PMCI - March 2020

MAR2020

CONTENTS 4 VIVA LAS VEGAS! IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT THE ENTIRE PMCI TEAM GATHER IN ONE PLACE, BUT WHAT BETTER PLACE TO DO SO THAN SHOT SHOW 2020!

10 LESS THAN LETHAL: TRAMPAS TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT VIABLE OPTIONS FOR PERSONAL DEFENCE IN THE FORM OF PEPPERBALL 15 EDITORS COMMENT

Deputy Ed (USA): Trampas Swanson

16 GEAR ON TEST: “GEAR FOR THE GOOD GUYS” BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE PMCI TEAM

Graphic Design: Baz Thakur/

20 TACTICAL INNOVATION: 0241 TACTICAL: BILL REVISITS ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE VETERAN-

Deadshot Design

OWNED AND RUN GEAR BUSINESSES TO CHECK OUT THE VERY LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Publisher: Nigel Streeter

24 GEAR: RANGEWEAR: NOT KEEN ON THE WHOLE “TACTICOOL” CLOTHING THING? BILL ILLUSTRATES IT’S ABOUT PERFORMANCE, AND NOT JUST LOOKS!

Cover pic: SMG

32 FIREARMS: SIG M400: THIS TIME WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE M400 FROM SIG SAUER

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.

CHAMBERED IN 5.56 NATO!

com and search “PMCI”.

28 TECH: EVERSAFE: TRAMPAS LOOKS AT A GREAT SOLUTION FOR A GREAT OPTION FOR CARRYING GEAR DISCREETLY AND SECURELY

36 KNIVES AND TOOLS: SPARTAN HARSEY DAGGER: TRAMPAS TAKES A LOOK AT A VERY SPECIAL BLADE THAT’S COMES COURTESY OF SOME VERY GOOD FRIENDS TO PMCI! 38 FIREARMS: SMITH AND WESSON 638 AIRWEIGHT: IN BOTH CIVILIAN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CIRCLES, THE SMITH AND WESSON DOUBLE ACTION J-FRAME REVOLVER CHAMBERED IN .38 SPECIAL HAS LONG BEEN A FAVOURITE,

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,

BUT WHAT DO WE THINK?

Walwyn Road,

42 TOOLS OF THE TRADE: WILLIAMS HANDGUN SIGHTS: WILLIAMS AFTERMARKET

Upper Colwall,

HANDGUN SIGHTS ARE A SPOT ON QUICK FIX THAT WILL PLACE YOU WAY AHEAD OF THE

Malvern,

GAME FOR A VERY LOW PRICE!

Worcestershire,

44 6MM TRAINING: VEGA FORCE COMPANY SR-16: CONTINUING TO CHAMPION THE 6MM TRAINING INITIATIVE BILL GETS DOWN AND GRITTY WITH A SUPERB GAS “AR”

WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003

TRAINING PLATFORM THAT REPLICATES THE REAL THING DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL

Web: www.pmcimagazine.com

47 BOOK REVIEW “AMERICAN GUERRILLA: THE FORGOTTEN HEROICS OF RUSSELL W.

©Calibre Publishing Limited 2019

VOLCKMANN”

Letter, idea or question?

48 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

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Editor (UK): Bill Thomas

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

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPROMISE

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SHOT 2020

AS WE ROLLED INTO 2020, IT WAS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN FOR THE TACTICAL AND FIREARMS COMMUNITY MOVERS AND SHAKERS TO MAKE THEIR ANNUAL MIGRATION TO THE DESERTS OF NEVADA. INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD SUCH AS LICENSED FIREARMS DEALERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY AND PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTING PURCHASING AGENTS, CELEBRITIES AND MORE DESCEND UPON LAS VEGAS, NEVADA FOR THE ANNUAL SHOT SHOW, AND THE PMCI CREW WERE THERE AMONGST THEM! - BY CLINT STEELE

SHOT 2020

T

he acronym SHOT stands for Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade. This show is the one week of the

year where just about every firearm, ammunition, and gear company in the global industry shows up to display their wares over five days of festivities and excitement. This event includes an exclusive “Invitation Only” range day that is held at the Boulder City Rifle and Pistol Club on Monday to get the week started with literally a “BANG”. Range Day is followed by four days of static displays held inside the immense Sands Convention Center inside of the beautiful Venetian Resort and Casino. This year’s show featured over 2,600 separate exhibit booths taking up an area roughly equivalent to 11 football fields of space. If an individual attempted to visit every single booth during the four days that the show floor is open, they would only be able to stop at each booth for a total of 22 seconds to be able to cover the entire event! This year, like every year in the history of this publication, the PMCI team was there with boots on the ground to cover the week’s events. We are privileged to bring you, the readers, the highlights in this article.

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SHOT 2020

pmcimagazine.com BILL THOMAS, TRAMPAS SWANSON, NIGEL ‘I NEED A BEARD’ STREETER, CLINT STEELE

THE TEAM

As most of the readership of PMCI is already aware, the Swanson Media Group proudly makes up the North American contingent of the PMCI staff. This year’s team consisted of SMG Managing Editor Trampas Swanson, Deputy Editor Clint Steele, Photographers Victoria Perez, and Mitch Holloway.

We had to honor to be joined during the event by PMCI’s UKbased Management team of Publisher Nigel Streeter and Editor Bill Thomas. With the band all together, it was time to take on SHOT SHOW 2020!

MIXING IT UP

Prior to the start of the SHOT Show events, members of the Swanson Media Group had the opportunity to represent their sister company, Swanson Training Group (STG). Instructors, Trampas Swanson and Clint Steele were invited to present the USCCA’s Countering the Mass Shooter Threat class on the Sunday at a local Las Vegas training center prior to Range Day. This eighthour course focuses on countering the false political narratives surrounding such events as well as some simple, yet effective methods to mitigate such tragedies. This training package was presented to a small group of local Las Vegas security professionals, firearms trainers, and 2nd Amendment advocates.

While this added to the week’s workload, it did manage to set the tone perfectly for our writers to get focused on the mission ahead!

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RANGE DAY

The next morning would start just before 0700 HRS as the members of the PMCI team loaded up and made the 30-minute drive to the range in Boulder City for the day. Since this year’s team was smaller than it has been in the past, we decided to stick together to cover the 1.2-mile wide event. Before getting started, the group took a few minutes to have a brief team huddle to remind everyone to be safe and focus on the task at hand.

Over the next eight hours, the team got hands-on with some of the latest and greatest weapons and ammunitions that the firearms community had to offer for 2020. Test firing several new models of handguns, suppressors, full-auto machine guns and even went long-range, shooting some sniper rifles out to about 800 meters. Take it from a one very proud Deputy Editor, the PMCI team really impressed the vendors with their depth of

THE FLOOR

SHOT 2020

knowledge and skillsets when handling firearms. When it came time to recharge the batteries the team managed to grab a bite to eat from some of the best food trucks in the Las Vegas area.

Highlights from the day included getting up close and personal with Diamondback Firearms’ latest innovation. The DBX57, this “carbine-style” pistol is chambered in 5.7x28mm. At an overall length of 25 inches with the brace extended and weighing in at a minuscule 3.7 pounds, this pistol just screams truck gun or the perfect companion while on a low-profile protection mission.

Since we are discussing the 5.7x28mm chambering, another highlight of range day was the chance to check out Ruger’s new offering in the same caliber. The Ruger 5.7 pistol was everything we hoped it would be. When asked to compare the Ruger 5.7 to the OG of the 5.7 world, the FN 5.7. Trampas made the comment that comparing the grip surface of the Ruger to the FN was like comparing the grips of a 1911 to that of a Glock 21. The Ruger variant was slimmer and more accommodating versus a bulky and boxy feel of the FN variant in the hand. Other standouts of the day included the new Glock model 44 chambered in .22LR and another Ruger product, the Lite Rack LCP II also in .22LR. Stay tuned to future issues of PMCI for in-depth reviews by the PMCI team in the coming months.

With Range day over, the real work began for the team.

Throughout the SHOT Show floor, attendees could walk through the vendor booths looking at tremendous displays of firearms and accessories. This provided them with an opportunity to conduct “hands-on” inspections and discuss the products with industry representatives. Some of the products would be available the week of the show, others would be available at some point in the coming weeks or months. Some you could even find currently on the shelves of your local store. Others, it would take mountains of paperwork and even bigger piles of cash to purchase.

One of the most impressive events of the week took place on Wednesday when the one-day New Vendors Showcase was opened. This event took place on the 5th floor of the convention center and as the name implies was only open to vendors, who had never shown at the show before. This showcase had a different feel from the rest of the event. Most of the time at SHOT, the vendors are a bit standoffish, now that is in no way to insinuate that they are rude, they just tend to stay in their booths and only engage folks who walk up and start conversations with them. The New Vendors Showcase, on the other hand, had the feel of a county fair or local bazaar. These vendors only had one day to make connections that could benefit their company and its products for the rest of the entire year. These eager vendors were engaging as soon as you came close to their spaces.

One such new vendor that immediately struck up a conversation with me was Elle Rueger of Soledier Socks. This company was founded a little over two years ago, after talking with a family friend who had just returned from a deployment overseas. This friend explained how the socks that people sent in care packages were true godsends. Items that not only brightened the soldier’s days but, helped them to remain effective while conducting operations. What came about from that conversation was the idea for Soledier Socks. When a customer purchases a pair of Soledier Socks, a pair of specially designed “Thomas” socks are delivered to an active-duty soldier in the U.S. military. When I explained to Elle that I had been an Infantry soldier myself and I understood just what a pair of good socks can mean, she handed me a pair of the “Thomas” socks with an invitation to give them a try for myself. Well, I can tell you right here and now that the last day at SHOT, when my feet were at their worst. Those “Thomas” socks were just what the doctor ordered and helped me to finish the week strong. If you’re interested in helping a worthy cause and getting yourself a pair of awesome socks at the same time.

Check out www.solediersocks.com you won’t regret it.

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SHOT 2020

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vAnother of the exhibitors at the New Vendor Showcase that caught my eye were the folks at the Zeta6 booth. The folks over at Zeta6 have reimagined the speed stripes for the J-frame sized revolvers. Their new J-Clip and J-Strip are low-cost, polyurethane speed loaders with the holes spaced correctly and are designed to fit all the popular J-frame sized revolvers regardless of manufacture. I am really looking forward to giving our test samples a run and will be reporting back to you the readers of PMCI in the coming months on how they are working out for us.

You can learn more about Zeta6’s products at www.zetasix.com In wrapping up the new vendor’s area, the team discovered what may be one of the hottest new items in the magazine reloading industry. We were greeted by a company by the name of American Speedloader. As we have seen in many of our classes taught over the years and through our volunteer work with the national not-for-profit, The Well Armed Woman org., many shooters often have a hard time loading magazines for their semi-auto handguns. Whether its stiff springs in a new magazine, physical disabilities or simply a lack of applied muscle groups, the task of loading round after round individually into their magazines can often detract from wishing to train regularly. The American Speedloader products offer shooters a fast and simple way to insert their magazine inverted into the device, 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.

More to come on this device in future issues, but expect for this device to be BIG for lady shooters especially.

Back out on the normal show floor, we stopped in on some of our old friends to check up on some products we were excited to bring to our readers. At the Spartan Blades booth, we caught up with U.S. Army Special Forces veterans, Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey to get a preview of one of the latest knives to come from these former pipe-hitters. You can check out Trampas’s review of that knife, the Spartan Hersey Dagger in this issue of PMCI. Spartan Blades can be found online at www.spartanbladesusa.com One of the more exciting new meetings of the week for the PMCI team was a chance to get together with the folks over at Helikon-Tex and Direct Action. Our international readers may already be familiar with the name. This Polish manufacturer of tactical gear and clothing has recently established a distribution center for their products in the United States and are pushing hard to capture a piece of the American market share. You can look forward to seeing some of their incredible items grace the pages of this magazine in future issues. You can take a look at their huge catalog of products at www.helikon-tex.com and http://directactiongear.com

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THE 6MM INVASION

One of the latest training ideas to hit the shores of the United States is the use of 6mm replicas of popular firearms to bridge the gap between dry fire practice and live-fire training. These 6mm replicas have been all the rage for training outside of the United States for years. To see these replicas garner the floor space they did at this year’s SHOT show means that the time may have finally come for the American firearms community to take these training tools more seriously. When industry heavy hitters like SIG Sauer have their SIG Air 6mm offerings in the same booth as their ‘real-steel’ counterparts, you know it’s going to be a big push in the coming months. As a quick preview of some coming events in PMCI, be on the lookout for reviews of SIG’s surplus M17 9mm Modular Handgun System and SIG Air’s 6mm replica version of the same model. More information on these 6mm replicas can be found on the SIG Air pages of the SIG Sauer website at www.sigsauer.com/products/airguns/.

HEADING HOME

As we wrapped up another year at SHOT and said goodbye for now to the amazing city that is Las Vegas, Nevada, we took the time to relax and enjoy one last evening with our team on Friday. Saturday would see the team head home into the arms of our waiting families. Each team member took time to reflect on what they had seen and to ease those aching feet after walking miles upon miles over the course of the week. In my case, I returned home to deal with a lingering case of the “SHOT SHOW Flu”. Regardless, everyone looked forward to a chance to get a full night’s sleep in their own beds.

In the coming year, everyone will continue to be witness to our efforts over the course of the 2020 SHOT Show. The relationships we build each year with the various vendors and the access they provide us throughout the year to their products to thoroughly test them prior to publishing any reviews are always amazing. All this hard work we do for our outstanding loyal readers. You won’t want to miss a single issue of PMCI this year. Stay Tuned and until next time, remember, we here at PMCI are constantly moving “Forward, Always Forward.”

TELLTHETI ME, ALLTHETI ME. Tr i t i um i l l umi nat edwat ches t hatst ayvi si bl eal lni ght .

Excl usi vel yavai l abl eonl i ne W W W. NI TEWATCHES. COM

LESS THAN LETHAL

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PEPPERBALL NON-LETHAL OPTIONS

EVERY DAY, ALL OVER THE WORLD, MILITARY SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUPS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CIVILIANS ALIKE ENCOUNTER CRITICAL SITUATIONS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ACTION. OFTEN, THESE SITUATIONS ARE FORCED TO BECOME DRAWN OUT AND END IN QUESTIONABLE LETHAL FORCE DUE TO LACK OF AVAILABLE OPTIONS. WHILE TASERS AND PEPPER SPRAY COULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE THREAT EARLIER, FACTORS SUCH AS DISTANCE AND THE INABILITY TO DEPLOY FROM PROPER COVER PREVENT THESE OPTIONS FROM COMING INTO PLAY EARLY IN THE REACTIONARY GAME PLAN. FORTUNATELY, NON-LETHAL PAYLOAD DELIVERY OPTIONS FROM A COMPANY BY THE NAME OF PEPPER BALL, HAVE BEEN MAKING THEIR WAY ONTO THE BATTLEFIELDS AND STREETS OF SOME OF THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST AREAS TO HELP.

I

n this issue, PMCI looks at two relatively new products offered by this company for not only military and law enforcement but civilians alike.

These models are the Flashlauncher and the Tactical Compact Pistol or TCP for short. First, to understand the devices, we must understand the munitions in which the devices are built to launch.

PEPPER BALL

The term Pepper Ball is a trademarked term for two similar individual types of payload delivering munitions.

The first is a round .68 caliber projectile very similar in external composition as the average paintball but inside, contains a wide range of options from PAVA pepper powder to simple water marking loads for training. The premise of the Pepper Ball system is to launch munitions such as those containing irritant powders via disposable compressed CO2

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cartridges over a distance onto targets such as humans to deter unlawful behavior or an escape an unsafe situation.

This process depends on chemesthetic shock in order to manifest its desired effect. Chemesthesis is defined as the chemical sensitivity of the skin and mucous membranes.

These sensations arise when chemical compounds activate receptors associated with other senses that mediate pain, touch, and thermal perception. These chemical-induced reactions do not fit into the traditional sense categories of taste and smell. Basically, when a round containing something such as CS powder strikes a human, the shock of impact first causes an extremely noticeable pain to the skin without puncturing it while at the same time, opening up the pores to become more susceptible to the irritant powder delivered. Such pain normally causes increased heart rate and breathing which enhances the bodies acceptance of the powder and increasing its effects.

FLASHLAUNCHER

As the name implies, the Flashlauncher is designed to have an unsuspecting appearance of a large sized flashlight. At first glance, it looks like the type of light commonly used by civilians

for everyday inside the home during a power outage or just out at night walking the dog. While there is an effectively working flashlight producing 350 lumens of light from the device, there is so much more to it. Inside the Flashlauncher lies the capability accurately launch a Pepper Ball munition over 60 ft onto an intended target.

Activation of the light is accomplished by gripping about midway of the light, just forward of its natural balance point.

With the thumb riding along the top of the device, the hand’s trigger finger naturally falls onto the light activation push button switch located on the bottom. Located under the thumb is the devices firing button located underneath a protective plate which can be pushed forward out of the way without having to readjust the master grip. Once the plate is cleared, a laser aiming device is activated. With the firing button depressed, the device launches a single round. How accurately? Let’s take a quick look.

To best test the Flashlauncher, I took it to range on two different occasions and introduced it to two chapters of the national not for profit organization, The Well Armed Woman. I assisted each lady who volunteered to try out the device with removing the safety block pin from the device to allow the triggers protective plate to be pushed forward into the finally shooting position.

Loading consisted of unscrewing the puncture ram from the face of the device and inserting the C02 cartridge before returning the ram. A small pop of gas could be heard as the device took its charge. Next, the projectile ram is removed with a simple twist before loading a maximum of 5 pepper balls into the rear and returning the ram home. Ladies took careful aim using the laser onto the center of a human silhouette paper target located 21 feet down range stapled to a corrugated cardboard backer. Every round fired not only struck the target exactly where the laser was pointed, and a clean hole was formed as the round passed through and shattered onto the concrete wall 28 yards down range lane.

LESS THAN LETHAL

While this is still a non-lethal option, the impact of the round on skin will leave a deep red or purple welp and even damage an eye or nose if a direct facial impact occurs.

The second option is called a VXR projectile. It is looks like a semi-round paintball with a hollowed-out space in the rear much like a black powder maxi-ball round and finned like a modern shotgun slug to collect more air to drive the projectile. The VXR munitions come in the all the same payload options (and effects) but with the ability in selected launchers to be delivered from longer distances. As of this article being published, the selection of various munitions options is listed below to better understand its wide and diverse range of usages.

• LIVE – Basic Pepper Ball consisting of .5% of PAVA pepper powder • LIVE X – Equals 10 times the potency of 1 regular LIVE round for faster, more effective results • CS – Active Payload of CS irritant powder (similar to the military gas form of the irritant) • CS / PAVA – Mixture of both CS and PAVA pepper power (Hell in a ball) • INERT – Scented Training Powder (Purple in color) • MARKING – Paint solution to mark suspects for later apprehension as such in riots or large raids as well as marking doors, openings or potential threat areas.

• GLASS BREAKER – As the name implies, used for shattering glass from a distance prior to approach on a vehicle or structure take down. (NOT TO BE USED ON HUMANS) • WATER FILLED – Training Use • UV MARKING – Invisible Ink for Suspect ID • VXR Series – All the above options but configured to be delivered via VXR compatible launchers for not only longer distance but also more accuracy

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LESS THAN LETHAL

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The low-profile design, 1.75 lb weight, ambidextrous safety and overall user friendliness of the Flashlauncher combined with its power and accuracy really impressed every one of the two dozen ladies who tired it. From housewives to armed professionals, each commented how the device made them rethink the possibility of carrying a less than lethal device as a part of their everyday lives.

TCP - TACTICAL COMPACT PISTOL

The second device tested was the Tactical Compact Pistol or TCP for short. Constructed of bright yellow polymer (optional black or bronze colors) and shaped like a traditional handgun for less needed learning curve for anyone comfortable with shooting live firearms. While this is not the subtle less than lethal option that seamlessly blends into your everyday life, it is a great option for purse or fanny pack carry, the armed security guard or even vehicle carry.

The device featured a comfortable pistol grip and undermounted rail for the additional of common weapon mounted lights for use in dark environments. The device shipped with an easy to use holster that fits most standard belts and holds the launcher securely in place. Additionally, the TCP offers two supplied magazines, each with a capacity to hold six rounds of the more streamlined VXR munitions.

Unlike the traditional Pepper Ball, the VXR rounds can be launched up to 150 ft through the TCP onto human sized targets with relatively good accuracy.

To test the capabilities of the TCP launcher, I met up with former Marine and fellow firearms instructor, Jerry Moody at The Swamp training grounds. Our test subject for the day would be our PMCI test dummy, BOB. Our silence volunteer would be outfitted with a beanie hat and thin tan t-shirt.

The munition used for testing would be the inert VXR finned projectile clearly marked by its purple color.

Loading the six shot magazines was quick and easy. First, the puncture ram is unscrewed from the magazine base plate as the CO2 cartridge is inserted. As the ram is returned and screwed back in, a small pop of air can be heard to confirm the cartridge is now activated in the magazine. Next, each VXR round is top loaded by locking the magazine follower in the down position via tabs on either side and leaving the magazine spring compressed. Next, a small bar blocking the rounds from escaping the top of the magazine must be pressed forward as each round is inserted facing forward.

Once all six were loaded, the magazine is inserted into the bottom of the pistol’s grip and the push button safety is disengaged to fire.

Jerry and I each took turns firing the TCP from initial ranges of five and seven yards with very impressive results.

The payload delivery came with a solid smack onto target and encapsulated the target’s head and neck area with the white training powder even with centerline chest shots. After each shooter worked through a full magazine, we would step back five yards and take aim again. By the end of testing, the distance from the target had grown from five yards to approximately thirty yards with five of six rounds striking solid hits on target for each shooter!

At all distances, the VXR rounds cleanly broke and dumped its contents onto the target area. Up to fifteen yards, the point

of aim / point of impact was dead on. At twenty yards and further, the VXR rounds seemed to drift about three inches to the right and approximately five inches high. (Note there was less than a three mile per hour ½ value wind during any part of the testing and a relative temperature of 55 F.)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Prior to testing the Pepper Ball products, my primary experience with non-lethal products has come from my time in Law Enforcement with bean bag rounds, belt carried pepper spray canisters and paintball guns converted to fire a liquid pepper solution with less than reliable service. Through training with the Pepper Ball products and training others on the Flashlauncher and TCP platforms, my opinion on this payload delivery system has greatly changed. I would have no issues with carrying the Flashlauncher while out walking in the evening with my family or having the TCP in my vehicle or carry bag during my daily errands and travels as a supplement to my every day carry Glock 19 9mm pistol.

Retailing at US$229 for the Flashlauncher and US$399 for the TCP, these devices are not cheap, but they could save thousands of dollars by offering a non-lethal option to a situation that normally may only leave the end user with no other choice but to use a firearm without. Think about it like this. Imagine you are out walking with your family around the neighborhood and a resident’s dog confronted you snarling, growling and nipping at your kids. If given a choice would you rather simply dispatch the animal with a pepper ball to sting and discombobulate it or be forced to shoot it? Nobody wants to be known as the neighborhood “dog killer” if it can be avoided. That piece of mind carries over to possibly diverting an attach by the local “thugs” harassing you over money or personal belongs before things turn lethal. It is my professional opinion that the cost of a Pepper Ball product is a small price to pay to avoid a much more expensive and life altering dilemma and will give me a better piece of mind if these options were exhausted through the use of force continuum first before needing to shoot someone.

Other models are offered by Pepper Ball for military and LE application only which are equipped with large CO2 tanks to propel more rounds per charge. These models include full rifle versions such as the FTC and TAC-SF which are designed similar to a traditional paintball gun as well as an AR-15 based rifle for operators that are already trained on the AR platform.

To date, over 5000 plus agencies worldwide, including the US Army, US Marines, Border Patrol, Private Security and even school violence reaction teams are currently using Pepper Ball devices. To learn more about these devices, visit them at www.pepperball.com today. Until next time, Train Hard and Continue the Fight!

THINGS TO COME! As we are now well into 2020 as I write the team and I are still collating all the great information that came out of SHOT 2020, and although Clint and Trampas have landed a super report again, I am taking the opportunity here to give my own l overview!

First up, it is fabulous when the entire “PMCI Posse” gathers, and due to my illness this hasn’t happened for way too long, but to say that SHOT 2020 made up for this is an understatement!

No, you really can’t see everything at the show, but that is what teamwork is all about, and teamwork is something we have in abundance.

One of the continuing trends that caught my eye very quickly at SHOT was the move even further towards ever lighter carbines and rifles, with many manufacturers going for skeletonised rails and stocks. With all the big names in play, firearm models that stood out for me where from Knights Armament, Remington Defense, Daniel Defense, LMT, Lantac USA (oh, that SPR!), and Black Rain Ordnance… trust me, if I could have returned home with a“T800” I’d have been a VERY happy camper as it looked positively outrageous in a very cool way!

Now there were a couple of specific things that I wanted to check out, and the first of those was the Laugo Arms “ALIEN” pistol as this seems to be causing a lot of chatter; this is marketed (with a hefty price tag!) as their flagship pistol which has now gone from prototype to production and even been approved for IPSC competition use. The 9mm “ALIEN” allegedly has the lowest bore axis available on a handgun, with the positioning of its fixed barrel some 1.7mm below the line of the grip axis. With an overall length of 8.5-inches, the pistol is certainly unusual to look at, but it

does feel very comfortable in the hand; will it justify its pricetag?

Only time will tell…

The other stand I wanted to spend some time on was that of SIG and I was not to be disappointed as the latest MG338 was on display loud and proud! SIG confirmed recently that it has delivered the new models to U.S. Special Operations Command, along with sound suppressors and ammunition for them, and SIG says the .338 calibre machine gun weighs around 20 pounds, making it lighter than even the L variant of U.S. military’s standard 7.62mm M240 machine gun, and lighter too than the MK 48, which SOCOM previously led the development of as a lighter-weight alternative to the M240-series.. I was also very taken by the NGSW-R prototype which is called the ‘Spear’ in both 6.8x51mm Hybrid and 7.62x51mm. This is the latest evolution of the MCX platform but with some improvements including a newly designed forend with a full-length top rail and a standard AR-style charging handle with an additional folding charging handle on the left side of the receiver!

Sadly after a stupendous SHOT we are all reeling a bit from the postponement of the Enforcetac/IWA Show in Germany due to the spread of Covid-19; will this affect our coverage of our brand partners and their new developments? Not a bit, as I’m already in touch with them and we’ll be showcasing more of those “things to come” in future issues of PMCI as planned.

So for now, keep sharp, keep safe, and I hope to see some of you in Nuremberg later in the year!

EDITORS COMMENT

EDITORS COMMENT

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GEAR ON TEST

ASP XT DH HANDHELD LIGHT

By Trampas Swanson Perhaps my favorite light currently on the market for multiple reasons, is the ASP XT DF Light. We all know one of the cardinal rules of firearms safety is “Know your target and what lies beyond it”. THAT DOES NOT CHANGE IN THE DARK! The tactical light industry is full of great gun-mounted lights, but in doing so, often overlooks the liability of waving the muzzle of your firearm around in search of possible targets.

For those who understand that searching an area not immediately under fire or posing a threat of bodily injury is best served with a handheld light with or without a firearm, the XT DF light is a great option.

Manufactured by Armament Systems & Procedures— better known as ASP, the company that makes the cool handcuffs and expandable batons—these lights offer a plethora of advantages over your standard small SureFire or Streamlight. The DF stands for Dual Fuel, which means you can charge the included 18650 battery (using the supplied adapters or any micro USB cord) in your truck, patrol vehicle, home or office, or simply pop in two fresh CR123A disposable batteries and go.

The extremely bright Cree XPG2 LED bulb produces 600 lumens of light in high mode, easily lighting up any close quarters area you may need to search, with a run time of up to 3 hrs. and 45 mins. The light also allows you to program your choice of four secondary light settings, to dial in how much light you need, while not overdoing it and ruining your natural low light vision. Starting from the full 600 lumen setting, you can “double tap” to activate the secondary mode at 150 lumens, 60 lumens, 15 lumens, or a very distracting high output Strobe feature. The easy-to-use, multifunction tail cap allows you to quickly switch between momentary

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and constant on, and even choose an “OFF” position to lock out any chance of accidental illumination during a mission.

The all too familiar texture of the grip is like that of the company’s famous collapsible batons, which I have carried personally and professionally for going on twenty years now. Even when completely wet, this texture offers a sure grip on the body of the light to prevent dropping it. The weather-resistant light is rated to over 6 feet of impact resistance on hard surfaces. Twice already, I have had this unit become accidently submerged during training. First by getting knocked off a shooting table into a puddle of water in the dark, and the second time by being left on a range all night in the rain. Both times, just by simply shaking the light dry before putting it away, the XT DF sustained no damage and worked perfectly.

The handy reversible pocket clip gives additional leverage in gripping it, as well as a great way to secure it either bezel up or down when you need your hands free to transition to a weapon. For carry on my gear, I prefer ASP’s optional handsfree rotating Tactical Light Case. The overall, compact 6.25” length, 1.4” diameter of the XT DF, combined with its easy to operate tail cap allow it to be easily used in conjunction with a handgun employing the “cigar style” technique, often referred to as the “Surefire” technique as well.

The XT DF has an MSRP range of $128 (without charging kit) to $170 (including the kit), but can easily be found for a bit cheaper online, and can be delivered as soon as the next day, ready for duty. After four months of nonstop usage, I highly recommend getting not just one of these lights, but instead, get one for each of your vehicles, your “go bag” and emergency rally point in your home. To find out more about the Dual Fuel XT light and other great products from ASP, visit their website at www.asp-usa.com .

Returning to his Direct Action Mustang Pistol Belt Bill now has it set up to his liking, and reports back on the latest additions!

When travelling overseas to get some range time, and we’re blessed at PMCI to have some outstanding training partners in the USA, in Eastern Europe, and even further afield. When I’m travelling to attend a course this means hauling my personal kit with me.

I’ve now phased in my new system of the Direct Action Mustang inner and outer belt with pouches as needed, and finally I’m happy with the setup. The lo-profile Mustang inner belt works simply as a trouser belt and as a stabiliser for both the Mustang and Warhawk outer belts. As it attaches to the inner Velcro loop panels of those belts, it prevents ride-up during dynamic movement or when drawing a pistol from a holster. With this belt in place there’s no need to use suspenders or a drop leg panel in order to achieve a secure pistol draw. Made out of proprietary laminate and Velcro this is simply a flat, feather-light accessory to keep your pants up and your working equipment belt where you’d expect it to be. The ultra-thin profile of the trouser belt effectively eliminates “buckle over buckle” discomfort and can be worn all day long.

Made of heavy duty tubular webbing, proprietary laminate, and lined with Velcro loop the Mustang Rescue/ Gun belt is bartack-reinforced in stress points, stiffened to carry the weight of holsters and magazine pouches and secures with a certified AustriAlpin Cobra buckle. There’s

an anchor point for carabiner / lanyard / tether next to the buckle, and this is compatible with FROG buckle or shackles. It’s Velcro-loop lined on the inside so that it mates perfectly with the inner trouser belt, so you can have all your range-ready kit pre-mounted and be good to go within seconds.

Since I started working with this excellent belt I’ve set it up with a pair of Direct Action Speed Reload pistol and rifle magazine pouches, which are open-topped with a bungeecord retention system and allow to super-fast access when reloading. As they are designed to work specifically with the Mustang belt (and other Direct Action belt models)in addition to standard MOLLE attachment points they also have a unique shock-cord attachment which I love, and using this once they are on the belt they are solidly locked in place. I also run a dump pouch, and simple first-aid kit contained in the excellent Modular Individual Med Kit Pouch from Helikon-Tex. The final element to my personal rig now is a CAT (which I hope I will never have to use!) carried in Direct Action Tourniquet pouch. The only other things that go onto the belt are a holster, and this will be dependent on the handgun platform I am training with at the time (1911 style from Kydex Customs shown fitted), and a personal safety lanyard if needed.

Simply put the Mustang two-piece system and the associated pouches give you all the versatility and performance you need, backed up with rock-solid fabrics and components, and superlative craftsmanship. I’ve worn my personal setup regularly and already given it some serious abuse and thus far it’s been nothing but exemplary.

For more information on Direct Action please do visit eu.directactiongear.com for Europe and us.directactiongear. com for the USA.

GEAR ON TEST

DIRECT ACTION MUSTANG BELT SYSTEM

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GUN SOX BY CHEATA TACTICAL

GEAR ON TEST

As a former Law Enforcement officer, one item I have learned to respect the most in both the professional and civilian world of concealed carry is the need to be comfortable with carrying a firearm even when it may not be the most comfortable item to wear. Too many times have I encountered others who are licensed concealed carry holders, who aren’t armed at the time. An abundant amount of the excuses falls under the category of either not having the right holster to conceal based on their outfit or their firearm being too cumbersome to wear on their person.

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The truth is, the gun isn’t supposed to be comfortable, it supposed to be comforting. Unfortunately, we as humans refuse to accept discomfort for piece of mind and many licensed concealed carry gun owners fail to carry their firearm daily. Keep in mind, a gun left at home can quickly end up being a vital tool missing in a life or death emergency. The right holster and plenty of practice wearing it can help solve this issue. One of the best ways I have recently found to comfortably carry a firearm comes from a company called Cheata Tactical.

During my career as a Deputy Sheriff, I often carried a back up weapon to my duty firearm and at times even a back up to my off duty carry gun as well. This method usually meant wearing pants or jeans in order to carry my back up gun in an ankle rig regardless if it was below freezing weather or 103-degree heat outside. (Living in North Carolina at the time, we saw both extremes yearly.) When I retired my badge and gun duties, I can’t say I really missed the bulky holsters available on the market during those days. Very rarely did I consider going back to the centralized weight bearing into my ankle bone and working its way loose every few hours.

When I was recently approached to test a new ankle rig for a review, I must admit, I started out a bit skeptical. With an open mind and aging knee, I agreed to fairly evaluate the Gun Sox by Cheata Tactical just as I would any other product. What I discovered would be a one of very few “game changers” on the market. Hopefully, this article helps you consider another option in your own battle in firearm carry, so let’s begin!

FIRST LOOK

When the package arrived from Cheata Tactical, it contained not one, but two models of their signature Gun Sox holster.

The first was the original full calf encompassing original Gun Sox and the other was a mid-calf version for use with cowboy, tactical or work boots. The original allowed for casual wear with athletic or street shoes while the mid-calf held a firearm secure while nesting inside the top of the boot. Having seen many days working narcotics operations and visiting “non-permissive” environments, in which guns are frowned upon but certainly needed, I was no stranger to stuffing a small revolver into the top of my cowboy boot.

Both holsters are designed to hold a small to medium sized pistol securely. (Sorry, no full sized 1911 backup guns for any Punisher skull wearing couch commandos reading this.) When the Gun Sox holsters arrived, I had just started daily carrying a small Smith and Wesson model 638 Airweight revolver chambered in .38 Special for an upcoming review. I decided to start testing

the original Gun Sox in order to develop a baseline in which to compare the mid-calf version later.

When I removed the Gun Sox from its package, I immediately noticed it resembled the same construction as a diabetic sock with a medical grade 4 way stretch compression material referred to as Stretx. According to Cheata Tactical, this material will not stretch out over time and offers antimicrobial and odor resistance.

The holster is machine washable and advertised as having a unisex fit. Sizing for this holster is not based on the gun but rather the diameter of the calf. With my manly, fur bearing 19” calves, I required a size “Large” which seemed to fit snug but as advertised. The original Gun Sox ran the length of my knee down to my ankle bone with equal pressure throughout my leg.

At the base of the sleeve, there is not one but two holsters, one on the outside of the ankle and one on the inside at the proper position to carry a small pistol. This is perfect for one of two applications, either to be able to switch carry legs and have a holster in the optimal carry position or to carry a spare mag, knife or small med kit in addition to your firearm. Either way, this seemed to be a well thought out design. Just wearing the holster felt great on my leg, giving needed support under my knee down and throughout the rest of my leg.

As I holstered my S&W model 638, I pulled the lip of the top cover built into the holster down over the grip of the gun. This seemed to snug the gun closer to my leg and give it added stability from flopping around in the holster when I walked.

While the support is great, this does require a bit of learning curve to cleanly draw your firearm from the holster quickly. With an unloaded revolver, I practiced daily for about a week before venturing out and about carrying concealed.

RANGE TIME

After about a week of carrying my revolver in conjunction with my Glock 19 inside the waistband, I headed out to our private training facility known as “The Swamp” to practice some muchneeded live fire “draw and shoot” drills. Unlike holsters carried around the belt line, ankle holsters have a totally different system of drawing from the holster. As a primarily right handed shooter, I carried the pistol on the inside of my left ankle.

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GEAR ON TEST

To start the process, I grabbed the inside of my left pants leg with my left hand and pulled upwards to expose the holster as I kneeled onto my right knee. With my eye on the target, I raked the top lip back to expose the revolver’s grip with my right hand and established a master grip before drawing upward on the gun. As the gun came up center line of my body, I punched out onto target and fired. After a dozen practice draws and two Advil later, the process was smooth and comfortable to get shots off relatively quickly.

This method of carry offers a few unique benefits aside from just comfort. For one, changing your height to the perceived threat can through off the accuracy of an attack will giving you the advantage of being at a level not expected. Secondly, if you find yourself fighting from a seated position or off your back on the ground, it is easier to get to your ankle gun most times than a firearm on the belt line. This is where the Gun Sox really excels. Many ankle holsters I have worn in my career either involved sweaty sheep wool lining or floppy rigs suspended by a calf garter that often slips down. The Cheata Tactical’ s holster fits like a second skin and held the revolver tightly in place even during a light job back and forth across the range.

In transition to the mid-calf model, I wore it in conjunction with my combat boots by the Original SWAT Boot Company. As I slipped on the holster, I then put on my boot and nested the bottom half of the holster down into the top of it. Instead of carrying the revolver, I decided to use my laser equipped Glock 43 chambered in 9mm. After a bit of readjusting the position of the gun in order to prevent the pistol’s grip from printing, the Glock rode flat against my calf without any wiggle or wobble.

The ride height of the Glock in the mid-calf version of the Gun Sox was noticeable but not an interference when drawing from the kneeling position.

I spent a few days carrying my SIG P365, rotating between both holster models. The result mirrored that of the Glock 43.

The only gun I tried that I would not carry in the Gun Sox was my Glock 42 chambered in .380. This pistol was so comfortable and small, I forgot I was carrying it on three different occasions until the end of the day when I took my boots off. While this doesn’t seem like a rational concern to be “TOO comfortable”, it could lead to not using the gun during an emergency or simply unknowingly carry the gun onto my kids’ school campus or into a post office when dropping off packages.

FINAL THOUGHTS

In carrying the gun daily, I could not tell a difference between either holster being more secure than the other, even with the added support of the boot. I did notice the draw and reholstering of the Glock seemed a bit faster down to the slim lines of the semi-auto over the protruding cylinder of the revolver. The similar design of both holsters may seem simple but surely well thought out. With the Glock, I could carry an extra loaded magazine in the opposite pouch, while a tourniquet fit nicely with the revolver.

Before wrapping up this review, I want to point out two thoughts on this method of carry in general. First, it is a great option when attire does not permit other on the body options. As with my personal choice, the ankle holster allows for a fantastic way to carry a second gun. I still carry either my Glock 19 or SIG P365 on my strong side inside the waistband. Secondly, ankle carry is a limited option in some places such as Florida where I live. With above 80 degree temperatures eight months out of

the year, shorts are often the preferred style without looking out of place. Cool evenings and winter time are the best chances for maximum comfort.

Overall, I enjoyed wearing the Gun Sox during the 4-month test period and would gladly continue using it for daily carry. I firmly believe ankle carry method is an often over looked and undervalued option. I feel the Cheata Tactical holsters are rugged and user friendly enough to cause this carry method to start being a regular part of CCW conversations again. I will certainly continue to recommend the Gun Sox to the students in my firearms classes from now on. To find out which Gun Sox model works best for you, visit www.cheatatactical.com today.

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0241 TACTICAL REVISITED

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0241 TACTICAL REVISITED At PMCI we absolutely love seeing good friends doing great things and rightly benefitting from their efforts! A couple of years ago Bill got together with Sean from 0241 Tactical, and now revisits this veteranowned company to see how they have gone from strength to strength!

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t seems like only yesterday when I wrote the words “Sometimes it seems to me that the only things some people are interested in is the latest bit of “tac-gucci” kit to come to market, irrelevant of whether it actually works or not. I’m therefore always delighted to meet good folk who have “been there, done that, and got many T-shirts” and turned their hard-won knowledge to creating quality gear that really serves a purpose.” But as it has a habit of doing, time moves on and you suddenly realize that you haven’t spoken to old friends for too long; as I was due to accompany the PMCI to SHOT this year, I reached out again to Sean so that we could meet up and catch up!

When I first met Sean from 0241 Tactical he was still a serving Marine, but one that had already started turning his wealth of knowledge into some righteous bits of “snivel gear”, those little items that can add up

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to making a huge difference to your comfort in harsh conditions and letting you perform optimally. What I also found especially interesting was that 0241 Tactical have never shied away from working with cutting edge and unique camouflage patterns, and also with classic patterns like ERDL and Desert Tiger Stripe which have been proven to work effectively. As you read deeper into this update with Sean you’ll see that this is an ongoing process. I’m always keen to get under the skin of a story, so Sean kindly agreed to answer some more questions about who 0241 Tactical are, where they’ve come from, and where they are heading.

PMCI: So Sean, in your own words please remind our readers what led you to set up 0241 Tactical?

0241: My wife (a Military Veteran) and I started 0241Tactical when I was serving in the (US) Marine Corps.

When I was deployed, I noticed we were always having

to invent items that we were not issued to help get by in the desert. When we were dealing with sand storms everyone would pull up their t-shirt over the mouth and nose and would use a cut-up sock to cover their goggles.

While this worked, it wasn’t ideal, and I always thought it wouldn’t be too much for the government to create some facial protection for us. So we started our product line off of very simple yet useful items (Neck Gaiters and Goggle Covers) to help protect personnel and their equipment from the elements while enhancing their camouflage scheme.

PMCI: When and where did you start making your products?

0241: We began our store in 2011 while living in San Diego.

We started making a few items and they sold quickly on eBay so we ordered more material and sold more. It’s been snowballing into more and more products and eventually we morphed into our own webstore (www.0241Tactical. com) and the business has become a fulltime occupation for us.

PMCI: Do you work with military and police personnel or just civilians?

0241: We cater to everyone that we can sell to legally and in good conscience. We’ve had orders from Police Departments worldwide and in 2013 we got our first large military purchase from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group in Virginia. We’ve been serving them regularly ever since. We also supply the US Air Force SERE School in Washington with our products on a regular basis.

We’ve supplied various military units from around the world including American customers in Iraq. We’re pretty open to supplying anyone as long as we’re not shipping to countries whose principles are contrary to our own or precluded by law.

0241 TACTICAL REVISITED

PMCI: Who do you see as your target customer for your products?

0241: When we started off we envisioned primarily military personnel utilising our gear. However, as we expanded our camouflage patterns into non-issue military patterns we saw an opportunity for security service contractors, law enforcement, hunters, and the recreational community to use our products. We target military and law enforcement for our products but if other communities can use them, then that’s great.

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0241 TACTICAL REVISITED

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PMCI: What exactly do you specialise in?

0241: We started off making small yet items (Neck Gaiters, Goggle Covers etc) but we’ve grown into Tarpaulins (Basha Shelters) and clothing. Given that it’s very difficult to mass produce uniforms in the United States we feel that we’re pushing that as much as we can with our Tactical Operator’s Pullovers (TOPs) and Tactical Over Trousers (TOTs). We’ve formed alliances with other US manufacturers such as HeadOnTactical to provide tactical gear in the same patterns our products are made in to give the customer more of what they are looking for in one place. So we’re kind of a shotgun blast of gear and equipment not specialising in one item.

PMCI: I know that you work with excellent camouflage patterns and pattern developers; can you tell me more about this?

0241: We work with the makers of many patterns buying direct from the factories here in the United States. We communicate constantly with PenCott and A-TACS (and many others) working to be at the top of the list whenever a new pattern becomes available. PenCott has been great to work with because due to my geographic location (next to one of the US Printers) we’re able to work with PenCott to develop new materials not typically available and provide cool products to our customers. Our neck gaiters, balaclavas, and caps are an example of this. We saw a shortfall where a good material was needed and PenCott worked with us and the printer to develop a great material to meet that need.

Additionally, 0241Tactical developed its own suit (tops and bottoms) in DEPSOC as well as boots, caps, balaclavas, and various other tactical gear.

PMCI: You make a lot of your products to your own designs; what’s the process there?

0241: Trial and error. If we take a look at the Tactical Operator’s Pullover (TOP) in regards to changes (which we consider improvements), we’re probably on version 20 at this point. The TOPs originally started off as a very rudimentary anorak and we’ve really turned it into a shooters jacket with features that have made it a sought after piece of gear. Our templates are originally rough drafted with cardboard and adjusted....and adjusted again until the final design is what we’re looking for. Then we make a final template out of a more robust material and that becomes our standard.

PMCI: I know that you have a tie-in now with some other premium brands; who are they?

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0241: As time has progressed it became clear that we needed to start expanding our staff to meet the increasing volume of 0241Tactical sales. In order to pay for the additional staff, we took on the business philosophy that “we make tires but we’re going to sell another company’s cars in order to sell more of our tires”. This has turned our webstore into a one stop shopping site selling our own, locally produced items as well as items we retail. We began to sell for Sk7 USA (who’ve been an amazing brand partner) a few years ago to meet the demand for PenCott camouflage items but that quickly morphed into selling many other patterns. A-TACS Camouflage has been amazing to work with and we work hand in hand with their owners. When the new BDU Extreme clothing line came out 0241 made the first order with Tru-Spec. We’ve really tried to branch out and offer more unconventional tactical clothing intended for customers who need tactical clothing but don’t want to look like they’re deploying to Afghanistan. As far as listing out companies we sell Tru-Spec, Sk7USA, UR-Tactical, HRT Tactical, Viktos clothing, KWA USA, and even a few smaller companies that make incredible gear UW Gear in Florida and Head On Tactical in California. We’re looking to join SnugPak and another company this year.

PMCI: Where do you see 0241 Tactical evolving in the future?

0241: Slow growth and hire our military veterans.

0241Tactical started while I was serving in the Marine Corps. The United States has the Department of Veterans Affairs that seeks to help those veterans who’ve served with educational, job placement, and medical assistance. My wife (an Air Force veteran) works with a local government department to help our veterans navigate the government bureaucracy and get the assistance their entitled to. Along those lines, I wanted to be in a position to help other veterans by providing jobs for them. However this isn’t a charity case. I see their service as valuable experience that provides amazing insight into a market they’re very familiar with. Our first full-time sewing guru, Kyle, is a prior Army Parachute Rigger who learned sewing machines during his service. The military teaches attention to detail and he’s marked by exactness and accuracy of workmanship. He’s been an amazing addition to 0241Tactical. That being said we want to grow 0241Tactical, with veterans like Kyle, to become a tactical sew shop in America. We want to produce our own brand items but offer a US based production service for other companies looking to production here in the USA.

PMCI: If someone reading this article likes the sound of what you offer, what should be their next step?

0241: Check out our website at www.0241Tactical. com and if you don’t see what you want, email us at sales@0241Tactical.com and let us know what you’re looking for and in what pattern/material. If we can get it, and it’s feasible, we’ll work with you. If you need a large order for your unit please hit us up we can support that too.

PMCI: Thanks so much for talking to us Sean. We wish you continued success with the new designs, patterns, and projects and certainly look forward to seeing you at SHOT in 2021!

0241 TACTICAL REVISITED

PMCI: When I saw you at SHOT you told me that you’d signed up with KWA for their 6mm Training gas products; you mentioned them earlier, so how do you see this going forward?

0241: When I was stationed in the United Kingdom I became friends with the guys at Free Fire Zone / Fire Support and started hanging out at their fields near Peterborough, and as a result got a ton of experience with Airsoft Electric Guns (AEGs). My perspective is that airsoft is an incredibly fun sport that motivates people to get off the couch and get moving. The problem I saw with airsoft was that when you can carry nearly unlimited ammo it diminished the realism of force on force training and often turned games into a frenzy of BBs flying everywhere!

This year at Shot Show I saw the KWA booth and saw that KWA has really begun to market towards law enforcement and the military with their Professional Training Rifles and Pistols. Elements of authenticity have been reintroduced by limiting magazine capacity, including recoil, but most importantly the operation function of the training systems mimic the real function of actual firearms.

This means muscle memory learned in a training environment will translate to real world situations.

With increased government scrutiny on spending, KWA provides significant cost savings but this is overshadowed by the risk mitigation training with 6mm BBs offers instead of shooting live ammunition. As 0241Tactical expands we are looking to provide law enforcement, military, and private citizens with the tools to enhance their own shooting techniques. If the relationship with KWA USA bears fruit, we’ll expand with other brands that can offer similar training systems.

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RANGE GEAR

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HOME ON THE RANGE For some of the PMCI team the winter months make it harder than ever to get out training, but as the weather starts to change for the warmer it’s time to get the gear in order, and prepare for those long summer rangetime sessions, so Bill takes a look at the gear he uses and why.

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uring

the late spring and summer months when the evenings are longer it’s a regular occurrence for some of my mates and I to get together for an evening of shooting. Luckily we have access to some secluded private land (and we pay our own third party insurance) where we can take turns to set up different courses to challenge one another. These will involve barricades, obstacles, plates, spinners, and paper targets to make life interesting. It’s also the ideal opportunity to test new optics and accessories or really dial in existing ones that we’ve been working on; the real plus of this is that all of our gear is ready to roll whenever we need it.

It’s a great social occasion too; as much as we’re there to shoot our best the “competition” is friendly and the banter what you’d expect. Safety is always paramount but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun too! Usually after a few hours shooting, when the shooty-bangy things are clean and locked safely away, it’s time for a barbeque and a beer or two back at someone’s home where the hilarity continues, often at the expense of whoever shot the worst that night!

There are many different governing bodies and disciplines to work with, but I would say that what we do locally is a

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mix of Iron Plate Action Shooting (IPAS) and Practical Speed Plate (PSP), although we’ve moved it up to “two gun” to include a shotgun element in addition to .22 semi-auto rifle/carbine (sadly as I’m resident in the UK we only get to have “full bore and handgun fun” when we go overseas to shoot); we’ve also now added a couple of gas 6mm training platforms to our regular lineup. As this is more of a social meeting gear and clothing is more “civvy” than “tacticool”. The first thing to get out of the way when it comes to clothing, footwear, and gear is ditch the camo! Indeed IPSC, IPAS, and indeed PSP strictly forbid camo for competitions and I can understand why; why would you need head to toe “MultiKryCottCam” when you’re in a place where you actually want to be seen? That said many shooters that I know do look very seriously at the tactical brands for their clothing as said garments are designed with the dynamic movement needed to excel in comfort in mind.

KEEPING IT REAL

So, keeping things down to earth, I want as much performance as possible. What do you really need on a range? What is it you really need to compete if you so desire?

it came to finding new range footwear for myself I looked a little harder at the HAIX range, and the “Black Eagle” models seemed to fit the bill entirely. I looked for something a little more athletic in styling and the Black Eagle Mids from HAIX have proved perfect.

This is a very able boot made of a microfibre/textile combination so it’s nice and light. They also have a 3-layer GORETEX membrane laminate which is 100% waterproof and highly breathable. The lining is abrasion-resistant with the HAIX Climate System with Micro-Dry lining at top of the cuff which really does help to manage internal moisture; after all, a dry foot is less likely to suffer blisters so this is important.

There is an insole which is comfortable, cushioning, moisture repellent, and anti-bacterial with a separate heel area for further cushioning and foot retention. The running outsole is anti-slip, and it offers very good grip on differing terrain. All in all I can already tell that this is a boot that’s going to have a long and active life!

GETTING GRITTY

Sometimes though you want to go a little more “hardcore” and once again that’s where my trusted UF PRO Striker pants come out.

I won’t go into detail on these as I’ve spoken about them before, but suffice to say that they are designed and made to perform, and the stretch panels work perfectly to give a great range of dynamic movement. I also like the fact that they have the integrated but removable kneepads; these are invaluable when the ground is rocky or gritty.

Usually I’ll revert to a polo style shirt, but recently I’ve been using a couple of the new Helikon-Tex models and… they ROCK! Based on the same sympathetic design as their Tropical Shirt, the Defender MK2 Pilgrim is an especially comfortable and exceptionally functional shirt designed to endure the harshest of changing environmental conditions. It is made of breathable and soft fabric which resembles a cotton flannel and has the addition of odour-controlling DuPont Sorona and UPF50 index for an enhanced UV protection. The shirt comes with a traditional nonrolling collar, buttoned front again with durable, subtly Helikon branded buttons, two flapped chest pockets closed with hook and loop, two additional hidden flat pockets closed with YKK zippers, sunglasses loop and button cuffs.

Combining the very best of both the uniform and EDW designs

RANGE GEAR

The answer to both these questions is surprisingly straightforward.

Firstly you’re going to need clothing that moves well, and this can be as simple as a cheap pair of stretchy jeans and a polo shirt. I picked up a couple of athletic moc neck shirts designed for runners at one of the outlet stores and they are absolutely ideal!

Think outside the box; even though tactical brands make clothing specifically for shooting most sporting brands design for equally dynamic disciplines.

I marry up the running shirt with a pair of Traverse Pants from 5:11 Tactical. The Traverse Pant is still a bit of a favourite in the colossal 5:11 range and is built for more athletic disciplines. It’s a great design that provides the speed, mobility, and utility you need to perform at peak levels. Built from a 4-way stretch blend of durable nylon and flexible spandex, the Traverse Pant offers enhanced air flow and quick dry characteristics that won’t slow you down. A high rise elastic waistband, articulated knees, and a full running gusset from hem to hem offer unmatched agility, and heavy bartacking at major stress points enhances their strength and durability. Low profile cargo pockets feature integrated magazine retention bands, and secure zipped seat pockets keep accessories secure while you’re on the move. Whether you’re on the range, simply on a day hike or just going to the shops these pants are comfortable and easy to live with. They’re not the cheapest thing you can find out there, but boy they are worth every penny!

A simple fleece Jacket is worth its weight in gold when you’re waiting for your turn to shoot, and this one for me was a nobrainer.

When things get a bit cooler I head to 5:11 once again for their old but still excellent Tactical Full Zip Sweater. This is actually a very technical piece of gear as it’s made from brushed polyester, but it looks and feels almost like wool. It’s not overtly tactical although it does have some great features like a poacher pocket on the rear, welded reinforcements on the shoulders and elbows, and some neat concealed carry touches; the lower zip pockets are “reach through” for instance so that you can get to gear carried under the sweater without undoing the main zip. These are available in Field Green and Gun Powder Grey, so they’re low key and absolutely ideal rangewear.

I chose boots here that I could use away from the range as well. Not all of us want a “military” looking boot though, so when

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RANGE GEAR

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though is the MBDU Flannel Shirt, and So what can look better than a plaid shirt? The MBDU Flannel Shirt is what! Based on the classic Helikon-Tex MBDU shirt, and made of lightweight, yet durable fabric it provides proper antibacterial properties even during prolonged use, while the UPF50 index provides UV protection. Side VersaStretch panels guarantee freedom of movement during dynamic activities, and zippered pockets with YKK zippers on the chest and shoulders will accommodate all your essentials. Additionally the loop panels on the biceps allow for easy personalization with unit patches when needed. As HelikonTex say themselves “this shirt is a must have for any urban operations”, and I have to say that I’m totally in agreement with them on this!

Although hopefully during the summer months I won’t be needing a fully-fledged hardshell I do want something that can be worn over a microfleece to add an additional layer against wind chill, and ideally I look for garments that are lightweight and have a minimal pack size. The Windrunner windshirt, also from Helikon-Tex, is an ideal carry item because of its minimum weight and size when folded. At just 190g (size XL) its ultra-light, tightly-woven Nylon fabric protects you from the wind, and if the DWR coating is regularly maintained, also from light rain.

The Windrunner would also be an ideal garment for any kind of outdoor training.

Mesh ventilation slats in armpits allow increased air circulation for when you’re really working hard, and on a cooler day, worn on top of a fleece, it keeps your all-important core warmth from escaping and protects against wind chilling. A large front channel pocket easily accommodates a cap, gloves or a buff , and two small flat pockets inside the larger pocket help to organize small items like smartphone or ID. Additional features are sparse and minimalistic in that there is a lightweight hood, elasticated cuffs and a drawstring hem, and that’s it. On a garment like this though you don’t need a massive amount of features as that just increases bulk and weight. The Windrunner has been with me for quite a while now and I have to admit that I absolutely love it and have worn it almost daily (in fact O got myself a second!); it’s a superb piece of kit that gives you just that little extra protection when things start to get cooler, and therefore I would thoroughly commend it to you.

In relation to boots I’ve been testing a new model over the past year or so, and the AKU Selvatica is designed specifically for professional users. Weighing in at just 460g, the superlightweight Selvatica Tactical Mid is incredibly breathable, as AKU’s Air 8000 upper is a technical fabric whose level of breathability increases over a period of 24 hours to more than 11 times that of a conventionally made fabric, and patented back in 1991, it ensures cooling comfort all day long. The Air 8000 is combined with OrthoLite anti-microbial and breathable insoles to keep your feet fresh and comfortable for extended periods. The boots also benefit from a GORE-TEX extended comfort lining which helps to maintain the high levels of breathability whilst maintaining 100% protection against ingress of water.

A new welding process has also been used on the boots to eliminate the need for stitching and makes the boot more waterproof and less likely to snag on rocks and rough terrain.

The sole of the boots features AKU’s exclusive Elica Natural Stride System technology. Designed to faithfully follow the anatomical shape of the sole of the foot, it allows the sole to adapt to normal heel and forefoot inclination, guaranteeing a more even

distribution of foot pressure and reducing impact and strain during long treks. The treads are Vibram Selvatica Megagrip, a high performance rubber compound that promises unparalleled grip on wet and dry surfaces and optimal ground adaptability for better all-around traction. Combined with dynamic support in the upper and sole this is a faithful boot that won’t let you down.

BELT UP

Setting up your gear for range sessions can go one of two ways.

My personal setup is very straightforward; belt, holster, a couple of mag pouches for the handgun and a couple for the rifle.

Depending on what type of course we’re running I might chuck on a dump pouch too. I’ve used many different brands of belt over the years, but at the moment I’m using the excellent Direct Action Mustang double-belt system that you’ll see detailed in our gear on test section.

My favoured holsters are Kydex models made by my good mate Taig at Kydex Customs, and firearms fit perfectly, are well retained and easy to clear; the holsters are model-specific, but Taigs “easy on-off” fittings make changing them out a breeze.

Dependant on where I’m shooting I really like the HSGI style of leg rig that lets me carry two spare carbine magazines, two spare pistol magazines, and a mulitool. If however the range where I’m shooting only allows belt mounted gear then I vary between flap-closed Tac Reload and open-topped Speed Reload magazine pouches, again from Direct Action. If I do run a dump pouch, my favourite which I’ve had for years now is from 5:11; I also like to carry a simple first-aid kit contained in the excellent Modular Individual Med Kit Pouch from Helikon-Tex. Consistency is really the key to building up your speed in terms of all disciplines, and I find that keeping the belt rig the same each and every time I use it really helps with this. I may well change out the mag pouches or holster for different makes of firearm, but ultimately everything stays in the same place!

I’ll conclude this month with my usual mantra of do your research, get the information you need, and buy wisely. With the clothing and footwear I’ve chosen I would say all of it bar the UF PRO pants would be equally at home in town or on the range.

If, like us, you’re going to try and set up your own range please ensure that it is on private land that is well secluded; it must obviously also satisfy any and all legal requirements where you live. It’s also advisable to look into your own Liability Insurance, and to be completely on the safe side it’s certainly worth considering letting your local LE guys know what you’re up to and when; who knows, they may even come and join you!

However and wherever you may shoot though, practice hard, go safe, and enjoy some long summer evenings range fun with your friends!

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EVERSAFE PACK EVERSAFE PACK One of the biggest problems with working in the public as an armed professional is being able to discreetly carry the necessary equipment. Whether it’s an extra set of handcuffs, spare magazines or even a submachine gun and body armor, often the only option is to carry a backpack. While there are many great tactical packs on the market, they all have two major drawbacks, lack of security and the fact they all distinctly look TACTICAL.

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rmed professionals may spend hours in bus stations, on trains, subways or other public transportation in order to keep a low profile.

When carrying valuable cargo such as laptops, weapons, large sums of cash or sensitive information, most packs are very hard to protect against unauthorized access or theft and not be noticed. This has always been a personal concern when traveling with my HK MP5K and body armor inside a day pack. Aside from these items, I would carry loaded spare magazines, multitool, medical kit and any needed IDs / paperwork. How do I blend in without drawing attention?

Non-tactical packs such as those from North Face or JanSport blend into the environment perfectly but lack the durability to endure the weight distribution and sharp edges of the payload.

On the other side of the spectrum, packs from 5.11 and First Tactical make excellent choices in gear that are durable enough withstand heavy abuse and payloads. Unfortunately, these packs would often attract attention with all the Molle loops and carbineers hanging off them. “Gun guys” would often ask about the brand of tactical pack I was carrying, and every security agent would home in on it as well.

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Thankfully, I was introduced to a great option for carrying my gear discreetly and securely during last year’s “Industry Only” firearms / outdoor trade show event, SHOT SHOW held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fellow PMCI writer, Shawn Swanson aka call sign “Lunchbox” met up with me on the show floor and reported about a company he had just finished talking to called Eversafe. Shawn’s first words used to describe their product were simply, “Game Changer”. Shawn went on to say that their product would be great for professionals and civilians alike that want to carry valuable cargo discreetly and securely. Considering my cousin has spent his entire adult life as either a soldier or PMC, Shawn had my complete attention with his statements.

I was informed the Eversafe company was on the fifth floor of the Sands Convention Center in the new vendors area. As I departed our meeting, I ran upstairs in search of this intriguing find. After about 20 mins of searching a vast room of vendors, I found the booth I was looking for. As I approached their display, I was met by Eversafe spokesman, Hugh McLean. After I introduced myself and explained how I came to hear about their company, I was given the thirty second elevator speech about the Eversafe products. Immediately I could see the potential in what I learned. Everything after this initial pitch involved task specific questions and ended with “SHOW ME”. Hugh handed

the side of the pack a clean, seamless profile. Located on the front of the pack is a side zip quick access pocket for storing any nonessentials such as a power bar or quick snack on the go.

The bottom of the Eversafe pack offers a flat surface that has dual benefits. Appreciation for the first benefit comes mostly from working with the bag over time in and out of airports or vehicles in which there is no room to lay a pack down to access what’s inside.

The Eversafe pack is free standing with the help of the four nubby feet along the bottom. It helps the bag sit high enough off the floor not to soak up dirt or moisture from the ground as well as flop over and spill any contents out while accessing it. Secondly, the bottom of the pack can be mounted with an additional docking mount to the floor of a vehicle or office. Removal from the docking station is prevented unless there is access to the inside of the pack to the quick release cable. Thinking outside the box, I think this is big!

A PROFESSIONALS “TAKE”

As a firearms instructor, one of the most popular classes I teach is the USCCA Countering the Mass Shooter Threat course alongside of fellow PMCI writer, Clint Steele. After spending the past 13 months with the Eversafe pack, I pose these questions to business and school officials. Could this bag be used to securely store a compact, suppressed rifle docked under a desk or classroom locker for the certified trained professional to combat a Mass Shooter Threat?

Could the ballistic panel equipped bag be quickly undocked with the pull of a cable inside the pack and used to cover a teacher’s vitals as they usher children to safety or better yet, reverse the bag to protect their chest as they confronted the threat? My professional answer, YES! Based on the data and lessons learned from every mass shooting since Columbine, it is my believe that with just a bit of forwardthinking vision, Eversafe bags could be an excellent investment in the survival of office, church or school shootings. Combined with proper training and the right tools, Eversafe bags could be valuable dual-purpose assets to preventing the loss of lives daily, whether its in an office, school, subway or open parking lot. You don’t have to be a professional operator to benefit from using an Eversafe product.

Retailing for US$299 or US$399 with 11”x14” Level III ballistic panel upgrade, these products are not cheap. These bags are mission specific professional grade tools with a wide range of civilian protection applications. When you compare the value of the features the Eversafe bag offers and consider its all packaged in a very unassuming package that most people wouldn’t take a second look at, this product is quite the value. For those looking to take this bag on deployment along with your issued gear, Eversafe does offer a tactical version with Molle loops and offered in camo. For those looking for a more professional look, Eversafe also offers a hard-sided brief case model as well. To find out more about Eversafe and discover new accessories constantly available, visit them online at www.eversafetech.com today.

EVERSAFE PACK

me one of the few display packs he had on hand for the week with the instructions to give it Hell and let him know my thoughts.

Upon my arrival home from Las Vegas, I spent time in my office going through all the features that make this new pack so interesting. To start with, there is absolutely nothing special about the appearance of the unassuming black fabric pack that was sitting on my office desk other than a simple reflective logo. This was the number one factor that made it perfect! The Eversafe bag is shaped like standard civilian packs and at first glance offers no visible extras such as large pouches or accessory loops. What makes the Eversafe bag so special is the fact that there is much more than meets the eye.

Each Eversafe bag is constructed from proprietary Kevlar material and secured around its openings with coated cables and combination locks. This makes the bag resistant to being slashed by a knife, being accessed by unauthorized personnel when locked or, simply torn from getting hooked on a doorknob. The double tooth zipper does a great job protection against the track being pried open by a flat head screwdriver. Both the carry handle across the top and the shoulder straps running down the back of the bag are coated security cable wrapped in comfortable padding. Towards the middle of each shoulder strap is one half of a cable lock. When wrapped around a bench, fixed rail or post, the cable lock halves can be connected and secured to ensure the bag will not be taken by unauthorized personnel.

The bag interior offers a spacious 12.6″ x 7.9″ x 19.7″ cargo area to hold a wide range of equipment vital to your specific mission. Located inside are several great features I feel are vital to the armed professional. The first is a padded laptop sleeve that can fit up to a 15” screen. Initially, my 15” HP laptop was a snug fit that took a bit of effort to get in and out of the bag. Over the next few weeks, it loosened up and quickly became second nature.

Another interesting feature is a RFID zippered pocket to protect your credit cards, passports or other chip enhanced security sensitive items. This alone can be an expensive item by itself to have for your documents but comes standard in every Eversafe bag.

In the outermost interior pocket, there is a zippered access space large enough to fit a 11”x14” ballistic insert panel. For a $100 extra, Eversafe will upgrade your bag with a Level III ballistic panel from the factory. My sample did not come with armor included so I inserted a 11”x14” Level III ballistic panel from AR500 Armor. After wiggling the soft armor into the pouch, it fit perfect with zero slop or shift. This alone in my opinion is a huge benefit to anyone wishing to have discreet ballistic protection everywhere you go. More on this shortly.

Over the following year, the Eversafe pack accompanied me on many trips both personally and professionally. The bulk of my traveling includes driving my Chevy Suburban from trips to Pittsburgh, PA and Eastern NC to various ranges and other locations around the state of Florida. Often, the Eversafe pack is loaded with emergency medical supplies and either an AR-15 PDW chambered in 5.56 or my HK MP5K. Using the coated cable lock, I simply loop it through my driver’s seat or passenger seat post and secure the contents via the combination lock with full confidence in its security and mine. With three quick clicks on the dial and I have full access to everything I may need in an emergency.

The outer Kevlar construction often showed how water resistant the material was after being caught in several heavy rainstorms while taking family trips to the zoo, theme parks and teaching on the outdoor range. The expandable water bottle pocket was a great feature to offer quick access for hydration while being simple and unassuming in looks. When not needed, the pocket zips up to give

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FIREARMS: SIG SAUER M400

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SIG SAUER M400 AR-15 platform rifles are showing up on the secondary market at 1/3 the cost of what buyers rushed to for them and interest has started to move to other platforms such as AK-47s and handguns. Luckily, there are a few companies that have continued to make high quality AR-15 rifles, such as SIG, to provide shooters with reliable, accurate and well-built products.

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ver the past decade, the hottest growing firearms platform in the industry has been by far the AR-15. With the recent “assault weapons ban” scare drummed up in the waning years of the Obama administration, production ramped up double time to keep up with panic buying! This only resulted in hurting the industry overall with price gouging, poor quality rifles, and huge drop in values after the scare was over. With the current administration enjoying decent success within its first term, the firearms industry has seen less panic buying despite select liberal states still charging hard against gun rights.

This time, we take a look at the M400 from SIG Sauer chambered in 5.56 NATO. Before you say, “Oh great, yet ANOTHER gas-impingement M4 style AR-15,” take a moment to read about SIG’s offering and see for yourself how this may be an answer for skeptical rifle buyers looking to purchase a new AR-15 in a market full of “ban scare” junk. To start off, NO, the M400 is NOT a fancy new piston rifle nor does it need to be. What this rifle does offer are subtle upgrades in an accurate and reliable package from one of the biggest names in the firearms industry.

When the SIG M400 arrived at my office, it came in a standard “no-frills” cardboard box with manual. Accompanying the rifle was a SIG Romeo 5 red dot optic. Considering the M400 did not come with iron sights, the addition of the red dot optic was a welcome sight. (See what I did there?) The M400 at a glance looks like a standard black flat top AR with a 16” chrome lined barrel with 1/7 twist and 6 position buttstock. Along with the rifle were two SIG branded 30 round polymer magazines. At a closer look at the forged 7075-T6 aluminum lower, there were 4 vertical grooves machined into the front of the magazine well for grip enhancement for those who choke up on their rifles when shooting.

One of the I immediately liked about the rifle was the addition of a 15” UTG Pro free float handguard. For those who may not be familiar with these or their benefits, the UTG Pro is a very slim, streamlined M-Lok rail which offers excellent control over the rifle when running it with an over the top support hand grip. The rail has tons of places to add Picatinny rail sections for addition of a front iron sight, foregrip or weapon light / laser. Overall, the rifle weighted just at 6.5 lbs. unloaded. Out of the box, it was clear SIG’s goal was to offer a quality basic rifle with everything you need and nothing you don’t.

ROMEO 5 OPTIC

As I mentioned, the Romeo 5 red dot optic accompanied the Sig M400 when it arrived for testing. This is a true 1x power red dot with a 20mm objective. The 2 MOA red dot reticle offered 10 illumination settings (8-day settings, 2-night vision compatible

settings). The glass is listed by SIG as fog and water proof (up to 1 meter) with unlimited eye relief.

The two things I like most about this optic are the MOTAC system and mounting options. The MOTAC is a motion activated illumination. If you have the optic switched on and continue to not actively use it, the unit will switch itself off. At that point, you need only to move the optic slightly and it will switch itself back on at the setting you originally had it set to. This enables an average battery life to regularly exceed 50,000 hours. Secondly, I really like the fact the Romeo 5 comes standard with a low mount and co-witness riser mount for a standard 1913 Picatinny rail. Depending on the stock comb or iron sight heights on firearm arms, it is always nice to have mounting height options for your optics.

One item a lot of people don’t take into consideration is the type of battery that an optic uses. With the Romeo 5, the unit runs on a fairly popular CR2032 flat battery. This battery can be found at most grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and big box retail stores found across the country. This is a great luxury if you are traveling for rifle class or have an op the next day and discover a dead battery, hours after a specialty battery store may be closed.

FIREARMS: SIG SAUER M400

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

WHISKEY 3 4-12X50 OPTIC

While I had the opportunity to work with the SIG M400, I also had the chance to test out it’s long range performance using SIG’s new Whiskey 3 optic with a 4-12x50 zoom. Unlike a lot of gun company branded optics, the Whiskey 3 is a “real deal” competitor in the optics market. The Whiskey selection of SIG’s

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FIREARMS: SIG SAUER M400

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scope line up is designated as a hunting scope, but walks the line between hunting and tactical in which it can have several practical applications. The specific model sent for testing with the M400 was the SOW34007 SFP with the Hellfire QuadPlex.

This 1” tube scope was finished in SIG Sauer’s signature graphite grey and black muted tones.

Working with a traditional crosshair reticle located on the scopes second focal plane within the optic, shooters will be immediately familiar with how the scope works. With large, easy to use turrets, windage and elevation are quick to adjust when dialing in your shots. Located on the left side of the scope opposite of the windage turret, there is a turret in which controls the brightness settings of the reticles center red dot.

Between each setting is an “off” setting to making switching the optic “on” and “off” fast without moving too far from the preferred brightness setting. This is a huge plus for getting on target quickly with an illuminated reticle.

RANGE TIME

The months following the SIG M400 rifle’s arrival for testing saw several trips to the range for testing both the rifle and wide range of optics including the Romeo 5 red dot. Despite the rifle being relatively lightweight compared to a lot of popular rifles on the market, I was very pleased with the soft felt recoil, minimal muzzle rise and overall extreme controllability moving from target to target during strings of fire. The 6 lb. trigger pull offered a very smooth action with a crisp reset. Usually, I am an avid fan of using aftermarket triggers such as Timney or Rise Armament but SIG uses a trigger that is far from the rough and heavy mil-spec 9 lb. triggers.

To aid in accuracy, SIG employed a spring tension plunger they call an “Accu-tensioner” which places upward pressure on the rear takedown pin. The intent for this device is to reduce any micro-movements between the upper and lower receivers which may affect long range accuracy. This is the only true “nonessential” I found anywhere on the rifle. The forging between the SIG’s upper and lower were very clean and matched up better than most in the industry. The concept for the tension device was in good faith, but I don’t see where it was really needed.

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One item that was upgraded much to my delight was the bolt release / hold open button. This paddle style device offers the same rocking motion for use as a traditional milspec button but has a slightly wider top for easier access when locking the rifle’s bolt to the rear. Much more impressive was the lower portion of the device which is normally a small hump or knob.

SIG has employed a small wide platform which proved to be very fast to activate and release the bolt even when wearing gloves. For shooters who have ever tried to release an AR-15 bolt under stress, they know what a pain it is to try hitting the mil-spec release cleanly and decisively on the move. Even if I had not found other things about the rifle that I really enjoyed, this small detail would still be a huge plus.

Working with the included Romeo 5 red dot during the bulk of the testing period, I was very impressed with it’s clear, crisp field of view. The ammunition used for testing was also sent from SIG in the form of their own branded 77 grain match grade hollow points. At static targets ranging from 15 to 50 yards, the M400 moved quickly from target to target scoring great 3 shot groupings. Taking a kneeling position, the rifle made

FINAL THOUGHTS

Over the months testing the SIG M400 and both the Romeo 5 red dot and Whiskey 3 long range optic, the rifle had the opportunity to show its versatility. I was impressed overall by the performance of all the products reviewed, especially considering these were all from one company. SIG Sauer has truly managed to position themselves over 2017 as a shooter’s “one stop shop” for all their needs from everything from firearms, optics and even the ammunition.

Retailing with an MSRP of US$1359.00, the SIG M400 is a top performing rifle in a sea of much lesser quality rifles on the market. Not only is the SIG M400 priced lower than others in its class, it also comes with the Romeo 5 red dot which is priced at a MSRP of US$219.99 if purchased alone. This optic held up well through a wide range of environments during testing from extremely heat to getting caught in heavy down pours on the range. The optic continued to offer a clear and crisp field of view and held zero very well.

If longer ranges are your preference, the Whiskey 3 4-12x50 proved to be a very capable optic that could easily be used for common hunting and tactical distances with good performance.

Retailing with a MRSP of around US$539.99, the Whiskey 3 is a good quality scope for a great entry level price. Considering it comes with an illuminated reticle powered by the CR 2032 battery as well as a clear, quad lined reticle, the Whiskey 3 may be one of the best “sleeper” values on the optics market right now.

Overall, I felt the rifle was extremely well built and performed well with minimum upkeep. With just a small application of Modern Spartan Accuracy Oil, the rifle showed no signs of rust or heavy wear during testing despite few thorough cleanings between hundreds of rounds being put down range.

The only three noted failure to feeds turned out to be a failure in a worn-out magazine rather than the initial speculation of perhaps an issue with the rifle itself. If you are in the market for a new AR platform rifle, I urge you to go with a trusted name in the industry and check out the wide range of firearms, optics and ammo offered at www.sigsauer.com to find out which best suits your shooting needs.

FIREARMS: SIG SAUER M400

short work out of popper targets at 75 yards before moving to the 100 yards mark in the prone position. The 2 MOA dot was easy to see even on the 6” steel plates at 100 yards without obscuring the entire target from view.

Moving out to 200 yards with the red dot, I was able to quickly place all shots on target from the prone position onto a reduced size torso AR500 steel target from our friends at Veteran Steel Targets. With the extreme bright Florida sun, the top brightness settings were needed to better see the dot, but during the few over cast training days available, I could get away with running the brightness setting all the way down to a 3 or 4. On low light indoor ranges, the #2 setting was perfect.

To fully see what the M400 rifle was capable of, I decided to remove the red dot and mount the Whiskey 3 long range optic.

Despite being supplied with a set of SIG branded “high” rings, I had to use an different manufacturer’s “extra high” set in order for the 50 mm bell to clear the AR’s flat top. (not pictured) Once this issue was resolved, it was time to get down to business. Starting at 50 yards, it was only a matter of less than a half dozen shots needed to dope in the optic and start running the rifle at extended distances. The M400 proved to be a sub-MOA gun at the 100 yard mark giving an average group around .9”. As a long time shooter of the AR platform, it is amazing to me how far this category of “out of the box” rifles has come along over the years from acceptable 3” battle accuracy to the accomplishments today.

As I increased the distance to 150 yards, head shots were still easy to accomplish with the stable and accurate dimensions of the 77 grain SIG ammo. With shorter distances, a good trigger is just an added bonus, but when distances start to stretch out, a quality trigger’s worth grows exponentially. From the prone position, I took each shot and held the trigger rearward until the full recoil subsided then slowed released until the clearly felt reset clicked back into position. I noted an impressive lack of travel between reset and the shot break which is not very common in a standard production trigger. Even when the distance maxed out our available testing area at 200 yards, the target filled the optic at full zoom and even without the reticle illuminated, the crisp, clear black crosshairs easily allowed for 2” groups on the body and ocular area head shots. If you could see it, this rifle hit it!

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BLADES: SPARTAN HARSEY DAGGER

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SPARTAN HARSEY DAGGER Throughout history, the dagger has managed to transcend its humble origins as a medieval belt knife to become symbolic and sacred, especially within military circles. Often characterized by a very sharp point and usually two sharp edges, daggers are typically designed to be used as a thrusting or stabbing tool.

During medieval times, the dagger’s ability to pierce the links of chain mail and between plates of armor made it invaluable when larger knives and swords often failed. Trampas takes a look at a very special version that’s comes courtesy of some very good friends to PMCI!

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ver time, daggers have come to represent freedom, liberty and the end of oppression due to their continued use during key moments in history. Even the tyranny of the mighty Julius Caesar fell to the dagger at the hands of his Senate. With its unique shape and design, there’s no wonder why these simple tools have become part of ritual and ceremonial contexts around the country from Freemasons to modern warriors of some of the world’s most elite fighting forces.

Daggers are used as part of the insignias of elite military units or special forces, such as the US Army Airborne Special Operations unit or the Commando Dagger patch for those who have completed the British All Arms Commando Course.

Some of the toughest warriors I personally know bare tattoos of the iconic dagger somewhere on their bodies in tribute to the sleek, stealthy tool. Much like the image, these men and women’s minds are sharp, precise and deadly!

The lineage of the modern fighting dagger was born on a design created by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai Municipal Police in China. Its rise to fame came through its

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use of British Commandos, Airborne Forces and SAS during WWII, most notably during the landings at Normandy. As all things do through use and data gathering, the fighting dagger evolved its design and extended its legacy through the vision of Col. Rex Applegate and again, William E. Fairbairn.

The deadly V-shaped grind of the Fairbairn – Sykes knife took on a more convex “apple seed” profile within the design of the Applegate – Fairbairn dagger. The blade itself became a bit wider to give it more strength and durability. After Fairbairn’s passing, Col. Applegate took their design to Bill Harsey Jr. After reworking with the design, Harsey began producing the Fairbairn – Sykes dagger through renowned blade manufacturer, Al Mar Knives.

Although this production line became a success, Harsey continued to tweak the designs of the Applegate – Fairbairn dagger. What Harsey came up with was a folding version for Gerber Legendary Blades, which won the 1996 International Blade Show “American Made Knife of the Year” award. While many companies have tried to be the “next” in the storied dagger lineage, it would take men with the real-world backgrounds and the continued vision of a blade legend Bill Harsey Jr to accomplish this goal. Recently, that next page began to be written with the release of a new knife known as the Spartan Harsey Dagger.

BLADES: SPARTAN HARSEY DAGGER

Mark Carey are both Army Special Forces snipers and have worked overseas as contractors on personal security details for wellknown government agencies. The Spartan Blades headquarters is in the sleepy town of Southern Pines, NC just a stone’s throw from the back gates of Fort Bragg. Mark and Curtis actively keep in contact with active duty SF soldiers, allowing them to stay current on what is needed in terms of combat/survival knives.

This company is no stranger to daggers as the Spartan – George V-14 Dagger produced by Spartan Blades in a collaborative effort with knife maker, Les George was hugely popular. I personally own one of these blades and I can attest to the fact it is very well made, sleek, sexy and most of all DEADLY. PMCI Magazine even featured my impressions of these well-balanced blade in a full article written a couple of years ago.

As with any true artist or designer, the guys at Spartan Blades always look for new improvements, variations and opportunities for design changes in their work. Finally, they decided to team up with their good friend and longtime collaborative partner, Bill Harsey Jr to get his thoughts on a new idea for a modern fighting dagger design. Bill sat down at the draft board, literally with pen and paper to help become the next to carry the fighting dagger design into the 21st century with Spartan Blades.

As a true fan of dagger designs and rich history, I couldn’t help but become excited for its release, when I first got word of this project. Given the experience and knowledge of both Mark Carey and Curtis Iovito combined with Bill Harsey Jr, it doesn’t matter if the project is a knife, hammer or bottle opener, you can best bet it’s going to be the most thought out and purpose-built tool possible. These three men all have walls full of the awards and accolades well-earned over the years for their creations for both civilian and military markets.

MAKING OF A FUTURE LEGEND

The Spartan Harsey Dagger was born from the collaborative work between Spartan Blades and the afore mentioned knife making legend Bill Harsey Jr. Spartan Blades founders, Curtis Iovito and

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BLADES: SPARTAN HARSEY DAGGER

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SPARTAN HARSEY DAGGER SPECS Designer: Overall Length: Blade Length: Blade Thickness: Blade Steel: Blade Hardness: Blade Style: Coating:

Handle Material: Sheath:

Weight:

William “Bill” Harsey Jr 10 3/4” 6” 3/16” CPM S35V 58-60 HRC Dagger PVD – Tungsten DLC (Flat Black) or ZrN (Flat Dark Earth) 3D contoured Double Black CE Canvas Micarta® Lined Nylon MOLLE sheath (Black, Coyote Tan, or MultiCam) or Kydex with Belt Loop (Black or Coyote Tan) 6.72 oz

CLOSE QUARTER LOOK

After the release of the Spartan Harsey Dagger, I researched more about its construction and design. I was even fortunate enough to discuss the project with Curtis Iovito and Bill Harsey Jr directly. A few months later, a sample of the new dagger arrived for review and I quickly went to work. The first item on hand was to pull the Spartan George Dagger project out and do a quick comparison as well as study how the Spartan Harsey version has evolved from the others in its lineage. Both sharing the incredible CPM S35V steel blades and canvas Micarta grips, there are still a few things that separate them from each other.

Thanks to advancements in machining combined with skillful hands on work, the dagger shares a diamond profile with the Les George collaboration for added strength over the “apple seed” profile of its predecessor. The Harsey design features a slightly shorter 6” blade which is only a ¾” reduction to the Les George design, but keeps truer to the Applegate blade. Despite the slight length difference and much less unsharpened area in its ricasso., it gives the new dagger a

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better sense of maneuverability to ease in working angles of attack.

Just as the Applegate blade widened the profile of the original Fairbanks design, the Harsey design flairs out wider from tip to cross guard. This would open a wound channel wider for more damage while still managing to keep a sleek, low profile. While the Les George design paid tribute to the flat

FINAL THOUGHTS

Retailing for US$390, the Spartan Harsey Dagger is already selling extremely well in the short time it has hit the market.

Despite technically being a production knife, the quality and care of hand grinding and assembling each one creates a truly custom level blade. Options in PVD blade coating are flat black and flat dark earth while the sheaths are offered in lined MOLLE equipped nylon (Black, Coyote Tan, or MultiCam) or Kydex with belt loop mounts (Black or Coyote Tan).

The company slogan for Spartan Blades is “Knives with Intent”. It only takes one look at the designs and materials their blades are made from to know this is 100% true. Although their work could be in a museum of art, the blades are made for the battle in field they proudly serve today. If one of their blades does end up in a museum in the future, you can best bet, it will be a military museum as part of the tools that helped defend the freedom of those brave enough to fight for it.

The balance, quick handling and precision of the Spartan Harsey Dagger makes it the perfect example of the iconic knife design to carry on its legacy well into the future of modern warfare. To find out more about the Spartan Harsey Dagger and other great designs, visit them at www.SpartanBladesUSA.com Until next issue everyone, keep your blades sharp and your minds deadly!

BLADES: SPARTAN HARSEY DAGGER

90-degree cross guard of the original Fairbanks design for the dagger purists of the world, I was happy to see the Applegate influence of the Spartan Harsey cross guard. Not only does intersect the handle at 90-degrees, it then flairs outward for added protection of the hand.

In true Spartan Blades style, the new dagger offers a full tang design ended in a “skull crusher” style point on the pommel. The Les George design which featured a wider grip indexing flats on the top and bottom of the rounded scales and a deep flat center line of the integrally designed cross guard. The new Harsey design not only has an independent cross guard but a thinner, more rounded grip with true indexing grip ground into each side. For those with smaller hands as mine, the Harsey design fits more comfortable and offers more control of the blade. Perhaps one of my favorite additions to the new design is the Fairbairn – Sykes style flair at the pommel is a great nod to the past while also aiding in blade retention preventing the hand from slipping down the grip. That sort of attention to detail and heritage is one of the many reasons I have come to greatly respect this team of designers and blade makers.

SMITH AND WESSON 638 AIRWEIGHT

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SMITH AND WESSON 638 AIRWEIGHT In both civilian and law enforcement circles, the Smith and Wesson double action J-frame revolver chambered in .38 Special has long been a favorite since its introduction in the 1950s. For the senior officers in Trampas’ department, the 2” barrel (often referred to as a snub nose) 5 shot revolver was a favorite “unofficial” carry pistol.

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hen I started my law enforcement career at the turn of this century, I was blessed to be surrounded by old war horses in the form of Sergeants and Lieutenants serving their last years on the job awaiting retirement. Most of these seasoned officers started their careers after coming home from serving in the military during Vietnam.

These experiences from overseas brought along a lot of lessons learned about human nature, the cunningness of man, and violence of gun fighting from firsthand experiences. These hardened men had stories that were both entertaining and exciting, with each teaching a hard lesson to those who could understand. So, when it came to notice a common firearm kept close for discreet protection by many of these grey warriors, I took notes.

This small Smith and Wesson double action J-frame wheel gun would have the duty of being backup to their department side arm, a hideout gun stuffed in a desk drawer or brief case for emergencies and an off-duty gun carried in a jacket pocket or stuffed inside a boot. As my good friend and awardwinning gun writer, Roger Eckstein once wrote, “The object of

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The model featured is a variation of the classic model 638 Bodyguard many detectives and security specialists have carried for decades. What makes this model different isn’t its “humpback” frame shared by its predecessor and other S&W hammerless designed revolvers such as the 642 and 442 but the fact that it features a very low profile, semi-bobbed hammer. This hammer includes a small snag-free thumb stud with just enough grip to firmly cock the hammer into single action mode for a lighter trigger and more precise shot.

Visually, this gun as often looked at as the ugly duckling of the Smith and Wesson line up compared to the classic look of the larger model 66 Combat, but for those who understand its design, the model 638 is gorgeous! This pistol features a lightweight allow frame with a stainless steel barrel and cylinder and only weights 14.6 oz! From its extreme furthest ends, the gun measures 6.3” with a 1.785” barrel. The sight radius consisting of a fixed front ramped sight and rear notch style sight is roughly 3.4”. Despite the gun’s small dimensions, the 638 is fully rated for +P ammunition. With the right ammunition, that can amount to a lot of power in a small, lightweight package able to be carried just about anywhere on the body comfortably all day.

To carry the model 638 daily, I chose carry using a Gun Sox ankle holster sent over for testing by Cheata Tactical (www. cheatatactical.com) and a Safariland model 18 inside the waistband holster loaned to me by good friend and fellow gun writer, Clint Steele. When wearing jeans or khakis, the Gun Sox’s full calf coverage would give me a perfect way to keep the gun secure are readily accessible. During this time of year, a pair of shorts end up being the attire for the day when I am not teaching on the range or filming. For carrying concealed during causal hours, the Safariland holster offered a great option for appendix carry as well as at the 3 and 4 o’clock positions.

SPECS

Caliber: Weight: Barrel Length: Overall Length: Overall Height: Rated: Finish: Grips: Sights: Trigger Pull:

.38 Special 14.6 oz.

1.785” 6.3” 4.5” P+ Matte Grey Black Rubber (Optional Pink) Fixed 4 lbs. (Single Action), 14 lbs. (Double Action)

RANGE TIME

To put the model 638 Airweight through the paces, I met with fellow gun writers, Clint Steele and Jerry Moody at our local private range known as “The Swamp”. For testing, I brought along four different loads consisting of Winchester 110 grain Jacketed Hollow Points (JHP), Corbon +P 110 JHP, Winchester Bonded 130 grain JHP and 130 grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) from American Eagle. Once the cameras and targets were set up, each shooter took turns running each of the different loads through the pistol. These tests would illustrate various felt recoil and performance.

Working at common self-defense distances of 3 yards out to 15 yards, the 638 gave each shooter solid vital zone hits shooting from the double action mode. More precise shots to the head of the target could be taken by thumb cocking the hammer manually in single action mode to reduce the trigger pull from 14 lbs. to a more manageable 4 lbs. All ammo performed well, with the point of aim and point of impact matching up well with the fixed sights. Of the four loads, the +P Corbon 110 JHP ammo really stood out as far as felt recoil. Despite the slim but comfortable black rubber grips, I could feel a sharp snap in my hand as each round was fired. For regular practice, I stuck with the American Eagle FMJ rounds and conceal carried the pistol with the Winchester Bonded 130 grain JHP for better results on soft targets.

Since I normally carry semi-auto pistols daily, loading was the only aspect of testing the pistol I really needed to brush my skills on. Despite knowing how to do it with my eyes closed and even teaching it to others in classes, it still takes a small learning curve to get everything flowing smoothly. The model 638 fit in my hands very well, allowing my short sausage digits to manipulate the cylinder release and shrouded ejector rod quickly. Most of the spent brass fell out cleanly with only gravity pulling on it while I had the gun tilted back. Only the Corbon casings needed an extra punch to clear their chambers.

What I noticed the most during slow fire was there seemed to be a slight glitch when pulling the trigger. It was heavy and smooth until the cylinder made its rotation then I would feel a slight stop or “hitch” point before the hammer dropped. If I manipulated the trigger pull just right, I could stop the hammer very close to its natural single action cocked position before continuing pressure to fire. After a morning of shooting, the 14 lbs. trigger pull really started to wear on my finger a bit as well.

Another point of interest that arose, came about when I

SMITH AND WESSON 638 AIRWEIGHT

lightweight snubbies is to afford an effective level of firepower in a package that is reliable, simple to operate, and easy to carry.” Not only did experienced Law Enforcement officers carry them but many in the Military Special Operations community I have had the honor of meeting over the years did so as well.

To the modern nay-sayers sitting in gun shops, who complain these little revolvers can’t be shot accurately, this is where their ignorance truly shows. I have personally seen these gentlemen with aging eyes peer through coke bottle glasses and burn down center mass hits one after another before walking off with the only perfect qualification scores. Is it easy to shoot these little wheel guns accurately? Hell NO, but it can be done?

YES, I’ve seen it happen year after year throughout my career. It simply takes something a lot of shooters these days who simply want to “go fast” don’t have; heart, determination and dedication to practice enough to achieve their goal. With that in mind, this week’s review article honors these fine gentlemen with a look at an updated version of their best kept secret, the Smith and Wesson model 638 Airweight double action revolver.

SMITH AND WESSON 638 AIRWEIGHT

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started shooting the pistol in single action mode. The hammer features a small stud on the top that rides slightly above the frame during its full range of motion. There are four small grooves cut into the stud horizontally to provide just enough grip surface for my thumb to pull back the hammer. I noticed this to be relatively difficult with the stiff factory hammer spring. Every four out of five attempts would be successful but before carrying any pistol for self-defense, I require everything to work every time if I may need to depend on it. One quick call to my friend, Paul Erhardt at Apex Tactical and a J-Frame performance spring kit as they call their Carry / Duty kit was on the way.

Once the kit arrived, it only took 20 mins to install the new trigger return spring, hammer spring, firing pin and firing pin spring. As I dry fired the 638 in my work shop, I could immediately feel a difference. In both single and double action dry firing, the trigger and hammer seemed much smoother and gone was that annoying “hitch” feeling. I headed over to the range and proceeded to run an assortment of ammunition through the gun to test function under rapid fire. Overall, I could not have been more pleased with the gun. It ran smooth as silk with zero function issues.

With more confidence in the pistol, I began to carry it daily inside the waist band or on my left ankle. A bit of dry fire mixed with “bar room speed” practice on the range really showed off how easy the model 638 could be drawn and put into action. Everything about the pistol’s design is meant to be completely snag free upon quick retrieval prior to sending lead down range. When feasible, I would even carry the S&W in addition to my SIG P365. This combo would offer me not only 16 total rounds of firepower but also an additional firearm in the extreme case of mechanical failure with the other. At no point did I feel uncomfortable with the Cheata Tactical or Safariland holster during carry.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I really enjoyed the model 638 Air Weight revolver.

Its practical application is timeless due to its reliability and

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simplistic operation as with any revolver compared to semiautos. If the hammer drops and the cartridge fails to fire, rather than going through a complex system of tap, rack, fire, drop magazines, rack, load, rack and fire again, the end user simply pulls the trigger once again and first another round. Where the model 638 really shines unto its own is the lightweight carry and clean lines that resist snagging on clothing during the draw. As I found with both the Safariland holster and Gun Sox, all day carry and quick, efficient movements to put the pistol into action are easily accomplished without issue.

If you need to run to the store at night once you have already gotten home, out of your work clothes and into your favorite sweat pants, this would be good choice as well. Rather than needing to change into jeans and belt with your daily carry holster, you can simply drop the model 638 in a jacket pocket and head out. Its advantage over a small semi-auto pistol comes in the event you must shoot from concealment.

If it were a semi-auto, the first shot would fire and then the slide would more than likely become stuck or catch inside your pocket. The 638’s action revolves the cylinder inside its frame and can offer continuous fire from inside the close quarters of the newly ventilated jacket pocket.

The model 638 is offered from S&W with a few custom options such as pink rubber grips instead of the standard black as well as a laser grip module from their partnership with Crimson Trace. In low light, across the room distances, the laser grip may be your best option. In any case, just remember, this small gun does take a lot of dedicated practice to shoot well.

Some have wrote calling it the “expert’s” gun, but I would not go that far. I have seen many shooters devote time practicing with the pistol and quickly become very efficient with it.

If you are a professional who carries an issued gun full time and you’re looking for a solid back-up option, I would suggest looking into the model 638 for yourself to see the reasons why it has stood the test of time. For those simply looking for a solid gun for the car, specifically lightweight carry pistol or even a back-up to your “go-to” gun when it all goes south, you can’t beat the reliability of a revolver. My suggestion is to make it routine to also carry a reload option in either a speed strip or speed loader in addition to a quality knife. With only five rounds and slow reloads, you may want to consider other options as you work through your force continuum. For more information, visit www.smith-wesson.com to find the S&W firearm that best fits your needs.

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

WILLIAMS GLOCK 42/ 43 SIGHTS

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WILLIAMS GLOCK 42/ 43 SIGHTS One of the most disappointing items to encounter when shopping for a new defensive handgun is to find a great deal on the pistol you want, but realize, it comes with less than stellar factory iron sights, but that can be remedied swiftly and easily thanks to Williams Gun Sight Company .

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

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

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

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

To check out the entire range of high-quality items offered

by Williams Gun Sight Company please do pay a visit to https:// williamsgunsight.com

WILLIAMS GLOCK 42/ 43 SIGHTS

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

The longest part of the process was simply setting up the sight pusher for the right size and position. The sight pusher used may be the most recent in a history of over a half dozen sight pushers and twice the investment of all the others combined but it is certainly the last one I will ever have to buy. The interchangeable “shoes” that hold the slide safely in place from damage and heavy duty all steel construction are well worth the money!

Once installed, these sights were fantastic compared to the factory offerings. The Glock 43 is a relatively small platform in relation to a lot of handguns shooters are traditionally used to. The small slide lends itself normally to small, hard to see sights. I found the newly installed Williams sights were clear and fast to acquire when shooting from defensive positions, even in low light. I needed very little ambient light to make these sights appear ready to use.

Prior to using the new sights, I had a concern that the fiber optic sights would be so bright, it would distract me from the target.

Fortunately, the sights had the opposite effect. I found the sights aided my eyes in focusing on the clear green front sight easier and not get caught up in the tunnel vision of staring at the target as my main clear focus. The red rear fiber optics contrasted starkly to the front sight. The deep “U” cut out in the rear sight along with the thin profile of the front sight allowed for a great view of the target while easily keeping “equal height, equal light” between the two sights.

This was excellent in quickly developing a solid sight alignment and sight picture without confusion of which sight was which in relation to the target in a split second.

Follow up shots such as quick double taps as well as longer strings of fire seemed to be seamless compared to the factory sights. The main reason why would be due to being able to acquire the Williams brand quicker after breaking each shot and cycling through the recoil. The snag-free, low profile design of the sights’ height keeps “height over bore axis” as low as possible. This resulted in point of aim / point of impact being dead on at the standard defensive training distance of around 21 feet. The sturdy all aluminum built sights gave me confidence in durability during rough use in comparison to the original Glock offering.

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6MM TRAINING: SR-16

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VEGA FORCE COMPANY SR-16 GAS BLOWBACK CARBINE Whilst the majority of the focus for 6mm Training is centred around handgun models at the moment there are already training tools available licenced by companies you probably all know and love already, so this time Bill gets into things by showcasing the training version of the Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) SR-16!

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ometimes I genuinely feel that I’ve become a little jaded when it comes to so-called “training guns”; once upon a time when I received an item for testing I’d immediately strip open the shipping box to get at the goodies inside, but these days I sign the receipt and it generally goes onto the pile that needs working through…

This may sound “privileged” and a little odd to many of you out there, but it needs to be something pretty special to really get my juices flowing! Back during IWA 2018 I saw and handled some absolutely lovely training tools, and whilst there were some that offered genuine advances in performance and technology, there was no “light bulb moment”, that moment when you pick something up and think to yourself “I MUST have one of these!”

Until it was that I met with my friend Ray Chang from Vega Force Company (VFC) that is! Whilst we were chatting on the VFC stand my eyes they were a wanderin’, taking in all the goodies that VFC have to offer. But what my eyes wandered to on the VFC stand was their fully licenced Knight Armament Company SR-16 Gas Blowback Carbine, and it was love at first sight!

If you are new to the world of the “6mm Trainer” then I am certain you will no doubt, as many do, write off “airsoft guns” as things for kids and “wannabes”, and whilst there is certainly

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some truth in this, it is also true that numerous manufacturers in the airsoft industry have been working hand in hand with well-reputed firearms counterparts to bring some stunning, fully-licenced replicas to market.

I’ll throw into the pot here that from conversations I had at SHOT this year numerous firearm manufacturers are seeking experienced friends in the “6mm” industry with a view to creating training platforms based on existing airsoft technologies. I’ve seen this developing over a few years in truth, seeing some pretty famous names (SIG and Glock for instance) exploring this territory with real intent.

likes the KAC brand and guns very much. KAC guns are not only beautiful but also well-made. So we started make airsoft replicas of KAC, and we chose the KAC PDW, an interesting model to start with. After initial manufacture we were introduced by our American friends and we got online with KAC themselves.

KAC were very surprised that we could make the airsoft guns so beautiful and close to their appearance and that started the long-term cooperation with us. Talking about how we cooperate, in general, they don’t limit what we want to do. We only need to pick the types we want to make, and send samples to them for review and confirmation, and then we can start making and selling products by ourselves. I think this is because the quality of the airsoft replica we make is very good, so they are very happy to let us to handle airsoft replicas of their brand.”

And VFC are one such company who are right at the forefront, with strategic alliances in place to drive forward the “training agenda”, and they’ve already been working with LE partners close to home in Taiwan for some time. Vega Force Company was founded in 2004, and had gained a global reputation for not only being 100% professional, but also for making highly realistic airsoft replicas with custom grade performance instilled in their internal mechanical design, giving end users a better shooting and operating experience.

And whilst they hold licences with a number of firearms companies to produce 6mm replicas of the very highest quality, the one I will focus on here is that of KAC. Now we all know Knight’s Armament Company as they seem to have been a part of the industry for ever, and their firearms and technologies have definitely been right at the tip of the spear when it comes to the “War on Terror”. Going right back to 1974 founder C. Reed Knight Jr. began with the intention of developing specialist equipment and weapons for US Special Forces, and initially worked with Eugene “The Daddy of the AR” Stoner, a collaboration which resulted in KAC’s best known product line, the Rail Interface System (RIS). More recently KAC added full blown firearms to their extensive list of accessories, and like their accessories, these are highly specialised platforms such as the SR-47, PDW (Personal Defense Weapon), SR-25, M110 SASS, SR-15, and the SR-16 .

I asked Ray at VFC about the SR-16 as it comes under their licensing arrangement with Knights Armament; I asked him if he could you tell me a little about how that relationship started and how VFC works with them, and he told me; “The cooperation with KAC is down to the fact that our boss

So what, to me, makes the VFC replica of the SR-16 the right tool for training purposes, and the answer is simple! If you can find a full metal replica of an “AR” that is 100% exactly like its real world counterpart, that feels, can be adjusted, and operates (albeit from gas and BBs in each magazine rather than bullets and propellant) like a real carbine for the same price I would love to hear about it!

Overall the VFC is as close to the real deal as you’ll find in 6mm form! Everything is nailed down to look and feel exactly as it would on the real thing, including the operating system! It has a full-travel bolt with some real “oomph”, and once again this replicates exactly the operation of the military rifle so your drills are 100% the same; for instance the VFC “V-Mags” only hold 30 BBs so your reloads need to be on point. In addition to luxurious build quality and superb components, the SR-16 also offers realistic take-down; by splitting the receivers you can

6MM TRAINING: SR-16

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB

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6MM TRAINING: SR-16

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remove the BCG for cleaning and maintenance, again, just like the real thing.

Specifications: • Length - 33 inches (838 mm -stock extended), 29.75 inches

(756 mm - stock retracted) • Weight - 2770g (unloaded) • Magazine Capacity - 30 BBs • Power Source - Gas Powered via Magazine • Blowback – Yes, Full Travel BCG • Shooting Modes - Semi, Full Auto • Hop-up – Adjustable for BB weight • Magazine Compatibility - VFC M4 GBBR models But what is beauty without performance? I’m pleased to report that the SR-16 has both. I initially took the carbine to my usual 30m woodland range to chrono and test, and in terms of power I got a consistent 1.35 Joule/382fps on a .20g BB using green gas, and with .30g BBs the accuracy was stunning at that range!

I spoke more to Ray after the initial test and he seemed a little miffed that I’d only tested at 30m as in Taiwan they’d been hitting A4 sheets at twice that distance!

Never one to be put off by a challenge, I duly fitted the SR16 with a Harris-style bipod and a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6X24 optic and headed back to the woods. Measuring out 75m I secured one of my own home-made A4 targets and had at it prone… suffice to say that the A4 came home with twenty 6mm holes drilled in it.

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I honestly have fallen in love with the VFC SR-16, and now that I’ve used and trained with it this feeling has only been reinforced; I honestly, genuinely love it to bits! There are many gas rifles and carbines out there now that “simulate” the real thing, and many of them are very, very expensive beasts.

Having now shot the SR-16 I can tell you that it will perform as well as the best, and you’ll find it with most good dealers for under US$350! Now the SR-16 is with me I’ll be returning to it in our “on test” section over time so you can see how things develop.

In closing, this is by no means your average “airsoft gun” and for this reason I don’t believe you’ll be seeing it regularly in “games”, but it hasn’t been designed and made for the mass market. It’s been designed and made for those that truly want a training platform that operates exactly like the real thing, but that fires simple 6mm BBs, not live 5.56! It’s been designed for the collector and those that want to use every tool in the box they can access to make themselves a better, smoother, and indeed safer shooter… basically it’s been designed for people like me, and to that end I can only recommend it to you in the best possible way!

My thanks go to my good freind Ray at VFC (https://www.vegaforce.com) for being part of this article, and also to the guys at http:// uk.redwolfairsoft.com for facilitating delivery.

PMCI

BOOK REVIEW AMERICAN GUERRILLA: THE FORGOTTEN HEROICS OF RUSSELL W. VOLCKMANN

BOOK REVIEW

In 1942 when all seemed lost for the Battle of Bataan, one young Army Captain named Russell Volckmann refused to surrender. He disappeared into the jungles of north Luzon where he raised a Filipino army of more than 22,000 men. For the next three years he led a guerrilla war against the Japanese, killing more than 50,000 enemy soldiers. At the same time he established radio contact with MacArthur’s headquarters in Australia and directed Allied forces to key enemy positions. When General Yamashita finally surrendered, he made his initial overtures not to MacArthur, but to Volckmann!

This book establishes how Volckmann’s leadership was critical to the outcome of the war in the Philippines. His ability to synthesize the realities and potential of guerrilla warfare led to a campaign that rendered Yamashita’s forces incapable of repelling the Allied invasion. Had it not been for Volckmann, the Americans would have gone in “blind” during their counter-invasion, reducing their efforts to a trial-and-error campaign that would undoubtedly have cost more lives, materiel, and potentially stalled the pace of the entire Pacific War. This engrossing book also shows Volckmann as the progenitor of modern counterinsurgency doctrine and the true “Father” of Army Special Forces, a title that history has erroneously awarded to Colonel Aaron Bank of the European Theater of Operations. In 1950, Volckmann wrote two army field manuals, “Operations Against Guerrilla Forces and Organization and Conduct of Guerrilla Warfare”, but today few realize he was their author. Together, they became the US Army’s first handbooks outlining the precepts for both special warfare and counter-guerrilla operations. Taking his argument directly to the army chief of staff, Volckmann outlined the concept for Army Special Forces. At a time when US military doctrine was conventional in outlook, he marketed the ideas of guerrilla warfare as a critical force multiplier for any future conflict, ultimately securing the establishment of the Army’s first special operations unit, the 10th Special Forces Group.

Volckmann himself remains a shadowy figure in modern military history, his name absent from every major biography on MacArthur, and in much of the Army Special Forces literature. Yet as modest, even secretive, as Volckmann was during his career, it is difficult to imagine a man whose heroic initiative had more impact on World War II. This long overdue book not only chronicles the dramatic military exploits of Russell Volckmann, but analyses how his leadership paved the way for modern special warfare doctrine.

The author Mike Guardia is an internationally recognized author and military historian. A veteran of the US Army, he served six years on active duty as an armour officer. He is the author of the widely acclaimed “Hal Moore: A Soldier Once . . . And Always”, the first-ever biography chronicling the life of Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore. Guardia has been nominated twice for the Army Historical Foundation’s Distinguished Writing Award and is an active member in the Military Writers Society of America. He currently lives in Texas.

Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: Casemate; B Format edition (October 1, 2019) Language: English ISBN-10: 1612007155 ISBN-13: 978-1612007151

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