MALE AND FEMALE sizes, plain colours or even my favourite PenCott camo the WOLFHOUND is the ideal thing to have in your pack for when things turn chilly! Available from good retailers, mine came courtesy of www.military1st.co.uk!

SNUGPAK MML6 SMOCK

FEATURES: • Manufactured in the UK • Large map chest pocket, with internal D-rings • Large & small external pouches with hook and loop patch

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APALS® soft hook & loop patches - All Purpose Adhesive Light Strips, one supplied with each jacket Exclusive Softie® Premier insulation Elasticated Drawcord-adjustable neck & hem -helping trap warm air and aid insulation Soft Armour Panel (SAP) and Hard Armour Plate Carrier (PC) Compatible 1/4 length water-resistant YKK® zip Pack away into the external chest pocket for easy compact carrying Side pockets with Water-resistant YKK® zips Deep hand warmer style pockets lined with brushed polyester for added comfort and warmth Soft hook & loop patches on chest pocket flap & both arms External D-ring for LED torches, etc Elasticated cuffs with thumb loops Windproof, breathable & water repellent Rolls into chest pocket

GEAR ON TEST

One of the things with ranges is that you do spend a fair amount of time in a cold, static position; you might be attending the safety briefing first thing in the morning or breaking for lunch, but it’s a rarity to find a heated outdoor range, right? For years many of us have always had a Snugpak “Softie” jacket in the back of the car for just such times, for when you want a bit of instant warmth!

Snugpak have really upped the ante though, taking things to an entirely new level, and one insulated smock we’ve had in test for a considerable time is the MML6, and it’s proved its worth on many occasions both at home and abroad. Developed by Snugpak with input from professional navigators, mountain leaders, climbing instructors, meteorological staff, and military personnel, the Military Mountain Leader Smock has been created to support the user in a diverse range of operational environments, especially when exposed to extreme cold weather.

As a part of Snugpak’s “VENTURE” range the MML6 Softie Smock is the flagship garment. It’s a tri-layer smock and uses both Paratex Micro as a face fabric, and an internal Softie Premier fill, encapsulated with a Paratex Light lining.

Designed to provide excellent thermal protection against the cold the MML6 is rated -5C to -10C; it also provides a high degree of wind protection.

The MML Smock is lighter than normal expedition style jackets, and uses water resistant YKK zips, making it ideal when size and weight need to be kept to an absolute minimum. It is ideally worn with a variety of base layers, such as the Snugpak 2nd Skinz Coolmax base layer, to move moisture away from the skin, keeping you dry and regulating core temperature in extremes of cold.

The quick drying, Paratex Micro 100% nylon material has a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish. Water repellency can be maintained with a cool tumble dry after washing and periodic re-treatment with suitable after care products, such as Nikwax and Grangers. The MML Softie Smock will keep you dry in a short, light shower, giving you time to find a safe place to stop and put on more effective waterproof layers. The MML Softie Smock can also be worn under waterproof membrane hard shells in severe weather, still allowing easy access to your essential equipment.

The MML Softie Smock allows essential equipment to be carried centrally, with easy access when wearing a day sack, bergen, plate carriers and webbing systems and maintains its core functionality with other operational equipment, such as body armour.

Whilst not exactly cheap at around the UK£180 mark at the moment the MML6 Softie Smock should be viewed as a long term investment, especially if you act as an Instructor or RO; whilst most shooters can easily head back inside to warm up an Instructor or RO needs to be out on the range at all times when it’s live. The MML6 easily lets you do this so in our mind is an invaluable addition to your kit locker, and mine came direct from my friends at www. snugpak.com!

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HRT TACTICAL

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HRT TACTICAL: RAC CARRIER SYSTEM

BY: TRAMPAS SWANSON IN THE PROFESSIONAL OPERATIONS WORLD, IT IS OFTEN A MISNOMER THAT HIGH END TOOLS OF THE TRADE WILL MAKE AN OPERATOR BETTER. ANYONE WHO HAS EVER CARRIED A GUN FOR A LIVING KNOWS THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. TOOLS WILL NEVER REPLACE SKILLS. HOWEVER, IT IS A KNOWN FACT THAT QUALITY TOOLS MAY CAN HELP SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SPEED, MOBILITY, AND PERFORMANCE OF THE EQUIPMENT ALLOWING THE USER TO DO WHAT THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO RATHER THAN HINDER THEM; ENTER THE HRT RAC!

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hen it comes to tactical gear industry, there is a wide range of quality and design from companies all over the world. Unless your gear is issued to you, many professionals may be starting at square one with learning what works and what doesn’t at the rate of a potentially dangerous learning curve.

Over my twenty-one years of training and working in and around this field of work, I have seen great designs that have saved real heroes.

At the same time unfortunately, I have also seen designs that are more of a liability than an asset to its users.

With items such as tactical vest, the price range can span from gun show bargain budgets to Capitol Hill Black expense reports. From my personal experience, I have learned two essential things about critical gear. The first is that not all top-quality gear comes with top end prices or the most wellknown names. Secondly, the best designs have come from men and women who have been quenched in the fires of battle or have at the very least come from those who have worked closely with these real-world experienced people. I know this because I’ve unfortunately lived this and fortunately survived.

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As a rookie SWAT operator for a small county Sheriff’s Office, we did not have a huge budget. If memory serves me correctly, one of our Deputies had a family member who owned a local embroidery shop who “created” our issued SWAT vest. This attempt at creating a plate carrier was a sad, unstructured vest designed to hold the soft IIIA armor issued to fit under my standard uniform when on patrol. The fit was more like a bag than a vest, with armor shifting at the worse possible times such as going hands-on with a suspect or kneeling to a supported position during a gun fight. Several

If that’s the case, I urge you to consider a simple chest rig without armor. It’s a lighter, more mobile option without the cost and bulk of ballistic plates or soft armor. However, if you need quality functional armor as your first and foremost need and a way to comfortable carry it, continue reading because this article will be FULL of great information.)

To better explore a multi-use rig such as the HRT Tactical RAC system, we will break down the components I chose to test, beginning with the base RAC plate carrier before moving on to a detailed review of each of the other parts of such a mission flexible rig.

RAC PLATE CARRIER

The carrier tested was listed as a “Large” which could house a 10”x12” plate in the front and rear panels. (For you larger guys, there is an XL version that fits the 11”x14” plates) The RAC carrier was accompanied by two UHMWPE (Polyethylene) and Ceramic (Silicon Carbide) Level III+ Rifle Plates from Ace Link (US$239). Each plate’s contour matched the carrier in featuring what is known in the industry as a “shooter’s cut”. This is a specific design feature which allows the wearer to normally shoulder a long gun without undue adjustment. The weight of each plate came in at 4.4 lbs, surprisingly close to what my issued soft armor weighed back in 1999 – 2000 but with much better protection than what I had. These plates tuck easily up inside the front and rear panels of the carrier with a Velcro covered flap that wraps from the bottom of the plate to hold it securely into place.

To carry this load across my shoulders, the carrier featured wide, well cushioned wraps to cover the adjustable Velcro straps to adjust the rig’s ride height. Along each side of the straps were multiple elastic loops for running a hydration tube from front to a possible rear mounted Camelbak or comms cables from a

HRT TACTICAL

officers even tore their carriers open dumping equipment to the ground when jumping out of take down vehicles on drug raids.

Simply put, I learned that in order to trust the equipment you carry, you need to be able to trust the company that makes it. Fortunately, I discovered such a company while searching for a new plate carrier online last year. During the global COVID crisis in which seemed to shut down the year 2020, and talking to Bill about gear, I came across a company called HRT Tactical.

As I skimmed through their website, the products featured some very impressive designs at affordable price points. I eagerly dove down the rabbit hole to learn more about them which resulted in an email request to test their gear.

Originally founded in 2008, HRT Tactical’s mission was to provide top level training to Law Enforcement, Military and civilians, these real-world experienced instructors decided to venture into creating tactical gear from the operators point for view using only topic notch, durable materials, and components.

To keep gear tough but lightweight, HRT uses 500 Denier DuPont Teflon coated Condura nylon and reinforced stitching to prevent from water logging, tearing or rot. With UTW hardware, UTX buckles and YKK brand zippers, no corners in product construction are cut when it comes to quality and reliability of an item someone’s life may one day depend upon.

Between the online description of the HRT Tactical gear and the wealth of information provided from HRT’s representative, Chris Poindexter, I was ready to try their products out while teaching and training. Chris and I arranged to have the company’s flagship plate carrier called the RAC system with its standard load out accessories to be sent over for T&E along with Ace Link Level IV rifle plate armor.

(Editors Note: When shopping for plate carriers, first realistically look at your actual need for gear and ask some honest questions.

Do you just need to carry magazines and gear?

mic to a radio. These thick cushioned straps are instrumental in preventing heavy loads from causing the load out weight to dig into end user’s shoulders over time.

One of the RAC carrier’s shoulder straps also featured a quick release clip that could be mounted on the left or right strap in order to allow the wearer to quickly ditch the carrier in a flash.

The ability to exit out of gear can be a critical feature for many operators. Several veterans have told me tales of vehicles being hit by IED’s and rolling over either on fire or into water; the inability to egress the vehicle due to being hung up inside from gear snagging cost many good men and women their lives.

However, if this feature isn’t desired by the user, the buckle can be removed altogether in favor of standard solid straps.

The front of the carrier featured large Velcro panels for mounting mission specific accessories as we’ll mention shortly as well as name tapes, rank, or unit / agency identification patches.

Across the carrier’s face were PALS / Molle compatible loops for further securing items such as the Maximus placard with its quick clip system. All the carrier’s edges were tightly stitched and smooth to prevent chaffing or undue wear on gear as it may rub against the carrier edge.

The back of the plate carrier featured a vital potential lifesaving heavy duty drag handle for quickly moving injured personal out of the danger zone. Below the drag handle, there were well placed panel sections featuring heavy duty dual YKK zipper mounts along with Velcro for multiple optional mission specific pouches offered by HRT; more on these later...

Along the inside of the carrier’s front and rear panels, there were raised air flow channels stitched vertically left and right allow the body to keep cool even in warm climates. For additional air circulation, HRT Tactical offers optional pontoon spacers that Velcro inside to create an even larger air channel. If you’ve ever worn a tactical vest in any sort of climate, you know that without good air flow, you could start sweating inside the vest even during a snowstorm. Trust me, being the meat in an “operator soup” is never a good feeling!

Retail: US$184.95 - US$239.95

QUICK RELEASE CUMMERBUND

MAXIMUS PLACARD

Perhaps my favorite part of the RAC carrier system is the optional Maximus Placard attachment. This is a 9.25”x7” placard that clips onto the carrier front or rear via the Swift Clip buckle attachment system along with the Velcro mounting surface to prevent any bouncing or “battle rattle”. For avid fans of great designs and “sexy” tactical usefulness, the Maximus is the shinning star of the rig.

The Maximus placard allowed me to carry three 30 round magazines held in place by an elastic looped insert along the center of the placard close to the body and two 21 round SIG P320 magazines on either side. Polymer inserts inside the pistol pouches hold the SIG mags in the ready position for quick access.

These inserts can be quickly removed to fit a small tactical light, multi tool or other needed items. Different elastic looped inserts for the rifle magazine area are available on the HRT Tactical website to substitute Uzi, MP5 and AR-10 / AK platform magazines for the standard AR-15 magazines.

In addition to the magazine pouches, there are two larger main pouches with organizational dividers to keep smaller items secure while remaining at the reach of a finger. The gusseted access panels prevent the front of the pouches from flopping open and spilling its contents. Each pouch offers enough room for chem lights, keys, spare batteries, pens, note pads can with ease. Inside the left pouch of my Maximus placard, I was able to

HRT TACTICAL

While the standard straps that shipped with the RAC plate carrier did a decent job holding it snug to the body, I know all too well from experience, the extreme value of having your sides ballistically protected. I decided to upgrade the RAC plate carrier’s factory side straps with HRT’s Quick Release Cummerbund and additional Ace Link IIIA soft body.

As mentioned in the name, the potentially lifesaving quick release RAC buckles are located on both sides of the front of the cummerbund just behind the Velcro straps that attach to the front of the plate carrier. With a quick jerk of the 550 cord hooks hanging on either buckle and the front of the carrier pops open for a quick egress.

Not only did this upgrade come with quick release buckles on both sides, but also a wealth of adjustment options in the back.

Depending on what type of clothing you may be running under your plate carrier from polo shirt to rain gear, the rear bungee lacing system quickly adjusts to accommodate a wide range of body sizes and girth changes.

The wide Velcro attachment to the front of the carrier anchors the cummerbund into a rock-solid position. An additional three rows of PALS loops for mounting gear such as radios, magazines, or multi-tools can also come in handy.

Not only does the wider cummerbund sides offer more space for gear but also provides more side comfort. Unlike thinner straps, the cummerbund allows for a full range of motion and won’t ride up or cut into your body when twisting into or out of positions.

The snug inner cummerbund pocket allows for soft armor such as the Ace Link IIIA soft body armor to be mounted inside.

The fit was perfect only added approximately 2 lbs to the overall rig. For that small amount of weight, the benefits of having that level of side protection are truly invaluable.

Retail: US$99.95 - US$109.95

HRT TACTICAL

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fit most contents of my standard IFAK including tourniquet, Israeli bandages, hemostatic “combat” dressing, Band-Aids, Quick-Clot, alcohol wipes, burn dressing, medical scissors, Ibuprofen, and gloves. There are Velcro attachment spaces for your favorite patches located on the front face of each pouch.

This was handy for marking my pouch used for carrying IFAK contents.

Retail: US$99.95 - US$104.95

SPORRAN HANGER POUCH

For those warriors looking for an additional administrative / utility / storage, the Sporran Hanger pouch fits just under the main front pouch of your choice. This two-compartment pouch measures 5”x5”x1” and offers a great secondary option for medical supplies as well as mission specific tools, flex cuffs, gloves, shooting glasses or ear protection. For me, this was the perfect spot to carry the larger items of my blow out kit such as chest seals, extra tourniquets, and extra compression gauze. Like the rest of the HRT RAC system, the Sporran Hanger does feature PALS loops and hook & loop Velcro material on the forward face for additional gear or identification.

Due to the fit of the plate carrier, the Sporran falls just below the belly button and covers your belt buckle. Prior to wearing the RAC system with the Sporran attached, I was concerned that it would be obtrusive when sitting or running (Honestly, jogging because no one was shooting at me).

After spending the first few weeks testing the complete load out, I had completely forgotten about those concerns until sitting down during wrap up to review my notes from

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Day One of testing. The Sporran simply did not cause any negative feedback during testing. As many have found, the extra storage within arm’s reach while not widening the shooter profile can be an asset for heavy load outs.

Retail: US$59.95

ZIP- ON GENERAL PURPOSE BACK POUCH

The zip-on General Purpose Back Pouch is is a 9.5”x5”x1.5” pouch that is designed to take up half the rear panel to handle storing larger items such as a Camelbak bladder, medical equipment, a gas mask, poncho, or camo netting for concealment. With HRT’s triple retention mounting via Molle straps, Velcro and zipper attachments, it completes the trifecta of what I like to call the NCOS or “Not Coming Off System”. The face of the pouch offers a large Velcro panel for mounting Agency / Unit identification.

Retail: US$54.95 - US$59.95

ZIP-ON DUAL REMOVABLE GP POUCHES

Like the General Purpose Back Pouch, the spacious Dual Removable General Purpose (GP) Pouches share a single half panel patch measuring 10”x5”x1.5”. It shares the same triple retention with Molle straps, Velcro and zipper attachment as its rear mounted mate. Additionally, the face of the pouches also offers Velcro for mounting for patches and identification placards.

By combining these accessories will offer a comfortable way to carry a wide range of valuable equipment that would take up a lot of room carrying otherwise.

Retail: US$64.95 - US$69.95

DEBRIEF

HRT TACTICAL

Overall, I am very impressed with the HRT Tactical’s RAC system.

This highly adaptable platform’s ability to switch quickly to meet mission load out needs turns a simple plate carrier into a tactical chameleon. Most importantly, the rig as comfortable as long term distributed unnatural weight added to the body can possibly be.

I wore the complete load out for over eight hours on the range each time I taught shotgun and rifle courses as well as during advanced handgun training. The level of fatigue felt with the HRT Tactical RAC system was far less than with my traditional set ups from Tactical Tailor and AR500.

As I told the HRT representative, Chris, prior to wrapping up my field testing, the RAC system felt like a rig that only a seasoned operator could design. The multipurpose flexibility of this system and comfort is very well thought out from an end user perspective and perfectly meets a wide spectrum of what our nation’s warriors would need in the ever-changing battlefield, both foreign and domestic in the world we currently live in. This rig can easily convert from door-to-door operations of SWAT to the long-range patrols of LRRP. Moving and shooting while standing, kneeling and prone were unencumbered during live fire exercises. The front panel is cut to prevent bunching at the chest when shooting a pistol in a supported two-handed position and allows you to easily shoulder precision and carbine rifles comfortably without alternating my mounting position. During a recent shotgun course I taught, the chest rig did wonderfully while running the shotgun obstacle course shooting in the pouring rain. The rig did not allow the rain to soak in and weigh it down.

Even as we explore 6MM (airsoft) training to supplement ammunition cost and to increase safety in training, the RAC system has proven itself to be an asset in this venture. The more an operator can wear his gear and get used to maneuvering with the added weight and bulk, the stronger and more agile they will become. The RAC system helps decrease the learning curve with 1.5” depth of most pouches that kept weight close to the body and not give the end user the feeling of becoming “top heavy” when leaning forward.

The RAC system was well balanced to allow for easily climbing ladders and stairs in addition to in and out of vehicles.

For the weekend warrior, this may not be a huge selling point but for operators in a dynamic environment, this could be vital.

When you take in perspective that my entire HRT RAC system load weighed less than 25lbs. compared to my standard SWAT load out twenty years ago with the same if not less gear being over 35lbs., I have been very impressed with the new rig. I continue to be equally pleased with each HRT product I have used thus far.

For those wondering about color options, HRT products are offered in Black, Range Green, Coyote Brown, M81 Woodland, MultiCam, MultiCam Black, MultiCam Arid. Prices per product vary depending on the color selected. With such top quality and options available, it’s easy to see why HRT gets the PMCI Magazine stamp approval on their RAC system. We invite you to visit www.HRTtacticalgear.com to find the RAC combination that best fits your needs.

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GLOVES: DIGIT(AL) PROTECTION

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DIGIT(AL) PROTECTION

By Bill Thomas At PMCI we’re constantly looking for good kit, not simply gear that’s 100% fit for purpose, but equipment that’s going to give you good service and great value for money! This time the Bill takes a look at gloves he’s been using, what he’s worn in the past and what he’s wearing now so you can really get “hands on” in any situation, especially as these days even he is using a smartfone!

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loves

are tricky things to get right, aren’t they?

How often have you parted with money for a pair of “tacticool” gloves that offer you entrance to the “operatorz world” and found that in reality they are sub-standard, poorly fitting, and frankly an absolute waste of your hard-earned dollarbucks?

When I first started out gloves were not such a “thing”, and an old pair of British Army black leather “NI Gloves” from your local surplus store were probably your best bet! When I moved to the USA in 2006 though my eyes were opened to the possibilities of what I could use to cover my hands safely as every tactical store seemed to be offering cool models designed both for law enforcement and the military.

For a while I was like a fat boy in a donut shop, and every couple of months I’d pick up another model; online forums were “de riguer” for the discerning tacticalist at the time and it seemed to me that someone was ALWAYS posting about gloves!

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Of course the dissemination of information about which unit or “celeb shooter” is using which glove model has accelerated with the rise of social media, and now new gloves seem to come along on an almost daily basis (or so it seems to me!). For me now though my go to gloves are First Tactical LIGHTWEIGHT PATROL Gloves, Helikon-Tex TACTICAL LIGHT Gloves, or Kinetixx X-LIGHT LIGHT OPERATIONS Gloves for general range work.

But, with so many glove models out there how the hell do you decide on the right glove for you, especially when these days you need a model that will not only work for you on the range, but also allow you to interact with mobile communication devices too? What considerations should you take into account?

For me there are three main areas to look at: • Grip The most important thing for me is grip. A glove is of no use to you if it hinders the ability to grip your AEG/GBB or restricts access to using technology (especially these days!). Because of

for exceptional durability, contouring, and waterproofing abilities, but you also want materials that offer some breathability either through the use of specialist lined interiors which are absorbent or through breathability features built in to the glove. The matter of comfort is important since you will be wearing these gloves all day!

GLOVES I LOVE!

this many users choose to go with “old skool” fingerless gloves, but not me! Of course grip is related to handling though, and before you take every shot, you have to have the feeling of contact with your trigger or it can become a distraction from getting the shot, and there are now are designs which feature special finger tips to provide superior grip perfect for using technology, handling small items, and shooting needs.

• Comfort When it comes to fabrics and technology many gloves still use leather or “manufactured leather” exteriors or specially bonded synthetic blends. While certainly has its place in relation to overall comfort, a better option is to choose one that incorporates both in expertly designed ways. For instance, gloves should have leather

SNUGPAK

• Dexterity Another thing I look for in tactical gloves is to find an option that allows not just grip, but also dexterity. Some tactical gloves are designed to protect your hands from damage by way of padded knuckles, but if the material over the knuckle is too thick, it will impede your dexterity. Likewise, if a glove is the wrong size, it can get in the way of movement. When it comes to finding the right sizing to ensure ease of movement, remember that phrase, “fits like a glove” as your guideline; the right fit of a glove should feel natural.

As is often the case where I live in the UK when you’re heading to the range you want to stay not exactly “covert”, but certainly low key, and digging through my glove draw (yes, I have a glove draw!) I discovered that my old black lightweight gloves were well overdue for retirement, so I quickly scurried online to look for a replacement!

You’ll know that we’ve been working closely with First Tactical on both sides of “The Big Pond” and it’s been our great pleasure to have seen the brand gain more traction in the “tactical world” with some great designs, and what have turned out to be absolutely top-notch, reliable and durable products. Looking at their tight but well-defined glove line there was a model that immediately grabbed my attention, the Lightweight Patrol Glove, which seemed to offer all the qualities I was looking for, and these have become one of my absolute favourites!

They’re a pair of tactical gloves that allow you to act with maximum speed and precision. The Lightweight Patrol Glove combines extreme tactility with long-term durability; expert design serves well without slowing you down, and you’ll never have to worry about a slip of the grip or cumbersome fit with these awesome little gloves. Whatever the task at hand (if you’ll pardon the pun!), this glove will perform with excellence. The Lightweight Patrol Gloves benefit from First Tactical’s precision fit. Lightweight snag-proof stretch woven materials allow for a precise fit and professional appearance. The TOUCHTAC finger construction offers revolutionary fingertip engineering that gives you a better fit for even greater efficiency and performance, with a seamless wrap-around index finger design that is touchscreen friendly and more sensitive than ever before. Maintenance is also simplicity itself as the gloves have a washable goatskin palm; when dirty and grimy from extended training or field use, simply throw them in the wash, air dry, and wear again!

First Tactical has done a fabulous job with these gloves; although I initially found the closure a little bulky for such “low key” gloves I did find the cutaway for my wristwatch a great idea; I usually wear quite a sizeable dive or compass-watch and the gloves accommodated this with ease, and caused no irritation by pushing back the watch strap. After many range sessions there

GLOVES: DIGIT(AL) PROTECTION

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is virtually no sign of wear; the use of goat skin mixed with the stretch woven fabric is a winner as I can just toss them in the wash with my other gear and they come out looking like new; like other users I’ve had to throw away gloves after coming out of the wash, but not so with the Lightweight Patrol Gloves, they just run and run!.

When I’ve been doing some more serious, longer-day rangework, for a while I’ve been using some great models from German glove brand Kinetixx, and W+R, the company behind the Kinetixx brand, have some 90 years of expertise building gloves!

The family business was established way back in 1928 by the tanner Jakob Weiblen and his brother-in-law, the glove maker Theodor Rümmelin in Neuhausen an der Erms. W+R then moved to the neighbouring town of Metzingen in 1936 where the first glove factory was built. The factory first produced leather driving and work gloves with the first synthetic-fabric gloves arriving on the scene later.

Gloves by W+R are characterised by technical innovation and reliability. As a sought-after supplier to the police and armed forces, customers all over the world rely on their decades of experience and their in-house development department, with its modern laboratory, cutting, stitching and quality control sections.

Kinetixx Tactical gloves have become part of personal protective equipment (PPE) for some police forces, military units or Special Forces and are therefore now part of their basic equipment.

The X-LIGHT LIGHT OPERATIONS GLOVE is a pretty no-nonsense affair and is designed to provide the maximum level of comfort and breathability. The glove features a U-shaped gusset for better recoil control, reinforcement patches on the back as well as on the palm for better grip, and the adjustable rubber hook-andloop closure allows it to fit the wrist perfectly. The upper material is 100% Aramid, the palm 60% Polyamide, 38% Polyurethane, 2% Other, whilst the reinforced areas are 60% Polyamide, 38% Polyurethane, 2% Other. They therefore benefit from Abrasion resistance (Level 2), Blade cut resistance (Level 1), Tear resistance (Level 2), and Puncture resistance (Level 1) which overall gives

a very solid glove that is most certainly going to stand up to use on the airsoft field, and give you good levels of both comfort and protection!

I’ve been using this model for a little while now, and as a pretty bog-standard “Size Large” I will say that the fit is very good indeed, with little excess fabric and certainly no “bag” in the palm area when you make a fist; this can cause issues if you’re using a slim pistol grip as the extra fabric acts as an unwelcome buffer to a solid grip!

The latest addition to the “glove draw” is the Helikon-Tex ALL ROUND FIT TACTICAL LIGHT GLOVES, and these have very quickly become a firm favourite too, especially for warm-weather environments, as they fit me… well, like a glove! As a part of the ever-expanding Helikon-Tex RANGE LINE these are a lightweight and extremely durable universal tactical gloves designed for military and law enforcement professionals, but that work equally well for an enthusiastic and committed “recreational shooter” like me.

Synthetic leather is used on the inner side to guarantee high durability and reliable grip while specially designed slits on the finger joints provide comfort, even during prolonged weapon manipulation. As I’ve also (finally!) moved into the modern world of mobile communications (yes, I now have a smartfone and not a “burner”!) I also appreciate the fact that the middle finger and thumb are touchscreen compatible, and a sewn-in Hypalon loop not only helps with easy on and off but also can be used to hang the gloves on equipment when my fat fingers need to send a text! An elastic extended cuff offers maximum confidence and comfort, while thin, yet durable, construction enhances the ability to use a phone or tablet, manipulate gear, or access a handgun.

Overall theses three models completely match my requirements in terms of Grip, Dexterity, and Comfort, and all are touchscreen compatible should you wish to use them in conjunction with your phone or other device; in my opinion they all offer great levels of performance for a good price, and what more can a cash-strapped shooter ask for?

arg.uk.com

LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT PRO NV FDE

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ON POINT- THE LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT PRO NV FDE

BY JIM WENZEL IS THE PISTOL RED DOT A FRIEND OR FOE? THIS IS THE QUESTION JIM OFTEN GETS AS A PROFESSIONAL FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR. TO EXPLORE THE ANSWER, HE’S GOING TO DIVE INTO TESTING THE LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT PRO NV FDE FOR THIS ARTICLE. THE RESULTS MAY HELP PROVIDE SOME VALUABLE FEEDBACK FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE THINKING OF BLINGING OUT THEIR EVERYDAY CARRY (EDC) GUN

I

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s

a pistol optic for you? I asked myself this very same question several times over the course of the past year.

I’m a bit of an old school shooter, even at basic training in Parris Island, our qualifications pushed us out to 500 yards with iron sights with our issued rifles. For years when I heard “optic”, I thought long range precision shooting with a long gun.

Then as I was retiring from Law Enforcement in 2018, I saw that one of the alphabet agencies was in the process of transitioning to pistol red dots for their employees. My initial gut reaction was “Why are we going to a piece of equipment that can fail” and secondly, “I’ve seen enough yearly qualifications where people fail or barely pass a qualification due to not being able to apply the fundamentals as it is”.

I will admit that I was extremely skeptical with this change.

I didn’t feel that agencies would put in enough training time or do so properly. I can recall when they came out with the new spring for Glocks that had a laser in it. It didn’t improve accuracy as the agency thought it would, nor was it essentially cost effective as the spring was much weaker than the standard

Glock spring which led to the springs breaking and making the pistol inoperable. The agency went back to the standard Glock spring after that.

Now to the present, since retiring, I became a civilian firearms instructor and during that time I have come across many new shooters and some experienced shooters that come to a class and are carrying their concealed carry firearm with a red dot. It was due to this uptick and trend that I knew in order to help students that I would have to invest in a red dot, open my mindset, and get myself trained up.

Contrary to some beliefs, there are some fantastic benefits to picking up and learning how to utilize a pistol red dot. For one, we are reducing the amount of focal planes being used.

Traditional iron sight, firearm fundamentals of shooting use three focal planes. A shooter has to look through their rear sight, identify the front sight, and then place the sight on target. This is done with an emphasis on focusing on the front sight and blurring the target in the distance. An issue with this is that we won’t be able to quickly recognize if a threat is still present.

We are putting a lot of focus into a fine motor skill which is

POINTS TO PONDER

Searching the pistol optic that is right for you can be a difficult yet fun task, some things to consider are: • What is the purpose the optic will be used for (professionalpersonal EDC, competition etc.)

• How large is the sight? Can you conceal if necessary?

Batteries: • Where is the compartment, does a battery change mean you have to re-zero the optic • How long does the battery last

(Editors Comment: And how easy are the batteries to find, are they a common size?)

These are just a couple questions that I pondered myself.

After talking with several instructors and subject matter experts in the field, I decided that I would buy my first pistol optic. I chose the Leupold Deltapoint Pro NV FDE. What caught my attention besides Leupold’s excellent history were the features that stood out on such a small sight.

This model supports modern night vision devices with 10 brightness settings, including two that will fine tune the red dot to match sensitivity of your night vision equipment. Leupold also added a customizable brightness setting at the top end of the sight, which makes it easier for you to quickly max out the intensity of your red dot when environmental conditions are at their brightest. This allows you to move between the outdoors and indoor settings without skipping a beat. Some other features that I really liked were the fact that this versatile sight has an easy access battery compartment, meaning that you don’t have to re-zero after a battery change!

Just as impressive is the battery life, which ranges from 300 to 1600 hours, depending on the brightness intensity. The coin click adjustments allow for more precision as well as an incredibly wide field of view and Leupold’s famous crystal clear glass. This combined with the optic being housed in an aluminum and steel sheath to ensure that the sight will hold up in even the harshest conditions.

LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT PRO NV FDE SPECS: Finish Flat Dark Earth Reticle 2.5 MOA Illuminated Red Dot Battery Type CR2032 Switch Type Push Button

LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT PRO NV FDE

relatively non-existent under stress. Hence, why point shooting is taught for close range engagements, at the very least, if you point the firearm at the intended threat at close proximity, you will hit the target. In the defense of life, small tight groupings from precision shooting is not required, we need to get rounds on the threat as safely and quickly as possible.

Now that we covered the proper use of iron sights, let’s jump over to the red dot side of things. The pistol red dot reduces the focal planes down to two, some will say one. I leave that debate up to each individual. We acquire the red dot through the optic and place it on the target/threat. We are able to then have a focus on the intended threat while using the red dot. I’ll talk about this more later in the article.

The main drawback that is common with any tool is the risk of mechanical failure. Batteries could die, the sight could hit something and fall off, or the glass could break. Good old Murphy’s Law, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” With this in mind it is imperative to ensure that you don’t disregard and stop training the basic fundamentals with your iron sights. In which I also add, implement training where the iron sights have broken off or aren’t operational. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT PRO NV FDE

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Weight Elevation Adjustment Windage Adjustment Eye Relief Low Mag (in) Battery Life (hr) Battery Life (hr) Battery Life (hr) Number of Illum Settings Total Length MSRP:

2 oz 1 MOA 1 MOA Unlimited Low Intensity 1600 Medium Intensity 1000 High Intensity 300 10 1.8 (in) $549.99 USD

WORKING THE DELTAPOINT PRO NV FDE:

I had ordered the pistol sight while I was away working on a private security detail. After being away on assignment for a few months, I was excited to see the package on the counter when I got home. The red dot came in the traditional Leupold box and was packaged nicely. Now that the sight was in hand, my next task was to decide which pistol to put it on. After a short deliberation, I landed on my Sig Sauer P320 Scorpion AXG. The red dot was super easy to mount as it fit seamlessly on the optic ready slide of the Scorpion.

I then went to a local shop called Recon Rifleworks to see my friend Will Gironda and let him do what he does best, install my suppressor height iron sights that I purchased from Night Fision. I went with their yellow dot to contrast the red dot of the Deltapoint Pro. Will had me ready to go in less than an hour even during hours when the shop was busy.

Now that the set-up was complete, it was a no-brainer as to where I was heading next, onto Bullseye Guns and Indoor Shooting Range located in the heart of Jacksonville, Florida to see the manager and friend Bill Biggert. Once I arrived, I hopped on the range to get this red dot zeroed in. I made my way over to the private section of the range dubbed, “The Dungeon.” This is where myself and other instructors get to privately put in the time to work on our skill sets and courses.

Still being relatively new to implementation of the pistol red dot system into my training, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was for me to find the red dot on the Leupold. I had tried other sights before that my colleagues had, and it was difficult to pick it up at first. The Deltapoint Pro didn’t disappoint. I was able to acquire the target quickly and effectively put rounds on paper where I wanted them. I set up my zeroing targets and benchrest position. I worked from the 3,5,7,15,20, and 25 yard lines respectively utilizing five round groups to zero in the red dot.

With the zero acquired, it was time to see what the red dot hype was all about and as I mentioned earlier, will it be our friend or foe when it comes to utilizing this tool? What I found out relatively quickly is that there is a distinct difference between the traditional iron sights and the red dot system, which is that while utilizing iron sights, a person’s eyes have to perform a number of complex functions, contrasting those using a red dot in which uses one function. This is a very important mention to me, mainly due to not only my background, but our magazine subscribers as well. I say this because we work in some stressful environments and have to make rapid decisions.

With the development and understanding that comes with using a single focal plane sighting system such as the red dot, one can more effectively keep their eyes on a threat during a deadly force encounter which can make a large impact on the outcome of that encounter. It will not only increase your reaction time due to quicker target acquisition, it allows you to have a higher degree of focus on the engagement as opposed to the traditional iron sights.

Let’s dig a bit further into this, from our understanding of human behaviors; we note that humans have a natural tendency to focus on whatever is threatening us during a fear (fight, flight, freeze) response. It becomes very difficult for someone to take their eyes off the threat and put the focus into their pistol sights, which in relative terms are tiny objects outstretched an arm’s distance from us.

With this being said, part of my evaluation of the Leupold Deltapoint Pro was to increase my relative stress level (increase my heart rate) while performing several drills going between the red dot and traditional iron sights. What I found is that the red dot allowed me to make faster follow-up shots as I didn’t have to go through the process of aligning my sights after each shot was fired. I believe this will be an “AHA!” moment for those transitioning to the red dot from a new to experienced shooter, as you will see it makes it easier for someone to be able to shoot with both eyes open. Most shooters, although they try and put in the training hours, struggle with this. This occurs due to having to hyper focus on the front sight, the red dot eliminates that and allows you to acquire the target with both eyes and helps speed up your scan for additional threats as you now are no longer fighting one eye blind.

BECOMING FRIENDS WITH THE PISTOL RED DOT, FINAL THOUGHTS

There is, however, a bit of a learning curve for those of us that are veteran pistol iron sight shooters. Due to this fact, we will have developed for the sake of red dot shooting, the bad habit of looking at the front of the pistol to find the front sight. We have to change our mindset from being front sight focused to target focused. This is countered by training and putting in the repetitions. The wide field of view of the Deltapoint Pro made

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Better Light Transmission - Maximizes more ambient light in low-light environments.

Better Glare Management - Reduces more glare through additional lens coatings and minimizes image washout caused by stray light.

Better Contrast & Resolution - Creates a clearer image using premium edge-to-edge lens prescriptions and HD coatings.

Finally, if you’re looking to implement a red dot into your EDC or training development, I will say that you have a friend when it comes to this tool. It’s a versatile tool as it can be used not only on duty or for your self-defense needs, but also as a training tool. When applied properly with your fundamentals, you will see improvement over time.

I found that after putting in many hours on the red dot, it has increased my ability to pick up on the front sight. I now use my iron sights as a failure drill exercise, and if both fail, most encounters happen up close and this will also enhance your point shooting abilities. For those of us that are aging, the red dot is a great option as it makes it easier for those to acquire targets and their sights, which are now dependent on reading glasses for example.

I have nothing but positive things to say about this red dot sight. It performed as expected and held up to some long hours of training. To date, I have put about 3000 rounds through my Sig since mounting the Leupold Deltapoint Pro NV FDE. I haven’t had to make any adjustments to it other than the initial zeroing when I mounted it. Leupold developed the Deltapoint Pro NV FDE for those that have to rely on their equipment to perform when it matters most, this company stands by its products and guarantees them for life, with that alone, it’s worth the investment.

From my experience, Leupold continues to be an innovator and is consistently rated at the top in the industry due to their passion to create and be experts in their field. They truly live up to their motto of, “BE RELENTLESS”.

As always, stay dangerous, keep training, hope is not an Ops Plan!

LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT PRO NV FDE

this transition easier for me, I can pick up the red dot quickly and effectively engage my target.

This will take time and training. Contrary to many new and experienced shooters’ beliefs, adding the red dot does not instantly make you a better shooter! The red dot only simplifies two of the seven principles of marksmanship, sight alignment and sight picture. It does not fix a poor stance, bad grip, or terrible trigger control. Where the red dot is most beneficial in my opinion for students and instructors alike, is that one can see what the dot is doing in relation to your target and your hits on target. For instance, you can see where the dot is on the target and if you or the student either anticipates, flinches, or jerks the trigger you can see where the red dot is in relation to the target, allowing for quicker corrections.

Another benefit to using a red dot is utilizing it as a dry practice training tool, I’ve found that by doing this, I have actually improved in using my iron sights. During dry practice, I can see where the dot starts and ends during the prep and fire phase of my training, this has helped with establishing and maintaining proper grip, trigger press etc. In essence, the red dot can give you immediate feedback and allow you to make the proper adjustments.

Despite rigorous training, the Leupold Deltapoint Pro maintained its zero throughout the past 8 months of working with it. Another feature that I really liked about this sight is the Motion Sensor Technology. This is designed to extend battery life by automatically deactivating illuminated reticles after five minutes of inactivity and then will reactivate instantly as soon as movement is detected. I had no issues with drawing from the holster and finding the red dot.

Other points of mention; this sight comes with an illuminated reticle that helps you get on target faster in low-light situations. I was able to test this during some low-light training at the range.

I really enjoyed how the sight worked seamlessly well with my pistol mounted light. The set up displayed no issues going from dark to flashlight and picking up the red dot. I would have to say that it is most likely due to Leupold’s Twilight Max Light Management Systems which offer a clearer, brighter image with three main benefits:

BLADES: SPARTAN

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SPARTAN BLADES: PROFESSIONAL SERIES

By Trampas Swanson Within every great civilization, there has been a pivotal blade design for its era. Whether it’s the Roman’s Gladius to the Japanese Tanto, each was created to meet the specific needs of the day. In the United States during these current times are fortunate to live in the most culturally diverse country in the world and can draw on design influences accordingly, as Spartan Blades most certainly do to create some true masterpieces!

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ur environment is filled with influences on our daily lives from all around the globe. Our situational needs can range from extreme cold to extreme heat survival as well as hectic urban environments to desolate rural areas. No matter if it’s for professional, personal or recreational use, humans still have just as many needs for an edged tool every single day as any other point in our history.

If you’re like me, being fully dressed and prepared for your day involves a specific list of every day carry items. These items, depending on your area of operations typically include some sort of handgun, your personal effects such as wallet (ID, credit cards, etc), keys to a vehicle or facility (business, home, etc), cell phone, tourniquet, Israeli bandage and of course, the most important tool to mankind ever since the stone age, a good, quality knife.

Depending on what my day entails, my needs for the essentials may vary as with the type of knife I may need.

Sadly, despite having so many different designs and sizes of knives to choose from, there really seems to be only two levels of quality available. Either blades are cheap and made from poor-performing steel, or they are high end, expensive combat-influenced creations either production or custom made from top-end materials.

THE PINELAND CUTLERY FAMILY

To quote Spartan Blades co-founder, Curtis Iovito, “Pineland Cutlery is named for the fictitious country, ‘Pineland’ that includes 13 counties in North Carolina, and is the place where the Special Forces Qualification Course - otherwise known as the “Q Course” - is conducted. Given Spartan Blades’ deep roots in SF, Mark and I thought this would be a perfect name to use for the new joint venture between their company and Ka-Bar Knives of Olean, NY.” According to Iovito, it all started in 2016 during a joint knife venture between Ka-Bar and Spartan Blades to product 400 EK Dagger reproductions. During this time, the two companies discovered many shared ideals in manufacturing processes and support of the armed forces. As the project progressed, a true friendship between the two companies emerged. At one point, Curtis Iovito passed a humorous remark to Ka-Bar CEO, John Stitt about the company purchasing a certain small knife manufacturer in eastern NC. For those familiar with Iovito’s impressive intellect and quick wit combined with a signature steely look in his eyes that makes you wonder if he’s serious or joking at times, one can only imagine what the climate in the room could have been with that remark. While it did not lead to Stitt stroking a KaBar check to purchase Spartan Blades, it did lead to months of discussions and lawyers to give birth to a new superpower in the knife industry, Pineland Cutlery.

With the formation of Pineland Cutlery with a DBA as Spartan Blades, Mark Carey continues to handle the day-to-day operations, sourcing of materials, logistics, and financial end of the company

while Curtis Iovito is still involved with manufacturing, product development, and marketing. John Stitt is the CEO of both Ka-Bar Knives and Pineland Cutlery while overseeing the production of the Pineland Cutlery Silver Line of knives out of the Ka-Bar factory in Olean, NY according to their website information.

With the formation of Pineland Cutlery, Spartan Blades now had the resources and manpower to offer top quality blades featuring intelligent designs and legendary quality at better pricing. Spartan Blades state the knives in the Pro (Silver) series will all feature 1095 Cro-Van steel with full tangs running through the grips and average a hardness ranging from 56 – 60 HRC. The handles will all be created from canvas micarta which from my experience offers a solid purchase on the grip regardless of the knife being wet or dry. Each knife features a well thought out locking Kydex sheath that can be mounted using multiple options and be accessed quickly and easily with either hand.

The initial three knives that make up this new series are all designed from award winning designer, Curtis Iovito himself and include the Machai, Damysus, and Alala. Earlier this past summer I was fortunate to obtain a sample of each of these knives to take a close look at their design, intended application and performance in the field over the past few months. Let’s check out how each of these different blades size up!

Machai – Named for daemons (spirits) of battle and combat in Greek Mythology. This is the largest and visually most impressive of the three blades. The heavy, 6.625” re-curved blade of this knife is the obvious outstanding feature of the Machia. It’s big, it’s bad and very intimidating at first glance. The smart design with an overall length of just over 10” and flat ground blade make it perfect for chopping. With our media group’s extensive work in the realm of Bushcrafting made this knife a “no-brainer” to add to my camping gear.

Medium to small branches are no match for the Machia. I enjoyed at the re-curved design works well for limbing up and sharpening make-shift tent poles and stakes quickly without

BLADES: SPARTAN

I grew up hunting with my father and grandfather in environments where your equipment failing could decide your sheer survival.

As I grew older, I served in tactical operations and specialized task forces within law enforcement containing the same ramifications for failure.

Given a lifetime of solid, real-world experience, I fully understand the importance of purchasing quality tools such as knives. For folks who know wholeheartedly what this means, the biggest task they face is finding a company that produces products can trust. For me, this company has been one that builds “knives with intent” as the Spartan Blades slogan goes.

This company, one we are proud to have worked with before in PMCI, is located in my birth state of North Carolina and founded by two retired Special Forces snipers and former Private Contractors, Mark Carey and Curtis Iovito. Not only do these gentlemen set an amazing example as outstanding Americans for their service but continue their service in the form of creating exceptional fixed blade and folding knives for military, private military, law enforcement and first responders around the world.

The designs come from not only “in house” creators based on firsthand experience and user feedback but Spartan Blades also collaborates with top designers in the industry such as Les George, Tu Lam and knife legend, William Harsey.

Spartan Blades easily represents the upper end of quality knives in the industry with numerous awards for their designs and innovate but unfortunately, these blades are also considered expensive for the average person’s budget. As fate would have it, Spartan Blades was able to find a way to offer professionals and civilians alike great blades in a more budget friendly Spartan Blades Professional Grade series of impressive designs. By teaming up with an iconic American brand in the knife Industry, Ka-Bar Knives, Pineland Cutlery was born. In this article, we’ll look at just how this new venture came to be and the outstanding blades that make up the new Pro Grade also known as their Silver series.

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BLADES: SPARTAN

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having the bulk of a full-sized Kukri. (The design is also great for cracking open coconuts poolside when not working in the field.)

The 3/16” wide spine held up very well to batoning the blade through firewood when needed as well. Its overall size made lashing it to my pack a better method of carry than hanging on my belt to get snagged by branches and vines.

The Kydex locking sheath featured straps with plenty of length to weave into the Molle loops of my pack to hold the knife securely onboard.

Despite the constant the wet climate of the Florida forests and swamps, the black powder coating helped the blade resist moisture and rust very well despite not being regularly cleaned after hard use. The listed weight of .668 lbs may not sound like a lot but when you hold the Machai in your hand, you don’t think about it being just a knife, it feels like a Craftsman brand tool ready to be put to hard use. Retailing with an MSRP US$199, this is a solid combination of price and quality in a proven design that won’t let you down when your survival is on the line. (Editor’s Note: For those who are fans of the Spartan Blades / Ronin Tactics Shinto knife, consider the Machai a slightly less sexy version for almost half the cost. If you have wanted a Shinto without the price tag, this may be your best option!)

Damysus – Named for the fastest of all giants in Greek mythology.

Of the three blades in the Professional series, the Damysus best reflects its Ka-Bar combat knife heritage. The hefty Drop Point 5.5” Flat Ground blade with its thick .1875” spine and 10.75” overall length is a perfect fit for a battle belt or “Go” bag.

Like the Machai, the listed weight of .56 lbs. doesn’t seem like much on paper but when you are using the Damysus to cut deep into a slab of meat or attempt to quarter a 750 lb. elk in the field, the balance, handling, and weight will smoothly slice effortlessly.

Due to the lack of tapered swedge of top of the blade, the drop point offers a much stronger tip

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than most knives in this size. I have used the Damysus on several campsite settings and outdoor cooking set ups to process tinder and firewood. This blade held up much better than lesser knives tested in which the same situation cost the tip of many of them.

The flat ground blade makes for a solid camp knife or multi-use utility knife.

The blade profile strikes me as a heavy-duty version of one of my favorite William Harsey designs, the Difensa, a flagship knife from the Spartan Blades Elite Grade line. In my opinion, the Difensa is one of the best examples of weight, balance, durability, and fast handling in a fixed blade knife that I have ever encountered. With the Difensa retailing for $425, I consider being able to purchase a rugged, hard use version of this knife in the form of the Damysus for literally half the price with an MSRP of US$195 is one of the best values in the knife industry.

Like the Machai, the PALS / Molle compatible Kydex sheath that ships with the Damysus offers the same mounting options with or without the straps for gear or belt carry. Originally, I carried this with the standard straps attaching the sheath to my outer gun belt from Ronin Tactics. After taking a few instructor courses in St. Augustine, FL, I did not like how low the knife rode on the belt, so I removed the mounting plate containing the straps and replaced it with a G-Code high ride Molle attachment. This set the knife’s grip at the same level as my pistol to establish a master grip on either with the same draw stroke and effort.

Overall, the multiuse size and profile of this knife is what many have been wanting for to fit their budget. When I was a SWAT sniper with a supervisor pay grade, I could not have afforded a Difensa, but even as a slick sleeve rookie, I would have scrapped up enough extra cash from working football game details to have been able to carry a Damysus from Spartan Blades. For fans of the classic Ka-Bar combat knife, THIS IS, in many ways, the modern production fighting knife of the millennia to fit many operators’ and civilians’ post COVID apocalypse budgets.

to cleaning squirrels and white tail deer. (Yes, I do clean the blade after meat processing) Formerly, my belt carry option was a SOG Pillar until the Alala simply outperformed it in all aspects from construction, application, cutting ability and edge retention.

The Kydex sheath does not offer any mounting straps, only one designed for a secondary retention should you feel the highly effective sheath lock isn’t enough. Several of my colleagues have chosen to conceal carry these blades inside the waistband using a multipurpose UltiClip which clamps down in a vise-like fashion into your clothing. I personally decided to just mount the sheath to a Blade-Tech quick release belt mount for easy on / off application.

Thus far, through daily carry, pushing through thick vegetation moving through the woods hunting and out field-testing gear, the sheath and mount have held up with. I freely admit, I am not the type of person that cleans my gear regularly after every outing but the Black Powder Coat that comes on each of the blades in this series has held up very well from scratches, rust and discoloration.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Over the past six years, I have gotten to know the founders of Spartan Blades both through professional opportunities as well as personal avenues with Curtis’ history working with my cousin, PMCI Magazine’s own Shawn Swanson. I can honestly say, these guys are what America is all about. Mark and Curtis love their country and have sacrificed the bulk of their adult lives to its service doing things most folks will never have the courage or guts to do. To this day, these men proudly pursue living the American dream of business owners providing top quality products they themselves would count on with their lives.

In my opinion, the Spartan Blades Professional (Silver) series does nothing short of delivering on what the company and its founders stand for. Not everyone can afford a US$450 Canadian Specials Forces combat knife, nor do they probably have need for one. However, this new series of professional quality blades at a more budget friendly price does offer just as many benefits to the average working man and woman. Moving into 2022, Spartan Blades has already announced three more blades to be added to the series with more collaborations coming from the icon himself, Bill Harsey! So, if you’re looking for top quality and mission ready products, make www.SpartanBladesUSA.com your next stop. Train Hard and Continue the Fight my friends.

BLADES: SPARTAN

Alala – Named for a Greek battle-cry or war cry Why end the list with the smallest of the three knives you may ask? Because this is truly a case of saving the best for last in the fact that I spend every day with this blade. As a writer, hunter, field tester, instructor, businessman, husband, and father of 2, my typical day is far from being typical. I may be dropping the kids off as school, dropping off challenge coin and custom patch orders off at the post office, hitting the swamp to test survival equipment or jumping onto the range for private lessons on any random Monday through Friday. Weekends are spent teaching classrooms full of students from new shooters to NRA and USCCA instructor workshops. I legitimately work seven days a week and so does my Alala from Spartan Blades.

With a simple phone call or change in weather, my day may change 180 degrees from the game plan and send me in a totally different direction. I need reliable equipment that can blend into polite society and not stand out. The Alala does jus this while still giving me a fast handling, razor sharp blade that I can carry on my belt with my shirt untucked and pulled over it for quick access opposite of my concealed firearm if needed.

Retailing with a MSRP US$159, the Alala offers a high quality, razor sharp 3.75” blade with an overall knife length of 7.88”.

The thick 0.1875” spine allows for hard use throughout most any daily chores. Like its larger series mate, the Alala features a Flat Ground Drop Point blade that can pierce, slash, and cut deeply for its size. The 0.294 lb. weight of the Alala feels like I am holding an expensive 10mm wrench in my hands when using it due to the familiar contours of the grip and crosshatched checkering of each knife in the Professional (Silver) series.

I primarily carry the Alala on my left side outside my waistband on my belt opposite of my concealed carry pistol on my right for several reasons The first is the ability to access easily with my nondominated hand in case I ever must fight for my carry gun. This concern is unfortunately from the experience in law enforcement of having to fight someone off trying to unholster my duty weapon while attempting to take them into custody.

Proper placement of a quickly deployable knife on the opposite side has been proven to make short work of potentially lethal encounters.

Secondly, I like the balance of having the knife’s weight counter that of the carry gun on the opposite hip. Often, my weak hand is used to make cuts while my strong hand holds the item being cut in place. I have used this blade from cutting tags off clothing

FIREARMS - UZI PRO

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UZI PRO: THE TRADITION CONTINUES

By Trampas Swanson Few firearms throughout history are more recognizable as the iconic Uzi! It’s short, stocky appearance fitted with a seemly endless stream of 9mm ammunition via 32 round magazine and a cyclic rate of 600 rounds of minute made it a Hollywood action movie dream, and certainly has endeared to Trampas!

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irst designed by Major Uziel “Uzi” Gal in the late 1940s, Israel Military Industries (IMI) produced the Uzi platform from 1950 to 2005. The unique platform was originally meant to be a family of Israeli open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine guns in carbine, pistol (Uzi Mini), and micro Uzi pistol form. By incorporating a telescoping bolt design, the overall design allowed the magazine to be housed in the pistol grip for a shorter weapon profile. This made the Uzi very popular with elite military and law enforcement units around the world such as the Israeli Defense Forces, the German Bundeswehr and even the US Secret Service. Perhaps one of the most famous images of the Uzi being deployed into action is that of US Secret Service agents responding to the shooting of President Ronald Reagan.

As with many original full-auto designs such as the MP5, Tech 9 or Mac 10, a semi-auto redesigned to fire from a closed bolt came about to meet civilian sales regulations.

Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, the Uzi platform was very popular amongst civilian shooters and collectors. Movies that spotlighted the Uzi such as “Big Trouble in Little China”,

“Delta Force” and “Escape from LA” drove viewers to their local gun shops. Sales totaled over 2 billion dollars in the just the United States market alone by the end of 2001!

Entering the new millennium, IMI sold its small arms division (Magen) that manufactured the Uzi line of firearms in 2005 to the privately owned SK Group and rebranded the company to Israel Weapon Industries (IWI). In 2010, IWI released an updated version of the Micro Uzi named the Uzi Pro. Keeping up with the times, this new model was offered in a semi-auto pistol with an optional stabilizing brace variant to go along with the traditional military / Law Enforcement fullauto variants complete with folding stocks.

FIRST LOOK

As a long-time fan of the Uzi lore, I have owned an original Uzi carbine short barreled carbine rifle (SBR) since 2012. I decided last year to take my collection to the next step by obtaining a sample of the Uzi Pro. Upon unboxing the Uzi Pro, the familiar subgun heft of a brick with a handle still felt like a classic Uzi despite polymer being used in the lower section of the gun

for use with a suppressor to round out the complete battle package.

The Uzi was shipped with a cumbersome folding rubber arm brace that simply added bulk to an already heavy pistol.

In my opinion, Uzi Pro wasn’t complete until the SBR tax stamp arrived from the ATF and I was able to legally add a wire stock from Title II Arms (www.titleiiarms.com). This stock is reminiscent of the original Uzi Micro design and gives the Uzi Pro a sharp, professional look. With the simple removal of the spring-loaded hinge pin, the arm brace detached, and the modest rubber coated wire stock slipped into place.

UZI PRO SPECS

Caliber: 9mm Parabellum Action: Semi-auto Operating System: Blow Back Magazine Type: IWI, Steel Magazine Capacity: 20 Round, 25 Round Barrel Material: Cold hammer forged, CrMoV Barrel Length: 4.5” Threaded Overall Length 9.5” Weight: 3.66 lbs.

Rifling: 1:10 inch twist, Right hand Sights: Adjustable Target Sights MSRP: US$1,100 - US$1300

FIREARMS - UZI PRO

to lighten frame. Weighing 4.5 lbs, the Uzi Pro offers enough weight via the steel reinforced polymer lower and steel receiver to absorb recoil but not too bulky to make it unwieldy.

As I went over the gun, I took inventory of several updates to the original Uzi Micro design. I was very impressed with what I discovered throughout. The most noticeable was the relocation of the charging handle from the top to the left side of the receiver. This was an excellent decision by the manufacturer to speed up reloads along with a relocation of the magazine release from the bottom of the grip to a traditional right side location of most pistols on the market. This keeps the gun in action more efficiently for right-handed shooters by dropping magazines with the firing hand thumb and using their support hand to charge the weapon much like an HK MP5 or FAL. Replacing the original top-mounted charging hand was a Picatinny rail for mounting optics such as an RMR or Holosun red dot. Integrated into the trigger guard was a forward mounted Picatinny rail for mounting a white light. The addition of these two rail options really brings the Uzi platform into the 21st century with fast sight acquisition and target illumination.

IWI’s redesign added three safety features to the Uzi Pro as well with a thumb safety, a three-position grip safety, and a firing pin block. With the super compact size of the Uzi Pro, these features are a must to prevent any accidently discharges.

Unlike past Uzi models, the Uzi Pro is only offered in 9mm.

Current production comes standard with a threaded barrel

FIREARMS - UZI PRO

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RANGE TIME

While waiting for the tax stamp to arrive, fellow PMCI writer, Jim Wenzel and I along with our good friend, John Phillips aka “The King of Kydex” at Survivor Creek Tactical decided to load up few 20 and 25 round Uzi magazines and start breaking in the Uzi Pro. Our team headed down Interstate 10 to Baldwin, Florida to visit Tom Martin at the Baldwin Pistol School. There we spent the morning shooting, reminiscing about 80’s action movies and comparing the older style Uzi Carbine with the newer Uzi Pro. As we cycled through various loads from different manufacturers, I noticed the few issues we occurred being failure to feed issues coming from the 147 grain full metal jacket (FMJ) loads as opposed to the 115 and 124 grain FMJ loads. Of the five failures to feed issues, four of them were with Winchester brand ammunition. The best performance observed came with 115 grain FMJ loads from Federal Ammunition.

I found the arm brace to provide a solid support for firing but bulky and unbalanced. John and Jim both commented how easy the brace made being able to get the full adjustable sights on target and maintain a solid sight picture throughout their strings of fire. Compared to the original Uzi carbine, the Uzi Pro felt slightly “snappier” but it also weighed half that of the carbine as well.

Once the tax stamp arrived and the wire stock from Title II Arms was installed, I went back to the range and put over 300 rounds down range while spending the morning hanging out with my buddy Tom. During that time, I shot only Federal 115 grain ammo with zero issues and respectable 4” free hand shot groups at 10 and 15 yards for such a short 4.5” barrel. The wire stock proved a better check weld and fit at the shoulder. The Uzi Pro kept all shots well within the 9” circle of a standard IDPA style target. Not only did the Title II Arms stock look better than the arm brace, but it also easily outperformed it as well.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After almost a year of owning the Uzi Pro, I have come to really enjoy owning it. With the design upgrades and addition of the wire stock, the gun is simply fun to shoot. The compact size, highcapacity magazines and simple design make the Uzi Pro a great weapon to throw into a backpack for long road trips or keep in the bedside table for home defense.

Retailing between US$1100 US$1300, the Uzi Pro is the latest in the historic linage of the brand.

It puts fans of the Uzi platform into owning one for under the US$2000 starting price tag of any other Uzi model. For others, there is a common reaction I often get when I mention I own an Uzi. “Why on earth do you own an Uzi?”. As the NRA states in many of its training programs, firearms are owned for a wide range of reasons from home defense, competition, duty requirements, or my personal favorite, simply exercising my Second Amendment rights aka “Because I FRIGGIN’ want one!” Guns like the Uzi make up the very fabric of our 2A community for not only our past but our present and future as well.

If you’re interested in exploring the fun of shooting an Uzi Pro and experiencing a bit of firearm history for yourself visit www.iwi.us.com. It’s the duty of each of us to help grow and share the knowledge of firearms with others and explore more about our industry. As for our team, we hope to see you all on the range one day!

PHOENIX SUPPRESSOR

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GSL TECHNOLOGY: PHOENIX SUPPRESSOR

By Trampas Swanson Ask any tactical operator what the number one drawback of high rate of fire is and one of the top answers will be hearing damage. Some of my closest friends, and myself included, suffer from partial hearing loss from working with or in extreme close proximity of firearms. Sadly, many outside the professional armed community do not realize just what an important part of operator safety a quality suppressor can really be!

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hile some agency and unit heads uneducated in suppression devices may shun the stigma of ATF paperwork or cost of suppressors, Hollywood has done its fair share as well of skewing the understanding of what suppressors truly are and what they are not. To some extent, even our own gun industry has been the culprit due to competition between suppressor manufacturers and marketing large name brands with under performing products.

Regardless of the arguments, misinformation and excuses, the fact remains that quality suppressors can save from hearing damage. Not only does this benefit the end user over time but during operations as well. Quality suppressors can allow for better perception of the battlefield through sound detection. This can be footsteps, verbal communication and much more that could change the dynamic of a critical threat incident. It’s been proven time and time again over decades of operations that these tools save lives!

Ever since my last years in college going into the police academy, I have been shooting suppressors in my quest to learn as much as I could from them. Having grown up hunting since the

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WHO IS GSL TECHNOLOGY?

While the name, GSL Technology may be new to many in the suppressor world, the company bares the initials of its founder, Greg Latka. To say he has been a fixture in the industry for

well over three decades is an understatement. Perhaps you’ve heard of a suppressor company from Boise, Idaho by the name of Gemtech? That’s right, THE Greg Latka, former president of Gemtech for twenty years. What many may not realize is that most of the suppressor designs Gemtech is known worldwide for in the professional contracting, military and law enforcement circles are the creations of none other than Mr. Latka.

In 2017, the colossal firearm manufacturer, Smith and Wesson purchased Gemtech and moved its operations to Springfield, Massachusetts. What most people do not realize is GSL Technology was pretty much the main driving force behind the success of Gemtech with its innovative designs and licensed patents since 1985. With moving on from the union with Gemtech, new designs and some innovative redesigns have now begun to surface directly from GSL Technology into the market.

Based in Jackson, Michigan, all GSL suppressors are proudly made in the USA within the 25000 square foot facility featuring state-of-the-art CNC machines. GSL Technology is a certified ISO 9001 manufacturer, perhaps the highest rating you’ll ever find in the industry. With the top equipment, training, certifications, knowledge, and superior leadership on hand, it’s clear that this is a company who completely understands what it takes to be successful in this industry.

PHOENIX SUPPRESSOR

age of four, my hearing had already been affected significantly from the use of large caliber handguns and rifles in conjunction with regularly shooting shotguns. The bulk of this time on the range and in the field was carried out without hearing protection.

During my law enforcement career, I was able to work with suppressors on a broad spectrum from CQB to long range application. This is when I really began to understand their full benefits and yes, even drawbacks. Over the past 25 years, I have seen several different interesting, patented designs. Some were suppressors that worked well and some that simply weren’t worth the time, money, or tax stamp.

Recently, I discovered a suppressor company that has been around for over 35 years named GSL Technology. My first question was how this company had managed to never pop up on my radar considering all the great reviews I read in the beginning of my initial research for this article. Even their designs looked familiar despite the never hearing the company’s name. As it turned out, I knew more than I realized when I decided to review the GSL Technology Phoenix suppressor designed for the MP5 platform. To better understand the product being reviewed, we need to first understand the driving force behind GSL Technology.

RISE OF THE PHOENIX

As a huge fan of the HK MP5 platform, I love using tri-lug

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PHOENIX SUPPRESSOR

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quick detach suppressors. I have probably shot well over three dozen designs throughout my law enforcement operations and civilian instructor careers. Two of the earliest suppressors I could remember using for the platform were 9mm suppressors from Surefire and Gemtech. The Surefire design was narrow and elongated compared to the Gemtech model MK9K. While the Gemtech suppressors may have been bulkier, in my opinion, it edged out the performance of the Surefire with the training and duty ammunition we used at the time.

Flash forward to three months ago when I was on the range talking with a few suppressor dealers about new products on the market. During our conversation, I was introduced to the GSL Technology brand. As I mentioned in the opening of this article, once I discovered just WHO this company was and the man behind it, I wanted to know firsthand about their products. The best way would be in offering to do an in-depth review of some of their products. I reached out to GSL directly and requested to test out their tri lug Phoenix 9mm suppressor optimized for use with the HK MP5 platform.

A couple of weeks after putting my T&E request, the Phoenix suppressor arrived. As I unboxed it from the simple cardboard container, I recognized the outside design from years past. The information I had obtained about the Phoenix being revamped MK9K design with a more modern updated redesign certainly looked and felt true. It was everything I remembered about the original suppressor I had enjoyed from years past. However, after

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disassembly, the seven-baffle stack as well as inner and exterior chamber leading off the blast baffles seemed to take the Phoenix back to one of GSL’s original patents. Anyone familiar with the OSS suppressors and their blast diffusion designs will enjoy GSL’s similar design whose patents predate OSS by a couple of decades.

With an overall 8.75” and 2” in diameter, this isn’t a small can.

To compare this physically with something like an Omega K suppressor would be unfair. What would be the goal? For sleek lines and tacti-cool looks? If we’re looking at real world specs such as balance, maneuverability of host weapon and performance, then what does size really matter if these things are relatively equal with one doing its primary job of sound suppression better?

GSL claims on their website page for this specific high volume, full auto rated suppressor to have a 40 dB reduction in sound. For those who are familiar with suppressors, you know that is a HUGE reduction claim compared to others on the market and by that fact alone, I could not wait to get on the range to test the Phoenix as soon as possible.

PHOENIX SPECS Caliber:

Sound Reduction: Length: Diameter:

9mm PCCs, 38spc rifles, 357 rifles, and (300blk-subsonic rounds only) 40 dB 8.75” 2”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Weight: 18.2 oz.

Materials: Aluminum/Stainless Finish: Hard Coat Anodize Mount: Tri-lock design for HK MP5 Tri-lug barrel mount MSRP: $932 ***Additional mounts available for IMI Uzi, SIG MPX, CZ Scorpion, 1/2x28 fixed, 1/2x36, and 5/8x24 fixed thread adaptors.

RANGE TIME

To put the Phoenix through its paces, I packed up my registered short barrel rifle (SBR) HK SP5K (civilian MP5 variant) and a few hundred rounds of Federal 115 grain and SIG Sauer 147 grain full metal jacket (FMJ) ammunition. The rifle and suppressor fit perfectly in a submachine gun-sized rifle case I had on hand from US Peacekeeper. After a couple of quick phone calls, I grabbed my gear and headed out to our host test range, the Baldwin Pistol School.

Upon my arrival, I was met with range owner and retired law enforcement Detective, Tom Martin as well as retired law enforcement officer and fellow PMCI writer, Jim Wenzel. With over 40 years of combined law enforcement and firearms training aside from many more in the civilian world with suppressors, I was confident the feedback would come from a well experienced and knowledgeable perspective.

Starting with the supersonic 115 grain Federal FMJ ammunition, I wanted to see what the Phoenix could do with our standard pistol training ammunition. As I braced for the traditional first shot “POP” of most suppressors, it was more of a supersonic “CRACK” that

One of my favorite things about using tri-lug suppressors is how quickly they can be attached and detached with ease. After extensively testing the Phoenix suppressor from GSL Technology, I wouldn’t want to shoot my HK SP5K without it now. Other than for sheer compact storage, I would not consider taking the suppressor off to shoot at this point. It performed well, balanced the rifle beautifully and shot spot on with its zero.

As I mentioned earlier, the Phoenix is the largest of the nine suppressor offerings currently on the market that I know of or have tested. With its lightweight and balance, its physical dimensions never came as a factor. If anything, it proved that, with size comes performance. The GSL Phoenix outperformed all the other 9mm trilug suppressors I have shot on the market, including vastly popular offerings from Silencer Co and Dead Air Armament.

I consider the GSL Phoenix one of the suppressor industry’s best kept secrets that professionals talk about only to other professionals. At least for now. With the driving force behind one of the mega stars in the suppressor industry now stepping out from the Gemtech shadows to finally market directly as themselves, it is only a matter of time before more customers discover who they are and have always been. The decades of knowledge, innovation, precision, and attention to detail without cutting corners are extremely impressive.

Retailing for US$932, the Phoenix offers big performance with a mid-level price point. You can get bigger names for more and lesser suppressors for cheaper. If there is a digitally rated quieter tri-lug suppressor, I highly doubt it would be rated better by much.

Regardless, I can assure you it would not be at the same price point or value for what you get with GSL Technology.

Simply put, if performance is more important than looking cool using whatever over-marketed company that is currently in vogue, I would highly recommend trying the tri lug Phoenix for yourself and enjoy just how impressive this suppressor can be.

Visit www.GSLTechnology.com and discover which GSL suppressor best fits your needs. Until next time, Train Hard and Continue the Fight my friends!

PHOENIX SUPPRESSOR

rang out from the sonic boom of the round traveling down range rather than normally at the muzzle. Each following shot was just as manageable without hearing protection as the first, if not better. I was very pleased to say the least.

The iron sights on the HK SP5K were previously zeroed using the 115 grain load to establish a baseline for testing. From 10 and 15 yards, the Point of Aim (POA) versus the Point of Impact (POI) of the test rounds did not differ. This is a very important aspect when using any suppressor because you must know the zero of your weapon at all times for accuracy and liability purposes.

When switching to the heavier subsonic SIG Sauer 147 grain ammunition, the group first impression was simply…WOW! It was amazingly quiet. Just as impressive was the POA / POI held true.

I felt the perceived recoil and controllability during higher rates of fire were easier to manage when using the 147 grain ammo suppressed versus any other combination being unsuppressed.

It should be noted that after roughly 200 rounds, we discussed the suppressor didn’t seem to get as hot as fast as other 9 mm suppressors we have all had opportunities to shoot. Whether that has to do with the larger size or the revamped internal design I am not sure, but for all three of us to mention it, there must have been something to it.

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WILLIAMS GLOCK 42/ 43 SIGHTS WILLIAMS GLOCK 42/ 43 SIGHTS

By Trampas Swanson One of the most disappointing items to encounter when shopping for a new defensive handgun is to find a great deal on the pistol you want, but realize, it comes with less than stellar factory iron sights, so Trampas takes time to look at, and address, this issue with Williams Gun Sight Company!

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or those who follow my firearm reviews, its no secret, I really like the Glock series of pistols. Unfortunately, I really hate the cheap, plastic factory sights with the ostentatious “U” shaped outlined rear sight and golf ball sized white dot front sight. I find it a very distracting to my focus when shooting as it tends to make one giant bright white blur when addressing the target quickly.

Recently, I had the opportunity to purchase a Glock model 43 9mm pistol with a factory installed Crimson Trace laser unit. With the pistol originally being a writer’s sample sent for review and the price was hard to say “NO” to once I wrapped on the article. Unfortunately, despite the great price and features, it did however arrive with the factory white plastic sights. I quickly researched my options since the model 42 / 43 were still relatively new and on a different size platform than other model Glocks. My good friend told me about a business making top-notch fiber-optic sights called the Williams Gun Sight Company. After reading up on the company, I discovered Williams made reliable, defensive and target model front and rear pistol, rifle and shotgun sights made from solid aluminum and fiber optics. I immediately ordered a set of defensive sights with red and green fiber optics to fit the Glock model 42 / 43.

Within a few days, the new sights arrived from Williams Gun Sight Company ready for action. Using my MGW Sight-Pro sight pusher, switching out the factory sights for the new sights was a breeze. The longest part of the process was simply setting

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WILLIAMS GLOCK 42/ 43 SIGHTS

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up the sight pusher for the right size and position. The sight pusher used may be the most recent in a history of over a half dozen sight pushers and twice the investment of all the others combined but it is certainly the last one I will ever have to buy.

The interchangeable “shoes” that hold the slide safely in place from damage and heavy duty all steel construction are well worth the money!

Once installed, these sights were fantastic compared to the factory offerings. The Glock 43 is a relatively small platform in relation to a lot of handguns shooters are traditionally used to.

The small slide lends itself normally to small, hard to see sights.

I found the newly installed Williams sights were clear and fast to acquire when shooting from defensive positions, even in low light.

I needed very little ambient light to make these sights appear ready to use.

Prior to using the new sights, I had a concern that the fiberoptic sights would be so bright, it would distract me from the target. Fortunately, the sights had the opposite effect. I found the sights aided my eyes in focusing on the clear green front sight easier and not get caught up in the tunnel vision of staring at the target as my main clear focus. The red rear fiber-optics contrasted starkly to the front sight. The deep “U” cut out in the rear sight along with the thin profile of the front sight allowed for a great view of the target while easily keeping “equal height, equal light” between the two sights. This was excellent in quickly developing a solid sight alignment and sight picture without confusion of which sight was which in relation to the target in a split second.

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Follow up shots such as quick double taps as well as longer strings of fire seemed to be seamless compared to the factory sights. The main reason why would be due to being able to acquire the Williams brand quicker after breaking each shot and cycling through the recoil. The snag-free, low profile design of the sights’ height keeps “height over bore axis” as low as possible.

This resulted in point of aim / point of impact being dead on at the standard defensive training distance of around 21 feet. The sturdy all aluminum built sights gave me confidence in durability during rough use in comparison to the original Glock offering.

Retailing with a MSRP of US$49.99, I think the Williams fiber optic sights are a great value for what you get. My only suggestion for the Williams Gun Sight Company would be to make the rear sights with a squared front profile for an easier one handed tactical reloads in emergency situations such as having your dominant hand injured. A completely blacked out rear sight would be nice to see as well.

Many firearms trainers I know often prefer to only have the front sight stand out when speed shooting. As the pistol used for testing is often carried at night, I would like to eventually see the Williams Gun Sight Company offer a Tritium front sight insert as well. I realize that this variation to the current sights would come with a hike in price, many shooters may feel the cost would be well worth it. Overall, as a direct replacement for the white “U” outline and dot Glock sights, the Williams sights are a spot on quick fix that will place you way ahead of the game for a very low price.

PMCI

BOOK REVIEW

I'd like to take the time to introduce you to our model featured left, a friend of mine named Travis Partyka, affectionally known as 'Big Red'. 2-14INF 10th MTN DIV Sniper, contractor and friend.

Well remembered and sorely missed 27/6/84 - 24/01/21 RIP TP. Baz, PMCI Team.

GUNSHIP ACE: THE WARS OF NEALL ELLIS, GUNSHIP PILOT AND MERCENARY

BOOK REVIEW

Al Venter is a specialist military writer and has had 50 books published, and I’ve had the great pleasure off reading more than a few of them, but most especially the ones he has written about the “small wars” in Africa during the1970’s and 80’s. His writing style is detailed yet easy-going, and it’s a style that I personally find enjoyable, especially as the facts he illustrates are often memorable to say the least!

In “Gunship Ace” he chronicles a former South African Air Force pilot who saw action throughout the region from the 1970s on, and Neall Ellis is the best-known mercenary combat aviator alive! Apart from flying Alouette helicopter gunships in Angola, he fought in the Balkan war for the Islamic forces, tried to resuscitate Mobutu’s ailing air force during his final days ruling the Congo, flew Mi-8s for Executive Outcomes, and piloted an Mi-8 fondly dubbed “Bokkie” for Colonel Tim Spicer in Sierra Leone. Finally, with a pair of aging Mi-24 Hinds, Ellis ran the Air Wing out of Aberdeen Barracks in the war against Sankoh’s vicious RUF rebels.

As a “civilian contractor,” Ellis has also flown helicopter support missions in Afghanistan, where, he reckons, he had more close shaves than in his entire previous four decades.

From single-handedly turning the enemy back from the gates of Freetown to helping rescue eleven British soldiers who’d been taken hostage, Ellis’s many missions earned him a price on his head, with reports of a million-dollar dead-or-alive reward. This book describes the full career of this storied aerial warrior, from the bush and jungles of Africa to the forests of the Balkans and the merciless mountains of Afghanistan. Along the way the reader encounters a multiethnic array of enemies ranging from ideological to cold-blooded to pure evil, as well as examples of incredible heroism for hire.

And in fact when it comes to Al Venter himself his story is no less interesting; he started his career with Geneva’s Interavia Group, then owners of International Defence Review, to cover military developments in the Middle East and Africa. Venter has been writing on these and related issues such as guerrilla warfare, insurgency, the Middle East and conflict in general for half a century.

He was involved with Jane’s Information Group for more than 30 years and was a stringer for the BBC, NBC News (New York) as

well as London’s Daily Express and Sunday Express. He branched into television work in the early 1980s and produced more than 100 documentaries, many of which were internationally flighted.

His one-hour film, Africa’s Killing Fields (on the Ugandan civil war), was shown nationwide in the United States on the PBS network.

Publisher: Casemate Publishers; Illustrated edition (19 Jan. 2012) Language: English Hardcover: 340 pages ISBN-10: 1612000703

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Helikon-Tex®

SFU NEXT Pants® Mk2 Improved battlefield classics

• Two large hook & loop closed cargo pockets on the sides • Redesigned to fit better • Reinforcements on seat and knees

CHECK OUT NEW HELIKON-TEX® SFU NEXT PANTS® MKII

Journey to Perfection

THE GUNFIGHTER GOES GAS!

By Bill Thomas VeagForceCompany produce some fabulous “6MM TRAINING” gas AR platforms, and work closely with real-world firearm manufacturers to ensure that their recreations are 100% spot-on, so this time Bill turns his attention to their take on the BCM MCMR, an absolutely fantastic GBBR “trainer”!

I had massively high hopes that the gas version of the MCMR would be every bit as good as the models, like my SR16, that came before! I already own a couple of VFC gassers and love them as both training tools and exact replicas of a firearm that I sadly can’t own legally here in the UK, and in fact that VFC SR16 GBBR is one of my absolute favourite “trainers” and has already given me a couple of years of sterling service and much enjoyment; in fact, if pushed, I would have to admit that until very recently this has been my favourite carbine amongst MANY that I own, including my .22LRs! But then just a few months ago came the BCM MCMR; I had thought that the SR16 would take a long time before it was knocked off pole position, but then my dear friend Ray messaged me to say that he was sending me over the gas version of the MCMR… and ALL bets were off!

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6MM TRAINING - VFC BCM MCMR

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’mon, anyone who knows me, or that reads PMCI regularly knows that I am just a HUGE VFC fanboy when it comes to gas training carbines that mimic the real-deal down to the smallest detail! VFC are a company that I’ve got to know very well indeed, and I’ve used their high-quality, innovative creations pretty much from the day they started!

I’ve got to know Ray at VFC pretty well and speak to him these days not just as a trusted contact in a truly global industry, but also as a personal friend, now of some years standing.

That means that when Ray tells me, with his “work hat” on, that something amazing is coming, I trust his opinion 100%. Of course when it comes to VFC GBBRs (Gas Blow Back Rifles) I also have the experience of many years use of their models on the range, and those models have all had literally thousands of BBs through them, so I know just a little about how VFC platforms perform not only as new, but also as they age. Bottom line is that VFC is a brand that I 100% trust (although like any brand they’ve had their ups and downs), and the fact that I have a really good friend inside the company means that I get to know about things in advance and get all excited but have to say “sorry, my lips are sealed…”

It’s been pretty obvious that a new model that I have been massively excited about is the MCMR (M-LOK Compatible Modular Rail) created by VFC under their new partnership and licencing agreement with Bravo Company USA, Inc (BCM), and after thorough and extensive range-testing this magnificent carbine has proved to be everything I’d been led to believe it would be, and more!

I absolutely adore a GBBR knowing that it’s gone through all the checks and balances pre-production, thorough torture-testing, design and re-design, and a carefully controlled manufacturing process before I part with any cash. I also like a properly licenced replica as I know then what I’m getting is going to be as close to the “real deal” as possible, and VFC are past masters at conforming to all of the aforementioned processes.

6MM TRAINING - VFC BCM MCMR

BCM MCMR!

BCM is, at least to me, such an important brand to finally see in licenced 6MM form, and you REALLY need to understand where I’m coming from to fully appreciate what is on offer from VFC! BCM started in the garage of a USMC veteran in Wisconsin, shortly after Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. As their website proudly tells one and all, BCM was founded to support the needs of Private Security Professionals working in theatres where durable mil-spec components for their weapon systems were not readily available. BCM (Bravo Company MFG, Inc.) builds professional grade weaponry manufactured, reinforced and tested to meet the unforgiving needs of professional Soldiers, Law Enforcement and responsible citizens in some of the most high threat environments in the world, products that are; “Engineered and built as lifesaving equipment with industryleading mechanical quality control, BCM lifesaving tools serve US Military Special Operations Units, Department of Homeland Security, responsible American citizens and other government agencies at home and around the world.”

Bravo Company are one of the “good guys”, and their motto is the classic “Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum” (If You Wish for Peace; Prepare for War), and everything they create is with this mindset in place. No shortcuts, no substitutions, no half measures, and they say go on to say that “BCM was founded to provide militarystandard weapons systems to the American Warrior. BCM builds them to be as unbreakable as the people who use them”. Built using the highest-quality materials and tested to meet the needs of the most demanding users, BCM equipment increases survivability in dangerous situations.

Again, you may have noticed in all the reviews I carry out on replica firearm models that I regularly make use of the words ‘Fully Licenced’, and it’s something that is very important to me. There are many ‘replicas’ out there that may on first glance look like the

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original that they are designed to resemble, but in many cases it is just that, a ‘resemblance’ rather than a true reproduction. Whilst this may seem unimportant, in fact it’s a vital part of how the industry works as a whole, both real and replica. Development of any firearm takes years, and costs many thousands of buckeroos, and both aftermarket parts and accessories form yet another part of the process. Trademark infringement is a serious matter, and failing to work with real world firearms manufacturers could see them withdrawing their products altogether from the replica market.

VFC have worked in total harmony with BCM under their “BCMAIR” program, even down to using the original design specifications of the “real deal” to provide a replica with a completely authentic look and feel. Each MCMR comes with authentic BCM markings throughout, on the unique “MOD 1 SOPMOD” stock, the ergonomic and nicely-stippled “MOD 3” pistol grip, both upper and lower receivers, on the rail itself, and even on the “MOD 0 - 5.56” compensator at the sharp end, all of which means that this is a fully tried, tested and fully licenced replica! The MCMR, as a superlative high-performance GBBR, just looks fabulous, literally now as real as it gets!

IT’S ALL ABOUT GUTS

So far so much the same, right? However, it’s all about what’s inside the GBBR that makes the difference and really gives it some highquality, high-performance “guts”!

Overall the fit and finish of the GBB MCMR is superbly, gorgeously first rate, right down to the sharp and crisp trademarks, and I’d go so far as saying that it somehow just feels great, to me at least. Everything about this training replica is utterly righteous, and just having it in your hands makes you feel that you’re holding something pretty darn special!

So what, to me, makes the VFC replica of the MCMR “real”, and the answer is simple! If you can find a 6MM replica of a specific “AR”

build quality and superb components, the MCMR also offers realistic take-down; by splitting the receivers you can remove the BCG for cleaning and maintenance, again, just like the real thing.

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that is 100% exactly like its real world counterpart, that feels, can be adjusted, and operates (albeit from gas and BBs in each magazine rather than bullets and propellant) like a real carbine for the same price I would love to hear about it!

Overall the VFC MCMR is as close to the real deal as you’ll find in 6MM form, and everything is nailed down to look and feel exactly as it would on the real thing, including the operating system. There are many steel parts apparent on the MCMR, including the Bolt Catch, Magazine Release, Selector, Dummy Forward Assist, and Dust Cover.

Also in steel is the Trigger Set which has Firing Pin parts of a totally new design and a “Non-Cut Lever” steel Hammer Set. VFC tell me that: “The new firing pin parts have a deeper installation position to effectively strengthen (and add) stability, and the improved lower receiver (a redesign of the internal AR series GBBR lower receiver) is equipped with positioning holes, so it’s not easy to cause installation deviation or skew things during operation.”

The steel components continue into a full-travel CNC Bolt Carrier Assembly with a stronger steel bolt cam pin to mimic the “bolt carrier group (BCG)” of the real BCM, and this has some real muscle, especially when it’s married up to the High-Speed (weight increased) Buffer Unit; VFC have even fitted a steel Buffer Stop to make sure this added dynamic doesn’t cause damage during continued use!

As with VFCs previous gas ARs this replicates exactly the operation of the real carbine so your drills need to be 100% the same; for instance the VFC gas magazines (and the MCMR is fully compatible with VFCs excellent gas V-Mags) only hold 30 BBs so your reloads need to be slick and lo-drag. In addition to luxurious

I honestly have fallen in love with the MCMR as a training platform, as everything just seems “right” to me! I love the BCM licenced furniture from the stock through the ergonomic pistol grip, and onto the distinctive M-LOK rail; once again I added a foregrip and a holosight so it feels comfortable for me, and the overall length (stock fully extended) of 790mm and weight (with mag) of 1958g is absolutely perfect in my mind for a “trainin’ iron”!

I’ve now managed to get in some serious rangetime with it (not a chore if I’m honest!) and the added sense of realism that the gas operation adds to a platform I’ve already fallen in love with just adds to the feeling that you’ve got something more akin to a real firearm in your hands rather than a 6MM version! There are many gas rifles and carbines out there now that “simulate” the real thing, and many of them are very, very expensive beasts; having now shot the MCMR on a sustained basis I can tell you that it will perform as well as the best.

I have said this of other VFC GBBR models, but the MCMR is far from being your average “BB gun” and for this reason I don’t believe you’ll be seeing it regularly in the gaming sphere, but to be perfectly honest the MCMR hasn’t been designed and made for the mass market, it’s been created for “those that know”, people and players that want an 6MM carbine that not only looks fabulous, but one which operates exactly like the “real deal”! For those that don’t, like me, have access to the real thing for training purposes or want to test themselves to the limit on the range without taking out another mortgage, then this GBBR is just sublime, and I believe that both VFC and BCM must be very, VERY pleased with what they’ve created…

I KNOW that I am, and once again I am excited to see what my old friends at VegaForceCompany do with the “BCMAIR” program next!

My sincere thanks go to my good mate Ray at www. vegaforce.com for helping me to understand “The Way of the MCMR” just a little more than I did before, and for sending over the GBBR for evaluation.

6MM TRAINING - VFC BCM MCMR

I took the MCMR GBBR to my usual 30m woodland range to chrono and test, and in terms of power I got a consistent 1.33 Joule/379fps on a .20g RZR BB using VORSK V8 gas , and upping to .30g RZR BBs the accuracy was amazing at that range; the MCMR benefits from VFCs “Guide Hop” technology where you can easily adjust the hop by using a hex wrench to fine tune via a mechanism in the fake gas block… gone are the days when you needed to split the receiver to adjust the hop, or to create a “fettling tool” to do it! Measuring out 70m in the woods I secured one of our “training steels” and had at it prone… suffice to say that the “gong was a’ringin’” with every carefully placed .30g BB!

pmcimagazine.com

52

Advanced Security Protection

Blackstone Consultancy

http://www.advancedsecurityprotection.com/

http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com;

AKE Group

Blue Hackle

http://www.akegroup.com/

http://www.bluehackle.com/

Ambrey Risk

Blue Waters Partners Global

http://www.ambreyrisk.com

http://www.preparedex.com/

Antipirates.Org

BP Global

http://www.antipirates.org/

http://www.bp.com/

APPDS

Britam Defence

http://www.appds.co.uk/

http://www.britamdefence.com/

Aquatic Marine Ltd

British Maritime Solutions

http://www.aquaticmarineltd.com

http://britishmaritimesolutions.com

Protect Asia Group

BW Offshore

http://www.protectasia.com/

http://www.bwoffshore.com/

Secopex

Calibre International Security

http://www.secopex.com/

http://www.calibre-international.com/

Aspida

Chilport

http://www.aspida.org/

http://www.chilport.co.uk/

Associated Risk Maritime Risk Management

Chiron Resources

http://www.associated-risks.com

http://www.chironresources.com

Bancroft Maritime Security Solutions

Clearwater Special Projects

http://www.maritimesecuritysolutions.co.uk

http://www.bodyguarding.co.uk/

Bechtel Corporation

Control Risks

http://www.bechtel.com/

http://www.control-risks.com

Black Pearl

Decatur Maritime Security

http://www.blackpearlmaritimesecurity.com/

http://www.decaturms.com/

Drum Cussac

HP TerraMarine International

http://www.drum-cussac.com/Index.aspx

http://www.hpterramarine.com/

Dryad Maritime

Hudson Trident

http://www.dryadmaritime.com/

http://hudsonanalytix.com

Edinburgh International

ICTS

http://www.edinburghint.com/home/

http://www.icts.co.uk

Elite Maritime Protection Services

IMSA Ltd

http://www.elitemaritimeprotection.com

http://www.imsaltd.com/

EOS Risk Management

International Executive Recruiting

https://www.eosrisk.com/

http://www.iernetwork.com

Erus Maritime

International Maritime Security

http://www.erusrisk.com

http://www.intmarsec.co.uk

Espada

International Maritime Security

http://www.espadaservices.com

http://www.intmarsec.co.uk/

Ex Military Recruitment

International Security Network

https://www.exmil.co.uk

http://www.isn.eu.com

Exploration Logistics Group

ISC Gulf

http://www.frontiermedex.com/

http://www.iscgulf.com/

G4S Maritime

ISSG Sea Marshalls

http://www.g4s.uk.com

http://www.issg-seamarshals.com/

Genesis Security Group http://genesissecurity.com/

Global Executive Outreach http://www.geo-ops.com/

Global Risk Security http://www.globalrisksecurity. co.uk/

Global Solace http://www.solaceglobal.com/

Global Strategies Group http://www.globalgroup.com/

Grail Security http://www.grail.co.za

Halliburton http://www.halliburton.com/en-USage

Halogen Security http://www.halogensecurity.com/

Hart Maritime http://www.hartsecurity.com

Hill & Associates http://www.hillassoc.com

Janusian Risk Advisory Group

MTResolution

http://www.riskadvisory.net/

http://www.mtresolution.com/

Kroll

MUSC

http://www.kroll.com/

http://www.sps-global.com

Longmoor Group

Naval Guards

http://www.longmoor-security.com

http://www.navalguards.com

Lotus Maritime Security

Neptune Security

http://www.lotusmaritime.com

http://www.neptunemaritimesecurity.com/

Lotus Projects

NNK Group

http://www.lpyemen.com

https://www.nnkcorporation.com

Maersk

NYA International

http://www.maersk.com/pages/default.aspx

http://www.nyainternational.com

Magregor Protection Services

Ocean Marshalls

http://macgregorprotectionservices.com

http://www.oceanmarshalls.com

March Security

Ocean Protective Services

www.marchsecurity.com

http://oceanprotectionservices.com

Maritime Risk International

Oceaneering International

http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/

http://www.oceaneering.com/

Marsec

Olchon

http://www.marsec.eu.com

http://www.olchon.co.uk/

MAST

Olive Group

http://www.mast-commercial.com

http://www.olivegroup.com/

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/

http://www.oxberryrisk.com/maritime_services

Minimal Risk

Pilgrim Group

http://www.minimalrisk.co.uk/

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com

MSS

Pilgrim Security

http://www.mss-uk.com

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com

54

Pistris

SEAL

http://www.pistris.com/Index.html

http://www.sealsecurity.com/

Protect Asia Group

Securescot

http://www.protectasia.com/

http://www.securescot.com

PVI Ltd

Securewest International

http://www.pviltd.com/

http://www.securewest.com/

Raven Special Projects Ltd

Security Networking Events

http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com

http://snespecialprojects.com/

Red Cell Security

Security Networking Events

http://www.redcellsecurity.co.uk

http://snespecialprojects.com/

Redfour-MSS

Securoquest

http://www.redfour-group.com

http://www.securoquest.co.za

Saladin Security Group

Shield Risk Consulting

http://www.saladin-security.com/

http://www.shield.eu/services/maritime-security/

Saladin Security

Shipguard

http://www.saladin-security.com/

http://www.mss-uk.com

Salama Fikira

SMS

http://www.salamafikira.com/

www.specialistmarineservices.com

SMS

SPS

www.specialistmarineservices.com

http://www.sps-global.com

Tor International

Tactical Intel

http://www.torinternational.com/

http://www.tacticalintel.com/

Trojan Securities International

Thalassic

http://www.trojansecurities.com/

http://www.thalassic.co.uk/

Orchid Security

Tor International

http://www.orchid-office.com/

http://www.torinternational.com/

Blackstone Consultancy

Torcuss

http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com/

http://www.torcuss.co.za/

Pilgrim Group

Triskle TSL

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com/

http://www.triskelservices.com

Maritime Risk International

Triton Security

http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/

http://www.tritoninternationalltd.com

International Maritime Security

Trojan Securities

http://www.intmarsec.co.uk/

http://www.trojansecurities.com

Raven Special Projects Ltd

Veritas International

http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com/

http://www.veritas-international.com/

Salamanca Risk Management http://www.salamancarm.com

Sea Marshalls Ltd UK http://www.seamarshals.com