UN12 - 015 Magazine

U.S. $14.95

Included

Morale Patch: UN12 x TOPS Knives Sticker Sheet: UN12 x Radian Weapons

Feature Firearm

Rare Breed x Spike’s Tactical AR Pistol

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:

Samurai

556 Featured Material

Violent Art Firearms AR Shorty Working with Passive Night Vision Custom Aero Precision EPC-9 SureFire Precisionapalooza Cloning the M16A1 UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

UN12mag.com

ISSUE 015

CLASSICALLY. CLEARLY. CONSISTENTLY. AMERICAN.

CLASSIC LOOK, MODERN FUNCTIONALITY American tradition. Modern ambition. We’re creating the next generation of American-made firearms and accessories, like our new Side Folding Extruded Stock. This design takes cues from traditional AK-47 stocks, adding on must-have features and functions for enhanced usability. Like all Midwest Industries products, it delivers the quality of workmanship that you expect from a product that’s made in the USA.

SHOP OUR DIVERSE PLATFORMS AT MIDWESTINDUSTRIESINC.COM

MADE IN USA

Table of Contents: Features

38 Samurai 556 AR Firearm Feature

UN12 Issue 015

06

50

76

102

126

Reliance Finishing Solutions + Walk The Plank Customs Company Profile

True North Concepts Modular Holster Adapter Product Review

Passive Night Vision General Feature

Customized Knife Customization Feature

56

82

110

136

Cloning the M16A1 General Feature

SureFire Precisionapalooza General Feature

Customized FightLite SCR Firearm Feature

Benchmade Aluminum Product Spotlight

62

88

Radian Afterburner + Ramjet General Feature

Cox Arms USA Guardian 556 Rifle Product Review

118 Battle Arms Development BAD-CSS Vert PDW Stock System Product Review

66

92

122

Modified Aero Precision EPC-9 Carbine Firearm Feature

Violent Art Firearms Shorty AR Pistol Firearm Feature

Strike Industries Multidirectional Picatinny Rail Covers Product Review

UN12 / Issue 015

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.

SEE BETTER. HEAR BETTER. SHOOT BETTER. For more than 40 years, SureFire innovation has delivered cutting-edge solutions to high-stakes problems. Shoot, move, communicate are the core tenets of gunfighting, and our products greatly enhance your ability to accomplish that mission. The new Scout Light ® Pro direct-mounts to M-LOK or Picatinny rails and rotates to significantly reduce overall weapon profile. SOCOM suppressors won the most extensive suppressor trial ever conducted and have an impeccable combat record worldwide. SureFire handheld and weapon-mounted lights are the gold standard in tactical illumination, and EarPro ® Sonic Defenders redefine what’s possible in hearing protection.

UN12mag.com

07

Table of Contents: Departments

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

24 Every Day Carry

10

137

138

Editor’s Letter

Guns of Instagram

Retailer Directory

12 New Products

20 Morale Patch + Sticker Sheet

32 Called Out

130 Shoot This Drill

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UN12 / Issue 015

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130

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 UN12mag.com

09

015

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

—

A

s we roll into a new year, it’s encouraging to see how many new products that both well-trusted,

For military clone enthusiasts, Michael Penhall, our technical editor, gives us a rundown on properly roll-

Publisher Howard C Lim

established brands and exciting new upstarts are

marked M16 clones. If you’re looking to get into clone

producing to better our shooting and firearms-collecting

builds, you’ll want to check out just how authentic these

Editors

experience.

roll-marked lowers look. Also, join us as we attend a

The UN12 Creative Team

UN12 enjoys operating along the creative fringes of the

special SureFire precision long-range training event. You’ll

firearms world. We not only enjoy seeing new or improved

get a behind-the-scenes look at this special session, the

guns, out-of-the-box ideas for accessories, and even

exclusive, invitation-only Precisionapalooza.

exotic styling, we encourage these things. Ride along with

As always, our resident gear expert, Charles “Chip”

us if you’re also into modifying your guns and gear for

Lasky, drops a bit of his wealth of practical knowledge

enhanced function and/or aesthetics.

when he teaches us about the evolving role of night vision

This is our 15th issue; that’s a big milestone for a high-

on the battlefield. Here, he examines the importance of

quality, independently published print magazine. They say

utilizing passive methods as the enemy adapts its own

print is dead, but our numbers keep growing with each

night vision tactics. You won’t want to miss it.

issue and it’s all because of you, our readers. For that, we thank you.

That’s not all; there’s plenty more loaded into this issue, as you’ll see.

UN12 is proud to present a wide

This print issue comes with a

range of unique firearm builds for you

double bonus. Our collaborative

to enjoy reading about and, thanks

morale patch is back and better

to our quality photography, looking

than ever through a partnership with

at in detail. This issue features guns

TOPS Knives. We’re also including

that run the gamut from a truly artistic

an exciting new sticker sheet that

creation that pays tribute to the

we’ve created in collaboration with

Samurai aesthetic to more subdued

Radian, whose innovative Glock

rifles that are built solely for purpose.

barrel and micro-compensator you

The flamboyant cover gun might

can read about on page 62. We hope

just have looked at home in the

you enjoy both these exclusive items

villages of feudal Japan—almost—

as much as we do. Hold on tight to

but it’s packed full of details that

these limited-production patches and

we enjoyed looking at and learning

stickers, as they are made in small

about. We also take an up-close look at a customized pistol-caliber carbine based on Aero Precision’s EPC-9

batches and will not be reissued.

As always, we’re looking for innovators and custom

Associate Editor Danny Chang

Technical Editor Michael Penhall

Creative Direction James Ho, Jerry Tsai

Art Director James Ho

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

Special Thanks Aristotle Bartolome, John Hwang, Che Chon

Copy Editor Frank Stroud

Advertising Sales George Nogal george@un12mag.com

with several carefully curated upgrades and additions

guns and knives to feature. If you have a firearm or other

Ad Coordinator

thrown into the mix.

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

Frank Stroud

Elsewhere in the issue you’ll also discover a hybrid rifle

about it. Tag us @un12mag on Instagram if you have

that’s half AR, half something else. If it sounds interesting,

something that UN12 readers would like to see. Let’s

that’s because it definitely is. Rounding out this issue’s

continue to build UN12 together. Let us know what you

featured firearms, you’ll find a customized AR pistol built

think we got right or could do better in this issue on our

for PDW duty with a liberal amount of fetching carbon

Facebook page at: /un12mag.

fiber weave thrown into the mix.

—The UN12 Creative Team

Printed in the USA 015-2022

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UN12 / Issue 015

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.

New Products

Century Arms AP5 The AP5, or Apparatus Pistol, is a roller delayed blowback firearm based and built off the original and historic design from the 1970s. The roller-lock platform has been widely respected as the preeminent design for more than 50 years. These firearms, which are imported from the MKE manufacturing facility in Turkey, are available in a full-sized model designated simply as the AP5, a mid-sized version as the AP5-P, and a fully concealable version as the AP5-M (shown).

From $2,000 centuryarms.com

Canik METE Canik is proud to unveil the latest innovation in pistols with the METE (pronounced met-ay). The new METE features an integrally flared magwell, aggressive texturing on the front of the grip, a doubleundercut trigger guard, low-profile slide-stop lever, angled rear sight edge, a co-witness optics ready slide cut, and more. Includes a hard case, two standard-capacity magazines, magazine E-Z loader, Speed magwell, extra backstrap, two optics bases, reversible IWB/OWB holster, Canik punch and toolkit, cleaning kit, gun lock, and manual. (METE SFT shown.)

From $520 canikusa.com

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UN12 / Issue 015

Strike Industries STRIKE MAG LIGHTER COVER FOR BIC MINI Modeled after Strike Industries’ pistol magazine design, this lighter cover manually extends and retracts the lighter itself using an innovative slide mechanism. The cover’s baseplate incorporates a pocket clip. The Strike Mag Lighter Cover for Bic Mini gives you not only both carry and storage solutions for a mini lighter; it’s also a fun novelty item for gun lovers. $9 strikeindustries.com

Nexbelt TITAN EDC GUN BELT This belt features a unique ratcheting system that allows it to be adjusted in quarterinch increments. This ability to “fine-tune” a belt incrementally is especially important for those practicing open or concealed carry. It allows the ability to quickly switch from an IWB holster to an OWB holster, which is something that no other gun belt offers.

Great for light-duty tactical or everyday carry, it’s also more comfortable than a normal rigger belt. Available In black, gray, dark brown, coyote, or green. $62 nexbelt.com

Axil GS EXTREME Say goodbye to bulky, sweaty earmuffs and say hello to Axil’s latest ear-pro earbuds: GS Extreme. GS Extremes are the first buds to combine hearing protection, hearing enhancement, and studioquality audio all into one sleek and comfortable package. GS Extremes, like all Axil earbuds, are made from medical-grade components. $200 goaxil.com

TangoDown BG-AK & BG-AKOE BATTLEGRIPS TangoDown’s popular AK grips are now available in new color options. Color choices now include black, dark plum, dark burgundy and Bakelite orange. Ditch the paininducing OE grip that came on your AK and enjoy the comfortable, ergonomic shape that make the BG-AK (with grip storage) and BG-AKOE (no grip storage) a must-have for your rifle. You won’t miss any of the trigger guard “finger bite” or focused-recoil discomfort in your palm.

From $21 tangodown.com

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Mira Safety TACTICAL AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATOR MASK (TAPR) The Tactical Air-Purifying Respirator (TAPR) is the first EN-140 certified halfface respirator mask specifically designed for special operations, security actions, and rescue teams. Originally developed to suit the needs of Czech special forces, the TAPR is designed to provide flexible, versatile protection for even the most challenging tactical situations. $230 mirasafety.com

TOPS Knives THE SONORAN There are not a whole lot of things Desert Dave can’t do, so it’s no surprise that he has added knife designer to his resume. Among other things, Dave is a primitive skills expert who spends a lot of his time off-grid and is considered one of the country’s foremost educators in Stone Age living and survival skills. The Sonoran is a working example of what his ideal blade would be. It has the looks of a traditional Finnish puukko but with more of a trailing point than a straight back and a bit more contour in the handle. $170 topsknives.com

Tactical Walls MODWALL 9 GUN COMBO PACK The 9 Gun Combo Pack is the perfect solution for displaying up to nine rifles, pistols, and shotguns. It’s designed to be easy to install and components are made from HDPE plastic that’s both durable and gentle on firearm finishes. For an additional $30, Tactical Walls will upgrade one of the included panels to a Hero Series panel accented with a colored line (red, blue, or green).

From $399 tacticalwalls.com

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UN12 / Issue 015

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Microtech Knives SOURCE Microtech Knives proudly introduces Source, an incredible new collaboration between Anthony Marfione and artist Scarlett Cussell.

Available in both Hera and Exocet styles, this OTF knife features a two-tone M390 blade with gold accents and an aircraft-alloy handle.

Drawing inspiration from nature, symbolism, and mandala, Source is designed to be visually stunning with its exclusive artwork. A pocket clip and glass breaker combine to make this a beautiful and practical EDC knife.

Contact dealer for pricing microtechknives.com

80 Percent Arms GST-9 MOD1, PISTOL FRAME The GST-9 MOD1 is built from the ground up to be reliable, customizable, and accurate. With it, 80 Percent Arms aimed to provide the most functional and user-customizable Glock-compatible 80% frame on the market. Its modular design allows you the possibility of configuring a 19, 19X, 19L, or 17-size weapon system in this single 4-in-1 platform. (Shown here as a completed build.) $150 (frame only) 80percentarms.com

Midwest Industries ENHANCED AR-15 DROP-IN FLAT TRIGGER The Enhanced AR-15 Drop-in Flat Trigger is designed to be installed on AR platforms in minutes with no finetuning needed. The single-stage trigger offers an ultrasmooth break and a clean release. With a quick reset and minimal over-travel, the system is engineered to offer superior speed and accuracy over OEM options.

Constructed from nitride-finished steel and anodized aluminum, it’s built for durability and longevity. $160 midwestindustriesinc.com

Midwest Industries SIDE FOLDING EXTRUDED STOCK The Side Folding Extruded Stock from Midwest Industries takes design cues from traditional AK-47 triangular stocks, adding on modern features and functions for enhanced usability. The skeletonized body and ergonomically curved top surface create a comfortable operating experience, while the rigid triangular design with tight lock-up offers the stability of a fixed stock. The compact folding action simplifies storage and transportation. $185 midwestindustriesinc.com

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UN12 / Issue 015

HOME

COMMUNITY PROTECT COUNTRY CONSERVATION 5 -25x50 F F P

eotechinc.com ©Copyright 2021 EOTECH, LLC. All rights reserved. EOTECH®, Vudu® and HWS® are registered trademarks of EOTECH, LLC.

UN12mag.com

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Patch: 15

UN12 x TOPS Knives Morale Patch Text by MARTIN ANDERS Image courtesy of

F

TOPS KNIVES

or this issue, UN12 and TOPS Knives have banded together to create an exclusive morale patch that’s

based on the popular knifemaker’s imposing Storm Vector.

With an impressive size that measures 18.25 inches in overall length and a full 12 inches on the cutting edge, we’d say it’s most like a machete or short sword as far as proportion.

This impressive blade is inspired by a Viking Age seax. The seax was a fighting knife that ranged anywhere from 8 to 30 inches in length. The Storm Vector’s 12-inch blade is grand,

won’t be made again. Be proud to add it to your collection

but still manageable for various uses in modern times. We

and take care not to lose it or trade it off to another collector

must admit that it looks damned cool, too.

without fair compensation.

We managed to shrink down TOPS’ magnificent fighting

patch, as our morale patches only come with the UN12 print

collection. This is our first patch based on a blade design, so

edition. If you need this patch to add to your collection, grab

that makes it a bit more special than the others. Remember,

a print issue from one of our retailers before they’re sold out.

UN12 collab morale patches are made in small batches and

[ UN12 ]

Concept art

20

If you’re reading this digitally you’ll have to go without the

knife into a highly collectible morale patch to add to your

UN12 / Issue 015

Patch

Concept art for this issue’s sticker sheet.

Finalized version may differ.

UN12 x Radian Sticker Sheet Text by JAMES YORK

R

adian Weapons is already well-known in the

customized rifles online and on IG. It’s a favored

firearms world for groundbreaking firearms

accessory for its intelligent design, functionality,

and accessories, and we’re certainly looking forward to seeing many more exciting products

and good looks.

Speaking of good looks, the exclusive UN12 x

from this cutting-edge company. In fact, we get a

Radian collab sticker sheet bound into this issue

sneak peek at one of their latest innovations in this

is brimming with weather-resistant, self-adhesive

very issue (turn to page 62). Radian is a master at

stickers to help add the proper amount of Radian

innovation and we’re excited to partner up with

flavor to your gear. Enjoy these stickers by slapping

them for this sticker sheet.

them on your laptop, water bottle, or ammo can. Or

Radian’s products are not only popular with UN12 staff but also sought-after by gun

you can even hang on to them as collector’s items.

This sticker sheet is exclusive to this issue of

enthusiasts. Perhaps their most well-known

UN12 and will not be printed again. You’ll find it just

previous releases are the Radian Model1 rifle and

inside the back cover of this issue. If you’re reading

Raptor charging handle. In fact, the company’s

digitally, go get yourself a print edition to secure

Raptor is so popular that we find that we see it

your sticker sheet before they’re all gone.

multiple times a day while browsing pictures of

[ UN12 ]

UN12mag.com

21

Every Day Carry

01

02

Text & Images by JERRY TSAI

04

E

DC setups can be

03

either meticulously

orchestrated or haphazardly thrown together. Regardless of how they come to be, an EDC collection carried daily is

06

indispensable to its user. In this edition of Every Day Carry, we take a look at two collections of EDC setups, each reflecting the unique and different

05

requirements of their owners.

07

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

Radix One Slim Wallet

Axil GS Digital

Glock G19 Gen5 MOS

Trijicon RMR Type 2 Red Dot Sight

SureFire X300U-B Weaponlight

SOG Flash MT Multi-Tool

Filson Travel Pack

MSRP: $329

MSRP: $78

MSRP: $55

URL: surefire.com

URL: soggear.com

URL: filson.com

MSRP: $15 URL: radixproducts.com

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UN12 / Issue 015

MSRP: $499 URL: goaxil.com

URL: us.glock.com

MSRP: $699 URL: trijicon.com

Every Day Carry / 31 09

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Oakley Standard Issue Ballistic M Frame Alpha

ITW Grimloc

Mechanix Specialty 0.5mm

TOPS Knives 3 Pointer Tan Canvas

SureFire 2211 X Wristlight

SureFire SC1 Spare Battery Carrier

SureFire 123A Lithium Batteries

MSRP: $32

MSRP: $125

MSRP: $199

MSRP: $20

MSRP: $25 (12-pack)

URL: mechanix.com

URL: topsknives.com

URL: surefire.com

URL: surefire.com

URL: surefire.com

MSRP: $136 URL: oakleysi.com

MSRP: $2 URL: milspecmonkey.com

UN12mag.com

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Premium EDC Items

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Axil GS Digital

Radix One Slim Wallet

ITW Grimloc

MSRP: $499

MSRP: $15

MSRP: $2

URL: goaxil.com

URL: radixproducts.com

Our 2¢: No more sweaty ear muffs. Need we say more? These tiny hearing-protective earbuds boast a noise reduction rating of 29 dB and shut out sounds that are 85 dB or louder to save your hearing. The GS Digital system also filters out background noise and is powered by standard hearing aid batteries.

Our 2¢: This wallet’s simple, sleek, and functional design includes a strong silicone band that wraps around two polycarbonate plates to sandwich credit cards and IDs in the middle. The wallet is designed to hold 4-10 cards comfortably, and the band doubles as a money clip.

Our 2¢: These tough little locking polymer clasps have been used to secure gear on many a warfighter’s chest rig, backpack, or belt for more than a decade now. They’re proven tough and lightweight without the unwanted noise and heft that are normally associated with metal clasps.

SOG Flash MT Multi-Tool

SureFire SC1 Spare Battery Carrier

SureFire 2211 X Wristlight

MSRP: $78

MSRP: $20

MSRP: $199

URL: soggear.com

URL: surefire.com

URL: surefire.com

Our 2¢: SOG’s latest multi-tool features a unique stainless steel housing that holds seven tools and a plier head that uses SOG’s trademark Compound Leverage. We especially like its cryo D2 steel blade, which uses assisted opening that makes it more useful than most other multi-tool blades.

Our 2¢: Having enough power for your devices is key to being able to function at your fullest.

Having a complement of six spare 123A batteries for your flashlight and other tools is made easy with this impact-resistant battery carrier. Includes a detachable lanyard for easy carry.

Our 2¢: When strapped to your support-side wrist, the 2211X is always ready for action. It won’t get lost, dropped, or left behind when you need it most. It’s powered by a single disposable 123A battery that can provide up to 13 hours of useful illumination in three output levels of 300, 60, and 15 lumens.

UN12 / Issue 015

URL: milspecmonkey.com

1 S E C U R E YO U R F I R E A R M S A N D VA LUA B L E S F R O M S MA S H A N D G R A B S

The Vehicle Accessory You Can’t Afford NOT TO BUY 1 2 G AU G E S T E E L T R I P L E G UA R D LO C K S YS T E M

C O N S O L E V A U LT. C O M

Every Day Carry / 32

01

01 Griffon Industries GI Cube 13” Laptop Bag MSRP: $70 URL: griffonindustries.com

03

02 SIG Sauer P320C Pro Cut Slide Assembly 3.9 MSRP: $400

02

URL: sigsauer.com

03 Killer Innovations P320C Velocity Fluted Match Barrel MSRP: $263 URL: killer-innovations.com

04

04 SIG Sauer Romeo1 Pro 1x30mm MSRP: $440 URL: sigsauer.com

05 Wilson Combat WCP320 Grip Module MSRP: $65 URL: shopwilsoncombat.com

06 Benchmade 1120-1 Longhand MSRP: $160 URL: benchmade.com

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UN12 / Issue 015

05

06

07

07 SureFire Titan Plus MSRP: $129 URL: surefire.com

08

08 Side By Side Travel Kit #01 MSRP: $17 URL: sidebysidegear.com

09 Benchmade 535BK-4 Bugout MSRP: $275 URL: benchmade.com

10 True Utility Slim Clips Key Ring Slim Nail Clippers MSRP: $20 URL: amzn.to/3GvqcLK

09

11 Kingston 128GB Data Traveler SE9 G2 USB 3.0 MSRP: $ 50 (128GB) URL: amzn.to/3pB3ef2

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UN12mag.com

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Premium EDC Items True Utility Slim Clips Key Ring Slim Nail Clippers MSRP: $229 URL: amzn.to/3GvqcLK Our 2¢: Slim and out of the way until you realize you need it, this keychain nail clipper is compact and sleek looking. It features a sanding pad on its underside and is deployed with a slide release. Never again look unkempt with this EDC-worthy nail clipper.

SureFire Titan Plus MSRP: $129 URL: surefire.com Our 2¢: Refined and ultra-compact, the Titan Plus’s high-performance LED generates light in 300, 75, or 15-lumen settings with a simple twist of the head switch. Its durable nickel-plated brass housing is designed to resist scratching and corrosion.

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UN12 / Issue 015

Benchmade 535BK-4 Bugout

MSRP: $275 URL: benchmade.com Our 2¢: This aluminum-handled folder features Benchmade’s popular M390 steel and a plain edged, drop-point blade. It measures 4.22 inches closed and 7.46 inches with the blade deployed. Read more about this blade on page 136 of this issue.

Side By Side Travel Kit #01

MSRP: $17 URL: sidebysidegear.com Our 2¢: This traveler’s collection is just what a person on the go needs to stay organized and protected. This essential kit includes five minizipper pouches, a SIM card holder, six RFID pouches (five for credit cards and one passportsized), and an aluminum luggage tag.

Benchmade 1120-1 Longhand

Kingston 128GB Data Traveler SE9 G2 USB 3.0

MSRP: $160 URL: benchmade.com Our 2¢: Where’s a pen when you need one?

If you’ve got a proper EDC setup, you’ll never need to ask that question. Benchmade has the answer with the bolt-action Longhand pen.

Read more about this pen on page 136.

MSRP: $50 (128GB) URL: amzn.to/3pB3ef2 Our 2¢: We live in a data-driven world where more often than not you’ll find that you need to access important data via computer over printed paper means. Carrying a small yet powerful data storage unit on your person can be very convenient. We like this thumb drive for its diminutive size and all-metal construction.

2

Called Out

Handguard Kriss AR115 Prototype MSRP: TBD The defining feature of the rail is the full-length ARCA Swiss dovetail that runs from the very front all the way to the receiver, which allows for accessories to be easily adjusted on the fly. Additionally there are m-lok cuts at the 3-6-9 o’clock positions and Picatinny sections at the top in the very front and very rear for iron sight mounting. This one is a prototype, but Kriss will have it in production and available by February 2022.

Bipod Accu-Shot Atlas BT-65 CAL MSRP: $280-400 The Accu-Shot Atlas BT-65 CAL bipod is mounted to an Area 419 arcalock clamp.

ARCA mounts are commonly used on photography tripods and have recently become more popular in the shooting world. Area 419 offers plenty of arcalock accessories to use with Accu-Shot and other bipods.

Barrel Volquartsen Carbon Fiber THM Tension MSRP: $340 The DMK22C uses Ruger 10/22-compatible barrels. The one on this rifle is the Volquartsen Carbon Fiber THM Tension barrel. It features a carbon fiber sleeve that’s used to create tension on the barrel itself. This unique design eliminates issues typically found in smaller barrel profiles.

32

UN12 / Issue 015

Optic Primary Arms SLx 3-18x50mm FFP MSRP: $480 A Primary Arms SLx 3-18x50mm FFP with the ACSS Athena BPR MIL reticle helps this .22LR rifle zero in on its target. This first focal plane illuminated riflescope offers 3x magnification for fast snap shots at close range and 18x magnification for longer distance shots. A daylight bright illuminated reticle is built-in.

KRISS DMK22C Text by JOHN SCOTT Images by MICHAEL GREY

t wasn’t long ago that .22LR was considered

AR that not only functions like a “real” AR, but

tells us. “It’s generally pretty tough to be really

by many to be either a “beginner” round,

shares most of the components that an AR uses.

competitive in precision shooting without a

reserved for shooters who were just embarking

Unlike many other .22LR ARs that are simply

bolt-action, but this thing does pretty well with

into the world of shooting, or a specialty round

aesthetic replicas, the Kriss DMK22C uses

the precision barrel and fits the format for NRL22

reserved for avid enthusiasts of truly tricked-out

mostly the same parts a standard AR-15 utilizes,

quite well, since the course of fire doesn’t extend

.22LR rifles and pistols. With the introduction of

so parts interchangeability and overall feel are

beyond 100 yards. I’ve only shot a local match

“cooler” looking .22LRs that emulate popular

almost seamless. As a testament to just how

with it, so the competition isn’t super high, but

centerfire rifles such as the AR-15, Kriss Vector,

customizable the DMK22C is, let’s take a look at

was able to place second overall on my first time

and HK MP5, to name a few, it seems that more

one of the souped-up DMK22s that the crew at

out. I’m quite happy with it and I hope to do better

.22LR firearms are now populating the shooting

Kriss uses on a regular basis.

at future matches.”

I

range. With ammo prices higher than usual and

The purpose of the pictured build is twofold.

It’s a great-looking rifle for sure. The Kriss

supplies still tight, it’s no wonder this small-caliber

First, it was built to showcase the modularity and

DMK22C is a .22LR-caliber AR that can also

cartridge is more popular than ever.

compatibility of the Kriss DMK22 to accept the

use Ruger 10/22-compatible barrels—a great

many AR-15 and Ruger 10/22-type upgrades on

combination. We’re looking forward to seeing

submachine guns and rifles, recognized that

the market. “This rifle is used to shoot NRL22

more of these on the range.

shooters were clamoring for a .22LR-chambered

matches in open class,” Tim Seargeant of Kriss

[ UN12 ]

Kriss, known for its revolutionary Vector

UN12mag.com

33

Magazine Release BAD-EMMR Medium Enhanced Modular Magazine Release MSRP: $22 This Battle Arms BAD-EMMR Medium Enhanced Modular Magazine Release features interchangeable finger pads that offer excellent ergonomic feel and ease of operation without requiring shifting grip positions.

KRISS DMK22C

Scope Rings Vortex Optics Precision Matched 30mm MSRP: $240 Vortex rings are machined from 7075-T6 billet aluminum and held to an extremely tight tolerance of 0.0005 inches using a precision CNC mill.

These rings are serialized, vibratory tumbled, beadblasted, and finished with a Type III hardcoat anodize.

Trigger Geissele Super Dynamic Enhanced two-stage flat-bow trigger MSRP: $240 The one installed in this rifle is the Geissele Super Dynamic Enhanced two-stage flat-bow trigger. This finely tuned two-stage trigger is engineered to provide enhanced trigger control and accuracy.

Sources Kriss USA kriss-usa.com Area 419 area419.com Volquartsen volquartsen.com Geissele Automatics geissele.com

Trigger Guard

Battle Arms Development battlearmsdevelopment.com

Kriss Prototype

Primary Arms primaryarms.com

MSRP: TBD The trigger guard is a prototype from Kriss. It may or may not make it to market, but we are digging its look.

34

UN12 / Issue 015

Vortex Optics vortexoptics.com

Featured Gun

Samurai 556 AR Pistol Text by ROLAND WILKES Images by JAY CANTER

: : Rare Breed Firearms Samurai lower by Spike’s Tactical : : Custom-designed SD Tactical Arms handguard : : Chambered in 5.56 NATO

38

UN12 / Issue 015

UN12mag.com

39

Featured Gun

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

A

s enthusiasts of arms and armaments, who among us hasn’t

been influenced or inspired at some point by the Samurai? In the realm of ancient methods and tools of battle, and the overarching culture behind them, medieval Europe tends to steal much of the limelight when it comes to popular culture—movies, books, TV series.

At least in the West.

Feudal Japan existed more or less contemporaneously with the feudal West, albeit in its own separate Eastern hemisphere. Still, the romance of it, the intrigue, and the all-out instruments of battle hold an undeniable sway over the human imagination, regardless of where you find yourself on the globe. The Samurai sword—the katana— is even today regarded as the pinnacle of battle-blade design, a true piece of technical mastery developed over the course of centuries. So much so that even today Japanese blades are still highly sought-after, even if it is simply to obtain a set of “best-of the-best” culinary knives.

Enter the Samurai AR pistol pictured here, conceived and built by Violent Art Firearms (VAF) principal Jay Canter.

“The Rare Breed lower features not one but two through-cut slots in the ‘facemask’ and a good bit of detail to represent a stylized piece of Samurai headgear.”

VAF is a new brand established by Canter to allow him to focus on his design, manufacture, and consulting work in

and the Spartan, adorned with stylized medieval knight

the firearm space and to create a dedicated focus on this

and Greek warrior helms respectively. The Samurai was

arm of his photography business. (For more of VAF’s work,

created in a similar vein, albeit with a classic, fiercely

see the “Shorty AR” feature on page 92 of this issue.)

rendered feudal Japanese motif. You could even describe

“I have been inspired by martial arts films my entire

not one but two through-cut slots present in the hoate

than 15 years of training numerous forms of martial arts

(face mask) and a good bit of detail that replicates a period

myself, and Samurai have always been one of the most

piece of Samurai headgear.

mysterious and interesting parts of the culture.”

The build is centered around a lower receiver designed

40

it as even more intricate than the other two designs, with

life,” Canter says. “I was personally involved with more

As it happened, Canter saw an early rendering of the lower before the design ever made it into corporeal

by Rare Breed Firearms and manufactured by Spike’s

form, and it instantly set his gears turning. It was a

Tactical, aptly called “Samurai.” Rare Breed is known

foregone conclusion that this lower receiver would form

for detailed, very artfully sculpted lower receivers—and

the launching point for a new build as soon as he could

complete firearms built around them—like the Crusader

physically get his hands on it.

UN12 / Issue 015

Charging A Battle Arms Development Rack lets the user manipulate the bolt.

Optic A Strike Industries Scouter red dot allows enhanced targeting.

Mags The pistol feeds from Gen3 PMAGs with +5 Aeroknox aluminum basepads.

Muzzle An etched and anodized SDTA Pig Cover shrouds the SDTA Cyclone brake.

UN12mag.com

41

Featured Gun

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

Port A clear plexi ejection port cover lets you view the ICRW BCG even when it’s in the closed position.

Lower The Samurai is designed by Rare Breed Firearms and produced by Spike’s Tactical.

Foregrip A ribbed fin from ICRW enhances off-hand purchase on the custom SDTA handguard.

42

UN12 / Issue 015

Brace Odin Works’ CQ-B has become something of a VAF calling card.

Spike’s Tactical carries this and other Rare Breed designs exclusively, milling it from a solid block of 7075 T6 aluminum billet and shipping it with a standard Type III hardcoat anodized finish. As you’d expect from a high-end AR lower, this one features such niceties as a threaded bolt catch roll pin, an integrated trigger guard, and a generous magwell deftly provided by the stylized Samurai helm frill and hoate chin piece.

Aside from the lower, which you, too, can purchase from Spike’s, the centerpiece of this build is the custom handguard by SD Tactical Arms. SDTA offers a range of

“The handguard is a true one-off piece designed and built

by SD Tactical Arms using the company’s ‘build your own’ option.”

off-the-shelf designs. You may recall the WWII “shark”

into the lower) that represent the lashings or leather thongs

handguard that adorned one of the featured firearms in

that would stitch a Samurai’s armored garment together.

UN12 issue 012. The one pictured here is a true one-off piece built using the company’s design-your-own option.

“I wanted the handguard to match the armor that the

The SDTA handguard effectively obscures the gun’s barrel, which is a Rosco Manufacturing 10.5-inch Bloodline 556 profiled for a carbine-length gas system.

Samurai wore,” Canter says. “And then I wanted to do

The custom dragon medallion cut into the handguard’s

a medallion of sorts at the front—so that’s the dragon

far end does, however, serve to show off the linear

design. To give added depth, I had parts of the medallion

compensator affixed to the barrel’s business end. This

cut through fully to show the linear comp.”

is an SDTA Cyclone sheathed by an SDTA “Pig Cover”

The handguard features longitudinal grooves in three

shroud that threads onto the muzzle brake itself. Here

distinct sections, replicating the armored slats that made

it serves two purposes—its original, to mitigate the

up traditional lamellar Samurai armor, along with stylized

uncomfortable concussion caused by the brake, and

X shapes (echoing those within the helmet relief carved

its secondary, to play into the Samurai build’s overall UN12mag.com

43

Featured Gun

aesthetic, with an array of overlapping laser etchings reminiscent of the clouds or waves found in classical Japanese paintings—it evokes a different reaction depending on who you ask—and with a bronzed treatment that gives a bit of flash to the firearm’s front end. This also serves to enhance the dragon medallion cutout, adding light and color to an otherwise monochrome presentation, making it a standalone vignette in its own right.

The aforementioned trio—handguard, barrel, comp— are hosted by an Arms Republic upper receiver with the forward assist delete, rendering it a “slick-sided” unit. A tunable Odin Works gas block feeds a carbine-length tube

“The windowed cuts on the lower, the SDTA handguard’s dragon medallion, the CQ-B brace, and the War Dog grip add a sort of fourth dimension to the build.”

from White Label Armory. An ambidextrous Rack charging handle from Battle Arms Development actuates a Violent against the user’s arm is a Jay Canter/Violent Art favorite,

sexy beast in spite of being possibly the hardest-working

the Odin Works CQ-B pistol brace, which comes as a

component in the gun. A clear plexi ejection port cover

complete kit for the receiver’s rear extension—compact

from Battle Arms Development allows you to appreciate

buffer tube, micro buffer, matched recoil spring. The brace

the BCG even when the cover is in its closed position.

portion is honed from 6061-T6 aluminum and adds plenty

The lower is finished off with a 2A Armament lower

of visual interest with its various cuts and recesses, perfect

parts kit and Lantac titanium takedown pins. User control

for any custom AR pistol build. The CQ-B also includes a

interfaces include a Battle Arms Development bolt catch, a

QD sling mount, five adjustment positions, and a slot on

push-button Elftmann Tactical Speed Safety, and an Odin

the butt end for the user to fit an arm strap.

Works XMR3 extended mag release attached to a White

44

Ensuring the gun’s pistol classification and bolstering it

City Rifle Works. As with most ICRW BCGs, this is one

A War Dog Industries billet pistol grip (they call it their

Label Armory backing and spring. Fire control is facilitated

Billet Rifle Grip) provides critical purchase for the user’s

by a Rise Armament RA-535 advanced-performance

shooting hand. This is a unique piece that utilizes a

drop-in trigger, which uses a bow with a distinctive hooked

skeletonized “windowed” design through the middle,

blade shape that Canter feels nicely complements this

while offering smoothly contoured front- and backstraps

build’s theme.

for a unique ergonomic experience.

UN12 / Issue 015

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

Art logo’d S2 “Blackdiamond” bolt carrier group from Iron

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WWW.MESATACTICAL.COM

MESA TACTICAL RENO • NV • USA

Featured Gun

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

SDTA Bespoke While SD Tactical Arms offers a range of products, from muzzle devices to accessories to

design. Once that’s done, I’ll send them a rendering,

complete builds, they might be best known for their

then we’ll go back and forth a little bit to get it dialed in.

custom handguards. Notably, the company offers

Once it’s done I send it off to anodizing, then we send

customers the chance to apply their own custom

it off to the customer.”

design that may be etched or cut into the metal to

Usually the “back and forth” phase is pretty quick,

create a true one-off piece that nobody else has, as is

but Kress and Canter went back and forth on this

the case with the Samurai AR.

one on an almost daily basis for almost two weeks

“The process is pretty simple,” says SDTA’s

to get it just right. The through-cuts were computer-

Cody Kress. “Usually what happens is I get an

mapped via CNC, while the very detailed etching was

email or phone call from a customer, and we have a

done largely by hand. To create the sunburst pattern

conversation about what they want to do. I tell them

surrounding the dragon and the armor “plates” along

whether it’s a doable project or not, then I’ll have

the handguard’s length, Kress put pen to paper, so to

them formally order the handguard and I’ll start on the

speak, and drew those things himself.

46

UN12 / Issue 015

Samurai 556 AR Pistol

“The Strike Industries Scouter red dot is honed from aluminum billet and offered as a precision CQB/CQC aiming solution to provide the needed functionality in austere conditions.”

Targeting is accomplished using a Strike Industries Scouter red dot. This is the latest offering from SI’s siopto optic line and features a one-piece housing and absoluteheight mount honed via CNC from 6061-T6 aluminum.

Specifications Caliber: 5.56 NATO Capacity: 25+1

The pistol feeds from Magpul Gen3 PMAGs fitted with

Finish: Cerakote by Koted Arms

Aeroknox billet “Plus // 5” magazine extensions, which

Overall Length: 26.0-30.0 in.

add five rounds to the total count.

Weight Unloaded: 6 lbs, 3 oz.

As usual, the Cerakote work was the final step in producing the build, and once again this one was turned over to JD and Koted Arms out of Mesa, Arizona. It’s a bit

Featured Accessories

of a departure from your usual custom coating scheme,

Lower Receiver: Rare Breed Firearms/Spike’s Tactical Samurai

seeing that it’s mostly black. If you look closely, you’ll notice that there is some variation.

“I wanted the helmet to be the focal point of the Cerakote on this build,” Canter says. “Considering how typical over-the-top most of the designs I create are, I

Upper Receiver: Arms Republic 6061 billet, slick-sided Handguard: SD Tactical Arms 12.5” w/custom-cut dragon medallion

wanted to do something less ‘loud.’ The overall build is

Barrel: Rosco Mfg. 10.5” 556

Armor Black, which is a flat black. The helmet itself was

Muzzle Device: SD Tactical Arms “pig cover” titanium linear comp w/SDTA Cyclone muzzle brake

sprayed gloss black to create some separation.”

As for the color, which includes the silver accents on the dragon medallion, he continues: “JD and I sat down and talked about color theory and where to go with it. So for some of the other colors on there, I gave him a few to choose from and let him decide which ones he thought would look the best.” [ UN12 ]

Optic: Strike Industries Scouter Parts & Accessories: VAF/ICRW S2 Blackdiamond BCG, ICRW angled foregrip, White Label Armory carbine-length gas tube, Battle Arms Development Rack ambi charging handle, bolt catch & clear ejection port cover, Odin Works .750 tunable gas block & CQ-B pistol brace, Rise Armament RA-535 trigger, Lantac titanium takedown pins, Elftmann Tactical Speed Safety, Odin Works XMR3 extended mag release, War Dog Industries billet rifle grip, Magpul PMAG Gen3 20-round, Aeroknox +5 basepad

About the Owner Name: Jay Canter Occupation: Founder, Violent Art Firearms Social: IG & Facebook @ Violent Art Firearms; URL: violentartfirearms.com

According to Kress, most customers know exactly what they want and the designs are relatively easy to produce—custom text cut or etched into the metal for promotional purposes or for a memorial piece, for example. This one took a lot more discussion and a bit more time, which Kress says was a departure from SDTA’s normal process but is a testament to the work they’re willing to put in to get a design just right.

Browse SDTA’s range of products—including custom handguard designs or the chance to create your own—at sdtacticalarms.com and follow them on Instagram @sd_tactical_arms for a look at past and current projects.

UN12mag.com

47

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Company Profile

Reliance Finishing Solutions + Walk The Plank Customs Text by ROLAND WILKES Images by JAY CANTER

D

epending on your level of commitment, creating a custom firearm is a multi-point

process, as anyone who’s looked in to such an endeavor—much less pulling the trigger, so to speak, on the project itself—knows. No surprise then that many businesses who specialize in this kind of work try and run the gamut on the services they offer, becoming the proverbial “one stop shop” for a wide range of custom work.

Such is the story of Reliance Finishing Solutions and Walk The Plank Customs, both of Tempe, Arizona. The businesses’ respective proprietors, Benjamin Fine (Reliance) and Isaac Willard (Plank), would likely describe their joint endeavor as a custom firearms collective. That is to say, each is its own standalone entity from a registered business standpoint, but both work in many cases hand in hand to offer their customers a range of resources to help bring their projects to fruition.

Both Fine and Willard got their start in a seemingly unrelated industry—vape shops.

It was also how the two met and began their collaboration.

50

UN12 / Issue 015

Ben Fine (left) and Isaac Willard (right) in the paint booth, pictured holding the tools of their respective trades.

UN12mag.com

51

Fine elaborates on his entrepreneurial

runs a gun shop to boot, selling everything from

was digging my heels into the corporate world

parts and accessories to complete firearms.

at Yelp,” he says. “In 2014 I made the jump

Company Profile

offers FFL services through the business and

beginnings. “I got the idea back in 2013 when I

customization—that brought the two together.

“I used to also offer large-format vinyl printing,” Fine says. “When Isaac’s uncle bought the place, I

In addition to his finishing work, he has taken

was doing contract work for a knife shop next door

and opened my first shop. Six months later the

the plunge into laser etching and engraving,

and popped in to introduce myself. They needed

second one came to fruition. Had a great time

which was part of his plan when he made his

vinyl for the storefront done, so that was the first

with it, learned a little about a lot, then retail got

business transition. He was able to do this work

thing Isaac and I worked on together, and we

stale for me.”

on the side in the back of one of his vape shops.

became friends from there.”

Prior to launching his own business venture,

About a year later, he says, he felt like he had

After the early venture with his friends had run

however, he had already cut his teeth in the

progressed to the point that he would be able

its course, Willard says, “I realized that I needed

custom finishing business, which sowed the

to do it full time. He wrote a new business plan,

someone who knew how to Cerakote, and also

seeds for his current line of work. “I was able

sold both his vape shops, and began work on

I needed someone that would let me operate

to get my feet wet with powdercoat probably

Reliance Finishing Solutions full-time.

under their FFL since I didn’t have my own space

15 years ago with a good friend in upstate New

Willard took a similar path to finding his niche

York who now has his own powdercoating

in firearms customization. His interest in the

business (and a bad ass one),” he says. “We

business was piqued after helping his uncle with

were always working on motorcycles, cars,

his own customization business and witnessing

trucks, snowmobiles, whatever we could get our

the various types of things you can do to

hands on to refine our process. Make the parts

customize a gun. He became part of a firearms

look clean and just plain old have fun getting our

collective with four other friends, each bringing

hands dirty.”

a different skill set to the table. Willard’s was

to gain my FFL. I contacted Ben and we came to an agreement that would allow me to work out of Opposite Right: Finished Glocks with Cerakote and stippling completed, each ready for its respective customer.

his space. We decided to become somewhat of a collective, not a joint company, and it has been a dream come true.”

In the end each enterprise is its own standalone business, but each also feeds off the other; jobs that come in for services from one end up

He continues: “That always stuck in the back

polymer stippling, which he had been interested

of my mind as something I loved doing. When I

in from the beginning and which he found he had

A big portion of the work involves AR and Glock

learned about Cerakote, it made for somewhat

a knack for.

platforms, and Fine feels that those projects are

of a decent transition. At least the basic premise

Willard had previously also worked with his uncle in a vape shop—and still does, in fact,

of it.”

True to Fine’s early powdercoating roots,

a job that affords him a flexible schedule that

Reliance doesn’t just do firearm finishing—

allows him to also pursue his stippling business.

browse the company’s Instagram and you’ll

Incidentally, that shop is one of the two that Fine

probably see exhaust manifolds, knives…

sold when he decided to make the transition

anything that can have a custom finish applied to

to full-time custom finishing, and the unifying

it really. In addition to his custom work, Fine also

element—other than a passion for firearms

receiving services from the other, and vice versa.

often the ones that really let the two stretch their Below: Finished G19X with a signature “Fragments” pattern, a good example of a joint RFS + WTP project.

creative legs, so to speak. But, he says, they are well-prepared to work on pretty much anything.

Willard is able to tackle pretty much anything involving polymer, and Fine’s engraving and Cerakote chops allow him to work in just about any other industry, which does not limit him to firearms exclusively.

“Each is its own standalone business, but each also feeds off the other; together, they are wellprepared to work on anything.”

52

UN12 / Issue 015

Reliance Finishing Solutions + Walk The Plank Customs Left: AR15 Max lower mid-process with RFS employee Alex stenciling/taping in the background.

Right: RFS employee Gabe doing stencil work.

“Having a team you can rely on is invaluable, and these guys are exactly that,” Fine says.

UN12mag.com

53

Company Profile

“We push each other constantly.

That’s when you’re growing and getting better.”

—Benjamin Fine “We push each other constantly,” Fine says. “I like being pushed outside my comfort zone and creating new patterns and stencils I haven’t done Top Left: Isaac Willard cutting borders on a SIG P320 prior to stippling to impart a signature “recessed” look.

before. Reverse engineering and then trying to recreate my own rendition of something. That’s when you’re growing and getting better. Isaac and I like to push on each other in that regard, point out where something can be improved upon or ‘Hey, you should start doing this or try this.’”

“I can’t say how much longer the size of our space will accommodate our growth rate,” Fine

Middle: Ben Fine mixing catalyst in preparation for Cerakote application.

continues. “Having said that, a larger facility has definitely been discussed as a goal. The new services I can’t quite let out of the bag just yet.

We’ve got some wild projects coming up.” [ UN12 ]

Bottom: G21 frames prepped for Cerakote; once coated, they are ready for stippling.

Reliance Finishing Solutions + Walk The Plank Customs

54

UN12 / Issue 015

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Follow Reliance Finishing Solutions on Instagram and Facebook @reliancefinishingsolutions and Walk The Plank Customs on Instagram @wtpcustoms and Facebook @walktheplankcustoms.

PERFECT RECOIL STABILITY REDEFINING THE PRS MARKET VG6PRECISION.COM

Clone

UN1 : : Utilizing Int. Milspec Trading Co. lowers : : Authentic roll-stamped markings

: : Period-correct forgings

56

UN12 / Issue 015

12

Cloning the M16A1 Text by MICHAEL PENHALL Images by MICHAEL GREY

M

ost cloners can take inspiration from almost anywhere. For some, it could be

a photo of a specific weapons platform used by the military or police. For others, it might be the acquisition of a specific part around which they build an entire project. Then there are those rare times where something comes to market specifically catering to the clone crowd.

We have seen it recently with FN and Colt rolling out their own retro lines. But being a true cloning aficionado oftentimes calls for seeking out the truly obscure. Enter Int. Milspec Trading Co. (IMTC) into the chat. Originally the distributor of the Original Black Russian Paint, the company took on the task of making perfectly correct retro M16 lowers for the AR-15 platform. What makes these lowers different, you ask? When is a basic lower, or any stripped lower for that matter, worth $500? When the attention to detail is so perfect that it’s hard to tell the cloned product from the original, that’s when.

While cloning an M16 can almost invariably send you down a rabbit hole that has no bottom, here we’ll concentrate on the M16’s

UN12mag.com

57

Clone

UN

cloned lower receiver. I’ve been on a quest for

sterile markings lacked that intangible feel that a

correct-looking lowers for quite a few years

real roll-mark gives.

now, and these lowers made by IMTC deserve

IMTC spent the time, effort, and money to

a closer look. I’ve been making clone AR lowers

get a real roll-stamping machine setup. Then

out of 80% receivers for years, and over those

they sourced scrap pieces of de-milled M16

years their “correctness” would get better and

receivers and recreated the markings from

better as the market brought out succeeding

them. When I bought my first one, only the GM

generations of products. Where once we used

Hydra Matic M16A1 lower was available. Since

to use modern forgings and place the correct

then, the company has added an Harrington &

markings on them, now we’re able to source

Richardson (H&R) M16A1 to the list, as well as

period-correct forgings. This really gives you the

several others. I had to borrow my buddy’s H&R

next level of attention to detail, and the authentic

for this photo shoot as these are all small-batch

look is significantly noticeable.

boutique runs. As you can probably guess, these

One thing that’s tough for even the most discerning collector is these markings. Most of

lowers sell out quickly. So quickly, in fact, that I haven’t been able to nab my own just yet.

us started with small engraving machines that

Being that IMTC is a small company,

did an okay job, but tended to become pretty

production times take a little while—but I

sloppy when it came to trying to reproduce

promise the wait is worth it. Especially since

precision artwork. When lasers entered the

they also offer the correct anodizing colors.

picture, we thought our dreams had come true.

That being said, anodizing differs from batch

The possibilities were endless. While the laser-

to batch even on factory guns, so your mileage

engraved artwork was great, these somewhat

may vary. Usually they will specify whether a

58

UN12 / Issue 015

01.

Actual roll marks make a big difference compared to laser marking. The uneven nature of a roll mark and displaced material are not able to be copied using a laser.

The dimpled takedown pins add to the authenticity. As many of these parts kits are off M16s that have been rebuilt over and over again, some small parts need to be newly manufactured.

02.

A good look at the M16A1 forging with its relieved area around the rear takedown pin detent and housing.

03.

IMTC took the time to figure out what the correct size of the DOD acceptance markings should be dependent on manufacturer. You can still see this today on some of the real Armalite builds.

“Where once we used to use modern forgings and place the correct markings on them, now we’re able to source period-correct forgings; the authentic look is significantly noticeable.”

N12 01

02 03

UN12mag.com

59

01

02

Clone

01.

Sourcing the correct stock can take time and patience.

Not many of the non-trap door buttstocks survived as the end plates are pretty brittle after 60 years.

02.

IMTC’s hidden manufacturer’s mark on the receiver near the trigger further aids the clone’s authentic look.

03

batch will be black or gray. The M16 parts kit I used for the featured build was either a rebuild or later production version, so the upper has more of a

03.

Oftentimes, the location and style of a component’s manufacturing proof mark can help identify its origin.

black look to it. I was able to remedy this problem pretty easily with a quick coat of Moly Resin. If you live the clone life like I do, you’ll understand that many projects seem to never be completely finished.

While they’re definitely not for everyone, discerning clone collectors recognize that

04.

For the H&R build, the correct upper does not have the flashing removed and cleaned up like you would see on a Colt product.

04

60

UN12 / Issue 015

IMTC’s line of authentic-looking, roll-marked lowers will give you a great finishing touch to your M16 clone build. [ UN12 ]

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For more information: Int. Milspec Trading Co. intlmilco.com

RAINIER INDUSTRIES AIX

(ANGLED INTEGRATED STOP) M-LOK

RAINIERARMS.com

General Feature

Radian Afterburner + Ramjet Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images courtesy of RADIAN

P

erfecting a weapons platform that has already existed for decades can seem to be

an insurmountable mission. When the Glock family of striker-fired pistols debuted, it changed how polymer-framed pistols were viewed, used, and accessorized. Somewhat ironically, the no-nonsense design helped launch what can arguably be called the strongest aftermarket support there is for any firearm created in history.

How many minds have worked at improving a gun such as the Glock? We’d say it’s an innumerable amount. Innovators and creative minds have labored over decades to improve upon every aspect of Glock pistols. From functionality to ergonomics to aesthetics, engineers, designers, even garage tinkerers are constantly working out their ideas on how to further push this platform to this day.

How does one improve upon near-perfection?

Looking at Radian’s latest pair of innovations, their answer is measured in deliberate, carefully thoughtout details. Radian, a company that has become synonymous with innovative rifle designs, is set to enter the pistol upgrade segment with a couple of exciting releases for your favorite Glock pistols.

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General Feature

Radian recently debuted its Ramjet barrel and Afterburner micro-compensator, which together promise to reduce the recoil on a Glock 17 or 19 by up to 44% when firing 115-grain ammunition. What’s more amazing is that the Afterburner micro-compensator measures a scant 0.47 inches long. With the Afterburner, Radian has found a way to match or exceed the recoil reduction that full-size compensators provide in a compact package that’s effectively less than a half-inch in length.

At the heart of Radian’s Ramjet and Afterburner system is the company’s intra-lok mounting system, which uses

the taper-lock principle. This system uses a tapered locking screw that interfaces with an angled V-groove on the underside of the barrel to perfectly time the compensator as it locks down onto the upper barrel profile at the muzzle end of the barrel. This results in Radian’s intra-lok perfectly timing the Afterburner compensator as it locks down

“A tapered locking screw perfectly times the comp to the barrel’s underside.” onto the Ramjet barrel. For enhanced usability, the angular front facets on the Afterburner aid in rapid holstering.

Ramjet is a match-grade pistol barrel that upgrades the G17 and G19 to become even more accurate and reliable weapon systems. Radian’s latest barrel features a gas sealing chamber as well as a loaded chamber indicator. Installed onto a G19, the Afterburner and Ramjet combo increases the overall length of the 19’s slide to that of a G17, allowing easy compatibility with all existing G17 holsters.

Both the Ramjet barrel and Afterburner micro-compensator are treated with Radian’s proprietary Radianite plating, which provides a slick, durable, and corrosion-resistant finish. Further pushing this handsome performance-enhancing duo up higher on our want list, the Afterburner and Ramjet use a threadless design, which means that this combo is available for sale in all 50 states. [ UN12 ]

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For more on the Radian Afterburner and Ramjet, visit radianweapons.com.

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01 02 03

01

02

The Afterburner micro-compensator is designed to match or exceed the recoil reduction of a fullsize comp in less than half an inch.

Ramjet is a matchgrade pistol barrel that features a gas sealing chamber as well as a loaded chamber indicator.

03 Radian’s intra-lok system uses a tapered screw that interfaces with an angled groove on the barrel’s underside.

04

Radian Afterburner

04 Angular front facets on the front of the Afterburner microcomp are designed to enhance usability by aiding in rapid holstering.

Radian Ramjet

Featured Highlights

Featured Highlights

44% recoil reduction in combination with Ramjet (115-gn ammunition)

Hardened 416R stainless steel

Hardened 17-4 stainless steel Taper-lock screw interface—no Loctite, shims, or set screws needed Angled front faces aid in holstering Threadless design, legal for sale in all 50 states Available in black Radianite

Match-grade fluted/rifled barrel Gas sealing chamber with loaded chamber indicator Threadless design, legal for sale in all 50 states Available in black Radianite Extends G19 to G17 length, fitting all G17 holsters

Extends G19 to G17 length, fitting all G17 holsters

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Featured Gun

Modified Aero Precision EPC-9 Carbine Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by MICHAEL GREY

: : Custom coated by Nevada Cerakote : : Used for training and competition : : Uses Glock 9mm mags

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Featured Gun

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P

istol-caliber carbines (PCC) are currently the hot ticket in many disciplines of shooting. Training and

competition would probably be among the most popular on that list of shooting specialties and it’s precisely why the rifle you see featured in this article was constructed.

Jonathan Milner is an auto mechanic by trade but a tactical training student and shooting competitor by obsession. He modified his latest rifle, an Aero Precision EPC-9 carbine, over the course of last year. Milner now runs the 9mm caliber AR at carbine classes and at local steel plate matches whenever he can. Although his work keeps him busy most of the time, when he does escape the garage we’re told that we can find him at any of a number of shooting ranges.

We asked Milner about his rifle, which we got an upclose look at recently. “It’s my current pride and joy,” he told us. “All my ARs are dear to me; this one is my latest and therefore currently sees the most action. I bought Aero Precision’s complete EPC-9 lower receiver as the

“Aero Precision is known for precision machining and painstaking design and engineering, of which the EPC-9 is a clear beneficiary.”

jumping-off point for this build. The EPC-9 has such a nice design and I love looking at and even feeling its smooth contours.”

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As much as he loves his EPC-9 lower, we did spot a few key upgrades. We’ll let Milner walk us through them. “I

It’s easy to see why Milner chose the EPC-9 for his

discovered a company that was making some really cool

starting point. Aero Precision has built up a rabidly loyal

stuff called Driven Arms Co. (DAC),” he says. “They make

following for their firearms and related components by

all manner of add-on accessories for firearms and it was

never compromising quality. The company is known

their EPC-9 Slip Fit Magwell (SFM) that initially caught my

for its precision machining and painstaking design and

attention. As an amateur competitive shooter, I know that

engineering, of which the EPC-9 is a clear beneficiary.

generously flared magwells can help minimize a bobbled

The forged 7075-T6 aluminum EPC-9 lower is compatible

reload and I saw a lot of value in adding DAC’s SFM to my

with standard-frame Glock magazines and is packed full

lower. I quickly added it to my DAC online shopping cart.

of features including an integrated and enlarged trigger

Not long after, I added a few more things. I ended up also

guard and flared magazine well for quick and easy reloads.

picking up DAC’s Ultralight Compact Grip (ULCG) for use

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Light The SureFire Mini Scout Light Pro is operated via Modlite remote switch.

Switch A Modlite ModButton Lite mounted with a DAC AMS-MBL optimizes switch placement; Emissary Development Micro Cable Clips keep the wire tidy.

Optic An Aimpoint ACRO P-1 red dot aids in rapid target acquisition.

Magwell Generous flare on the Driven Arms Co. SFM help with rapid reloads in the heat of competition.

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Featured Gun

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Stock A Mission First Tactical Battlelink gets the job done without too much flash.

UDC The ejection port is shrouded by a Strike Industries Billet Ultimate Dust Cover.

Pistol Grip The DAC Ultralight Compact Grip features a generous backstrap.

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Foregrip A DAC ShortStop is used for improved off-hand purchase when shooting.

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“Nevada Cerakote finished the upper receiver, handguard, and buttstock; the lower was left black so it can potentially host other uppers without looking out of place.” on the lower and a few pieces for the upper. The ULCG

camo Cerakote job. Milner tells us more about it: “I had

has a nice contour and a great feel.”

this project coated by Nevada Cerakote. The owner, Russ

Seeing the factory trigger still in place, we asked him

Bacon, and the crew at Nevada Cerakote always hit a

why he didn’t change it for an aftermarket model. “I had

home run on any Cerakote job they do for me. For this

an upgraded drop-in trigger in my initial plans, but after

one, I sent them my upper receiver, handguard, buttstock,

shooting it I felt that the no-frills trigger my EPC-9 came

and bam, just like that, they were done and shipped back

with was really smooth and had a nice reset, so I didn’t see

to me in no time. I chose to keep the lower black so I could

a need to change it. I don’t know if other EPC-9 triggers

swap other uppers onto it without it looking funny. I like the

feel as refined, but I’m glad mine is this good.”

two-tone look.”

We also spied Radian ambidextrous safety levers.

The forged aluminum upper receiver houses both an

The Radian Talon Ambidextrous Safety Selector can

Aero Precision 16-inch barrel and an Aero Precision

be installed with several different-length levers in 90- or

EPC-9 bolt carrier group. Because the EPC-9 operates

45-degree throws. Milner chose to place the full-length

on a blowback system, a gas tube and gas block are

lever on the left and the medium-length lever on the

not required. A SIG Sauer SRD556-QD taper-lok CQB

right, each set to a 90-degree throw. We must admit, the

flash hider is installed on the barrel’s tip. Mounting a

combination of aftermarket parts he added do make his

muzzle device made for a 5.56 may sound peculiar (and

EPC-9 look even nicer.

dangerous), but Milner explains. “I went with this flash

The upper receiver and Mission First Tactical Battlelink minimalist stock feature a great-looking yet subdued

hider because I happened to have it from another upper,” he says. “It has a crazy-big exit hole that allows a 9mm

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Featured Gun

bullet to drop through with plenty of room. I’m supposing that since it’s made to interface with a SIG suppressor, the exit hole is giant for just that reason. Because it uses the same 1/2x28 thread pitch as my 9mm barrel, it slipped on perfectly. In any case, it fits just right, looks cool, and works well.” Also onboard the upper is a VLTOR extendedlatch charging handle, Strike Industries Billet Ultimate Dust Cover, and a snazzy Northtech Defense titanium forward assist. Evidently Milner does like the nice stuff.

We noted a 15-inch-long Aero Precision ATLAS S-One handguard mounted forward of the upper receiver.

The m-lok compatible free-float unit features five slots of Picatinny rail just forward of the upper receiver and another four slots at the muzzle end. The bridge in between both Picatinny segments has a ribbed contour and is free of rail slots. This rail reduction helps trim weight for those who don’t need to mount accessories on the extra length of rail and also provides a slimmer profile for those who like to shoot with a grip on the forward portion of the handguard.

Milner did add several accessories to the S-One, including a SureFire Mini Scout Light Pro, which is operated via a Modlite ModButton Lite remote switch.

In order to allow him to mount the remote switch in an optimal position and location for use during training, he was delighted to find that DAC makes a remote switch mount called the AMS-MBL. This mount is designed

“Several accessories have been added to the upper, including an Aero ATLAS S-One handguard, SureFire Mini Scout Light Pro, and Aimpoint ACRO P-1 red dot.”

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Featured Gun

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E X P L O D E D VIEW

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Modified Aero Precision EPC-9 Carbine

Specifications Caliber: 9mm Capacity: 33+1 Minimum Length: 32.75 in.

Maximum Length: 36.0 in.

Weight Unloaded: 7 lbs, 3 oz.

Barrel Length: 16.0 in.

“The unassuming PCC is packed full of practical upgrades that make the already-great EPC9 an even more fun and easy-to-handle shooter.”

Coating: Nevada Cerakote

Featured Accessories Optic: Aimpoint Acro P-1 Optic Mount: Scalarworks LEAP 03 (1.57”) Handguard: 15” Aero Precision ATLAS S-One m-lok Barrel: Aero Precision 16” 9mm CMV UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

specifically to mount a ModButton Lite to an Aero

designed with pistol use in mind and has a shorter battery

Precision ATLAS S-One handguard.

lifespan than its bigger Aimpoint brothers, but many rifle

Keeping the remote switch wires in place is a couple

shooters who value weight savings over battery longevity

of Emissary Development Micro Cable Clips. These

have gravitated to this unit. Milner mentioned that this isn’t

compact m-lok mounted clips hold wires in position and

his go-to defensive weapon, so he doesn’t mind if he has

present a very clean and elegant appearance. We really

to change batteries every so often. He values the weight

like the light and switch setup on this rifle. There’s also a

savings more for this AR. Milner’s Acro sits in a superb

DAC ShortStop hand stop on the handguard. The nylon

Scalarworks LEAP 03 mount. We’ve had experience with

polymer stop is made to be ultra light and features a

Scalarworks mounts in the past and find that they are

reduced-drag design.

tough, light, and give any rifle a decidedly modern look.

“The SureFire light comes in handy at both training

All said and done, this unassuming 9mm PCC is packed

events and at the steel plate matches that I attend,” Milner

full of practical upgrades that make the already-great

says. “Sometimes we do night matches, which are really

Aero Precision EPC-9 carbine an even more fun and

fun. I recommend everyone learn how to shoot with a

easy-to-handle shooter. It looks damned sexy, too. Milner

light and understand when and when not to use it. It’s not

tells us that he has enjoyed assembling it and shooting it,

something most people learn, but I think it’s an important

and from what we can gather, he’s not looking to let it go

skill to have.”

from quite some time, if ever. That leaves us with only one

This modified Aero Precision EPC-9 carbine relies on an Aimpoint Acro P-1 for aiming. The compact red dot was

option. We’re already looking at building one for ourselves. [ UN12 ]

Weaponlight: SureFire Mini Scout Light Pro Parts & Accessories: Aero Precision EPC-9 BCG, Driven Arms Co. AMSMBL, Driven Arms Co. Ultralight Compact Grip (ULCG), Driven Arms Co. Aero Precision EPC-9 Slip Fit Magwell (SFM), Driven Arms Co. ShortStop hand stop, SIG Sauer SRD556-QD taper-lok CQB flash hider, SureFire Scout Light rear cap, Modlite ModButton Lite, Emissary Development Micro Cable Clip, Radian Talon ambidextrous safety selector, Strike Industries Billet Ultimate Dust Cover, Mission First Tactical Battlelink minimalist stock, Northtech Defense titanium forward assist, VLTOR 556 Mod 4 charging handle, SGM Tactical Glockcompatible 9mm 33-rd magazine

About the Owner Name: Jonathan Milner Occupation: Auto Mechanic

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Product Review

TRUE NORTH CONCEPTS 76

UN12 / Issue 015

: : Allows holster attachment at various heights/angles

Modular Holster Adapter

: : Direct-mount, QLS, MLS, ELS compatible : : Hardcoat anodized 6061-T6

Text & Images by CHARLES “CHIP” LASKY

I

t’s often said that God is in the details. And this statement is

never truer than when talking about life/death situations. In the realm of gunfighting, a pistol is a lifeline. The primary weapon system is usually some form of rifle, submachine gun, or PDW. Pistols are labeled as “secondaries” because they play a backup role to the primary “big gun.”

Obviously, we want to fight with the big gun if we can. But if/when it fails due to lack of ammo or malfunction, we need to transition to the pistol.

So when you need it, your pistol better be exactly where we want it and ready for presentation, because

“If you find yourself needing to transition to your pistol, it needs to be exactly where you expect it and ready for action.”

milliseconds count.

Tactical pistol carry methods

holster to rotate around the leg and sag to the knee. While they cleared the belt for other mission-critical gear, they failed in about every other category.

The early 2000s would be the beginning of the Safariland SLS holster era. Twenty years later, I still say the Safariland ALS system is the best tactical holster on the market.

Guys began wearing these holsters in the traditional drop-leg manner.

Some would duty-belt-mount them higher up. And some would even attach them across the chest of their armor carrier. The last method was in effort to get the pistol off the belt and leg to make sitting in and

he couldn’t wear a holster with the

dismounting from vehicles easier.

have changed dramatically over the

rappelling harness. He immediately

I carried a G19 in an M4 magazine

decades. My brothers from Hereford

lost the pistol upon landing and it

pouch on the front of my armor

stormed the Iranian Embassy in

was never recovered. As operational

carrier for a while due to the amount

London to rescue hostages in May

procedures evolved, so did the gear.

of vehicle ops. This didn’t make for a

The amount of belt kit worn, as

fast presentation, but I needed some

carried in clumsy leather police

well as the upper body bulk created

way to carry it that allowed me to get

holsters purchased off the shelf.

by armor carriers of the time, led to

in and out of armored vehicles.

These holsters had a massive flap

the rise of “drop-leg” holsters. Drop-

over the top to protect and retain

legs were the predominant holster

the most popular tactical holster

the pistol and were anything but

throughout the late 1980s and ’90s.

placement for the past ten years. It’s

fast. But they were the only thing

These double-leg-strapped holsters

a compromise between belt-height

that existed at the time. In fact, the

rode on the thigh and were cool

and drop-leg, placing the butt of the

blade that rappelled through the

for about two seconds. The simple

pistol just below belt level. Holster

skylight simply tucked his HP into

act of walking (let alone running,

manufacturers have developed

his belt “pistolero style” because

climbing, fighting) would cause the

mid-ride plates made from polymer

1980 with Browning Hi Power pistols

The mid-ride holster has been

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Product Review: True North Concepts MHA

“The MHA solves many common holster mount issues and allows a range of carry customization.”

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UN12 / Issue 015

that provide a semi-rigid holster platform.

market. Some individuals need to use

or air-assault operations. Their superior

Some mid-rides come with a single leg strap

what’s issued, while others choose

polymer design protects the pistol from

and some simply rely on platform rigidity to

their favorites based on personal

all reasonable (and most unreasonable)

keep them in place. While mid-ride holsters

preference. OEM holster mounting

conditions. And the ALS thumb-activated

seem to be the best compromise for most

platforms tend to be either gun, belt, or

release lever is both intuitive and easily

situations, they’re not perfect.

MOLLE specific.

manipulated under stress with proper training reps. These holsters are the

•

•

They place the holster at a specific

Like the earlier drop-leg holsters, the

standard by which all others measured. But

height. Everyone is built differently;

OEM mid-ride platforms are flexible.

I’m not a huge fan of their mid-ride platform.

holster ride height for a 6’6” guy is not

This means the holster may not be

The OEM-supplied platform is designed to

necessarily ideal for a 5’4” girl.

exactly where the user wants it at all

fit on a standard 2-inch duty belt. So MOLLE

times and in all positions.

war belts, blast belts, and newer, popular

They place the holster at a specific cant angle. Holster cant angle has long

thin gun belts are a no-go. I also don’t like Now that we all have a basic under-

the inherent flex in the polymer platform that

been debated. The traditional holster

standing of where it all started, let’s talk

can cause the pistol muzzle to angle toward

cant is about 10° forward. This means

about how it’s going. Like everything else,

my femoral artery during draw. Finally, I don’t

that the pistol butt is angled forward in

modularity and customization are key. Sizing

like the 10° forward cant. Enter True North

effort to ease draw stroke. But modern

and fitment that works for me may not work

Concepts’ Modular Holster Adapter.

gunfighting trends favor the pistol

for you. And while one-size-fits-all may work

being rotated downrange as quickly

in some applications, gunfighting is not one

just the piece I was looking for. In one fell

as possible after clearing the holster

of them. As mentioned, the pistol is your

swoop, it solved all the issues I had with

during presentation. Not only does this

lifeline in a fight. If you need to transition

the OEM plate and gave me my ultimate

allow rounds to get on target from a

to it, you are literally fighting to save your

duty holster. The MHA is a 7.5-inch-

retention position, but it quickens the

life. So the pistol better be there, in working

long, 6061-T6 Type 3 hardcoat anodized

draw while wearing other kit. Forward-

order, and quickly accessible.

aluminum plate that gives users the option

cant holsters put the user behind the

•

•

When I say it needs to be there, I mean

The Modular Holster Adapter (MHA) was

to set up their holsters however they want.

power curve by creating more angle

it better still be in the holster. There are a

Recognizing that not everyone is built the

that needs to be overcome before

lot of duty holster options on the market,

same, True North Concepts developed the

rounds can get on target.

but I prefer the tried/true Safariland ALS.

MHA to provide users the ability to attach

Its retention mechanism is both strong and

holsters at various heights and angles.

The platforms themselves are

easily manipulated. I never worried about

The plate contains 20 mounting holes to

generally specific to certain belt types.

losing my pistol out of a Safariland SLS or

accommodate all the possibilities. It’s set

There are a lot of belt choices on the

ALS while conducting high-angle, airborne,

up to allow direct mounting of the (now)

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Product Review: True North Concepts MHA

industry standard Safariland 3-hole pattern. It is directmount and QLS, MLS, and ELS compatible. True North even makes adapters to fit other popular duty holsters such as G-Code and Blackhawk! The aluminum belt loops bolt onto the MHA plate to allow for attachment to belts or MOLLE. I picked up a gen-one MHA when they were first released a few years ago. As a gear guy, I’m always interested in new widgets to make things better. I’ve been using it exclusively ever since. The main reason I started using the MHA was the no-cant capability. I wanted my holster to be straight up and down, allowing for a better presentation of the pistol. The traditional forward-cant angle was more conducive to dragging the pistol forward and out before clearing the holster lip. The straight angle allows me to immediately punch straight out with the pistol. This is better described in what I like to refer to as the three methods of pistol presentation: 1.

Bowling the pistol is when you clear it from the holster and arc it up towards the target. It’s done in a single motion. While quick to clear and present, it’s easy to overshoot the target and end up aiming higher. You then need to settle the pistol sights back down and onto the target. Your support hand does not complete the grip until the pistol is already extended.

2.

Fishing the pistol is when you clear it from the holster and present it muzzle angled up. You then settle the muzzle and front sight down into the rear sight as if you’re casting a fishing rod. Your support hand does not complete the grip until the pistol is already extended.

3.

Punching the pistol is when you clear it from the holster and immediately angle it downrange.

Your support hand establishes grip close to your abdomen and you punch the pistol straight out to full extension with both hands.

All three methods can be fast and efficient for

various types of pistol shooting. But punching is the most tactically effective method because you can start engaging from retention before your arms are fully extended. Gunfights are often up-close and personal.

For this reason, I much prefer the straight drop angle for a duty holster. The MHA was one of the first aftermarket upgrades to allow this. Regardless, there are holes for mounting hardware that will allow holsters to be attached with plus or minus 10° cants if the user chooses.

Next, I was a big fan of the height adjustment. It took me a couple loose tries before I decided on which of the

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UN12 / Issue 015

three height adjustments I was going to go with.

But once I dialed it in, the holster places the pistol exactly where I want it for immediate draw.

Finally, the thick aluminum plate does not flex.

It is as rigid as it gets, giving me the peace of mind that my holster will be exactly where I want it. I am extremely strict about the gear I carry and how it’s set up. I have a lot of operational experience in the dark and teach a lot of night-fighter classes. So I’m a big believer in gear needing to work when you cannot see it. The rigid nature of the MHA also helps with my draw. Pistol presentation is not always as pretty in real life as it is on a square range. It’s often done under extreme stress. The rigid MHA ensures my holster will stay completely parallel to my body so the draw stroke is straight.

I’ve been running the Modular Holster Adapter with the optional MHA Leg Strap Kit. It helps keep the holster assembly tight to my body and prevents snags. Since it can be mounted right-side-up or upside-down, the Leg Strap Kit allows the user to determine the height of the leg strap. This is a first in holster design. Before this product, the manufacturer dictated the height of the straps.

Comfort is king with this setup because I no longer experience chafing from the strap placement.

The bracket will accept a number of different leg straps, but I really like the 1-inch elastic strap that comes with the kit. It’s the perfect size to keep my holster in place without being too restrictive as with thicker/wider straps.

The MHA was a great addition to my kit from the beginning. But I further upgraded it with the Qore Performance IceVents Aero Holster Pad. This simple pad provides all the benefits of the IceVents system to the back of my holster, allowing for more If there’s one thing I would caution people on concerning the MHA, it’s the initial assembly. It comes with a lot of hardware for compatibility with different Safariland products. If you think you’re going to dump the hardware and figure it out yourself, you’re going to be building it twice. Read the instructions carefully, and build it once. I also advise using the blue thread locker compound that comes with the kit. Hardware has a funny way of backing out from constant vibration.

The MHA is the best upgrade I’ve made to my holster setup in years. I’ve been running it since the beginning and it has stood up to hard use. Vehicles, movement, climbing, falling, you name it—the MHA has kept my holster exactly where I need it. [ UN12 ]

True North Concepts Modular Holster Adapter MSRP: $75 URL: truenorth-usa.com

UN12

airflow on hot days and a slight bit of padding.

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General Feature

SureFire Precisionapalooza Text by CHRIS TRAN Images by CHRIS TRAN & SUREFIRE

I

had the good fortune to attend SureFire’s 2021 Precisionapalooza event this past October, and although I was very excited for the opportunity, I was a little

bit curious. The word “Precisionapalooza” seemed to evoke distance shooting for me, and was very curious to see how an illumination company would insert itself into the realm of long-distance—precision—shooting.

I arrived in the sleepy town of Canadian, Texas, population 2,650-ish (as per 2010 census) and was transported to our host site at the Phoenix Lodge. Ever the professional hosts, SureFire staff provided us with door-to-door service and impeccable attention to detail. Once at the lodge, I was able to settle in and reunite with some of the best writers, bloggers, and YouTubers in the industry space. It was going to be a good couple of days.

Once our room assignment and venue logistics were established, Andrew Wright, senior marketing manager, gave us the rundown of the two-day Precisionapalooza event. We were to receive some world-class instruction from Todd Hodnett and his son Colby from Accuracy 1st, as well as to get a chance to see some new SureFire products in development.

For those who may not be familiar with Accuracy 1st, it’s important to understand that Todd Hodnett is one of the most sought-after instructors in the country. He teaches elite military units all around the country and the world and has been an instrumental figure in the development of innovative formula creation for Kestrel Ballistics, as well as reticle development such as the Horus TREMR3 of ussocom selection.

Todd’s son Colby, a youthful 27-year-old phenom, was actually the one who led most of the classroom time, as Todd was finishing up an instruction block with an unnamed military group concurrent to our writers’ classroom block.

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UN12 / Issue 015

: : Behind the scenes at SureFire’s invitation-only training event : : Training provided by Todd & Colby Hodnett of Accuracy 1st : : Author Chris Tran is a full-time LEO, perpetual student & avid shooter

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General Feature 01

01

The weekend was spent with the Barrett MK22 in both .308 Win and .300 Norma configurations.

02

DAY 1: DRINKING THROUGH A

Furiously scribbling notes Day 1 class time. The volume of information was almost overwhelming.

03

Swapping barrels from .308 Win to .300 Norma using a little elbow grease and a hex wrench.

The morning classroom sessions

FIREHOSE

started with intros from Todd and

Let’s get this out of the way right up front.

Colby, and then we were off to the

I’m not a great shooter. I’m definitely not

races. We discussed concepts like

a great long-distance shooter, so this trip

“truing” your muzzle velocity to

included a lot of firsts for me. First actual

more accurately calculate accuracy

long-distance instruction, first time behind

based off of real-world live-fire

a bolt gun, and first time really delving into

performance, understanding station

quick math for rapid shooting solutions.

pressure, bracketing for wind speed,

Todd has been known to say that his

aeronautical jump, speed drop

courses will impart knowledge to anyone.

formulas… my brain was nearly

A novice shooter like myself will gain a

literally spilling over.

ton of knowledge and context for long-

I struggled to keep up just

distance shooting fundamentals, and

understanding the basic concepts

seasoned long-distance shooters will be

behind the terms, and then it was off

able to refine and add to their existing

to another skillset completely: learning

knowledge base. Our writers group

how to apply these concepts and

was quite varied in experience, from

input them into the Kestrel Ballistics

competitive long-distance shooters and

Elite 5700X. The 5700X is a handheld

hunters on one end of the spectrum to

dynamo of a ballistics calculator, and

guys like me on the other. It seems safe to

I probably could have spent the entire

say that all of us at one point in Day 1 had

day just learning how to interface with

the proverbial “ah-ha” moment.

it properly. Of course, Todd had a lot

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02

04

Teamwork makes the dream work; the author and Rob Curtis spotting for each other at 1,035 meters.

05

Taking aim with the Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 and the Hodnett-designed TREMR3 reticle.

03

of input into the Kestrel features as well, and it even has its own Accuracy 1st app within the Kestrel software itself.

Here was my biggest takeaway, and we were able to prove it on the range for the second half of the day. If you understand the basic theory of getting the best muzzle velocity data you can for your specific gun with your specific ammo, and you shoot at known distances and true your rifle at 85%-95% known distance before going transonic, you will get a “really good enough” holdover calculation/shooting solution as a baseline for your shooting platform, for the application of getting

04

accurate shots on target at distance and speed. Once that’s established, the Kestrel will calculate pretty much every holdover you need and then add situationdependent environmental factors for you to further refine your shooting solutions.

That’s a somewhat oversimplified synopsis of the first half of Day 1 classroom. I really appreciated how willing Colby was to get into the weeds with math formulas, quick math, and how to calculate some of the formulas in your head without having to rely on the Kestrel.

I’m sure we could have had a three-day class on aerodynamic jump alone, much less cover the nuances of how to calculate quick math solutions for 12” drills and speed drop, but that’s another story for another time.

RANGE: DAY 1 With information flowing out of my ears, we headed to a picturesque overlook and set up for the afternoon. Our weapon platform of the day was the Barrett MRAD MK22 chambered in .308 Win, using the

05

awesome Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 and SureFire suppressor system. After a quick live rundown of the Kestrel 5700X, we set to truing our guns and saw how well we could get our hits.

I mentioned that I was a novice distance shooter. The farthest I’d shot prior to this event was about 1,200 meters on a 4’x4’ plate. On Day 1 with Accuracy 1st, I was pretty consistent at 1,035 meters on a man-sized target: 12” head plate and a 24” body. Things were looking up. With a little coaching from Todd and Colby, as well as some good-natured ribbing from Rob Curtis of Small Arms Review, I felt like I was actually capable of hitting more than just the broad side of a barn. Kinda.

Once back at the Phoenix Lodge, we all UN12mag.com

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General Feature 01

01

Todd Hodnett of Accuracy 1st assists the author in getting his .300 Norma barrel trued for Day 2 range time.

02

Chris and Don Majillo, aka Milspec Mojo, take off for their aerial steel gun run with Rotor Recoil.

03

Hodnett explains the courses of fire and his expectations for attendees for Day 2 range time.

had a chance to play a bit more with the

We traversed to a different range

Barrett MRAD MK22s and swapped the

for the second half of the day, with

barrels and bolts out. The next day we’d

known ranges from 530 meters to a

be shooting at longer distances, and we

mile. We again trued our rifles and set

basically re-barreled the MK22s to .300

out for some practical application.

Norma, which was accomplished with a

The more advanced shooters in the

single hex key to dismount the barrels and

group experimented with dialing

swap out the bolt faces. Super-simple

their speed drops to assist in quick

concept and application.

holdover calculations. I spent more

For nighttime activities… well, SureFire

time working on building a proper

showed us some things, but that too will

shooting platform; being a new bolt-

have to wait for another article.

action shooter, and a left-handed one at that, I had a lot of work to do with

RANGE: DAY 2 For the classroom portion of Day 2, Colby

consistency and correcting for cant.

Todd was able to get me sorted out

revisited a lot of the key concepts from

with some easy tips and tricks, and

Day 1, much to my relief. It was very clear

at the end of the day I was able to

that our 10 hours of classroom instruction

hit a man-sized target out at a mile.

was just the very tip of the iceberg when it

Granted, it took many rounds to get

came to the institutional knowledge that

there, but it actually happened.

the Hodnetts possess. I would jump at the

SureFire then surprised all of us. We

opportunity to take a full course with either

split up into relays of two shooters,

one of them in the future.

and while the main group shot steel, all

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02

04

Todd Hodnett himself takes aim on Day 2 to show the students exactly how it should be done.

05

Evening shenanigans with a clip-on thermal; taking aim (unloaded) at several cows off in the distance.

03

04

of us got a chance to shoot an aerial steel target run with the assistance of Jason Abraham from Rotor Recoil. The run was amazing, and Jason was a consummate professional. I’ve shot feral pigs from a

05

helicopter before, but shooting stationary targets at speed and distance was definitely more of a quick calculationof-angles game. It was an amazing experience and something I definitely want another crack at.

When it comes down to it, SureFire events are some of the best out there. I was privileged to be at 2020’s Back to the Bills event, and Precisionapalooza was equally on-par. I’m truly humbled that SureFire and UN12 have such a genial relationship, and I was privileged to be able to attend. Stay tuned for more articles, as we anticipate being able to discuss some of SureFire’s under-wraps products in the near future. [ UN12 ]

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Product Review

COX ARMS USA 88

UN12 / Issue 015

: : Direct from the factory with aftermarket upgrades : : Billet upper and lower

Guardian 556 Rifle

receivers : : Lifetime guarantee

Text by JOHN SCOTT Images by JAY CANTER

here are several ways to get an AR

further modification to be made as easy as can

outfitted with quality, high-performance

be. The lower also features recessing around its

aftermarket parts. You can assemble one from

extended mag release button for easier positive

the ground up utilizing bits and pieces that you

engagement, even with a gloved finger. The

source yourself. Another method is to buy a

lower receiver also comes with an upper receiver

complete AR just to break it down and swap out

tension screw that can keep any upper receiver

parts as desired. Or you can choose the option

it hosts mounted tightly and free of any irritating

that Cox Arms USA presents to you in the form

wobbles.

T

of the Guardian 556 Rifle.

We know what you’re thinking, and before we

Speaking of the upper receiver, we noted that this 5.56 NATO caliber, mid-length gas system

got a chance to manhandle one for ourselves,

Cox rifle comes with a 16-inch 4150 chrome-

we thought the same thing. What makes this

moly vanadium steel barrel that’s finished with

AR different from the litany of others hanging

a 1:7 twist rate. The barrel is tipped with a VG6

on your local gun shop’s wall? Lucky for us, we

Gamma muzzle brake, what VG6 calls a muzzle

had the chance to take a look at the Guardian

brake/compensator hybrid. VG6 claims that

up close and find out. What we noticed outright

the hybrid device virtually eliminates recoil and

were the many aftermarket accessories that

minimizes muzzle movement.

come standard on this AR. The Cox Arms Guardian is a billet receiver

The upper also includes chamfered takedown pin holes for effortless upper and lower receiver

“What makes this AR different from the others hanging on your local gun shop’s wall? We noticed right away the many standard upgraded parts, the kinds of parts we’d be swapping for anyway.”

based AR-15 that comes with many of the

mating, as well as a stylized housing for the

aftermarket parts that we’d be swapping out

forward assist. Inside the upper you’ll find a

generic factory parts for anyway, only on this

complete enhanced bolt carrier group, and an

position buffer tube is an H2 buffer and Sprinco

rifle they come standard. Before we move on to

ambidextrous charging handle comes standard.

buffer spring. These are definitely parts that

the parts that come on the rifle, let’s talk about

The upper also includes a 15-inch m-lok

we’d consider installing if we were decking out a

its proprietary billet receivers for a moment.

compatible free-float handguard.

plain-jane AR.

Cox Arms mills its lower with features such as a

Unlike other factory stock AR-15s, you won’t

As you can probably tell, we were pretty

double-beveled magwell as well as a textured

get the usual USGI trigger, nor do you get a

excited that an off-the-shelf AR-15 comes with

indexing pad forward of the trigger guard, which

cheaply made A2 grip and M4 buttstock with

so many upgrades right out of the box, but it

gives the shooter a tactile resting point for his or

this rifle. Instead, the Guardian comes with

was the build quality that really got our attention.

her trigger finger and is found on both sides of

Elftmann Tactical’s socom-rated and combat-

The fit and finish of the rifle was nice and tight

the receiver.

tested field-adjustable trigger, complete with

and the way the action felt from trigger pull to

anti-walk pins, and a Mission First Tactical

bolt carrier charging felt ball-bearing smooth.

will like hearing that the bolt catch is kept in via

15-degree pistol grip, as well as MFT’s ever-

We’d have to admit that even some ARs we’ve

a set screw, allowing bolt catch maintenance or

popular minimalist stock. Sitting in the six

built ourselves have had some graininess to

Those who like to tinker with their receivers

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Product Review: Cox Arms Guardian 556

them. Not this rifle. It simply feels well-puttogether and oh-so-silky to operate.

We were able to get some limited range time with the Guardian and can report that the AR handles and shoots as smooth as it looks. We ran a few shooting drills with it and found it to be very flat-shooting and surprisingly lightweight. Without the EOTech optic and Inforce weaponlight that we added, this 16-inch-barreled rifle weighs a scant 6 pounds, 13 ounces. You could say that we were quite pleased with its performance. This seems like a good time to bring up the fact that Cox Arms offers a lifetime warranty for the Guardian.

That’s right—Guardian, complete with its sought-after upgrade parts, is covered by a lifetime warranty. That’s something that’s hard to come by.

The Guardian also comes in your choice of eight custom finishes. We chose ours in a very H&K-esque desert-yellow RAL8000 Cerakote color. It’s a unique color that Cox offers right off their website. If you’re not as adventurous, Guardian is also offered in SOCOM Blue, Midnight Bronze, black, FDE, OD green, gray, and a very custom three-color camo pattern.

The seven solid colors do not carry any additional charges but the three-color camo carries a premium of $300—not

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“It was the build quality that really got our attention; it simply feels well-puttogether and silky-smooth to operate.” bad, considering how much custom Cerakote jobs cost for complete rifles.

At just under two grand, Cox Arms’ Guardian isn’t the cheapest of the pre-built pack, but in terms of value, it can be hard to beat. We tried calculating how much this rifle would cost to build ourselves, buying the parts individually, and didn’t come close to Cox Arms’ asking price. Considering that you’re getting an expertly built, customCerakoted, fully upgraded AR-15 with a lifetime warranty, it’s clear that Cox Arms USA has broken into the crowded AR-15 market with a package that’s teeming with value and performance.

COX ARMS USA Guardian 556 Rifle P/N: SI-AR-CMS-MP MSRP: From $1,900 URL: coxarmsusa.com

UN12

[ UN12 ]

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Featured Gun

Violent Art Firearms AR Shorty Text by ROLAND WILKES Images by JAY CANTER

: : Based on a Violent Art Firearms DaVinci receiver set : : Carbon fiber handguard & pistol grip : : Koted Arms custom Cerakote

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93

Featured Gun

W

e’ve written before about the connection between automobiles and firearms and the commonly

converging interests among enthusiasts of the two camps.

Christopher Haydostian, formerly of Los Angeles and now of Austin, Texas, is one of those enthusiasts whose interests cross over between the two.

A chef by trade and training and now a successful restaurateur, Haydostian was involved for many years in the car scene, building custom rigs for race, show, and track. He later capitalized on that experience as a consultant in building promotional show pieces for exhibitors at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer Association, otherwise known as SEMA, whose annual Las Vegas convention is the largest automotive aftermarket symposium in the world.

It was in these circles that he first became associated with Jay Canter, professional photographer, firearms enthusiast, licensed manufacturer, and no stranger to the pages of this magazine. Canter, whose photography work spans a number of industries not limited to either the automotive or firearms industries, recently launched a new brand that focuses specifically on his work in the firearms realm, and more specifically his work building and shooting (both behind the lens and behind the trigger, so to speak) custom guns. That business is called Violent Art Firearms, and this, along with the Samurai AR on page 38, is a pretty good representation of a VAF signature build.

“I’m a chef by trade and have become a restaurateur in the past few years,” Haydostian explains. “I’ve opened several restaurants, and the first was located in a slightly seedy neighborhood in downtown Austin. Being from a not-so-great area in Los Angeles, I’m quite used to it.

However, I always like to have extra protection if needed.

Since moving to Texas three years ago, I got my CCW

suppressed and multi-cammed shorty AR pistol. “Jay and

immediately and carried all the time. I thought it was

I go way back from when we both were in California,” he

time to step up from a basic small carry to also include a

says. “I’m a car builder on the side... Jay was also in the

backpack weapon.”

scene with me and we have been friends ever since. He

He goes on to explain how he and Canter first came together to collaborate on the pictured build, a

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recently created his firearm brand and has posted some amazing builds, which got me drooling and thinking.

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

“The vision was simple—a usable PDW built to be as short as possible, with plenty of carbon, clean accents, and a solid look.”

Charging Bolt manipulation is facilitated by a Breek Arms Warhammer.

Optic Targeting is accomplished using a Holosun 510C open-reflex rifle red dot.

Bolt Catch Grip The Smoke Composites pistol grip is a fully formed carbon fiber piece.

The lines of the Battle Arms Development catch fit well with the carbon weave on the rest of the build.

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95

Featured Gun

Port Cover

Handguard

Another carbon piece, this one from Fortis Mfg.

A Lancer LCH5 carbon fiber unit with a Shift carbon foregrip.

Brace Odin Works’ popular CQ-B is a favorite among AR pistol builders.

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Lower VAF DaVinci fitted with a Fortis safety and Battle Arms EMMR mag release, both anodized red.

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

centered theme, it incorporates striking lines like the angled edges of the flared magwell that match the angle of the integrated trigger guard, as well as various lightening recesses that flow seamlessly from one receiver to the other, giving the pair a truly homogenous, monolithic look that’s as artistically rendered as any receiver set we’ve seen. Needless to say we’re all about the happy marriage of high functionality and deftly honed aesthetics.

The lower features a threaded roll pin that holds a Battle Arms Development (BAD) bolt catch and the upper features a machined-in recess that accommodates the catch’s thumb spur so the lever integrates as seamlessly into the build as the two receivers integrate with each other. Other manual controls include a Fortis SLS Fifty I reached out and told him my want for the shortest

safety selector, anodized red, and a BAD EMMR safety,

possible backpack pistol, and theme it a bit with my bag

also red, affixed to a White Label Armory spring and

and restaurant.”

backing screw. Iron City Rifle Works (ICRW) titanium

The build is centered around a Violent Art Firearms

takedown pins (finished in the company’s popular

billet receiver set, machined from 7075 aluminum, and

Blackdiamond DLC coating) hold the two receivers

what Canter has branded DaVinci. True to the fine-art-

together.

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Featured Gun

Fire control was originally handled by an Elftmann Tactical Match trigger with a skeletonized straight shoe.

However, considering Chef Chris intended this as a backpack gun that he intended to pack as a potential PDW, he decided it was a bit light for its intended duty (ELF triggers are famous for having close to zero take-up and the Match is set to break at 3 pounds). So he’s since switched to something with a bit heavier, more deliberate pull. Up top, a Breek Arms Warhammer ambidextrous charging handle allows the user to manipulate a VAF-

“The Shorty originally sported a 5.56 barrel, which has since been swapped out for a BOSS carbon unit in 300 BLK.”

logo’d Iron City Rifle Works S2 bolt carrier group which, signature Blackdiamond DLC finish.

The slick-sided (no forward assist) VAF DaVinci upper

At the AR’s far end you’ll notice another piece that has become sort of a calling card for a Jay Canter/VAF build

was originally fitted with a 7.5-inch Rosco Manufacturing

over the last few examples we’ve featured—the Odin

barrel chambered for 5.56 NATO, which is pictured here

Works CQ-B pistol brace, which never fails to add the

fitted with a Lantac Dragon muzzle brake. Chef Chris has

requisite amount of function and a good bit of aesthetic

since stepped up to a BOSS carbon fiber barrel in .300

flare to these sorts of builds and solidifies the gun’s pistol

AAC Blackout with a suppressor-ready muzzle, although

classification. The CQ-B comes as an all-inclusive kit that

the suppressor phase is still in the works and he has not

comprises the brace itself, receiver extension, and the

yet fitted any particular can to the build.

recoil spring/buffer assembly.

In addition to the barrel, which does not appear in these

98

handguard to help facilitate weapon manipulation.

This shorty feeds from Magpul Gen2 PMAGs fitted

pictures, you’ll note a few other quite visible expanses of

with Taran Tactical +5 basepads for a total of 35 rounds.

carbon fiber weave on this weapon, namely the Lancer

Targeting is accomplished using a Holosun 510C open-

Systems LCH5 handguard, 6 inches long with a full-length

reflex rifle sight. And of course the final piece of the puzzle

Picatinny rail at 12 o’clock, and the Smoke Composites

was a custom Cerakote scheme to tie it all together.

Ultralight pistol grip. The ejection port is also fitted with

The scheme is a black-and-gray custom “multi-cam”

a carbon cover from Fortis Manufacturing, and a Shift

that was inspired by the aforementioned bag in which

carbon foregrip from the same company has been

Chef Chris carries his kit, a TBG armored backpack. The

attached about two-thirds of the way up the very short

custom scheme was designed and applied by VAF’s

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

like the ICRW takedown pins, is coated in the company’s

Featured Gun

“The constant uncertainty that’s part of doing business downtown was one deciding factor in prompting the build and its subsequent upgrades.”

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Violent Art Firearms AR Shorty Specifications Caliber: 300 BLK Capacity: 35+1 Finish: Custom black/gray Cerakote

by Koted Arms

Featured Accessories Receivers: Violent Art Firearms DaVinci Barrel: Rosco Mfg. 7.5” 5.56 (pictured); BOSS carbon fiber 300 BLK (current) Handguard: Lancer Systems 6” LCH5 carbon fiber UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

go-to Cerakote applicator, Koted Arms in Mesa, Arizona,

magazines I could hold and waited to see what would

and applied to the receivers, the brace, the optic, and the

happen that night. Fortunately, no force was needed. It

magazine.

was at that time I felt I should save up and get something

Lest you think otherwise, this shorty is no safe or pack queen. Chef Chris built it to look good, but he also built it to use. In fact, at least one close call with some of

a bit more substantial than my modified S&W 2.0 9mm or Glock 43X. That’s when the AR pistol came to mind.”

And in addition to the peace of mind that comes

the social upheaval we’ve all experienced in one form

with personal-defense carry, there’s definitely a “fun”

or another over the past year, as well as the constant

component involved. Becoming more embedded in the

uncertainty that’s part and parcel of doing business in the

local gun culture is one aspect of that. “Even though I got

downtown areas of any large city, were one deciding factor

my start in California and Nevada, I’ve adapted to the

in what prompted the build and Haydostian’s subsequent

Texas way of life, and guns are a large part of that here,” he

upgrades, as well as plans for future additions to his

says. “I enjoy shooting recreationally at ranges and targets

collection.

and I’ll be moving into more tactical applications when I

“Last year there was a massive riot happening in downtown Austin with looting, business break-ins, and

get more time.”

He continues: “Ultimately, I built this AR like I do my

even people getting shot/beat/killed. My restaurant was

cars. I wanted as much carbon fiber as possible while

literally four blocks away from it all. At that time I only had

having some clean accents and a solid look. This is

two guns. I carried both with me and all the extra ammo/

my first custom build but most definitely will not be my last. I’m already talking with Violent Art Firearms for a

Optic: Holosun 510C Parts & Accessories: VAF/ICRW S2 Blackdiamond BCG, White Label Armory pistol-length gas tube, Fortis Mfg. carbon ejection port cover & Shift carbon fiber foregrip, Fortis SLS Fifty safety selector, Breek Arms Warhammer ambi charging handle, Odin Works .750 tunable gas block & CQ-B brace, Elftmann Tactical Match trigger, White Label Armory trigger pins, Iron City Rifle Works titanium takedown pins, Battle Arms Development bolt catch & EMMR mag release lever, Smoke Composites carbon fiber pistol grip, 2A Armament lower parts kit, Magpul PMAG Gen2, Taran Tactical +5 basepad

About the Owner Name: Christopher Haydostian Occupation: Chef, Restaurateur Social: IG & Facebook @Violent Art Firearms; URL: violentartfirearms.com

9mm pistol build and I’ll probably be adding that to the collection by the time this goes to print.” [ UN12 ]

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General Feature

Passive Night Vision Text by CHARLES “CHIP” LASKY Images by the author

I

& BASECAMP CREATIVE GROUP

t’s no secret that night vision technology provides an extreme advantage on the modern battlefield. Humans

are not nocturnal by nature. We get more than 90% of our sensory information from our eyes. When it gets dark, our world gets very small, very fast. Therefore, it’s no wonder that we retreat inside, get tired, or seek out light sources at night. Humans, like the rest of the animal kingdom, are naturally afraid of the dark. Darkness severely hampers our sight, limiting our perception of the world around us.

This is a major contributing factor to nighttime being the right time for the good guys to do bad things to the bad guys.

Using Night Optic Devices (NODs), we can amplify the muchreduced light that exists in the darkness into something resembling daytime. Image Intensification (I2) also sees outside the visible light spectrum (about 380-750nm), and into the infrared light spectrum (about 700nm-1,400nm), greatly increasing the information presented to the user. All this added information adds up to darkness being an ally to night-vision-equipped operators. But times are changing, and our enemies are no longer night-blind.

The first combat deployment of night vision occurred during World War II using what’s now considered “Gen0” technology.

These Gen0 devices required an active infrared illuminator to produce a beam of IR light only seen through the night vision optic.

The 1960s saw the fielding of the first Gen1 devices, known as “starlight scopes.” They did not require any infrared illumination and amplified ambient light from the moon, stars, or manufactured sources. But their utility was limited to short ranges and they lacked resolution. Gen2 made great leaps forward in capability in the 1980s. But it wasn’t until the 1990s when Gen3 image intensifier tubes came on scene that the technology really started making a difference. The beginning of the Global War on Terror saw the good guys go into battle with an unimaginable advantage over the dirt farmers who perpetrated the attacks on 9/11.

At no time in history has such an advanced fighting force gone to war against such an unprepared enemy. The Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters were crushed by B-52s during the day and routed at night

by NODs-equipped special operators. But like most good things, it would not last forever. Early in the war the bad guys figured out that we were able to see, target, and kill them in the dark. They realized we had magic goggles that allowed us to move and fight with relative impunity around the clock. Unfortunately for them, the only technology they had for seeing in the dark was called a flashlight, which was easily seen by anyone using the naked eye. They soon began adapting to their disadvantage by walking around with camcorders equipped with night vision, giving them limited capability for movement. But these cameras’ greatest advantage was that it “bloomed out” when hit by infrared lights

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103

General Feature

and lasers—the primary weapon aiming tool

targeting through NODs without producing an

for night-vision-equipped good guys.

active infrared signature. This is traditionally

My good friend Bill is a retired Army officer.

scope or Clip-On Night Vision Device (CNVD).

to SOF teams in 2002, he was overlooking

But these options mean the user needs to

a valley with from an OP with an A-Team.

heft his weapon just to see in the dark. A more

They saw a group of four people moving

practical method is to look through a weapon

in the dark a few hundred yards down the

optic while wearing the night vision goggle on

valley floor through their night vision goggles.

the head.

At that distance, and with limited ambient

Infrared lasers are the traditional methods of

illumination, Bill could not establish Positive

aiming a weapon system under NODs. Most

Identification (PID). He called a loitering

laser aiming modules will feature multiple

AC-130 gunship to “burn” the position with

outputs including IR Aiming Laser, Visible

their massive IR illuminator from overhead. As

Aiming Laser, and IR Illuminator. The aiming

soon as the invisible IR light hit the group, they

lasers are self-explanatory, but the following

started running. Since there were no friendly

explanations are for the public-school kids.

units in front of Bill’s position, he released the

IR Aiming Lasers can only be seen through

AC-130 to go weapons hot. Knowing the bad

NODs. Depending on the power of the laser

guys had no night vision capability, Bill’s team

and the output setting chosen by the user,

was perplexed as to how they knew they were

they can appear as thin straight lines of

being targeted. It wasn’t until they conducted

energy emanating from the laser box itself.

the Bomb Damage Assessment (BDA) the

The emission point will generally produce a

“Passive night vision is a method of aiming through NODs without producing an active IR signature, traditionally using an NV scope or CNVD.” following morning that they discovered a

“bloom” that looks like a ball of light. A similar bloom will appear at the impact point of the laser. Again, this is only observed through image intensification devices and is invisible to the naked eye. The beam itself will be more or less visible through NODs depending on the amount of atmospheric particles in the air along with the aforementioned power outputs.

Low-power IR lasers may not have a visible beam from emission to impact point, but the bloom effect at both ends will be seen. The beam divergence (think of it as how tightly focused the beam is) will often be somewhere between 2-6 MOA. However, it will usually appear larger due to the impact point bloom.

IR Aiming Lasers will have both windage and elevation adjustments so the laser can be zeroed to the host weapon and ammunition.

Visible Aiming Lasers are very similar to

wrecked Sony Nightshot camcorder among

their IR counterparts, but they can be seen in

the body parts. Bear in mind this was 2002.

the visible light spectrum with the naked eye.

As the war progressed, bad guys acquired more and more means to see in the dark.

Battlefield pickups, stolen equipment, and

They have many of the same properties and will be either red or green.

IR Illuminators are infrared flashlights.

night vision brought in from China, Russia,

Like the aiming laser, they are only observed

Chechnya, and other places began showing

through night vision. But they will have a

up and began being used against coalition

widely focusable beam. IR illuminators require

forces. Viewing the first decade of war

much more power than aiming lasers due to

through NODs, you could see a beautiful

the energy requirements of their wide and

display of infrared lasers lighting up the

narrow beams. They’re designed to flood

night like a scene out of Star Wars. But the

darker areas that may not be resolved with

back half would be different. As the enemy

image intensification devices alone with

gained greater ability to see in the infrared

artificial IR light. At their widest they produce

light spectrum, the good guys needed to go

a large beam designed for close-range

passive.

illumination. At their narrowest they can look

Passive night vision aiming is a method of

104

done with a weapon-mounted night vision

As a young fire support controller attached

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like a lightsaber for thousands of yards.

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Night Vision

01 03 02 04

01 Seen from the perspective of an enemy with NODs capability, the use of an IR laser immediately draws attention to the good guys.

02 From the shooter’s perspective, IR lasers provide a quick and easy aiming tool.

They are also great for communication with other NODs equipped elements.

03 Seen from the perspective of an enemy with NODs capability, the use of passive aiming keeps the good guys significantly less conspicuous.

04 With the use of a taller red dot optic mount, Passive NODs aiming is exactly the same as aiming during the day.

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General Feature

“The benefits of IR laser aiming are pretty obvious; since no optic is required to aim, users simply turn on their zeroed IR laser, account for their laser offset, and play the video game.”

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UN12 / Issue 015

simply turn on their zeroed IR laser, account for their laser offset, and play the video game.

Guns outfitted with IR lasers do not even need to be shouldered. An experienced operator

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The benefits of IR laser aiming are pretty obvious. Since no optic is required to aim, users

who understands his offset can make combat effective hits literally from the hip. They are also great communication tools between friendly ground, surface, and aerial assets. The same line of IR energy used for aiming can be dualpurposed as a pointer. Rather than attempting to explain something over the radio, you can point directly to it with the laser. Anyone with NODs will immediately see it.

IR Illuminators can work in much the same way. The highly focused, high-output setting is often used to point things out to aerial platforms under goggles.

All of this technology is very fast. The lack of optic aiming requirement allows for a lot of shooting positions that may not be easily attainable given battlefield conditions. It was also readily embraced by the generation that fought the GWOT since they grew up on video games. But like anything else, you need to give something to get something. It didn’t take long before the enemy adapted.

The most obvious and low-tech method employed to avoid getting shot in the pitchblack of night was to limit, or eliminate altogether, nighttime activity. While this tactic might have saved a few bad guys from getting shot in the dark, the war machine eventually caught up with them. Just because the bad guys hunkered down at night didn’t mean the good guys weren’t on the move with their night vision. The bad guys started experimenting with less conventional night vision devices—such as camcorders. While less than ideal compared to an AN/PVS-14, it gave them the ability to track IR light once thought invisible to them. And it wasn’t long before they started getting their hands on actual night vision goggles, some of them low-end Russian or Chinese units.

Regardless, all of them could see in the IR light spectrum and identify IR lasers/illuminators.

The dirt farmers were catching up.

Fast-forward to the present day, where the current administration left $81 billion worth of military hardware in the hands of the very Taliban terrorists we had been fighting for 20 years, including 16,000 sets of Gen3 night vision goggles and 45,000 AN/PEQ-15 lasers.

Suddenly, the woefully outmatched enemy forces are near peer/peer fighting forces in terms of technology. And when you consider that the Russians, Chinese, North Koreans, and other Arab nations already have such devices, the West is far from owning the night.

Attempting to use IR lasers in current conflicts the same way we used them through the

Night Vision

of them high-end battlefield pick-ups, some

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107

It wasn’t long before we realized passive night aiming was an all-around superior aiming method in terms of marksmanship.

IR aiming lasers averaged about 0.5 mRad divergence. That would be a great pinpoint aiming tool if it simply terminated at 0.5 mRad

General Feature

at the impact point. But the extra energy needed to go somewhere, and that created a sizable bloom on the target. The bloom would only get larger as we closed distance with the target. And in many cases, the bloom wound up obscuring the entire center mass of a bad guy. This wasn’t ideal when we were looking to make lethal hits or not detonate an S-vest he was wearing. But looking through a night-vision-compatible red dot optic was a different story.

Military-issued red dots have night vision settings that display the dot or reticle in the near-infrared spectrum. It appears almost or completely invisible to the naked eye but is completely visible through NODs. The 1 MOA center dot in an EOTech and the 2 MOA dot in an Aimpoint were pinpoint aiming devices for us. Already very adept at engaging targets with these optics during the day, we dealt

01

wholesale death with them at night. You didn’t have to hope the center of the laser bloom majority of the GWOT is liable to attract heavy fire from enemy forces who are able to see the same IR energy.

Enter passive night vision aiming. Over the past several years, SOCOM/JSOC units have sharply pivoted to passive aiming to counter the fact that adversaries have night vision too. Passive night vision aiming does not require the use of any active IR signature.

The operator simply shoulders his weapon in a position that allows him to see through his weapon optic while observing through the head-borne night vision goggle. Not without its challenges, passive night vision aiming is the next evolution of night vision engagement on the modern battlefield. What was old is new again.

The early years of the GWOT saw a lot of first-time large-scale fielding of gear. M1913

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“Passive night vision aiming does not require the use of any active IR signature. The operator simply shoulders his weapon while observing his optic via NVGs.” this, we relied on passive night vision aiming.

The challenge with passive night vision

(accounting for offset at various ranges) was going to put a round through the bad guy’s heart and not his bowels. You could see where you were aiming!

As great as passive aiming was, it did come with some tradeoffs. Unlike active laser use, passive night vision engagement lacks communication capability. The goal is to not go shining IR lasers all over the place where anyone with NODs can see them. So the easy laser pointing component is not as easy.

Can you activate a laser if you really need to? Sure, but you better make sure the juice is worth the squeeze. Passive night vision engagement also requires a tall mount for the weapon optic. Shorter absolute, lower 1/3, and even 1.93 mounts are much slower and more awkward to use. This is exacerbated while wearing tactical gear that further limits body positioning. And while tall mounts

Picatinny mounting platforms were still very

aiming was that absolute cowitness mounted

have certainly made a comeback in the SOF,

new, IR lasers had only really been used by

red dot sights of the time required the removal

LE, and civilian communities, they’re not

special operations forces, and there was no

of neck vertebrae if you wanted to get a

for everyone. I have personally always liked

real night vision training program. It was not

helmet-mounted NOD behind it. The optic

taller mounts. As an operator, and now as an

uncommon to see AN/PAQ-4 and AN/PEQ-

needed to be raised up. Luckily, we were

instructor, I’m wearing armor 99% of the time.

2A lasers bolted to the plastic handguards

already mounting our optics on top of our

Day or night, tall mounts just seem to make

on M4 and M-16 rifles. (You can probably

carry handles to clear our Peltor COMTAC

things easier. But as with any optic mount or

imagine how stable that configuration was.)

headsets from impinging on our buttstocks

laser, you need to understand your offset at

Indeed, the rail systems were not much better.

anyway. The ability to passively aim through

various ranges.

While the early RIS from Knight’s Armament

NODs was an unintended benefit. At the

Co. was well-made, it was still held in place by

time, we weren’t concerned about signature

use is not as tangible as stealth in the face

spring tension from the delta ring. This meant

reduction because our enemy had almost

of an enemy wearing night vision goggles.

that a zeroed laser may have been “minute of

zero night vision capability. We were more

As previously mentioned, active IR can be

hadji” at 100 yards, but you wouldn’t want to

concerned with having a stable aiming

detected by other technology, including

rely on it to take a high-percentage shot. To do

platform.

camcorders. Many cell phones will also see IR

Another benefit to passive night vision

and near-IR. If the cameras in these devices can see IR, does that mean other cameras can see it too? The short answer is yes, and here is where things get even trickier. My ADT security cameras in the front and back of my home have a night vision mode. If I want to monitor their feed in real time, I simply open my ADT Pulse app. The night vision image I see is created from the camera using an active infrared LED illuminator and recording in IR mode (just like Gen0 night vision). And if it sees its own active infrared illuminator, it most definitely sees my weapon-mounted IR laser. Food for thought if you’re planning an assault on a target that has cameras. If you think you’re reenacting the final scene of “Zero Dark Thirty,” trying to get all the elements into position with IR lasers, the bad

02

guys have most likely known you were there for a while.

And it’s not just high-end security system cameras that see IR. Off-the-shelf DIY cameras and Ring doorbells see IR, too.

Hell, Walmart trail cameras have night vision settings that utilize the same technology.

In fact, these devices may be even more dangerous. When my Ring doorbell detects motion (which may include the sweep of an IR light), it sends me an instant notification on my cell phone!

Positional passive night vision shooting can be challenging. One of the aspects of wearing night vision that messes with people’s spatial UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —

awareness is the size of the goggle on the head. More to the point, our eyeballs are no longer on the fronts of our faces while we’re wearing NODs. They are, for all intents and the end of the goggle’s objective lens. This can cause some physical limitations when getting into various shooting positions.

03

The optic pod(s) in a night vision goggle

because you may need supplemental IR

are perpendicular to your face, requiring

illumination. Also, it’s not always the fastest

that your eye(s) look forward in order to see

aiming method for close engagements. I

though the tubes. Thus the presence of the

much prefer passive aiming outdoors when

goggle requires that it is aligned somewhat

I’m trying to preserve stealth. But CQB is

behind the optic on the gun in order for you

often without cover and concealment. At that

to see through it. And when you take into

point, the enemy seeing my laser with their

consideration that shooting positions in actual

NODs is the least of my concerns.

combat are far from the clean “standing,

I am not saying that lasers are on a

kneeling, prone” on square ranges, it’s easy

downtrend. They are still one of the best

to see the challenges. Here again, a tall optic

all-around devices for night vision operations

mount will help. But it will not completely

and should be on every weapon system

solve the problem.

employed by professional teams. But we

All things considered, the advantages of

also don’t want to train for the last war we

no active IR signature and more pinpoint

fought. Our enemies today—tonight—are

accuracy make passive night vision aiming

highly motivated and better equipped than

a superior technique… for some things. The

ever. They possess near-peer and peer-level

benefits of passive night vision aiming are

technology that forces us to adapt our tactics,

myriad for outdoor and ranged engagements.

techniques, and procedures. Until out-of-

But image intensification requires the

band SWIR technology is more widely fielded,

presence of some ambient light to amplify.

passive night vision aiming is going to play a

Extreme dark conditions will sometimes

much larger role on the battlefield.

negate the use of passive aiming simply

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01 Besides the daytime/ kit-integration benefits of a taller red dot mount, the main reason SOF units are moving towards them is the seamless transition from daytime to passive NODs shooting.

There is no change in presentation.

02 Bloom from an IR laser can attract a lot of attention from enemies equipped with NODs.

03 Regardless of which NODs aiming technology is used, neither is visible to the naked eye.

Night Vision

purposes, 5 inches in front of our faces, at

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109

Featured Gun

Customized FightLite SCR Text by JOHN SCOTT Images by MICHAEL GREY

: : Utilizes AR-15 upper receivers : : Similar ergonomics to a traditional rifle or shotgun : : Accepts most AR-15 magazines

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111

Featured Gun

I

nnovation is driven by many factors. Sometimes it’s by need, sometimes by opportunity. One thing

is certain: Innovation is almost always pushed forward by creativity. The firearm you see here is probably one of the more unique innovations that have come to market in the past decade. Its owner, Ben Dixon, picked it up about five years ago and its been a workhorse for him ever since.

Initially introduced in 2014 by Ares Defense Systems (ADS), the SCR is now offered by ADS’s subsidiary, FightLite Industries. The SCR is an innovative firearm that blends the accuracy and reliability of an AR-15 with the

“SCR stands for Sport Configurable Rifle; it blends the accuracy and reliability of an AR-15 with the ergonomics of a more traditional rifle or shotgun.”

ergonomics of a traditional rifle or shotgun. SCR stands for Sport Configurable Rifle, and the example featured here has been customized by its owner to serve a variety of purposes to include roles as a varmint hunter and allaround truck gun.

Dixon gives us the lowdown on how he came across his SCR: “About five years ago, I decided I wanted to try out something different than the usual ARs that I had owned up until then. I read about the SCR in a magazine and thought it interesting that it was a hybrid between an AR and a more classic rifle. Since I had plenty of AR upper parts lying around, I figured I’d buy a complete SCR lower to try it out.

Back then the brand was called Ares

you’d be very surprised at just how good it feels. Pull is crisp and light enough to take some pretty tight groups at distance. Aside from having a great factory trigger, the ergonomics are familiar since I shoot a lot of shotguns.”

Dixon bought a complete SCR lower receiver but pieced together the AR-15 upper that tops it from the AR parts Defense,

bin in his garage. “Being an owner of a few ARs, I ended

now the brand

up with plenty of parts that I used to build this upper,” he

is called FightLite.

So if you look at mine, it says Ares on it, but it’s pretty much the same thing.”

Just how did the SCR work out for

the barrel, charging handle, iron sights, and optic. You have to keep in mind that I assembled this upper about five years ago so the parts aren’t the latest and greatest any more, but they’re still very cool in my opinion. They

Dixon? “It was a fun curiosity at first,” he tells us. “My

work well enough that I haven’t been tempted to change

buddies would come over and check it out and not think

them since.”

much about it. It wasn’t until I modified it that they really

112

says. “The only new items I bought just for this build were

Part by part, Dixon gave us a rundown of the

took notice. As far as shooting it, I liked it a lot. It doesn’t

components he used to build it. “I started with a scratch

use an AR trigger—it’s more like a shotgun trigger—but

and dent ‘keyhole’ Cerro Forge upper that I had in my

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Optic A Leupold DeltaPoint Pro serves as the main targeting interface.

BCG The SCR’s bolt carrier is slightly different than an AR’s, but the bolt itself is identical.

BUS Iron sights from a CZ Scorpion EVO serve as backups to the Leupold red dot.

Brake

Charging A Rainier Avalanche ambi handle with knurled grips cycles the action.

Pinned and welded to bring the barrel’s length up to 16 inches.

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Featured Gun

BUS The low-profile irons work well with the SCR Monte Carlo stock’s cheek weld.

Lower The buttstock, a synthetic Monte Carlo, is integrated with the lower as on a more traditional rifle.

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Handguard

Mags

A 13.5-inch m-lok model of uncertain make came out of the parts bin.

The SCR will accept virtually any AR magazine.

“The muzzle brake is pinned and welded but remains slim enough that the barrel can be removed or swapped out without issue.”

parts bin and mounted a 5.56mm Faxon Gunner profile barrel in it. I bought this Faxon barrel because it has an ultra-slim profile and a 3-port brake pinned and welded to it for a 16-inch overall length. The barrel itself is 14.5 inches long but the muzzle brake brings it to 16 inches overall. It’s so slim that the gas block diameter is just 0.625 inches. Luckily, Superlative Arms makes adjustable gas blocks that small; I was able to use one of their bleed-off

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models with a Melonite finish on this build.

“I absolutely love this barrel. It’s accurate and is one of the lightest barrels I’ve come across. The thin profile of the muzzle brake allows the pinned-and-welded barrel

upper receiver just so that it didn’t have a hole there where the forward assist was missing.”

This SCR features a synthetic Monte Carlo stock, which

to be installed on and removed from any upper receiver

means there’s a raised hump in the stock’s upper ridge

without any issues.” Barrel nuts that usually wouldn’t clear

that helps provide a higher cheek weld than the standard

most pinned and welded muzzle brakes are sure to fit over

stock the original Ares SCR came with. “At the time,

Faxon’s super-slim brake, allowing it to easily move to

the Monte Carlo version of the SCR lower was hard to

different uppers.

come by and consistently sold out as soon as any were

Dixon continues: “After the barrel was mounted, I

restocked,” Dixon says. “I jumped on it as soon as I saw

installed a 13.5-inch m-lok handguard. Unfortunately I

one. The raised part helps keep my head perfectly in-line

don’t remember the brand; it was a take-off part that I had

with a low-mounted optic.” We took a look and it now

stashed in my parts bin. I like how narrow it is. I did buy

looks like this stock profile is standard on all of FightLite’s

a Rainier Industries Avalanche ambidextrous charging

current SCR offerings.

handle for this upper, though. It was a fancy new part back

The rest of the lower remains factory stock except for

then and I thought it was really cool how they designed

the magazine release. “The SCR’s one design misstep is

it to function. The handles on it can be swapped out for

the location of its magazine release button,” Dixon adds.

different styles, so I chose a set of knurled handles that

“Unless you’ve got fingers like E.T., you’re not going to be

are super easy to grip. Although it’s non-functional for the

able to reach it with your firing hand still on the grip. For a

SCR, I did install a Strike Industries forward assist into the

right-handed shooter like me to change mags, you have UN12mag.com

115

Featured Gun

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E X P L O D E D VIEW

to release the grip or use your off-hand and reach around to the right side of the receiver to hit the release. The only thing I could think of to make the situation better was to make the mag release bigger and add an ambidextrous function to it.

“I installed a Knight’s Armament ambidextrous magazine release with their cold weather button kit on the lower. The cold weather button enlarges the mag release, making it an easier target to hit, and the ambi lever on the opposite side of the receiver gives me another option

and painted it himself using DuraCoat spray coatings. He

for ejecting the magazine. In fact, the ambi lever extends

explains how he created the great looking camo job: “My

rearward enough that if I had my left hand on the grip I can

SCR was originally all black. Blah, boring. I wanted to give

just manage to reach it without breaking my grip.”

it a different look that would also last so I decided to pick but without all the hassle. I used pieces of masking tape

mags because they’re easier to store in his range bag. He

to create the pattern it wears today. This stuff is great; it’s

did mention that the 30 or more rounders that he’s tried

barely shown any wear over the past five years of use.”

function just as well. The SCR uses a proprietary bolt

Accessory-wise, he added a Magpul m-lok hand stop

carrier and buffer system. The bolt carrier group is similar

kit as well as backup iron sights from a CZ Scorpion EVO.

to that of an AR-15, except that it has a strut that extends

Why the CZ sights, you may ask? We wondered as well.

back and downward into the stock. The bolt, however, is

“The height of the buttstock relative to the upper receiver’s

the same as those found in any common AR-15. In place

Pic rail is different from an AR’s,” he reveals. “It requires

of a standard buffer and action spring, a smaller buffer and

lower irons and a lower optic position, too. After some

recoil spring help cycle the action.

experimenting and looking at what other people did on

Dixon completed his SCR by adding some accessories

116

up a few rattle cans of DuraCoat. It’s kind of like Cerakote

magazine. Dixon likes using shorter 10- and 20-round

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the forums, I learned that this sight setup works well for

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The SCR can take just about any AR-15 pattern

Customized FightLite SCR Specifications Caliber: 5.56x45mm Capacity: Varies on magazine Overall Length: 36.0 in.

Weight Unloaded: 6 lbs, 3 oz.

Barrel Length: 14.5 in. (16.0 in. w/ pinned, welded muzzle brake)

“The camo coating was rattle-canned by the owner using DuraCoat; it barely shows any wear despite enduring years of use.”

Featured Accessories Optic: Leupold DeltaPoint Pro Sights: CZ Scorpion EVO front & rear irons Barrel: Faxon Gunner profile barrel w/ integral slim 3-port brake Parts & Accessories: Rainier Industries Avalanche ambidextrous charging handle, Superlative Arms .625” adjustable gas block, Knight’s Armament Co. ambidextrous magazine release w/cold weather button kit, Magpul m-lok hand stop kit, Strike Industries AR forward assist, DuraCoat aerosol UV

my SCR. The CZ Scorpion EVO’s irons are a good height for the SCR, as is a low-mounted red dot. In my case, I went with a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro. The red dot and irons don’t co-witness at all, but if I need to use the irons for any reason, I’d just remove the DeltaPoint.”

After spending some time with Dixon’s SCR, we started to think about tinkering with one ourselves too. His build is maybe several years old, but it still seems pretty innovative and unique in many ways. It’s refreshing to see different platforms receive well-thought-out mods. We’re looking forward to seeing what other older platforms get the

About the Owner

modified treatment that they deserve. In the meantime,

Name: Ben Dixon

we’ll be looking at FightLight’s website to see what else

Occupation: Restaurant Manager

they offer. [ UN12 ]

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Product Review

BATTLE ARMS DEVELOPMENT 118

UN12 / Issue 015

BAD-CSS Vert PDW Stock System Text by JERRY TSAI Images by ROBERTO FLORES/BATTLE ARMS DEVELOPMENT

S

ome say the shorter the better. Length, or lack thereof, is an attribute that some

shooters require or simply desire from their weapons. It wasn’t long ago that the shortest length of an AR-15 measured about 30 inches, give or take an inch. Limited by gas and buffer systems of the time, an AR-based SBR could only go so short. Since those days, the AR-15 pattern firearm has seen many innovations that have kept pushing the decades-old platform to new—shorter—lengths.

One of the leaders in firearms innovation, especially in the AR space, is Battle Arms Development. Headquartered in Nevada, the company is known for its out-of-the-box engineering and slick-looking designs. Their latest innovation is a newly improved version of their PDW stock, called the BAD-CSS Vert PDW Stock System. This ultra-short stock collapses down to an astonishing 4.25 inches in length, a feat that might have seemed impossible not long ago. Along with its abbreviated size, the complete stock system—which includes not

“One of the secrets to the stock system’s success is in its newly upgraded buffer system; the ultra-compact buffer and spring combine to form Battle Arms’ patented, recoilreducing, dualspring buffer design.”

only the stock but also the buffer tube, buffer, and buffer spring—weighs only 19.5 ounces.

This sexy-looking stock comes with a carbon-fiber-look cheek pad, and its robust butt-plate features two QD sling mounts machined right into it. One of the secrets to the BAD-CSS Vert PDW’s overall improvement is in its newly upgraded buffer system. The ultra-compact buffer and buffer spring combine to form Battle Arms Development’s patented, recoil-reducing, dual-spring buffer design. What we get from this system is smooth and reliable operation packaged in the most compact form possible.

Will it work in your existing gun? All early indications say yes. Battle Arms made sure that their PDW stock was compatible with 5.56mm, .300BLK and 9mm caliber ARs using standard M16 or 9mm PCC BCGs. No extra parts to buy, the PDW system is designed to drop into most ARs without issue. It’s even engineered for fullauto and semi-auto actions.

Thanks to innovative outfits like Battle Arms Development, our PDWs keep getting shorter and shorter all without losing functionality and reliability. We look forward to putting some

configurable stock extension includes three

trigger time on a gun outfitted with this stock

options for both two and four length positions.

and we also look forward to seeing what other

extended out to 8.75 inches. Unlike other PDW

One of the options allows you to bypass

innovations Battle Arms Development comes

stocks, it provides a continuous cheek weld for

use of the stock’s release button for quicker

out with in the near future.

comfortable and stable shooting. The user-

deployment.

[ UN12 ]

This feature-rich PDW stock system can be

: : Ultra-compact 4.25-inch collapsed length : : Continuous cheek rest for stable shooting : : Super lightweight; complete system weighs only 19 oz.

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Product Review: BAD-CSS Vert PDW Stock System

120

UN12 / Issue 015

Features •

Fully collapsed length: 4.75 in.

•

Fully extended length: 8.75 in.

•

Precision-CNC’d 7075-T6 aircraftgrade aluminum housing & buttstock

•

High-impact-resistant S7 tool steel guide rods & locking latch

•

Mil-Spec Type III Class 2 black hard anodizing

•

M16 BCG compatible (no proprietary bolt carrier group required)

•

Ultra-compact buffer & buffer spring

•

Patented recoil-reducing dual-spring buffer design

•

Continuous cheek rest for stable shooting

•

Two QD sling mounting points integrated on buttstock

•

Interchangeable cheek rest

•

Intelligent guide rod lock design with three user-adjustable options

•

Rapid stock deployment option

•

Only 19 oz. complete with stock, buffer tube, buffer & buffer spring

•

US Patents: US20160305738A1, USD810225S1, US9915492B2, US20170314886A1

UN12 BATTLE ARMS DEVELOPMENT BAD-CSS Vert PDW Stock System URL: battlearmsdevelopment.com

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Product Review

STRIKE INDUSTRIES

122

UN12 / Issue 015

Multidirectional Picatinny Rail Covers Text & Images by JAMES YORK

I

n less than three decades, the Picatinny rail system has

become the standard by which all other accessory attachment systems are judged. The great majority of weapons and modular weapon accessories are built to its specification. No matter what you call it—MIL-STD-1913 rail or even 1913 or Pic rail for short—there’s a good chance that you have some length of it on one or more of your firearms.

Those of us who accessorize our guns with add-on accessories such as optics and lights can appreciate the greatness of this easy-to-use, reliable, ubiquitous attachment system. Even with sleeker options such as m-lok taking over more

“In addition to covering the rail segments you want covered, integrated channels allow for accessory cables to be routed in various ways.”

rail space in recent years, you can still count on the easily repeatable Picatinny rail to grace your gun’s topside in most cases.

For engineering reasons we won’t get into in this article, Picatinny remains the preferred attachment method for optics, which means it’s likely you’ll find it running along your rifle’s top spine, even if it does rock m-lok everywhere else. While there

are several drawbacks to Pic rail, such as sharp edges (it’s nicknamed “cheese grater” for a reason after all) and added overall weight, we old-school shooters still prefer it on all fours sides of our now seemingly old-fashioned quad-rails. No matter if you’re looking to cover just the Pic rail on your gun’s 12 o’clock

: : Modular rail cover system : : Built-in cable management : : Constructed of rigid yet flexible polymer

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Product Review: Multidirectional Picatinny Rail Cover

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

position, or all four edges of a quad-rail, Strike Industries (SI) has released a rail cover that’s worth a closer look.

SI’s Multidirectional Picatinny Rail Cover is more than a one-trick pony. It’s made of a semi-rigid polymer they call “Polyflex.” A single pack comes with six translucent smokecolored panels, which will cover four Picatinny segments. That’s two raised and two indented spaces on the rail. The Polyflex material feels rigid, but gives way slightly when it’s snapped onto or pried off of a rail. Think of it like Lego plastic but much more durable. The positive “snap-on” sensation and sound of the panels affixing to a rail is truly satisfactory to the senses; try it and we’re sure you’ll agree.

The roughly three-quarter-inch-long segments allow plenty of placement options, even on shorter rails commonly found on SBRs or rifle-based pistols. We found that two or three packs helped us completely cover the segments we wanted covered on our “M4gery” carbine clone. Once they’re on, the panels are not going anywhere. They fit tightly with no movement whatsoever. And they’re relatively low-profile so they don’t add too much girth, either. They’re not quite as lowprofile as a rail ladder but are most certainly more durable.

They have another benefit as well: They incorporate SI’s Cable Management System

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UN12 / Issue 015

cables to be routed in various ways. We counted no fewer than four ways we could use them to situate our light and laser cables.

Thanks to channels that run on the panel’s reverse sides, cables can be routed alongside, across, or even in U- or Z-shapes underneath the panel itself.

The panels allow a multitude of ways to run cables in and around your Picatinny rail segments for a much neater, snag-free setup.

Even better, the cables will now sit underneath rigid panels that cover as much exposed cable as possible, which in turn protects them from any potential damage. It’s worth noting that, according to SI, the panels accept wires up to 3.5mm in diameter. We experimented with both SureFire and Streamlight wires without issue.

The bottom line is that even with an oldschool design such as Picatinny rail, where you might think you’ve already seen everything, innovative companies like Strike Industries are still coming up with new and imaginative accessories for it. We dig the SI panels’ rigidity, modularity, and especially their cablemanagement properties. If you’re looking to update your Picatinny rail setup with a clean solution, we believe these rail covers are worth a try. [ UN12 ]

PICATINNY

integrated channels that allow for accessory

Strike Industries

Strike Multidirectional Picatinny Rail Cover w/Cable Management P/N: SI-AR-CMS-MP MSRP: $19 (6-pack)

: : For more information: URL: strikeindustries.com

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design language, which means they have

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125

Customization

Personalized Knife Text by CHRIS LEE Images by CARLO CABREJOS

B

ased in Petaluma, California, Begg

series is their “production” line of knives and

Knives consists of a highly skilled

is produced by another fine knifemaking

group of craftsmen who specialize in

outfit, Reate Knives. These Steelcraft series

creating limited runs of knives that combine

blades are labeled as production knives,

exotic materials, modern alloys, and precise

but the attention to detail and fitment of

machining into one-of-a-kind, pocket-carry

components are on par with the knives of

works of art.

some other custom makers.

One look at their knives and we’d think

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UN12 / Issue 015

The model featured here belongs to knife

you’d agree that the company indeed

collector Christian Cardone. Cardone has

produces custom pieces that could be

amassed quite the collection of one-off

considered more pieces of art than merely

blades and is a devoted fan of finely crafted

utilitarian tools. Begg Knives’ Steelcraft

knives. While showing off his Begg Knives

: : Limited production : : Carbon fiber inlay set into G10 scales : : Optional finishes available on backspacer & pocket clip

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127

Customization: Begg Knives

01 G10 scales feature a carbon inlay that boasts a seamless transition between materials.

Specs Overall Length: 7.25 in.

Closed Length: 4.25 in.

Blade Length: 3 in.

Blade Material: CPM S35VN Handle Material: Black G10 Locking Mechanism: Frame Pocket Clip: 3D machined tip-up, right hand Weight: 3.25 oz.

MSRP: $385 URL: beggknives.com

Owner: Christian Cardone

02 The folding mechanism features a ceramic detent and IKBS ceramic bearings for ultra-smooth operation.

Begg Knives Steelcraft Mini Glimpse G10 frame w/carbon inlay Optional Upgrade: Jewel Ice backspacer/pocket clip (blue anodized)

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UN12 / Issue 015

Steelcraft Mini Glimpse, he told us, “The level of

those in the know, the knife’s lines and shape

speaking this tool is made to cut and slice,” Cardone

fitment and finish in the Mini Glimpse’s carbon inlay

are instantly recognizable as a Todd Begg design.

further points out.

within its G10 scales is simply exquisite. With your

This includes the signature fuller with holes cut

eyes closed, you wouldn’t know that there are two

through the blade.

different materials in the scales by feel alone. It’s

It’s certainly a beautiful piece. We’d agree that this knife—and we’re sure Begg Knives’ other blades—

The Mini Glimpse’s curved handle and blade are

are in fact handcrafted works of art. A quick look at

smooth to the touch, with zero gaps or transitions

crafted to make it very comfortable to hold in the hand

the company’s website shows that all of their EDC

between the materials. Simply amazing work.”

and provide additional leverage toward the material

knives are sold out at the time of this article’s writing,

being cut. The knife’s hollow-ground blade is very thin

indicating just how sought-after their blades are. If you

Begg’s optional Jewel Ice finish on the pocket clip and

behind the cutting edge, a feature which also helps

do happen to find one in stock, you may want to snap

liners. The rich finish gives a touch of sparkle and color

promote efficient cutting and slicing. “The design

it up while you can.

that breaks up the knife’s otherwise dark tones.” For

and aesthetics can be polarizing, but ergonomically

Cardone continues: “I chose to outfit my knife with

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129

Competition & Training

Shoot This Drill THE MOD NAVY QUAL Text by

CHRIS SIZELOVE

Illustrations by CHARLES “CHIP” LASKY

I

’ve been doing this qual (or drill, or whatever the current nom de guerre is for graded shooting), or some variation

of it, for almost 20 years. Both personally, as well as using it for an organizational benchmark and gear/carbine setup shakedown. I’ve come to view it as the barbell deadlift of the fighting carbine. If you don’t understand that reference, get your ass to a barbell gym and get a coach ASAP. This is what I mean: To the untrained eye, this drill is pretty simple (i.e., just bend over and pick the bar up). However, there’s a lot going on here amalgamated into one dose, and unless you want to pick up the shattered pieces of your ego along with your brass at the range, you need to understand and apply rapid basics that are almost perfectly executed.

The Qual is simple. Your target is an 8-inch circle at 50 yards.

Your loadout is three magazines of five rounds each. Your firing sequence on the buzzer is five rounds from the standing, speed reload, five rounds from an intermediate position, speed reload, five rounds from the prone.

Let’s break this thing down piece by piece.

THE NAME We can all thank Jeff Gonzales from Trident Concepts for bringing this into the light in the very early 2000s. However, Pat Rogers from EAG Tactical saw its value and did a lot of the heavy lifting in proliferating the drill as great benchmark and skills formulation exercise. How did this drill become popular in some Army SOF circles, even with “Navy” in the name? Pat.

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UN12 / Issue 015

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Competition & Training

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UN12 / Issue 015

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Chris Sizelove retired as a Master Sergeant from the United States Army after twenty years of service. He served 16 years in the 75th Ranger Regiment followed by four years with the Defense Intelligence Agency. While in the Ranger Regiment, he became both a subject matter expert and instructor for carbine, pistol, CQB, assault, joint operations, and forced entry methods. He served as a sniper and a Senior NCO of a Joint Reconnaissance Platoon. In the role of the 75th’s Master Breacher, he led both training as well as R&D for forced entry of all types. Sizelove also propagated and instructed covert carry and vehicle TTPs for specific roles within the Regiment as well as the Defense Intelligence Agency.

THE STANDING

use it for this drill as a stability aid. Having five

Starting from the “ready” position of your choice,

points of contact on the gun makes for faster and

on the buzzer get that reticle settled inside the

more accurate shooting.

8-inch circle and press the trigger five times.

Additional pro tip—your standing position

Doing this without maintaining constant contact

should not be formed toward “absorbing” recoil.

on the trigger will have disastrous results. “Press

We need to transfer that shit into the ground as

to reset” is the way; I don’t care what the internet

efficiently as possible so the reticle doesn’t move

says. The other factors of stance, grip, and sight

around as much during follow-through. Having a

picture all have to be there in order to get this

straight, or near to it, strong-side leg to the rear

done in a rapid cadence. From an instructor’s

will greatly aid that recoil transfer.

point of view, this is when you can literally hear all the components of good shooting coming

THE RELOAD

together. It sounds a lot like about a .35-.50 split

As soon as you get tactile (feeling it) feedback

time continuously with no breakdown during the

in your face that the bolt has locked back to

five-shot string.

the rear, do “your” thing with the speed reload.

A lot of shooters who lack the skills necessary

If as much fat as possible isn’t already cut out

to do that will have a rapid first two rounds,

of “your” thing, then you will find that “your”

then a long break, then a single, then two more

thing may be sub-optimal. Frenetic movement

erratically spaced rounds. That’s all indicative

and straight lines are your biggest enemy and

of little to no recoil control, follow-through, a

greatest friends, respectively.

gross standing off-hand shooting position, and

Pro tip—do this as you are transitioning from

probably a fair amount of trigger rape. Not to

a standing to an intermediate position. There’s

mention rounds not being inside the target area.

no reason to conduct it fully from standing, then

Pro tip—if you have a two-point adjustable

start moving into the next position.

sling, size it for your weapon and your body and

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50 YA

50 YARDS UN12mag.com

Competition & Training

MOD NAVY QUAL: BREAKDOWN 1) STANDING— STABILITY IS CRITICAL TO ACCURACY; A TWOPOINT SLING MAY BE USED TO INDUCE FIVE POINTS OF CONTACT.

2) KNEELING—ANY POSITION THAT GETS YOU AT ROUGHLY HALF YOUR STANDING HEIGHT, REGARDLESS OF KNEES ON THE GROUND.

3) PRONE—YOUR SUPPORT HAND AND SLING SHOULD BE DOING A LOT OF WORK HERE TO KEEP YOUR WEAPON ANCHORED.

THE KNEELING (INTERMEDIATE)

to reason that if you can deliver rapid accurate

I’m gonna start this off with a little bit of a rant,

rounds from standing, then there’s no need to

but it needs to be said. I term any position

change anything at all besides dropping down

that gets you about half as tall as you are an

to both knees and doing it again. It also has

“intermediate” position. Whatever gets that done

the bonus of keeping your support equipment

is acceptable here. The presence of actual knees

(magazines, pistol, med kits) all in the same

on the ground is irrelevant. I’ve worked with too

orientation respective to your arms and torso

many agencies and organizations who, for some

as the standing position, so any skills you have

reason, mandate that one or both knees have

developed manipulating those things will still be

to be on the ground for a position to “count” or

present with no movement modifications needed

“be authorized.” This is stupid. If the position

at all. Both of these things equate to efficiency,

is the same as far as vertical height goes, and

which is in dire need here.

the shooter can get into it, shoot from it, reload from it, and get out of it all with the time and/or

THE PRONE

efficiency required, then what does it matter?

This, believe it or not, is the biggest hangup

Ok, rant over.

for a lot of shooters. Why? I think it’s primarily

All the same raw shooting points brought up

“Recoil management is more important than stability.

Your ability to deliver a single accurate shot is irrelevant here; we need five as fast as possible, and all of them accurate (enough).”

above are in effect here, and again you might

hardwired that prone equals slow shooting for

find that “your” preferred intermediate position

administrative zero purposes, or just extreme

might be less than optimal. Typically, this is

accuracy (8 inches at 50 yards is in no way

due to shooters thinking that stability is the

extreme, folks) and they have never trained a

cut, punctured, torn, blistered, etc., and then

key component. I concede that it’s important;

prone position, or just shooting from prone that’s

the weapon is in charge. Wearing gloves gives

however, I will put forth that recoil management

both fast and accurate. Let the wheels come

you the ability to post out into prone (or working

and follow-through are more important. There

off some at this point. Get down into prone,

any barricade or whatever) without trying

are many intermediate positions that are

anchor that goddamn gun to the ground and to

to consciously or subconsciously minimize

stable until you press the trigger, then it takes

you (your support side hand and sling should be

damage to your hands. It will also make sure that

an eternity for the reticle to fall back where

doing a lot work here), put that reticle where it

you stay in charge of that potentially hot and/or

you need it for follow-up shots because those

needs to be, and press that trigger five times. If

sharp hunk of metal that launches bullets over

positions don’t lend themselves to exceptional

the gun is anchored, those hits will be there.

which your hands need to maintain ultimate and

recoil management. Your ability to deliver a

When it comes to the prone position, again,

tyrannical control.

single accurate shot is irrelevant here; we need

you can pull off a single accurate shot from any

five as fast as possible, and all of them accurate

f’ed up position you want assuming you put the

THE SCORING

(enough). And oh yeah, conduct that second

reticle where it needs to be and process that

Here is where me and Jeff and Pat differ. I use

reload in the midst of going down into prone.

trigger without disturbing said reticle. The fork

a 25-second par time, and only clean runs

in the road is when we need to do that five times

count—that is, 15 hits inside the 8-inch circle.

kneeling to the church going crowd, is almost

as rapidly as possible while still maintaining the

You can YouTube search “mod navy qual” and

universally the answer here. I have seen shooters

necessary accuracy component. That changes

see a video that Jeff G. made over a decade

use braced or speed-kneeling effectively, but

things. And may change “your” prone.

ago where he explains the scoring algorithm

Pro tip—Monica, also known as double

not many. The advantage of the Monica position

134

because a lot of shooters are mentally

4 )RELOADS— SHOULD ALWAYS BE PERFORMED SMOOTHLY WHILE TRANSITIONING FROM ONE POSITION TO THE NEXT.

Pro tip—wear gloves always when working

to determine a hit factor and different levels of

is that nothing has changed from your waist up

a carbine or pistol hard. Adult males turn into

expert, intermediate, shitty, and so on. Don’t

from when you’re shooting standing. So it stands

pathetic creatures when their little hands get

get me wrong—all that is great, but the mindset

UN12 / Issue 015

I want in doing this drill is “only hits count, and

All the mechanics need to be there and

they need to be as rapid as possible.” That’s

demonstrated under a bit of pressure in order to

all. No varying levels of acceptability to be

get the 25-second-or-less clean run in order to

found. What’s passing? Twenty-five seconds

pass. One flubbed reload, or skitter step while

or less, clean. What if I can do it 21 seconds

transitioning positions, or pull of the trigger

clean? Then great job! Now you can start

when the reticle wasn’t settled, and you’re

working on other, less foundational skills, like

probably out. Adjust skills and techniques as

shooting off-hand from your support side or

necessary, try again. Pick of pieces of ego along

Hondo rolling over a barrel while transitioning

with brass. I’ve picked up more ego off the deck

to your secondary fixed blade and tomahawk

than I have brass over my career; so can we all.

simultaneously. I have no issues with what I

[ UN12 ]

call “majoring in the minors,” assuming your constant pull skills for running the gun are up to snuff. After that, have at it. A lot of shooters don’t have those foundational skills they can pull from while attempting other things that are really just minor deviations to what should already be unconsciously competent skills.

I have used the Mod Navy Qual to shake myself and my gear as a system out—this drill was what shitcanned the SCAR-H as a viable option for us, but that’s a different story—as well as to assess baseline foundational skills necessary to run the gun in a team, and finally as the first time on a flat range we can tie a modicum of thinking, and moving, and shooting together into one graded event. When broken down into its component parts it can really highlight where deficiencies are, and why they might be there. It was the first drill that needed to be passed in order to demonstrate that there is not much left to teach this person at the 50yard line, and we were ready to move on with those skills and actions present for additional use under varying contexts and conditions.

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135

Product Spotlight

Benchmade Aluminum Text & Images by JAMES YORK

I

s the pen mightier than the sword? That’s a debate to be had another time, but in this

Looking every bit as sleek is its companion, the Bugout folder knife is another item that seems perfect

product spotlight we get to examine not one but

for EDC in your pocket or briefcase. This latest

two implements, a pen and a knife, both made by

iteration of Benchmade’s iconic Bugout knife features

legendary knifemaker Benchmade.

a Cerakoted M390 steel blade and a detail-laden

From what we can tell, the running theme of these

milling pattern cut into its beautifully machined 6061-

two tools is heavy use of aluminum. This aluminum-

T6 aluminum handles. The plain-edged, drop-point-

bodied pen and aluminum-handled knife pairing suits

style blade measures almost three-and-a-quarter

everyday carry (EDC) usage with its stylish looks

inches long and its mini-deep carry pocket clip is

and utilitarian design. The black Longhand pen is

reversible for tip-up carry.

engineered to provide a comfortable and secure grip

Both tools are made with the quality that we’ve

and it conceals a Benchmade Axis style bolt-action

come to expect from Benchmade. The use of

pen deployment lever. Depress the bolt handle and

aluminum is welcome, as we always like the lighter

the pen quickly extends from the 6061-T6 aluminum

weight and durability that it offers.

housing. Retracting the ballpoint is just as easy.

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UN12 / Issue 015

: : Pen Benchmade 1120-1 Longhand MSRP: $160 : : Knife Benchmade 535BK-4 Bugout MSRP: $275 URL: benchmade.com

A few IG accounts that we found to be follow-worthy @aero_precision

@christranfiveoh

@claskytac

@edc_fanatics

@jaycanterphotography

@leotakedown

@riflesupplycerakote

@spartandefense

INSTA-15

Popular IG tags to follow: #rangeday #semiauto

@tacticalcamera

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

LA

TX

Evike 2801 W. Mission Rd. Alhambra, CA 91803 Tel: (626) 407-0561 URL: evike.com

Iron Sights Weaponry Woodland Trace Ct. Sorrento, LA 70778 Tel: (833) 476-6486 URL: ironsightsweaponry.com

Custom Defense Firearms 1911 E. Rancier Ave. Killeen, TX 76541 Tel: (408) 597-4867 URL: customdefensefirearms.com

Evike 1400 W. 4th St. #2 Antioch, CA 94509 Tel: (925) 237-2560 URL: evike.com

MI

Evike 100 Cypresswood Dr. #1302 Spring, TX 77388 Tel: (281) 771-3126 URL: evike.com

Kings River Coatings 2491 Avenue 400 Kingsburg, CA 93631 Tel: (559) 246-6426 URL: yooying.com/ kingsrivercoatings Rifle Supply 16291 Gothard St. Huntington Beach, CA 92647 Tel: (714) 841-1480 URL: riflesupply.com Tactical Pro Shop 3503 W. Burbank Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91505 Tel: (818) 468-7837 URL: tacticalproshop.com

CO Danger Close Armament 6801 S. Emporia St. #102 Greenwood Village, CO 80112 Tel: (720) 638-6572 URL: dangerclosearmament.com

FiringLine Guns 33000 Ford Road Westland, MI 48185 Tel: (734) 326-7320 URL: firinglineguns.com

ND Spartan Firearms 7101 Hwy 2 & 52 W. Minot, ND 58703 Tel: (701) 838-GUNS URL: spartanfirearms.us

NV New Frontier Armory 150 E. Centennial Pkwy, Suite #110 N. Las Vegas, NV 89084 Tel: (702) 479-1470 URL: newfrontierarmory.com

NH 2A Tactical 99 Tolend Road Barrington, NH 03825 Tel: (978) 833-1215 URL: 2atacticalnh.com Wicked Weaponry 21 Londonderry Turnpike Hooksett, NH 03106 Tel: (603) 232-0621 URL: wickedweaponryusa.com

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UN12 / Issue 015

WA Grey Ghost Gear 2916th 107th St. South Lakewood, WA 98499 Tel: (253) 984-7854 URL: greyghostgear.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

ONLINE RETAILERS amazon.com evike.com rainierarms.com UN12mag.com weaponoutfitters.com INTERNATIONAL RETAILERS

CANADA Canadian Tactical Cowboy Supplies URL: ctcsupplies.ca

BELGIUM DTS-Armory Tel: (+31) 475-202-153 URL: dts-armory.com

NETHERLANDS DTS-Armory Tel: (+31) 475-202-153 URL: dts-armory.com

THAILAND Thailand Tactical Mind / PP Tactics 135 Prachanaruemit, Pracharat Sai1 Rd Bangsue, Bangkok, 10800 Tel: (+66) 81-889-7855 URL: tacticalmind.co.th

If you are a retailer that would like to carry UN12 in your store, contact us at: retailer@un12mag.com

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