RECOIL Issue 38.pdf

BUYER’S GUIDE BUDGET KNIVES

PG. 46

GUN LIFESTYLE: GEAR • TECHNOLOGY • SPORT • OUTDOOR • HOME & PERSONAL DEFENSE

PG. 78

PG. 130

Jaxx Industries, SIG SAUER, Medford Knives, Lead Faucet Tactical, PG. 8

RUNNING GUNS IN KABUL THE SKS-M SPIKED AND READY EXPERT ADVICE ON CCW MEDICINE ZEROED IN: ROBERT YOUNG PELTON ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT MUSEUM

ISSUE 38

BOLLINGER B1 PG. 36

VICKERS

AK BOOK

PG. 118

™

THE RUGER AMERICAN PISTOL IS DESIGNED WITH THE TOUGHEST STANDARDS IN MIND. ®

Short Takeup Trigger with Positive Reset

Anything Else Would Be Un-American.

™

Designed with the latest U.S. Military standards in mind, the Ruger American Pistol is built to perform ®

in the harshest conditions. A true American innovation, this pistol was developed through a rigorous “Voice of the Customer” process – where numerous law enforcement and military trainers, firearms experts,

Recoil-Reducing Barrel Cam, Low Mass Slide, Low Center of Gravity and Low Bore Axis

distributors and retailers provided input, feedback and testing in the determination of the form, function and features of this firearm. The resultant new pistol is a revolutionary platform for Ruger, one that utilizes the combination of a recoil-reducing barrel cam (which is designed to better spread recoil energy over time) with a low mass slide, low center of gravity and a low bore axis to provide an unparalleled shooting experience.

Genuine Novak ® LoMount Carry Three-Dot Sights

Modular Wrap-Around Grip System for Adjusting Palm Swell and Trigger Reach

Safe, Easy Takedown with No Tools or Trigger Pull Required

Ambidextrous Slide Stop, Manual Safety and Magazine Release Allow Actuation with Either Hand (Pro Models Come without External Safety)

Complete Your Ruger American Pistol® with the Officially Licensed Blade-Tech® Total Eclipse Holster at Your Local Retailer or Online at ShopRuger.com

BUILT TO PERFORM IN THE HARSHEST CONDITIONS.

RUGER.COM/AMERICANPISTOL

© 2017 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.

010317

58 IS S U E 38

FEATURES 58

THE HOTTEST CASHIER AT DOLLAR TREE Dressing up an SKS-M as a Chinese Type 84, But Better

70

TAMING THE BEAST Using Your Mary-Sue Suppressor on an AK Variant

78

70

78

HEBREW HAMMER Jaxx Industries Recreates the Rarest of Galils

92

RUNNING GUNS IN KABUL The Arms Trade Fueling the “Never-Ending Conflict”

106

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? The D&L Sports SLR Hybrid — an Elite AK or a Solution Looking for a Problem?

116

92

JUST LIKE MOM USED TO MAKE Petronov Armament’s New Receivers May Be the Closest You Can Get to a “Real” AK Without a Passport

118

FROM RUSSIA WITH LAV

106

118

130

116

The Past and Future of Russian Firearms

130

COBETCKa TO HOCTb The Plumb PSL: Modernized Com-Bloc

142

BEYOND BULLETS Two Experts Give Us Their Input on Best Practices for Concealed Carry Medicine

142

IS S U E 38

DEPARTMENTS 8

ON THE COVER

12

DOWNRANGE

52

BUILDSHEET 7.62x39 AR

Editor’s Letter

154

ZEROED IN Robert Young Pelton

20

INCOMING New Gear

28

36

168

PT Nutrition and Supplement for Strength and Size Gains

VISIT Royal Canadian Regiment Museum

176

SHOW US YOUR TATS

TRANSPORT

178

GOING HOT

Bollinger B1

46

UNUSUAL SUSPECTS Budget Knives

36

FIREARM SAFETY IS TOP PRIORITY RECOIL reminds you to be safe and always obey firearms safety rules: 1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded.

2. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.

4. Be aware of your target’s foreground and background.

All contents in RECOIL Magazine are professionally photographed in a closed studio or range. Do not attempt to re-create any photographs depicted in this magazine.

PRODUCT DISCLAIMER Prices and details for items featured in RECOIL are set by the manufacturers and retailers, and are subject to change without notice.

RECOIL (USPS 013-320), September/October 2018; Number 38, is published bimonthly by TEN: Publishing Media, LLC 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10036. Copyright © 2018 by TEN: Publishing Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mail offices. Subscriptions U.S. and U.S. Possessions: $49.97 per year (6 issues); Canadian, $55.97, Foreign, $61.97 (including surface mail postage). Payment in advance. U.S. funds only. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5): NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address changes to RECOIL, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235.

Please allow 8-10 weeks for delivery of first issue. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission. This book is purchased with the understanding that the information presented herein is from many varied sources for which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to accuracy or completeness.

Throughout this issue you will see certain images are labeled as being 1:1 Actual Size. This designation is for the print edition of this issue.

Because of the various screen sizes on different tablets and computers, we cannot always provide actual life size images in digital versions. We apologize if this causes any confusion and thank you for your understanding.

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ON THE COVER COVER PHOTO BY KENDA LENSEIGNE

1 RIFLE

2 AMMO

3 KNIFE

MAKE:

MAKE:

MAKE:

Jaxx Industries

SIG SAUER

Medford Knives

Lead Faucet Tactical

MODEL:

MODEL:

MODEL:

MODEL:

699 Micro Galil

300BLK, 120gr, Elite Hunting Solid Copper, OTM

China Doll (discontinued)

LFT Sling

MSRP:

$2,950

MSRP:

URL:

$28.50

jaxxindustries.com

URL:

www.sigsauer.com

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1

2

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8

3

4

4 SLING

MAKE:

MSRP:

MSRP:

$190

$53

URL:

URL:

www.medfordknife.com

leadfaucettactical.com

STREAMLIGHT’S TLR WEAPON-MOUNTED LIGHTS CAN FIT EVERYTHING FROM YOUR LONG GUN TO YOUR CONCEALED CARRY. AND THEY’RE BUILT WITH THE SAME COMMITMENT TO DURABILITY AND DEPENDABILITY THAT HAS MADE STREAMLIGHT A TRUSTED MANUFACTURER FOR 45 YEARS.

TLR-1 HL®

TLR-2 HL® G

TLR-6®

TLR-7®

TLR-8®

©2018 STREAMLIGHT, INC. | STREAMLIGHT.COM

KEYPOINTS -This unique optics/ photo/ gear carry-on will fit in all overhead bins while holding the max capacity of stuff in thickly padded 360 protection. And it rolls so you won’t have to bear all the weight. The long handle will reach even tall users and metal loops allow an optional shoulder strap for short runs over rough ground.

-The exclusive hard-shell front has 4 locations for our patented HARDPOINTÂŽ load system so you can attach bungee cord systems, tripods, MOLLE panels, lights etc. using the corners.

-Holds the majority of mirrorless & full-frame DSLR camera bodies, lenses, drones (like Mavic Pro), as well as shooting optics. Your sporting scopes, range finders, mini tripods, hand-loads, and other shooting gear will co-exist perfectly with a laptop, papers tools etc. Internal velcro panels for adding pistol, magazine pouches, and similar.

-External MOLLE loops for adding small pouches etc. And backside webbing to stack it on top of larger rolling bags like our Air Support luggage.

1. PILLBOX Thermocap Photo-CCW Pack 2. GRILL Photo/CCW Hardshell Molle Pack 3. PLAN-B ‘17 Go-Bag Thermo-Cap Sling 4. Patented Roto-Lock Buckle 5. FREELANCE Medium Photo/Drone-Sling 6. M.P.C. Multi-Pistol Padded Carrier 7. HEAVY WATER DIVER® Titanium/Tritium Watch 8. PONCHO VILLA Technical Soft-Shell Poncho 9. FRONTLINE ASSAULT Rifle Loadout Chest-Rig 10. SIDEWINDER Laptop Sling-Pack 11. AIRSTRIKE Rolling Photo/Laptop Carry-on HARDPOINT Patented Load System

MOST BAGS ARE CCW COMPATIBLE USING OUR UNIVERSAL STICK-UP™ HOLSTER SYSTEM

Ah, the AK. A testament to the ability of a totalitarian

would still be in production, proving that yes, it’s possible

military industrial complex to create the most prolific rifle

to make a mediocre design worse, so long as you assign

design in history through sheer bureaucratic inertia. Despite

enough government employees to the task.

the protestations of its most ardent western admirers, Kalashnikov’s baby is adequate at best. Its dire ergonomics,

a 70-year-old rifle, no matter how widely issued it might be.

coupled with a short sight radius and indifferent rear sight,

Instead, this issue focuses on some modernized, refined AK

result in the user being handicapped when compared to other

variants; we examine the issues involved with suppressing

small arms on the world market. Additionally, its cartridge is

a platform that doesn’t lend itself to silencer use, and take

ballistically inefficient, with a light-for-caliber projectile that

trips to both the streets of Kabul and mother Russia to

quickly runs out of gas, compounding aiming errors due to a

see the AK in its natural environment. Look for more AK-

rainbow trajectory.

centric content on RECOILtv later this summer, as we have

Despite its drawbacks, the Soviets learned early on that

producers in existence, located in a war-torn Soviet satellite

they had following the destruction wrought during the

state. Stay tuned ...

and settled upon as the service rifle for what was then the biggest standing army in the world. From that point on, the industrial might of a command economy was thrown behind it. Were it not for the collapse of the Evil Empire in 1991,

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it’s likely that abominations such as the Hungarian AMD-65

REC O ILW E B .C O M

an exclusive invitation to visit one of the most respected

quantity has a quality of its own. Making the best of what Second World War, the AK was conceived, designed, trialed,

12

There’s only so much you can do to rehash the subject of

You’ve put your heart and soul into the perfect rifle build. Shoulder it with pride.

This is three generations of superior innovation. This is a lifetime of performance.

This is McMillan.

McMillan A-5 Tactical Stock on custom McMillan .338 Lapua Mag. rifle

McMillan Game Scout Stock on Browning .300 WSM rifle

Xit Stock on a Kelbly’s Stolle Panda in .308 with a Krieger Barrel and Nightforce® 15-55x52 Scope

WWW.SAFARI LAN D.CO M

M O D E L

L I V E YO U R L E G A CY.

7 T S

7 3 5 4 - S P 1 0 7 T S™ A L S¨ SINGLE

STRAP

S E R I E S

TACTICAL

HOLSTER

H O L S T E R

Our Safariland 7TS™ Holster Series has set new standards in ruggedness and durability with extremely high tolerances to heat and cold making it impervious to the weather. The proprietary DuPont blend, SafariSeven™ finish is non-abrasive to the weapon and the holster’s unique interior design reduces dirt and moisture contact with gun.

Check it out at www.safariland.com/7TS.

A U T O M A T I C

L O C K I N G

S Y S T E M

C O L O R S AV A I L A B L E

©2018 SAFARILAND, LLC.

Editorial.

Editor/ Iain Harrison Executive Editor/ Rob Curtis Senior Editor/ Tom Marshall Managing Editor/ Laura Peltakian Contributing Editor/ Steven Kuo Editor // Social Media/ Dave Merrill Editor // Online/ Candice Horner Director, Video Production/ Trent Stockton Photography Studio Manager/ Jorge Nuñez Contributors/ Ryne Gioviano, Kenda Lenseigne, Liz Leggett Photography, Ian McCollum, Valery Moroz, Frank Plumb, James Rupley, Straight 8, Peter Suciu, Larry Vickers, Miles Vining, Patrick Vuong Special Thanks/ Blacklist Ind, The Bullet Ranch, We Plead the Second

Art Direction & Design.

Senior Art Director/ Gene Coo Art Director/ Sarah Lampert

Submissions. recoil@enthusiastnetwork.com

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Domestic/Canadian: 888.681.7064 Foreign: 386.246.0439 recoil@emailcustomerservice.com

Advertising.

VP, Group Publisher/ Mark Han General Manager/ Glen Castle 813.675.3495 Ad Sales/ Shawn Sloan 813.675.3552 Ad Sales/ Scott McGregor 435.657.5923 Network Manager/ John Schwartze Advertising Operations Manager/ Monica Hernandez To advertise on this magazine’s website, or any of TEN: Publishing Media’s other enthusiast sites, please contact us at recoil_advertising@enthusiastnetwork.com.

TEN: Publishing Media, LLC. President/ Kevin Mullan SVP, Editorial & Advertising Operations/ Amy Diamond

Consumer Marketing, Enthusiast Media Subscription Company, Inc. SVP, Circulation/ Tom Slater VP, Retention & Operations Fulfillment/ Donald T. Robinson III VP, Acquisition & Database Marketing/ Victoria Linehan VP, Newsstand Retail Sales/ William Carter

This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that the information presented is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by TEN: Publishing Media, LLC., or the publisher as to legality, completeness and accuracy.

Any submissions or contributions from readers shall be subject to and governed

by TEN: Publishing Media’s User Content Submission Terms and Conditions, which are posted at http://www. enthusiastnetwork.com/submissions/ BACK ISSUES To order back issues, visit TENbackissues.com.

REPRINTS For high-quality custom reprints and eprints, please contact The YGS Group at 800-290-5460 or TENreprints@theygsgroup.com EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS Editorial contributions are welcomed, but editors recommend that contributors query first. Contribution must be accompanied by return postage and we assume no responsibility for loss or damage thereto.

Manuscripts must be typewritten on white paper, and all photographs must be accompanied by captions. Photo model releases required on all persons in photos.

Recoil reserves the right to use material at its discretion, and we reserve the right to edit material to meet our requirements.

Upon publication, payment will be made at our current rate, and that said payment will cover author’s and contributor’s rights of the contribution. Contributor’s act of mailing contribution shall constitute an express warranty that the material is original and no infringement on the rights of others. Mail contributions to: Recoil Magazine, 1821 E. Dyer Rd., Suite #150, Santa Ana, CA 92705.

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Please call Recoil Advertising Department, (949) 705-3100.

Printed in the USA Copyright © 2018 by TEN: Publishing Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

0.5mm

NEW LEVEL OF CONTROL Low-profile Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) closure provides a secure fit to your wrist.

MSD-55 COVERT

ERGONOMIC DESIGN Anatomically placed stitch darts conform to the natural curvature of your hand to provide a precision fit.

Lightweight TrekDry ® conforms to the back of your hand to reduce heat build-up and perspiration.

MSD-72 COYOTE

HIGH DEXTERITY 0.5mm AX-Suede™ delivers precision feel and abrasion resistance.

High-dexterity 0.5mm AX-Suede™ provides precision feel and high dexterity.

Expandable flex joints improve trigger finger mobility.

VENT

COOL UNDER PRESSURE Low-profile Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) closure provides a secure fit to your wrist.

MSV-55 COVERT

EVAPORATIVE COOLING Breathable mesh allows cool air to circulate throughout the glove.

Lightweight mesh allows cool air to circulate throughout the glove.

MSV-72 COYOTE

PALM VENTILATION Ventilated 0.6mm palm material provides evaporative cooling.

Touchscreen capable palm and fingers keep you connected in the field.

Expandable flex joints improve overall finger mobility.

TACTICAL HAND PROTECTION US: 800.222.4296 | WWW.MECHANIX.COM J OIN U S ! m e c h a n i x _ ta c ti c a l

1

2

If we’re spending all day at the range under the sun, we’re going to need a water bottle that doesn’t let our cold water turn lukewarm. Fortunately, GSI Outdoors released its MicroLite lineup. These 18/8 stainless steel bottles are vacuum insulated, with a space almost devoid of air in between two layers of steel. That vacuum prevents outside conditions from affecting the bottle’s contents.

Featuring a screw-top lid, the MicroLite 720 Twist holds 24 fluid ounces — GSI claims it can keep your coffee hot for 12 hours or your iced water cold for 24 hours. It’s also a third lighter than traditional double-walled bottles thanks to 2mm-thin steel. Its baby brother, the MicroLite 500 Twist, is said to keep 16.9 fluid ounces hot for 10 hours and cold for 20 hours.

Usually gun folks are knife folks. Here’s a shirt that celebrates both … sorta.

The Have a Knife Day Shirt is a button-up short sleeve that features a pattern of tiny Swiss Army Knife-like multitools. It features 5.11’s trademarked RAPIDraw placket, allowing you to quickly access a concealed carry handgun. The branded metal case buttons and snaps will hold up to repeated use and — let’s face it — are much faster to do and undo than traditional buttons. Offered in regular fit, the shirt is made of a lightweight cotton-polyester blend that’s comfortable and airy for a summer’s day.

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MAKE:

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At first glance, the Combat Applications Belt from GPM Kit looks like typical webbing with a hook-and-loop closure.

But after testing it out, we’re sold on this minimalist style of belt, which GPM Kit says is the first patented buckle-free tactical belt. It’s way lighter than a rigger’s belt and, while the method of donning it for the first time seems unusual, is easy to use once you’ve read the simple instructions. This belt is flexible enough to conform to your curves, but stiff enough to hold a holster and mag pouches. Plus, if you’re shooting prone, there’s no buckle to jam into your gut.

MAKE:

MAKE:

5.11 Tactical

GPM Kit

MODEL:

MODEL:

Have a Knife Day Shirt

Combat Applications Belt

COLORS:

COLORSV:

Breeze, Pebble, and White

ATACS, Black, Coyote, and Green

GSI Outdoors

MSRP:

MSRP:

MODEL:

$50

$49

MicroLite 720, MicroLite 500 Twist

URL:

URL:

COLORS:

www.511tactical.com

www.gpmkit.com

4

Benchmade’s SOCP daggers are popular because they’re not only light and deadly, but they also have a large ring at the butt end for retention and quick deployment. Now the company is releasing the 390 SOCP 4.5, the first ever SOCP folding knife — and RECOIL has the honor of premiering it in print here.

To transform the dagger into folder form, designer Greg Thompson kept it long and slim but morphed the retention ring into a pocket clip with a large hole, so you can stick the pad of your index finger into it to aid in a rapid draw. Ambidextrous thumb discs let you quickly open the spear-point blade, made of D2 tool steel with a black Cerakote finish. The handle has textured G10 scales and a glass-breaker on the end.

Because of its unique design, Benchmade also offers a replica training blade for $160. Made in the USA, both the trainer and live blade should be on sale by the time you read this.

MAKE:

Benchmade Knife Co.

Apple Green, Black, and Blue

MODEL:

MSRP:

390 SOCP 4.5

$29, $25

MSRP:

1

URL:

$205 URL:

www.gsioutdoors.com

www.benchmade.com

2

3

4

The comfort of your favorite pant with a tactical edge. The Defender-Flex pants are a favorite on the range as well as everywhere else and the back mag pockets mean you’ll Always Be ReadyŽ.

5

It’s widely known that certain RECOIL staff members have attended 12-step programs for their addiction to hot, caffeinated beverages. Be that as it may, we welcome relapses with open arms and an empty mug. The latest came in the form of two offerings from Salvations Coffee Co. The veteran-owned company sent us 10-ounce bags of their Speed Freak Light Roast and Wild Roast coffee. We rate coffee on two scales: how good it tastes and how much we feel it. It passed both tests admirably. The Columbian single-origin Wild Roast has a smooth, bold taste, surprising us with some sweet, candy-like fragrant notes. Although its name might make you think you’ll be buying more Sudafed at 3 a.m., the Speed Freak is a lightly roasted Ethiopian that’s also flavorful and rich.

6

The MeoMag 3x magnifier from Meopta has a dual purpose. First, it’s designed to pair up with almost any reddot sight available today, allowing greater precision at longer distances. Second, it’s sized to fit into your palm as a monocular.

Thanks to a quick-release mount, you can cycle through its two uses in seconds. A hinge mount is also available if you prefer to keep the magnifier on your firearm. It features Meopta’s trademarked MeoBright lens coatings (eliminating glare and reflections) and MeoDrop lens coatings (repelling not only rain and snow but also dirt and skin oils).

7

With its angular lines and bright red color, the RA-535 Advanced Performance Trigger looks just as good as it performs. With a 3.5-pound pull weight and a short reset, the single-stage trigger improves your accuracy and split times.

It weighs 2.3 ounces, fits most .308 and .223 ARs, can be installed quickly without any minute adjustments, and is made from CNC-machined tool steel and aluminum. The APT’s unique-looking blade combines the leverage of a straight trigger with the consistent placement of a curved bow. Who said all triggers had to look the same?

MAKE:

MAKE:

Meopta

Rise Armament

MODEL:

MODEL:

MeoMag 3x

RA-535 Advanced Performance Trigger

WEIGHT:

MSRP:

7.48 ounces

$259

Salvation Coffee Co.

MSRP:

URL:

MODEL:

$1,000

www.risearmament.com

MAKE:

Speed Freak Light Roast, Wild Roast

URL:

OPTIONS:

www.meoptausa.com

8

The original cotton flyer’s kit bag stands the test of time with its simple, durable, and space-saving nature. When you’ve got a bunch of them to pack, the square shape means they stack and nest, maximizing storage space in aircrew shuttles, on pallets, and in aircraft cargo holds. They carry as much as an average suitcase, which is to say a lot, while scrunching down to the size of a football when not in use. T3’s version retains all this goodness and adds self-storing backpack straps for hands-free transfers, an easy-access perimeter zipper in addition to the standard centerline zipper, hardwearing, 500-denier Cordura nylon fabric instead of the original heavyweight cotton, and heavy-duty stitching and water-resistant zippers. It’s also made in the U.S. and comes with a lifetime warranty.

MAKE:

T3 MODEL:

Kit Bag, Gen 2

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DIMENSIONS:

Available ground or whole bean MSRP:

COLORS:

$18 each

Black, Coyote Tan, Desert Digital, MultiCam, OD Green

REC O ILW E B .C O M

22

URL:

www.salvationcoffeecompany.com

19 by 22 by 12 inches

8

MSRP:

$153 URL:

www.t3gear.com

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CONNECT THE DOT ™ SIG SAUER Electro-Optics transforms hunting with the unprecedented simplicity and accuracy of BDX. KILO BDX rangefinders use your ballistics and Bluetooth® to illuminate the exact holdover dot in SIERRA3BDX riflescopes. For the most accurate and ethical shot, just connect the dot.

Rangefinder:

Riflescope:

KILO2400BDX

SIERRA3BDX 6.5-20X52mm

Download the SIG BDX app from Google Play or the iTunes Store.

Learn more at sigsauer.com.

Powered by:

9

ESD’s sling is an exquisitely efficient take on the adjustable rifle sling. The inch-wide nylon webbing has two sections — the quick-adjust lead and the set-and-forget rear section that attaches to the rifle butt. What makes the ESD a little different than its competitors is its effortless operation and its bevy of factory rifle connection options. The slider is intuitive and effortless to operate in both directions.

And there five options for rifle connections, plus an optional mid-sling quick disconnect for guys who forgo QD ends, but still want a quick way out of the sling.

MAKE:

Edgar Sherman Design MODEL:

ESD Sling

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END OPTIONS:

MAKE:

11

When it comes to accuracy, that most excellent union of bullet, powder, and primer depends on the case’s ability to keep those components in contact with precision measured in thousandths of an inch. That’s why we’re excited to hear Gunwerks, a company already known for precision in the rifle arena, is putting its name on its own line of brass. The premium brass features tight tolerances, uniform primer pockets, precision drilled flash holes, optimized case walls, and lot-to-lot weight and volume consistency … all that adds to more accuracy and longer case life. Gunwerks even thought to minimize its headstamp so handloaders can see the first hint of pressure signs. Each load of brass comes in a heavy-duty carry pouch that makes it easy to segregate the good stuff from the range pickups when heading home for the day.

12

Even with a sling, a protein shake, and a good night’s rest, holding a rifle at relaxed low ready for hours sucks. The JX Rifle Holster takes the load off — or rather, it shifts the load to your shoulders, holding an AR by the magwell. It holds the rifle by straddling the mag, bottoming out on the magwell, and latching to the trigger guard, covered by a plastic shield for safety. The holster slips into the PALS field of your tactical vest and rotates up and down, allowing the rifle to ride in muzzle up or down positions. To release the rifle, push the big button and lift.

This might not be the best use of valuable chest rig real estate for HSLDers running nav boards or maxxing out on reloads. But for guys manning static positions, this thing will return the feeling back in your arms and let you go hands free while performing admin tasks with your primary at the ready.

Paracord connection, QD sling swivel, ITW HK clash hooks, or loose ends

Lehigh Defense

MSRP:

MODEL:

MAKE:

Flash Tip Projectiles

$40 to $75

Gunwerks

AVAILABLE SIZES:

MAKE:

MODEL:

JX Tactical

.264 105gr & 119gr .308 111gr & 144gr .338 240gr .375 338gr

Premium Rifle Brass

MODEL:

CALIBERS:

AR/M4 Rifle Holster

6CM, 6.5CM, 300WM, 300RUM, 338RUM, 338 Lapua Magnum

Black, Flat Dark Earth

URL:

www.edgarshermandesign.com

11

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Boutique bulleteer Lehigh Defense says it came up with the design of its new titanium-laden Flash Tip projectile at the request of the U.S. military. The war department guys asked for a round that would deliver the same point of impact reference as a tracer but wouldn’t lead right back to the round’s point of origin.

When this bullet’s titanium tip hits a target, it produces a flash visible to the naked eye up to a mile away in daylight, says Lehigh. The flash tip gives long-range target shooters and match ROs a visual indicator of impacts. Lehigh says the rounds spark up on contact with steel as well as mud walls, stone, and more. And don’t sweat target damage; the tip uses low-tensile titanium that won’t damage AR400 and higher-grade steel plates.

COLORS:

MSRP:

PRIMER POCKET:

MSRP:

Starting at $29

Large on all brass sizes

$99

URL:

MSRP:

URL:

www.lehighdefense.com

$71 to $214 per 100 pieces

www.jxtactical.com

URL:

www.gunwerks.com

12

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PRECISION & PERFORMANCE

RIPPER UPPER & LOWER Durable and precise, machined from premium 7075-T6 billet.

RA-902 HANDGUARD Maximizes functionality and comfort. MLOK compatible.

CB-160 STAINLESS STEEL BARREL Superior accuracy with proprietary weight reduction.

Guaranteed sub MOA. RA-701 COMPENSATOR Holds it steady and on target. Reduces recoil by 67%.

RA-535 ADVANCED PERFORMANCE TRIGGER Fire faster and more accurately. Combines zero creep with a rapid reset, minimal overtravel, and a crisp break. Precision manufactured to aerospace standards.

OUR SUPERIOR COMPONENTS COMBINE TO CREATE UNRIVALED RIFLES. RISEARMAMENT.COM

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WHAT ALL GUNS SHOULD BE

TM

©2018, Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Information and specifications are for reference only and subject to change without notice.

(888) 243-4522 KIMBERAMERICA.COM

interesting to note is that the plans of the building included a room designated as a museum.”

Today, the museum covers the history of the Regiment’s military heritage, including the history of the The London and Oxford Fusiliers (The Canadian Fusiliers — City of London Regiment, and The Oxford Rifles of Woodstock, Ontario).

TOURING THE GALLERIES It’s hard not to feel the history as soon as you enter the main entryway, where a wooden cross from Flanders Field from WWI is presented. From here, visitors enter the museum via the Colonel Tom and Miggsie Lawson Foyer, which features gold bricks that adorn the walls, each meant to serve

MUSEUM OF CANADA’S OLDEST REGIMENT 3 8

BY PETER SUCIU

momentous event.

The Foyer features a pair of stained glass windows on either side. These were created

IS SUE REC O ILW E B .C O M

28

as a memorial of a loved one or mark a

by Canadian artist Christopher Wallis of Grand Bend, Ontario, each a memorial to a past “Royal Canadian,” both of whom gave much of themselves for their country.

London, Ontario, named of course for the

it was established in 1888, the 150-year-

British capital city, is home to the Royal

old barracks are the oldest building in

Canadian Regiment Museum. Housed in

the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) London.

“Stained glass window in memory of Colonel

the west wing of the historic Wolseley Hall,

It has been continuously occupied by

Tom F.G. Lawson, Colonel of the Regiment

the first building to be built by the Canadian

some element of the regiment since the

1981-’85. ‘A Tribute to his Regimental

government especially for its new standing

completion of construction.

Family’ from his wife and children,” and

army in 1886, this museum chronicles

At various times, the Wolseley Barracks

The inscriptions on the windows read:

“Stained glass window in memory of

the history of one of Canada’s oldest

have been the home of the Regimental HQ

Brigadier T.E.D’O. Snow, Commanding

military units.

for the 1st and 2nd Battalions, and today it

Officer of The RCR 1941-’43 and Colonel

remains the home of the 4th Battalion.

of the Regiment 1978-’81. On it are the

First settled by Europeans between 1801

The original architectural drawings for

words that best denote this much beloved

the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor, the most

Wolseley Hall from 1886 actually allocated

Brigadier, ‘Gallant Soldier, Modest Gentle

densely populated and heavily industrialized

space for a museum, but in the past five

Man, Trusted Friend.’”

region of Canada. Approximately halfway

years the museum completed an expansion.

between Toronto and Detroit, it’s also home

As a result, it now includes two floors with

designed and installed in 1991, while

to the former Canadian Forces Base London,

galleries that chronicle the regiment’s

Brigadier Snow’s was completed in 1997.

which was the first purpose-built infantry

exploits throughout its history.

and 1804, London, Ontario, is situated along

training school erected by the Canadian

Within the building are many artifacts, but

The window for Colonel Lawson was

The Colonel D.B. Weldon Library and Museum Quiet Room (Chapel) offers historical

federal government. It served as an early

the building itself is also ripe and rich with

references collected by the RCR Museum,

symbol of the establishment of a permanent

its own history. “The U-shaped barracks

available to onsite researchers with permission

military force in Canada, and part of the

were designed by architect Henry James,

from the curator. This part of the museum

base was designated a National Historic Site

who eventually became the official designer

is named in honor of Colonel Douglas

of Canada in 1963.

for many other barracks and armories

Black Weldon, who served with the 47th

throughout Southwestern Ontario,” says

(Western Ontario) Battalion of the Canadian

Wolseley and used for training regular and

Georgiana Stanciu, Ph.D, director of the

Expeditionary Force during World War I, and

reserve units of the Canadian Army since

Royal Canadian Regiment Museum. “What is

later was appointed Second-in-Command

Named for British Field Marshal Viscount

THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT MUSEUM There are specific and specialized galleries for the Northwest Rebellion, the Yukon Field Force, the South African (Boer) War, WWI, the Interwar Years, WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, UN and NATO operations, plus galleries devoted to the Infantry and even the regimental band.

Key pieces in the collection include the WWII-era uniform of Brigadier Milton F. Gregg, awarded the Victoria Cross for his service during the Battle of Canal du Nord in France in 1918. Unfortunately, Gregg’s Victoria Cross, which had been donated to the museum in the late 1970s, was stolen and never recovered.

Within the museum’s displays are several dioramas showcasing the RCR on various campaigns. The model of 3 8

the Battle of Paardeberg depicts the IS SUE

monumental battle, remembered every February to this day. Also exhibited is a replica of “Private Thompson’s scarf of honour.” The scarf, crocheted by

REC O ILW E B .C O M

30

Queen Victoria, is one of the rarest

Top left: One of the stained glass windows in the museum’s Regimental Chapel.

It honors the soldiers who fought on the Western Front during WWI.

Top right: This display depicts a soldier of the Royal Canadian Regiment in the Italy Campaign in WWII and includes a Bren MkI light machinegun.

and then Commanding Officer of

succeeding sovereign, this is not the

honors bestowed on a soldier of the

the Canadian Fusiliers (MG) (City of

case with the badge for the RCR.

Empire. Awarded to Private Thompson,

While from 1901 to 1919, which

it represents a unique distinction for a

London Regiment) during WWII. The chapel now houses many past

Canadian soldier.

The Gallery to WWI includes a Vimy

Regimental Colours, with the oldest

later King George V, the regiment’s cap

dating back to WWI. “We preserve

badge featured the latter cipher, but the

Ridge diorama showing the progress

the history of the regimental colours,”

regiment continued to use the earlier

of the unit, while a full-size replica

Stanciu noted. “These colours are laid

“VRI” badges throughout this period

trench allows visitors to get a feeling

out in perpetuity in a church or chapel

as well, and there was even a formal

for what it must’ve been like for the

for the regiment.”

petition to return to the previous cipher.

young men who traveled so far from

The Centennial Gallery includes

“In 1919, the King (George V)

home. This battle has been remarked

various helmet and cap badges from

granted The Royal Canadian Regiment

upon as the event that bought Canada

Canadian Military Forces from the

permission to wear ‘VRI’ in perpetuity,”

her independence. It was the first

19th century to the modern day. This

explained Stanciu. “This is a very

large-scale operation carried out

includes history on the Regiment

unique privilege for the regiment.”

completely by the Canadian Corps of

Cap Badge, consisting of an eight-

Bottom right: A Korean War-era Sherman M4A2E8 (76 mm) HVSS tank stands guard outside the museum. It carries the markings of the 6th Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars).

saw the reign of King Edward VII and

The RCR Museum features several

four divisions, and the first offensive

pointed diamond cut star — upon the

memorials to those who gave their

carried out by the Allies during the war

star a raised circle surmounted by

lives in service of their country,

that was truly a success.

the crown; within the raised circle,

beginning with memorials for the

the block letters “VRI,” the Imperial

North West Rebellion and continuing

in dress and service uniforms

Cypher of Queen Victoria.

to those who sadly died in so-called

that soldiers serving in the RCR

Visitors can see the evolution

peace keeping duties. The museum

experienced, including helmets,

when a Royal or Imperial Cypher

further chronicles the sacrifices made,

tunics, and boots soldiers may have

forms part of the badge of a regiment

beginning with a gallery devoted to its

worn throughout the past century

it’s normal for it to change with each

early years (1883-’85).

or more.

While it’s typically common that

THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT MUSEUM Various items captured from “The

“Commando Post” used by the 1st

Hun” on the Western Front during the

Battalion of the RCR during the

Type 41 75mm Mountain Gun that was

Great War, as well as British and Com-

Korean War, as well as uniforms,

presented to the museum, despite the

monwealth small arms, make up the cur-

small arms, and other items from

fact that the regiment saw action in

rent collection on display. These include a

not only the Regiment but also from

Europe not the Pacific area of operations

rare Ross rifle, a straight-pull bolt-action

around the world.

in WWII.

.303-caliber rifle that was produced in

A display dedicated to Afghanistan

Outside the museum is also the

Canada from 1903 to 1918, and original

allows visitors to enter a sentry post,

Regimental Memorial of The Royal

period recruiting posters.

while a near life-size mural depicts

Canadian Regiment.

WWII items include Enfield rifles

a RCR team in Afghanistan. “The

and a British-made PIAT (Projector,

artist wanted this to look as lifelike as

Infantry, Anti Tank) gun, as well as

possible,” explained Stanciu. “This

numerous captured items, such as

isn’t based on any particular incident

thanks to the efforts of the regiment’s

the faces are very much meant to be

“Association of Old Comrades,” formed

who accepted the German surrender

a close approximation of soldiers who

following WWI. “This was created

on May 6, 1945 from German General

may have served in Afghanistan.”

to take care of the traditions of the

“The Luger pistol that we have is 3 8

collection have been preserved

and it isn’t taken from a photo, but

This effectively ended WWWII.

IS SUE

Many of the artifacts in the

commander of the Canadian forces,

Wereld in Wageningen, Netherlands.

REC O ILW E B .C O M

PRESERVING THE HISTORY

items from General Charles Foulkes,

Johannes Blaskowitz at the Hotel de

32

There’s also a captured Japanese

regiment,” said Stanciu.

BEYOND THE WALLS While far too small a building to

HOURS

Tue, Wed & Fri: 10 to 4 Thu: 10 to 8 Sat & Sun: 12 to 4 Closed on Mondays and on statutory holidays except for Remembrance Day ADMISSION

Free PHONE

(519) 660-5275 ext. 5102 URL

www.thercrmuseum.ca

Following WWII, the museum was

house large pieces of artillery or

began to take shape in the 1950s and

armored vehicles, several notable ex-

early 1960s. It was officially designated

General Blaskowitz,” said Stanciu. “How-

amples are on the grounds outside Wol-

a Canadian Forces Museum in 1973.

ever, we have no proof so it may just be

seley Barracks. These include a Sher-

a story, but it was given to the museum

man M4A2E8, which saw service in the

cause this is when the Canadian Mili-

directly by General Foulkes, so there is

Korean War; a Bren Gun or Universal

tary Forces also established a military

really no reason to question it.” Upon his

Carrier from the Italian campaign; a

museum network,” added Stanciu.

return to Canada, General Foulkes was

25 pounder (Ordnance QF 25-pounder

appointed Chief of the General Staff.

cannon), the main British field gun

in this network, it does offer a fine

from WWII; and a more modern Lynx

collection that preserves the artifacts

galleries have been recently updated

reconnaissance vehicle of the type used

that tell the story of the regiment and

and here visitors can find interesting

during peace-keeping operations in the

remind visitors of the sacrifices it has

artifacts, including the original

Cold War era.

paid over the past 150 years.

It isn’t just the British Army that dons “red coats.”

This is a full dress uniform of the Royal Canadian Regiment as it looks today.

ADDRESS

701 Oxford St. E London, ON N5Y 4T7

still open just through private tours, but

reportedly the sidearm that belonged to

The Cold War and peacekeeping

THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT MUSEUM

“This is very important to note, be-

While not the largest museum

Below: The Royal Canadian Museum’s gallery of small arms that were carried by its soldiers from the late 19th century to the late 20th century.

These include singleshot rifles, such as the British-made Martini Henry, the Lee Enfield, Bren Gun, Thompson submachine gun, and M-16, as well as .30 and .50 machineguns.

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36

SUPPLY DEMAND AND

WHEN MAJOR AUTOMAKERS DON’T FULFILL THE NEEDS OF THE CUSTOMER, COMPANIES LIKE BOLLINGER MOTORS RISE TO THE OCCASION

BY JOHN SCHWARTZE PHOTOS BY LIZ LEGGETT PHOTOGRAPHY

When it comes to automotive niches that

aren’t major automakers cranking out

and smaller battery packs. All that’s great

are still essentially virgin territory, did you

full-size, completely electric, honest-to-

because it moves toward electric, but

ever notice that your favorite 4x4s still

goodness trucks?

with full-on electric I think they’re wor-

aren’t being offered as electric vehicles?

Robert Bollinger wondered the same

ried about the money involved and range

With the Chevy ZH2 we showed you in Is-

thing. “I think they’re afraid it won’t

anxiety. They have billions of dollars from

sue 32, the reason certainly isn’t because

make them money,” Bollinger says. “It’s

their other sales, and they’re still reluctant

existing technology can’t support a truck’s

so expensive to make electric, and major

to make an all-electric vehicle as much as

power requirements. So what gives? Why

automakers are still playing with hybrids

they should I think.”

What happened next really speaks to that

the debut of the B1. It’s truly in a class

old saying about the mother of invention.

all its own — when asked to categorize it,

“There were no electric vehicles on the

Robert calls it “the world’s first all-electric

market that I wanted,” Bollinger says. “So

SUT,” or sport utility truck.

I dreamed up the exact vehicle I’d want

Some of you may be thinking that Tesla

that could handle all the jobs I wanted to

already beat them to the punch with the

do on my farm: hold long lumber, have

Model X, but let’s face it — the Model X

high ground clearance, instant torque, four-wheel drive, short wheelbase, be its own power source for tools, and carry lots of dogs,” he says. The

is more of a minivan; many of us want a serious 4x4 rather than something that looks like it was built for hipsters worried about spilling their macchiato while driving

result was the

to their next protest. Starting with a clean

formation

slate allowed a very practical approach to

of Bollinger

determining the best way to engineer every

Motors and

component, rather than trying to adapt new

SUPPLY AND DEMAND technology to an existing platform —

hands on; it’ll never be autonomous,

something most major automakers

it won’t connect to your iPhone, and

always try first to save a few bucks.

there’s no computer screen. It’s all

The design and overarching theme

IS SUE

3 8

is simplicity. Aesthetics are remi-

REC O ILW E B .C O M

38

about being tough and utilitarian.”

When it came to possibly becoming

niscent of a vintage Land Rover or

the next Preston Tucker and compet-

International Scout; and that was

ing with those billion-dollar enterpris-

meant to complement the vehicle’s

es, Robert got into this venture some-

pragmatic intentions. “Most electric

what serendipitously. “I didn’t think

vehicles nowadays are luxury and

I could compete. I think ignorance is

involve big interactive displays, they

bliss, and when I said, ‘Hey, let’s do

hook up to your smartphone and are

this,’ it was more of a gut feeling and

heavily moving toward autonomous

a childhood dream. I’m glad I had

driving,” Bollinger says. “Our truck is

that because it got us started. The big

thing is that what we’re doing won’t compete with the big guys because we created our own DNA,” he says.

However, an absence of competition doesn’t come without its caveats.

The low volume not only means low competition, but because this niche remains largely unfilled and consumer interest has yet to overtake internal combustion technology, it also means there’s not much in the way of vendors and aftermarket support. Bollinger had to find ways to combine what’s out there, have components designed to his specifications, and engineer other items internally.

The architecture of the B1 and most of the components within are essentially proprietary. “We designed our own gearboxes, body, chassis, and suspension to handle our weight class rating of 10,001 pounds,” Bollinger says. To give you an idea of how that compares to what’s on the market now, it’s basically strong enough to be in the same class as an F-350 or Chevy 3500.

The final truck itself will weigh around 5,000 pounds. Batteries, motors, and obvious components like

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SUPPLY AND DEMAND wheel hubs defer the gears down to the wheels, creating better ground clearance. The wheels have speed sensors that talk to the VCU (vehicle control unit), so the brains of the truck know what’s happening. Even though the two motors operate independently of each other, they interact through software via a virtual differential in the middle, allowing power to be distributed the way you’d expect in a 4WD vehicle.

The interior is stripped down and utilitarian. The dashboard can easily be removed so the owner can add extra gauges, switches, or lights if desired.

IS SUE

3 8

In an effort to offer both left-hand and

REC O ILW E B .C O M

40

headlights, seats, and tires are being

right-hand-drive versions, the cockpit

outsourced for the moment, but this is

is basically a mirror of itself so every-

essentially a ground-up build. It’s full-

thing can easily be moved over when

time all-wheel-drive with a self-leveling

reconfiguring for foreign markets. The

hydropneumatic suspension. A switch

chassis and body are all aluminum,

inside the vehicle can also be used to

with the exception of a steel rollcage.

raise and lower it 5 inches each way,

The pass-through in the middle of the

topping out at a max 20 inches of

vehicle enables you to haul long lum-

ground clearance. The 17-inch wheels

ber or any number of things you might

all feature antilock brakes.

not be able to in a typical truck.

The basic layout of the drive system

The battery pack on the produc-

is roughly a two-part mirror image to

tion models will feature a 120 kWh

avoid having a transaxle going from

setup to help achieve Bollinger’s

one end to the other while having

goal of a minimum 200-mile range.

power coming from two sources. The

In city driving with lots of braking,

front and back each has its own motor

the vehicle’s regenerative capabili-

mated to a two-speed gearbox, which

ties kick in and Bollinger says you’ll

in turn connects to two half shafts that

easily get well over 200 miles on a

go out to portal gear hubs. The in-

single charge in that environment.

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SUPPLY AND DEMAND four-door version in the fourth quarter of 2019, with delivery starting in early 2020. You can reserve one with zero money down and zero obligations, but you better get in line now. Orders at press time were over 16,000 and climb-

3 8

ing. We tried to pin Robert down on what it’ll sticker for,

ties on the battery pack allow it to

but price and warranty formalities are

stay in an optimum temperature

still being worked out.

range to maximize performance and

Maybe the larger automakers will

life span. Power density, price, and

try and play catch-up upon seeing the

reliability were the main focus of the

demand for this, but by then Bollinger

battery package Bollinger ultimately

may have cornered the market. Hard

selected.

to say, but we’re sure it’ll be an inter-

IS SUE

In 2017, the B1 was debuted at

42 REC O ILW E B .C O M

Active heating and cooling capabili-

esting battle of wits and engineering.

the Classic Car Club in Manhattan

With the instant torque, quick zero-

to great fanfare. At the moment, the

to-60s, zero emissions, and quiet

two-door prototype is the only one

performance, you may very well be

in existence and their test bed, but

seeing the birth of a company that’ll

the plan is to begin production with a

be with us for decades.

BOLLINGER B1

DRIVETRAIN:

This rendering shows the four-door version Bollinger intends to start production on in 2019.

120 kWh energy storage 200-mile range DC-charging compatible CCS (combo) charging port Electronic Locking Differentials (front and rear) Dual front/rear, two-speed high/low range gearboxes 4x torque multiplication in low range

TWO-DOOR B1 LENGTH: 150 inches WIDTH: 76.5 inches WHEELBASE: 105 inches WHEEL TRAVEL: 10 inches TORQUE: 442 lb-ft HORSEPOWER: 560 WEIGHT: Approx. 5,000 pounds TIRES: LT285/70/R17 TOWING CAPACITY: 5,000 pounds PAYLOAD CAPACITY: 5,000 pounds RANGE: Approx. 200 miles BASE PRICE: TBD URL: www.bollingermotors.com

UNUSUAL SUSPECTS Last issue we focused on pricey Damascus blades.

MAKE:

1 Browning MODEL:

Like a gold-digger,

Wihongi Signature Hemp - Small

they’re strong, sexy, and

6.75 inches

wallet-busters. So, in this edition of Unusual

OAL:

BLADE LENGTH:

2.75 inches

BLADE MATERIAL:

Suspects we’re swinging

7Cr17MoV

to the other extreme:

2.4 ounces

budget blades.

Owning an inexpensive folding knife is just

WEIGHT: MSRP:

$20

URL:

www.browning.com

prudent. After all, it’s painful to have a $300 model damaged, lost,

IS SUE

3 8

or stolen. And thanks to

REC O ILW E B .C O M

46

MAKE:

2 Bear & Son Cutlery MODEL:

61105 OAL:

advancing technology

7.375 inches

and great designs, some

3.25 inches

economical knives don’t trail too far behind the premium knives.

What qualifies as a “budget blade?”

Everyone’s definition is gonna be different, but

BLADE LENGTH: BLADE MATERIAL:

440 stainless steel WEIGHT:

3.7 ounces MSRP:

$50

URL:

www.bearandsoncutlery.com MAKE:

most can agree that

3 Tangram Series

50 bucks for a knife is

Orion

doable; that’s equivalent to a dinner for two

MODEL: OAL:

7.375 inches BLADE LENGTH:

at a good restaurant.

3.31 inches

We chose this price

Acuto 440 stainless steel

maximum because it’s the intersection where

BLADE MATERIAL: WEIGHT:

3.6 ounces MSRP:

functional design,

$35

solid materials, decent

www.amazon.com

URL:

construction, and affordability all meet.

The drawback is that they’re almost always made in China … which isn’t necessarily a bad

MAKE:

4 Coast Products MODEL:

FDX302 OAL:

7.5 inches BLADE LENGTH:

thing if the quality

3 inches

control is there. Don’t

7Cr17 stainless steel

believe us? Read on to see if there’s a budget

BLADE MATERIAL: WEIGHT:

4 ounces MSRP:

blade that makes the cut

$23

for you.

www.coastportland.com

URL:

MAKE:

5 Kershaw Knives MODEL:

AM-4 OAL:

7.75 inches BLADE LENGTH:

3.5 inches

BLADE MATERIAL:

8Cr13MoV stainless steel WEIGHT:

2.8 ounces MSRP:

$50

URL:

kershawknives.com MAKE:

6 Gerber Gear MODEL:

Haul

OAL:

7.9 inches BLADE LENGTH:

3.1 inches

BLADE MATERIAL:

5Cr15MoV stainless steel WEIGHT:

4.9 ounces MSRP:

$41

URL:

www.gerbergear.com MAKE:

7 Outdoor Edge MODEL:

3.5” Divide OAL:

8.25 inches BLADE LENGTH:

3.5 inches

BLADE MATERIAL:

8Cr13MoV stainless steel WEIGHT:

4.2 ounces MSRP:

$50

URL:

www.outdooredge.com

BUDGET BLADES

BY PATRICK VUONG

FLIP THE PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS ON EACH KNIFE.

BROWNING

INTERROGATING THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS

IS SUE

3 8

WIHONGI SIGNATURE HEMP - SMALL

REC O ILW E B .C O M

48

BEAR & SON

61105

TANGRAM

ORION

COAST

FDX302

KERSHAW

AM-4

GERBER

HAUL

OUTDOOR EDGE

DIVIDE

411: The most striking feature of this folding knife is the Polynesian etching on the blade. The Maori warrior motif is a nod to the knife’s codesigner, Jared Wihongi (a Utahbased SWAT officer and Kali master of Maori descent). The hemp Micarta handle recalls a time when hemp was used to make strong rope for heavy-duty tasks. Combining the two aesthetics produces unique symbolism that matches its sturdiness.

Made in China.

411: Bear & Son is known for its butterfly knives and traditional-style pocketknives. Bear Edge is the company’s tactical lineup, of which the 61105 belongs. This folder looks like other costlier folders in the industry, but keeps the price tag down by pairing a 440 stainless steel blade with a beadfinish aluminum handle instead of, say, 154CM steel and titanium scales. Like all of Bear & Son knives, the 61105 is made in the USA.

411: Tangram Series is an entry-level roster from Kizer Cutlery, one of the first China-based companies to make high-end production knives out of premium materials. For the Orion, Kizer teamed up with U.S. knife-maker Dirk Pinkerton to create a tactical one-hander for EDC. The result is kickass. The modified Wharncliffe blade is ideal for self-defense, the handle is stylish and grippy, and the pocket clip can be worn left or right and tip up or down.

411: The FDX302 has the second-lowest MSRP in this buyer’s guide, but by no means does it feel like it. The standout feature is Coast’s Double Lock System, which provides a secondary means of preventing the blade from closing unintentionally (and reminds us of CRKT’s Locking Liner Safety). Its skeletonized frame-lock body isn’t just for looks; it helps keep the overall weight of the hefty stainless steel handle down. Made in China.

411: In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Al Mar Knives was among the first to popularize tactical knives. Flash forward almost four decades and Kershaw is now teaming up with the company to bring its vintage designs into the 21st century, and doing it with contemporary updates and quality materials, but at reasonable prices. The AM-4 is one such example, adding a flipper, frame-lock, and SpeedSafe-assisted opening — all for 50 bucks. Made in China.

411: In the past year or so, Gerber has launched something of a new initiative: bring in a fresh generation of fans by giving them a wide range of entry-level knives at low costs.

Some perform better than others. But fear not: The Haul can hold its own. Made in China and also available with an orange handle, this assisted-opening folder is ideal if you like beefy knives that look modern, but won’t cost you a mortgage payment.

411: As part of Outdoor Edge’s Survival Series, the Divide is designed for campers, hunters, hikers, and preppers.

But this large folder could feel right at home in concrete jungles, too. It was codesigned by company president David Bloch and custom knife-maker Jerry Hossom. Made in China, the Divide also comes in baby brother size (6.9 inches overall). Both small and large versions have options for a plain edge or a partially serrated edge.

PROS: Despite its stature, the knife fits well in our medium-sized hands.

Lowest price tag Sharp out of the box Drop-point is our favorite blade shape for everyday carry (EDC) due to its versatility.

PROS: Aluminum handle is ergonomic.

Adjustable pocket clip for righties or lefties Built in Bear & Son’s Alabama factory

PROS: Assembled in China?

We couldn’t tell.

Made of Japanese Acuto 440 steel, the blade shreds cardboard like a machine.

Flipper tab and linerlock work seamlessly Handle is made of our favorite material: G10.

PROS: Double Lock System Robust construction Comfy handle Easy on the wallet

PROS: Feels as great in hand as it looks.

Unlike many other frame-locks, the AM-4 is easy to unlock.

Polished and contoured G10 front scale Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening is fast and smooth.

PROS: Fits perfectly, regardless of grip style (i.e. thumb-supported, hammer, reverse, etc.)

Surprisingly, the Chinese 5Cr15MoV blade slices and stabs with ease.

Cross-bolt safety with plunge lock is safe and easy to use.

Assisted opening deploys blade with a satisfying “thwak” sound.

PROS: Opens easily, whether by flipper tab or ambidextrous thumbstuds The 8Cr13MoV blade made short work of cardboard during our test cutting.

Disengaging the framelock doesn’t feel like you’re arm-wrestling yourself, as sometimes happens with knives of this type.

CONS: Partial serrations are better suited for larger blades used for sawing fibrous material, such as rope or branches.

Pocket clip orientation is tip-down and righthanded only.

CONS: The action is sluggish.

The blade has a bit of lateral play.

The liner-lock feels gritty when disengaging it to close the blade.

CONS: Forefinger groove is a little too pronounced, meaning folks with bigger index fingers might find it too tight a spot.

CONS: Even though it has a three-position pocket clip, this frame-lock knife is only ideal for right-handers.

Not the sharpest blade of the bunch.

CONS: Sorry, frame-lock translates as “righties only”

CONS: While a nice addition, the gritty cross-bolt safety needed some lube.

Glass-filled nylon handle scuffs easily and won’t hold up as well over time as other materials.

CONS: Ergonomics for the handle make it comfortable for a saber grip, but less so for other grips (e.g. thumb-supported or reverse).

Right-handed orientation only

Fit most AK-47s, AK-74s and variants, stamped and milled!

◆ Installs in minutes, with no permanent modifications, easy to follow instructions and tools included ◆ Lightweight rugged construction of 6061 aluminum, hard coat anodized for a lifetime of service ◆ Battle proven patented clamping system: US Patent D625,765S ◆ Optic specific models include US patented design features ◆ The highest quality, most affordable AK handguards on the market! ◆ 100% Made in the U.S.A. - MI Lifetime warranty

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◆ KeyMod compatible design includes one five slot picatinny rail section ◆ Weighs only 8 ounces! ◆ Two anti-rotation QD sockets for QD sling swivels ◆ Requirements for fit: Barrel diameter of .700 under lower handguard; Lower furniture length of 6 inches, not counting mounting surface; Upper gas tube furniture length of 4 inches, not counting mounting surface.

◆ M-LOK™ compatible design includes one five slot picatinny rail section ◆ Weighs only 7.5 ounces! ◆ Two anti-rotation QD sockets for QD sling swivels ◆ Requirements for fit: Barrel diameter of .700 under lower handguard; Lower furniture length of 6 inches, not counting mounting surface; Upper gas tube furniture length of 4 inches, not counting mounting surface.

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KeyMod compatible design includes one five slot picatinny rail section Four anti-rotation QD sockets for QD sling swivels Supplied MI gas tube with proper internal geometry 11.5 inches in length, weighs only 16 ounces!

Requirements for fit: Barrel diameter of .700 under lower handguard; Lower furniture length of 6”, not counting mounting surface; Will not fit Yugo pattern rifles.

With Rail Topcover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .#MI-AKXG2-UK Retail $254.95 With T1 Optic Specific Topcover . . . . .#MI-AKXG2-UKT1 Retail $254.95 With MRO Optic Specific Topcover .#MI-AKXG2-UKMRO Retail $254.95

MI AK Railed Gas Tube

MI Gen2 Extended Universal AK Handguard

M-LOK™ compatible design includes one five slot picatinny rail section Four anti-rotation QD sockets for QD sling swivels Supplied MI gas tube with proper internal geometry 11.5 inches in length, weighs only 16 ounces!

Requirements for fit: Barrel diameter of .700 under lower handguard; Lower furniture length of 6”, not counting mounting surface; Will not fit Yugo pattern rifles.

With Rail Topcover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .#MI-AKXG2-UM Retail $244.95 With T1 Optic Specific Topcover . . . . .#MI-AKXG2-UMT1 Retail $244.95 With MRO Optic Specific Topcover #MI-AKXG2-UMMRO Retail $244.95

◆ Provides lower 1/3 co-witness sight picture with Aimpoint micro red dot sights ◆ Internal profile made to the same profile as the standard AK gas tube ◆ Constructed of 6061 aluminum and 4140 steel

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BY STEVEN KUO

IS SUE

3 8

WE BUILD AN AR THAT TAKES AK MAGS

REC O ILW E B .C O M

52

In this issue of RECOIL, we celebrate

to roll our own AK tribute, so we used

the AK, in all its splendor and varia-

their upper, lower, action spring, and

tions. What better way to honor it

custom bolt carrier group as the basis

than by building a 7.62x39mm AR.

for our build. Unlike CMMG’s 7.62x39

And not one that takes weird unreli-

Mutant, with its stretched dimensions,

able mags shaped like the letter J,

BRS’s receivers conform to the stan-

but one that happily feeds from the

dard AR-15 footprint — thus explain-

original banana mag.

ing the slightly cramped trigger guard.

Billet Rifle Systems offers a re-

Our next selection was Faxon’s ni-

ceiver set tailor made for this build.

trided 16-inch barrel with mid-length

stock on it with LAW Tactical’s

The lower receiver has a yawning AK

gas system. BRS recommended open-

clever stock adapter. Mission

magwell, a stainless steel cross pin,

ing up the gas port by a few thou-

First Tactical’s buttstock was

and a paddle mag release to accept

sandths of an inch for optimal func-

both functional and evocative of

rock-n-lock mags like an AK-inspired

tion. We topped the barrel off with a

metal folding stocks found on various

AR truly should. The upper sports a

SureFire muzzle brake and suppressor

AK-pattern rifles. You can’t discharge

sweet non-reciprocating side charging

adapter so we could attach a can for

the rifle with the stock folded, but

handle, on the left side where proper-

our next hog hunt.

it’s very handy for transport — and,

handed shooters expect it to be. BRS sells entire rifles too, but we wanted

An under-folding stock wasn’t an option, but we put a side-folding

let’s be honest, it looks cool and was perfect for our AK theme.

IS SUE 3 8

53 REC O ILW E B .C O M

When you picture an AK in your mind, we’d bet that it has wood furniture. It took some digging, but we found hand-finished walnut rail panels and pistol grips from Black Wood USA; their military red finish was perfect for our theme. The M-LOK panels are a little chunky, a great match with Centurion Arms’ very low-profile 15inch handguard.

7.62X39 AR

On top, we attached a Burris XTR II

at 40x — and it delivered 1 MOA

match for this rifle. We initially put

shok (the most accurate load in our

it in a QD mount but kept hitting the

7.62x39 ammo roundup in Issue 26)

levers when working the side-charging

and Winchester’s Super-X ammo. Who

handle; we switched to an Aero Preci-

says 7.62x39mm can’t be precise?

sion mount, completely smooth on the

Other groups generally ranged from

left side and very light and affordable

1.5 to 2.5 MOA, and most loads

to boot. For backup iron sights, we

posted average muzzle velocities just

mounted Sidewinder sights from Strike

over 2,300 fps on our Magnetospeed

Industries, which flip out as 45-degree

chronograph (at 92 degrees F and

3 8

five-shot groups with Federal’s Power-

offset sights or up as traditional sights.

32-percent humidity). As usual, the

ITEM

MSRP

IS SUE

1-5x scope with CQ mil reticle, a nice

The other parts, pins, and springs

Magnetospeed proved its worth, as we

Billet Rifle Systems BRS-47 Receiver Set (Side Charging)

$649

to complete the build we also got from

strapped it to the handguard and left

Strike, except for the ambidextrous

it there during accuracy testing while

Billet Rifle Systems 7.62x39mm Bolt Carrier Group

200

Billet Rifle Systems Action Spring

20

Faxon Firearms 7.62x39mm 16-inch Barrel

185 46

REC O ILW E B .C O M

54

safety selector from AIM Surplus.

simultaneously capturing velocity data.

We also installed a drop-in trigger

One item to note: BRS’s receiver is

but found it wouldn’t ignite the hard

tuned specifically for Magpul’s MOE

Faxon Firearms Gas Block and Tube

primers in 7.62x39mm ammo roughly

AK PMAGs, which ran 100-percent in

SureFire 7.62 Muzzle Brake

149

our testing. Magpul’s Gen M3 maga-

Centurion Arms M-LOK CMR Handguard

240 115

5 percent of the time. We swapped in a crisp HIPERFIRE Eclipse trigger,

zines surprisingly have slightly differ-

Black Wood USA Wood Rail Panels and Handstop

setting up its springs to deliver more

ent geometry and wouldn’t quite clear

Black Wood USA Featherweight Wood Grip

150

hammer energy than stock, and the

the mag catch to lock in place. Some

LAW Tactical AR Folding Stock Adapter

269

problems went away.

steel AK magazines would lock in, but

BCM Carbine Stock Hardware Mounting Kit

65

Finally, we always install a light and

experienced some feeding problems.

Mission First Tactical Battlelink Minimalist Stock

60

sling on rifles intended for use beyond

Bottom line — use MOE PMAGs with

HIPERFIRE Hipertouch Eclipse Trigger

275

competition. The SureFire M600DF

this gun, and it won’t let you down.

Strike Industries Lower Parts Kit

35

scout light puts out 1,500 blinding

Also, the bolt doesn’t lock back when

lumens with its rechargeable 18650

empty, but neither do AKs.

Strike Industries Enhanced Ultimate Dust Cover

16

Strike Industries Forward Assist

19

loaded, the rifle handled beautifully

AIM Surplus AR Ambi Safety Selector

23

mount, which pulls the light in tight

and shot softer and flatter than we

Burris XTR II 1-5x24mm Riflescope

959

against the handguard. A suitably aus-

expected for a 7.62x39. BRS spent

Aero Precision Ultralight SPR Scope Mount

95 160

battery, mounted in a slick Impact Weapon Components Thorntail2

Weighing in at 9.3 pounds un-

tere but functional Proctor sling with

a lot of effort dialing in their system,

Strike Industries Sidewinder Backup Iron Sights

QD swivels finished off the build.

and it shows. With the Eclipse trigger

SureFire M600DF Scout Light

299

set at 3 pounds, we ripped off smok-

Impact Weapon Components Thorntail2 Light Mount

50

At the range, we tried eight different types of ammo, both domestic and

ing splits with huge grins on our faces.

imported. All ran perfectly, aside from

This gun is a blast — we’re definitely

the light strikes before we switched

taking it to some rifle matches. It

Proctor Sling w/ QD Swivels

44

triggers. To assess accuracy poten-

turned out great, and we hope Mikhail

Magpul PMAG 30 AK/AKM MOE

14

tial, we benched it with a Nightforce

would approve.

Totals

$4,156

Impact Weapon Components QD Sling Mount 19

M I C R O

9

S T A I N L E S S

R A P T O R

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WHAT ALL GUNS SHOULD BE

TM

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©2018, Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Information and specifications are for reference only and subject to change without notice.

3 8 IS SUE REC O ILW E B .C O M

58

DRESSING UP AN SKS-M AS A CHINESE TYPE 84, BUT BETTER

BY DAVE MERRILL

offensive use (in the United States at

The year was 1999; RECOIL wasn’t

OK, we know this article isn’t

even a glimmer in Iain’s eye, having

carved onto a cave wall, and that

only been in the United States for

nothing much of substance happened

a few months. Soon, the developed

at the turn of the millennium sans a

models from nearly a dozen separate

world would come crashing down, as

few unplanned pregnancies. However,

nations, your standard fare SKS was a

computers across the globe would

this article is a little bit about that,

semiautomatic, 7.62x39mm, 20-inch

cause rolling blackouts due to a

because that was also the last calen-

barreled affair that fed from an inter-

simple date error: Yes, ladies and

dar year the SKS could be considered

nal 10-round magazine. Loading and

gentlemen, we’re talking about Y2K.

a pragmatic or practical choice for

reloading took place with stripper clips.

least; sorry, Canada).

Though there are variations and

Many were imported with folding bayo-

Remember, this was a magic time

some shiny ones all dolled up for pa-

nets that couldn’t be quickly removed

when the mantra, “Get whatever

rade across the iron curtain, but that’s

from the rifle without the use of tools.

AR-15 that you want, provided it’s

the most common use for it now.

They were inexpensive and read-

made by ABC: Armalite, Bushmaster,

The same couldn’t be said of Red

ily available, which goes a long way

or Colt,” was mostly true. A cheap

China. When they received the official

to explaining their popularity in the

SKS was roughly the tenth of a price

tooling from Tula Arsenal in the ’50s,

United States. Hell, an entire cottage

of a Colt.

they embraced it. For nearly three de-

industry was invented seemingly

Ultimately, the American heyday

cades it remained their go-to, mass-

solely to peddle awful accessories.

of the SKS was extinguished for

issue rifle. While they spent some

Some of these efforts were attempts

exactly the same reason the Russian

time dabbling with new designs in the

to address the shortcomings relative

one was: the increased availability of

early ’70s, it wouldn’t be until the

to modern rifles, and some left us

the AK/AKM. Long gone is the time

far-superior Type 81 Assault Rifles

just sadly shaking our heads. Chassis

when you’d buy an SKS for practical

were fielded in the ’80s that SKSs

systems. Folding stocks. Wobbly railed

reasons, solely consigned instead to

began to drop off the scene.

top covers. Weird ugly duck billed

nerdy Com-Blok collectors.

removable magazines — you’ve seen them all, of that we’re certain.

It’s been said that the People’s

To the Russians, the SKS is a bit

Liberation Army prized the accuracy

like the American M14 — an awkward

of the SKS; if that’s true, their mea-

middle child, never heavily fielded for

suring sticks must have been made

any significant period, and largely rel-

in China as well. Rather than allowing

egated to the rear. Sure, you’ve seen

the AK to replace the SKS wholesale, the Chinese military treated them as hybrids along the way.

IS SUE

complimentary weapons — with some

3 8

59 REC O ILW E B .C O M

THE HOTTEST CASHIER AT DOLLAR TREE While the SKS-M looks baller with a bakelite, we can’t ignore the beauty with the bayonet.

EATING FROM AK MAGS One such Moreau-esque amalgam

features like bayonet lugs. Because

a shorter 16.5-inch barrel, a corre-

drive-by bayonet assaults were appar-

spondingly shorter spike bayonet, and

ently a huge problem in the 1980s. the SKS-M. With a real name scripted

cause each magazine had to be indi-

on the side of the receiver rather than

vidually hand-fit to the gun; they were

a dealer denomination, the SKS-M

even serialized together. Because AK

was most often imported with the

magazines, even ones heavily hand

shorter 16.5-inch “paratrooper” bar-

modded, don’t work with the SKS

rel. And, of course, with dangerous

bolt-hold-open system (incredibly

features like the bayonet removed.

important for rifles that traditionally

The SKS-M had a “sporting” stock,

ate from strippers — there’s a joke

either consisting of a Monte Carlo-

there someplace), the Type 84 had a

style that almost looks like a standard

unique button on top of the bolt car-

stock, or the dreaded thumbhole.

3 8

In 1989, USA Navy Arms imported

IS SUE

At this time, we also began seeing

AK magazines. We say “almost” be-

rier to lock it in place.

REC O ILW E B .C O M

all of which had fewer “assault rifle”

was the Chinese Type 84. It featured

— importantly — could almost accept

60

hand, “sporting rifles” were allowed,

While more of these rifles came in than the Chinese Type 84, a trade dis-

some to the United States. We’ve

pute in 1993 ended Chinese importa-

heard as few as 400 of these rifles

tion of most all firearms and ammuni-

hit American shores. It was and

tion shortly thereafter (you can still

remains the only SKS import that had

get shotguns though — see our piece

the shorter 16.5-inch barrel, stubby

on the Lynx-12 in Issue 37).

bayonet, and ability to accept AK

Since we wanted a Type 84, we’d

magazines, albeit modified ones.

have to start our journey by first ob-

AK magazines are commonly avail-

taining an SKS-M.

able, fast to reload, and offer a significant upgrade to other cobbled-together detachable magazines for SKSs. So, of course, we had to have one.

And also make it better.

While you could dig deep in your

TREASURE HUNT The firearms market is completely upside down compared to two decades ago. Instead of an SKS costing a mere fraction of an AR-15, SKS prices often

pockets and scour the depths of

meet or even exceed those of a basic

Gunbroker or Armslist looking for

AR. And a special one like an SKS-M?

one of those rare birds, we made one

Good luck.

ourselves instead.

We happened upon one at The Bullet Ranch, in Pataskala, Ohio,

LIMITED OPTIONS Aside from the Chinese Type 84 SKS,

and snatched it up. Monte Carlotype stock, nonexistent bayonet, and

two other variations that ate from com-

that all-important short barrel and

mon AK/AKM magazines were imported.

magazine well. What we didn’t know

The first was dubbed the SKS-D by

is that this would be just the start of

dealers to differentiate them from the

our journey.

fixed magazine fodder. It looked like

The appropriate foreign parts

a standard CHICOMM SKS, differing

were very easy to obtain online and

mainly by accepting AK magazines.

relatively inexpensive, including the

These rifles came in before the

shortened paratrooper spike bayonet.

George H. W. Bush administration

But alas, the hardest part had yet

banned the importation of so-called

to come: compliance with the law,

“assault rifles” in 1989. On the other

specifically 922(r).

THE HOTTEST CASHIER AT DOLLAR TREE Essentially, 922(r) means that you can’t simply take an imported “sporting rifle” and give it “assault features” without first increasing the amount of American-made parts.

And no, not every little screw counts.

There are 20 “parts” specifically listed in Title 18 Chapter 44 Section 922(r), further broken down in Title 27 Part 478.39 of the Code of Federal Regulation. Yes, we also feel like we need a lawyer just to read that sentence.

Not every specified 922(r) part corresponds to an actual part on an imported rifle. Thus depending on the design of your rifle, varying numbers of American compliance parts may be needed. Regardless of the foreign rifle you’re converting from “sporting” status, the law says that you can have

IS SUE

3 8

no more than 10 foreign parts from

REC O ILW E B .C O M

62

that list of 20.

Because the SKS isn’t nearly as popular as other imported rifles, it can be harder to find appropriate compliance parts. Furthermore, not every compliance part is a simple “drop in” fit with our SKS-M because of its shortened gas system. Deciding to go with the belt and suspenders approach, we replaced more than technically necessary in order to ensure there could be no question about its legality.

We begged and bartered for a U.S.made fire control group, then wrestled with installing it. We took a brand new and shiny U.S.-made gas piston and shortened it to work with the truncated gas system. And we begrudgingly only used U.S.-made magazines.

With a twist of irony, we note that U.S. magazines need to be modified to fit. Just like regular AK magazines in the Chinese Type 84.

But once we had all of our parts and pieces, we could put it all together. We’re thankful Chinese manufacturers used wood approximately as soft as soap, which made hogging the magwell out much easier.

Stripped down, the SKS-M looks normal, sans the mag lock and magwell.

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3 8

THE HOTTEST CASHIER AT DOLLAR TREE

64 REC O ILW E B .C O M

And oh yeah — we had the barrel threaded.

pistol grip. The ability to use your shooting hand to pull the rifle back into your shoulder for better recoil

ON THE RANGE We wish we could say that this was a pleasant rifle to shoot, but that would The GoGun USA brake made a huge difference in recoil.

dard stock.

Maybe we got a lemon, but benched

be a bald faced lie. The bare muzzle

group sizes at 100 yards were in ex-

and heavy gas resulted in more recoil

cess of 5 inches. Precise indeed.

than the 7.62x39 normally metes out.

Some like the fully hooded front sight of CHICOMM guns; we aren’t among them.

control is diminished with the stan-

To help with the recoil, we in-

The brass (err ... steel) casings seemed

stalled a SuperComp XL from GoGun

to fly as far as the bullets themselves.

USA. Sure, it doesn’t look like a

Furthermore, though it might sound a tad strange, we missed having a

Chinese Type 84 anymore, but boy was it more fun to shoot and easy to remove. And, of course, we also installed a Surefire SOCOM762-MINI2.

After carefully checking alignment, we gave it a go.

If brass went as far as the bullet with a bare muzzle, we’re pretty sure we put some in orbit with the suppressor mounted. There’s no way we can recommend silencing an SKS unless some special measures are taken, lest you end up with bent pistons and destroyed rifles.

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THE HOTTEST CASHIER AT DOLLAR TREE

Safety off

IS SUE

3 8

Safety on

LOOSE ROUNDS Like a road trip with friends, this

66

We’d then have the ability to legally

the journey than the destination.

use whatever magazine we want. Until

a DIY Chinese Type 84, but better?

Kind of. Once we track down three more 922R compliance parts that

SPEC BOX

job, we’ll say mission accomplished.

project turned out to be more about Did we accomplish our mission of

REC O ILW E B .C O M

don’t make it look like a Y2K bubba

then, our rifle suffers the same fate as the Chinese Type 84.

But when that happens, she’ll be the hottest cashier at Dollar Tree.

SKS-M, DRESSED UP AS A TYPE 84

CALIBER

7.62x39mm BARREL LENGTH

16.5 inches OVERALL LENGTH

35.5 inches WEIGHT (UNLOADED)

8 pounds MAGAZINE CAPACITY

5- to 40-round MSRP

$ $800

NEW S.O.A.R.® BALLHEAD OPTIMIZE STABILITY. MAXIMIZE ACCURACY.

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© All rights reserved, 2018

WARNING! When handling firearms, always observe safety rules and the precautions set forth in the firearm’s owner’s guide. Be certain that your firearm is unloaded and made safe before proceeding with this DIY.

IS SUE 3 8

71

battle. Back in Issue 26, we covered a pair of dedicated AK silencers — one from Gemtech and another from Dead Air. Since that time, a handful of other purpose-built Kalashnikov suppressors have been released, but what if you don’t want to buy a silencer specifically for an AK? That’s what this article is for.

Chances are, if someone only owns one silencer, it’s either for 22LR or for 7.62N — this piece is for those who fall into the latter category. A 7.62N silencer as a “do all” is a very common first NFA purchase. The rationale behind a 7.62N can is pretty simple: companies typically

USING YOUR MARY-SUE SUPPRESSOR ON AN AK VARIANT

BY DAVE MERRILL

advertise them as being good for 5.56 and other smaller calibers as well.

But if you want to use your normal 7.62N silencer, undoubtedly not designed for AKs, there’s some work you have to do to overcome the issues. Threads are often not concentric to the bore — blame

REC O ILW E B .C O M

Want to silence an AK? You have an uphill

Soviet precision. Rarely is an AK thread

far the most commonly seen thread pat-

muzzle itself and not on the front sight.

pattern readily available in your standard

tern on a 7.62x39 AK is 14x1LH, though

We recommend the Griffin Armament

fare silencer, and there’s no shoulder to

24mm x 1.5mm takes second place,

thread adapter for general purposes, and

speak of for a silencer to seat against.

especially with 5.45 AKs. Other thread-

not just some random one you found

AKs are already so overgassed; adding

ing exists, like 22mm (for Romanian

online cheap.

backpressure from a silencer just makes

5.45/5.56 guns) and 26mm specifically

it a heavily recoiling mess.

for some Yugoslavian AKs.

And yet, it can still be done. We’ll

Regardless, your standard 7.62N

show you a variety of ways to overcome

silencer is unlikely to come in one of

these issues, all while using your normal

these thread patterns.

7.62N silencer. These methods can each

Take care to note that any specialized quick disconnect adapter threaded for an AK also should index on the muzzle, not the front sight.

If your thread adapter or muzzle

For best results, you should send

device threads completely on, index-

be used piecemeal, or you can combine

your rifle in to be threaded properly

ing on the front sight instead of the

them. Before heading to your workbench,

in 5/8x34 — but not only can this be

muzzle, it’s a poor choice for use with

be forewarned that not all suppressor

costly, it’s also often impossible. So

a suppressor. If you just want a muzzle

companies will honor their warranties

you’re left with thread adapters.

brake? Go with God. The main concern

if used on an AK, for all of the reasons

But you can’t just buy the first $15

with suppressors is that any angular

thread adapter you find on Amazon.

deviation from the bore is exponentially

One major issue is that AKs don’t have

exacerbated the longer the device that

a solid shoulder to butt up against, in-

you attach. A stubby 1-inch brake may

First and foremost, we have to ad-

stead utilizing a front sight block right at

give you no issue, but the same can’t

dress the thread patterns on an AK. By

the end of the threads. Using adapters,

be said of a 6- or 10-inch silencer.

in general and on AKs in particular, is a

COST: $60 TO $70

we’ve already outlined.

IS SUE

3 8

ADAPTERS

bad idea — you’re stacking tolerances that you don’t want to and exponentially

REC O ILW E B .C O M

72 The more parts you stack, the more you increase your odds of a baffle strike.

RODS

increase your chance of a baffle strike.

Even if your chosen silencer has a

If you have to use a thread adapter

thread pattern that works directly with

or a custom muzzle device for your pat-

your AK, you absolutely need to check

terned AK, use one that indexes on the

alignment before firing to ensure you avoid a baffle strike and the shrapnel that can come along with it. With an AR-15 or similar, it’s a fairly straight-

Always ensure your bore rod fits perfectly on the bolt face.

forward process to pull an upper and eyeball it, but the same can’t be done with an AK. Even if you strip everything down, the rear trunnion will get in the way of a completely straight view down the muzzle.

So what can you do? Rod it.

If any part of the alignment rod touches any part of the silencer — no-go.

GAP (Good)

NO GAP (Bad)

TAMING THE BEAST Opinions vary on what alignment rod

not only reduce recoil and muzzle

to use, with Geissele generally consid-

rise, but will increase internal parts

ered the best and CNC Warrior rods

longevity. While there are several

as a second. Some use precision drill

options, we’ve found the Snakehound

rods from McMaster-Carr for the same

Machine (SHM) spring kits to be

purpose, though the tolerances aren’t

fantastic for this purpose.

as precise as Geissele’s offerings.

After mounting the silencer, insert

Not only do you receive a much stronger recoil spring in the pack, but

the alignment rod into the end of the

also a hammer and extractor spring

suppressor and allow it to fall to the

(the latter must be cut to fit). With

bolt face of the rifle. If any point of the

most AKs, the SHM kits will work

rod makes contact with the silencer —

suppressed or unsuppressed, because

consider it a no-go and do not shoot

the AK-series rifles have such a large

the AK with the silencer attached.

operational window.

If you’re using either a 5.45 or

Swapping recoil springs on an AK

5.56 AK with a 7.62N silencer, you

may seem daunting at first glance, but

have a bit more wiggle room for align-

it’s actually a fairly easy process.

ment, but you still shouldn’t pull the

To replace your recoil spring:

trigger on a rifle that fails an align-

1. Remove the recoil spring assembly.

ment test. AK-specific silencers, such

2. Pull back on the spring and use a

as the Dead Air Wolverine PBS-1, continually larger further down the

pair of vise grips to hold the recoil spring to the rear.

3. Spread the two spring bars to remove the end piece of the recoil

ment — but even still, don’t shoot a

spring assembly.

(Watch out! It can fly off).

COST: $19 TO $75

5. Install the new SHM recoil spring and

SPRINGING IT

6. Spread spring bars apart to reinstall

hold it to the rear with vise grips.

As mentioned, AKs are gas hogs.

Part of the mythical reliability of an AK-series rifle stems from the fact

end piece.

7. Remove vise grips and reinstall the parts.

that they tap so much gas from the

Even if you choose another method

bore, allowing the bolt carrier group

for suppressing an AK, the SHM spring

to fully cycle even when extremely

upgrade should be used in conjunction

fouled. Attaching a silencer to the

with it.

end exacerbates this, with the

COST: $25

backpressure the silencer creates pushing gas not only through the piston system, but also back through the barrel itself.

This leads to greater recoil and increased parts wear. No, regardless

BUFFERS AND GAS BUSTERS The increased gas from the addition of a silencer means your bolt speed will be higher than usual.

While a standard buffer setup

of what you’ve read on a gun forum

will protect your rear trunnion

someplace, the AK isn’t infallible and

from undue wear from bolt

can and will break.

cycling, it also reduces

Adding heavier springs doesn’t solve

some of the leaded gas

the problem of excessive gas, but it

rolling into your face.

does cut down on the symptoms. The

But you can take it a

addition of more robust springs will

step further.

73 REC O ILW E B .C O M

rod test.

4. Remove the current recoil spring

A pair of vise grips makes swapping in Snakehound springs a snap. Without them, you’re liable to lose an eye.

3 8

suppressor to help mitigate misaligngun that doesn’t pass a rudimentary

IS SUE

use baffles with apertures that get

TAMING THE BEAST A common AR-15 mod is making a “DIY Gas Buster” charging handle

the original piston has to be removed.

utilizing RTV silicone, and the same

For many guns, this just involves a

can be done with an AK. For this mod,

punch and a hand drill. But if you’re

all you need is a cheap AK buffer,

unlucky enough to have a piston that’s

some cooking spray, and black RTV

welded in place, like many CAI imported

silicone (commonly available at any

guns, installation is far more daunting.

auto parts store).

There’s no guarantee that you won’t

While red RTV silicone is most

of removing a welded piston, and many

more resistant to oil, so we utilize it for

don’t consider it a worthwhile venture. rier, removal of the OEM piston and

2. Install buffer on recoil spring assem-

installation of the KNS is fairly easy.

3. Spray rear trunnion and inside of top release agent.

1. Strip the BCG and put in a vise.

5. Replace top cover.

3 8

inch punch, and 1/8-inch drill bit. OK, maybe a Dremel too.

buffer and in/around rear trunnion.

IS SUE

All you need is a vise, hand drill, 1/8-

cover with cooking spray to act as a 4. Gob the black RTV silicone onto the

REC O ILW E B .C O M

If you have a standard pinned car-

1. Field strip AK and degrease. bly, install back into BCG.

6. Allow silicone to cure for 24 to 48 hours.

7. After curing, disassemble AK, remove excess cooking oil.

Ugly? Absolutely. Functional? You betcha. Gas to the face is significantly

2. Locate the rivet head; sometimes you’ll have to remove some finish to find it.

3. Partially drill the rivet out, and use the punch to completely remove.

4. Rotate out the OEM piston.

5. Install the KNS piston and secure with the included roll pin.

After installation, the piston has to be

reduced.

tuned. There are over 100 settings, so

COST: $18

it may take you a bit of time to find your desired sweet spot. Also, bear in mind

GAS PISTONS Every fix and solution up to this point

that the piston will have to be adjusted when taking the silencer on or off for

only addresses the symptoms and not

optimal performance. Note that since

the root causes. But not this one. The

the gas is vented internally, though car-

KNS adjustable gas piston allows gas to

rier speeds are reduced, you’ll still get

vent from the piston itself, slowing the

the additional gas in your face.

movement of the BCG. Less parts wear

COST: $149 TO $165

and reduced recoil — what’s not to love? Well, a couple of things: At the time of this writing, 19 differ-

CUSTOM GAS BLOCKS This option is for those more

ent pistons are available covering the

daring-minded, as it involves perma-

vast majority of AK/AKM variants. You’ll

nent modification to your rifle.

need to choose the one that corresponds to your rifle.

Black RTV Silicone being squished on as a seal against gas may look ugly — but it’s effective. Not that the insides of AKs are pretty anyway ...

destroy your bolt carrier in the process

commonly used on an AR, the black is our purposes.

74

In order to install the KNS gas piston,

Unlike the KNS gas piston, this modification vents excess gas to the

Hell, you probably have half of this already.

TAMING THE BEAST atmosphere, virtually eliminating any gas

an unvented cap screw from your local

to the face. But in addition to permanent

hardware store for unsuppressed use.

modification and tuning, you’ll now have

open the hole in the vented cap screw

1. Using a #21 drill bit (5/32 is the

until it reliably cycles at the speed you

closest fractional size), drill a hole in

desire. While we’d normally advocate for

the gas block forward of the end of

a drill press, it’s not practical for most

the gas piston.

to run to the range with them. A field

2. Thread the hole to 10/32, utilizing a quality tap and handle.

3. Obtain several vented cup-point cap

3 8 IS SUE REC O ILW E B .C O M

expedient method is to use a pair of vise grips to secure the vented cap screw while drilling.

screws — McMaster-Carr sells a 10-

If you make the hole too large? Well,

pack for $5.16 (PN 7573841421).

maybe that’s why McMaster-Carr sells it

Now it’s tuning time. Head to the

in a 10-pack.

range with the rifle and silencer of your

76

Install your suppressor and slowly

some small parts to keep track of.

For our particular rifle/silencer combo

choice, along with a set of numbered

we have one cap screw for suppressed,

drill bits and a cordless drill. Since an

and another for unsuppressed. The extra

AK is already so vastly overgassed,

screw, along with a hex key, is stored in

there’s a decent chance it’ll run

a small baggy that conveniently fits into

unsuppressed with just the standard

the AK cleaning kit.

vented cap screw. If it doesn’t, obtain

COST: $10

While drilling and tapping the gas block is the most extreme option, it can be performed with simple tools.

3 8 IS SUE REC O ILW E B .C O M

78

LS I L S A E G I F R O T REST S U D HE RA N I T X S X E JAECREAT R

OS OT PH

ON IS RR GNE A H I IN SE IA LEN Y B A ND KE BY

HISTORY Following the Israelis’ experience of desert warfare in the 1960s, a decision was made to transition away from the 7.62 NATO cartridge for use in individual Get half a dozen dudes around a campfire, throw in

weapons, and at the same time move toward a rifle

a little whiskey and a few cigars for seasoning, and

suitable for a conscript army. What they really wanted

sooner or later a “best of” debate will emerge. No

was the AKM, but being a lone democracy with ties

matter the subject — be it music, movies, calibers, or

to the West surrounded by Soviet-backed dictator-

women — there’ll be few staunch holdouts, defiantly

ships, Moscow was hardly going to give up the blue-

clinging to their opinions while a larger consensus

prints to Kalashikov’s brainchild, especially at the

emerges. This is a good thing, part of the long human

height of the Cold War.

tradition of civilized discourse among peers.

In the case of AKs, some will claim the Bulgarians

A decade earlier, the Finnish state-owned company of Valmet started rolling out its new assault rifle, the

can’t be beat, while others point to the Finns, with

RK-62, based on a Polish, milled receiver version

their long tradition of raising their driving finger to

of the AK-47. It was notable for the quality of its

the east. The subject of this article could justifiably

materials and construction, permitting the relocation

be considered the ne plus ultra in terms of the evolu-

of the rear sight from the front trunnion to the dust

tion of the AK, at least in its milled receiver form.

cover, almost doubling the sight radius.

HEBREW HAMMER sale of which was curtailed by FOPA 86, so it can’t be sold in its original form. OK, you say. How about yanking out the full-auto parts and turning it into a semi-auto for sale as a regular firearm? Well, there are two problems with that, principally the 1936 National Firearms Act, which classifies it as a short-barreled rifle, and the subsequent interpretation of the same, which as far as we can tell, some pencil jockey pulled out of his ass.

The ruling goes “once a machine gun, always a machine gun,” even if extensive steps are taken to ensure it can’t be converted back. Which makes as much sense as asserting that the turd you flushed this morning is identical to last night’s steak dinner.

In order to comply with the law, as 3 8

turer must first destroy the original

IS SUE

f*cked up as it may be, the manufacreceiver, completely disassemble the gun, and put the whole shebang back together on a new frame. As the

80

result is sold as a pistol and minus a

REC O ILW E B .C O M

buttstock, it doesn’t need to comply with the requirements of USC 922(r), Using the RK-62 as a base, a

which pertains to the number of

design team headed by Yisrael Galil

foreign-made parts permitted in an

converted the Finnish rifle to accept

ostensibly U.S.-made firearm. But

the 5.56 M193 cartridge — following

only if it’s a shotgun or rifle. Don’t get

trials in the early ’70s, it was adopted

us started.

as the IDF’s official rifle. During its

Despite the manifest ass-clownery

20-year service life, the Galil served

of sundry branches of government,

as the basis for a family of weapons,

the resulting gat is pretty squared-

including a carbine, light support

away. That said, it’s a collector’s gun,

weapon, and PDW version. It’s this

albeit one that’s eminently desirable

last variant, introduced in 1992 as

from a practical standpoint.

the Galil MAR, that was used to create the final iteration of the entire line, the model 699, featuring a left-

With a 300Blk 9-inch barrel and left-side charging handle, the Galil 699 is no longer the firearm equivalent of drinking cabbage soup from a straw boot.

OVERVIEW Bear in mind, the gun in question

side charging handle. And it’s this

incorporates parts that already have

version that the Henderson, Nevada-

a few miles on them. That said, the

based Jaxx Industries recreated for

heart and soul are brand new and

the U.S. market.

American made, comprising a CNC

Now, in a sane and rational uni-

Warrior billet receiver and a Green

verse, it should be possible to simply

Mountain barrel, both of which have

import the Galil MAR and sell it to

the right numbers associated with

a willing buyer. But no. It’s a select

their raw materials, 4140 and 41v50

fire weapon, the manufacture and

respectively. After spending consid-

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Hand Stop

IS SUE

3 8

HEBREW HAMMER

REC O ILW E B .C O M

82

erable time machining the center,

closer to the breech, it’s considerably

the receiver is heat treated to an

shorter than standard, also serving to

appropriate degree of hardness. This

reduce weight. Instead of the typical

is important, as it acts as both the

long, wobbly piston stem of an AKM,

home for all the slidey-turney bits

this one has a short, wobbly piston

and also as the front trunnion, lock-

head pinned to the carrier extension.

ing the bolt in place and preventing

It weighs in at 12.2 versus 14 ounces

all those glorious hot gases from

— most of that diet program is due

escaping to places they shouldn’t be,

to losing 3.5 inches from the piston,

such as your face.

but some can be accounted for by the

Externally, overall quality of finish is very good. Internally, there are quite a few tool marks leftover from

large relief cut in the right side of the carrier.

Weight is added through the use of

turning what appears to be 75 per-

a large, left-side charging handle, so

cent of the original slab of steel into

to keep carrier velocity in the sweet

chips. Despite this, the bolt carrier

spot while accommodating a cartridge

group runs smoothly on the receiver

with less bolt thrust, material had to

rails, with none of the “ripping a beer

be shaved wherever possible. There

can in half” feel of a typical AK.

are lightening cuts on the bolt tail as

There are several important depar-

well, and to avoid potential problems

tures from the garden-variety AK de-

with more sensitive western primers,

sign, notably a modified bolt carrier,

the 5.56 bolt has a stiffly sprung fir-

piston, gas tube, top cover, safety,

ing pin. Interestingly, the Micro Galil’s

and, of course, that side charging

recoil spring assembly is actually

handle with its associated vertical

longer than the AKM’s, by about ½

dust cover. When combined, they

inch, with a polymer buffer to cushion

make for a very refined package.

carrier impact.

In the case of the carrier and pis-

The gas tube that shorty piston

ton, due to the chopped-down barrel

runs inside is another area where the

and the need to move the gas port

Galil deviates from the holy book of

AKM bolt carrier left, 699 right

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3 8

HEBREW HAMMER

REC O ILW E B .C O M

84

Mikhail. With no rear sight to house,

way less prone to harvest the user’s

sition when the bolt’s in battery. Yes,

it’s simply dovetailed into the front

DNA than other designs. Whereas

it adds four more parts to the design,

trunnion and retained by the dust

mag changes still require the bolt

but if the most fragile component

cover, which is itself reinforced at

to be racked (there’s no last round

(the return spring) breaks, it won’t

its rearmost surface, making the

hold open), at least now the charging

interface with the rear trunnion

handle is on the correct side of the

stiffer, resulting in the rear sight

weapon and — joy of joys — there’s

being less prone to wandering. In a

no bent and twisted sheetmetal

nod to modernity, there’s a Pic rail

safety to drag your knuckles across.

welded to the upper surface of the

Kalashnikov’s attempt to keep debris

is operated by the user’s thumb and

gas tube to accept a forward-mounted

out of the gun’s mechanism by keep-

doesn’t require breaking the firing

red dot sight. Stripping the gas tube

ing the top cover as intact as possible

grip/use of the support hand/genetic

for cleaning is simplicity itself, and if

dictated the use of a right-side charg-

mutation to manipulate. Simply push

you’re not careful when removing the

ing handle. The Galil achieves the

forward when it’s time to rock ’n’ roll.

bolt, it’ll drop straight out onto the

same effect through the use of a dust

concrete — along with your Aimpoint.

cover, which rides up and down on a

dimensions, the Micro sports a black

You’ve been warned.

pair of bosses, dropping out of the

polymer handguard with a built-in

way as the bolt handle moves back

hand stop — another one of those

and forth and springing back into po-

well-thought-out design touches that

The left side of the receiver houses one feature of the gun that makes it

The SB Tactical brace will fill the gap until the Form 1 clears, but you’ll probably want to spring for the folding stock.

put the gun out of action.

Below that dust cover lies a selector switch connected via a linkage to the usual AK-pattern safety/dust cover/DNA sampling device. This one

Due to its abbreviated barrel

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HEBREW HAMMER makes us believe it was developed

turn it into an SBR. This is one of the

and pair of U.S.-made polymer Tapco

with a lot of end user input. The

few instances in which paying your

Intrafuse mags. Our first impulse was

pistol grip is likewise comfortable and

$200 makes sense. Ordinarily, we’d

to employ the first to make holes in

ergonomic, without being too large

save the coin and hassle of applying

the second, because, well, Tapco. But

for smaller hands. In this case, the

for a stamp, as a pistol brace makes

it’d seem that quality has come up a

builder went to town with a soldering

the whole SBR argument somewhat

few notches in recent years — they

iron in order to further distinguish

moot. But having that cute right-side

locked into place, fed, and ejected

their wares, and a well-executed stip-

folder here makes the package so

just fine, despite being subjected to

pling job has been applied. Assuming

much more appealing, and, if you’re

the usual “slap the release with the

you like that sort of thing.

dropping three grand on a Micro, why

fresh mag” reload technique.

In order to comply with U.S. edicts,

not go all the way? Oh, and we did

the original folding stock has been replaced with an SB Tactical nota-stock, which is fixed in position.

According to the Jaxx Industries website, the OEM part is still available

IS SUE

3 8

should you wish to file a Form 1 and

REC O ILW E B .C O M

86

Ejection is healthy, but not in the “launch them into the next bay” category of a typical AK.

Accuracy with SIG 124-grain FMJ

say this was a collector’s gun — it

ammo hovered around 3 MOA, which

has the price tag to prove it.

we feel is perfectly acceptable for a red dot-equipped, PDW-sized weapon.

ROUNDS DOWNRANGE Our test gun arrived with three magazines: one Israeli 35-rounder

When fed 220-grain subsonic ammo, ejection wasn’t exactly vigorous when unsuppressed, but it went back to

Button Rifled Barrel with 1/2 x 28 Threaded Muzzle

RIMFIRE REDEFINED™

Co-Branded Stock with slots under forend

Built-In Picatinny-Style Rail

Stainless Steel Bolt with Last Shot Hold Open

Flush-Fit, 10-Round Rotary Magazine

Crisp Trigger Right Out of The Box

www.TCARMS.com Precision-Machined 6061 Aluminum Receiver

#TCR22

/tcarmsco

HEBREW HAMMER flinging cases with gusto when a can was

would take care of its clients and sort

screwed in place. Installing a suppres-

out any problems, but it’s annoying,

sor requires removal of the flash hider,

nonetheless.

Recoil impulse is smooth, and while

which is an eight-port design, threaded M13x1, timed with a jam nut, and fea-

there’s no mistaking that BCG slam-

turing a rifle grenade retainer spring. Fun

ming into the receiver at the end of

fact: Possession of a 22mm flash hider

its stroke, it’s not as violent as other

head separation. We encountered one with the Galil, leaving the for-

with a spring like this one puts you in

short AKs we’ve encountered. It’s not

ward part of the case jammed into its chamber, and tying up the gun

legal jeopardy with the California DOJ, as

until you’ve spent some time running

for the remainder of a range session. Occasionally, the stars align and

they regard it as the same as a live Carl

reload drills that you get to really ap-

the gods smile upon us, and the next round has just enough friction

Gustaf. But we digress.

preciate the left side charging handle.

between it and the case remnant to pop it out — in some instances

While it’s fun to challenge yourself

you almost don’t notice what’s happened as you cycle the action to

with a long, rollover break feeling

to drive down the reload speed on a

eject what you perceive as a failure to go into battery.

like that of a very light double-action

regular AK, it doesn’t take long before

Other times, the chunk of brass is so firmly wedged it needs a spe-

revolver. Reset is positive, requir-

you wish the Russians had just done it

cialist tool to break it out. This was one of those times. Unfortunately,

ing around 1⁄ 8 inch from the break,

right the first time around.

there are no stuck case removal tools we know of for the 300 BLK.

The 699’s trigger is typical AK,

The 699 Micro Galil hasn’t seen a

IS SUE

3 8

or roughly 4km from the end of the

SPEC BOX

REC O ILW E B .C O M

Fire enough rounds and you’ll eventually run headlong into a case

7.62 NATO, 5.56, and the common commie rounds are all catered

overtravel. OK, maybe that’s an exag-

lot of press, as there were only a few

for, but what to do in this instance? Fortunately, suppressor guru Mike

geration, but it’s definitely a long

thousand made for specialist us-

Papas of Dead Air came to the rescue with a workaround:

way from when the blade contacts

ers, and as far as we can tell, only a

1. Take a fired 5.56 case and partially size it in a 300 BLK sizing

the rear of the trigger guard. Despite

handful were ever imported in their

die with the neck expander removed, in order to create a false shoul-

that, we had no problems hammering

original form. If you’re in the market

der. If you don’t have dies, then tapping the case into the chamber

fast double and triple taps.

for rare AKs, Jaxx Industries has done

with a hammer is a viable alternative.

We did encounter an issue with the

88

STUCK CASE REMOVAL

a creditable job in recreating one of

2. Degrease the case thoroughly and apply a drop of cyanoacrylate

rear sight having insufficient lateral

the most unusual variants you’ll ever

adhesive to the false shoulder. That’s superglue for the grunts at the

movement to permit an accurate zero

come across. IMI will probably never

back of class.

— despite cranking it all the way over

resurrect the design, at least not with

to the left — and had this been a gun

a milled receiver, as they’ve turned

we’d cut a check for, it’d be going

their attention to the Galil ACE. This

back to the manufacturer to be fixed.

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The stereotype of perpetual warfare in

examine three of the primary small arms

acquired by private citizens, but it’s a

Afghanistan has plagued the country since

markets within the capital city of Kabul. We

very lengthy process involving at least two

December of 1979, when the Soviet 40th

explore what’s available, in what quantities,

government officials to essentially take full

Army came pouring across the Amu Daryua.

and for how many good American dollars.

responsibility for an applicant should there

This kicked off an era of foreign-sponsored

And so long as we’re discussing the arms

be any wrongdoing.

insurgency, a resulting civil war that devas-

trade in Afghanistan, we also address the

tated the once great city of Kabul, Taliban

legalities of purchasing a firearm in the city,

popular Kalashnikov in numerous variants,

rule, and, currently, the second decade of

along with illegal methods.

caliber, and country of origin, are owned by various private companies that provide their

a heavily U.S.-backed presence. However, this “perpetual warfare” hasn’t always been the case in Afghan history; in fact it’s a

Self-loading rifles, such as the ever-

LEGAL(ISH) The overwhelming majority of modern

own access control point security. Licenses for these rifles are somewhat easier to ac-

tragically unique spell of continued violence

small arms outside of Afghan government

quire due to their rifles belonging to private

throughout the modern era.

control are technically illegal without a

security companies, but the registration

special permit issued by the Ministry of

process is still arduous without at minimum

the Interior. Pistol carry licenses can be

bribes of some sort.

But to fight a war — or any kind of armed conflict — arms must be acquired. We

IS SUE

3 8

RUNNING GUNS IN KABUL

REC O ILW E B .C O M

94

Private security guards can legally carry arms.

Some businessmen risk openly carrying firearms due to kidnap and ransom threats.

Some private civilians in the city

modern handgun or rifle cartridges

of Kabul actually carry handguns or

in use by the security forces of either

rifles for personal defense that are

country, they’re given a pass legally

technically illegal and can be confis-

and not really considered a threat for

cated if found by ANSF authorities.

locals to own.

However, this is a risk that some,

In an area of the city known as Kuli-

especially businessmen, are willing

Pushta, an old-world market of tightly

to undertake, because the security

packed shoppers, jostling sellers, and

forces often can’t be depended on

live chickens exists, centered around a

during an assassination attempt or

river that runs through the area. This is

kidnapping for ransom (one of the

where a significant number of commer-

more frequent crimes conducted by

cial shotgun shops are concentrated.

organized crime syndicates).

The overwhelming majority of 12and 16-gauge shotguns that exist in

LEGAL Similar to neighboring Pakistan,

these locales are Turkish imports.

Names such as UTAS, Dreynayva, and

there’s a civilian firearms ownership

Asil are quite common, even to the

loophole. This lies with commercially

point where some of the models avail-

available shotguns and antiques.

able in Kabul are the exact same that

Because both categories don’t fire

are exported to the United States.

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RUNNING GUNS IN KABUL

Pump-actions rule the day, with

IS SUE

3 8

various hunting configurations avail-

REC O ILW E B .C O M

96

Above: Crazy-ass high-tech Turkish shotgun

able in long-barrels and classic pistolgrip stocks, but the tactical market has infected the Afghan markets just as much as it has the gun show circuit in the United States. Shotguns outfitted with pathetic excuses for lights, lasers, bipods, and scopes coming out of China can be found in every shop.

Some even have magazine capacities similar to commercial Saigas and

Right: Hot garbage craft-produced shotgun

Veprs in the United States. ing them with the government. Less

where a local gun-making community

ally in the sub-$500 range for most

effective than a 7.62x39mm Kalash-

began over 100 years ago, mostly due

pieces. For example, a semi-automat-

nikov, the shotguns can nonethe-

to British colonial efforts to enforce

ic detachable magazine-fed shotgun

less be useful for deterring thieves

gun control within the region. In

may go for around $300, while a

or lightly armed criminals. Against

the West, they’re known as “Khyber

pump-action, tubular magazine-fed

a formidable adversary, such as an

Pass guns” due to the trade coming

shotgun can be had for about $200.

organized criminal element or the

through along a valley that connects

Craft-produced, break open shotguns

insurgency themselves, these shot-

travelers from Peshawar to Kabul. Lo-

from neighboring Pakistan can be as

guns don’t stand a chance at offering

cally, they’re known in Dari or Pashtu

low as $60, but they’re certainly the

sufficient firepower.

as “Darrai” guns, named after the

Across the board, prices are gener-

bottom of the barrel when it comes to quality.

Although many civilians do pur-

town of Darra Adam Khel where many

INSIDE THE GRAY Possibly the largest category are

of them originate.

Quality varies from very well made

chase shotguns for home defense

the handmade firearms that originate

to downright unsafe to fire due to

or recreation, security companies

out of the Federally Administered

loose tolerances and quality control.

and private businesses can also be

Tribal Areas (FATA) in northwest

Within the Afghan market, they aren’t

particularly fond of them purely for

Pakistan, along the border. Specifi-

prized as much as foreign firearms

the reason that they don’t need to

cally, many of these firearms are from

coming from outside the country, with

go through the process of register-

the Pakistani province of Peshawar,

prices reflecting this opinion.

RUNNING GUNS IN KABUL uses a gaggle of small arms that are also procured through the black market — augmented with arms captured or outright purchased from the Afghan security forces. This even includes surplus M16A4s recently supplied to the Afghan Uniformed Police force. The largest difference between what the insurgency buys and what the private security sector buys is that the insurgency has a much more offensive and militant-based operational requirement that includes items

3 8

such as RPGs and PKMs.

IS SUE

Left top and bottom: While Soviet Makarovs would never be considered safe queens, the Darrai clones are far more ghetto.

REC O ILW E B .C O M

98

Right: American service weapons are available on the black market.

Take, for example, a Darrai Makarov

from the old Afghan Army’s collapse

copy that goes for around $300 to

when the Najibullah government fell in

$400 on the local market. This is

1992 made for a large black market.

relatively inexpensive compared to an

During the insurgency against the

original Soviet Makarov PM that goes

Soviets, the CIA and Saudi Arabia

for over $1,000. Anything else, such

pumped hundreds of thousands of fire-

as black market Beretta M9s or Walter

arms into the country through proxies

P5s, typically begins at this $1,000

in Pakistan. This armed the Mujahi-

benchmark and goes up from there.

deen with everything from surplus

Kalashnikovs are similarly priced,

Lee Enfield No.4s to Norinco Type

but the Darrai versions are much

56s Kalashnikov copies. Much of this

more than $400.

supply is still left over and currently being used on a daily basis within the

BLACK MARKET The massive amounts of surplus firearms left over from the Mujahideen era and, of course, everything left over

country, not only by private security forces but also the insurgency.

The current Taliban and so-called Islamic State-Khorasan insurgency

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IS SUE

3 8

RUNNING GUNS IN KABUL

Legitimate antique guns (such as the Martini Henry on top) aren’t subject to regulation. However, it’s often hard to determine the actual lineage, due to bootlegs pictured below.

REC O ILW E B .C O M

100

in between these two indigenously

members and contractors send these

manufactured firearms are various

antiques back to their respective

foreign rifles and handguns that were

countries through the mail.

either commercially brought into

firearms in Afghanistan made prior

Afghan forces, or actually left behind

to 1898. So how do the sellers on

and captured during the Anglo-Afghan

Chicken Street cope with this de-

Wars of the 1800s and early 1900s.

mand? Similar to the handmade “Dar-

We encountered Austrian 1867

rari” firearms that replicate modern

Werndl-Holub single-shot rifles,

small arms designs and are popular

Martini Henrys configured for sport-

throughout the market, older designs

ing use, and even a semi-automatic

are also copied, stamped with appro-

Winchester 1907. Although Lee En-

priate dates, and peddled to tourists

fields were quite prevalent among the

as antiques — when in fact they were

Mujahideen of the 1980s, we didn’t

quite possibly made the same year as

see any for sale in Kabul itself.

they were bought in the 2000s.

One reason is that ammunition

ANTIQUE

But there were a finite number of

the country, used as military aid to

To the untrained eye, the differ-

is still readily available and can be

ences aren’t noticeable from an

perceived as a modern firearm by

original. With some knowledge of

the government. But more impor-

the local mistakes and history of the

often peddled to tourists or Afghans

tantly, the tourist market, consisting

designs being copied, the differ-

looking for decorations.

of American or European custom-

ences become readily apparent. On

There’s a market sector that’s most

These guns range from the tradi-

ers, have import restrictions when

Martinis a common mistake is that

tional Afghan flintlock rifles that were

it comes to the year a firearm was

the stamped “N” is backward in

prevalent in the 19th century to the

produced. In the United States, guns

the word Enfield. In addition, some

single-shot breech-loading Martini

produced in or before 1898 aren’t

of the marks and manufacturing

Henrys that were actually produced

technically considered a firearm any-

techniques are just unlike anything

in Kabul under Amir Abdur Rah-

more and aren’t subject to firearms

usually found coming out of a large-

man Khan during the 1890s. Mixed

importation regulations. Many ISAF

scale arms producing facility.

RUNNING GUNS IN KABUL This is actual-

Along with original rifles and copies

Adding to this issue is the

for sale, there are also completely

ly a real predica-

fact that there aren’t any open

honest fakes of the traditional Afghan

ment within the

shooting ranges to go in the city,

“Jezails.” These are usually non-firing

Afghan firearms

apart from driving out into rural

examples simply made for folks to hang

community,

areas or celebratory fire during

up on living room walls. But whether an

both for private

cricket matches.

original, fake, or decorative piece, the

security and ci-

current antique market is dwindling.

vilians. Because

Tied directly to the security situation,

ammunition is so

The lack of security and instabil-

currently there are less contractors, less

difficult to come

ity that currently exists throughout

NGO workers, less businessmen, and

by, actual practi-

the country lends itself to both the

more importantly less ISAF personnel on large bases who might potentially purchase these old rifles.

Real 9x18 on right, totally out of spec Darrai 9x18 on left.

LOOSE ROUNDS

cal application and training with

civilian and black market arms trade,

firearms is relatively non-existent.

despite the strict Afghan govern-

This has led to many misconcep-

ment regulations that are in place.

tions about small arms operation,

Although not a “flourishing” black

and serious safety concerns. The

market, small arms are very acces-

four cardinal rules of firearms safety

sible by those in the country with

ammunition for self-loading rifles

are basically non-existent as well.

the capital, connections, and cun-

and handguns is in short supply

On multiple occasions just walk-

ning to skirt any of the government

in Afghanistan. A 50-round box of

ing around the city ,this author has

laws. The antique market is left

Chinese 9x18mm Makarov along with

had firearms pointed directly at him

alone for the most part, mostly due

two spare magazines actually costs

inadvertently, simply because the

to the lack of any real threat to

as much as the firearm itself: $300

users don’t realize the importance of

Afghan security forces from the arms

on the black market.

muzzle awareness.

being sold.

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REC O ILW E B .C O M

106

BY TOM MARSHALL

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3 8

The AK market is beginning to feel the

rifle so prolific that demand for it has

effects of a phenomenon that’s all but

slowed significantly.

business as usual for AR shoppers. With

For all its benefits, the Kalashnikov

FIRST IMPRESSIONS The first thing we think anybody would notice about the SLR Hybrid is

the repeated waves of panic buys, and

platform lacks a degree of modularity

that it has a very distinct aesthetic,

our legislative branch firmly controlled

that’s trademark of America’s black

even for an AK. The handguard is a

by a party that’s supposedly looking out

rifle. Modifications to the AK sometimes

wide, round number with all kinds of

for our Second Amendment rights, many

require additional effort and TLC. The

slots and holes. This free-float tube

people have already purchased the rifles

resulting artisan industry of AK builders

includes a series of holes drilled

they need or want. In response, manu-

has produced some intensely refined

throughout to attach Picatinny rail

facturers have been striving to come up

versions of Russia’s chief export.

sections at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock.

with new and unique variations of a base

D&L Sports is a small gunsmith shop

According to the included literature,

with an extensive history of quality

these rail pieces are produced by D&L

work, primarily on 1911 pistols. But

and hand-honed individually.

they recently added a house-blend AK

While the quality of machining and

rifle to their lineup. Using an Arsenal

the artisan approach are commendable,

base gun, they refer to it as the SLR

this setup left us scratching our head.

Hybrid. Our sample package included

There’s a solid selection of high-quality

a very thorough instruction manual, the

AK fore-ends currently available in the

rifle, and two magazines.

aftermarket. Furthermore, the concept IS SUE 3 8

107 REC O ILW E B .C O M

3 8 IS SUE REC O ILW E B .C O M

108

of screwing in individual sections of

our test gun. Particularly unique about

much effort and should look familiar

Picatinny rail to mount accessories all

this sight mount is the built-in folding

to anybody who’s ever run an FAL. The

but died out many moons ago. If you’re

rear sight. It’s a nonadjustable pistol-style

magazine well is large enough to drive a

installing a proprietary handguard,

notch, complemented by a front sight

truck through and flared like the bottom

why not one that’s KeyMod or M-LOK

that also folds down. Both front and rear

of the Liberty Bell. If you like magwells,

compatible — this would decrease weight,

components are equipped with bright

this one should definitely get your mojo

reduce bulk, and allow direct attachment

tritium inserts. It’s ample sight to cover

going. If not, you’ve been warned.

of a wide variety of accessories.

you in the down-and-dirty if your red dot

Moving south of the handguard, there are a number of modifications to the

What truly made us bite our lip about

should fail, and we like the design.

Below the sights, the charging handle

receiver itself. The traditional rear sight

has been moved to the left side of

is gone, replaced with a short Picatinny

the receiver. The handle itself is large

base that carried an Aimpoint Micro on

enough to gain positive control without

the magazine well are the myriad holes The sheer weight of this rifle and the custom D&L muzzle brake make for a noticeably flat-shooting rifle.

drilled into it. It gives the piece a distinctly cheese-grater appearance that’s pervasive throughout the entire build.

The AR-style stock tube and bolt carrier

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?

also sport the Swiss cheese fashion

The aforementioned stock tube has a

tube, it doesn’t function as such. You

style that, frankly, looks like a high

storage compartment that, on our sam-

can’t plug in a standard AR buttstock to

school shop student ate all their Hallow-

ple gun, held a cleaning kit. The end of

replace the one with set screws.

een candy and then let loose with a drill

the tube has a screw-in cap that’s easy

press. We’re not sure what the intent

enough to open and close. However,

on this gun is the one you’re stuck with.

was behind drilling so many holes,

accessing it isn’t as quick as it sounds.

Said unit is also capable of storing

particularly into parts inside the action

The stock is held in place by two hex

an additional magazine latched into

that come face-to-face with all the crud

head set screws that must be complete-

the buttstock itself. Ours is currently

that x39 ammo is known for. Our initial

ly backed down before the stock can

holding a 10-round AK PMAG, although

thought was weight reduction. But, even

slide in or out to set length of pull. Both

others do latch in. And the stock tube

with all the ventilation, this particular

screws must then be tightened all the

doesn’t fold. On the bright side, if you

Kalashnikov variant tips the scales at

way down once the length is set. While

don’t feel like jacking with set screws

9.3 pounds unloaded.

the tube looks like an AR-style stock

just to reach the internal storage

It would seem the stock that comes

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? compartment, you can always stuff your

However, the modifications made to

small sundries into the Magpul grip that

this rifle did lead to some interesting

has a small pocket inside.

quirks with the manual of arms. As

Lest we be accused of judging a

previously mentioned, this model is set

book by its perforated cover, it seemed

up with a left-side-only charging handle.

to be only fair that we bring this

To achieve this effect, it appears that

thought-provoking piece of work out for

the original right-side handle was

field testing.

ground down, leaving a small nub on

Once screwed into place, the stock doesn’t budge or rattle. But adjust on the fly, it does not.

the bolt carrier.

ROUNDS DOWNRANGE We put several hundred rounds through the SLR Hybrid, using an

unable to charge the weapon. But this

eclectic array of ammunition, rang-

nub is sized and shaped perfectly to

ing from Tiger Imports to Silver Bear

kick the safety lever down into the fire

“Match” to Federal, Hornady, and Red

position when you run the bolt. The

Army Standard. The rifle ran exactly as

safety on our D&L AK remains func-

an AK should — so consistently as to

tional in the sense that it still prevents

be boring. The trigger appears to be of

the weapon from firing. But it no longer

ALG provenance, tripping our pull gauge

keeps the bolt from cycling.

IS SUE

3 8

at just under 3.5 pounds. It’s certainly

REC O ILW E B .C O M

110

An AK’s selector lever is designed so that, in the up (safe) position, you’re

The folding BUIS on this gun are pushbutton activated with positive lockup in both positions.

This “feature” might prove a boon to

lighter than we’re accustomed to for AKs,

those who would keep this rifle stored

but it’s a refreshing change and enables

in condition 3 — maybe under the

more precise engagements — at least,

bed or in the trunk. In that case you

as precise as you can get for an AK. Out

could leave a full mag inserted with

to the 50- to 60-yard marker, this rifle

the selector on safe. When needed,

held groups noticeably tighter and more

running the bolt would both chamber a

consistent than other AKs we’ve shot.

round and kick the selector down into

The stock tube gives you a fairly large amount of space to stow maintenance or other supplies on board the weapon.

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TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?

IS SUE

3 8

fire. We’re not 100-percent convinced

REC O ILW E B .C O M

112

Some of the information provided

This mag well may be one of the most forgiving we’ve seen for rapid reloads.

of the day, consumable components.

this was an intentional design feature,

by D&L reads as follows: “There is

as there’s nothing about it listed in the

no guarantee that random battlefield

company literature included with our

pickup mags are going to work in all

to the need for periodic replacement.

test gun. But, like it or not, it’s there.

guns. I recommend shooters get the

Furthermore, these modifications take

Like brake pads on a vehicle, their importance doesn’t make them immune

The other significant difference in

mags they may need when they order a

one of the most prolific battle rifle

functionality has to do with the maga-

carbine, then they can all be tested for

designs in modern history, for which

zines. Our test gun came with two: a

fit and function, and the carbine’s serial

there is a well-established dimensional

30-round Circle 10 and a 10-round

number put on the bottom of the mag.

standard, and “converts” it to run on

PMAG stored on board the stock. In

Then use a drop pouch and don’t abuse

magazines that need to be fitted for

addition to these two, we used several

a critical part of the reliability chain.

function. To seek clarification on the

other 30-round PMAGs — both the

Magazine fit is critical to reliability.

issue, we spoke with Gary Hughes

standard Gen 3 and MOE varieties.

Polymer and overmolded mags often

of MOD Outfitters. His take on AKs

While the included magazines locked

require extra fitting, and it is a toss up

and magazines went like this: “...we

into the weapon easily, our personal

with steel mags too.”

mags required significant manual as-

While we agree quality magazines

sistance to seat properly. Specifically,

are an important factor in the overall

we had to brace the stock of the rifle

reliability of any weapon, this verbiage

against our chest and pull the magazine

is at hard odds with conventional

back with both hands in order to get it

wisdom. Magazines are, at the end

to latch into place.

After some careful side-by-side comparison, we realized that the two mags included with the gun were both dimpled on the left feed lip. These dimples correspond to a small hump on the bottom of the ejector, allowing the included mags to fit smoothly. The unmodified mags from our personal stock only fit when aggressively muscled in. After this, we tried a whole slew of different AK mags. Russian slab-side, Russian Bakelite, Hungarian tanker mags, Bosnian FDL, Chinese steel mags, and AK-103 mags all fit. Unmodded PMAGs and Circle 10s didn’t.

The included polymer mags required some factory fitment to work properly. Steel mags we borrowed from friends locked in without issue.

fit the gun to work with a variety of mags, Romanian, Polish, Russian, etc.

Always fit the gun to those mags. With American made or poly mags you do the opposite. With those mags, you fit the mag to the gun. By and large an AK

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TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? should not require custom-fitted mags of any sort.”

Upon examination of the ejector, the humped design appears similar to those found on the AK-74, which may also contribute to the need for magazine fitment ...

THE SMOKING GUN The amount of effort put into this rifle is clear, and we applaud D&L for the high level of craftsmanship.

But, arguably it seems that much of the effort could have been better applied. The amount of time spent on lightening holes alone could’ve been all but eliminated through different parts selection. Considering that the weapon weighs over 9 pounds after removing all that metal, it’s as if they were fighting 3 8

their own design choices. But we admit IS SUE

freely that this is only our particular experience with the rifle. Your mileage may vary, and if the aesthetic appeals to you, then it may be just what you’re looking for.

SPEC BOX

REC O ILW E B .C O M

114

D&L SPORTS CUSTOM

SLR HYBRID

CALIBER

7.62x39mm

ACCESSORIES

BARREL LENGTH

Light: Surefire Scout M300 Optic: Aimpoint Micro T1

16 inches OVERALL LENGTH

$299 $727

41 inches WEIGHT (UNLOADED)

7.5 pounds (advertised); 9.3 pounds (actual) MAGAZINE CAPACITY

5- to 40-round

MSRP

$ $3,000 to $5,000 (depending on package)

URL

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PETRONOV ARMAMENT’S NEW RECEIVERS MAY BE THE CLOSEST YOU CAN GET TO A “REAL” AK WITHOUT A PASSPORT

BY TOM MARSHALL

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF PETRONOV ARMAMENT

REC O ILW E B .C O M

116 Anthony Petrone,

military. SEI has extensive experience with mill-

the owner of Petronov,

ing and casting receivers of all different types.

has a close personal

Petronov and Smith tested a variety of steel

friend who spent

types before settling on 8620 ordnance-grade

nearly 25 years living

steel for the Russian-spec AK receivers — the

in Moscow. This indi-

same steel used to make M1 Garand receivers.

vidual moved to Russia

These receivers will be case hardened in the

to teach English but

same manner as their Garand counterparts.

What constitutes a “real” AK rifle? With vari-

wound up developing a number of military and

Petronov claims the resulting receivers will be

ants available the world over from Asia to

commercial contacts. Through these contacts,

as strong as a piece of solid bar stock. Petronov

Africa and back again, the permutations of

he was able to send genuine Russian technical

has gone to a foundry that specializes in aero-

patterns, measurements, and tolerances are

drawings of AK parts back to Petronov.

space and military parts to produce the machine

about as diverse as you can get. But a small

The drawings cover both AK-47 and AK-74

fixtures, molds, and straightening fixtures as

shop in Phoenix, Arizona, is getting back to the

rifles with various individual sheets dating from

well as several prototype receivers. Anthony says

basics. Petronov Armament is in the process

1949 to 1982. This friend translated parts

they’ll have their initial batch of receivers avail-

of gearing up production for a line of AKs that

of these blueprints into English. To finish the

able in July, just in time for you to see this article

may silence many an internet purist.

translation of the engineering dimensions of the

and get in touch with Petronov. Projected July

drawings, they went to a local tool and machine

releases include under-fold and side-fold receivers

Petronov headquarters, discussing another

designer who was able to read the more obscure

in Russian, Hungarian, Polish, and M92 patterns.

project, when we spied a set of blueprints on

technical markings. With that last piece of the

Full rifles are expected in 2019.

a desk that appeared to be written entirely

puzzle in place, Petronov’s genuine Russian AK

in Cyrillic. While we weren’t able to get any

project was off and running.

Several years ago, we were sitting at

more information at the time, the story behind

Petronov teamed up with Ron Smith of

those prints — and the products they’re giving

Smith Enterprises Incorporated, best known for

birth to — are finally seeing the light of day.

their work with the M14/M1A platform for the

For more information, contact Petronov Armament at Email: petronovarmament@cox.net Phone: (630) 780-4037 URL: www.petronovarmament.com

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REC O ILW E B .C O M

118 IS SUE

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119

THE PAST AND FUTURE OF RUSSIAN FIREARMS

REC O ILW E B .C O M

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JAMES RUPLEY WITH COMMENTARY FROM LARRY VICKERS AND IAN MCCOLLUM

The Soviet Union was responsible for

Maxim Popenker greeted us when we

original plaque included a sculpture of an

the most iconic and ubiquitous rifle

arrived in Moscow. A native of St. Petersburg

exploded view of the German MKb42(H), a

in the world, introducing the Avtomat

(“Peter” to the locals), Maxim created the

predecessor of the legendary Sturmgewehr

Kalashnikova in the late 1940s. While the

well-known World Guns website (world.guns.

assault rifle. Ostensibly, it had been

Soviet Union is no more, in Russia, the

ru), now operating as ModernFirearms.net.

intended by the uninformed sculptor to be

Kalashnikov Concern carries on the legacy

Before Wikipedia became such a thorough,

an illustration of an AK-47, yet the mistake

of its namesake.

albeit error-prone, repository for firearms

highlighted longstanding debate about

Earlier this year, Larry Vickers and I

information, World Guns was often the first

the Sturmgewehr’s influence on the AK’s

traveled to Russia to finish photography

destination for Internet searches on guns —

development. The erroneous portion was at

for our newest book release in the Vickers

frankly it still should be.

the edge of the plaque and was subsequently

Guide series. Our goal was to see not only

Maxim showed us around Moscow, first

current small arms offerings in Russia but

taking us to the new monument to Mikhail

original. In fact, the worker doing these

also to document historic Kalashnikov-type

Kalashnikov, the father of the AK-47, in the

“repairs” was initially arrested by local police

rifles dating back to just after the Second

center of Moscow. Unveiled in September

for defacing a public monument!

World War. This juxtaposition of old and

2017, the monument features a larger-than-

new would be a theme throughout our

life statue to the storied designer and a metal

the city of Izhevsk. Situated on the Izh River,

entire time in Russia.

plaque depicting some of his creations. The

Izhevsk has been a significant metalworks

cut off, leaving some visible traces of the

Just two hours by plane east of Moscow is

FROM RUSSIA WITH LAV The AK-15 was modernized to improve accuracy and options for mounting optics. Note the combined front sight/gas block and tensioned top cover design with an integral rail.

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An AK-47 “trials gun,” one of the oldest Kalashnikovs in the world. From the initial military trials in 1947 and 1948, it features a combination muzzle brake and front sight.

REC O ILW E B .C O M

120

town since the 1700s. During the Napoleonic era, Izhevsk became an armory city, manufacturing firearms for Russian Imperial troops. Its location fairly deep inside Russian territory has been key to its continued importance as an arms producer for the military, particularly during the Second World War as German troops advanced across the Soviet frontier.

For fans of Russian and Soviet small

VICKERS GUIDE Both the Hungarian AMD-65 and Russian AK-203 shown on pages 126 and 128, along with many other historically significant AK variants, are featured in Vickers Guide: Kalashnikov (Volume 1). Authored by Larry Vickers, James Rupley, Ian McCollum, and Rob Stott, the first in this new series focuses on the 7.62x39mm variants of the AK family of rifles, not just

arms, Izhevsk is notable as the home

from the Soviet Union, but across the globe. The collectible 11x13-inch coffee table book will

of one of the three most widely known

be available in a Standard Edition ($95), Signature Edition ($125), and Limited Edition

arsenals in Russia — Izhevsk Machine

Premium Version ($200) signed with a personal message, limited to 250 copies.

Engineering Plant, Factory #74, more commonly known as “IZHMASH.” Along with Tula and Molot, the other two members of this trifecta, IZHMASH was a major producer of Kalashnikov rifle variants — notably the original AK-47 rifle and subsequent AK, AKM, AK-74, AK-100 series, and more. Mikhail Kalashnikov lived and worked here once the AK-47 was to be prepared for serial production.

We photographed some of the oldest Kalashnikovs in existence — AK-47 rifles from the initial military trials in 1947 and 1948. These “trials guns” can be identified by their

www.VickersGuide.com

FROM RUSSIA WITH LAV prototype combination muzzle brake/

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Kalashnikov Concern’s corporate offices in the 18th century Vsevolozhsky Manor in Moscow.

Kalashnikov Concern by our government in July 2014.

front sight assembly — discarded

and 7.62x39mm, respectively) mod-

before large-scale production began

ernized Kalashnikov-type rifles went

in 1949. Technically, only the original

through the “Ratnik” trials held by

experimental rifles that won army

the Russian Army in 2013, as part of

and for how long, but one couldn’t

trials in 1947 and the approximately

a diverse modernization program for

help but think that Kalashnikov

1,500 rifles produced in Izhevsk

soldiers. They’ve been redesigned to

Concern represents the future of

in 1948 for military field trials are

improve accuracy and optics mounting

firearms development. It’s not just

properly designated “AK-47” rifles.

options, with a nonremovable gas tube

the modern-day successor to Mikhail

What Americans typically refer to as

and a removable gas plug for main-

Kalashnikov’s lineage; during our stay,

the “Type 1, 2, or 3 AK-47” is simply

tenance, combination front sight/gas

it felt much like the Apple Inc. of the

designated “Avtomat Kalashnikova” (or

block (similar to the AK-104), newly de-

firearms world. Its headquarters are

“AK”) in official Soviet documents.

signed pistol grip with internal storage,

located in the beautifully renovated

and a new tensioned top cover design

Vsevolozhsky Manor, an 18th century

a city, completely encompassing

with integral rail for optics. Arising out

building in an upscale neighborhood

numerous blocks with rows of factories

of the AK-12 is the new RPK-16, in-

of Moscow. Interestingly, it’s one of

— some old, some quite modern. It

tended as a RPK-74 replacement. Other

the few wooden structures in Moscow

operates today under new ownership

interesting products are the SVCh (pos-

that survived the Fire of 1812 during

and under the “Kalashnikov Concern”

sible successor to the SVD), SR-1 rifle

Napoleon’s occupation. And just

brand. Kalashnikov Concern initiated

in 5.56x45mm with counterbalanced

next door is the corporate campus

a multiyear modernization program

recoil system, AM-17 compact rifle

of Yandex, Russia’s Google. The

to improve profitability, streamline

with polymer lower in 5.45x39mm, and

Kalashnikov Concern offices

production, and upgrade product

the compact AMB-17 suppressed rifle

are clean and modern with

offerings. While they continue to

with the subsonic 9x39mm cartridge

contemporary facilities.

produce some of the legacy IZHMASH

(.300BLK’s Russian cousin). Unfor-

Employees are outgoing,

products, they’ve launched numerous

tunately, none are available stateside

charismatic, and warm,

exciting new ones.

due to existing sanctions imposed on

with everyone from

IZHMASH is essentially a city within

122

The AK-12 and AK-15 (5.45x39mm

Many factors determine what makes any given company successful

FROM RUSSIA WITH LAV management to factory workers treating us with great friendliness, kindness, and interest. They know firearms, and they know marketing.

In fact, they have a department

Larry Vickers and Maxim Popenker at the Mikhail Kalashnikov monument in Moscow

called “technical marketing,” distinct from traditional marketing. These folks bridge the needs of end users, engineers, and traditional marketers.

They’re largely “Alpha” veterans, counterterrorism specialists akin to Delta in the United States, with all the knowledge and skill that you’d expect.

Russia should be an obligatory stop on any firearm enthusiast’s pilgrimage list. There are numerous hurdles to overcome, not least the complexities of travel visas and language issues.

But the museums are excellent, and you can’t help but come back with a

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more complete appreciation for the Kalashnikov after walking through Red Square and traveling to an armory city or two outside of Moscow.

124 REC O ILW E B .C O M

Photo by: Valery Moroz

At IZHMASH in Izhevsk, in front of a sign commemorating Mikhail Kalashnikov.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LAV

HUNGARIAN AMD-65 Commentary by Ian McCollum

Hungary was part of the Warsaw Pact until 1991,

While the piston and gas tube were trimmed

and in a world full of similar-looking AK variants,

along with the barrel, the AMD-65 uses a standard

the Hungarian AMD-65 definitely stands out. It not

AKM bolt carrier, gas block, and front sight tower.

only features the distinctively Hungarian-shaped

This simplified production, avoiding the need for a

pistol grip, it has two of them, plus a unique side-

new combined gas block/sight tower (seen on other

folding stock, sheetmetal front handguard, short

short AKs) and minimizing changes to the operating

barrel, and massive muzzle brake.

system. It has the vertical front grip often used on

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other Hungarian AKs, the exact same part as the rear

difficulty carrying and using the full-length

pistol grip, rotated 180 degrees and bolted to the

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The AMD-65 stems from mechanized troops’ AKM-63. Vehicle crews, airborne troops, helicopter

handguard. With no shielding around the gas tube

crews, and infantry in armored personnel carriers

and a perforated sheetmetal lower handguard, the

found the length of the standard rifle inconvenient.

foregrip is essential — the whole assembly becomes

Designed by Károly Zala, the first prototypes were

quite hot when putting rounds downrange.

REC O ILW E B .C O M

126

made in 1965, with serial production starting in

Although some design choices may have degraded

1967. The AMD-65 featured a 12.6-inch barrel and

the shooting experience, the AMD-65 was perhaps

an austere side-folding stock. A large muzzle brake

the first truly compact AK model, predating AKSU-

helped with recoil generated by the lightened rifle,

type weapons by many years. For its intended end

though its blast and concussion are substantial. A

users, its compactness was more important to daily

shortened 20-round magazine was also provided.

duty than actual shooting, and the AMD-65 was

Special versions with optics rails were produced,

very successful. It would go on to become the most

and some Hungarian units used it with the Soviet

prolific Hungarian AK variant. It’s widely issued with

PBS-1 suppressor.

the Afghan National Army, and large numbers hit civilian markets in Europe and the United States, where their awkward look with a 16-inch barrel made them unpopular compared to other surplus AKs.

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RUSSIAN AK-203 IS SUE

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Commentary by Larry Vickers

REC O ILW E B .C O M

128

The AK-200 series was developed as an interim

the AK-203’s handguard is traditional length. The pistol

solution between the classic AK-100 series and the new

grip is a new design, providing better ergonomics and

AK-12 and AK-15. The AK-203 is essentially an updated

storage inside. The birdcage-style muzzle device shown

AK-103, itself a 7.62x39mm rifle incorporating several

here is new, yet very similar to a device that Arsenal

AK-74 features such as its iconic — and very effective

of Bulgaria and others have been offering for several

— muzzle device and 90-degree gas block. The AK-203

years. That said, a number of different muzzle devices

features a traditional AK-style rear sight configuration

are currently seen on Kalashnikov Concern products. All

with an AKS-74U “Krink” style pivoting top cover. This

these upgrades may not be revolutionary, but they nev-

design was specifically incorporated for customers

ertheless enhance the usefulness of the AKM platform

wanting to retain a conventional AK iron-sight picture.

for the average end user with no obvious downsides.

At the rear of the top cover is an SVD-inspired pivoting lever. Rotating it counterclockwise allows the top cover to pivot up for access to the receiver internals. Upon reassembly, it also performs a camming function to lock the top cover into a repeatable and secure position, retaining zero for optics.

Examining the latest AK offerings and their various prototypes from Kalashnikov Concern, it’s clear that they’ve experimented and spent considerable time and resources developing a pivoting top cover system that achieves the highest degree of optic zero repeatability possible. A side-folding multi-position collapsible buttstock is employed — no surprise as this has become the norm on new assault rifles worldwide. It also has an enhanced safety/selector lever, a much needed and welcomed upgrade for serious AK end-users. Picatinnytype rail surfaces are in all the usual positions, but one concept that has largely failed to gain traction outside of the U.S. is an extended handguard interface. As such,

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130

THE PLUMB PSL: MODERNIZED COM-BLOC STORY BY FRANK PLUMB PHOTOS BY DAVE MERRILL

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131 REC O ILW E B .C O M

As culture and history moved forward,

there’s a lot we need to actually learn.

the unofficial movie of the Afghan

My exposure to Russians revealed

National Army, Rambo III, had

a very robust and ultra-pragmatic peo-

Green Beret John Rambo and the

ple, balanced by an almost nihilistic

Mujahedeen fighting Russians. Mov-

disregard for danger. Remember the

Russia. The word can stir emotions

ing farther forward, the Russians

video of Russian troops shooting each

in every American. Russians are the

morphed into masters of espionage

other in body armor with live rounds?

guys who are on the other side of the

or ruthless lords of the underworld.

Like that.

line. For us Cold War kids, images of

James Bond and John Wick movies

The Day After and Red Dawn instantly

cement these notions.

Yet, Russians are people whose feet are on the ground with a real sense of what the bottom line really is.

come to mind. When I “shot down”

We all know reality is far differ-

a helicopter at the Joint Readiness

ent than what Hollywood and college

Take, for example, Putin’s masterful

Training Center, it felt like Robert the

faculties present. Ignoring the current

manipulation of President Obama

Wolverine taking on Russian Hinds.

sycophantic Russian hyperventilation,

regarding Syria and the Crimea.

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CobetCka

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132

The culture of these people is best

Russians? The Russians used a pencil.

the ubiquitous AK-47. As a design,

represented by what products they

While this is just a fun anecdote (the

it’s so robust and practical that it has

actually make.

reality is the Fisher Pen Company sold

inspired many other weapon systems.

their pens to both nations), the broad

The Israeli Galil, RPK, VZ-58, and

strokes ring true.

many more all owe their existence to

We’ve all heard the myth: Early in the space race, NASA developed a rather expensive zero-gravity pen for use inside an orbiting vehicle. The

Precision gun, fighting gun — this one does both.

Nowhere is the sense of Russian rugged practicality better typified than

the venerable AK-47. (All at once a million Stg 44 fans just groaned.)

CobetCka

to hoCt

One AK-47 based weapon that has presented a problem is the SVD sniper rifle. It uses the far-reaching and hard-hitting 7.62x54R cartridge. The SVD and its variants have long been a lethal concern for our warriors. There have been a small but very vocal group of us within USSOCOM who have long pushed for overmatch to 7.62x54R. With the adoption of 6.5 Creedmoor, we finally have an answer to the SVD. As the global situation continues to degrade, looking long and hard at how Russians fight or might fight is back in fashion. USSOCOM had a recent solicitation for “non-standard” weapons.

To prepare a proof of concept for such a rifle, Handl Defense considered two courses of action: Finish and submit the 7.62x54R

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conversion kit for the FN SCAR or …

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134

Modernize an SVD variant This rifle represents the latter option.

It started its life as a PSL. Yes, there are some large differences in design between the PSL and SVD, but for the most part they serve the same roles. When I started on this project, I was focused on two things: coarse modernization and the theater of operations — get optimized for urban snap shots, area denial from concealment, and capability for houseto-house fighting.

TOOLING UP To transition the platform from a Semi-Automatic Sniper System into an accurized battle rifle, it was important to only require simple tools and easyto-source parts. It had to be possible with tools that are in every auto repair shop in the Middle East.

MAGAZINES One of the first limitations of the current SVD/PSL design is the magazine. Five- and 10-round magazines are available for PSLs. Fitting within the battle rifle configuration, a new 20-round magazine was formed.

The shortened barrel and folding stock make for a package that’s far easier to stow and transport.

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CobetCka Left: The modified SCAR handguard allows you to add or remove rails for accessories at will.

to hoCt

MAKING SPACE There’s a severe lack of rail space on the PSL. Looking around the market place, we found essentially no options for this platform. So, we made our own.

A Handl Defense alloy handguard assembly for the SCAR series of rifles was modified to interface with the PSL. This handguard is robust with an open architecture. Like the SCAR, the PSL runs hot under sustained use, so starting with a SCAR handguard was an ideal solution for this platform.

Ample rail space allows for the fitment of lights and lasers. However, due to the larger gas tube on the PSL, the 12 o’clock 1913 rail had to be relocated elsewhere. Keeping an eye on overall budget, a Fab Defense

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solid hand stop.

The PSL comes with a nonadjustable wood stock. It might have been cheaper to simply modify the wooden

136

stock to customize the length of pull

REC O ILW E B .C O M

and provide better eye relief to the scope, but swapping in a fully adjustable component is more functional Below: Cutout for a manual BHO on the safety selector.

Bear in mind these magazines are in their first generation, and there’s no bolt hold open feature. While Alan Handl developed a solution that might be incorporated in future designs, for now, the selector switch has a cutout for manually locking the bolt to the rear.

The locking and feed lip portion of a PSL magazine was welded onto the lower portion of a Lahti LS-26 magazine. The follower itself was robbed from a PSL magazine, and reinforcing plates were added to the side because it needs to be strong.

And, of course, some grinding and polishing ensures reliability.

and versatile. This FAB Defense stock assembly is intended for an SVD. Installation requires modification to

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CobetCka The offset openglobe sights allow for rapid engagement while remaining targetfocused.

to hoCt

the lower receiver itself to allow for

concern, and importantly the primary

on the target while engaging. Rather

proper placement of the pistol grip.

optic and backup sighting systems are

than focussing on the front sight, you

The result is more adjustability, and it

effectively useless inside a room.

used a “stress sight picture.”

folds. Hot damn.

Now for little conundrum. Do you

The 45-degree offset sights

go with the space pen? Do you spend

featured on this PSL were inspired

money on a proper variable-powered

by that meeting. They’re like an open

The standard PSL comes with a

optic, a newly engineered mounting

globe sight, capitalizing on the natural

side mounted fixed four-power scope,

system, and a backup red dot sight?

ability of the eye and brain to easily

wholly inadequate for the rifle’s

Those components would probably

align concentric circles. They’re a

intended use. In most urban fights,

cost more than the rifle itself.

simple, cost effective, and easy-to-

SIGHTS

there are close engagements indoors.

That would most likely be out of

use backup sighting system.

The backup sights are mounted

The standard PSL or SVD is mostly

reach for people who would build

inadequate in that environment.

and field this rifle. So I stayed in the

on a custom-built gas tube cover,

The length of the PSL indoors is a

spirit of the build — more pencil than

allowing for attachment of laser-

space pen. The primary optic is a 3-9

aiming devices, red dots, or similar.

variable-powered Dragunov scope with

The cover’s well ventilated to allow for

an illuminated reticle.

better cooling of the weapon under

This left the backup sighting system

sustained rates of fire.

unresolved. Knowing end users were less likely to procure a red dot system, I tried a new and different approach.

BARREL Several factors played into the

Years ago, Tyler Grey showed me

modification of the barrel assembly.

a Glock pistol with a modified set

First, the standard PSL long-barrel

of sights. They featured an open

assembly isn’t effective indoors.

channel, which allowed you to focus

However, reducing barrel length

CobetCka

to hoCt

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Though heavy like everything else Commie, the Plumb PSL’s better ergonomics made it easier to shoot.

The brake did work to reduce recoil allowing for quicker shots.

REC O ILW E B .C O M

140

compromises bullet velocity.

Additionally, the barrel thickness and profile for the PSL are quite thin.

Given the scope and spirit of the project, what could be done at a car repair shop in Raqqa? Some of the accurizing solutions came more from the 1950s knowledge base than the current era.

The accuracy of this example was mildly better than the original PSL with heavier ammo. The major limitation here is the quality of the glass, which is of typical Chernobyl awfulness.

encouraging, with less than 100 fps

on how improved accuracy is achieved

lost on velocity while accuracy

will be highly scrutinized before public

was improved, with a specific

release. While Handl Defense is

7.62x54R cartridge.

currently considering building custom

We don’t have any data on the supposed improvements to 7.62x54R

will likely only be done on a case-by-

the Russians are conducting. With

case basis. With many friends still

U.S.-sourced ammunition, the Plumb

active within USSOCOM, I take this

PSL is very effective.

concern very seriously.

Simply put, this rifle is a monster

A good muzzle brake provides better control of the front of the rifle. The AK fighter brake made by Definitive Arms fit the bill.

Plumb PSLs for commercial use, this

LOOSE ROUNDS

— a brutally effective modernization

Further testing on longer distance

of a seemingly forgotten platform.

capability is forthcoming with custom

While not modernized to American

loads. I’m very concerned about the

standards, most of this build can

Given global security concerns, I

possibility of U.S. service members

be accomplished with simple tools

can’t publicly delve into exactly what

and our allies in harm’s way facing

found in the regions we find ourselves

we did. The results, however, were

this type of platform. So any specifics

fighting in today.

We also reduced the barrel length.

BEYOND BULLETS TWO EXPERTS GIVE US THEIR INPUT ON BEST PRACTICES FOR CONCEALED CARRY MEDICINE

BY TOM MARSHALL PHOTOS BY CHAD MCBROOM, MUZZLE FLASH MEDIA, AND RECOIL STAFF

should is a well-thought-out carry med kit. They’re typically not flashy, expensive, or an inherent source of bragging rights. Medical gear is, in our opinion, one of the things that separates those who are carrying to be prepared and those who are carrying to start conversation. But the particular sundries required to tend the wounded — and the knowledge required to use them properly — are

When browsing “EDC” or “pocket

an oft-misunderstood subculture even

dump” on our favorite forum or social

among armed professionals.

media channel of choice, we see a lot

On the battlefield, the days of tak-

of cool gear. Pistols, holsters, knives,

ing a knee and yelling “medic!” are

watches, challenge coins, flashlights,

well past. Likewise for law enforce-

and sunglasses all run aplenty on

ment, stringing up yellow tape while

these look-at-me photo threads. Even

waiting for an ambulance is the pro-

combs, travel razors, beard oil, and

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BEYOND BULLETS medical preparedness (training and

carry a weapon are probably the plac-

around the problem, we spoke to

gear) an important part of exercis-

es where I would need the medical kit

two instructors who have made great

ing their right to carry? What about

should, God forbid, something tragic

efforts to spread their wealth of

people who don’t carry a weapon?

unfolds. There should always be room

knowledge about trauma medicine

Should they consider medical training

in your EDC for medical gear, even if it

to uniformed personnel and citizens

and gear as well?

is something as small as a tourniquet

In order to better wrap our heads

and a pair of gloves. Obtaining solid

alike. Kerry Davis of Dark Angel Medical spent 16 years in the Air

Kerry Davis: Medical preparedness

medical training doesn’t take a lot of

Force, including service as both an

(training and gear) is absolutely an

time and can make the difference,

ER medic and flight medic. Addition-

essential component of “EDC.” If

literally, between life and death.

ally, he has 10-plus years in civilian

you are exercising your right to carry

emergency rooms, working as a para-

a firearm for self-defense, then you

Glen Stilson: Everyone should be

medic while completing his studies

should also be trained in, and car-

carrying medical equipment and have

to become an RN. Glen Stilson works

rying, medical gear for the same

the skills necessary to use those

for Independence Training, which

reason. Carrying a firearm without

tools. You are much more likely to

offers both firearms and emergency

carrying medical gear should not even

need to help yourself or someone

medical training to the communi-

be an option, because the chances of

else in a medical emergency than

ties around Phoenix, Arizona. He

using your medical gear far outweigh

you are to shoot a bad guy in the

began seeking further development

the chances of using your firearm.

face, and if the average firearm

of his own medical skills in 2006

With hemorrhage being one of the

owner spent as much time, money,

after becoming a father. He has been

leading causes of death in the U.S.,

and effort on their medical skills and

teaching “Dirt Medicine” and TCCC-

being able to stop the bleed is one

tools as they do on their guns and

style classes since 2009. The staff

of the most important things we can

shooting, we would be an amazingly

at Independence Training includes

learn. We always tell people in our

prepared community! The best part

both current and former paramedics

classes that even if you don’t carry a

of carrying medical gear everyday is

and flight medics, as well as several

weapon, you can carry a medical kit

that you can take it anywhere with

former members of Army Special

and still be a “force multiplier.” Also,

you — into “gun free zones,” onto

you can’t carry a weapon everywhere,

airplanes, into government buildings,

but I’ve yet to be anywhere I can’t

etc. Plus, there are some everyday

carry a medical kit. And, statistically

useful items in a good med kit, such

speaking, those places where I can’t

as tape, light, and shears.

Operations units.

RECOIL: Why should people who choose to carry concealed consider

With a wide variety of medical kits and components available, make sure to have quality kit and the skill to use it.

BF4 R

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BEYOND BULLETS What medical gear do you consider

ter/mother) carry an EDC med kit? If

the absolute bare minimum require-

so, how do they carry it?

ments for daily carry? Why?

IS SUE

3 8

KD: Where to carry the gear is a very

REC O ILW E B .C O M

146

KD: As stated above, the very bare

common question and one that we

minimum equipment I would carry

believe we have the answer to through

would be a tourniquet and pair of

offering several versions of low-profile/

nitrile gloves. If I could add to that, I

low-visibility trauma kits. Carrying

would add a small pressure bandage

“enough” medical gear is basically

and a hemostatic agent (QuikClot

up to the end-user, and it depends on

Combat Gauze or ChitoGauze) and a

what their mission requirements are.

pair of compact chest seals. The dif-

We have an ankle kit, three very small

ference in wounding patterns in civilian

pocket kits, a flat kit that will fit easily

mass casualty/active shooter situations

into purses, soft armor, cargo pants,

is different from military scenarios in

and we have a small belt-mounted kit.

that the wounding patterns in civilian

For those who want additional, off-

settings are typically thoracic and cra-

body carry, we offer a backpack with a

nial injuries. Those areas are typically

pocket specifically made for a full-size

protected with military personnel; thus,

D.A.R.K. (Direct Action Response Kit)

their injuries tend to be mainly dealing

insert and a tourniquet. My daughters

with the exposed extremities. However,

carry Pocket D.A.R.K. Mini kits and

our main emphasis remains on stop-

Combat Application Tourniquets (CAT)

ping the hemorrhage first and extrem-

in their purses and school backpacks.

ity injuries do still occur in the civilian populace, so our treatment algorithm

GS: I carry all of my medical gear in an

remains unchanged.

ankle kit, every day of my life. I chose the AFAK from Ryker Nylon Gear due

GS: I would say that there are five trau-

to its ability to carry all 10 of the items

ma kit essentials: tourniquet, bandage,

that I mentioned before in a comfort-

gauze, tape, and occlusive seal. These

able way that is also fully concealed.

items allow me to handle the most

The kit itself is also very adaptable to

serious life-threatening wounds that

be used around a backpack shoulder

may happen to me (yes, my kit is for

strap, range bag handle, dog collar,

me — if I can help other people then

seatbelt, tossed in a bag, etc. I fly ev-

so be it), such as massive bleeding

erywhere with my kit and go into gov-

or a compromised chest cavity. They

ernment buildings and other restricted

also allow me to handle less serious

areas without any issues at all.

(and more common) injuries, such as

My wife and kids carry the same

a nasty cut, a broken bone, or a strain/

supplies but vacuum-sealed in a bag

sprain. If possible, I would add another

that is the same length as an M4 mag

five items: shears (5.5-inch are TSA

and the same width as two M4 mags

approved), nitrile gloves, emergency

put together. This allows the kit to be

blanket, hemostatic gauze, and a light

small enough to put in a purse or a

source. These additional items help me

backpack, which is how they mostly

handle the aforementioned wounds and

carry it. I find that a kit put together

reduce the risk of shock, which is a se-

in that manner or setup in an AFAK

rious threat in any medical emergency.

from Ryker Nylon Gear are the two most common ways our students

How do you carry/conceal all that

end up carrying a kit once they have

gear on your person? Do any of the

trained with us. Just remember, skills

women in your life (wife/sister/daugh-

trump tools and tools enhance skills.

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BEYOND BULLETS For those without current knowledge on how to treat traumatic injuries, what’s the best way to seek out a training class? Short of actual training, are there books or websites you can recommend as reliable sources of information as a primer?

KD: Generally, using any search engine for the internet will bring up quite a few classes nowadays. This wasn’t true several years ago, but I will add a word of caution that there are a lot of “me too” type classes. Ensure that you vet the instructors and course of instruction for these classes. Just like with quality firearms training, quality medical training will not be cheap. Our classes are nationally recognized in that each student receives BCON (Bleeding Con-

IS SUE

3 8

trol) certification and EMTs or paramed-

REC O ILW E B .C O M

148

ics receive continuing education hours toward their refresher training.

There are a lot of good books and videos out there that can be utilized as a primer or reference, like the

ber to always check the validity of

LEFR-TECC (Law Enforcement and

what you are learning. For example,

First Responder-Tactical Emergency

learning from someone who comes

Casualty Care) site, the Stop the

from a clinical background may not

Bleed (bleedingcontrol.org) site and

be as applicable to you if you spend

several others. As far as the proper

most of your time away from clini-

use of the components of the kits,

cal settings. Learning from a combat

one can always source videos from

medic who left the military 10 years

the actual manufacturers of the prod-

ago and hasn’t stayed current on new

ucts on YouTube. As always, a video

techniques and concepts will still be

or a book are not a replacement for

useful, but not as useful as learning

a class with “hands-on” training. A

from someone who is more current on

great starting point is to contact your

their information and can apply it to

local hospital or Red Cross or Ameri-

your everyday life.

can Heart Association and see when

Medical training is like firearms

and where the next AED/CPR/first-aid

training — résumés and “been there

class will be held. Short of going to a

done that” is nice; however, current

local community college and enrolling

and modern experience is much more

in the EMT course, these are some of

helpful, as is actual teaching abil-

the easier things to seek out.

ity. There are lots of free classes out there, specifically the Stop The Bleed

GS: Anything beyond a basic first

classes, which are often taught at no

aid/CPR class is going to be help-

cost through hospitals and commu-

ful! There are a lot of great places to

nity colleges. There’s also lots of info

get training these days; just remem-

available online via social media and

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BEYOND BULLETS

YouTube, but again, be aware of who

sleep is key to being able to perform

you are learning from and where they

them under duress. Learn how your

draw their experience or material from.

body will react to duress and how

Independence Training, whom I

your practice can help mitigate the

work for, has several medical instruc-

negative effects of the body alarm re-

tors who come from different back-

sponse. LTC Dave Grossman’s books,

grounds, giving us a broad spectrum

On Killing and On Combat, are really

of information and experience to

good resources on how the body will

draw from; some of our team are still

respond, both physiologically and

working in the medical field. We also

psychologically, to stress.

have several consultants working in

Taking care of yourself after a criti-

the medical and tactical fields and

cal incident is paramount, as well.

providing us constant feedback, as

Consult a counselor as soon as pos-

well. This helps us to make sure we

sible, hopefully less than 72 hours af-

are on the razor’s edge of the most

ter an incident has occurred. Talking

valid, most current, and most effec-

with someone will help in the healing

tive techniques and equipment.

process. Talk with pre-hospital health

IS SUE

3 8

professionals about how you can

REC O ILW E B .C O M

150

Besides carrying a medical kit and

properly interact with them should

obtaining the knowledge to use it

you be the first to render aid to a

properly, is there anything else you

trauma victim and then transfer care

recommend to help people prepare

to EMS. Most importantly, get solid

for responding to a mass-casualty

medical training, carry top-notch kit,

event, should they find themselves in

and be prepared to use it.

that situation?

In any traumatic event, the best thing to you can do is focus on the

KD: One of the best things to do,

types of injuries you know you can

after obtaining the proper training and

help and not the ones you cannot.

equipping yourself, is to practice and

The goal is to render fast, effective

become, as we call it, “subconsciously

aid to as many people as quickly as

skilled.” This is probably one of the

possible in order to increase overall

most important aspects of being able

survivability. Keep your eyes open

to react in a positive manner during

and your head on a swivel in order

a mass casualty incident. The other

to increase not only the survival rate

important aspect is having the proper

of your casualties, but yourself also.

mindset. Practicing with one hand, or

Having solid situational awareness

the non-dominant hand, in a sensory

can be an invaluable tool in increas-

deprived environment always helps.

ing your survival rate and, in this day

Think of applying a tourniquet to your

and age of technology, it seems to

right leg with your left hand in the dark,

be one in which many are lacking. In

with gloves on — and the gloves are

the end, our goal in teaching people

slathered in hand lotion and on a timer.

how to help themselves and others is

Performing these tasks over and

all about empowerment; being a “by-

over until you are doing them in your

doer” and not a bystander.

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BEYOND BULLETS GS: Awareness is not a verb, so

your friends/family/kids/coworkers to

a comprehensive primer on medical

merely being aware of a problem isn’t

react in an emergency?

equipment or training, we hope that

enough. We like to teach our students

Talk with your local fire and police personnel about what you can ex-

to seek professional education on the

of these things is not like the other;

pect from them when they come on

topic. If you’ve already taken that step,

one of these things just doesn’t be-

scene. Write everything down once

we hope this affirms your confidence in

long.” Look for people or things that

the violence has ended and you have

that decision. Even for those with prior

don’t belong and then act accordingly.

rendered the best possible medical aid

professional experience or recent class-

Leaving the area may be your best

to yourself and everyone else — what

room training, do your best to keep

option; alerting authorities may be

you saw and heard, what you did, what

current through whatever means are

possible, or perhaps intervening in a

aid you rendered and to whom. This

available to you. Near continuous feed-

physical and/or violent manner may

kind of information can be very useful

back from both the battlefield and the

be necessary. Start preparing and

to professional responders once they

urban jungle mean that best practices

practicing now on what to do if you

are on scene. Overall, remember that

are constantly being revised or altered.

find yourself and those you care about

when seconds count, help is just mo-

While sinking hard-earned coin into a

in harm’s way: how will you communi-

ments away — it’s up to you to save

med kit may not be as flashy as cutting

cate? How will you move? What tools

you, so prepare and train accordingly.

windows in your slide or getting a fluted

do you and those who may be with you have available? What tools can you

IS SUE

3 8

make/improvise? How can you expect

REC O ILW E B .C O M

152

some of you will heed this as a call

the old Sesame Street game of “one

titanium nitride barrel, it’s much more

CONCLUSION While this article is by no means

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ROBERT YOUNG PELTON’S MADE ADVENTURE HIS LIFE’S WORK

BY ROB CURTIS

There’s no simple way to portray Robert

Geographic shows, or saw his reporting for

Young Pelton’s career and his contributions

VICE, you’ll be surprised to learn he was

to the world. He’s most famous for his book

hired by Steve Jobs to help with the launch

IS SUE

and television series, The World’s Most

of the LISA and Mac computers. Maybe you

3 8

Dangerous Places. But before, during, and

have one of his DPx Gear knives and didn’t

since its distribution, the guy’s been, done,

realize he was one of the guys behind the

and seen more than any fictional character

success of both Upper Deck and TOPS

we can think of.

trading card companies. Or, that he worked

play in traffic and taunt ruffian gangsters

with Microsoft on early versions of what would become Expedia’s travel services.

Pelton’s friends are as interesting as his

by the waterfront while frustrating the nuns

enemies. He’s met and lived with warlords,

at his elementary school, ultimately getting

and he somewhat famously crossed paths

kicked out of school in the second grade.

with Erik Prince, the former owner of PMC

He ended up at St. Johns boy school

company Blackwater. The two continue to

in Ontario, an institution that would later

spar in court over interests that range from

become infamous for its methods of shap-

Pelton’s foreign news service and intelli-

ing hard-case boys when a dozen students

gence venture in Somalia to the authorship

died on a wilderness canoeing trip.

of Prince’s biography.

Contrast this to the man before you —

But, it’s his ceaseless wanderlust and

world traveller, author, photographer, artist,

willingness to share the trappings of his

knife designer, businessman, oilfield worker,

extensive travels in some of the world’s

marketing consultant, publisher, and creator

most fractious locales that regularly attract

of regional intelligence networks. One of his

our attention.

early enterprises, Pelton & Associates, was 145th on the 1992 Inc. 500 list.

Depending on how, and if, you were

His recent work saw him setting up news reporting agencies in intelligence- starved locations. These services ended up helping

introduced to Pelton and his work, you’ll be

researchers and think tanks hungry for

surprised to find out all the other lives he’s

news and information that might help them

lived. If you read one of his stories in RE-

understand the plight of people trapped

COIL or watched his Discovery or National

in violence and turmoil, but also helped

REC O ILW E B .C O M

Born to a broken home in the slums of Edmonton, Ontario, Canada, he used to

155

A LIFE OF WANDER & WONDER RYP: Yeah. The way it works, you have a spoke and hub setup. We have people in these villages, the police chief, kid who makes red, a plumber, whatever. We’d say, ‘Hey, what’s up.

What happened last night?’ They’d report back, We’d have an editor fact-check it, call the other guy, see if the explosion happened in this house or that house ... We worked with some of the NGOs, and we published on the internet.

Sounds complex. Was it fun? What did you learn?

RYP: I learned not to ever work with the U.S. government or even appear to work for the U.S. government. It’ll

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burn your ass.

REC O ILW E B .C O M

156

Above left: Instead of college, Pelton spent time living in a car and working in the north. Here, he’s working as faller in the Yukon in the mid ’70s. Good money if you like mosquitoes and the sun never going down.

Above right: Age 13 with his brother Mark. The pair were dragged to countless air shows with their father, who was an aerobatic pilot.

operating in Afghanistan. It would

actors in these areas.

cover everything from the price of rice

The Agency didn’t like us and the

to somebody getting robbed. It was

ground commanders, like in RC East,

ering network in Somalia, Somalia

like having a hometown newspaper in

saw us as s--t stirrers. When Bowe

Report, that became a source of news

every town.

Bergdahl went missing, I was able to

In 2010, Pelton set up a newsgath-

find out where he was within 30 or

for anyone interested in the piracy plaguing the seas around the Horn of

So you used your media and newsgath-

40 minutes, and they put assets right

Africa. His open-source approach in-

ering chops to set up what amounts

above [him]. They’re able to record

oculated the reports against misinfor-

to an open-source, subscription-based

conversations from cell phones or

mation and propaganda. He syndicat-

network that reported on things that

whatever, and that’s the only time we

ed the format and deployed services

happened to appeal to the military and

worked with Task Force. But we had

to provide raw material for intelligence

intelligence communities?

extraordinary ground capability.

reports to U. S. forces in Afghanistan through a venture called AfPax. RECOIL: How many times have you been to Afghanistan?

Robert Young Pelton: Dozens? My passports are all full. I go there a lot. I used to work there with the four stars.

What did you do for the four stars?

RYP: Originally we pitched them on the idea of setting up a very in-depth,

Right: 2001 with the first Army Special Forces team on the ground (ODA 595).

Pelton went to get into the war before 9/11 and knew that Dostum was fighting in the mountains from horseback.

No, it was really messy because

fill intelligence gaps for nation state

very high-velocity sort of ground truth network.

That means we would have reporting from 1,200 people in the tribal areas all over Afghanistan. And, this massive flow of situation awareness would be read by everybody. It would be like USA Today or New York Times

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A LIFE OF WANDER & WONDER You want us to wave off? Because we

too expensive. So the AK-47 has been

know exactly where he is.’ ‘Well, RC

commoditized in Afghanistan, but the

East says they own him, so they got

74 hasn’t made any inroads.

to go find him.’ But, RC East doesn’t

Businessman will have guards. They

operate Pakistan. He was in Miran

have an AK-47 if they don’t have a

Shah ... exactly the same building

lot of money … they’ll get a Pakistani

that they held David Rohde in. It was

made one, which would blow up in

the same f*cking people.

your face.

Certain ones are better, you know,

So you found Bowe Bergdahl?

RYP: He went missing at night. The next morning we get a call, ‘Can you come down and. ..?’ ‘OK, but you’re the guys we’re not supposed to work 3 8 IS SUE REC O ILW E B .C O M

like the Bulgarian ones are the most

RYP: Every war in Afghanistan is like,

favorite, the Chinese ones are the

whatever war they lost, they dump

least favorite, etc. So when I was in

all their sh*t there. So in the Panshir

the tribal areas, I’d go to people’s

Valley, you see guys bird hunting with

homes, which are built like forts, and

Flintlocks. They’d say Birmingham

I would say, ‘Hey, got any guns?’ And

or BSA on them. Then, there were

they would drag them all out. No two

warehouses of old World War II Soviet

guns were the same. They had Stinger

stuff — you know, the machine guns

missiles. They had old English guns.

with the round tops, like old, old sh*t.

They had old German guns still with

The AK was a fairly new introduc-

the wrapping paper on them. And

tion, because the CIA in the ’80s really

they had old World War I, you know,

didn’t want them to have good weap-

the Italian ones … just an amazing

onry, but I go out bird hunting with

collection of guns that have been

base and we don’t know where he is.’

Afghans who’re using AK-47s. They

shipped in for the Mujahideen during

I said, ‘OK, tell me what you know.’

won’t shoot a 74 because the ammo’s

the ’80s, right?

with.’ And they said, ‘Well, we’ve got

158

In 2003 with General Dostum. Pelton says Dostum was vilified by the U.S. State Department to keep Karzai in power, but ultimately he has always been the person who decides who runs Afghanistan.

What rifles did you see in Afghanistan?

kind of an unusual problem. We have this knucklehead who disappeared off

They told us where he last was, kind of what he looked like — he’s an American. I then called my friends who knew that area, and I asked when the last time somebody was kidnapped there, and who did it?

They said it was the f--khead tribe, or whatever they’re called. So, I asked about the last guy who was kidnapped. How did they take him to Pakistan? They said ‘they used this route, and they wait at the border for the Haqqanis to come out, because you can’t drive Afghan cars in Pakistan and vice versa. So they wait at the border, and it usually takes a while. I said, ‘OK, great.’ So, I figured he left at this time ... So, this route here. They start flying [electronic surveillance] here, they picked up a phone call saying, ‘we need a translator, and a cameraman.’ The whole thing is in Wikileaks actually — read it — and we did that for about three or four days, and then we were told to wave off. I’m like, ‘That’s weird.

Pelton with Ahmad Shah Massoud‘s Panjshiri fighters in Taloqan in 1999.

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A LIFE OF WANDER & WONDER What’s your view on firearms?

RYP: The Second Amendment is

with the Taliban, and this guy Rob

part of the Constitution, because the

Krott literally disassembles the guy’s

way the English treated the Ameri-

rifle on the front line. I’m like, ‘Ooo,

cans meant governments couldn’t be

not a good idea.’ The Talib guy was

trusted. The government should be

like, ‘What the f*ck. You just took my

equalized by the people’s ability to

rifle and turn it into parts.’ Right? And

stand up to it. I like that idea. When

he did this thing [gestures with hands]

you’re oppressed by government, you

‘This is the RPK, the first da, da, da,

should be able to defend yourself.

da ...’ He was a weapons guy.

Now the issue of the Black Gun I

The PKM means the agency was there. It’s very popular with certain militias, typically agency-related, because the PKM is a hard gun to handle.

3 8 IS SUE

a warlord, and we decided to have a

do more damage with a propane tank

shooting contest; he had a Glock. So

and a 5-gallon gas container than you

his bodyguard throws a Pepsi can up

can do with a black gun any day.

in the air, and the warlord would aim and miss, and his bodyguard goes

When did you start learning about

over and executes the Pepsi can.

weapons?

Traveling in dangerous places, what

tary, and when I started getting into

practical things do you need to know

this I thought I need to know about

about weapons?

guns, because nothing’s worse than

RYP: So what you need to know is

hilltops and fire rockets and artillery.

being around guns all the time and

basically the range of weapons, the

So when I was first there, they would

not knowing about them. So I would

type of fire you’re receiving, and

literally take Katyusha rockets, knock

actually bring guys with me, like

the general magazine capacity. You

the end off them, lay a fuse to it, put

Soldier of Fortune writers, and they

need to know the difference between

two rocks around it [and light it]. It

would actually explain how the weap-

[the guns on your side] and the

was like the Roadrunner, right? And

ons work, and they do these weird

enemy sounds blasting the other

where it landed who the f--k knew?

little videos.

way, right?

RYP: Because in Afghanistan, you’re

REC O ILW E B .C O M

I remember I was in Turkey with

think is humorous, because I could

RYP: I’ve never been in the mili-

Why is Afghan marksmanship so bad?

160

Discovering the hard way that the Land Rover parking brake locks up the central diff not the rear brakes. Pelton later competed for Team USA in the 1991 Camel Trophy rally race.

One time, we were on the front lines

ambushing people. They used to sit on

2000. Pelton tried to take a vacation and hike the Darién Gap in Panama and was kidnapped by an AUC death squad and marched at gunpoint to Colombia.

confidence matters.

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A LIFE OF WANDER & WONDER When you’re under an AC-130 Gun-

So, money is an inefficient way of

ship you need to know how they func-

trying to win favor. Weaponry works

that was having a lot of green-on-

tion, because you’re just a little blob

when used surgically against the right

greens, and you know you’re not sup-

and if you get taken out it’s because

people with the locals helping you.

posed to do that, but, f*ck it, there’s

you were in the wrong zone. I was

Money creates corruption, standoff

rules and there are rules, right? So

right next to Kaliganj at night when

creates civilian casualties, but it’s

if somebody starts going crazy, take

they used to run the AC-130s. I don’t

still better than a whole bunch of

them out, you know? That was a sad

know how — they’re in the air — but

guys from Ohio going down street get-

state of affairs. .. When the people

you could actually hear the [aircrew]

ting shot by the Taliban and perhaps

you’re helping were trying to kill you.

yell, ‘Clear!’ when firing the main gun.

shooting at each other.

They had 40mm [cannons] with high explosives, so it’s good to know the range and the blast radius of the 40s and 105s.

Have you seen the dollar as an effective weapon?

RYP: You need both carrot and stick, right? Carrot has always been dumping money into a sh*thole and think-

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3 8

ing that it was going to stay in the

REC O ILW E B .C O M

162

carry a gun I was with a certain group

sh*thole, and that obviously doesn’t work. It just goes to Dubai.

When Afghanistan needs to be

In East Turkey with the family of warlord Sedat Bucak, a disgraced Turkish politician with links to a 1981 plot to assassinate the Pope. They had a shooting contest with a Pepsi can.

Bucak missed and his bodyguard walked over and executed the can.

On the Blackwater thing they wanted me to have a weapon. Because

pacified, it’s better to do exactly what

if you get attacked in Iraq, they’re

we did, which was provide overwhelm-

gonna f*cking kill you, and they don’t

ing air support, stand-up expertise,

care if you’re a journalist, a Black-

use consultants, just like they fought

water guy, whatever. I said, look, ‘I’ll

wars in India in 1800, right? And

carry the ammo. I’ll be the bullet

then when we’re done. We’re done

bitch ... and yes, put a weapon in the

and we move out, and we accept the

vehicle. But I got to work.’

fact that it’s a contentious violent poor country.

What were you doing with Blackwater?

RYP: I wrote a book called License

Do you carry a firearm when working?

to Kill. A lot of my friends in Special

RYP: The only time I was asked to

Forces had gone to work as contrac-

A LIFE OF WANDER & WONDER view, and I asked him why he’s talking

whatever. So, I said, ‘What’s the most

to me. He says, ‘Because you’re you,’

dangerous job you have?’

meaning that he read my book.

He said it’s this run up Route Irish [between Baghdad International Air-

So he’s a fan?

port and the green Zone] because we

RYP: Yeah. Well, not anymore. So, um,

get these slow-moving Mambas and

I’ve actually been in combat [laughs].

they take potshots at us all the time,

Anyway. So the point is, he told me

and there’s VBIEDs [vehicle-borne

his dream of this private army. And

improvised explosive devices]. I said I

I’m like, ‘That’s a stupid idea,’ and

want to hang out there.

for a lot of reasons. If I was a villager

tors for Dyncorp, Blackwater, whatever. When I was out looking for bin Laden I ran into all these OGA guys who were contractors on the Border.

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3 8

I thought that’s f*cking weird, and

REC O ILW E B .C O M

164

I didn’t know anything about it. I’d already been with mercenary groups in Sierra Leone and other places, so I thought, I’m gonna write a book about the future of warfare called License to Kill. License to kill means that you are literally allowed to kill people in certain areas, even though you’re not the military. I chose three companies and one of them was Blackwater. I called up Erik Prince, and I met him at the Ritz-Carlton. He’s never done an inter-

ROBERT YOUNG PELTON’S EVERYDAY CARRY

WATCH: Rolex GMT Master 1675. “I bought for $425 in 1975 in Canada after I came out of the bush with holes in my jeans.

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1999 with Ahmad Shah Massoud.

Pelton spent three years trying to meet up with Massoud.

He was deported, arrested, and frustrated. This was part of his fascination for insurgencies, where groups are usually outgunned and often surrounded.

So I spent a month there, and I flew

guy, and I was being oppressed, the

with the little bird guys, and I went to

last thing I want to see is a f*cking

Greystone, the secret squirrel guys ...

gunship come out of the sky randomly

Then I said, ‘Hey, I want to come to

shooting at people, you know? But

the ranch.’ [Prince] said, ‘Sure,’ well,

In Sierra Leone with the tribal hunters/militia called the Kamajor, who were hired by the mercenary company Sandline.

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A LIFE OF WANDER & WONDER

‘why don’t you teach a class?’ So I taught

think of everybody I know who got killed

a class on how to be terrorists, and it’s

fighting in the military or whatever ... I

still talked about to this day. There was a

want to think that somehow they died for

camera guy there, and I gave him a gun

a reason. If a guy took a risk to show you

to shoot the ambassador before we drove

something or teach you something that

a truck bomb in ... It was like, ‘uh f*ck,

we just don’t forget that and do it again

you’re breaking the rules, Robert.’ I’m

and again.

like, ‘There you go. You’re getting it now.’

They still teach it, I think. It’s called Mir-

Should the west be scared of Islam?

ror Image. I was just a little too rowdy for

RYP: Nope — be afraid of explosives and

them, but that’s cool.

ballistics.

Edward Snowden, Patriot, traitor, or … ?

What are you working on now?

RYP: Overpaid contractor who warned us

RYP: I’m starting up a media platform,

we don’t have privacy.

designing DPx Gear knives, raising pup-

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3 8

pies, finishing my Finding Kony book and

REC O ILW E B .C O M

166

Is there any place you’re scared of going?

doing a book on Special Forces that I

RYP: The only problem I have is irrele-

started in 2001. I’ll head out to Afghani-

vancy. How many young men and women

stan in a bit as well. Also still trying the

went to a war and got killed and nobody

change the world with my incredibly

knows why? Nobody cares. Whether

naive belief that people are inherently

they’re journalists or soldiers, and they

good. But only if you lock up or shoot all

had zero impact. Looking back now, I

the bad ones first.

ROBERT YOUNG PELTON BORN: 1955 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada CITIZENSHIP: U.S. FAMILY: Married, twin daughters EDUCATION: High school graduate JOB TITLE: None IF YOU HAD A TATTOO, WHAT’D IT BE: Prison tat of Jesus or Elvis. Nobody likes a cool tattoo; a bad tattoo usually has a much better story behind it.

LAST READ BOOK: CIA: Manual for Psychological Operations In Guerrilla Warfare

by Duane Ramsdell “Dewey” Clarridge SUGGESTED READS: Scouting on Two Continents, Frederick Russell Burnham and Deep Waters, James Raffan FAVORITE FILM: Mountains of the Moon WHAT DID YOUR FIFTH GRADE TEACHER SAY ABOUT YOU: I got kicked out of school in second grade, so I didn’t go to grade five. But my second grade teacher said, in tears, ‘I don’t know what to do about Robert.’

FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT: On a mountain as the sun comes up.

FAVORITE FIREARM: Colt Python with an 8-inch barrel. I like highpowered handguns, because they make big holes.

AR OR AK? ARs are too complex and the squirrel gun caliber doesn’t do it for me.

FAVORITE VEHICLE: Series II Land Rover

WORKS The World’s Most Dangerous Places - Travel guide to the world’s most dangerous places.

The Adventurist - an autobiography covering Pelton’s colorful childhood and travel experiences until 1999 Come Back Alive - An irreverent survival guide.

Hunter, Hammer and Heaven, Three World’s Gone Mad - Journal from Jihad against Russia.

Licensed to Kill - An exploration of private military contractors during the height of the Iraq war Learn more about Pelton and his work at www.comebackalive.com

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BY RYNE GIOVIANO

REC O ILW E B .C O M

168

Admit it, you want to be big and strong.

age, the result is getting stronger and

We all do. And with all of the hype

bigger. In other words, the muscle

around strength training supplements

adapts to the stressor.

and diets, it seems like it’d be the easi-

It’s important to vary this stressor,

est thing, right? Take this colorful drink

and the simplest way is through

or only eat protein, and you’re well on

progressive overload. This equates to in-

your way to becoming the next Arnold

crementally putting more weight on the

Schwarzenegger. If you’ve been train-

bar, increasing the amount of reps, or

ing for any appreciable length of time,

increasing the amount of sets over time.

you know that it’s much harder than it

Of course, a combination of these three

appears. Those quick fixes never work.

will also work.

So, with all of this misinformation on

Because this is a nutrition-centered

the Internet, where do you start? Let’s

article, let’s discuss what it has to

talk about nutrition and supplementa-

do with muscle growth and strength.

tion to start seeing some huge gains in

Muscles respond to calories. In addition

the gym.

to proper training, it takes an extra 3,000 calories (above and beyond your

HOW DOES A MUSCLE GROW? At the end of the day, a muscle will

normal daily requirement) to build one pound of muscle. Muscle tissue is con-

respond to demands. When we ask our

stantly being broken down and rebuilt

muscles to lift weights, their response

every 7 to 15 days. More activity alters

in the longer term is to get stronger.

this process. So when you hit the gym

And the opposite is also true — place

and start lifting weights, you’re breaking

no demands on them, and they’ll get

down muscle tissues. Without adequate

weaker and smaller. These demands

nutrition (and recovery in general),

we place on muscle tissue causes

you’re going to have a hard time getting

damage, and while repairing this dam-

bigger and stronger.

Rimma_Bondarenko/istockphoto.com

WARNING!

The exercises and content expressed in this column are for illustrative purposes only. Consult your physician before trying any physical activity or nutritional plan. RECOIL and its contributors are not responsible for any harm or injuries sustained while attempting these techniques.

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YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT HOW DOES A MUSCLE GET STRONGER?

lower repetitions, such as in training for

tein when you start lifting weights. The

strength, the neuromuscular aspect of

main reason is to increase the amount of

training becomes more important. In our

protein synthesis relative to the amount

cle’s cross-sectional size and strength.

case, however, we’re focusing on eating

of protein breakdown. We want our

Generally, the stronger a muscle gets, the

right for the muscle’s ability to get stron-

bodies to be making more proteins than

bigger it gets. When the muscle is put

ger and bigger.

breaking them down if we’re going to

There’s a correlation between a mus-

build more muscle. But you need to eat

through a strength-training workout, and

NUTRITIONAL BASICS FOR MUSCLE GROWTH AND STRENGTH

it recovers adequately, an adaptation is for it to get stronger. Now, there are definitely some differences between training for one versus the other, but know they’re

As discussed earlier, proper nutri-

calories from protein is the minimum, which would equate to about 1g per kilo-

tion is paramount if you’re going to

gram of bodyweight. From there, you can

is to build more muscle and vice versa.

be seeing progress in the gym. This is

increase that to about 1 gram per pound

non-negotiable and requires an under-

of bodyweight. There are so many differ-

growth and strength is that strength

standing of your caloric needs, including

ent choices when it comes to proteins,

also has a pretty substantial neurologi-

a breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates,

but a lot of that will depend on your

cal component. It’s not just about the

and fats.

personal preference. Meat is easily the most common, but if you’re a vegetarian

muscle, but also your brain and the conPROTEINS

nections between brain and muscle. One of the adaptations to strength training is increased neural drive to the muscle, 3 8

How much? Twelve to 15 percent of

correlated. So one way of getting stronger One of the differences between muscle

IS SUE

enough protein for this to happen.

meaning there’s greater activation of that muscle leading to more strength.

Especially when lifting heavy weight with

When looking to add muscle strength and size, look no further than heavy movements involving multiple joints and muscle groups.

or vegan, there are other choices like

When we exercise, our body’s hor-

beans, legumes, or soy, as well as some

mones are affected, and how they affect

protein supplements discussed later. To

muscle growth and strength are heavily

make this measurement of protein easier,

dependent on our nutritional status. It’s

think about it as two to three palm-sized

likely you’ve heard you need more pro-

portions of protein per day for men, and one to two per day for women.

170 REC O ILW E B .C O M

CARBOHYDRATES Recently, carbohydrates have become the enemy of many diet programs, but don’t shy away from them quite yet, especially if you’re looking to get big and strong. Carbs are primarily a source of energy for the cells in your body. Not to mention, they cause a release of a hormone called insulin, which is the most anabolic (building tissues) hormone in the body. Insulin is responsible for taking nutrients like amino acids (protein building blocks) and carbs and putting them into muscle cells to allow growth. You can get carried away, though, as insulin also stores nutrients in fat cells too. So, too much in the carb department can lead to some fat gain as well.

How much is too much? Well, that depends on numerous factors such as: how big you are, how much lean mass you have, how active you are, intake levels of protein and fat, genetics, and what foods you prefer to eat. Men should gorodenkoff/istockphoto.com

start with roughly two to three cupped-

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YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT handfuls of healthy carbs per meal, and women should start with one to two.

You then would adjust from there. As for choices, there are many. So stick to healthy options like fruits, legumes, root vegetables, quinoa, brown rice, and whole grains to name a few.

FATS Fat is a major fuel for low- to moderate-intensity exercise, and for most people, it’s the most readily available form of stored energy. The better you are at using, the more you’re able to spare stored carbs. This is a great thing for

UberImages/istockphoto.com

longer-duration activities that require a ton of energy use like a marathon.

Because fat goes through a more complex process to break down, it’s not typically an immediate source of energy

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for the body, and, therefore, it’s not an

REC O ILW E B .C O M

172

energy source we’re concerned with for strength-based exercise. It’ll take a few hours for fat to enter the bloodstream.

While fat takes a while to breakdown, it easily makes up for it in the much larger amount of energy it produces as compared to proteins or carbs.

So how much fat should you have?

For men, two thumb-sized portions per meal is a great start, while one thumb

When considering a protein powder,

per meal is good for women. You’ll be

you’ve several sources including whey,

ate best.

looking to get your healthy fats from nu-

rice, egg, pea, hemp, and soy. Which

Mix with fruit, avocado, and spinach

tritious sources like avocados, raw nuts

source is right for you? It’s tough to say,

for a very simple and very nutritious

and seeds, fatty fish, and healthy oils

and it really depends on your personal

breakfast.

like avocado, olive, or coconut.

preference, allergies, your stance on food, and several others. For most peo-

brands to determine which you toler-

CREATINE

TWO KEY SUPPLEMENTS FOR STRENGTH AND SIZE

ple, a milk-derived protein powder called

When you’re performing bouts of

whey is a great choice as it may improve

high-power outputs (lasting less than

PROTEIN POWDER

immunity, is very well-researched, and is

15 seconds) separated by 20 to 60 sec-

a great source of branched-chain amino

onds of rest, you’re predominantly using

great food that should make up a sub-

acids, which help with muscle growth

something called the ATP-PC system

stantial amount of your total caloric in-

and preservation.

of energy. An example could be a short

We all know about protein being a

sprint up a hill. This system replenishes

take, but there’s another option besides regular food: whey protein. Why use a

RECOMMENDATIONS:

the stores of adenosine triphosphate

25-50g per serving is a good place to

(ATP), which provides energy to working

Eating more protein in your diet with-

start depending on your needs.

cells. Since your muscles have a small

out the bulk of food

Check the nutrition labels and avoid ar-

amount of ATP for muscle contractions,

You don’t like meat or animal products.

tificial sweeteners, such as sucralose,

it needs to be replenished regularly

Convenience of transportation

acesulfame potassium, and aspartame.

and quickly. In order to use this ATP,

Ease of preparation

Experiment with different forms and

one phosphate is removed to create

protein powder? Here are a few reasons.

Carbs are very important for strength and size goals. Make sure to get the recommended amount. If you notice you’re gaining too much fat, start reducing carbs before anything else.

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YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Drink plenty of fluids when taking

diphosphate (ADP) as there are only

creatine.

two phosphates now. We use a creatine

Don’t ingest during exercise.

supplement to give ADP an extra phos-

After an initial five-day loading phase

phate, making it ATP once again. And

of 10g per day, consume 3-5g of

the cycle continues.

creatine per day.

Creatine is an amino acid that

yoh4nn/istockphoto.com

energy, which will make it adenosine

REFERENCES Berardi, J., Andrews, R., St. Pierre, B., Scott-Dixon, K., Kollias, H., & DePutter, C. (2016).

The Essentials of Sport and Exercise Nutrition. Precision Nutrition, Inc. Plowman, S. & Smith, D. (2017).

Exercise Physiology for Health, Fitness, and Performance (5th ed.).

Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

Drink creatine in a warm beverage,

naturally occurs in the body in the liver,

preferably combined with carbs

kidneys, and pancreas, but you can also

and protein to possibly increase the

get it from food. In supplement form,

muscles’ retention of it.

creatine is typically taken as creatine

Occasionally, cycle off creatine for

monohydrate because it’s more able to

three to four months.

pass through cell membranes, making

Don’t take this if you have a preexist-

it more usable. Typical improvements

ing kidney dysfunction or are at a high

as a result of creatine supplementa-

risk for kidney disease.

tion range from about 2 percent in increased muscle mass, about 11 percent in muscle strength, and roughly 8 percent in high-intensity exercise.

CONCLUSION Now that you’ve got the basics of nutrition and supplementation covered, it’s time to hit the gym and start seeing

Use the monohydrate form of creatine.

IS SUE

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RECOMMENDATIONS:

some serious progress. You have nothing to lose and quite a bit to gain.

Both creatine and protein powder are inexpensive ways to get an extra edge in the gym. Just understand they’re supplements meant to complement a healthy diet. You’ll get more from nutritious food than you will from any supplement.

REC O ILW E B .C O M

174

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ryne Gioviano is the owner of Achieve Personal Training & Lifestyle Design located in Aurora, Illinois. He holds a master’s degree in exercise physiology, a NSCA Certified Personal Trainer, and Precision Nutrition Certified Nutritional Coach. Ryne is also an avid firearms enthusiast. For more information, please visit www.AchievePersonal Training.com or find him on Instagram and Twitter at @rgioviano.

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