FEB 2016
Contents
4 TRAINING: INSTRUCTOR ZERO: We meet the man behind the myth! 8 Book Review: “Arms of Little Value”. 10 Training: Commercial Surveillance Getting together with the real “grey men” to find out exactly what goes on task with them and why
Editor (UK): Bill Thomas
15 Training: FRECs: ARG Medical introduce us to their new medical course
Editor (International): Dan Eastes
18 Industry Update: Hutchy gives us his thoughts on why you need to keep your firearms skills up to scratch!
Publisher: Nigel Streeter
20 Gear On Test: The PMCI Team make their recommendations on the latest gear to hit the market. 26 Tactical Innovation: Hyde Definitions PenCott camouflage patterns have been an increasing success story; we look at them in depth and also note the growing numbers of manufacturing partners working with them!
Graphic Design: Baz Thakur PMCI Magazine is a digital-only publication, published bi-monthly and available FREE OF CHARGE via the PMCI app on the following platforms: Apple iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Windows Phone. For more information visit our publishing partner: www.PocketMags.com
32 Meet the Manufacturer: PMCI goes behind the scenes with Claw Gear 36 Book Review: Small Arms 1945 - present 39 Firearms Spotlight: Got a civilian Benelli shotgun that needs bringing up to military specification? Trampas looks at both the process and the US legalities to create something pretty special! 42 Tech and Tools: Stunning knives from POHL FORCE
PMCI can also be read online at: www.issuu.com Calibre Publishing Limited Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern,
44 Special Report: Craig takes us into the belly of the beast that is the SHOT Show in Vegas! 48 Head to Head: This time our two tame contractors discuss how they keep their shooting skills honed while not deployed.
Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.pmcimagazine.com ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2014
50 Training Tools: Airsoft replicas for training; hype or not? 54 Industry Vacancies: Looking for work? Just check here.
Letter, idea or question? Got something to say? A question for our
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Copyright © Calibre Publishing 2014. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The Editors reserve the right to edit submissions prior to publication.
experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a
Thank you for downloading this Edition of PMCI, the FREE digital publication dedicated to PMC Operatives. PMCI is written by individuals with first hand knowledge and experience of the subject they write about - people like Col. Gerry Schumacher (USSF Ret.), author Simon Chambers and ex-TL Dan E, all of whom have an intimate understanding of what the role entails and the day to day challenges faced by PMCs.
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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 PHOTO CREDITS: Cover: Team Zero. Authors where applicable, Shutterstock.com, Istockphoto.com
line and let us know. Either email the editor (editor@pmcimagazine.com), write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk
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TRAINING:
TEAM ZERO
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TRAINING:
INSTUCTOR ZERO If you’re a fan of following tactical trainers online then the name “Instructor Zero” will be high on your list of those that you follow. This training sensation has shown us many new and innovative new ways to run sound drills whilst at the same time working with top-end units and organisations worldwide!
W
ith fast paced movement drills involving obstacles to negotiate, hostage scenarios, and even long range handgun shots, this diminutive gentleman is lighting quick, deadly accurate, and totally precise in everything he does. Known solely in the tactical world as Instructor Zero, he is a former Italian Paratrooper, and Zero currently heads up a team of fellow trainers, aptly named, Team Zero, who travel the world training various military Special Forces and private contractor groups throughout the year, and tracking him down for an interview proved a special mission in itself! After much emailing back and forth I finally managed to speak to the Team Zero USA Manager, Operator 11. For obvious reasons Instructor Zero and the rest of Team Zero are careful who they talk to, but after showing him who we at PMCI already work with and gaining their hard-won trust I was delighted to be able to pose my questions to the good Instructor himself. And what a ride it turned out to be! If you follow his videos then you’ll know this is a man who is totally committed to, and extremely passionate about, what he does. This guy epitomises the phrase “hi-speed, lo-drag” in everything he does and is utterly professional in all aspects of his chosen “trade”.
English is not his first language but I’ve purposely left his answers exactly how he gave them to me and I believe that you’ll see his sheer character shining through in his responses. So, without further ado let’s hear what Instructor Zero has to tell us! PMCI: Instructor Zero, in your own words can you tell me what led you to set up your unique training programs and Team Zero? Obviously the engine behind everything is the passion for this kind of life I’ve always had since I was little. I started my military experience in the Airborne Brigade, and from that moment on I never stopped studying, to research, to try and to experiment tons of Technical Options, Drills, Training Protocols, and Application Protocols. Every time we were on the field to operate we found problems, and we generate question marks on what we can do to be better at our job and our tasks. I simply found solutions to the questions that came from the application context in the Training Field. This is a job that needs to be done in a TEAM ... so that’s why TEAM ZERO, today we have many TEAMS all around the world, starting from the USA to South America, Europe, South and East Asia. PMCI: When and where did you start running your courses? So, it’s little bit complicated to explain, because many years ago the situation was different ... we provided different kind of Tasks ... also training.
Protocols without the proper tools and with the environmental conditions very tough ... PMCI: You provide training to the military and police; what does this entail? This means many different things and involves many different risks. It means for example that every time each task takes months to receive the appropriate security clearances, It means that whenever our expertise, our professional duties, our backgrounds are checked, It means working with professionals among the best in the world you cannot tell bullshit or afford to make mistakes. When you go to train and support a Special Counter Narcotics Unit in some of the worst areas in South America your task become a HIGH RISK task ... When you go to train and support a Special Counterterrorism Unit in an area of the world where that kind of phenomenon is consistent ... you need to know that you are going to be in HRA ... We worked all around the world with Special Forces and Special Units that work against the Terrorist Organizations, against the Drug Cartels, against some of the biggest International Criminal Organizations and we always do this in their countries ... in their environments in the middle of the problem. PMCI: Do you train just military and police personnel or civilians too? And give an insight to what you do? I’m certain that there is something you offer that would be pertinent to each and every one of our readers! As I said before, we work 98% with SF or Special Units from LE … and 2% on the Private Market. Explain here what we do it’s too hard and long to write, could be easier for sure if you go in our Page on FB Instructor Zero or in
TEAM ZERO
Sometimes we work in some place like jungle, desert or under the snow where you can’t have nothing except passion, competence to organize your job and do a great result with what you can find there. Sometimes it’s so hard to arrive to apply the proper training
TRAINING:
Probably after 2006 we started to provide more training than the years before ... Where ... I don’t remember where we started ... but for sure somewhere with a lot of heat ... PMCI: What exactly do you specialise in? I’m specialized in the technical implementation on the use of the weapons platforms such as: Pistol, Rifle Tactics, Small Rifles, Shotgun ... whether alone or in a team. We are Specialists in the use “NOT Conventional” of some platforms. I’m specialized in the implementation of the cognitive process during the critical phase, under stress or during the action of fire; I take care of the Cognitive Process assessment and the relative control aimed at a specific reactivity of the operator, I work on the Analytical Process, and the connection between the Cognitive Process and the Operating Environment or the Application Context. I am also a Rope Instructor for Rope Operational Techniques in the Artificial and Natural Environments, a kind of Rappelling Instructor but more advanced, because specialized in different Application Environments. PMCI: Who do you see as your target customer for your courses? We are still working for 98% with Special Forces and Special Units from LE, 2% on the Private Market ... and this all around the world. PMCI: I know that you have access to excellent training facilities that you make use of worldwide; can you tell me more about them and what you do there? (LAUGHS)... This is true and false at the same time; I mean that sometimes we work in some Training Facilities that are like Disneyland for us, simply amazing, where you can have whatever you want to train ... all the proper tools you need.
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You Tube Team Zero Channel … and there you can see some of the stuff we do with the Units … You need to remember also that almost all the Protocols we provide to the Units are covered by OPSEC. PMCI: Do you offer training in specialised equipment?
TRAINING:
TEAM ZERO
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Yes, we do. We offer some Special Training Protocols that require special equipment, but are covered by OPSEC. PMCI: Do you have all the equipment available as part of your courses? We have what we need to have to run our Training Programs, sometimes we travel with a lot of equipment... sometimes we can find all directly on the place, or we already left there during some passed tasks some of our stuff . PMCI: Once trained, how do those successfully attending your courses go about finding employment? As I said we provide Training to Units and so ... I think that we do not have this problem. Even when we provide training on the Private Market, our task is to train each of them to be prepared on defending himself ... not for sure to find a job… for this there is a specific office.
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PMCI: Without going into specifics, who do you, and your successful trainees, work with? Again ... we worked with Personnel from many countries, that work in so many different tasks ... Special Units LE, SF, Embassies, Presidential Protection, and different Government Departments. PMCI: Where do you see Instructor Zero courses evolving in the future? In the US for sure, I love so much this country, I love the people … the mind-set … the land … YES, USA is my second home !!! PMCI: If someone reading this article likes the sound of what you offer, what should be their next step? Do not have rush to train with us because we need more time before we can start in the proper way the Private Market, to follow us in our Social Media Platforms so you can know when and where we are going to run a Training Course. PMCI: Instructor Zero, thank you for taking the time to speak with us and for sharing your insights. I for one will be eagerly following the social media feeds to see just what does come next!
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BOOK REVIEW Combat Leaders Field Guide
“ARMS OF LITTLE VALUE” “Arms of Little Value” is a former soldier and CIA officers insight into the true nature of insurgency and how it will continue to affect the United States, and by association the allies if the USA, in the decades to come. What we’ve seen recently in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and at the moment in Syria is merely the beginning according to G L Lamborn. He believes that we are entering an extremely dangerous period in world history. He has been a student and observer, and sometimes a participant, in various insurgencies since his “initiation” in Vietnam in 1969. “Arms of Little Value” strives to give the reader a thorough understanding of the true nature of insurgency and a glimpse at the reasons why we have not always dealt with it effectively. This book is a distillation of Lamborns experiences and studies gathered over forty years on four continents, including personal experience with the recent American struggles in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as experience in working with insurgent movements in the 1980s. No other book to my knowledge has surveyed insurgencies in such a comprehensive and systematic way, not merely on a global and historical basis using case studies from the American Revolution, Cyprus, China, and others, but with detailed analysis of the root causes of revolutionary instability. Lamborn examines insurgency from the perspectives of both the insurgent and counterinsurgent, and lays bare glaring inadequacies in military thinking and lack of preparedness by governments and civilian populations to handle the dangerous “brushfire” wars of the future. Famed WWII air force General Jimmy Doolittle said “If we should have to fight, we should be prepared to do so from the neck up, instead of from the neck down” and Lamborns careful consideration of insurgency is an important step forward in being better prepared to “fight smarter” than we have been in the past. G L Lamborns US National Defense career spans twenty fortytwo years, including twenty-six years with the CIA where he worked in a variety of operational, analytical, and leadership assignments in the Directorate of Operations and Intelligence, and the Office of the Director. A trained operations officer, Lamborn specialised in insurgency and influence missions in support of national directives during the 1980s and 1990s. He has served in various third world countries and in several successor republics of the former Soviet Union. A Vietnam War veteran, he currently lives in Texas.
Author: G L Lamborn Publisher: Casemate ISBN: 978-10612001-04-3 Price: £20.00
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TRAINING: CLANDESTINE COMMERCIAL SURVEILLANCE
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UNDER THE RADAR
CLANDESTINE COMMERCIAL SURVEILLANCE PMCI was recently invited into a very secretive element of the commercial surveillance world, one which very few know about, even those in this environment who have no awareness of this taking place. Coming face to face with the guys who conduct these sensitive tasks on a daily basis was indeed an eye opener.
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e all know commercial surveillance is openly recognised by the wider public. However, there are a small number of individuals who constantly work under the public’s radar gathering covert footage from across the world on drawn out overseas deployments; these individuals are the real “grey men” of the commercial surveillance world. “Non-Signature” is the term used to recognise these guys, conducting their tasks amongst the general population, and answering to no current regulations. The role these guys are often asked to undertake requires them to get in close, real close. Sometimes working alone, and living undercover amongst their targets in order to collect their product. They operate under their own rules, of which they told me there were only two. The first was to conduct themselves in a ‘non-alarming manor’ to the general population (not standing out) and the second, being that their actions are proportionate. I had to ask “proportionate to what” and they looked at me and simply smiled back. They told me of a recent overseas task, how the days where spent following
multiple targets around the back streets and alleyways, deploying technical tracking devices to vehicles with the aim of locating particular target compounds; once identified the mission was then to prove an entry point, penetrate, and survey the interiors for the deployment of hidden cameras which would be used to gather covert footage. My next question after hearing this was, “what happens if you get compromised in these locations” the reply was again very simple, “f##k knows, hasn’t happened yet, but the shit would hit the fan, hey? There was a recent case where we had penetrated a target compound in the early hours and were slowly manoeuvring around the complex in day light when a face to face almost took place! The thing we have on our side is that we know we’re there and they the targets don’t, so they are not always looking for us which gives us our edge.” It’s plain to see there’s no medical support, no fire support, no extraction team, just themselves and their ability to look after what’s needed.
GEARING UP!
With this background out of the way I questioned what kit these guys deploy on task with, and wow, do they take with them a very strict kit list, items which have over the years been trialled and tested, removed, replaced and upgraded, but this is their current lifeline and consists of every day carry items ‘EDC’ and a more comprehensive bail-out systems.
“We have to be masters of all our kit and equipment, when on the ground there’s no tech-guy to call to sort things when they’re going wrong, all too many times we have seen this in other organisations where members have no idea how their kit works and are very quick to blame it when things go wrong! We conduct regular training sessions on all of our own equipment every month to remove skill fade. Being in the asshole of nowhere and not knowing how to fix the issue or gather product is completely unprofessional and has no place in our arena.” PMCI: You will notice there is no mention of firearms, although the countries these guys find themselves operating in, firearms are everywhere and regularly carried by their targets. Stage one: Every Day Carry (EDC)
PMCI: You carry a very simple Med-Kit, is then dictated by space carried on the person or operational needs? Normally we work on the ethic that if it’s gonna go wrong, it’s gonna go wrong big! So carrying plasters and headache tablets aren’t going to be needed, the kit we carry within the bandolier will stabilise life until, and while we have to extract to a hospital or other means of medical aid. Ensuring that our medical skills are current and in date, refreshing these skills regularly is very important. Items carried are: nasal airway / cannulas / combat gauze / compression bandage / CAT / super glue. PMCI: Why the cigarette lighter? You just never know when you might need to light a fire! (PMCI: I’m sure there’s a hidden meaning here.) PMCI: Why the gloves and balaclava? When deploying any technical device such as the vehicle tracker, it’s always good practise to cover up, hands reducing dirt patches on the skin and of course finger prints (ground sign). A simple £2 balaclava will defeat any CCTV from getting a facial image of you, also should you be compromised and a flight or fight situation should be required, again your identity is hidden, plus the shock factor of been face to face with someone wearing a balaclava will give you the edge…..that’s proven!! Stage two: Bail-Out Bag & Pull-Out Panel (Life Line Equipment) This stage is to accompany the operator / operational team with larger items within a chosen bail-out bag, Items contained are both tactical mission essentials and stay alive items.
TRAINING: CLANDESTINE COMMERCIAL SURVEILLANCE
These items are always carried on the operator, and become their very basic level of life line. Larger items are concealed on the body within a bandolier belt which is warn under clothing. Items ** are carried in pockets. • Mobile phone X2 with ear phones ** • Power pack for phone recharge • Pocket knife (folder) ** • Head torch (keep hands free) • Small point & shoot camera (recce’s) • Gloves (latex) & Balaclava • Passport (threat level dependant) • Local currency & Cards ** • Handcuff key (concealed) ** • Medical kit (bleeds & airway) • Street mapping of operational area ** • Dictaphone • Cigarette lighter** • Role of electricians tape • Vehicle tracker (slim) PMCI: you mention carrying your passport with threat level dependant, why does this make a difference? If we are going on plot and penetrating compounds which always has a high risk of compromised, the last thing we need to have seized or at worst taken from us by the target group, is our means to exit the country we are working in. Because of this real threat, we will normally dead letter box our travel papers somewhere in the country until the task is complete. A second passport is always another option, this will enable the purchase of new tickets and opening a new exit route. PMCI: I see you have mentioned street mapping, with all of today’s modern phone app’s why use old school methods such as paper street maps?
There are a number of reason against using mapping programs on your phone; the first is that they can eat away at your battery life, this is something you want to last as long as possible when in the asshole of nowhere! Secondly, paper maps are quicker to use and will aid you in memorising the operational area a lot quicker. Finally, with what we’re out there to do, we would always have our GPRS / location service and cellular data switched off on the home network. Only the local network would be used to make calls only, never as a location finding device. PMCI: I notice you don’t mention wearing a watch, is this just an oversight? No, it’s no oversight, not at all! We never wear watches, doesn’t matter if we are operating in the UK or overseas, as this could lead to unwanted conversation by suspicious locals trying to draw us out. You would be surprised at how a watch in some countries can draw attention! For some reason in this industry guy’s use watches as a dick measuring competition, who’s is the most tactical, which one cost the most, and the one with the most programmable gadgets. That could get us made!
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TRAINING: CLANDESTINE COMMERCIAL SURVEILLANCE
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Depending on the mission these could range from a very standard looking civilian day sack if embedded around very aware targets in an urban back drop, Military style if low-threat and within a more rural location, to a messenger style shoulder bag which is becoming more common and starting to show out! PMCI: So you say a ‘Pull-Out Panel, what is this? The Pull-Out Panel is simply a MOLLE panel that allows us to attach smaller items of equipment; this means we don’t have to root around in the bags looking for things that have moved in transit. The panel can also be loaded with technical kit when a camera placement is required; here we can simply pull it out of the larger bag and go in light carrying just what we need. Two simple para-cord straps allow it to be worn on the back on infill, with a large pocket which enables a Kevlar plate to be fitted if in a hostile location, or simply to store mapping and other paperwork. Pull-Out Panel:
Bail-Out Bag Contents:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Medical kit (more complex than stage one) Note book / pen / “sharpie” marker / glow stick 12hr red Solar charger with internal battery and multi-leads Video camera (stills capability with night-shot) Small tri-pod (flexi grip) Wrist worn GPRS Multi tool / seat belt cutter / black electrical tape (roll) Karabiner & 10 metres para-cord Monocular 8 X 36 with Mil-Dot Tactical torch with red filter SAT- NAV for vehicle (safe havens) Quality pair of work gloves IR Light for low light filming (night vision) X2 convertor for video camera Mapping of all operational areas Small tablet with detachable key pad Internet / WI-FI Dongle Light weight down jacket with hood Car multi power adaptor 12v > 5v Personal role radio with loop (covert) Spare batteries for all items Door wedge (tac) Spare SD Cards Covert Camera System (basic)
PMCI: So I notice that the good old “sharpie” marker has made its way into the kit list, I’m guessing it isn’t for the same reason most would buy it, so what would this be used for? Sign’s & Symbols. We would make detailed markings in obscure places on walls and other items of street furniture where only we know where to look, and what they stand for, almost like the cold war days of dead letter boxes in the park. PMCI: What would these markings mean and be used for? We have our own coding system which covers most situations we find ourselves in, with the set drills we perform the identification of these marked locations become SOP to us. PMCI: You mention carrying an IR light for low light filming in conjunction with your handheld video camera, so how does this work in conjunction with each other? By using a high quality hand held video camera, for example this Sony with night shot capability with its internal screen and viewing aperture, means that by attaching the IR
light underneath, makes for a great night-vision monocular, but with massive zoom capability’s. And of course has no military signature whatsoever!
PMCI: Why is the personal role radio carried in your bail-out bag and not on the body? A lot of the time during day light hours we would be working alone so it’s not required, and sometimes we are so close to our subjects that if the ear piece or an un-natural bulge in our clothing was identified, could turn the situation nasty very quickly. When conducting any positive action we would always carry the communications on our person. PMCI: What basic Covert Camera System would you carry as an EDC option? We have been working with the VIVITAR Life Cam recently, this small match box sized system supports high HD video quality, records locally while allowing us to monitor it via WI-FI. Its small power consumption means we only need to carry small lithium power packs which last well. Covert Camera System:
PMCI: What’s the Karabiner & 10 metres of para-cord used for? Urban climbing! You never know when you may be required to climb heights or lower yourself from them, two very simple items can make life very easy when penetrating urban compounds, 10 metres of para-cord can quickly make a 5 metre rope ladder, making a Karabiner hook to gain access to loft spaces if operating alone as we all too often do, also it can make a great wash line to dry kit! PMCI: Would you really carry a down jacket everywhere you went? YES! Every country no matter where it is has cold spells, and more often it’s used in airports where flights get rolled over and you find yourself camping out on the ground, or at best a shitty sofa with 10 other strangers! The warmth of a down jacket can sometimes make things bearable. Wrapped up inside the jacket is a pair of lightweight thermal glove, hat and fresh socks and travel toothbrushes, the type you get issued on commercial flights. Anyone can rough it when required, the ability to admin yourself will give you mental sustainability. PMCI: Why the door wedge? This is the quickest and easiest way to ‘lock down’ in a room of your chosen safe haven, or to give you those valuable seconds to awake, gather your senses, and react to the events about to take place. PMCI: What could happen in your hotel room? We can’t always stay in the safest of hotels, there have been a number of occasions where the hotels we are staying in, have been raided or even under attack, a simple door wedge can make a big difference. When working alone and living amongst our targets, we must always consider our actions that day could have compromised us; the wedge is like sleeping with one eye open, you just never know.
PMCI: So what situation would you be required to deploy this sort of camera? This would be one of our short term camera systems used to gather movements in and out of compounds, almost like an anchor OP gathering intelligence while we off doing other things. We have deployed this system a number of times within buildings as it’s so small and easy to conceal, the great feature about this, is that we can connect it to our solar power pack and get no-stop power. PMCI: This has been a real eye-opener for all of us here at PMCI, a real glimpse into a way of life that many of us thought had to exist, and that we now know is real. Thanks so much to the guys for speaking to us, and sharing these amazing insights with us!
TRAINING: CLANDESTINE COMMERCIAL SURVEILLANCE
PMCI: You say ‘safe havens’ in reference to the Sat-Nav, what does this term stand for? As you know by now we are self-reliant, we only carry basic medical equipment to stabilise not fix, this is due to restrictions on civilian aircraft, as a rule we will always input the nearest hospitals with a 24hr A&E within the operational area. With this, next is a drive by recce to ensure we know the route and more importantly the entrance to the A&E ward, getting eyes on this is always priority. We never input hotels or other locations used as rest and admin areas, it’s like saving ‘home’ in your Sat-Nav, anyone that breaks into your vehicle has only got to search and will quickly discover where you live, basic self-security measures.
Communications:
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or a long time now there has been an important role missing from the Medical profession, whispers of “the Ambulance Tech qualification is dead”, and from September 2015 it appears it will be. There has also been a desire, within the Close Protection World, for Operatives to enhance their medical skills, above and beyond FPOSi, to provide better protection for their clients.
Many companies have attempted to fill the void, with various courses and have stumbled across the same obstacles each time, validation and recognition. But now there are some new qual’s on the block which aim to meet the needs of both the private medical and security sectors. As mentioned many courses have failed to meet this need, however a new structure of qualifications have just been launched. These qualifications are called, First Response Emergency Care – (FREC)
Why FREC® is different:
Many operators wish to enhance their skills in regard to medical capability, however very few have sufficient time between deployment dates to attend courses of any significant length. This is where the problem will lay for many, everyone wants advanced skills, however hardly anyone can dedicate the time required to obtain them. The arrival of the Level 3 and Level 4 Certificates in First Response Emergency Care (QCF) means the needs of both the UK medics and International Security Medics have finally been listened to and catered for.
autonomous practice in a reasonable timeframe. The skills taught on the course are relative to the needs of the patients you are likely to treat and are up to date with current practices and available technology. This means, that what you learn on the course, you can use in practice (in accordance with the permission of your employer, suitable insurance and clinical experience). This comes as a welcome change to the courses you may have paid for only to discover that half of what you have learned you cannot legally (or ethically) use.
Why FREC® is valid and recognisable:
FREC has been developed by Qualsafe Awards and is available as both a level 3 and a level 4 certificates (QCF). Qualsafe consulted with, and listened to key stakeholders in the industry to help them decide what should or should not be in the qualification scope. This has not been a short process but the Level 3 is now live and the Level 4 has just been released. The L3 is a 15 credit qualification with 150 learning hours, 35 contact learning hours and formative assessments in all practical elements of the course with underpinning theory assessments throughout the course. The same standard applies to the L4 qualification with both levels being (QCF) and skills for health approved. Both qualifications are endorsed by the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (FPHC) of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (RCS Ed).
FIRST RESPONSE
F
All faces blurred for PERSEC
TRAINING:
FIRST RESPONSE EMERGENCY CARE THE NEW ‘QUALS’ ON THE BLOCK.
This means that employers can clearly understand the scope of practice of the qualification holder (subject to ensuring relevant experience), which makes the qualification a recognisable standard for both governmental and civilian applications.
FREC has been designed to give the optimum level of
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FIRST RESPONSE
TRAINING:
How the qualification is run:
The Awarding Organisation will authorise training providers to run the FREC and will monitor the standards of the approved centres. Qualsafe have dictated the standards and learning objectives that are to be met, however there may be sight differences in how each centre will satisfy the criteria. Here is an example of how ARG Medical Ltd has designed FREC to meet the standards and needs of today’s security operators.
Pre course learning:
Many operators prefer to undertake distance learning courses in order that they can continue developing themselves during normal working routine or transit to and from duties. This is why ARG Medical have provided pre-course material that will help you hit the ground running before you get to the classroom. Although the element is ‘pre-course’ it does contribute to the required 150 hours of the FREC program.
Foundation stage learning:
The FREC has mandatory elements as you may expect of any qualification. During the foundation stage (which will be 35hours of Tutor led training in a classroom environment), you will draw experience from a teaching faculty which includes Current Paramedics, Army Medics and remote environment specialists. You will be given the skills you will need to complete your training including learning how to document your Continuous Professional Development (CPD) portfolio. The portfolio will help you track your development over time and also serves as a great tool to show potential employers your dedication to developing yourself, and prove your competency in your role as a First Aider.
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Continued Professional Development (CPD) stage: In order to complete the FREC you will be required to record evidence of experience consistent with at least 60 hours of work.
These hours can include working at events (under supervision of a UK Doctor/Nurse/Paramedic), in frontline placements, as reflective practice and many other methods. The evidence will be recorded in your CPD portfolio and will be in the form of either direct observation or reflective learning.
What if I cannot arrange a placement?
If you would like a placement, and cannot arrange one, then ARG Medical can assist you with this, we have a number of local hospital departments and Ambulance Providers which we can contact, on your behalf, to arrange placements.
What if I already have somewhere to do a placement? If you are currently working or have sufficient links to complete hours under the supervision of a Doctor or HCPC registered Paramedic (such as First Responder schemes or Frontline ambulance work) you can complete your CPD hours as appropriate.
ARG Medical will accept some event medical experience (providing it is verified by a Doctor or UK Paramedic) as long as you can demonstrate that the skills you have learned have been used.
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The Level 4 certificate has only recently been launched, so this will be great news for those of you who become early subscribers and complete the Level 3, as registration for the Level 4 program will require entrants to hold the level 3 qualification. In the future this range of qualifications will be topped off nicely with a Diploma in First Response Emergency Care (which is a Level 5 Foundation Degree). This would demonstrate to potential Universities that any candidate applying for a Paramedic Degree program has the correct qualities to support their application. In my opinion, if you are looking to progress towards a career in healthcare, or wish to become a more holistic and comprehensive first aider in the security industry, these qualifications are a sound investment.
FIRST RESPONSE
You will have access to a mentor throughout this and this phase will constitute your final required hours of the accreditation. Summary:
If you just need basic medical skills to augment your CP portfolio, there is nothing wrong with FPOSi. However, as the FPOSi qualification became the Industry Standard when it was first released, we can see this qualification rapidly becoming the standard for both the civilian medical world and the security medical world. So, for those who wish to move towards specialising as a Medic or wish to work at a higher skill level than FPOSi this is the next step on the ladder towards becoming a healthcare professional.
TRAINING:
Personal Research Element:
This stage will be designed to match your personal learning style; you will research a subject (relevant to your scope of practice) and produce evidence based on your findings. This can take many forms such as a written documentation, video evidence of practical application of skill, teaching others in a classroom session or sharing information in a blog. We will discuss which activity will be most suitable to your needs and find the best way to communicate your findings. This research will form part of your required CPD hours.
For more information please contact ARG Medical on 07933 131724 or drop them a line at argmedicalltd@gmail.com
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I N D U S T R Y
UPDATE
WE KEEP WATCH SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO
INDUSTRY UPDATE
Things change constantly and rapidly within the contracting industry so this month in the latest of a series of regular columns from Paul Hutchinson, MD of Associated Risks Group based in the UK, he takes a look at the challenges that face todays Executive Protection Officer.
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T
o begin this discussion of Executive Protection I’ll quote Clark Crouch who said “The result of planning should be effective, efficient, and economical... that is, suitable for the intended purpose, capable of producing the desired results, and involving the least investment of resources”.
With the ever-increasing requirement for companies to deploy their workforces within hostile environments, Executive Protection is a measure taken to preserve a company’s assets and investment and high-level personnel. The threats facing an executive vary depending on the size of the company, the industry it belongs to and the individual executive’s profile. Those executives based overseas worry about kidnapping, carjacking, crime, IEDs, biological agents and assassination to name just a few. Given the range of risks involved, an Executive Protection Officer (EPO) knows that protecting an individual is a very different discipline from securing a facility. A top executive not only cannot be locked down but, unlike a building with a single gate, there are numerous ways for an attacker to get to an executive, including through family members. Executives will also resist what they perceive as obstructive and intrusive security restrictions. It is vital that the correct amount of protection serves the company’s needs whilst also making sure that security is palatable to the executives who have to live with it. An Executive Protection Officer needs to be in a position to prevent a dangerous encounter, rather than simply respond to it, so careful and detailed planning is essential with an abundance of situational awareness a vital commodity for an EPO. When considering what is the correct protection package you must identify who is the threat and what is the probability that the threat could be carried out effectively
and how you are going to conduct the protection operation whilst maintaining the client’s desired profile. You also need to consider the size of the budget allocated to this operation. I believe that that the first and foremost responsibility of an EPO is to avoid and prevent dangerous situations; this is the difference between a “Bodyguard” and a professional consultant. One specialises in ‘muscles’ and has a gun, and the other may be less physically imposing but is better prepared to identify threats before they materialise. A professional EPO will be mentally alert at all times, understanding the threat level and the need to constantly analyse it. Using a low profile will allow the team to enter ‘under the radar’ and allow the Principal peace of mind and freedom to focus on his/her priorities. With all possible threats identified and a contingency plan in place for all eventualities, you are left with the confidence to get on with the task in hand. For all of the planning involved in such an operation, it shows the initiative, enterprise, resourcefulness and ingenuity of today’s EPO. Having the ability to identify and control the threats to the principal and the consequential loss to the company if anything was to transpire is the building block to protection.
“Worrying about possible disasters can cause many sleepless nights for senior executives and board members, and prompt the creation of comprehensive contingency plans to help ease the worries. It is important, however, to maintain a delicate balance between over planning for events that may never happen and being adequately prepared to respond if disaster does strike.” (Jack E. Cox and Robert L. Barber, 1996).
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PILGRIM TACSAC
GEAR ON TEST
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t’s often said that necessity is the mother of invention and never has that been truer! PILGRIM are by no means newcomers to the world of creating unusual and innovative products for the tactical end user, but their new TACSAC really is something that proves “thinking outside the box” can result in a piece of equipment that is absolutely unique and eminently useable. In many situations it’s not going to be feasible, or indeed even sensible, to carry overt tactical gear, but obviously you’re still going to want to be able to carry your secondary, spare magazines and ammunition and your EDC items with you. In the past this has meant resorting to a grab-bag, shoulder bag or pack. These are all valid options but if things go bad none of them are particularly accessible, especially at speed This is where the TACSAC is so clever as essentially it’s a subtle, low-profile shoulder bag that could be carried anywhere unobtrusively, but by simply unclipping the main buckle and dropping two zips it transforms swiftly into a very usable MOLLE platform that can be worn and configured in multiple ways, even as a chest rig! Construction is absolutely tough as old boots as the TACSAC is made from 1000D Cordura throughout, has solid buckle and furniture, and uses heavy-gauge YKK zips with finger loops for ease of use; all the stitching is first rate with some serious bar-tacking on the stress points. In use as a bag a broad, well- padded shoulder strap makes it very comfortable to carry, even when loaded up with two or three mags and your EDC load. This shoulder strap doubles up as the “harness” of the chest rig deployment option and the padding makes it equally as comfy when the weight is supported around the neck. PILGRIM sent us a sample of the TACSAC to get to grips with, and it has to be said that all of the PMCI Team who have checked it out approve of it immensely. I set it up to carry a CZ75 in a universal holster, two AK magazines, two pistol magazines, multi-tool, folding knife, taclite, tourniquet and FAK, all of which it swallowed with ease; if you were working with an AR/M4 or SMG then you could squeeze in even more ammo if required! This really is a superb bit of kit and if you’re in a hostile environment where you need to carry your essential kit covertly then the TACSAC is an ideal solution! PILGRIM are currently updating their website www.pilgrimdefence. com but in the meantime you can check them out via their regularly updated Facebook page, PILGRIM. Thanks to Chakaw Custom Kydex for sharing their pictures with us for this review and you can check out a great video of the TACSAC in use from them by going to www.chakaw.com on YouTube.
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FIRST TACTICAL TACTIX PACK
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GEAR ON TEST
t PMCI we’re always on the lookout for emerging brands, and although they are well known and respected in the USA First Tactical are just about to hit the UK and Europe, launching at IWA this year! First Tactical are focused on providing the end user with product that is specific to their requirements, guided by innovation and reliability. Their design process combines both advanced technical materials with state-of-the-art components. First Tactical products are built to offer fully functional gear precisely created for professionals in the military, emergency and police services. Working with real users from the tactical world, First Tactical strives to fully understand customer demand through a circular development process: Listen, Engineer, Field Test and Deploy. First Tactical listens to its customers through regular product development sessions with real users in the field. First Tactical also ensures it engineers cutting-edge product to transform common gear into incomparable tools for professionals. Through the use of Field Testing, First Tactical’s products are put under scrutiny in the most demanding conditions to ensure they withstand a variety of environments. Finally, First Tactical delivers the top-quality products straight to the consumer by eliminating the middleman, allowing a quicker and more cost effective process. We managed to get hold of one of the first of their products to come into the UK and have been subjecting the Tactix 1 Day Plus Pack to some of our very own “Field Testing”! At 40.5L this is a well-sized pack that gives you more than enough space for one days-worth of gear; in fact with careful packing if could be used for multi-day deployments if you’re going to be re-supplied in the field. The Tactix Pack benefits from a Lynx™ Laser Cut Platform compatible with MOLLE/PALS, First Tactical’s Hook & Hang Thru™ System, and repositionable or removable compression straps with side release buckles. There is a divided front stash pocket for longer items, concealed drop pocket with hook/loop lining for utility pouch or holster, interior dual use hook/ loop and a web platform for unlimited pouch placement. There’s an innovative removable internal backboard with a posture-conforming aluminium stay that may be used as splint, shovel or paddle, positional shoulder straps for the right fit, HD spacer mesh with dual density foam shoulder straps and back panel, and a fleece-lined eyewear pocket. Made from a combination of 500D/1000D Cordura with a double layered base and featuring YKK zips and Duraflex hardware the pack is absolutely bomber-tough and thus far shows no signs of wear even after use in some pretty foul weather and being thrown in the footwell of the truck on many occasions! The back panel and shoulder straps are
super-comfy even under load, and as the Tactix weighs in at just 1.9kg so you’re not adding much weight to your overall load. First Tactical offers a full range of clothing and complimentary equipment for tactical professions across all fields. The First Tactical range encompasses boots, trousers, technical shirting, outerwear, gloves, knives, flashlights, socks, packs and bags with more categories to follow, and if the rest of the gear is as good as the Tactix 1 Day Plus pack then it’s going to be very good indeed! aFirst Tactical will be launching in the UK in March when prices will be announced; if you’re at IWA 2016 you can check them out in Hall 9 on Stand 302. For more information on their entire range please do visit www.firsttactical.com
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UNDER ARMOUR INFRARED GLOVES
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or some time now I’ve been wearing a great moc neck shirt from US clothing giant Under Armour. It’s made from a superb performance fabric from their “Coldgear” range called “Infrared” and really is just a little bit special!
GEAR ON TEST
“Infrared” fabric technology features a soft, thermo-conductive coating on the inner layer of you gear which absorbs and retains your own body heat. This means you essentially stay warmer for longer with no extra weight or bulk. Made from a polyester/elastane mix, this dual-layer fabric gives you a soft, warm interior and a fast-drying exterior. In terms of the gloves there is a padded knuckle area for added protection during any activity, and Under Armours 4-Way Stretch fabrication allows for better mobility and maintains shape well. A Moisture Transport System (MTS) wicks sweat away from the hands so they stay dry, and grip is added by incorporating a silicone palm area. On each of the first two fingers there are small additional silicone chevrons which make these ideal if you’re using a devices with a touch screen. The gloves come in Black or Green, the latter being tonal logo for use with a uniform, and they are sized S to XL; I take a standard Large in gloves the Under Armour large fits me perfectly. These are light, comfortable and very warm considering their weight and the thinness of the fabric. Priced at UK£24.99, if you need a pair of gloves that are not bulky, but stay warm then you really should check out the Under Armour Tactical Coldgear Infrared! Thanks to www.top-of-the-range.co.uk for providing the sample for test.
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VIPER SPECIAL OPS CHEST RIG
2
GEAR ON TEST
015 was a tremendous year for VIPER with many new designs of affordable clothing and tactical gear hitting the market, including some great new load-bearing options. It’s all very well simply stuffing spare magazines into the pockets of your cargo pants but most of us want something just a little more “user friendly”, and there are two simple options if you want to carry your ammo on your torso, a plate carrier or a chest rig. If you go for the out and out “military” option then you’re probably going to want to run a plate carrier which will let you set up a modular system of pouches for magazines and equipment just the way you like it. If however you prefer to run a little more “Light is Right” then a chest rig of some description is going to fit the bill perfectly; chest rigs are minimalist and lightweight, don’t overly restrict movement, and allow you to carry a good load of magazines. VIPER know all about chest rigs but I have to say that the new Special Ops version is one of the very best designs they’ve ever come up with! With built in quad mag capacity and numerous utility/ pistol mag pouches, the Special Ops Chest Rig is capable of bearing a substantial load in a minimal design. The low profile setup allows the rig to be worn beneath outer layers of clothing, like tactical jackets or smocks and also allows great manoeuvrability in confined environments. Once again it’s a case of “One Size Fits Most” as the rig is fully adjustable. The fitted pouch configuration features a four capacity mag sleeve, a GPS or small radio pouch, two pistol mag pouches (which can also be used to carry a multitool) and a Velcro ID Panel. All the straps are unpadded but wide enough to be comfortable even when under load, and durable quick release buckles mean it’s easy to get on and off. Although it’s made of super-durable 600D Cordura the Special Ops Chest Rig weighs in at just 670g. It’s available in Green, Tan, Black and V-CAM, and with an SRP in the region of just UK£30.00 this is an absolute steal! VIPER continue to roll out gear in the ELITE range and it just keeps getting better and better. All their rigs, pouches and accessories are now available in the four colours listed above, and they’ve also introduced their most popular clothing items in multiple colourways as well. Whatever you need in relation to well-priced and serviceable tactical gear VIPER really do have you covered! For more information on the Special Ops, ELITE, and tactical gear ranges please pay a visit to www.viperkit. co.uk. You’ll also be able to find full stockist details there too, and you can follow VIPER TACTICAL via their Facebook and Instagram pages which are regularly updated.
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MISSION PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:
38.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 52 x 24 x 32 cm
Internal hydration sleeve Ventex system back panel Adjustable hip pad/harness Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings Multiple compression straps Hydration/coms outlet Side carry handle 2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock SRP £84.95
RANGER PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:
>GET THE
TACTICAL ADVANTAGE
36.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 46 x 33 x 26 cm
Multiple compression straps 4 point, Ventex system back panel Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings Side carry handle Internal hydration sleeve Internal retaining straps/bungees Felt lined exterior utility pouches Hydration/coms outlet 2 x Velcro ID panels 2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock SRP £84.95
IN ALL AVAILABLE GREEN & BLACK E V LI O , E T O Y O V-CAM, C
LOGUE S / FREE CATA FOR STOCKIST 0327 74 4 TEL 0123
RECON EXTRA PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:
20 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 45 x 22 x 20 cm
Internal hydration sleeve Internal retaining straps/bungees Felt lined exterior utility pouches Hydration/coms outlet Multiple compression straps 4 point, Ventex system back panel Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles Grab carry handle MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings 2 x Velcro ID panels, 2 x V-Lock, 1 x D-Lock
SRP £54.95
TACTICAL
MIDI PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:
22 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 43 x 23 x 26 cm
Internal hydration sleeve Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles 2 x side stow pouches Internal Nylon utility sleeves Mesh back Compression straps MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings 2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock
SRP £45.00
MINI MODULAR PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:
19.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 42 x 23 x 34 cm
Mesh helmet hammock located on front with compression straps for adjustment Internal hydration sleeve 2 x External side pouches Hydration/coms outlet Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles Multiple compression straps MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings Compatible with Plate Carrier 1 x Large Velcro ID panel 2 x V-Lock, 1 x D-Lock
SRP £45.00
ONE DAY MODULAR PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:
13.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 19 x 20 x 43 cm
Hydration/coms outlet Multiple compression straps Internal mesh pocket to accommodate hydration bladder Shoulder straps with QR buckles. MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings Compatible with Plate Carrier 1 x Large Velcro ID panels. 2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock
SRP £26.50
SHOULDER PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:
10 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 31 x 20 x 16 cm
Retaining straps/bungees Exterior utility pouches. Mesh back panel. Shoulder straps with QR buckle. MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings. 2 x Velcro ID panels. 2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock
SRP £29.95
SPECIAL OPS POUCH Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:
5.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 20 x 15 x 18 cm
MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior front External mag/phone pouch Sectional internals Fold out compartment Removable shoulder carry strap Compatible with Plate Carrier 1 x Large Velcro ID panel 2 x V-Lock, 1 x D-Lock
MEET THE MAKER: PENCOTT
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MANUFACTURER PROFILE - PenCott There’s a real “war of the patterns” going on right now in the world of camouflage and concealment, seemingly fiercer than ever, but one particular manufacturer is certainly getting a lot of attention, with a wider and wider pool of gear makers choosing their pattern which seems to be almost 100% ideal for verdant environments; PenCott GreenZone from Hyde Definition.
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o where have the PenCott patterns come from, and what’s the theory behind them? Hyde Definition’s philosophy is that effective camouflage should defeat the ability of an observer to detect or recognise the wearer, and a split-second reduction in detection or recognition could sometimes literally mean the difference between life and death in the real world. With their innovative PenCott family of patterns Hyde Definition aim to provide the most effective multi-environment camouflage schemes available on the commercial and military markets. Hyde Definition is a camouflage design company that was founded in England by Dominic Hyde in 2008. Dominic’s lifelong interest in the art of concealment, having experimented with different camouflage techniques and patterns since childhood, has led him to design over two thousand camouflage patterns for clothing and equipment, vehicles and infrastructure installations, as well as the internationally successful PenCott Multi-Environment Camouflage Pattern Family. The motivation to begin developing PenCott came in 2005 when Dominic reached the conclusion that there were serious problems with existing camouflage patterns: • Typical “woodland” camouflage schemes are too dark for all other types of terrain or environments (and even many woodland environments for that matter)
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• Typical “desert” camouflage schemes are often just a re-coloured version of a woodland scheme, and often a not a good match for the textures of desert terrain
on the availability does get better and better. T o
• So-called “universal” and “all-terrain” camouflage patterns are often such a compromise that they are ineffective in many environments • Mixing solid-coloured individual equipment with camouflage clothing reduces the effectiveness of the user’s camouflage – and can provide the enemy with a visible “centre-mass” aiming point as well! • Many new camouflage patterns appear to be more about “fashion” or “coolness” than about effectiveness.
• 3-in-1 / 360° pattern geometry: the inclusion of large, medium and small fractal shapes makes the patterns effective at close, mid, and long range – and, because of its non-linear orientation, the full effectiveness of the pattern is retained whether the wearer is standing, kneeling or prone, within cover or in the open. • Depth + Blending + Disruption: the combination of multisized fractal shapes, high-difference boundary layers and a hypoacuitively dithered micro-pattern creates the illusion of depth, whilst also creating a pattern that both blends into the terrain and disrupts the shape of the wearer. • Natural tones and textures: the complex organic pattern texture, combined with colors sampled from the target environments, delivers superior disruption and blending across a wider range of terrain and distances than other patterns. This comprehensive and hybrid combination of features makes PenCott one of the most unique camouflage patterns ever produced, and helps the wearer avoid detection more effectively, which is really what wearing camouflage is all about isn’t it?
CLOTHING OPTIONS
PenCott GreenZone is sadly still not the easiest pattern to create a “top to toe” set of gear in, and you’ll have to search a bit to complete your gear setup. Having said that, more and more manufacturers are taking the pattern up, so as time marches ever
start the ball rolling let’s look at what’s out there in relation to GreenZone clothing. My first port of call is going to be UFPRO, and if you’ve not yet come across this excellent manufacturer from Slovenia, then you REALLY need to go and check them out at www.ufpro.si. I’ve been using some of their gear for a couple of years now and they really are right up there with the very best of the innovators and producers of tactical clothing. I’ve long been a fan of their “Striker” combat uniform, and the third generation of this superb shirt and trouser was released earlier this year, and is getting MAX review time online! The XT Combat Shirt has been seriously upgraded in the latest generation and some important components have been changed in the new model that considerably improves wear comfort and functionality. In the torso area, the mix of polyester and merino wool offers extraordinary durability, maximum comfort and odour-inhibition. The cut of the sleeve and the slide-in pockets have been ergonomically improved so that you will always land on their own D3O® elbow protection. It’s a beautifully fitted and well-made shirt which makes the most of cutting edge technology in ALL ways. Likewise the matching XT trousers; these give you a significant increase in fit and efficiency. Already a great design the latest version has been developed further. The stretch areas have been expanded and new and ergonomically perfected two component knee protection has been introduced. This is made using an intelligent combination of hard and soft technologies that enable highly efficient protection of the knee and tibia areas without the use of a restrictive Velcro strap. The widthadjustable lower leg area enables the effective fixing of objects in the lower leg pocket, including during rapid movement, and the large cargo pockets with inner compartments can be accessed in two ways, from the top or side which is great if you’re sitting in a vehicle The stretch areas in the hip/buttock area and above and below the knee protection are made of an extremely resilient Schoeller®-dynamic stretch material, and if you want to carry these over to the Winter months then a Gore
MEET THE MAKER: PENCOTT
PenCott is actually now a family of patterns for year round, multi environment use, consisting of GreenZone (Temperate), BadLands (Semi-Arid), SandStorm (Arid) and SnowDrift (Arctic) patterns. The original PenCott variant for verdant terrain, GreenZone, was first trial-launched on a very limited scale in the UK in late 2009. Over the next year Dominic worked on researching, analysing and evaluating other colourways for additional pattern variations. In the latter part of 2010 the company got together with Duro Industries to take the patterns to full-scale production across a range of mil-spec garment and gear fabrics, and make them available to customers all around the world. What came out of this entirely independent, and self-funded, research and development programme was a ground-breaking, natural-looking, hybrid digital pattern that uses a complex mixture of blending and disrupting techniques to more effectively conceal the wearer. The PenCott family of patterns might not look pretty, they might not look “cool”, but they are definitely effective. The PenCott patterns are unique in the way they combine the best of analogue and digital camouflage design principles, and their key features and advantages can be summarised as:
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MEET THE MAKER: PENCOTT
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WINDSTOPPER Lining can easily be zipped into the Striker XT Combat trousers, as in all UF PRO trouser models. UF PRO also offer a very well detailed combat shirt, and an excellent mid-layer garment called the Hunter Sweater. The Hunter is the perfect piece of equipment for cold, windy or wet days. It provides superb comfort during outdoor activities in uncertain weather conditions. As it is light and nicely packable, it perfectly qualifies for longer outdoor activities and can be worn under tactical equipment or simply as “stand alone” whenever it’s getting cooler; if, like me you want it to sling on over your gear then I’d advise going one size up as the fit is athletic. The majority of the Hunter is water resistant, whilst the side stretch panels offer great movement and breathability. The whole thing is very snug though as it’s lined with 37.5™ COCONA microfleece. Overall this is a cracking bit of kit, to the point that I’ve actually bought one for myself after sending back the test sample! If you’re looking for task specific gear then it’s well worth a look at the UF PRO Silent Warrior Sniper Jacket which is part of a multi-layer garment system which has been designed to fulfil the high demands of professional snipers. As the outer layer it has to provide total functionality, protecting against insects and supporting additional camouflage elements in the best possible way. The jacket is tailored slightly wider than usual for ease of movement, but can be easily adjusted to fit you perfectly. For a reliable protection against insects, the jacket has an integrated mosquito net in the hood and an insect barrier at the sleeve´s hem. Ventilation openings, which are also mesh lined, provide air circulation but also prevent insects from entering your clothing system. The jacket can be upgraded with UF PRO® Flex- Protectors in the elbow area for additional cushioning and impact protection. For durability and abrasion resistance, the elbow area of the jacket is reinforced with CORDURA® fabric.
Additional vegetation can be fixed to the loops on the shoulder and upper back area, and there’s matching trouser model to go with the jacket.
If however you’re looking for something more weather protective, then the Monsoon Smallpac jacket and pant will fit the bill very, very well. Whilst UFPRO are by no means the cheapest option available, all their garments are in the “Rolls Royce” catchment of combat gear and are truly worth every penny. If you’re looking for other uniform options then UR-Tactical, Leo Kohler, and Helikon-Tex are also worth checking out; in my opinion Helikon-Tex’s CPU boonie is one of the best examples of its type on the market!
LOAD CARRYING OPTIONS
system. It extends the application range and flexibility with a removable hip belt and the greater adjustability of the back length. The MISSION Pack constructed in 500D Cordura is at 37L a bit of a classic patrol pack with enough space for a few days-worth of operational equipment. It offers a large main compartment, a large zipped compartment with an attaching point for a hydration bladder on the inside; an exit point for the hydration tube is found on the top, just beneath a sturdy carry handle. On the front is another large compartment with four antenna/cable ports, three open compartments, a zippered mesh pouch and a clip for keys. A flat compartment on the back with zips on the sides has yet more antenna/comms ports in both upper corners, and an even flatter zippered pouch on the back is great for storing for notes, maps, or even a notebook computer. Last but not least is a zipped compartment on the bottom which houses an OD Green rain cover. The MISSION has acres of MOLLE webbing and some velcro patches for insignia on the outside. The main compartment can be compressed with side straps for secure carriage of varying loads and there is a comfortably padded back with an internal support frame. The ergonomic shoulder straps are well padded and fully adjustable both at the top and bottom for a comfortable set-up. There’s a sternum strap with a neat emergency whistle buckle and a padded waist belt with two small zippered pouches, also fully removable. Last but by no means least, and again made in 500D Cordura, the ESSENTIAL pack is a small 6L all-round daypack. It features two
MEET THE MAKER: PENCOTT
Not so long ago the choice of load-bearing gear in GreenZone was extremely limited but I’m pleased to tell you this situation has changed completely! If you’re after a plate carrier, pouches, or a chest rig then UR-Tactical have a good range to choose from, and Tactical Tailor have some interesting pieces as well. Whiskey Two Four in the USA are making some absolutely stunning bespoke pieces of tactical gear too. When it comes to packs you can choose from Grey Ghost Gear, Wisport, and Direct Action as they all offer multiple options. For my first line gear I kept things uber simple with a great MOLLE SICC Belt from www.platatac.com; the Soldier’s Integrated Combat Cobra Belt allows you to integrate multiple platforms onto one belt. Manufactured from MILSPEC high breaking strain para-tape and tube tape throughout it’s the perfect belt to use with a vehicle safety lanyard. To this I simply added a UR-Tactical OPS dump pouch, a utility/first aid pouch from Whiskey Two Four and a custom Kydex holster made as a “one-off” for me by a friend in the trade. For all my second and third line gear though I went to Tasmanian Tiger in Germany. As a premium supplier of professional military and police equipment, all Tasmanian Tiger products are made of the very best quality and with the best functionality. The comprehensive development work is always based on the users specific needs and requirements. From prototype to series production, all products are manufactured in the company’s own production facilities. This ensures that a consistently high level of quality is maintained. Every step in the production process, from purchasing materials to manufacture to the final checks, is precisely defined and checked regularly by independent test centres to international standards. Every product is checked before it leaves production and is given a serial number that is then stored in the company’s own database. My first choice was a TT CHEST RIG MK II PC. A real quality chest rig made in 500D Cordura, it comes with four integrated magazine pouches and two utility pouches, and on top of that you can of course attach an infinite number of additional MOLLE compatible pouches to meet your own, personal requirements. The four integrated magazine pouches with adjustable velcro flaps, can hold the majority of magazines currently in use, and the two utility pouches on the sides can each handle a one litre water bottle. The rig is designed with the option to carry ballistic side plates plate and is covered with MOLLE webbing for attaching extra pouches; Tasmanian Tiger offer an extensive range of different pouches to go with the rig. There’s a large map pouch on the inside, a removable bib with a small document pouch on the inside, and the whole thing is lined with 3D mesh. The H-style shoulder straps feature quick release buckles on both ends, and there’s a generous amount of adjustment in both height and width. In terms of packs Tasmanian Tiger offer three models in GreenZone The MKIII RAID is their flagship “gear lugger” and it’s a classic military backpack with their new V2 plus carrying
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MEET THE MAKER: PENCOTT
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compression straps around the whole pack, MOLLE panels on the back and side, a webbing carry handle, and comfortable yet now-profile shoulder straps again featuring the sternum strap with an integrated emergency whistle buckle. The pack is simply one large compartment with a hydration blabber pocket, and makes a superb “grab bag”; the fact that it weighs just 480g is a bonus in itself!
IT’S A WRAP!
In terms of accessories once again there are a number of smaller, specialist manufacturers who seem to have taken GreenZone to their hearts. BE-X Combat Gear, available from Begadi GmbH and Lesovik Outdoor are both producing tarps for bashas and other accessories. Over in the USA 0241 Tactical are also making tarps, along with a comprehensive range of cold weather hats, shemaghs, neck gaiters, goggle covers and pack covers; at the time of going to press I’d just been advised by 0241 Tactical that they have just developed two jacket models (their first ever clothing!) due to hit the market imminently. Also just released at SHOT 2016 were some great new boots from SixKa in both GreenZone and BadLands, care of 707 Tactical Gear in Miami. To conclude here I spoke to Dominic and Lawrence at Hyde Definition and asked them a very specific question which is pretty topical at the moment and directly concerns private contractors. PMCI: Your patterns have been seen on a number of private contractors protecting the rhinos; can you tell me more about that? HD: “We have been working with partners such as UF PRO, Helikon-Tex, Tactical Tailor and the Tactical Tracking Operations School to support the efforts of international wildlife conservation groups and local security experts
of southern Africa, and that our GreenZone pattern works extremely well in the more verdant areas. Additionally, a few very experienced and discriminating experts, working in the more central areas of Africa, have found that wearing trousers in BadLands combined with a blouse in GreenZone is the perfect colour combo for their AO. Another advantage to our patterns is that they are not a standard military-issue pattern, so LEOs, PMCs and Rangers can wear them with the confidence of knowing that they have a unique identity, and that they won’t be mistaken for military forces.” So, not only do the Hyde Definition patterns work, but they’re being used by the guys on the ground for an honourable cause; I can think of no reason better to give you in relation to the efficacy of PenCott camouflage! My thanks go to Dominic and his team at Hyde Definition for all their help in the preparation of this article. You can find out more about the PenCott family of patterns and get a full listing of manufacturers they are working with by visiting www.hydedefinition.com.
MEET THE MAKER: PENCOTT
to enhance anti-poaching interdiction efforts in southern Africa. Conservation groups that we’re working with include the Silent Heroes Foundation, Chengeta Wildlife and Guardians of Africa. As shown by the recent incident in which poachers shot down a wildlife patrol helicopter, these aren’t just some poor villagers trying to sustain themselves and their families. Today’s poachers are often well-equipped and heavily armed, combat-hardened, and belong to gangs that are involved in a wide variety of criminal activities. Most of them are tied into international crime syndicates in Asia (particularly China), and there is also some evidence linking them to international terrorist organizations and rogue militias and extremists in Africa as well. So, the fight against poaching is actually a very important one that is about much more than some defenceless animals in a faraway place being killed. It is about helping vulnerable people protect themselves against criminals and terrorists and be able to create better lives for themselves and their children in stable, peaceful communities. ‘The Good Guys on the Ground’ have found that our BadLands pattern works extremely well in the arid scrub brush regions
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MEET THE MAKER: CLAW GEAR
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CLAWGEAR – PREMIUM MILITARY EQUIPMENT
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All of us at PMCI are constantly searching for innovative manufacturers of clothing, footwear, and equipment and over the years one name that has alwys come up is that of Clawgear. Clawgear are very well known and highly respected in central Europe, but recently they’ve been getting more and more positive reviews on a truly international scale. For many Clawgear will be a name that they’ve heard, but most to date have not had access to the products themselves. This however is changing; as with any brand that truly grows based upon the standard of what they produce, the quality of their service, and the testimonials of the users more and more of us are turning to Clawgear for our clothing and accessories. The story of Clawgear began in 2011 when Thomas Goldinger, Martin Goldinger and Harald Kirschner, today‘s CEOs of TMH Trading GmbH, took over the brandname Clawgear. The first initial step was to develop new professional gear from scratch. TMH Trading GmbH now has two headquarters, Cham in Switzerland and Steyr in Austria. The company started with a small warehouse, office and development department, but since then they have been continuously growing, employing more and more people every year; today they have more than 30 employees and continue to bring more and more cuttingedge new products to life. Their philosophy is a straightforward one; every piece of work they do, they do in all conscience. They aim for premium quality military equipment in every little detail. Clawgear is specialised in state-of-the art perfomance and advanced combat equipment to withstand the tough conditions of
modern battlefields. They set out to develop gear to protect the users body as best possible, while increasing each individual‘s effectiveness. The geographical location of the company, at the
foot of the Alps has a large influence on the choice of fabrics and materials for their entire product range. An important thing that makes Clawgear stand out from the competition is their in-house development and prototyping. From the first idea, to a rough draft on paper, the CAD construction drawings, laser cutting materials to the sewing of prototypes, everything is done solely by them, and that’s how they have complete control over every single step. There are weeks of field testing which is done in cooperation with special operations units across Europe from which they thankfully get precious feedback. This high demand on quality applies also to all materials. They
TOTAL CONFIDENCE
When I first approached the team at Claw Gear about collaborating on an article about them the first thing that they asked me was have you used our clothing? I responded that whilst personally I had not I knew people whose opinions I trust that had, and it was upon this recommendation that I thought we ought to let readers know more about the brand. Their reaction, over the course of numerous emails, was to discuss the merits of technical clothing systems with me, and once I’d outlined what I needed they had total confidence to send me some products to test and evaluate. This to me says an awful lot about any manufacturer; yes,
MEET THE MAKER: CLAW GEAR
claim the fabrics and trimmings to be near infrared approved, comfortable, durable and hard wearing to deliver a satisfying product. Even the product images are done in their own photo studio. They also act as a direct distributor for their products; every customer and every dealer is treated equally, in a fair way and with fair prices. Once a customer has ordered online their mission has not ended; delivering the parcel within Europe in 1-3 days is just a tiny part in customer care for them, a fact that I have witnessed first hand! If there are any problems with shipping or the product itself (may it be a manufacturing issue, fault in the material, sizing problem or anything else) the support staff will guide and help in any situation to guarantee a satisfied customer. It’s a great story of how one company with a vision, and with the right, passionate people driving it forward can succeed.
Clawgear work with the very best in terms of fabrics, have amazingly high design and manufacturing standards, and offer an exemplary service, but would they come up with the goods? Many manufacturers claim what they do, but in many years of experience in this area I’ve learnt that few truly come up with the goods. Clawgear though unequivacally do in every respect! It’s also very interesting to see how the tactical gear and clothing industry has “trends” every bit as much as the fashion business and recently I’ve noticed that a number Clawgear have begun to offer garments and kit in “RAL 7013”. So what is “RAL 7013” and why is this colour suddenly so popular? In 1927 the German Reichs-Ausschuß für Lieferbedingungen und Gütesicherung (State Commission for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance) invented a collection of standardised and numerically referenced colours which has been continually expanded from that day on. If you check out www.ralcolorchart.com and search for RAL 7013 you’ll find it in the “Grey” pallete; RAL provides a colour standard for all manufacturers to adhere to. In the tactical world this colour works in a wide broad range of ways. For professional end users the Brown Grey colour blends into a broad spectrum of environmental settings and can be perfectly combined with other block-colour or camouflage clothing or equipment. Brown Grey gear is becoming increasingly popular because it works very effectively in all settings; it’s equally at home in towns and cities as it is in the backwoods. It’s a subtle and clever tone that allows the user to visually blend into their surroundings. RAL 7013 is the colour predominantly used by the Austrian Armed Forces so it’s hardly surprising to see Claw Gear, who are based in Steyr-Gleink, being at the forefront of this colour
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MEET THE MAKER: CLAW GEAR
pmcimagazine.com in the market for a new performance fleece jacket in the very latest “tacticool” colour then I would thoroughly recommend you take a very close look at the Aviceda. The second piece I recieved was the Melierax; let’s face it, if ever there has been a year to scare the cleverest and best of waterproof garment makers then the winter of 2015 into 2016 has surely been it! With some of the wettest winter months recorded the UK has provided the ultimate test for shell garments.
adoption. Claw Gear are highly innovative in what they produce not just in terms of cutting edge design and their use of the most up to date fabrics but also in their choice of colour options, so I asked to be sent garments in RAL 7013 specifically. Samples arrived in the UK from Austria in two days, even in the run-up to Christmas, living up fully to their fast shipping claim! I’d requested two technical items from their range, the Aviceda Fleece and the Melierax Hard Shell Jacket so that I could evaluate them not only as individual pieces but also as constituent parts of a layered system. The first garment to come under scrutiny was the Aviceda Fleece; this lightweight mid-layer garment is extremely comfortable to wear and the modern styling allows a full range of unrestricted movement. It’s made from a 100% polyester fleece fabric which looks and feels great, and high quality YKK zips are used throughout. The fleece itself is water repellent and breathes extremely well, making the Aviceda a superb layering piece. I especially like the low-profile hood which works perfectly in conjunction with a hard or softshell outer layer, effectively eliminating cold spots around the neckline. The Aviceda also benefits from two lower, mesh-lined handwarmer pockets, pockets on both upper arms with velcro patches for team/unit patches, and an inner pocket which allows routing for comms cables; the outer pockets are neatly trimmed with black fabric which gives the jacket a visually stunning appearance as well. Weighing in at just 410g the Aviceda is easy to pack and takes up minimal space in a pack, so it’s absolutely ideal if you want to stow it away “just in case”. Overall it’s a superbly designed jacket made of high end fabrics and components, and the finish of it just oozes quality and attention to detail. If you’re
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At just 430g the Melierax is a lightweight and versatile hardshell jacket engineered to protect you from wind, rain and snow. It’s been designed from the ground up to offer the very highest levels of protection in truly adverse weather conditions. The reduced infrared signature (NIR) makes this jacket applicable even for special operations use and the material selection was focused on rugged, lightweight performance fabrics and components with minimal pack size. The cut is modern and ergonomic and the design is excellent offering high levels of movement and mobility to work in harmony with the users body contours; if purchased over-sized it can even be worn over body armour! The fabric choice is a durable nylon woven 3-layer rip stop fabric which also features a durable water repellent (DWR) coating. This wind blocking membrane offers high levels of waterproofness and breathability (10’000mm hydrostatic head/ MVP 10’000g/m2/d) for optimal moisture management and has a comfortable backer on the inside. The jacket is fully seam sealed to prevent ingress of water and guarantees the best possible protection during use in demanding environments. All the outer zips are waterproof too, including pit zips which aid in mechanical venting and temperature regulation. The hood is fully adjustable and helmet compatible. Both sleeves feature a sleeve pocket and a hook & loop mounting panel for name tapes and unit/morale patches. Large front pockets allow easy access even when wearing chest rigs or backpacks and there’s a neat inner pocket for keeping small essentials safe. I’ve been using the Melierax on pretty much a daily basis now for three months and I have to report that the performance has indeed been excellent, even in the heaviest, wind driven
proven waist adjustment system with elastic components for better comfort and absorption of body movement. The integrated main thigh pockets offer great storage and provides a seperate compartment for the user’s smartphone; everything is accessible even when wearing gloves. A small pocket on outside of the thigh is construed to stow a knife or a pistol mag. The knee area is equipped with a handy inward knee height adjustment, stowed in the front main pockets. The modular knee pad compartment allows the use of a wide range of different knee pad inserts from different brands. Clawgear particularly recommend the TRUST HP from D3O which features outstanding knee protection and is available as an accessory; this pad can be installed via button holes which have been integrated for this reason into the pant design. The Operator Combat Pants comes with more features as well; the belt area is optimised for rigger & safety belts as well as for suspenders and is comfortable thanks to the use of soft materials. On the inner backside there is a hidden pocket which can be used for documents, (e.g. a passport). The inside knee area is equipped with a convenient and moisture-wicking fabric to provide optimum sweat absorption. On the very bottom of the pant you can fix the leg-ends via gaiter hooks on your boots to prevent the pant from moving upwards. Despite its comfortable fit, the pants robustness and reduced NIR signature (not valid for MultiCam Polycotton) are outstanding. ‘YKK’ zippers and high-grade sewing threads have been processed. All main seams are triple stitched for extra durability, and many heavily used spots are furthermore reinforced with bartack seams. The Field Short has been especially designed for use in very hot conditions and closes the gap between comfort and functional capabilty in this area; these are spot on and would be ideal for use on base. It features the proven waist adjustment system with elastic components for better comfort and absorption of body movement. The integrated main thigh pockets offer lots of storage and theshorts share all the great features of the Operator Pants! I for one am looking forward to seeng both new products at the show as Clawgear will have all their products on display in Hall 9, Stand #215.
DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE!
MOVING ON!
Whilst I’ve looked at two very specific garments here it’s really just the tip of the iceberg as Clawgear offer an extensive range of clothing and accessories, and not content with what they already have they are launching a couple of new products at IWA 2016 in Nuremebrg! The Operator Combat pant sets the focus on fit and versatility. In comparison to Clawgears excellent Raider MK.IV pant it been pared back to the essentials of a mission pant. It features the
Claw Gear are becoming far better known internationally and I can see why this is as what they produce is incredibly well thought out, beautifully designed with the user in mind, and impeccably put together using the best fabrics and components. They really do offer a superb range of products which integrate superbly into a really wearable system, although conversely they are great as standalone pieces as well. I would say that their dedication and adherance to incredibly high quality and service is really paying off for them; they’ve taken the more difficult path where others have taken the shortcut and their products really, really reflect this and are all the better for it. I can say that they have really won me over, not only with the great gear they manufacture, but also with their inclusive, friendly approach. If you are in the market for new tactical gear and you haven’t considered Clawgear then I think you’d better reconsider before you part with your cash. Pay a visit to www.clawgear.com and you’ll see what I mean! For customers in the UK please visit www.uktactical.com
MEET THE MAKER: CLAW GEAR
downpours. Although the face fabric is light, soft and very quiet for a hardshell it’s also extremely durable; it’s been used regularly in the woods and I even had it covered in mud when I took a tumble on a wet, flinty chalk path on the way to the range (much to the amusement of the team!). When I got home and wiped it down it looked as good as new with absolutely no damage apparent. The hood design is indeed first rate as once adjusted, whether you’re wearing a helmet or not, it moves with you when you turn your head. There are multiple adjustments so you can get the fit just the way you like it. The sleeve length is very good, with the fabric extending forward over the top of the hand; even if you’re not wearing gloves you can keep your hands dry and out of the wind simply by balling your fists. The hem dips backwards to the rear, giving good overall length, and the fit is 100% right in my opinion. After a winter of tempest-like wet weather conditions and flooding I’m very glad that I received the Aviceda and Melierax from Clawgear to test as they have kept me comfortable and protected whatever the weather, and I can only give these superb performance garments my very highest recommendation!
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BOOK REVIEW Small Arms 1945-Present
SMALL ARMS 1945 - PRESENT The Essential Weapons Identification Guide: Small Arms, 1945 – Present offers a superbly illustrated guide to all the main types of small arms to be employed from the end of World War II to the present day. Divided by theatre and campaign, the book includes sections on the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, the Vietnam War, the Soviet War in Afghanistan, the Arab-Israeli conflict, wars in Central America, the Falklands War, the Gulf war, the Yugoslav Wars, Chechnya and the Caucasus, modern peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations and the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. This well thought out and meticulously researched volume includes hand held weapons of every type, and how they were and are used by the troops on the ground. Models include revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, handguns, bolt action rifles, automatic rifles, assault rifles, sniper weapon systems, submachine guns, personal defence weapons, light and heavy machine guns, shotguns and infantry support weapons such as grenade launchers and RPGs. Well known, highly influential weapons are featured in some depth, such as the AK series of assault rifles, the Uzi submachine gun, the FN MAG/”Gimpy”, the SLR, and the M79 grenade launcher. Lesser known models are also featured, amongst them the H&K MP7 personal defence weapon, the Khaybar bullpup rifle and the Indonesian made Pindad assault rifle. The book is as up to date as it possibly can be, with exhaustive listings, but as we all know new weapons and weapon systems appear on an almost daily basis! Packed with over 250 full colour artworks and photographs and full specifications, The Essential Weapons Identification Guide: Small Arms, 1945 – Present is a key reference guide for soldiers and weapons enthusiasts interested in modern weapons technology. Martin J Dougherty is a freelance writer specialising in military and defence topics. His published work to date deals with subjects ranging from naval weapons to personal security and self-defence. Author: Martin J Dougherty Publisher: Amber Books ISBN: 978-1-908273-17-8 Price: £19.99
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CROPS
Providing a discreet and professional service
‘Specialising in Worldwide Clandestine Commercial Surveillance Operations’
www.crops.uk.com
BY TRAMPAS SWANSON
U
nless you have had your head in the sand for the last 15 years or so, you know there is very little argument the Benelli M4 Super Black Eagle 90 is perhaps the best combat shotgun on the planet. Field tested and approved by some of the world’s best door kickers and dynamic entry specialists such as the United States Marine Corps, the M4 shotgun is fast, reliable and downright terrifying to be on the wrong end of! Unfortunately, if you live in the U.S., you will find out very quickly, the civilian legal imported version of the Benelli M4 just isn’t quite as cool as its military designated M1014 Joint Services Combat Shotgun sibling. In this article, the goals are to take a factory imported Benelli M4 and legally upgrade the shotgun beyond the M1014 specs in order to enhance its user friendliness. Thanks to the overly restrictive Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms,
FIREARMS: Benelli M4
UPGRADING THE CIVILIAN BENELLI M4 SHOTGUN
Tobacco and Explosives, we as legal gun owners are not trusted nor allowed by our government to have the full length tube of the M1014 with its 7+1 capacity of 2.75 inch shells. Due to the Benelli being an import from Italy, we are restricted to only a shorter 5+1 shell tube. Also, if the end user is not in the military or Law Enforcement, one can’t not have a factory collapsible stock on his or her M4 as well under BATF regulations concerning the number of imported parts already on the firearm. All this is directly attributed to what is known in the firearms industry as simply the 922 (R) compliance code. 922 (R) Compliance So just what does the 922 (R) refer to with our goal of turning the civilian M4 into our personal M1014? The best answer I have found to date comes from our friends at Freedom Fighter Tactical with the following: “In short, federal law prohibits us from increasing the magazine capacity on our Benelli M4 shotguns from 5 rounds to any more than 5 rounds. However, there is a way around this, as stated above and as defined by federal law and the ATF. How we achieve this is as follows: We must replace a total of three imported parts on our Benelli M4 with American made parts in order to increase the capacity of the magazine. In order to fit the shotgun with an original factory OEM collapsible stock, we will have to increase the part count by one and now replace four parts as the new stock and pistol grip combo count as two imported parts whereas the factory fixed stock / pistol grip combo count as one. We cannot choose any four parts we wish. The ATF and federal law give us a specific list of parts to choose from.” 1. Receiver 2. Barrel 3. Bolt 4. Bolt carrier 5. Gas piston 6. Trigger housing
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FIREARMS: Benelli M4
7. Trigger 8. Hammer 9. Disconnector 10. Buttstock (with integral pistol grip) 11. Forearm/handguard (forend) 12. Magazine body (Magazine Tube) 13. Follower (*Note, due to the recent history of the BATF’s flip flopping on current topics not related to the Benelli M4, it is advisable to submit a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concerning what you have planned for upgrading your shotgun and make sure to receive a signed and date stamped letter from them approving what we have already stated. This is not by any means necessary to make the improvements but offers great protection against future decisions turning against you.) Getting back on track, we now stand at knowing there must be four parts replaced on our Benelli M4 to turn it into our M1014 project. Right off the bat, we know numbers 1-6 are out of the question due to a lack of these parts being made here in the US. In other words, realistically, we have our choices narrowed down to seven. For these parts, there is a short but very distinguished list of companies to choose from, which produce high quality replacement parts here in the States.
Magazine Tube
I started by reaching out to none other than the company I consider the foremost expert on Benelli M4 upgrades, Freedom Fighter Tactical. This company can easily be your one stop shop for 922 (R) compliance parts in regards to the Benelli M4 shotgun. One of my favorite parts from their catalogue is the full length magazine tube. Not only is it a visually a dead ringer for the original Benelli OEM part, but when you pick it up, you realize it’s even better! Freedom Fighter Tactical offers their extended magazine tube in Titanium, which in by doing so, the end user gets a 48% lighter yet stronger tube than the factory tube. Anyone who has ever spent quality time shouldering the M4 will quickly recognize this sort of leap in front end weight reduction as a huge blessing! Once in my work shop, I stripped Benelli M4 receiver, firmly locked it down in a padded vise and applied constant heat via heat gun to the factory magazine tube. After approximately 20 minutes, I was able to slowly unscrew the magazine tube from the receiver by breaking the factory Loctite glue from its threads. Installing the Freedom Fighter Tactical tube was simply a matter of cleaning the receiver thoroughly from any
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residual glue, lightly coating the treads of the new part and firmly screwing it into its new home. With the addition of a new lightweight aluminum magazine follower stamped US made, we quickly knock off #12 & #13 from our list and now stand at two additional parts needed to meet 922 (R) requirements.
Hammer, Trigger and Disconnector
I look at this next upgrade as the home run swing. Freedom Fighter Tactical offers a trigger group that not only gives you the two remaining compliance parts needed, it gives you three in one package! This replacement set includes a premium trigger, hammer and disconnector which are #7, #8, and #9 on our list. These parts are made with the finest materials and truly to be considered an upgrade in performance rather than simply a replacement. Installation is simple and requires no fitting of parts although, Freedom Fighter Tactical does recommend all parts be installed by a competent gunsmith. With the proper tools and the very detailed instructions, I was able to install the entire kit in under 30 minutes. Recommended tools for installation are a pin punch set, plastic hammer, high quality gun oil, and a set of snap ring pliers. Aside from providing the needed compliance parts, I found the upgrade to enhance the function of the trigger group. Trigger pull was measuring almost a full 7 ounces less than the factory group and felt noticeably smoother. The tool steel construction of all three parts along with the black oxide coating of the hammer combined with the Robar NP3 coating of the trigger give me reassurance these parts will probably outlast the life span the remaining shotgun parts by far.
Surefire Handguard / Rail
By now, we have reached our required parts needed to be able to legally have our full magazine tube and to install a factory Benelli collapsible stock. Unfortunately for my bank account, I live under the concept of two is one and one is none; after all, the intent of this article is to upgrade and enhance our Benelli M4, right? The addition of a new handguard would give us yet another US part to buffer us from the bare bones requirements. While our friends at Freedom Fighter Tactical do offer a US made replacement handguard that is a dead ringer for the factory clam shell, I always thought a good combat shotgun should have a way of attaching a white light on it. For this, I turned to the experts in the weapon mounted light field, Surefire. Throughout my law enforcement career, my life and others often depended on a Surefire light to help me spot danger whether it was on a SWAT deployment or assisting emergency services in the middle of a hurricane. Surefire has traditionally made very durable and comfortable to use weapon rails for mounting these lights seamlessly onto tactical weapons. The
Additional Upgrades
Aside from the required changes to keep our project BATF legal, there were some modifications made to the Benelli M4 which just make it easier and faster to operate. First, I wanted to address the skinny and sometimes difficult charging handle as well as the small sized bolt release button that can be a bit of a pain to operate under stress when running the shotgun with gloves. For these two items, I turned to a company named GG&G. This company has quickly become the industry standard for these two specific products. Offering both an oversized charging handle with a rounded, non-slip textured grip as well as a rock solid rectangular bolt release button that you could operate even if you were wearing snow mittens, GG&G clearly designed these items with the Tier 1 operator in mind. Next I turned my attention to the factory iron sights. While the Benelli M4 does offer a top mounted rail for installation of your favorite optic, it has very hard to beat a great set of iron sights. The factory set is easy to use and very durable but in low light, can be almost impossible to see. I decided to replace these sights with a set of ghost ring night sights with Tritium inserts from Meprolite. This new set is every bit as tough as the factory set but with the addition of a very clear and fast to acquire, three dot sight system that works just as well during extreme low light as it does in day light. As we mentioned before, it doesn’t’ take long of carrying the Benelli M4 before you notice it gets a bit heavy. For a simple solution to this issue, I looked to Viking Tactics in the form of their V-Tac 2 point tactical sling. Unlike most slings, the V-Tac sling offers a fast, one hand adjustable option to sling and cinch the shotgun to the body quickly to maneuver and release just as quickly to re-deploy it back into action. This sling has been battle proven by top operators around the world and seen action in several of my former SWAT
deployments on my AR-15 and even my Remington 700 sniper rifle in the past. Adding this sling to the Benelli M4 is a perfect fit of simple form and function. Last we come to more of a personal preference than a true upgrade. With replacing parts and adding new ones, most of the time the colors may be the same but the tones and hues are vastly different leaving the overall appearance to look a bit mismatched. To combat this small issue, I decided to turn to a very close and personal refinishing company, Swanson Armory, LLC. This shop is owned by my wife, Candace and I in which is certified to provide clients premium firearm refinishing in our off hours via the use of DuraCoat. For those not familiar with DuraCoat, it is a polyresin finish licensed by Lauer Custom Weaponry for the exclusive use as a tough as nails protective firearm finish. Despite false testing and claims by other firearm finish companies through ridiculously expensive marketing ads, DuraCoat has proven itself to be one of the toughest firearm finishes ever to come through independent military testing. For this project, I decided to go with a matte toned Olive Drab Green DuraCoat to refinish all of the metal parts of the shotgun. After a complete physical strip of every spring, pin and piston, then chemical strip to remove all dirt, grease and powder residue the metal parts were lightly media blasted to remove the existing finish before a quick dip in the parkerization tank. Once dry, all parts were sprayed with DuraCoat via a HVLP paint applicator and allowed to dry for a few weeks. Once the finish reached full cure, the shotgun was reassembled and ready for action. The added benefit of the DuraCoat finish aside from providing the shotgun with a great subdue two tone look is the rust and salt water resistance properties it provides. As the factory saying goes, DuraCoat doesn’t wear out, it wears in. Over time you will be amazed at just how tough a professional DuraCoat finish will be compared to any other factory finish in the gun industry.
FIREARMS: Benelli M4
Surefire Benelli handguard with the tri-rail system is one of these products. This rail simply pops on as a factory clam shell replacement and offers a left, right and bottom Picatinny rail for lights, lasers, switches or whatever you need for your mission. For those concerned about having your hand grated by a rail during recoil, Surefire even provides rubber coated rail covers to fit over the unused sections to offer the shooter a firm yet comfortable grip on the forearm. During my time shooting the Surefire equipped Benelli M4, I enjoyed the enhanced control of the handguard as well as being able to quickly mount and unmount a Streamlight or Surefire light onto the rail when needed.
Finished Product
By now, you will have made a considerable investment into what is already a great shotgun and managed to do so legally through playing by the BATF rules. The important part is these changes all do their part to enhance your firearm rather than just throwing away hard earned money. Once you have seen these changes in action on the range or in the field for yourself, I can assure you, there will be no second guessing! Please do pay a visit to freedomfightertactical.com to check out all they do.
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TECH AND TOOLS
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POHL FORCE
I
t’s a great thing when someone you know well and trust implicitly comes to you and says ”I’m working with a premier knife maker, may I introduce you to him?” Such was the case when Brane Cervek from SSFN emailed me; my response, of course, was ”yes, please do!” So my conversation with Dietmar Pohl of POHL FORCE started. Dietmar is absolutely passionate about edged weapons and has been personally collecting knives for 25 years and has written three books about different knives and their design that have been translated into several different languages; he’s also written countless articles in numerous publications and has spent many years creating his own designs; to say that this man knows what should go into designing and creating a knife would be a serious understatement! The passion about knives has influenced Dietmar all of his life, although it all started just as a hobby. After studying economics this hobby became his business in 1994 as he worked first as a marketing manager, then designer and product manager in the Solingen industry. With commitment, expertise, extensive knowledge and awareness of trends, forms, techniques and materials he used his ideas and designs to build his very own business, POHL FORCE, with particular emphasis in the fields of modern EDC knives and tactical knives for the military and police. To be 100% clear Dietmar Pohl was not, and has never claimed to be, a member of a military or police special
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unit which is highly refreshing. Far too often people associated with the knife or weapon industry make false claims that they have served in such a unit to be interesting to potential users;
in his eyes, such claims show huge disrespect for the people who have passed rigorous selection processes and have earned the right to wear a hard-won badge. His knowledge though is based on many personal contacts, discussions and experiences with people from the tactical world such as GSG 9, SEK, Frogmen, Fernspäher, KSK, paratroopers, SWAT, Marines Force Recon, and the London MET Police; it’s a cool list! He uses every opportunity that presents itself to speak to the users in order to broaden his practical insight; he has worked with the Bundeswehr-duty training for civilian
powder epoxy coating and the typical POHL FORCE design give the Romeo One a unique and very impressive appearance. This knife comes in either olive or black, each with a modular system sheaths. The main features are: • Overall length: 285 mm • Blade length: 154 mm • Blade thickness: 6 mm • Weight: 280 g • Blade steel: D2 • Blade surface: powder epoxy coating • Handle material: FRP / GRP • Grip size: 23 mm • Sheath: Kydex © plus MOLLE Nylon adapter • Incl. Accessories: lanyard, 3D Rubber Patch Romeo, additional MOLLE Adapter (Black) • Optional accessories: Yoke System, Tripod Adaptor Whilst the ROMEO ONE Survival knife shares many features of the Military version the ROMEO TWO Survival is a completely different best. This model has been specifically designed as a tactical knife for pilots, EOD personnel and mine clearance divers where special circumstances pose challenges to the selection of materials; the knives may be not be magnetic, otherwise they will affect on-board electronics, mines or explosive devices with magnetic triggering mechanisms. Therefore, the Romeo Two goes through a rigorous testing process using the non-magnetic K2751 method, and comes with the appropriate certification. A stringent salt spray test according to DIN EN ISO 9227 NSS also confirms the full immunity of the knife against rust. A special stage of the breaking load also found that the titanium blade can plastically deform without breaking up to 25 °. To prevent unintended reflections in use the Romeo Two comes with a black PVD coated blade. In short this is the perfect tool for demanding missions. The main features are: • Overall length: 250 mm • Blade length: 118 mm • Blade thickness: 6 mm • Weight: 180 g • Blade: 6Al4V Titan • Blade surface: PVD coating • Handle material: GRP • Grip size: 23 mm • Sheath: Kydex® plus MOLLE Nylon adapter • Included accessories: lanyard, 3D Rubber Patch Romeo, additional MOLLE adapter (olive) • Optional accessories: Yoke System, Tripod Adaptor Just by taking one line of knives from the POHL FORCE range shows entirely that these guys know EXACTLY what they are up to when it comes to making a knife that is not only fit for purpose, but takes the intended end-use fully into account. The models also take into account exactly what features the intended endusers are looking for and ensures that these are not just there but fully tested and certified where necessary It’s been an absolute pleasure working with the team from POHL FORCE and I’m looking forward to bringing updates of what they do next in the future. I’ll close by simply saying that if you buy from POHL FORCE you’re absolutely, 100% going to get your monies worth! For further information on the entire range of knives and accessories in Europe please visit www.pohlforce.de and in the USA please visit www.pohlforceusa.com
TECH AND TOOLS
executives, the Air Force and Army, attended a SWAT course in Sterling, Virginia, and been privy to bayonet and knife fighting training with the US Marines Force Recon in Camp Pendleton, San Diego to name but a few. The philosophy of POHL FORCE is to offer the customer a product that meets the highest standards in design, materials, manufacturing and quality while remaining affordable at the same time. Not a very simple thing to do, but in the age of globalization completely feasible. The solution a problem may lie just outside the front door or may be found in the international arena. The global transfer of manufacturing equipment, materials and know-how makes it all possible today. POHL FORCE is both traditional and fully up to date in its design process: to start the ball rolling comes the first phase where good old pencil and paper are used, and for some considerable time lines and radii are drawn and erased again and again until the desired shape is achieved. Once the design has been completed, a copy is glued to strong cardboard and cut out. If the outline of the design does not work at this stage then it’s back to the drawing board! If however everything looks good with the design then it’s on to the scale construction of a knife prototype. POHL FORCE uses the traditional method of using wood that can be transformed easily into the desired shape. Only at this point does it become clear whether the design motto ”form follows function” is also met. Now the design is truly three dimensional and size and hand position can be realised, although it will be further assessed throughout the manufacturing process. Once everything has been deemed ready the prototype is created in CAD and manufacturing can begin. POHL FORCE specifically chooses its own high-quality materials, whether it is steel, plastic or natural materials such as wood or leather. Many soldiers and police officers have to buy their personal blade out of their own pocket, with the certainty that this trusted knife will get battered in use or can be lost in the worst case. Dietmar Pohl has heard this story many times, that the knives have been lost somewhere during use in tanks or helicopters. For this reason, blades must remain affordable. Many knife companies outbid internationally with blades made of powder metallurgy super steels, which should be even sharper, more crushproof and even corrosion resistant but will benefit from some clever marketing; these blades often have problems with re-sharpening, high commodity prices and the additional costs incurred in the production. POHL FORCE much prefer the philosophy of the American knife maker legend Jimmy Lile, who looked for all applications in 440 C and D2 optimum steels, making the knives fully re-sharpenable but at an affordable price so that the user gains the most benefit. POHL FORCE ensures that the contractors used in Germany, Taiwan and Italy deliver only the best quality. In particular, professional users are dependent on the reliability and dependability of their knives in use. Therefore, each knife is inspected thoroughly before delivery by the POHL FORCE team and provided with a control certificate. GETTING TO GRIPS WITH POHL FORCE Although POHL FORCE offer an extensive range of both EDC and Tactical knife models I thought by way of example that it would be easiest to concentrate on one line and really get to grips with it. The ROMEO ONE Military knife as its name suggests was primarily developed for military use. With its six-millimetre thick blade of D2 tool steel, it is very robust. Since the tang runs at full strength throughout, it can also be used as a striking tool. The
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REVIEW: 2016 shot show
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SHOT SHOW 2016 BY CRAIG REINHOLDS
I
would like to share with you my experiences this year at SHOT Show. Trying to explain the enormity of this event will be a challenge. My words may paint a picture in your mind of what SHOT Show is about, but there is no way you truly can understand unless you have been there. This can be compared to me trying to get you to experience the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls by my words when the experience of seeing them in person just leaves you in awe. So hold on as we go on this journey to Las Vegas, Nevada USA and the 2016 SHOT Show. SHOT Show is sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) whose motto is to “Promote * Protect * Preserve”. The goal is to create an atmosphere that brings 12,000+ manufactures, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers together to impact one industry with one voice. What industry is that? Well you have to know what SHOT in SHOT Show stands for, Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade (S.H.O.T.). It is my understanding that there were 64,000+ people that invaded Las Vegas for this event alone and while we were there were also two other major events taking place. I am impressed with the Las Vegas logistical operation that pulls events like this off. From the airport, the taxis and shuttles to the hotels. The restaurants themselves in Las Vegas tackle a beast like I have never seen, processing thousands of orders in a day. The 2016 Sponsors for the show were Aguila Ammunition, Brownells, Daniel Defense, Gamo Outdoor USA, Gun Broker.com,
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Nissan, SilencerCo, Smith & Wesson, Winchester Ammunition and RAM. Many other sponsors, to many to name sponsored sub-events within the show. The Show ran from January 19-22 in the Sands Expo Center, which is connected, to the amazingly beautiful Venetian. The show boasted of 100 never seen before manufactures and suppliers. Of all the visitors attending the show there were 2,400 representing media alone.
To sum up the intent of the show, it is a place where anyone and everyone involved in the shooting, hunting and outdoor community comes to make connections, to reveal new products coming out, and to find the exciting new stories of the industry. SHOT Show is where politics of the industry are researched,
shared and developed. This is the place as manufactures or suppliers you get exposure to the various advertising agencies and publications. This is where the story is created for all new products and ideas. Around every corner is a TV show being filmed, pod cast being recorded, and newspaper or magazine article being written. What better place than Las Vegas to wine and dine clients. There were golf games, fundraisers, dinners and shows to entice new partnerships and alliances. Don’t forget all the other activities taking place in a city that never sleeps.
STARTING WITH A BANG!
The first day for us was on Monday even though the show itself did not start until Tuesday. Monday was the Industry Day at the range with limited access according to your pass clearance. Industry Day is owned and operated by CMG Marketing and Triple Curl Public Relations and Advertising. It was said to have had 170 manufactures exhibiting products for you to test and try on the range. Estimates are that over 500,000 rounds of ammunition were shot that day. This was the 11th year for industry day and I must say it was a literal blast. Testing all the new weapons, target systems and caliber ammunitions just a few of the things to do at the range. The range is in Boulder City at the Boulder City Rifle & Pistol Club. What a tremendous facility. There were 25 shooting lanes from archery, shot gun, long distance, pistol and rifle ranges. The facility had to be about a mile long and we were not able to stop at every booth and shoot every weapon, as we would have needed at least two days to accomplish that. There were many celebrities of the hunting and gun and shooting sports industry
REVIEW: 2016 shot show
The size and enormity of the show was described to me as if you could imagine the size of a Super Wal-Mart, double the ceiling height and multiply that times three, that would be close to the size of each of the three main rooms and there were 3 levels with 5 rooms at this show not including the hallway areas that were used. Each of those rooms is filled with exhibitors whose booth area on an average of around 10x20. On the two main rooms though there were full buildings built as exhibits complete with meeting rooms. My house is around 2200 square feet and more than one booth could have had two of my houses in it with room to spare. In addition to these exhibit rooms they had meeting and training rooms available that were in constant use all four days of the show. Exhibitors at SHOT Show were divided into categories on the different floors and rooms. There was firearms & ammunition that listed around 1000 Exhibitors in that section alone. Other categories were general shooting & hunting, law enforcement & tactical and outdoor wear. Some of the product categories besides the obvious guns, rifles and ammunitions were cameras, communications, cutlery, apparel, bags & packs, custom manufacturing and even the metal companies that supplied the manufactures were represented. Organizations also played a major role in the 2016 SHOT show besides the main sponsor the NSSF. These organizations came to recruit support and some of them put on classes and set up
booths to get their message out to the industry. There was an entire area dedicated to the many seminars that took place. There were updates on new regulations concerning shooting ranges, firearms forms requirements for 2016 and other important issues we will face in the coming year. As a contributor to PMCI I was able to enter the show with a media pass that gave me access to all areas including military and law enforcement sections. The general public was not allowed in the show and you had to come in under an industry related group to get a pass. Depending on your connection you were only allowed in those related areas. My editor and I flew into Las Vegas on Sunday via South West Airline, which, by the way made the entire day experience a pleasant one, as much as traveling can be. We checked in to our hotel, Treasure Island and that was the first time I saw a hotel with a line like you were headed to the buffet or better yet the newest roller coaster at Walt Disney World. Treasure Island handled it though with an entire counter of personnel processing the incoming guest. Great for us our hotel was basically across the street from the show. This made life much better than trying to get a car or catch a shuttle every day. We had a 24-hour Starbucks in front of the hotel and we enjoyed the short walk to the show every day while we had our coffee. I am still amazed at how smoothly all those people flowed in and out of that show every day.
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REVIEW: 2016 shot show
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on hand to assist and even train some of the unfamiliar on the ranges. We personally new some of the range staff and I was impressed with how smoothly the entire day went with so many people and firearms all in motion. The only incident we heard of was one person gained a scope ring around their eye from a large calibre rifle. You had to maintain hearing protection all day, as there was never a break in the action. Any weapon you could name was there to try, just short of rockets and exploding munitions. From training rounds, less than lethal rounds, M32 Grenade Launcher to .50cal and even some new rounds you have not heard of yet. From single shot, semi auto and full auto, whatever your poison let it rip. Of coarse all these new ammunitions required rifle makers to create new rifles to test the rounds with. Exhibitors from weapons parts manufactures like CMC Triggers, accessory manufacturers like SilencerCo to rifle builders like Devil Dog Arms, just to name a few. All the major manufactures had something to show and something to brag about, step right up and take it for a test drive. No space was wasted at the range even accessory retailers and manufactures had booths set up to show their stuff. Range bags, rifle cases, clothing, cleaning kits and even edged weapons manufactures like SOG were present. There was even a range at SOG for throwing their new tomahawk. I must say if you could only pick one day of SHOT Show, Industry Day may be the winner in my book. We met up with Rob Leatham from Springfield Armory, Dustin Ellermann from Top Shot, Instructor Zero, Hickok45 YouTube legend, James Yeager, Doug Marcaida edged
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weapon expert and many others all at range day. The technology, precision and craftsmanship of the weapons coming out in 2016 are absolutely fantastic. I could only wish to get my hands on some of these again for a test and review article.
WORKING THE HALLS
Our first meeting we had on show day was outside the show at Trump Towers with Travis Haley and his crew. Travis Haley owner of Haley Strategic revealed many new products he is working on and revealing many them this year in 2016. During the show we got hands on so many new out of the box products coming out this year. This is a very competitive industry and the people playing this game “ain’t no joke” to coin a phrase.
REVIEW: 2016 shot show
Tuesday through Friday we worked to meet as many of the exhibitors as we could, getting there when the doors opened and working the floors even after the doors was to close. We made many new contacts during the show and met many of our existing contacts some for the first time face to face. One of the benefits of SHOT Show is the give away products manufactures hand out to draw you to their displays. I ended up with 7lbs of hats, shirts, bags and gear without even trying. It put me over weight on my check on luggage at the airport. If I made an approximate guess we only covered 75-80% of the venders exhibits. By the time Friday came around most people were physically exhausted and ready to close up shop. That was the most enjoyable day for me as I did not want to give a pitch and did not care to hear one. We just walked around to what we missed, actually with a lot less people and window-shopped. We were fortunate to attend a fundraiser on Wednesday night put on by Jim Fuller of Rifle Dynamics. He is the leading custom builder of AK’s. On Thursday night we went to the Stratosphere for a (TBOC) Tactical Beard Owners Club Meeting where we met around 35 brothers from around the world. This was a good time of telling stories and life experiences with like-minded brothers of the military and law enforcement community. To close out my thoughts on such an event I would have to start by taking a deep breath. If you want to be or do anything successful involving Shooting, Hunting or Outdoor Trades you
must attend SHOT Show. As big as this show seemed to be, this show made me realize how small the world really is. Try to never burn any bridges in life, as you never know who may end up on top. This may be a large community but as the NSSF stated it best “one industry, one voice”. This show has brought many different cultures and belief systems together to share the love of the SHOT Industry. For the most part everyone was so nice and willing to help each other in any way they could, I was proud to be a part of this community.
The SHOT Show is the largest of its kind in the world, second runner up is the IWA in Nuremberg, Germany which most of these exhibitors will be heading next and you can rest assured that the “Euro” members of the PMCI team will be there to speak with them!
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HEAD TO HEAD
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HEAD TO HEAD For this issue of PMCI we decided to ask our two semi-tame contractors who have worked “The Circuit”, one British and “new skool” and one American and “Old Skool” the same question to see where there are similarities or disparities. This time my question to them both was “how do you keep your firearms skills and drills up to speed when you’re not on a contract?”
Rob S (USA) I own a shooting and tactics school, and as such, most likely don’t prepare as most would. My teaching involves many movement drills, dry fire, using airsoft, some regular range time, and visualization. To me the key is keeping my basic skills super refined. Draw from every possible position safely, shoot from every angle, accurately and as fast as safely; same with elevation, and then there is the moving while shooting with others involved. So I end up using airsoft far more than the average person. I think of all the times I have been in gunfights and one thing is very common, I almost never shot from a squared to target position, standing upright and perfectly still. Actually most times it was fighting to cover which then involved some awkward positioning to return fire in order to maintain my body behind some cover, which was almost always too small requiring even more compression Ha Ha! In reverse, my training will involve regular range time with the expected firearm platforms I expect to use or could possibly. I try to make sure I shoot in a universal way that will let me run any of the guns with less thought, so using the slide instead
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of the slide catch, the release to some of you. Making sure to rip magazines out because assuming it will fall is an auto-fail when it doesn’t drop freely, and correcting my movement to be smooth, away from snag-able gear and such. But in particular I tend to shoot lots and lots of clocks, also known as shooting from different angles as well as elevations. Sadly, most firearms ranges freak out at elevation shooting, let alone drawing from concealed or from positions of safety. So that moves us to my main alternative for training, airsoft. I found airsoft years ago as an alternate completely nonlethal form of CQB training, and over years of refinement found it extremely valuable to my safe firearms training, especially in over-speed mode. With airsoft, I can turn my private indoor range into a 360 degree shoothouse to practice all angles, elevations, positions, draws, carry positions, scenarios with multiple targets, and on and on. It allows me to grease the groove, borrowing a turn from our Russian training friend Pavel T. I can shoot every day at no expense, several times a day, the same basics from every angle until they are fully automated.
HEAD TO HEAD
But even more important, I can train at a speed that isn’t safe with a real firearm, learning how fast I should be and then refine within those limits. The cost is the big advantage, especially when you have to purchase your own ammo. Then there are tactics and visualization training. I’m a strong believer of running complicated scenarios over and over in your mind, from different angles, or if in teams, their positions. Thinking in deep detail including: could I have done better, was that the wrong place to be, and even the dreaded “What If”. Visualization training can encourage a calmness when shtf more than anything else. If you go through it and keep your body relaxed during the mental training as well the physical you are more likely to keep your focus where it should be. Like anything it takes practice and No, watching old Chuck Norris movie reruns doesn’t count! So like many things, I believe that doing a little bit of what really works, many times every day will do more for automation than any other training. Five hours at the range, one day a week doesn’t cut it. But ten minutes for three times a day, seven days a week does. Perfectly done skills practiced often, but not so much to be a stress, makes perfect.
Richard S (UK) Keeping on top of basic weapon skill’s and drills can prove difficult these days, with the lack of rangetime on several contracts working in hostile environments. Most countries the community works in have tight restrictions with regards to weapons and
range work. Gone are the DoD contractor days where you can just roll on to a range any time you like. Also coming from the UK it can be quite difficult to carry out any type of weapons training, in particular tactical training with real steel firearms. The only way I would be able to conduct such training would be to spend a lot of money and travel to countries that allow such training like the Czech Republic, Poland or the USA. I find the general British contractor would rather do something else other that weapons training, unlike the US guys who are brought up in a gun culture where they are at it almost every day. Since coming home and settling, waiting for the next contract to come up I have found an awesome training tool. Although it’s really frowned upon within the community, I find airsoft a really valuable tool, in particular the gas blow-back systems. They have a fully cycling bolt, which react when you run out of ammunition. The only thing you cannot replicate is the recoil and range of engagement compared to a real firearm. Everything else can be drilled like stoppage drills, magazine changes, transition drills and team IA drills. There are a couple of companies out there at the moment utilising this resource such as Project Gecko, and proving to be very popular with the European community. To summarise, if the country you reside in has strict gun laws and you want to train take a look at airsoft weapon systems. Other than conducting dry fire drills with dummy self-defence weapons, airsoft is an awesome tool. You can find out lots of info online or there are monthly magazines which detail the latest model releases.
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TECH AND TOOLS
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TRAINING TOOLS
R
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ob and Rich brought up the subject of using airsoft replicas for training in “Head to Head” this issue so I thought it might be interesting to re-visit this topic, which still seems to create some heated debate amongst the tactical community. On the 2nd November 2011 Travis Haley of Haley Strategic Partners, and formally of MagPul fame, pretty much stunned the shooting and tactical communities by standing up and stating openly that in his opinion airsoft replicas could form a valid part of your firearms training regimen; his actual words were “there absolutely is a crossover if you train correctly with airsoft”. This opened up a debate where some shooters actually started considering the “toy guns” that kids used in their back yards as a viable part of their “training toolbox”. Travis pointed out that live fire training, even if you could access it, was often prohibitively expensive and that due to economic factors many shooters were not training as often as they could, and that the lesser costs involved with the BB firing replica could help to remedy that. Within the USA there are countless ranges and tactical trainers offering courses from basic handgun shooting up to some quite advanced tactical shooting techniques; indeed, many of the guys involved have gone on to become “tactical rock stars” and earn a pretty reasonable living through what they offer.
In Europe though things are quite different and it can be incredibly difficult to live fire train effectively and often. Although guys like the European Security Academy, Project
GECKO, and ARG offers some superb firearms courses, attending one of these involves a considerable investment in both time and money. Personally speaking I try to attend a live fire course three to four times a year, but is that really enough to keep your skills and drills completely up to scratch? I would say no, it’s not but there isn’t a range local to me in the UK that will accommodate any type of fire and movement, and if I turned up wearing my plate carrier or chest rig I would immediately be shown the door and told never to return. Of course even on private land with a range safely set up my
training on semi-auto could only be carried out using something like a Smith & Wesson M&P in .22LR as we’re not allowed to have semi-auto firearms in any larger calibre! When I watched the video from Travis initially I was still somewhat sceptical as how valid real training with an airsoft replica could be even though the guns themselves looked pretty cool as he had them set up. As time has moved on though, things have changed dramatically.
Replica gas pistols have been with us almost since the infancy of airsoft, and soon a number of companies were experimenting with gas technology more and more. Amongst them were some pretty big names in airsoft, and soon they were channelling the knowledge gained from creating pistols into rifles, carbines, and SMGs; strangely given the understanding of all things gas by the companies concerned the early models were pretty atrocious and like many I quickly became disillusioned with them as potential training aids. Although they were lovely to look at in operation they left a LOT to be desired and it amazes me that it wasn’t until WE Airsoft Europe (WEAE) came about that anyone took time to actually step back and look at the root of their operation… the gas itself! WEAE went right back to the drawing board with their NUPROL gasses and also looked at the function and form of the replicas themselves; it was at this point in my mind that the current generation of gas powered replicas really emerged and changed how we looked at them as genuine training tools. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about I’m going to look at three classic firearm designs in gas powered airsoft form, the M4, AK, and MP5. M4A1 RIS Open Bolt Gas Blowback The AR platform is probably one that at some point in your tactical training you’re going to need to get to grips with and WEAE’s gas system has really come into its own now, especially since they released their open bolt technology; this particular model comes with the open bolt system pre-installed. The M4A1 is a full metal and polymer carbine, and it feels very solid and robust. The build needs to be utterly solids as unlike electric replicas the receivers are built to contain the real mechanical forces of a fully functional and reciprocating bolt and are not just there to hold a gearbox. The finish of all parts throughout is very nice indeed; with a mixture of matte black and grey metal and well finished black plastic in the pistol grip and “LE” style sliding stock the carbine really stands out, looking and feeling “right”.
This particular version of the M4A1 is designated the “RIS” model as it comes pre-fitted with a rail system which is a real bonus; bearing in mind the standard M4 replica comes without the rail and costs under UK£10 less than the railed version this is superb value for money. The “RIS” version also comes with a two piece outer barrel which means that you can run it with a full length barrel or as an SBR. The inner barrel however will need cropping and recrowning should you wish to run it short. On the top of the upper receiver is a removable carry handle with a full length Picatinny rail beneath; the carry handle does incorporate the full adjustable rear sight but should you wish to install an optic on the top rail this becomes redundant anyway. The front sight is the traditional “A Post” style. The pistol grip is the standard M16 style, but again as there is no motor within it’s extremely easy to change this out should you wish to. The sliding stock has multiple positions so it’s simple to set it up to work with you.
The M4A1 comes with a thirty round metal “STANAG” style of magazine and a speedloader with which to fill it; P-Mag style magazines are also available. The magazine is solid and heavy as obviously there’s a lot going on with the gas valves and the like. On the top of the magazine is a small sliding switch which helps to control the function of the carbine; pushing it forward raises a small lever which will lock the bolt to its rearmost position once the last round has been fired. The open bolt system in this carbine makes the operation pretty much identical to the real thing in that you must charge the carbine before you fire. Once the magazine has been emptied the bolt locks to the rear and when you insert a fresh, fully loaded magazine you need to hit the bolt release to let it slam forward again, just like the “real deal”. Please note that once again like the real world counterpart you cannot engage the safety until the
TECH AND TOOLS
THE ARRIVAL OF THE GAS BLOWBACK
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TECH AND TOOLS
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carbine is cocked; trying to force the fire selector into the safe position with an uncocked rifle could lead to damage! In operation the WE M4A1 is an absolute cracker, and if you’re buying it as a training tool then you’ll need to do absolutely nothing to it other than fit your chosen optic and accessories, charge the magazines with green gas and load up your BBs.
durable in the hands. Where this differs immediately from the standard AKM is the furniture fitted. Many friends who have served overseas in a private security capacity have told me that
AK Variants Open Bolt Gas Blowback
This of course leads me neatly onto the WE Airsoft Europe “AK PMC” and “AK74UN”gas blowbacks. A hot summer is the ideal time to use a gas rifle given that the “driving force” performs better and more consistently in warmer weather and it’s been my delight to test numerous models of gas powered replica during that period last year. Gas powered replicas are possibly the closest thing you’ll find to their “real world” counterparts in terms of operation as they have no electrical components, and operate from a bolt similar to the real thing. Power comes in general from the magazine where the gas is. Gas blowback rifles can be field stripped much like the real thing and upgraded with all manner of aftermarket parts; I tried fitting aftermarket pistol grips and furniture and experienced no problem in doing so. The “AK PMC” is actually based on a gas blowback AKM rather than an AK47, as it comes fitted with the ridged top cover and the distinctive muzzle brake. A lustrous black full metal throughout this is a sturdy beast, feeling solid and
when they have been issued their firearm “in country” it is often an AK of one type or another. Many in the past have carried out with them their own optics and accessories to further enhance operation and control of the rifle. The “PMC” reflects that in every way and comes ready fitted with an M4 style buffer tube and “crane” style stock to the rear. This gives great versatility in getting the replica to “fit you”. There is also an ambidextrous quick detach sling swivel included in this setup. There are standard iron sights fitted, adjustable for windage and elevation, but at the front
MP5A3 Gas Blowback
Although I’m a big fan of the models from WE Airsoft Europe they are by no means the only ones creating great Gas Blowback replicas. Vega Force Company (VFC) was founded in 2004, and quickly gained a reputation for a professional approach to creating highly realistic airsoft replicas. The reputation VFC earned was not only from the end users, but also from distributors and license holders around the world. Following OEM experience of a half decade, VFC has a professional team that specialise in project management, inter-cultural communication and quality control. Starting with electric replicas, more recently VFC devoted itself to developing gas blowback (GBB) systems, and attempted to make the replicas highly realistic with fully simulated firearms operation.
the real thing! Unlike any battery powered electric replica there is no heavy motor and gearbox adding weight to the design but just a cleverly designed bolt which relies purely on the gas in the magazine for operation; if you weren’t told that this is a replica I believe you’d be hard pushed to know the Umarex wasn’t the real deal; in fact you can field strip it for cleaning as you would the original firearm. The entire upper assembly is of a pressed metal finish just like a real MP5. In addition to the enforced fibre frame which incorporates the pistol grip and the removable handguard, everything is finished to an extremely high standard. Going right down to the legend “Kal.9mmx19” on the left hand side above the magwell and an individual serial number this replica looks extremely real with just a small “6mm BB” notation appearing on the top of the receiver. In operation the MP5A3 is very straightforward and intuitive. Safe, Semi, and Full Auto modes are clearly indicated by the traditional H&K “bullet pictograms” on either side of the body, and the safety catch is fully ambidextrous. Sights are simple too with an enclosed post at the sharp end and a fully adjustable dioptre at the rear. The sliding stock is essentially a one position affair, either open or closed but this is true of the real thing as well so you can’t knock the replica in this respect. The magazine release catch sits directly in front of the trigger guard and is easily operated by the thumb of the supporting hand.
SUMMING UP
Luckily for us a number of their licenced replicas are based on H&K models. As well as the H&K MP5A2 (with full butt stock) and the MP5A3 (with sliding stock) they are also behind other MP5 variants, G36 variants, and now the H&K 416 and 417. To say that they have made the most of the licencing agreement is surely a massive understatement! The VFC MP5A3 offered by Umarex in Germany shows the result of all the labours put into creating a first rate replica as it is simply stunning. Everything, and I do mean the lot, is truly 1:1 scale and it weighs in at 2.59kg unloaded, just 0.4g heavier than
TECH AND TOOLS
end rather than the woodwork you might expect to find on an AK there is a “polymer” setup similar to that offered by US company TAPCO which offers a quad handguard with rail sections for accessories top, bottom, and both sides. The top rail actually extends forward of the handguard itself for the easy fitting of larger optics should you desire. On my own AK trainers I’ve actually retro-fitted them both with classic woodwork, but taking the advice of friends who have “done it for real”, to the railed AKI fitted a simple “T1” style dot sight that WE Airsoft Europe offer as an accessory. This in itself is a super little bit of kit, coming with both high and low level mounts so that you can co-witness it to the iron sights of virtually any model of replica. In operation the simply adjustable red or green dot is bright and easy to acquire even in strong sunlight. There is also a side rail fitted to the left of the main receiver which means you can fit even bigger optics should you wish to, although you will need to acquire the rail itself as an accessory. Once again in operation the AK variants perform exactly as the “real deal” and even have a slightly lower cyclic rate than the M4 giving a quite distinctive “Kalash Klack” and kick in the shoulder similar to that of a .22 calibre!
I believe that you will be able to see from these replicas that things have indeed moved on quite considerably. Having them has allowed me to train consistently not only throughout the winter months as Travis pointed out, but year round. Having a piece of privately owned woodland where I can shoot to my hearts content means that I can keep all my manipulation drills fully up to speed, test optics and accessories, and even work on my trigger control; yes, even the triggers in the gas replicas can be adjusted just like the real thing! Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting for a moment that even these blowback replicas could ever take the place of getting on the range and live fire training, but if like me your live fire options are limited at least the airsoft replicas will let you keep your hand in, and on a budget! For more information on the M4 and AK variants please visit www.weairsofteurope.com For more information on the MP5 and other H&K variants please visit www.umarex.de
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Blue Hackle
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Ambrey Risk
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Antipirates.Org
BP Global
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APPDS
Britam Defence
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Aquatic Marine Ltd
British Maritime Solutions
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Protect Asia Group
BW Offshore
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Secopex
Calibre International Security
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Aspida
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Associated Risk Maritime Risk Management
Chiron Resources
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Bancroft Maritime Security Solutions
Clearwater Special Projects
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Bechtel Corporation
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Black Pearl
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International Security Network
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Janusian Risk Advisory Group
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Longmoor Group
Naval Guards
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NNK Group
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NYA International
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Ocean Marshalls
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Ocean Protective Services
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McRoberts Maritime Security
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Oxberry Risk Strategies
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Protect Asia Group
Securescot
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Securewest International
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Security Networking Events
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Security Networking Events
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Shield Risk Consulting
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