PMCI - June 2020

JUNE2020

CONTENTS 4 HOME SCHOOLED: BIL CONTINUES THE “TRAINING THEME” BY DETAILING HOW HE’S KEPT HIS GAME UP TO PAR IN ISOLATION; TWO MONTHS IN AND IT’S GETTING TOUGHER! 10 RED GUNS AND SIRT: TRAMPAS KICKS OFF OUR “ISOLATION ISSUE” WITH A CLOSE LOOK AT TRAINING TOOLS AND HOW THEY CAN BE PUT TO BEST EFFECT 15 EDITORS COMMENT

Deputy Ed (USA): Trampas Swanson

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

Graphic Design: Baz Thakur/

20 GEAR: HELIKON-TEX: THE LATEST TACTICAL CLOTHING RELEASES FROM HELIKON-TEX

Deadshot Design

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Publisher: Nigel Streeter

24 TACTICAL INNOVATION: READY TACTICAL: TRAMPAS HAS BEEN LIVING WITH THE LATEST SLING DEVELOPMENTS FROM READY TACTICAL AND NOW BRINGS IN HIS EVALUATION

Cover pic: SMG

32 FIREARMS: SPEC OPS .22 BUILD: HOW EFFECTIVE CAN THE HUMBLE .22 ROUND BE

PMCI magazine is a digital-only publication available FREE OF CHARGE via the PMCI App on a wide range of digital platforms, including iOS, Android and Windows. For more information, visit www.pocketmags.

“IN THE WILD”; TRAMPAS PUTS TOGETHER A VERY SPECIAL RIFLE TO HIGHLIGHT JUST HOW

com and search “PMCI”.

28 TECH: SIGHT CARDS: NEED AN EXTRA “HELPING HAND” FOR YOUR RANGE TRAINING? PMCI HAS JUST THE THING!

AND WHERE THIS CAN BE EFFECTIVE 36 FIREARMS: SIG LEGION XFIVE P320: ON THE RANGE WITH THE XFIVE, A DEPARTURE FROM THE TRADITIONAL HAMMER AND SEAR MODELS IN FAVOUR OF A STRIKER FIRE DESIGN FROM SIG! 40 KNIVES AND TOOLS: SKALLYWAG D2 DAGGER: SMALL BUT OH, SO DEADLY! WE TAKE A

PMC I c a n a l s o b e rea d o n l i n e at : www.issuu.com, www.magzter.com and www.readly.com Calibre Publishing Limited Wyche Innovation Centre,

LOOK AT THE LATEST CREATION FROM CAP’N CRAIG AND HIS CREW AT SKALLYWAG TACTICAL

Walwyn Road,

44 TOOLS OF THE TRADE: AMERICAN SPEEDLOADER:

Upper Colwall,

SEEN AT SHOT AND NOW TESTED, AMERICAN SPEEDLOADER PRODUCTS OFFER SHOOTERS

Malvern,

A QUICK AND STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY TO LOAD MAGAZINES

Worcestershire,

46 6MM TRAINING: RAVEN “1911” HICAPPA GAS PISTOL: CONTINUING TO SHOWCASE THE BEST OF THE 6MM TRAINING WORLD, BILL LOOKS AT ONE OF THE TOOLS HE’S BEEN

WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003

USING IN ISOLATION THAT SHOWS BOTH INNOVATION AND NEW DIRECTIONS IN DESIGN!

Web: www.pmcimagazine.com

49 BOOK REVIEW: “THE CIA WAR IN KURDISTAN: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE NORTHERN

©Calibre Publishing Limited 2019

FRONT IN THE IRAQ WAR”

Letter, idea or question?

50 INDUSTRY VACANCIES: LOOKING FOR WORK? JUST CHECK HERE.

Got something to say? A question for our

Copyright © Calibre Publishing 2020. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a

system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the

line and let us know. Either email the editor

express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The Editors reserve the right to edit submissions prior to publication.

Thank you for downloading this Edition of PMCI, the FREE digital publication dedicated to PMC Operatives. PMCI is written by individuals with first-hand knowledge and experience of the subject they write about - and all of whom have an intimate understanding of what the role entails and the day to day challenges faced by those working in this industry.

PMCI will provide a platform to review and discuss the things to matter to all of us, such personal equipment, training, employment and lifestylestyle management - and these are also our core fundamentals. We hope you enjoy this Edition of PMCI and if you have any feedback or comments, or would like to contrubute to future issues, please let us know by email to: editor@pmcimagazine.com

2

Editor (UK): Bill Thomas

(editor@pmcimagazine.com), write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

TELL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME. Trit ium illuminated watches t hat stay visible all night.

Exclusively available online WWW.NITEWATCHES.COM

HOME SCHOOLED

HOME SCHOOLED

FINDING IT HARD TO KEEP UP YOUR TRAINING TEMPO IN LOCKDOWN? BILL BRINGS US HIS PERSONAL APPROACH TO STAYING SWITCHED ON AND UP TO SPEED IN ISOLATION!

I

n the UK I’ve just entered Month 3 of lockdown, and who would have thought that the way we live and the

freedoms we enjoy could become so curtailed so quickly?

Whilst we’ve yet to enter some form of “police state” it certainly feels sometimes like “Big Brother is watching us”, and the effect that self-imposed isolation has had on all of us has been profound.

Whilst I am the very first to question the motivation of the state in imposing curtailments on our individual freedoms, simple common sense (oh, where did that go?) dictates that we need to take certain actions when facing a silent killer, if not for ourselves then for our loved ones and the vulnerable in our societies. Although “situational awareness at all times” should be a mantra amongst most of you reading this, we’ve all become very aware of keeping distance from others, not only by design, but also by necessity.

Of course what the lockdown has meant is that not only have we needed to keep away from people, but also places, and this has included most of the venues that we would commonly visit to train. My local shooting club is having a continued hiatus, which means that the ranges both indoor and outdoor have their doors very securely and firmly shut, and although I’ve never personally been much of a “weights bunny” gyms and clubs are also off limits.

So where does this leave us, and me, in relation to my regular training regime? I work mostly from home anyway, so that hasn’t changed much (read here “at all”), and as long as I hit my deadlines then all is good. I’m lucky in this as usually I would train physically

for 30-45 minutes each morning using a great stretching workout shown to me by occasional PMCI contributor Robbie, shoot indoor on a Tuesday morning (.22LR, Static Targets, 25m), shoot indoor on a Thursday morning (6mm, Reactive Targets, 5m) and shoot outdoor at the weekend (mix of calibres and mixed distances dependant on the training platform used).

In addition to this “routine” I also sea swim regularly in the summer, and hike with a pack a couple of miles each day (with my beloved hound by my side), extending this out at least once a week to around 10 miles; even though I’m in my mid-fifties this regular routine along with a good diet and not-so-much-boozeas-I-used-to- imbibe keeps me on top of things, and keeps those all-too-easy-to-accumulate pounds at bay!

Whilst lockdown has kept me closer to home in relation to not travelling to shows and events, my daily physical routine has stayed largely consistent, and unlike many I read about I’m feeling as fine both physically and mentally as I usually do, and even at the most stringent point of enforced isolation I was still able to get out with the hound for my “one a day” and do my morning stretches.

However, rangetime has proved a most definite problem! I’m very aware that my “tactical toolbox” contains some perishable skills, so even though I’ve not been able to head to the range, I’ve brought it home to me!

HOME ON THE RANGE!

Now obviously I’m not able to shoot firearms at home, in fact I

MANTIS X10 ELITE

The final element in my “home school” system is of course the Mantis X10 Elite that Austin from Mantis kindly gave me to try when I saw him at SHOT earlier this year. I’ve been a HUGE fan of the Mantis system since I first met the guys at SHOT 2017, and it’s been a part of my training regimen ever since, and the latest iteration takes things to a whole new level!

Whilst the original Mantis X unit has served me incredibly well, the Mantis X10 is the next evolution of that original breakthrough personal training model. The X10 mounts to any firearm accessory rail, and if you don’t have a rail Mantis even have adapters; in fact, if you want to use your MantisX system with a taclite or non-taclite compatible holster they even have magazine floor plates with

HOME SCHOOLED

wish I lived somewhere with space to safely do this, but I AM able to use all the other training tools at my disposal, and suddenly the whole “6mm thing” is making more sense to me than ever, and in fact I’m shooting my “6mm replicas” on a daily basis.

This, using training aids such as the Laser Ammo System (www.laser-ammo.com), the Attack Sense Target System (www. attacksense.com), and the latest Mantis X10 Elite Shooting Performance System (www.mantisx.com), has allowed me to use my replicas effectively to keep my standards up whilst the “real guys” are safely locked away in the gun safe, lubed and protected, and ready for when I can go “live” again.

So what have I set up? Well for me a Tuesday morning (post stretching!) is now an hour on the Attack Sense System with various models of handgun from RAVEN (G17 and 1911 style, www.nuprol.com/raven), with the targets themselves set up safely in my shed; I have double doors which open to my rear garden and yard, and I’ve made a backstop with cardboard boxes full of foam and packaging so that BBs are either retained or simply bounce off onto the shed floor. I shoot 5m and 10m sets, practicing my draw, reload and reholster. Using the stats function on the Attack Sense tablet I can easily see how consistent I am, and consistency married to speed is what I’m after.

Thursday morning is now the same thing, but with the gas AKM and the gas AR (I like not to be “platform specific”) from VFC (www.vegaforce.com) that I recently set up as project and detailed in the last issue, and in that session I’ll run sets from 10m and 25m; what’s interesting to me here is that I’m actually doing my training session around my home, using both natural and man-made items to shoot from behind and using realistic engagement distances… in fact this serves very well indeed as a “home defence training scenario” which brings me neatly onto the Laser Ammo System as I can safely use that indoors both during the day, and indeed later in the day with a pistol light for low/no light training!

pmcimagazine.com

HOME SCHOOLED

pmcimagazine.com

a rail adapter so you can still attach the module to your firearm!

In addition to everything the X3 and X7 do, the key features of the X10 include: • • •

•

Recoil analysis Holster Draw Analysis Dynamic Shooting (rapid fire, multi-target, shooting on the move) Updates available Software support for all shooting platforms (pistol, rifle, shotgun)

Collecting thousands of data points per second, the X10 analyses your shooting in real-time, and works with dry fire, live fire, 6mm/CO2, and simulated weapons systems so it’s the perfect companion for me right here, right now, and I can even use it safely in my home office!

There’s one more element that I want to add to my “training toolbox” from the Mantis guys and that’s their BLACKBEARD AUTO-RESETTING TRIGGER SYSTEM FOR AR-15 that I saw and tried on their stand in Vegas. This would round out things for me, as I want to be able to do dry fire practice with my gas AR without having to run the charging handle between shots.

An auto-resetting trigger sounds like the perfect thing!

As Austin from Mantis told me at the time: “This is not a drop-in trigger kit that you can swap with your trigger. This is not a modification to your existing trigger. This is a drop-in Bolt Carrier Group and magazine that works with your existing trigger. It has the same weight, break, and reset. Your dry fire practice just became 100x more effective and engaging.”

Using clever electromechanical shizzle, BlackBeard allows you to take up to 10 dry fire shots per second, quickly resetting the hammer between each shot. Installation takes less than a minute; break open your AR, remove the bolt carrier

6

group, drop in Blackbeard, close things back up, and put the magazine in place to provide the power. It’s a 20 second change-out so that you can dry fire to your heart’s content!

Now training is an intimate thing, and you’ll choose your tools for the objective you wish to achieve, and aye, there’s the rub! Many people I see, even hardcore shooters, have used the lockdown as some form of extended vacation, and their personal regimen has gone way, WAY out of the park. Even the most selfdisciplined amongst us, including me, can think “oh, it’s fine, I’ll miss today’s session”, but this quickly leads to a complacent attitude, and ultimately a degradation of skills.

As well as looking after self and gear, you also need to look after your own performance and proficiency and get work done in, even when the situation and conditions are challenging; let’s face it, if you can’t find a solution to how to train, then you’re going to find it REAL hard when the “SHTF”.

Don’t make excuses, find solutions and action them!

DESIGNATED TRAINING GUNS

pmcimagazine.com

DESIGNATED TRAINING GUNS

WHEN IT COMES TO FIREARMS TRAINING, MANY OF US DEDICATED TO THE DISCIPLINE WILL SPEND HOURS ON THE RANGE SENDING HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS DOWN RANGE EACH MONTH. SADLY, IT IS A HARD FACT THAT MOST WILL NOT SPEND JUST AS MUCH TIME OFF THE RANGE HANDLING OUR FIREARMS, WORKING ON BASIC FUNDAMENTALS SUCH AS DRY FIRING OR MORE ADVANCED TECHNIQUES SUCH AS MOVEMENT OR WEAPON RETENTION DRILLS. ONE OF THE PRIMARY EXCUSES FOR NOT DOING SO IS SAFETY.

W

hile we are off the range in the classroom and at home much more than on the range, safety concerns of long term wear on your firearm while dry firing thousands of cycles, accidental discharge or damage to your firearm from pushing yourself past the fail point to get better are all valid concerns. This is the perfect opportunity for shooters to make invaluable investments into their skillset improvement by purchasing designated training guns.

For this issue, we take a look at two specific companies and their products that are clear leaders in the training firearm industry, the SIRT by Next Level Training (NLT) and the military / law enforcement classic Red Guns by Armament Systems & Procedures, better known to the industry as ASP. These two great options offer a variety of different benefits at varying price points to help shooters to improve off the range and make the most of their time and investment on the range as well!

10

SIRT BY NEXT LEVEL TRAINING

With striker fired pistols such as the Glock 80% of the world’s shooting population, the slide must be manually cycled to reset the trigger each time it is dry fired, which may cause the shooter the bad habit or “training scar” to break from their master grip during live fire in order to subconsciously try to cycle the slide as they would in dry fire practice.

Fortunately for the majority of the industry’s shooters today, the SIRT pistol is one product that will NOT do the hard work and time invested for you, but WILL give you the means to be able to make your time off the range just as valuable as the time spent with live fire.

SIRT is an acronym for “Shot Indicating Reset Trigger” pistol produced by Next Level Training ( www.NextLevelTraining. com ). The company is headed up by SIRT inventor, CEO Mike Hughes. For those who followed television’s reality shooting show, TOP SHOT on the History Channel, may remember Mike as the season 3 finalist cutting the Superman-like physique and square jaw. Mike originally invented the SIRT pistol as self-diagnostic tool to improve his shooting through laser feedback.

For the past few years, I have been using Pro Model SIRT Model 110 pistols both for my daily personal training routine and as part of my range drills for the students I teach weekly.

With the use of the easy to use LASRX (Laser Activated Shot Recorder) program on my laptop from Shooter Technology Group (www.shootertechgroup.com), I have easily shot thousands upon thousands of simulated rounds while seating in my office, practicing home defense drills walking through my house during the day and night as well as on the range between live fire exercises. Personally, I have seen three main advantages in this device since using the SIRT as part of my training routine.

• Weight & Size – With the SIRT being almost exactly the same size and weight as my Glock 17, I can use my standard Streamlight attached to its railed dust cover, fit it into my standard training holster and safely practice my speed reloads using the weighted interchangeable magazines.

• Cost Efficiency – Powered by a single $3.00 US Lithium CR123 camera battery, it is estimated the average user gets around $0.0002 per shot before having to replace the battery.

Drills and shooting challenges can be performed in any room or back yard without the need of LIVE FIRE and range fees. Retailing between $239 - $479, the SIRT pistols make cost as much as a real entry level handgun but quickly pays off the more you use it on and off the range.

• Rapid Skill Enhancement – With my personal training, the SIRT pistol quickly helped give me feedback I could easily see for myself and help develop proper muscle memory when not on the range. The SIRT greatly enhances point shooting to the degree that you may sometimes start instinctively index shots before using the rear sights. The SIRT develops a strong trust in your natural aiming instincts. As an instructor, I have seen the SIRT quickly reduce recoil anticipation in my students by having them shoot a few shots with the SIRT before going to LIVE FIRE. During a student’s shooting session, if I begin to see a pattern in their shots starting to routinely strike low, I will stop them, have them again fire the SIRT a few times and continue with LIVE FIRE exercises. Every time I have done this, the student’s shots will immediately return to point of aim / point of impact.

DESIGNATED TRAINING GUNS

Modeled loosely after the most popular service firearm in the world today, the Glock model 17 9mm, the SIRT pistol is designed as an inert firearm shaped training device designed to teach proper, consistent manipulation of the trigger while allowing for quick and easy self-diagnosis without need of live ammunition or a training partner.

With trigger control arguably being the single most important aspect of any shooting discipline, this device does not need snap caps or real firearms to work. Unlike standard striker fired pistols, the SIRT pistol is a fully self-contained unit using red and green laser technology with a resetting trigger to simulate that of the Glock trigger. By training to feel the break point of the trigger and watching the red laser projected under the barrel activated by interface of the trigger pull, one can learn what is commonly called the “Glock reset” drill and only let out on the trigger between shots enough to reset the trigger while not allowing slop or over travel in the trigger pull using muscle memory and the positive “click” and feel of the reset.

Depending on model, the SIRT uses either a second red (Model 110) or a separate green laser (Pro Model) mounted in the muzzle activated by the breaking the shot, the user can verify where the training shot would hit in relation to the authentic Glock sights mounted on the top of the slide and can be easily replaced with any appropriate aftermarket options.

pmcimagazine.com

DESIGNATED TRAINING GUNS

pmcimagazine.com

The lack of recoil present while performing the same range of motions tends to carry over mentally back to the LIVE FIRE. When first performing this, you will see shooters possibly going back to anticipating recoil after a few shots, but as the switch back and forth from SIRT to LIVE FIRE, you will see a huge difference quickly.

develop sound weapon retention techniques. These were all aspects of training in which a live firearm would not have been a smart choice in using for safety purposes. ASP donates millions of dollars in free training to law enforcement organizations nationwide and the training aids were designed and spun up to support that lifesaving mission. Better trained officers save lives; theirs and others.

RED GUNS BY ASP

In June of 1999, I was first handed a red colored, hard plastic version of a Beretta M9 as a young cadet attending the Pitt Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training academy.

Soon after, I was informed this new tool of the trade was known as a “Red Gun” by ASP ( www.ASP-USA.com ). Further into my training, I learned this was the same company was known around the world for producing THE name in collapsible batons, zip cuffs and innovative tactical flashlights. For the next few weeks, I would carry this daily in my holster on my cadet duty belt along with red plastic replicas of a radio, spare magazines and flashlight as well.

Once I was hired by the Sheriff’s office in the neighboring county, my Beretta Red Gun was then replaced by an ASP version of a Glock model 21 to closer simulate the firearm my new agency carried. As with many Police Academies across the country, this practice is put into place as a strategy that acclimates their cadets to carrying a firearm integrated into their daily lives. Psychologists have found this to effectively assist in normalizing the presence of the weapon and doing everyday tasks while wearing one. It simply works.

Day in and day out, I practiced drawing from the holster, keeping my finger off the trigger, working around corners, getting through doorways escaping the “fatal funnel” and even wrestling around on the ground with classmates to

12

So exactly what are red guns? They almost exact replicas of real firearm models that are built of a dense durable polymer and are weighted to feel more like their real steel loaded counterparts. For those of you “old school” ASP users who notice a different color tone in the new products, the answer is YES, they have changed up their polymer blend it seems.

The new products seem to have a bit more flex to prevent breakage.

ASP offers dozens of firearm models in their inventory from revolvers, semi-auto pistol, shotguns, rifles and even

FINAL THOUGHTS

One of the biggest misconceptions about using SIRT pistols and Red Guns is the thought that training with these products is an “either / or” concept in which shooters must decide which to use. As a former SWAT operator and current Firearms Instructor and Training Counselor, I firmly believe these products work in direct conjunction with each other.

Those looking to heighten their safety and fighting skills with firearms (as well as those who train them) will make solid investments by purchasing Next Level Training and ASP products.

For many, the ASP Red Gun will be a great place to start with basic fundamentals and developing safe training practices.

For those new to shooting, this will be a cost-effective way to determine if firearms training is right for them. As skills such as drawing from the holster, SIRT pistols would be a great step to start developing marksmanship skills or correcting past training scars in experienced shooters. The addition of items such as video training with LASR programs or 6mm guns would be a great way to blend practical applications.

From personal dryfire practice, to team room clearing tactics, to force on force, and any number of non-live fire valuable training exercises. Both devices offer a safe and effective way of working through shooting styles and positions that best employ the body’s natural biomechanics unique to each individual shooter. Through the dedicated use of SIRT pistols and Red Guns are a great way for professionals and civilians alike to make the very most out of their time off the range both in and out of the classroom.

Regardless of your mission or preference in training, the biggest factor is to simply train. Challenge yourself to find new ways to safely improve your skillsets. Techniques based on real world incidents, data and lessons learned is ever changing and so should you. Remember, there are two types people in this world, those who evolve with the times and those who go extinct. Do whatever it takes to be the one still standing when the smoke clears.

DESIGNATED TRAINING GUNS

submachine guns. The company also offers replica flashlights, tasers, batons, radios and other gear to choose from to closely simulation your duty load out for training. With no moving parts to break and their polymer construction, these training tools are literally designed to take a beating!

Red Guns aren’t as high tech as SIRT pistols and that’s the point. SIRT pistols are great for trigger control and selfdiagnostics but too expensive and fragile to be tossed into a pool for Swift Water Rescue training or tossed across the roadway on command working vehicle take down drills. ASP builds each product to withstand the harshest of environments and be affordable enough to purchase on the mass scale.

Even for our small training budget, I own five ASP guns for every SIRT pistol in our armory. These are the training guns that responsible firearms owners, every day first responding heroes and the heroes they call to save them with tactical and military forces use daily for high stress, high intensity training.

• Weight & Size – ASP products are closely related to the metrics of each represented product and will easily fit in holsters and pouches designed for the real versions. Picatinny rails on the handguns and rifles will directly fit most rail mounted lights, red dots and lasers with no modifications necessary.

• Cost Efficiency – As previously mentioned, Red Guns are non-firing and durable polymer thus keeping cost down to a minimum, typically ranging between $63 - $246. The ability to use ASP Red Gun products in much rougher applications than other training products ultimately saves money that would normally be set aside for repairs and replacements of less durable items.

• Rapid Skill Enhancement – With over twenty years of experience using and teaching with Red Guns, I have seen firsthand how these products effectively boost confidence and safely enhance knowledge on and off the range. Being able to employ clearly visible inert training aids without worry of damaging equipment or injuring others, the average end-user’s training curve has greatly enhanced. Training can progress at full speed and more closely resemble “real time” application to better prepare students for the dangers they may face outside the classroom.

____, \f II ll

LESSONS BY SIG SAUER CERTIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR AND SELFDEFENCE EXPERT

DISTANCED BUT AWARE As that old proverb goes, we are certainly “living in interesting times” right now, and the world as we knew it seems somehow a distant, cherished memory. I’ve realised as I’ve got older that I have indeed lived in a “golden age” where doors were generally open to me around the globe; as a younger man I’d think nothing of jumping on a plane to go and shoot or work in the USA, go adventuring and climbing throughout Europe and Africa, and even head to the Caribbean and South America to dive.

Okay, some doors were closed to me, especially the ones that led through the “Iron Curtain”, but with my wits about me (situational awareness as I’d call it today) I could head off on my own to see where life led me, but sadly no longer.

I’ve watched with profound sadness as parts of the world have slowly but inexorably closed their doors, not only to me, but to everyone. That may be because of some type of conflict, armed or otherwise, that has put certain places off limits, or it may be a slightly more world-weary and “sensible” head that has led me to keep informed of what’s happening around the world, why, and where.

And of course right now we find ourselves even further constrained, but this time by a silent and implacable enemy. All of our training is largely useless against this insidious foe… or is it?

As a practitioner of a more “tactical lifestyle” to me the fundamental cornerstone of this is “situational awareness”, the ability to read signs around me at all times and not put myself into a problem situation where I might need to use my training in the first place!

And as much as folk are shouting right now about the efficacy or not of “social distancing” is this not simply an extension of being “aware” in a specific “situation”? Do we not, as members of a tactical community, distance ourselves anyway, both mentally and in some cases physically? Do we not create, where possible, a “workspace” around ourselves to react to a given threat?

I’ve read, again with some sadness, about folk that don’t get this; the current situation is a dangerous one, and whether we like it or not, as trained as we can be, it is one that we are largely powerless to do battle with unless we wrap ourselves up in MOPP/ CRBN/NBC gear and stay in our personal bunkers!

But that’s not life is it? Life is about living it to the max, but at the same time measuring and calculating the risk factor, and undertaking our adventures in line with our analysis. It’s about gathering information, continuously learning the true facts, and mitigating accordingly. It’s not only about keeping ourselves safe, but also our loved ones too, and that is beyond price.

Whilst we continue to hone our skillset we must be mindful and “aware” of the situation so that, as Trampas would say, the sheep may begin to understand the lion, and in our own sure-footed way go about re-opening some of those doors that have slammed hard shut, not only in our neighbourhoods, but also around the world.

For now, check the true facts, act accordingly, and keep safe out there.

EDITORS COMMENT

EDITORS COMMENT

pmcimagazine.com

GEAR ON TEST

HELIKON-TEX PILGRIM ANORAK AND PANT In my musings on training and especially “situational awareness” in this issue sometimes I need to apply that same advice to myself and not get tunnel-vision when I’m looking at my own gear locker! I work pretty closely with the guys at Helikon-Tex in Poland and our conversations tend to be about gear for range and operational use, but amongst their other lines are some real gems!

I’ve been searching for some gear to use on the range that’s not overtly “tactical” as traditional ranges where I live in the UK can still be a little “stuffy” about you turning up looking like a “shooter and looter”. I specifically wanted a set of clothing to cover me on outdoor ranges for spring and autumn use, and when I discovered the Pilgrim Anorak and Pant in their BUSHCRAFT line I was very taken with the design.

Helikon-Tex designed the Pilgrim jacket for demanding outdoor activities in dynamically changing weather. Based on the zipped “kangaroo” construction proven for decades, it has been clearly refined to meet the expectations of modern users, while still hitting the aesthetics of the “old guard”; made from “DuraCanvas”, the hooded Pilgrim Anorak can even be impregnated with wax for extra weather protection, although I’ve found it to be highly water resistant as it comes.

Numerous pockets allow for convenient placement of equipment, while their arrangement will make them constantly available, even when working in a sitting position or kneeling. The design elongates the whole construction of the jacket, which protects the torso regardless of the equipment we carry. By lowering the

16

“kangaroo” pocket, they’ve also been able to extend the front zipper of the jacket, which allows you to better ventilate your core area during strenuous approaches or work.

The matching Pilgrim pants are highly durable and lightweight, and made of the same “DuraCanvas” fabric.

The pants have a rise at the back to protect your kidneys against cold, and this area is also padded with thin foam to provide even more comfort during use. The pants have eight pockets in total; the large, buttoned cargo pockets on the thighs have internal mesh panels to provide additional ventilation when the pockets are open.

Classic hip pockets have reinforcements on the edges to protect them from being damaged by knife clips, and in addition to the cargo and hip pockets there are smaller zippered pockets. On the back there are small buttoned pockets with reinforced edges. Waist and leg cuffs are adjustable, and wide belt loops will fit up to 40mm belts, while additional loops on the front allow dummy cording; a nice little aesthetic feature are Helikon-Tex branded buttons!

Overall the suit reminds me a great deal of the “old skool” ventile gear that was worn by both explorers and issued to SF units back in the day, and I have to tell you that it’s massively comfortable and easy to wear, whilst having a design and feature set that fully compatible with range use. I’ve been wearing both items for a little while now and am very pleased to have added them to my personal kit, and although they’ll be tucked away for the next couple of months I’m actually looking forward now to autumn range days when the weather turns!

Available in a selection of colours, more information can be found on the Pilgrim garments at www.helikon-tex.com

Cheap eye protection is a false economy in virtually every respect I can think of. Luckily these days we have a wealth of manufacturers to choose from when it comes to protecting those all-important “Eyes and Ears”, and testing for such products is amongst the most stringent out there.

Each and every manufacturer makes the claim that “their eyepro” is the best on the market, offering huge levels of protection, that it won’t fog, and will be comfortable to wear all day long, but in reality anyone that has worn eyepro will know that it’s a bit of a crapshoot as we all have different shaped heads and faces and different metabolisms, and what fits well and performs flawlessly for one person doesn’t work at all for another!

I’m constantly amazed at how big a market “eyepro” has become, and the sheer number of “cool guy” brands that have entered this marketplace with offerings that whilst they look “tacticool” are actually next to useless on the range, let alone in any form of “live fire” scenario.

Having glasses that make you look like you’ve just come off a fashion shoot are all very well, but does their design make them up to par for what we need in terms of full-spectrum eye protection?

I was recently contacted by an old friend in the outdoor performance industry who now works quite high up for the SINNER brand; now I’ve known of SINNER, a Dutch company that’s been making high-performance sporting eyewear since 1996, and I have to say I like their pitch, which goes; “There is a SINNER in all of us, whether you like it or not.

We are unique. You too. Because we believe in ourselves and our passion, we overcome almost every obstacle and let our dreams come true.”

Now whilst they’ve produced some excellent models for water sports and winter sports I’ve not been aware of them in the “world of bangs”, so it was with some surprise that I reacted when Kev contacted me. What he sent me to try were the initial models from SINNER, the “Mavericks”, and thus far I’ve been pretty impressed with them!

The Mavericks (cool name right enough!) are a classic modern eyepro design with just enough of a “signature” to make them stand out from the herd. The set I was sent arrived in a sturdy protective zipped softcase, with three abrasion resistant lenses (dark, clear, and amber), an adjustable nosepiece, neoprene headstrap, and a cleaning cloth that’s for once big enough to use! So far so good…

The glasses are documented as being tested by ICS Labs in the USA, and are rated ANSI Z87+ and BS EN166 which makes me happy and assured that they’re good to go for the intended use. They also come with a clearly-written and illustrated information guide that’s obviously been put together by someone who actually knows what they’re about, as it talks about “best, most protective fit” in a way that’s understandable!

The fit is very good as I’d expect from an eyewear specialist, and lens changing is easy and straightforward.

It’s not really been hot enough yet to really push the lenses in terms of fog-resistance, but rest assured I’ll do so and report back after a few summer range/ training sessions. My first impression of the “Mavericks” is extremely positive, and I believe that we can expect good things from SINNER in the future. If this is how they set their stall; as yet the Mavericks are not available for sale so I’m unable to give you a firm price on them, but I would certainly recommend you try a pair for yourself as soon as you see them, as personally I believe SINNER are onto a WINNER!

GEAR ON TEST

MAVERICK EYEPRO FROM SINNER

pmcimagazine.com

pmcimagazine.com

TITAN SLASH PROOF GLOVE

PMCI are pleased this time to be joined by our good friend Paul Hutchinson from Associated Risks Group who brings us a look at some new gloves he’s been checking out recently. We hope you’ll welcome Paul and we look forward to bringing you more reviews and articles from him in the future!

GEAR ON TEST

I recently had to purchase 30 sets of the PPSS SlashPRO Titan,

Slash & Needle Resistant Gloves (Don’t worry why) on initial inspection they appear to be a robust pair of gloves, that come in something of a flimsy plastic wallet with an information card covering protection specifics, fitting and sizing, inspection, cleaning etc.

The Titan comes with the EN388:2003 level 5 (Blade Cut Resistance) the highest level. (Abrasion Resistance) level 4 and (Tear Resistance) level 4. But they also state they have a Puncture Resistance of level 4. After initial investigation of a pair they appear to be a very sturdy product. Made from a mixture of materials, Cow hide palm, Carbon knuckle pad and manufactured using an ultra-high performance cut resistant fabric known as Cut-Tex® PRO. I’ve not had reason to wash a pair yet, although the information card states it cannot guarantee the performance level if laundered or dry cleaned. The 2018 catalogue states “Machine washable up to 40° Celsius” It has a Synthetic non-slip back and palm grip with a padded cuff and Velcro strap for the wrist and they have a high quality feel about them, however, ensure you order as per their sizing instruction and go for the slightly larger option. I’m normally a size 8 glove but these come from S-XXXL so I initially thought a medium would be ok, I was wrong, I needed the large. You measure a closed clenched fist and then the length, the online catalogue explains in detail.

The dexterity is initially very poor and just like a new pair of shoes; you need to wear them in. Once you have worn them in, then it’s a game changer, you gain the confidence in the product and its capability.

They’re not the cheapest of gloves but like always, you get what you pay for and quality doesn’t come cheap. I personally like them and having a few pairs from their range I believe the Titan are by far the much superior style and comfort then the Classic or the Ares range.

YOU CAN: CHARGE CAMERAS IPHONES & SMARTPHONES GPS TWO-WAY RADIOS AND MORE This is power without boundaries.

When your batteries fade or you find yourself way off-grid, the award winning powermonkey extreme gives your devices the power to keep on going. With Powertraveller, you can at www.powertraveller.com

Stay safe Paul

18

iPad, iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries

Helikon-Tex®

SFU NEXT Pants® Mk2 Improved battlefield classics

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

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

Journey to Perfection

HELIKON-TEX

pmcimagazine.com

HELIKON-TEX NEW DIRECTIONS FOR 2020 At SHOT in January one of the more exciting meetings of the week for the entire PMCI review team was a chance to get together with the folks from Helikon-Tex. International readers may already be familiar with the name, and this Polish manufacturer of tactical gear and clothing has been on our team radar from some considerable time! The PMCI crew have been evaluating their latest garments and designs and now report back. By Bill Thomas.

W

hen it comes to creating a hard wearing and functional clothing system you really have to work with manufacturers you can trust and for many of us one of the “go to” brands for this is Helikon-Tex from Poland. Trousers and shirts, waterproof and breathable jackets, fleece jackets and headgear are all available within their range.

Helikon-Tex was established in 1983 and has been producing clothing for the military, emergency services and the police since then. When Helikon-Tex was established their business was mainly concentrated on military surplus sales. However, changing trends and a fast changing market in the mid-nineties demanded a new direction for them and in 1999 they decided to start their own military and security clothing production.

20

The range that they now offer is proof that their decision was the correct one as they now offer a really comprehensive, and ever-expanding, selection of uniforms, tactical and outdoor clothing, backpacks, boots and equipment that have gained recognition amongst professional users, soldiers, law enforcement officers, survival and outdoor enthusiasts all over the world, and each and every year their offering drives forward with new designs.

I always look forward to visiting their stand at trade shows as undoubtedly there will be something improved or even brand new to see. The range is absolutely huge these days and they offer all their clothing and gear in multiple colourways; should you need camouflage they work with some of the most up to date, cutting edge patterns available but if you AO is such that you need to run “low key” then you’ll also find muted hues ideal for tactical situations.

They also work very closely indeed with technical fabric manufacturers so when it comes to getting real performance from your clothing system then Helikon-Tex can pretty much guarantee they will have what you are looking for; if you visit their website and check out their “Partners” page you’ll see exactly what I mean!

I’m pleased to say that these days we have a really superb working relationship with the team at Helikon-Tex, and even during these “challenging times” we’re living in they’ve been in constant contact with PMCI, sending us over test garments and gear, and their “operational tempo” seems to be as brisk as ever. What you need to realise here folks is that any manufacturer needs to be working well ahead of the curve given the fact that it takes some serious time to develop an entire range of gear; HelikonTex are working constantly with both their own “brand ambassador” program, and with professional users around the globe each day, and every day. What we’re seeing as finished product today has been, quite literally, “in the mill” for some considerable time, and their longevity as an experienced manufacturer gives them the ability to be not just “on trend”, but to set that trend themselves!

NEW, IMPROVED, AND BANG ON

which, together with their Greyman Tactical Jeans, creates a solid set-up for any urban adventurer.

I think we’d all have to agree that there is probably no more low profile type of clothing than a classic shirt combined with a pair of cargo pants or jeans, and the new Covert Concealed Carry Shirts are just the garments you need to pull of this laid-back yet prepared look; during urban operations in warm, summer days, it is as much important to look good, keep a low profile and feel comfortable so in addition to a fill-length sleeve model there’s also a Covert Concealed Carry Short Short Sleeve Shirt to fulfil all those tasks.

Made of lightweight cotton/poly (heavy on the cotton for a great feel!) fabric in a classic plaid pattern the shirts will help you blend in during any urban operation. Two

HELIKON-TEX

Now I’ve personally been a fan of Helikon-Tex shirts since I bought my very first range polo from them many years back, as they build their garments for the user with extra little refinements thrown in that prove that they’re “users” themselves, and the very latest shirts in their range show that completely!

A while back they introduced two models that were really a “statement of intent” of where they wold be heading, and both my wife and I love their Defender Mk2 Pilgrim shirt; as soon as my wife saw mine she wanted one, and who am I to argue with such fine taste! I’ve also become a fan of the MBDU Flannel Shirt which looks great but also has a wealth of features to enamour shooters worldwide, and I have to say the Helikon-Tex team looked super-sharp in theirs at SHOT! Never a company to rest on their laurels though, Helikon-Tex have rolled out this program further with some great new models for 2020 that take things further, truly creating a range that has something for everyone!

The newest models of their tactical shirts expand the selection of the Urban line with new Covert Concealed Carry shirts, but also with a plain-looking Greyman Shirt,

pmcimagazine.com

HELIKON-TEX

pmcimagazine.com

classic chest pockets and one zippered pocket will hold all your essentials, but what makes these shirts truly unique is the fastening system; at first the shirt looks like any buttoned shirt, but when needed, a single strong pull reveals that the shirt is fastened with snap buttons, giving you instant access to your weapon, magazines, baton or anything else carried underneath. I particularly like the glasses wipe attached to the hem of the shirts, a little feature that once again proves that Helikon-Tex know their stuff… I mean c’mon, who doesn’t wipe their shooting glasses on their shirt hem?

A “Grey Man”, as the name implies, is a person that can easily blend into the crowd, and the perfect operator should be considered a “grey man”, being able to avoid detection even when surrounded by other people. Helikon’s “Greyman” shirt looks quite unassuming, but is still stylish, with the plaid pattern providing not only a degree of elegance, but also a low profile look, a necessity during covert urban operations.

A classic style with buttoned chest pockets, buttoned front and as well as buttoned sleeves will help you blend into the crowd whenever you need, but for your essential EDC items the shirt has a hidden, internal zippered pocket, and another hidden, yet useful feature is a swatch of special cloth for cleaning glasses which is integrated into one of the shirts

22

sides. All of these make the Greyman Shirt a perfect choice either for covert operations or for everyday civilian use.

In line with their other shirts like the Defender MK2 series, the “Gentleman” shirt, and the Trip Lite shirt Helikon-Tex really have covered all the bases for warmer and hot weather wear, and I’m certain there’s more to come!

NEXT? SFU NEXT! Now it’s all very well having a great range of shirts to choose from, but having a trouser design that works just as well and is as full of useful features is a necessity too! I already mentioned the “Greyman Jeans” which work perfectly in an understated way, but this year Helikon-Tex have moved forward with their Special Forces Uniform (SFU) NEXT program with the latest SFU NEXT MK2 pants.

These pants are a new, improved version of the classic SFU NEXT that have proved to be a superb design, offering a host of features, great durability, and excellent freedom of movement. Even though the new pants are based on the previous pattern, they have been redesigned to fit with a straight, aggressive cut.

The pants have numerous pockets, including two classic hip pockets, back pleated pockets and large hook & loop closed cargo pockets on the sides. Additionally there are

more dynamic operations. This combat shirt is not only the first part of the MCDU lineup, and can also be a great addition to the existing MBDU pants, but sits equally at home with all the pant models in the range. The torso of this shirt is made of highly breathable, lightweight TopCool fabric, while the sleeves and stand-up collar are put together in durable NYCO fabric. Bicep zippered pockets will hold most important small essentials like range cards, a target photo, folded map or a GPS, whilst double loop panels on the biceps will allow for easy personalization with various patches, including unit or even country flags. This combat shirt will work perfectly not only on hot days, but also in combination with plate carriers, chest rigs or other vests.

The Helikon-Tex MCDU Combat Shirt will be available from 6th June at www.helikon-tex.com and at distributors, and this is a piece that I’m really looking forward to testing on summer range days to come, and you can be certain that you’ll find it in our “Gear On Test” section when I have!

All in all Helikon-Tex have really showed us their intentions with this years range of clothing, and I am completely intrigued as to what 2021 will bring! I still need to recap on their new equipment that we saw at SHOT, and I’ll endeavour to do so in the next issue of PMCI; for now, be sure to check everything out by visiting www.helikon-tex.com

HELIKON-TEX

two smaller, pleated pockets on front that can securely hold most smartphones. Profiled knee reinforcements also act as pockets for internal protective pads should the situation dictate their use, and the waist band is adjustable via hook & loop webbing on the sides. The pants are closed with neat Helikon-Tex branded buttons.

Although the design is lower profile than before, the new polycotton stretch ripstop fabric actually works with the design (remember I said earlier that Helikon-Tex work very closely indeed with technical fabric manufacturers?) to get the very best movement possible; the lower profile of the cargo pockets also means that the MK2 pants are less noticeably a “tac pant” whilst still maintaining a full feature set. Add to this that the MK2 pants have been tested and positively evaluated by professional users already, and this in totality makes the SFU NEXT MK2 pants a perfect choice not only for the field, but also for any adventurous trip, and indeed daily use.

Although this is really just highlighting the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new designs from Helikon-Tex for 2020 I’ll be returning to other models in the future; at the time of writing though I’ve just received the very latest MCDU Combat Shirt to test.

The MCDU is Helikon’s approach to a combat uniform for

pmcimagazine.com

READY TACTICAL SLING

pmcimagazine.com

READY TACTICAL SLING Firearms training and tactics are an ever-evolving series of techniques as is the gear that goes along with it. Few people outside of administrative personnel fully understand the cost and time that goes into every time a unit or department changes equipment. There is not only the cost of the equipment itself but the cost of training or retraining the end user, often compensating them for their time or having to work around their schedules for availability. -TS-

N

ew

firearms, optics and even radios and night vision often require a day, several days or even weeks for training while other equipment is simply issued with barely an email or small instruction sheet on how to use it. One of these pieces of equipment is the sling. Whether its for a rifle, shotgun or even submachine gun, there never seems to be any thought given to its operation or full capabilities outside precision shooting circles. This lack of occupational awareness can be a huge gap in the success and safety of its end users. In this article, we are going to look at one product called the Ready Tactical sling that can maximize user safety and efficiency while being quickly adapted into daily operations.

In January of 2020, I discovered a product on the internet with very little explanation but several great photos of its design. It was called the Ready Tactical Sling and what the photos displayed was a guy carrying his AR15 hands free in a high chest mounted position while walking and riding an ATV.

24

hinder a snap presentation of a long gun onto target.

There are in fact, no toggles to lengthen the sling, but instead a very heavy-duty elastic material woven into the webbing of the sling to give it a firm resistance when pressing out onto target.

What this is intended to do is prevent the weapon from bouncing up and down during movement and to give the shooter a firm off hand shooting platform. The challenge in design was being able to keep the sling fast on target and allow a full range of motion by the user with and without the weapon being deployed.

What I did not pick up on by looking at photos was the concept of how the sling works to relieve fatigue of carrying a rifle or shotgun as well. With normal slings, the pressure is either across the neck or digging down into the top of the shoulder. The Ready Tactical Sling employs what seemed to be a shoulder cuff style retention harness to distribute the weapons weight equally across large muscle groups rather than digging into small, thin tendons in the shoulder and clavicle area. Anyone who has ever stood post, marched or searched an area for hours carrying a rifle would greatly appreciate the design. Eager to learn more about the product, Spriggs stated he would send a couple for review.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Less than two weeks after our initial conversation, a package from Ready Tactical Slings arrived at my office. Inside were two slings, each equipped with quick disconnect (QD) mounts to quickly plug into my AR15 rifles and get to work. The construction of the slings was top notch with heavy duty stitching and what appeared to be military grade plastic quick release buckles for easy on / off access. I was pleased to see just how versatile the sling was according to the instructions. The overall design not only allowed for a traditional two-point sling with the retention of a 3 point harness, it could also be run as a very capable one point sling for chest and low pistol carry of an AR / AK pistol or submachine gun, such as an HK MP5.

After laying the sling out and seeing how it mounted onto the body, I slipped my right shoulder into the loop, clipped it closed and snugged the tension via the buckle. The shorter section of the sling held my AR15 stock close to my shoulder in a high ready position as the longer portion ran over my back, under my support arm to the opposite end of my rifle towards the muzzle. As I completely

READY TACTICAL SLING

My first thought was to look for some sort of lever or slide tap he would need to pull to release the rifle from its carry position in order to press out and engage targets. The next couple of photos showed the user pressing out on target but no illustration of how he extended the sling.

My takeaway from seeing these product photos was twofold.

First, I really liked how compact and secure the rifle looked in the high mounted position regarding getting in and out of vehicles or formations. Secondly, I feared the reason I wasn’t seeing a traditional pull tab was because the sling was made from bouncy bungy cord material that would “yo-yo” the weapon up and down during movement. Curious to know more, I reached out to the contact info on the company website, www.ReadyTacticalSlings. com and inquired about the product. Less than an hour later, I was contacted directly by the owner, Chad Spriggs.

Through a few emails and phone conversations, I learned several interested points about the Ready Tactical Sling (RTS) and its intended use. According to Spriggs, the sling was designed to be fully ambidextrous and ride elevated out of the way of other gear such as chest rig pouches, radios or other items that may

pmcimagazine.com

READY TACTICAL SLING

pmcimagazine.com

26

let go of the rifle, my 9 lb. rifle felt more like 3 lb. or 4 lb. hanging on my chest. The angle of the rifle did not allow the rifle to extend my silhouette or get caught up as I walked through the doorways of my house.

As I pressed the rifle out to a freehand shooting position, I felt a tightening in the sling across my back as the RTS quickly stretched into place. Then tension of the sling’s stiff elastic material gave me a rock solid “push / pull” feeling on my position. At first this was almost too much pull back but with less than 1/4” adjustment on the front buckle, the tension was perfect for a solid extended hold on target. At no time did I feel any squeezing or cutting into my skin by the material.

I spent the next week wearing the sling on and off for hours around the office while doing daily work duties at my desk, up and down stairs, in and out of doorways, etc. The sling felt comfortable sitting down, walking and even jumping up and down to test for any unnecessary bounce. What I discovered was the sling performing more comfortably than my expensive traditional two-point slings. I was looking forward to getting onto the range soon to do some live fire testing with the RTS as soon as possible.

With a Defensive Shotgun course coming up I was scheduled to teach with fellow writer and Swanson Training Group instructor, Clint Steele, I put in a second request to Ready Tactical Slings.

Due to the unique weight distribution and stable carry, I asked Chad Spriggs if we could get a sling without the rifle QD mounts attached to mount on my Benelli M4 shotgun for class. Within a week, the shotgun sling arrived. Straight out of the box, the sling mounted up perfectly and did not need any adjustment to hang comfortably on my chest. Unfortunately, good looks and comfort don’t mean jack if it doesn’t perform on the range, so it was time to load up and roll out.

FIELD TESTING

The first opportunity to get some time on gun with the RTS would the following week at the private training grounds affectionately known as “The Swamp”. Live fire drills with the sling cut shot groups in half from those working with a traditional two-point sling. Movement drills were quick around barriers even when switching from strong side to weak. This was a major concern going into field testing based on the right shoulder cuff design.

To my delight, the rear quick disconnect buckle between the cuff and rear rifle QD was easy to unhook and quickly free the butt of the rifle to swing to the opposite shoulder. What I didn’t expect is the amount of tension and support the sling continued to offer while shooting weak side around barriers. When transitioning back to strong side, I could quickly snap the buckle back to the rifle and put it back into play fully supported. This offered a faster switch without the need to pull the sling over my head or change arms through the loop to put it into action. This could save much needed time in a fire fight.

Working in and out of vehicles such as a Chevrolet Suburban and a Dodge Charger, two vehicles common to special operations and law enforcement, the RTS performed well by holding the rifle close to the body and quickly deploying onto target upon exit.

Even with the sling placed over chest rigs and body armor, the rifle remained clear of the magazines in the pouches mounted below.

A few weeks later, our team traveled to Leesburg, Florida to teach a Defensive Shotgun course with the RTS mounted onto the Benelli m4 shotgun I use as an instructor training tool. Over the 8-hour course, I demonstrated and run several different courses and oversaw students doing the same as my shotgun hung from my chest. With the recoil of full power 00 Buckshot loads, the sling tension offered a great opportunity to press out hard for recoil mitigation.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I enjoyed working with the Ready Tactical Sling on multiple platforms. I liked the sling because it was simple to use and would not require a large learning curve before benefiting the end user. Within minutes of taking the sling out of the box, I could properly mount it and have it adjusted to my body with minimal effort. Even after months of extensive testing, the sling still held weapons high and firmly in place without any undue movement.

This was an impressive point to see be made considering the past failures of products two and three times more expensive than the RTS. The RTS evenly distributed weight of any weapon it was mounted on for long term carry. Whether it was a rifle, shotgun or compact personal defense weapon, the sling held the weapon close to the body and allowed for maximum range of motion. I

could see a lot of thought and “real world” experience went into the design and development of the sling. This was something I picked up on from the first telephone conversion I had with the company owner. The passion and belief in their product were refreshing to hear from the owner each time we spoke. Their core sales team still hits the gun show circuit traveling all over the southeast regularly to meet their customers face to face and enjoy the feedback they receive.

Retailing for US$59.99, I believe the Ready Tactical Sling is a great value for the quality construction and versatility offered by this product. Refitting a tactical unit or patrol squad with these slings would be greatly cost effective and not require a lot strain on the budget. Anyone who has already trained with a traditional 2-point sling can immediately put the RTS into action.

The slings are currently offered in a variety of colors and camo patterns although most of the sling’s construction is still black.

(If this is a negative, get over it because real life isn’t a fashion show.)

To close out this featured product review, I will leave you with a few final thoughts. Slings are important assets to have for your tools but without proper training, they can quickly turn into liabilities that can cause the end user to become hung up in vehicle assaults, fatal funnels of doorways or even exiting aircraft.

Having a top-quality sling with a solid, well thought out design such as the Ready Tactical Sling could not only help you shoot better and carry your weapon longer on a march, it could easily save your life. I continue to run the RTS slings on my rifles and shotguns with great results in training some of tomorrow’s next top shooters. Remember, the most expensive products aren’t always the best, just the highest priced. The deadliest tool at your disposal will always be your brain. Try one of these slings from Ready Tactical Slings soon and decide for yourself.

READY TACTICAL SLING

Working from standing, kneeing and prone, I was able to use the sling to maintain the stability and balance of my stance while shooting. The weakside shooting stance was very stable using the single strap tension from under my left arm with a “push-pull” technique. The students were able to learn the importance of supported shooting and how it can contribute to not only accuracy but weapon retention as well. I was able to clearly illustrate on the use the durable construction to their advantage and quickly escape the sling in the event of an emergency weapon dump.

Using a Ready Tactical Sling equipped with the optional “HK” style hook mounts I discovered it to be the perfect HK MP5 rig. The design kept the gun centered of the chest clear of any other gear and ready to be quickly deployed into action both strongside and weakside with and without the stock retracted from the folded position. Much like the results of use with the rifle and shotgun, the sling’s tension provided an excellent “push-pull” resistance to provide a rock-solid free-standing shooting platform. Needless to say, this subgun / sling combo are now a permanent pairing since the test period.

pmcimagazine.com

TRAINING SIGHTS TRAINING SIGHTS When learning the basics of firearms training, two key fundamentals of shooting any firearm are sight alignment and sight picture. Sight alignment is defined as the relation of the front sight to the rear sight in line with your eyesight in order to shoot straight at your intended target. Optimally, your alignment will have equal height across the top plane of the sights and equal spacing of light on each side of the front sight when looking through the rear. Sight picture is commonly defined as the relation of sight alignment with the intended target. -TS-

F

or those who may not know, aside from being a gun writer, I am a firearms instructor and training counselor as part of the Swanson Training Group. Not only is my job to find the best way to demonstrate these key fundamentals to students but also to perspective instructors on how they can teach these fundamentals to their future students as well. While the NRA and USCCA do a great job with fancy animated PowerPoint programs, they lack two important aspects. The first being the ability to the students to come and physically demonstrate what they have learned without using a firearm. The second is the lack of being able to reference the PowerPoint on the range during live fire exercises to clearly illustrate what the student is seeing or doing wrong.

Many instructors either use the index finger and “V� of the opposite hand index finger and middle finger as a field expedient or a rudimentary sketch on the paper target that harkens back to the days of cave painting communication.

For me, this all changed when I came across a product online known as Training Sights. These appeared to be clear plastic cards with common front and rear sights imprinted on them.

28

Immediately my minded began to whirl over the advantages something like this could hold so I reached out to the company immediately. The next day, the company owner, Bob Lyons called me to discuss their product.

Through our conversation, I learned Training Sights is a veteran owned business and each one of their products is proudly made here in the US. By making the Training Sights cards in heavy grade clear plastic, they are weatherproof and can be directly overlaid onto a target for discussion and illustration of fundamentals. Lyons wanted something quick and easy to engage in not only the audio learners but visual and tactile as well. From his military experience working with foreign soldiers in addition to US forces, Lyons often ran into the common issue of language barriers when teaching. He found that visual aids such as the Training Sights cards were perfect for overcoming these barriers and helping deliver the concepts while reducing the lecture time needed. After our discussion, Bob offered to send out a few sets of various Training Sights products for our training staff and writers to work with for ourselves in class.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

TRAINING SIGHTS IN ACTION

Over the following few months, the Training Sights cards proved their weight in gold. The ability for us as instructors to take concepts off the overhead screen and clearly illustrate them in front of students worked perfectly. Clint was able to help new shooters

understand fundamental concepts in leaps and bounds by having them use the cards to demonstrate their understanding of sight alignment and sight picture. The cards allowed the students to see the sights on target just as they were on the range. Clint pointed out that by having the students using the cards, it helped them gain that “light bulb comes on” or “ah ha” moment happen sooner than without using them.

Candace enjoyed working with the Training Sights while teaching the ladies who make up her monthly TWAW meetings. In her experience, Candace has noticed her members are usually more visual learners and typically don’t come from in depth firearms backgrounds. By having the sights in their hands to use, Candace can walk them through understanding how the sight alignment and sight picture can control the trajectory of the bullet’s path. The Training Sights cards noticeably gave students more confidence in learning and prompted more dialogue about the training concepts that PowerPoints alone fail to produce.

From my own experience there were two distinct advantages I noticed aside from what was stated by Clint and Candace. Those came with having USCCA candidate instructors work with the Training Sights cards during their student teaching segments and for advanced shooting students who were either learning how to use pistol or rifle red dots. For the prospective instructors, the cards allowed them to practice walking around the room engaging each student as they taught. This freed them from having to stand stationary and point at a TV screen with their back to the audience. For some, having the cards in their hands relieved some of the tension of having to articulate the concepts based off screen overhead by having something in their hands to manipulate.

For advanced shooters who may have mastered the concept of sight alignment and sight picture, the Training Sights cards help them put aside everything they have learned about the three point

TRAINING SIGHTS

Not long after initially reaching out to Training Sights, a shipment arrived at my office. Inside the box were not only the standard size 4”x6” versions of common pistol and rifle sights but also pocket size versions measuring approximately 3”x2.5” versions that fit perfectly inside the pouches on my gear. One set for the classroom, another conveniently on hand on the range. Each card was rigid and very well made. The imagines were spot on representations of popular iron sights, red dots and even scope reticles. Just in a handful of plastic cards, the training possibilities seemed endless.

I immediately distributed the cards to my co-instructors and fellow gun writers, Clint Steele and Candace Swanson. Clint comes from a twenty-year military career that spanned the US Marine Corps and US Army, as well as security in the private sector. Candace grew up shooting among a family that lived the gun culture and aside from being my wife of almost a decade, she is a very accomplished NRA and USCCA instructor when she isn’t busy constructing military installations for the government. Through working with the national not for profit organization, The Well Armed Woman, Candace personally runs three different chapters as well as serves as the State Leader here in Florida over 800 ladies spread out over 26 chapters. Though teaching classes and working together to host a TWAW State Shoot each year with over 250 guests and personnel, our team teaches hundreds of students each year from large courses to 1 on 1 private training sessions.

pmcimagazine.com

TRAINING SIGHTS sighting of rear sight, front sight and target and helps illustrate the concept of reflex red dot sights. A reflex sight, where the dot is the result of the light from a light emitting diode (LED) being projected and then reflected onto a partially silvered piece of glass. This offers the shooter a singular point of reference for the sights in relation to the target and can be seen both faster and easier in many lighting conditions. While this seems like a relatively simple concept, it requires a commitment of resources and training time. For some, that investment is worth the time and money. For others, their time is better spent doing dry fire practice in order to overcome snatching the trigger, or another fundamental pistol marksmanship skill. I noticed the Training Sights cards have helped decrease the learning curve for both pistol and rifle shooters using red dots by clearly illustrating hold overs, leads on moving targets and much more.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, our team has really enjoyed working with the Training Sights series of cards. My favorite part of these handy tools of the trade has got to be the price. The basic pistol sights pocket sized cards start at US$8.99 and range to US$20.99 for the full 8.5”x11” classroom version. For size and ease of use, I prefer the 4”x6” version which run US$15.99. They seem to be the best overall value in my opinion. Other designs such as Mil-Dot and red dots typically cost around US$17.99 and easily reduce hours of lecture into simple, easy to understand terms and “hands on” scenario-based exercises.

30

A topic not touched on yet in this review is the subject of child firearms safety. I feel this is incredibly important in our quest as members of the firearms community to educate others. The Training Sights cards come in handy to put fundamental concepts into a way, children like my 4 year old and 6 year old daughters can easily relate to and understand. Each day my kids use their SIRT laser pistols to train on a target hanging in my office to enhance not only the firearms fundamentals but their safety as well. Under the watch eye of my wife and myself, our kids keep their fingers off the trigger until ready to shoot, never point at anything other than the target and treat the SIRT pistol and other guns as if they are real and loaded. To have these cards to so clearly communicate with our young daughters has been a blessing as both parents and instructors.

From teaching certified course from both major organizations, there is one aspect that I have noticed the NRA and USCCA both agree on in their training doctrines is teaching instructors not to overlook or fear using training aids when teaching. If I were to put together a package of what I would consider essential items for the newly certified instructor, it would include quality electronic hearing protection, high quality eye protection, a SIRT pistol and these Training Sights cards. These items all represent the bare minimum I feel any instructor wishing to start teaching from day 1 the right way will need to represent the professional firearms instruction world.

Our training group has promoted Training Sights products to our students and fellow instructors we currently mentor to the point we even now offer a special discount code. If you visit www.TrainingSights. com right now and enter discount code, STG2020 you will receive 10% off your order and free shipping on any orders over US$25. As for our T&E set Bob Lyons was nice enough to send our team to try out, they are still going strong.

Thanks to the top quality and construction of the Training Sights products, they will continue to educate gun owners promote firearms safety for years to come.

‘Our Mission’ In 2018 it was identified that up to 20% of military personnel were suffering from mental health disorders such as PTSD CROPS Coffee was established as a way of supporting our troops past and present by donating all our profits to Veterans mental health charity Combat Stress Sometimes it’s all about the simple things in life and nothing makes you smile like a good cup of coffee to lift your sprits As a veteran own company, we are dedicated in supporting our troops, and would like to thank you for your support To purchase and support, visit

www.cropscoffee.com

ELEVATED SILENCE EOSXL .22

pmcimagazine.com

ELEVATED SILENCE EOSXL .22 In the tactical world, operators are used to hearing common calibers mentioned such as 5.56, 7.62, .338 Lapua and even .50 BMG but what about .22 LR? Yes, you read that correctly, .22 LR. Is there a time and place in the modern realm of tactical operations? In my humble opinion, from both personal experience and in-depth research working with one of the top suppressor manufacturers in the country, the answer is YES! More specifically, yes, if the right tool is used for the right job.

A

32

s a former Deputy Sheriff / SWAT sniper I have seen the .22 caliber platform come a long way from the early days of saving ammunition when walking through new drills and cheap training for the precision marksmen / sniper units. For the most part, .22 rifles and pistols have been low cost alternatives to issued AR platforms and duty handguns restricted for range use.

The department heads and “bean counters� welcomed the saving but always seemed to shun the concept of the .22 as part of specialized tools in the field.

These frugal minded bureaucrats have the mindset of using one or two tools for the widest possible solution, even if that means these items excel 100% in some application and only partially perform in others. Performance is performance in their mind, be damned those in harms way that need more reliable tools. Personally, I have always looked at firearms like some people do golf clubs. Special tools for special applications are essential in doing the most professional and efficient jobs possible. When life and death are involved, this should NOT be something that comes down to a monetary decision. Thankfully, large agencies

and quickest way take out perimeter lighting, security cameras and sentry animals without alerting the intended onsite targets.

During my time in Law Enforcement working with other Police, Private Contractor and Military unit snipers, these rifles have been highly effective and contributed directly to operators conducting operations safer and much more efficient. To get more up to date experience with one of these tools, the PMCI Magazine staff decided to build our own based on top products available in the industry today that fall within the guidelines of the needs of our Law Enforcement, Military and PMC end users.

There are tons of highly accurate .22 rifles on the market, so choosing the right platform would be important. The build would need to be semi-automatic for quick follow up shots and multitarget engagements as well as feature an action well known for its durability and performance. The heart of this specialized tool would naturally be the integrally suppressed match grade barrel we chose.

To start things off, we reached out to one of the premier suppressor companies in the industry, Elevated Silence (www.

ElevatedSilence.com). This is an amazing family owned small business that builds some of the best LEO and civilian suppressors on the market. Having them involved in a project like this was a “no brainer”. After explaining our concept to the owner, Jim Hood, his simple three-word reply was, “Let’s do it!”. If there is one thing those of us in the industry have come to know about Jim, if he green lights a project, its going to be good!

A few short weeks after working out the paperwork, one of Elevated Silence’s signature EOSXL suppressed .22 barrels arrived at our office ready to begin the project. For those not familiar

ELEVATED SILENCE EOSXL .22

such as LA SWAT, NYPD SWAT and elite military teams saw a huge benefit in practical field application special purpose .22 platform weapons.

What I learned working on SWAT and Narcotics task force was just how much preplanning and site scouting is needed in preparing teams for high speed building take downs. Not only does the team need to know how many doors / windows a location has and the expected personnel inside but also if the doors swing inward or out, what does the location look like in the daytime versus the night, etc. Just as criminals like to use the cover of night, tactical units can also use it to their advantage to get closer to a take down location before being spotted.

Items most plans fail to consider if the planner isn’t a field experienced operator are items such as overhead lighting to illuminate the perimeter against surprise entry and the seemly always, always presence of dogs. Dogs for early detection of Police, dogs for security against unwanted entry, even weaponized dogs such as a wild Pitbull with his voice cords surgically altered so he can’t bark and give away his position lying in wait where narcotics are stored. (Seen it, not pretty.) These items can easily ruin even the best laid plans in a drawing room and MUST be addressed with rapid, decisive solution prior to the take down team’s arrival.

What progressive modern agencies and specialized military units have employed to address these “X” factors mentioned are integrally suppressed precision .22 rifles either purchased already assembled by manufacturers or built by their “in house” armorers.

While this may seem extreme to civilians, it is the cleanest

pmcimagazine.com

ELEVATED SILENCE EOSXL .22

pmcimagazine.com

with this product, here is a quick break down of the barrel. The EOSXL is designed to directly fit onto one of the world’s most popular semi-automatic .22 rifle platforms, the Ruger 10/22.

With the same outer dimensions as a typical factory precision target bull barrel configuration, the EOSXL measures 20” overall and .920 in diameter. The barrel itself is constructed of 416 R Carpenter steel with 10.75” of rifling and the remainder being a baffle core machined directly into the barrel to prevent shift or baffle strike. The entire unit consist of only three parts, the barrel being the main portion as well as a Grade 9 Titanium barrel sleeve and Grade 5 Titanium end cap to keep the unit tightly together at the muzzle.

EOSTD and the EOSS versions are also available. The EOSTD is intended for use with the Ruger take down model while the EOSS offers a shorter length of rifling in order to use standard bulk ammo to cycle the rifle, yet have the round’s velocity to fall under the supersonic barrier prior to exiting the muzzle.

This reduces the need for specialized subsonic ammunition.

In order to fully test the EOSXL integrally suppressed barrel, obviously we needed to install it on a top quality 10/22 platform. While I have always been a huge fan of Ruger products, especially their 10/22 rifles, I wanted to make sure our project would be as squared and precise as possible.

A match grade barrel will never reach its full potential in a sloppy mass production action. With a call over to our friends at Tactical Solutions (www.TacticalSol.com), we had them send over one of their heavy duty X-Ring VR receivers with a matched dual spring action. The bolt works back and forth smoothly and locks up like a bank vault. Since the rifle would be used with magnified optics, the X-Ring VR’s integrated scope rail machined into the top of the action would eliminate one of the risks of one of the most common fail points with scoped precision rifles.

Another common fail point comes with armorers putting subpar triggers on precision tools such as this build. To address this, I contacted Timney Triggers (www.TimneyTriggers.com).

After a brief discussion about the project, they were delighted to rush over one of their company’s s10/22 replacement drop-in units w/ lever style magazine release.

Breaking at around 3 lbs. with very little creep or over travel,

34

the reset set was just as amazing.

To house these top-quality rifle parts, I decided to make the rifle as familiar as possible in its feel and presentation on target by reaching out to McMillian Fiberglass Stocks (www.

McMillianUSA.com). As some of you may remember from my past article about rebuilding my former SWAT sniper rifle, the great folks at McMillian sent over one of their top of the line A5 sniper stocks to refit the old warhorse. As it turns out, McMillian is a firm believer in the Tactical .22 platform and even produce an A5-22 version to set a Ruger 10/22 precision rifle up to directly emulate its larger, bolt action counterpart such as my revised .308 caliber sniper rifle. With very little inletting needed, the stock was basically a direct drop in for the project to start becoming tied together.

To round off the rifle, Vortex Optics (www.VortexOptics. com) sent over a Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 First Focal Plane scope. Using Vortex branded rings that accompanied the optic from the factory shipment, I anchored the scope via recommended Torque specifications and roughly bore sighted it using a small laser bore sight device. Once everything was tightened down, the bore was wiped clear of any packing oil

and the action was well lubed, it was time to start field testing our new specialized tactical tool.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

FINAL THOUGHTS

Over the past twenty years, I have had the luxury of professionally shooting some of the top firearms in our industry through Law Enforcement training, teaching in the private sector and writing for various firearm magazines. Honestly, I can’t not think of a single gun that was as impressive and simply fun to shoot as our PMCI build constructed specifically to test the Elevated Silence EOSXL integrally suppressed .22 barrel. The specialized

.22 project rifle performed all intended uses extremely well and has personally set the standard for other similar tools we may test and evaluate in the future.

While I would not equate a specialized build such as this to that of a golfer’s prized putter for his short game as I have often heard it compared to, I would say this instead. There are pitching wedges, there are sand wedges and even small club shaped telescoping devices to retrieve a golf ball if it lands in the edge of the water hazard. All have their place and specific use in which they have the ability, if used correctly, to perform perfectly. This is where I see an item such as the integrally suppressed .22 rifle in the tactical community. Much like you wouldn’t wish to hit the links without your specialized tools, I would not urge a tactical unit to do without as well. Just consider these practical applications in dealing with specific “X-factors” next time you hear someone scoff at the concept of tactical .22 rifles. Odds are, they don’t even have a background or frame of reference to even make such a statement. Of course, now we know better, right?

Special thanks to all the participating companies, Elevated Silence, Tactical Solutions, McMillian Stocks, Timney Triggers, Vortex Optics, B&T Atlas Bipods, Field Optics Research and CCI Ammunition for coming together to make this highly specialized and effective tool come together. I encourage you to check out their products and find out how they can best fit your tactical and shooting needs. Till next issue, Train Hard and Continue the Fight!

ELEVATED SILENCE EOSXL .22

To test the new rifle build, I ventured to our old proving grounds affectionately known as “The Swamp”. With the help of my good friends and fellow firearms instructors, Jerry and Stephanie Moody, we put the .22 tactical rifle project through its paces.

From bench to prone and even working standing working with a tripod, we ran the gambit of positions an operator may have to work through.

Starting from the benchrest using both Subsonic and MiniMag ammunition from CCI ( www.CCI-Ammunition.com ), I sighted in the rifle at 25 yards. Through each 10-shot group taken before adjustment onto center, the combined shot group would fit inside Roosevelt’s head on a dime with only the sound of the bolt slapping back and forth with the Subsonic ammo.

After the third shot group, the rifle dope was set. Notes were made on the slight impact shift between the Subsonic and Mini-Mag ammo.

Starting free standing, the rifle’s stock gave the overall feel of a larger caliber rifle with the stability of a target rifle and tapering in the forearm section to fit the support hand perfectly.

This taper aided in anchoring the rifle perfecting when switching over to the Field Optics Research carbon fiber tripod to enhance accuracy. Moving out to 100 yards, the trip provided a rock-solid support to shoot off, proving to my fellow shooters why it is one of my absolute favorite shooting accessories.

When switching into the prone position, my rifle stability was aided by a B&T Atlas (www.AtlasBipod.com) V8 Bipod.

The butter smooth multi-directional adjustments are just some of the reasons I prefer these bipods over their competition.

They may cost more, but the range of motion and benefits from using them far outweigh the difference in price. Since taking out exterior lighting is one of the many tasks a suppressed .22 rifle may have to handle, Stephanie rigged up some Edison bulbs to the top of the target frame. As I took aim, I mapped out my shot selection. With the press of the Timney 3 lb trigger, I dispatched the bulbs with one shot each followed quickly with 3 shots into the “T box” between the eyes of the Realistic Target Company photo target below it. It was literally “lights out” for all three intended targets in less than 10 seconds.

The testing would continue over several weeks with multiple outdoor venues and even a 25 yard indoor range. With the sound being an obvious non-issue, the accuracy was really tested from distances as short as 15 yards out to 100 yards.

Using traditional Bullseye targets several Sub-MOA 5 shot groups at 100 yards were obtained while the wind was favorable. To demonstrate the pinpoint accuracy at closer distances, playing cards were set at 10, 15 and 20 yards with only the edge facing downrange. With less than 15 rounds of ammunition, the cards were not just cut but cut in several places on their remnants. No matter how you “cut” it, that kind of performance is better than playing with a marked deck!

pmcimagazine.com

SIG LEGION XFIVE P320

pmcimagazine.com

SIG LEGION XFIVE P320 For decades now, SIG Sauer has been known to Military and Law Enforcement communities as the “professional’s choice”. Due to the company’s reputation for rugged, high quality firearms, everyone from local police departments to elite units such as SEAL teams have employed them to face evil at all threat levels. -TS-

O

36

ne of aspect of the industry SIG Sauer really excels at over their competition is in continuing to expand their product catalogue with new and updated models. By using the direct feedback obtained by these real-world users, SIG strives to give shooters exactly what they want.

In late 2015, Sig Sauer launched the new “Legion” series of firearms in the spirt of those elite operators around the world and the great Roman armies that are credited for personifying the “warrior mentality”. This series featured slick new upgrades and revisions of previously successful models such as old war horses P226, P220 and P229 as its first releases. Viewed as the company’s top tier series, these new upgrades included things such as G10 grips, X-Ray series sights, Grey Guns triggers, redesigned user controls and even a sleek new gray Cerakote finish. While these upgrades were great additions that would normally cost twice as much to piecemeal together using a standard model as its base, the original Legion offerings were still true to the base models in overall feel and impressive performance. That all changed in 2019 when SIG announced a new addition to the Legion line up with a departure from the traditional hammer and sear models in favor of the more modern striker fire offering in their completely upgraded SIG Legion XFIVE P320.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Admittedly, I was never a fan of the original P320 offering compared to having a vast background with personally and professionally carrying Glocks. My initial thoughts on the base model were a dislike for the felt trigger pull, overall travel of the trigger itself and disproportionate weight and balance of the pistol during recoil. However, the grip angle, steel magazines and overall design of the gun were enough for me to closely follow SIG’s upgrades and redesigns over the following years. Little did I realize then, this gun was only a few upgrades away from drastically changing my opinion.

In 2018, SIG released a new version of the P320 for competition shooters called the XFive series. My immediate first impressions of this new series were a change from my initial review but still felt like overall, it fell short in my expectations of a striker fired pistol. While it looked good and the flat trigger was a vast felt improvement over the stock P320 version. Range time with the XFive felt better balanced in the hand and I believe helped yield the better shot groups attained. Sadly, the XFive still just felt too lightweight, especially for a competition gun, much less a fighting pistol.

During SHOT SHOW in 2019, my team and I discovered that SIG would be introducing the P320 as their Legion series first strikefired offering. This one would not be JUST an upgraded P320 series however, it would be an upgrade to an existing upgraded version in the XFive series. According to the media releases, SIG changed this new Legion version from the ground up. I submitted our request for a T&E model immediately.

SIG LEGION XFIVE P320

Within a few weeks, the Legion P320 XFive test and evaluation sample arrived at my office. Based on my earlier experience with the standard P320, I was ready to keep an open mind and let the SIG re-education process begin. Straight out of the box, the lines of the pistol looked clean, professional and ready for action.

The first notice of the good looking gray Cerakote finish quickly disappeared as I picked the pistol up from its box. “Good Lord that’s a heavy polymer gun”, I thought to myself. Stepping over to my gun safe, I removed my Colt series 70 1911 from the top shelf. Weighing the Colt and the SIG in my gun, they felt over close to the same. Reaching over and picking up my Glock model 34, it was night and day on the SIG being noticeably heavier. Not too heavy, just simply noticeably heavier.

As it would seem, SIG didn’t simply set out to make their new addition to the elite Legion series just another upgraded gun.

They managed to create an industry first with their TXG Tungsten infused version of the XFive grip module. The manufacturer mixes Tungsten power into its polymer compound to give the frame the best of both worlds, the weight of a steel frame and the “flex” of a typical polymer pistol. These features combine to offer the muzzle reduction the weight of steel frames offer along with the felt recoil absorption created by the polymer flexing frames. Matched with a 5” bull barrel to give the gun an overall front-end stability, the Legion XFive seems like the perfect storm of form meeting function.

While the Legion XFive offers a trendy optics ready slide, I focused my attention for this article on the handy set of Dawson Precision adjustable sights with green fiber optic front sight. I was pleased to see the sights were set up with a blacked out rear sight to not distract the eye from attaining the front sight quickly.

pmcimagazine.com

SIG LEGION XFIVE P320

pmcimagazine.com

If I did choose to later go with a red dot installed on the pistol, it would come at the cost of removing the rear sight which is attached to the cover plate where the optic would mount.

The Legion pistol shipped standard with three 17 round magazines, however SIG was kind enough to send along two additional 21 round magazines for testing as well. Without a second look, the 21 round magazines looked like regular 17 round versions with bump pads attached. When taking a second look, one would realize these were in fact longer steel magazines with a polymer façade attached around the bottom to give it the race magazine appearance. Once everything was wiped down and prepped, it was time to hit the range to start breaking the pistol in.

LEGION XFIVE P320 SPECS

Caliber: 9mm Magazine Capacity: 17 rounds

(21 round mags available) Sights: Dawson Precision Adjustable Overall Length: 8.5” Overall Width: 1.6” Height: 5.8” Barrel Length: 5” (Non-threaded) Weight: 43.5 oz Sight Radius: 6.8” Trigger: Flat Faced Skeletonized (Gray Guns) Finish: Legion Gray Cerakote

38

RANGE TIME

To get used to carrying the Legion XFive, SIG sent over was a Legion branded holster from their partners at Com-Tac. This belt mounted rig offered an optional paddle holster for wear without a belt and fit the pistol perfectly. Since SIG is well known for tailoring their guns around specific loads, I also requested an assortment of SIG branded ammo to go along with some my favorite practice and carry loads. In total, the following brands and loads were used for this review.

• • • • •

Winchester 115 grain FMJ SIG 115 grain FMJ SIG V-Crown 124 grain JHP Federal HST 124 grain JHP SIG V-Crown 147 grain JHP

Through approximately 100 rounds of each brand, the Legion’s 5” bull barrel performed like a Bullseye competition gun. Zero malfunctions throughout the testing period. I loved the weight and feel of the gun during recoil specifically. During my career, I have shot several weighted competition style guns but nothing that felt like the Legion XFive. With other firearms, the weight was simply either a metal weight clipped to the front of the gun under the barrel or inserted into the back strap of the grip.

Regardless of how the pistol balances out, it always felt to my hands just what it was, simply isolated weight. With the Tungsten infused grip module, the weight is dispersed evenly where it is really needed in order to make the gun have more useful extra mass.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Rarely have I tested a gun, sent it back to the manufacturer and then continued to keep it in my thoughts. So much so, that I requested the gun a second time to review and eventually purchase. The fact of the matter is, after over 200 published firearms reviews of various pistols, shotguns, rifles, etc., the SIG Legion XFive P320 was the first for this to happen with. Since re-acquiring the Legion XFive, it has cycled well over 2000

rounds flawlessly with very minimum cleaning. At some point, I hope to come back and provide a 10,000 round update to look at continued accuracy, spring wear and more. Two notations thus far I can speak about are the trigger and pistol’s overall feel being noticeably smoother after the first 600 – 700 rounds As with everything, the firearm industry as well as training techniques are ever changing. Sometimes those changes are extremely dynamic and visual such as that of the 1980s and 1990s with Glock charging to the industry’s forefront through the consumer education of striker-fired handguns. While I was not as impressed with the standard P320 as my fellow gun writer and PMCI colleague, Clint Steele, I did wholeheartedly agree with his summation of SIG now rising beyond its competition to soon lead the way in the future of polymer technology.

Is the SIG Legion XFive P320 the perfect 9mm combat pistol?

The simple answer is NO. It was designed to be a competition pistol to play games with live fire in a world where misses are “OK” and no one is shooting back. The lack of night sights may be a big issue to some, but I found the fiber optic front sight worked very well unless in complete zero darkness in which I could not see the target either. Compared to the triple threat style sights on the P320 VTAC version, I’ll take the Dawson Precision sights any day!

While the open slide concept of the XFive design greatly changed the balance and perceived recoil of the pistol, it does unfortunately allow more dirt and debris in harsh environments to get down into the gun. I feel the ruggedness of the original P320 design combined with the Tungsten-infused grip module, amazing Grey Guns flat trigger and 17 / 21 round magazine capacities are great characteristics of what the future of combat pistols should incorporate. I regularly use the Legion XFive as my instructor pistol when teaching pistol fundamental courses due to its impressive performance and long-term comfort in shooting along with my students for eight hours.

To find out more about the SIG Legion XFive P320 and other products, visit www.sigsauer. com and check out the wide range of guns, gear and ammunition available.

SIG LEGION XFIVE P320

Several features really came into play to help the quick, accurate groupings produced by the pistol. One of these not often reported on is the one-piece steel guide rod and 1911 recoil spring unique to the Legion XFive. This really absorbed the felt recoil of the pistol much better than any other P320 variant I have ever shot. This minimized the muzzle flip and helped re-acquire the front sight faster after each round fired for much quicker follow up shots. This feature allows shooters to use various weight 1911 springs to further dial the pistol to their own unique preference. For shooters not used to using high end competition guns, this feature’s advantages may sadly never be enjoyed to full use.

Most will immediately recognize the Gray Guns Flat Face Trigger as a large factor in the impressive shot placement. The trigger stops at 90 degrees with very little overtravel and a very short trigger reset to give the shooter a better angle on faster follow up shots. If you are not experienced with a flat faced trigger, this will take a full magazine (or two) to get used to but will still “feel right”. I have smaller hands, so it seems to be a slight initial stretch for my trigger finger on the presentation onto target but once the minimalistic pre-travel sets the trigger at the perfect staging point for my reach.

Just as important as a good trigger is the ability to keep the gun feed and running. The flared magazine well from the Henning Group made it easy to index loading and aided in very smooth and efficient reloads. The Legion branded bump pads on the bottom of each 17-round magazine, also from the Henning Group, offered enough of the magazine sticking out to effectively strip it free of the gun in the event of an issue such as double feed. Fortunately, during the test process, this feature wasn’t needed but it’s nice to have just in case.

SKALLYWAG TACTICAL: D2 DAGGER

pmcimagazine.com

SKALLYWAG TACTICAL: D2 DAGGER Our world is amazingly full of rich culture, beauty and light, but for many armed professionals, we know all too well there is a dark side as well. One in which evil lurks at any moment to pounce and effectively change the world as we personally know it. When we prepare for a mission, whether it’s in daily life or occupational assignment, we load out for the dangers we expect to face.

T

he placement of our gear is one in which we train rigorously to quickly access in a flash to put into use with decisive skill and intent. Unfortunately, there are times where the threat is too swift and quickly ends up within arm’s reach or closer. Then what?

When all Hell breaks loose and the enemy is on top of you in a struggle for your life, the large combat knife still in its sheath on your hip or the .45 ACP tucked into your waist band does absolutely NO GOOD if you can’t reach them! The D2 Dagger from Skallywag Tactical is specifically designed to be quietly tucked away out of sight with the easy to deploy loop ever at the ready to be grabbed and put into action while grappling within arm’s length. Its sole design purpose is for the Police Officer, soldier, or innocent civilian being attacked to get the dirt bag the F**K OFF OF YOU!!

The ringed handle allows the blade to be used as a gross motor skill tool via one or two fingers anchoring the grip firmly in the hand regardless if it is wet, dry, muddy, or even bloody.

With no fancy buttons to depress, material art skill to master or complex sheath to navigate, the D2 dagger is designed to simply “grab and go” with a firm grip and burst of violent intent of stabbing motions that can easily be accomplished even

40

SKALLYWAG TACTICAL: D2 DAGGER

pmcimagazine.com

while wearing tactical gloves. After deployment of the blade is made and the user has an opportunity to transition to primary weapon such as a rifle or handgun, the ring allows for minimum effort to retain by simply holding onto it with the pink finger of the support hand while establishing a master grip. According to former Navy Seal, Jeff Gonzalez of Trident Concepts, studies have shown that once a fixed blade is deployed in a high stress environment, its often better to just hang on it rather than try to secure or simply drop it to the ground.

The overall design is based on an Ancient Greek Hoplite spear that was engineered to penetrate armor. The D2 can certainly deliver deep, plunging penetration, but its cutting surfaces can also inflict rather impressive slashes to make it a true dual threat. As illustrated in several company approved video demonstrations, the D2 handler uses large chunks of hanging meat to show the results of quick, close quarters slashes. The results are clean, 6” to 7” lacerations approximately 3” deep. Even in our own early testing, the D2 pushed through a Kevlar level IIA panel and then sliced through a layer of thick denim fabric before lacerating a 2” wound channel into a pork loin.

The D2 Dagger blanks are constructed from a billet of D2 tool steel, professionally CNC milled. These blanks are then skillfully ground and finished with an overall length of approximately 7.85” with a width of only .25”. The dagger is made of up of the 4” tear drop shaped ringed grip and a razor sharp 3.85” double edge blade. The edge is cleverly ground to a 40-degree angle to deliver a maximum wound channel. The simplicity of the grind makes it easy to maintain its sharpness with a simple whetstone in the field. Featured prominently down the middle of the blade on each side is a blade fuller, enormously called a “blood groove” by some. The use of a blade fuller is actually a technique used to strengthen the blade as well as reduce overall weight.

To help mount this handy little tool, the D2 dagger ships with a Kydex sheath that is roughly the width of a single row of Molle loop. The sheath features a small metal clip that slips holds the blade tight to your gear without slop to enable it hide virtually anywhere amongst your kit. This sheath also works very well to aid in carrying the D2 inside the waist band

42

opposite your concealed carry weapon. I am a huge advocate of carrying a compact handgun and fixed blade knife combo as part of my daily load out.

Skallywag Tactical helps promote training and familiarization of their dagger by offering a very affordable aluminum training version of the D2 that is blunt tipped and unsharpened to the same dimensions as the live blade.

With this, one can safely train to put the tool to use in real time during grappling situations before transitioning to a primary weapon. If you a firm believer in training like you fight, the D2 dagger and trainer combo are a “must” to purchase together. The live blade retails for US$150 while the trainer comes in at only US$30.

Currently there is even an aluminum version of the live blade as well that retails for US$49.

Over the past six years or so, I have been carrying a Skallywag Tactical dagger on my chest rig and other kit stored behind items such as a magazine carrier, cell phone holder or admin pouch while teaching various rifle, shotgun and handgun courses. I also have carried the D2 tucked inside my belt regularly as a last-ditch line of defense when out and about in everyday life. I’ve come to know the company and their dedication to those who stand the line against good and evil, foreign and domestic. Their products and team spirit of work hard and rest as easy as the Caribbean breeze have managed to supersede just being a knife company.

Skallywag Tactical offers a wide range of knives as well as partnered training are all top notch and have rallied many others from all walks of life into their own lifestyle. Much like Jimmy Buffet and his Parrot heads or Kenny Chesney and Barefoot nation, the modern-day pirates of the Skallywag Lifestyle have become a subculture of tactical awareness and seafaring dreams. Steering the ship is a good friend to many in the blade and firearms world, Craig Burhart, affectionately known to his crew as “The Captain”.

I mention this solely to illustrate the immense degree of the value that having a great product and supporting the people whose lives may depend on their blades can have in an industry. Any industry for that matter. Good folks caring about others for global issues, reliable tactical products and supporting other small businesses does several things. It makes it possible for folks to get through life or death situations and gives them a better world to enjoy after they survive. This is a key point that more people in the industry can learn from.

Skallywag Tactical designs each blade with a specific purpose and intent. Consider the D2 dagger as the rip cord on your emergency parachute hidden amongst your defensive tools. I suggest everyone who carries a firearm whether it’s professionally or for personal defense should own one. To learn more about the D2 dagger or the elite newer variant aptly named the Guardian, set sail for www.SkallywagTactical.com and learn more about what the Captain and crew have to offer.

Till next issue, Fair Winds and Following Seas!

VX BUCKLE UP GUN CARRIER BLACK / DARK COYOTE / GREEN / VCAM / SRP: £79.95

AMERICAN SPEEDLOADERS

pmcimagazine.com

AMERICAN SPEEDLOADERS Every year, the PMCI crew spends a week together in Las Vegas, Nevada, amongst some of the biggest names in the firearms market from around the world at the “Industry Only” vendors event known as SHOT SHOW. Our mission is to find those handfuls of genuinely innovative products that set themselves apart from the competition.

O

ne of the best places to find these new up and coming products was in this year’s show’s new vendor’s area. It was here the team discovered what may be one of the hottest new items to hit the magazine loading industry. The company was named American Speedloader.

As I have seen throughout my former law enforcement career and in many of the classes my firearms training group has taught over the years, shooters often have a hard time loading magazines for their semi-auto handguns. Whether it is due to stiff springs in a new magazine, physical disabilities, or the lack of applied muscle groups, issues with loading rounds into their pistol magazines can often detract shooters from wanting to train regularly. This problem has been more evident than anywhere else I have personally found through volunteer work with the national notfor-profit, The Well Armed Woman Shooting Chapters (TWAW) org., along with my wife, Candace. With her role as the Florida State Leader, Candace and I have access to working with over 800 ladies ranging in ages 18 – 80 years old. Missing digitals, arthritis, lupus, and even broken fingers, we work with shooters with all sorts of limitations that have hindered students from performing an already taxing process. These issues should not discourage

44

AMERICAN SPEEDLOADERS

or prevent good people from being able to train and defend themselves. Fortunately, the American SpeedLoader company shares the same belief.

The American Speedloader products offer shooters a quick and straightforward way to load magazines. Their flagship loader design is used for 9mm and .40 double-stacked magazines. But, even some single stacked magazines such as the ones for the Glock 43 and 48 models work. The user simply inserts the magazine with its feedlips down into the device’s base. This base is known as the “nest,” slip each round down a small slide in the rear of the loader and use their body weight and upper arm strength to push the magazine down and magically load the magazine to its full capacity quickly, easily and most of all, safely.

Unlike its closest competitor on the market, the UpLULA by Maglula, the American Speedloader works using gross motor skills that are much less susceptible to the same limitations that of fine motor skills. To test this principle and to see just how userfriendly the American SpeedLoader was, Candace began taking her sample loader to her TWAW meetings. She challenged new users to compete against experienced UpLULA owners to go head to head, loading ten rounds each. From the very first try, new users beat UpLULA users by an average of two rounds with some as much as cutting the time in half! One lady exclaimed with joy that is was like using her beloved craft punch.

With most comparing the American SpeedLoader to operating like their kitchen Slap Chop for dicing fruits, nuts, and vegetables, it showed the device already has a certain familiarity to many potential end-users. The UpLULA requires the device to be pressed down while balancing the magazine on a hard surface. Those operating the American SpeedLoader need only press downward using one or both hands and, if need be, even their whole body weight to seat those stubborn hard to load last rounds. Candace even noted while at her TWAW meetings, most ladies who never used an UpLULA before could not intuitively figure out how to use it without instruction or their own trail and error. This was not the case with the American SpeedLoader however. The ladies could easily see how the loader should be used due to its more friendly, simple design.

Overall, I highly recommend the products from American SpeedLoader. Although I teach students to develop their skills (if possible) to load smoothly by hand for those times, you may be under stress, and away from your mechanical loader, these products have their value. I have gladly used the loaders over the past few months before classes and range trips to fill dozens of standard 15,17 and 33 round SIG, HK, S&W, and Glock pistol magazines to turn hours of loading into a matter of minutes. Their top seller, the Glock 9mm / .40 cal loader retails for $34.99 and comes in the standard production black and now, TWAW’s signature purple. To learn more about these loaders and other products, visit www.

AmericanSpeedLoaders.com to find the one right for you. Enter PMCI at check out to save 15% off all orders.

pmcimagazine.com

6MM TRAINING: RAVEN

pmcimagazine.com

RAVEN 6MM GBB PISTOLS FOR TRAINING I was very pleasantly surprised late in 2017 when I was introduced to the pre-production versions of the new RAVEN “6MM” GBB pistols and I’ve been using one of the 1911-style models ever since in my personal home training regime, way before “6mm Training” even became a buzz! Since then the marque has moved everonwards offering a mind-bending array of models to choose from.

A

t a time when our usual range-training regimen has been severely curtailed, “6mm Handgun Training” is one of the things that we can still do safely at home with the minimum of space and fuss. Whilst we can all work on our techniques and manipulations using dry-fire techniques, and make use of training aids as discussed earlier in this issue, having a simple range in your garden, garage, or yard where you can practice your normal handgun drills with an active firing element has proved, for me at least, to be a real bonus.

The fact is that with “6mm BB” training all you really need is a range of maximum 30 feet/10meters with a safe backstop and with the your pistol model of choice, some gas or some CO2 bulbs and a bottle of decent BBs you can have at it for as long as you like! And your choice of handgun model with “6mm replicas” is almost limitless, so you can pretty much always use your existing belt and holster setup and get work done.

My main handgun platform of choice when I’m shooting real is the Glock, but like many of you I also have a huge love for the 1911 in all its myriad forms. I’ve been lucky enough to shoot 1911-style handguns from a number of manufacturers over the years, and personally I love a Kimber or an STI. I love a classic 1911A1, but the new generation of models based on the design also sing to me!

Whilst the majority of my handgun training will concentrate on the Glock platform, every so often I’ll swap that out to a

46

1991-style pistol. I believe it’s just good form to shoot over a number of designs and become comfortable with their operation and “idiosyncrasies” in order to become a more rounded shooter overall, and whilst “6mm” will not allow you to come to terms with the differing characteristics of multiple calibres (and how to react to and manage the associated recoil) it will allow you to become proficient with the mechanical operating features of many models and styles.

As I said earlier I’ve been working with a RAVEN “1911” for several years now, and that original has proved to be a solid, durable, and dependable training tool. Yes, I’ve fitted some aftermarket HiVis sights and slimline pistol grips to “make it mine” but RAVEN has really come on as a brand since I first saw

those initial models, and although, like any manufacturer they’ve had their “ups and downs” it’s been pretty much all “ups” as the range has matured and grown!

WHY RAVEN?

COMPATIBLE AND UP TO THE MINUTE

When it comes to training I’ve found that the RAVEN Hi CAPA 4.3 is my preferred option, and even though the design is obviously at variance with the lines of a “classic 19911” in terms of both the frame and slide, the grip angle and operation is both familiar and comfortable; it’s as if they’ve taken that classic “rake” and feature set and incorporated it into a new, modern design that works well and looks great.

Although the frame and slide are very different from the classic style though the 4.3 fits sweetly into all my “1911” holsters, both Kydex and leather, so I’ve had no need to change this out on my Direct Action belt setup. The magazines, although pretty chunky, also fit nicely into my Direct Action Speed Pistol Magazine pouches; in fact I chose these pouches specifically because they could be easily altered to safely retain magazines from different handgun platforms.

Although I chose the “simple” 4.3 myself, you can also have a 4.3 (or indeed 5.1 with the longer barrel and slide) pre-fitted

6MM TRAINING: RAVEN

I will admit openly to being a good friend of the guys behind the RAVEN designs, and to working very closely with them, and if truth be told I’ve been suggesting to them for a good while that the ”6mm Training” market is one that they should embrace as their pistols are completely up to the task! I asked my good friend Ross at UK-based NUPROL (you may already know the brand from their excellent gun cases) about the ethos of the RAVEN brand though, and he told me: “The raven is symbolic of mind, thought and wisdom in Norse legend, as the god Odin had two Ravens as his sidekicks. The first was Hugin who represented the power of thought and the active search for information. The other raven, Mugin represented the mind, and its ability to intuit meaning rather than hunting for it.

Odin would send these two ravens out each day to soar across the lands. At day’s end, they would return to Odin and speak to him of all they had spied upon and learned on their journeys. We wanted to create pistols that you could rely on as your “sidekick”, something that would always be with you as they progressed, forever learning as you went.”

He also told me that as much as the existing RAVEN “Classic 1911” models are first rate, and that the range of models continues to grow, he felt strongly that they wanted to really make a firm statement of intent when it came to what they are able to achieve, and the net result of that was the new range of RAVEN HI CAPAS, both 4.3 and 5.1. Both these models have moved on from the originals, with a modern, strong, almost “blocky” look that is right on the button for current pistol design.

With the HI CAPA’s they’ve kept thing completely streamlined without any fuss or ornate work to any of the main parts. These are pistols fundamentally designed to be shot, to be used rather than just carried in a holster. They’ve beefed up areas that they felt the pistols needed to give them longevity and durability, only adding features where necessary like the light/laser rail on the frame. They also upgraded the slide spring to cope both with the minimal increase in weight, and to give them a real kick!

with a reflex red dot sight (RDS). Having an RDS on a handgun seems to be all the rage right now, but is “just because it looks cool” good enough reason to add an RDS or buy a RAVEN model with one already fitted? I have to look more closely at this to give you a sensible answer.

Advancements in sighting systems have allowed us to enhance our pistols with options including adjustable sights, tritium, and fibre-optic inserts. Changes in iron sight options have enhanced our ability to see and track our sights but have offered no way to change the way we see both the sights themselves and the target; we’re all still stuck with the “front sight, rear sight and target” thing; with an RDS for this changes.

Red dot sights are by no means a new thing as competition shooters have been using electronic sighting systems successfully for years. With companies improving red dot sights so they can be mounted directly to a slide and handle the rigours of slidemounted recoil RDS systems can now be trusted, and better shooters than I have spent many a range hour proving this. Yes, it’s a personal decision whether to incorporate “technology” onto your pistol, and no doubt many a discussion will still be held over nice malt over their efficacy, but the fact is that the technology itself works, and can be trusted to work and perform.

In his article on Training Sights cards earlier in this issue Trampas already illustrated that using an RDS effectively takes time and effort, but simply put when you’re shooting a pistol using just the regular iron sights this requires three focal planes.

This means the eye must “do work” to achieve its task; it must take in and process the front sight, the rear sight and the target to align everything prior to you taking your shot. With an RDS the eye needs to deal with just a single focal plane; the target. When shooting with an RDS you can remain focused as the dot paints on the target and once the dot is placed in the

pmcimagazine.com

6MM TRAINING: RAVEN

pmcimagazine.com

correct targeting location you can make your shot. Remaining “potential threat” focused allows you to take in and process more information during an encounter and act accordingly.

Simply put, an RDS will potentially allow you to stay more situationally aware, letting you keep an eye on potential threats rather that getting “tunnel vision” on a single target point. In a fighting situation this means that you can be aware of what is going on around you better, whilst when shooting for competition you can already have your next target in your peripheral vision ready for transition! I believe it’s easy to see why many shooters in the real world, even law enforcement professionals, are moving to pistols with the RDS! But I digress, so it’s back to the “6mm” side! The new RAVEN pistols with the RDS are great; the pistol slides have been designed specifically to accommodate the RDS. As well as the new slide modification both front and rear “iron sights” have also been given a facelift, both to work efficiently with the RDS, and to add fibre-optics to the mix. The RDS is easily controlled from two push buttons on either side of the frame, and comes with a handy tool to make adjustments to windage and elevation (Up/Down, Left/Right), so that you can have your pistol shooting exactly where you want it to.

All the RAVEN pistols are powered by Green Gas from the box and chrono iro 0.78 Joule/290FPS on a .20g RZR BB. All models have a great recoil impulse, even more so when you use the included CO2 conversion parts to run this pistol on a CO2 bulb, although you will need to buy the CO2 magazine

48

separately as an accessory. In practical terms you will need to look at your holster for the new models with the RDS, but I found my usual models work just fine.

So the RAVEN range of pistols has grown yet again, and if you total up the new RDS models with the new Hydro-Dipped colour combinations that gives a whopping 63 extra models in total, which is one hell of a statement from any manufacturer!

Initially I was a little taken aback by the pink (VERY PINK!) models but commercially these are a sensible step, in line with the market for both real and replica, and the RAVEN sales team tell me that all the lines are selling fast!

Basically with the new RAVEN models the guys have taken some already tried and tested designs which sell at a sensible price, and added even more to the individual platforms.

They’ve also given us more to choose from in how we want our personal pistol to look, feel, and perform and that to me is a yet another massively positive step forward when it comes to training.

I know that there are further plans in the mill for even more to happen with all the pistol ranges offered by NUPROL, and as always I’ll say “watch this space” as I’ll be covering them off as soon as I know about them!

For more information on the RAVEN range of 6mm BB handguns please head on over to https://nuprol.com/raven

PMCI

BOOK REVIEW THE CIA WAR IN KURDISTAN: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE NORTHERN FRONT IN THE IRAQ WAR

Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher: Casemate (February 20, 2020) Language: English ISBN-10: 1612008348 ISBN-13: 978-1612008349

BOOK REVIEW

Overcoming adversity and seemingly unconquerable odds is the basis for any great adventure story, but when it’s the life of your team on the line as well as your own, truly great stories can emerge, and The CIA War in Kurdistan: The Untold Story of the Northern Front in the Iraq War is most certainly a great, if ultimately wasted, example of this.

In 2002, Sam Faddis was named to head a CIA team that would enter Iraq to facilitate the deployment of follow-on conventional military forces numbering over 40,000 American soldiers. This force, built around the 4th Infantry Division, would, in partnership with Kurdish forces and with the assistance of Turkey, engage Saddam’s army in the North as part of a coming invasion.

Faddis expected to be on the ground in Iraq within weeks, the entire campaign likely to be over by summer. Over the course of the next year, virtually every aspect of that plan for the conduct of the war in northern Iraq fell apart.

The 4th Infantry Division never arrived, nor did any other conventional forces in substantial number. The Turks not only refused to provide support, they worked overtime to prevent the United States from achieving success. And an Arab army that was to assist US forces fell apart before it ever made it to the field.

Alone, hopelessly outnumbered, short on supplies, and threatened

by Iraqi assassination teams and Islamic extremists, Faddis’s team, working with Kurdish peshmerga, miraculously paved the way for a brilliant and largely bloodless victory in the North and the fall of Saddam’s Iraq. That victory, handed over to Washington and the Department of Defense on a silver platter, was then squandered. The decisions that followed would lead to catastrophic consequences that continue to this day. aThis is the story of the brave and effective team of men and women who overcame massive odds to help end the nightmare of Saddam’s rule. It is also the story of how incompetence, bureaucracy, and ignorance threw that success away and condemned Iraq and the surrounding region to chaos.

50

Advanced Security Protection

Blackstone Consultancy

http://www.advancedsecurityprotection.com/

http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com;

AKE Group

Blue Hackle

http://www.akegroup.com/

http://www.bluehackle.com/

Ambrey Risk

Blue Waters Partners Global

http://www.ambreyrisk.com

http://www.preparedex.com/

Antipirates.Org

BP Global

http://www.antipirates.org/

http://www.bp.com/

APPDS

Britam Defence

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

http://www.britamdefence.com/

Aquatic Marine Ltd

British Maritime Solutions

http://www.aquaticmarineltd.com

http://britishmaritimesolutions.com

Protect Asia Group

BW Offshore

http://www.protectasia.com/

http://www.bwoffshore.com/

Secopex

Calibre International Security

http://www.secopex.com/

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

Aspida

Chilport

http://www.aspida.org/

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

Associated Risk Maritime Risk Management

Chiron Resources

http://www.associated-risks.com

http://www.chironresources.com

Bancroft Maritime Security Solutions

Clearwater Special Projects

http://www.maritimesecuritysolutions.co.uk

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

Bechtel Corporation

Control Risks

http://www.bechtel.com/

http://www.control-risks.com

Black Pearl

Decatur Maritime Security

http://www.blackpearlmaritimesecurity.com/

http://www.decaturms.com/

Drum Cussac

HP TerraMarine International

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

http://www.hpterramarine.com/

Dryad Maritime

Hudson Trident

http://www.dryadmaritime.com/

http://hudsonanalytix.com

Edinburgh International

ICTS

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

http://www.icts.co.uk

Elite Maritime Protection Services

IMSA Ltd

http://www.elitemaritimeprotection.com

http://www.imsaltd.com/

EOS Risk Management

International Executive Recruiting

https://www.eosrisk.com/

http://www.iernetwork.com

Erus Maritime

International Maritime Security

http://www.erusrisk.com

http://www.intmarsec.co.uk

Espada

International Maritime Security

http://www.espadaservices.com

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

Ex Military Recruitment

International Security Network

https://www.exmil.co.uk

http://www.isn.eu.com

Exploration Logistics Group

ISC Gulf

http://www.frontiermedex.com/

http://www.iscgulf.com/

G4S Maritime

ISSG Sea Marshalls

http://www.g4s.uk.com

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

Genesis Security Group http://genesissecurity.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hart Maritime http://www.hartsecurity.com

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

52

Janusian Risk Advisory Group

MTResolution

http://www.riskadvisory.net/

http://www.mtresolution.com/

Kroll

MUSC

http://www.kroll.com/

http://www.sps-global.com

Longmoor Group

Naval Guards

http://www.longmoor-security.com

http://www.navalguards.com

Lotus Maritime Security

Neptune Security

http://www.lotusmaritime.com

http://www.neptunemaritimesecurity.com/

Lotus Projects

NNK Group

http://www.lpyemen.com

https://www.nnkcorporation.com

Maersk

NYA International

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

http://www.nyainternational.com

Magregor Protection Services

Ocean Marshalls

http://macgregorprotectionservices.com

http://www.oceanmarshalls.com

March Security

Ocean Protective Services

www.marchsecurity.com

http://oceanprotectionservices.com

Maritime Risk International

Oceaneering International

http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/

http://www.oceaneering.com/

Marsec

Olchon

http://www.marsec.eu.com

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

MAST

Olive Group

http://www.mast-commercial.com

http://www.olivegroup.com/

McRoberts Maritime Security

Orchid Security

http://www.mcrobertsmaritime.com/

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

Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre

Oxberry Risk Strategies

http://www.mmwc.org/

http://www.oxberryrisk.com/maritime_services

Minimal Risk

Pilgrim Group

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

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com

MSS

Pilgrim Security

http://www.mss-uk.com

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com

Pistris

SEAL

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

http://www.sealsecurity.com/

Protect Asia Group

Securescot

http://www.protectasia.com/

http://www.securescot.com

PVI Ltd

Securewest International

http://www.pviltd.com/

http://www.securewest.com/

Raven Special Projects Ltd

Security Networking Events

http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com

http://snespecialprojects.com/

Red Cell Security

Security Networking Events

http://www.redcellsecurity.co.uk

http://snespecialprojects.com/

Redfour-MSS

Securoquest

http://www.redfour-group.com

http://www.securoquest.co.za

Saladin Security Group

Shield Risk Consulting

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

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

Saladin Security

Shipguard

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

http://www.mss-uk.com

Salama Fikira

SMS

http://www.salamafikira.com/

www.specialistmarineservices.com

SMS

SPS

www.specialistmarineservices.com

http://www.sps-global.com

Tor International

Tactical Intel

http://www.torinternational.com/

http://www.tacticalintel.com/

Trojan Securities International

Thalassic

http://www.trojansecurities.com/

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

Orchid Security

Tor International

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

http://www.torinternational.com/

Blackstone Consultancy

Torcuss

http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com/

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

Pilgrim Group

Triskle TSL

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com/

http://www.triskelservices.com

Maritime Risk International

Triton Security

http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/

http://www.tritoninternationalltd.com

International Maritime Security

Trojan Securities

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

http://www.trojansecurities.com

Raven Special Projects Ltd

Veritas International

http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com/

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

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

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