UN12 - 016 Magazine

U.S. $14.95

Included

UN12 x Aero Precision Sticker Sheet

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:

Featured Material

Mindset & Attitude (Be a Team Asset, Not a Team A**hole) A Rolex-inspired Glock 19 Gen3 Review: EOTech EFLX Mini Reflex Sight Review: SureFire MasterFire System Koted Arms + 2A Tactical LLC Exothermic Flamethrower

Feature Firearm

Iron City Rifle Works

Berserker9 Pistol UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

UN12mag.com

ISSUE 016

CLASSICALLY. CLEARLY. CONSISTENTLY. AMERICAN.

BETTER QUALITY FOR BETTER BUILDS Being an American is at the core of your identity. Offering you an American product is at the core of ours. Everything we make at Midwest Industries is designed and built right here in the USA, including our drop-in triggers, upper receiver rod, armorer’s wrench, and more. American quality because American shooters and gunsmiths deserve nothing less.

SHOP OUR DIVERSE PLATFORMS AT MIDWESTINDUSTRIESINC.COM

MADE IN USA

Table of Contents: Features

38 AR-15 Max Firearm Feature

UN12 Issue 016

48

74

102

128

EOTech EFLX Mini Reflex Sight (MRS) Product Review

Iron City Rifle Works Berserker9 Pistol Firearm Feature

iRay USA Mini MH25 Thermal Monocular Product Review

Personalized Knife Customization Feature

54

82

106

Cloning a Type 56 AK General Feature

Midwest Industries PEQ15 Fixed Front Sight Product Review

Refit & Updated AR-15 Firearm Feature

60 Glock Milgauss Firearm Feature

68 Thyrm CellVault Product Review

86 Be a Team Asset, Not a Team Asshole General Feature

94 Parts Bin AR-9 Firearm Feature

06

UN12 / Issue 016

116 SureFire MasterFire System Product Review

122 Koted Arms + 2A Tactical LLC Exothermic Technologies Customization Feature

136 Unity Tactical FAST FTC EOTech G33 Magnifier Mount Product Spotlight

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.

1995 2022 THAT WAS THEN.

THIS IS NOW.

SUREFIRE TURBO SERIES lights emerged in the 1990s when end-user feedback led us to create illumination tools that stretched every lumen of our classic incandescent lamps to astonishing distances. In 2022, our all-new Turbo Series is once again pushing the limits, offering up to 71,000 candela of intense, tightly focused light capable of reaching out to extreme distances. Just like when we pioneered high-candela illumination tools two decades ago, this equipment is engineered to take a beating and thrive in any environment. Some things never change.

Table of Contents: Departments

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Guns of Instagram

24 Every Day Carry

10

132

Editor’s Letter

Shoot This Drill

12 New Products

20 Sticker Sheet

32 Called Out

08

UN12 / Issue 016

137

THE PATTERN THAT DEFINED LEGENDS OPS-CORE/TNVC FAST SF GROUND BALLISTIC

TNVC MOHAWK MK 3 GEN.2

OTTE GEAR/TNVC CUSTOM HELMET BAG

ALL AVAILABLE M81 PATTERN PRODUCTS AT TNVC.COM: OPS-CORE/TNVC FAST SF GROUND BALLISTIC OTTE GEAR/TNVC CUSTOM HELMET BAG TNVC NVG-PPE NIGHT VISION PADDED POUCH NOCORIUM M81 WOODLAND WRAPS (MULTIPLE SYSTEMS) TNVC MOHAWK MK 1 GEN 2 TNVC MOHAWK MK 2 GEN 2 TNVC MOHAWK MK3 GEN 2 .... AND MORE

/TNVCINC /TNVC_INC /TNVCINC © Copyright 2021, TNVC, All Rights Reserved

TNVC.COM

016

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

—

Publisher Howard C Lim

I

nspiration for firearms customization can sprout

to go hands-on with a load of new gear reviews that cover

Editors

from any number of sources. Sometimes it’s from

iRay’s MH25 thermal imager, SureFire’s MasterFire Pro

The UN12 Creative Team

one of your favorite movies or TV shows, or perhaps inspiration strikes when you’re out shooting with some friends. What inspired your latest build?

In this issue of UN12, we take a look a several guns

holster system, EOTech’s EFLX mini reflex sight and more.

For military clone enthusiasts, Michael Penhall, UN12’s Technical Editor, shows us his previously de-milled Type 56 AK. If you’re looking to get into cloning an AK, you’ll

that found creative roots in everything from the desire to return to tactical training classes all the way to a pair of collectible Nike sneakers.

Didn’t we say inspiration could come from just about anywhere?

UN12 is all about innovation and creativity.

To that end, we’re proud to help fellow enthusiasts show off their latest custom creations. Join us as we check out the latest in guns and gear modification for both upgraded function and enhanced aesthetics.

In this issue, we take a look at some customized ARs as well as a modified Glock that was inspired by a Rolex wristwatch. How posh. We also get a close up look at

want to read how he enlisted

“UN12 is all about innovation and creativity and to that end, we’re proud to help fellow enthusiasts show off their latest custom creations.

Join us as we check out the latest in guns and gear modification for both upgraded function and enhanced aesthetics.”

a tricked-out flamethrower.

Two Rivers Arms’ services to refurbish a parts kit into a bonafide beauty of an AK.

Creative Direction James Ho, Jerry Tsai

as well.

James Ho

This print issue comes with a bonus sticker sheet that we’ve created in collaboration with our longtime industry partner, Aero Precision. The UN12 x Aero Precision sticker sheet is full of fun stickers to slap on all of your gear. If

Contributors Martin Anders, Basecamp Creative Group, Carlo Cabrejos, Jay Canter, Michael Grey, Charles Lasky, Chris Lee, John Scott, Roland Wilkes, James York

Special Thanks Aristotle Bartolome, John Hwang, Che Chon

you’re a collector, you can save the stickers instead,

Copy Editor

since this limited-production

Frank Stroud

sticker sheet will only be made in a small batch and will not be reissued.

As always, we’re looking for innovators and custom guns and knives to feature. If you

Advertising Sales George Nogal george@un12mag.com

Ad Coordinator Frank Stroud

have a firearm or other piece it. Tag us @un12mag on Instagram if you have something that UN12 readers would like to see. Let’s continue to

worthy lesson in the importance of proper mindset and

build UN12 together. Let us know what you think we got

professionalism from Chip Lasky in this issue, as well

right or could do better in this issue on our Facebook

as learning a practical low-light engagement drill by Jim

page at: /un12mag.

UN12 / Issue 016

Michael Penhall

Art Director

of gear that you have customized, we want to know about

10

Technical Editor

more to enjoy in this issue

flamethrower. You won’t want to miss it.

Carter. Elsewhere in the issue you’ll also see what it’s like

Danny Chang

That’s not all; there’s plenty

That’s right, it’s a fully Cerakoted and laser etched It’s not all fun and games mind you; we’ll also get a

Associate Editor

—The UN12 Creative Team

Printed in the USA 016-2022

THE PRS LITE FROM MAGPUL. HEAVY ON FEATURES AND QUALITY. LIGHT ON WEIGHT AND COST. ®

Designed to military standards, the PRS Lite is ten ounces lighter than the PRS GEN3 while providing comb height, LOP, and butt-pad adjustability, all in a stable interface that includes plenty of options for your sling.

www.magpul.com © 2021 Magpul Industries Corporation. MAGPUL, MAGPUL LOGO & DESIGN, and others are trademarks of Magpul Industries Corp.

DEPT.

New Products

iRay USA RICO ALPHA The Rico Alpha is the culmination of decades of user feedback, research, development, and American engineering all embedded in a thermal weapon sight that’s purpose-built for the discerning nighttime hunter. From the Autoloading Guarded Power Connector (AGPC) to the battery latch, the RQD Quick Release Mount, to the ultra-rigid housing with Tactile Ridge Positioning and Single Finger Focus (SFF) design, the Alpha was developed by hunters for hunters and absolute performance in every way. Additional features include image and video capture, multiple dynamic reticles, a stadiametric rangefinder, and wireless connectivity. To top all that off, the Alpha is proudly designed, machined, assembled, and serviced in the great state of Texas. $6,999 irayusa.com

Gatorz Eyewear ANSI Z87.1 MILSPEC BALLISTIC SPECTER Handcrafted from aerospace-grade aluminum in Yuma, Arizona, each pair of Gatorz is made with rigorous attention to detail. Stainless steel rivets bond CNC-machined billet frames for lifelong strength and ANSI Z87+/MILSPEC ballistic protection for your life-defining eyesight. The Specter frame’s thin temples fit comfortably under helmets and ear protection, making a perfect fit for on the job, the range, or EDC. $300 gatorz.com

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UN12 / Issue 016

Filson SPORTSMAN BANDANA 2-PACK The Filson Sportsman Bandana 2-Pack contains two handy 100% cotton bandanas for countless uses in the field, from improvised bandages to sun protection to drying off your camp cookware.

They measure 22 inches on each side and are great for absorbing sweat to act as a cooling element in hot weather. They’re an indispensable part of every outdoorsman’s field bag. $45 filson.com

Accufire OMNIS HD DAY/NIGHT IR SPOTTING SCOPE Accufire’s OMNIS is an infrared day- or night-use spotting scope that’s capable of 30x to 120x magnification and HD video through its 1440x1080 pixel resolution, 2.95-inch OLED display. It features a reticle that can display in multiple patterns and colors and includes a built-in microphone. Battery life is rated for 4 hours of use by using 4x CR123A batteries. $1,249 accufiretech.com

Crucial Concealment COVERT IWB HOLSTER This holster offers ambidextrous carry and a full range of cant adjustment, which ensures the user can find his or her preferred carry position.

Constructed with .080 Kydex, the holster delivers the perfect blend of rugged durability and a thin, low-profile design required for EDC IWB use.

Concealment is enhanced by the subtle Trigger Bump that helps angle the grip of the pistol back toward the body in all carry positions. All Covert series holsters feature optic compatibility and user adjustable retention. [UN12 readers receive 10% OFF and Free Shipping by using coupon code UN12 at checkout.]

From $66 crucialconcealment.com

Holosun SCS-MOS Holosun’s SCS-MOS (Solar Charging Sight) is a direct-attachment optic for Glock MOS systems offering the lowest profile deck height for use with standard-height iron sights. The SCS-MOS combines solar power and rechargeable power storage with an auto-adjusting reticle brightness to potentially operate indefinitely in multiple lighting conditions. Available with a red or green 2 MOA dot and 32 MOA circle reticle.

From $400 holosun.com

UN12mag.com

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Strike Industries STRIKE X-COMP Strike Industries’ Strike X-Comp is a new line of muzzle devices capable of various fitments. Originally designed for the CZ Scorpion EVO, which requires a thread pitch and bore diameter that’s larger than most other platforms, SI was able to design thread adapter kits that allow you to adapt its 10mm bore diameter for use as a multi-caliber device. Use it with 9mm, .223 Remington, 5.56 NATO, .308 Winchester, 7.62x51 NATO, 7.62x39 and others without adding bulk or length. Various Strike X-Comp Three adapter kits are available to downsize and pair with barrels threaded for 1/2-28, 5/824, and SIG MPX’s M13.5x1 LH thread pitches.

Strike X-Comp Thread Protector: $30 Strike X-Comp Element C: $50 Strike X-Comp Mini Cookie Cutter: $60 Strike X-Comp Thread Adapter Kit: $18 strikeindustries.com

Emerson Knives JUNE BUG

CMC TIGER STRIPE AR15/AR10 TRIGGER GROUP SINGLE STAGE - CCT BOW CMC’s innovative, self-contained, and easy-to-install AR-15 trigger groups have been completely re-tooled to maximize production capacities, incorporate new design enhancements, and reduce cost. This special-edition Tiger Stripe version features an innovative design that combines the comfort of a classic trigger curve with CMC’s signature flat trigger indexing into one dynamic trigger bow. The CMC CCT is engineered for an exceptionally smooth feel, ultra-clean break, and an exceptional lock time and lightning-fast reset. $235 cmctriggers.com

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UN12 / Issue 016

This little knife is probably Emerson Knives’ ultimate EDC presentation.

It measures just under five and a half inches long and has a 2.3-inch Wharncliffe-style blade with 3.2-inch handle and that makes it perfect for everyday carry use. It’ll fit snugly in your pocket, or with the Emerson clip it can be carried clipped to your pocket like any of Emerson’s other knives.

The June Bug may be small, but don’t underestimate its cutting performance. $220 emersonknives.com

C R E AT E D BY M E SA TAC T IC AL

INTRODUCING:

TREGO GRIP FOR AR-15

• RUBBER OVERMOLDED • 20% GLASS FILLED POLY-PROPYLENE COVERED WITH TPE SYNTHETIC RUBBER • ERGONIMIC BEAVER TAIL GRIP DESIGN Mesa Tactical®, known for their tactical shotgun accessories, has created Mesatac® as a way to bring their manufacturing quality to one of the most popular firearm platforms, known as the modern sporting rifle, the AR-15. Mesatac’s first grip for the AR-15 is a rubber overmolded part that features an armature of tough 20% glass filled polypropylene covered

by TPE synthetic rubber for an ergonomic and comfortable grip.

FOR LIFE. GUARANTEED.

MESATAC.COM UN12mag.com

15

Norma NXD Introducing the Norma NXD—or Non-eXpanding Defensive ammo.

NXD ammo features a 65-grain, injection-molded, copper-polymer matrix projectile with a patentpending fluted design to achieve unmatched terminal performance.

This helps to produce lighter recoil and faster, more accurate follow-up shots. The NXD’s extreme terminal performance on-target is achieved with the help of its proprietary fluted projectile design. This technology produces a devastating energy transfer by initiating a powerful hydrodynamic ram effect upon impact with soft tissue. Designed specifically as a personal defense cartridge, penetration is optimized within soft targets, eliminating concerns of overpenetration or collateral damage.

Arrowhead Tactical Apparel CARRIER SHORTS These Carrier Shorts enable the wearer to carry compact to full-sized handguns through even the most rigorous activities. This capability is enabled by the company’s patented Carrier Retention Waistband that provides both support and flexibility. Unlike other activewear carry solutions that utilize elastic pockets, Carrier Shorts are designed to work with IWB holsters, which the wearer can place at any position around the waist. The shorts offer a zippered rear pocket, a breathable mesh gusset, and 8- or and 11-inch inseam options.

From $65 arrowheadtacticalapparel.com

$22 (20 rounds) normashooting.com

Midwest Industries SCOUT LIGHT EXTENDED PICATINNY MOUNT

RTS TRIGGERSHIELD TSM4 Devised to reduce the risk of unintentional discharge of firearms, the RTS TriggerShield protects the trigger from unintentional contact without hindering the operator’s ability to purposefully access the trigger. The operator simply slides the trigger finger underneath the spring-loaded cover for access to the trigger well. When you’re finished firing, removing your trigger finger from the trigger well allows the cover to close automatically, returning the RTS TriggerShield to its resting protective position. $70 rtstriggershield.com

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UN12 / Issue 016

This Picatinny mount is designed to work with SureFire Scout Light Pro Series weaponlights. Its long arm moves the light forward three inches to reduce shadow casting and its compact base provides additional rail space. The ambidextrous attachment weighs only half an ounce and is constructed of hardcoat-anodized 6061 aluminum. It’s made in the USA and includes a lifetime warranty. $70 midwestindustries.com

EOTECH® Holographic Weapon Sights (HWS), Vudu riflescopes, EFLX mini reflex sights, and magnifiers offer amazing speed to target, unparalleled quality, and durability second to none. There is only one clear choice — EOTECH. GAIN YOUR ADVANTAGE NOW.

E XP S3 ™

G33 ™

eotechinc.com Scan for more Hybrid sight information.

eotechinc.com ©Copyright 2022 EOTECH, LLC. All rights reserved. EOTECH®, Vudu®, HWS® and EFLX™ are registered trademarks of EOTECH, LLC.

UN12mag.com

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DEPT.

Patch-16

Issu

UN12 x Aero Precision Sticker Sheet

Issue 016 Sticker Sheet

Issue 016 Sticker Sheet

Issue 016 Sticker Sheet

Issue 016 Sticker Sheet

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UN12 / Issue 016

AEROPRECISIONUSA.COM

Text & Images by JAMES YORK

tickers. We love stickers. They’re not only

AR-15s, AR-308s, 9mm caliber ARs, and quality

sheet that’s bound into the issue. This collectible

fun to slap on your gear, but also useful to

components and accessories. We’re always

sheet is brimming with weather resistant self-

mark what’s yours. Stick ’em on your laptop, water

excited to see what the inventive company

adhesive stickers to help add the proper amount

bottle, rifle hard case, smartphone, and anything

comes out with next. Aero Precision has a flair for

of Aero Precision flavor to your gear. Enjoy these

else you deem fun-worthy or that you need to mark

innovation and style and we are honored to partner

stickers by slapping them on your earmuffs, your

personal identifiers on.

up with them for this exclusive sticker sheet.

vehicle’s rear window, an ammo can. You can even

S

We introduced sticker sheets in UN12

Aero Precision’s products are not only popular

hang on to them as collector’s items, because

three issues ago and during that time we’ve

with UN12 staff, but also highly sought-after by

once this magazine is sold out they won’t be

collaborated with a selection of industry partners

AR enthusiasts at large. The company’s EPC, M4,

issued again.

in creating stickers that have proved to be a hit

and M5 platforms are among the most popular in

This sticker sheet is exclusive to this issue

with our readers. Our latest collab sticker sheet,

the genre. In fact, it’s common for us to see Aero

of UN12 and will not be printed again. If you’re

which can be found on the last page of this print

Precision guns and accessories untold times every

holding a physical copy of the magazine, you’ll find

issue, is with Aero Precision, makers of quality ARs

day when looking at pictures of customized guns

it just inside the back cover. If you’re reading this

and components.

online and on IG.

digitally, go get yourself a print edition of this issue

Aero Precision is already well known in the

Aero Precision’s talented creatives designed

firearms world for their groundbreaking line of

the exclusive UN12 x Aero Precision collab sticker

to secure your sticker sheet before it’s gone. [ UN12 ]

UN12mag.com

21

Every Day Carry

03

01

02

Text & Images by JERRY TSAI

O

ne thing to remember about life is that you

never know what’s going to happen. Have you ever found yourself in a certain situation that you didn’t expect to be in when you woke up that morning? Whether it’s performing an unexpected repair or traveling to an area that you did not expect to go

04

to that day, daily life is good at springing up surprises. The one thing you can control is how you prepare for these surprises. That’s why its crucial to be prepared with a useful EDC setup. In this edition of Every Day Carry, we take a look at two purposeful EDC setups. Let’s take a closer look at them.

05

01

02

03

04

05

Casio G-Shock GLS8900AR-1

Mil-Spec Monkey Mini Mod-D Carabiner MkII

5.11 Rapid PL 1AA Flashlight

Blue Force Gear Ten-Speed Ultralight Dump Pouch

Blue Force Gear Lip Balm

MSRP: $130 URL: casio.com

MSRP: $7 URL: milspecmonkey.com

24

UN12 / Issue 016

MSRP: $35 URL: 511tactical.com

MSRP: $49 URL: blueforcegear.com

MSRP: $1.50 URL: blueforcegear.com

Every Day Carry / 33

06

07 08

09

10

06 Glock G19 Gen3 URL: us.glock.com

07 C3 Stippling & Framework MSRP: Varies URL: highspeedarms.com

08 SureFire XC-1 MSRP: $299 URL: surefire.com

09 CRKT Mah-Hawk MSRP: $68 URL: crkt.com

10 VELO AIWB Holster MSRP: $105 URL: tenicor.com

UN12mag.com

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33

Premium EDC Items Mil-Spec Monkey Mini Mod-D Carabiner MkII

MSRP: $68 URL: crkt.com

VELO AIWB Holster MSRP: $105

URL: tenicor.com

Our 2¢: Mil-Spec Monkey’s updated carabiner comes in a useful 3.5 x 2-inch size making it great for EDC use and as a backup carabiner.

Its great for securing everyday objects such as sets of keys but is also a load bearing capable carabiner if case you end up having to do some high speed tasks. It is offered in a range of colors with stamped markings.

Our 2¢: If you’ve always wanted a Liong Mah designed knife but didn’t think you could afford one, you’ll want to jump on this piece. Famed knife designer Liong Mah collaborated with CRKT to create the Mah-Hawk. It’s a compact, everyday folding knife built with a D2 blade, great looking Glass Reinforced Nylon handle, Ken Onion’s Assisted Opening and Flavio Ikoma’s IKBS. With it in your pocket, you know you’ll be prepared to face whatever the day brings at you.

5.11 Rapid PL 1AA

SureFire XC-1

MSRP: $35

MSRP: $299

Blue Force Gear Ten-Speed Ultralight Dump Pouch

URL: 511tactical.com

URL: surefire.com

Our 2¢: We love flashlights and can never have enough of them. This affordable unit by 5.11 is perfect to use as a back up for first responders or as a primary for everyday carry. The compact but powerful multi-fuel compatible light is powered by a standard AA battery or a 14500 rechargeable lithium ion battery.

Our 2¢: SureFire’s smallest and lightest weight weaponlight is a perfect pair with your compact pistol. Developed to fit compact, railed handguns, it delivers 300 lumens from a single AAA battery.

Ambidextrous switches provide both momentaryand constant-on activation options. Rugged for everyday carry, it is so light and compact it won’t weigh you down.

MSRP: $7 URL: milspecmonkey.com

26

CRKT Mah-Hawk

UN12 / Issue 016

Our 2¢:We love innovations and Tenicor is full of them. The Velo is specifically designed as an appendix-carry holster and is intelligently designed to make your seemingly gun disappear.

The holster’s “camming bar” and anatomically correct body contour help rotate the pistol’s grip up and into the body for greater concealment. You won’t believe how well it conceals until you try it.

The original Velo is shown here, but a newer Velo4 is currently available.

MSRP: $49 URL: blueforcegear.com Our 2¢: Dump pouch or belt-mounted supermarket shopping bag? We’ll let you decide your use. The TenSpeed Ultralight Dump Pouch is by far our favorite dump pouch. It is extremely compact, only taking up a 2 x 2 MOLLE field; the bag portion stays folded under BFG’s Ten-Speed elastic when not in use.

3

INTRODUCING

FE ATURES • Multiple Reticle System (MRS): 2 MOA Dot Only, 32MOA Circle Only, 2 MOA Dot with 32 MOA Circle • Self Adjusting Brightness Control • Direct Mounts to Glock MOS™ • Titanium Housing • Solar Rechargeable Internal Power Storage • Window Size: 0.77 x 0.58 • Weight: 1.3 oz

BREAKING

BARRIERS Holosun’s new SCS-MOS is a direct attachment optic for full-size Glock MOS™ systems offering the lowest profile deck height for use with standard height iron sights. The SCS-MOS combines solar power, rechargeable internal power storage, and an auto adjusting reticle brightness system to potentially operate indefinitely in multiple lighting conditions.

HOLOSUN.COM

DEPT.

Every Day Carry / 34

01 CoopXgear Steadfast E.D.C. Pack MSRP: $75 URL: coopxgear.com

01

02 Benchmade Triage Family MSRP: $225 URL: benchmade.com

02

03 Streamlight Sylus Pro Penlight MSRP: $25 URL: streamlight.com

03

04 Gerber EVO Multi Plier (out of production)

06 04

URL: gerbergear.com

05

05 Emergency Foil Mylar Blanket MSRP: $7 (pack of 3) URL: amazon.com

28

UN12 / Issue 016

06 HART Outdoor Day Hike First-Aid Kit

07

08

MSRP: $14 URL: rei.com

07 09

5.11 Outpost Chrono MSRP: $120 URL: 511tactical.com

08 Crucial Concealment Covert IWB MSRP: $66 URL: crucialconcealment.com Offer: Get 10% Off & Free Shipping with Coupon Code UN12

09 SOG Aegis AT Tanto— Rescue Red & Indigo MSRP: $95 URL: sogknives.com

10

10 Princeton Tec Snap Solo MSRP: $35 URL: princetontec.com MSRP: $ 50 / 128GB URL: princetontec.com

UN12mag.com

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34

Premium EDC Items

30

Hart Outdoor Day Hike First-Aid Kit

CoopXgear Steadfast E.D.C. Pack

Benchmade Triage Family

MSRP: $75 URL: coopxgear.co Our 2¢: We’ve been using our CoopXgear Steadfast E.D.C. Pack for quite a few years now and it’s still our go to mini-pack for EDC carry.

CoopXgear worked with numerous designers to create a small, compact and rugged pack.

The Steadfast is designed to hold and organize your everyday carry tools and equipment in an simple manner that makes functional sense. The interior of the pouch is made with hook material and comes with universal loop inserts that are designed to be custom configured for your EDC gear and needs.

MSRP: $225 URL: benchmade.com Our 2¢: It’s not the latest, but it is one of our favorites. Benchmade’s Triage is tested by some of the world’s foremost rescue experts.

This triple utility tool includes a knife, safety hook, and glass breaker. The 916 Triage is fashioned with a serrated opposing bevel blade that stands at 3.4” in length and weighs in at 5.24oz. Designed and manufactured in the USA with Austrian blade steel. Ken Onion’s Assisted Opening and Flavio Ikoma’s IKBS. With it in your pocket, you know you’ll be prepared to face whatever the day brings at you.

5.11 Outpost Chrono

Crucial Concealment

SOG Aegis AT Tanto

MSRP: $120 URL: 511tactical.com Our 2¢: 5.11’s Outpost Chrono provides precision timekeeping with a tonal tactical appearance. It features a 44mm stainless steel case with an IP coating and mineral crystal face.

It has a pull-crown for time adjustment and start/ stop buttons for its stopwatch features. Hands and hour marks feature luminous material for easier viewing in low light.

MSRP: $66 URL: crucialconcealment.com Our 2¢: Crucial Concealment’s holster offers ambidextrous carry and a full range of cant adjustment so the user can find the preferred carry position. Constructed with .080 Kydex, the holster delivers the perfect blend of rugged durability and thin, low-profile design required for EDC IWB use.

Special Offer For UN12 Readers: Get 10% off & free shipping with coupon code UN12

MSRP: $95 URL: sogknives.com Our 2¢: Tanto blades are our favorites, which is one of the reasons why we’re loving this new entry from SOG. Designed for outdoor users, Aegis AT Tanto is an assisted opening knife that features SOG’s innovative ambidextrous AT-XR Lock with an ergonomic handle and grip pattern for comfortable use. Its powerful XR locking mechanism also features solid built-in blade locking safety and spine-mounted safety system.

UN12 / Issue 016

MSRP: $14 URL: rei.com Our 2¢: We won’t go anywhere without a good basic first aid kit and this one by Hart Outdoor is perfect for daily boo boos and other maladies.

The compact zipper pouch includes clear, labeled pockets and elastic loops packed with gear that makes it easy to quickly find what you need. The kit includes everything from bandages and medications through wound cleansers and topical relief products, which are all packaged in single-dose packages with full drug facts on the labels. The kit also includes a Quick Guide that makes it easy for people with little or no training to administer first aid.

4

DEPT.

Called Out

Bolt Volquartsen Competition Bolt MSRP: $278 This CNC-machined bolt features Volquartsen’s hardened and tuned extractor for consistent positive extraction. It also includes the company’s round titanium firing pin that eliminates unnecessary movement found on most 10/22 firing pins. Head spacing is held to exact dimensions, eliminating the need to have your factory bolt reworked.

Trigger Volquartsen TG2000 Trigger Group MSRP: $287

Buttstock Victor Company Titan22 Precision Rimfire Stock MSRP: From $170 The Titan22 is made from industrial-grade fiberglass resin for superior rigidity, strength, and durability.

The stock features the “Anchor Lock System,” which secures the receiver to aircraft-grade hardened aluminum bedding in the front and rear of the action for maximum accuracy. The highly rigid fiberglass composite gives up almost no flex, which makes it an excellent platform for precision shooting.

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UN12 / Issue 016

The TG2000 is a drop-in replacement trigger group that sets the standard for the Ruger 10/22. CNC-machined from aluminum billet, its precision WEDM-cut internal parts provide a crisp, clean 2.25-pound pull. Pre-travel and overtravel adjustments can be set to the shooter’s preferences. Automatic bolt and extended magazine releases are included.

Barrel V Seven Weapon Systems 10/22 .20 Cal Barrel (18”, fluted) MSRP: $400 Made of 416R stainless steel, this 18-inch, 1-in-10 twist bull barrel contour uses V Seven’s proprietary match chamber for guaranteed accuracy. The proprietary chamber swages the .22-caliber projectile down to .20 caliber by forcing better lands and groove engagement. This barrel provides increased reliability, especially with budget-friendly ammo. Available in standard or fluted contours.

Precision Ruger 10/22

Bipod Accu-Tac WB-5 MSRP: $414

Text by JAMES YORK

The WB-5 Wide Body bipod was designed to provide desired height and extra stability. This bipod style is ideal for long-range, extremelong-range, and bench-rest platforms. The wide, lowered center allows the rifle to sit between the legs, which supports accuracy and helps reduce movement from recoil.

Images by MICHAEL GREY

T

here’s little doubt that plinking with a

with a few top-shelf 10/22 aftermarket parts

Ruger 10/22 may be one of the most

with the goal of making it a hole-on-hole

fun shooting activities one can enjoy. Ammo is cheap, and it’s a great platform for all ages. This

shooter at least at 50 yards, and maybe farther.

Where do you start when modifying a

10/22 started out as the model 1103. You know

10/22? Like Glocks, pretty much every 10/22

the one. It’s the no-frills 10/22 that comes with

component is available as an upgraded

an 18.5-inch black satin barrel and a hardwood

aftermarket part. In fact, you can build a 10/22

stock. The same one that always seems to be

without using a single Ruger part. Amazing. We

blown out at Black Friday sales for well less

started our build by swapping out the wood

then 300 bucks. In fact, we might have picked

stock for a composite unit and then added

this one up for closer to $250.

a serious barrel. Next thing you know, the

Our intention was to keep it stock but that

build snowballed and we ended up with some

idea lasted a couple of months, tops. This is

serious upgrades. But again, this is UN12.

UN12 after all. We couldn’t help but modify

Let’s take a look at how our basic 10/22 was

it with the intent of turning it into a precision

transformed into a precision plinker.

shooter. The 10/22 you see here was modified

[ UN12 ]

UN12mag.com

33

Aero Precision Ultralight 30mm Scope Mount, SPR

Midwest Industries Scope Mount

MSRP: $100

MSRP: $32

Aero Precision’s Ultralight 30mm SPR Scope Mount features a rear ring that is pushed forward 2 inches, resulting in better eye relief. This mount features a crossslot keyway that offers excellent recoil protection.

Made to fit the Ruger 10/22 receivers and clones, this mount uses factory mounting holes for easy installation.

It’s hardcoat anodized and made of 6061 aluminum.

Precision Ruger 10/22 Optic SIG Sauer Whiskey5 5-25x52 Riflescope The pictured scope has been discontinued since we installed it, but other Whiskey5 series riflescopes are currently listed on SIG Sauer’s website. Check out sigsauer.com for details.

34

UN12 / Issue 016

Sources Accu-Tac

SIG Sauer

accu-tac.com

sigsauer.com

Aero Precision

Victor Company

aeroprecisionusa.com

victorcompanyusa.com

Midwest Industries

Volquartsen

midwestindustriesinc.com

volquartsen.com

Ruger

V Seven

ruger.com

vsevenweaponsystems.com

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Featured Gun

AR-15 MAX Text by ROLAND WILKES Images by JAY CANTER

:: An homage to Air Max 90 special edition sneakers :: Custom frogskin camouflage & neon Volt highlights :: Chambered in 5.56 NATO

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UN12 / Issue 016

UN12mag.com

39

Featured Gun

A

nyone with any sort of creative impulse will know that inspiration can come from just about

anywhere or anything. That’s true of any creative endeavor, and firearms customization is no exception. In this case, as it happens, the bolt of creative lightning, so to speak, came from a pair of shoes.

The AR build pictured here is another example of a Jay Canter/Violent Art Firearms signature build. Regular readers will know the name. In addition to being an ace lens man for UN12, Canter has provided a consistent stream of quality builds that have made their way into these pages, manufacturer displays, and marketing materials for a variety of outlets.

We remember him telling us early on he takes inspiration from any number of sources, from cars to pop

culture to food. This isn’t the first time an article of clothing has served as his creative muse. In Issue 012 we presented an AR inspired by the BAPE shark hoodie, which in turn resurrected one of the most iconic pieces of WWII warplane nose art—the grinning “shark’s face” used most famously on the Flying Tigers Curtiss P-40 Warhawks.

The sneakers in question here were part of a limited run of Nike’s Air Max 90 wrapped up in a classic “frogskin” camo pattern that

that in a bit). The upper is slick-

incorporated shocking green neon accents, what has

sided, meaning there’s no provision

been variously referred to—and what we will refer to

for the standard forward assist.

here—as “Volt.”

The rifle is built out from a billet receiver set from Iron

40

The lower is filled out with other ICRW parts to include the Iron Grip, itself a

City Rifle Works (ICRW) called Berserker LT. Both the

skeletonized unit fashioned from aluminum, and

upper and lower are carved from 7075 aluminum and

ICRW “new gen” titanium takedown pins. User input

incorporate features like a flared magwell, integrated

is facilitated by a EMR mag release button and bolt catch

trigger guard, and angular, eye-catching lines that lend

lever from Battle Arms Development and a Talon 2 safety

themselves well to, say, custom color coatings (more on

selector from Radian, while fire control is handled using

UN12 / Issue 016

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

“For a customizer, inspiration can come from almost anywhere and anything... in this case, it just so happened to come from a pair of shoes.”

Base Pad The +5 Taran Tactical aluminum unit was coated green and laser-etched with custom script.

Charging The ever-popular Radian Raptor is employed for manual BCG manipulation.

UN12mag.com

41

Featured Gun

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Optic SIG Sauer Sierra6 riflescope secured via a Warne 30mm extended mount.

Stock The Odin Works CQ-S is optimized for rifle builds and uses many of the same design elements as the popular CQ-B.

THE FROG’S SKIN While colors and patterns vary widely

to break up the outline of a soldier (or vehicle

from application to application, when you

or piece of ordnance as the case may be), for

say to someone “camouflage,” something

field use.

like this is probably what pops into his or her

According to a military history wiki found

mind. The pattern used here, both on the

online: “It appears paradoxical as a way of

shoe and on the rifle, is more or less based on

not being seen, since disruption of outlines

the U.S. military’s M1942 Frog Skin (referred

depends on high contrast, so the patches of

to here as a more general term, “frogskin,” to

color are themselves conspicuous.” (Sourced

make it easy on the writer).

from the Military Wiki at Fandom.com.)

The “official” Frog Skin pattern was

Of course, all that goes out the window

introduced in 1942 and is what historians

when you add a vibrant hue like the neon Volt

might mark as the U.S. military’s first attempt

green, but then again being inconspicuous

at adapting a disruptive coloration scheme,

is not really this particular firearm’s main

where contrasting splashes of color are used

mission in life. Quite the opposite, in fact.

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UN12 / Issue 016

is Odin Works’ CQ-S, a more standard rifle stock tailored for longer rifle builds like this one. As with the CQ-B, the CQ-S package is all-inclusive, featuring the buttstock itself, receiver extension/buffer tube, buffer, and recoil spring.

Typical of Odin hardware, the construction is high-grade, the utility and functionality impeccable, and the overall design is aggressive, which perfectly lends itself to the wild lines and even wilder color scheme that’s on display with this build.

The upper is filled out with an ICRW S2 BCG in Ranger Grey tungsten. These bolt carriers are sexy as hell and add a healthy measure of aesthetic grace in what might be otherwise a simply functional piece. A Radian Raptor charging handle enables the user to cycle the action. a Timney flat-bow AR drop-in unit installed using White

When the gun isn’t cycling, the ejection port gets buttoned

Label Armory pins. The lower was completed using a small

up with a White Label Armory ejection door kit. Gas is

parts kit sourced from 2A Armament.

supplied using a tunable Odin Works block and White

The back half of the lower receiver was completed using hardware from Odin Works, but in lieu of the CQ-B brace, which is preferred for a Violent Art Firearms pistol, this one

Label Armory mid-length tube.

A Rosco Manufacturing barrel in a 5.56, 13.7-inch format is fitted to the upper receiver’s business end.

UN12mag.com

43

Featured Gun

Barrel A Rosco Manufacturing unit in a 5.56 profile treated liberally with Volt green neon Cerakote.

Receivers An ICRW Berserker receiver set (upper and lower) serves as the foundation for the build.

Affixed to the end of that is a Dead Air

Gen 2 PMAG fitted with a Taran Tactical

Silencers (DAS) Keymount muzzle brake,

aluminum basepad that increases the round

which may be run by itself or, alternatively,

count from 30 to 35. comprehensive color pattern applied to it, in

6.8-inch can with a 1.5-inch outer diameter

Cerakote and inspired by the Air Max sneakers.

optimized for a wide range of bullet calibers

The pattern, both on the shoe and on this rifle, is

to include most popular AR-platform loads. The QD

loosely based on the U.S. military’s M1942 Frog Skin. You

attachment system is a particular stroke of genius and

might describe it as the archetypal camouflage pattern,

allows for virtual worry-free operation and a high degree of

the sort of pattern many people (non-enthusiasts) will think

operational versatility.

of when they think about camouflage in general.

A JL Billet angle-cut handguard in a 10.5-inch length

What makes this color scheme so eye-catching,

shrouds the barrel itself. This is part of the company’s

however, and what helped fire Canter’s imagination, was

“oversized” offerings, meaning it incorporates a more

the liberal use of the neon green Volt hue, not incorporated

generous diameter that allows it to clear a suppressor—

in the camo pattern itself but used as an accent on both

not an issue here, but a feature that could be useful should

the shoe and the gun. Benjamin Fine of Reliance Custom

Canter opt to swap the barrel with a more abbreviated

Finishing (formerly Altered Industries) got the nod for the

version while still running the Sandman-S on the end. The

Cerakote job.

handguard features a full-length Pic rail up top and m-lok

“He didn’t get what I was fully explaining until I brought

attachment points at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. An ICRW angled

out the shoe to show him,” Canter says. “The look of

foregrip has been attached along the lower portion, as

delight (and fear) swept across his face. He loves a

far forward as it’ll go, to assist with weapon aiming and

challenge, and this was a new one for him.”

manipulation.

Speaking of aiming, a SIG Sauer Sierra6 2-12x40

44

The other half of this build, of course, is the

DAS Sandman-S suppressor. This latter is a

While applying a camo pattern as well-known as frogskin to a rifle may seem like a relatively straightforward

riflescope provides assistance with target acquisition.

proposition, in practice it is anything but. Likewise for

This is the most compact and lightweight offering in

the palette of colors used to effect the pattern. “We draw

SIG’s Sierra lineup designed for ultra-lightweight rifle

or create a lot of our own stencils as we did with this

configurations. It’s mounted via a 30mm Warne quick-

particular project,” Fine says of the masking process

detach extended mount. The rifle feeds from a Magpul

for the varied spots of color used to effect the frogskin

UN12 / Issue 016

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

used as a quick-detach interface for the

Featured Gun

pattern. “If I remember correctly, almost every [color] on

the gun that roughly mirror similar elements present on

the build was custom mixed except for one. We ended up

the sneakers. “For example, the air bubble on the bottom

using roughly 12 different colors in working on bringing

sides of the shoes,” Canter says. “I wanted to take that

the colors on the rifle as close as possible to those on the

design and incorporate that with the m-lok slots on the

shoes. I won’t say ‘color-matched,’ because I know it’s not

handguard. So if you look through [them], you’ll see the

exact, but we brought it into the ballpark.”

green of the barrel matches that part of the shoe.”

Since the necessary hue of neon green—semi-

resemble the back of the shoe. I tried to pay as much

forums—wasn’t an off-the-shelf Cerakote color either,

homage to the shoe design as possible. Even on

that one had to be specially mixed as well. In the end the

the top of the handguard—some of the rail

frogskin “disruptive coloration” scheme was applied to

segments were Cerakoted white to

every surface of the rifle’s main body, including receivers,

resemble the white laces.”

handguard, pistol grip, and buttstock, while the neon Volt

[ UN12 ]

green was applied to the receiver extension, barrel, and various highlight areas like the Pic rail on both the upper receiver and handguard, the lower spur on the buttstock, and on the magazine basepad.

As a finishing touch, Fine laser-etched custom “AR15 Max” script into the magazine basepad in homage to the script that’s used to describe the shoe.

The distribution of the camo pattern versus the Volt green highlights is not random; Canter and Fine took care using it and the other colors to produce design elements on

46

He concludes: “The rear of the buttstock is black to

officially referred to as Volt among shoe enthusiasts and

UN12 / Issue 016

AR-15 MAX Specifications Caliber: 5.56 NATO Capacity: 35+1 Finish: Frogskin Cerakote w/ neon “Volt” green highlights, AR Max laser etching by Reliance Finishing Solutions Overall Length: 35.25-39 in. (w/ suppressor) Weight Unloaded: 9 lbs, 4 oz.

Featured Accessories Receiver Set: ICRW Berserker LT billet upper & lower Barrel: Rosco Mfg. 13.7” 556 Suppressor: Dead Air Silencers Sandman-S Optic: SIG Sauer Sierra6 2-12x40 in Warne 30mm QD extended mount

“Distribution of the colors is not random; care was taken to produce design elements on the gun to mirror similar elements present on the sneakers.”

Parts & Accessories: ICRW S2 BCG, 10.5-inch JL Billet m-lok suppressorready handguard, Dead Air Silencers Keymount muzzle brake w/QD suppressor interface, Odin Works CQ-S buttstock & buffer assembly, Battle Arms Development bolt catch & EMR, Radian Raptor charging handle & Talon 2 safety selector, Timney drop-in AR trigger w/White Label Armory pins, ICRW new-gen titanium takedown pins, Odin Works tunable gas block w/White Label Armory mid-length tube, ICRW Iron Grip & angled foregrip, 2A Armament small parts kit, Magpul Gen 2 PMAG (30-rd) magazine w/Taran Tactical +5 aluminum basepad

About the Owner Name: Jay Canter Occupation: Founder, Violent Art Firearms UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Social: IG & Facebook @Violent Art Firearms URL: violentartfirearms.com

UN12mag.com

47

PRODUCT REVIEW

EOTECH

48

UN12 / Issue 016

EFLX Mini Reflex Sight (MRS) Text & Images by JERRY TSAI

H

ow did we go from a red-dotless pistol society to one that

seemingly tops the slides of every pistol out there? We remember a time when mini and micro red dots were relegated to competition only and using one outside the world of race guns was routinely mocked.

For the record, we’re big fans of red dots on everything from handguns to crossbows. They make targeting quicker, easier, more accurate—just point and shoot.

We’re glad that mini and micro red dots have been adopted by pretty much all genres of shooting nowadays. The last frontier for these optics to conquer may be black powder, but we’re game to see a blunderbuss rocking a red dot.

“Mini and micro red dots have been adopted by pretty much all shooting genres. We’re even game to see a blunderbuss rocking a red dot.”

Because… why not?

EOTech has recently joined the mini-red-dot fray with its EFLX Mini Reflex Sight (MRS). Famous for Holographic Weapon Sights (HWS) such as the EXPS and 5x Series sights, EOTech is keen to replicate its hugely successful line of full-size optics in a smaller, lighter form factor. EFLX MRS also represents EOTech’s first foray into reflex technology optics.

EFLX is designed for duty use as well as for hunting, home defense, competition, and more. It is made for use on a variety of platforms— including, of course, pistols—and it’s available in your choice of 3 or 6 MOA sized dots. The EFLX base is configured to the Leupold

: : EOTech’s first reflex technology optic : : Available in 3 and 6 MOA : :Assembled in the USA

UN12mag.com

49

Product Review: EOTech EFLX Mini Reflex Sight (MRS) UN0012 / ADM UIC MOD2 —

Delta Point Pro footprint and will adapt to appropriately milled slides or onto rear dovetail-mounting adapters. It’s not limited to pistols, though; the EFLX is also a good non-magnified piggyback solution for rifles already equipped with magnified optics.

We mounted an EFLX onto a SIG Sauer P320 Pro Cut slide and it fit perfectly without issue. This slide is factory-cut with the Leupold Delta Point Pro footprint, so it was a perfect match for the EFLX. It’s always nice to be able to install a red dot without any additional fitment work.

Like many others, we’re big fans of EOTech’s full-size holographic sights, and it’s a fun detail that the EFLX’s shroud reminds us of the look of its bigger HWS brothers. The optic’s durable, heavy duty aluminum housing provides a large, square viewing window that makes its 3 or 6 MOA aiming dot easy and quick to find.

We like that 6 MOA EFLX is rated for roughly 20,000 hours of runtime on a single CR2032 battery. The 3 MOA variant pushes the estimated runtime to a potential 25,000 hours. The commonly sourced and cheapto-buy battery is located on the optic’s topside, making it easy to replace when required. A top-load battery location also means that the optic does not need to be removed when swapping the battery out,

50

UN12 / Issue 016

which in turn means no need to re-zero the optic with every battery change.

Being that the red dot is an EOTech product, we already suspected its build quality would be on par with other offerings from the brand. We weren’t disappointed.

The fit, finish, look, and feel are all EOTech.

This optic is assembled in the USA, after all.

If you’re already a fan of the EOTech brand, you won’t be disappointed.

Once our EFLX was mounted, we took our 6 MOA EFLX to the range to get some

EOTECH

“We’re fans of EOTech’s fullsize holographic sights, and the EFLX’s shroud reminds us of its bigger HWS brothers. The large, square viewing window makes the dot easy to find.”

UN12mag.com

51

Product Review: EOTech EFLX Mini Reflex Sight (MRS)

“The lens is sunken into the shroud for protection. When racking the slide, our hands did not make contact with the glass itself.” hands-on time with it. As noted, the window is nice and big and the unobtrusive housing melts into your vision’s periphery when you focus on the clearly displayed red dot. Doing so reminded us of looking through an EOTech HWS. We noted that the glass lens sits sunken into its shroud for added protection. When we racked the pistol’s slide back using the EFLX for leverage, our hands did not make contact with the lens itself. We like design details like this.

There are seven daytime settings, one of them ultrabright for those blindingly sunny days. We found that the dot was effortlessly visible for us even on a fully sunny day at the range. NVD users will be happy to know that it also has one additional setting for Gen I through III+ night vision devices. EOTech seems to have it all covered.

With a retail price starting at just $389, EOTech is clearly looking to bring great value to shooters who wish to add a high-quality mini red dot to their pistols, shotguns, or virtually any other firearm. We’re excited to see how EFLX holds up long term. Judging from past experience with other EOTech optics, we’re confident that we’ll be enjoying it for a long time to come.

EOTech EFLX

: : For more information:

Mini Reflex Sight (MRS) 1.9 x 1.2 x 1 in.

URL:Dimensions: strikeindustries.com Weight: 1.4 oz.

Water Resistance: 33 ft.

Brightness Settings: 7 + 1 NV Mount Pattern: Leupold Delta Point Pro Battery: 1x CR2032 MSRP: From $389 URL: eotechinc.com

52

UN12 / Issue 016

UN12

[ UN12 ]

Clone Life

Cloning a Type 56 AK Text by MICHAEL PENHALL Images by MICHAEL GREY

: : Utilizes a de-milled Type 56 AK parts kit : : Built by Two Rivers Arms : : Matching serial numbers

54

UN12 / Issue 016

UN12mag.com

55

Clone Life

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

I

f you saw my crate of Polish AK-47s in UN12 Issue 013, you can probably tell that I have a thing for the

AK platform. I really love building them. There is something about taking the parts, actually drilling and riveting them together, and ending up with a functional (usually) firearm that is so rewarding.

I have built well over a hundred AKs for myself, for customers, and for friends, but there are times when even I know I’m in over my head. De-milling, grinding, drilling, and squishing rivets are all pretty doable. Even the occasional barrel population (with the right tools) is something anyone can be taught to accomplish. Welding, however, is a different story.

That brings us to the latest firearm to be presented in the Clone Life section of UN12: my Vietnam War trophy “bringback” Type 56 AK. The parts kit started life in China and

Numbers

some point traveled all the way to the jungles of Vietnam, where an enterprising GI found it and brought it home along

Matching serial numbers isn’t just for collector cars. Each of the serial numbers found throughout this AK match.

with several other firearms. As these were not properly registered machine guns, they were considered contraband and were technically illegal in the United States.

As the story was relayed to me, an elderly veteran not knowing what to do with his illicit collection turned it in to the local police department, hoping they would find a place for it in a museum. Let this be a cautionary tale for all of you—police departments are not museums and generally have no interest in holding guns for the public to learn from.

A company was hired to destroy all the seized firearms the department had acquired over several years and this firearm was one of them.

So how did I wind up with such an amazing piece of history? I frequently source my parts for clone builds from several outlets, but this parts kit came from a very unique source: EveryGunPart.com. They source parts kits from agencies all over the country. Now, before you get upset, hear me out. They work with companies that are hired by departments that do not or cannot sell confiscated firearms back to the general public.

We all wish and believe that these firearms should be sold whole and intact, but unfortunately that’s just not a reality most of the time. Some agencies shred or melt down the firearms in whole, while others just require the serialized

56

UN12 / Issue 016

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

companies contracted to destroy guns for law enforcement

Grip Another distinct feature of Chinese AKs is their very unique grip design.

“Keeping a piece of history alive for future generations makes all the involved cost and wait time worth it.”

Bayonet Markings The markings on the trunnion and selector give a glimpse into this rifle’s origin. The “L” and “D” were used primarily on Chinese export guns, as was the threaded barrel.

The very distinctive “Spike” bayonet is found on several of the Chinese AK models.

Bayonet Sight

The Type 53’s bayonet can be folded away when not in use.

The hooded front sight is a distinctly Chinese feature.

UN12mag.com

57

Clone Life

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Sources EVERYGUNPART URL: everygunpart.com TWO RIVERS ARMS COMPANY URL: tworiversarms.com

portions to be destroyed while the rest of the parts

a hint that it was ever destroyed. So I sent it to the

pin hole used to be. When I purchased the kit it

may be sold. That’s where EveryGunPart comes in.

experts in the game, Two Rivers Arms in Oklahoma.

did not include a stock, so I set forth acquiring an

They acquire parts kits from companies that gently

Known as one of the top AK builders in the country,

aesthetically correct stock that would match the

de-mill the firearms so the parts can live on, either by

these AK experts are best known for their amazing

patina of the handguard. Fortunately, the stock I

repairing an existing firearm or, in my case, building

Iraqi Tabuk clones.

found happened to match the original handguard

them back in to a complete firearm with a “new” receiver.

Two Rivers Arms took my kit and fabricated a repair

almost perfectly. It’s an amazing feeling when you

section for it, welded up the offending machine gun

find a matching piece for wood with the same kind of

I routinely search EveryGunPart’s website for

features—sad, I know—and rebuilt this historical

finish and level of patina as the original.

available kits and accessories for build ideas, and

piece back into a Title 1 semi-automatic firearm

one day I came across this beauty. While it was one

that anyone can own in the United States. Once the

finally came back to me a couple years later. I told

of the more expensive kits, I immediately knew this

receiver was rebuilt, they completely re-blued the

you: These things take time. Was the wait worth it?

was a rare “unicorn” that had to be added to my

firearm to match its original finish and returned it to

All I have to say is that what I received back is truly

collection. Unfortunately, when I received my kit, I

me. This was not a quick process, as re-welds tend

a work of art. The pictures really tell the story of how

immediately tore it open to inspect it, so I do not have

to take longer to complete than traditional stamped

complete this rebuild was. The ability to keep this

any good pictures of the kit in the packaging to share.

builds. Quality work takes time, and everyone

piece of history alive so future generations can have

involved knew that we had one chance to make this

a connection with an event that happened more than

kit shine.

half a century ago makes all the cost and wait time to

After contemplating it for several months, I came to believe this was a rebuild job for the professionals; I simply did not possess the skills to bring it back to life. I wanted it built to like-new condition with barely

Here’s a picture of my kit after I received it. You can see that it has a section that has been cut out of it and is no longer functional.

Fortunately, the destruction process missed all the original markings.

58

UN12 / Issue 016

If you look closely at the side of the receiver you can faintly make out a ghost of where the third

My highly anticipated Two Rivers Arms rebuilt AK

see it finally completed well worth it. [ UN12 ]

This is another AK kit I recently received from EveryGunPart.com. All the parts kits are vacuum-packed on flats so you see exactly what you are receiving. There are no loose springs packed in bags, for example, to potentially get lost in the packaging and accidentally thrown out.

Featured Gun

Glock Milgauss Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by JERRY TSAI

: : Rolex Milgauss-themed Glock : : Based on a Glock 19 Gen3 : : Custom Cerakoted & stippled

60

UN12 / Issue 016

UN12mag.com

61

Featured Gun

W

hen it comes to timepieces, there may be no other brand that can top Rolex in terms of precision

timekeeping, excellence in design, fine craftsmanship, and the prestigious cachet that it affords its owner. It is this combination of factors, plus others, that has kept

Rolex a sought-after brand for generations. Every Rolex

wristwatch is designed and crafted with the utmost care and deliberateness.

Many Rolexes are made for specific tasks, and the

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Milgauss is no exception. The

Milgauss is an anti-magnetic watch that was originally created in 1956. It was developed for engineers,

technicians, and scientists who worked in burgeoning fields of science that oftentimes exposed them to

magnetic fields in their working environments. These

fields would affect their watches, throwing off any kind of

precise timekeeping, which as you can imagine would not be conducive to their work.

Rolex’s response was to create the Milgauss. It was

designed to withstand up to 1,000 gauss of magnetic induction interference. It does this with a magnetic

protective shield that protects its movement. This shield

course, to me it seemed appropriate to build a Glock to match the Rolex.”

The Glock 19 is a Gen3 model that’s received custom

is made up of two parts created out of two different

services to both its slide and frame. Guarnieri provides

Organization for Nuclear Research and home of the Large

to it. “The frame and slide are both Cerakoted but were

ferromagnetic alloys. Scientists at CERN, the European

Hadron Collider, tested and confirmed that the Milgauss

was not affected by magnetic forces. Suffice it to say that the Rolex Milgauss is a unique wristwatch indeed.

The customized Glock featured here was made to

match the look of the Rolex Milgauss. Leigh Guarnieri is the owner of both the Rolex and the Glock that it is

some more information on the services that he had done done at different companies,” he says. “The slide is a

Zaffiri Precision ZPS.3 G19 that’s made in 416 stainless

steel with an RMR optic cut. I sent it to one of the premier graphics applicators in the Southeast, Tampa Cerakote Facility in Pinellas Park, Florida.”

Guarnieri asked Tampa Cerakote Facility owner and

made to resemble. He takes us on his Glock customizing

operator, Tony Mittelstaedt, to come up with a color

Milgauss. “Instead of having some big expensive

applied a MultiCam pattern on the Zaffiri Precision slide

journey, but first he reveals how he came to own a

wedding, I chose to buy a Rolex Milgauss for myself—and the wife got a Mercedes. For our fifth anniversary she

62

came to me and said, ‘Buy yourself something nice.’ Of

UN12 / Issue 016

scheme that would match the Milgauss. Mittelstaedt

using Cerakote Armor Black, Safety Orange, and OD

green. The slide’s Cerakoted camo job was then finished

“The Milgauss is an antimagnetic watch that was originally created in 1956. It only seemed fitting to build a Glock to match the Rolex.”

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Magwell

Slide

The Taran Tactical aluminum well matches the slide for Cerakote and also dictated some of the frame bordering.

A Zaffiri Precision ZPS.3 in 416 stainless with RMR cut.

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Featured Gun

“With the slide and frame each receiving its Cerakote at a different place, care had to be taken to ensure both halves matched when they were put back together.”

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Barrel Zaffiri Precision slabside stainless with flush target crown and TiN plating.

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Frame Rocket City Stippling added texturing, bordering, and reshaping to include overall reduction, an undercut, and finger groove removal.

then went back to Bardos at Rocket City Stippling for the finishing touches.

After the frame came back from Arsenal coating, Bardos

added gap borders, stippled the grip, and rounded its

index points to allow for proper thumb placements. The area under the trigger guard was rounded out as well.

Bardos finished it up with some magwell borders following the lines of the Taran Tactical Innovations aluminum G19 magwell that Guarnieri intended to install.

With all the parts back from the Cerakoters and stippler,

Guarnieri was eager to get to assembly. “I left the coatings and stippling to the experts and I did final assembly by

using some cool off-the-shelf parts,” Guarnieri tells us.

We saw that he installed Tactic Enterprise custom trigger

pins, a GlockStore extended slide stop and slide release, off with a matte finish. With the slide coating complete, Guarnieri moved onto getting the frame sorted out.

The factory G19 frame was sent over to Rocket City

a Hyve Technologies Monarch Trigger System, Ghost Inc. connector and spring, and a Cerakoted-to-match Taran Tactical Carry Magwell.

The gold-toned barrel is a Zaffiri Precision 9mm slab-

Stippling, where owner Jeck Bardos worked his magic. A

side stainless model that features a flush target crown and

first round of work included an overall frame reduction that

the highlighting orange color that’s seen on the Milgauss’

list of services Bardos performed on the frame during his

helped with proper grip positioning. Bardos also removed the frame’s finger grooves and added a slight undercut.

With phase one of the framework done, the frame was

then sent out to Brian Rychetsky of Arsenal Engraving & Coating in Lacey’s Spring, Alabama.

Because two different outfits were coating the pistol,

Guarnieri knew he needed to take extra care ensuring

that the two halves of the pistol matched. To this end, he

asked for an OD green base with a light coating of spotted OD green and black to complement the slide. Rychetsky obliged and expertly applied the Cerakote as requested.

The frame turned out just as Guarnieri wanted it to look. It

TiN finish. We noticed that the Hyve trigger sports some of hour markers and Cerakoted spots on the slide—a nice touch.

We asked Guarnieri what he thought were some of the

stand-out parts, ones he’s most fond of, on his Milgauss Glock. “I love the Cerakoting,” he says. “It’s subtle but

makes me think of the watch, which makes me think about how much time I get to enjoy shooting—I mean being married. Second would be the Hyve Monarch trigger

system. It has a great feel and I shoot quick and accurately with it. Last, did I already say the Cerakote?” We’ll throw in the stipple work as well. It has a clean look that works well with the overall look of the pistol.

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Featured Gun

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E X P L O D E D VIEW

When asked if he encountered any problems

with the build, he informed us that everything went smoothly and according to plan. This isn’t the first pistol that he’s customized; he has a safe full of

them. He further affirms: “After building so many

Glocks, you know what parts work well together so there isn’t a lot of trial and error anymore.”

The finished product speaks for itself. The

Milgauss Glock and Rolex combo looks like it’d be quite the eye-catching pair while on the firing line.

How many matching pistol/wristwatch sets have you encountered at the range? We can’t say that we’ve seen many. [ UN12 ]

Glock Milgauss Specifications Caliber: 9mm Barrel: Zaffiri Precision 9mm, slabside stainless, flush target crown, TiN Coating: Slide/Tampa Cerakote Facility, Frame/Arsenal Engraving & Coating Framework: Rocket City Stippling

Featured Accessories Trigger: Hyve Technologies Monarch system

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UN12 / Issue 016

Parts & Accessories: Magpul G19 magazine, Taran Tactical +02 baseplates, Tactic Enterprise custom trigger pins, GlockStore extended slide stop and slide release, Glock extended magazine release, Ghost Inc. connector and spring, Taran Tactical Carry magwell

About the Owner UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

“To look at the Glock and the watch, it’s not hard to imagine it’d be quite the eyecatching pair on the firing line.”

Sights: Ameriglo tall suppressor tritium night sights

Name: Leigh Guarnieri Occupation: Associate Publisher at AirAge Media IG: @lguarnieri FB: /leighguarnieri Special Thanks: Hiroko Guarnieri for supporting my hobbies and also pretending to be excited when I show you a new gun.

PRODUCT REVIEW

THYRM

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: : Rugged storage pods designed for field use : : Four models to hold almost any battery type

CellVault Battery Storage

: : Webbing hooks for MOLLE attachment

Text by CHARLES “CHIP” LASKY Images by the author

A

& BASECAMP CREATIVE GROUP

s the battlefield continues to modernize, we are turning

more and more to technological advancements to stay ahead of the power curve. And that’s exactly what these advancements require: power.

This means batteries, lots of batteries.

Almost everything on our person and our weapon is battery-powered: electronic ear-pro, night vision, radios, optics, lights, lasers, GPS modules, strobes— just to name a few. Anything that runs on a battery must be assumed to require a battery change in the field. Even the best batteries are not perfect and eventually you will put a fresh one into a device only to find it DOA. So now we must also carry spare

“Modern gear requires power— batteries.

And anything that runs a battery must be assumed to require a change in the field.” there’s a hell of a lot of battery-powered

batteries. And of course it’s too much to

gear in use. And I find myself providing

ask that all these devices use the same

replacement batteries to students

battery type. So let’s add the carriage of

at every class. CellVaults are rugged

multiple types of batteries. Beyond the

battery storage pods that safely and

obvious problem of not having functional

securely hold almost any type of battery

mission-critical gear because you don’t

required in the field. They are molded

have spare batteries, you will earn the

from impact-resistant polymer and

moniker of “team asshole” for not being

feature gaskets to keep the contents

prepared. Enter the Thyrm CellVault line

waterproofed. And they beat the hell out

of battery storage.

of the Ziploc baggies I used in the past.

I’ve been using Thyrm CellVaults for

As I’ve written repeatedly, gear setup

a couple years as a tactical instructor.

adheres to a hierarchy. The mission

Most classes I teach are application-

dictates the importance of each piece of

based, so students and instructors are

gear carried, and therefore also dictates

usually in full kit rather than t-shirts and

where it is placed. There are three types

Crocs on the range. It also means that

of gear you will carry:

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Product Review: Thyrm CellVault UN0012 / ADM UIC MOD2 —

1.

CRITICAL GEAR. This encompasses

size so I could reach into a bag in the dark

things that are absolutely paramount

and feel for the right type. For instance, I kept

to fighting and survival. They should

CR123 and AAA batteries in one bag while

be within immediate access during the

AA and 2032s were in another.

fight. This type of gear includes ammo,

This storage method was the best we

secondary weapon systems, radios,

had at the time and was far from perfect.

and tourniquets. This equipment should

The baggies did not hold up well in the field.

be carried on the front of the body or

They often tore, spilling their contents into

within instant reach on the belt.

the host pack. I found corroded batteries in my Ziplocs more than once. And let’s not

2.

IMPORTANT GEAR. This is gear that

forget: Just because this is routine gear

is certainly needed throughout the

doesn’t mean we have all night to access it. If

duration of a mission, but can be hastily

I need to change a battery, I’m going to call a

accessed on the go. It includes things

movement halt, set up security with a patrol

like IFAKs, breaching tools, frags,

base, and quickly carry out the task with

flashbangs, smoke grenades, and

maximum efficiency. A small team does not

restraints. This gear can be carried in

want to stop in hostile territory for any longer

side pouches or on the back of the plate

than necessary.

carrier and belt.

CellVaults help by providing organization and options for small battery carry. There are

3.

ROUTINE GEAR. This covers gear that’s

four models:

needed in the field, but is generally accessed on your time. It’s not stuff

•

that’s needed in the middle of a fight or movement and can include spare

carry CR123, AA, or AAA. •

batteries, water, rations, snivel gear, and

CellVault XL is about twice as wide and can carry twice as many of the same

so on. These items are best kept in a small assault pack or 72-hour bag.

Original CellVault is a thin tube that can

batteries as the original in two stacks.

•

CellVault-18 is specifically designed to carry the popular rechargeable 18350

Just because batteries fall into the routine

and 18650 batteries used in many

gear category doesn’t mean their storage should be taken lightly. In my past life, we

weaponlights.

•

CellVault-5M is modular storage box

tended to toss batteries into Ziploc baggies. I

that can be configured with an insert

carried two baggies of batteries. Battery type

pack to hold battery types listed above,

was split up based on the physical shape and

as well as a few 2032 coin-cell batteries.

“Just because batteries fall into the ‘routine gear’ category doesn’t mean their storage should be taken lightly, and we don’t have all night to access them.”

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UN12 / Issue 016

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Product Review: Thyrm CellVault UN0012 / ADM UIC MOD2 —

“The webbing clip can be used to hang CellVaults on MOLLE webbing and also acts as a security tab that keeps the vault shut when not needed.”

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UN12 / Issue 016

The webbing clip can be used to hang CellVaults on MOLLE webbing. I like keeping a row of CellVaults toward the inside top of my pack or in an outer pocket. By staggering the type of CellVaults, I can keep track of the different types of batteries in each. This provides a level of tactile feel that can be done in the dark. The webbing clip also acts as the security tab and keeps the vault shut.

Access is accomplished by unsnapping the bottom and flipping the entire tube upside down so the contents can drop out. As an instructor, I tend to hang a couple CellVaults on my plate carrier to provide common batteries to students. It never fails that we get the class on the line to confirm zeros and at least one student has a dead or missing battery. Being able to supply extras beats stopping the class for a few guys to run back to the classroom.

The CellVault-5M is one of my favorites. This one stays in my carry-on backpack when I travel to teach. I’ve got it laid out with specific inserts to hold the batteries needed for my personal gear: •

AAs for my NODs

•

CR123s for my laser, helmet light, strobe

•

18650s for my weaponlight

•

18350s for my handheld light

•

2032s for my optic

The 5M is my one-stop storage solution for batteries while traveling and helps me remember to keep batteries out of my checked Pelican box.

As I said before: I’ve been running Thyrm CellVaults for a couple years. I have yet to find a situation where they haven’t come in handy. My batteries stay protected and are constantly at the ready.

Thyrm CellVault MSRP: From $20 URL: thyrm.com

UN12

[ UN12 ]

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Featured Gun 74

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ICRW Berserker9 Pistol

:: Iron City Rifle Works’ shortest AR PCC :: ICRW Berserker9 billet receiver set

Text by ROLAND WILKES Images by JAY CANTER

:: A Nick Kurzawski design

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Featured Gun

“Like other PCCs (and rifles) built around the Berserker series receivers, this one is a Nick Kurzawski design.”

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L

ike almost anything else, the term personal defense weapon (PDW) might mean different things to different people. In the broadest semantic sense,

a sharp stick might be regarded as a “personal defense weapon.” I can hear Grandpa now: PDW? What the hell’s a PDW? In my day we just called ’em guns.

For our purposes we accept the more general definition, centered around a concept developed by NATO in the 1980s: a compact firearm offering more impressive ballistic performance than a traditional pistol or sub-machine gun. So while among experts a PCC may not be technically considered a PDW because of the ammunition it shoots, for others a super-short shorty like this one might be considered an ideal personal defense weapon.

Enter Iron City Rifle Works (ICRW) out of Arizona USA. The build pictured here is a good example of the company’s fully assembled off-the-shelf AR pistol, called Berserker9. Several configurations are available for the Berserker9; this one is the 3”, meaning it runs with the shortest available 3-inch barrel. As one might deduce from the name, it’s a PCC build chambered for 9mm.

“The build is our style of small truck or home-defense pistol,” says ICRW’s Jason Williams. “It shoots a lot better than you would expect and is very easy to shoot in close quarters.”

Like other rifle and PCC builds based on the billet Berserker receiver sets, this one is a Nick Kurzawski design. Kurzawski was a premier firearms components designer and CAD engineer who produced innovative parts for ICRW, among other companies including Quentin Defense and Ascend Armory. These ICRW builds, including the AR PCC pistol pictured here, are part of his legacy.

“Nick was extremely talented and had huge influence on today’s market,” Williams says. “If you look at other companies you can see it on most high-end

Optic

receivers.”

As for the company, ICRW made a name for itself circa 2016 with innovative

Vortex Razor with extension enables precise targeting in close quarters.

bolt carrier designs, and ICRW BCGs have made their way into a number of builds featured on these pages. They are, for example, often a signature component in Violent Art Firearms builds (like the AR Max on page 38).

In addition to the company’s flagship line of S2 drop-in and G3 competition rifle BCGs, which feature high-tech, low-friction coatings like DLC and PVD, ICRW also offers a line of carriers optimized for pistol-caliber use, marketed under the name Redmohawk. The nickname comes from the red fin staked to the carrier up top where a gas key would go on a direct-impingement carrier group.

The Redmohawk 3.0, which forms the heart of this pistol, is the latest iteration of ICRW’s PCC-ready carrier and as befits a later-generation ICRW BCG is engineered with ever-improved geometry to be able to perform when being run at its hardest. We should note that ICRW cut its teeth in field and competition use, and the accumulated knowledge gained in real-world applications like these inform the engineering of their products. One of the keys to product success is liberal use of advanced low-friction coatings applied to every one of their bolt

Charging The standard handle is a Warhammer by Breek Arms.

Trigger A Timney AR PCC with flat shoe sends the party downrange.

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Featured Gun

carriers. Like their rifle BCGs, this PCC version is available

barrel and an abbreviated

wearing enhanced black nitride, “Blackdiamond” DLC,

version of ICRW’s free-

tungsten PVD, and others—including, as in this case, a

float handguard, which

gold-toned C4V PVD.

is approximately 4 and a

In addition to providing incredible good looks—which is

quarter inches and envelops

not something that would normally jump out at you when it

the standard Wraith Ti linear

comes to an AR BCG—the various coatings imbue ICRW

comp affixed to the barrel’s

carriers with an inherent slickness they claim gets slicker

end. Like the receiver set,

over time. They also make the carrier easier to clean,

ICRW’s handguards are also

which is especially helpful in a PCC application prone to

marketed under the Berserker name

running dirty in any case.

and available in a variety of lengths. The

When ordering a fully assembled ICRW rifle or pistol,

longer units—anything greater than this very-short

customers may consider various options or additions,

4-incher—feature very pronounced cutouts along their

including choices of braces or buttstocks, buffer setups,

length, creating a sort of beam-and-strut structure that

muzzle devices, trigger groups, grips, and various other

offers the minimum amount of critical material while still

accessories. Standard fare, however, is the proprietary

holding up to ICRW’s stringent strength standards. In spite

receiver set, produced under ICRW’s Berserker brand,

of the radical skeletonized design, they offer quite a bit of

which are produced for standard rifle or PCC calibers and

utility in a long-ish Pic rail toward the front at 12 o’clock

currently on offer outside of the complete firearm builds

and m-lok slots around their circumference at 3, 6, and 9.

as a skeletonized set called Berserker LT machined from a block of 7075-T6 billet.

Several trigger options are available. This one uses a Timney AR PCC drop-in unit. Other user interfaces include

The upper is mated with the aforementioned 3-inch

the Breek Arms Warhammer charging handle located up

Barrel The Berserker9’s 3-inch barrel is fitted with the company’s Wraith Ti linear compensator.

Handguard Available in varying lengths, this one is the shortest at 4.25 inches.

Magazine Berserker9 accepts and ships with a standard Glock mag.

Brace Normally fitted with an SBA3, this gun sports a PDW brace from SB Tactical.

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UN12 / Issue 016

“ICRW PCCs are available in a variety of barrel lengths; this one is the shortest.”

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

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Featured Gun

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Iron City Rifle Works Berserker9 Pistol top for bolt manipulation, standard equipment on Berserker rifles and pistols, and ICRW’s Iron Grip upgrade, a skeletonized billet aluminum

Specifications

pistol grip. Targeting is assisted by a Vortex Razor.

Caliber: 9mm

The standard Berserker9 lower is completed with an SB Tactical SBA3 pistol brace; this one, however, wears an SB Tactical PDW, which includes an integrated castle nut and end plate and imparts slightly more heft to the pistol than the SBA3’s more minimalist design. Regardless of what brace you go with, the receiver extension may house a standard ICRW buffer or

Capacity: 17+1 Weight Unloaded: 6 lbs (approx.)

Barrel Length: 3 in.

Finish: ICRW “BattleScarred” NiB

a hydraulic buffer system upgrade by Kynshot for additional cost.

Berserker PCCs and rifles ship with a Type III anodize as the standard finish, but one available option is the custom finish pictured here. It’s a nickel-boron (NiB) plating, not Cerakote, done in a signature veneer

“The finish is nickel-boron (NiB) done in a signature veneer ICRW calls BattleScarred.”

Featured Accessories

ICRW bills as BattleScarred. Contrasted

Receivers: ICRW Berserker9 billet set

with Cerakote, NiB may be applied in an

BCG: ICRW Redmohawk 3.0 C4V PVD

extremely even layer so clearance issues are not a problem where tolerances may

Stabilizing Brace: SB Tactical PDW

be tight. Some also claim it to be more

Optic: Vortex Razor

wear-resistant than other coatings and very

Parts & Accessories: ICRW 4.25inch handguard, ICRW Wraith Ti compensator, Timney AR PCC trigger, Breek Arms Warhammer charging handle, ICRW titanium trigger pins, takedown & pivot pins, ICRW billet Iron Grip, ICRW PCC buffer & spring assembly, 17-round Glock magazine

resistant to corrosion.

Even with the brace extended this firearm is about as close to a handgun as we’ve seen an AR get, to be frank, but they’re

available in a variety of barrel lengths tailored to a wide variety of tastes, all the way up to 16 inches, as well as in a 5-inch-barreled suppressorready version. Williams says the series has been a fairly hot-seller for the company, particularly overseas.

That said, ICRW has other future builds/collaborations in the works.

We’re currently sworn to silence, but hope to bring you the goods when the time is ripe. [ UN12 ]

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UN12 / Issue 016

About the Builder Iron City Rifle Works Social: Instagram @ironcityrifle, Facebook @Ironcityrifleworks URL: ironcityrifleworks.com

Witchita, KS October 7-8, 2022

www.triggrcon.com

PRODUCT REVIEW

MIDWEST INDUSTRIES

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: : Designed to work with PEQ15 laser devices : : Developed in cooperation with

PEQ15 Fixed Front Sight

Defense Solutions Group, Inc. : : Made in the USA

Text & Images by JERRY TSAI

W

hether you’re looking for more rail space while running a PEQ15 or require a front

sight that won’t let you down, Midwest Industries (MI) has a solution that fits both requirements to a tee. MI’s PEQ15 Fixed Front Sight was developed in cooperation with Defense Solutions Group, Inc. to provide a front sight that conforms with the shape of a PEQ15 laser device while taking up only a single Picatinny rail slot.

Designed for use on AR-15/M4/M16 rifles and other continuous-top-rail platforms, the fixed iron sight is contoured to work with full-power AN/PEQ15 as well as commercial PEQ15 laser devices. The sight is made in America out of billet machined T6 6061 aluminum. To protect its surface for decades of use, it is also Type 3 hardcoat anodized.

The fixed iron sight hugs the gap between the PEQ15’s laser openings so that no space is wasted. In fact, the sight’s design allows it to take up only one rail slot on your rail. If you’re running a short gun, this front sight can save you valuable rail space that you’d rather dedicate to

“The fixed iron sight hugs the gap between the PEQ15’s laser openings so that no space is wasted. In fact, the sight’s design allows it to take up only one rail slot, which can save you valuable rail space to devote to other accessories.”

other accessories. The area between the front sight and the PEQ15’s laser openings may look tight, but we found that there is ample space for

included with the sight for easy zeroing. If you’d

the laser’s covers to be flipped open and closed

rather swap out the A2 post for a nighttime or

without any issue.

high-vis option, you’re free to do so since the

The fixed sight features a Mil-Spec

sight is compatible with aftermarket sight posts.

“F-Marked” sight height and has a standard M4

The post can be adjusted for elevation and

sight picture thanks in part to its standard A2

features 1.5 MOA per click adjustments. For solid

front sight post. A steel A2 front sight post tool is

rail positioning that helps maintain a reliable zero,

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Product Review: Midwest Industries PEQ15 Fixed Front Sight UN0012 / UNITY TACTICAL FAST MOUNTS —

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UN12 / Issue 016

“Installation is straightforward and only requires a single flathead screwdriver.

As if that didn’t make things easy enough, the sight base is fitted with a stainless HeliCoil threaded insert that eliminates the need for thread locker.” the sight has a machined-in recoil lug.

Installation is straightforward and only requires a flathead screwdriver. As if installation wasn’t already easy enough, the base of the sight is fitted with a stainless steel HeliCoil threaded insert so thread locker is not required for it to clamp on securely.

Some of our favorite parts are those that fulfill a need simply and directly. MI’s PEQ15 Fixed Front Sight does just that.

It’s a quality fixed front sight that’s perfect to use with your PEQ15 on just about any Picatinny top-railed firearm you may own. [ UN12 ]

MIDWEST INDUSTRIES PEQ15 Fixed Front Sight P/N: MI-PEQ15-FS Weight: 1.1 oz.

MSRP: $145 URL: midwestindustriesinc.com

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General Feature

Be a Team Asset, Not a Team Asshole Text by CHARLES “CHIP” LASKY Images by the author

A

& BASECAMP CREATIVE GROUP

lot has been said about “mindset” in our community. In fact, so much has been said that common understanding

of the term scarcely resembles the actual definition. It’s almost become a cliché, like calling something “tactical.” The MerriamWebster definition of mindset is:

1. A mental attitude or inclination.

2. A fixed state of mind.

We are not born with a mindset. Sure, there are certain primal urges, needs, wants, to which we are naturally inclined. We can be genetically predisposed towards certain hereditary traits. But our mindset is something that is shaped by experiences, outside stimuli, environment, and lessons learned.

Mindset can be individual, societal, or even cultural. Mindset drives our perception and response to the world around us. But what many in our community define as “mindset” might really be better described as “attitude.” These two words are related but not the same. Mindset can be summed up as how we see the world around us, while attitude is how we interact with the world according to how we see it. Understanding mindset and attitude is extremely important if you carry a gun for a living. Without the proper mindset, an individual will have a poor attitude. And poor attitudes are toxic to a team whose job it is to go into harm’s way.

A lot of professions allow weak work ethics, poor performance, and laziness to slide. After all, the consequences of such behaviors rarely cost much. Loss of productivity. Low billable hours. These are things that many people in leadership positions will tolerate because they do not want their confrontation to sell out their own complacency.

In the case of the military and law enforcement worlds, we often see leaders willing to let a lot of things go until it’s time for inspections or to place blame when something goes wrong. We tend to surround ourselves in our work and personal lives with those like us. And many people would rather let it slide than face the alternative of confrontation or putting in the work it takes to enforce high standards on themselves and their coworkers. I mean, nobody is dying, right? But what if that complacent attitude did mean someone was going to die? There is no place for improper mindset and bad attitudes in a job that can kill you. That is why the community should strive to weed out those that cannot

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perform at all levels. Everyone within an

desperately needed to help push change and

rescue. These are the same missions tasked

organization that performs dangerous duties

better the force from within scatter to the wind

to military special operations units, except

should be exceeding the standard physically,

when the fighting stops. Likewise, many good

they occur on domestic soil.

mentally, and emotionally. I call it being a

cops are tired of putting up with the current

Team Asset rather than a Team Asshole.

national attitude of painting them as the bad

entering an elite unit, your mindset needs

General Feature

A job that requires you to carry a gun

guys while violent criminals are made martyrs

to remain the same as it did upon entering

is unlike other professions. The stakes

and immortalized in murals and statues. The

selection. After getting to my unit, one of the

are higher and it requires a higher-caliber

new, younger “woke” generation of cops is

senior team members reminded me how

individual to successfully do the work. An

losing the benefit of mentorship from these

hard I worked to get there and how easy it

individual who has volunteered and been

veterans and paying for it in blood. Our

would be to throw it all away. That profound

accepted into an elite unit or team needs to

communities are paying for it in skyrocketing

statement cemented my mindset. I needed to

possess a certain mindset and attitude to

violent crime rates.

prove, constantly, that I deserved to be there.

be successful. Those who have served in

Proper mindset and attitude are key in

most NATO SOF units have learned these

understanding a special operations job and

This wasn’t just tough talk to the new kid. I

lessons. Of course, there are always those

applying oneself to it.

witnessed more than a few operators at my

who slip through the cracks. But for the most

unit lose their combat status or get outright MINDSET: Becoming a special operator is

expelled for failing to meet standards. And

continually perform or cannot work in a team

one of the hardest jobs to get and one of

some of these guys had been at the job for

tend to get tossed out rather quickly.

the easiest jobs to lose.

years. To say this had a somewhat terrifying

ATTITUDE: Selection is every day.

effect on me would be putting it mildly. I was

terribly different. The majority SWAT/SRT/SIS/

constantly in fear of the consequences of not

TRT team members are great officers that take

No doubt you have all read countless

their jobs seriously. They recognize the added

books, watched countless movies, and

day. It caused me to work twice as hard all

risk and generally hold themselves to a higher

listened to countless podcasts about the

the time.

standard than the rest of the department. It’s

rigors of military special operations selection.

not always fair to compare military and law

Every unit does it a bit differently, but the

enforcement and other first responders.

enforcement special operations. The jobs are

programs tend to produce very similar results.

As elite officers, every member of the team

Of course, every country/branch/unit will slam

should be mentally sharper, in much better

the proverbial beer mug on the bar and loudly

physical shape, and perform to a higher

proclaim that their selection and qualification

degree on all qualifications than any patrol

courses are the hardest in the world. But let’s

officer. These are the guys who are going

put all that aside and break it down. Selection

to get the call for the really bad stuff. These

courses are designed to weed out those who

are the guys who answer when patrol calls

are not cut out for the job. They are physically,

911. It does not matter if your team is a large

mentally, emotionally, and spiritually

metro full-time SWAT team or a small rural or

exhausting. They should and will push you

suburban part-time team. You are elite and

to the limit of your endurance and beyond.

need to be held to, and more importantly hold

In short, they are designed to make you fail.

yourself to, a higher standard. And in all reality,

Those who succeed prove their worthiness

these are standards that need to be created

to begin their training journey with the end

and upheld by the team.

“A job that requires you to carry a gun is unlike other professions. The stakes are higher and it requires a high-caliber individual to successfully do the work.”

goal of becoming an elite officer, operator, or soldier.

The ability to pass a selection course

proving myself worthy of my brothers every

These lessons translate directly to law

A good place to start is physical fitness.

It’s no secret that obesity is an epidemic in this country. The effects of being overweight

should not be minimized. Most will never

are well-known by now—increased risk of

even attempt the process, letting the fear of

illness, disease, heart attack, and a severe

very different, but also very similar. Staffing,

pain and failure defeat them before they even

decrease in physical performance. Many

budgets, unions, municipal/state laws and

try. Most military selections have a 60-70%

professions can allow you to coast by while

ordnances, training time, and so on all factor

drop rate, where candidates either drop on

adding inches to your waist and blocking your

into some very serious differences. Not all

request or they fail to meet standards. Those

arteries. But warfighting and policing require

LE special operations units are full-time.

who make it enter an elite warrior class and

a ton of physical activity. We can probably all

This leads to a lot of room for trouble. Cops

will regularly perform feats thought impossible

agree that PT standards in these vocations

have an incredibly hard job—one that I do

by most. And in all reality, law enforcement

should improve. But a major shift to physical

not envy—and the current political climate is

special operations should be no different

fitness emphasis at the organizational level

causing a lot of the good ones to leave. The

in their selection classes. The process to

would most likely make well over 50% of

military is facing a similar crisis.

become a SWAT (or other specialized unit)

those in uniform ineligible to serve. So, let’s

officer should be incredibly demanding. After

break it down to the special operations

GWOT came up during peacetime and

all, it’s a selection process where candidates

units. I’m going to say something that may

caused casualties due to ineptitude from lack

should prove themselves to be elite officers

be unpopular: It is unsatisfactory for a SOF

of real-world experience. And the plethora

capable of handling some of the most

warfighter or police SWAT officer to be out

of combat experience attained over the past

dangerous situations facing law enforcement.

of shape. The sad truth is that many are. It

20 years is circling the drain because all the

A SWAT team may be called upon for

should be harder to stay in a special unit than

warriors are retiring and leaving the service.

anything from assaulting a heavily armed and

it is to earn a place there. This means creating

As with every war, the veterans who are so

barricaded suspect’s location to hostage

a higher performance standard for members

Most NATO military leaders during the

UN12 / Issue 016

My attitude became “selection is every day.”

part, individuals are solid. Those who don’t

The law enforcement community is not

88

But after you have achieved your goal of

of the team and then requiring all current team members to meet it. It may not be easy and may bruise some egos. But egos don’t matter in a gunfight.

The physical demands of combat cannot be stressed enough. The body’s adrenaline dump during a fight/flight response can cause the nervous and circulatory systems to stress-react in a way that leaves you feeling like you just sprinted a 5K, yet you only moved in a ten-foot radius. Combat is not something we naturally rise to. In fact the opposite occurs, and we drop to our lowest physical, mental, and emotional state. If you are not in peak physical shape, your body will be too taxed trying to provide oxygen to itself and you will have a hard time processing information under stress. And you will put your life, and the lives of your teammates and innocent civilians, at risk. That is unsatisfactory.

To this end, I encourage teams to create their own PT standards outside the annual department standards. These standards need to be higher than those of the department and need to be tested (at least) quarterly.

Team members need to work out every day.

They need to eat healthy and limit the use of alcohol. What’s more, they need to want to do this. Being elite is more than wearing a patch, tab, pin, or beret. The mindset must be that getting to the team is just the first step.

Staying on the team is the hard part. Nobody should ever look at a member of a special unit and wonder how they got there from appearance alone. The attitude should be: Treat every day like selection.

That sort of motivation is incredibly important. When team members act like every day is a challenge to their place in the organization, individuals act on initiative.

It also creates a culture of mutual respect through shared suffering. Teammates encourage each other to do better.

Competition is good. Subsequently, the standards are raised.

MINDSET: Once you make an exception to the standard, you have permanently lowered the standard.

ATTITUDE: A standard is the lowest qualifying score required to keep your job.

Folks, these jobs aren’t for the weak.

You need to be strong physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to succeed in this work. As an elite officer or operator, you must be able to fight harder, move faster and farther, process information more efficiently, and make more tactically sound decisions

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Always exceed the standard.

than regular cops and warfighters. Being in a special operations unit, by definition, is UN12mag.com

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UN12 / Issue 016

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

General Feature

an exclusive achievement. This is becoming

Physical and shooting standards are some

The same can be said for shooting

harder and harder in today’s military and

of the most abused standards in the law

qualification scores. Let’s face it: Law

law enforcement organizations that have

enforcement community. We have all seen

enforcement department shooting quals

lost their way in the face of woke-ism. The

countless dashcam videos of officers fighting

are not hard. But SWAT quals should be. If

word “inclusive” is being used more and

people at traffic stops and getting stomped.

your department qual minimum standard

more in these institutions. The more alarming

We’ve seen tragic videos of cops getting into

is 80%, SWAT should be 90%. I realize that

thing is that the word is finding its way

shootouts with suspects who have a stronger

department qual scores and courses are

into the vernacular of special operations.

resolve to fight. And we’ve borne witness to

regulated by the state, but that does not mean

Inclusiveness is a cancer that needs to be

a recent trial where a former police officer

your elite unit cannot create its own standard.

removed. We undergo selection processes

was sentenced to two years in federal prison

In fact, I would argue that unique “unofficial”

for this very reason. We want to exclude

for first- and second-degree manslaughter

standards to which all team members are held

those who are unfit for the job. It’s not about

after mistakenly drawing a pistol instead of a

are more important. Not only are they tougher,

restricting people based on color, race,

taser and fatally shooting a suspect who was

but they breed competition and a desire to do

gender, or sexual preference. It’s about

resisting arrest.

better.

restricting people who will not be able to

If a standard is the lowest qualifying score

Obviously, we cannot expect team

perform on-demand during the most stressful

to keep a job, then it should not be looked

members to lose pay, go on probation,

conditions to which a person can be exposed:

at as a symbol of excellence. You owe it to

or otherwise suffer financially for failing

combat.

yourself, your team, and the community

an unofficial qual. Unions and fraternal

to greatly surpass that standard with your

organizations would have a fit. But an

performance. Let’s break it down.

understanding that failing these quals leads

To this end, it’s critical to have immovable standards in an elite unit. The fight will not discriminate based on a participant’s ability,

Fitness is an easy category to quantify data.

to some other form of punishment should

so we should. The first and most obvious

Combat is the most extreme sport you will

be had. Punishments should fit the crime. If

standard should revolve around physicality.

ever play. Once you’re fighting for your life,

someone fails a run time, they should have

you are in combat. It could be Sadr City, New

to complete the same distance carrying

York City, a Walmart parking lot, or your living

a sandbag. Consequences should be

room. Combat is combat and dead is dead.

degrading enough to ensure the offender

Combat will tax your body and mind more

remembers and does better. It’s not about

than anything else. If you carry a gun for a

causing physical, mental, or financial harm.

“It’s absolutely critical to have immovable standards in an elite unit. The fight will not discriminate based on a participant’s ability, so we should.”

living and are clinically obese (more than 30%

This attitude is not just about making

BMI), that’s a problem. You cannot rely on the

sure you survive and win the fight. It’s about

wishful thought that “once the fighting starts,

ensuring your teammates survive and win

the adrenaline dump will give me hyper focus

the fight. You owe it to them to be in the

and the strength of ten men.” It doesn’t work

best physical shape and proficiency level

that way. In reality, you will fall apart.

possible. You owe it to their families. Are you

If you are not in shape, your body will not be

willing to widow their spouses and orphan

able to adequately supply blood and oxygen

their kids because you like sugar, fat, booze,

to your organs. Your vision will blur. Your

and skipping the gym? This isn’t about

heart will beat out of your chest, and your

body-shaming. It’s about setting, making,

reaction time will plummet. If you can’t run city

and keeping a higher standard. Physically

blocks, climbing fences, ducking and weaving

fit officers project an image that demands

obstacles in full kit, that’s a problem. If you

compliance from suspects. It’s human nature

The fact of the matter is that physics doesn’t

can’t do a pull-up with your kit, that’s problem.

to look for the least intimidating opponent.

care if you are a 5-foot-tall 100-pound female

These are all basic activities required of the

Predators will be more likely to resist, fight, or

in a fight against a 6-foot-tall 200-pound man.

job. Your organization probably has a basic

be less than compliant if an officer looks like a

Regardless of your black belt in TKD or BJJ,

PT test standard. But how applicable is doing

fat sloppo-potamus.

you’re going to be in trouble. I’m not going

push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and running in

to sit here and argue the case for or against

sneakers and PT shorts to the actual job? The

and quantify. But it’s equally important in

women in special operations. I will tell you

boundaries of these standards are designed

determining one’s fitness for the job as

there are some badass chicks out there with

for maximum personnel retention more than a

physical ability. Being able to think and

whom I certainly would not want to pick a

measure of excellence.

function under stress is not a learned

fight. What I am saying is that you and your

As a member of an elite unit, it is your

Stress inoculation is harder to qualify

quality; it’s genetic. It comes down to brain

team need to (at the very least) meet the same

responsibility to do better. And what’s more,

processor speed. In fact, the ability to process

standards across the board. And that’s only

you should want to do better. You should

information and make good decisions quickly

the beginning. If someone can do the job,

demand that much from yourself and your

is one of the key qualities sought in SOF

they should do the job. If they can’t, they have

teammates. You and your teammates should

candidates. An argument could be made that

absolutely no place on the team. And the

hold yourselves to a higher standard. For

it is an even more important trait for cops. This

standards for selecting who can and cannot

example, if the department PT test requires

is because every detail of every interaction

be on the team should be exactly the same

50 push-ups in two minutes, you should

a cop has with the public is on camera and

regardless of what’s between the candidate’s

require 75. After completing the department

picked apart by anti-police liberals who

legs. The cancer of woke-ism should have

standards, your team should complete the

will armchair-quarterback an iPhone video

no place in determining who should and

SWAT standards, in kit, as a measure of

for months in effort to vilify you. It takes a

should not be on a special operations team.

functional readiness. What are the SWAT

certain type of individual to maintain the calm

Emotional ideologues need not apply.

standards? That’s up to the team leadership.

presence of mind in a highly volatile situation UN12mag.com

91

doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.

It’s easy to develop a fixed mindset from the “daily grind.” This is exacerbated by constant missions with the same outcomes. SWAT is often faced with jobs that can become

General Feature

monotonous. Barricade job after barricade job can nurture a fixed mindset at all levels.

It can lead to sloppy execution of tactics and procedures because officers expect a certain outcome. The vast majority of SWAT callouts result in a suspect either surrendering after the standoff, offering no resistance once forcible entry has been made, or killing themselves. These jobs lead to complacency in training scenarios (if I had a dollar for every time I heard a student say “we only hit 1,000 square-foot trailers, so…”). But tactics should not be based on these “wins.” Can we say a tactic works if it’s never been up against real opposition—someone who wants to fight? This sort of mindset is fixed and not that could erupt into a life-or-death fight at any

to adapt with change, you cannot force

second, and to make correct choices as said

ideals that challenge human nature through

A growth mindset is always looking at

situation develops. Sudden violence makes

flowery policy and inclusiveness. Mankind is

possibilities and studying the victories and

most people fall apart. That is why standards

violent, malevolent, and self-serving. We will

failures of other units. It is the difference

need to be set to exclude those who will fold

never evolve from it and to think that we will is

under pressure.

childish. The fight will not change because I

If you’ve ever served in a military or law

am only 5’7” and 160 pounds. I owe it to those

enforcement organization, you know people

on either side of me to be as prepared as they

who did not have the mental wherewithal

are, regardless of whether my physical stature

to do the job correctly. They simply do not

or attributes put me behind the power curve.

have the ability to function under stress. They are missing the “mean gene.” This missing

MINDSET: Growth and constant

quality is not attributed to either gender or

adaptability.

any race. But the cancer of “inclusiveness”

ATTITUDE: Be flexible—there are no

means people are hired onto jobs or make

absolutes. Don’t get set in your ways.

it onto teams who should not be there. The left-wing idea of diversity hiring means

a Fixed Mindset when discussing special

profile, not because they are qualified. And

operations. We need to be creative thinkers

this practice, while wrong, can be gotten

who can analyze and adapt to a situation

away with in many industries because the

as it develops. It does no good to approach

consequences do not affect public safety or

different types of problems with the same

national security. In short, nobody dies when

cookie-cutter solution. Tactics, techniques,

a TPS Report is late. But professions fraught

and procedures become institutionalized

with explosively violent situations on a daily

over time. In the military, we anecdotally

basis require certain mindsets, attitudes, and

joke about always training to fight the last

characteristics. The standard needs to be

war we were in. For law enforcement, many

high and it needs to be surpassed.

things can get chalked up to “that’s the way

Again, this goes back to creating a higher

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UN12 / Issue 016

A Growth Mindset is far more useful than

candidates are chosen because they fit a

it’s always been done.” I’m not going to try

standard. Members of elite teams should

and draw comparisons at the micro level,

be constantly engaging in force-on-force

but the macro level has many. Most have to

training. Pain is a great motivator to do things

do with leadership. Oftentimes the troops

right. Likewise, team members should be

on the ground are needlessly sacrificed due

involved in extensive combatives training and

to poor leadership making bad policy. And

practice with full contact. Training is not about

most of this bad policy revolves around a

feeling good and leaders need to design

fixed mindset that does not want to make

training exercises that constantly put the team

waves. After attaining a certain rank, having

through stress. Nobody learns anything from

your subordinates do things that might upset

a clean run through the kill house. Training

the norm or draw unwanted attention can be

should be as stressful as the real thing.

hazardous to a career. Too many in positions

The world and societies are constantly

of command are more interested in climbing

changing and evolving. While it is important

the promotion ladder and less interested in

conducive to an elite unit.

and have since become cops. Their tactical

He came from an elite light-infantry unit and

experience and knowledge of fighting should

was well practiced in everything we needed

not be discounted because “they’re the new

to teach. So here we were, experienced

guy and things have been done a certain way

operators, putting a new guy who hadn’t been

for years.” This sort of fixed mindset is toxic

on a single mission with us yet in charge of

institutionalization at its worst. In fact, there’s

leading the class. Instead of being stuck in

often a certain resentment toward military

the mindset that the new guy doesn’t know

veterans who become cops from the veteran

anything, we thought about why he made it

officers who have been on the job longer:

to us in the first place and what his strengths

“This isn’t the Army, G.I. Joe. Things are

were. We knew he was capable and was

different here.”

bringing something to the team that we could

But we need to be able to look at our

leverage.

team and recognize what everyone brings

Just because you have been at a job

to the table. In the end, everyone got there

for a while does not mean you are above

for a reason. My unit was primarily tasked

standards, beyond training, and have nothing

between being reactive and proactive. If

with counterterrorism and long-range

else to learn. As threats and technology

you ask any cop about which category his

reconnaissance operations. A couple years

evolve, so too should we. If you are not

or her agency falls in, I’d put money on the

in, we were asked to instruct a partner force in

open to new ideas, you’ll soon find yourself

answer being “reactive.” This can be seen

infantry squad tactics. Why we were given this

irrelevant.

in everything from tactics to gear. Policing

job I have no idea. But we had to do it. The

is not the same as warfighting. But after 20

problem was none of us had done any basic

individuals should be in elite units. The very

years of intense war overseas, a lot has been

infantry stuff in years, so needless to say we

first step in getting there is developing the

learned about combat at every level, and a lot

were a bit rusty. As luck would have it, a new

proper mindset. But more importantly, that

of innovative equipment has been developed

class from our operator training school was

mindset is key in staying there. Elite is earned

based on real-world experience. What’s

just graduating and we were able to draft one

every day.

more, a lot of combat veterans left the service

of the newly badged guys to come help us.

[ UN12 ]

It should go without saying that only elite

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

“Cultivating a growth mindset means studying past victories and failures—it’s the difference between being reactive and proactive.”

UN12mag.com

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Featured Gun

Parts Bin AR-9 Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by MICHAEL GREY

: : Pieced together by owner : : Used for target practice & home defense : : Uses Colt-pattern 9mm magazines

94

UN12 / Issue 016

UN12mag.com

95

Featured Gun

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

I

f you’ve been around ARs for

even a little while, there’s a good chance that you also have one that started out as a single discarded part taken from another AR that you had modified. Like so many other AR-pattern carbines before it, this is how the AR-9 featured here began life.

Call it a Franken-build or a melting pot of AR goodness.

Jay Thompson, owner of this custom build, doesn’t mind any name you throw at it. He’s been assembling ARs for quite a few years now as a hobby and this is one of his

“You know you’ve got a problem when you make an excuse to build a whole rifle out of a leftover detent and spring.”

—Jay Thompson

latest creations. He tells us how it came to be.

“I’ve always been into modifying anything I get my hands on,” Thompson says. “When I was little, I added LED lighting into my Nintendo Gameboy Color so I could

so and the AR-9 allows me to do that.”

Thompson says that he only jokes about starting an AR

play it even after I was supposed to go to bed. When I got

build out of nothing but a detent, but he did say that he

older, I modded my car so it would be the fastest ride in my

started this AR-9 out of a few older pieces from his parts

neighborhood. When the black rifle bug took hold, forget

bins. The upper and lower receivers, barrel assembly,

it, I started building rifles like nobody’s business. You know

and buttstock are all from other ARs that he has since

you’ve got a problem when you make an excuse to build a

modified, torn down, and re-modified again and again.

whole rifle out of a leftover detent and spring.” Seems like a good problem, if you ask us.

Thompson continues: “Since I’m regularly reconfiguring

96

like to go to the range whenever I have the impulse to do

“My first 9mm AR from way back when was a complete rifle made by Rock River Arms,” he explains. “It had a 16-inch barrel, carbine-length plastic M4 handguard,

my ARs with the latest aftermarket parts, I always end up

and an A2 front sight base (FSB). That’s where the donor

with spares. It was from this pile of parts that I started to

barrel and upper receiver for this carbine come from. You

piece together this AR-9. I like shooting 9 for its low recoil

can tell my upper is old since you don’t see the 9mm shell

and lower ammo cost and there are more ranges I can

deflector and partial ejection port door on modern 9mm

shoot it at. I live in an area where most ranges are indoors

ARs. The lower receiver was from Double Diamond Law

and only allow pistol rounds. I find time to shoot rifle

Enforcement Supply (DDLES), which as I understand has

rounds, but those trips need to be planned in advance. I

since been superseded by Quarter Circle 10. The LMT

UN12 / Issue 016

Optic EOTech’s HWS EXPS3 allows for quick target acquisition.

Sights A Midwest Industries fixed rear sight pairs with the front block for effective co-witness to the EOTech HWS.

Charging The PRI Gas Buster features an extended “combat latch” and is engineered specifically for PCC bolt carriers.

Grip The Driven Arms VCG imparts a little extra girth for those with larger hands.

UN12mag.com

97

Featured Gun

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Light The tried-and-true SureFire Scout Light Pro features rugged construction and a built-in mount.

Handguard Midwest Industries’ two-piece free-float rail accommodates the fixed front sight block and features QD sling points forward of the FSB.

Magazine The DDLES lower accepts standard Colt-pattern 9mm magazines; this is a Metalform SMG 32-rounder.

98

UN12 / Issue 016

Barrel Assembly The Rock River Arms 9mm barrel came populated with barrel nut, delta ring, and A2 front sight block.

sopmod stock was from an

LMT rifle I had back in the day, too. I’ve since sold the rifle but still have the stock.

These are the major parts I started out with.”

Back before pistol caliber carbines (PCCs) became a big deal, DDLES

“DDLES rocked the AR world with the first billet AR-9 lowers that took Colt-pattern 9mm magazines.”

rocked the AR world by introducing dedicated

and an unknown-brand USGI trigger with KNS Gen 2 anti-

billet AR-9 lowers that

rotation trigger and hammer pins. He then went shopping

took Colt-pattern 9mm

for some newer items to fill out the rest of the build.

magazines. Later on, the

The Rock River Arms (RRA) barrel came populated

company would again

with an A2 FSB as well as a barrel nut with delta ring, but

excite the PCC crowd

it lacked a muzzle device. Thompson noticed that the

with the release of what

barrel’s thread pitch was 1/2x36, for which he had no

may have been the first-

devices. He had decided he wanted to go for a no-frills

ever AR lower for Glock-

modified M4 look, so he looked for a simple flash hider,

pattern magazines.

finding an A2 sized for 9mm in the correct thread pitch

Thompson jumped on one of

from Ballistic Advantage. At 8 bucks with crush washer, he

the early batches of the Colt-pattern lowers and had left it

ordered a couple of these—one to use and one to throw

unassembled since he received it. The lower has the ability

into his parts bin for a future build.

to run 9mm Colt or modified Uzi mags and has a last-

He also searched a non-flip-up rear sight to match the

round bolt-hold-open function. Nowadays, Quarter Circle

fixed front sight. His search led him to Midwest Industries

10 offers updated versions of these lowers plus plenty

(MI). The Combat Rifle Rear Fixed Sight was exactly

more innovative offerings, but we digress.

what he was looking for. He also found a new two-piece

With receivers in hand, all Thompson had to do was

free-float rail that the company recently dropped for use

to locate a few more parts so final assembly could

with barrels with front sight towers. “MI had just released

commence. He rummaged through his parts bins and

a two-piece m-lok compatible handguard for uppers like

chose to go with a VLTOR five-position extension, Spike’s

the one I intended to build,” Thompson says. “They make

Tactical ST-9X 9mm heavy buffer, Noveske QD end plate,

a carbine-length, a mid-length, and the one that I ended

UN12mag.com

99

Featured Gun

UN12

E X P L O D E D VIEW

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Parts Bin AR-9

“You see, I rattle-canned the upper receiver and stock for another build a long time ago and I wasn’t sure if I should strip the paint off and leave it all black, repaint it

Capacity: 32+1

scheme on the new handguard. I decided to paint the

Minimum Length: 32.75 in.

handguard even though I wasn’t sure how well it would

Maximum Length: 36.0 in.

turn out. I’d forgotten what colors I originally used but I

Weight Unloaded: 7 lbs, 10 oz.

the handguard. To my surprise, it all came out matching pretty well.”

he wasn’t anticipating. “If you’re looking to install this handguard, you should know that you’ll need to remove the delta ring and the metal handguard cap on the FSB side,” he reports. “The barrel nut stays, though. I’ve never been good at hammering out gas block pins. Instead, I decided to cut the delta ring and metal cap off using a Dremel. I took my time and finally got those parts off. After all that, the handguard mounted easily with the included socket head cap screws.” He also installed an Emissary Development Handbrake handstop, which features a forward-swept angle for enhanced ergonomics and is big

segments, and QD sling mounting points located forward

enough to fit Thompson’s hand comfortably.

We were told that he originally had an A2 grip on the

As for accessories, Thompson fills us in. “Optics-wise, I’m a big-time EOTech fan,” he says. “They’re fast to

AR, but he decided to jettison it in favor of a Driven Arms

use and don’t require a separate mount for a lower 1/3

Co. (DAC) Vertical Crossover Grip (VCG). “One look at

co-witness. I went with an EOTech HWS EXPS3 for this

the girthy VCG and I knew that was the grip for me,” he

AR-9. I also love SureFire lights. I have some experience

says. “I like thick grips for my baseball-mitt hands to get a

with cheaper lights and the old saying ‘buy once, cry

good grip and A2s are too skinny for my taste. The VCG’s

once’ rings true. I now only use high-quality lights like this

reduced grip angle feels nice as well.”

SureFire Scout Light Pro. It comes with a built-in mount,

The last major pieces required were a 9mm BCG

fast and accurate at the range and they’re great to have for

Precision 9mm nitride bolt carrier group and PRI 9mm

any home defense situations.” forgotten components out of a spare parts bin,

handles in how it engages with the BCG. With most of the

Thompson’s AR-9 looks pretty damn good. It now has us

components in place, he started to assemble the carbine.

thinking about digging through our own parts bins and

make a decision on the AR’s color,” Thompson says.

Featured Accessories Optic: EOTech HWS EXPS3 Handguard: Midwest Industries MI-20XXM Barrel: Rock River Arms 16” 9mm Weaponlight: SureFire Scout Light Pro Parts & Accessories: Rock River Arms upper receiver, DDLES 9mm Colt-pattern lower, Ballistic Advantage 9mm A2 flash hider, MI Combat Rifle rear fixed sight, Emissary Development Handbrake, Spinta Precision 9mm nitride BCG, Driven Arms Co. Vertical Crossover Grip (VCG), KNS Precision Gen 2 anti-rotation trigger & hammer pins, ambidextrous safety, extended takedown pin, Noveske QD end plate, PRI 9mm Gas Buster charging handle w/combat latch, VLTOR buffer tube, LMT SOPMOD stock, Metalform SMG AR-15 9mm 32-rd magazine, Magpul BAD lever

Considering it was mostly assembled from almost-

9mm-specific charging handle is different than standard

“I had most of the carbine assembled when I had to

Coating: Krylon spray paint

which is also nice. The optic and light allow me to shoot

and charging handle. He ultimately went with a Spinta Gas Buster charging handle with combat latch. This

Barrel Length: 16.0 in.

Thompson reports that installing the MI handguard wasn’t an issue but it did require a few more steps that

up buying, an extended carbine-length with rails, m-lok of the FSB.”

Caliber: 9mm

a whole new color scheme, or try to match the old paint

gave it a try anyway. I used Krylon’s camouflage line for

“The color scheme comes from Krylon’s camouflage line, and in spite of parts being sprayed in different stages it all matches up pretty well.”

Specifications

boxes to see what we, too, can repurpose for a new build. [ UN12 ]

About the Owner Name: Jay Thompson Occupation: Carpenter

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PRODUCT REVIEW

IRAY USA 102

UN12 / Issue 016

Mini MH25 Thermal Monocular Text by JAMES YORK Images by JERRY TSAI & IRAY USA

B

eing able to see in the dark is one thing, but being able to see heat signatures is

something else entirely. I’ve used night vision for a few years now, mostly using a TNV/PVS14 unit, and I’ve got to say that I absolutely love it. Being able to see clearly and pick out targets in the pitch black of night gives you superhuman capabilities. How can that ability be topped?

Thermal optics allow the user to see beyond what night vision can offer. Night vision uses what little amounts of ambient light that exist, be it light from the moon or from a distant street lamp, and amplifies it so we can see. Thermal imaging works by using infrared sensors to detect the temperatures

“The unit is small, similar to the size of a TNV/PVS14, and weighs less by at least a few ounces. It can be used as a handheld or helmet-mounted optic.”

picture-in-picture, and more. That said, there are almost too many settings to access with just the built-in knob. Good thing the MH25 also has an optional Bluetooth remote control that’s helpful in dialing in the settings. It took a little bit of effort to get oriented with the optic, but once you get the hang of it, the MH25 stands out for its ease of use.

The monocular has a base magnification of 1.1x and can be paired up on a dual-unit helmet mount to run as a thermal binocular. In the field I found it as easy to navigate with as my night vision monocular. If you want to get in close, the MH25 has a digital zoom of up to 8x. It has a sensor resolution of 640x480, so the picture looks sharp. I really liked the

of objects. The result is a method of vision

turned upside-down, so there’s no need for

ability to switch between four different color

that can cut through conditions like dust,

fiddling around with an on-screen menu to re-

palettes so that I could adjust the display to

smoke, and fog that may impair traditional

orient the view every time you take it on and

pick up exactly what I wanted to focus on.

night vision devices.

off your helmet.

The palette color options include white hot,

I recently got the chance to try out the iRay

The MH25 is operated by a clearly labeled

black hot, red hot, and a pseudo-color mode

USA Mini MH25 Thermal Monocular. iRay

on-screen menu and rotary knob with a single

that looks something like colorized night

claims that the MH25 is the smallest fully

push button at its center. Simply rotate the

vision (sort of like the Predator’s).

multi-functional 12-micron thermal imaging

knob to highlight your desired menu item and

monocular on the market. I can say that this

press the button to select it. The knob has

rechargeable 16650 and 16340 batteries

unit is small, similar to the size of my TNV/

positive feedback clicks with each selection

and can be powered externally through the

PVS-14, and weighs less by at least a few

and allows for quick operation.

USB-C port with a 5V battery pack. A single

ounces.

The thermal monocular can be used as

When going through the menu, I was

The thermal optic is compatible with

16650 battery is factory-rated to run the

overwhelmed at how many settings and

unit for three hours. An external 10,000 mAh

both a handheld or helmet-mounted unit

preferences can be accessed; the MH25

USB battery is rated to run the monocular

and is feature-packed. The optic has two

certainly is full-featured. Settings and

for an impressive 18 hours. I used a supplied

mounting points that allow for use with a wide

features include various image adjustments,

Nitecore 16340 650 mAh battery that has a

variety of dovetail helmet mounts. Display

an electronic compass, pitch and roll

factory runtime rating of 1.5 hours. When I

icons flip automatically when its orientation is

measurement, stadiametric rangefinder,

used it in a 65- to 70-degree environment, I

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Product Review: iRay USA Mini MH25 Thermal Monocular UN0012 / UNITY TACTICAL FAST MOUNTS —

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UN12 / Issue 016

found that my runtime hovered around one hour and ten to twenty minutes.

Overall, I was quite pleased with iRay’s Mini MH25. It has a sharp picture, simple controls, is small and light enough to be helmet-mounted, and offers plenty of operating features. Things I would like to see in a next-generation update include larger on-screen menu text and an onboard ability to record video and capture screenshots directly to a memory card or via Bluetooth.

We noticed that the MH25’s diminutive factory eyepiece could be replaced with a larger eyepiece from a PVS-14. Some companies sell retrofit eyepieces that easily install without any permanent modification. The sample unit pictured in this review is fitted with a PVS-14 eyepiece that made viewing the menu easier and increased its usable eye relief.

Some may balk at its four-grand retail price tag, but considering its high-quality picture, compact size, light weight and overall functionality, I think what you get stands to be a great value. If you’re looking to add to your superhuman vision capabilities by adding helmetmountable thermal capability, you’ll want to seriously consider iRay’s Mini MH25.

IRAY USA Mini MH25 Thermal Monocular Device Technology: Thermal Imaging Sensor Resolution: 640x480 Optical Magnification: 1.1x Digital Magnification: 8x Pixel Size: 12 micron Sensor Frame Rate: 50 hz Objective Focal Length: 25mm Objective Diameter: 25mm MSRP: $3,999 URL: irayusa.com

UN12

[ UN12 ]

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Featured Gun

Refit & Updated AR-15 Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by MICHAEL GREY

: : An updated decade-old AR-15 : : Suppressed & hydrodipped : : Chambered in 5.56x45mm

106

UN12 / Issue 016

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Featured Gun

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

“The rifle, first assembled more than 10 years ago, had held up well, but some of its parts were dated by today’s standards.”

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Barrel The fluted BCM barrel’s business end hosts an AAC 51T Blackout flash hider with a Mini4 ultracompact silencer.

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Switch A Cloud Defensive Light Control System (LCS) remote switch mount combo.

ime flies, it really does. It seems the older you get,

Talk after work was my nightly ritual. Then life happened. I

the quicker the days, months, and years seem

changed jobs and got promoted, which took up even more

to speed by. The owner of this AR-15 can attest to this

of my time, and met a pretty little lady that I’m now married

unfortunate fact. Richard Wilson recently decided to take

to. Kids came next. I didn’t get to frequent the range like I

up shooting again after stepping away from the activity

used to. Even so, I still kept up with the firearms world and

for about a decade. Why would he stop shooting for that

bought a few pieces here and there, but I just couldn’t find

long? We’ll let him explain.

time to get back into the training side of things.”

T

“Why did I step away from shooting and training? Life,

He goes on: “It was over the last couple of years that I

man, life,” Wilson says. “I was a big-time tactical class

rekindled my love for firearms training. One night I jumped

guy back around 2009 through 2012. I took local classes

into a YouTube rabbit hole of gun and training videos and,

and even traveled to other states to take classes from the

well, you know how it goes. The obsession was revived.

popular trainers of the time. The ‘dynamic duo’ Costa and

I thought if I didn’t make the time to do it, I would regret

Haley, Vickers, Rogers… I was all about absorbing the

not getting back into it while my body could still take the

lessons that they were teaching. I was also huge on trying out all the cool gear that was popping up at that time. Surfing forums like ARFCOM (ar15.com), Light Fighter, and Silencer

abuse.”

Wilson started this project with one of his favorite ARs, one he had assembled more than ten years ago. The rifle was made up of quality parts so it still holds up well today, but some of its accessories were dated by today’s standards. Its foundation is a Noveske N4 forged lower that has a Geissele Super 3 Gun (S3G) trigger installed in it. It is also equipped with a Magpul MIAD grip and an ambi safety as well as a Magpul BAD Lever. Rounding out the lower’s original items is a VLTOR A5 buffer system with 7-position A5 receiver extension and a B5 Systems Enhanced SOPMOD stock.

Mags A Strike Industries 32-round AR magazine provides the firepower.

Optic The Aimpoint H-1 red dot on a KAC mount is the rifle’s original targeting apparatus.

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Featured Gun

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Of the lower, Wilson says: “There were a lot of

now, but I love my quad Picatinny rails,” he says. “The

innovations happening at the time I built this lower. The

built-in front sight is still one of my favorite features on any

brand-new (at the time) VLTOR A5 buffer system softened

rail out there.”

up the felt recoil of the rifle and Geissele’s S3G was a huge

Housed inside the upper is a 16-inch hammer-

step up from the USGI trigger I used prior. I had to install a

forged BCM barrel that he had custom fluted

Magpul BAD since I was a Magpul Dynamics fan as well. I

by Adco Firearms. He figures that he

love the lever’s convenient bolt-lock-back functionality, so

only has a few thousand rounds

I left it on.”

down it and says that it still

As for what he updated on the lower, Wilson informed

fires accurately so there was no

us that he used to have a Magpul ASAP sling attachment

reason to change it during the

plate installed on the back of the receiver but never got

refit. At the tip sits an Advance

used to the metal ring that would constantly jingle about.

Armament Corp. (AAC) 51T

He replaced it with a QD receiver end plate made by Griffin

Blackout flash hider that mounts

Armament. Remember, the QD-type end plates that are

an AAC Mini4 ultra-compact

so common nowadays didn’t exist back when he first

silencer. The Mini4 takes

built this rifle. Griffin Armament’s C2E end plate allows the

the sound level

attachment of a QD sling mount in its eight-position anti-

down below

rotation socket.

the

Wilson mentions that he was a Knight’s Armament Co. (KAC) fanboy but couldn’t afford a full rifle of theirs.

Instead, he used several of their parts for some added KAC flavor, including a URX II rifle-length Picatinny handguard. This is one of his all-time favorite AR handguards and he insists on using it today. “I know there are lighter, thinner rails available

Charging The VLTOR handle features a Mod 4 latch, which is a medium size.

Shroud A Griffon Industries HMMS cover provides protection when things heat up.

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UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

“The hydrodip MultiCam pattern matches up well despite certain parts being treated a decade apart.”

140-decibel range, especially helpful when running through hundreds of rounds during the course of a class.

Now for the items he’s upgraded on his upper. Wilson explained to us that due to the way the URX II handguard is designed, the underside clearance for the gas block is really tight. He had previously used a BCM gas block that he had ground down to fit. Although it functioned and wasn’t easily seen, it always bothered him that it didn’t look perfect. He swapped it out for a 2A Armament titanium block, which weighs a scant 0.7 ounces and is extremely low-profile, a perfect fit under the KAC URX II. Wilson swapped out his original Mil-Spec upper receiver for a one made by Joint Force Enterprises (JFE).

JFE had originally hydrodipped his AR back in the day and he looked up their website to see if they still offered

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

BCG

Light

Lantac’s E-BCG is NiB-coated for both slick appearance and operation.

The Streamlight HL-X is mounted to a Haley Strategic Thorntail2 Picatinny offset mount.

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Featured Gun

hydrodipping services in case he wanted to get his new

unique gas port design that allows the gun to run flatter

parts dipped. He discovered that not only do they still offer

with a smoother feel.

that service, they added more services and even their own

Wilson paired the Lantac E-BCG with a VLTOR 556

branded parts. He was happy to see them doing so well

charging handle. He previously had a BCM Gunfighter

and decided to order up one of their JF-15 Inertia stripped

branded version of this charging handle that he loved but

uppers and had them hydrodip it in MultiCam to match the

had moved it to another one of his ARs. He looked for a

rest of the rifle.

replacement and saw that VLTOR now offers it directly

The JF-15 upper is machined from billet 7075-T6

under their own brand. These handles come in your choice

aluminum and comes without a forward assist. “Since I

of three different-sized latches. He went with the Mod 4

was keeping my Pic rail, I figured that I’d lighten the rifle

version, a medium-sized latch.

in other ways,” Wilson says. “That’s why I used parts like

With the rifle complete and updated, Wilson moved on

a titanium gas block and a slimmed-down upper receiver.

to outfitting it with some updated accessories. But first,

Besides, who doesn’t like some titanium bling, and I think

let’s see which ones he kept from his original build. “I had

the JF-15’s contours look stunning. I was stoked to see

to keep my Aimpoint H-1 red dot and KAC mount,” he

that the hydro job they did matched the rest of the rifle

says. “It holds zero very well even though I’ve taken it on

even though the parts were dipped a decade apart.”

and off many times, and I still think it’s the best-looking

He added a Strike Industries (SI) Ultimate Dust Cover to

mount out there. I also love the KAC 200-600m rear flip

complete the receiver.

sight; it was staying on there for sure. Due to the Picatinny-

The upper also sports another functional piece of bling

ness of the rail, I knew that I could count on my trusty

in the form of the Lantac Enhanced E-BCG bolt carrier group. Wilson swapped out his Mil-Spec BCG for this beauty for functional as well as aesthetic reasons. The enhanced BCG is machined from 8620 steel and the entire assembly is electroless nickel-boron (NiB) coated, which is what gives it its shiny appearance and, more importantly, an inherently slippery surface. The carrier also features a

“Several parts remain from the original build, including the optic, grips, lower, and handguard.”

Foregrip The TangoDown stubby is another of the original parts retained on the 10-year-old build.

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

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UN12 / Issue 016

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Featured Gun

UN12

E X P L O D E D

“This AR proves that when you invest in quality parts, their usefulness will stand the test of time.”

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UN12 / Issue 016

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

VIEW

Refit & Updated AR-15 Specifications Caliber: 5.56x45mm Capacity: 32+1 Length: 33.0-37.0 in.

Weight Unloaded: 7 lbs, 14 oz.

Barrel: BCM hammer-forged 16” w/ Adco Firearms fluting

Barrel Length: 16.0 in.

Upper Receiver: Joint Force Enterprises JF-15 Lower Receiver: Noveske N4 Coating: Joint Force Enterprises hydrodip in MultiCam

Featured Accessories Optic: Aimpoint Micro H-1 Optic Mount: Knights Armament Co. Micro Mount Handguard: Knight’s Armament Co. URX II rifle-length Suppressor: Advanced Armament Company Mini4 Weaponlight: Streamlight HL-X

TangoDown stubby foregrip. It feels great and makes for a

protect the forward part of the Picatinny rail where he rests

solid reference point.”

it on barricades for supported shooting.

Newer items that have migrated onto the rifle include

Wilson also decided to try out a 32-round AR magazine

a Streamlight rail-mount HL-X flashlight and Cloud

that SI makes. He feels that the more ammo you can

Defensive Light Control System (LCS) remote switch

feed, the better. The final piece he picked up for this AR

mount combo. The Streamlight unit is capable of

update was a Griffon Industries HMMS silencer cover.

throwing out 1,000 lumens of bright white light and

After getting burnt more times than he cares to admit, he

Cloud Defensive’s LCS provides a hard mount for the

knew that a cover for his silencer was a much-needed

Streamlight’s switch, placing it at thumb’s reach and also

accessory. And with that, Wilson and his AR were once

lending the ability to route the remote switch cable inside

again ready for his anticipated tactical class regimen.

the mount for cable protection as well.

For a mostly ten-year-old rifle, it’s still a good-looking

Parts & Accessories: Geissele S3G trigger, Lantac E-BCG, AAC 51T Blackout Flash Hider, 2A Armament titanium gas block, VLTOR A5 buffer system w/RE-A5 Extension, VLTOR 556 charging handle, B5 Systems Enhanced SOPMOD stock, KAC 200600m Folding Micro Rear Sight, Griffin Armament C2E Contour Connect end plate, Magpul MIAD grip, Magpul BAD Lever, TangoDown vertical foregrip (Stubby), Griffon Industries HMMS silencer cover, Cloud Defensive LCS, Haley Strategic Thorntail2 Picatinny offset light mount, SI Ultimate Dust Cover, SI Strike Gear cable management sleeve, SI 32+ AR-15 magazine, Ergo Rail Ladder

The Streamlight HL-X is mounted to a Haley Strategic

piece. Much of it is still original and even the updates keep

Thorntail2 Picatinny offset light mount. The mount helps

the original look intact quite nicely. Wilson reports that he’s

place the flashlight in the optimum position on the rail.

already signed up for his first class and he’s amped to get

The fabric band you see just aft of the light is a Strike

back out there. Now, will his body hold up as well as his

Gear Cable Management System Sleeve made by SI. The

rifle? That remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure—

About the Owner

stretchy sleeve features a pocket that fits a remote switch

this rifle shows that when you invest in quality parts, their

Name: Richard Wilson

and is used to manage rail-mounted light and laser wires.

usefulness will stand the test of time.

Wilson uses it keep the light’s wire out of the way and to

[ UN12 ]

Occupation: Building contractor Special Thanks: My wife and kids.

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PRODUCT REVIEW

SUREFIRE

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UN12 / Issue 016

: : Indexes off SureFire H-Series

MasterFire System

weaponlights : : Updated holster design with Level 3 retention

Text by JOHN SCOTT Images by JERRY TSAI

: : Automatically activates the weaponlight upon drawing

M

ight this be the one holster to rule them all? SureFire’s

MasterFire System is one of the best and most seemingly overlooked holster systems we’ve come across.

If that sounds like a bold statement, you probably won’t think so after you’ve spent time with it as we have.

If you’re not familiar with the MasterFire System, allow us to give you a brief overview. It comprises SureFire’s ecosystem of weaponlights and holsters that

“MasterFire essentially allows you to have a single holster for any railed pistol that you may own.”

provide a smoother, faster, straighter draw stroke. If you require your firearm to be secured within the holster, Level 3 retention is provided by securing the pistol with primary and secondary locking systems. The primary lock is a thumb-actuated button that needs to be depressed in order to release the pistol. If you require more security, you can opt to lock the pistol in with the holster’s secondary lock, a rotating locking switch, for the ultimate in control

allow you to essentially own a single

polymer holster shroud that

holster for any railed pistol that you

reduces exposure of the weapon’s

have. Forget buying a holster for

frame, slide, and weaponlight. The

holster that was only available to

every one of your pistols. It also

shroud provides a more traditional

right-handed shooters, this new

provides Level 3 retention and

holster look and also includes

Pro version is also available in a

can instantaneously activate your

a new integrated accessory rail

left-handed configuration. It’s also

weaponlight or laser automatically

system that readily accepts MOLLE

offered in your choice of black or

when drawing your weapon.

pouches with the use of SureFire’s

tan colors. A high-grip thigh strap is

V98 accessory adapter, but more on

also included for those who require

that later.

its use.

SureFire’s latest MasterFire Pro Rapid Deploy Holster incorporates improvements over the previous model including a new durable

The innovative holster’s release system has also been revised to

over access.

Unlike the original MasterFire

MasterFire Pro interfaces with SureFire H-Series weaponlights

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117

SureFire X400VH Weaponlight MSRP: $879 XH50 MasterFire Weaponlight MSRP: $879 V98 MasterFire Pro PALS Rail MSRP: $17

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UN12 / Issue 016

Product Review: SureFire MasterFire System UN0012 / ADM UIC MOD2 —

and not the pistol itself. This means that the holster can fit a wide variety of pistols as long as the pistol can mount a weaponlight and is dimensionally compliant. We tried everything from Glocks to SIGs to S&Ws in different models and lengths and each fit perfectly. What’s more, the weaponlight can be set to automatically activate when the pistol is drawn, saving you time in high-stress situations.

For those seeking holster solutions for pistols hosting suppressors or comps, MasterFire is the answer you are looking for.

Removing the holster’s shroud, which is as easy as removing a single screw, allows you access to an uninterrupted opening along the holster’s forward-facing portion. This allows you to stow a pistol with an extended muzzle

“MasterFire Pro accommodates a wide variety of pistols as long as the pistol can mount a weaponlight and is dimensionally compliant. It also allows the light to automatically activate on draw.”

accessory such as a comp or suppressor.

We also tried out the MasterFire Pro’s accessory attachment rail. Called the V98 MasterFire Pro PALS Rail, the accessory attaches to the built-in accessory rail that’s located on the spine of the holster shroud. The accessory easily slides on and off the shroud and consists of a single row of PALS slots that allow the attachment of anything MOLLEbacked that you can think of, including a spare magazine pouch, tourniquet holder, handheld flashlight, or knife. Because it can only fit a single MOLLE strap, we found that the V98 is limited as to what you can place on it as most PALS-compatible gear uses at least two straps. That said, we’re still glad there’s an option to carry more gear. If you have a SureFire FirePak, you can clip it directly onto the holster shroud.

SureFire’s MasterFire Pro Rapid Deploy

We had the chance to try the latest

The green laser’s bore-adjacent placement

Holster is a fantastic solution to the problem

MasterFire Pro holster with two H-Series

decreases its point-of-aim/point-of-impact

of finding a suitable holster for pistols like our

weaponlights, an X400VH and the company’s

offset, making for improved instinctual

Strike Industries Mass Driver comp-equipped

latest pistol light, the XH50. The X400VH has

shooting. Selector switches underneath

G17. In fact, it has rapidly phased out most

the ability to emit 350 lumens of bright white

the light’s housing allow the user to choose

of our other outside-the-waistband (OWB)

light or, by twisting its bezel, can switch to

whether the light or laser or both are activated

holsters and has become the de facto holster

produce 120 mW of infrared light instead.

at the press of its activation switches. Or, as

we use when training, competing, or just

X400VH is also equipped with an IR laser for

mentioned earlier, when interfaced with the

plinking with the buddies—no matter which

use with night vision devices.

MasterFire holster it can be activated when

pistol we choose to use.

The XH50 is one of SureFire’s newest

the pistol is drawn. Both pistol lights were

To be frank, we’re not usually this jazzed

releases. It features an 850-lumen white

everything we’ve come to expect of SureFire—

about OWB holsters. As long as they securely

light LED and packs a high-vis green laser

well-built, with outstanding utility and fantastic

hold your gun, there isn’t much more we ask of

that’s positioned close to the weapon’s bore.

ergonomics.

them. SureFire’s MasterFire Pro has changed

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Product Review: SureFire MasterFire System

“Removing the holster’s shroud allows you to stow a pistol with an extended muzzle accessory such as a comp or suppressor.” all that. We’ve never before encountered such a feature-rich holster and are actually pretty amped about it. It still remains to be seen if this is the only holster we’ll ever rock, but at least for now it’s become the one holster to rule them all.

: : For more information:

SureFire

URL: strikeindustries.com MasterFire Pro Rapid Deploy Holster MSRP: $239 URL: surefire.com

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UN12

[ UN12 ]

UN12 Delivered YOUR NEWEST ADDICTION DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR Have the latest print issue of UN12 delivered directly to you with our annual UN12 Home Delivery Service.

Shipping is FREE in the continental US, international shipping is also available.

un12.rainierarms.com/un12-hd-service Dealers wanted: UN12 is a premium and limited magazine that is not available on newsstands. It is only available online and through specialty shops like yours.

Join up as a UN12 retailer and we’ll drive customers to you. If you would like to carry UN12, contact us at retailer@un12mag.com today.

Featured Gun

Custom Flamethrower Text by ROLAND WILKES Images by JAY CANTER

:: Customized Exothermic Technologies Pulsefire LRT :: Norse-themed laser cutting & engraving by 2A Tactical LLC :: Full custom Cerakote by Koted Arms

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UN12 / Issue 016

W

e can’t speak for everyone, but we here at UN12 are for the most part a simple folk. If it produces

copious amounts of light, heat, and sound, we’re all about it. That’s why, beyond being firearms enthusiasts, many of us gravitate toward things like automobiles, power tools, machinery and gadgets of all types, especially if the object in question has a carefully defined, very pointed purpose. If there’s a certain element of danger involved, so much the better.

Of course, that’s only part of the equation. We also like beautiful things. There’s the beauty of engineering, the art of taking inanimate objects and manipulating them into an interdependent ecosystem that produces a singular purpose. But we are also into aesthetics— carefully curated patterns and coloration for an element of customization that makes a device more than just the sum of its parts.

That said, this firearm feature is something completely different from the norm. While it doesn’t propel a hard projectile from a bullet casing, it is in an even more literal sense a “fire-arm,” in that it produces actual flame—a big long stream of it, if the user so desires. It’s what’s known as a Pulsefire LRT, produced by Exothermic Technologies (ET) out of Florida, USA. According to ET, it runs on gasoline, any octane, or a gas-diesel mix depending on the intended use. It utilizes high-frequency electric arc ignition—available on-demand with the press of a button (or trigger, as it were)—rather than relying on pilot-flame ignition like other flamethrower designs. The arc comes from a 2,200 mAh three-cell lithium battery (rechargeable and easily replaceable) to ignite the fuel. An external fuel pump secured beneath the thrower’s “barrel” arm can propel the stream of flame up to an advertised 25 feet away, and according to some even farther.

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Featured Gun

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

Besides carrying an undeniable cool factor, ET

This particular flamethrower is owned by Jonathan “JD”

flamethrowers (the Pulsefire is one of two models they

DeVries of Koted Arms in Mesa, Arizona, a preeminent

sell) have a range of practical uses that the company

Cerakote applicator whose work has been featured many

touts, from lighting outdoor bonfires, to weed, brush, and

times over in these pages. For the customization, which

pest control, to snow and ice removal (“More fun than

is far-reaching and has essentially been applied to every

shoveling,” Exothermic Technologies notes). Such devices

surface of the Pulsefire’s metallic body, he teamed up with

may also be used by official fire-control agencies to

Steve Gonos at 2A Tactical LLC, a preeminent laser artisan

efficiently ignite backfires and controlled burns.

whose etching work has also been featured many times in

But why would you, the common man or woman, want one, the ET website posits rhetorically? Because it’s a

this space.

“We’ve done a bit of work with the guys from

frickin’ flamethrower. Basically because it lights shit on fire,

Exothermic, so naturally I had to have one myself,” DeVries

and does so in spectacular fashion.

says. “I own other flamethrowers, but Exothermic’s design

Barrel Knots were carefully etched into the flamethrower’s barrel.

Shield Dragon teeth were etched into the drip shield.

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UN12 / Issue 016

is the best for ease of use and performance. With the spark

The Pulsefire’s primarily aluminum, reasonably flat, and

ignition you don’t need a secondary fuel as an ignition

unadorned metal surfaces made for an amazing canvas

source for the primary tank.”

for Gonos and 2AT LLC to execute an array of wildly

This Koted Arms/2A Tactical LLC collaboration carries a

imaginative designs, which use everything from runes

distinctive Norse theme, which was brainstormed by the

and intricate knotwork (to some they may seem to harken

two customizers using a common appreciation for Viking

to Celtic designs, but ancient Norsemen also used knots

culture as an ignition point, if you’ll forgive the pseudo-pun.

in everything from pottery and paintwork to tattoos), to

“I’ve always been fascinated by Vikings and ancient

stylized dragon motifs and ancient sigils, like the three

Norse culture,” DeVries goes on to say. “A people made

interlocking triangles on the side of the flamethrower’s

up of warriors who strive for a good death with sword in

main rectangular canister. To avoid any confusion with

hand to enter into Valhalla seems so foreign to the world we

the logo from another company featured in this issue, the

currently live in.”

symbol is called Valknut and represents a fallen warrior.

Grips Leather-wrapped, using materials a Viking would have had on hand.

Fuel Tank Some of the most intricate work appears on the flamethrower’s fuel canister.

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Featured Gun

UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

(Valknut is actually a more modern word for the symbol

sort of dragon-man hybrid, and was to play a central role

itself, which was used since at least the 7th century in

in Ragnarök, carrying a “bright sword” into battle with

ancient Europe and probably much earlier than that.)

which he rained destruction on his enemies.

The detail on display here is mind-boggling and you

“The mouth of the flamethrower has teeth similar to the

could pore over the pictures for hours, only to come back

dragonesque features of Surtr,” Gonos says. “Surtr was

later and still be able to pick out things you missed the first

also the only thing strong enough to bring Ragnarök to

time around. The central motif relief-cut into the Pulsefire’s

Asgard.”

heat shield is an homage to the mythic Norse warrior Surtr.

One great detail is a pair of knot-like symbols on either

Not exactly a god but certainly not a man, Surtr is what a

side of the Surtr relief, cut through the heat shield, which

Viking would have called a Jötunn, one of a supernatural

were made wide enough to fit a special epoxy resin

race of beings imbued with superhuman strength.

infused with powder that actually glows red, ember-like,

According to some accounts he may have even been a

when the flames go out.

Valknut Fuel Tank More intricate knotwork found on the bottom of the fuel canister.

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UN12 / Issue 016

The interlocking triangles were used to commemorate a fallen warrior.

Which brings us to the color scheme and application of Cerakote.

“I wanted to draw from metallic elements the Vikings would work with, like copper and iron, and I wanted it to have a well-used, gritty feel,” DeVries says. The detailed coloration of individual raised and recessed areas is a testament to the painstaking detail Koted Arms infuses into its work.

Custom Exothermic Technologies Pulsefire LRT

Filling in the details is what raises

Specifications

a project like this above your more

Overall Length: 25.7 in.

ordinary, run-of-the-mill “custom”

Width: 8.5 in.

treatments. We can’t even imagine the

Height: 10.0 in.

sum of man-hours involved in creating

Weight Empty: 6.0 lbs

something like this.

As a final touch, JD wrapped the front (top) and rear handles in leather, again drawing from the kinds of materials an Old Norse weaponsmith would have had access to and might

Fuel Capacity: 0.35 gal Compatible Fuel: Gasoline, gasdiesel mixture (up to 50%) Ignition: High-frequency electric spark

have used when crafting a period

Battery: 2,200 mAh 3-cell lithium (rechargeable)

weapon.

Default Nozzle: 0.72” solid stream

We didn’t get to handle it aside from taking the pics, but reading more about it and seeing a few videos

Features

online has piqued our interest to say

Old Norse laser cutting/engraving by 2A Tactical LLC

the least. DeVries gives us a peek as to how the Pulsefire shoots. “It’s a ton of fun,” he says. “You can feel the heat

Custom Cerakote application by Koted Arms

radiating as soon as it ignites. It also creates a mist that covers the ground and the flames seem to dance as they burn from yellow to blue.”

He adds: “Everyone should have

More Info MSRP: $690 URL: exothermic.tech

one.” [ UN12 ]

Fuel Cap More intricate work, in the style of Celts (and Vikings).

Volts Meter lets you know how much electric juice you have producing the arc.

UN12mag.com

127

FEATURE

Customization

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UN12 / Issue 016

: : Based on a Zero Tolerance 0762 : : CPM 20CV blade steel : : Lightning-strike metal coloration & carbon frame

Personalized Knife Text by CHRIS LEE Images by CARLO CABREJOS

arrying a knife on oneself on the daily

every item in an EDC setup can act as a

is as important as making sure you

reflection of its owner’s taste and lifestyle,

have your wallet, keys, and smartphone in

we’d say that the knife is speaks the most

your pocket before you walk out the door.

about its owner and is the centerpiece to

These essential tools allow us to not only

one’s EDC loadout.

C

go about our daily business efficiently, but reflect our personal style as well.

Each one of these EDC pieces is chosen

Mark Rivers, owner of the featured blade, is no stranger to the Zero Tolerance (ZT) brand, having owned several of the

by its user to reflect their utilitarian needs and

knifemaker’s classics like the model 0302

can also show off a person’s individuality.

and 0350. He even owns some of ZT’s

Does your phone live in a rugged impact-

Hinderer iterations like 0556 and 0560. Of all

resistant case or does it reside in a simple

the ZT knives in his collection, he carried and

leather-wrapped case instead? Although

used the model 0804 most. He told us that

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129

Customization: Knives

Specs Personalized Zero Tolerance 0762 Owner: Mark Rivers Zero Tolerance Model: 0762 CF/20CV 2TN MSRP: $425 URL: zt.kaiusa.com

“The lightning strike finish and mixture of colors look especially good amid the carbon fiber framing.”

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UN12 / Issue 016

Personalized Zero Tolerance 0762

the model 0804 was the lightest and slimmest ZT knife

the cutouts on the scales. When kept free of lint and

parts were removed and used as a template to create

that he owned, which made it an easy choice for an

debris, the multiple layers of titanium “windows” set

a solid plate.

EDC blade.

this knife apart from other boring tools. As good as

The knife’s lock bar, pocket clip, and back spacers

The 0804 put in years of steady service until he

it looked, the cutouts tended to accumulate a lot of

were then stripped of the factory blue anodizing and

caught wind of another model that would usurp his

pocket lint. Second was its factory anodizing. When

hand-rubbed to effect a smooth finish. All the bare

EDC knife of choice. When Rivers heard about a ZT

cleaned with alcohol, the titanium parts of the knife

titanium parts were then etched in acid, which gives

folder that weighs less than three ounces, he was sold.

displayed a rich, deep blue color. But after a short time

Rivers’s 0762 the lightning-strike finish.

ZT’s 0762 might weigh the same as other mini lightweight folding knives, but it has a usable blade measuring 3.4 inches long and has an overall

being used and handled, the titanium parts changed to a purple-pink hue instead.

We must admit that it’s a simple enough procedure but the results are quite, pardon our pun, striking. The

Rivers wasn’t a fan of the color change and lint

lighting-strike motif and mixture of colors look good

extended length of 8.1 inches. The ergonomics of the

collection, so he went about fixing those issues. He

amid the carbon fiber framing. The decorated solid

handle shape and the placement of the jimping on the

also wanted to put his own spin on it by adding his

plate also helps deter pocket lint from creeping into

spine of the blade lend increased leverage and grip

own look it. He went ahead and augmented his 0762

the knife’s inner workings, solving Rivers’s pet peeves.

when going about cutting tasks.

by personalizing it himself by removing the layer of

With the two problem areas fixed, the 0762 continues

titanium pieces between the knife’s carbon fiber

to be a centerpiece in his rotation of EDC knives.

With all its positive design aspects, there were two things that Rivers wanted improved. First were

scales and its inner liner. The factory blue titanium

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131

DEPT.

Competition & Training

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UN12 / Issue 016

Shoot This Drill THE BUTTON MAN Text by JIM CARTER Illustrations by CHARLES “CHIP” LASKY

I

designed the Button Man to give shooters a low-round-count, low-

light-engagement drill that involved both carbine and handgun as well as lateral movement, weapons manipulation, and use of cover. It is easily modified from low-light to no-light environments. Target ranges are also flexible, and freedom exists to shoot with fewer rounds if times are tough.

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133

Competition & Training

The Button Man Drill GIVEN: One C-Zone steel at 30 yards (designated rifle target), one C-Zone steel at 10 yards (designated pistol target), and either stacked barrels or a barricade for a cover position. Operator starts with three rounds in a carbine and three rounds in a handgun. Weapons must be equipped with weapon-mounted lights (IR lasers for night vision) and full magazines for each weapon on the belt.

EXECUTION: On buzzer, operator engages the rifle target utilizing white light, firing three rounds and triggering a bolt lock. Operator then steps behind cover, transitions to the handgun, and steps out from behind cover to engage with three rounds on the pistol target. Operator then switches off weaponlight, steps behind cover, conducts a speed reload of the handgun, and then re-engages the pistol target with three more rounds. Operator deactivates weaponlight, then steps back behind cover, holsters handgun, reloads carbine, then steps around the barricade, illuminates the rifle target and engages for three hits, then performs a security sweep and deactivates weaponlight, signaling end of drill.

STANDARDS: The goal is to clean the drill with no white light negligent discharges in a par time of 25 seconds. The time hack is generous in the interest of promoting accuracy. A miss equals a “scratch” on the run. In a class setting each student should get three runs at the drill; the student with the best time earns the title “Button Man” for the class.

This is a mechanics-heavy drill designed to build shooter proficiency with white light or laser systems while also working transitions and reloads when visibility is compromised. We want to make sure that shooters are deactivating weapon-mounted lights (or lasers) during transitions and reloads while properly employing white light during engagements.

No “Bat Signals” in the sky on a reload, and no spotlight on the operator’s feet when he transitions to handgun.

“This is designed to build proficiency with white light or laser systems. In a class setting each student would get three runs at the drill. The student with the best time earns the title ‘Button Man’ for the duration of class.”

[UN12]

134

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carter’s civilian training credentials include Vickers

Jim Carter is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps

shooting method regional endorsed instructor, NRA

in both active and reserve components, with three

law enforcement handgun & shotgun instructor, Texas

deployments to CENTCOM AOR and one to INDOPACOM

concealed handgun license instructor, and universal

AOR. He is a combat marksmanship coach, foreign

training munitions instructor. He was the co-developer of

weapons instructor, and operational foreign security force

the ZERO Distance Pistol curriculum with Troy Price at LMS

advisor. His personal awards include the Bronze Star with

Defense and is the developer of the Low Profile Operations

Combat V, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Combat

curriculum for Greenline Tactical. He is currently an

Action Ribbon.

instructor for Greenline Tactical and LMS Defense.

UN12 / Issue 016

UN12mag.com

135

Product Spotlight

Unity Tactical FAST FTC EOTech G33 Magnifier Mount Text by JOHN SCOTT

Images by JERRY TSAI

nity Tactical has been championing tall optic

Flip-To-Center (FTC) mechanism that provides

Manufacturing QD Auto-Lock lever. Note that the

mounts that offer a higher-than-standard

magnifier stowage completely within the footprint

magnifier mount is made to be used with Unity

2.26-inch optical centerline height. Called FAST

of the weapon’s receiver. Unlike flip-to-side mounts,

Tactical’s FAST wide array of optic mounts that also

mounts by the company, subscribers to Unity

flipping the magnifier down out of the way of the optic

raise your optic of choice to a taller 2.26-inch optical

Tactical’s tall mounts say that the heads-up shooting

keeps the sight picture clear and lessens the chance

centerline height. When used together, the mounts

provides a quicker sight picture than standard-

of inadvertent snagging. Unity Tactical’s FTC is the

offer a comfortable heads-up shooting posture.

height mounts. It’s also said that a 2.26-inch optical

first of its kind in the industry.

[ UN12 ]

U

centerline height provides faster and easier reticle

The FAST FTC Magnifier Mount utilizes a force-to-

acquisition while wearing electronic ear protection

overcome mechanism for rapid transition. In other

and communications headsets, night vision goggles,

words, you push the magnifier down when you want

and gas masks.

to stow it or pull it back up when you need it use it. It’s

A 2.26-inch optical centerline promotes a heads-up

that simple to use. No buttons or other movements

posture, which removes the need to slouch behind

needed. The mount pictured here is designed for

your optic. This posture also helps users maintain a

the L-3 EOTech G33 magnifier but mounts are also

neutral spine position that’s more comfortable while

available for Aimpoint, Vortex Optics, Trijicon, and SIG

wearing helmets, plate carriers, and other heavy gear.

Sauer magnifiers.

Unity Tactical’s FAST FTC Magnifier Mount is built

This FAST mount hangs the magnifier upside down

from 7075-T6 aluminum and is Type III hardcoat

so the adjustment knobs are still easily reached.

anodized in black or FDE. It features an innovative

It comes complete with an American Defense

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UN12 / Issue 016

Unity Tactical FAST FTC EOTech G33 Magnifier Mount P/N: FST-MEO Weight: 4.6 oz.

MSRP: $259 URL: unitytactical.com

A few IG accounts that we found to be follow-worthy @_dekore_

@almightykatamus

@down_range_photography

@dustinpluth

@gregskazphotography

@ham_fried_rice37

@raja_defense

@the.fofive

INSTA-16

Popular IG tags to follow: #rangeday #semiauto

@tomtuckertravels

Win glory for yourself and your collection and gain

#gunpics

hordes of IG followers. Tag

#edcgear

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

UN12mag.com

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

Evike 100 Cypresswood Dr. #1302 Spring, TX 77388 Tel: (281) 771-3126 URL: evike.com

Evike 1400 W. 4th St. #2 Antioch, CA 94509 Tel: (925) 237-2560 URL: evike.com

NV

WA

New Frontier Armory 150 E. Centennial Pkwy, Suite #110 N. Las Vegas, NV 89084 Tel: (702) 479-1470 URL: newfrontierarmory.com

Northwest Safe Spokane 8710 E Appleway Blvd Spokane Valley, WA 99212 Tel: (360) 825-5953 URL: nwsafe.com

Rifle Supply 16291 Gothard St. Huntington Beach, CA 92647 Tel: (714) 841-1480 URL: riflesupply.com

KS Rainier Arms Firearms Academy 2831 N Greenwich Rd, Wichita, Kansas 67226 Tel: (253) 218-4974 URL: rainierarmsfa.com

NH Wicked Weaponry 21 Londonderry Turnpike Hooksett, NH 03106 Tel: (603) 232-0621 URL: wickedweaponryusa.com

NW Safe Company 830 Cole St. Enumclaw, WA 98022 Tel: (360) 825-5953 URL: nwsafe.com Rainier Arms 2504 Auburn Way N. Auburn, WA 98002 Tel: (253) 218-2999 URL: rainierarms.com Wade’s Eastside Guns 13570 Bel-Red Rd. Bellevue, WA 98005 Tel: (425) 649-5995 URL: wadesguns.com

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UN12 / Issue 016

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

ONLINE RETAILERS amazon.com evike.com rainierarms.com UN12mag.com

If you are a retailer that would like to carry UN12 in your store, contact us at: retailer@un12mag.com

1

2 3 4

5

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Lightweight Optic Mount for Aimpoint®_

2

Enhanced Modular Magazine Release_

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RACK® Ambidextrous Charging Handle_

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BAD-ASS-PRO Ambi Safety Selector_

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VERT® Compact Stock System_

P320 CUSTOM WORKS FIRE CONTROL UNIT

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With it’s unprecedented modularity and unmatched capability, the P320 platform has become one of the most exciting pistols available to firearms enthusiasts today. The soul of the P320 and the driving force behind its modularity lies in the unique, patented design of its Fire Control Unit (FCU).

Now, SIG SAUER is offering the FCU as a standalone product, enabling an entirely new level of customization and personalization, giving users the ability to create virtually millions of combinations to suit any need and any level of personal style.

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