Tactical Life November December 2018 by Vadim Koval

BRIEFING ROOM www.athlonoutdoors.com

PLUG INTO

SHOOTING THROUGH GLASS Tactical-life.com regularly posts police body-cam videos, but this one—showing a Las Vegas cop opening fire on a murder suspect through his cruiser’s windshield during a car chase in Las Vegas— is definitely one of the most intense. Watch it here: bit.ly/2KOdgU0

Sean Utley Photo

DEAD-ON ACCURACY. TOP-NOTCH PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY. These are the things we all look for in our firearms, whether we use them for selfdefense, duty, hunting or competition. In this special precision issue of Tactical Life, our content creators have zeroed in on the latest the shooting world has to offer for those who want to reap every ounce of accuracy and performance from their guns, gear and training. Sean Utley, the editor-at-large of sister publication Ballistic Precision, kicks things off with his custom Porsche-inspired 6mm Creedmoor. There’s companion video on tactical-life.com that features the kickass Kimberly Marie, who holds a black belt in karate, as well as live shooting from Sean’s road trip to a North American Long Range Shooter’s Association match in Texas (page 34), where everyday folks have the chance to compete for big money and big prizes. Earlier this year we had contributor Fred Mastison scour the SHOT Show for the next generation of precision rifles. In his words, “The struggle is real. Walking the 13 acres of guns and gear at SHOT can be overwhelming. Without a focus and purpose, you can easily lose an entire day or more just wandering. With a trained

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

focus, I planned out my visit to uncover the top new precision rifles. Not just the new and shiny rifles with fresh paint and ‘super wizard’ rifling or gadgets, but hardcore guns designed to stack rounds on top of each other. Colonel Townsend Whelen once said, ‘Only accurate rifles are interesting.’” Find out what Fred believes are the sweetest on page 120. Of course, spending a lot of money on a high-end rifle won’t necessarily get you on target every time. That’s where expert training comes in, and we’ll help you get dialed in with a closer look at Buck Doyle’s Follow Through Consulting (page 18) and Accuracy 1st’s Todd Hodnett (page 54). There are plenty of gun and gear reviews in this issue, too, with a first look at Sabatti’s new STR, range time with a Savage MSR 10 Long Range, and an AK-74 that truly earns the “alpha dog” nickname. We’ve also got a roundup of the best optics available as well as content for those who spend hours on the road. Be sure to ride over to page 97 to take in Panthera’s Vehicle Dynamics course, and check out “Lock & Roll” for the latest in gun security boxes and gear for road warriors. So, without further ado, start your engines and enjoy the ride. —Nino Bosaz

COBRA RE-TEST Holding six .38 Special rounds, the Colt Cobra is an accurate snubbie worthy of the heritage it was built on. After an initial hiccup, we went ahead and tested it again across seven different categories. Check out personaldefenseworld.com to see how it performed: bit.ly/2MtBXGH

3D HYSTERIA The “We Like Shooting” podcast crew weighs in on the issue of 3D-printed guns and what it really means for gun owners today. Go to ballisticmag.com to take a listen: bit.ly/2vWVloC

KEYBOARD COMMANDOS With internet trolls running rampant in the firearms industry, we turned to the one man fit to take them on: Pat McNamara. Read what he had to say on ballisticmag.com: bit.ly/2vBiVYB

tactical-life.com tactical-life.com

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2018

FEATURES 24 SUPERCHARGED 6mm Surgeon and J. Allen Enterprises team up to build a dream custom BY SEAN UTLEY

38 SABATTI GOES TACTICAL One of Italy’s finest gunmakers crafts a hard-hitting precision rifle for Americans BY DAVID BAHDE

48 AFFORDABLE, REPEATABLE PRECISION Savage Arms’ MSR 10 Long Range is ready to go the distance with sub-MOA results BY MIKE DETTY

54 DIAL IN DEADLINESS Accuracy 1st’s Todd Hodnett shares his secrets to the long-range game BY DAVID KENIK

66 MILLING TIME Using a new Polymer80 kit to complete a big-bore rifle BY JAY LANGSTON

72 MERIDIAN DEFENSE ALPHA DOG The closest thing to Russia’s spec-ops AK-74 is now available stateside BY FRED MASTISON

82 HEAT SEEKERS

Testing FLIR’s latest thermal imagers at Gunsite Academy BY ALEX LANDEEN

92 F4 FIGHTER

Great looks and performance to match—the Enhanced Battle Rifle is here BY FRED MASTISON

112 BRACE YOURSELF Pistol stabilizing braces can make your life—and range time—a whole lot better BY WILL DABBS, MD

116 NEXT-GEN OPTICS The year’s best reflex sights and scopes to help you make every shot count BY ROBERT A. SADOWSKI

120 SWEET 16 Cutting-edge precision rifles right on the mark for 2018 BY FRED MASTISON

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

COLUMNS 08 GEAR UP New guns and gear lighting up the market

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nino Bosaz EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Linas Cernauskas PRODUCTION EDITOR Greg Lickenbrock CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kenneth Ross ART DIRECTOR/COVER DESIGN Rory Slifkin PREPRESS MANAGER Michael Toppin PREMEDIA OPERATOR Franco Nguyen DIGITAL MANAGER Matthew Hogan DIGITAL EDITOR Andrew Berry EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Richard Ortega CIRCULATION CONSULTANT Scott Hill/ProCirc COVER PHOTO Sean Utley* tactical-life.com • realworldsurvivor.com personaldefenseworld.com • ballisticmag.com EDITORIAL INQUIRIES editdesk@athlonoutdoors.com

14 TACTICAL RIDES The up-armored Plasan Yagu brings new capabilities to spec-ops warriors

athlonoutdoors.com VP/GROUP PUBLISHER Nicholas S. Seifert & CONTENT DIRECTOR ADVERTISING SALES National Office 212-478-1910; sales@athlonoutdoors.com

18 TRAINER SPOTLIGHT Why Buck Doyle of Follow Through Consulting stands out from the pack

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES

34 ROAD TRIP Head to Texas for NALRSA matches that offer big fun and bigger payouts

44 CAN CORNER Silent Legion’s Complete Multi-Caliber Suppressor Kit

NASHVILLE: 2451 Atrium Way, Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37214; 800-284-5668

* Consultant

Ten takeaways from the Panthera Training Center’s Vehicle Dynamics course

101 GO GEAR

109 HIGH-TECH How the U.S. Army is tapping NFL technology to build better helmets

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

SUBSCRIPTIONS / SINGLE COPIES 800-284-5668; subscriptions@athlonmediagroup.com ONLINE STORE outdoorgroupstore.com

97 DRIVING TACTICS

Pounding AR500 ballistic plates, plus a closer look at today’s low-profile armor

Brock Norman

NEW YORK: 60 E. 42nd St., Suite 820, NY, NY 10165; 212-478-1910

Supercharge your on-target speed with Nikon’s P-Tactical Spur

104 UP-ARMORED

Jim Coen; 212-478-1949 Carrie Roeder

CORPORATE OFFICERS

78 BATTLE BLADES

Tuffy has everything you need to keep your guns secure on the road

DIRECT RESPONSE SALES SENIOR DIRECTOR, MARKETING & OPERATIONS DIGITAL SALES DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING DIRECTOR

PRESIDENT, CEO Chuck Allen CFO/TREASURER Mary Lee Vanderkooi CORPORATE ADDRESSES

Testing a new trio of rugged and reliable Rugers in Arizona

88 ADVANCED OPTICS

Scott Buchmayr; 978-462-6335 Amos Crowley; 216-378-9811 Scott J. Cherek; 307-635-8899 Dan Flavin; 248-515-8654

ATHLON MEDIA GROUP

62 WEAPONS INSIDER

An inside look at the knives and tools used by Russia’s elite operators

NORTHEAST REGION SOUTHEAST & UPPER MIDWEST WESTERN REGION MIDWEST/CENTRAL SOUTH

104

TO THE READERS: Be advised that there may be products represented in this magazine as to which the sale, possession or interstate transportation thereof may be restricted, prohibited or subject to special licensing requirements. Prospective purchasers should consult the local law enforcement authorities in their area. All of the information in this magazine is based upon the personal experience of individuals who may be using specific tools, products, equipment and components under particular conditions and circumstances, some or all of which may not be reported in the particular article and which this magazine has not otherwise verified. Nothing herein is intended to constitute a manual for the use of any product or the carrying out of any procedure or process. This magazine and its officers and employees accept no responsibility for any liability, injuries or damages arising out of any person’s attempt to rely upon any information contained herein. TACTICAL LIFE is published four times per year by Athlon Sports Communications, Inc., 2451 Atrium Way, Suite 320, Nashville, TN 37214. Single copy price: $9.95 in U.S.A., $10.95 in Canada. Submissions of manuscripts, illustrations and/or photographs must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Copyright © 2018 by Athlon Sports Communications, Inc. All rights reserved under International and Pan American Copyright Conventions. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Printed in the U.S.A.

NEW GUNS AND GEAR LIGHTING UP THE MARKET

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

1 • 5.11 TACTICAL

2 • ARISTOTLE ENGINEERING

3 • CRIMSON TRACE

MISSION READY CHUKAS

PRODIGY GRIPS

CWL SERIES

Want to make your rimfire Ruger Mark IV pistol stand out on the firing line while enhancing its ergonomics and handling? Enter Aristotle Engineering, which is now offering three sets of Prodigy Grips. These grips are precisely machined from 6061-T6 aluminum with black, red or diamond grey anodizing to match your Ruger pistol. The grips also have a custom hexagonal pattern to provide better traction and a bold look. (aristotle-engineering.com)

Crimson Trace’s new CWL tactical lights are specifically designed for AR carbine and pistol applications. Available in 500- and 900-lumen models, the CWL features tap-on/tap-off tail cap activation as well as a remote on/off pad. Models are available for Picatinny, KeyMod and M-LOK handguards. The lights are waterproof, will burn up to 1 hour at 500 lumens and weigh only 3.9 ounces. Their housings are manufactured from hardcoat anodized aluminum for impact resistance. (crimsontrace.com)

Whether you’re standing for hours, moving through a crowd or de-escalating a situation, 5.11 Tactical’s new Mission Ready Chukas are ready to back you up. The D30 Lite EVA midsoles and Ortholite X-25 foot beds provide maximum cushioning and all-day comfort. Need more support? The Ortholite Achilles Cuff adds to your comfort level and strengthens the heel hold. And when you need to move, the Vibram Overland high-traction outsole lets you step up without slipping. These boots are perfect for your undercover gear. (511tactical.com)

tactical-life.com

4 • MAGPUL

5 • NIKON

6 • PELICAN

7 • RIDGE

SUPPRESSOR COVERS

MONARCH HG SERIES

VAULT CASES

MOMENTUM BOOTS

With a heat-resistant polymer sleeve overlaid onto a raised stainless steel heat shield that mounts directly to the suppressor body with steel clamps, the Magpul Suppressor Cover minimizes heat transfer and allows air to flow across the can. Additionally, it serves as an enhanced thermal insulator and signature-reduction device. It’s optimized for sound suppressors that are 5.5 inches long and 1.5 inches in diameter, such as the SureFire SOCOM556RC2. (magpul.com)

The new Monarch HG 30mm series follows in the footsteps of its 42mm siblings and provides nearly identical performance specifications in a smaller size. These binoculars are built around extra-low dispersion glass with a high-quality multilayer coating applied to all lenses and prisms. Nikon’s Field Flattener Lens System works in conjunction with the wide field of view—8.3 and 6.9 degrees, respectively, in the 8x30mm and 10x30mm models—to provide a sharp, clear view to the lens periphery. (nikonsportoptics.com)

Pelican is well known for its durable gun cases, and now the company has expanded its lineup to include the Vault series. Built for hard use, high impacts and extreme weather resistance, the new Vault gun cases are touted as being the toughest in their class. They’re extremely rugged and secure while being affordable. Various sizes are available, but each model features stainless steel hasps, heavy-duty handles, push-button latches and a crush-proof polymer exterior. (pelican.com)

Ridge Footwear’s new Momentum tactical boots have streamlined profiles for speed, agility and performance. The form-fitting design reduces bulk and weight while providing greater stability. Exclusive features include a 90-degree heel for ladder climbing and braking in rapid descents, and a unique arch designed for fast-roping and climbing. Side zippers make for easy donning and doffing, and the rubber outsoles are oil and slip resistant. Both 6- and 8-inch versions are available. (ridgefootwear.com)

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

8 • SUREFIRE

9 • TIMBER VAULTS

10 • TUFFY

X300 ULTRA

KENTWOOD GUN CONCEALMENT MIRROR

FORD F-SERIES LOCKBOXES

SureFire has unveiled a brand-new X300 Ultra. Thousands of X300 Ultras are currently in use with military and law enforcement personnel worldwide, and this new version features 1,000 lumens of stunning white light focused by a Total Internal Reflection (TIR) lens to produce a tight beam with extended reach and significant surrounding light for peripheral vision. An ambidextrous activation switch is located at the rear of the housing, and option grip switches are available. (surefire.com)

tactical-life.com

Timber Vaults produces shelves, mirrors and other furniture that secretly conceal weapons. The company’s Kentwood mirrors are one-piece units that mount easily between standard wall studs. Each mirror comes with two RFID key cards, soft-closing hinges, internal shelves that are easy to reposition, two strong magnets and a Velcro lining—all to hide important gear yet keep it within easy reach. (timbervaults.com)

Tuffy Security Products is now offering a high-security lockbox to fit under the rear bench seat of 2015 to 2018 Ford F-Series SuperCrew pickup trucks. The Model 344 is designed to fit under the 60-percent rear bench seats of crew-cab pickups. Featuring more than 3,800 cubic inches of lockable storage protected by the company’s patented Pry-Guard locking system, the 16-gauge-steel Model 344 is crafted to be easily hidden under the seats with chamfered corners. (tuffyproducts.com)

12 14

11 • VEDDER

12 • VORTEX

13 • WALKER’S

14 • ZEV TECHNOLOGIES

COBRA QUICK RELEASE GUN BELT

DIAMONDBACK TACTICAL FFP SCOPES

XCEL SERIES MUFFS

GEN5 PRO TRIGGER

Walker’s has debuted two new models in its XCEL Series electronic earmuff line: the 100 and 500BT. XCEL muffs relocate the user interface and microphones from the ear cups to a slim control panel that is integrated into the headband. This takes weight off the ears while optimizing overall balance for shooting comfort. This also provides more airspace inside the cups to help give the muffs an impressive sound reduction rating of 26 decibels. The muffs will also cancel out gunshot sounds while amplifying ambient sound. (gsmoutdoors.com)

To complement its growing line of Glock Gen5 parts, ZEV Technologies is now offering Pro Triggers for these 9mm pistols. These drop-in triggers offer a lighter, crisper pull with a positive reset. The redesigned and re-engineered ZEV Pro trigger pad utilizes a revolutionary riveted assembly process that makes it last longer, and a ZEV Pro connector is included. The unit is made of hardcoat anodized aluminum, and red and black safety toggles are available. (zevtechnologies.com)

This American-made gun belt from Vedder Holsters is named after its step-down Cobra buckle, which allows you to set your precise belt size and then take the belt off and put it back on again without any other adjustments. Available in seven sizes from 26 to 53 inches, the Cobra Quick Release Gun Belt is made from dual-layered 1.5-inch nylon webbing and works with 1.5-inch belt loops. It’ll work well with both IWB and OWB holsters. (vedderholsters.com)

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

First-focal-plane (FFP) scopes can be expensive, but Vortex Optics has solved that problem with its new Diamondback Tactical FFP series. Both 4-16x44mm and 6-24x50mm models are available for less than $500. Each uses the EBR-2C reticle for rapid aiming, and because it’s a FFP design, all of the MOA or mil hash marks and holds are usable through the entire zoom range. Other features include a fast-focus eyepiece, zero-reset adjustment turrets and a rugged 30mm main tube. (vortexoptics.com)

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL RIDES

THE UP-ARMORED PLASAN YAGU BRINGS NEW CAPABILITIES TO SPEC-OPS WARRIORS BY WILL DABBS, MD The Plasan Yagu lightweight armored vehicle injects a previously unimagined capability into the special operations battlespace. Combining high mobility, air transportability and formidable firepower, the Yagu can transport special operators to their area of operations and then protect them while maneuvering downrange. Offering amazing capabilities at a modest weight and relatively reasonable price, the Yagu could revolutionize the way modern spec-ops warriors travel. Today’s cutting-edge Yagu harkens from a fascinating evolutionary family.

PREVIOUS WHEELS In the early 1930s, the U.S. Army began experimenting with the concept of a bantamweight truck for use by 14

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

scouts and raiders who were the early 20th century predecessors to today’s special operations forces. The resulting vehicle stemmed from a laborious developmental process and became a ubiquitous part of Allied forces in all combat theaters during World War II. The refined design was christened the “U.S. Army Truck, ¼ ton, 4x4, Command Reconnaissance” vehicle. Subsequent generations just called it the Jeep. General George C. Marshall referred to the boxy little vehicle as “America’s greatest contribution to modern warfare.” Everyone who served during that era has some affectionate tale that stems from his or her relationship to a Jeep. The vehicle weighed 1,975 pounds empty and was endlessly versatile. Ford and Willys Overland produced more than half

a million of these remarkable vehicles by war’s end. After WWII, the civilianized Jeep became the world’s first commercially produced four-wheel-drive vehicle. Subsequent improved versions of the Jeep were ultimately replaced with the larger, more powerful and more stable Humvee in 1984. While the Humvee was and is a capable and effective utility vehicle, it is too large to ride as internal cargo in most modern tactical aircraft, and it was not designed from the outset to incorporate armor protection. This deep into the 21st century, we can do better.

MEET THE YAGU The special operations equipment procurement system is much more agile than that which supported the Big Army over the past century. Nowadays, tactical-life.com

promising new commercial off-the-shelf civilian technologies can be folded into military applications without enduring the time-consuming and cumbersome procurement and evaluation processes of previous eras. As a result, civilian-inspired vehicles like the Plasan Yagu can see action soon after they become available. At its heart, the Yagu is actually a 1,687-pound Arctic Cat four-seat all-terrain vehicle upgraded with armor protection and military-grade accoutrements. The resulting vehicle offers unprecedented capabilities. With a highly survivable armored and air-conditioned crew capsule, an onboard power generation system and an ultra-light General Robotics Pitbull remotely operated weapon system, the Plasan Yagu is agile, rugged and lethal. The armored crew capsule offers B6+ ballistic protection that is proof against 5.45x39mm, 7.62x39mm and 7.62mm NATO threats. This radical armor plating is of the composite sort incorporating aramid and Kevlar layers that offer superlative

tactical-life.com

Built off of an Arctic Cat ATV, the Yagu’s small size and exceptional mobility make it perfect for urban combat scenarios, and it’s easier to transport via aircraft.

protection at modest weight. The remotely operated Pitbull turret can accommodate 5.56mm or 7.62mm machine guns. This turret also incorporates electronic sensor systems for surveillance and targeting duties under conditions of limited visibility or battlefield obscurants. Generous front and side windows offer exceptional visibility while ancillary external cameras help cover dead spots. The Yagu draws its power from a 951cc 1000 H2 V-Twin SOHC engine with electronic fuel injection. Even fully

loaded, this gives the Yagu a powerto-weight ratio of 53 horsepower per ton. When combined with an automatic transmission that offers high and low gear ranges, two- or four-wheel drive, and long-travel front and rear suspension, the Yagu becomes remarkably maneuverable. Additionally, the vehicle’s thin footprint makes it ideal for navigating tight urban spaces that might be littered with the detritus of war. It would be easy to say that the Yagu is the sort of vehicle RoboCop might

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

TACTICAL RIDES

“QUIET AND CAPABLE, THE YAGU CAN SERVE AS A HIGHLY MOBILE MINIATURE PATROL BASE FOR SMALL SPEC-OPS UNITS OPERATING DEEP DOWNRANGE.” drive, but RoboCop never dreamt of anything this capable. In addition to a rugged drivetrain and powerful engine, the Yagu also includes a built-in drone system that can be launched from under armor and offers up to 27 minutes of remote video, surveillance and targeting information to increase the crew’s reach beyond the immediate area. Automatic target-tracking software decreases the crew’s workload while enhancing their situational awareness. In addition to these unprecedented capabilities, the Yagu will fit inside the cabin of modern combat rotorcraft like the CH-47. Back in the Stone Age when I flew Chinooks, one of our perennial challenges was transporting Humvees. Whereas the preceding Jeeps would fit snugly inside the cabin, Humvees always had to be transported externally as sling loads. In addition to taking a toll on the aircraft’s speed and maneuverability, this method of transport also demanded an extra layer of complexity during opera16

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tions in the pickup and landing zones. By contrast, the Yagu can drive on and off the aircraft in moments.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The military applications for the Yagu are limited solely by the commander’s imagination. Deep-penetration missions for surveillance or direct action in rugged terrain can now be facilitated over previously unimaginable distances. By

combining air insertion with the vehicle’s innate speed and rough-country capabilities, special operations teams can cover vastly greater distances than might be the case were they on foot. Additionally, the vehicle’s prodigious payload allows more food, water and ammunition to be included in the loadout. Quiet and capable, the Yagu can serve as a highly mobile miniature patrol base for small spec-ops units operating deep downrange. In addition to its military applications, the Yagu offers new capabilities to law enforcement and security services as well. From patrolling vast areas of austere borderlands to monitoring volatile combat zones and peacekeeping operations, the Yagu offers markedly greater mobility, transportability and crew protection capabilities when compared to legacy vehicles. In a digital age where the operational environment is fluid and decisions are made instantly, the Yagu becomes a very real force multiplier for both strategic and tactical commanders.

STREET CRED Plasan has extensive experience designing and building full-sized tactical vehicles. Its influence on the MRAP, M-ATV and JLTV, as well as its Sandcat armored utility and personnel carriers, uniquely positions the company to develop a small, lightweight and survivable combat vehicle for tomorrow’s battlefields. The Yagu is obviously influenced by these proven vehicles. In addition to all this combat cred, Plasan has also produced carbon-fiber components for the Dodge Viper ACR, Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray and Ford GT500KR sports cars. This influence gives the Yagu a seriously sinister look that really does transport one viscerally into the realm of science fiction. Cheaper than traditional large-footprint armored vehicles and offering greater agility, better stealth and lower operating costs, the Yagu and its crew of three operators stand ready to revolutionize modern warfare. In an era of advanced technology on the battlefield, Plasan miniaturizes armored transport into something manageable, capable and lethal. The Plasan Yagu is the shape of tomorrow’s combat. For more information, visit plasan.com. tactical-life.com

TRAINER SPOTLIGHT

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

Consulting is different. It’d be hard to find someone with more “been there, done that” experience, and he lives what he teaches—techniques he used in combat and taught to those fighting abroad today. I’ve seen him do so with military and police units who will only train with him. He teaches the same concepts to his family on the range and during a hunt. He even serves as an adviser on movie sets. But he never compromises. He knows his teachings save lives.

BY DAVID BAHDE uring the past 10 years, I’ve traveled the country attending various training courses involving every firearm you might field on duty or in a self-defense role (and a few you wouldn’t). The instructors have included combat veterans, longtime officers, world-class competitors and a few folks working with some of the most

tactical-life.com

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE elite foreign military and anti-terrorist units. I’ve attended major academies and local training entities alike. So I’ve developed a broad understanding of what is taught and who teaches it. This gives me some healthy skepticism, especially because you can’t walk a block without tripping over a dozen “expert instructors” these days. But Buck Doyle of Follow Through

Buck retired from the U.S. Marine Corps after 21 years as a master sergeant. He spent 17 with special operations units. He served as a team leader, platoon sergeant and chief instructor at the Special Missions Training Branch as a reconnaissance Marine attached to 1st Force Recon, 1st Recon Battalion and MARSOC. He served in Asia, Africa and the Middle East and earned multi-

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

BUCK U ple awards, including the Bronze Star. Buck founded Follow Through Consulting in 2010 and spent four years contracting with the Department of Defense to assist combat units in Afghanistan. In 2014, his classes became open to law enforcement and qualified civilians. He continues to teach military units on site and at his unique training facility in Teasdale, Utah. Corporations also consult with him for team building, leadership and product designs. Word spread quickly about his expertise and how well his system worked for even the least-experienced shooters, and Hollywood came calling. In 2017, he began providing intensive weapons training to the lead cast members of the TV show Shooter, including in-depth training and application at his facility in Utah. He also traveled to the set, providing technical and practical expertise. His latest project included technical advice for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for the movie Skyscraper. Buck is also one of nine U.S. service members featured in Mark Lee Greenblatt’s book Valor: Unsung Heroes of Iraq, Afghanistan and the

Home Front. He was even the subject of the Outdoor Channel’s Fight to Survive, detailing his efforts to save a fallen brother during an Iraqi sniper attack in Anbar Province.

ONLY WHAT WORKS I’ve trained with and assisted Buck during numerous classes. You learn to cut to the chase without wasting time, motion or energy. Basically, you talk less, shoot more and work harder. He is fiercely dedicated to teaching what works in the field using what you have, without regard to what’s popular. For his Scoped Carbine courses, for example, you learn the basics of ranging and hitting targets with a 5.56mm carbine. Observe, adjust, fire, repeat. It’s that simple, and I have new students hitting 12-inch steel targets at 600 meters in some serious wind by the end of the first day and repeatedly by the end of class. It’s about application, not theory, and it works. Attend his square-range 20

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

and equipment. When he trains clients for trophy hunts, his methods don’t change. Using a bolt gun or semi-auto? It doesn’t matter, and the critter on the other end won’t know the difference. Buck will teach you to understand your rifle and ammo, prove them in the field using a Kestrel and go to work. The more you do it, the better you get. This might not be as sexy, nor does it make for big social media hits, but it works. I use Buck’s methods every time I test a rifle and hit targets at the very limits of a bullet’s capabilities. Now if I could just get back those countless hours languishing in classrooms studying MOA while bored off my ass. training and you get the same thing: simple, straightforward methods he has used and seen work in combat. Buck applies this to his personal life. No man I know trains harder physically, mentally and emotionally. Every day is

tactical-life.com

a training day. He expects nothing from those he teaches that he doesn’t do daily. Seeing him run recon Marines into the dust 10 years his junior is impressive. He also hunts when he has time and uses the same principles

IT’S A LIFESTYLE Buck is a dedicated family man who passes these skills on to his wife and two daughters. It’s just as common to see Buck post a picture of him practicing with his family on Instagram

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

BUCK U than anything work related. Even so, his family regularly works the range during down time. Family friends own his Utah facility, and the entire operation is family oriented. And it’s not just practice and target shooting at the range; he’s helped friends and family take game using his techniques. Also, while many in this profession are quick to tout the virtues of whatever company gives them stuff, Buck is different. He refuses to buy into that. He will test a product and provide serious criticism. He’ll use the gun, for example, when he teaches and trains and tell you what it does. If it’s great, so be it. If not, he’ll tell you. It’s probably a bad business tactic to some, but Buck does not care. If you want him to test it, send it to him. If it’s crap, he’ll send it back. If he tells you something works, it’s because it does after sending thousands of rounds downrange in the harshest conditions Utah can present. The Modern Outfitters MC7 rifle in .260 Remington that I’ve been using is a perfect example. After Buck put several thousand rounds through it over a few weeks, he told me I needed to shoot it. Always a skeptic, I said sure. Well, he was right. The gun is everything it’s

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

cracked up to be, and I have yet to try anything he has tested and have it not be exactly what he said it was. As you can see, Buck does not endorse things. He uses them. If you see him using something all the time, it’s because it works, period. There are no advertisers on his page, nor does he have a shirt plastered with them. Again, that’s rare in this business.

BUCKING TRENDS What Buck teaches is not new. He’ll tell you that. It seems to be revolution-

ary to some of the old guard, especially in the military and law enforcement world, but he makes no claims to be some guru. It might be what I like most about him. He is all about the application. Does it work? Is it simple? Can I teach my daughter to do it, and can a relatively new user pick it up and practice it at home? Can it be applied across a spectrum of weapons? Every day I shoot beyond CQB distances, I use the same system that Buck has perfected. I’ve done so in several calibers out to 1,300 yards for years, and it works. I dial my scope less each time I run a rifle. Even using a red-dot sight at closer ranges, the same principles apply. Buck will flatout tell you that his methods are not new, improved or revolutionary. Honestly, not much out there in the training world really is. But his training works and works well. Like the rest of society, the firearms industry has become celebrity driven. There is just no way around it. It’s what consumers seem to want these days. You can lament it until you’re blue in the face, but it’s here. And big names can be a good thing, as they can take this industry to new heights. Buck is a rising star, and yet he’s never lost sight of his family, faith and roots. Nor will he compromise his values for money or fame. He is the personification of pragmatism—using what works and living it. Let’s hope we get more people like Buck. Who knows, maybe it will catch on. For more information, visit followthroughconsulting.com. tactical-life.com

ON THE COVER

WHAT DOES PERFORMANCE MEAN TO YOU? Although it’s subjective, I’d be willing to bet that your thoughts went to something with higher capabilities than most. Perhaps you envisioned something that looks fast. Maybe you thought of a particular firearm or even a sports car. As gun enthusiasts, most of us are drawn to both. It’s like a mandatory part of our code. To me, Porsches are visually irresistible. They seamlessly combine both subtle and bold lines into a highly capable, focused and functional package. It appears complex yet simple and complete—not in your face like a Lamborghini or Ferrari. No, a Porsche is sophisticated, pairing subdued styling and exceptional performance together with plenty of modern flare.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

SUPERCHARGED 6MM

Porsche’s automobiles are continually evolving with new technological advancements and proprietary technologies. But in all of that, the most inspiring part is the company’s artful refinement of an iconic design. Whether you like them or not, you know a Porsche when you see it, regardless of model or year. This continuity takes strong commitment to a formula that may not always be the coolest but yields solid results. This brings us to today’s precision rifles, with designs that are all basically the same. They all possess a similar style, and rightfully so, because functionality and purpose trump everything else. While their performance has improved over the years, the packaging is for the most part still the same. Traditional stocks have been all but replaced by numerous chassis systems. Each brings its own style and functionality, and some are more conspicuous than others. While chassis systems represent technological achievements and offer several ergonomic and performance benefits, for some they are too great a departure from the tried-and-true conventional stock. 26

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

But one company, J. Allen Enterprises, has taken the familiar look and feel of a traditional rifle stock and blended it with the modularity of a modern chassis. In other words, like Porsche, the company has blended traditional lines with technological advancements to improve its chassis’ overall performance. And J. Allen has done so without abandoning its roots.

AT FIRST SIGHT There is something inexplicably alluring about a J. Allen chassis. Like a Porsche, you know a J. Allen product when you see one, whether it’s mated with an M1A or a Remington 700 action. Like the German sports car, the company’s chassis lines are subtle and bold, blended perfectly with a refined and “finished” appearance. You won’t find any rough or jagged lines. After talking with Lisa Jones, the CEO of J. Allen Enterprises, it made sense as to why. Her husband, Jeff Jones, the company’s founder, owner and head designer, studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, and graduated with a degree

The only thing that could make a fast and accurate Surgeon rifle better was adding a modular J. Allen Enterprises chassis with a stylish custom paint job.

tactical-life.com

SUPERCHARGED 6MM

The chassis’ Arca-2 forend makes it easy to add accessories, and the buttstock is fully adjustable for length of pull and cheek height.

“THERE IS SOMETHING INEXPLICABLY ALLURING ABOUT A J. ALLEN CHASSIS. LIKE A PORSCHE, YOU KNOW A J. ALLEN PRODUCT WHEN YOU SEE ONE…” 28

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

in transportation design. When she offered up this information, it all came together. “No wonder!” I said. “I knew it was something, but I couldn’t pinpoint it.” Jeff has been passionate about cars and shooting for a long time, and he spent time designing automobiles in Michigan before designing his rifle chassis systems. So when I decided to harness the performance of the 6mm Creedmoor with some style, I knew that I had to have a J. Allen chassis as part of the foundation. There was no other option. As for the action, another iconic brand was needed—a brand with a reputation for quality. None other than Surgeon Rifles could fit the bill. After talking to the incredible team at Surgeon, they expressed that they would not only provide an action, but even build the rifle. All that was needed was a barrel, and a friend suggested Hawk Hill Custom. She had been running their barrels on her competition guns with much success and believed the company could provide the performance I was looking for. A few weeks later, all of the components arrived in Arizona.

BUILT FOR SPEED What eventually became a Surgeon Scalpel was originally inspired by the chassis. I had a specific paint scheme in mind, one that I discovered on a Porsche tactical-life.com

SUPERCHARGED 6MM

GT4 Clubsport racer. After sending a picture to Lisa Jones and discussing my specifics, J. Allen provided a rendering of what it would look like. In short, it was beautiful and exactly how I had imagined it. It was finished off with custom engraving on the cheekpiece and “nose art” to help it stand out. As you can see, J. Allen Enterprises is essentially a custom shop. From paint to parts, you can get what you want. Beyond the custom paint job, the chassis was outfitted with only the best functional components, including J. Allen’s Arca-2 rail, which provides makes it easy to attach accessories like Really Right Stuff tripod and bipod mounts for stable shooting. A nightvision mount was also, adding some more visual flare. Of course, while this chassis looks amazing, it also provides a rigid platform for the barreled action. It’s tough and free from any rattle or play. It’s hefty as well, giving the rifle a solid feel. And it’s worth mentioning that the magazine well is adjustable so you can really tune how your rifle feeds. Surgeon installed a left-handed 591 short action with an M16-style extractor. The 591 is bulletproof and over-built. The receiver and bolt, with its integral handle, are made from 4140 chrome-moly steel, and the latter is given an Ion nitride coating for good 30

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

If you love guns, chances are you probably love cars, too. This custom Porsche GT4 Clubsport provided the inspiration for the custom J. Allen Enterprises chassis.

measure. The action will stand the test of time and sports a 0.25-inch integrated recoil lug as well as a 20-MOA top rail. It’s also smooth, utilizing an antijam rail for single loading of rounds and an anti-bind rail that ensures seamless operation as the locking lugs pass through the loading port. The 27-inch Hawk Hill barrel has a 1-in-7.5-inch twist rate and a medium-Palma profile to reduce some weight and keep the rifle’s handling as nimble as possible. Little debate was given to the finish of the barrel because a build of such beauty deserved a little flare, and that came in the way of its polished, uncoated exterior. As in any performance machine, sound is a crucial and key element. Thus, a 6-inch AWC Thor PSR suppressor was installed via an AWC muzzle brake. This suppressor is highly effective, especially when combined with the longer barrel. AWC also offers the Thor PSR with baffles customized for your caliber, but instead of opting for the .243, I chose the .264 so it could be used with other rifles. Advanced CNC machines churn out AWC’s suppressor tactical-life.com

components while lathes and handwork complete the finished products. In all, the Thor PSR’s looks are understated in just the right way while maintaining a stylish yet rugged appearance. The “go” pedal here is a Timney Calvin Elite flatbladed trigger set at 1.5 pounds. It’s a single-stage unit with a nice clean break free of any drama. I’ve trusted Timney triggers for years, and this one doesn’t disappoint. This trigger has a carbo-nitride coating for smooth operation and durability. The wear components are made from coated A2 tool steel while the sears are wire-EDM cut. The trigger itself is CNC machined, and the housing is made from 6061-T6 aluminum. For optics, I installed a Sig Sauer 5-25x56mm TANGO6 scope in a set of lightweight Seekins Precision aluminum rings. The Level-Plex feature inside the TANGO6 provides the display technology that this build deserves. It will tell you if things aren’t squared up, and the illuminated Christmas-tree-like reticle is fast and easy to use. The exterior also matches the paint scheme of the rest of the build.

TEST-DRIVE Piloting this Surgeon/J. Allen masterpiece is a real pleasure. How can you not like the ridiculously gentle recoil of the 6mm Creedmoor? To me, it feels significantly lighter than the 6.5 Creedmoor while giving up nothing in terms of ballistics. Yes, the .243 projectiles are lighter, but they are slick and fast with a flat trajectory. Much like race fuel, factory 6mm Creedmoor ammunition is tougher to find, but this situation is improving. Hornady had a corner on that market, but now manufacturers like Federal, Barnes and Prime Ammunition are offering 6mm Creedmoor loads. There are even rumors of a 6mm load coming from Nexus Ammo as well. tactical-life.com

Sig Sauer’s 5-25x56mm TANGO6 scope features an illuminated reticle that will tell you if the rifle is canted, which could ruin your shot. The medium-Palma, 27-inch Hawk Hill Custom barrel has a 1-in-7.5-inch twist rate, and the author added an AWC Thor PSR suppressor.

SPEC BOX

CUSTOM SURGEON SCALPEL CALIBER:

6mm Creedmoor

BARREL:

27 inches

OA LENGTH:

47 inches

WEIGHT:

17.6 pounds (empty)

STOCK:

J. Allen JAE-700

SIGHTS:

Sig Sauer 5-30x56mm TANGO6

ACTION:

Bolt

FINISH: CAPACITY: MSRP:

Stainless, black, gray 10+1 $6,600 (rifle only)

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

SUPERCHARGED 6MM Handloads are an option, and with heavier slugs like the 115-grain DTAC and Barnes’ 112-grain Match Burner, with its .624 ballistic coefficient, new levels of aerodynamic superiority are possible. For this test, I used a handload with Hodgdon 4350 powder, Alpha Munitions brass, Federal GM210 primers and topped off with Berger 105-grain Hybrids to get a baseline. Its velocity was in the 3,100-fps range with a standard deviation of 4 fps, and I was able to create a five-shot group at 100 yards measuring just 0.3 inches with this load. Not bad for something I just threw together. I also ran the custom rifle with factory offerings from Barnes, Federal and Hornady. The Federal load, which used the same 105-grain Berger bullets, averaged a mind-bending 3,193 fps and produced a five-shot group measuring 0.41 inches, including a flyer. The first four rounds measured 0.18 inches. Call it a bad day behind the wheel, which I admit happens from time to time. The rifle is well balanced and handles well. It shoots easily and accurately out to 1,000 yards, emitting a trace with little J. ALLEN arc. These rounds are moving fast, and if ENTERPRISES you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse jallenglobal.com of a projectile hurtling downrange, you’ll SURGEON RIFLES immediately pick up on its speed advansurgeonrifles.com tage. You’re also prodded by the J. Allen chassis’ good looks to wrap your hand AWC SILENCERS awcsilencers.com around the grip and feel its ergonomic superiority. The recoil is light and only SIG SAUER made seemingly lighter by the hushed sigsauer.com tones of the AWC suppressor, which TIMNEY TRIGGERS emits a sharp hiss with each press of the timneytriggers.com trigger. The heft of the chassis helps, too.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Editor’s Note: Check out tacticallife.com to see more stunning footage of this custom J. Allen/ Surgeon rifle in 6mm Creedmoor.

PERFORMANCE

CUSTOM SURGEON SCALPEL FACTORY LOAD

VELOCITY

ACCURACY AVERAGE

BEST

Barnes 112 Precision Match

3,012

0.51

0.34

Federal 105 Gold Medal Berger

3,193

0.53

0.41

Hornady 108 ELD Match

3,052

0.62

0.47

HANDLOAD

Berger 105 Hybrid/ Hodgdon 4350

VELOCITY

3,070

ACCURACY AVERAGE

BEST

0.40

0.30

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 100 yards.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

THE BACKSTRETCH I feel no shame in admitting that I’m a bit of a prima donna when it comes to certain things. I’m driven to see certain ideas through to the painstaking end. I believe every shooter deserves at least one build like this in their lifetime, and J. Allen Enterprises and Surgeon really pulled through to make it happen in this case. I’m aware that every build can’t be like this one, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better combination. This is but one recipe for speed. Fortunately, there are many in the gun world. Be sure to explore the many avenues and kick a lot of tires. Test-drives are never a bad thing, and if you’re looking for a custom build that will ignite the soul and have you jonesing to hit the range, it’s tough to beat one that brings such an array of technologically advanced components together into one lean, mean performance machine. tactical-life.com

ROAD TRIP What happens when you combine team roping, bolt-action rifles, electronic scoring steel targets and lots of prize money into one package? You get one of the most technologically advanced, challenging, fun and rewarding long-range shooting competitions available today—the North American Long Range Shooter’s Association, or NALRSA. No, shooters aren’t expected to jump off galloping horses or wrestle steers into submission while shooting their rifles, although that could be fun. NALRSA uses team roping for its ranking and handicap classification system, something that the organization’s co-founder, Steele Montague, came up with. He’s a proud Texan, an avid long-range shooter and reloader, and a former team roper. As Montague put it, “We want to create

HEAD TO TEXAS FOR NALRSA MATCHES THAT OFFER BIG FUN AND BIGGER PAYOUTS BY SEAN UTLEY

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

the most friendly shooting environment that we can, from novice to professional—everybody has a fair shake.” While it might sound a bit unbelievable, I assure you it’s not. In fact, Montague contacted the gentleman responsible for the team roping classification system and asked if he could use it for their rifle competitions. “I wanted to be sure that we wouldn’t run into problems,” Montague told me as we shuttled from Brady to Comfort, Texas, in a NALRSA-banner-wrapped Dodge dually. I was about to get my first taste of this new competition series.

STEELE ON STEEL Montague and his three original partners came up with the idea for NALRSA. They found themselves desiring more after shooting in rifle competitions that didn’t adequately reward shooters for their efforts. “There was a match we shot in, but it didn’t pay out…Once we decided to mirror the team roping system, that was it.” That was back in October of 2016, and the first NALRSA match was held in Bandera, Texas, in May of 2017. They had 71 entries with a guaranteed $25,000 payout. That’s right: $25,000. Obviously, such a significant finan-

tactical-life.com

NALRSA matches use steel targets with electronic sensors that allow competitors to see their hits and score in real time.

cial reward is one of the most obvious factors that separates NALRSA from other precision shooting series out there, but there’s more. While other competitions are limited to shooters of a certain skill level or physical ability, NALRSA matches are much more accessible. In the match I attended, for example, four of the competitors were children ranging from 10 to 12 years of age, and while most of us shot from prone positions, one competitor was able to use a shooting bench because of a prior injury. Also, while F-Class and benchrest shooters poke holes in paper, and PRS and other series strive for impacts on steel, NALRSA matches combine these competitive elements but with a technological twist. Competitors face off against 14-by-15-inch steel plates with electronic sensors that precisely record impact locations. The sensors break this information down in real

time and send the results wirelessly back to the shooter’s position. An iPad displays the target with scoring rings so the shooter can make adjustments on the fly to get better results. Of course, other competitors can see the impacts, too, via large viewing screens as well as their own personal smart devices through a downloadable app. That’s right, precision rifle shooting has entered the 21st century. Another twist is that a 2-by-2-foot steel faceplate is placed 8 inches in front of the scoring plate. This faceplate has a 12-inch cutout in the center, exposing the sensor-equipped scoring plate. So you have to shoot through a 12-inch hole to hit the scoring plate. The exposed target dimensions don’t change regardless of distance. Poorly aimed shots will obviously miss the target altogether while more accurate shots might impact the faceplate. While these impacts aren’t recorded, strate-

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

ROAD TRIP gically located Target Cams allow you to see if you’ve impacted the faceplate to make the appropriate corrections. In short, the whole system is designed to help you see your misses at distance.

BREAKING IT DOWN Every NALRSA match begins at 500 yards, and each shooter is allowed to fire 10 rounds in three minutes. The goal is to shoot the best group possible. The scoring rings are broken down into 10-, 8-, 6- and 5-point sections. The more points you rack up, the higher your ranking. If you get 80 points, your ranking is an 8. If you score a 65, your ranking is a 6.5. Scores are rounded up or down accordingly. You maintain your rank until you place high enough in any event to receive a payout. There is one payout for every seven positions. If there are 21 competitors, the top 3 will receive payouts. If there are 50 competitors, the top seven will. So, if you hit a 7 ranking in your first NALRSA match and an 8.5 in your second, you can’t officially rank higher until you place high enough to receive a payout. How does this benefit lower-ranked shooters? There are different types of NALRSA matches or “formats” that limit the rankings of shooters who can compete. A Format 1 shoot is an open match for all shooters while a Format 2 is classified and may be limited to those ranked 7 and under, or 8 and higher. A Format 3 is a specialty shoot where the distances are extended and the payouts are particularly hefty. The grand prize for the Format 3 shoot in August of 2018 was a brand-new Dodge truck. You must be an NALRSA member to compete, and there are two types of memberships. Silver memberships are $100 per year while the Platinum is $350 per year. “Silver may be good for the occasional competitor or tightwad,” Motague said. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “The Platinum allows you to preshoot each match in the location where it will take place, the day before.”

ON THE CLOCK It was exciting to participate in an NALRSA shoot, and even though this one didn’t pay out, the competition was real with real bragging rights. The four 36

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

“…THE FIRST NALRSA MATCH WAS HELD IN BANDERA, TEXAS, IN MAY OF 2017. THEY HAD 71 ENTRIES WITH A GUARANTEED $25,000 PAYOUT.” junior competitors—two boys and two girls—weren’t planning on taking it easy on me, so the pressure was on. And yet I must admit that NALRSA has shooting comfort in mind. We laid prone on specially prepared concrete shooting stations that were covered by tents, allowing four competitors to shoot at one time. Once I was called to the shooting station, I had one minute to prepare my equipment. A small traffic signal with red, yellow and green lights lets the shooter know when it’s time to start and stop. Once the minute expired, I sent the first round of my handloaded 6mm Creedmoor into the constantly shifting winds and hit the faceplate high, giving me a

good idea of where to go from there. After that, my remaining nine rounds all found their way through the 12-inch circle, and I ultimately scored a 68, giving me a 7 ranking. Not bad for my first run. I finished with only 34 seconds remaining on the clock and was surprised by how quickly the time passed. It took me a couple of stages to get used to having the iPads and such valuable information available at a glance. I didn’t want to move my head from the gun and realized I needed to set the iPad up better before I started my stage. Initially I was relying on my optic and the sound of the impacts on steel, but the electronic scoring was way ahead of me. tactical-life.com

The second string of fire stretched to 700 yards, and I scored 57 points out of 100. Difficulty bucking the wind kept most of my shots in the 5- and 6-point rings, although my holds delivered excellent vertical consistency. I was feeling pretty good going into the final stage until I found out that 12-year-old Clayton Forster was spanking everyone with his 6mm Creedmoor. This was going to be a hard lesson indeed. The final stage took place at 1,000 yards—more than 300 yards short of the originally planned distance, thankfully. It’s these stages at extended distances that can allow competitors who are down in the pack to make significant comebacks, and that’s exactly what happened. Paul Reid, an incredible shooter, came back in the last round, landing seven of his 10 to score a 58. He racked up some $18,000 in NALRSA winnings last year. I managed 25 points before experiencing gun/ammo-related issues on my last two rounds. This forced a pause in my string of

tactical-life.com

fire, and I wasn’t able to reconnect on the scoring rings after coming off the gun. All in all, I was happy with my performance. Clayton Forster came in second place.

EXPERIENCE MORE I had a lot of fun at the NALRSA match. This series should attract anyone with a decent grasp of long-range shoot-

ing. With a gun, an optic and 30 rounds of ammo, you can have the time of your life, and you’ll meet some of the nicest people and fellow shooters anywhere in the world. My welcome was warm, and the camaraderie was infectious. If you’re like me, you’ll eventually grow tired of shooting the same old targets in the same old places, and you’ll want to experience more. If that’s the case, you may want to explore all of the competitive rifle shooting options available to find which is best for you. NALRSA matches use helpful technology, and the physical requirements aren’t a limitation to most shooters. It’s a good way to cut your teeth and grow as a precision shooter while possibly taking home some decent chunks of change and other cool prizes. For more information, visit long-range-shooting.com. Editor’s Note: Catch live-fire action from this shooting event, including video interviews with NALRSA founders and members, by visiting tactical-life.com.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

ONE OF ITALY’S FINEST GUN-MAKERS CRAFTS A HARD-HITTING PRECISION RIFLE FOR AMERICANS BY DAVID BAHDE PRECISION RIFLES HAVE CHANGED CONSIDERABLY OVER THE LAST several years. Early in my law enforcement career, 24-inch barrels were common on these rifles, and if you were engaging at farther distances, a 26-inch barrel might be used. You would see 22-inch barrels on lightweight hunting rifles, but anything shorter for tactical purposes was limited to “short-range” engagements. In fact, I still remember a recognized “expert” telling me that anything shorter than 22 inches was useless beyond 200 yards. Thankfully, real-world experience has debunked most of the mythology surrounding barrel length. Many agencies today are fielding .308 rifles with barrels as short as 16 inches with great success. Hunters are taking game with similar barrels at 300 to 500 yards. Barrels have

SABATTI GOES TACTICAL also gotten lighter, like stocks and even bullets. Bullet technology has improved exponentially for increased effectiveness. Now you’ll find rifles with 18- to 20-inch barrels for most practical applications, with longer barrels for longer ranges. You can reach targets 1,000 yards away with shorter barrels—I do it all the time—but if you want to be precise at that distance and beyond, a longer barrel and heavier bullets will make your life a lot easier. If you’re firing from prone, you’ll want a heavier rifle to help soak up recoil and high-velocity ammo. Longer and thicker barrels will also improve your shot-to-shot consistency, especially if you’re using a .308 in competition or for tactical purposes. Which brings us to the new Sabatti STR being imported by the Italian Firearms Group (IFG).

STR SPECS The Sabatti family has been making firearms in the Val Trompia region in Italy since the early 1700s. While the company is mostly known for its hunting and target rifles today, the STR is designed for tactical operations. In fact, STR stands for “Sabatti Tactical Rifle.” It starts with a heavy-contour, coldhammer-forged, 26-inch barrel that uses the company’s Multi-Radial Rifling (MRR). This rifling essentially uses two different radiuses that alternate to guide the projectile without any of the sharp edges found in more conventional rifling. This lack of sharp edges means those who lap their barrels can do so without worrying about ruining the rifling. Forcing cone geometry changes also guide the bullet in the rifling, centering it more precisely for greater consistency. This results in less bullet deformation and consistent shot-to-shot placement. The barrel’s 1-in-11.5-inch twist rate is optimized for match-grade 175- to 185-grain bullets. Sabatti also includes a muzzle brake, and the muzzle has 5/8x24-tpi threading for other devices like sound suppressors. Sabatti’s signature short action comes standard with a clean-breaking single-stage trigger, though two-stage units are available. The action uses AICS-pattern magazines, and Sabatti includes 40

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

SPEC BOX

SABATTI STR CALIBER: .308 Winchester BARREL: 26 inches OA LENGTH: 49 inches WEIGHT: 12.6 pounds (empty) STOCK: Adjustable, folding ACTION: Bolt FINISH: Matte black CAPACITY: 7+1 MSRP: $2,497

a seven-round magazine with the gun. The 20-MOA top rail merges with the AR-style handguard’s to offer lots of real

estate for optics and night-vision devices. The sides and bottom of the forend are drilled and tapped for short rail sections, and three come installed on the gun. The chassis also comes with a Command Arms Accessories (CAA) pistol grip, but any AR-style grip can be installed. At the rear you’ll find a folding aluminum buttstock that can be adjusted for length of pull, cheek height and buttpad height. The folding mechanism is sturdy, tight and locked in place via a large knob. Loosen the knob and the stock can be folded for greater mobility. For testing, I installed a Leupold 3.525x56mm Mark 8 scope in a 20-MOA Spuhr ISMS mount. Coupled with the 20-MOA scope rail, this optic gets me out to the limits of the .308 cartridge tactical-life.com

SABATTI GOES TACTICAL

to help me locate long-range targets without changing the scope’s magnification. And for a suppressor, I chose Gemtech’s Dagger, which weighs in at a mere 14.8 ounces, making for a quiet and soft-shooting rifle. Finally, I ran the Sabatti STR with several AICS magazines to test its reliability.

ON THE RANGE

using factory ammunition. The Leupold Mark 8 scope also uses a Horus T3 reticle that makes it easy to call wind and provides clear and accessible holds for both wind and elevation. I added a Trijicon RMR on top of the Spuhr mount in an offset position 42

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

Sabatti states that its MRR rifling helps increase ammo velocities, so that’s where I started on the range. And it turns out, the barrel seemed to do just that. Compared to a 26-inch-barreled Remington 700, the STR’s velocity figures were higher by 20 to 75 fps. The most significant difference came from the Federal Gold Medal Bergers at almost 100 fps. Factory-rated for 2,600 fps, my

MagnetoSpeed V3 clocked an average of 2,685 fps from the STR with a high of 2,700 fps. Granted, the elevation here is 5,500 feet, but that’s still pretty impressive. Interestingly, the 125- and 155-grain rounds saw very little increases. The MRR rifling seemed to have more of an effect on the larger bullets, which proved valuable because I did most of my longrange shooting with 175- and 185-grain rounds. Shooting out to 1,300 yards, this ammo required 14.7 mils of elevation at 2,600 fps and 13.7 mils at 2,700 fps. The STR’s accuracy was excellent across the board. My best group came with Federal’s 185-grain Gold Medal Berger rounds, measuring just 0.37 inches at 100 yards. This load held well under 1 MOA out to 1,300 yards, creating a 2.5-inch group at 550 yards. Similar results came with the Black Hills and Nexus loads. The Colt ammo produced a 0.62-inch group at 100 yards and was very accurate farther out. The 125-grain loads were the least accurate, but their best groups were still under 0.75 inches. So, as you can see, the STR was very accurate and consistent. Field shooting was just as solid, although the STR is relatively heavy, and its longer barrel is a bit slower to maneuver. This is often the case with .308 precision rifles, but it’s something to consider for competitions. Once in position, however, the rifle was a tack driver. The STR can handle unsupported positions—you just might have trouble holding it steady for a long time. Make sure you support the rifle and you’ll appreciate its lack of recoil.

SOLID SHOOTING The STR’s chassis and folding stock are very solid and strong. Even with the Gemtech suppressor installed, the STR will fit inside a standard rifle bag with the buttstock folded. Unfold it, tighten the knob down and you’ve got a very solid shooting platform with no rattle or play. At the same time, all adjustments are easy to make, and they stayed in place on the range. In other words, it’s easy to fit the rifle to you, and it is comfortable to use in hot and cold weather alike. AICS compatibility isn’t a very contactical-life.com

might get extraction issues. I only sistent standard these days with PERFORMANCE experienced this a few times, but bolt-action rifles. In my experience, SABATTI STR it all disappeared after 100 or so it’s become a standard in name LOAD VELOCITY ACCURACY rounds. Running the bolt hard only. Of the five Magpul 10-round and fast allowed for some quick magazines I have in my inventory, Black Hills 175 Match BTHP 2,700 0.55 repeat shots. three locked in place with the Colt 155 National Match TMK 2,875 0.62 In the end, IFG is offering the Sabatti STR. The others did not. CorBon 125 MPR 3,150 0.73 Sabatti STR at a price comparaYou can fix that easily enough, but DoubleTap 125 Ballistic Tip 2,950 0.70 it’s good to know right off the bat. ble to other competitive models. I have had that occur with several But this heavier rifle is light on Federal 168 TRU 2,770 0.65 other rifles. All of my 10-round recoil while offering increased Federal 185 Gold Medal Berger 2,685 0.37 Accuracy International (AI) velocity—something that may be Nexus 175 SMK 2,720 0.60 magazines fit tightly and locked critical at longer ranges. On top into place. Of my three 5-round of that, the STR’s chassis is very Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by AI magazines, two locked into ergonomic and easy to use, and chronograph and accuracy in inches for best fiveposition, but one did not. So, if you the rifle created sub-MOA groups shot groups at 100 yards. are going to use anything other than with all of the test ammo. What the factory-provided magazine, just else do you want? If you are lookmake sure it locks into place before the magazine often dictated how much ing for a very solid rifle with excelheading off to your next local match. pressure was required to close the lent accuracy and consistency at range The bolt was smooth, and the trigger action. The rifle seemed to run best if I while being a joy to shoot, make sure the is one of the better single-stage triggers ran the bolt firmly, but not too forcefully. STR is on your list. For more information, available today. The bolt lift was positive; Run it too slowly or gently and you visit italianfirearmsgroup.com.

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

CAN CORNER The sound suppressor industry has taken some serious hits over the past few years. Before Donald Trump was elected president, demand kept suppressor companies busy—they couldn’t make them fast enough. Companies were selling thousands of suppressors a month, and it could take half a year for customers to start the transfer process. But now the industry is struggling because demand has fallen. All the talk about Congress making them nothing more than “muzzle devices” available at big box stores did not help. Why dump a $1,000 on a suppressor, $200 on a tax stamp and wait for a year when you might able to buy them at Walmart in a few months? Well, that doesn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon, but suppressor companies are trying to figure out how to keep moving forward. One of the best ways is to make a solid and simple product that works and provide the best possible customer service. Silent Legion is doing just that, and the company’s CEO, Ed Shoppman, is driving it rather well.

THE LEGION WAY

SILENT LEGION’S MULTI-CALIBER SUPPRESSOR KIT GETS PUT TO THE TEST BY DAVID BAHDE

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

Silent Legion promises three things to its customers: Its products will perform, you’ll get great value for your dollar, and each product is warrantied for life. That sounds pretty legit to me, and I’ve pushed this philosophy to other companies I’ve advised or consulted for years now. Drop the marketing fiction—just tell customers what your product will do and make sure it does it. Then stand by your product and price things fairly so your customer gets value for their hard-earned dollar. Ed Shoppman knows this well, and he’s been in the firearms industry for a long time, starting with Remington in 1999. As a research engineer, he designed firearms with an eye towards innovation while

tactical-life.com

using the latest technology. In 2001, he became the product manager for Remington’s shotgun line before creating and running its military products division in 2003. He eventually moved on to L3 Technologies and Lightforce before becoming the CEO of Silent Legion in 2016. In short, he brings almost two decades of experience leading the industry in customer service and marketing. Another man behind the scenes at Silent Legion is an icon in the suppressor world. Greg Latka holds some of the most innovative patents in the suppressor industry and has been manufacturing silencers since 1985. He has been in the aerospace industry for decades, with one of the few shops meeting the rigorous ISO 9001 standards. He’s built parts for the Space Shuttle, so suppressors are pretty easy by comparison. In that vein, he designed and built many suppressors with someone else’s brand attached. He also manufactured his own GSL suppressors for years before beginning a relationship with Gemtech that lasted until Ed and Silent Legion came along in 2016. As you can see, his knowledge in manufacturing suppressors is unmatched. These are just two of the faces behind veteran-owned Silent Legion, giving the company a no-compromise

tactical-life.com

The Complete Multi-Caliber Kit starts with a .30-caliber suppressor made of titanium with a Cerakote finish, and Silent Legion includes several mounting options.

attitude that focuses on integrity. They are also dedicated to making suppressors mainstream—something I have been fighting for since the mid-1990s. They are not the evil devices portrayed by Hollywood and politicians, but simple tools that protect everyone and make anything you do with a firearm much more fun.

(5.56mm and 7.62mm) with the same thread patterns. I used two different rifles to test the Complete Multi-Caliber Kit. The first was a Wilson Combat Super Sniper in .224 Valkyrie with a heavy 20-inch barrel. I’ve used this rifle in a few different articles now, and it produces groups in the 0.5- to 0.7-inch range using every factory match load available from DoubleTap, Federal and Hornady. I’ve also used this rifle with a few different sound suppressors, making it great for comparisons here. For targeting, I installed an EOTech 5-25x50mm Vudu scope with a Horus H59 reticle using a Nightforce mount. My second rifle was a Robinson Armament XCR-M with a .260 Remington barrel. This gun used a Nightforce 4-16x42mm ATACR F1 scope with a Horus T3 reticle in another one-piece Nightforce mount. I ran the XCR-M with Hornady’s 130-grain ELD-M ammo, which has consistently produced 0.5-inch or tighter groups with both my Surgeon bolt action and a Modern Outfitters MC7. This Hornady load will maintain 1-MOA accuracy out to 1,308 and 1,000 yards with the Surgeon and Modern Outfitters rifles, respectively, making it a solid base cartridge for testing.

GOING MULTI-CALIBER Silent Legion offers a wide variety of suppressors, but I recently got my hands on its Complete Multi-Caliber Kit for testing. This kit starts with a .30-caliber suppressor built from titanium that weighs in at 16 ounces. Capable of either direct-thread or quick-detach (QD) mounting, it comes with adapters so you can use weapons ranging from the 5.56mm NATO to the .300 Winchester Magnum. The direct-thread adapters screw directly into the suppressor using a supplied spanner wrench. Two are provided, covering most rifles: 1/2x28 for 5.56mm-based weapons and 5/8x24 for most .30 caliber or smaller rifles. The kit also comes with two different flash suppressors

IN THE FIELD I really like simple and clean suppressor designs, and the Complete Multi-Caliber Kit fits that bill perfectly. The machining on my test sample was superb, with clean lines throughout and no extraneous marks to be found. The matte black finish was smooth without any bare spots or runs. And, thanks to the QD mounts and flash suppressors, the suppressor was easy to install and remove without any serious work. In short, the Multi-Caliber Kit is simple, well made and versatile, as advertised. Attaching the suppressor to the Wilson’s 20-inch barrel using a QD mount did not make the gun feel too barrel-heavy or unbalanced.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

CAN CORNER closer to 2 inches—still less than most conventional sound suppressors.

ALL IN ONE

Granted, the Super Sniper’s barrel is on the larger side already, but the Silent Legion suppressor did not make the rifle unwieldly at all, unlike some models I’ve tested. The point-ofimpact shift was minimal, too—about 1.5 inches vertically with no horizontal movement. More importantly, the gun was very quiet and the backpressure was minimal—far less than most conventional suppressors. This meant I didn’t have to adjust the gas block. Finally, the rifle’s accuracy was unaffected, as it produced 0.5-inch groups with DoubleTap’s 90-grain SMKs, achieving 2,800 fps on average. I had previously tested the Robinson XCR-M with an over-barrel suppressor that caused it to produce groups in the 3-inch range. With the Silent Legion suppressor, my groups were closer to 1.5 inches, which is stellar by comparison. I had to adjust the gas block, but again the backpressure was minimal. What I really noticed here was how quickly the suppressor cooled even after some rapidfire strings. Shooting full-bore .260 Remington rounds out of an 18.5-inch barrel builds up some heat, but the Silent Legion suppressor dissipated it pretty quickly. My point-of-impact shift here, once again only vertical, was

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

Given the people behind Silent Legion, I wasn’t surprised by the Multi-Caliber Kit’s attention to detail, simplicity and reliability. But I was surprised by the lack of backpressure. I have a similarly designed suppressor that is a gas-making machine; in fact, it’s hard to use. That wasn’t the case here. The Multi-Caliber Kit is a very clean design, and it’s about as light as you can get while still being able to shoot .300 Winchester Magnum rounds. It’s incredibly versatile. Suppressor buyers are picky these days, as they should be. If you want a simple design that allows you to use it on several guns, direct thread or QD, the Multi-Caliber Kit should be very high on your list. One thing is certain: Silent Legion delivered on the first two parts of its promise: This suppressor performs well and does so at a solid value. In fact, given its performance and build quality, I’m not sure I’ll ever need that lifetime warranty! For more information, visit silentlegion.com.

tactical-life.com

BIG-BORE TEST

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

SUPER RAD

SAVAGE’S

MSR 10 LONG RANGE IS READY TO GO THE DISTANCE WITH SUB-MOA RESULTS BY MIKE DETTY • ALEX LANDEEN PHOTOS

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

AFFORDABLE, REPEATABLE PRECISION

ifteen years ago, no one would seriously consider a semi-auto rifle for precision use. We’d spend thousands of dollars trying to get our bolt guns to break the MOA gold standard. It took a lot of effort—blueprinting the action, glass bedding, high-dollar barrels, adjustable triggers, load development. But somewhere along the way, we discovered that AR-platform rifles could easily shoot groups under an inch wide without quite so much effort. Softer recoil, quicker follow-up shots and longer service life are some of the other advantages of the AR,or modern sporting rifle (MSR).

In 2017, Savage Arms began producing its own ARs. I tested the company’s MSR 15 Recon rifle in 5.56mm NATO and found it to be extremely well built and constructed with the finest materials. The gun was well thought out and assembled with an unusual degree of expertise. Several months after the MSR 15 series was introduced, Savage began rolling out big-bore MSR 10s, and I recently got my hands on the MSR 10 Long Range in .308 Winchester/ 7.62mm NATO for testing.

EARNING ITS NAME Designed for precision shooting, the MSR 10 Long Range comes with free-floating, 20-inch barrel, an adjustable gas system and a match-grade, twostage trigger. The rifle also features a

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

non-reciprocating side charging handle, a Magpul PRS GEN3 adjustable stock and a very effective two-port muzzle brake. Savage engineers started with a fresh page when they designed the MSR 10. Consider the gas system, for example. The MSR 10 is a direct-impingement gun, but Savage outfits the rifle with a gas tube that measures more than 2 inches longer than a standard riflelength gas tube. This helps decrease pressure. The action can’t cycle until the projectile passes the barrel’s gas port, and the tube’s longer length provides more volume. Less chamber pressure means easier extraction of spent cases as well as a weapon that lasts longer. Shooters can also fine-tune the rifle for specific loads by using the adjustable gas block. A properly gassed gun will run longer, softer and better while reducing wear on the gun. For maximum reliability, Savage designed the bolt to use two springloaded, plunger-style ejectors along with a more conventional extractor. The gas key is actually machined into the bolt carrier so you don’t have to worry about it being properly staked. While the bolt has a QPQ finish like the barrel and is serialized to the gun, the bolt carrier body is nickel-boron plated, which adds a degree of lubricity and makes it extremely easy to clean. Also, unlike the AR-15s, the MSR 10 does use a spring-loaded firing pin. Savage bills the MSR 10 as having a “compact” design, and the upper receiver is shorter by 0.7 inches. The bolt carrier is also shortened and 17-percent lighter. Of course, less reciprocating mass translates to less recoil,

The forged lower receiver features a Magpul PRS GEN3 buttstock with thumbwheels for adjusting the length of pull and cheekpiece.

The Savage MSR 10 Long Range comes with (clockwise from left) a non-reciprocating, side-mounted charging handle, a 20-inch barrel fitted with a two-port muzzle brake and a BlackHawk Knoxx pistol grip.

and Savage also installs a lighter buffer that, again, helps minimize felt recoil and reduce overall weight. The 20-inch barrel has 5R rifling, which means it has five lands and grooves that are arranged so they aren’t directly opposite each other, preventing uneven constriction on the projectile. The lands are slightly slanted and less likely to collect bullet jacket material, which should boost accuracy while making the barrel easier to clean. The barrel also has a 1-in-10-inch twist rate and a very effective two-port muzzle brake. I didn’t notice it too much when shooting from a benchrest, but off-hand, I actually found that it was so effective it pushed the muzzle downward.

tactical-life.com

SPEC BOX

SAVAGE

MSR 10 LONG RANGE CALIBER: BARREL: OA LENGTH: WEIGHT:

7.62mm NATO 20 inches 40.63-42.63 inches 9.75 pounds (empty)

STOCK:

Magpul PRS GEN3

SIGHTS:

None

ACTION:

Direct impingement semi-auto

FINISH: CAPACITY: MSRP:

Matte black 20+1 $2,284

To protect the barrel from corrosion, Savage treats its interior and exterior with Melonite QPQ. Besides making the barrel harder, it also has a lower friction coefficient than chrome. There are also six heavy flutes on the exterior of the barrel, under the handguard. These flutes help reduce weight without losing an ounce of rigidity. Surrounding the barrel and gas system is an aluminum handguard with a full-length Picatinny rail on top with an access port machined for the gas block about an inch and a half from its forward edge. You’ll also notice M-LOK slots along the sides and bottom for attaching lights, lasers, bipods, etc. The upper and handguard are mated with four screws. The upper and lower receivers are custom forged. Their stylized lines give the lower a decidedly “billet” look, though it is not. There are grooves on the front of the magazine well for those who like to shoot with their support hand in this location instead of on the handguard. There are also indexing cuts at the rear of the mag well to give shooters a place to index their trigger fingers when not firing, and the lower has an integral, enlarged triggerguard. One interesting feature of the lower receiver is that Savage has drilled and tapped it for a setscrew that, when tightened, eliminates all of the play between the upper and lower receivers. The tip of the screw bears against the bottom of the rear lug of the upper receiver. The pistol grip must be removed to adjust this screw, but, when properly adjusted, it gives the rifle a decidedly solid feel. Finally, a precision rifle is only as good as its trigger, and Savage uses a BlackHawk two-stage trigger on the

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

AFFORDABLE, REPEATABLE PRECISION

“…THE SAVAGE PROVED THAT IT WAS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SUB-MOA GROUPS WITH ALL FIVE OF THE LOADS I TESTED.” PERFORMANCE

SAVAGE MSR 10 LONG RANGE LOAD

VELOCITY

ACCURACY

Black Hills 155 TMK

2,847

0.91

Black Hills 168 BTHP

2,802

0.95

Black Hills 175 BTHP

2,781

0.87

Federal 168 Gold Medal Match BTHP

2,822

0.87

Federal 175 Gold Medal Match BTHP

2,755

0.89

MSR 10 Long Range. The hammer and trigger are nickel-boron treated, increasing the parts’ hardness and making them incredibly slick. My test sample’s trigger broke consistently at 2.5 pounds and had a very firm reset. The trigger isn’t adjustable, though, frankly, I’m not sure there is anything I would change.

ZEROING IN For testing, Bushnell provided me with a 3.5-21x50mm Elite Tactical DMR II-i scope. This optic is capable of providing long-range precision without sacrificing short-range capabilities. The scope’s illumination control is integrated with the side parallax focus in one simple knob for

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 100 yards.

easy adjustability. Bushnell’s ThrowHammer lever also makes magnification changes quick and easy. Weighing in at over 2 pounds, the DMR II-i is no lightweight, but I found this first-focal-plane scope easy to adjust and get on target, and its clear and bright optics made shooting from the bench downright easy. Most of my shooting locations were shut down here in southeastern Arizona in early June due to fire hazards, so I took the MSR 10 to a public range in Mammoth with a solid backstop, an awning over the shooting positions and concrete benches. I set my Shoot-N-C targets out at 100 yards, and it became immediately clear that my biggest challenge would

be keeping sweat out of my eyes long enough to squeeze off a shot as the temperature was about 104 degrees. One of the things I noted was that the MSR 10 produced nice round groups that didn’t show any evidence of horizontal or vertical stringing. I didn’t let the barrel cool between shots, so it got very hot, yet my groups remained constant. I fired several groups with five different test loads, with the best results shown in the accompanying table. When I fired my first group with Federal’s 175-grain Gold Medal Match BTHPs, I noticed that I could fire one shot before getting a click when attempting the second shot. The rifle’s bolt was short-stroking and not coming back far enough to strip the next round out of the magazine. By turning the adjustment screw on the gas block counterclockwise, I was able to get the MSR 10 to cycle perfectly with the Federal rounds. These rounds also produced a tight fiveshot group measuring just 0.89 inches. But the 168-grain Federal rounds printed my tightest group of 0.87 inches. In the end, the Savage proved that it was capable of producing sub-MOA groups with all five of the loads I tested. One of the most impressive features of the MSR 10 Long Range is just how light it is on recoil. The gun is incredibly easy on the shoulder, and the felt recoil wasn’t what I’m used to with AR-10-style rifles. The MSR 10’s innovative gas system, compact bolt and muzzle brake make a great deal of difference. The light and crisp trigger, with its firm reset, also makes it easy to get back on target quickly for fast follow-up shots. While Savage Arms might be a latecomer to the modern sporting rifle party, its MSR 10 Long Range displays some brilliant and innovative engineering that sets the company apart from all the other “me-too” manufacturers. This rifle is accurate and easily adaptable to different types of ammunition and missions. If you’re looking for a long-range precision rifle, make sure you check it out. For more information, visit savagearms.com.

tactical-life.com

ACCURACY 1ST’S

TODD HODNETT

SHARES HIS SECRETS TO THE LONG-RANGE GAME BY DAVID KENIK

TODD’S TOP 3 TIPS 1

Create a routine to follow for each shot. This could start by getting your wind call while you are still standing, checking your turrets as a habit, seeing the target in your scope, getting square to it with your body and then “loading” your bipod slightly. This creates a natural point of aim and helps with recoil management. Controlling recoil is vital so you can get your rifle back on target quickly to see your hits.

Use a bubble level and check it on each shot. It is critical to be level, and I watch shooter after shooter not leveling their gun, creating slight misses. For example, canting 2.5 degrees can mean a 0.05-mil shift for every 100 meters, and 5 degrees equals 0.1 mils for every 100 meters. Small errors pile up quickly at long distances.

Use the scope shadow to ensure your eye is in the middle of the scope, even while setting up your cheekweld, as this will help in centering your eye for each shot. This helps with parallax issues. Buy the best scope you can afford. You will enjoy your time on the range more and get more out of your rifle.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

DIAL IN DEADLINESS

“ACCURACY 1 ST’S WIND COURSE IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS THAT MANY SOLDIERS RETURN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.”

had the distinct honor of attending a long-range shooting course taught by Todd Hodnett of Accuracy 1st. You may not know his name because, other than being the instructor in Magpul’s Art of the Precision Rifle DVD, he maintains a rather low profile. But make no mistake, his impact on the shooting world and our nation’s soldiers looms large. Todd trains members from every branch of our military and counts numerous three-letter agencies as clients. In addition to training at his spectacular 30,000-acre facility in Canadian, Texas, Todd travels the globe training our military units and those of our allies. Accuracy 1st also has a location in Utah that offers numerous classes for civilians and military personnel alike. Todd also serves as a consultant for numerous manufacturers of rifles, ammunition, optics and accessories. He’s developed several of the ballistic equations used by shooters around the 56

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

world today, and he even helped Horus develop the H58, H59 and TReMoR reticles. The latter is a sophisticated reticle that speeds up your engagement time by including wind holds, moving target holds and ranging capabilities.

BACK TO SCHOOL The five-day class that I joined in Texas was comprised of eight special operations warfighters from three different groups. Our mornings were spent in the classroom, and we hit the range in the afternoons to shoot from 500 meters to over 2,000 meters. We shot both .308 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum rifles depending on the target distance. Todd’s definition of “close range” is 800 meters and in, and he’s not having fun until he’s shooting beyond 1,500 meters. And if you think .308s can’t reach beyond 800 meters, you haven’t met Todd. He and his students regularly take them out to a mile and beyond. Todd’s course is centered around getting accurate hits on distant targets as quickly as possible. As such, his

goal for the class is for participants not to memorize his lessons, but truly understand their concepts so they will know what elements are less important and which are vital, enabling them to determine what aspects require their attention in the field. Much of the class time was spent integrating the information from a Kestrel 5700 Elite Meter with Applied Ballistics software meter to create accurate ballistic solutions. The morning classroom sessions covered wind formulas, the TReMoR reticle, aerodynamic jump, truing, spindrift, density altitude, high-angle shooting, ammunition temperature and much more. Todd stated that the most common error that he sees is shooters not adjusting their formulas to account for different ammunition temperatures. Gunpowder is temperature sensitive, and some powders are more sensitive than others. A cartridge at 90 degrees will fly faster than one at 20 degrees. A change in velocity will affect the point of impact, especially at long distances. To account for this change, velocity should be measured at a minimum of three temperature points, such as 20, 50 and 80 degrees. The more points, the better. The temperature points should be adjusted higher or lower based on your particular climate. In the sandbox, for example, ammo can reach 150 degrees when stored in a Conex container. So, it’s important to have this data so your Kestrel can calculate the proper ballistic formula. Todd recommends using a temperature gun for reading your ammo’s temperature.

REQUIRED GEAR I brought a few things to the class, including a LaRue Tactical 7.62mm PredatOBR rifle with a 16-inch barrel and capped with LaRue’s TranQuilo M308 suppressor. The PredatOBR is designed to be easily disassembled in the field and clandestinely transported in a very small case. LaRue offers a heavy cloth rollup bag and a metal tool box for the ultimate stealth. The rifle can then be quickly reassembled with minimal point-of-impact shifts. The TranQuilo is completely CNCmachined from a combination of 17-4 tactical-life.com

DIAL IN DEADLINESS

“TODD’S DEFINITION OF ‘CLOSE RANGE’ IS 800 METERS AND IN, AND HE’S NOT HAVING FUN UNTIL HE’S SHOOTING BEYOND 1,500 METERS.” PH stainless steel and Incoloy A-286. This suppressor also features a captive locking ring to securely hold it to one of LaRue’s flash suppressors, and the design helps minimize blowback toward the shooter’s face. For aiming, I installed a Nightforce 7-35x56mm ATACR scope, and I used Black Hills’ 178-grain ELD-X rounds for ammo. Black Hills ammunition has

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

always grouped extremely well for me, and the standard deviation of the lot that I brought to the class was just 12. Highly accurate rifles and consistent ammunition are critical for precision shooting.

TRIED & TRUED Day one’s range session started with zeroing our rifles, then truing our Kestrel meters for our specific ammo’s

performance. We finished the first day on the open range by engaging targets from 411 to 1,217 meters. Truing is a concept developed by Todd that customizes the G1 and G7 drag curves to the user’s exact bullet performance. Without this, these drag curves are just estimates that do not exactly conform to the shooter’s ballistics. Furthermore, they tend to be unreliable once the bullet enters transonic and subsonic phases. Additionally, ballistic coefficients provided from manufactures are not always correct, and readings from consumer-grade chronographs can be inaccurate. Truing fixes all of these issues and turns a predictive ballistic algorithm into an actual algorithm for the shooter’s specific weapon system. The truing process is accomplished by shooting at targets located at both supersonic and subsonic distances and comparing the actual results to the predicted results displayed on the Kestrel. The velocity is adjusted in the Kestrel to match the actual shooting results. As an alternative to using G1 and G7 drag curves, Applied Ballistics offers free custom drag curves that Brian Litz created by shooting and tracking each bullet at supersonic, transonic and tactical-life.com

subsonic speeds. The custom curves can be downloaded to the free Applied Ballistics app and transferred to the Kestrel by Bluetooth or cable. Using the custom curve for the 178-grain Hornady ELD-X bullet in my Black Hills ammo, I had hits at both supersonic and subsonic distances, proving that the Applied Ballistics custom drag curves perfectly matched my ammo. The second afternoon of the class was spent on the wind course, where shooters take positions on a plateau that offers 285 degrees of shooting. This means that wind gusts from nearly every direction. The terrain varies, too, greatly testing your skills, as topography can dramatically affect wind speed and throw off your readings. Todd describes a “no-wind day” as one with 12- to 14-mph winds. We were blessed with much more than that throughout the week. Most days had 10to 20-mph winds, and the last day had

tactical-life.com

the highest wind speeds at 24 mph with gusts to 35. We shot in those winds all week and still made our hits! The Kestrel meters offer wind speed readings, but only at the shooter’s location. You must “read” the wind downrange by noting the movement of vegetation, for example. The wind can shift both in intensity and direction all along the way to the target. Wind 90 degrees to the target from either side is considered

“full value,” and this requires using the Kestrel’s full wind correction. Corrections for wind from any other direction, with tail or headwind components, are typically smaller. You can multiply the cosine of the wind direction by the wind speed to calculate the correction, or enter the direction of wind into the Kestrel for a corrected reading. Either way, you still have to read the wind and terrain downrange and adjust according. Long-range shooting is both an art and a science. The science portion is well known, and tools like the Kestrel make that portion easy. Reading wind is the art, and its only achievable by practice and experience. Accuracy 1st’s wind course is one of the primary reasons that many soldiers return time and time again. The course offers wind speeds and terrain variations not found on most military ranges. Training in these conditions is what helps make snipers effective in locations around the world.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

DIAL IN DEADLINESS TEEING OFF On the third day, we hit Accuracy 1st’s “golf course,” which has 18 targets spread along 16 different locations. Shooting distances range from 230 to 800 meters. In each position, we set up our equipment, ranged the target using the mil markings on our reticles, calculated wind corrections and fired. We had three shots to hit each target. Once done, we packed up our gear, jumped in our vehicles, drove to the next spot and

repeated the process. We had to hit 15 of the targets from prone. We kneeled to hit two 240-meter targets and stood to hit one 200-meter target. The PredatOBR isn’t light, especially with a scope, suppressor, bipod and ammo. I had never shot such a heavy gun from a free-standing position before, so I had difficulty holding it steady with the winds blowing me around. The technique that worked best for me was to hold the rifle high and slowly lower it. I fired when

the reticle hit its mark. The last two days of the class were spent mostly shooting from a few different locations and repeating the wind and golf courses. The class was intense, challenging and lots of fun. There is nothing like hearing the ping of a round hitting a distant steel target. If you enjoy precision shooting and are looking to test your skills and learn from the best, there’s no better than Accuracy 1st. For more information, visit accuracy1st.com.

1 3

1. LaRue Tactical: Todd considers LaRue Tactical’s rifles to be the best gas guns he has shot, and he owns 20 for his school. He said, “I only need two guns, my LaRue .260 and my .300 Norma bolt gun.” LaRue Tactical offers rifles in 5.56mm, .260 Remington, 6.5 Grendel and 7.62mm. Barrel are available in 14.5, 16.1, 18 and 20 inches. LaRue also offers receivers and other components as well those from other manufacturers. With an expert machinist’s background, Mark LaRue has figured out what components require tight tolerances to be accurate and what tolerances should be loosened for high reliability. When it comes to scope mounts, Todd has been using LaRue’s for 14 years, and none of his scopes have ever lost their zero after being removed and reinstalled. There’s no better testimony than that! LaRue offers quick-detach mounts for numerous optics, including night-vision devices. They are precisionmachined from aluminum and hardcoat anodized. (larue.com)

when he needs high magnification and zoom back out when he doesn’t. He considers the parallax adjustment the best he has seen, and the scope is his choice for all of his long-range shooting. It’s available with either MOA or mil ZeroStop turrets, and Nightforce offers four illuminated reticles. (nightforceoptics.com)

3. Kestrel 5700: Todd states that the Kestrel 5700 meter with Applied Ballistics software is one of the best tools he has seen for long-range shooting. It combines the best ballistic engine in the world with custom drag models. He, Brian Litz and Kestrel continually work to upgrade it to make it better and faster. The 5700 offers customizable range cards, muzzle velocity calibration and truing, and multi-target storage and viewing. Its wireless system allows you to access the Applied Ballistics library and works with iOS and Android devices to build and manage gun profiles. (kestrelmeters.com)

4. Leica Rangemaster 1600-R: Todd uses Leica range2. Nightforce ATACR: Having shot tons of different scopes, Todd’s favorite is the Nightforce 7-35x56mm ATACR. He was originally concerned that it provided too much magnification, and therefore the eye box would be too small. However, his concerns were quickly dispelled on the range. He can zoom in easily 60

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

finders all the time because of their size, quality and affordability. Leica is known for its quality lenses, and its rangefinders offer brilliant razor-sharp images, edge to edge. Rangemasters are compact and easily fit in a pocket. Featuring 7X magnification, the 1600-R works out to 1,600 yards. (leica.com) —David Kenik tactical-life.com

WEAPONS INSIDER

SECURITY-9 SECURITY -9

TESTING A NEW TRIO OF RUGGED AND RELIABLE PERFORMERS IN ARIZONA

PC CARBINE

BY MIKE DETTY

PRECISION RIMFIRE

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

As I drove under the raven gate at Gunsite Academy, I thought to myself, “This is the kind of event that makes being a gun writer worthwhile.” When an invitation passed from Ruger to one of my editors and ended up in my lap, I jumped at the chance to go. “We’ve introduced at least 40 new products a year for the last few years,” said Paul Pluff, Ruger’s public relations manager. “Ruger does new product launches differently from most firearms manufacturers. We try to have between two and 10,000 of the new products ready to ship to distributors before we make the announcement.”

First up was the new Security-9 pistol. Many years ago, Ruger introduced the Security-Six revolver—a nearly indestructible .357 Magnum that was priced significantly below comparable Colt and S&W products. The gun was popular with private security companies who needed a workhorse revolver at an economical price. Brandon Trevino, Ruger’s product manager, said, “The Security-9 is not meant to be a subcompact. We designed it to approximate the Glock 19’s dimensions and made it a mid-sized gun. It’s big enough to shoot well—without compromise—and small enough to carry without being burdensome.” The Security-9 is, of course, named for its 9mm chambering, and it uses double-stack 15-round magazines. Two come with the gun, which also has a 4-inch barrel and a polymer frame. Ruger spent a great deal of effort to make the Security-9’s frame as ergonomic as possible. It has a very comfortable grip angle and excellent texturing for a secure hold. It also boasts an accessory rail for lights and lasers and has a one-piece, full-length hardcoat anodized aluminum chassis to keep all of the fire control components in their proper positions. Trevino said, “More than 1.6 million Ruger LCPs have been sold, and the one constant criticism we heard from shooters was that the trigger could be better. So, we leveraged the knowledge

tactical-life.com

Yamil Sued Photos

gained from the LCP to design the Security-9’s trigger.” Despite the size approximation to the Glock 19, the Security-9 is not a striker-fired gun. Its mechanics are very similar to that of the LCP, and it uses a pre-cocked hammer with a lot more engagement on the sear. The result is a very serviceable, crisp trigger pull with a positive reset. It almost feels like a single action. The Security-9 also possesses a manual thumb safety located in the familiar 1911 position. Gunsite’s instructors left it up to us as to whether we

wanted to use the safety or just run the guns like Glocks. Using supplied Blade-Tech holsters, we adjourned to the range, where we were introduced to Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Cooper’s step-by-step drawstroke from the holster. From there, we practiced controlled pairs followed by failureto-stop drills. Hornady supplied us with plenty of its 115-grain Critical Defense FTX rounds, and the Security-9s ran flawlessly. The gun was comfortable to shoot and pointed naturally, and everyone seemed to like the trigger.

After lunch, we returned to the range to find that Jeff Hoskinson of MGM Targets had set up new Steel Challenge Plate Racks. We ran a number of exercises with the MGM steel and even had a man-on-man shoot-off before moving over to Gunsite’s “Urban Scrambler,” a field course designed to test a shooter’s ability to use cover while firing from unconventional positions, reloading where necessary and moving as rapidly as possible between targets. Trevino and Pluff then set up a USPSA-style course, and we each took turns running the high-round-count stage with yours truly coming in first place! The first day was long, and we each put at least 300 rounds through our Security-9s without any major problems.

PC CARBINE

SECURITY-9 CALIBER:

9mm

BARREL:

4 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT: GRIP:

7.24 inches 23.7 ounces (empty) Glass-filled nylon

SIGHTS:

White-dot front, outlined rear

ACTION:

DAO

FINISH:

Matte black

CAPACITY:

15+1

MSRP:

$379

tactical-life.com

The next day we were introduced to Frank Saunders, the principal design engineer of Ruger’s new Pistol-Caliber (PC) Carbine. This is a completely new semi-auto chambered for the 9mm. It has a takedown design similar to the Ruger 10/22 Takedown’s and has a rigid synthetic stock that comes with spacers so you can adjust the length of pull from 12.38 to 14.13 inches. With the magazine removed and the bolt locked back, depressing the takedown release and twisting the forend a quarter-turn clockwise allows you to separate the barrel/ forend from the receiver. It’s quick and easy, and reassembly is just as simple. A big selling point of the new PC

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

WEAPONS INSIDER

PC CARBINE CALIBER:

9mm

BARREL:

16.12 inches

OA LENGTH:

34.37 inches

WEIGHT:

6.8 pounds (empty)

STOCK:

Synthetic

SIGHTS:

Blade front, adjustable rear

ACTION:

Blowback-operated semi-auto

FINISH:

Matte black

CAPACITY:

17+1

MSRP:

$649

Carbine is that it can use either Ruger SR9 or Security-9 magazines. By changing out the magazine well module with the included Glock mag well, the PC Carbine can take 9mm Glock magazines. Since we were already using Security-9s, we continued to use these magazines in the PC Carbine. The carbine currently ships with one 17-round SR9 magazine. The new carbine is blowback operated and uses what Ruger calls a “dead blow” action. A tungsten weight, nearly as heavy as the bolt itself, floats freely in the bolt assembly, essentially reducing the length of the bolt stroke and greatly reducing felt recoil and muzzle lift. The bolt’s charging handle can be changed to the left side if desired, and the magazine release is also reversible, making the PC Carbine southpaw friendly. Ruger machines the receiver from 7075-T6 aluminum, and it has a Picatinny

rail on top for optics. Also, the fluted, 16.12-inch barrel comes with 1/2x28-tpi muzzle threading for those who want to suppress their PC Carbines. We spent our first range session sighting in the carbines at 50 yards. The rear sight is a ghost ring that can be adjusted for windage and elevation by loosening setscrews. I didn’t think I’d like this system at first but found it to be relatively fast and very accurate. From the prone position, my groups with Hornady’s 115-grain Critical Defense rounds were tighter than 1.5 inches. Like the pistol, we used the carbine in a number of different range scenarios and courses. We shot MGM steel targets and ran the Scrambler course of fire and ended our day with an informal competition among the shooters that involved a great deal of ammunition and more steel targets. In the end, I think it’s safe to say that most of us put at least 500 rounds through our carbines that day. I don’t recall any of us having a stoppage or problem of any sort, even after coating the guns with a dusting of Gunsite grit while firing the guns from prone.

PRECISION RIMFIRE I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on Ruger’s last product at the event, the Precision Rimfire, which is

similar to the super-accurate-yet-budgetpriced Precision Rifle. It’s designed to give competitors the same feel as their centerfire competition guns. With the Precision Rimfire, you can adjust the bolt throw; it can be short— just long enough to eject an empty casing and chamber a new one—or the same 3-inch bolt travel as its centerfire counterpart. The bolt handle itself has a big knob just like the centerfire model’s. Ruger uses a free-floating M-LOK handguard, and the hammer-forged, 18-inch barrel sports a match chamber and muzzle threading. And, realizing that competitors may want to upgrade their barrel at some point, Ruger engineers designed the barrel to be replaceable. The receiver also features a 30-MOA top rail, and the chas-

PRECISION RIMFIRE CALIBER:

.22 LR

BARREL:

18 inches

OA LENGTH:

35.13-38.63 inches

WEIGHT:

6.8 pounds (empty)

STOCK:

Adjustable

SIGHTS:

None

ACTION:

Bolt

FINISH:

Matte black

CAPACITY:

15+1

MSRP:

$529

Ruger’s new Precision Rimfire is designed to mimic the centerfire Precision Rifle with similar controls and handling characteristics, but it uses much cheaper ammunition.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

“A BIG SELLING POINT OF THE NEW PC CARBINE IS THAT IT CAN USE EITHER RUGER SR9 OR SECURITY-9 MAGAZINES.” sis is molded from rigid glass-filled nylon. The buttstock is adjustable for both length of pull and comb height. As for controls, Ruger uses the same safety selector and trigger installed on the centerfire Precision Rifle. There’s even a spot in the stock that holds an Allen wrench to adjust the trigger. Finally, the Ruger Precision Rimfire uses 10/22 magazines and comes with one 15-round BX-15 magazine. Shawn Skipper from Leupold was there, and each of our sample rifles wore a serious piece of glass. Mine had a Leupold 4-12x40mm VX-Freedom scope, and B&T Industries supplied

tactical-life.com

Atlas bipods. We zeroed our rifles at 100 yards using subsonic 40-grain Eley ammo that clocked in at 1,080 fps from the Precision Rimfire’s 18-inch barrel. Our test rifles also sported Ruger Silent-SR suppressors, allowing us to shoot without any hearing protection. After zeroing in, most of my groups were around an inch wide despite the wind. Under better conditions and shooting from a bench, I think Precision Rimfire would be closer to a 0.5-MOA rifle. MGM’s Jeff Hoskinson set up numerous steel targets along the Urban Scrambler at ranges under 100 yards; they were all easy to hit. The hardest part

was getting into position and obtaining a solid rest with the rifle. One difficult setup involved shooting a pendulum-style target from a simulated pitched rooftop at about 80 yards. The target array consisted of four rimfire targets ranging from 4 inches in diameter all the way down to an inch. Of course, the smallest target was the most difficult to hit, but I managed to do so on my first shot. There’s nothing more fun than shooting a .22, but it’s even better when you use a super-accurate rifle like the Ruger Precision Rimfire. Whether it’s used strictly for competition or just to keep your skills sharp on a shortened range, this new Ruger should prove just as popular as its centerfire counterpart. It’s hard to keep up with Ruger and all of its new products. Launching something new approximately every 10 days makes it likely that you’ll find something that suits your taste in firearms. For more information, visit ruger.com.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

USING A NEW POLYMER80 KIT TO COMPLETE A BIG-BORE RIFLE BY JAY LANGSTON OLEG VOLK PHOTOS

Some days, the world can seem like a really small place. My brother-in-law, Jim Wilson, recently told me that he wanted me to meet a new member of his church. The guy had a common interest in guns, he said. A few days later, I was discussing 80-percent weapon builds and the new “players” in the business with my editor. Then, when my wife and I visited my brother-in-law’s church, we met Dan McCalmon—not only a fellow firearms aficionado, but also the national sales manager for Polymer80. Within days, I was building, finishing and testing a .308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO rifle using a new Polymer80 lower receiver kit—the most recent addition to the company’s other AR and Glock-like products.

ENJOYING FREEDOM I drove 15 minutes to Dan’s shop to get some firsthand coaching for my first 66

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

80-percent lower, but first we talked about his recent move to the Volunteer State. When I asked why he had moved, he said, “To escape California oppression. Actually, extended family members moved here, and we followed. We wanted to move to a more family-oriented state for our kids.” McCalmon has lived in Middle Tennessee for five years, but just recently moved to the “country.” “After I moved to Tennessee, all my friends asked me what it was like, and I told them that I finally felt like I got to America,” McCalmon said. “When I bought my first firearm here, when the guy I bought the gun from said, ‘You’re good to go,’ I just stood there. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t more to the process. It’s nice to be in a place where somebody isn’t going to tell me what to do with my guns.” Then it was time to start building. To get an idea of how simple milling an 80-percent lower can be, let’s review the tactical-life.com

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

parts list for Polymer80’s .308 Lower Receiver & Jig Kit. You get an 80-percent fiberglass-reinforced polymer lower receiver, a Warrhogg .308 jig; a trigger guide; a 7/16-inch end mill bit; 3/8-, 5/16- and 5/32-inch drills bits; and a screw and nut for installing the pistol grip. To finish out the build, Polymer80 also offers an $86 Lower Parts Kit. We utilized a drill press for most of the process, and a word of advice: Be sure the jig is level in the drill press’ vise. Other tools that will come in handy are a Dremel tool, a bench vise and a handheld drill. “I prefer to utilize the drill press because it is faster, requires less time to set up, and you have absolute control if the vise is utilized properly,” McCalmon said. “Use a Dremel tool for fine-tuning after utilizing the drill press or milling machine. The challenge with the Dremel is to shave off small amounts. Don’t get in a hurry.” tactical-life.com

Even though Polymer80’s website has a pretty good PDF describing the whole process, McCalmon took a bit different approach. He suggested milling out the trigger group pocket prior to drilling various pinholes in the sides of the receiver. But it doesn’t seem to matter which order you prefer.

LET’S DRILL! The milling and parts assembly took less than two hours altogether. You can find videos online, but here are the steps. Step 1: Snap the jig around the lower receiver. Set the small red trigger guide aside for the moment. Make sure that the front and rear snap clips are firmly closed. On the drill press with the jig and lower tightly installed on the vise, install the large regular drill bit used for the safety selector holes to create a pilot hole in the fire control pocket area. Don’t drill too deep; do not penetrate beyond

40mm from the top of the jig to be safe. This hole will help once you start using the end mill bit. Step 2: Insert the end mill bit on the drill press and adjust it so it is hovering out over the center of the fire control pocket where your pilot hole was drilled. The material used to create the lower is extremely tough. Therefore, while using an end mill bit, it will create lots of tension and vibration if things aren’t tight. Adjust the drill press stop to 44.5mm. Notice that the end mill bit also has a black mark that indicates a depth of 44.5mm. Start drilling down slowly through the pilot hole, taking just small sections of material off slowly. Go down exactly 44.5mm, watching the top of the jig and end mill bit. Don’t allow the black line on the end mill bit to go below the top of the jig. During each and every drill procedure, visually check to make sure the bit is not sliding up or down within the drill press chuck. (There’s a slight yet important indentation that you can’t drill through because the safety selector detent hole is drilled through this area, underneath the lower near the pistol grip.) Step 3: Once this hole is done, you can start clearing out material from the wider fire control pocket area. It’s important to clean out the hole so you can see what you are doing. A strong light and a shop vacuum are useful. “When you drill and clean out the main fire control pocket using a milling procedure, it’s important to note that the drill bit in a drill press is TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

MILLING TIME

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

“COUPLE IT WITH A MATCHING UPPER AND YOU’VE GOT A FUNCTIONAL WEAPON THAT CAN PROVIDE LOADS OF FUN.”

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

spinning in a clockwise direction towards you, from right to left,” McCalmon said. This keeps the end mill bit from “grabbing and running.” Step 4: Use the drill press to clear out the majority of the core section, plunging and lifting the press, moving to the next section, plunging down again, etc. After using the drill to remove a majority of the material, use the mill end bit as it was intended by moving the jig back and forth while holding the bit at its lowest position. Step 5: Now move to the rear side of the pocket where the safety selector is installed. Drill straight down the middle, then go back and start on the right side, swinging down, around the edge, and then back towards the front of the receiver. Don’t mill out the indentation on the magazine release side. Step 6: The next step is to drill the side pinholes for the hammer, trigger and safety with the lower receiver in the jig. Put the jig and lower in a regular vise on your bench, select the proper bits provided and drill on one side only, then flip the jig and drill the holes on the opposite side. Don’t try to drill through both sides at one time or the bit will drift and created misaligned holes. These holes have to be exact. Step 7: Move the jig and lower back to the drill press, and secure them in a vise. Once the trigger guide is snapped and securely taped into position, use the 5/16-inch bit to drill out the trigger hole. Drill down slowly, letting the drill bit do tactical-life.com

STEP 7

the work. Don’t allow the drill bit to float sideways out of alignment as it passes through the receiver. Drill all the way through, then clean out the trigger hole with a small Dremel. Step 8: Next up is installing the trigger. It should just drop straight down into position cleanly, but it rarely happens without some additional fine tuning. Using the Dremel bit on the slowest setting, carefully and slowly trim surfaces to make sure the trigger operates smoothly. The rear section on the left side of the trigger well is where you need to be careful not to penetrate too far. The safety selector switch detent and spring are very close to this area, and mil-spec dimensions leave very little room for error. Step 9: After installing the trigger, it’s time to install the safety and other components like the pistol grip. Some touchups with the Dremel might be required to help the pins fit better. And a few strokes tactical-life.com

STEP 8

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

MILLING TIME

STEP 9

with a round 0.303-inch machinist’s file measuring can also help for tuning the safety and takedown pinholes.

WRAPPING IT UP All that was left was to mate it with a Proof Research upper receiver. The carbon-wrapped barrel’s light weight made for a nice, fast-handling .308. Then I hit the range with several miscellaneous loads. I loaded up a 20-round Magpul PMAG several times and sent rounds downrange with only one problem that I couldn’t necessarily attribute

to the lower receiver. The bolt failed to lock back after firing the last round, which is typically a gas regulation issue. Getting a bit more focused, I selected three factory loads to get some accuracy testing completed. I mounted a Bushnell Engage 3-12x42mm scope and got the rifle dialed in pretty quickly. The first load was my go-to, Federal’s 168-grain Gold Medal Match BTHPs. This load put five rounds into 1.23 inches at 100 yards. The next load I tested was Black Hill’s 168-grain Match ammunition, which had a slightly wider group mea-

suring 1.48 inches. And my last group, just 1.52 inches, came with 168-grain Federal American Eagle OTMs. So, as you can see, the end result is an accurate rifle that can keep groups under 2 inches out to 100 yards. AR-15-style 80-percent lowers have been around for a while, but Polymer80’s new .308 kit is a lightweight option that you can build on your own. Couple it with a matching upper and you’ve got a functional weapon that can provide loads of fun. For more information, visit polymer80.com.

“…THE END RESULT IS AN ACCURATE RIFLE THAT CAN KEEP GROUPS UNDER 2 INCHES OUT TO 100 YARDS.” 70

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

CUSTOM GRADE

MERIDIAN DEFENSE

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

BY FRED MASTISON • STRAIGHT 8 PHOTOS IT IS A RARE DAY THAT WE SEE A MEMBER OF THE U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITY WITH A STOCK WEAPON. These operators are well known for customizing their guns and improving their functioning. This phenomenon is not limited to the U.S., however. The pipe hitters in mother Russia have their own preferences when it comes to the AK platform as well. For instance, well-known firearms trainer Larry Vickers recently paid a visit to Russia, and video footage showed that the Russians were indeed

THE CLOSEST THING TO RUSSIA’S SPEC-OPS AK-74 IS NOW AVAILABLE STATESIDE

following Western influence and adapting the venerable AK to the 21st century. Now, it is important to understand that the gentlemen at the center of the visit and subsequent custom gun builds are not just young soldiers with online shopping skills. The visit was with Spetsgruppa “A,” also known as Alpha Group. They’re officially Directorate “A” of the FSB Special Purpose Center. In short, this is an elite standalone sub-unit of Russia’s special operations community.

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

MERIDIAN DEFENSE ALPHA DOG

The Alpha’s railed Zenitco B-33 top cover, made from aluminum, is designed to maintain your optic’s zero even if you have to access the rifle’s internals.

Much like our own Delta Force, they are cloaked in secrecy. The KGB created Alpha Group in 1974 in response to the Black September attacks at the Munich Olympics two years earlier. Alpha Group also survived the collapse of the Soviet Union and currently operates under the auspices of the FSB, the successor to the KGB. It is important to understand this because of the skill and experience of the group’s operators. The choices they make on their guns are serious. During the video with Larry Vickers, we see U.S. optics and stocks, Bulgarian muzzle brakes and a variety of other handpicked items on these rifles. This started a storm of people trying to replicate those guns. The parts were almost impossible to come by over here, however.

MDC’S ANSWER Enter Meridian Defense Corp. (MDC) and its Project Alpha AK-74. This gun represents the closest thing to a special operations AK-74 available outside of Russia. The project jumped to life when the engineers at MDC had the opportunity to get the very special sourced parts for the project. They acted immediately. The rifle is 922r compliant, and all of the Russian parts were sourced from U.S. dealers. As you can see, the Alpha is the product of hard work and a ton of research. The build was methodical and time consuming to say the least. The parts that MDC secured aren’t exactly “off the shelf” and required a ton of time to source and secure.

The test rifle’s Armacon folding stock adapter was fitted with a Magpul CTR buttstock. With the stock folded, the Alpha is only 24 inches long.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

The rifle also came with a tuned AK Trigger (AKT) from ALG Defense. It had a very nice, clean break and was far superior to a standard AK trigger. Finally, the test gun sported an Armacon AK folding stock adapter and a Magpul CTR buttstock.

RANGE PERFORMANCE Chambered in 5.45x39mm, the rifle has a chrome-lined, 12.4-inch barrel made by MDC. Then you have three components from Zenitco: the B-30 handguard, the B-31 gas tube cover and the B-33 receiver cover. The B-33 caught my eye because it is a fantastic choice for this build. It’s a hinged design that gives easy access to the internals without needing to remove the optic. It is also well known for keeping optics zeroed, which has been a challenge with other railed top covers. The video posted by Larry Vickers showed the guns using a variety of the multi-piece, Krink-style Bulgarian flash suppressors. For the Alpha, MDC has gone with the compact Strela flash suppressor, and it worked well on my test sample. The design is intended to drive sound and muzzle flash downrange, away from the shooter and those nearby. It does that quite well. The extended charging handle is another Strela component, and it was easy to grab and manipulate during testing. tactical-life.com

I have been fortunate to have shot some pretty sexy AKs over the years. Most were classics, including the unicorn of AKs, a Type One. The Alpha isn’t a classic gun, however, so I was interested in seeing how some modernization would affect this Eastern Bloc staple. And I know that any modernization of the AK platform is seen as blasphemy in some circles. My response to that: “Lighten up, Francis.” The rifle is due for some improvements, and a trip to the range would let me see just how far MDC had taken the series. At the range, I quickly discovered that the Alpha performed as well as it looked. While it is difficult to put into words, the gun has a dead seriousness about it. This is not a range plinker or safe queen. This is a full-on gunfighter’s weapon. The gun was tight and lacked the well-known rattle common to most AKs. For the range session, I installed a Trijicon MRO, which fit the gun well. Its 2-MOA dot proved to be a good fit for a gun that I expected big things from. Right off the bat, the Alpha was exceptionally smooth

The Alpha uses a stamped receiver and a traditional AK operating system for optimum reliability. Also note the ALG Defense Trigger and polymer pistol grip.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

MERIDIAN DEFENSE ALPHA DOG

The Alpha has a large beveled magazine well for fast, fumble-free reloads, and the test rifle ran flawlessly with polymer TAPCO magazines.

“THIS IS NOT A RANGE PLINKER OR SAFE QUEEN. THIS IS A FULL-ON GUNFIGHTER’S WEAPON.”

shooting. The 5.45x39mm round offers very little recoil, and the Alpha soaked up the rest like the sponge. This translated to speed—lots of speed. With the gun moving so little, I was able to crush steel at pace. As expected, the gun cycled well, and I had no malfunctions of any kind. Off-hand, I was able to easily print a 2-inch group at 100 yards with slow, deliberate fire. This wasn’t my focus, however, because the gun is designed to shoot “minute of man” at speed. To that end, I ran the rifle on steel from 25 yards out to 300 yards effortlessly. Once I had a good aiming solution, I quickly jumped back and forth between near and far targets. The one downside I experienced with the Alpha was heat. The barrel, understandably, got very hot. The by-product of that was a very toasty handguard. We were pretty certain we could roast marshmallows on it by the time we were done. My range partner (who also happens to be my son) took a few minutes with the gun and went completely Spetsnaz with it. He manipulated and fired the gun like an old-school comrade, which is a testament to the rifle’s easy handling. He also took time to remind me that he had a birthday coming up as he pointed at the Alpha AK-74. It was one of the more enjoyable range sessions I had experienced in some time, and the only thing that ended it was a lack of ammo.

DOING IT RIGHT A build of this nature by a major company is pretty rare. I had the luxury of visiting with Anthony Arria of MDC about the project and hit him with the biggest 76

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

question: Why? His response was direct, “This project was inspired by Larry Vickers’ trip, where he documented and trained with the Russian Alpha team. Larry Vickers opened the eyes of the large hardcore internet AK crowd who didn’t like the idea of modernizing the platform. He showed them that the top-level Russian teams are adapting our Western influence of firearms and accessories. “At the time, the parts were an unattainable unicorn. But when we had the opportunity to get the sourced parts for this project, we couldn’t pass it up. A lot of people like to clone vintage firearms, as do we, but we really like the modern Russian industrial style of this platform. That’s why we decided to do this project. We built this rifle from the ground up. It wasn’t a premade rifle that was just customized. We did it right.” In the end, Meridian Defense has indeed done it right. The company has produced a very smooth-shooting AK that feels more like a modern fighting rifle than the AKs of old. The Alpha was a treat to run and has definitely made my “want” list! For more information, visit mdcmfg.com.

tactical-life.com

SPEC BOX

MDC PROJECT ALPHA AK-74 CALIBER:

5.45x39mm

BARREL:

12.4 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT:

24-32 inches 6 pounds (empty)

STOCK:

Magpul CTR

SIGHTS:

Front post, adjustable rear

ACTION:

Piston-operated semi-auto

FINISH: CAPACITY: MSRP:

Matte black 30+1 N/A

You won’t run out of rail space with the Alpha’s Zenitco B-30 handguard and B-31 gas tube cover. Also note that the 12.4-inch barrel comes fitted with a Strela flash suppressor.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

BATTLE BLADES

KIZLYAR BOPOH-3

KIZLYAR KORSHUN

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE KNIVES AND TOOLS USED BY RUSSIA’S ELITE OPERATORS BY LEROY THOMPSON KEN MACSWAN PHOTOS

KIZLYAR STERKH

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

Russia’s Spetsnaz operators faced new challenges after the war in Afghanistan, the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the Soviet Union. Like U.S. spec ops, Spetsnaz units are now involved in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, though they retain their traditional “hot war” missions of sabotage, surveillance and disruption. Spetsnaz units have focused on operations in Syria, Chechnya and other areas of conflict. Reportedly, these have included counterpiracy missions off the coast

of Somalia. Security at the Sochi Winter Olympics also fell under Spetsnaz purview. Russian special operations units have reorganized for their current missions. In the Soviet Union, Spetsnaz units were normally under the GRU (military intelligence) with specialized Osnaz units under the KGB. Descendants of the Osnaz, such as FSB Alpha and FSB Vympel, remain under control of the KGB’s successor and act as the Russian Federation’s national counterterrorism units. The Ministry of the Interior has Spetsnaz units as well. Military Spetsnaz, still under the GRU, are now organized under KSSO (Special Operations Forces Command), the equivalent of USSOCOM. As with Western counterparts, there is specialization tactical-life.com

Originally designed for Russian paratroopers, the Kizlyar Sh-8 has an Elastron handle and a 6-inch blade.

The Kizlyar Feldjaeger was specially made for Russia’s Special Communications Service.

within KSSO Spetsnaz units: HAHO and HALO parachute insertions, clearing and seizing important buildings or facilities to rescue hostages, mountain operations in rough terrain and Arctic conditions, and maritime operations with combat swimmers and amphibious operators. There are also dignitary protection specialists. Depending on the mission, specialists from different units can be combined to form a composite task force.

DIGGING IN Despite evolving missions, the Spetsnaz have continued to emphasize martial arts training. Systema is the Russian military martial art that stresses practical combat techniques. In addition to unarmed techniques, Systema tactical-life.com

teaches the use of edged weapons, impact weapons, improvised weapons and firearms. This training in edged weapons has influenced the Spetsnaz to adopt a variety of high-quality combat cutlery. Though not strictly a blade, one of the best-known Spetsnaz edged weapons is the entrenching tool—usually the Russian standard-issue MPL-50. Highly versatile, the MPL-50 may be used as a spade, an axe, a hammer, an oar or a frying pan, or for measuring dimensions since it has a standard width and length. Although Spetsnaz units may use the MPL-50 for any of these tasks, they also train with it for close combat, even practicing strikes and parries from knives and bayonets. Spetsnaz operators

RUSSIAN MPL-50

also become proficient with the MPL-50 as a throwing weapon to at least 10 meters. A fighting knife is a very personal weapon designed to eliminate an enemy up close. As a result, many elite military units have a tradition of issuing a special blade to those who pass a rigorous selection course. Other units allow operators to purchase their own close-combat knives. Within Spetsnaz, both traditions seem to exist. To some extent, the knife chosen will depend on the operator’s mission. For example, Spetsnaz whose primary mission is reconnaissance may have more use for a generalpurpose survival knife than a pure combat knife. Those with a raiding mission will value a close-combat knife TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

BATTLE BLADES

KIZLYAR DV-2

to eliminate enemy sentries. Often, a survival/fighting knife offers a compromise.

KIZLYAR MODELS Whatever the needs of the Spetsnaz operator, knives from Kizlyar in Dagestan are especially valued. Though production knives, Kizlyar blades are produced to a very high standard and are intended to last the operator his entire service life and then be handed down to a descendant. Even Vladimir Putin is a fan of Kizlyar knives; he’s been photographed carrying them on fishing and hunting trips. Spetsnaz operators seem to prefer a couple Kizlyar blades in particular: the Korshun and the Bopoh-3. Both of these fighting knives are light and handy yet durable. The Korshun has a subtle 6.5-inch clip-point blade. One combat version has a half-crossguard and an Elastron rubber-reinforced polymer handle. The Korshun’s spine has a serial number, presumably to track when it

was issued. The blade’s nonreflective finish is a desirable feature for a spec-ops knife. There are thumb recesses on both sides of the handle near the ricasso for those who use a modified saber grip. There are also grooves atop the handle for those who use the standard saber grip. And, for those who use a reverse grip, the bottom of the grip is dished out behind the crossguard. The ABS plastic sheath has both friction and snap retention. A variant of the Korshun has saw teeth on the spine, presumably for use in a survival situation. The Bopoh-3 has a 6.5inch blade that is almost a spear point for good penetration against an enemy wearing heavier clothing. There is no crossguard, and the handle is made of rubber-reinforced polymer. The grip is shaped well for various holds, including the reverse grip favored by some Systema techniques. The Bopoh-3’s plastic sheath offers good retention and can easily be affixed to gear.

One other variation should be mentioned. The Alpha has a titanium-coated D2 steel blade with or without serrations. Its name is probably intended to link it to the FSB’s elite Alpha counterterrorism unit. It may also see use with Delfin combat swimmers— Russia’s equivalent to the U.S. Navy SEALs. One of the most interesting Kizlyar knives was designed for Spetsnaz units that carry out reconnaissance and counterinsurgency operations in heavily wooded or mountainous areas. The Kizlyar DV-2 is a big knife at 14.5 inches long with a 9.3-inch blade. Primarily designed for situations where an operator will live off of the land, the DV-2 is heavy enough for hacking apart an animal after killing it or chopping limbs or branches for a fire. An area atop the blade is designed for hacking. The wooden handle is smooth and thick enough to allow a good grasp when wearing gloves or mittens. Other outdoor/ survival touches include a

crossguard with holes to allow lashing the DV-2 to a pole for use as a spear and a pommel heavy enough for light hammering. The blade is 0.215 inches thick to withstand hard use. Although the DV-2 balances well and its clip-point blade could serve in combat, this knife is really designed for utility/survival use, as Spetsnaz closecombat blade-wielding techniques require a lighter, slimmer weapon for greater hand speed. The DV-2 is carried in a heavy-duty leather sheath with two snaps for retention.

MACHETES & MORE Spetsnaz units operate in Africa and other areas where a machete is useful. Their machetes have evolved over the last half-century, though they have maintained their versatility. Spetsnaz machetes are typically as long as traditional jungle machetes, though early models were relatively short and heavy to be more effective for hacking. One early Spetsnaz machete

KIZLYAR ALLIGATOR

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

6E6 RATNIK MULTI-TOOL

had a hollow handle to hold matches or other survival items. Traditionally, Spetsnaz machetes have incorporated a flat tip for prying. Kizlyar produces an updated Spetsnaz machete called the Alligator. Older Spetsnaz machetes featured saw teeth on the spine, but these have been eliminated. The 10.4-inch, Z90 steel blade is slimmer, and the handle is more ergonomic. A pry edge remains, while the blade is designed to put more weight forward to deliver a more powerful chopping blow. Weighing 1.5 pounds with an overall length of 16 inches, the Alligator is easily carried, and its black leather sheath allows fast access. Although not designed for close combat, the Alligator may be swung with enough power to be devastating against an enemy. Russian Spetsnaz units use multi-tools as well. One is the Werewolf-2, which is actually a butterfly knife that, when opened in one direction, gives the user a 4.5-inch drop-point blade but, when opened in the other direction, offers tools, including saws, a can opener, a bottle opener, a tactical-life.com

screwdriver and an awl. As is often the case with Russian tools and weapons, the Werewolf-2 is designed for hard use. Some Spetsnaz also use the general-issue 6E6 Ratnik multi-tool, which incorporates a knife blade, a saw, a screwdriver and very sturdy pliers. Some Spetsnaz operators also carry folding knives depending on their missions. The Sterkh from Kizlyar is typical. With a 4-inch droppoint blade and liner lock, this folder would seem familiar to American troops who use a Benchmade or other medium-sized folder. Other blades that are often mentioned in relation to the Spetsnaz include ballistic knives that were designed to shoot the blade at an enemy, or the NRS-2, which combined a knife with a singleshot mechanism to fire the 7.62x42mm SP-4 cartridge developed for the PSS silent pistol. These knives have seen at least limited use with some Spetsnaz units. At least one former Spetsnaz operator I talked to about these specialized blades thought they had been developed for KGB Vympel (now FSB Vympel) when it had the missions of sabotage and direct action. Special knives have marked elite military units since the British Commandos of WWII. For the Spetsnaz, though, it should be remembered that fighting knives are not just symbols but also deadly implements for silently eliminating enemies.

TECH TRIP

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

TESTING FLIR’S LATEST THERMAL IMAGERS AT GUNSITE ACADEMY BY ALEX LANDEEN t was around 7:30 a.m. when I drove under the black steel raven straddling Gunsite Road. Writers milled around the classroom, sipping coffee and smiling about the donated Team Wendy EXFIL LTP helmets. Some tried to figure out how to turn on their FLIR ONE thermal cell phone cameras. On the white plastic tables near the back, several new optics were attached to various Ruger rifles. I wandered over to check things out—new PC Carbines, AR-556 MPRs and Precision Rifles lined up neatly, sporting the recently released FLIR products. I picked up one of the impressive-looking optics and was reminded of the scene from Jurassic Park where the boy, Tim, finds a set of night-vision goggles under his seat in the Ford Explorer and shows the lawyer. “Look what I found,” he says. The lawyer asks if they are heavy. “Kinda.” The lawyer quickly responds, “Then they’re expensive. Put them back.” I decided to set the optic down. Shortly after that, the meeting was called to order for an hour-long presentation and safety briefing. Then it was time for a field test.

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

HEAT SEEKERS

FLIR thermal imagers offer various color pallete settings and can be fine-tuned to display certain heat signatures.

SCAVENGER HUNT In the gravel parking area outside, every attendee was handed a Breach PTQ136 thermal monocular. Like FLIR’s ThermoSight Pro Series optics, the Breach is built around the company’s 12-micron Boson sensor. This relatively new sensor is much smaller and allows for increased optical magnification over its 17-micron predecessor. (The micron value refers to the pixel pitch. Basically, the smaller the number, the higher the pixel density and the higher the output resolution.) Earlier in the day, a couple FLIR employees had set up a thermal scavenger hunt in a triangular patch of scrub brush near Gunsite’s “Scrambler” course. The targets were stuffed animals; some had been filled with ice while others had stick-on hand 84

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

warmers attached to their chests. The exercise served as an introduction for working with the Breach’s menu system, and it gave us an idea of how the various color palette settings showed different thermal outputs for hot and cold targets. In retrospect, it probably looked like a dozen

visually challenged manchildren running around the desert, tripping over bushes on a strange Easter egg hunt. But the idea was sound, and I ended up finishing with a new stuffed bald eagle. A quick aside: long-wave infrared (LWIR) isn’t just about temperature. LWIR Part of the Gunsite event involved using Armasight BNVD-15 goggles in a shoothouse with Simunitions.

cameras use sensors that interpret the radiation of an object, lensed through a rare earth metal called germanium, and convert the incoming data via internal computing into an image that is viewable on a screen through the eyepiece. One thing that I found interesting in my research: What a person sees through the eyepiece of a thermal optic is a combination of the temperature of an object and the emissivity of the surface of that object. What does that mean? I did a test in my house using the FLIR Breach PTQ136 and some insulated cups—one with a brushed stainless steel exterior and the other with a textured black powder-coat finish. Just sitting on the counter, they looked almost the same. Using Breach’s Rainbow HC color palette, they were the same blue-green as the walls and surrounding countertop. I then put them in my oven at 200 degrees for a few minutes, set them back on the counter and took another look. They were completely different. The stainless cup looked only slightly warmer than it had before, with more of a light-green tint than blue, while the black cup was now almost totally red with hints of white. The coated cup appeared much hotter, even though they were the same temperature. This comes back to the second part of the equation: emissivity. The dark paint on the coated cup emits much more radiation into the long-wave range than the semi-reflective surface of the stainless cup. This is why infrared doesn’t see through glass, which reflects longwave radiation, hence using germanium as a lens. Longtactical-life.com

HEAT SEEKERS

“…WE ALL AGREED ON ONE THING: DAY OR NIGHT, WE WOULD RATHER BE ON THE SIDE OF THE GUYS PACKING FLIR GEAR.”

wave radiation penetrates metal, not glass. So what? Other than just being interesting in an nerdy way, understanding this aspect of why things look the way they do through LWIR optics might help in the field. As the FLIR team put it, even if a scene is isothermal (with everything being the same temperature), differences in emissivity will produce a contrast in the image.

helmets, and laser illuminators were mounted on our guns. My main takeaway: Keep your weapon low with the stock tucked under your arm, and follow your head with the muzzle. You’ll naturally want to raise your rifle to sight in on a target, but with the BNVD-15, all you do is smack your goggles into the optic.

Keeping the rifle low and the laser centered in your field of view is the key to fast and accurate shots. Also, it can be tough getting accustomed to the fact that your focus abilities are limited. If you want to focus on the target with both eyes, your feet and hands will be out of focus. This is just the

nature of night-vision optics. Slowing down and being mindful of where you walk is important and can take a little getting used to. Overall, the day provided a chance to show the advantages and limitations of thermal optics versus image intensifiers. Night-vision systems work by housing a photo cathode, microchannel plate and phosphor screen in a vacuum tube. The incoming photons (light) impact the photo cathode and are converted to electrons. These electrons then impact the microchannel plate, which, by some scientific witchcraft called “secondary emission,” multiplies the number of electrons, creating more information. These multiplied electrons are then converted back to photons by the

BACK AT THE RANGE Over the following day and a half, we moved through more drills: Simunitions in the shoothouse with Armasight (part of FLIR) BNVD-51 night-vision goggles, steel drills and a gully hunt simulation with the Ruger carbines, and long-range shooting at night with the Ruger Precision Rifles. We cleared the shoothouse with the BNVD-51s mounted on our Team Wendy 86

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

phosphor screen and sent to your eye, now intensified, thus allowing you to see bad guys or whatever else is going on under the cover of darkness. Because these systems use reflected light, they require a sufficient level of visible light energy to work. But since LWIR optics rely solely on thermal radiation, they require no light in the visible spectrum to operate. This means thermal imagers perform just as well during the day as they do at night. Also, due to the nature of LWIR radiation, thermal vision can penetrate smoke and fog. This difference is essential when it comes identifying threats. Night vision can give you an idea of a person’s appearance and clothing, but thermal imagers can provide clearer images. If someone is hiding in bushes, you might not be able to see them at all with night-vision gear, but thermal imagers can help you identify the potential. Obviously, the whole point of these optics is to help you detect, recognize and identify potential targets, and both systems have their strengths and weaknesses. I would say that the ability to run thermal imagers day and night definitely give them a gold star.

shadows or outlines, and can be overlooked when moving quickly. I definitely had to slow down and, especially in daylight, rely more on my off-eye for target identification. We did a live-fire walkthrough at the Donna range, which is located in a ravine past the shoothouse. The undercut dirt walls opened into a wash where ThermBright passive thermal targets had been set. These targets, in this case hogs and coyotes, are outlined with a thermalreflective material. When the target is angled slightly up from the perspective of the

shooter, the target material reflects the sky, giving a clear outline. Each shooter walked through the course with a Ruger PC Carbine equipped with a FLIR ThermoSight Pro PTS233 optic to make quick work of the animals. The final event took place on the 300-yard range. We gathered in the dark to tackle steel targets with Ruger Precision Rifles wearing Armasight CO-XLR-LRF night-vision sights behind day scopes. Thanks to these optics, the targets were as bright as day. One by one, we positioned ourselves behind the rifles and

took turns shooting. Those of us waiting for a turn simply saw the muzzle flash and heard the ringing steel. We all mentioned how easy it was. How it almost seemed like cheating. Joe Montana once said, “If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying.” A half-century earlier, John Lyly made the point that all is fair in love and war. At the end of this event, I think we all agreed on one thing: Day or night, we would rather be on the side of the guys packing FLIR gear. For more information, visit flir.com and armasight.com.

At the Mission-critical readiness drew former Navy SEAL Mark

Hotaling to

the new Litewave H3™. The advanced marksman admires its faster target acquisition in all light conditions, thanks to sneaky-quick transition from FC[NKIJV ƓDGT QRVKEU VQ PKIJVVKOG 6TKVKWO %QR[ VJCV

NEW—LITEWAVE H3™

Shooting with a ThermoSight Pro Series optic takes a little shifting in how you visibly process targets. The contrast lines are different. The numbers on signs under steel targets become mostly illegible. Background objects that go unnoticed in the visible spectrum now might stand out as glowing distractions. Red and blue steel silhouettes that contrast starkly against the tan berm are potentially now just tactical-life.com

LEARNING CURVE

BETTER BUILT & BRIGHTER + VISIBLE SOONER IN ALL LIGHT CONDITIONS + PATENTED

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

ADVANCED OPTICS

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

SUPERCHARGE YOUR ON-TARGET SPEED WITH THE NEW P-TACTICAL SPUR REFLEX SIGHT BY DR. MARTIN D. TOPPER Nikon’s new P-Tactical Spur is the company’s first small red-dot sight, and it’s definitely a beauty! The company has long been respected by shooters for its quality binoculars, spotting scopes, rangefinders and riflescopes, but until now, it had never produced a miniature reflex sight. That changed this year due to increased consumer demand for red dots by competitive shooters as well as those who want “urban” rifles and PDWs for personal protection. These sights are popular because they are often superior to scopes, lasers and iron sights when targets are engaged out to 100 and 150 yards. Compared to most other sighting systems, many people find red dots provide faster target acquisitions. They also allow you to shoot easily with both eyes open. This makes them just about ideal for close- to medium-range targets.

BUILT TO EXCEL The P-Tactical Spur is both high tech and rugged. The sight’s lenses are multi-coated with Nikon’s TRUCOLOR, which minimizes bluish tint color distortion throughout its wide 27mm viewing window. The red-dot reticle can be adjusted to 10 different brightness settings, two of which are night-vision compatible. This makes it adaptable to just about any ambient lighting condition.

tactical-life.com

The P-Tactical Spur features a 3-MOA dot reticle for quick aiming as well as a wide 27mm viewing window with Nikon’s TRUCOLOR coating.

Its 1.1-ounce body may be small, but it’s designed to handle the recoil of a tactical shotgun using full-power slugs. The P-Tactical Spur also has 1X magnification. This makes it parallax-free, and it offers unlimited eye relief. Another very desirable feature is its long battery life. This optic will run for 15,000 hours on a single CR1632 lithium battery. The optic also has a 12-hour automatic shutoff feature to save battery life in case it is accidently left on. Finally, the sight has a water resistance rating of IPX7, which means it can be submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes without damage. Using the sight is very straightforward. First, you need to insert a battery into the chamber just behind the viewing window. A special tool is provided to open and close the battery chamber cover. Remember to insert the battery with the positive side up. To turn the sight on, press either the plus or minus button on the left side. A red 3-MOA dot will appear in the window. To adjust the brightness of the dot, simply press the plus or minus button until the desired level of brightness is achieved. Turning the sight off is a simple matter of holding the minus button down for three seconds until the dot disappears. This brings us to the windage and elevation adjustment dials. Your can use a laser bore-sighter to achieve a general zero and then move to the shooting bench and make final adjustments. For a 62-grain .223 Remington cartridge, I use John Farnam’s point-blank zero in which the bullet crosses the line of sight at 40 and 240 yards. This is done by having the bullet impact about 2 inches high at 100 yards. Since this sight has a 3-MOA dot, I sight as close as I can to 2 inches and then use my Sierra ballistic program to provide the most accurate estimation of the trajectory, entering the velocity readings indicated on my Competition Electronics chronograph.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

ADVANCED OPTICS

The lightweight P-Tactical Spur proved to be a good match for the author’s tricked-out Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II in 5.56mm NATO.

CUSTOM TEST RIG A well-built optic deserves to be tested using an equally well-built gun. Therefore, I tested the Nikon with a customized rifle put together for me by Jamie Zern at the Florida Gun Exchange. I asked him to start with a 16-inch-barreled S&W M&P15 Sport II. I chose this gun because I like the barrel’s 5R rifling, which doesn’t compress the bullet as much as six-groove rifling. Also, this barrel has a 1-in-9inch twist rate, which does a good job stabilizing the 55- to 77-grain bullets I prefer. The barrel also has an A2 flash suppressor that does not kick dust up when firing from a prone position. The rifle’s customizations include a low-profile gas block, a UTG Pro M-LOK handguard, Troy backup sights, a Crimson Trace Rail Master light/ laser unit and an adjustable Savvy Sniper sling. The factory A2-style stock and pistol grip were replaced with a Magpul MOE SL carbine stock and a Magpul MOE-K2 pistol grip. Internally, the factory bolt carrier groip and trigger were replaced with an enhanced LMT bolt carrier group and a 4.5-pound Geissele Super Tricon trigger. The end result is a rifle that is highly

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

reliable, easy to use and will consistently put five Speer 62-grain Gold Dot soft points into a cluster tighter than 1.5 inches at 100 yards.

FAST & FURIOUS After sighting in the P-Tactical Spur at the Volusia County Gun & Hunt Club, my first test involved shooting from a benchrest to get groups at 100 and 200 yards. I used Black Hills’ 50-grain V-MAX rounds to see how well the Nikon performed when fired from an MTM K-Zone rest. Two 5-shot groups at 100 yards averaged 3 inches. That’s not bad for a 3-MOA sight. At 200 yards, all of my shots were on the silhouette, but the group size increased to 9 inches. I attribute this to the sight’s 1X magnification as well as the effects of mirage on a hot day and a building East Coast sea breeze. The second test was a drill that involved two paper silhouette targets 20 yards away and 7 yards apart that depicted armed assailants. Starting from a low-ready position, as soon as my Competition Electronics timer sounded, I fired one shot to the center-mass of each target using Winchester 55-grain FMJs. I did this three times with the goal

tactical-life.com

of seeing how quickly I could acquire and hit the targets. All of my shots were in the center-mass areas, and my average time was 3.1 seconds. The final live-fire test involved using the same Winchester load to shoot a scenario using a simulated “storefront” shoothouse that the club built for IDPA matches. It has two windows and two doorways that open into halls. Three pictorial targets were placed 20 yards downrange from the front of the structure. Each target received at least two shots to the chest and one to the head while pieing the corners. The scenario was as follows: You own a liquor store, and as you go to open it up in the morning, you look through the window and observe a man inside attempting to carry off your cash register. You retrieve your rifle and enter through the front door. As you move down a short entryway, you don’t see the first man, but you do see another man leaning out from the backroom where your safe is. He has his gun pointed at you. You shoot him with three

tactical-life.com

shots and move forward to see the first man hiding behind some wine bottles with a gun pointed at you. You shoot him twice in the chest and once in the head. As you move to the counter, you look right to see a third attacker standing outside, pointing a gun at you. There are several bystanders. You neutralize this third and final target, again with three shots. My average time for two runs was 39 seconds. All of my shots were in critical areas, and no bystanders were hit.

HITTING THE MARK In all of the testing scenarios, the author was able to quickly hammer the bad guy targets in critical areas without hitting a single bystander.

Nikon’s P-Tactical Spur delivered the performance I expected from a quality 1X red dot. It produced a wide, clear and sharp image. Its controls were easy to operate. It held its zero well. And it added very little weight to my rifle, even with a riser mount. At an MSRP of $220, it’s a good bargain. For more information, visit nikonsportoptics.com.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

ELITE AR TEST

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

GREAT LOOKS & PERFORMANCE TO MATCH— THE ENHANCED BATTLE RIFLE IS HERE BY FRED MASTISON STRAIGHT 8 PHOTOS

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

The billet-crafted receivers have several lightening cuts that also add to the rifle’s sleek styling. Also note the ambidextrous BAD safety and flat HiperFire trigger.

here is a great fallacy in life that we all secretly know. Sure, we strive to be “above the fray” and don’t want to be known as the basic creatures that we really are. But the big fiction we cling to is that “looks don’t matter.” Now, granted, they are not the only determining factor in our ultimate opinion on things, but that first head snap is never based on anything other than looks. While this is obviously a fact in human interaction, it goes much deeper than that. An area I see it in quite often is firearms. Simply put, people like good-looking guns. When you’re sitting around at a barbecue, you simply don’t brag about your ugly guns. I openly admit that I am susceptible to head-turning guns, and I almost snapped my neck recently when I looked back at a new rifle that had just been released. Here is an inappropriate whistle at the new F4-15 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR).

MORE THAN LOOKS Entering the AR market at this point in time takes some guts and confidence in your product. F4 Defense is a veteran-owned small-arms manufacturer with decades of military, engineering, design and competitive shooting experience. The company set 94

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

out to build tactical firearms that perform at the highest level while maintaining unequaled aesthetics. In other words, in an ocean of black guns, it takes some supermodel power to stand out, and that is exactly what the folks at F4 Defense have done. After two years of work, it was finally ready. Released in July of 2017, the F4-15 EBR is a perfect pairing of form and function. It is a stunning rifle with aesthetically pleasing lines and recesses that also serve to reduce its overall weight. Understand, however, that this is not simply skeletonizing a rifle to shave weight. All of the cuts are well thought out to mix engineering and looks. It is hard to describe, but the F4-15 EBR has futuristic styling while maintaining a no-BS feel. The rifle I received for testing was obviously eye-catching. The cuts on the billet-crafted receivers, for example, make it lighter than most forged receiver sets without sacrificing operational integrity. The gun is built by shooters, which is evident in the flared magazine well; ambidextrous, short-throw Battle Arms Development (BAD) safety selector; forward assist setscrew; adjustable trigger; and beveled, oversized triggerguard. The trigger is a HiperFire Competition unit that can be adjusted from 2.5 to 3.5 pounds for precision shooting. One of the most notable features is the Adaptive Rail System (ARS) handguard. M-LOK or Picatinny tactical-life.com

SPEC BOX

F4-15

ENHANCED BATTLE RIFLE CALIBER:

.223 Wylde

BARREL:

18 inches

OA LENGTH:

34 inches

WEIGHT:

7 pounds (empty)

STOCK:

MFT Battlelink Minimalist

SIGHTS:

None

ACTION:

Direct impingement semi-auto

FINISH: CAPACITY: MSRP:

Matte black 30+1 $1,695

rail? F4 Defense has solved this question by offering both on one handguard. The patent-pending hybrid system is directly integrated into the extruded profile of the rail. Accessories of your choice can be attached directly to the rail, eliminating the need for adapter rails. The handguard is made from extruded 6061-T6 aluminum that is then hardcoat anodized. The upper receiver also sports an 18-inch, 416R stainless steel barrel with three-land polygonal rifling and an F4 QR muzzle brake. The barrel is paired with a mid-length gas system, a nickel-boron-coated bolt carrier group and an F4 Quick Reaction charging handle. Finally, for furniture, the F4-15 EBR uses a Mission First Tactical (MFT) Engage pistol grip and Battlelink Minimalist buttstock.

SUB-MOA CLAIMS To wring out the F4-15 EBR, I added a TruGlo 1-6x24mm Tru-Brite 30 Series scope. This has been a great optic for me and is high on the “more bang for the buck” scale. It offers clear glass, an illuminated reticle and plenty of magnification for my needs. This model also has a quick-zoom lever to make magnification adjustments fast and smooth. Most interesting to me, however, is the fact that the scope comes with two BDC turrets: one for .223/5.56 shooting and one for .308 rounds. Each one is calibrated to allow you to tactical-life.com

1. The Battlelink Minimalist stock from Mission First Tactical lives up to its name while still offering a few sling-mounting options.

2. The ergonomic, polymer Engage pistol grip is also from Mission First Tactical. 3. The hybrid ARS handguard has both Picatinny rails and M-LOK slots for a bipod and other accessories.

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

F4 FIGHTER engage targets out to 800 yards with simple holds. All of this for only $270. It’s quite the steal. Because of its Enhanced Battle Rifle moniker, I decided to run the gun in that capacity at the range. After zeroing in, I began to work across an urban scenario that I had assembled on the range with targets set anywhere from 25 yards out to 350 yards. My focus on all of the targets would be headshots. F4 Defense states that its guns possess sub-MOA accuracy, so that was my baseline. This is the brutal reality of a weapon in this capacity, especially in civilian and law enforcement worlds. “Minute of man” accuracy is simply unacceptable in some situations. My son and ever-present shooting partner served as my spotter and called targets. I shot the F4-15 EBR off a support bag, but that was it. With the range

“…IN AN OCEAN OF BLACK GUNS, IT TAKES SOME SUPERMODEL POWER TO STAND OUT, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE FOLKS AT F4 DEFENSE HAVE DONE.”

set and clear, the next thing I heard was “Target 3, 275 yards, spotter up.” Like many people who run drills like this, once I establish my accuracy, speed becomes the next big factor. And I was quick on the trigger. The smooth pull of the HiperFire trigger made it easy to get clean headshots. Except for a few rushed shots on my part in an attempt to set a land-speed record, the gun ran exceptionally well. The F4-15 EBR’s solid performance continued as we began to run barricade drills and shoot from the support side. My son noticed that the ARS handguard had a bit of a bite to it. For those with less hearty hands, you will notice this as you run the gun. On the plus side, I’d like to give a quick shoutout to whoever first came up with the ambidextrous safety, because it is a nice feature when you are forced to switch hands. The added benefit of the BAD safety’s short throw is even better. After emptying the last magazine, I could easily say that the gun ran very well. In group testing, the rifle upheld F4’s claim of being a sub-MOA gun. Leading the pack was Hornady’s 75-grain Hornady TAP SBR ammo, which created a five-shot group measuring just 0.6 inches at 100 yards. Had I used a bipod and a rear sand sock, I’m sure the rifle would have produced even tighter groups, but I can’t complain about its performance as is! The gun was built to tight tolerances, yet that didn’t give me any grief when running a variety of ammo. That said, the magazines seated so tightly in the mag well that empty mags wouldn’t fall free when released. This is a tiny nitpick and is actually more of a preference than anything. It’s also worth noting that I was using Magpul PMAGs, and perhaps other magazines might fall free. This caused a hiccup in my pace on a couple occasions as we mixed in emergency reloads. But, beyond that, I believe the gun is ready for prime time.

WORTH THE PRICE

PERFORMANCE

F4-15 ENHANCED BATTLE RIFLE LOAD

VELOCITY

ACCURACY AVERAGE

BEST

Black Hills 68 Match HP

2,850

0.90

0.85

Federal 55 XM193

3,240

0.95

0.90

Hornady 75 TAP SBR

2,321

0.70

0.60

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for three 5-shot groups at 100 yards.

The F4-15 Enhanced Battle Rifle is an exceptional gun. As I said at the beginning, I like good-looking weapons, and this one fits that bill while being made for serious duty. As F4 Defense puts it, the company is “unrelenting in its pursuit of innovative and game-changing weapon platforms for the military, law enforcement and civilian markets,” and this rifle is definitive proof of that. It might be new, but F4 Defense is on the right track, delivering “proven solutions that drive innovation and improve performance.” I came away impressed by the F4-15 EBR, and I expect F4’s other 5.56mm and .308 models to keep turning heads. I look forward to watching this company grow. For more information, visit f4defense.com. tactical-life.com

DRIVING TACTICS

iStock Photo

TEN TAKEAWAYS FROM THE PANTHERA TRAINING CENTER’S VEHICLE DYNAMICS COURSE BY WILLIAM BELL Today’s world has become increasingly violent with predators stalking our streets and countryside. Whether it is a criminal attacker, terrorist or enemy, situational awareness is the name of the game, and once a threat is identified, immediate steps must be taken to attack, counterattack or effect an escape. This encounter could very well occur while you are operating a motor vehicle, in which case your “mental toolbox” needs to have some equipment with which to work. Yes, you can watch plenty of videos, but there’s nothing like getting out there and doing it, which to me is the only way I can truly “get it.” However, under the heading of “Don’t try this at home,” your best bet is to take a professional course where you can get expert instruction and actually perform the maneuvers you’ll need to stay alive.

I recently attended a sample Vehicle Dynamics course at the Panthera Training Center in West Virginia. This 750-acre facility has everything for law enforcement, military and civilian self-defense training. Along with numerous shooting ranges and training areas, there’s a 1.5-mile high-speed driving track, a skid pan and an off-road driving course. The center has foundation elements, but its courses are normally custom-designed, based upon client needs, with a focus on real-world mission training. For this course, two of Panthera’s top driving and shooting instructors took me and a few other gun writers through a number of dynamic driving exercises so we could observe and learn different techniques that might help us to survive if the roadway becomes a battlefield.

1. STAYING IN CONTROL A principle goal in any driving experience is to be consciously competent, which will prevent accidents in spite of adverse conditions or the actions of others. To do this, the driver must demonstrate situational awareness, maintain vehicle control and use evasive maneuvers. Vehicle control can only be understood if you are familiar with vehicle dynamics—the forces TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

DRIVING TACTICS

that affect or cause weight transfer and traction management. Only a very small portion of the tire is in contact with the road at any given time, and a shift in the vehicle’s weight can radically change the traction balance. Here the instructors emphasize threshold braking instead of jamming on the brakes and losing control; you brake only with enough pressure to maximize the braking force developed by the tires and then accelerate out. The optimal amount of braking force develops just when the wheels begin to slip.

2. REVERSING Should you drive into what becomes a deadly-force encounter, your best course of action might be to rapidly reverse to gain distance and cover from your attacker(s). At the same time, you want to maintain a stable platform should your “crew” need to engage the attacking element as you tactically retreat. Our instructors demonstrated how to use the passenger-side mirror as a stable reference point for keeping the vehicle straight while reversing quickly. In this case, the edge of the pavement was the focal point, and maintaining a constant distance from it while reversing was challenging. Doing this, one can even round a curve as we did and end up behind a low hill, out of view and behind cover. I was amazed at how fast one of our instructors was able to do this, and later I did the same, though not quite so quickly.

Course attendees learned several techniques, including PIT manuevers (above) and how to escape an SUV after it’s rolled over (bottom).

3. THE J-TURN A more aggressive way to exit a danger zone in a vehicle is to execute a J-turn. Here, the driver puts the vehicle in reverse and rapidly accelerates. The length of straight roadway you have will dictate how far you can go in reverse before you spin the steering wheel, causing weight transfer that swings the vehicle around. Basically, you throw the wheel and let go, and the vehicle will find full steering lock, helping it to swing around. Once this happens, the driver immediately slams the transmission into drive and accelerates forward. One mistake to 98

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

“VEHICLE CONTROL CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH VEHICLE DYNAMICS— THE FORCES THAT AFFECT OR CAUSE WEIGHT TRANSFER AND TRACTION MANAGEMENT.”

avoid is looping your thumbs around the steering wheel, as this could cause injury in such a violent maneuver.

4. CONTROLLED TURNS A unique aspect of the on-road track at Panthera is that it’s built on the side of a gently sloping hill. This provides some interesting dynamics compared to similar courses laid out on flat ground. A basic fundamental when doing any high-speed driving is to avoid obstacles and make controlled turns. On the track straightaway, we built up speed and then, coming into the left-hand turn, we had to use our threshold braking skills, bring the car into the apex of the outside of the curve and then turn inward and to the left, which allows a speedy, yet controlled turn. A few yards forward of that turn were orange traffic cones in a row, a bit over a car length between them, and they had to be negotiated at speed. Getting close to the cone without hitting it is the goal using the forces of traction management to maintain good control of the vehicle.

onto the roadway. Our instructor actually had us close our eyes while he took control of the steering wheel and moved the car off the road. Then he had us open our eyes and deal with the situation. It was startling to say the least, but it got the lesson across with just a few runs.

6. IF THE DRIVER’S DOWN What if the driver is suddenly incapacitated? As the passenger, you must quickly gain control of the vehicle. You have to get over to the left side as best you can and get a hand on the steering wheel. You may need your left arm to push the driver over and hold him or her there. Your right hand can do the steering, and your left foot will have to most likely shove the driver’s foot off the gas pedal. The goal here is to get the vehicle quickly and safely stopped, so once you get control of the steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, the vehicle needs

to be steered off the road with controlled braking to come to a stop.

7. ROLLOVERS What if you’re being chased in your vehicle and circumstances cause your vehicle to flip and roll over onto the roof? What can you do now to keep the bad guys from approaching and killing you at their leisure? As a real-time demonstration, we donned helmets and were strapped into a window-less SUV that was fitted with exterior roll bars. Another SUV with a long cargo strap was used to roll our SUV over, at which point we needed to quickly release our seat belts, get out of the vehicle and use it for cover as we fired our handguns at two steel targets 10 yards away. We then had to move to a wall about 21 feet away from the vehicle and again fire on the targets. As the vehicle begins rolling over, pull your feet close to the seat and away from

5. OFF-ROAD RECOVERY While performing these maneuvers, you may inadvertently leave the highway. If you’re lucky and don’t go right into a ditch or tree, as long as you don’t panic, you can get the vehicle back on the road. The worst thing you can do is jerk the steering wheel in the direction that will put you back on the road, because, depending upon your speed, you could flip the vehicle. If your vehicle does leave the road, slow down with controlled braking and calmly steer the vehicle back tactical-life.com

Join the community for Gunsmiths, Hobby Gunsmiths and Serious Firearm Enthusiasts!

Receive a New Disassembly/Reassembly video course and monthly video magazine every single month! Details are available at:

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

DRIVING TACTICS

the brake pedal, which could trap your foot. After that, use your strong arm to push as hard as you can on the roof of the car so that when your support hand unbuckles your seat belt, you don’t have an uncontrolled fall. Lastly, move as quickly as possible out the driver’s side window, keeping the vehicle between you and the aggressors.

8. THE PIT MANEUVER “PIT” is an acronym for “Pursuit Intervention Technique,” and performed properly, it can help stop a vehicle pursuit. The key is the pursuing good guy (GG)

needs to position his or her vehicle on the left or right side of the bad guy (BG) vehicle so slight contact is made with the front bumper of the GG’s car to the rear portion of the BG’s car, just behind the rear wheel well. The instant this contact is made, if the “pitting” vehicle is positioned correctly, a simple quarter-turn and acceleration will cause the BG car to lose traction and slide sideways. Now, the GG accelerates, shoving the BG car to the side as the GG steers away. The speed at which both cars are traveling will determine how violently the BG will spin out. This is a very dangerous maneuver, and the pursuer needs to wait for just the right

time. Also, attempting this at speeds over 35 miles per hour should be avoided.

9. SKID CONTROL The Panthera Training Center has a large skid pad where students can practice regaining control of their vehicles after losing traction. Avoiding panic, steering into the skid and threshold braking are the keys to getting back under control. The old police vehicles we were using had a switch to turn off the traction control system so it did not try and counter the loss of control. We were shown methods of controlling skids in tight turns on wet pavement, and our instructors would take over the gas pedal to make things even more exciting. This is a necessary experience during a dynamic driving course.

10. ALL TOGETHER NOW

Part of the Panthera training course involved shooting into vehicles to test bullet penetration. The upper wheel well, for example, wouldn’t provide good cover.

100

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

Toward the end of the class, everything culminated on the high-speed track and in a multi-use paved area. Aggressive driving at high speeds mated with cornering skills, avoiding obstacles like traffic cones, maintaining traction and threshold braking were all covered as we went around the 1.5-mile track. At the multi-use area, the instructors set up a driving course that would have us rapidly accelerate, then brake to a complete stop in a marked area, then accelerate again and finally turn into a slalom course with traffic cones to zigzag through. At the end of this was a cone inside the still-wet skid pad where a tight turn had to be made, after which you accelerated to two more cones and made tight turns into a final straightaway. The finale was a square formed of cones, and the driver had to brake to a stop without hitting any of the cones. To make things interesting, the course was timed and the attendees competed with each other. On top of all that, we were given several demos that involved shooting through windshields and at other parts of vehicles. Overall, this experience was invaluable. If you’d like to build your own tactical driving skills, visit pantheratraining.com. tactical-life.com

GO GEAR

TUFFY HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR GUNS SECURE ON THE ROAD BY DONALD J. MIHALEK “A San Francisco cop who had a personal gun stolen from his car several weeks ago is reportedly ‘devastated’ after learning that it was used in a gang-related murder just days later,” read the first line of an article in a Bay Area newspaper in September of 2017. The article went on to say, “‘A few weeks ago, a vehicle belonging to an SFPD officer was burglarized, and the officer’s personal firearm was stolen, unbeknownst to him,’ explained San Francisco Police Officers’ Association President Martin Halloran…‘Days after the burglary, that firearm was used in a gang-related homicide.’” This is a situation no law enforcement officer would ever want to experience. Unfortunately, a cop having a gun stolen from a car—even a police car—is not an uncommon situation. A quick search on the internet will reveal multiple stories, most with terrible results.

In fact, in the state of California, a news organization reported that 944 guns had been stolen from or lost by Bay Area police officers and federal and state law enforcement agents between 2010 and 2016. Many of those weapons had been left in parked cars, often in unsecured duffle bags or knapsacks. California Governor Jerry Brown went so far as to sign a bill in 2016 requiring police officers to lock away guns left in unattended vehicles in secure, hidden spaces, such as a small gun safe in the trunk. Officers who fail to do that can be cited with an infraction and a $1,000 fine. That law, and the need for law enforcement officers to avoid the front pages of newspapers, should be enough for agencies around the nation to get tough on weapon security.

EASY TARGETS According to the FBI, a vehicle is burglarized every 23.7 seconds. This is a sobering statistic, as many people consider cars to be secure locations to store things. After all, most Americans keep lots of stuff in their cars since they have locks and, in most cases, security systems. The problem is, breaking into a car is as easy as throwing a brick through a window. Criminals know TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

101

GO GEAR

this, which is why auto larceny is usually a top crime in many areas. Additionally, some criminals take the time to surveil law enforcement officers at their stations and what they drive, including personally owned vehicles. The takeaway for everyone, including law enforcement officers, is that vehicles are not secure locations to store gear. So if you leave something valuable or sensitive in a vehicle, it needs to be secured in a safe-like device.

TUFF STUFF In the old days, cars, including police vehicles, used to solve the gear storage problem by locking everything in the trunk. For law enforcement, the addition of a weapons storage rack in the passenger compartment or trunk was a plus. The downside was that the gear was not well organized, and if it was stored in the passenger compartment, it was visible to anyone who looked inside the police car. 102

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

This created ripe targets for criminals who were increasingly brazen enough to not just break into civilian cars during daylight hours, but also police cars. Unfortunately, the one-size-fits-all rule is not in practice these days for most things, including vehicles. Every make and model offers slight variations, making it difficult to fashion a standard piece of gear that works in every vehicle. Tuffy Security Products decided to do something about that. Tuffy is an American company based in Cortez, Colorado. This company uses expert engineering and extensive field testing to ensure its products are top notch and can handle the important task of keeping gear secure. Tuffy has created some patented technology to make sure that what you place in its gear boxes stays there. The anti-twist push button, for example, is designed that if the product is locked, the push button can still be pushed without deactivating the latch. Accord-

Jeff Goldberg Photo

Available for a wide range of vehicles, Tuffy’s Tactical Gear Storage Draws are made of 16-gauge steel and use stainless roller bearings.

ing to the company, this “anti-twist feature overcomes a major vulnerability of typical push-button locks while keeping it convenient to use.” It is also partnered with a patented latch mechanism featuring 0.25- and 0.125-inch-thick metal components that allow the box to latch shut without being locked. These components provide a level of strength that far outperforms other latches constructed using thinner-gauge components or weak hook latches. Tuffy’s new high-security key and pick-resistant lock offer security similar to the vehicle’s original ignition key. Other products using tubular keys can be broken into by simply punching out the center pin. Products with inexpensive, five-tumbler, single-bit flat keys are easy to pick. Tuffy’s aren’t. Finally, Tuffy’s exclusive Pry-Guard system incorporates all the critical components and features a high-security cam lock with a 10-tumbler, double-bit key. It also integrates a large mounting shaft for increased strength that works with a deadbolt that hooks, which eliminates the force applied to the actual cam lock components. All of this combined makes Tuffy’s gear storage boxes some of the most secure options on the market.

HAVE IT YOUR WAY Tuffy can create individualized gear for specific vehicles and needs. It offers two lines of security boxes: the Recreation (REC) and Professional (PRO). The Portable Safe weighs less than 3 pounds and is a lockable, welded-steel storage box. It can be used to secure a firearm and protect valuables inside a vehicle, home or office. This portable safe offers keyless entry with a threedigit combination lock and a two-point steel cam for added security. The safe has a 2-foot-long, 2,000-pound-test steel security cable that can fasten the safe to any sturdy mounting surface with a 0.125-inch steel anchor point. Each Security Console Insert is made of 16-gauge steel and can be inserted within a variety of vehicles. This insert can transform any console into a tactical-life.com

“EACH SECURITY CONSOLE INSERT IS MADE OF 16-GAUGE STEEL AND CAN BE INSERTED WITHIN A VARIETY OF VEHICLES.”

heavy-duty lockable storage area with Tuffy’s Pry-Guard locking system. It has a 10-tumbler, double-bit security key to help protect valuables and an innovative lid design that keeps it open while you’re accessing contents. The insert maintains a completely stock look, including a full-use armrest and lid. Tuffy also offers Under Seat Lockboxes that are full width and form-fitting to a variety of vehicles. These lockboxes have over 3,500 cubic inches of lockable storage space so you can secure rifles and other long items. These lockboxes have the same Pry-Guard locking system as the Security Console Insert with the addition of built-in weather seals. The innovative mounting system is only accessible from inside the box. When additional floor space is needed, the entire lockbox can be removed in seconds without the need for any tools. The

tactical-life.com

box mounts into the vehicle inconspicuously under the seat and out of sight. It is also quick and easy to install without drilling using the factory hardware. Tuffy also offers a full line of Tactical Gear Security Drawers that fit in the rear area of most vehicles and are made with 16-gauge steel. These large drawers

open smoothly on Tuffy’s exclusive slide system incorporating eight heavy-duty stainless steel roller bearings. In addition, Tuffy’s superior design and engineering results in a drawer that is typically lighter than others on the market. To keep the gear secured in these drawers, Tuffy uses its Pry-Guard II locking system, which incorporates a 0.25-inch-thick steel security latch with a patented push button similar to typical automotive door latches. This serves as strong security and prevents rattles and squeaking. On top of that, all of Tuffy’s drawers and other locking vehicle accessories can be keyed alike with a highly secure 10-tumbler, double-bit key. Optional combination push-button locks can be added for convenience. In a world where vehicles continue to be relatively easy targets, keeping things secured inside of them is a top priority, and Tuffy’s line of products offers civilians and frontline warriors several dependable options to ensure that any gear left in a vehicle remains safe. For more information, visit tuffyproducts.com. TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

103

UP-ARMORED

POUNDING AR500 BALLISTIC PLATES AT THE RANGE, PLUS A CLOSER LOOK AT TODAY’S LOW-PROFILE ARMOR BY DONALD J. MIHALEK Remember that scene at the end of A Fistful of Dollars where the bad guy, Ramon, shoots Clint Eastwood in the heart seven times, but each time the Man With No Name gets back up, still alive? Eastwood finally sweeps his poncho over his shoulder, revealing that he’d been wearing a steel plate the whole time. Ramon and his goons are stunned, giving Eastwood enough time to dispatch all five of them with his Colt. This classic scene lives on today to show the tactical benefits of hidden body armor. Of course, today’s armor options have come a long way and offer higher ballistic ratings than ever before. Many still rely on steel, but more and more non-steel and soft armor solutions are hitting the market for better mobility, breathability and concealability. In other words, you’ll have a tactical advantage without being weighed down, and you won’t have any excuses for going unprotected.

104

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

AR500 ARMOR AR500 Armor prides itself on producing 100-percent Americanmade ballistic protection with a protective polyurea coating to help mitigate fragmentation and spalling upon impact. In terms of soft armor, AR500 offers both Level II and Level IIIA options, including various sizes of the Hybrid, which is made from Kevlar, Spectra Shield, Gold Shield and laminated rip-stop nylon to be extremely tough yet

tactical-life.com

>>>>>>>>>

AR500 recently brought four of its Americanmade armor plates to the Guardian Training Center to test their effectiveness against a variety of rounds.

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 â&#x20AC;˘ 12 â&#x20AC;˘ 2018

105

UP-ARMORED

“MANY STILL RELY ON STEEL, BUT MORE AND MORE NON-STEEL AND SOFT ARMOR SOLUTIONS ARE HITTING THE MARKET FOR BETTER MOBILITY, BREATHABILITY AND CONCEALABILITY.” thin and lightweight. These panels are only 0.25 inches thick but can stop a 240-grain .44 Magnum SJHP traveling at 1,430 feet per second. AR500’s Level IIIA Rimelig series panels are made from aramid fibers and

the same laminated rip-stop nylon for a thickness of 0.55 inches and a weight of just 1.43 pounds. Finally, AR500’s Level IIIA steel plates provide the ballistic protection of the Hybrid and Rimelig series while also being stab and slash

ARMOR IN ACTION: To see the AR500 ballistic plate testing at the Guardian Training Center, make sure you check out tactical-life.com.

resistant. These panels come with an outstanding 20-year warranty. AR500 also offers proven hard armor, carriers and accessories for first responders and others working in the line of fire. Why do I say “proven”? I recently got the chance to see some AR500 armor in action at the Guardian Training Center in Warminster, Pennsylvania. AR500 brought along four armor panels and fired a variety of rounds from 7 yards to test their durability. The Level IIIA Hybrid soft armor survived 9mm, .357 SIG, 10mm, 40 S&W and .45 ACP rounds as well as a 12-gauge slug. The only significant backface deformation came with the last round. The hard armor survived both 5.56mm NATO and 7.62x39mm FMJs. AR500’s Level III+ Lightweight Advanced Shooter’s Cut (ASC) plate stopped every round without any penetration. The steel layers did separate some (about a quarter of an inch) but not significantly enough to cause any concern. It definitely did its job. AR500 also brought along a Level IV plate with a ceramic core and a plastic outer coating. This plate stopped every round but, as engineered, the ceramic crumbled when hit. The 7.62x39mm and 12-gauge rounds damaged the ceramic plate but did not penetrate, as can happen with some standard SAPI plates. In the end, the armor made by AR500 performed as advertised and even outperformed standard NIJ testing. Each piece of armor took all the punishment it was rated for and more. No matter which plate, our test indicated the armor plates would perform when needed. (ar500armor.com)

PROPPER PROTECTION SAFARILAND V1 OVERT CARRIER AR500 LEVEL IIIA HYBRID PLATE

106

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

Propper was founded in 1967 to make the U.S. Navy’s white Dixie Cup hats, but over the years the company has grown into being the largest single provider of U.S. military apparel. One tactical-life.com

of Propper’s most recent achievements is in the area of ballistic innovations. Available in coyote, navy blue, black and white, the Propper 4PV Concealable Vest uses four independent panels to give the wearer enhanced mobility and protection. Both NIJ Level II and IIIA versions are available, and spike protection is optional. The four-panel design moves with you and won’t ride up or bunch like other vests. (propper.com)

SAFARILAND SOLUTIONS Safariland offers one of the largest assortments of armor to choose from, and the company’s new SX Ballistic Panel is one of the thinnest, lightest and strongest options on the market. This hybrid design is made from a few different materials, including Kevlar and Spectra Shield, while being very thin— between 0.16 and 0.19 inches thick. The ergonomic shape also provides 5 percent more coverage than competitors while

tactical-life.com

PROPPER 4PV CONCEALABLE VEST

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

107

UP-ARMORED Its four-way-stretch fabric provides “unrestricted movement, lightweight compression and breathability.” It also sports a mesh liner to help reduce heat by 3 to 4 degrees. (safariland.com)

SAFARILAND HARDWIRE SOFT ARMOR

TALOS BALLISTICS

SAFARILAND FX1 COVERT SHIRT CARRIER

SAFARILAND SX BALLISTIC PANEL

TALOS NIJ IIIA BULLETPROOF FENIX BBL

“…TODAY’S ARMOR OPTIONS HAVE COME A LONG WAY AND OFFER HIGHER BALLISTIC RATINGS THAN EVER BEFORE.” being very concealable. Both NIJ Level II and IIIA versions are available. Safariland’s Hardwire soft armor uses “game-changing polymer technology.” It’s made of Dyneema fibers pressed under 25 million pounds of force at precise temperatures, com108

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

TALOS NIJ IIIA BULLETPROOF PROTAC VEST

bining multiple layers of material into a single system. These vest panels are rated for NIJ Level IIIA protection but are only 0.18 to 0.19 inches thick. Finally, for discreet armor that is comfortable enough for all-day wear, Safariland created the F1 Covert Shirt Carrier.

One of the newest companies on the market, Talos Ballistics has gone to great lengths to develop bullet-resistant clothing, backpacks, vests, body armor and other solutions for people and animals in need of protection. Talos’ NIJ IIIA Bulletproof ProTac Vest boasts front and back Kevlar panels yet weighs less than 3.5 pounds. The vest itself is made of heavy-duty nylon and polyester with large hook-and-loop patches for quick donning and doffing. This vest should work well for both uniform and plainclothes duty. But the more significant design is Talos’ NIJ IIA Bulletproof Fenix Ballistic Base Layer (BBL), which looks like a tank top but weighs 4 pounds and offers protection against most common handgun rounds, including the .44 Magnum. According to Ed Burke, the CEO of Talos, “The goal was to address the consistent issues we heard from law enforcement, protection specialists and those whose lives depend on wearing armor. We wanted to give them an option to always wear it versus perhaps not wearing it due to comfort or heat. We combined the strongest and lightest armor with a great moisture-wicking performance material that has been compared to some of your higher-end performance base material selections.” When worn, the Fenix BBL conforms to the wearer and literally moves with his or her body. It’s so unique that, when worn under a T-shirt, it’s almost indiscernible due to its light, comfortable and concealable design. (talosballistics.com) When your life is on the line, you should never have to second-guess your protection. With the modern armor kits available on the market in multiple configurations and ratings, there really is no excuse to hit the streets without some form of ballistic protection. These are some of the best solutions available, so check out your options and see what works best for you. tactical-life.com

HIGH-TECH

HOW THE U.S. ARMY IS TAPPING NFL TECHNOLOGY TO BUILD BETTER HELMETS BY PETER SUCIU

The U.S. Army has turned to VICIS, an NFL helmet manufacturer whose products are worn by such notable players as Eli Manning and Russell Wilson, to help develop combat helmets that can potentially reduce head injuries. This might sound like a strange move, since a combat helmet’s very purpose throughout history has been to reduce head injuries. Of course, there are many kinds of head injuries. Throughout much of human history, head wounds

Based on the helmets worn by French firemen at the time, the “Adrian” Model 1915 offered soldiers modest protection from artillery blasts and shrapnel.

were what you could see, such as cuts, bumps and bruises. In recent years, there has been a greater focus on unseen injuries to the brain. “Prior to the 1970s, there was really no way of knowing if there was a brain injury,” explained Dr. Jordan Grafman of the Brain Injury Research and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. But now that we know so much more about the brain, we can build better tools to help protect it.

THROUGH THE AGES The first helmets date back to antiquity and were likely little more than animal skulls. These provided some protection from blows from blunt objects such as clubs, but given that there was likely little to no padding in them, how much of an impact such an object absorbed is unclear. However, it must have been clear even in the late Stone Age and early Bronze Age that protective headgear saved lives. Helmets were used across the world throughout history. Bronze gave way to iron, and later steel, in Europe and much of Asia, while wood, woven straw or wicker, and even shells from animals and plants were used in Africa and the Pacific. There is even evidence of similar primitive helmets being used in both North and South America. With the spread of gunpowder in the 15th and 16th centuries, helmets slowly declined in use, and by the 18th century, infantrymen across Europe ceased wearing helmets altogether. However, helmets didn’t ever truly disappear from the battlefield. Prior to World War I, cavalry units—notably the French and Germans—were TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

109

HIGH-TECH

The U.S. military’s classic M1 helmet, with a removable liner system inspired by 1930s-era Riddell football helmets, remained in use from World War II through much of the Cold War.

still outfitted with steel helmets that were meant to evoke national identity as much as stop saber blows. Then the combat helmet returned for WWI. There is a common tale that a French soldier’s life was saved because he had wisely tucked his soup bowl under his kepi prior to an artillery barrage. It is a nice story, but one that is likely false, probably a misunderstanding of a translated version of the story. The truth is less glamorous: The French, seeing the effects of German artillery shrapnel, introduced a metallic skullcap. It proved to be so uncomfortable, however, that it was more likely to be used as a mess bowl than as a protective piece of headgear. Moreover, French military planners before the war had already designed a heavy leather and metal helmet to help reduce head injuries. Finally, military men know history, and helmets weren’t a forgotten relic from the ancient era. Again, French cavalry were wearing helmets. The French Model 1915 “Adrian” infantry helmet—named after General August-Louis Adrian who oversaw the helmet’s development—closely resembled those used by the Paris fire department, which in turn were based on French cavalry helmets. Clearly, designers knew what they were doing. And contrary to a common misconception, the M15 was not developed to protect the wearer from direct rifle or machine 110

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

The History of America’s Steel Combat Helmets. “One was developed for bluntforce trauma and the other for stopping high-velocity impacts from small arms.” Notably, this is why American military planners sought to improve the effectiveness of combat helmets against small-arms fire throughout the Cold War, and by the 1980s, this led to a helmet design that offered far greater ballistic protection. The PAGST (Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops) helmet was made of Kevlar and ushered in an era of helmets not made from steel. However, it was also becoming clear that non-penetrating injuries could be a serious issue. Many industrial helmets, from those used by miners to those worn by construction crews, also saw major innovations. “Certain jobs require differently designed helmets,” explained Dr. Grafman. “A helmet should be designed for the nature of the blow that you might expect.”

LOOKING TO SPORTS

The U.S. Model 8 (left) was designed in 1918 for full-face protection, an idea that has come full circle with today’s Cobra (right).

gun fire but was instead meant to reduce injuries from low-velocity artillery blasts.

UPGRADING TECHNOLOGY The connection between helmets for the gridiron and helmets for soldiers isn’t entirely new. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the M1 steel combat helmet that the U.S. military used throughout World War II, Korea and Vietnam utilized the suspension system employed in Riddell football helmets. This included multiple canvas tongues that were held together in the center by a drawstring. However, after WWII, the military didn’t look too closely at helmets designed for the few sports that used protective headgear at the time. “The fundamental functionality had been totally different,” said Master Sgt. Chris Armold, USAF (retired), author of Steel Pots:

For this reason, helmets designed for athletics in recent years serve specific purposes. For example, today’s football helmets have been developed to reduce the likelihood of concussions from severe impacts. Just as military helmets have undergone major advancements since their widespread use in WWI, football helmets have also evolved greatly from the days when they were little more than leather caps. Current football helmets are heavier, larger and are meant to absorb and even dissipate impact forces to a far greater extent than earlier models. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) now performs laboratory drop and impact tests on current helmet brands and models to determine if they meet or exceed the standards deemed necessary to protect the user. Now the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) and VICIS, the creator of the innovative Zero1 football helmet that performed best in NFL testing, have partnered to design helmets that could reduce head injuries in soldiers. tactical-life.com

This would improve upon the current helmet designs, which are primarily meant to provide ballistic protection and shielding from gunfire and shrapnel. The technology VICIS is developing will improve helmets against blunt impacts, which currently account for around 80 percent of U.S. soldiers’ traumatic brain injuries. And many of these injuries aren’t even occurring on the battlefield. A 2013 Congressional Research Service report showed that four out of every five traumatic brain injuries in the military are caused by blunt impact in training and other non-deployment settings. The Zero1 features concussionreducing technology and has been noted for its radical departure from previous designs, even if it looks much like many of the other helmets worn by professional football players today. More importantly, the helmet, which was developed by a team of scientists, neurosurgeons and engineers, can’t prevent all concussions, but by offering four layers of protection, it could help significantly reduce injuries among players. It features an outer layer that is meant to compress and absorb shock and, much like the way a tennis ball deforms, can then rebound and return to its pre-

vious shape. A second layer of polymer columns then can move in different directions to absorb shock and further reduce force. A hard inner shell is meant to prevent skull fractures as well as brain bleeds, while a layer of memory foam provides added comfort. All this doesn’t come cheap, however. The VICIS Zero1 sells for $950, far more than other helmets used by the NFL. But this technology could make its way to our soldiers on the battlefield. The Seattle-based company is working with the military to help replace the simple foam pads that are in the current combat helmets used by the Army and Marine Corps. “This U.S. Army contract is further validation of VICIS’ ability to develop truly innovative impact-mitigating technologies for sports and other applications,” said Dave Marver, VICIS CEO and co-founder. “VICIS takes great pride in bringing this technology to our nation’s servicemen and women, protecting those who protect us.”

MORE CONSIDERATIONS VICIS isn’t the only company working to utilize new materials as a way to reduce injuries. UK-based D3O has developed a soft, stretchy, flexible orange

material that has been compared to Silly Putty. When impacted, the material becomes solid and absorbs shocks. It’s already been incorporated into the TRUST line of armor, which includes not only helmets but also chest, back and other body protection options. However, no matter what system is employed to improve a helmet, the key is still making sure soldiers wear it. “Helmets need to be comfortable,” suggested Armold. “If it isn’t comfortable, guys won’t wear it. The protective qualities really are almost secondary for this reason.” Hence a concern with any padding is that it could also make the wearer uncomfortable from excessive heat. “In Vietnam, soldiers knew the helmet was important, but it was very uncomfortable in hot and humid climates,” said Dr. Grafman. “There needs to be a way to deal with that as well, because a helmet someone takes off isn’t doing the soldier any good.” The final consideration is that no helmet can possibly prevent all injuries. “That is true. Helmets, no matter how good the design, can’t stop all brain injuries,” added Dr. Grafman. “But even if it doesn’t protect from a concussion, it can help even more serious brain damage from occurring.”

The VICIS liner (below) looks more like a contemporary Riddell football helmet liner (left) than current military designs, with several layers of padding to help prevent serious head injuries.

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

111

DIY UPGRADES

SB TACTICAL FS1913

PISTOL STABILIZING BRACES CAN MAKE YOUR LIFE— AND RANGE TIME—A WHOLE LOT BETTER BY WILL DABBS, MD

SB Tactical offers dozens of stabilizing braces for a wide variety of platforms, including the MPX PSB (shown), to help you get the most from your large-format pistols.

112

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

The Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1934 regulated automatic weapons, sound suppressors and destructive devices like hand grenades and mortars. Before that time, anybody with a little money could walk out of their local hardware store with a fully automatic Thompson submachine gun or Browning Automatic Rifle without flashing so much as a driver’s license. But, thanks to the Great Depression, few people had driver’s licenses or much money. The original language of the GCA lumped handguns in with automatic weapons, intending to subject them all to the same $200 transfer tax—a king’s ransom in the day. The barrel length limitations on rifles and shotguns were codified in the expectation that folks would likely just shorten their long guns if handguns were restricted. Handguns were ultimately negotiated out of the final bill, but no one thought to remove the barrel length restrictions. As a result, we now have to lay down $200 and endure a lot of paperwork to possess a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches. Then,

in 2012, Alex Bosco invented the pistol stabilizing brace (PSB), and the whole planet shifted just a bit.

SB TACTICAL Bosco, a military veteran, invented the PSB to help disabled veterans safely operate large-format pistols like ARs with just one arm. After some back and forth, the BATFE ultimately ruled that the inclusion of a PSB on a handgun did not change the weapon’s original categorization no matter how you fired it. As a result, an entirely new classification of firearms was born. Now, Bosco’s company, SB Tactical, offers a variety of PSBs for a variety of beefy handguns. The original SB15 morphed into the SBM4, then the newest of the bunch, the SBA3. Now the company offers over 20 different variants for half a dozen popular platforms. The end result? SB Tactical has made those of us who spent the time and money to register a short-barreled rifle (SBR) look pretty darn stupid. Some of the older PSBs just slip over the buffer tube. The sliding version for the Sig Sauer MPX rides on collapsible struts tactical-life.com

DOUBLESTAR STRONGARM

Compatible with Sig MPXs and MCXs, SB Tactical’s MPX PSB weighs 19.1 ounces and can be adjusted to three different length-of-pull positions.

SB TACTICAL SBM4

SB TACTICAL SBA3

so you can optimize the device for your particular anatomy. The SBPDW offers this same performance for your AR. The SBA3 sliding brace could pass for a standard M4 stock in dim light and fits onto a standard mil-spec carbine receiver extension. A new buffer tube is included with the brace should you need it. It also comes with integral sling sockets. Press the release at the front of the unit and the brace slides fore and aft in the manner of a stock. It also sports the standard Velcro attachments as well. In short, the SBA3 is the most exciting tactical gun accessory in a generation. It’s also surprisingly affordable. SB Tactical gear currently comes in black and Flat Dark Earth, and the quality is superb. The company’s stuff is veteran designed and made in America. As I said, Alex Bosco and SB Tactical gifted American civilian shooters with a whole new genre of guns. Their efforts have literally reshaped the landscape. Another new product from SB Tactical is the FS1913 side-folding PSB. It has a low-profile, left-side-folding design that is compatible with all handguns with a Picatinny rail interface at the rear of the receiver, including the Sig Sauer MPX and MCX as well as Rock River Arms’ LARPDS. Shipping as a complete assembly ready for installation, the FS1913 features an advanced billet-steel hinge that locks firmly in both the folded and extended positions. The pull-through design provides for quick deployment and a solid lockup when fully extended. It’s certainly worth checking out. (sb-tactical.com) TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

113

DIY UPGRADES DOUBLESTAR STRONGARM The DoubleStar Strongarm is a deceptively simple yet remarkably effective addendum to your favorite AR pistol. It’s available as a standalone attachment or as part of the new ARP7 pistol (see the sidebar). Cut from a billet of aluminum, the Strongarm slips over your buffer tube and secures in place with two clamp screws. It also comes with sling mounting sockets and a Velcro arm attachment. In short, it’ll turn any AR pistol into a much more stable hot rod. (star15.com)

KAK SHOCKWAVE BLADE The Shockwave Blade from KAK Industry is a minimalist addition to your existing AR pistol. The Blade will only set you back about $40 and slides in place on buffer tubes up to 1.25 inches in diameter. Installation is just stupid easy. Slip the thing in place, tighten a single setscrew and hit the range. The Shockwave Blade can be adjusted for various lengths and adds little to nothing to the gun’s overall weight. It comes in scads of colors, including red, blue and Flat Dark Earth, and reliably makes a good AR pistol great at a very reasonable cost. The Shockwave Blade can rest against your arm or cheek to add additional stability to any stubby gun with a buffer tube. (kakindustry.com)

is still a buttstock. This means it must be installed on a rifle—not a pistol—and if you want a short barrel, you’ll need a registered SBR lower for legality. The whole setup runs fine on an AR with a standard barrel length, but it just looks cooler with a shorter barrel. I have no excuse. I am just as much a sucker for eye candy as a typical 14-year-old. The HERA CQR doesn’t offer the radical versatility of the PSB options, but it does look undeniably awesome. It is also imminently functional. I mounted mine up on an SBR lower with a 9mm Glock magazine conversion from Stern Defense and suddenly became the coolest guy at the range. If I had enough ammo, I could shoot that thing until I starved to death. (hera-usa.com)

TRIGGER TIME Practically speaking, the 5.56mm NATO is an effective round because of its high velocity. Chop your barrel back far enough, however, and the bullet slows down precipitously. Get too carried away and you have built a very expensive .22-caliber rifle. I am familiar with physics and physiology. But these guns are fire-breathing dragons on the range. And in addition to being really fun, they are preternaturally stowable. I suspect these AR pistols would reliably do the deed on a home invader as well at appropriate ranges. The 9mm Stern Defense rig I mentioned earlier is fairly sedate. Other short-barreled 5.56mm guns are veritable monsters. The recoil is mild, but the

KAK SHOCKWAKE BLADE

HERA CQR The HERA CQR is a substantial departure from the PSB variants we’ve discussed thus far. The CQR is designed for those unfortunate areas in the United States that demand thumbhole stocks for legality. But it’s also cool enough to appeal to the country’s non-enslaved shooters as well. Unlike the previous American-made devices, the CQR hails from Germany. The CQR consists of an angular thumbhole buttstock along with a matching contoured foregrip. The foregrip attaches easily enough, though the buttstock requires a ball-end Allen wrench for installation. The end result has plenty of sling mounting points and looks just super cool. The CQR gives your favorite AR a definitive FN P90 flavor. The downside to the CQR is that it 114

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

The HERA CQR is actually a thumbhole stock, so it can only be installed on a rifle, not a pistol. But with the matching foergrip, you’ve got a truly high-tech-looking gun.

tactical-life.com

The DoubleStar ARP7 is a turnkey 5.56mm AR pistol with all the bells and whistles. The 7.5-inch heavy barrel, Big Timber muzzle brake, 7-inch Cloak M-LOK handguard, lowprofile gas block, billet charging handle and Ergo grip make the ARP7 a high-end tactical platform. But the Strongarm pistol brace is what really sets the gun apart. Machined from aluminum, the Strongarm weighs 4.8 ounces and provides a solid mount for shooting an AR-style pistol. It’s just 1.9 inches long and has a hardcoat anodized finish like the ARP7’s receivers. I actually got my hands on a beautiful new ARP7 for testing, and it ran like a

SPEC BOX

tactical-life.com

5.56mm NATO

BARREL:

7.5 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT:

scalded ape. The gun turns like a fighter plane and remains small enough to tuck into some of the tidiest spaces. Loud, maneuverable and mean, the ARP7 is tomorrow’s optimized home-defense gun. (star15.com) —Will Dabbs, MD

“BOSCO, A MILITARY VETERAN, INVENTED THE PSB TO HELP DISABLED VETERANS SAFELY OPERATE LARGEFORMAT PISTOLS LIKE ARs WITH JUST ONE ARM.” muzzle blast will loosen your fillings. Additionally, the muzzle flash is visible from the moon. No kidding—combining earplugs and muffs is a good idea if you plan to run these guns more than just a little bit. The Stoner-inspired ergonomics of the AR set the standard for everything else. In another quirky aspect of arcane American firearms law, you can put an angled foregrip on a pistol without arousing the ire of federal authorities. However, make that a vertical foregrip and you’ve just committed a felony. I don’t understand it, either. Given all the unbridled chaos taking place right at the muzzle, a proper angled foregrip is a good idea to keep your soft digits away from the scary bits. Magpul makes a great one appropriately called the AFG (Angled Foregrip). HERA also makes a nifty articulated, multi-position foregrip that adjusts as you want it. Despite all the blast, running these

CALIBER:

little guns really is fun. They look neat and swing better than a bulky black rifle or a conventional pistol-caliber handgun. Adding a brace will enhance your control without slowing you down. At typical handgun ranges, I can keep all of my groups within a soup can lid. However, I can only imagine how horrible it might be to touch one of these monsters off for real inside a closet without earplugs.

PISTOL POWER With some proper tactical glass up top, these guns do run faster in tight spaces than a conventional black rifle. The Vortex Razor AMG UH-1, for example, is a red-dot sight that complements these stubby little weapons splendidly. The quick magazine changes set the standard by which all other guns are judged, and the muzzle fireworks in dim light will make you want to go back to church. But at the

GRIP:

24.5 inches 5.4 pounds (empty) Polymer

SIGHTS:

None

ACTION:

Direct impingement semi-auto

FINISH: CAPACITY: MSRP:

Matte black 30+1 $1,300

end of the day, why would any serious gun guy want one of these novel little freaks? You get into a short-barreled, braceequipped AR pistol because this is America and you can. We justifiably gripe about steady infringements on our favorite amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but there really is no place else in the world that offers the unique combination of personal liberty and firearms rights that we find right here in most of America. There are places in the world where weapons are much more readily available, but you wouldn’t want to raise your kids there. The various arcane rules shift like the tides, but folks like SB Tactical, DoubleStar, KAK Industry and HERA are out there churning out “cool guy” stuff to keep our addictions reliably fed. If your gun safe is well stocked but you don’t have a tricked-out brace-equipped pistol, you might want to take the plunge. In addition to being an inimitable home-defense or truck gun, these tidy little beasts embody just a little bit of the stuff that makes us Americans. These guns are loud, mean and ornery, just like the country that birthed them, and when the dust settles, that is enough impetus for me to want one. TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

115

BUYER’S GUIDE

THE YEAR’S BEST REFLEX SIGHTS AND SCOPES TO HELP YOU MAKE EVERY SHOT COUNT 3

BY ROBERT A. SADOWSKI It’s important to think about optics in terms of short-, medium- and long-range shots. A red-dot or reflex sight gives you close- to medium-range aiming capabilities and allows you to get on target fast and follow up just as quickly. For long-range engagements, you’ll need an optic designed to squeeze out shots as far away as 1,000 yards. Depending on the reticle, estimating your holdover and lead can be extremely simple. And then you have mid-range, where a red dot is not enough and a high-power scope is too much. Thankfully, there are options here, too. With all of that in mind, here are some optics for close-, medium- and long-range work.

1• AIMPOINT

COMPM5 The CompM5 is a compact red-dot sight. In fact, it’s the smallest in Aimpoint’s Comp series. Its advanced wedged lens system offers dot clarity and makes the sight parallax free. The sight is compatible with Aimpoint 3XMag-1 and 6XMag-1 magnifiers as well as all generations of nightvision devices. The CompM5 is available for mounting straight on an AR rail or with mounts that allow you to 116

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

co-witness it with backup sights. Expect up to five years of power from a single AAA battery. (aimpoint.com)

the dot to match the lighting environment. It also comes with a quick-release mount, and a 1x20mm version is also available. (barska.com)

2 • BARSKA

1X30MM HQ

3 • BURRIS

The new 1x30mm HQ sight from Barska features push buttons on the side that allow operators to switch between red- and greendot reticles. The sight also features an integrated light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of

TMPR 3 The 3x32mm TMPR 3 prism sight from Burris piggybacks three sighting systems into one compact unit. The sight is a 3X magnified optic that uses a Ballistic AR reticle calibrated for the 5.56mm NATO. Considered this your

mid-range sight. A FastFire reflex sight is also built in for close-range action, and the third component is a laser sight that can be used in low-light conditions. All of the components are easy to zero as well. (burrisoptics.com) 4 • BUSHNELL

FORGE SERIES Bushnell’s new Forge optics—scopes, binoculars and rangefinders—are packed with features serious shooters demand. Weather- and watertactical-life.com

proof, the Forge riflescopes are equipped with the necessary tools to adjust to every shooting condition. Seriously, water and oils will bead right off the lenses. The Ultra Wide Band coating also enables optimum brightness and true color in various conditions. Locking zero-stop turrets and Butler Creek scope covers are included. (bushnell.com) 5 • GERMAN PRECISION OPTICS

GPOTAC 1-8x24i The GPOTAC 1-8x24i from German Precision Optics (GPO) is built on a 34mm main tube with a custom horseshoe-style first-focalplane reticle that is illuminated by iControl fiber-optic technology. The reticle powers off when not in use, and the scope features 8X magnification, up to 20 percent more mounting space than other

similar scopes and Double HD glass. (gpo-usa.com) 6 • HI-LUX

XTC14X34 The Hi-Lux XTC14X34, a 1-4x34mm riflescope, was specifically designed for Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and NRA High Power “Across the Course” Competitions. This scope features a 30mm tube, a front objective parallax adjustment from 15 yards to infinity, and 0.25-MOA-adjustable elevation and windage turrets.

(hi-luxoptics.com) 7 • LEUPOLD

MARK 5HD SERIES Leupold’s Mark 5HD tactical riflescopes are lightweight compared to other scopes in their class. The 5-25x56mm model is ideal for long- to extreme-distance shots, and

the 3.6-18x44mm model is a more compact design yet allows a user to reach out for distance shots. Both scopes feature M5C3 ZeroLock adjustments, providing precise, repeatable tracking with a dead-on return to zero. The elevation dials deliver 30 mils of adjustment in three turns at 10 mils per turn. These scopes are available with or without illuminated reticles, including the TMR, CCH, H59 and Tremor3. (leupold.com)

8 • MEOPTA

MEONIGHT 1.1

tactical-life.com

The MeoNight 1.1 is a dualuse night-vision device. It can be used as a night-vision monocular for standalone viewing or combined with a riflescope. The MeoNight 1.1 features 1X magnification, an

external brightness control and automatically shuts off if unused for one hour. The sight can help you detect targets out to 600 meters. (meoptasportoptics.com) 9 • MEOPTA

MEORED T The 1x30mm MeoRed T reflex sight is specifically designed for AR platforms when quick target acquisition is a must. The sight features unlimited eye relief of where your eye is behind the sight. The illuminated, 1.5-MOA reddot reticle can be adjusted to 12 different brightness levels. (meoptasportoptics.com) 10• NcSTAR

SPD FLIPDOT NcSTAR’s VISM reflex sight lineup now includes the TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

117

BUYER’S GUIDE

13 11

14 15

SPD FlipDot, which uses dual power source technology. The lens folds flat against the optic body when not in use and can be quickly deployed by pressing ambidextrous side levers. When used out in the sun, the solar panel powers the red dot, and will automatically turn on when the spring-loaded lens is deployed. A secondary battery power source can be engaged in low-light conditions by using the side illumination control buttons. The reflex sight also uses a modular KPM mount so it can easily be installed on Picatinny, KeyMod and M-LOK interfaces. (ncstar.com) 11 • NIGHTFORCE

1-8X24MM ATACR F1 Nightforce has now added a 1-8x24mm scope with a first-focal-plane reticle to its 118

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

ATACR series. This low-profile scope is only 10.06 inches long, weighs 21 ounces and features capped turrets that can be adjusted in 0.1-mil increments. The Power Throw Lever (PTL) makes it easy to change magnification quickly, and the FC-DM reticle is optimized for low-power scope use. (nightforceoptics.com) 12 • NIKON

P-TACTICAL SUPERDOT The P-Tactical SuperDot features fully multicoated lenses, a durable aluminum alloy body and Nikon’s proprietary TruColor coating, which eliminates the bluish tint associated with red-dot sights. The sight’s 2-MOA dot can be adjusted to 10 different levels of brightness (the first two settings are night-vision compatible) and is centered within the 22mm window for

a wide field of view with unlimited eye relief. The windage and elevation can be adjusted in 1-MOA adjustments. (nikonsportoptics.com) 13 • RITON

RT-S MOD 5 1-4x24IR The RT-S Mod 5 1-4x24IR is a compact tactical scope featuring an illuminated firstfocal-plane reticle that can be used at true 1X magnification with both eyes open for quick target engagements. Other features included zero-reset capped turrets, 0.5-MOA adjustments, a 300mm one-piece tube made of aircraft-grade aluminum, a fast-focus eyepiece and a black finish. (ritonoptics.com)

and riflescopes allow you to exchange key ballistic holdover information wirelessly. With the free Sig BDX app loaded on your smartphone, you can pair a KILO BDX rangefinder (14) and SIERRA3 BDX riflescope (15). Then, when you range your target, the rangefinder uses Applied Ballistics Ultralight technology to instantly send your dope to the scope via Bluetooth. The scope’s reticle will light up to show you where to hold. Lights on the sides will also show if you’re canting the scope. The best part? You can get both a BDX scope and rangefinder for less than $1,000. (sigsauer.com) 16 • SIG SAUER

BRAVO3 & BRAVO5 14/15 • SIG SAUER

BDX OPTICS Sig’s new Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX) rangefinders

Sig has added two new AR-ready battle sights to its BRAVO line. The BRAVO3 and BRAVO5 offer 3X and 5X tactical-life.com

magnification, respectively. These fixed-power sights provide a 40-percent wider field of view than similar sights, plus they are lightweight and their illuminated reticles are calibrated for 5.56mm NATO and 300 Blackout rounds. The reticles are also designed to work in extremely bright conditions. (sigsauer.com)

a larger eye box and more eye relief than predecessors. The compact S332 and S442, offering 3X and 4X magnification, respectively, give shooters fields of view of 12.9 yards and 15.4 yards at 100 meters as well as 80mm of eye relief. Simple rotary controls provide for quick windage, elevation and reticle brightness adjustments.

17 • SIGHTMARK

(steiner-optics.com)

ELEMENT The 1x30mm Element features a 2-MOA red-dot reticle designed for both-eyes-open shooting. It features a onepiece clamp that securely mounts to a Picatinny rail, and it offers 100 to 15,000 hours of battery life on one commonly found CR2032. Protective lens caps are included, and the sight is submersible down to 1 meter. (sightmark.com)

18 • SIGHTMARK

MINI SHOT M-SPEC FMS 19

The Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec FMS reflex sight delivers a wide field of view with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant lenses, plus a 3-MOA red reticle with 10 brightness settings and an ambidextrous digital switch. It is designed for fast shooting in close quarters. The sight comes with a quick-detach Picatinny rail mount, and it’ll run for 300 to 30,000 hours on one CR1632 battery depending on the reticle brightness. (sightmark.com) 19 • STEINER

tactical-life.com

S332 & S432 Steiner has built two new prism sights with an emphasis on speed and simplicity—the S332 and S432 (shown)—bringing shooters a wider field of view,

20 • STEINER

T5Xi SERIES Steiner has added two new scopes to its T5Xi lineup: a 3-15x50mm model and a 5-25x56mm model. These scopes feature the illuminated, etched-glass, first-focal-plane Special Competition Reticle (SCR) reticle as well as a Second Rotation Indicator that shows each mil of elevation through an indication window on the elevation turret. Both scope models are built on rugged 34mm tubes. (steiner-optics.com) 21 • VORTEX

RAZOR AMG UH-1 The Razor AMG UH-1 uses Vortex’s new Fusion Hologram with Quantum Well Light Control (FHQ) technology. This results in a sight that combines the durability, reliability and energy efficiency of a red dot with the sight picture and reticle pattern of a holographic sight. The purpose-built dynamic-targeting EBR-CQB reticle is clean yet highly versatile, and the UH-1 also boasts aluminum and stainless steel construction for lasting durability in harsh environments. It runs on a Micro-USB-rechargeable LFP 123A battery or a CR123A battery. (vortexoptics.com) TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

119

BUYER’S GUIDE

BERGARA PREMIER HMR PRO Bergara has made its fair share of great guns over the years, and 2018 is no different. The company built the HMR (Hunting and Match Rifle) to handle a number of tasks, and the new Pro version is an enhanced model with a stainless steel barrel, fluted bolt and action. It also has a very nice trigger that can be adjusted down to less than 2 pounds. The action is designed as a two-lug system that features a separate floating bolt head to ensure proper contact with the lug abutments. It also features a cone-shaped bolt nose for smooth feeding, and Bergara is offering the rifle in a variety of calibers. These are just a few of the rifle’s many features. (bergarausa.com)

CUTTING-EDGE PRECISION RIFLES RIGHT ON THE MARK FOR 2018 BY FRED MASTISON

BROWNING X-BOLT PRO LONG RANGE Browning has a very unique gun in the mix this year that falls into what might be called the “semi-custom” category. This is because the rifle has specialized finishing touches and higher-end construction above the already top-tier X-Bolt family of hunting rifles. First, the X-Bolt Pro Long Range features a true carbon-fiber stock, making it extremely lightweight and rigid. The stock is filled with noise-dampening foam. The rifle also comes with a heavy, stainless steel, sporter-contour barrel with a muzzle brake and proprietary lapping. The action has a 60-degree bolt throw and includes an adjustable “Feather” trigger. Browning is offering the rifle in a variety of calibers. (browning.com)

CHRISTENSEN ARMS MPR Well known for its high-end hunting rifles, Christensen Arms has introduced the Modern Precision Rifle (MPR). This is a great-looking rifle with a proprietary chassis. In total, it weighs less than 7 pounds unloaded. The gun features AICS magazine compatibility; a stainless steel action with a fluted bolt and knob and an extended handle; and a hand-lapped, carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel. Short- and long-action models are available for $2,295 and $2,395, respectively. (christensenarms.com)

FN BALLISTA This is a multi-caliber gun, which means that the rifle can be configured in less than two minutes to any of three available chamberings: .338 Lapua Magnum, .300 Winchester Mag and .308 Winchester. The rifle employs a high-strength, vibrationisolated, aluminum alloy receiver with a Picatinny rail. In addition, it features multiple rail segments for accessories, and note that the gun actually has a grip safety. More features include a 26-inch barrel, a fully adjustable trigger (for a single- or two-stage press between 3 and 5 pounds) and an adaptable, ambidextrous folding stock that allows the shooter to configure the rifle for enhanced performance. (fnamerica.com)

120

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

GA PRECISION USMC M40A6 From the precision rifle masters at GA Precision comes the USMC M40A6. This short-action .308 Winchester rifle is built to the 2017 U.S. Marine Corps specifications and has a Schneider stainless steel, 20-inch barrel with a 1-in-10-inch twist rate and a SureFire muzzle brake/suppressor adapter. The chassis is from Remington Defense, and it offers multiple adjustment points to fit a wide variety of shooters. The gun is also tan and black for a touch of style, and it comes with a 0.5-MOA accuracy guarantee. (gaprecision.net)

GA PRECISION GAP TEAM RIFLE The GAP Team Rifle comes ready for competition right out of the box. The rifle sports a GA Precision Templar V2 short action, a Manners ET-4A stock and a 26-inch, stainless steel Bartlein barrel with 5R rifling and a 1-in-7-inch twist rate. The company also includes a Badger Ordnance enhanced triggerguard and a nice Timney trigger. All of this comes together to produce a rifle with an accuracy guarantee of 0.33 MOA. If you are serious about precision and are looking to really perform in the competition world, this is a gun to check out. (gaprecision.net)

GUNWERKS VERDICT For over a decade, Gunwerks has been delivering complete shooting systems with bipods, riflescopes and everything in between. The company’s goal is to provide guns capable of hitting targets at 1,000 yards right out of the box. The Verdict is Gunwerks’ newest offering, and it comes with the company’s GLR action; a match-grade, carbon-fiber, 26-inch Proof Research barrel with a removable muzzle brake; and a Nightforce 5-25x56mm ATACR F1 MOAR scope. This is truly the complete package. (gunwerks.com)

HOWA APC Howa has introduced a new rifle with a modular Australian-made chassis. The aptly named Australian Precision Chassis (APC) rifle is designed for competition and comes in a wide variety of chamberings, including the .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester. The gun is a solid performer at a decent price. With a smooth action, an excellent two-stage trigger and an adjustable stock, it is sure to become a popular rifle in competition circles. (legacysports.com)

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

121

KIMBER ADVANCED TACTICAL SOC II (SG) Another rifle catching a lot of eyes this year is the Kimber Advanced Tactical SOC II (SG). This is an all-business rifle built to meet the requirements of military and law enforcement professionals. Available in 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester, each rifle is built by hand with an adjustable, aluminum folding stock; a match-grade, 16-inch barrel; and a threaded muzzle with a thread protector. Kimber also includes a muzzle brake/suppressor adapter and a 1-inch recoil pad, and the company’s KimPro II finish helps resist corrosion. Finally, the gun comes with a 0.5-MOA accuracy guarantee. (kimberamerica.com)

MOSSBERG MVP PRECISION At the top of Mossberg’s bolt-action rifle line is the new MVP Precision. The first thing you’ll notice is the all-new Mossberg chassis design and Luth-AR MBA-3 adjustable stock. This rifle is also designed to accept and feed from standard AR-style magazines—a first for bolt actions. It also features Mossberg’s patented LBA trigger, which can be adjusted from 3 to 7 pounds, an optics-ready 20-MOA top rail, a scalloped tactical bolt handle and a Magpul MOE+ grip. I had the pleasure of running this rifle and found it to be quite spectacular. (mossberg.com)

REMINGTON MODEL 700 TACTICAL CHASSIS Any discussion regarding precision rifles would be lacking if Remington weren’t mentioned. This new Model 700 comes with an ergonomic MDT TAC21 chassis that makes it easy to add whatever accessories you might need. The free-floating 24- or 26-inch barrel delivers superior accuracy while the Magpul fully adjustable stock and pistol grip ensure shot-to-shot consistency for any shooter or scenario. A fantastic melding together of old and new, the Model 700 Tactical Chassis is available in .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum. (remington.com)

RITTER & STARK SLX The Ritter & Stark SLX is a fantastic multi-caliber, short-action precision rifle. It can be run with .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition. Modeled after the company’s long-action SX-1 Modular Tactical Rifle (MTR), a unique feature of the smaller SLX is that the barrel and rail are integrated, allowing you to leave your scope mounted. Most impressive, however, is the company’s statement that its SLX barrels will shoot to “at least” 0.5 MOA with factory ammunition for 5,000 rounds. (ritterstark.com)

122

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

tactical-life.com

RUGER HAWKEYE LONG-RANGE TARGET Ruger has been hitting a series of home runs in the precision shooting world lately, and the Hawkeye Long-Range Target looks to be another winner. Here a Ruger Precision Rifle Hybrid muzzle brake crowns a heavy 24-inch target barrel with 5/8x24-tpi threading. It also has a speckled black/brown laminate stock that can be adjusted for comb height and length of pull. It takes wildly popular AI-style magazines and comes from the factory with a 20-MOA Picatinny rail. In short, it’s aesthetically pleasing and boasts all of the qualities that ensure it will be a great shooter. (ruger.com)

SAKO TRG-22/42 A1 Thanks to our friends in Finland, we have the new TRG-22/42 A1, a tack driver worthy of the SAKO name. This rifle has solid features like a sturdy folding stock attached to the receiver at two points, an M-LOK forend and a full aluminum middle chassis that eliminates temperature-caused dimensional changes. Add in SAKO’s well-known accuracy and you have a spectacular rifle. It’s currently available with a 26- or 27-inch barrel in a variety of chamberings. (sako.fi)

SAVAGE MODEL 110 TACTICAL WITH ACCUFIT New this year from Savage is the AccuFit system. This is an ingenious stock design that the company has incorporated into a variety of rifles, including the 110 Tactical. The rifle’s AccuFit system lets tactical and competitive shooters customize the length of pull for the utmost consistency, and the user-adjustable AccuTrigger provides a light, crisp pull. Together with the AccuStock, which secures the action three-dimensionally along its entire length, the 110 Tactical provides the fit and function of a custom rifle right out of the box. It also features a suppressor-ready threaded barrel, a one-piece scope rail and a 10-round detachable box magazine. (savagearms.com)

WEATHERBY MARK V CARBONMARK Weatherby is a name generally connected with hunting, especially when it comes to big game. The company’s reputation for making great rifles is known around the world. The Mark V CarbonMark comes with a custom-built, carbon-fiber-wrapped Proof Research barrel that is 64-percent lighter than traditional steel barrels of the same contour. This sub-MOA rifle also has a nine-lug Mark V magnum action with an integral recoil log and a cocking indicator, an LXX trigger and a composite Monte Carlo stock. It is a beautiful gun capable of being both a target rifle as well as an exceptional hunting gun. (weatherby.com)

tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

123

DON'T WANT TO MAIL IN THE SURVEY? Use this QR code or visit https://www.surveymonkey.com /r/TacticalLife2018 DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

124

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

FILL OUT & RETURN THIS SURVEY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN ATHLON OUTDOORS GIFT BAG! GET STARTED NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

1. How did you obtain your copy of Tactical Life? { Subscription { Newsstand { Website/Internet { Mass Merchandiser { Drugstore/ Convenience Store { Bookstore { Sporting Goods Store { Trade Show { A friend { Gun Shop { Other (please specify) ___________________________________ 2. How many of the last 4 issues of Tactical Life have your read? { 4 out of 4 { 3 out of 4 { 2 out of 4 { 1 out of 4 { None of the last 4 issues { New Subscriber/Reader 3. Considering all the times you pick it up, how much time do you spend reading or looking through a typical issue? { Less than 30 minutes { 30 minutes to less than 1 hour { 1 - 2 hours { 2 - 3 hours { 3 - 4 hours { 4 - 5 hours { 5 hours or more 4. What is your gender? { Male { Female 5. Overall how would you rate Tactical Life? { Excellent { Very Good { Fair { Poor 6. What is your age? { 18-24 { 35-44 { 55-64

{ 25-34 { 45-54 { 65+

7. What actions have your taken in the past 12 months from reading Tactical Life? (Select all that apply) { Requested product information or a catalog { Visited an advertisers website { Purchased an advertiser's product or service { Recommended and advertiser's product or service { Changed brands because of an advertisement { Filed an ad for future reference { Told a friend about something you saw in the magazine 8. What is your marital status? { Widowed { Separated { Divorced { Married { Unmarried 9. Do you have children under 18 years old? { YES { NO 10. Do you smoke? { YES

tactical-life.com

{ NO

11. What is the highest level of education that you have completed? { Less than high school degree { High school degree or equivalent (e.g., GED) { Some college but no degree { Associate degree { Bachelor degree { Graduate degree (Masters, Doctorate, Law, etc) 12. If working, which best describes your profession? { Business Owner { Licensed Professional { Executive/Management { Tradesman { Ofﬁce Employee { Technical Employee { Hourly Employee { Uniformed Professional (Military, Police, etc) 13. What do you do with an issue of Tactical Life when you are finished reading it? { Save the entire issue { Save only articles of interest { Place in a public area – skip to question 17 { Discard/Recycle – skip to question 17 { Pass it along to others – skip to question 17 14. How many times in the past year have you referred to back issues or articles of a save Tactical Life? { Never { Less than 2 times { 2 - 5 times { 6 - 10 times { 11 or more times 15. Which of the following categories best describes your employment status? { Part-time, less than 40 hrs/week { Full-time 40 or more hrs/week { Not employed, looking for work { Not employed, NOT looking for work { Retired { Disabled, not able to work 16. Have you served or are serving in any branch of the military? { Currently serving { Honorable Discharge { Retired Military { Dishonorable Discharge { Never served 17. What is your annual household income? { Less than $20,000 { $20,000 to $39,999 { $40,000 to $59,999 { $60,000 to $79,999 { $80,000 to $99,999 { $100,000 to $149,999 { $150,000 or more 18. What is your primary dwelling? { Own a home/condo { Own a trailer/movable dwelling { Rent a home/condo { Rent a trailer/movable dwelling { Rent an apartment { None of the above

19. What type of community do you live? { City or urban community { Suburban community { Rural community 20. Do you own a gun? (If no skip to question 23) { YES { NO 21. What purpose do you use your firearm? (Select all that apply) { Home security { Range { Personal Security { Hunting Competition { On the job { Other (please specify) ___________________________________ 22. Which of the following gun permits/licenses do you have? (Select all that apply) { Concealed Carry { Hunting { None { Other (please specify) ___________________________________ 23. Do you drink alcohol? { YES { NO 24. Which Athlon Outdoors magazines have you purchased? (Select all that apply) { CONCEALED CARRY HANDGUNS { COMBAT HANDGUNS { SURVIVOR'S EDGE { BALLISTIC { GUNS OF THE OLD WEST { PERSONAL DEFENSE WORLD (PDW) { GUNS OF THE OLD WEST { BALLISTIC'S BEST { AR RIFLEMAN MODERN GUNS AND HUNTING { MAGNUM { COMPLETE BOOK OF RELOADING { PDW BLACK GUNS 2018 { PDW GUN BUYERS ANNUAL { TACTICAL LIFE GUN ANNUAL { THE NEW PIONEER { AMERICAN FRONTIERSMAN 25. Which competitive magazines have you purchased? (Select all that apply) { RECOIL { GUNS & AMMO { AMERICAN HANDGUNNER { GUNS MAGAZINE { SHOOTING TIMES { WORLD OF FIREPOWER { SHOOTING ILLUSTRATED { DEFENSE NEWS { GUN WORLD { Other (please specify) ___________________________________ 26. Do you hunt? (If no skip to question 28) { YES { NO 27. Which specific types of hunting do you do? (Select all that apply) { Deer { Feral Hogs/Wild Boar { Other Big Game { Turkey { Upland Birds { Small Game { Waterfowl { Predators { Varmints

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

125

28. How do you consume media/news & information? (Select all that apply) DAILY/MANY TIMES PER DAY

Newspaper Magazine Television Computer Tablet Mobile Phone

{ { { { { {

WEEKLY

36. Please rate the quality of Tactical Life magazine on: EXCELLENT

MONTHLY

{ { { { { {

Content Cover Ease of Reading Layout & Design Photography Writing

29. When looking at online content, which do you prefer? Rank to your preference 1-3. [1] [2] [3] Watching videos [1] [2] [3] Looking at photo galleries [1] [2] [3] Reading articles 30. What is your favorite way to watch videos? (Select all that apply) { Cable/Satellite TV { Online Desktop { Online Mobile { YouTube

TACTICAL-LIFE.COM PERSONALDEFENSEWORLD.COM BALLISTICMAG.COM REALWORLDSURVIVOR.COM

{ { { {

WITHIN PAST WEEK

{ { { {

WITHIN PAST MONTH

{ { { {

WITHIN PAST YEAR

{ { { {

34. Have you participated in following activities and if so how recently? (Select all that apply) Shooting at a Range Shooting in a Competition Plinking Fishing Camping Hiking Cycling Boating Kayaking/Canoeing Skiing Golﬁng Four Wheeling – ATV/UTV Four Wheeling - Truck Watching Sports

{ { { { { { { { { { { { {

PAST YEAR

{ { { { { { { { { { { { {

PAST 2 YEARS

{ { { { { { { { { { { { {

35. Do you plan to buy any of the following items and if so within what time frame? (Select all that apply) Riﬂe Shotgun Pistol Airsoft/Pellet Gun Ammunition Suppressor/Silencer Holster Optic Laser/Light Knife Bow/Crossbow Firearm Aftermarket Accessories Shooting/Tactical Apparel Gun Safe/Storage Survival Gear Camping Gear Hunting Gear New Truck/SUV New ATV

126

WITHIN 3 MONTHS

WITHIN 6 MONTHS

WITHIN 12 MONTHS

{ { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { {

TACTICAL LIFE 11 • 12 • 2018

EXCELLENT

Game On Tactical Rides Advanced Optics Trainer Spotlight Basic Training Tanto’s Take

{ { { { { {

Facebook Twitter Instagram Other

VERY GOOD

GOOD

{ { { { { {

POOR

{ { { { { {

FAIR

POOR

{ { { { { {

WITHIN 24 MONTHS

{ { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { {

WEEKLY

{ { { {

{ { { { { {

MONTHLY

{ { { {

39. How interesting do you find the following articles or videos? VERY INTERESTING

33. How much would you be willing to pay for a 4-issue annual digital subscription of Tactical Life? $

PAST 3 MONTHS

FAIR

{ { { { { {

37. Please rate the quality of Tactical Life magazine columns:

DAILY/MANY TIMES-PER DAY

32. Would you be interested in a digital subscription of Tactical Life? (If no skip to question 34) { YES { NO

PAST MONTH

GOOD

{ { { { { {

38. Do you use social media; if so which channels and how often? (Select all that apply)

31. Which Athlon Outdoor websites have you visited and how often? (Select all that apply) DAILY

VERY

{ { { { { {

Concealed Carry Riﬂes Shotguns Pistols/Revolvers Aftermarket Customization Ammunition Suppressors/Silencers Holsters Optics Lasers & Lights Gun Legislation & Laws Ear Protection Military Tactics Self-Defense Tactics Gun Clubs/Gun Ranges Long-Range Shooting Close Quarters Shooting New Product Introductions New Product Testing New Product Technology Tips for Advance Shooters Gun Safes/Storage Gun Maintenance Female Shooters Gun Competitions

{ { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { {

INTERESTING

SOMEWHAT INTERESTING

{ { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { {

NOT INTERESTING

{ { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { {

2-5

6-10

11+

{ { { { { { {

40. What type of guns/weapons do you own and how many? (Select all that apply, skip if you do not own a gun) 1

Riﬂe Shotgun Pistol Pellet Airsoft Bow/Crossbow Knives

{ { { { { { {

41. If you would like to enter our giveaway, please enter your e-mail address. Only respondents who complete the survey and have submitted an e-mail address will be eligible to win prizes. E-mail: * No purchase required. Open to U.S. residents only and void where prohibited. Prize package value is less than $599. Sponsored by Athlon Outdoors. Starts 8/1/18 and ends 1/31/19. Restrictions apply. Visit Tactical-Life.com/survey1 for details, eligibility and a complete list of ofﬁcial rules.

Mail completed survey to: Athlon Outdoors - TL, Survey 60 E. 42nd St., Suite 820, New York, NY 10165

tactical-life.com