U.S. $14.95
Included
UN12 Sticker Sheet
Featured Material
Cloning the SIG MCX LVAW The Importance of Torque Specs Fett’s CZ 75 P-01 Compact NV Capable PTR32 KFR 200
Transport of Dangerous Goods Ammunition, such as for rifles, handguns, shotguns, starter’s pistols and power tools that contain explosive material are dangerous goods listed under Class 1.4S. The information presented here is for the following UN numbers only:
Visiting Timney Triggers
Feature Firearm
HKS-9 High Performance Pistol Caliber Shorty
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
ISSUE
UN12mag.com
013
Midwest Industries Folding Stock Tube Adapters make pistol brace or SBR builds a breeze. Whether you’re modifying an AK, MPX, BRN-180, CZ Scorpion, or any number of compact firearm designs featuring rear-mounted Picatinny rail sections, there’s a STAP for that.
ADAPTERS | PISTOL BRACES | HANDGUARDS | MOUNTS | SIGHTS | ACCESSORIES
MIDWESTINDUSTRIESINC.COM
90 HKS-9 Firearm Feature
UN12 Issue 013
06
Table of Contents
34
72
112
136
Fett’s CZ Firearm Feature
A Crate of AKs General Feature
44
78
Grey Man Tactical Rigid MOLLE Panels Product Review
Aero Precision EPC-9 Complete Lower Receiver Product Spotlight
Lone Wolf Arms LTD19 Product Review
SIG MCXLVAW Clone General Feature
50
84
Timney Triggers USA Company Profile
Nocorium Product Review
56
100
Custom PTR32 KFR 200 Firearm Feature
Axil GS Digital 1 Product Review
66
104
Lone Traveler Adventure
Torque—Application & Control General Feature
UN12 / Issue 013
116 Dark Alliance Patriot 700 Firearm Feature
124 NEMO Arms NX Shotgun Product Spotlight
128 Personalized Benchmade Adamas Customization Feature
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
DISCLAIMERS: UN12 is created for MATURE AUDIENCES and may include adult language and humor. PRICES shown are deemed accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. FIREARM SAFETY is paramount. Obey firearm safety rules at all times. UN12 assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information. The opinions expressed in each article are the opinions of its author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UN12.
NO EXCUSE.
The all-new, micro-compact XSC WeaponLight brings SureFire performance and reliability to the best concealed-carry handguns on the market. Virtually indestructible, extremely compact, perfectly concealable. If you’re serious about self-protection, there’s no excuse not to carry an XSC.
TOC
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
22 Every Day Carry
10
132
Editor’s Letter
Shoot This Drill
12
137
New Products
Guns of Instagram
18 Morale Patch
22 Every Day Carry
30 Called Out
08
UN12 / Issue 013
Dept.
30
013
DEPT.
Editor’s Letter
Transport of Dangerous Goods Ammunition, such as for rifles, handguns, shotguns, starter’s pistols and power tools that contain explosive material are dangerous goods listed under Class 1.4S. The information presented here is for the following UN numbers only: UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS
—
T
hemed firearm builds
On the parts and
have always been a
accessories front, gear
Publisher Howard C Lim
favorite of ours. From
expert Chip Lasky delves
military clones to those
into the importance of
Editors
based on our favorite
torque specs and gives us
The UN12 Creative Team
movies or TV shows,
key insights on why many
themed builds add another
times hand-tight just isn’t
layer of fun and fascination
good enough. You won’t
to customized firearms.
want to miss out on the
In this issue we take a few
important information he
deep dives into themed builds that span several different genres. To the uninitiated, the cover gun may look like something out of a video game, but it actually comes from a very different inspiration. HKS is a Japanese highperformance automotive aftermarket company that specializes in beefing up
shares with us. We also got
“To the uninitiated, the cover gun may look like something out of a video game, but it actually comes from a very different inspiration.”
to visit the Timney Triggers headquarters and find out
Creative Direction James Ho, Jerry Tsai
supplier tick.
James Ho
Elsewhere we bask in the glory of a custom-built crate of underfolder AKs, which would not look at all out of place serving as a centerpiece in a gun nut’s honored that Justin Dyal of
pistol carries the company’s iconic racing livery, and
Dialed in Training provides this issue’s training drill. Join
the likeness isn’t only skin deep. The pistol is made
him as he takes us through his “10-Second Showdown.”
to perform in competition like its distant automotive
At first glance it may seem easy, but we think you’ll find it
cousin. Read all about it in HKS-9.
really quite challenging and educational. We encourage you to try it out. For those who picked up the print version of this issue,
one of the latest firearms circulating in select units in our
we’re excited to share with you UN12’s premiere-edition
military. We go behind the scenes to see what it takes to
sticker sheet. These limited-run stickers feature original
put one together.
designs from UN12 as well as our industry friends. As always, we’re on the look out for innovators and
Mandalorian,” or perhaps even the rumored Boba Fett-
custom guns and knives to feature. If you have a firearm
helmed spin-off, you’re not alone. We got to scratch
or other piece of gear that you have customized, we
that itch, so to speak, when we were able to examine a
want to know about it. Tag us @un12mag on Instagram
Fett-inspired CZ 75 P-01 customized by Fire 4 Effect to
if you have something that UN12 readers would like to
the extent that might look right at home riding the hip of
see. Let’s continue to build UN12 together.
an intergalactic bounty hunter.
Michael Penhall
Art Director
living room. We are also
If you’re itching for the next season of “The
Technical Editor
most well-known trigger
GT-R. The featured AR9
Another theme we visit is that of a military clone
Danny Chang
what makes the market’s
cars like the Nissan Skyline
builder. In this case, the clone is of a SIG MCX LVAW,
Associate Editor
—The UN12 Creative Team
Contributors Martin Anders, Jay Canter, Blake Gettig, Michael Grey, Charles Lasky, John Pangilinan, John Scott, David Thorson, Roland Wilkes, James York
Special Thanks Aristotle Bartolome, John Hwang, Che Chon
Copy Editor Frank Stroud
Advertising Sales George Nogal george@un12mag.com
Ad Coordinator Frank Stroud
Printed in the USA 013-2021
10
UN12 / Issue 013
A NEW HUNTER AT MAGPUL
The Hunter 110 for right and left-handed Savage® 10 & 110 series short actions joins our Hunter stock line this winter. It brings you optimal rifle stabilization, improved comfort, and expanded customization options so you can dial in your unique hunting needs. Find out more at Magpul.com.
www.magpul.com © 2021 Magpul Industries Corporation. MAGPUL, MAGPUL LOGO & DESIGN, and others are trademarks of Magpul Industries Corp.
DEPT.
New Products
TangoDown TD ACRO MOUNT FOR SIG SAUER P320 The SSM-02 offers a dovetail to allow for appropriate backup iron sights (available separately). Whether you are using your P320 for competition, EDC, or duty, the Aimpoint ACRO combined with the SSM-02 is a fantastic combination. The SSM-02 is made from ordnance-grade steel with a rust-resistant Melonite finish. Mounting fasteners are supplied with Vibra-Tite VC-3 thread-locking compound pre-applied. $78 tangodown.com
12
Step22
Strike Gear
TENKILE TECH POUCH
BOOGEYMAN CHEST RIG BAG
DSLR cameras, GoPros, and drones are being utilized more and more out on the trail and at the range. The Tenkile Tech Pouch will help keep all that gear organized, safe, and clean. The innovative diagonally zippered opening creates a clean “deck” for swapping batteries or SD cards while also allowing easy access to all the internal pockets. It’s perfect for the user who wants to document the adventure without risking his or her gear at the same time.
From Strike Industries’ Strike Gear line of soft goods, the versatile Boogeyman Chest Rig Bag can be used as a chest rig, mini range bag, messenger bag, medical kit, tool bag, hiking/outdoor hip pack, belt pack, for conceal carry weapon or everyday-carry stowage, and more. This do-it-all bag is designed to be a low-profile lightweight modular system for you to customize for any mission-specific setup. Available in Field Grey and Woodland color schemes.
$65
$94
step22gear.com
strikeindustries.com
UN12 / Issue 013
Blue Force Gear MICRO TRAUMA KIT NOW! COMPLETE KITS The Micro Trauma Kit NOW! is the smallest version of Blue Force Gear’s trauma kit line and is sized for everyday-carry use. It’s designed to hold essential lifesaving medical supplies on a belt. Deployment of critical first aid supplies can be done with one hand or a single finger from either the left or right side. The kit consists of two main components—the outer MOLLE or belt-mounted pouch and a removable insert that keeps medical supplies organized. Available in five colors choices with an optional choice of either an Essentials, Pro, or Advanced medical kit. The Advanced kit is shown here. From $74 ($200 as pictured) blueforcegear.com
onX Offroad ELITE MEMBERSHIP Whether you’re looking for a place to go off-roading, hiking, or hunting, onX has you covered. The onX Offroad and onX Hunt smart device apps take the confusion out of where and when you can go by providing you with all the updated resources you need to research and choose your destination with confidence. Recently, onX Offroad released a new Elite membership option, wherein users can now view private landowner information in the onX Offroad app, offline maps, custom waypoints, recreation sites, and more. New map layers show landowner names, property boundaries, and lot sizes. With Elite, you’ll always know exactly where you are. $99/year onxmaps.com
Midwest Industries PROFESSIONAL ARMORER’S WRENCH Designed to work with 5.56 and 7.62 AR platforms, this useful armorer’s wrench works with encapsulated and pin-style barrel nuts, including the GI-style nut. Its drive end is sized for all MI free-float barrel nuts and includes a ¾-inch wrench for A2 muzzle devices as well as the thin flats on many popular suppressor mounts. A castle nut driver with 3-notch engagement and small hammer head are built-in. This ultra-handy tool also includes a ½-inch drive provision for torque wrench use, includes common torque specs listed on the wrench handle, and integrates a combat bottle opener. $60 midwestindustriesinc.com
UN12mag.com
13
SOG PENTAGON FX The Pentagon FX double-edged CRYO S35VN steel combat dagger features many new innovations, including G10 handles that are removable with the minimal use of fasteners. SOG’s latest rugged fixed-blade knife also includes an innovative sheath system that features a universal mount method allowing 360 degrees of adjustment and interchangeability and a multitude of available mounting options. $222 sogknives.com
Blackfire TACTICAL TWIST FLASHLIGHT The Twist flashlight allows you to carry the best of both worlds: a powerful self-defense flashlight and a utility beam that can point just about anywhere. Use the crenelated bezel for self-defense, or attach the light’s integrated magnetic tail cap to a metal surface such as an ammo can or your vehicle’s hood, twisting the head to aim the 250-lumen beam exactly where you need it. It allows you to switch to green or red LEDs to preserve your night vision or reduce your profile and is powered by three AAA batteries. $25 blackfire.com
Holosun K-SERIES X2 REFLEX SIGHTS Holosun has introduced two new additions to its sub-compact/carry-sized optics lineup. Available now, the HE407K-GR X2 (6 MOA DOT only) and HE507K-GR X2 (Multi-reticle System) feature Holosun’s Super Green LED that provides a high-contrast, fast-acquisition reticle in a compact form factor. Packed with innovation and designed for sub-compact handguns, whether for CCW or backup pistols for those on duty, the new K-series X2 models include Lock Mode and Shake Awake features and a side-mounted battery with up to 50,000 hours of battery life. From $276 holosun.com
14
UN12 / Issue 013
CRKT PROVOKE The Provoke morphing karambit knife draws on an ancient design, but it’s hiding a futuristic secret. The first knife ever to feature Kinematic technology, it stays neatly tucked away in transit and comes to life when there’s trouble afoot. The unique Kinematic innovation helps deploy the blade quickly with a push of the thumb. It’s made of D2 blade steel for excellent edge retention with a black titanium nitride coating for enhanced corrosion resistance, and a lightweight hard-anodized aluminum handle. $200 crkt.com
Vanquest
Black Point
FATPACK-PRO LARGE MEDICAL BACKPACK
STANDARD OWB LIGHT MOUNTED HOLSTER
The FATPack-Pro is the perfect bag for a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) kit or trauma-based medical kit. In fact, the FATPack-Pro goes well beyond a trauma kit with its intuitive and practical layout. FATPack-Pro is a compact, single-layer convertible sling pack that bridges the gap between sling and backpack. Use of the interior and exterior compartments can be tailored to a wide range of skill sets and staging needs based on mission and role.
Black Point’s Light Mounted series holsters are constructed to be compatible with your choice of a wide variety of lights and lasers. The Standard OWB Light Mounted holster is ideal for users who desire a rugged and rigid platform with which to carry their gun and light or laser accessory combination. It is made to the user’s specifications when ordered and can be customized with your choice of Kydex colors, cant angle, and more.
$150
From $89
vanquest.com
blackpointtactical.com
Mystery Ranch TECH HOLSTER Mystery Ranch’s Tech Holster features a topside weather-resistant zipper that encloses the primary device compartment, which contains an additional sleeve pocket that’s perfect for cable storage. Built with durable 500D Cordura fabric, the Tech Holster offers a one-handoperable bungee opening for its secondary external pocket. Pack attachment is made easy with multiattach MOLLE options to PALS web, a shoulder pad, a belt, and more. Available in Foliage, Black, or Coyote. $29 mysteryranch.com
UN12mag.com
15
DEPT.
Patch-13
Stick ’Em Up Text & Images by JAMES YORK
F
or the record, we here at UN12 are die-hard morale patch
morale patches, the sticker sheet is a collaborative project with our
fans. We have patches covering everything from our bags
industry partners and will only be available with this issue of UN12.
to wall flags, and we even have volumes of filled-to-bursting
Slap the weatherproof stickers all over your gear, or keep them
patch books on the bookshelf. This is why we have worked hard
pristine and bound in this magazine. The choice is yours.
to ensure that a collectible morale patch has accompanied every
The stickers are waterproof, UV-resistant, and come free with
issue of UN12 since our first issue. How many have you been able
the print version of UN12. So if you are reading this digitally, this
to collect?
is a good reason to pick up a print issue while the limited supply
That said, we also love ourselves some stickers, too. As with patches, we enjoy spreading them around and sticker bombing our gun safes, ammo cans, laptops, water bottles, phone cases…
lasts. If you happen to be flipping through the printed pages of the magazine, congrats—and enjoy the bonus stickers. For our premier sticker sheet, we partnered up with several
we apply them to whatever we can, and wherever we can get
trusted friends including Rainier Arms, Strike Industries, and
away with it. This brings us to our latest collectible. Allow us to
SureFire. Several of our own original designs are present on the
introduce the exclusive UN12 collab sticker sheet. As with our
sheet, too. [ UN12 ]
We’d love nothing more than to see these stickers in use. Tag us on Instagram at @un12mag to show us where you stick ’em up!
Concept art for this issue’s sticker sheet. Finalized sheet may differ.
18
UN12 / Issue 013
Every Day Carry
02 01
Text & Images by JOHN PANGILINAN &
JAMES YORK
D
epending on where you
03
live, hunting season
may be right around the corner. Good preparation is the key to success for any hunt. There are many things to consider when planning and prepping for a trip, and it may
05
take years of trial and error to
04
dial in exactly what your kit must consist of. Much like a person’s EDC, this is a very personal process where many factors need to be taken into consideration. To help guide the process, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite pieces of
06
gear for a successful day hunt.
07
08
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
Filson Big Game/ Upland Hat
Peak Refuel
KUIU Venture 1800 Backpack
Counter Assault Magnum 290 Bear Spray
Smith & Wesson 1911 E-Series
Chip McCormick Custom Power Mag, .45 ACP, 10 rd.
Tops Knives Tops Filet
MSRP: $85 URL: filson.com
MSRP: $13 per meal URL: peakrefuel.com
MSRP: $189 URL: kuiu.com
MSRP: $60 URL: counterassault.com
22
UN12 / Issue 013
MSRP: $1,017 URL: smith-wesson.com
MSRP: $35 URL: cmproducts.com
MSRP: $215 URL: topsknives.com
Every Day Carry / 27 09 10 12
13
14
11
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
KUIU Kutana Stretch Woven Pants
Grayl Geopress Purifier
KUIU StrongFleece 220 Gloves
Danner Powderhorn Boots
KUIU Gila LS Hoodie
SIG Sauer Kilo1600BDX 6x22mm Rangefinder
Sionyx Aurora Black
MSRP: $39
MSRP: $240
URL: kuiu.com
URL: danner.com
MSRP: $149 URL: kuiu.com
MSRP: $90 URL: grayl.com
MSRP: $69 URL: kuiu.com
MSRP: $330
MSRP: $599 URL: sionyx.com
sigsauer.com
UN12mag.com
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27
Premium EDC Items
24
KUIU Venture 1800 Backpack
KUIU Kutana Stretch Woven Pants
Counter Assault Magnum 290 Bear Spray
MSRP: $189
MSRP: $149
MSRP: $60
URL: kuiu.com
URL: kuiu.com
Our 2¢: With an internal aluminum and polycarbonate frame and constructed from durable Cordura fabric, this pack provides ergonomic support in a tough, lightweight package. Multiple compartments provide for all your storage and organization needs, and it integrates a clever hydration holder system. It’s compatible with bow and gun holders and comes with removable waist belt straps for attaching a gun or bear spray.
Our 2¢: The Kutana’s Toray Primeflex nylon fabric offers incredible tear strength and durability, yet it remains stretchy and lightweight. Low-profile cargo pockets, zippered seat pockets, open hand pockets, and an open cell phone pocket sleeve add utility while special coatings reduce bacterial odor and repel outside moisture. This pant is designed for early-to-mid-season hunts with zip vents to provide extra cooling in warmer weather.
Our 2¢: You can never be too prepared for a chance encounter when in grizzly country. The Magnum 290 is the first 40-foot bear spray on the market and deploys a high volume, powerful, atomized blast of highly concentrated pepper spray to deter a bear attack. The formula contains 2% capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, the maximum allowed by law. This made-in-Montana bear spray has a 4-year shelf life.
Grayl Geopress Purifier
Peak Refuel
Danner Powderhorn Boots
MSRP: $90
MSRP: $13 per meal
URL: grayl.com
URL: peakrefuel.com
Our 2¢: Geopress gives you peace of mind when sourcing water from rivers, lakes, or even hotel sinks, removing global waterborne pathogens and filtering out pesticides, chemicals, heavy metals, and micro-plastics. It provides safe, clean drinking water in about 8 seconds. It has a 24-ounce capacity and weighs a mere 15.9 ounces, making it ideal for sustainable travel.
Our 2¢: Just because you’re in the bush doesn’t mean you need to survive on beef jerky and trail mix. Peak Refuel provides high-protein meals that contain 100% real meat and premium ingredients. Meals come in a lightweight pouch that doubles as a bowl and only need one cup of boiling water to prepare. Homestyle Chicken & Rice is one of our favorites.
MSRP: $240 URL: danner.com Our 2¢: Not to be confused with hiking boots, hunting boots are designed for travel on varied terrain to include challenging off-trail conditions. These are constructed with a full-grain leather upper, waterproof Gore-Tex, an OrthoLite footbed, and a mesh-lined tongue to help regulate moisture and temperature. The outsole’s multi-directional lug pattern provides critical traction over loose and uneven terrain.
UN12 / Issue 013
URL: counterassault.com
7
It’s the little things that mean the most™.
duo
DUal use optic
Introducing the new Spek™ red dot and Flik5™ magnifier by American Defense Mfg. Sold individually or together as a Dual Use Optic (DUO™), the 3.7 inch Flik5 is an extremely short and ambidextrous 5X fixed power magnifier with generous eye relief, capable of quick transitioning from 1X to 5X, and adaptable with all red dot and holographic sight heights. The 2MOA Spek micro red dot is powered by (1) AAA lithium battery, includes push-button brightness adjustments and offered in low, co-witness, and lower-third co-witness mounts in either aluminum or full titanium. ADM is Intentionally Superior.
Spek MSRP starts at $369 Flik3 MSRP starts at $369 Flik5 MSRP starts at $475 DUO MSRP starts at $685
For dealer inquiries, email dealers@admmfg.com
www.admmfg.com
DEPT.
03
Every Day Carry / 28
02
01
01 SureFire Aviator MSRP: $299 URL: surefire.com
04
02 Mentholatum Deep Moist Lip Balm MSRP: $10 URL: amazon.com
03 Petzl e+LITE MSRP: $30 URL: petzl.com
04 CRKT M16 - 03BK Bronze w/ Black Blade MSRP: $55
05
crkt.com
05 Pelican 1810 Keychain Light MSRP: $12.50 URL: pelican.com
06 Mystery Ranch Tech Holster MSRP: $29 URL: mysteryranch.com
07 Crucial Concealment Covert IWB MSRP: $60 URL: crucialconcealment. com
26
UN12 / Issue 013
06
07
08
08
09
Victorinox Climber (customized) MSRP: $34 URL: victorinox.com
09 Unity Tactical ATOM Slide MSRP: $555 URL: unitytactical.com
10
10 High Speed Arms C3 Stippling MSRP: $300 URL: highspeedarms.com
11 ETS 15 Round Mag (9mm)
11
12
MSRP: $17 URL: etsgroup.us
12 Crucial Concealment Covert Mag Pouch MSRP: $40
13
URL: crucialconcealment. com
13 Strike Gear Boogeyman Chest Rig Bag MSRP: $94 URL: strikeindustries.com
UN12mag.com
27
28
Premium EDC Items
28
Strike Gear Boogeyman Chest Rig Bag
Crucial Concealment Covert IWB
MSRP: $94 URL: strikeindustries.com Our 2¢: Is it a hip bag, fanny pack, man-purse or chest rig? The answer is yes. Strike Gear’s uberversatile Boogeyman can be used as a chest rig, messenger bag, EDC carryall, or anything else you can think of. Multiple straps and heavy-duty nylon buckles let you configure how you carry (or wear) it. It has several large zippered pockets and plenty of elastic webbing and loop panels to carry your selfie stick, spare mags, or any other gear that you need when on the go.
MSRP: $60 URL: crucialconcealment.com Our 2¢: The Covert IWB holster offers ambidextrous carry and a full range of cant adjustment for your preferred carry position. It’s the perfect blend of rugged durability and the thin, low-profile design required for IWB use. The proprietary clip is made of a highstrength polymer that can be used on a variety of clothing styles. UN12 readers get 10% off and free shipping when using coupon code “UN12” at checkout.
Petzl e+LITE
SureFire Aviator
Mystery Ranch Tech Holster
MSRP: $30 URL: petzl.com Our 2¢: The e+LITE emergency headlamp comes in a hard-shell carry case and can be stored with its batteries for up to 10 years in a backpack, a vest, or an emergency kit. Its white or red continuous 30-lumen lighting or strobe lighting helps you see or to be seen. A whistle is integrated in the elastic headband to use as an emergency signal.
MSRP: $299 URL: surefire.com Our 2¢: The dual-output Aviator flashlight features a primary white LED and a secondary colored LED. A pull and twist self-locking selector ring quickly sets it to white or colored light—amber for contrast, blue to help identify blood and hydraulic fluid, red for red-lightreadable topo maps, or yellow-green for the color spectrum used in most aircraft cockpits.
MSRP: $29 URL: mysteryranch.com Our 2¢: Perfect for smart devices and other small items, the Tech Holster features a bungee opening to its secondary external pocket that can be accessed with one hand. The dual-zippered main pocket features provisions to keep your gear organized and ready to deploy. MOLLE attachment allows it to be mounted to any number of PALS webbing-equipped gear such as a backpack, belt, or range bag.
UN12 / Issue 013
CRKT M16 - 03BK Bronze w/ Black Blade
MSRP: $55 URL: crkt.com Our 2¢: Originally designed by late famed knife maker Kit Carson, CRKT’s M16 represents one of the company’s most popular product lines. This version of the M16 features a bronze titaniumnitride handle and a fast-deploying, black-oxidefinished Sandvik 12C27 steel blade that carries excellent edge retention. Did we mention that it looks gorgeous too?
8
DEPT.
Called Out
Brace Stock Adapter Back Plate MSRP: $44 The quick-detach stock adapter allows full height adjustability using three Picatinny sections. Also included is a quick-detach point for a sling to be mounted under the stock adapter. It’s seen here with an SB Tactical FS1913 pistol stabilizing brace attached.
Strike Industries Modified CZ Scorpion Text by JOHN SCOTT Images by MICHAEL GREY
C
Z’s popular EVO 3 S1 pistol has received a complete makeover thanks to the
masterminds at Strike Industries (SI). Leaving almost nothing factory-stock on this pistol rendition of the company’s highly lauded 9mm-chambered subgun, the SI version of the 7.72-inch-barreled EVO 3 has been thoroughly upgraded from tip to tail. Let’s take a deeper look at
Grip
some of the major changes that
Pistol Grip
grace this pistol.
MSRP: $22 This grip is designed with a steeper 15-degree vertical angle for improved ergonomics over the CZ factory grip. It comes with textured palm areas for positive handling.
30
UN12 / Issue 013
Red Dot SI SIOPTO Scouter MSRP: $250 The siopto Scouter is the first optical sight to premiere from SI’s siopto line of products. This is a precision CQB/CQC aiming solution at a competitive price point that provides functionality needed to operate in austere conditions. The Scouter features no parallax, unlimited eye relief, and a wide 20mm field of view. It’s 100% designed and assembled in the USA.
Handguard Strike Handguard MSRP: $171 The Strike 6-inch handguard includes a dummy can, cap, nut, and tool to simulate the CZ Micro’s faux-suppressor look and feel. m-lok or si link accessories can be attached and mounted along the rail at its 1, 3, 6, 9 and 11 o’clock positions. A SureFire Infrared Scout Light Pro is seen here attached to the rail.
Release Mag Release MSRP: $20 SI’s upgraded magazine release is a lightweight, high-strength polymer solution that enables the user to depress the magazine release using just one hand. Fins added on both sides of the trigger guard allow the shooter to use his or her shooting finger to hit the mag release.
UN12mag.com
31
Handstop Link Anchor Polymer Hand Stop MSRP: $15 This low profile handstop is made from a heat-resistant polymer that allows comfortable grip and mounts via m-lok or KeyMod mounting points. It is reversible, which allows for both “push” and “pull” grip styles.
Charging CZ Scorpion EVO Charging Handle MSRP: $18 This larger charging handle provides increased leverage when charging your Scorpion and helps you to avoid tearing up your knuckles against the edges of Picatinny rail.
Strike Industries Modified CZ Scorpion Safety Extended Selector Switch MSRP: $22 The ambidextrous selector imparts easy-to-reach controls with the ability to manipulate the gun’s safety with either your thumb or index fingers. The switches are extended in either direction for ease of manipulation.
Source Strike Industries strikeindustries.com
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UN12 / Issue 013
MAXIMUM SECURITY FOR AN INSECURE WORLD
AVAILABLE FOR: MOSSBERG: 500, 590, MAV 88 REMINGTON: 870, V3 BERETTA: 1301
<<NEW
LEO® GEN II
TELESCOPING STOCK ADAPTERS AND CONVERSION KITS
FOR REM 870 / V3, MOSS 500 / 590 / MAV 88, BERETTA 1301
REMINGTON 870
The LEO Gen II Telescoping Stock Adapter for a tactical style shotgun is the second iteration of Mesa Tactical’s LEO adapters. The LEO adapter has been completely redesigned for increased comfort. The enhanced grip angle allows use of more comfortable beaver-tail AR-15 grips and it has been shortened for better ergonomics. This second iteration adapter will continue the trusted reputation of Mesa Tactical’s ability to build the best.
WWW.MESATACTICAL.COM
MESA TACTICAL RENO • NV • USA
FEATURE
Text by ROLAND WILKES Images by JERRY TSAI
34
UN12 / Issue 013
: : Based on a CZ 75 P-01 compact : : Boba Fett color scheme, laser engraving by Fire 4 Effect : : Chambered in 9mm Luger
UN12mag.com
35
FEATURE
01
A
mong pistol enthusiasts, hardware from CZ USA has become an increasingly popular
shooting alternative to the usual handheld suspects (we’re looking at you Glock). The C and the Z are short for Ceská Zbrojovka—loosely translating to Czech Armory—a Czech Republic-based armsmaker that has existed since before the Second World War. Since then, in its current configuration, it has flourished making small arms for the hunting and sporting markets. CZ USA is, of course, the North American arm of that international operation. Fire 4 Effect, established in 2010 in El Paso, Texas,
When his thoughts turned to planning a custom build he’d originally intended it to be a Kriss Sphinx, which was partly inspired by the CZ design, being a
has become an increasingly popular modifier of CZ
hammer-fired pistol whose slide actuates inside the
pistol platforms. Most recently, UN12 featured one of
frame. Through no fault of his own, the project stalled,
F4E’s customized CZ Shadow 2s in Issue 010, which
so Seargeant put it on hold. What he did have was a
was essentially a fully fitted example of an off-the-shelf
P-01 lying around that he wasn’t really doing anything
Fire 4 Effect CZ pistol.
else with, so he decided to employ that pistol in a
This one is a little bit different. While the Shadow 2 is CZ’s full-size offering, this particular pistol is a 75 P-01, CZ’s more compact alloy-frame. And while the
custom build. Fire 4 Effect was tapped to help execute that build. To begin with, the P-01 received Fire 4 Effect’s Britva
aforementioned Shadow 2 we featured was more a
(razor) slide package. This includes more pronounced
general showcase of what Fire 4 Effect does, this one
(deeper and larger) front and rear serrations to enhance
was built for a specific customer.
grip and improve slide manipulation. Plus, it just looks
The CZ’s owner is Tim Seargeant, marketing
cooler. Dual vents are added to the forward portion
manager for Kriss USA. Seargeant is a fan of hammer-
to reveal the barrel, which in this case is an OEM unit
fired handguns, hence his gravitation toward CZ
polished by Fire 4 Effect as part of the Britva treatment.
products. That and CZ pistols’ other signature design feature, which is that the slide operates inside the
36
frame rather than sitting atop it.
UN12 / Issue 013
Laser engraving is another area of expertise that Fire 4 Effect offers, and the treatments made as part of the
01 CZ enthusiasts are sold on the slide-inframe design which provides an inherently more accurate gun.
02 Fire 4 Effect’s custom Cerakote treatment, inspired by Boba Fett’s armor, includes slanting red and yellow stripes over battleworn gray.
03 The Fire 4 Effect Britva slide treatment includes enhanced cocking serrations and vents toward the pistol’s muzzle to show off the polished barrel.
02
“CZ enthusiasts are drawn to the slide-in-frame operation, among other features, which they believe provides an inherently more stable platform.”
03
UN12mag.com
37
FEATURE
01
Britva package include enhancing the factory markings,
we featured in Issue 008. Although the two guns share
along with adding the “Britva” script to the slide’s left
no common link beyond certain markings and the color
side and the Fire 4 Effect logo to its right just ahead of
scheme, this CZ P-01 would make a perfect companion
the ejection port. To add a bit of custom themed color
to that piece. To the uninitiated into Star Wars universe
flare to the build, a Mandalorian-styled Cerakote scheme
geekdom, Mandalorians were a galactic warrior culture
was mapped out and performed (professional Cerakote
who proved their worth to their clansmen and the galaxy
application being another facet of Fire 4 Effect’s
at large through feats of martial strength, both in battle
multivarious talent set). According to Fire 4 Effect co-
against varying foes and by hunting the most ferocious of
founder Will Wingfield, the original idea was to do a Star
extraterrestrial creatures and humanoids alike.
Wars theme from the outset—tentatively a black/white Stormtrooper motif. Given the ongoing buzz regarding
Boba Fett’s Mandalorian armor (although Fett himself
“The Mandalorian” TV series, the Stormtrooper focus
was not actually a Mandalorian—but that’s a whole other
was swapped for the existing theme.
story). Red and yellow were applied toward the P-01’s
“The Boba Fett theme has been done over and over
muzzle end, trigger guard, and toward the bottom of the
by a number of great shops, we wanted to take a run
front strap in eye-catching slanted bands against a base
at it and see how it would turn out,” Wingfield says.
of battleworn gray. Touches of red were also brushed
“We hadn’t seen one done on a CZ to date; typically
sparingly across the ribs of the grip panels.
you see Glocks and rifles done with this.” Regular readers might recall the Mandalorian-themed AR pistol
38
But we digress. The gun’s colors take inspiration from
UN12 / Issue 013
“The process is pretty typical in that we layer multiple colors; the design is really not standardized at all but
01 Fire 4 Effect’s expertise extends to laser engraving, which includes enhancing the factory markings and adding a few of their own.
02 There is no optic and, in fact, no provision for one, although Fire 4 Effect does offer an RDS cut as an option in its slide packages.
03 Custom laser etching includes the “Britva” script and, on this pistol, certain symbols peculiar to Boba Fett himself.
02 “The lack of an optic is not an oversight; although Fire 4 Effect offers an RDS cut, the owner felt that the extra expense for a red dot would offer him diminishing returns.”
there’s a definite theme that goes along with it,”
Fett himself: a stylized horned skull often taken as a
Wingfield says. “One big part of this is giving it that worn,
representation of the Mythosaurs, savage creatures from
beat-up look, so there’s some scuffing and light marking
the Mandalorian home planet. On the opposite side we
of the paint prior to finishing.”
find another stylized symbol referred to by Star Wars
Further laser etchings on the frame, again toward the muzzle end, include two symbols peculiar to
03
enthusiasts as Jaster Mereel’s Sigil—Mereel being Jango (Boba’s father) Fett’s mentor, and thus representing something of a family crest to the Fett lineage. Whatever your feeling on the lore behind it all, the very detailed symbols cut into the CZ metal should at the very least be illustrative of the painstaking detailed work Fire 4 Effect can apply to their craft, and that’s something any firearms customizer can appreciate. While the Fire 4 Effect package doesn’t modify the pistol’s frame to any great extent, care is taken to polish critical points of contact where the slide fits into
03
and actuates against it to ensure smooth operation. This is especially important when components have been re-coated and their surface dimensions altered, however slightly, as is the case with this Cerakoted P-01. UN12mag.com
39
FEATURE
01
02 01
In essence, the pistol’s action now operates more effortlessly than it did from the factory—smooth as glass, as they say. The final modification is a Pro Package trigger group
Production Class, or Stock Service Pistol Class, in the
USA. The package includes a race hammer and new
various matches I shoot, my times are not too far off
hammer pins, a hammer reach-reduction disconnector,
from the winners in the Carry Optics Class, despite
floating trigger pin and reduced-power spring,
them having the RDS and more ammo in their mags.
adjustable trigger, extended firing pin with a reduced-
Therefore, I don’t feel like the added cost and learning
power spring, and a custom-fitted firing pin retention
curve to shoot an RDS pistol would benefit me enough
pin, among other things. It’s in effect a complete re-
to go down that road.”
imagining of the fire-control mechanism. While they’re
In addition to the P-01, Seargeant owns several
obviously fans of the CZ’s OEM mechanics, Fire 4
examples of CZ hardware, and, of course, his day job
Effect enthusiastically recommends the upgrade for a
at Kriss has enabled him to handle multiple examples
marked improvement over the original—no mean feat.
of the Sphinx. The magazine employed in the Fett P-01
Some may note the conspicuous lack of an optic.
40
2 Orange) explains: “When I look at my results in
upgrade curated by Cajun Gun Works out of Louisiana,
is actually one from a Sphinx SDP Compact, which
Seargeant didn’t opt for an RDS cut on the slide,
might be viewed as a close analog to the CZ 75 P-01.
although Fire 4 Effect does offer that option. It wasn’t
“The cross-compatibility makes things easy for my
an oversight. Seargeant, who competes in local
pistol arsenal,” he says.
USPSA and steel matches (using a CZ Shadow
[ UN12 ]
UN12 / Issue 013
Note that the Cerakote extends to the frame’s interior; treated surfaces are handlapped to ensure the slide operates within the frame as smoothly as possible.
02 The CZ 75 P-01 accepts Kriss Sphinx SDP Compact magazines (not pictured) giving the owner great crossplatform flexibility.
03 Custom grip panels were added for enhanced purchase and treated sparingly with red Cerakote.
Kriss Sphinx CZs haven’t gained a loyal following through pure
adjustable backstraps, front cocking serrations,
available: SDP Compact and SDP Duty. For more
chance. The signature slide-in-frame design has
and steel sights, but what Seargeant feels really
information visit the company website at
inspired a whole new wave of modern handguns, a
sets it apart are build quality, fit, and finish. Major
kriss-usa.com.
standout example being the Kriss Sphinx.
components are machined from billet and each
“The superiority of the slide-in-frame design is
pistol is assembled by hand. This attention to detail
inherently due to the support for the slide running
and measured execution of craftsmanship are
across the entire frame, which then supports the
typically Swiss traits, and amount to what Kriss
barrel,” Tim Seargeant explains. “The reciprocating
believes is a superior weapon.
slide and floating barrel aren’t ideal for accuracy,
The flip side is that it doesn’t come cheap, and as
which is why the most accurate guns on the market
a result has proven somewhat elusive in the firearms
are locked-breach bolt-action rifles. There are a
marketplace. “The Sphinx is a bit hard to get hold
lot of moving parts in a handgun, and the slide-
of,” Seargeant acknowledges. “We don’t make very
in-frame design does a better job minimizing the
many of them, in part because it’s very expensive
variables of the operating system.”
and time consuming doing all the hand fitting.”
The Sphinx includes standard features like
If you’d like to keep an eye out, two versions are
03 UN12mag.com
41
Fett CZ 75 P-01 Specifications UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
Caliber: 9mm Luger Capacity: 15+1 Overall Length: 7.25 in. Weight Unloaded: 1 lb, 10 oz. Coating: Cerakote by Fire 4 Effect Slide: Fire 4 Effect Britva package Barrel: CZ, polished by Fire 4 Effect
Featured Accessories Cajun Gun Works Pro Package trigger group, LOK grip panels
About the Owner Name: Tim Seargeant Occupation: Marketing Manager at Kriss USA
The F4E BAT In between the ongoing crush of components
car doors for lock release access, and disassembly
with heaving breaching tools that simply need a
production and turning out custom projects on a
of items like laptops, desktops, and so on. It also
point of introduction.
regular basis, Fire 4 Effect has also been hard at
facilitates gaining purchase on heavier structures
The BAT is designed for belt, carrier, rear
work on new product development. This one is
horizontal, or IWB concealed carry. Grip scales are
not a gun or a gun part, however, but a hand tool
being produced in two styles by LOK, which also
developed for a few specific applications.
supplies custom grip panels for Fire 4 Effect pistol
“We initially were going to call it a ‘Micro Breacher,’
builds. Tool design, machining, and assembly were
but after destructive testing and coordination with
all performed in-house. The BAT will reportedly be
some Tier 1 operator testing we identified a better
available in four color options, with a Kydex sheath
name for the product as a ‘Breaching Assist Tool,’ or
and multiple mounting hardware options included.
‘BAT,’” says F4E’s Will Wingfield. The BAT is essentially a hand-held prying tool that
Wingfield expects the first-gen BAT to become available on the company website in the next month
enables the breaching of lightweight structures—
or two, and Gen 2 and 3 designs are already in
aluminum window frames, interior doors, upper
progress.
42
UN12 / Issue 013
JOINBDU.COM
PRODUCT REVIEW
: : Upgraded Glock platform based on Glock 19 : : Customized slide, frame, & internal parts : : Chambered for 9mm
Lone Wolf Arms 44
UN12 / Issue 013
LTD19—Lightweight Tactical Defense G19 Text & Images by DAVID “TRACERX” THORSON
T
hose who have any familiarity with
subjective, judging by the quality of the internals
Glock upgrades are more than likely to
and overall look of the slide and frame, LFA
have heard of Lone Wolf Arms. The name has
did a fantastic job. Everything is as one would
become known as a top-tier industry standard
expect from a top-shelf firearm.
for extremely reliable yet subtle upgrades for Glock firearms for more than two decades. Almost anything that can be upgraded on a Glock, Lone Wolf Arms can do it. And do it well they have, becoming one of the most wellknown names in the Glock aftermarket. Naturally, the next evolution for the company was introducing its own line of handguns, completely kitted-out with its own custom parts. Many competitors purchase off-the-shelf Glock inventory then mill and polish them for their own upgrades, and while many do a serviceable job, it can come at the expense of reliability and longevity. Lone Wolf has a distinct advantage here—they make all their own parts from raw materials, in-house, on state-of-the-art CNC
For those looking for a reliable and accurate
machines, and with decades of experience and
handgun that already has the upgrades one
pride in manufacturing.
might otherwise add to a factory Glock, the
The recently introduced Lone Wolf Arms
LTD19 has you covered—and at a reasonable
LTD19 (Lightweight Tactical Defense) pistol
price. The only modification I made to mine
is Lone Wolf’s take on a near-perfect Glock.
was adding Night Fision Costa night sights and
Although we’ll agree the term “perfect” is quite
removal of the magwell, which, while functional,
UN12mag.com
45
Product Review: Lone Wolf Arms LTD19
I felt detracted from the overall look of the firearm, as well as concealability if this gun was to be carried. When shopping for a new firearm or making upgrades, you must always bear in mind reliability is not always achieved when adding aftermarket parts. When your life potentially depends on it, the last thing you want is for the gun to go “click.” On the other hand, accuracy should not come at the expense of reliability, unless of course it’s a firearm intended for sport, not self-defense. This is where Lone Wolf’s experience in manufacturing aftermarket parts achieves the pinnacle of both reliability and accuracy. So many manufacturers seriously overdo firearms
“While other custom slides may be off-theshelf Glock inventory that are milled and polished, Lone Wolf Arms makes its own parts from raw materials, in-house, on state-of-the-art CNC machines with experienced operators.” with a very “Gucci” look, removing so much material from a stock Glock slide to impart a very modern design but weakening it in the process. We have seen many a cracked slide from just this issue. This is where the LTD19 shines: The slides are milled from raw aluminum and not too much material has been removed from the high-stress places where it really counts. Where material is removed, the CNC machining is done precisely with no leftover machining marks. The front serrations on the slide impart the perfect surface area for my large hands to gain superior purchase while racking without any potential slippage. The lightening cuts and windows running along both sides of the slide not only add a simple design element, breaking up the normally “blocky” slide, but are placed so they don’t decrease operational strength. There are two slide variations available depending on your taste—nitride and stainless, both offering reduced reciprocating mass that results in both quicker cycling and less perceived recoil than on a standard Glock 19. One of the many upgrades people make to a stock
46
UN12 / Issue 013
Specs Caliber: 9mm Weight unloaded: 19 oz. Length: 7.16 in. Barrel Length: 4 in. Height (inc. magwell): 4.77 in. Width (slide): 0.99 in. Width (frame): 1.13 in. Width (magwell): 1.49 in. Sight Radius: 5.9 in. Trigger Pull: 6.5 lbs Control Upgrades: Stainless steel guide rod, enlarged mag release, enlarged slide stop/ release
The generous, radiused
The LTD19 Timberwolf Frame Unlike many other Glock-
more natural feel. Spec junkies
undercut eliminates “Glock
pattern alternatives, the LTD is
will also note that the LTD pistols
knuckle,” permits a higher grip
not the result of simple geometry
are also lighter than the originals.
for reduced perceived recoil, and
changes or the polishing of
Critical ounces have been
permits larger-handed shooters
new old-stock parts, but rather
removed from the slide for a pistol
to enjoy the concealability of a
the culmination of decades of
that cycles quicker, recoils less,
compact firearm.
experience. Lone Wolf Arms
and carries more comfortably.
A relieved-radius tang assists
has seen trends rise and fall,
in a higher grip, effectively
fielded thousands of customer
lowering the bore axis while
comments and questions, and
also distributing recoil impulse
learned what truly improves the
safely across the web of the
platform.
hand without beating on thumb
The LTD is the culmination of
knuckle. The extended beavertail
that experience and provides the
serves to shield the hand from
same capacity as its inspiration,
slide movement and disperses
but thanks to the Timberwolf
recoil impulse.
Frame, it also offers a slimmer,
UN12mag.com
47
Product Review: Lone Wolf Arms LTD19
Glock, after improving the trigger, is a grip reduction. Personally, I find stock Glocks grips to be abhorrent. Even though I have big hands, I find that the grips are still just too big. Not to mention the Glock’s point of aim. While everyone is uniquely different, I find they tend to point high. To fix this, most of my Glocks have had a grip reduction done. Lone Wolf has put a lot of thought into this exact issue on the Timberwolf frame used in the LTD19. They’ve angled the grip so it points much more naturally than an unmodified Glock. However, if you’re a purist and like the stock Glock’s point of aim, they’ve also included a small backstrap to modify your grip and add some girth to accomplish exactly that. The texture on the frame feels remarkably similar to stock—it’s not too aggressive, but won’t give you the feeling the gun could slip right out of your hands. I’d be comfortable enough carrying IWB without issue, but a purely personal preference would be something a bit more aggressive. Overall, the LTD19 is indeed a big step up from a standard Glock handgun. While only slightly more costly than a stock Glock, you should consider adding in the parts to upgrade one to this level. Our feeling is you would end up spending more in time and money than the retail price point of the LTD19 out the door. The LTD19 and Glock upgrades are available at local retailers and direct from Lone Wolf Arms at lonewolfdist.com.
Lone Wolf Arms LTD19 MSRP: $700 URL: lonewolfdist.com
48
UN12 / Issue 013
UN12
[ UN12 ]
HOME
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UN12mag.com
49
FEATURE
Company Profile
Timney Triggers USA Text by ROLAND WILKES Images by JAY CANTER
G
uns and gun culture are every bit as American as baseball and apple pie. In fact, we’d argue they are fundamentally
American, part of our national fiber and our national identity. It’s no surprise then that certain brands in the industry have
and he realized there were a lot of people making modifications to rifles they’d brought back from Germany—Mausers
loved for decades upon decades by millions. This certainly
specifically. So he came up with a trigger to make a Mauser much
applies to longstanding American gunmakers like Colt and
more accurate for hunting, and it was a hit.”
Remington, but also a select few components manufacturers. In
Timney initially built triggers for bolt-action service rifles
that latter category, Timney Triggers USA out of Phoenix, Arizona,
like the aforementioned Mauser, as well as the contemporary
most definitely makes the cut.
Springfields and Enfields, and the fledgling operation soon
component supplier can be and has more manufacturing years under its belt than most, having been in business for 75 years
UN12 / Issue 013
met in all my years. In 1946 he’d come back from World War II
risen to the ranks of household names, companies known and
Part of the reason is that Timney is about as venerable as a
50
According to Timney president John Vehr, who knew the founder: “Allen Timney was the most amazing creative mind I’ve
became the outlet of renown for aftermarket triggers on the boltaction platforms of the day. There are a good many trigger manufacturers in today’s
as of this writing. The company was founded by its namesake,
expansive firearms marketplace, some of them very well
Allen Timney, in the wake of World War II, to support a newly
respected, but most of them are focused on a single popular
rejuvenated sporting market.
platform or make—AR and Glock being two that immediately
UN12mag.com
51
Profile: Timney Triggers USA spring to mind. Timney supports both of
we are a motley crew, and every single one of the
these, of course, but also a good many more.
people who works here is an absolute ninja at
and we name them Calvin Elites because he made
In fact, the list of supported makes, models,
what they do.”
them amazing and we wanted to honor him that
and platforms could make your head spin.
“We’ve named a couple triggers Calvin Elites,
The key to the company’s success, he feels,
way,” says Timney general manager Jeff Dodge.
Timney supplies aftermarket upgrades for a
is team members’ common respect for one
“We started to see real results out of making
wide range of major OEMs including Browning,
another—a respect for how people live their
precision parts the first time, and I was bitten by
FNH, Remington, Ruger, Winchester, and many
lives and how they do their jobs. And on the
this bug,” says Vehr. “How do we create the best
more. They also maintain supply and marketing
intersection of implementing high-tech tools and
possible part where nobody touches anything until
relationships with specialty manufacturers and
finding the very best people to put them to use,
we absolutely have to? And that’s why the shop
OEMs to include Daniel Defense, Grey Ghost
Vehr has an interesting story.
looks the way it does.”
Precision, Lantac, SIG Sauer, and others. At last
“This is where I learned about smart people,”
Creating beautiful parts is one thing, but
count, the various trigger models they offer, for
he says. “So I bought this wire EDM, a very
making sure they function properly is another.
rifles to shotguns to handguns, tops 170.
expensive tool. Calvin [Motley]’s company
Quality control is paramount and each individual
had just been acquired by AT&T and they were
trigger is put through its paces before it ever
purchased the company from Timney and
moving to Kansas City. Calvin had a young
leaves the Timney facility. Another important
continued to expand operations. John began
family at the time and didn’t really want to move
part of development, both for new offerings and
work at the family business in 1994 and
to Kansas City. So he came by the shop, we
for improving existing products, is customer
eventually served as general manager. When
talked and he saw what we did. He came back
feedback—both from the pros and the everyday
Rosemary suddenly passed away in 2000, and
a week later and he had a beautiful—I mean
shooters who make up Timney’s customer base.
Paul just a few weeks later, John stood at a
gorgeous—part that he had made. And I was
“We’ve learned a great deal from competitive
sort of turning point. In the end, he followed his
like, ‘How’d you do this?’ And he said, ‘Wire
shooters on our existing products as well as new
gut and his vision and began investing heavily
EDM.’ I said, ‘Same machine we’ve got out
in technology and state-of-the-art machinery.
back?’ ‘Yep.’ And I said, ‘You can make this part
More importantly—and a central theme of the
on this machine?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’”
In 1981 Vehr’s parents, Paul and Rosemary,
company’s current mission statement—he went
He continues: “What I really started to learn
to work finding the best people he possibly
was I can hire really smart people, but then it’s
could to help him make his vision reality. And
time to listen to them and time to take their ideas
that approach seems to be what’s made all the
into account.”
difference. “The thing that sets Timney apart from any
Motley is now the lead engineer at Timney and is responsible for designing and implementing
other company is our people,” Vehr says. “I
manufacture of the most precise components
know, I know—that’s what everybody says. But
the company can possibly produce.
Timney Triggers USA
52
UN12 / Issue 013
Below Left: Packaged Impact AR triggers prepared for shipping.
offerings,” says Timney communications director
Below Right: A good deal of Timney’s manufacturing is automated, but certain procedures are still done by hand.
our Alpha Competition for Glock triggers.”
Chris Ellis. “For example, our DH3 AR trigger was a collaboration between us and Daniel Horner, and Shane Coley assisted us early in the process with He goes on: “There have been numerous others, from hunters, plinkers, weekend competitors, and professionals. Timney has been around for 75 years by listening to our customers. We’re constantly asking, ‘What trigger would you like us to build next?’”
“What I really started to learn was I can hire smart people, but then it’s time to listen to them.” —John Vehr
Bottom Left: A collection of Remington 700 2 Stage triggers. These are available factory calibrated ready to shoot or fully adjustable for sear engagement, over-travel, and pull weight. Bottom Right: Clean, brightly lit, and thoroughly modern, Timney’s factory floor is the picture of a 21st century manufacturing operation.
UN12mag.com
53
Profile: Timney Triggers USA
Top Left: A group of actions stands by to be used for trigger testing and evaluation. Left: Final trigger assembly is performed carefully and methodically. Upper Right: Automated processes still require constant attention by skilled technicians. Bottom: Precision machining is only one aspect of what goes into every Timney trigger.
A similar trial-by-fire approach is employed in the development of new products. “We conduct extensive beta testing internally and externally,” says Ellis. “Depending on the platform the trigger is designed for, we’re looking to gain data from a cross section of the shooting population—from experts and professionals to novice shooters and even beginners to help us round out the data and make the best data-based decisions possible.” He continues: “A great example of listening to customer feedback is handgun triggers. We were asked to develop a series of Alpha Competition triggers for handguns that not only performed but was true to Timney’s standards—easy to install, innovative design, enhanced the shooter’s ability to become more accurate with the firearm, and would be robust enough to perform for years to
Timney Triggers USA
come. Our first answer was a replacement trigger for the Glock Gen3 and 4, and shortly we followed up with an offering for the Gen5.” While the core of Timney’s success can be largely attributed to the personnel who make the day-to-day operations work, and from customer and end-user feedback gathered across decades, there still needs to be an overarching vision. For his part, John Vehr is the man who supplied that vision and it’s his foresight, investment in tech and people, and the chances he’s taken that have made it all happen. “One of the coolest things about John is, at the time I interviewed with him nine years ago, everything that he told me would happen at Timney has happened. When I came here there were seven of us. Now there’s over thirty,” says Jeff Dodge. For Vehr himself, it’s still about the people. “I didn’t want us to necessarily just be a trigger company,” he says. “So what we do is serve one another. We’ve got a culture that ignites people, that gathers them together and makes them say, ‘Yeah, I want to be a part of this.’ That to me is a place a want to go to every day.” [ UN12 ]
For more information and to view their impressive array of products, check out Timney Triggers USA at timneytriggers.com.
54
UN12 / Issue 013
FEATURE
Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by MICHAEL GREY
56
UN12 / Issue 013
PTR3 Custom PTR32 KFR 200 : : Based on the HK G3 platform : : Takes AK mags and 7.62x39mm ammo
: : Roller-delayed blowback system
UN12mag.com
57
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
FEATURE
R32
58
UN12 / Issue 013
W
hat do you get when you combine German
has an interesting history that can fill volumes, but
and Spanish engineering with American
simply put the G3 was the product of a weapons
manufacturing and a dash of Russian flavor? It
development program where it was co-developed
may sound like Chris, owner of the pictured rifle,
by Germany’s Heckler & Koch and Spain’s Centro
is making a tasty sausage, but in fact that multi-
de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales.
national list describes the linage of the PTR 32 KFR
This project yielded two rifles, the CETME and
200 that he’s taken down the rifle-customizing
the G3. Both are similar, but both also have their
rabbit hole. Let’s follow him down into the hole to
differences. But that’s another story entirely.
learn more about this unique build. Chris is a casual shooter, and like most of us he
When Chris went shopping for an HK91, he did his research and decided the way to go was to buy
enjoys assembling and accessorizing his rifles.
a clone, as actual Heckler & Koch models come
Mainstays of his collection include numerous ARs
at a premium price that he wasn’t willing to pay. In
and a smattering of AKs. It was a few years ago
his own words: “I planned on modifying the rifle
that he decided that he wanted to take a different
anyway, so I wasn’t so concerned with keeping it
route on his next build. He decided to take a break from his favorite, AR-15, and push himself to learn about and build out a rifle that he’d always been curious about. That rifle was the HK91. The HK91 is the semi-auto version of the select-fire-capable HK G3, a battle rifle fielded by militaries worldwide including Germany and the UK. The G3 is chambered in 7.62 NATO, as is the HK91. The platform
full-on Heckler-Koch original.”
“HK91 is the semi-auto version of the select-fire HK G3, a battle rifle fielded by militaries worldwide.”
He already knew that he wanted a PTR Industriesproduced HK91 clone, the proven PTR91. PTR has a solid reputation for building clones of many of HK’s roller-delayed blowback firearms. PTR is based in South Carolina, so he felt confident in that the American-made rifle would be backed by a company that he could rely upon if he required any help.
Laser The Russian-made ZenitCo Perst-4 is an IR and visible-laser device that uses a proprietary remote switch.
Stock The Spuhr R-416 is designed to reposition the shooter’s head and mitigate recoilinduced contact.
UN12mag.com
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FEATURE
Chris went to a local gun shop to take a look at the PTRs they had on display (mind you, this was a few years back when stores still had ample selection) and found something curious. He saw a PTR on the wall that had what looked like an AK mag sticking out of it. “Banana-shaped AK mags are really
wasn’t too fond of was the fact that the rear of the receiver pushes into your cheekbone under recoil.
unmistakable,” he says. “I saw a PTR with a
The contour of the factory buttstock dips so that it
Magpul AK mag in it and immediately asked the
places your cheek right up against a metal hump
salesperson about it. He told me that it was the
at the rear of the receiver. If you’re not positioned
PTR32, a PTR that fires AK rounds from AK mags.
correctly, the hump can really nail you in your
I was sold on it right there and then. If I could
cheek. Lastly, no matter what stocks I tried, the
have a rifle that fires the much more economical
length of pull was unreasonably long. It’s a ‘long’
7.62x39mm round and use my existing AK mags,
gun for sure.” Chris wanted to see if he could
I’m all about it. Besides, any rifle that rocks a
modify it to better suit his shooting style and avoid
curved AK mag looks good to me.”
getting clocked in the face when he shot it.
With the PTR32 now in his collection, he was
He took another deep dive into the rabbit holes
excited to take it to the range. He reports that the
of the internet, including forums as well as the
32 was really enjoyable to shoot. The combination
HKparts and RTG Parts webstores. Over the course
of the 7.62x39mm round, the sheer heft of the rifle,
of three years the rifle started to slowly morph into
and its roller-delayed blowback system makes it
the version you see here. At first he stripped off
an extremely soft shooter. In fact, he adds, “The
the black polymer furniture it came with and gave
rifle is a trip to fire. I don’t know how to explain the
it surplus ex-German military wood furniture and
“The combination of 7.62mm round, the rifle’s sheer heft, and its roller-delayed blowback system makes it an extremely soft shooter. It might be described as ‘shooting in slow motion.’”
a Midwest Industries muzzle brake. He liked that look, but still was bothered by the buttstock and heft (and the wood only made it even heavier). He tried several furniture variations but was still looking for a solution when he came across Spuhr’s R-416 G3 stock assembly. The Spuhr R-416 G3 stock was developed to help modernize the rifle by bringing the shooter’s head up inline with the top and give it a shorter length of pull thanks to multi-position adjustability. The G3’s factory stock design was originally designed to position the shooter’s head below the rear of the receiver, just behind its low-height iron sights. This is how the rear receiver hump gained its reputation as the “cheekbone crusher.” According to Spuhr: “To prevent a collision between the ‘hump’ and the shooter’s face, they
sensation of shooting it other than saying that it
made the stock terribly long. It’s almost 3 inches
feels like it shoots in slow motion. I handed it to my
longer than an M16A2 stock.” The long stock
buddies to shoot and they said the same thing.”
makes the G3 family of guns cumbersome, heavy,
He continues: “Three things did bother me. One is the overall weight of it. At well over 9 pounds
and difficult to control, as Chris can attest. The R-416 completely replaces the standard
without any accessories, this thing is much heavier
stock and features a comb that’s 1 inch higher,
than my decked-out ARs and AKs. Adding stuff
which easily aligns the shooter’s head behind
onto it only makes it heavier. The other thing I
modern-day optics. It gets rid of the hump and
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UN12 / Issue 013
PT Optic
The EoTech XPS3 offers a wide field of view and quicktargeting reticle.
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
TR32 Lower
This CNC-machined Fleming Firearms unit integrates a Magpul MIAD grip and KAC trigger guard.
Light A SureFire Infrared Mini Scout Light Pro allows the user to easily switch from visible to IR light.
UN12mag.com
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TR32
FEATURE
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
is overall shorter,
but still
adjustable for
length. Thanks
to the geometry
of the new stock, the gun feels lighter due
to the balance of the shortened length and
makes recoil easier to absorb as it places
the rifle’s bore line at a lower level than the
stock when shouldered.
Now that his head could be placed inline with
the rail, he decided to add an optic to it. The 32
comes with a Picatinny rail welded to the receiver top, a perfect platform for optics. Chris chose an
EoTech XPS3 holographic sight, which fits perfectly on the rifle’s top. The reason he chose an EoTech holosight was because it has a large window and a reticle that he shoots faster with. He went with
the XPS3 model because it also added night vision capability. Other night vision accessories include a SureFire Infrared Mini Scout Light Pro, which
switches from white light to IR with the simple twist of its bezel. Adding another Russian ingredient into this build, he integrated a ZenitCo Perst-4
combined laser device on the rail. The Perst-4 is
Mags
The PTR32 accepts AK magazines, which the owner already had in his collection.
a Russian-made IR and visible-laser device that comes with a proprietary remote switch. The
innovative switch features an activation button as well as a laser-strength dial.
The railed handguard the light and laser mount to
is a Knight’s Armament Co. (KAC) HK91 RAS. The
classic full-length Picatinny rail is hard to come by,
so when Chris found one available online he quickly snatched it up. “I was looking for an m-lok rail, but
couldn’t resist pulling the trigger on the KAC when it surfaced,” he says. “I’ve always been a fan of
KAC and this rail is rare enough that I didn’t want to regret not snapping it up. It’s not going to make my rifle lighter, but it does make it look old-school cool in my opinion.” TangoDown Rail Grips and a KAC handstop round out the rail attachments.
If you’re at all familiar with the PTR32, you’ll
“The combination of modern parts and accessories has helped balance the rifle out and mitigate some of its more brutal shooting characteristics.” 62
UN12 / Issue 013
Why You Need A Console Vault In-Vehicle Safe » If you think your glove box is safe » If you hunt, fish, hike, shoot, camp,
or vacation with your family
» If you can’t carry and have to leave
your gun in your vehicle
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» If you have ever been a victim of a
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» If you want to protect your investment Of the thousands of crimes committed with a firearm, most involved firearms stolen from vehicles like yours. In-vehicle theft is a crime of opportunity. The best way to protect your firearms and valuables is to eliminate the opportunity. All Console Vault In-Vehicle Safes are built from heavy gauge steel with a choice of locking mechanisms. Each safe is easily installed in the console of your vehicle because the best way to hide your firearm is to hide the safe.
C O N S O L E V A U LT. C O M
FEATURE
UN12
E X P L O D E D VIEW
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UN12 / Issue 013
PTR3
Custom PTR32 KFR 200 Specifications Caliber: 7.62x39mm Capacity: 30+1 Minimum Length: 37.75 in. Maximum Length: 40.75 in.
Weight Unloaded: 10 lbs, 12 oz. Barrel Length: 16 in.
notice that its stock plastic trigger housing was
replaced with a heavy-duty aluminum unit made
by Fleming Firearms. The American-made, hard-
anodized, CNC-machined lower toughens up the rifle and helps create a rugged look. The lower
accepts both an AR grip and AR trigger guard,
which in this case are a Magpul MIAD and a KAC
On the tip of the 16-inch barrel is a pair of muzzle devices by Q. Chris’s 32 uses a Q Cherry Bomb
with a Q Bottle Rocket mounted on top of it. The
Cherry Bomb is a fast-attach muzzle brake that’s compatible with silencers made by Q. It features
360-degree circumferential ports so it doesn’t need to be timed when installed. Threaded over that
you’ll find the Q Bottle Rocket, which is designed as an enhanced brake for use over the Cherry Bomb brake. It also serves as a thread protector for the Cherry Bomb when not hosting a silencer.
Chris reports that he’s happy with his PTR32 as presently constituted. He’s taken it out for casual shooting and tactical drills with his buddies and
thinks that it’s a fun shooter. “It’s been a long road
of trial and error with this rifle,” he confesses. “I’ve
spent more on parts than I care to think about, trying out what works and what doesn’t, but discovery is part of the fun. I’ve learned so much about a platform that was completely unknown to me
before. I never was able to lighten the load of this
beast, but at least it’s not smacking me in the cheek anymore. I’ve realized that whenever I hit the range, I make sure to bring this rifle along. I never want to go to the range without it.”
That says it all. Looking at it, we’d be hardpressed to leave it at home too. [ UN12 ]
“While he was never quite able to completely lighten up the load, the owner has come to realize that whenever he hits the range, he makes sure to never leave this rifle behind.”
Featured Accessories Optic: EoTech HWS XPS3 Light: SureFire Infrared Mini Scout Light Pro Laser: ZenitCo Perst-4 with KV-D2 tactical switch Parts & Accessories: Spuhr R-416 G3 Stock Assembly, Fleming Firearms HK-AR Lower, Magpul MIAD Grip, KAC HK91 RAS Rail, KAC Handstop, KAC Trigger Guard, TangoDown Rail Grips, Q Bottle Rocket, Q Cherry Bomb
v
unit, respectively.
About the Owner Name: Chris B. Occupation: Contractor
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ADVENTURE
Lone Traveler Text by JOHN PANGILINAN Images by GEORGE FERNANDEZ
M
any people dream of leaving their careers to pursue their true passions,
but most never take the leap. As for George Fernandez, he followed his heart and found his true calling in the outdoors. After ten years of owning his own successful business, he decided it was time to sell it off and chase his dream of working in nature. “There’s just something about long road trips and spending long days away from the normal eight-to-five routine that truly brings the appreciation of a simple life on the road.” Fernandez’s father introduced him to the great outdoors from a very young age. They would travel all across California in a 1979 Ford Granada in search of adventure, often taking weekly trips to explore, whether at a national park or a deserted dirt road. These experiences stuck with him and were where a fondness for off-roading would take root. Fernandez decided he needed a truck that would be capable of taking him on extreme trips through varied landscapes and climates. His goal was to build a vehicle that would allow him to stay off the grid for long stretches of time and with no limitations. He inevitably came across the overlanding community and instantly knew this was the direction for his truck, which has now allowed him to travel and explore eight states across the toughest of terrain. Fernandez determined a Toyota Tacoma would be the perfect platform for his adventure-ready vehicle due to its off-road capability and performance, along with the bounty of aftermarket parts readily available. He’d be no stranger to modifying the vehicle, as he grew up in the sport compact import tuning world, where he built vehicles for car shows and for racing.
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: : Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road built for life off the grid : : Performance & quality of life upgrades : : Follow along on YouTube at Bustabeatgeorge
UN12mag.com
67
01
01 He elected for a 2017 Toyota Tacoma
was to improve accessibility and
TRD Off-Road edition, which is quite
overall functionality. He made sure to
capable from the factory with its 3.5-liter
include quick access to first aid kits,
V6 engine and four-wheel drive, but to
recovery gear, firearms, and other
better suit his needs and style he would of
items needed for survival or in case
course take things up a notch. New Work
of emergency. Everything else was
Meister S1HC wheels were added for style
added as an amenity, including solar
and wrapped in Toyo Tires Open Country
panels to provide additional power, a
A/T III tires for enhanced performance and
Dometic CFX 35 portable fridge, an
traction. Fernandez added Deaver Stage
iKamper hard-shell roof-top tent, and
III leaf springs along with Locked Off-
an awning to enhance the experience
Road 2.5 shocks with external adjustable
and make setting up camp a lot easier
reservoirs and Total Chaos Upper Control
after a long day on the road.
arms for additional stability.
Interior and exterior storage is important for a self-reliant traveler to
“The more I travel, the more I
ensure everything is accounted for
understand the importance of not only
and protected. Within the interior,
using quality gear but also efficiently
Fernandez opted to remove the rear
prioritizing space usage in and out of
seat with a Goose Gear second-row
the rig.”
delete to create more space for items
Over the course of five years, the
like the fridge, a jack, and slew of
vehicle has undergone a few different
Pelican cases that hold everything
transformations as Fernandez learned
from his firearms to his photography
through trial and error what works best
equipment. The top of his rig is
for him and his style of travel. The goal
equipped with a Front Runner Slimline
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UN12 / Issue 013
02
The already-capable 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road is easily prepared for life off-grid.
02
Truck and owner have traversed eight states and have conquered the toughest terrain.
03
03
Having escaped the daily grind, Fernandez now makes a living documenting his adventures.
UN12mag.com
69
01
01
Prioritizing storage is of the utmost importance in life on the road.
02
Follow along in George Fernandez’s tire tracks @Bustabeatgeorge.
II roof rack and bed rack, which houses
undercarriage skid plates along with
videographer, who now works with
not only his roof-top tent but also more
rock sliders. The truck was most
various brands by creating content
looking to follow in his footsteps
Fernandez’s advice for anyone
storage in the form of a Pelican Cargo
recently wrapped by Beyond Wraps to
and sharing his experiences via his
would be this: “Build the rig to meet
BX140 and Pelican V730 case.
help keep the factory paint protected,
YouTube channel, Bustabeatgeorge.
your needs, whether it’s hunting,
and it also gives him the option of
He spends half the month on the road
overlanding, fishing, and so on. Narrow
“Traveling solo is all about fulfilling
replacing or simply removing the vinyl
exploring new places and re-visiting
it down to the key components that will
your goals and overcoming that fear
if it gets damaged on the trail.
old favorites; his last trip spanned six
improve your vehicle while you’re off
weeks and took him to the far-flung
the grid, prioritize functionality, simplify
of the unknown or the risk involved.”
Additional safety is provided by
Fernandez often travels alone. He’s
a collection of LED lights from Baja
recesses of Nevada, Utah, Colorado,
the vision—and build from there.”
used this time to challenge himself
Designs located on the front bumper,
and Arizona.
[ UN12 ]
and unwind from the daily routine. Yet
roof rack, and bed rack. These
he’s always prepared for the unknown
powerful lights help illuminate the road
and any challenges that may arise.
ahead as well as when he’s parked and
Accidents do happen and damage
setting up camp.
may be incurred, so he’s equipped his rig with a pair of recovery boards
“With absolutely no formal
in case he gets stuck, along with a
education or training in videography,
Warn Zeon 10s Platinum winch to help
I somehow managed to capture
himself or others. A full-size spare
unfiltered outdoor experiences,
wheel and tire is easily accessible and
which changed my life forever.”
mounted with a RIGd Supply Ultra
Once the truck was built and ready
Swing tire carrier. Protecting the body
for action, Fernandez discovered that
of the truck itself is a C4 Fabrication
he had a desire to share and document
Overland Series front bumper, Rago
his trips with the world. This has led
Fabrication lower control arms, and
him down the path as a filmmaker and
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UN12 / Issue 013
02
A
A Crate of AKs Text & Images by JERRY TSAI
W
hat projects do you currently have sitting on
undertakings that we’ve seen in a long while. What
your workbench? A custom AR that you need a
you’re gawking at is a crate of ten Polish underfolder
final piece in order to finish? Or are you building a night
AKs complete with accessories. The wooden crate
vision gun so you can eventually take it to a low-light/
was handmade and the AKs were individually
no-light tactical class? Doesn’t it seem like there are
assembled by UN12’s very own Technical Editor,
always way more projects queued in your head than
Michael Penhall.
there are days in the year? We’re guilty of stacking up
The crate is definitely a conversation starter and can
more projects than we could ever finish, too… but we
easily be used as one of the most badass coffee tables
wouldn’t have it any other way
around. It has both a solid wood lid as well as a clear
Projects come big and small, and some even
72
top made of thick plexiglass to show off its impressive
come in double-XL size. We’d say that the featured
cargo. Bottom line—it looks like it was for sure one fun
project you see here qualifies as one of the larger
project to work on.
UN12 / Issue 013
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
AK
UN12mag.com
73
Let’s hear more about this AK-crazed pet project directly from Penhall himself. “I always wanted to build a ‘crate of something.’ I first looked at Mosins, but a full crate of those rifles was just going to be too long for me to display or store. I also looked into building a crate of SKSs when they were available, but they just didn’t fit my existing collection very well. So I finally settled on AKs to fit in with everything I already had.” The crate isn’t an exact reproduction of an existing weapons shipment crate. Instead, it was designed from the ground up employing a lot of creativity and imagination. Penhall goes on to describe how he got the wooden crate made. “I had a friend help initially design the crate and
U.S. production barrels. The armorer’s kit came
I was flying blind for most of the build because
from Apex Gun Parts and contains all the spare
I couldn’t find any good reference photos of a
parts for the underfolders. I wanted to make sure
complete crate of AKs until after it was built. So even
that the crate not only included ten AKs, but all their
though it’s not a clone of an existing crate, it does
accessories and an armorer’s kit as well. Packed
have the surplus look and feel I was going for.
alongside the rifles are ten magazine pouches. Each
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
UN12 / Issue 013
underfolders built on AK Builder parts kits with new
I added some changes to the handles and the lid.
“The rifles contained in the crate are Polish
74
“The rifles are Polish AK underfolders with new production barrels, each with spare magazines and a cleaning kit. An armorer’s kit is also included.”
pouch includes three magazines and a cleaning kit,
UN12mag.com
75
as the AK underfolders have no buttstock to store the cleaning kits. A sling and oiler bottle set is contained in each of the heat-sealed pouches.” As we mentioned at the beginning, two different lids were created for the crate—one made of wood and the other crafted from clear plexi with a wooden frame. Both lids feature matching markings in Polish. As it turns out, Penhall is able to translate them for us “The Circle 11 you see emblazoned on the crate’s cover is the factory logo, factory name, and the
A
initals ‘AKMS’. In Polish, this stands for ‘Karabinek
“The crate includes two different lids, one made of wood with Polish markings, one made of clear acrylic to show off its impressive cargo.”
Automatyczny Kalasznikowa Modernizowany,’
which translates to ‘Short Battle Carbine Automatic,
Modernized with Folding Stock,’” Penhall says. “The entire project took a while to complete, but it was a
impressive creation to behold. Penhall says that he’s
lot of fun putting this thing together.”
got a few more projects underway, and after seeing
A beautifully made transport crate of ten
underfolders is certainly work worth drooling over. As a fan of unique DIY projects, especially those
that incorporate guns, we have to say that this is an
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UN12 / Issue 013
how this one turned out, we’re excited to see what else he’s got in store.
Let’s hope this next time he goes even bigger.
[ UN12 ]
UN12mag.com
77
FEATURE
: : Low Visibility Assault Weapon clone : : Reproduction based on a SIG Sauer MCX : : Chambered for 300 BLK
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UN12 / Issue 013
SIG MCX
SIG MCX LVAW CLONE
Text by MICHAEL PENHALL Images by JOHN SCOTT
UN12mag.com
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FEATURE
O
ver the years we have seen some incredible
out to build a carbon copy of it. He told me that, prior to
customized firearms grace the pages of UN12.
taking this project on, he had to do his fair share of digging
While these original custom guns have all been truly
around on the internet for photos and speaking to fellow
spectacular, we’ve been missing out on an equally
cloners to gather enough info about the LVAW in order to
dedicated group of individuals who are focused on
reproduce it.
another type of firearm customization. We’re talking about
While special units throughout the U.S. military are
firearm cloning. These “cloners” are people who set out
able to source individual weapon purchases for off-the-
to make faithful reproductions of military firearms from
shelf items, some who are looking for a particular build
around the world and from different eras.
will occasionally put a request out for a new category of
“Clone Life” is fun and educational but can also be
firearm altogether. Enter the LVAW program. SIG Sauer
frustrating at times. We’ve seen some clone collections
was the eventual winner of this contract and the resulting
that are, simply put, amazing. An avid cloner’s proclivity
firearm was, to put it mildly, awesome. Based on the
for attention to detail shouldn’t be underestimated. No
modular SIG MCX platform, the LVAW came complete
varied shade of FDE or obscure piece of kit will deter
with an assaulter’s kit that allowed infinite adaptability
the dedicated from getting his or her build just right. The
of the firearm in terms of caliber, barrel length, and stock
lengths a cloner will go to figuring out what parts make a
configuration.
correct build—not to mention sourcing said parts for the build—are astonishing.
Pat tried to get in contact with anyone he knew at SIG to see what parts available to civilians could help him
I contacted my friend Pat, who is always looking for the next weapon the United States military is fielding, to see what project he was currently on. Without skipping a beat,
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
he showed me a grainy screenshot that he’d spotted on Instagram of what looked like a personal security detail operator in Afghanistan carrying a LVAW (Low Visibility Assault Weapon). Inspired by this single photo, he had set
Suppressor
“An avid cloner’s proclivity for attention to detail shouldn’t be underestimated, nor the lengths he’ll go to in securing the right parts.”
Forend Lancer Systems 10.5-inch carbon-fiber handguard
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UN12 / Issue 013
SureFire 7.62K
Buttstock SIG Sauer on a SIG folding adapter
assemble his LVAW clone. He was told that, unfortunately, the original contract was for a proprietary lower and forend configuration that was unavailable commercially. But all was not lost; his contact did give him a glimmer of hope. Pat learned that after the initial run of LVAWs using the aforementioned proprietary parts, SIG switched to using off-the-shelf solutions to fulfill the rest of the contract. So while he wouldn’t be able to build a clone of the initial-run LVAW, it would be possible to piece together a clone of the latter version. His contact also filled him in on how the commercially available SIG MCX could be fitted with available aftermarket parts to produce his clone. Starting with his first-generation MCX, Pat chose a replica-correct set of parts that included a Lancer Systems
Optic Aimpoint T-2 red dot
Laser EoTech PEQ-15 ATPIAL
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81
FEATURE
“The same products the military uses were sourced where possible, and a bit of artistic license was used for the rest.” 10.5-inch carbon-fiber handguard, a 300 BLK 6.75-inch
Based on the original picture that inspired this build,
barrel, and a SIG side-folding skeleton stock assembly.
he filled out the rest of the LVAW clone with items that he
Having already registered his MCX as an SBR meant he
could make out from the grainy image. He topped his rifle
wouldn’t need to go the pistol brace route.
with an Aimpoint T-2 as well as a military-grade PEQ-15.
A key feature of the compact LVAW is that it is suppressed, with much of the sound suppressor hidden
He’s still trying to source the correct light, but for now an older SureFire M600 acts as a placeholder.
under the handguard. To achieve the look, he first utilized
“I zeroed the gun for supersonic ammunition,” Pat
a dummy suppressor that SIG sells. It gave it the look he
says. “When I run subsonic ammo through it, it’s almost
wanted but, being a fake suppressor, it didn’t have the
Hollywood quiet. I really love making exact replicas of
sound-reduction attributes the real LVAW has. Wanting
current military firearms.” We were impressed with his
the full functional effect of a suppressed LVAW, yet not
attention to detail and ability to pull up source pictures to
having the budget to spring on a correct SIG direct-
confirm that all the items used on his build have appeared
thread suppressor nor the patience to save up for one,
in-country. We can’t wait to see what else Pat has to share
he attached his SureFire 7.62K to it instead. “I used the
for future “Clone Life” articles.
same products the military uses where I could, and took
[ UN12 ]
some artistic liberties with the rest,” Pat says regarding the suppressor.
Light SureFire M600
The High Price of Being Correct While highly customized firearms parts can really start to break the bank, parts for clone builds can give them a run for their money—or even exceed them. Oftentimes cloners will spend two to three times (or more) the original price on the secondary market for a certain part for their build, just because the now-out-of-production part is the “correct” one for their build. Oftentimes products were made for a specific contract, never to be made again, so finding one out in the wild might demand a chest full of pretty pennies. If you’re lucky, companies who recognize the clone market will do special runs to fill the need of those who simply must make their reproduction as accurate as possible.
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UN12 / Issue 013 010
NEW SHARPS BROS
livewire forged The new standard in forged lower receivers.
Available at
www.rainierarms.com (877) 556-guns
PRODUCT REVIEW
Nocorium 84
UN12 / Issue 013
Adhesive NVG Wraps Text & Images by CHARLES “CHIP” LASKY
L
“The anxiety attached to making permanent alterations to your gear is compounded as the price of the device increases. Enter Nocorium Wraps.”
et’s face it—painting gear is cool. Functionally speaking, it provides
camouflage. Aesthetically speaking, it looks cool. And a nicely finished piece of gear is a bit of a status symbol. From a historical professional perspective, only the cool kids have been granted the latitude to paint and modify their gear and/or weapons. A surefire way to give any general-purpose-forces sergeant major a chest-grabber is to be seen with painted gear—God made that rifle and issued it to you in exactly the way it was meant to be, soldier Special operations personnel, on the other hand, have generally been able to get away with modifying gear to better suit the mission.
want painted (lenses, laser markings). Then
better be damn certain you’re sure you want
Modifications have always been a mark of
you begin applying the paint. The application
to do it. Once it’s painted, there’s no easy
distinction. The reason so many institutions
process can be relaxing or nerve-wracking. If
way back. The anxiety attached to making
have been against painting gear is that it is
you are unsure of how to rattle-can to achieve
such a permanent alteration to your gear
semi-permanent. Therefore, it’s hard to get it
the desired aesthetic, you could end up with a
is compounded as the price of the device
back to the original uniform condition in which
horribly finished product. And as mentioned, it
increases. How many of you have the balls to
it was issued. And we all know that gear had
is a semi-permanent alteration.
paint your night vision optics? My guess is that
better be in exactly the same condition when it’s turned back in.
Removing paint from a gun can be done
most of us would have a hard time bringing
using various chemicals and ultrasonic
ourselves to alter a $10,000+ optic in this way.
cleaning. But what about optics, lasers, and
Even if your night vision is government-issued,
painted a personally owned rifle. Hell, you’ve
other devices that are sealed? The same
you’d probably be hard-pressed to convince
probably painted helmets and other pieces of
aggressive chemicals needed to strip off the
your command to let you paint it.
kit as well. It’s fun to take something you’ve
paint will also eat away the seals, O-rings,
owned for a while and change it up. Adding a
and epoxy, potentially finding their way inside
wraps a long time ago. The first product I
new color scheme can sometimes make the
to the sensitive electronics. They will also
saw was the ubiquitous camo-form tape that
kit look and feel like a whole new item. You
damage lenses. The bottom line is this: If
you could wrap around a rifle or shotgun. It
begin by carefully taping off the areas you don’t
you are painting an optic, light, or laser, you
was (and still is) sold in rolls. Essentially, it’s a
At this point, most of you have probably
I first became aware of adhesive camouflage
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Product Review: Nocorium NVG Wraps UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
camouflage ACE bandage that is self-adhering
to your sensitive/expensive devices without
friend and fellow night vision instructor, Sam
and only lends itself to large items. I’ve used
permanent alteration. And this was true to a
Houston, at an event last year. Sam had recently
camo-form tape on many occasions and it works
certain extent. Original wraps left a sticky residue
received a sheet of Nocorium skins for his AN/
great. It applies and removes easily with no
on the surface during the removal process. You
PVS-27 CNVD that we were using in a photo
permanent modification to the host. But it lacks
know the grimy residue left on your skin from a
shoot. I watched him install the skins and was
the subtlety needed for smaller individual items.
cloth band-aid? Yeah, it was like that. Getting
impressed with how easy it looked. I was even
A couple other companies started making die-
that residue off was a whole other pain in the ass
more impressed with how easily they came off.
cut sticker sheets in shapes that were peculiar
(not dissimilar to removing spray paint).
This is probably the most important attribute
to a particular device. These started hitting the
Enter Nocorium. Nocorium is a new company
for a product like this. Keep in mind that the
market over the past several years. Companies
that recognized the need for non-permanent
entire point of using these skins is so you are
would design these stickers for specific surfaces
camouflage of sensitive electronics (mainly
not married to the result should you choose to
on an optic, leaving important controls, labels,
night vision devices). And they saw room
change it up down the line. From a professional
and optics free. The idea was similar to the
for improvement in this market. I was first
perspective, it also means that gear can be
camo-form tape. You could add camouflage
introduced to Nocorium products by a good
customized for field use and easily returned
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Product Review: Nocorium NVG Wraps UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
to original condition before turning it back in. I
mounted to their heads during the day. Contrary to
technology like ours. This means that we must
immediately ordered some Nocorium skins for my
what the jackasses on Instagram think, operators
take IR into consideration when conducting
own night vision devices.
wear their goggles during the day because they
nighttime operations. And straight black stands
Why camouflage your night vision? Glad you
often find themselves internal or Sub-T where it is
out—especially if it’s an easily recognizable shape.
asked. Most night vision goggles and scopes are
very dark, even at 1200 (gasp). Wearing a big black
Nocorium skins blend in at an acceptable level.
black. And black tends to stand out to the naked
NOD on your otherwise completely camouflaged
eye and through night vision goggles. Camouflage
head tends to make you stand out.
is the sum of its parts. It’s silly to dress in full
Then there’s the infrared aspect. Black is a
Nocorium obviously took their time in researching materials. This is for good reason, since the skin material is critical to its overall
camouflage or drab only to run around with a
high-contrast color when observed under infrared.
function. The main reason someone is going to
completely black rifle. Black is easily spotted
And while black is typically considered the best
apply these decals to their NODs is for camouflage
during daylight hours. Similarly, running around
color for nighttime camouflage, the assumption
(or, let’s be real, for a fashion statement). The vinyl
with a camouflage helmet and a giant black
is that observers will be using the naked eye.
does a great job of holding colors and patterns.
NOD bolted to the front makes equally no sense.
These days—or nights—we must conversely
Known camouflage patterns are always the litmus
Professionals often wear their night vision goggles
assume that opposing forces have night vision
test to how well a material blends. I have seen
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plenty of licensed MultiCam products that
says that there may be very little or no residue
look nothing like actual MultiCam because the
left over. I have yet to come across any when
material will not faithfully support the colors. The
switching skins. This leaves a clean canvas for
next reason someone is going to use Nocorium
applying the next skin.
skins is because they want the ability to customize their gear to their environment.
I originally thought adding adhesive skins to
: : For more info:
NODs was a gimmick. It wasn’t until I saw them in person that I recognized all the benefits. What
Nocorium
and/or different climates. This means that you
really sold me on Nocorium is the material and
NVG Wraps
may need to change from one camouflage
adhesive. I didn’t want anything that would leave
MSRP: From $23
pattern to another depending on the time of year.
residue on my expensive optics. As soon as I
URL: nocorium.com
Rather than cover your gear in 20 layers of paint,
saw the proof in the pudding, I was sold.
Most places on Earth have changing seasons
you can simply change your Nocorium skin. The
And now I have Nocorium skins on all of my
material allows for removal with the edge of a
night vision gear.
razor blade or tweezers. The company website
[ UN12 ]
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FEATURE
HKSH : : Based on an Iron City Rifle Works receiver set : : Livery inspired by Japanese automotive tuning company, HKS : : Chambered in 9mm
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“This AR9 represents an intersection of the owner’s interest in highperformance firearms and automobiles.”
HKSH HKS-9
High Performance Pistol Caliber Shorty
Text by JERRY TSAI
Images by JAY CANTER
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SHKS FEATURE
T
hose of us who are intensely passionate about our
firearms can be quite spirited about other interests,
One of the most recognizable racing GT-Rs was
campaigned by a high-performance Japanese aftermarket
too. In fact, there seems to be a crossover of interests that
parts company called HKS. Based in Shizuoka, Japan,
many shooters share, such as numerous outdoor activities
HKS raced an R32 GT-R version of the Skyline in the All
or even off-roading and overlanding. Another common
Japan Touring Car Championship (JTCC) Group A during
ground that many of us find ourselves on is located in the
the 1992 and 1993 seasons. The car’s colorful “splash”
automotive realm.
livery was based on the packaging of the company’s line
Our impulse to upgrade and personalize our vehicles is
of Super Oil products. This unique color scheme has since
similar to the same impulse with our guns; we simply can’t
become iconic, even being applied to HKS racecars up to
leave anything factory stock. Whether you’re lowering your
the current day.
car, lifting your truck, or dropping in a crate motor to up
Canter’s latest creation pays homage to his crossover of
the power of either, we love modding our rides as much as
industries and interests; his custom AR9 pistol’s splashy
our firearms. How many designers, engineers, machinists,
look (please forgive the pun) should be readily recognized
creative thinkers, and garage tinkerers have hooked up
by any JDM aficionado. For the uninitiated, JDM stands
their cars as well as their guns? We’ll venture a guess and
for Japanese Domestic Market, which refers to a type
say the answer is a strong “plenty.”
of car or style of modification that mimics the cars and
When you stop to think about it, the overlap between the
modifications that are done in the Japanese home market.
high-performance automotive and the firearm industries
The AR9’s colorful look was applied by the artisans at
makes plenty of sense. Making vehicles faster and perform
Koted Arms of Mesa, Arizona. The eye-catching
better than how they come from the factory is directly
work gives us a foreshadowed glimpse
relatable to shooters and gun customizers alike.
into the high-performance theme
Photographer and custom firearms creative Jay Canter
of this AR9, which has been
began his career in the automotive industry, snapping
unofficially dubbed by us
pictures at racetracks across the globe. His love for cars
as the HKS-9.
and of motorsport led him into the personal garages of
Canter explains what
automotive tastemakers and the paddocks of many race
inspired him to create
teams. Early on, he fell in love with Japanese sports cars
HKS-9. “Inspiration
such as the Nissan Skyline GT-R. Back in the ’90s, these
can be found virtually
cars were near unobtanium here in the States, so getting to
anywhere if you look
see one up close was an exciting thing.
for it,” he says. “I have
01 An Odin Works CQB pistol brace fills out the HKS9’s back end.
02 A Timney Impact AR-ST drop-in trigger facilitates fire control.
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
01 03
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02 04
03 A POF-USA Strike Eagle charging handle allows ambidextrous manipulation of the ICRW BCG.
04 The Torrent Suppressors Hades is designed to direct muzzle blast forward and improve shooting characteristics.
SHKH “The HKS-9 is built on the foundation of an Iron City Rifle Works Berserker Nine PCC upper and lower receiver set. ” UN12mag.com
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HKSH FEATURE
“The unique color pattern looks like something straight out of an ’80s pop art painting, but it’s actually derived from motorsport livery.”
upper receiver hosts an Odin Works 5-inch barrel that’s fashioned from hand-lapped 416R been involved in the auto industry since the mid-1990s and HKS has been a staple in the high-
barrel has been TiN electro-plated, which is what gives it its gold hue. A TiN-plated Iron City Rifle Works Redmohawk 3.0 C4V bolt carrier group (BCG) is also located inside the upper.
before that. But HKS might be most well-known
The slick BCG is optimized
for their very distinctive and massively popular
for reliability. Wrapped around the
race and show vehicles. The unique pattern that
barrel is an Odin Works
looks like something straight out of an ’80s pop
5.5-inch length m-lok
art painting actually derives from their motor
forend, and hanging on
oil.” Mixing one’s past and present interests can
its 6 o’clock position is a
certainly make a passion project take off.
Quentin Defense finger
Canter goes on to fill us in on why he chose to
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
ramp designed to eliminate feed issues. The
performance import vehicle world since long
livery pattern that has been used on numerous
94
stainless steel. It features a calibrated chamber
stop. Charging the BCG
build an AR9 pistol. “AR pistols are of course a
is a POF-USA Strike Eagle
very popular segment of the firearms world due
ambi charging handle. The
to virtually unlimited available parts selection.
twin oversized charging latches
And who doesn’t already have a stack of Glock
make charging the gun and
magazines laying around?” Good point. We bet
clearing malfunctions with either
it’s because AR9s are fun to shoot, too.
hand a breeze.
The HKS-9 is built on the foundation of an Iron
At the tip of the gun, you’ll notice
City Rifle Works Berserker Nine PCC upper and
a Torrent Suppressors Hades Ti Blast Diverter,
lower receiver set. The skeletonized receivers
which is mounted on the barrel by way of a
are milled from tough 7075 aluminum. The
Yankee Hill thread adapter. The blast shield
UN12 / Issue 013
HKSH 02
01
The ICRW Iron Grip is not actually made of iron, but of skeletonized aluminum.
02
01 03
A Trijicon ACOG 1.5x16S sits atop the HKS-9—the littlest ACOG for the owner’s littlest AR.
03
The Odin Works 5.5-inch handguard is fitted with a Quentin Defense hand stop at 6 o’clock.
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FEATURE
SH
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01
allows muzzle blast to be channeled forward,
drop-in trigger, which boasts a 3- to 4-pound
directing virtually all blast blowback away from
straight pull rating, giving this AR9 quick and
the shooter. The Hades is further designed
precise shooting characteristics. An Odin
to disrupt gas flow and reduce the vertical
Works Close Quarter pistol brace serves to
01
flash signature, making for a more pleasant
stabilize the HKS-9. The eye-catching brace
shooting experience. It’s said to be most
can be adjusted for five different lengths and
The HKS-9 feeds from Glock magazines, in this case a factory 17-round stick with a Springer Precision +5 basepad.
useful in a gun with a short barrel like this one.
incorporates a slot for a strap that makes
02
optic for short builds like AR pistols. It offers
be fed into the HKS-9. To keep things at their
the widest field of view of all the ACOGs and
most compact, it’s shown here with a factory
offers a quick-targeting circle-dot reticle.
Glock 17 17-round magazine with a Springer
The version on his gun is configured with a
Precision plus-five-round basepad attached
green reticle and 2-MOA dot. The Iron City
that bumps the capacity to 22. If more ammo is
lower receiver hosts plenty of aftermarket
required, an extended big-stick 33-round mag
upgrade parts, such as titanium trigger and
can be used instead.
The directional lightening cuts on the forend, CQB brace, and pistol grip, along with the splash Cerakote scheme by Koted Arms, really tie the build together visually.
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02
On a whim, Canter decided to throw a
adjusting it to your arm a cinch. It uses a
Trijicon ACOG 1.5x16S on the HKS-9. Why?
compact 3-ounce micro buffer to keep things
Because it’s the littlest ACOG on his littlest
as short as can be.
AR. Besides, the ACOG 1.5x16S is a great
takedown pins and a Timney Impact AR-ST
Any number of 9mm Glock magazines can
You’ll undoubtedly notice how the skeletonized pistol grip matches the receiver set perfectly. This is because the grip, like the receivers, is also made by Iron City Rifle Works. It’s called the Iron Grip, but no, it’s not made of iron, but of billet aluminum. Its shape features a grip angle that’s stated to improve comfort and
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FEATURE
KSHK control by keeping a wider profile on the bottom of the grip and a narrow profile at the top around your trigger finger.
The skeletonized contours provide a positive grip surface even with wet or gloved hands.
Thanks to its good looks, it’d be understandable if
you thought that the HKS-9 was built solely to be a
garage queen, but much like its JTCC race-winning HKS
Skyline GT-R muse, it’s a real performer. By incorporating lightening cuts throughout, along with a wide selection of lightweight parts, the pistol is well balanced and quick to point. Canter chose parts that are focused on reliability for consistently trouble-free operation, which make it a
talented performer at local shooting competitions and the perfect backpack gun.
We’re inspired by Canter’s build that combines his
love for motorsports and firearms. We look forward to
seeing more themed builds of this nature. As petrol heads ourselves, our imaginations are now running wild with
other possible automotive themed builds. Perhaps we’ll get to see more of them in the future. [ UN12 ]
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UN12 / Issue 013
“As petrol heads ourselves, we’re inspired by this motorsport-themed build.”
HKS-9 Specifications Caliber: 9mm Capacity: 22+1 Minimum Length: 20 in. Maximum Length: 24 in. Weight Unloaded: 6 lbs, 4 oz.
KHS Receivers: Iron City Rifle Works Berserker Nine PCC set
Barrel: Odin Works 5.0-in. 416R, 1:10 twist
Coating: Cerakote by Koted Arms
Featured Accessories Trigger: Timney Triggers Impact AR-ST (3-5 lb)
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
Optic: Trijicon ACOG 1.5x16S (TA44-C-4001-40)
Handguard: Odin Works 5.5” m-lok Forend
Muzzle Device: Torrent Suppressors Hades Ti Blast Diverter
HKS
HKS Super Oil Skyline R32 GT-R Group A
Japanese aftermarket performance company HKS participated in All Japan
Touring Car Championship (JTC) Group A racing during the 1992 and 1993 seasons. JTC Group A was the premier touring car series in Japan at the time. Operating as an underdog, the independent HKS team campaigned its R32 GT-R head-to-head against factory works teams, eventually securing its first victory in the third round of the
Brace: Odin Works CG-B Closed Quarter Pistol Brace
Parts & Accessories: Iron City Rifle Works Redmohawk 3.0 C4V Bolt Carrier Group, Quentin Defense Finger Stop, POF-USA Strike Eagle ambi charging handle, Iron City Rifle Works Iron Grip, Yankee Hill 1/2x28 Thread Adapter, Iron City Rifle Works Titanium trigger pins, Iron City Rifle Works titanium takedown pins, AIM Surplus ambi safety, POFUSA bolt catch, 2A Armament lower parts kit, Springer Preicison Plus 5 9mm basepad
Name: Jay Canter Occupation: Photographer, firearms creative IG: Violent Art Firearms & Jay Canter Photography
1993 season. The HKS Super Oil livery has become a favorite of Japanese motoring enthusiasts ever since its debut on that R32.
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PRODUCT REVIEW
Axil GS Digital 1 Text & Images by JERRY TSAI
t’s the middle of summer and your
noise reduction to hearing protection, as
five different types of ear buds, as well as
ears are stewing in a sauna of sweat.
well as hearing enhancement and even 5.0
comprehensive hearing aid, earmuff, and
The earmuffs you have on are stifling, and
Bluetooth audio for studio-quality playback
earplug lines. For this review we got to go
they’re starting to slip due to the moisture
and hands-free comms. Axil is a trusted
hands-on with the company’s Ghost Stryke
built up around your ears. For those who
hearing device company that has deep roots
(GS) Digital 1 ear buds.
have been in the field in truly blistering heat,
in the hearing aid industry. They understand
you’ll know this scenario all too well. Wearing
the science of hearing and know what it
option for your hearing protection needs.
ear pro is necessary to protect your hearing,
takes to protect it. With more than 50 years
Although we’re usually happy with our gel-
but there’s got to be a better way.
of experience, the family-run company offers
cupped earmuffs, we do see the value of ear
advanced technology-based products that
buds, especially when it comes to hot and
aim to protect your ears. The company offers
humid environments or when we’re out on
I
We were recently turned on to Axil’s line of all-in-one ear buds that offer everything from
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UN12 / Issue 013
GS Digital 1 is an ultra-small, lightweight
: : 29 dB Noise Reduction Rating : : Ultra-compact and lightweight : : Manual volume control
“Less cumbersome than traditional muffs, the Axil Ghost Stryke (GS) Digital 1 ear bud is an ultra-small, lightweight option for your hearing protection needs.”
extended shooting or hunting expeditions.
sizes, along with concha extenders, extra
Rating (NRR) with the silicone tips and an
Taking the muffs off is always something
batteries, an ear bud lanyard, a cleaning
even better 29 dB NRR with the foam tips.
we look forward to at the end of the day.
brush, and a compact zippered carry case.
For those who are on the move and require
The nature of ear buds already gives them a
The GS Digital 1 bud is seriously small and
a seriously secure hold, concha extenders
comfort advantage over earmuffs, as long as
its exterior is constructed with a medical-
can be slipped onto the buds so that they
the buds aren’t pressing or pinching you the
grade, non-allergenic acrylic shell. The
grip your ears more completely. A silicone
wrong way inside your ears. Let’s unbox the
buds can accept silicone and foam tips to
ear bud lanyard is also included in case you
GS Digital 1 to see how it feels, but first, let’s
help them fit into and seal your ear canal.
want to let them hang around your neck
examine what it comes with.
The better fit you get, the more sound is
when you’re not using them.
The tiny ear buds include a collection of both silicone and foam tips in different
kept out. It’s worth pointing out that the GS Digital 1 is rated for a 22 dB Noise Reduction
The GS Digital 1s are powered by #10a hearing aid batteries, which are widely
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101
available in stores everywhere. If you
sensation. After a while, we didn’t even
thought the ear buds themselves are small,
think about them. The buds are rated to
the #10a batteries are truly tiny, so getting
shut out sounds at 85 dB or louder and
them into the buds requires a delicate
offer background noise filtering.
touch. After the batteries were installed, we
Digital 1s stayed put when shooting on
swapping them on and off a few times,
the move, even without using the concha
we ultimately went with the foam tips. As
extenders. We were able to carry on
noted, the foam tips offer the best hearing
conversations for the most part. The sound
protection, and for us they also offered a
would cut out when the system sensed
more comfortable fit.
excessive noise in the background, but
The buds are inserted into your ear and
that’s to be expected with most ear pro
then rotated down to sit low in your ear
anyway. It’s worth pointing out that we
canal. We found them to be comfortable,
did have the volume cranked up between
not much different than any other ear buds
the two highest volume settings for most
that you may already use. Volume levels
of the competition in order to hear people
are independently controlled by rotary
speaking clearly enough. Sound quality
dials found on each of the buds. Again, the
was good, but we did sense a perceived
dials are tiny but they are easier and more
loss of deeper “bass” tones.
intuitive to manipulate than we first thought they would be. We hit the range and shot a pistol match
102
We were also happy to find that the GS
tried them on with both types of tips. After
Although we had no issues with battery power after a four-hour shooting competition, we suspect that the batteries
the very first time we tried the GS Digital
will need to be changed more often than
1s. After inserting them into our ears and
those found in our earmuffs. The trade-
adjusting the volume level, we headed into
off between swampy ear cup sweat and
the first stage. The company claims that
battery swapping is a no-brainer if you ask
the adjustment period is instantaneous and
us. Overall, we were happy with Axil’s GS
that’s exactly what we discovered. Having
Digital 1s and are looking forward to taking
active ear protection in our ears and not
them out again—this time to the rifle range.
having to wear earmuffs was a welcome
[ UN12 ]
UN12 / Issue 013
“GS Digital 1s offer everything from noise reduction and hearing protection to sound enhancement and 5.0 Bluetooth audio playback.”
02
Use of the included foam tips increases the sound reduction properties of the GS Digital 1 to 29 dB NRR.
These earbuds are seriously small; Axil helps you keep track of them by including a custom-fit lanyard.
03
04
Concha extenders can be slipped onto the buds so they’re able to grip your ears more completely.
The earbuds’ rotary dials give the wearer manual control of individual volume levels.
: : Axil GS Digital 1 all-in-one earbuds MSRP: $499 URL: goaxil.com
05 GS Digital 1s come with several different styles and sizes of adapters to help with a perfect seal and fit.
UN12
01
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FEATURE
TORQUE
APPLICATION & CONTROL Text & Images by CHARLES
I
“CHIP” LASKY & BLAKE GETTIG
remember my dad teaching me the basics of tools and hardware when I was a little kid. He was not a particularly handy man, but all
dads have a work bench and a toolbox. He showed me how to hammer a nail, turn a driver and a wrench, and how to drill a pilot hole. And every lesson about assembling something ended with him saying, “Make it tight so it won’t come loose.” That was the extent of my hardware training until shop class in junior high, where I didn’t learn much more. After all, “tighter is better” seems perfectly legit to the uninformed. Flash forward to my military career, where we were too focused on jumping out of airplanes and blowing shit up to learn about proper installation of hardware. It seemed that my dad was not the only father to teach his son that you should tighten a bolt or screw as far as it will go before tightening it so hard that veins popped out of your forehead. Whenever we were issued some new piece of kit, guys would excitedly unbox it, place it on a gun or helmet, and tighten it down so the screw would not move any further. This practice resulted in a lot of broken gear and hardware (snapped bolt heads, stripped screws and threads, cracked plastic). Most product installation instructions were vague in the torque department at that time. Many read something like “turn screws until tight, then turn another one-eighth to one-quarter turn.” This information was not especially helpful since everyone is able to apply varying amounts of torque to the hardware. What’s tight to a 5’4” 130-pound cardio stud is not going to be tight to a 6’6” 260-pound musclehead. Needless to say, guys’ optics, lights, lasers, and any other bolted-on piece of kit were installed using wildly different levels of torque. This resulted in everything from accessories falling off guns and gear to cracked or damaged rails, broken rail-grabber mechanisms, and destroyed hardware. And all of this still occurred if the end user read the applicable instructions. Most guys simply discarded the packaging and installed the product the way they thought it should be installed. I often joke: “Put a soldier in a room with nothing but a bowling ball and come back in five minutes; the ball will be in four pieces and pregnant.” As it turns out, there’s more to installing an accessory on a gun, helmet, dirt bike, vehicle, and so on than simply making the screws as tight as you can. As professionals, we depend on our gear to do its job in some of the most extreme environments and under the most demanding conditions. I have talked about the extreme violence of combat in previous articles, discussing the effects it has on the body, mind, and equipment we carry. But the immediate kinetic force of combat is not the only thing that applies stress to our gear. The constant low-level vibration of vehicle transport, ambient temperatures, and even altitude can create enough constant energy transfer to rattle things loose. It doesn’t matter if you are a Unit operator taking a ride on an MH6 bench to a target or a police officer whose patrol rifle is constantly
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FEATURE
01
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locked in your squad’s weapon rack as you drive around the city. Vibration—energy transfer—wants to unbolt everything. That’s why it’s important to use proper installation techniques, including torque, when assembling your guns and gear. Most any accessory worth putting on a weapon or piece of gear designed for the social activity of combat is going to come with instructions. These instructions are (usually) written by the designers and engineers and checked by lawyers in an effort to ensure the end user has all the information he needs. Companies that build true combat-ready products want to make sure their gear does everything it can to serve the end user so he/she can survive and win the fight. After producing a combat-ready product, the manufacturer ships it out and their direct
02
control of how said product is implemented is complete. That manufacturer’s number-one
and performance. That said, all tools are
BOLTED JOINTS AND TORQUE
priority is to design/test/produce a product
consumables, but a quality set should last
When two surfaces are clamped together with
that will be an asset to the user, be as safe
through many jobs under daily use. It’s
a threaded fastener, a bolted joint is created.
as the intended use allows it to be, and will
important to keep them in good condition by
As a screw is tightened, it stretches in tension
withstand the rigors of the intended use. A
only using them for their intended purpose—a
like a spring. A linear clamp force is then
more distant, self-serving priority is that the
precision flathead driver should not be
applied across the mating surfaces of the
product will not do anything to embarrass or
used to pry open a paint can. Screwdrivers
joint. When we tighten the hardware joining
tarnish said manufacturer’s reputation. The
do not come in Government Profile. Worn
our weapon accessories, what we really care
bottom line is that manufacturers want to
tools should be removed from service and
about is that there is enough clamping force
make sure their products are set up in the best
replaced. These make great candidates for
generated to prevent the mating surfaces
possible way to perform as intended.
future custom re-purposing; a worn pin punch
from slipping during use. Once the clamp load
Before I began working at Unity Tactical,
can be reshaped into an excellent castle nut
is overcome and the surfaces have slipped,
I was unaware of just how important proper
staking tool. Recommended brands include
the tension in the screw is lost and the bolted
installation of accessories was. As a former
but are not limited to Wiha, Wera, Bondhus,
joint fails. This translates to your parts hitting
operator, I surely wanted my gear to be set up
SK, Wright, and Proto.
the deck in the middle of LARPing in your
as securely as possible. But I certainly did not
mom’s basement.
always follow the directions. Let’s examine
TOOL ENGAGEMENT
some basic truths about mechanically
Before tightening hardware, it’s important to
mating two objects in the context of firearms
ensure the driver is fully engaged, bottoming
accessories. Since I’m a bit of a knuckle-
out into the mating fastener prior to applying
dragger, I’ve enlisted the help of my friend and
torque. Ball drivers, which allow up to 30
coworker, Blake Gettig, Senior Staff Engineer
degrees of axial misalignment, are great for
at Unity Tactical, and we’ve compiled some
running down and hand-snugging screws
pro tips below.
in awkward positions, but they are not the best choice for applying final torque to
QUALITY TOOLS
a fastener. It is best practice to keep the
Having the proper installation tools is a
driver perpendicular to the fastener when
prerequisite. Your gun bench should have
tightening. Shallow engagement and/or
a selection of quality drivers for standard,
off-axis tightening can cause the driver to slip
metric, and Torx fasteners. These are the tools
and could potentially damage both the tool
you will utilize most when installing weapon
and the hardware. Applying positive pressure
accessories such as optic mounts, lights,
into the fastener socket while tightening is
lasers, switches, and furniture. Much like
a helpful preventative measure. Rounded
professional-grade weapons and gear, quality
or stripped hardware should be replaced
tools are an investment and cost more money.
whenever possible. If you experience
Avoid buying tools found on the shelves
excessive movement between the tool and
of big-box stores and items sourced from
hardware, it’s a good idea to stop and take
China that prioritize low cost over durability
stock of the situation before proceeding.
It’s difficult and impractical to measure linear clamp force in a screw without strain
01 Fix-It-Sticks tool kits come with pre-set torque limiters tailored to most common weapon applications.
02 Don’t skimp on high quality tools. You should have a selection of quality drivers for standard, metric, and Torx fasteners available on your gun bench.
UN12mag.com
107
FEATURE
01 02 03 04
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
gauges or ultrasonic methods, and that’s where
Torque tools are not one-size-fits-all implements. It
torque control comes in. Simply put, torque is the
is advisable to have a tool sized accordingly for every
rotational equivalent of linear force. A bolted joint
range of torque values specified on your firearms and
designed around a targeted clamp-force capacity
accessories. Click micrometer-style wrenches and
needs a practical and repeatable method to correlate
screwdrivers are some of the easiest to use; however,
the tensile force on the screw to an equivalent
basic beam-style tools are a quality economical
tightening torque value. Many factors go into this
choice if you’re on a budget. Fix-It-Sticks offers one
mathematical correlation including the diameter of the
of the most complete mini torque driver kits on the
fastener, material strength, coefficient of friction, and
market and come with pre-set torque limiters tailored
the accuracy of the tool.
to most common weapon applications. They have the
In the United States, we are cursed with the Imperial unit system and measure large fastener torque values
added advantage of being compact enough to easily fit into your gear loadout or range bag.
in foot-pounds (ft-lb), while the smaller hardware commonly use on our accessory mounts is measured
SEQUENCING AND PATTERNS
in inch-pounds (in-lb), requiring careful distinction.
Most bolted joints require a pattern of multiple
The availability of in-lb torque drivers in the field is
fasteners to provide the required clamping force,
a recent development and partly contributed to the
and manufacturers will commonly advise that the
meat-headed approach to tightening screws and
hardware be tightened in a specific pattern to evenly
breaking hardware.
distribute force across the surface of the mating parts.
108
UN12 / Issue 013
01 01
03
Less is more. Excess application of liquid thread locker can adversely affect torque-to-clamp load correlation and fail the joint.
Thread locker patched hardware can typically be removed and reused up to five times before the patch noticeably degrades.
02 A small drop of liquid thread locker applied to the first few leading threads is enough; the liquid will distribute evenly as the fastener is run down.
04 Worn tools should be removed from service and replaced.
05 Even force distribution is critical in bolted joint design as it can directly affect how applied forces are transferred between mating components.
05
and reused up to five times before the patch noticeably degrades. The variability in patch application thickness can sometimes require a break-in rundown of the hardware before installation. As always, read the manufacturer’s instructions… always! Liquid thread lockers are commonly dimethacrylate ester-based and cure anaerobically during thread-to-thread contact while tightening. More does not always mean better, and the misapplication of liquid thread locker is a cardinal sin. A small drop of liquid thread locker applied to the first few leading threads is enough; the liquid will distribute evenly as the fastener is run down. Excess application of liquid thread locker can adversely affect the manufacturer’s torque-to-clamp load correlation and fail the joint in some cases. Use the correct-strength liquid thread locker for the application. Blue, medium-strength liquid thread locker is appropriate for most applications. Red, high-strength liquid thread locker should only be used when necessary, such as in high-temperature applications. Red liquid thread locker requires heat for removal, so it’s advisable to avoid using it on painted or anodized aluminum parts. Do not apply liquid thread locker to fasteners inserted into threaded inserts. Threaded inserts are designed with a light interference fit to the screw and the breakaway torque generated when loosening cemented fasteners can cause the inserts to back out, frustrating a certain Swedish optic manufacturer’s service department. TRUST, BUT VERIFY Once you have installed and tightened
Unfortunately, this is something that is often
pattern, tightening gradually by a quarter- to
your hardware to the manufacturer’s
unknown to end users who forgo reading the
half-turn at a time. For example, think about
specifications, the mount or accessory should
instructions. Even force distribution is critical
tightening the lug nuts on a vehicle after
stand up to the rigors of use. Regardless,
in bolted joint design as it can directly affect
changing a tire, or installing scope ring caps.
it’s good practice to periodically inspect and
how applied forces such as weapon recoil are
If you start tightening the upper right corner,
verify. A simple quality-control technique used
transferred between mating components. An
next in line is the lower left, and so forth,
in the manufacturing industry is to create a
applied force will always take the path of least
working through the pattern.
witness mark on the head of the fastener and
resistance, and this means the most ridged
the adjacent surface with a paint pen. If you
interface. If the clamping force is evenly
THREAD LOCKING COMPOUNDS
notice that the line is broken, you know that
distributed across the joint, the most ridged
Thread locking compounds are used
the joint has been compromised and your
interface is directly through the clamped,
extensively in firearms applications to combat
hardware needs to be re-torqued.
mating surfaces. However, if the load is not
the loosening of fasteners from cyclic recoil
evenly distributed, the pathway becomes the
forces and exposure to environmental
on your guns and gear will do more than
fasteners themselves, causing relaxation or
extremes. Thread lockers primarily come in
prolong their service life. It will help set you up
separation of the mounting interface. Worst
two types, liquid and a pre-applied patch.
for success in the fight. It provides you with
case, the screws can rapidly fatigue and
Both work by filling the excess clearance
the confidence that your gear will do its job so
break off completely.
in the mating threads. Pre-applied patches
you can focus on doing yours. Preparing for
are usually made from a nylon material.
the fight is all about the details.
Patched hardware can typically be removed
[ UN12 ]
For most applications, it is best practice to tighten fasteners in an alternating cross
Proper installation of parts and accessories
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PRODUCT REVIEW
112
UN12 / Issue 013
Grey Man Tactical RMP Text by JERRY TSAI / Images by the author & Grey Man Tactical
K
eeping your mountain of gear organized can be a constant battle. This is especially true when it comes to
the tight confines of your vehicle’s interior. Whether you need to load your rig for a weeklong overland adventure or for daily use in a tactical roll, a well-organized vehicle can greatly improve the efficiency of your mission.
UN12mag.com
113
PRODUCT REVIEW
“The MOLLEcompatible panels are infinitely configurable and will accept any MOLLE attachment you want to install. Specialized fixtures are also available for helmets, holsters, and rifles.”
114
UN12 / Issue 013
The innovative minds at Grey Man Tactical understand the needs and demands of vehicle owners who require the practical use of in-cabin gear. They have developed a well-thought-out and executed in-vehicle storage system that they call the Rigid MOLLE Panel, or RMP for short. The name describes the system quite plainly, as the RMP is a rigid panel that supports MOLLE attachments. The RMP is made of a tough injectionmolded, glass-filled-nylon material that is entirely rigid for carrying heavy loads. The grid-patterned organizational panel mounts behind your vehicle’s seat and, in combination with mounts and other attachments, can sturdily hold equipment such as a rifle, fire extinguisher, medical kit, or even a deckedout plate carrier, keeping everything in place and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. The MOLLE-compatible panel is infinitely configurable and will accept any MOLLE attachment that you want to install. Grey Man Tactical even makes specialized fixtures such as a helmet mount, holster integration kits, and several different rifle mounts that accommodate various types of buttstocks. For those who may need to keep long arms mounted to the RMP, the company’s wide selection of locking rifle mounts are sure to come in handy. Our RMP measured 15.25 inches wide and 25 inches tall. Grey Man Tactical also offers other sizes to fit differing vehicle seats. The panel mounts to your seatback via heavy-duty nylon straps and buckles. The panel is easily and quickly mounted and is surprisingly sturdy mounted in this manner. The RMP’s mounting height on the seatback can be adjusted by manipulating the mounting straps. We found that placing mounts and items on the panels when they are off the seat was the way to go. Thanks to the detachable buckles mounted to the top and bottom of the seat, the panels are effortlessly removable for ease of panel accessory organization. MOLLE is a great system, but, as you are probably already know, at times it can take some effort to thread on. Having the panel unencumbered
setting up the RMPs, we felt sort of like we
Tactical also makes RMPs for use in hard
allows attachments to be placed on it more
were playing a game of Tetris. People with
cases, backpacks, and safes, too.
smoothly. Each panel can take a useful load
a touch of OCD will enjoy setting their RMP
With so many dedicated attachment and
of gear and can be configured however you
up just right. An optional cover for the RMP
mount options, you’ll be able to organize and
see fit.
is also available to keep your gear out of
mount any piece of kit you need and have it
view. We used it to cover a fully loaded panel
securely placed exactly where you need it the
perimeter of the RMP so you can thread the
and found that the cover’s generous size
most.
mounting webbing where it best suits your
swallowed up the gear-laden RMP perfectly.
[ UN12 ]
The panel includes slots around the
application. For bonus tactical points, there
Whether you’re a first responder or an
are holes that can take QD sockets (like the
adventurer heading to the backwoods, an
ones you’d use with rifle slings) in case you’d
optimized vehicle interior will only make your
rather use those instead of having to thread
daily endeavors that much better. If you want
Grey Man Tactical
the webbing in place.
to spread the organizational goodness all
We used several of Grey Man Tactical’s
around, you’ll be glad to know that the RMP
RMP Vehicle Seat Back Organizer
purpose-built RMP fixtures as well as some
system is also offered in under-seat, trunk,
MSRP: From $99
existing MOLLE-equipped gear that we
door panel, dashboard, and center console
URL: greymantactical.com
already had when populating our panels. In
configurations. If that isn’t enough, Grey Man UN12mag.com
115
FEATURE
DARK ALLIANCE PATRIOT 700 Text by ROLAND WILKES Images by JAY CANTER
116
UN12 / Issue 013
: : Falkor Defense CSL chassis with R700 action : : 200+ man-hours of custom engraving : : Chambered in .308
UN12mag.com
117
FEATURE
I
t’s no stretch of the imagination to say every firearm created since the advent of gunpowder
has attracted a dedicated following. Makes, individual models, sub-groupings of each of those individual models… if you can pull its trigger to make it go “bang,” there’s a loyal cadre of enthusiasts who eat, sleep, and breathe that gun. Not every firearm can be considered an icon, however. There are, of course, the historical models who have left an indelible mark on the pages of history—the Colt Paterson, the Hawken muzzle-loader, the Thompson sub-machinegun. But more specific to our purposes here, a true icon might be described as a firearm that has transcended its origin and, you might say, taken on a life all its own. The Armalite rifle, Colt 1911, and AK-47 are a few that spring immediately to mind. The Remington Model 700 is another. Like the AR and the 1911, a whole sub-industry has sprung up around it, and like those two others, you can now build an entire
“To get [the engraving] to work I had to break it up into a lot of different sections and then try to line them all up.” —Jeremy Schmierer
R700 from the chassis up without ever sourcing a part
01
from its original manufacturer. Enter Jeremy Schmierer, owner of premier customizer Dark Alliance Firearms out of Las Vegas. His interests in firearms are wide-ranging and he’s no stranger to the Rem 700. If you’re interested in firearms customization, chances are good you’ve heard of his company and have probably seen examples of his work. Schmierer’s bio on the Dark Alliance website sort of sums up the company’s founding in a nutshell. “I’m just a guy who got sick of paying other people to do what I know I could do better,” he says. “So that’s how it started, just us modifying our own firearms.”
02
He continues: “We commit ourselves to never doing the same thing twice. We’ll do similar themes, but never the same.” Their mission statement is “We’re here to build you the shit we would build for ourselves.” Thus, the pictured bolt gun is Schmierer’s Dark Alliance riff on the Remington 700 (obviously). And what a riff it is. One of Dark Alliance’s specialties—which are manifold—is custom engraving work, and this rifle is a stunning example of that. We don’t really need to describe it here; we’ll just let the pictures do the talking. The chassis is a Falkor Defense CSL. The entire thing, from the folding buttstock superstructure to the pistol grip to the forend, is machined from billet aluminum. Schmierer has fitted the Patriot 700 with a genuine Remington 700 barrel and action and feeds it .308 from
his favorite to date. “It may sound like a little thing, but the folding stock makes travel so much easier,” the Dark Alliance principal says.
118
UN12 / Issue 013
03
The laser engraving on this rifle is some of the most detailed we’ve seen.
The Falkor chassis accepts AICSpattern magazines and includes an ambidextrous release near the trigger.
02
Magpul AICS PMAGs. He reports he has had experience with various bolt-action chassis and reports that this is
01
03
The Vortex Razor is the company’s flagship longrange scope and features 125 MOA of adjustment.
02
03
UN12mag.com
119
FEATURE
01
02
“The Cerakote is only evident on the raised sections of metal so it calls attention to, rather than detracts from, the incredibly detailed scroll work.”
Two of Schmierer’s favorite additions to the rifle, next to
shoot almost any caliber you can think of, from .223 to
the custom engraving he did—more on that in a minute—
6.5 to .308. Both it and the chassis were painstakingly
are the Vortex Razor scope and the Bowers VERS 30T
engraved by Schmierer himself, with various patriotic
suppressor. The Vortex is a 5-20x50 and is essentially
phrases, Dark Alliance callouts, and absolutely mind-
Vortex Optics’ flagship offering for the long-range shooter,
blowing scroll work that, again, defies description. You just
featuring a 35mm, one-piece tube allowing for 125 MOA of
have to let your eyes wander over it.
adjustment. Schmierer reports that it meets or exceeds his own shooting abilities. The Bowers suppressor is offered with 27 different
120
“The biggest challenge on this build is all the different levels and pockets it has,” Schmierer says. “As cool as it looks, it was a pain to engrave. I wanted it fully covered, but
proprietary Versadapt thread inserts, so it can essentially
with a laser, if you’re up or down a millimeter you lose focus
mount to almost any rifle on the market and is rated to
and it won’t cut correctly. To get it to work I had to break it
UN12 / Issue 013
03
01
03
The Bowers VERS 30T suppressor was subjected to the same detailed engraving as the rifle.
Between sketching the artwork and getting it etched onto the metal, this 700 has well over 200 hours of work invested in it—not including Cerakote.
02 The chassis’ forend features m-lok attachment points for easy accessorization.
up into a lot of different sections and then try to line them
bags of cash. The truth is, this one in particular has over 150
all up.”
hours in the drawing and artwork alone, then another 100 or
The savant-level artistry seems fairly obvious, but lest you
so in engraving it all. Then to paint…”
think Schmierer and company turn weapons like these out
He adds: “But if it was easy then everyone would do it,
in their sleep, he offers some insight into the grueling labor
and it just wouldn’t be as cool. I’d have no interest in even
that actually goes into something like this.
doing it.”
“What drives me nuts is when someone sends me a shitty
Point being, in a day and age when CAD and CNC can
JPEG they found online and think I just add it to a program
hone a functional piece like the Falkor chassis, the artistic
that magically converts and adds it to the laser, then I toss
expressions on this bolt gun and other Dark Alliance pieces
it on a magic table and walk away,” Schmierer says. “The
like it are still executed old-school, the way Da Vinci or Van
laser does the work and so that frees me up to count my
Eyck would have done it—by hand.
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FEATURE
01 The Patriot 700 employs a geniune Remington barrel and action. The Vortex scope mounts courtesy of a LaRue Tactical rail.
02 One of the Falkor CSL’s best features is its multiadjustable stock, which can be folded forward against the chassis itself.
03 The modular skeletonized grip may be swapped out for any other AR-compatible pistol grip.
01
02 Only after all the engraving was completed did Schmierer
the top of their game. Once I’m done with the artwork and
handled by Koted Arms in Mesa, Arizona. The application
engraving I have to have someone I can give the idea or
here was equally painstaking, so the color—perhaps
theme to and 100% know it’s going to be knocked out of
resembling distressed metal, perhaps resembling aged
the park. Hence the reason he’s the only one I trust and why
parchment, perhaps resembling old blood stains; all three
he’s part of the Dark Alliance family.”
seem equally applicable—is evident only on the raised
122
with people who have your same vision and who are at
send it off for final coating, which a custom Cerakote job
Speaking of family, it’s a big reason Schmierer is where
sections and not on the blackened recessed areas created
he is today and why he can give us guns like this to
by the laser. It all serves to call attention to, rather than
appreciate. “A big thanks goes to my family, and especially
detract from, the incredibly detailed engraving work.
my wife,” he says. “She’s always had my back and when it
“The only person I trust to coat any of my builds is J.D.
came time to jump into doing this full-time instead of having
at Koted Arms,” Schmierer says. “It’s so important to work
to talk her into it. She told me, ‘Tighten the belt and make it
UN12 / Issue 013
Dark Alliance Patriot 700 Specifications Caliber: .308 Overall Length: 42 in. (w/suppressor) Weight Unloaded: 13 lbs, 3 oz. Chassis: Falkor Defense CSL Barrel: Remington 700 Coating: Cerakote by Koted Arms
03
Featured Accessories Suppressor: Bowers VERS 30T Optic: Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50
Falkor CSL
Parts & Accessories: LaRue Tactical optic mount, Magpul R700 AICS PMAG, Falkor bipod
Falkor Defense out of Kalispell, Montana, created the CSL chassis for Precision Rifle Series shooters who wanted a lightweight R700 foundation with a few extra integrated features. And features it certainly has. For one, the skeletonized stock (which is hinged so it can fold out of the way, against the chassis itself) has an integrated monopod for shooting without the need for a bag. Adjustments allow for LOP between 14.5 and 15.5 inches. The included skeletonized grip is modular, meaning it can be swapped out for any number of AR-style pistol grips. And the forend, which resembles a free-float AR-style handguard, includes m-lok attachment points for the easy addition of accessories. It’s designed to accept all Remington 700 and 700 clone actions, accepts AICS-pattern magazines for long action, and features an ambidextrous mag release located right next to the trigger to facilitate quick reloads. Altogether, the chassis with grip and stock assembly weighs just 4.2 pounds. It’s available from Falkor in gray, black, or FDE Cerakote. For more information visit falkordefense.com.
About the Owner work…’ Which wasn’t an easy choice, but she never secondguessed the decision and has always been there to help me balance work and family life.” While the Patriot 700 makes a hell of a conversation piece and promotional vehicle for his business, Schmierer isn’t really planning on bagging any trophies anytime soon with it. Although that doesn’t mean he doesn’t enjoy taking it out and playing with it. “Personally, I suck at long-range shooting, so I really have no business owning this badass piece,” he says. “But I also didn’t put 200-plus hours into it to not own it.” And he laughs. [ UN12 ]
“We commit ourselves to never doing the same thing twice. We’ll do similar themes, but never the same.” —Jeremy Schmierer
Name: Jeremy Schmierer Occupation: Owner, Dark Alliance Firearms Social: Instagram @dark_alliance_customs
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
NEMO Arms 124
UN12 / Issue 013
: : Based on Bettinsoli handcrafted Italian shotguns
NX Shotgun Text & Images by DAVID “TRACERX” THORSON
T
he NEMO Arms brand has become wellknown for quality semi-auto modern
sporting rifles, from the hard-hitting Omen Watchman 300 Win Mag to its line of BattleLight AR-15s, NEMO Arms has left nothing on the table when building incredible firearms. The company’s new line of shotguns is no different; even if you are not familiar with big-bore, double-barreled firearms, at first glance you’ll already know each is truly a piece of art, from long-lasting build quality and the craftsmanship down to the details of their engravings. Each one is truly made to be passed down and enjoyed for generations.
: : Over/under double-barrel design : : Chambered in 12 gauge
“Based on handmade Bettinsolis, each is truly a piece of art, from the long-lasting build quality and craftsmanship to the smallest detail of its engravings.”
Basing its offerings on Bettinsoli handcrafted Italian shotguns, NEMO adds its own
in steel and light alloy), forend irons, and
modern twist of revolutionary technology to
monoblocks, to trigger guards and extractors.
a nostalgic classic, making one of the most
Adding to the longevity, the material fibers are
advanced 12-gauge double-barreled shotguns
not cut by tools, so therefore the resistance of
available. Every primary component is made
the material remains intact for the absorption of
from solid forgings, from the actions (both
the shot explosions.
UN12mag.com
125
Product Spotlight: NEMO Arms NX Shotgun UN0012 / ADM UIC MOD2 —
N 126
UN12 / Issue 013
Below are just a few of the unique features included within this exceptional line of shotguns from NEMO: • NEMO Arms steel
• Polished safety for
• 3-5 choke system
frame with case-
smooth operation
based on Bettinsoli
hardened finish
• 5-lb mechanical trigger
choke systems
• Premium NEMO Arms
pull with an adjustable
• TSA-approved NEMO
steel barrel
trigger blade for
Negrini case with
• Stock and forend
improved ergonomics
three code locks and
crafted from Class A
• Fiber-optic sights for
QD mounts for sling
Turkish walnut with an
quick sight picture
attachments
oil-stained finish
NEMO shotguns can be purchased directly from the NEMO website at nemoarms.com or from Rainier Arms at rainierarms.com and shipped to the FFL of your choice.
: : For more information: NEMO Arms NX Shotgun URL: nemoarms.com
UN12
NEMO UN12mag.com
127
FEATURE
Customization
Personalized Knife Text by CHRIS LEE Images by MICHAEL GREY
E
ver since George was a child, he has
weighing a respectable half-pound, it was
had an interest in all sorts of tools—
one of the beefiest folders that Benchmade
knives especially. It all started when he
produced. That knife survived years of
was given a Swiss Army Knife for his tenth
cutting and prying during his service, and
birthday. Since then, he has always carried
then in construction work after he returned to
an instrument with which he can cut or pry.
civilian life.
His first custom pocketknife was a Buck 110 with his name engraved on it. Many years later, while he was in the
128
UN12 / Issue 013
It’s been a few years since Benchmade made the Adamas, so when George heard that the company was re-releasing the
service, he needed a tough and reliable
Adamas series, he knew he had to purchase
folder and found the original Benchmade
the newest version of his favorite do-
Adamas. At almost 9 inches in length and
everything tool.
: : Based on a Benchmade 275FE-2 Adamas : : Cerakoted by Rifle Supply : : Crucible CruWear tool steel blade
UN12mag.com
129
Customization: Knives
Specs 01
Personalized Benchmade Adamas
Custom Cerakote was applied by Rifle Gear in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Owner: George Miller Cerakote: Charles/Rifle Supply @riflesupplycerakote
Benchmade Model: Adamas Model Number: 275FE-2 MSRP: $280 URL: benchmade.com
02 Cerakote was applied to both the knife’s blade and handle in a matched pattern.
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“The first Adamas was almost 9 inches long and weighed a respectable half pound. The new Adamas stays true to the original Benchmade design with small and subtle dimensional changes, as well as new blade steel.”
The new Adamas stays true to the original Benchmade design with small and subtle dimensional changes, the biggest being that the blade is now made with Crucible Industries’ CruWear tool steel. This is certainly a step up from his original’s D2 blade. CruWear is an air-hardening tool steel that possesses an excellent combination of high wear resistance and toughness. The steel exhibits minimal distortion in hardening and excels in applications that require higher wear resistance than D2
bespoke Cerakote jobs. Wanting to customize his newly
and greater toughness than M2 high-
purchased EDC knife with a coat of
speed steel. “I was glad to know that this
custom Cerakote, he contacted Rifle
blade is tougher and longer-lasting than
Supply’s chief Cerakoter, Charles, who
the one in my original Adamas,” George
proceeded to come up with the custom
says. “It should last me a lifetime.”
camo and color pattern that you see here.
Living in Southern California, George
With his new knife all dolled up, most
is a frequent customer at a local favorite
people would rather stare at it than use it.
gun and gear shop in Huntington Beach
It does look even more like a work of art
called Rifle Supply. He tells us that every
now after the Cerakoting, doesn’t it? For
time he visits the shop, he drools over
his part, George looks forward to testing
their inventory of custom Cerakoted
the knife’s toughness, as he regards it
guns. He even started following them on
more as a hard-use tool than an art piece.
IG @riflesupplycerakote to gawk at their
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03 A ballistic nylon sheath is included, although the owner isn’t afraid of wear through hard use.
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131
DEPT.
Competition & Training
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UN12 / Issue 013
Shoot This Drill THE 10 SECOND SHOWDOWN Text by JUSTIN DYAL (DIALED IN TRAINING) Illustrations by CHARLES “CHIP” LASKY
S
tatic-position shooting is great for practicing marksmanship and
its fundamentals, but those who are in the professional field understand that practicing single-position shooting is just the beginning. Shooter movement and changing target distances require specific training and drills to become proficient. That’s where the 10 Second Showdown (10SS) drill comes in handy. Drill creator and noted instructor Justin Dyal of Dialed in Training fills us in on why he created it: “I wanted a drill that was super-efficient, challenging, and that combined many important skills weighted correctly. At the time I designed this drill, there were very few drills that used movement to create changing distances (and resulting shot difficulty). The Showdown gives seven unique shot difficulties in 10 total shots. In about 10 seconds it works a draw, a reload, movement into and out of shooting position, and shooting on the move while presenting those different shots. “Combining these skills on the clock tends to give a better picture of a shooter’s on-demand ability than smaller, static drills. However, the 10SS isn’t so complex that the shooter can’t accurately reflect on his or her run and self-critique.” [ UN12 ]
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Competition & Training
SETUP: THE 10 SECOND SHOWDOWN Target: IDPA or similar silhouette with 8” circle and 3x5” index card in head box Distances: 13/10/7/7 to 3 yards Round Count: 10
1) START HOLSTERED WITH TWO ROUNDS IN THE PISTOL AT 13 YARDS.
2) ON BUZZER, DRAW AND FIRE TWO SHOTS AT THE 8” CIRCLE.
3) STEP TOWARD THE 10-YARD LINE WHILE RELOADING WITH A MAGAZINE OF 8 ROUNDS.
4) AT THE 10YARD LINE, FIRE ANOTHER TWO ROUNDS AT THE 8” CIRCLE, THEN MOVE TO THE 7-YARD LINE, FIRING TWO TO THE BODY AND ONE TO THE HEAD ONCE ARRIVING THERE.
5) STEP OFF AND FIRE ANOTHER FAILURE DRILL ON THE MOVE. TIME STOPS ON THE TENTH SHOT AND THERE ARE NO EXTRA OR MAKE-UP SHOTS ALLOWED.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR A noted shooter, trainer, and writer, Justin Dyal is a retired Marine Raider with an extensive background in and passion for training. A lifelong shooter, Lt. Col. Dyal spent large portions of his career in uniform and was responsible for some of the Corps’ most advanced schoolhouses. Since leaving active duty he has worked regularly with special units, teaching on a variety of topics, as well as within the firearms industry. Dyal is known equally for innovative training designs and helping experienced shooters and instructors accelerate their development.
“The 10 Second Showdown presents seven unique shot difficulties in 10 total shots.”
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UN12 / Issue 013
3 YARDS
13 YARDS
7 YARDS
10 YARDS
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135
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Aero Precision EPC-9 Complete Lower Receiver Y
our quest for building the ultimate pistolcaliber AR has just gotten easier—and much
improved, too. Earlier this year, Aero Precision released its version of the pistol-caliber AR, called the EPC-9, EPC for Enhanced Pistol Caliber. As we quickly learned, Aero truly means it when they added the word “enhanced” to the name. The EPC-9 is more than just a single gun. The brand covers an expansive network of components that allow you to piece together the perfect setup for your requirements. Each item in the EPC-9 collection, from barrels to buffers, is designed to work seamlessly with one another, as we have
Aero Precision offers upper and lower receivers
exceptional. All of its contours were smooth, as was
in varying states of completion. From stripped to
the finish. The enhancements that we like the most
complete, the choice is yours. We got to spend time
on the lower were the threaded bolt-catch pin for
“It’s built from the ground up to meet the severe demands of pistol-caliber blowback AR operation.”
experienced firsthand. The EPC-9 lineup allows builds for both 9mm and
Text & Images by JAMES YORK
easy installation and the threaded takedown pin detent recess to allow for the installation of a detent and spring with a single 4-40 set screw. The lower also includes an integrated enlarged trigger guard and a useful and attractive flared magazine well for quick and easy reloads. We’re excited that the EPC-9 has finally hit the market and are looking forward to all the custom builds that it will spawn. No matter if you’re looking into your first pistol-caliber AR build or your tenth, the innovative EPC-9 is well worth your
with the EPC-9 Complete Lower Receiver, which is
consideration.
.40 S&W AR builds. The all-new platform is built
available in black and FDE color choices with many
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from the ground up to meet the severe demands
different buttstock and pistol brace configurations
of pistol-caliber blowback AR operation. The
available. You can even choose one sans stock
foundation of the EPC-9 line is the forged EPC-9
if you already have one you want to use. Like its
receiver set, which accepts Glock-compatible
matched upper options, the lower is also machined
magazines. Shooters will be glad to know that a
from forged 7075-T6 aluminum.
last-round bolt-hold-open mechanism is integrated into the upper receiver.
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UN12 / Issue 013
As expected of Aero Precision, the machining and finish on the complete EPC-9 lower was
: : Aero Precision EPC-9 Complete Lower MSRP: From $280 ($430 as shown with SBA3 brace) URL: aeroprecisionusa.com
A few IG accounts that we found to be follow-worthy @allegiantholsters
@atibal_illumination
@darkstormnorm
@holosunoptics
@nevadacerakote
@riflesupply
@run_it_dun
@taylor_tac_arms
INSTA-11
Popular IG tags to follow: #gunslifestyle #bestgundaily
@wickedweaponry
Win glory for yourself and your collection and gain
#gunfanatics
hordes of IG followers. Tag
#defensemk
if you’d like a chance for your
#un12mag
future issue of UN12.
us with the hashtag #un12ig IG account to be featured in a
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137
RETAIL DIRECTORY UN12 is a specialty magazine that is printed in limited quantities and is not available everywhere. Find your copy at these select retailers before it sells out.
CA
MI
TX
Evike 2801 W. Mission Rd. Alhambra, CA 91803 Tel: (626) 407-0561 URL: evike.com
FiringLine Guns 33000 Ford Road Westland, MI 48185 Tel: (734) 326-7320 URL: firinglineguns.com
Custom Defense Firearms 1911 E. Rancier Ave. Killeen, TX 76541 Tel: (408) 597-4867 URL: customdefensefirearms.com
Evike 1400 W. 4th St. #2 Antioch, CA 94509 Tel: (925) 237-2560 URL: evike.com
ND
Evike 100 Cypresswood Dr. #1302 Spring, TX 77388 Tel: (281) 771-3126 URL: evike.com
Kings River Coatings 2491 Avenue 400 Kingsburg, CA 93631 Tel: (559) 246-6426 URL: yooying.com/ kingsrivercoatings Tactical Pro Shop 3503 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505 Tel: (818) 468-7837 URL: tacticalproshop.com
CO Danger Close Armament 6801 S. Emporia St. #102 Greenwood Village, CO 80112 Tel: (720) 638-6572 URL: dangerclosearmament.com
LA Iron Sights Weaponry Woodland Trace Ct. Sorrento, LA 70778 Tel: (833) 476-6486 URL: ironsightsweaponry.com
Spartan Firearms 7101 Hwy 2 & 52 W. Minot, ND 58703 Tel: (701) 838-GUNS URL: spartanfirearms.us
NV New Frontier Armory 150 E. Centennial Pkwy, Suite #110 N. Las Vegas, NV 89084 Tel: (702) 479-1470 URL: newfrontierarmory.com
WA Grey Ghost Gear 2916th 107th St. South Lakewood, WA 98499 Tel: (253) 984-7854 URL: greyghostgear.com
NH
NW Safe Company 830 Cole St. Enumclaw, WA 98022 Tel: (360) 825-5953 URL: nwsafe.com
2A Tactical 99 Tolend Road Barrington, NH 03825 Tel: (978) 833-1215 URL: 2atacticalnh.com
Rainier Arms 2504 Auburn Way N. Auburn, WA 98002 Tel: (253) 218-2999 URL: rainierarms.com
Wicked Weaponry 21 Londonderry Turnpike Hooksett, NH 03106 Tel: (603) 232-0621 URL: wickedweaponryusa.com
Wade’s Eastside Guns 13570 Bel-Red Rd. Bellevue, WA 98005 Tel: (425) 649-5995 URL: wadesguns.com
ONLINE RETAILERS amazon.com evike.com rainierarms.com UN12mag.com weaponoutfitters.com INTERNATIONAL RETAILERS
CANADA Canadian Tactical Cowboy Supplies URL: ctcsupplies.ca
BELGIUM DTS-Armory Tel: (+31) 475-202-153 URL: dts-armory.com
NETHERLANDS DTS-Armory Tel: (+31) 475-202-153 URL: dts-armory.com
THAILAND Thailand Tactical Mind / PP Tactics 135 Prachanaruemit, Pracharat Sai1 Rd Bangsue, Bangkok, 10800 Tel: (+66) 81-889-7855 URL: tacticalmind.co.th
If you are a retailer that would like to carry UN12 in your store, contact us at: retailer@un12mag.com
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®
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