Tactical Life September-October 2018 by Vadim Koval

BRIEFING ROOM

“Three, two, one,” our Three Curl Outfitters guide whispered to three of us stuck knee-deep in Texas farm pasture with fully loaded 7.62mm ARs firmly positioned on tripods, firing-line style. Our rifles, topped with Pulsar thermal imaging scopes, were all locked onto the crop-destroying noggin of a lone hog. (Seeing one alone is almost unheard of in this part of Texas, about 40 miles south of Dallas.) After the guide finished the word “one,” a barrage of shots rang out in the murky 2 a.m. skies, peppering the pig. Our thermal scope evaluation was limited to that single hog over the course of six hours. But we did get to wring out a few different Pulsar handhelds, including Helion monoculars and Accolade binoculars, that proved highly capable of picking up heat signatures of 1,500-pound cows on down to rabbits popping around what I later coined the Hog Chi Minh trail. So what’s that all have to do with Tactical Life? This isn’t exactly a hunting magazine. Well, that early morning hunt

took place just a few hours before the start of the NRA’s 2018 Annual Meetings & Exhibits. After nearly zero shuteye, it was time to start “living the dream” to check out all of the latest guns and gear, and meet military and shooting celebrities. Hell, even the president was in the house! The show’s many aisles were packed with thousands of folks. Thankfully, we Tactical Life’rs don’t need much sleep, and we certainly don’t discriminate between “hunting” and “tactical.” Firearms and our Second Amendment rights unite us all. And we do it all, too. We’re as comfortable in our range-rat wear refining our pistol- and rifle-handling skills as we are decked out in full camo trying to call wild turkeys into range of our tricked-out, pistol-gripped 12-gauge shotguns. We are proud to fly the colors of the American flag—just look at the cover one more time—and we stand up loud and proud to take on the serious responsibilities tied to the Second Amendment. Along with being shrouded in Old Glory, this

issue is also packed with great new guns and gear reviews as well as special stories about American heroes like the late Chris Kyle, Revolutionary War sharpshooter Timothy Murphy and Armageddon Gear founder Tom Fuller. We’ve also got a tribute to the late R. Lee Ermey, our country’s most famous drill instructor. Now without further ado, let’s dive in. —Nino Bosaz

www.athlonoutdoors.com

PLUG INTO

FORTNITE GUNS

The video game “Fortnite” has become a global phenomenon, and with guns at the heart of the game’s success, Ballistic decided to pick up the controller and get in on the action. Here’s a closer look at the five best guns in the world’s most popular video game. bit.ly/2rFDwJb

BALLISTIC’S BEST: Sister publication Ballistic just completed its first annual Ballistic’s Best issue, where we tested and ranked over 70 firearms across nine different categories. Find out who took home trophies by nabbing a copy. Make sure you visit outdoorgroupstore.com. bit.ly/2wMBb4q

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

SELF-DEFENSE LAWS 101: There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to civilian use of force, and knowing your state’s self-defense laws is an important part of gun ownership. Personaldefenseworld.com breaks it down for you. bit.ly/2Hx8pX7

YOUR AR RIGHTS: When it comes to AR-platform pistols and rifles, our experts—Pat McNamara, Fred Mastison, David Bahde and Kris “Tanto” Paronto— agree that every law-abiding American should have the right to ownership. Check out ballisticmag.com to learn their reasons why. bit.ly/2rImESf

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VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 AUGUST• SEPTEMBER 2018

FEATURES 18 LEGENDARY TRIBUTE McMillan honors American Sniper Chris Kyle by recreating his TAC-338 BY SEAN UTLEY

38 TRP 10s Springfield ups the ante with two 1911s powerful enough to stop bears BY DAVID BAHDE

The latest offerings for upgrading your boomstick arsenal BY ANDY MASSIMILIAN

86 SHROUDED FOR SILENCE Tactical Solutions’ new 11-inch-barreled 300 BLK AR gets around the NFA red tape BY FRED MASTISON

52 ROCKIN’ THE ROADHOUSE When things get rowdy, look to this flat-shooting 6.5 Creedmoor from Spike’s Tactical BY DR. MARTIN D. TOPPER

90 A RIMFIRE SUBGUN?

68 THE FERRARI OF SHOTGUNS Italy’s fabled Fabarm arrives in the U.S. with the pump-action STF 12 BY JIM GRANT

The classic American 180 will make you rethink full-auto firepower BY WILL DABBS, MD

62 PRO-GRADE 6.5 Steyr’s latest THB packs sub-MOA performance into a duty-ready stock BY EDUARDO ABRIL DE FONTCUBERTA

76 SCATTERGUN SPECTRUM

100 INSIDE HK USA Pulling back the curtain at Heckler & Koch’s new home for American-made guns BY ROB GARRETT

114 COMPLETE YOUR OWN LOWER Ready to make your own AR pistol? Crank up the R&B BY WILL DABBS, MD

122 FULLER SPEED AHEAD Meet the brains and brawn behind Armageddon Gear BY DAVID BAHDE

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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 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

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 AUGUST• SEPTEMBER 2018

COLUMNS 08 GEAR UP

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New guns and gear showcased at the 2018 NRA Show

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

ADVANCED OPTICS A Primary Arms optic goes to Hell and back with stunning results

28 DUTY READY How VIEVU body-worn cameras are transforming law enforcement

34 HISTORY LESSON How Timothy Murphy’s well-placed shot helped win the Revolution

ONLINE STORE outdoorgroupstore.com

Rounding up the best tactical knives hitting the market this year

* Consultant

104 GAME ON Enter the war room where “World of Tanks” and history charge ahead

Saluting R. Lee Ermey, America’s favorite drill instructor

6 4 TACTICAL TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018 WEAPONS

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96 BATTLE BLADES

128 IN MEMORIAM

Brock Norman

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

CMMG can take you to DefCan 1 with five new sound suppressors

Testing there Sig ASP replicas to see how they stack up to their centerfire brethren

Jim Coen; 212-478-1949 Carrie Roeder

CORPORATE OFFICERS

82 CAN CORNER

118 AIR FORCE

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

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

Alternative-force tactics can help you survive a deadly situation

Turning a typical Hummer into a military-inspired showpiece

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

ATHLON MEDIA GROUP

46 BASIC TRAINING

108 TACTICAL RIDES

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES NORTHEAST REGION SOUTHEAST & UPPER MIDWEST WESTERN REGION MIDWEST/CENTRAL SOUTH

108 82

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.

BLACKHAWK

HYBRID FOLDING SIGHTS

BERETTA

APX CENTURION & COMPACT

NEW GUNS AND GEAR SHOWCASED AT THE 2018 NRA SHOW

Beretta has expanded its striker-fired APX line with two smaller variants to complement the popular fullsized model. The mid-sized APX Centurion pistol holds either 15+1 (9mm) or 13+1 (.40 S&W) rounds in the same magazines as the fullsized APX. The APX Compact is designed for concealed carry and holds either 13+1 (9mm) or 10+1 (.40 S&W) rounds and can accept larger APX magazines as well. As with all APX pistols, the Centurion and Compact have been designed specifically for military and law enforcement users with removable serialized subchassis and replaceable grip modules. (beretta.com)

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

BUSHNELL

FORGE SCOPES Bushnell’s new Forge optics—scopes, binoculars and rangefinders—are packed with features serious shooters demand. Weather- and waterproof, 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)

BUTLER CREEK

ASAP ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE LOADER

APX COMPACT

APX CENTURION

These backup sights have solid metal alloy cores with advanced co-polymer jackets to remain light while still being extremely durable. The hybrid construction eliminates excess bulk while providing tool-less windage and elevation adjustment dials. The steel A2 front sight post aids in accurate round placement while the rear sight aligns to the M4/AR-15 A-frame front sight height and boasts a magnetic twin aperture. Both sights can be flipped up with a gloved hand and hold tight under .308 recoil. (blackhawk.com)

The only product of its kind on the market, the ASAP Electronic Magazine Loader is made with serious competitors and training facilities in mind. Just fill the 60-round hopper with loose rounds, select the desired round count and press a button. The machine automatically orientates the ammunition and loads your magazine for you. It really doesn’t get much easier than this. (butlercreek.com)

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CRIMSON TRACE

TACTICAL LIGHTS

DOUBLESTAR

ARP7 Weighing in at just 5.4 pounds unloaded with an overall length of 24.5 inches, the DoubleStar ARP7 is versatile AR-platform pistol. It’s loaded with upgrades from front to back, including the Big Timber Brake, the new DoubleStar Cloak M-LOK handguard, an ambidextrous safety selector, an Ergo grip, a Backbone Billet charging handle with a Strike Industries Tac Latch and the extremely durable billet DoubleStar Strongarm pistol brace. (star15.com)

Crimson Trace’s new Tactical Lights offer touchpad activation when installed on a long gun. Alternatively, the light can be removed from the attachment bracket to serve double duty as a handheld flashlight. The CWL-100 provides 500 lumens of LED white light on high and 50 on low. It’s made for rails. The CWL-101 is designed for M-LOK and KeyMod handguards. The CWL-200 provides 900 lumens and 90 on low. It works with Picatinny rails while the CWL201 is made for M-LOK and KeyMod forends. (crimsontrace.com)

SMITH & WESSON

PERFORMANCE CENTER MODEL 19 CARRY COMP The Smith & Wesson Performance Center is now offering the .357 Magnum Model 19 Carry Comp, which has a stainless steel, 3-inch, PowerPort vented barrel, a tritium front sight, an adjustable rear sight, a tuned action and a carbon-steel frame. Both synthetic and wooden grips are included, and the gun holds six rounds with an overall length of 8 inches and a weight of 34.1 ounces. (smith-wesson.com)

REMINGTON

MODEL 700 PCR Available in .260 Remington, .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor, the new Model 700 PCR (Precision Chassis Rifle) pairs the legendary Model 700 action with an aircraft-grade aluminum alloy chassis to create a stable platform for getting first-round hits in any condition. Some of the upgrades include a free-floating, 24-inch barrel with 5R rifling and a completely user-configurable Magpul PRS GEN3 stock. Before the rifle leaves the Remington factory, its sub-MOA accuracy is confirmed using the company’s Computer Aided Targeting System. (remington.com)

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MAGPUL

BIPOD The Magpul Bipod is made of hardcoat anodized 6061-T6 aluminum and injection-molded polymer to combine functionality, strength and value. The low-profile design conceals its mechanisms and hardware while preventing any snags on gear or other weapons. It’s optimized for rapid one-handed adjustments and comes in black or Flat Dark Earth. Three different versions are available for M-LOK forends, Picatinny rails and ARMS 17S-style mounts. (magpul.com)

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

SB TACTICAL

SIG SAUER

SBA3

BDX OPTICS

SB Tactical is now shipping its SBA3 pistol stabilizing brace for AR-platform pistols. Designed for ARs that can accept mil-spec carbine extensions, the brace has a minimalist design while offering five different length-of-pull positions. A milspec carbine buffer tube is included along with an ambidextrous QD sling socket and an adjustable nylon strap for a more comfortable fit. The SBA3 was also designed by veterans, and it’s made here in the U.S. (sb-tactical.com)

Sig’s new Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX) rangefinders 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 (shown) and SIERRA3 BDX riflescope. 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 show if you’re canting the scope. You can get both a BDX scope and rangefinder for less than $1,000. (sigsauer.com)

SOLID AIM

SHOOTING STICK

SIG SAUER

365 AMMO Sig has introduced new high-performance 365 Elite Performance 9mm ammunition that is designed specifically for short-barreled concealed-carry pistols, including its namesake, the revolutionary Sig P365. The 115-grain V-Crown JHPs and FMJs are designed to shoot similarly—with the same recoil, velocity (1,050 fps) and point of impact—to ensure a seamless transition from training ammunition to carry ammunition. The rounds are loaded on the same machines, to the same pressure levels, with the same brass. (sigsauer.com)

Non-Typical Inc., the company that makes Cuddeback trail cameras, is now offering the Solid Aim, an extremely versatile shooting stick that can accommodate rifles, shotguns, handguns and crossbows. The compact Solid Aim can be adjusted from 8 inches to over 60 inches and will pivot 180 degrees from left to right for easy aiming. When it’s time to move on, simply squeeze the release trigger to retract the stick back to its convenient, packable size of about 8 inches. (solidaim.com)

STEINER

S332 & S432 SIGHTS 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, 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. (steiner-optics.com)

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SPRINGFIELD

SAINT SBRs Springfield Armory is now offering short-barreled variants of its popular Saint AR-15s. The standard 5.56mm SBR comes with a Melonited 11.5-inch barrel, an adjustable gas block, an M-LOK handguard and BCM furniture. The upgraded Saint Edge SBR (shown) features the same barrel and upper as well as a matchgrade trigger, a billet-crafted lower receiver with an integral triggerguard and QD sling mounts, and an ambidextrous safety. (springfield-armory.com)

ZERO TOLERANCE

TRISTAR

0462

COMPACT

Designed by Dmitry Sinkevich, the new Zero Tolerance 0462 is a super-sized version of the company’s popular 0460. It features an upswept, 3.75-inch blade made of CPM 20CV steel. The new 0462 also has a colored carbon-fiber front scale with a deep-red weave of color. The knife uses a frame lock yet opens quickly thanks to the KVT ball-bearing system and a built-in flipper. And note that there’s no logo on the blade. Instead, Zero Tolerance added details to the interior of the handle. (zt.kaiusaltd.com)

The new TriStar Compact is a 12-gauge bullpup that is only 30 inches long while still sporting a 20-inch barrel. This gas-operated, semiautomatic shotgun allows you to shoot shells up to 3 inches long, from standard field loads to 1.38-ounce slugs, interchangeably. The Compact uses a removable choke system with Beretta/ Benelli threads, and one extended, ported cylinderbore choke is included along with a rubber recoil pad, sling mounts, flip-up front and rear sights, and two 5-round magazines. (tristararms.com)

VERTX

GUARDIAN Vertx’s new Guardian short- and long-sleeve shirts feature a semicompression WeaponGuard layer that begins at the lower chest and continues to the waist. This underlayer is designed to comfortably guard the skin from chafing caused by concealed weapons, without having to don additional layers. The Guardian has a button-front, pullover design for effortless donning, and snap button closures at the bottom of the garment provide easy access to concealed weapons. (vertx.com)

T/C LONG RANGE RIFLE

Co-developed by Performance Center and Thompson/Center Arms for extreme long-range shooting, the Long Range Rifle is built on an aluminum chassis and is available in .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor. Black and Flat Dark Earth versions are available with 5R-rifled barrels from 20 to 26 inches long depending on caliber. The chassis has M-LOK slots up front for accessories while the buttpad and cheekpiece are both adjustable to provide a superior fit. (tcarms.com)

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ADVANCED OPTICS

WE FROZE IT

A PRIMARY ARMS OPTIC GOES TO HELL AND BACK WITH STUNNING RESULTS BY MITCH HARDIN

WE CRUSHED IT 14

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

scope from Primary Arms, its vendors or my favorite place to shop, the AK Operators Union (AKOU), which offers a complete package for AK shooters that includes the scope as well as RS Regulate mounts. The ACSS reticle is so simple to use that it’s almost too easy. It combines bulletdrop compensation with range-estimation capabilities. It’s designed to increase your first-round hit probability and decrease your time on target. According to Primary Arms, it’s a two-part reticle that lets you be very fast from 0 to 300 yards and very accurate from 400 to 600 yards. It also includes lead dots on each side of the center chevron for moving targets. As you can probably see, this versatile reticle will make lots of shooters happy.

UNDERWATER TESTING Recently, I got to test Primary Arms’ 3X Compact Prism Scope, though “torture” might be more accurate. What makes this scope unique is the Advanced Combat Sighting System (ACSS) reticle etched into the glass. This scope was designed

To begin testing, I established a 50-yard zero as indicated in the manual. Then I attached about 50 feet of 550 paracord as a lanyard before pitching the scope into the cold Puget Sound. Anyone can waterprooftest an optic. However, I prefer to take my testing to extremes. As most know, salt water and electronics don’t mix.

for the sport shooting and hunting crowds. Of course, considering my testing protocol, I’d also include law enforcement in that mix, too. After seeing what this scope was capable of, I wouldn’t hesitate to put this on my patrol rifle. But more on that later. The ACSS reticle was designed by Dimitri Mikroulis and is used under license by Primary Arms (and Trijicon in its ACOG). I tested the reticle specific for 7.62x39mm/ 300 Blackout rounds, but it’s also available for other chamberings. I used RS Regulate AK-302M and AKOG mounts for this test on my AK-pattern DAKM-4150 from Definitive Arms. You can pick up this compact prism

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

ADVANCED OPTICS

The 3X Compact Prism Scope survived being run over by a Jeep twice (left) and even baking in an oven for 30 minutes at 170 degrees (right). Nevertheless, the scope still worked and held its zero.

The tide was in at the time, making the depth about 25 feet from the dock I was standing on. I gave the scope my standard 60-minute marinating time in the cold ocean water. Currently, it’s not Dungeness crab season, so there were plenty of them crawling under the dock. I swear I felt tension on the line a couple of times. That was probably just the crabs thinking, “What the hell kind of armor does this guy’s shell have?” After the scope had spent an hour on the ocean floor, I pulled it to the surface. It powered right up without hesitation. The reticle was nice and bright. After I walked in from the dock, I rinsed the scope off with fresh water. Into the deep freezer it went for my usual three-hour cold-weather simulation test. But I became preoccupied, and the test accidentally lasted five hours because I forgot about it. When I pulled the scope out of the freezer, it powered right up again with no hesitation. The reticle was crisp and clear. I even took it to the range to check the pre-established zero. Everything was good, and I noted no shift in zero.

side and each lens from a height of more than 6 feet. To make it more interesting, I removed the protective lens caps. Because I wasn’t getting the results I was looking for, I decided to chuck the scope about 20 to 25 feet down a concrete slab. It bounced several times on the concrete and even glanced off a thick metal table leg before stopping. I actually succeeded in slightly denting the tube near the front lens housing during this test. It didn’t seem to faze this scope, though. The only other notable damage was to the turret caps, but it

was only slight and to be expected with any brand of scope. With a quick click of the illumination dial, the scope displayed a bright, crisp reticle. When I checked the zero, it had slightly shifted to the left. I don’t blame the scope, though, as the mount had come a bit loose during the abuse test. I just retightened it and re-established my zero.

FREEZING & BAKING The next leg of testing found the prism scope in a large bowl of water that I left in my deep freezer for more than 48 hours. I’m sure some of you are wondering why I’d make prism-scope ice cubes. Simply, I was attempting to get the seals in the scope to swell

SHOCKS & DROPS I subjected the 3X Compact Prism Scope to lots of abuse during this test. I started by dropping the scope on each 16

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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and allow water into the tube to fry the electronics. When I broke open the ice sarcophagus and powered up the scope, however, I was again greeted with a bright, crisp illumined reticle. I wanted to dry out the scope properly after my ice test, so into the oven it went. It spent 30 minutes tanning on a cookie sheet at 170 degrees. At that point, every other red-dot sight I’ve ever tested was dead right there, or close to it, and testing was all but finished. Not the 3X Compact Prism Scope. Nope, it simply mocked me. That meant that I had to get more creative and add more methods to my testing. For anyone wondering, it held its zero just fine after being frozen and then baked in the oven.

The author initially tested the sight on his 7.62x39mm Definitive Arms DAKM-4150 using RS Regulate AK-302M and AKOG mounts.

BRING IN THE JEEP At this point, I wanted to kill the scope. What better way to do that than to run it over with a 31-inch mud tire, right? Wrong. I tossed the scope onto a dirt trail to see what would happen next. In the interest of full disclosure, I reinstalled the factory mount on the scope, as I didn’t want to destroy my RS Regulate mounts. I’m blessed to have a patient, understanding wife who was willing to run over the scope while I took pictures. Actually, I think she enjoyed it a little too much. All this did was pack the scope into the dirt. It warped the scope caps a bit, but that was the extent of the damage. So, I did what any reasonable person would do. I had my wife put the Jeep in reverse and do it again. It yielded the same results. And after powering up the scope, the reticle was crisp and clear. I swear, this thing was holding on stronger than an antibiotic-resistant STD. It was then time to brainstorm more ideas on how to kill it. Who doesn’t want to see what happens when you put a nice scope in a microwave? My wife, for one, and she gave me one of those looks when I told her what I wanted to do. Thankfully, my local thrift shop had a great deal on an old beater microwave for this portion of the test. After about 25 to 30 seconds of cooking, the scope started to arc pretty well, so I pulled the plug. Finally, I had tactical-life.com

a prayer of thanks to the scope gods, it was time to head home to enjoy some frosty malted beverages.

AFTER-ACTION REPORT

succeeded in frying the electronics. However, technically, it was still in the fight, as the reticle is etched into the glass. I was shocked, as there wasn’t a hint of scorched glass or smoke in the tube. Because my testing was finally concluded, I wanted to give the scope a proper sendoff. I grabbed my trusty Definitive Arms AK-47 and some 7.62x39mm FMJs and went to the range. The first shot only blew off the mount. The glass with the etched reticle was still clear and surprisingly not even cracked. I could have had a nice 3X spotting scope, but I decided to shoot it a couple of more times instead. By then, it was dead, and the torture test was concluded. After some flowers and

Some of you might think this battery of testing was a bit extreme, and I’d be inclined to agree. However, I believe in thoroughly testing equipment so I can discover its limits. In the real world, depending on your location, you encounter extreme cold, desert heat, high humidity or monsoon-type rains. What would happen if you accidentally lost your grip or balance, sending your rifle slamming onto the ground opticfirst? By pushing a piece of equipment to the point of failure, you get a much better idea of what it’s capable of handling before quitting. Primary Arms, along with ACSS designer Dimitri Mikroulis, really hit it out of the park with this one. There is nothing “budget” about this prism scope—other than the $260 price tag. It’s worth every penny and then some. It wouldn’t be doing this prism scope justice unless I gave it the ringing endorsement it rightfully deserves. The ACSS reticle is easily one of the best reticles I’ve ever used. It packs everything a shooter could want into one package. If you decide to purchase this prism scope, do so with complete confidence. For more information, visit primaryarms.com. TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

ON THE COVER

★★★

MCMILLAN HONORS AMERICAN SNIPER CHRIS KYLE BY RECREATING HIS POWERFUL TAC-338 BY SEAN UTLEY

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

LEGENDARY TRIBUTE

AVE YOU EVER HEARD OF CHRIS KYLE?” A MAN ASKED AS I SAT IN THE AIRPORT, WAITING OUT ANOTHER DELAYED DEPARTURE. HE HAD NOTICED THE FIREARMS-BRANDED CUES ON MY SHIRT AND HAT AND WAS INTRIGUED.

“The Legend,” U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, captivated the world with his book American Sniper, which told of his combat exploits in Iraq. It was later turned into an acclaimed film directed by Clint Eastwood.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

As I nodded, he said he’d recently read Chris Kyle’s book, American Sniper, and how impactful he thought it was. This man had no military background. He was simply a business owner traveling with his wife, with four boys at home. He continued to say how moved he was by the book, the efforts Kyle made and the man that Kyle was—so much so that he’d brought a veteran who was struggling with posttraumatic stress disorder to work at his business. Ironically, just minutes before that exchange, I was struggling with how to open this piece, worried that my words would not do Kyle justice. Instead, someone else provided those words and reinforced the impact Kyle had on so many Americans. His legacy is profound and further underscores how imperative it is to appropriately honor him. One of the most recognized tributes to Kyle is the movie America Sniper, and if you’re reading this, it’s almost a guarantee you’ve seen it. If you’re an avid shooter like me, you paid close attention to the authenticity of the weapons used throughout the film. One of the sniper rifles used in the movie was a replica created by McMillan Firearms, and although there were no efforts to make such iconic

firearms available to the public back then, the company is doing just that now with the TAC-338 bolt-action rifle.

THE REAL McCOY When I was told of the plans to build a clone of the rifle Kyle used, I was both excited and concerned. There is a lot that can go right, yet so much that can go wrong—and those sentiments applied to my coverage of such a weapon. I was honored yet petrified. My nervousness was quelled when I learned that McMillan Firearms planned to build the gun as closely to the exact specs as the company did for Kyle in 2004, from the action, barrel, rail, trigger and stock to the screws and hardware—even if that meant stepping backward in technology to do so. True authenticity. Not only that, but two of the original gunsmiths who worked closely with Kyle to outfit the TAC-338 he deployed with are on the project. “I wanted to be on board to make sure that the project was done right—that I could do everything I could to make it as right as possible and to pay tribute to the legend,” said Dave Arnberger, one of the original builders of Chris Kyle’s personal McMillan TAC-338. As I spoke with Arnberger, his insistence on tactical-life.com

★★★

McMillan is only making 100 special-edition rifles that replicate Chris Kyle’s original TAC-338. Each comes with a Harris bipod, a Leupold Mark 4 scope, a special display mount, a flag, two challenge coins and a box of custom .338 Lapua Magnum ammo.

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

LEGENDARY TRIBUTE

the appropriateness of this project was evident. He and Kyle developed a friendship and relationship that can only come from such a process. They nursed beers together and shared laughs, and Arnberger’s children spent time with the legend. Arnberger and I spent considerable time talking, and unfortunately, all of our discussion can’t be shared. But understand that he and Don Hagerman, the other gunsmith responsible for outfitting Kyle’s legendary TAC-338, are committed to this rifle being done right and, perhaps more important, for the right reasons.

THE TOOL Although Kyle used a .300 Winchester Magnum for most of deployments, his most famous and longest shot was taken with a McMillan-built TAC338. According to Arnberger, between Kyle’s third and fourth deployment, Kyle and Ryan McMillan discussed how insurgents were beginning to pick up on the .300 Winchester Magnum’s range limitations. So, McMillan decided the company should get Kyle a .338 Lapua Magnum. That extended his engagement ranges and would eventually allow for the 2,100-yard kill for which he’s 22

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

★★★

famous. McMillan had been producing TAC-338s at the time, but none had been used in theater. Conversely, Canadian snipers were using the TAC-50 successfully at that time. On November 27, 2007, the company began work on Kyle’s TAC-338. During the process, Arnberger contacted Jeff SPEC BOX Two gunsmiths responsible for building Kyle’s original TAC-338— Don Hagerman (left) and Dave Arnberger (right)— helped oversee the replica program.

MCMILLAN TAC-338

CHRIS KYLE EDITION CALIBER:

.338 Lapua Magnum

BARREL:

27 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT:

50.25 inches 15.5 pounds (with scope and mag)

STOCK:

McMillan A5

SCOPE:

Leupold 8.5-25x50mm Mark 4 LR/T

ACTION: FINISH: CAPACITY: MSRP:

Bolt Tan Cerakote 5+1 $15,000

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LEGENDARY TRIBUTE

While Kyle’s TAC-338 was coated in tan spray paint, McMillan wisely opted to go with Cerakote for its special commemoratives.

McMillan had the McCann Industries rail resurrected for this project, and the included Leupold scope is the same model given to Chris Kyle.

Hoffman of Black Hills Ammunition for a few cases of .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition, and although the inventory was low and mostly accounted for, Hoffman made sure he got what he needed. A few modifications were made to the cheekpiece of the McMillan A5 stock to enhance its durability, too. On March 20, 2008, the TAC-338 was logged out to SEAL Team 3 of San Diego, and Kyle left with the TAC-338 for his final deployment.

OLD IS NEW AGAIN McMillan is pulling out all the stops for this limited run of TAC-338s. Each gun, of 100 total, will be made to the exact specifications of Kyle’s original rifle with only one real difference—the manufacturer on the receiver will read “McMillan” instead of “McMillan Bros.” McMillan Bros. no longer exists as a company, so the name can’t be used. Still, the same style of font that was engraved on the original rifle will be used along with everything else. As you can imagine, the project spawned much debate within the McMillan team. In an effort to stay true to the original rifle, older technology will be employed. Parts and components 24

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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★★★ 1

“WE REALIZED THAT BY DOING THIS, WE WERE IN FACT PRESERVING A PIECE OF AMERICAN HISTORY IN A WORLD LOOKING TO REWRITE THE PAST. WE WANTED NO DETAIL TO BE OVERLOOKED.” will be recreated, such as the McCann Industries rail. It’s no longer produced, but McMillan is having the rail made for this special run. The McMillan Bros. MCRT receivers were made from 17-4 stainless steel bar stock and fitted with 9310 steel bolts. The clones will be made to the same specifications and include Robar’s NP3 coating on the bolt. Original serial numbers were engraved with “XXXRLL,” where the “RLL” designates right-hand, long-action Lapua. Only one of the clones will receive that serial number sequence, and the rest will be engraved with a “CKXXX,” with “CK” obviously denoting Chris Kyle. Current McMillan receivers are CNC-machined, but the clones will be made like the originals on manual mills and lathes, and the machine shop responsible for making the receivers will be called back into service, as well as the same person responsible for cutting the bolt raceway. The barrels will also be turned manually like before. More features include a Jewell trigger, Badger tactical-life.com

1. The .338 Lapua Magnum barrel begins as a Schneider blank before being turned manually and cut for a 27-inch overall length. 2. EliteIron helped contribute to the project by recreating the muzzle brake on Kyle’s original TAC-338 rifle. 3. The 9310 steel bolt is coated in Robar’s NP3 finish for corrosion resistance. Also note the special “CK” serial number on the receiver.

Ordnance bottom metal and a Schneider 27-inch, 1-in-10-twist barrel. The firing pin assembly on the original rifle was a special version created by Rock McMillan, and that will also be included on the special-edition TAC-338. A McMillan A5 stock will be installed, of course. “We’re even resurrecting the old cheekpiece hardware,” Arnberger said. Dale Poling of EliteIron was contacted for the original muzzle brake, and he was happy to oblige. A Turner sling and Harris 6-by-9-inch bipod will also be included. The nuts and bolts will also be the same. Everything will be period correct. The type of glass used on Kyle’s TAC-338 is a somewhat sensitive topic. Arnberger said it left their shop with a Leupold 8.5-25x50mm Mark 4 LR/T scope with an illuminated reticle. Purportedly, Kyle used a Nightforce, and the SEALs were using Nightforce scopes at the time, so he switched optics after he was in theater. The clone will receive the Leupold glass. To keep the TAC-338 in its original visual glory, it should be finished in tan spray paint. But there are some things you shouldn’t do, no matter how authentic they might be, although Arnberger said TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

LEGENDARY TRIBUTE

Along with the McCann rail and EliteIron muzzle brake, the Chris Kyle Edition TAC-338 includes a Jewell trigger, Badger Ordnance bottom metal and the firing pin assembly Rock McMillan created for the original build.

the team discussed this. Instead of Krylon, the Kyle clone will receive a tan Cerakote finish on the entire gun, plus the optic and rings. This color will match the original paint scheme.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Even the adjustable cheekpiece on the McMillan A5 stock has been faithfully reproduced for the utmost authenticity.

“I WANTED TO BE ON BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECT WAS DONE RIGHT— THAT I COULD DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO MAKE IT AS RIGHT AS POSSIBLE AND TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LEGEND.” 26

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

I’m sure you’re wondering how much a Chris Kyle TAC-338 clone will cost. The MSRP will be $15,000, a price tag I expected for such a period-correct collector’s piece. Sure, you could buy a regular TAC-338 in tan, but you’ll still need an optic, and by then you’ll be more than halfway there. You’ll be missing most if not all of the original parts used and lack the authenticity that comes with them. You won’t have the “CK” serial number, either, and it won’t be one of 100. It’d also be void of the other specially selected and designed accoutrements, including a custom-crafted wall display mount that matches the wood of an ammo box containing 50 rounds of limited-edition .338 Lapua ammo. This ammo will have a “CK-AVF” headstamp. Also inside the case is an American flag, two challenge coins and a custom-designed belt buckle from the silversmith who crafts the American Valor Foundation memorial buckles. Some of you might scoff at that price, but others will not. The bigger concern should be how the kit will be perceived. Like you, I was intrigued tactical-life.com

DUTY READY

HOW VIEVU BODY-WORN CAMERAS ARE TRANSFORMING LAW ENFORCEMENT BY DONALD J. MIHALEK

The LE4 is VIEVU’s first model to activate as soon as an officer unholsters their service weapon. It also records a 95-degree field of view and can run for 12 full hours.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

It takes just 1.6 seconds for a suspect to pull a gun and fire at a police officer. In this blur of motion, the details often get lost in the action. Such split-second incidents have cost police departments and cities many unintended consequences, which is why many are flocking to purchase body-worn cameras. Today’s body-worn cameras come in various styles and from many vendors, but they all have one basic function: to capture the incident from the officer’s perspective. This provides facts and evidence about a situation and might refute the “he said, she said” dilemma. The cameras can also be used for fighting crime and reducing complaints.

OAKLAND DEFENDERS The Oakland, California, Police Department (OPD) long ago decided to invest in and equip its officers with body-worn cameras. Recently, the department continued to recognize the importance of that investment by upgrading its body-worn cameras to VIEVU LE4s so officers will continue to have the best tools to help capture an incident—for the protection of the officer and the public at large. The department is in the process of approving a $1.27 million contract to purchase 800 new cameras. The LE4 is rapidly becoming the go-to choice in the law enforcement community. The Oakland Police Department joined police departments from Phoenix,

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DUTY READY

There are a few competitors, but VIEVU offers flexible evidence storage solutions as well as 24/7 support for law enforcement agencies.

Miami-Dade County, New York City and others by equipping officers with LE4s. “We were very happy to see Oakland continue to maintain its prestigious position with a growing list of departments that have decided to go with or upgrade to our body-worn camera system,” said David Kingston, general manager and vice president of VIEVU.

The OPD has been an advocate of VIEVU body cameras since 2010. The department currently has 775 cameras, most of which are VIEVU LE3 models. “Early on, the Oakland Police Department believed in the benefits of their officers wearing body-worn cameras, and [it] has been a great partner and decided to go with VIEVU after testing

“STUDIES SHOW THAT BODY-WORN CAMERAS CAN HELP LOWER THE NUMBER OF USE-OF-FORCE INCIDENTS AND COMPLAINTS BY ADDING CREDIBLE EVIDENCE TO A RAPIDLY EVOLVING INCIDENT.”

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

and evaluating several body-camera systems,” Kingston said.

BETTER BACKUP Studies show that body-worn cameras can help lower the number of use-of-force incidents and complaints by adding credible evidence to a rapidly evolving incident. News articles have repeatedly called attention to the use of body-worn camera videos helping to clear officers of accusations of wrongdoing or substantiate the facts for a use-of-force incident. Of course, the videos are also logged as evidence. An undercover sergeant from California recently recounted an incident, saying, “We recorded a traffic stop that led to a methamphetamine-for-sale arrest. The suspect initially told detectives it wasn’t her car, purse or drugs. Once she was told the whole stop and her conversations were all recorded on

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DUTY READY

VIEVU cameras are designed so that they can quickly be mounted in your vehicle, then on your person, for example.

video, and her attorney saw the supplemental report to that effect, she pleaded guilty and took the offered deal at the preliminary hearing, thus saving court time, a trial, overtime, etc.” At the same time, VIEVU has been winning the support of major police departments throughout the country because of its flexible technical architecture. “We wanted VIEVU to follow the ethos of our parent company, Safariland, and serve the law enforcement community,” Kingston said. “We design body

camera systems that are simple and offer multiple options for departments when it comes to storage, access and 24/7 technical assistance with a product that is tested by law enforcement.”

ON THE CUTTING EDGE VIEVU continues to advance the technology found in body cameras with its recent introduction of the LE5, which has industry-first features, including a user-selectable field of view and a USB-C connection port. The LE5

“OUR COMMITMENT AT VIEVU IS TO PROVIDE TOOLS THAT WILL PROTECT OFFICERS AND ENHANCE OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY.”

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

camera is fully configurable to capture a classic 95 degrees, which replicates the human eye, a narrower 70 degrees for a focused view, or a wide 120 degrees. The USB-C connection provides for quick charging and data uploading, and the LE5’s symmetrical and reversible design allows for easy docking and camera/holster auto-activation capabilities with VIEVU’s innovative ClipLock camera mounting system. “Our commitment at VIEVU is to provide tools that will protect officers and enhance overall public safety,” Kingston said. “Our camera systems enable the police and public to view an incident from the same vantage point, removing the hearsay and working from facts. As we’ve seen from high-profile incidents, when the facts are in question or left to interpretation, unintended consequences occur. Our system helps prevent that and shows the officer’s vantage point to give departments, courts and the public a view they can trust.” For more information, visit vievu.com.

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HISTORY LESSON

REVOLUTIONARY HOW TIMOTHY MURPHY’S WELL-PLACED SHOT HELPED WIN THE REVOLUTION BY WILLIAM MILLER

John Trumbull’s “Surrender of General Burgoyne” shows the result of the fighting in Saratoga. Colonel Daniel Morgan is shown in white.

The battles at Lexington and Concord in April of 1775 launched the American Revolution, but the “shot heard round the world” would’ve meant nothing if not for a lead ball fired two years later near Saratoga, New York. On October 7, 1777, British Brigadier General Simon Fraser boldly rode onto Bemis Heights, rallying his troops in a desperate fight with rebel sharpshooters. American Major General Benedict Arnold marveled at Fraser’s audacity but feared it, too. “That man on the gray horse is a host unto himself and must be disposed of,” Arnold told Colonel Daniel Morgan, the sharpshooters’ commander.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

Morgan sent a trusted marksman up a tree to target Fraser, who soon fell from the saddle, shot in the guts. The rally sputtered, the redcoats fled and the rebels won the Saratoga Campaign—and much more. It was the first major victory of Americans over a similarly sized British force and proved the might of General George Washington’s “amateur” army. But Saratoga also inspired France, a longtime foe of England, to ally with the colonists. It set the stage for America’s Revolutionary War victory—which motivated liberty seekers across the globe—thanks to one rifleman. Tradition says he was an Irish backwoodsman from Pennsylvania, one Sergeant Timothy Murphy. “Some historians hint that this is the most decisive shot in all military history,” said John L. Plaster, author, teacher of modern sniper techniques and former U.S. tactical-life.com

Special Forces operator in Vietnam. “I am a great fan of Timothy Murphy.”

ELITE INFANTRYMEN Little is known about Murphy, but records show he was born in 1751 to Irish immigrants, according to the New York State Military Museum. His family settled on the frontier near present-day Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The rifle, Plaster said, “was an everyday tool” for food and security, and Murphy “couldn’t waste lead or powder”—perfect training for Morgan’s light infantrymen. Although considered elite, these troops, including Morgan, a Virginia pioneer, had no official uniforms. They mostly wore linen hunting clothes, sometimes festooned with fringes or Native American designs. Riflemen served with little pay and likely felt stress about home, with crops in the field and families vulnerable to raids by indigenous warriors, Plaster said. They marched across the northern colonies, even in harsh weather. Most wore moccasins, which were prone to wear out, so they carried several pairs. But what distinguished them most was their expert handling of the frontier longrifle.

BUILDING A TEAM Plaster, who retired as a major, served with the Studies and

Murphy qualified for the Provisional Rifle Corps by hitting a 7-inch target at 250 yards.

Observations Group (SOG), conducting secret reconnaissance missions during the Vietnam War. He writes a lot about SOG, and also military snipers and their particular techniques. Hence his appreciation for Timothy Murphy. He said infantry tactics during the American Revolution involved mass volleys from smoothbore muskets with effective ranges of about 50 yards. “Ninety-five percent of the infantry were not riflemen,” he said. But, he noted, rebel longrifles could hit targets at 200 yards and farther thanks to the grooved rifling in their gun barrels, perfected by German and Swiss gunsmiths. After Lexington and Concord, the rebels surrounded British-held

Boston. Murphy, at age 24, joined the siege with the Northumberland County Riflemen and harassed the redcoats with well-aimed lead. The British evacuated Boston by sea, regrouped in Canada and, in 1776, sailed south to invade New York City from Long Island. Murphy redeployed there in August. But the British overwhelmed the Americans in Brooklyn. Washington’s army, facing annihilation, escaped in a massive night retreat across the East River, under a convenient—and some say miraculous—cover of fog. According to the museum, Murphy also fought at Trenton and Princeton. In January 1777, the British released Colonel Morgan in a prisoner exchange, having captured him at the Battle of Quebec. Washington tasked him with forming a new unit—one that could seize the battlefield advantage with longrifles. Recruiting began for Morgan’s Provisional Rifle Corps. Murphy volunteered and easily qualified by hitting a 7-inch target at 250 yards, the museum reported. The corps’ guerrilla tactics enhanced marksmanship. Instead of forming ranks and unleashing shortrange lead, the rebels amassed kills at farther distances with precise shots from concealed positions. But they had to shoot and move fast, Plaster said. Redcoats, he explained,

Murphy’s shot on Fraser is even more miraculous when you consider how much time it takes for a flintlock rifle to fire after pulling the trigger.

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

HISTORY LESSON

Daniel Morgan

“Riflemen at Saratoga” by Hugh Charles McBarron Jr. John Plaster

“SOME HISTORIANS HINT THAT THIS IS THE MOST DECISIVE SHOT IN ALL MILITARY HISTORY.” knew where to send bayonet charges by tracking the smoky plumes that billowed from each longrifle shot. “In the heat of battle, what mattered most was the speed of reloading,” Plaster said. “But imagine the British closing the distance, elbow to elbow. If you don’t move, you’re going to get a bayonet in the belly.” In August, Morgan’s 500 riflemen marched north to block a British land invasion of New York from Canada, commanded by Major General John Burgoyne.

MAKING THE SHOT Saratoga was a month-long campaign involving two major battles at Freeman’s Farm and Bemis Heights, where Fraser galloped onto scene, impressing Morgan as much as Arnold. After receiving his general’s order, Morgan, according to tradition, turned to Murphy and said, “That gallant officer is General Fraser. I admire him, but it is necessary that he 36

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

should die. Do your duty.” It took a couple of tries from the tree before the marksman mortally wounded Fraser, possibly with a double-barreled longrifle. But this shot required particular skill, Plaster said. “I was at the Saratoga battlefield with a curator, and we estimated the range at 330 yards,” he said. “Nowadays, any competent rifleman could have hit General Fraser, but firing a rifle accurately back then was far more complicated. “There was more to it than just holding high and pulling the trigger. Think of it this way: Murphy pulls a trigger, but for a short time, he has to physically and mentally follow-through. The rifle may have gone click, but it still has to go through a whoosh and a bang.” That might take a second or more, and the rifleman had to stay on target the entire time or his shot would be off. Today, modern guns and ammo let a

shooter launch a bullet in the fraction of a second. New riflescopes, rangefinders and bullet technology also boost accuracy. “But back then, there was no such thing as match ammo,” Plaster said. “So what about a guy shooting with open sights with what was basically a shotgun slug? You’re starting with a very low ballistic coefficient. You’re shooting a bowling ball instead of a javelin. It would only be worse if it was square.”

INSPIRING THE FRENCH Word of mouth carried Murphy’s story, but some historians say written accounts of Saratoga make no mention of him until almost 70 years after the battle. So, they suggest, any of Morgan’s men could’ve killed Fraser. Maybe, but no other names contest the legend, so it endures. Although technology supplants Murphy’s skills, Plaster said today’s snipers can still learn from this rifleman; that one well-placed round can make history. “His one shot brought France into the war,” Plaster said. “For the first time, a British field army was compelled to surrender to these American upstarts. That brought thousands of French troops with lots of artillery and sea power. For the first time, it was apparent that Americans could really win this war.” tactical-life.com

DYNAMIC DUO

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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SPRINGFIELD UPS THE ANTE WITH TWO 1911S POWERFUL ENOUGH TO STOP BEARS BY DAVID BAHDE

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

TRP 10s

Both 10mm TRPs come with Trijicon RMR reflex sights, National Match slides and frames, G10 grips, high-swept beavertails and more noteworthy features.

hen the FBI picked Springfield Armory’s Professional model for its Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and later SWAT teams, many wanted a similar pistol at a lower price. So, Springfield launched the Tactical Response Pistol (TRP) in 2001. Springfield’s Armory’s Professional was custom-built to pass one of the most rigorous tests ever held for a duty pistol, beating several better-known “customs” for the contract. I’ve owned a couple, and they might be the epitome of the combat 1911. They’re hand-built, simple, almost indestructible, insanely accurate, completely reliable and just what you need—nothing more. But they came at a price. I paid about $2,500 for my first one almost 20 years ago.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

TRP ORIGINS Many shooters wanted the gun’s primary features without the cost, and the TRP did just that, costing closer to $1,200 at the time. It was an immediate hit, especially among serious users. Its accuracy rivaled that of the Professional, as did the fit and finish. And although the TRP isn’t a Custom Shop pistol like its predecessor, it’s still crafted by experienced gunsmiths. The slide-to-frame fit is excellent, with match-grade parts fitted by hand. Through the years, it has maintained its popularity as a custom-grade pistol at production-level prices. People who were able to take personally owned handguns overseas for deployments frequently used TRPs, including American Sniper Chris Kyle. In an interview, he said, “In 2004, I brought over a Springfield TRP Operator, which used a .45-caliber round.” It appears the gun performed well until it “took a frag for me in Fallujah.” He was even able to get the gun repaired later, attesting to its toughness and Springfield’s warranty. Kyle’s choice

“THE 5-INCH-BARRELED TRP IS PERFECTLY SUITED TO HOME DEFENSE AND SOME DUTY APPLICATIONS, AND THE 6-INCHBARRELED VERSION IS BORN FOR HUNTING.”

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TRP 10s

While the steel frame on the 5-inchbarreled model has a “Black-T” finish, its 6-inch-barreled counterpart has an olive drab frame.

Both 5- and 6-inch-barreled models are available, and I received both for testing. These pistols have matchgrade bushings and barrels with fully supported feed ramps, and they’re hand-fitted for super accuracy. Both pistols sport forged-steel slides with a durable matte Black-T finish. The frames are also forged from steel, though the 6-inch-barreled TRP 10mm has an olive drab finish while the 5-inch-barreled version has a Black-T finish. The frontstraps and mainspring housings utilize Posi-Lock texturing for enhanced traction, and beveled magazine well funnels are installed for faster reloads. The grip panels—green and black on the 5-inch-barreled model and just black on the 6-inch-barreled version—are made of durable G10. As for controls, both pistols have

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

ambidextrous thumb safeties, checkered magazine releases and extended grip safeties. The guns also have Springfield Gen 2 Speed Triggers that have been tuned for a 4.5- to 5-pound pull. More unique touches include the tall Trijcon night sights, which are paired with Trijicon RMR reflex sights with 1-MOA dots that allow for greater precision at the 10mm’s increased range. Finally, two 9-round magazines are included with each pistol.

RANGE RESULTS I recall testing the first TRP that arrived at the gun store and range where I worked several years ago. The gun’s features were nice for its price, but the accuracy was incredible. Standing at 15 yards, I put three magazines of .45 ACP ammo into a 1.5-inch hole. One of

1. Along with a Trijicon RMR reflex sight, each 10mm TRP comes with tall tritium sights that line up through the RMR and serve as a good backup. 2. Both TRP models come with skeletonized hammers and ambidextrous thumb safeties.

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TRP 10s

Whether shooting off-hand or using a bag and truck hood for support, the TRPs were accurate, light on recoil and completely reliable at the range.

accuracy is why I have carried a 10mm for years. Not that you can’t do this with a 9mm or .45 ACP, but it’s a lot easier with flat-shooting 180- to 200-grain 10mm rounds moving at 1,300 fps. Springfield Armory uses an 18.5-pound return spring in the 5-inch-barreled TRP and a 16-pounder in the 6-inch-barreled model. Both ran 180-grain practice rounds pretty well with consistent ejection. It’s always a compromise for manufacturers with the 10mm because designers don’t know what users will feed their guns, so they aim for the middle, so to speak. For most practice fodder, the 18.5-pound spring works well. If you switch to heavier loads, you might want to a heavier spring. I only used 155-grain ammo with my carry 10mm, so it’s tuned to run those rounds perfectly. You could easily do that with these TRPs. The 6-inch-barreled TRP might benefit from a heavier spring if you plan on hunting with 180- to 230-grain loads. Nonetheless, both of the test guns ran flawlessly at the range. The triggers on both test pistols were excellent and very predictable. I also really liked the Posi-Lock texturing on the grip frames. The pistols stayed put in my hands without “biting” me. And

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

BEST GROUP WITH 5" TRP

while these aren’t exactly light carry pistols, the weight helps manage recoil and muzzle rise nicely. The safeties also snapped on and off with a satisfying click at the correct tension. The Trijicon night sights are mostly backup units to the RMRs, but they’re still useful if the RMR is removed or turned off. The sights are black with tritium inserts and no pronounced rings around the dots. They co-witness perfectly, making it easier to get on target quickly. Out of the box, the RMRs were dead-center and just a tad low at 7 yards—a perfect start. My carry pistols have uses reflex sights with 3.25-MOA dots, given their primary range is well within 25 yards. For hunting or longer ranges, though, a 1-MOA dot is a bit more forgiving as it won’t obscure as much of the target.

PARTING SHOTS

BEST GROUP WITH 6" TRP

I’m not exactly sure why these two pistols have heavier, squared dust covers but no Picatinny rails. Maybe it’s to add some weight up front to help control recoil, or reinforce the frame for more powerful loads. But this means you’ll need a holster designed to accept a rail anyway, so it would have been nice to have the rail. The 10mm is popular

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PERFORMANCE

SPRINGFIELD 5" TRP LOAD

VELOCITY

ACCURACY

Buffalo Bore 220 Hard Cast

1,270

1.75

DoubleTap 135 Controlled Expansion JHP

1,600

1.35

DoubleTap 155 TAC-XP

1,500

1.30

DoubleTap 200 Hard Cast

1,300

1.60

Hornady 175 Critical Duty

1,200

1.25

Sig Sauer 180 V-Crown JHP

1,300

1.40

VELOCITY

ACCURACY

Buffalo Bore 220 Hard Cast

1,270

2.00

DoubleTap 135 Controlled Expansion JHP

1,640

1.50

DoubleTap 155 TAC-XP

1,550

1.80

DoubleTap 200 Hard Cast

1,300

1.55

Hornady 175 Critical Duty

1,200

1.25

Sig Sauer 180 V-Crown JHP

1,300

0.92

SPRINGFIELD 6" TRP LOAD

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 25 yards.

among tactical teams that also use weapon-mounted lights. This pertains more to the 5-inch-barreled model, but it’d be nice to add a visible or infrared laser to the 6-inch-barreled TRP for hunting hogs and other predators. Still, 1911 users are a particular bunch, and my guess is that, while many will appreciate the lack of a rail, just as many will opine for it. Overall, these TRPs are excellent reflex-sight-equipped pistols built for one of the most versatile pistol chamberings ever developed. The 5-inch-barreled TRP is perfectly suited to home defense and some duty applications, and the 6-inch-barreled version is born for hunting. Either way, you really can’t go wrong with a TRP. These fit the mold perfectly, only offering more choices. If you’re looking for a 10mm that comes out of the box with a reflex sight, these pistols need to be at the top of your list. For more information, visit springfield-armory.com.

Springfield Armory’s As mentioned before, American Sniper Chris Kyle carried a Springfield TRP Operator while in combat, and the gun even helped him survive a grenade blast in Fallujah. So, back in 2016, to honor “The Legend,” Springfield worked with the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation and Kyle’s family to create a limited run of TRPs designed to replicate Chris Kyle’s personal model. How limited? Only 1,000 of these guns were made. The first model, serial number CK0001, helped raise $22,250 at auction for the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation. Each gun was sold with a presentation case, a commemorative coin and a copy of American Sniper signed by Taya Kyle.

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

BASIC TRAINING

BY DONALD J. MIHALEK JEFF GOLDBERG PHOTOS

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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ALTERNATIVE-FORCE TACTICS CAN HELP YOU SURVIVE A DEADLY SITUATION THE RIGHT MINDSET “When someone attacks you, you have two options: become a victim or become the victor,” said Chris Caracci, a former member of SEAL Team 6 and one of the most insightful self-defense instructors out there. “I like teaching people how to survive a deadly situation. “I’m not into creating victims, and I’m surely not about losing,” Caracci said as he began one of his alternative-force classes, which is geared toward people who want to better protect themselves. “That goes against all my training and how I’m programmed. “Every person walking around has to ask themselves, ‘If I’m targeted for an attack, am I ready?’ Many people come back with a no, and I see them in my class. The first step of any improvement is realizing what you don’t know.”

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To understand Caracci, you must first understand his mindset and what makes him tick. Top-tier warriors are often viewed as special or knowing some secret. I asked Caracci about this. “From a young age, I enjoyed physical sports, including hockey, football and martial arts,” he said. “I trained in classic karate and developed an interest for learning different fighting styles.” Never satisfied with being mediocre, Caracci pushed himself to face the ultimate military test. “I’d heard about SEAL training and what was involved,” he said. “I decided then and there that I wanted to be part of a group like that, so after high school, I enlisted and targeted the SEALs.” SEAL training take you to the brink, and the SEALS motto is “The only easy day was yesterday.” But the most important part of SEAL training, and what Caracci describes as central to self-defense, is mindset. “Your mindset is the key to everything,” he said. “If you want to TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

BASIC TRAINING

Caracci can teach you several alternative defensive tactics, but if lethal force is required, he stresses moving and creating distance to protect yourself.

achieve anything or win, it’s your mindset that will carry you through. People often ask what’s the secret to getting through Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training. The simple answer is your mindset.”

ALTERNATIVE FORCE So what exactly is alternative force? “People who don’t appreciate the necessity for alternative methods of self-defense are limited and thus forced to manipulate a situation so they can be successful with only the tools they know,” Caracci said. “On the outside, this does not seem to be an issue, but if all you know and rely on is a gun, that’s all you will use.” Many years ago, Chris developed and coined the term “alternative force” as a way to teach other force options to military and law enforcement personnel. “It seemed to me that our tactics had become very rigid with few options,” he said. “For law enforcement, you had a gun 48

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

and a baton, and that was pretty much it. Every situation, though, might not require a baton or gun, yet we were forcing officers to use Choice A or Choice B, and that was a recipe for problems. The concept of alternative force was born out of the need to find and use other options in a use-offorce situation. Over time, I’ve been able to cater some of this for use by anyone.” Alternative force is essentially using outside-the-box thinking when dealing with a situation. It’s a practical way to create more options when it seems like your options are limited. “I met a man recently, a former athlete, who suffered from a traumatic injury that left him somewhat insecure about his ability to protect himself and his family. He told me about a recent road rage incident and how he ended up using his gun to thwart the antagonist. I told him that he should have never allowed a situation to exist where his only recourse was to use

a gun and thus create a life-threatening situation from one that might not have originally existed at all. The fact is, there are plenty of viable self-defense techniques, even with a physical disability, that would have worked.”

DISTANCE & MOVEMENT The reactionary gap works for and against people depending on how they are trained. For alternative-force tactics, it’s crucial to understand how that gap can give you time to think and react. To Caracci, having options when you are close is critical. “Statistics indicate that most shootings occur within arm’s length, yet few people learn or are instructed in well-thought-out methods to be prepared to engage and handle the dynamics within that close proximity of lethal force,” he said. “Distance can often dictate tactics, and when you are close, different tactics come into play than when you have room to maneuver.” tactical-life.com

BASIC TRAINING gunfight. If you can move and avoid the damage, you survive. I never advocate standing still or linear tactics. The world is three-dimensional, so you should use all of those dimensions to survive.”

LAW ENFORCEMENT

“YOUR MINDSET IS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING. IF YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING OR WIN, IT’S YOUR MINDSET THAT WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH.”

“There are other reasons for learning such techniques, including the capability to use different hands to open doors or negotiate past dangerous or dark areas. The ability to control an adversary or innocent individual is also paramount to surviving.” Caracci also said people often mistakenly view a fight or self-defense as a linear event. “There are no rules in a fight, and you have more to employ than just fists,” he said. “The body is comprised 50

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

of several striking points, from elbows to knees to the head. But ultimately, if you can move, you can’t be hurt.” A moving target is one of the most difficult things to hit. It’s even more difficult if the target is moving quickly. “In boxing, a fighter that hits quickly often lands more punches than one who is slower,” Caracci said. “Also, if a fighter swings and no one is there, they do no damage. If you can avoid being hit, you should. That goes for a fight or a

With the attention on use-of-force situations and the sometimes-popular view that police shoot too many people, there has been a call to train law enforcement to use different tactics in such situations. All police interactions are dynamic, and Caracci believes law enforcement could benefit from expanding its toolbox. “For law enforcement professionals, situations unfold so rapidly that not being ready for a lethal encounter could be a fatal mistake,” he said. “With the knowledge from this class in alternative-force methods, they would be capable and prepared for any lethal encounter, with the capability to protect themselves in a less-lethal manner without skipping a beat. Alternative-force methods add a level of confidence and relief in those gray areas that are so complicated and all too often occur in the world of policing. “Today, police officers have a gun, a Taser, pepper spray and then an intermediate weapon. These items can aid them in a use-of-force incident, but if an officer does use them, at some point a de-escalation of the situation will happen, and an officer must be prepared to handle that. As a law enforcement officer, the most unique role in society, the ability to raise and lower their force level to handle a situation directly correlates to their role as a peace officer. In any situation, lethal force should always be a last resort. “For SEALs, this type of alternative force becomes relevant in the worst possible scenario: a hostage rescue. That requires the team members to have a gun ready for lethal force but also know that they might need to use alternative-force methods on innocent people or noncombatants without relinquishing the ability to utilize lethal force, which is the same dynamic law enforcement professionals operate in every day.”

ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN The most basic premise of surviving any potentially lethal encounter is to tactical-life.com

BIG-BORE TEST

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

BY DR. MARTIN D. TOPPER

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

ROCKIN’ THE ROADHOUSE

WHEN THINGS GET ROWDY, LOOK TO THIS FLAT-SHOOTING 6.5 CREEDMOOR FROM SPIKE’S TACTICAL ove over, .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield. Make way for the 6.5 Creedmoor Roadhouse AR from Spike’s Tactical. This new semiauto gets the most from the “six-five” and delivers better overall 1,000-yard performance than the .308 and .30-06 with about a third less recoil. The .308 and .30-06 might offer some advantages when hunting extra-large game such as elk and moose at less than 300 yards, but beyond that distance, the cartridges are similar in trajectory and velocity. And by 650 yards, the 6.5 Creedmoor begins to have a slight advantage over the .308 and .30-06 in terms of kinetic energy. That statement will upset a lot of .30-06 54

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

and .308 fans like me, but ballistics don’t lie. And long-range ballistics is the name of the game with precision rifles.

BUILT-IN PRECISION I first saw the Roadhouse in 6.5 Creedmoor at the spring Big 3 East Media Event at the Big 3 East Training Center near Daytona Beach, Florida. It had the look and feel of a substantial, well-made rifle. I had a brief chance to fire the rifle at the center’s 950-yard rifle range. We had a half-sized silhouette set up at 550 yards, and I hit it despite a 10- to 20-mph crosswind. In fact, one of the young shooters said, “I wish my grandfather could shoot that well,” which I took as a compliment. I had another chance to examine the rifle when I visited the Spike’s Tactical factory in Apopka, Florida, and

discussed how the rifle is built with the staff. Then we headed to the range for some long-distance live fire. The billet upper is precisely handfitted to the billet lower. There is no play between them. Both are made from aircraft-grade 7075-T6 aluminum alloy and are hardcoat anodized to military standards. This rifle is available in matte black or with a distressed black and bronze finish that is very attractive, and the finishes are applied to the 15-inch M-LOK handguard and Magpul ACS stock as well. The barrel on both models is finished in black Cerakote. The Spike’s Tactical Pro pistol grip and Magpul magazines are also matte black on both models. The bolt carrier group is coated in nickel-boron for less friction, smooth operation and easy cleaning. The 6.5 Creedmoor Roadhouse is tactical-life.com

ROCKIN’ THE ROADHOUSE

offered with a 20- or 22-inch Krieger barrel and might be available with 24-inch tube on special order if there is sufficient demand. The bore is not plated. It features hand-cut rifling with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate so it can handle long bullets, such as Hornady’s ELD series rounds, which have high ballistic coefficients. The barrel is also handlapped for accuracy and ease of cleaning, and the muzzle is equipped with a very effective R2 brake. The gun is sold in a flattop configuration, and the handguard and upper receiver mate perfectly, providing an excellent platform for mounting a set of Spike’s Tactical flip-up sights. The sharply pointed front sight is paired with a rear sight that has two different pop-up apertures. This makes precision shots possible during various lighting condi-

The billet-crafted upper and lower receivers for Spike’s Roadhouse rifles are precisely fitted to eliminate accuracyrobbing vertical and horizontal play. Also note the integral triggerguard and beveled magazine well.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

Head armorer Bob Roebuck (left) and owner Mike “Spike” Register (right) proudly show off a precisely machined Spike’s Tactical AR lower.

tions. In addition, extra care is taken to firmly join the barrel and upper so there is no play between them. This rigidity, along with the high-quality barrel, makes for a stable platform for launching bullets. The trigger is a Geissele Super Semi-Automatic (SSA), a two-stage unit with a 2.5-pound take-up stage and a second stage that requires an additional 2 pounds of pressure to disengage the sear. It’s non-adjustable. The gun I test-fired had three aftermarket accessories: a Harris bipod, a Spike’s Tactical one-piece scope mount and a Leupold 8.5-25x50mm Mark 4

ER/T first-focal-plane scope. This excellent scope is precise and clear. It’s no longer available, but Leupold has a similar product in its Mark 5 series that should do an equally fine job of getting bullets on target at long range.

LIVE-FIRE TESTING After I toured the facility, Bob Roebuck, Spike’s head armorer, and I took the 6.5 Creedmoor Roadhouse to a private range to put it through its paces at 100, 200, 400 and 500 yards. Bob is a graduate of the prestigious Colorado School of Trades gunsmithing program.

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ROCKIN’ THE ROADHOUSE

These 500-yard steel plates indicate that you can easily make long shots with the right gun, scope and ammo. The 6.5 Creedmoor Roadhouse certainly fits the bill.

In addition to playing a central role in the 6.5 Creedmoor Roadhouse project, he also supervises the assembly of firearms by the Spike’s Tactical staff. As a part of that, he randomly pulls out 10 percent of the guns produced and does an in-depth quality check to ensure they meet Spike’s strict standards of craftsmanship.

As we headed to the range, we talked about how the accuracy of Roadhouse rifles is built in from the ground up. We looked at each other and almost simultaneously quoted Colonel Townsend Whelan, who said, “Only accurate rifles are interesting.” Our shooting that morning and afternoon

“…COLONEL TOWNSEND WHELAN…SAID, ‘ONLY ACCURATE RIFLES ARE INTERESTING.’ OUR SHOOTING…INDICATED THAT THE 6.5 CREEDMOOR ROADHOUSE IS A VERY INTERESTING RIFLE.” 58

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

indicated that the 6.5 Creedmoor Roadhouse is a very interesting rifle. Bob and I fired more than 150 rounds of two brands of ammo to test the rifle. Both loads had 140-grain, boat-tail bullets. The first and most accurate was Federal’s open-tip match (OTM) ammo. The second, which also shot well, was a Sellier & Bellot load with semi-spitzer FMJs. Conditions that day were less than ideal, with a left-to-right wind that gusted from infrequent periods of near calm to more than 10 mph. In addition, the day was bright, sunny and warmer than 80 degrees, creating an intermediate to heavy mirage. At 400 and 500 yards, we had to continually readjust our holds for windage and mirage. When the wind blew hardest, we needed to aim quite low for the upward shift of the image because of the mirage coming off of the hot ground, and then aim considerably left to tactical-life.com

ROCKIN’ THE ROADHOUSE

The live-fire test also let us measure ammo velocities and check the reliability of the rifle. I was pleasantly surprised with the velocities registered on the Competition Electronics chronograph we used. The S&B ammo came in just slower than 2,600 fps, and the Federal American Eagle ammo was just faster than 2,600 fps. This is excellent performance for a 20-inch barrel. Given that the velocity of the 6.5 Creedmoor is nominally 2,700 fps in a 24-inch barrel, I would have expected a decrease in velocity of about 150 fps for the shorter 20-inch barrel rather than the 100-fps drop we recorded. With respect to reliability, the Roadhouse ran well with the 10-round PMAG, which fit in the magazine well with little play. Given that the 6.5 Creedmoor has a

SPEC BOX

SPIKE’S TACTICAL

ROADHOUSE CALIBER:

6.5 Creedmoor

BARREL:

20 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT: STOCK:

40-43.25 inches 9 pounds (empty) Magpul ACS

SIGHTS:

Flip-up front and rear

ACTION:

Direct impingement semi-auto

FINISH: CAPACITY: MSRP:

Cerakote 10+1, 20+1 $3,300

relatively narrow bullet for the diameter of its case, how the magazine fits in the mag well is important in terms of reliability, as are the shape of the feed ramp and the magazine’s feed lips.

WELL WORTH IT At $2,900 for the basic black version and $3,300 for distressed version, the Roadhouse isn’t exactly cheap. But shooters who want the most in a semi-auto precision rifle that can be used in longrange competitions, hunting from blinds over bean fields and powerline cuts, or for everyday shooting will find a lot to like with this rifle. I can also see a clear role for it in military and law enforcement designated marksman programs. For more information, visit spikestactical.com.

The test rifle was fitted with a Harris bipod as well as a Leupold 8.5-25x50mm Mark 4 ER/T riflescope using one of Spike’s one-piece AR scope mounts.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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BOLT ACTION

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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STEYR’S LATEST THB PACKS SUB-MOA PERFORMANCE INTO A DUTY-READY STOCK BY EDUARDO ABRIL DE FONTCUBERTA

Since 2008, the Steyr SSG 08 has been considered one of the best sniper rifles available at any price and one of the most accurate factory rifles ever made. For users who didn’t need the gun’s superb folding aluminum stock, Steyr Mannlicher designed the SSG 04, which offered the same barreled action on an adjustable fiber-reinforced stock. The gun lost some of its ergonomics and glamor, but its legendary accuracy was unscathed. Steyr then recognized that some aficionados and small law enforcement agencies needed an accurate SSG-type rifle at an even more affordable price. So the company introduced the Pro THB (Tactical Heavy Barrel). This fantastic rifle is priced competitively with other varmint and tactical rifles from American manufacturers but adds many of the advanced SSG 08 features in a lighter, simpler design. Now Steyr is offering a new Pro THB in 6.5 Creedmoor with either a short 20-MOA Picatinny rail over the action or with a longer rail. I got my hands on the latter for testing, and it’s a killer package for longrange hunters, Precision Rifle Series (PRS) shooters and many tactical units.

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

PRO-GRADE 6.5

A SOLID FOUNDATION Like the famous SSG 08 and SSG 04, the THB is based on the Safe Bolt System (SBS) action, which is one of the safest rifle operating systems ever designed. If the gun fires an over-pressured cartridge, or there’s an obstruction in the barrel, the shooter will remain protected while the rifle contains the detonation by its safety bushing. In my opinion, this is part of what makes the SBS the most advanced bolt system on the market. The safety bushing fully encases the four bolt lugs and the extractor, essentially protecting the shooter from escaping gases and preventing the receiver from rupturing. The four front locking lugs are massive. They’re directly behind the cartridge case inside the receiver. The bolt body has Steyr offers the new grooves that will collect dirt and Pro THB with either a debris to guarantee reliability “butter-knife”-style during the most extreme condibolt handle (above tions. After reviewing these fearight) or a tactical bolt tures, reminding folks that all Steyr knob (above) for rifles have a protruding cocking $100 more. indicator in the bolt or that the bolt lever retracts and locks into the

receiver seems unimportant. You can choose between a thin bolt handle or the more common round knob, and I received the latter for testing. You’d need a pen and paper to list all of the features that set the SBS action apart from Remington clones. Normally, rifles have two-position safeties, but not this Austrian tackdriver. The “2+1” safety, operated by a wheel on the tang, lets you select various modes of safety and operation. In the “safe” position, the weapon can be loaded and unloaded, and the trigger is locked, which prevents accidental discharges. When you’re ready to engage the target, just roll the safety wheel noiselessly forward to the “fire” position, and the rifle will be ready to shoot. If you decide not to engage, you can rotate the wheel to the “lock” position, in which a button on the safety wheel prevents it from rolling into any other position. The trigger and bolt are locked. The SBS has one more hidden trick in this locked position: You can depress the bolt lever into a position closer to the stock so it protrudes less. This also locks the firing pin and sets the action apart from the competition when it comes to stalking prey. There’s

“IT SHARES MANY OF THE SSG 08’S FEATURES, INCLUDING ITS SECOND-TO-NONE ACCURACY.”

With the SBS action, the front locking lugs of the bolt are encased in a safety collar to help protect the shooter in case a round causes a problem.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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PRO-GRADE 6.5

flat front that will help in shooting over various supports, but it comes with two quick-detach (QD) sling attachment points that I would have replaced with push-button sockets. That might be a matter of preference, but for me, it meant changing the sling ends. The synthetic magazine holds four rounds, and you can use rounds with overall lengths up to 3.148 inches. Most reloaders who want to use the latest 6.5 Creedmoor bullets will appreciate this extra space. There is also an extension kit so 10-round magazines can be used. Another unique feature on Steyr’s THB and SSG sniper rifles is the twostage magazine-latch mechanism, with a first stage that locks the magazine in but allows you to load rounds or operate the bolt without feeding from the magazine. With one more little push on the bottom of the magazine, it will seat fully in the second stage and thus be ready for chambering rounds. The triggerguard is part of the stock, and it’s big enough for gloved use. The trigger has a nice, crisp, 2.8-pound pull and looks to be adjustable, though it comes with white locking compound to preclude user adjustments. Finally, as with most Steyrs, the rifle has a durable, rust-proof Mannox finish that I really like.

LASER ACCURATE At the range, it became clear that the Pro THB is exceptionally accurate by any standard. I shot about 160 rounds with three different types of ammunition: Nosler’s 140-grain Ballistic Tips as well as Hornady’s 140-grain Match ELDs and 143-grain ELD-Xs. After eye bore-sighting the gun the old-fashioned way—part of my standard

1. The durable synthetic stock has a straight comb, and shooters can adjust the length of pull via spacers. 2. The long-railed variant of the Pro THB comes with short side rails up front for accessories like lasers. 3. The four-round magazine is secured into the rifle in two stages. The first allows you to run the bolt without chambering a round.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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12-GAUGE THUNDER

ITALY’S FABLED FABARM ARRIVES IN THE U.S. WITH THE PUMP-ACTION STF 12 BY JIM GRANT

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

The Fabarm STF 12 is designed to be the ultimate tactical scattergun with a smooth action and an aggressive muzzle brake to help take the sting out of 12-gauge buckshot rounds.

UMP-ACTION SHOTGUNS are incredible. Between their rock-solid reliability and ability to deliver fight-stopping power, these hard-hitting workhorses are the ultimate do-everything guns. Because the pump-action shotgun is manually operated, it’s not ammunition sensitive, thus it’s able to use a mind-numbingly gargantuan amount of loadings, which can instantly transform a home-defense tool into a duck-hunting weapon or medium-range, slug-slinging deer gun in less than a minute. That makes the pump-action shotgun a safe, utilitarian choice for shooters needing a workingman’s gun. And it’s that reputation as a blue-collar firearm that, in my opinion, limits the development of the pump-action shotgun in the United States. Thanktactical-life.com

fully, an Italian arms-maker has stepped up to the plate. And it has designed a pump-action shotgun with the strength and utility of an American bluecollar gun and the aesthetics and design principles of Italian craftsmanship. Enter the Fabarm STF 12.

ITALIAN STALLION Produced in the small town of Travagliato, the STF 12 is a pump-action 12 gauge that feeds from a fixed magazine tube. The standard model’s tube has a capacity of 5+1 shells, but because the design already incorporates an extended tube cap, it wouldn’t be inconceivable for Fabarm or other companies to produce three-round extensions. Although the first two models to arrive stateside ship with 18-inch barrels, a quick glance at the Italian Fabarm website revealed almost a half-dozen barrel length options, including a door-breaching 11-inch barrel and a 22-inch extended-barrel setup sporting a 7+1 shell capacity. TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

THE FERRARI OF SHOTGUNS

Further, although the first two tactical Fabarm shotguns come with ultra-durable fixed stocks, the company also produces telescopic and folding options for the gun. Based on those accessories and the gun’s popularity in Europe, it’s safe to assume Fabarm intends to continue supporting the gun as a platform and not simply a one-off for the American market. If the name Fabarm rings a bell, it should. The Italian gun-maker produces a variety of mid-level and high-end hunting and sport shooting shotguns. They range from fast-handling semi-automatic guns to ornate yet functional over/unders for trap and skeet shooting. But don’t let the company’s hunting heritage fool you. The STF 12 isn’t Fabarm’s first foray into the realm of tactical scatterguns. A few years ago, Fabarm produced high-end tactical shotguns for the king of tactical firearms, Heckler & Koch. Given that company’s dedication to selling only the most durable, reliable firearms (cost be damned), that should be a radiant endorsement for the quality of its shotguns.

Fabarm even claims the barrel is so overbuilt that a squib slug can be cleared with another slug and still render the STF 12 usable and safe. I won’t try to verify that any time soon, but it’s comforting to know that during a worst-case scenario blockage, the STF 12 won’t quit.

UNDER THE HOOD Before we get into a more detailed review of the design, we need a broad understanding of it. Although the Fabarm STF 12 is similar in operation to other pump-action shotguns, it has several distinct characteristics shooters should be familiar with before buying. Interestingly, the Fabarm STF 12 shares several characteristics with the two most popular shotguns in America, the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870, while having its own unique style. For example, like the 870, the STF 12 uses a heavy steel bolt with a single extractor. Unlike the 870, however, the Italian shotgun’s bolt is far more substantial, and the locking block’s design is superior. The

870 uses one small nub protruding from the block to retain it and act as a pivoting point, but the STF 12 takes a different approach. On the STF, the locking block’s axis and retention loop are milled from the same piece of heat-treated steel. This extra material makes the design safer during a catastrophic failure if one occurs. Like the Remington 870, the STF 12 also uses a push-button sliding safety ideal for use with pistol grips. But unlike the Remington, the STF 12’s safety is oversized for ease of use with gloved hands. Another brilliant aspect of the safety is how the “safe” and “fire” sides of the safety feel different. One side is a simple cylinder, but the other is an odd triangular shape. This lets the shooter feel whether the gun is set to “safe” or not without having to visually inspect it. Also, one of the ways the STF 12’s design departs from any I’ve seen is by directly attaching the transfer bars to the bolt carrier. That is brilliant. It’s something I’m surprised hasn’t been used by the two biggest American shotgun designers.

Fabarm includes a set of fiber-optic sights for extremely fast targeting. Also note the forend accessory rails as well as the forward sling mount, which can be positioned on the sides or bottom as needed.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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THE FERRARI OF SHOTGUNS

The optics rail (above) is easy to install after you remove the front sight, and unlike most pump actions, the transfer bars and bolt carrier (right) are milled from a single block of steel for increased durability.

The crossbolt safety is round on one side and triangular on the other so you can quickly note the shotgun’s condition by touch. Also note the oversized action release. The STF 12’s grooved pistol grip is soft enough to absord recoil but hard enough to stand up to serious abuse, striking the perfect balance.

“…THE STF 12’S MUZZLE BRAKE MAKES SHOOTING EVEN THE STOUTEST 3-INCH DEFENSIVE LOADS SURPRISINGLY PLEASANT…”

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

Although it might seem inconsequential, maneuvering those arms into place on other pump-action designs can be tricky. Further, because the carrier and the bars aren’t directly connected, there’s space for debris and fouling to accumulate and potentially induce a malfunction. One characteristic the STF 12 shares with the Mossberg 500 is its use of an aluminum receiver. This dramatically reduces weight, making the STF 12 a fast-handling shotgun. Typically, that sort of weight reduction would also translate into increased recoil, but the STF 12’s muzzle brake makes shooting even the stoutest 3-inch defensive loads surprisingly pleasant—so much so that even my go-to “shoulder-buster” slugs from DDupleks were manageable. If that seems insignificant, consider that Broadhead Hexolit 32 slugs weigh 495 grains and scream out the barrel at about 1,400 fps. Those slugs are normally too punishing to run even in a semi-automatic shotgun and are brutal out of manually operated shotguns that don’t absorb any of the recoil impulse. What’s really interesting is how the brake attaches to the gun. It actually threads into a long choke that then tactical-life.com

THE FERRARI OF SHOTGUNS

threads into the gun. The design is such that the brake tightens itself with every shot because it diverts some of the gas in a counterclockwise direction, imparting clockwise torque on the muzzle device. After 300 rounds of defensive shotshells, the brake never budged. Sadly, the same couldn’t be said of the quick-detach Picatinny rail. Although the STF 12 ships with a set of fixed-steel, low-profile, aperture-type iron sights, a quick-detach rail is also included to replace them. This rail features a set of eye-catching fiber-optic sights and provides an easy way to mount optics.

The problem is that the rear of the rail attaches to the steel rear sight with a thumbscrew instead of one that can be tightened with tools. The camming section at the front, which allows the rail to pivot into place, is rock solid, so the rail will never come off the gun. However, the entire thing will eventually develop some play after firing a few dozen rounds. Thankfully, the rail can be re-secured with a quarter-turn of the attachment screw’s knurled knob. Ideally, Fabarm should include an alternative knob that features a large cutout that would permit shooters to use a shotshell rim or large

The tough synthetic buttstock is streamlined to reduce weight and comes with a thick rubber recoil pad.

SPEC BOX

FABARM STF 12 GAUGE: BARREL: OA LENGTH: WEIGHT: STOCK:

12; 3-inch chamber 18 inches 36.54 inches 9.5 pounds (empty) Synthetic

SIGHTS:

Front post, ghost ring rear

ACTION:

Pump

FINISH: CAPACITY: MSRP:

Black, Flat Dark Earth 6+1 $1,195

The polymer forend features a hand stop just behind the bottom accessory rail to prevent an operator’s support hand from slipping while running the gun hard.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

coin to tighten it further. My solution was to apply a drop of semi-permanent Loctite to the threads. After doing so, I didn’t encounter any further issues. If it seems like I’m nitpicking small issues, it’s because I am. The gun is so devoid of real flaws that I’m forced to pick out what tiny issues I encountered. These were actually difficult to write about, given the positive features of the STF 12, such as the forearm’s three separate Picatinny rail segments for mounting accessories like my Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount H-LX. The bottom segment also includes a hand stop to prevent shooters from accidentally overreaching the pump and grabbing the magazine tube. Another design aspect that goes a long way for ergonomics is the streamlined yet oversized action release. It strikes the perfect balance between being large enough to find easily in the dark while maintaining a sufficiently low profile to prevent snagging on gear or accidently disengaging itself.

THE TAKEAWAY The tube-fed pump-action shotgun isn’t a new invention. It’s been around in one form or another since Winchester introduced its Model 1897 in that year. Although the internals, ammunition and ergonomics have gone through multiple evolutions, the core concept behind them remains the same. Because of that, most advances in pump-action shotguns have been incremental. This is doubly true because firearms are considered a mature technology—one that won’t see quantum leaps in performance like computers. The STF 12 isn’t revolutionary, but it doesn’t try or need to be. It takes the time-honored Italian tradition of honing a machine to perfection and applies it to a design most would never consider. So, although the STF 12 is simply a pump-action shotgun, it’s the ultimate pump-action shotgun, much in the same way a Ferrari is simply a fast automobile. It’s not an untrue statement, but it leaves out the most important details of what it means to refine a design to perfection. For more information, visit fabarmpro.com. tactical-life.com

BUYER’S GUIDE

THE LATEST OFFERINGS FOR UPGRADING YOUR BOOMSTICK ARSENAL BY ANDY MASSIMILIAN This year’s crop of new smoothbores is dominated by the cut-down “Shockwave-pattern” design introduced by Mossberg in 2017. Though Mossberg didn’t invent this new breed of gun, it was the first major player to commercialize it. The Shockwave is classified as a “firearm” by the BATFE and not a shotgun, and its tremendous success has created a barrage of copycat models made by big and small players alike. The 2018 SHOT Show also saw a number of noteworthy designs like bullpups and those that use detachable magazines. In short, shotguns are still going strong after hundreds of years. Let’s take a look.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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AMERICAN TACTICAL

BENELLI

BERETTA

OMNI HYBRID

SUPER BLACK EAGLE 3

1301 TACTICAL

The redesigned .410-gauge Omni Hybrid shotgun looks and operates like a typical AR-15. It’s named for its lower receiver, which is made of polymer molded over a zinc-aluminum shell that helps cut the firearm’s weight to only 6.5 pounds when it’s unloaded. This year, American Tactical updated the design by changing the magazine, bolt, chamber and gas piston system. A set of four internal chokes and a magazine loader are also now available. One 5-round magazine is included, and 10- and 20-round versions are available. Finally, the Omni Hybrid takes 2½-inch shells, and American Tactical imports several affordable loads. (americantactical.us)

Benelli’s new Super Black Eagle (SBE) 3 Left Hand and Rifled Slug are semi-autos with features that have been refined over several model revisions to make them more accurate and easier to use. The safety, bolt handle, magazine tube cap and triggerguard are all oversized for easier operation while wearing thick winter gloves. Both are inertia operated, which means fewer parts and much easier cleaning. The ComforTech buttstock helps absorb recoil and can be adjusted for length of pull, cant and drop. The barrels—24 inches for the Rifled Slug and 26 or 28 inches for the Left Hand—are cryogenically treated for tighter, more consistent patterns downrange. (benelliusa.com)

This year, the 1301 Tactical is offered in four new finishes and is equipped with the new Optima Bore HP choke, which produces better shot patterns through more gradual constriction. It also has a modified bolt release lever that eliminates the possibility of putting two shells onto the shell lifter at once, and the Picatinny top rail has been upgraded to aluminum instead of polymer. The loading port is also oversized with beveled edges for faster reloading. The front sight is removable for easier changing should it become damaged, and the rear sight is fully adjustable. Completing the package is a stock adjustable for length of pull, cant and drop. (beretta.com)

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

SCATTERGUN SPECTRUM

Charles Daly Honcho

CZ Sharp-Tail

CHARLES DALY

CZ-USA

FABARM

FOSTECH

HONCHO

SHARP-TAIL

STF 12

ORIGIN 12

The new Honcho from Charles Daly may look like just another short-barreled smoothbore, but it’s the only commercially made .410, and it has a spring-assisted pump that slams the action closed. Spring-assisted pump actions have been around for some time, but their use in guns classified as “firearms” is confined to Black Aces Tactical and the Honcho .410. The theoretical benefit is faster cycling, but the more realistic value is to assist someone with an injured hand. Honchos are also available without the spring-assist feature in 12 and 20 gauge, and every model has a 5+1 capacity. (charlesdaly.com)

CZ-USA is now importing Sharp-Tail side-by-side shotguns that have modern features like single triggers, coil springs and barrels with black chrome finishes. These shotguns are made in 12, 16, 20, 28 and .410 gauges with Turkish walnut stocks, 28-inch barrels and color-casehardened receivers. Five chokes are included in all but the .410 variant, and they all have manual safeties. For those who prefer something shorter and more maneuverable for hunting or Cowboy Action Shooting, the Sharp-Tail Coach has 20-inch barrels and is made in 12 or 20 gauge with 3-inch chambers. (cz-usa.com)

New to the U.S. market this year is the Italian-made Fabarm STF 12 pump action with a 3-inch chamber and a 5+1 capacity. This tactical shotgun’s action and controls are based off the ubiquitous Remington 870, but the barrel, stock and sights are enhanced. The STF 12 is also proof-tested to a higher pressure than required by law as a testament to its strength, according to Fabarm. The full-length Picatinny rail on top has a removable, fully adjustable ghost-ring sight with fiber-optic inserts while the grip and forend use rubberized inserts for a comfortable hold. There’s also a detachable muzzle brake with rows of sharp teeth for breaching duties. (fabarmpro.com)

The semi-auto Fostech Origin 12 has been produced for several years, but it’s still among the most unique combat shotguns available. The Origin 12 uses a patented long-stroke gas piston system based on the AK-47, but shooters can tune the action to optimally cycle everything from target to magnum loads. You simply turn a knob on the gas block by hand. The Fostech Origin 12 also uses detachable box magazines that hold five, eight or ten 2¾-inch shells, and 20- and 30-round drums are also currently available. Several variants are made. (fostechoutdoors.com)

Fabarm STF 12

Fostech Origin 12

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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IWI

MOSSBERG

INLAND

TAVOR TS12

590 SHOCKWAVE JIC

STAKEOUT II

The most unique shotgun hitting the market in 2018, this 12-gauge bullpup can be configured for either right- or left-side ejection and operation. It feeds from one of three magazine tubes that can hold four 3-inch shotgun shells or five 2¾-inch shotgun shells. This means the gun can potentially hold 15+1 rounds. The Tavor TS12 also automatically loads a round in the chamber once the subsequent loaded tube is rotated into position. Additional features include four slingattachment points, M-LOK rails and an overall length of only 28.34 inches despite an 18.5-inch barrel. (iwi.us)

Mossberg’s 590 Shockwave has several companies trying to offer similar short-barreled “firearms.” But the Shockwave holds more rounds, 5+1, and it’s also the only one with a forend strap to keep your support hand from sliding in front of the muzzle. Joining the lineup of Shockwaves this year are a 20 gauge for more manageable recoil and two 12 gauges with Flat Dark Earth or stainless Cerakote finishes. The latter is sold as the JIC (Just In Case) and comes in a water-resistant plastic tube that floats on water or can be safetly buried for a future emergency or rainy day. (mossberg.com)

Built with help from the Ithaca Gun Company, Inland’s new 12-gauge Stakeout II sports an oilfinished walnut stock while the 20-gauge model (so new its name hasn’t been finalized) has a black, righthand, wooden thumbhole stock and a waving American flag on the receiver. Both of their magazines can hold four 2¾-inch shells, and they use the M37’s unique bottom feeding/ejecting design that works well with righties and lefties. The receiver is made from a solid billet of steel. (inland-mfg.com)

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

SCATTERGUN SPECTRUM

Mossberg 590M

Nighthawk Tomahawk

MOSSBERG

NIGHTHAWK

REMINGTON

590M

TOMAHAWK

870 DM

870 TAC-14

The new pump-action 590M uses detachable magazines holding five, 10, 15 or 20 rounds. The magazines are made of very durably polymer with heat-treated feed lips, and they’re double-stack designs, which reduces their length considerably for better handling over comparable single-stack magazines. The 590M also features an ambidextrous steel mag release, and the mag is secured on all sides when inserted. The shotgun takes 12-gauge, 2¾-inch shells and is offered with a bead sight or as a tactical model with a front post sight, a ghost-ring rear sight and a heat shield on the barrel. Both versions have ribbed pump handles. (mossberg.com)

The Tomahawk starts as a Remington 870 before Nighthawk adds several features for enhanced performance. Along with an action job for smooth cycling, the barrel is ported and back-bored by Vang Comp for tighter patterns. The 24 ports near the muzzle provide better control by reducing muzzle rise while the Hogue forend and pistol grip cushion against recoil. The sidesaddle holds four rounds at the ready, and the safety is oversized. The Tomahawk also has a mag extension so it can hold 5+1 shells. (nighthawkcustom.com)

Remington’s new 870 DM shotguns use detachable box magazines and are available with traditional hardwood or synthetic stocks. There’s also a camoclad Predator variant with a thumbhole stock, a Tactical model with a pistol-grip stock and another version with a special Magpul stock. Several 870 DMs have receiver-mounted Picatinny rails with ghost-ring rear sights as well as ported breacher-type muzzle brakes. (remington.com)

Remington’s line of short-barreled TAC-14 “firearms” has grown to include five models. Now there’s one that uses a detachable box magazine, another with an arm brace, and the Marine Magnum version has nickel plating on all of its steel parts for extreme rust resistance. There’s also a 20-gauge TAC-14. Every variant has a tubular magazine that holds four shells while the DM version holds 6+1. (remington.com)

Remington 870 TAC-14

Remington 870 DM

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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SRM Model 1216 Standard Manufacturing SKO Shorty

SRM

STANDARD MANUFACTURING

UTAS

MODEL 1216

SKO SHORTY

SP-12 SHORTY

XTR-12

SRM shotguns have many worthwhile features like a roller-delayed mechanism that reduces perceived recoil and a break-action design for easy cleaning of the internals. The charging handle and ejection can also be reversed to accommodate left- or right-handed shooters. The Model 1216 has a relatively compact length of only 32.5 inches thanks to its magazine, which has four separate tubes that each hold four standard shells. The magazine is mounted under the barrel and is grasped by the support hand. As one tube is emptied, the operator manually indexes it to a loaded tube. (srmarms.com)

Standard Manufacturing is no stranger to designing blockbuster tactical shotguns, and the SKO Shorty is a cut-down version of the SKO released last year. It’s a gas-operated semi-auto “firearm” with detachable two-, five- or 10-round magazines that accept 2¾- and 3-inch shells. SKO shotguns have right-side charging handles as well as ambidextrous safeties, bolt catches and magazine releases. The 18.88-inch barrel is threaded for chokes, and the SKO Shorty is 28.75 inches long. (stdgun.com)

The SP-12 Shorty from Standard Manufacturing is a pump-action “firearm” with a 14-inch barrel and 26-inch overall length. It’s based off the DP-12 and holds 5+1 standard shells or 10+1 mini-shells. Like the DP-12, no adapter is needed to reliably cycle the minis, according to the company. This piece works well for right- of left-handers with its bottom feeding and ejection, ambidextrous safety and slide release lever positioned just in front of the triggerguard. (stdgun.com)

The XTR-12 is the closest you can get to a 12-gauge AR with a lower receiver that accepts .308caliber DPMS uppers. This shotgun uses a gas piston system, and the action locks back after the last round is fired. Aside from lacking a forward assist, the XTR-12 also has the same manual of arms and identical takedown procedures of an AR. The platform has evolved over the years, but the barrel is 20 inches long and can be threaded and modified to accept Benelli-style chokes. The XTR-12 accepts 2¾- or 3-inch magnum shells, and several Cerakote finishes are available. (utas-usa.com)

Standard Manufacturing SP-12 Shorty

UTAS XTR-12

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

CAN CORNER

CMMG CAN TAKE YOU TO DEFCAN 1 WITH ITS 5 NEW AFFORDABLE SOUND SUPPRESSORS BY TL STAFF It is a buyer’s market right now for sound suppressors. There are dozens of companies making quality models these days, and more are getting into the game. I’m talking manufacturers like Daniel Defense and even CZ-USA. This kind of competition drives prices downward while manufacturers seek new, innovative solutions to help themselves stand out in the marketplace. That’s why we’re starting to see suppressors made with the help of computer modeling programs that can simulate gases expended from firing a round, for example, as well as 3D-printed designs and more. Well, we need to add another new manufacturer to the list: CMMG. Missouri-based CMMG has been around since 2002 and is known for its complete AR-platform rifles and pis82

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

tols, parts and conversion kits. If you need a new AR or something to upgrade your old one, CMMG is a great place to start. And now the company is offering a complete line of DefCan suppressors to take your favorite AR to the next level.

ENTERING THE ARENA As you already know, suppressors reduce the sound signature of a firearm to help prevent hearing damage, especially if you’re indoors. On top of that, if you’re a hunter, you’re less likely to spook game while saving your hearing with a suppressor-equipped rifle. And your neighbors will appreciate you a lot more if you invest in a silencer for backyard plinking time. Of course, sound suppressors have to be balanced and able to do several things at the same time. They have to reduce a firearm’s report while also being relatively lightweight and durable. Nobody wants to add an anvil to the front of their weapon. And if you can get a suppressor that is affordable to boot, even better. This is where CMMG comes in. According to the CEO of CMMG, Chris Reinkemeyer, “The DefCan line is an exciting new step for tactical-life.com

DEFCAN 3Ti

SPECIFICATIONS

The DefCan 3Ti is a lightweight, full-auto-rated, .30-caliber suppressor that has a sound reduction rating of 32 decibels. Its all-titanium construction helps it remain lightweight without sacrificing any durability. Available in either direct-thread (DT) or quick-detach (QD) configurations, the DefCan 3Ti is a workhorse for any bolt-action or semi-auto rifle. The barrel should be at least 16 inches long in 7.62mm NATO; 10.5 inches long in 5.56mm or 6.8 SPC; 8 inches long in 7.62x39mm; and 7.5 inches in 300 BLK. CALIBER: 7.62mm NATO SOUND REDUCTION: 32 decibels LENGTH: 7.8 inches (DT), 9.2 inches (QD) DIAMETER: 1.5 inches WEIGHT: 13.1 ounces (DT), 17.5 ounces (QD) FINISH: Cerakote MSRP: $825 (DT), $900 (QD)

DEFCAN 2Ti

SPECIFICATIONS

The DefCan 2Ti is a full-auto-rated 5.56mm silencer that offers a sound reduction rating of 32 decibels. The blast baffle is made of Inconel while the rest of the can is constructed of titanium, making the DefCan 2Ti both lightweight and extremely durable. Both DT and QD versions are available. Your barrel should be 10.5 inches or longer for the QD version and at least 10.25 inches long for the DT version. CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO SOUND REDUCTION: 32 decibels LENGTH: 6.18 inches (DT), 7 inches (QD) DIAMETER: 1.5 inches WEIGHT: 13.1 ounces FINISH: Cerakote MSRP: $750 (DT), $825 (QD)

CMMG. Combined with our new line of Banshee SBRs, DefCan suppressors will give us a strong presence in the NFA market. Additionally, the DefCan suppressor line complements our current firearm product lineup very well and will be an integral part of our plans going forward.” A few different DefCans are available right now, and most can be had as either direct-thread or quick-detach models. You can pick them up from the Silencer Shop, and they’re backed by CMMG’s “Lifetime Guarantee,” meaning the company will repair, replace or substitute parts as needed if a problem arises. Let’s take a closer look, and for more information, visit cmmginc.com. tactical-life.com

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

CAN CORNER

DEFCAN 9

SPECIFICATIONS

The DefCan 9 is a full-auto-rated, 9mm QD suppressor. It’s made of 7075-T6 aluminum and lowers the host weapon’s sound signature by 32 decibels. In other words, when used with subsonic ammunition, the CMMG DefCan 9 will practically renders your gun ear safe. And with an MSRP of $700, it is also one of the more affordable 9mm submachine gun suppressors on the market. Finally, the DefCan 9 is sealed so that it requires no maintenance or cleaning. CALIBER: 9mm SOUND REDUCTION: 32 decibels LENGTH: 10.5 inches DIAMETER: 1.38 inches WEIGHT: 10 ounces FINISH: Hardcoat anodized MSRP: $700

DEFCAN 45

SPECIFICATIONS

As you probably guessed by now, the DefCan 45 is a full-auto-rated suppressor designed for weapons chambered in .45 ACP. With a sound reduction rating of 30 decibels, the DefCan 45 is a perfect complement to pistol-caliber carbines like CMMG’s MkG Guard and Banshee platforms, for example. Like the DefCan 9, it’s made from 7075-T6 aluminum and has a hardcoat anodized finish. The Bi-Lock QD mounting system makes attaching and removing the suppressor incredibly easily. CALIBER: .45 ACP SOUND REDUCTION: 30 decibels LENGTH: 10 inches DIAMETER: 1.5 inches WEIGHT: 12.4 ounces FINISH: Hardcoat anodized MSRP: $700

DEFCAN 22

SPECIFICATIONS

Our last model in the line is the direct-thread DefCan 22, which is designed for rimfire weapons. Rimfire suppressors can make for some extremely fun range time, especially if you’re teaching someone to shoot for the first time. The DefCan 22 helps by reducing the alreadyquiet .22 LR by 40 decibels, and the can weighs just 2.7 ounces! Its compact design will add very little to the host weapon’s overall length, and it can be used with .22 Short, .22 Long, .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HM2 and .17 HMR ammo. However, this model is not full-auto rated.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

CALIBER: .22 SOUND REDUCTION: 40 decibels LENGTH: 5 inches DIAMETER: 1 inches WEIGHT: 2.7 ounces FINISH: Hardcoat anodized MSRP: $325

RANGE REPORT

TACTICAL SOLUTIONS’ NEW 11-INCH-BARRELED 300 BLK AR GETS AROUND THE NFA RED TAPE BY FRED MASTISON

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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What do we want? A short-barreled rifle! When do we want it? Now! Well, you can’t have it now. You will need to enter the seemingly endless line that slowly snakes into the offices of the BATFE’s NFA Branch in West Virginia, or, as it’s better known, the place where paperwork goes to sit. The process of getting a short-barreled rifle (SBR) is not as complicated as it is time consuming. With the huge growth in suppressor sales and interest in SBRs, the NFA Branch has been overwhelmed with applications. And although folks at the branch do their

best to keep up, they are sorely understaffed, and in standard government procedure, there is no real relief in sight. There have been rumors of the NFA staff being significantly expanded, but I would not hold my breath. Wait times for your tax stamp, as of this writing, are projected at 10 to 12 months. That’s a long time to wait for your SBR. This is America, however, and out of adversity comes innovation. Although the idea of knocking off a couple of inches of barrel and then welding on a muzzle brake has been around for a while, there’s another design that caught my eye recently. Tactical Solutions has a 300 Blackout upper with an 11-inch barrel, and yet it requires no red tape or an NFA tax stamp. Curious how it works? Read on.

A VIABLE SOLUTION Tactical Solutions has expanded on the idea of the welded muzzle brake and taken it to a new level. It has created a suppressor shroud for its 300 Blackout upper. Of course, as you probably already know, the 300 Blackout is a

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TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

SHROUDED FOR SILENCE

“IT’S A GREAT WAY TO GET YOUR HANDS ON AN SBR WITHOUT IT TECHNICALLY BEING AN SBR.”

round that screams, “Suppress me!” And most people who get SBRs already tend to mount suppressors on them. It’s one of the benefits of an SBR. You can have a suppressed weapon without it being overwhelmingly long. The Tactical Solutions creation is the TSAR-300. It’s an upper with an 11-inch barrel that has a permanently attached suppressor shroud. The shroud technically extends the length to 16.1 inches, making it exempt from NFA rules and regulations. The shroud is designed to house your .30-caliber suppressor, which you would probably put on the gun from the start. The shroud has an inside diameter of 1.75 inches, making it large enough for most of the cans on the market. It even works with most suppressors that use specific mounting adapters/brakes. You simply mount the can on the muzzle device first and then attach it to the upper, just as you would a regular direct-thread suppressor. The party stops, however, on suppressors designed for a quick release with levers or special ratchet gears. The contact point of the suppressor is seated inside the shroud—an acceptable tradeoff to me. The shroud adds only a small amount to the overall diameter of the front of the gun with a suppressor attached. When it’s done, the gun is

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

The barrel within the XG Pro M-LOK handguard is only 11 inches long, but the suppressor shroud brings the overall length to 16.1 inches. Also note the Magpul furniture.

about the same size as a standard AR-15 with an 18-inch barrel.

QUIET 300 Tactical Solutions sent me one of its complete TSAR-300 rifles to give it a spin. I was looking forward to this project because I’d already shot several SPEC BOX

TACTICAL SOLUTIONS

TSAR-300 CALIBER:

300 Blackout

BARREL:

11 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT: STOCK:

31.5 inches 6.55 pounds (empty) Magpul MOE SL

SIGHTS:

None

ACTION:

Direct impingement semi-auto

FINISH: CAPACITY: MSRP:

Matte black 10+1 $1,395

of the company’s other guns. Although known for many things, Tactical Solutions staffers are geniuses in the .22 LR realm. Their barrels, accessories and complete guns are highly sought after, and I believed this TSAR-300 would be up there in terms of quality. To save you some time: I was not disappointed. The rifle I received was exceptionally well made. The fit and finish are the first indicators of a gun’s performance. The forend is an XG Pro two-piece, lightweight aluminum unit with M-LOK slots. Tactical Solutions also makes a KeyMod version. The barrel has a 1-in-8-inch twist rate, and the shroud is permanently attached. Another notable feature is the full-auto-rated, mil-spec bolt carrier group. Who wouldn’t enjoy running a 300 Blackout AR in full -auto? That will have to wait for another article, however. The lower sports a Magpul MOE SL carbine stock as well as an MOEK2+ grip. I really like this grip because its surface provides an almost tacky grip, making it sit firmly in your hand. Although it didn’t have the high-end

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drop-in trigger I would have preferred, Tactical Solutions included an ALG Defense QMS trigger. This is essentially a mil-spec trigger without the initial grittiness associated with duty-style triggers. It was a nice tradeoff for the overall management of price. The range time I spent with the TSAR-300 was pleasant. Tactical Solutions has spent extra time to clean up rough edges on the gun, just as it does with all its other items. This is an extra step showing great attention to detail that many companies skip in a rush to get products out the door.

The TSAR-300 was quiet, accurate and reliable with a Riton 1-4x24mm Mod 5 scope and an EliteIron D30 sound suppressor installed.

VERSATILE FIREPOWER You won’t see any 300 Blackout rifles on the line at a precision rifle competition, but I’ve had good luck accuracywise with the guns I’ve run. The TSAR-300 went above and beyond what I was expecting, too. I ran a variety of ammo, including Hornady’s subsonic 208-grain Black A-MAXs, Daniel Defense’s 220-grain subsonic rounds and some Remington 115-grain CTFB rounds from the back of my ammo locker. The Daniel Defense and Hornady loads gave me sub-MOA groups and again showed that the rifle could stand up for itself. For testing, I used my oldschool EliteIron D30 suppressor, and it proved to be a good match for the TSAR-300. For optics, I used a 1-4x24 Riton Mod 5 scope with an illuminated reticle. It’s a solid piece of glass from a veteran-owned company in Arizona. The scope was clear and reliable, and it’s extremely affordable. This package worked well together and was easy to run. The trigger was firm but didn’t hinder my results. As the brass

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PERFORMANCE

TACTICAL SOLUTIONS TSAR-300 LOAD

VELOCITY

ACCURACY AVERAGE

BEST

Daniel Defense 220 Subsonic

1,036

1.00

0.90

Hornady 208 Black A-MAX

1,020

1.10

0.95

Remington 115 CTFB

2,280

1.25

1.00

began to pile up around me, I saw multiple applications for this gun beyond range enjoyment. One area I would use it in is hunting, especially for harvesting wild hogs. The package weighed just a little over 8 pounds loaded and would be a pleasure to carry through the Texas countryside. The 300 Blackout is an interesting round, with pros and cons like any ammunition. I have a diverse ballistic pallet, so I can easily accept it. The TSAR-300 is a great way to get the most out of this round, one that I believe is really in its element when it’s fired from a suppressed SBR. Tactical Solutions offers the TSAR300 as a complete rifle and as a dedicated upper. This lets you simply switch out uppers if you choose. So the question is ”Do I need a suppressor for this upper?” The answer is no. You can simply use it like any other 300 Blackout upper. But why would you? This upper is

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for three 3-shot groups at 100 yards.

designed to be used with a suppressor. It’s built for a can—and built well. It’s a great way to get your hands on an SBR without it technically being an SBR. This will save you $200 for a tax stamp and several months of frustration. To some, the Tactical Solutions TSAR300 might just look like a marketing ploy or something that came out of a gun builder’s garage shop. But it’s far from that, and I would categorize it as a dedicated weapon design. The company has listened to shooters and built a solution for a challenge. Kudos to Tactical Solutions for doing it. I predict the TSAR-300 is the first of many guns we’ll see built like this. I don’t want to classify it as sneaky. Rather, it’s innovative. Now to work on concocting another story for my wife about why I need another rifle. For more information, visit tacticalsol.com. Editor’s Note: Make sure you check out tactical-life.com to see the author wring out the TSAR-300 on the range.

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

FLASHBACK

THE CLASSIC AMERICAN 180 WILL MAKE YOU RETHINK FULL-AUTO FIREPOWER BY WILL DABBS, MD

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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All normal guys think machine guns are cool. Additionally, every properly wired American male loves ventilating empty Coke cans with a .22 rifle. As is the case with milk and chocolate chip cookies, politicians and taxes, or fast cars and pretty girls, some things just synergistically combine to produce a sum more compelling than their individual parts. Such is the case with the .22-caliber American 180 machine gun.

ORIGIN STORY Richard “Dick” Casull first got the ball rolling with his Casull Model 290. Dick was a gunsmith from Utah ulti-

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mately known for his work developing large-bore revolver cartridges. His .454 Casull was and is an absolute monster of a wheelgun round. He also pioneered Freedom Arms in 1978 with Wayne Baker to develop adorable little miniature revolvers. Casull’s mini-revolver designs were eventually acquired by North American Arms and became the foundation for that company’s extensive line of compact stainless steel revolvers today. The Model 290 was an expensive and fairly cumbersome gun that Casull designed in the 1960s. Patterned after the Lewis gun used by British forces in both World Wars, the Model 290 employed a top-mounted, spring-driven pan magazine to feed its voracious full-auto appetite. Scuttle-

butt has it that only about 80 copies of the Model 290 drew breath prior to the discontinuation of the project. However, in the 1970s, several other manufacturers took up the design both within the U.S. and in Austria. The gun was conceived to accept a primitive and bulky helium-neon gas laser designator. Thusly equipped, it was marketed aggressively as a military and law enforcement weapon. These early laser sights were enormous, bulky contraptions that could run for about two hours on a single set of batteries. You could also plug

TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

A RIMFIRE SUBGUN?

the sight into a power outlet if the target felt really cooperative. While a single .22 LR round doesn’t pack a great deal of horsepower, 20 of them delivered in the span of a single second can be quite literally breathtaking. The diminutive stature of the .22 LR produces minimal recoil, so the gun was easy to control. The original marketing literature touted the gun’s ability to chew through concrete walls, car doors and body armor, though this would also presuppose a preternaturally cooperative target. To eat through body armor with a full-auto .22 demands that the hypothetical armor-clad miscreant hold still for a bit. The gun’s manufacturers claimed that you could place the contents of an entire 165-round magazine within a 3-inch circle at 20 yards in the span of eight seconds. Now that’s just cool.

ALL AMERICAN The Casull’s successor, the American 180, weighs less than a stripped M16A1 unloaded, and most variations are described as being well made and

reliable. Original magazines carried 165 or 177 rounds, though largercapacity drums of up to 275 rounds are still in production today. The 275round drums do effectively occlude the weapon’s sights, however. E&L Manufacturing, the current producer of American 180 drums, includes an elevated front sight along with the first 275-round drum you buy. The open-bolt mechanism of the American 180 incorporates a series of grooves in the sides of the bolt that very effectively channel dirt and debris out of the mechanism. The British L2A3 Sterling submachine gun sports

similar grooves. The non-reciprocating charging handle is oriented on the left side of the receiver, towards the rear, so that the bulky drum magazine does not interfere with its operation. The drum chassis spins on top of the receiver as it empties. There is a captive screw underneath the forward aspect of the receiver that allows the gun to break down quickly into two handy components. The stock removes with the push of a button in the manner of the M1928 Thompson submachine gun. Particularly with a short 9-inch barrel in place, this makes the American 180

The original drum magazines on the American 180 comfortably pack 177 rounds of .22 LR ammunition. Newer polymer versions can hold 275 rounds.

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easily packable. The assembly and disassembly processes are relatively straightforward and easily mastered. The magazine release is fairly intuitive and simple to manage, though the bulky nature of the pan magazine does produce a cluttered sight picture. The ergonomics of the stock and pistol grip are better reasoned than those of the Thompson that obviously inspired them. Overall, the American 180 is a comfortable gun to run. Semi-auto versions of the American 180 have been offered in the past, and these guns come up for sale occasionally on online usedgun forums. While the practicality of a 10-pound semi-auto .22 packing 177 rounds on board might be questionable, there is no better tactical tool should you ever find yourself attacked by a battalion of malevolent chipmunks. I’ve frankly bought guns for dumber reasons. The magazines are a holy pain to load, and the American 180 runs through ammo like politicians burn through other people’s money. E&L Manufacturing also offers a magazine loader that renders this chore a bit less onerous. A single mechanical spring-loaded winder can be used to power multiple magazines.

SO WHAT’S IT GOOD FOR? The American 180 was formally adopted by the Utah Department of Corrections, and it was undoubtedly intimidating when wielded from a guard tower at their state penitentiary. There are rumors that the Rhodesian Special Air Service used a few of these novel guns operationally in Africa. However, humping the African savanna with one of these hyperactive little buzz guns must have been a treat. The nature of the design demands that it be fed high-velocity ammo, so suppressed versions remain fairly noisy. Regardless, the company’s marketing efforts were compelling, and quite a

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Like a Lewis gun, the American 180’s drum magazine spins as it feeds, dropping .22 LR rounds down from its rear into the bolt feedway.

“FAIRLY EASY TO TOTE AND ALL BUT RECOILLESS, THE AMERICAN 180 LETS YOU CHEW UP THE RANGE LIKE A BEAVER ON CRACK.” few examples were indeed sold to local law enforcement agencies. Many of the guns available today were traded out of police arms rooms over the years. I could find but a single detailed anecdote involving the operational use of a laser-equipped American 180 by cops in a real-life shootout. In November of 1974, Officers Mike Gilo and Gary Jones of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department attempted to subdue a pair of evildoers driving a Chevrolet Camaro. As the driver of the Camaro accelerated in an effort to escape, his foolhardy passenger produced a handgun and fired at the officers. Gilo responded by unleashing a roughly 40-round burst through the back window of the suspects’ car while

SPEC BOX

AMERICAN 180 CALIBER:

.22 LR, .22 Short Magnum

BARREL:

9 or 18.5 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT: STOCK:

35.5 inches 5.7 pounds (empty) Polymer

SIGHTS:

Front post, adjustable rear

ACTION:

Blowback-operated, full-auto

FINISH: CAPACITY: RATE OF FIRE:

Matte black 165, 177, 220, 275 1,200 rpm

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A RIMFIRE SUBGUN? LEFT: The author had a ton of fun unleashing the .22 on his nearby pond. FAR LEFT: This tidy cluster represents 50 rounds fired off-hand at 20 meters. BELOW LEFT: The left-side charging handle does not reciprocate when firing.

Jones engaged with his 12-gauge shotgun loaded with buckshot. The 12 gauge failed to connect, but the American 180 stitched across the back window of the car, removing the lot of it. The driver then crashed the car, and the passenger was found already heading towards room temperature as a result of multiple .22 LR wounds to his back. The driver was apprehended later, grievously wounded by multiple .22-caliber gunshot wounds but still breathing. In today’s litigious environment, a fully automatic weapon that spews rounds so enthusiastically would be a plaintiff’s attorney’s dream. In the 1970s, however, there apparently weren’t as many lawyers are there are today.

HOW DOES IT RUN? Wow. Just wow. Loading the drums is just as big a hassle as I had anticipated, and the American 180 does indeed burn through .22 LR ammo at a breathtaking rate. I sucked it up and bought 5,000 rounds for this project just so I wouldn’t feel the effects of ammo famine before I got done. Keeping bursts in the five-round range is not tough for a disciplined trigger finger, and New Math tells us that even the smaller drums would pack 35 such bursts in a single charge. Visualize the fully stoked

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American 180 like a 10-pound recoilless shotgun that carries 35 rounds onboard. When so employed, the American 180 is accurate and controllable, allowing you to keep every round within a standard silhouette at typical handgun ranges. Reaching out to 100 meters, the gun is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, particularly when fired into a wet target with a safe backstop. Each burst seems like the fistful of gravel we used to throw into the water when we were young boys, producing that lovely little coordinated splash around the point of aim. Against steel targets, the effect is positively musical. Much beyond 100 meters, the American 180 becomes an area weapon system. At bad-breath distances, the American 180 is just as nasty as the marketing literature claims it to be. The recoil is so trivial that you really could just about write your name with the thing. When firing a full magazine in a continuous burst from a proper rest, the tidy little gun

will indeed group within about a teacup. Such antics will indeed put hair on your chest regardless of your gender, but you could die of old age trying to load enough drums to keep the process vibrant for a while. When appropriately maintained, the American 180 is a reliable and effective close-quarters weapon. With 275 rounds on board, the gun gets heavy, but it offers more controllable firepower than most anything else in the arms room. Given the dynamically rotating nature of the drum magazine and the unimpressive mechanical spunk of the .22 LR cartridge, the practicality of employing an American 180 in an austere field environment is questionable, however.

PURE FUN The American 180 is one of the most novel and unusual combat weapons ever devised. For law enforcement or corrections applications, it indeed offers some unique capabilities. However, the real niche the American 180 enjoys is as a recreational range toy. Fairly easy to tote and all but recoilless, the American 180 lets you chew up the range like a beaver on crack. Loading drums will test your patience, and the gun’s appetite will earn you Christmas cards from your favorite ammo supplier. However, as a delightful way to kill a lazy Saturday afternoon at the range, the American 180 is indeed unparalleled. Lightweight, accurate for its genre and just crazy cool, the American 180 is 10 pounds of raw, unfiltered fun.

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BATTLE BLADES

BEAR OPS BOLD ACTION III STILETTO The Bear OPS Bold Action III Stiletto features a handy 2-inch blade made of 14C28N stainless steel and a black aluminum frame. The pocket carry clip provides for right-hand, tip-up carry. It weights 1.4 ounces. (bearandsoncutlery.com)

ROUNDING UP THE BEST TACTICAL KNIVES HITTING THE MARKET THIS YEAR BY STEVEN DICK

To learn what’s new and high speed, the annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas is the place to be. This is especially true of the cutlery industry, and one fact was extremely obvious at the 2018 show: Tactical blades still dominate the market. Thanks to the Knife Rights campaign to reform state-level statutes on spring-opening folding knives, the market has seen more auto-opening models in various lines. Manual one-hand-opening folders are available in every shape and size. People going into military combat or in need of a serious fixed-blade survival knife will find they are equally well covered. Any way you look at it, 2018 will be a good 12 months for tactical blade users.

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BEAR OPS BOLD ACTION IX

BENCHMADE 133 FIXED INFIDEL

BENCHMADE 417 FACT

The new Bear OPS Bold Action IX auto is a compact push-button folding knife with a 2.75-inch, 14C28N stainless blade on a handle that combines G10 with carbon fiber. Finally, the knife weighs a feathery 2.4 ounces. (bearandson cutlery.com)

Benchmade has taken its classic out-the-front Infidel auto and turned it into an efficient fixed-blade boot knife. The D2 blade is 4.52 inches long on a handle of aluminum. The knife weighs 5.11 ounces, and Benchmade includes a sheath made of Boltaron. (benchmade.com)

Benchmade’s 417 Fact is a slim folding boot knife with a 3.95-inch black or satin blade of S30V stainless steel on an anodized aluminum handle. The blade locks open with the company’s patented Axis lock system. The knife weighs 3.24 ounces. (benchmade.com)

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CONDOR ATROX The new Atrox from Condor Tool & Knife fits the description of a serious fighting knife. The 10.86-inch blade is crafted from 1075 carbon steel while the handle is Micarta. The sheath is black Kydex, and the knife weighs 29.6 ounces. (condortk.com)

BOKER PLUS KWAIKEN AUTO Boker has enlisted Lucas Burnley into its elite group of custom designers. One of the first collaborations is the Kwaiken Auto, which has a 3.5inch blade made of 154CM stainless on an aluminum handle frame. It weighs 3.35 ounces. (bokerusa.com)

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CHRIS REEVE SEBENZA 21 CGG DOPPLER New for 2018 in the Chris Reeve Knives lineup is the Sebenza 21 CGG folder with its laser-engraved Doppler-pattern handle. The knife comes with either a 2.94- or 3.6-inch, stonewashed S35VN blade on a titanium handle. (chrisreeve.com)

CASE WINKLER RECURVE NO. 6

CONDOR LOW DRAG

The Winkler Recurve No. 6 is the second in W.R. Case’s collaboration with knifemaker Dan Winkler. This one was designed by ex-SEAL Harold Bologna. The 4.5inch blade is made of 80CrV2 carbon steel, and the knife has a laminate handle in black or tan. (wrcase.com)

Condor’s Low Drag is a basic but highly practical field utility knife designed by Joe Flowers. The 6.58inch blade is made from 1075 carbon steel, and the handle is Micarta. The knife weighs 15.9 ounces, and Condor includes a a leather sheath. (condortk.com)

CRKT OFFBEAT Although Pat Crawford has offered custom versions of this design for many years, CRKT now has a production model, the Offbeat, in its extensive line of tactical folders. The 8Cr14MoV stainless blade is 3.52 inches long, and the handle is stainless steel. (crkt.com)

DOUBLESTAR LITE-FIGHTER-X DoubleStar’s Lite-Fighter-X was designed by a knifemaker with years of Army special operations experience. The Nitro-V stainless steel blade is 4.75 inches long, and the handle is made of G10. This new DoubleStar knife weighs 8.7 ounces. (star15.com)

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BATTLE BLADES

RUGER RTD Made by CRKT, Ruger’s new RTD folder features Ken Onion Field Strip Technology so it can easily be broken down for cleaning and maintenance. The 3.67-inch blade is made of 1.4116 stainless while the handle scales are glass-reinforced nylon. The knife weighs 4.02 ounces. (crkt.com)

ESEE EXPAT MEDELLIN

HOFFNER 3.5" FOLDING KNIFE

ESEE’s Expat Medellin was designed to provide a plain but functional work knife for the outdoor adventurer. The AUS-8 stainless blade is 3.5 inches long with a black or satin finish, and the black FRN handle has stainless liners. The Expat Medellin weighs 4.1 ounces. (eseeknives.com)

Hoffner Knives offers customizable tactical folders. In this line, the 3.5inch blade is made of 440C and the handle is G10, but you can choose the blade profile and grip color/style. Special indexing holes allow you to switch grips quickly. The weight is 4.54 ounces. (hoffners.com)

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KA-BAR EK COMMANDO PRESENTATION KA-BAR recently brought back the legendary John Ek Commando from WWII. Three variants are available, and this presentation model comes with a walnut handle and a 6.62-inch, 440C stainless blade. This knife model weighs 8.8 ounces. (kabar.com)

KERSHAW DECIMUS

KERSHAW DUOJET

MODE ONE MO-SU-001

Kershaw’s new assisted-opening Decimus folder was designed by custom knifemaker Rick Hinderer. The 8Cr13MoV stainless blade is 3.25 inches long, and the handle scales are made of stainless steel. The Kershaw Decimus weighs approximately 4.5 ounces. (kershaw. kaiusaltd.com)

The Kershaw DuoJet uses the company’s SpeedSafe assistedopening system with both a flipper and a thumb stud. The 3.25-inch, 8Cr13MoV blade is mounted on a stainless handle with carbon-fiber inserts. This new knife weighs 4.9 ounces. (kershaw. kaiusaltd.com)

Mode One is a new company with a full line of tactical and work blades. The MO-SU-001 survival knife comes with a 4.69inch, 9Cr18MoV stainless blade with a stonewashed, black oxide or black stonewashed finish. The handle is G10, and the knife weighs 11 ounces. (mode-one.com)

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SPARTAN-HARSEY SUGAR SKULLS EDITION The Spartan-Harsey folder has been around for a couple of years, but Spartan Blades has unveiled several special-edition models with deeply laser-engraved titanium handles. The Sugar Skulls model has a 4-inch, S35VN blade mounted on a titanium frame. The knife weighs 5.88 ounces. (spartanbladesusa.com)

SOG ACE New for 2018, the fixed-blade SOG Ace is meant to be an affordable, convenient field utility knife. The 3.8-inch blade is crafted from 7Cr17MoV, and the handle is made of TPR. The Ace weighs 4 ounces altogether, and a molded polymer sheath is included. Its MSRP is $34. (sogknives.com)

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SPYDERCO RESPECT BOWIE

STEEL WILL INTRIGUE F45-11

Designed by Sal Gesser, Spyderco’s new Respect Bowie will put some serious combat steel on your belt. The 7.94-inch, CPM 154 stainless steel blade sits on a black G10 handle. This fixed-blade knife weighs 12.5 ounces and has an overall length of 13.15 inches. (spyderco.com)

Steel Will’s new liner-locking Intrigue F45-11 features a D2 toolsteel blade with a high flat grind that is 3.6 inches long. A simple flipper will help you deploy the blade quickly. The handle scales are made of FRN, and the whole knife weighs 2.89 ounces. (steelwill knives.com)

TOPS OPERATOR SEVEN The new Operator Seven from TOPS features a 7.25-inch, 1075 carbon-steel blade and a Micarta/G10 handle. Another notable feature: The blade is 0.31 inches thick. The knife weighs 18.9 ounces, and TOPS includes a leather sheath. (topsknives.com)

WINKLER JAEGER An especially interesting bit of news at SHOT was that knifemaker and TV personality Jason Knight is working with Daniel Winkler on a new line of knives. The Jaeger has a 3.75-inch, 80CrV2 carbon-steel blade, and several handle styles are available. It weighs 5 ounces. (winklerknives.com)

ZERO TOLERANCE 0393 The new Zero Tolerance 0393 is another collaboration with custom knifemaker Rick Hinderer. The 3.5inch blade is made of DLC-coated CPM 20CV stainless steel. The frame is made of titanium with G10 inserts, and the knife weighs 5 ounces. (ztknives.com)

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ROAD TRIP

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PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN AT HECKLER & KOCH’S NEW HOME FOR AMERICAN-MADE BY ROB GARRETT On January 12, 2017, Columbus, Georgia’s Ledger-Enquirer released an article stating, “Heckler & Koch, a manufacturer of firearms and accessories, will invest $28.5 million to expand its existing operations in Columbus, Georgia. The new 50,000 square-foot facility in the Corporate Ridge Business Park will be ready in the summer of 2017, at which time HK will consolidate its New Hampshire operations into Columbus. ‘HK’s new U.S. factory will make use of advanced manufacturing technologies and will be staffed by German and American engineers and technicians,’ said Francisco Hidalgo, CEO of HK USA. ‘The HK products will maintain the same level of quality and reliability that the consumer has grown to expect from HK. Our company motto is and will remain No Compromise.’” And with that, my hometown of Columbus became the home of HK USA and the center tactical-life.com

for all U.S. production of HK products. HK has had a presence in Columbus since the early 2000s, when it competed for the Army’s Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) program with the XM8 rifle. The OICW program had several starts and stops before being canceled in late 2015. But even with the cancelation, HK kept the Columbus facility open. It became a customer service center and clearinghouse for all HK weapons coming into the U.S. from Germany.

PRIOR HURDLES To understand HK, you must understand the company’s business DNA and the role of both U.S. and German governments. HK has always designed weapons for the government and military organizations. Although some of those projects resulted in commercial products, that was largely an ancillary effort. Some have said HK does not understand the American firearms market. I would agree with that, but it should be placed in perspective. HK does not have a reference point for comparison. Germany does not have a Second Amendment, and the private ownership of firearms, for most, is restricted to hunting shotguns and rifles. The American gun culture is foreign to the Germans at HK and in the German government. The private ownership of firearms in Germany is not only discouraged but also looked upon with suspicion. For HK to import a model into the U.S., HK’s corporate leadership must first approve the product. The second hurdle is the German government’s export restrictions, which are governed by BAFA/BIS. This program, when combined with International Traffic in Arms TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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INSIDE HK USA

Regulations (ITAR), tightly controls the export of weapons and technology. It’s significant because each case is weighed on its own merit, not in context with prior decisions. When HK and the German government approve a product, the U.S. State Department and other organizations must approve of its importation. That’s where the points system is applied to firearms, with a minimum score needed for approval. Only then can a product be imported into the U.S. for the commercial market.

BEHIND THE SCENES With HK’s new focus on the American commercial market, including the new Georgia production facility and fresh leadership, a lot will change in the next several years. Because of the hospitality of Mike Holly, executive vice president of sales and marketing, and Bill Dermody, director of marketing, I went behind the scenes to provide a firsthand account of what HK is doing and what’s coming. This includes extensions of current lines and new designs developed specifically for the American commercial market. At the annual IWA trade show, HK Germany introduced several variations of the popular VP9 pistol, including an optics-ready variant, one with a manual safety and another with a button magazine release that replaces HK’s traditional paddle design. Because VP pistols are made in Germany and then imported, I hope these options will soon be offered in the U.S. market. These changes—especially the American-style magazine release—will make the VP a more viable option for the 102

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commercial and law enforcement markets. HK USA is also working with Germany on upgrading the MR platform. The MR556 and MR762 are considered among the finest modern sporting rifles available today. An outgrowth of the HK416/417 series, these piston-driven rifles are known for their reliability and accuracy. The HK416 is the rifle of choice for many special operations units worldwide. It has been reported that SEAL Team Six was carrying HK416s on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. However, existing models have somewhat dated features and are in need of an upgrade. This is particularly true with the handguard. When I visited the HK plant, several production cells were up and running. Currently, HK USA is producing HK45 series pistols in Columbus using a combination of imported and American-made components. I also saw several racks of MR762 rifles going through final inspection before being shipped to dealers. Other production lines were in the process of final assembly, with several multi-axis CNC machines being calibrated and brought online. HK USA will make

cold-hammer-forged barrels in-house. The forging machine had recently arrived from Germany and was being assembled.

THE DREAM TEAM The most impressive part of my visit was chatting with Bill Alexander, formerly of Alexander Arms, to see what’s going on with testing. Alexander served in the British army before coming to the U.S. He and his team are responsible for ensuring products meet HK’s legendary standards. The HK plant has an indoor range and high-speed photography capabilities, plus an atmospheric chamber to test weapons in extreme conditions like sand and dust. He said, “Every product must meet, if not exceed, military testing standards.” Part of what makes HK USA successful is its team. Most of it consists of American personnel with years of experience. However, several employees from HK Germany bring their experience to the table. The result is a company that will move forward while maintaining the DNA of HK Germany. HK USA has put a detailed process in place that will manage existing products while developing new designs. tactical-life.com

“The process involves a consistent manner of gathering information, defining problems and a cross-functional team that consists of employees from sales, marketing, engineering and manufacturing,” Dermody said. Under the new leadership, HK USA is building partnerships with other American companies, including those that make holsters, optics and accessories like Crimson Trace and Streamlight, with other major companies to follow. When a new product is launched, these companies will be up and running with holsters and

accessories. Although this isn’t new to the American market, it’s a new approach for HK, and it’s a result of the American leadership team. HK USA is also becoming an active participant in the shooting world. For example, it was a big sponsor of the 2018 Georgia State Steel Challenge match and is taking part in other events held at Strongpoint Shooting Complex. HK USA has also donated several pistols to Strongpoint to assist in training new shooters. The new management team also understands the importance of customer

service. The number of customer service employees has increased to handle the renewed interest in the brand. With in-house manufacturing capabilities, the ability to service issues is improved. Customer service is not always about handling problems. Often, it involves answering questions, giving advice and, most important, listening. All customer feedback is important, and the critical question is, “What are the unresolved needs of the consumer?”

INTO THE FUTURE There’s a lot going on at HK USA. Although most of the current production relies on imported and American-made components, the transition to more American-made parts continues. As with any company, designs are on the board, and some working prototypes are being developed to meet the needs of American consumers. As to be expected, we can’t write about these yet. However, what I saw was exciting. The timeline for the release of an American-designed and -manufactured HK firearm has yet to be determined. However, several products in the pipeline are in various stages of design and testing. Before a new product is released, it will undergo some of the most extensive testing in the industry. HK USA is to dedicated manufacturing products that live up to the HK name. So what can we hope for in the future? I look forward to the improved MR series of rifles and more American-friendly VP pistols. But more important than improvements in legacy products will be the products designed and manufactured in America. One void in the current lineup is a pistol for the U.S. concealed-carry market. Another void is products designed for American sportsmen and the hunting market. Looking down the road, it makes sense to consider these markets. HK USA’s potential is unlimited, and the company has some of the best people with the brightest minds and exceptional creativity. For HK fans who have been frustrated in the past, be patient, because relief is at hand. If you’re not a fan of HK or have never given its products serious consideration, make sure you check out hk-usa.com. The best is yet to come.

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GAME ON

ENTER THE WAR ROOM WHERE “WORLD OF TANKS” AND HISTORY CHARGE AHEAD BY PETER SUCIU

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Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and board game and collectible card games have also been introduced. This past summer, developers added “War Stories” to the gameplay, offering single-player action for the first time. There are even plans to bring the blitzkrieg to mobile phones in the near future.

ADDED REALISM

Since it rolled out as a free-to-play game for the PC in 2010, “World of Tanks” has become one of the hottest player-versus-player games worldwide. Developed by Wargaming Group Limited, a Belarusian company, more than a decade ago, it has the largest budget for any video game from a nation that was once part of the Soviet Union. The game started small, with just six vehicles and one map, but it grew to include dozens of real-world tanks and attracted a hardcore audience. Today, “World of Tanks” has more than 60 million registered users and is now played by professional gamers in various international e-sports tournaments, including the successful Wargaming.net League. Since debuting on the PC, this armored-combatfocused game has also been released for the Xbox 360,

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Regardless of the platform, much of the game actually begins with the same diagrams and design documents the original manufacturers used to create the tanks. “We’ve got a team of historical consultants who collaborate with museums and archives around the world, combing through documents to ensure every nook and cranny looks authentic,” said Victor Kislyi, chief executive officer of Wargaming. “It’s not just realism that helped the game click with gamers.” Other factors played into the game’s success, notably that “World of Tanks” is much more than a tank simulation. It’s engaging because it’s realistic yet isn’t so complex that casual gamers would be turned off by it. “We pulled out an engaging combo of genres, mixing role-playing, first-person shooters and massively multiplayer into one,” Kislyi said. “We’ve never stopped building on the experience with new content and features. Finally, we’ve established a dialogue with players from the start and have been open and honest with them ever since. Our passion for military history and the way we approach it definitely contributed to the game’s success.” The success of “World of Tanks” has even spawned similarly themed games, including “World of Warships” and “World of Warplanes.” The same type of details that went into making

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GAME ON “World of Tanks” a hit with history buffs is now part of “World of Warships.” As most ships can’t be as easily scanned as tanks (see the sidebar), other efforts had to be made, and it can take up to a six-month process to model the in-game vessels. “We use a combination of plans from military archives, historical photos and, if possible, traveling to the actual ships and gathering data,” said Trevor Smith, community manager for “World of Warships.” “Not only does it take some prying for governments around the world to entrust ship plans and blueprints with a video game company, but Wargaming actually scans materials from the factories where the real ships were built to ensure the accuracy of every piece of steel and weld.” Ships, even when part of a class, can also be a challenge, as each vessel was one of a kind, and many have been sunk or scrapped. “This is where the reference material from archives and historical

photos becomes very important, as it is used to create that ship in the game as accurately as possible,” Smith said. “A great example is the HMS Hood, which was one of the most anticipated ships to come out this year but is not available to be studied in real life. She is currently available in game, recreated from the historical documents.”

BEYOND GAMES Just as nations have used armies and military hardware to expand, virtual tanks, planes and ships have allowed Wargaming Group Limited to expand across the world with 16 far-flung offices. The game’s developers have gone from a regional player in the electronic entertainment industry to become serious enough to buy some independent gaming studios, including Gas Powered Games. More recently, Wargaming acquired the intellectual properties from the Atari bankruptcy proceedings.

To say that the company’s founders like military vehicles is an understatement. Wargaming has been involved in several projects to preserve military history sites and restore the few surviving examples of some rare vehicles. That included the restoration of a Maus super-heavy tank in the Russian Kubinka Tank Museum and the creation of the Wargaming Education Center at the Tank Museum in Bovington, England, as well as continuing sponsorship of the USS Iowa in Los Angeles. “‘World of Tanks’ success allowed us to establish a footprint in quite a few areas, both within the industry and— which is even more rewarding—outside of it,” Kislyi said. “Wargaming evolved into a brand with a set of definitive attributes. Imagine talking about military history and how important it is to preserve.” Before the game took off, the company had to prove its worth, and it was hard to get peopled engaged in the project. Now the brand it has created

ROLLING OUT THE VIRTUAL TANKS Creating a video game based on armored combat isn’t a novel concept. Even the early Atari 2600 had “Tanks,” but what makes “World of Tanks” so different is that the development team really gets down and dirty with the details. Chris “Q” Stott, community manager of “World of Tanks,” shared some insight about what goes into creating the game. How do you model tanks to make the in-game versions so accurate? Ideally, we like to see these tanks up close and in person to really get a feel for the scale and power of these vehicles. Luckily for us, there are many museums and collectors around the world that have kept tanks of the past safe, and some still run today. The first step is to take a range of pictures of a tank from multiple angles and sides. This can be a rather tedious process, as not only does this require more than roughly a thousand pictures to be taken, but it also must take into

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account the tank’s angling, spacing, lighting, weather and other variables. How far will the development team go to remain accurate? It’s very important to get as close as we can to the real thing. Often, the real-world tanks don’t coincide exactly with any of our historical blueprints. Most have noticeable differences in size, armor plate angles and more. Maybe they were

just made in different factories, maybe at different times, but that’s why it’s so important to see the tanks in person. The second step consists of processing and analyzing the multitude of photographs using a special program. Image markers are temporarily pasted on tanks before shooting to help the program recognize various angles and fragments. From this, the program generates a cloud of points that we later

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Along with historically accurate models, “World of Tanks” allows players to drive experimental designs that never actually hit the battlefield, like the German Skorpion G, which only existed in blueprints from 1943.

has caught the attention of museums, nonprofits and even other game developers. “This allowed us create a global network of partners and pull out regular co-promo projects,” Kislyi said.

These have included efforts with museums such as the Tank Museum in Bovington and numerous projects in Russia. For the Wargaming team, that’s really the beginning of what could be a

use to build a model. This super-highquality model can consist of more than 150 million polygons, and it’s from this model where we start to nail down the final version. Our game models typically consist of a much more reasonable 50,000 polygons. In general, we try to give each of our models a unique touch. The in-game model completely corresponds to the real tank, both in size and details.

back to the photos and drawings to fill in all of the smaller details. We also take our data from visiting tank factories around the globe to determine which factories could have had the capacity to actually build a tank of this type. Then we examine the type of metals and welds used in tank construction on the factory floor. All of this visual data comes together to re-create those machines as closely as possible to what they would have looked like in real life had they been built. Tanks that never even existed can come to life in incredible detail in our game.

Many of these vehicles no longer exist, so what challenges does that present? We go to great lengths to recreate vehicles that we can’t get our hands on directly or those that never made it out of the blueprint phase. The first step is always gathering as much visual data as possible. This includes blueprints, photographs and drawings, which are very valuable to us in this process. From photos, we can use soldiers, parts of tanks we have measured previously or background objects in photos to determine length and scale. Once we have compiled all of this visual information, we build the overall layout of the tank, but then it’s

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Do some parts of the tank present more challenges than others? The curve of a tank turret can be particularly hard, for example, especially when you are dealing with something as complex as the oscillating turret of the T54E1. It has so many odd curves and shapes that our historical team ended up traveling to a private collection and then carefully placed cross-sections of tape over the side of the turret in order for our modelers to see how the turret is actually shaped.

revolutionary advance for both gamers and history buffs alike. “The list of things the team would like to do is seemingly endless, and there’s a designated research and development unit tasked with creating ideas for new projects,” Kislyi said. “We aren’t quite ready to speak about the ideas being looked at, but I can elaborate on how we handle this process. There are three key areas we draw from when deciding what to do: our community’s feedback; our own opinions, experience and capabilities; and hard data on the industry. Take, for instance, virtual reality. It’s maturing towards the mass market. Both players and the team are enthusiastic about it, and we are looking into it, teaming up with VRTech, which is our latest move in this field.” That could mean a virtual 360-degree battlefield with photo-realistic Tiger tanks—something more immersive than a Hollywood movie. What history buff wouldn’t be excited by that?

Are there vehicles that you’d like to include but couldn’t? What else can we expect in the future? There a ton of awesome tanks and self-propelled guns that we would love to add but require special tech to really recreate faithfully. The Swedish tank destroyers we released recently are a good example. They have a special chassis that allows them to have a very flat profile and adjust their suspension to aim the cannon instead of having a turret. We obviously couldn’t use our current model for casemate tank destroyers, so we created a special option to do just that. We don’t have multi-turreted vehicles or the ability to fire different main guns from the same tank, but we would love to see what’s possible in the future. There are a ton of impressive vehicles that had wheels instead of tracks that would also be interesting to add to the game. Right now, we only have tracked vehicles, but we are working on introducing wheeled vehicles in the future. The first prototype was already tested during the Convoy Mode, so expect to see more about that later.

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TURNING A TYPICAL HUMMER INTO A MILITARY-INSPIRED SHOWPIECE BY EDUARDO ABRIL DE FONTCUBERTA AL DE ORLEANS PHOTOS ost military-oriented guys like me enjoy Hummers. That’s not because they are better than other 4x4 vehicles. It’s more because of their personality. The appeal of the AM General HMMWV (aka “Humvee”) is what spurred GM to build its H1, H2 and H3 series vehicles. And it’s what made my friend Al de Orleans build his own recon-style Hummer H3.

NOT REALLY TACTICAL Hummer actually built a “Tactical Edition” of the H3. I’m told only 1,000 were made, and it was nothing more than an H3 with blacked-out trim. It had a body-color grille, a black wraparound brush guard, black tubular assist steps and a black spare-tire cover. It was available in red, black and Boulder Gray. But the H3 Tactical Edition was a lost chance for GM to make a truly tactically enhanced Hummer.

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1. To make the H3 look more like a Humvee, Boyd Coddington’s custom shop completely refabricated the rear with a slant-back design. 2. The suspension system was upgraded to work with the new Dynatrac axles. 3. All of the exterior lights were replaced with LED versions that have new housings for a more military look. 4. The Off-Road Evolution team had to design a new suspension system to work with the custom H3’s dimensions without cutting into any of the vehicle’s trunk space.

if he would volunteer his Alpha for the research and development. That sounded great but still looked too expensive, and Al was worried about the electronics being affected by the modifications. Then Al learned that Dynatrac was looking to make the first 100-percent electronically compatible axles, and he could get them for free. Who could say no?

EXTERIOR & LIGHTING

Perhaps learning from the mistake, GM realized its customers wanted more a more hardcore 4x4 and offered the Alpha version in 2008. It had some features aficionados wanted, such as a 5.3liter V8, a 4:1 transfer case, a rear locker, 4.10 gears and an upgraded suspension. But a tactical version was never made, and GM eventually cut its Hummer line.

AL’S CUSTOM BUILD My friend, Al, got his H3 because he always wanted a Hummer. He had no plans to drive it much, and he knew how limited the H3, with its weak independent front suspension (IFS), would be. So, Al waited before getting his Hummer. He eventually waited two years for the H3 Alpha to come out because he knew the standard I5 engine was too weak, and he needed a V8 under the 110

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hood. Getting the Alpha was an adventure, as he couldn’t find any in California that weren’t covered in chrome. Finally, after a six-month wait, he got what he wanted: an H3 Alpha not covered in chrome, without a sunroof but with the Adventure Package for the rear locker and a 4:1 transfer case. The project started slowly, as Al only planned some modifications to make the vehicle more attractive: just some cosmetic modifications and a Rancho lift on 33s, because the 35-inchers would stretch the front-end reliability. While sourcing an installer in Southern California, he contacted Off-Road Evolution in Fullerton and got hooked. He saw the company’s solid axle conversions and coilover suspension kits, and asked about a Hummer version. He was then told Off-Road wanted to make a kit and asked

In a previous Chevy El Camino project, Al worked with Duane, Rafe and Bernt from Boyd Coddington’s custom shop while filming an American Hot Rod episode. Thus he knew who he wanted to fabricate his exterior modifications. One day while having lunch with Bernt, Al mentioned his H3 and plan to show it at SEMA and SHOT. Bernt liked the idea and added that he should do a crazy thing with it: cutting the roofline even lower, like the gangster-style hot rod. Al said no thanks, but he wanted to make it look like a military Humvee. The Off-Road Evolution guys were a tad slow with the suspension and axles, so Duane and Bernt started their slant-back part of the project. They basically cut out the entire rear end and refabricated it. They then reinforced it from inside and repeated the process on the tailgate side. Bernt made this by hand from scratch—all hand-rolled and hand-hammered into shape—with no electrical or hydraulic forming tools. It was pure metal fabrication art. The custom team wanted to switch out the lights for the military Humvee models, and Al wanted to take it a step further and perform the upgrade with modern LED versions of military lighting. The problem was integrating the lower-resistance tactical-life.com

TACTICAL RIDES

LEDs into a system designed for incandescent bulbs. Fortunately, Duane is an electrical genius and figured it out without much of a hitch. The rear lighting was the most labor intensive. The team had to fill out the old OEM taillight housing. The tricky part involved recessing them some for more

protection. The rear side markers weren’t much of an issue and were upgraded from the amber color by swapping the lenses with red ones. After the body work was finished, the H3 was put on a roller and taken away for painting the body and small parts. The team chose Brownells’ Aluma-Hyde

“THE HUMMER H3 RECON…HAS BEEN FEATURED IN SEVERAL MAGAZINES. IT ATTRACTS ATTENTION EVERYWHERE AND WORKS FLAWLESSLY…”

II coyote tan color—the same one many of us use to coat our weapons. The color was selected so the H3 would not impersonate a true military vehicle while also making touch-ups easier. Of course, official military colors are olive drab and desert tan, which are much lighter. After painting and adding four anchor points on the slant-back exterior, the team got the interior to match the OEM one and make the H3 look like it came that way from the factory. The only addition would be a six-point roll cage. Gabe, the upholstery guy, hid the roof-liner extension under the roll cage.

AXLES & SUSPENSION One reason the build was delayed was the axles. Dynatrac was still doing research and development for building the first aftermarket axles that would be 100-percent compatible with the OEM electronics. Dynatrack’s ProRock 60s are heavily modified 60s with a ground clearance of 44, and they can survive the heavier Hummer and V8 power. Ultimately, Dynatrac delivered a superb set of heavyduty axles in time to keep the build rolling. The H3 dimensions differ from those of a JK, so the Off-Road Evolution team had to design a new system with custom geometry engineered for the H3. The advantage of this setup is that you have an 8-inch coilover placed horizontally next to the frame rails, which puts out 14 inches of travel. If you had a 14-inch coilover, it would have to go into the trunk space, like on Baja race trucks. It’s 112

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a trick setup that works well—so much that F1 and Indy cars use it. The good thing about the H3 having the 5x5.5 Jeep CJ wheel pattern is that the team could play with many wheels, as CJ wheels are cheap and available everywhere. At first, Al tested the H3 on 42s, and they were too big and rubbed everywhere. Then he installed Hutchinson Beadlocks with 37-inch IROKs for off-road use before upgrading to 40s because there was room to spare in the wheel wells.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Gus Granger Photo

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Now it was time to make a bumper and winch mount. Winches rated at 9,000 pounds would eventually burn out with the weight of the H3, so Al decided to install a Warn short-drum M12000 winch in the huge empty space created when the team removed the IFS front-axle setup. The next step was the rear bumper. The factory ARB bumper is well made, but it had no provisions for mounting the factory backup cam, so the team made a custom mount and fabricated a second D-ring in place of the license plate. Most of the work was done, so Al started driving the Recon H3 and found he needed a steering ram assist, which he installed along with front and rear Currie AntiRock sway bars. Initial tests also exposed some flaws, but nothing serious. The left side e-brake had been routed badly and would get extremely tight. The heim joint on the pitman arm was also at its limit and could pop out, and the front and rear axles were not centered and were rubbing. Despite that, every test attracted crowds to see the unique slant-back H3 with a solid-axle conversion. The project was a success. Then, while Al was moving from California to North Carolina, he decided to take the H3 to Las Vegas for the SHOT Show. There, it became a centerpiece during the Media Day at the Range portion of the show. The Hummer H3 Recon he built has been featured in several magazines. It attracts attention everywhere and works flawlessly, as I can testify. On my last visit to Al’s North Carolina residence, he let me drive it around. It was impressive to say the least. In the end, this is the tactical H3 that GM should have built. TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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READY TO MAKE YOUR OWN AR PISTOL? CRANK UP THE R&B BY WILL DABBS, MD Across the spectrum of methods with which you might legally exercise your Second Amendment rights, none is so pure, powerful and practical as your right to build a firearm at home for your personal use. According to federal law, provided that gun is not intended for commercial sale and will only be used for lawful purposes, it need not sport a serial number or be reported to the government. In short, in keeping with the intent of the Second Amendment, it’s none of the government’s business whether you own a gun. There are state and local laws that affect these rights, but let’s be honest: If your state or local government sucks that bad, you should move and take your taxes with you.

R&B Tactical Tooling cuts its 80-percent lower receivers from billets of 6061-T6 aluminum with integral triggerguards and flared magazine wells.

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In the past, building a gun was an ordeal requiring lots of expensive machinery and technical skill. Nowadays, the flower of American industry has brought this capability to the typical free citizen just a bit handy with tools. The top dog among AR-making tools is R&B Tactical Tooling.

AMERICAN MADE R&B Tactical Tooling is patriotic and veteran owned. Any yahoo with an internet connection can order a bunch of cheap Chinese drill bits, drop them in a box and hawk them as an AR-15 completion kit. By contrast, R&B Tactical Tooling makes its own drill bits and end mills here at home. Its tooling is the best mankind can produce and will reliably outlast the foreign-made competition. Its quality is unimpeachable, and its attitude toward freedom and government intrusion is unabashed. R&B Tactical Tooling had its genesis four decades ago building solid carbide router bits, end mills and cutting tools. Its tools ultimately helped build the space shuttle and Kurt Cobain’s Fender guitar. The “R&B” in the name stands for two brothers named Ryan and Bob. Bob served overseas in the Air Force and returned home in 2007 to get a rude awakening to firearms freedom, California style. Bob and Ryan’s clan always consisted of gun folk. Like many of the rest of us, little made for better fellowship than retiring to the desert to burn some bullets. However, firearms ownership in contemporary California is a pitiful thing. Draconian rules crafted by those who typically have little experience with the practical costs of freedom conspire to restrict the rights of the law abiding. They also do precious little to deter crime. Sadly, Bob and Ryan had never seen a sound suppressor before they first attended the SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Finding themselves unable to acquire proper firearms in California, Bob began investigating

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the possibility of building his own weapons within his state’s wretched gun laws. After building a couple of rifles using 80-percent receivers and some crap tools, Ryan and Bob retired to the drawing board to conjure the types of tools they needed to do it right.

ALL-IN-ONE KIT R&B’s 80% Lower Receiver Cutting Tool Kit was intentionally crafted for low-horsepower applications that might not be completely rigid. Bob and Ryan contrived their bits and mills from the ground up to build AR lowers. These implements are designed to be run in a handheld router wielded by a human. The drill bits are crafted specifically to cut 6061-T6 and 7075-T6 aluminum, the same stuff from which most AR receivers are made. These bits and mills are titanium-nitride coated and designed to cut like butter while expeditiously clearing the resulting chips. Titaniumnitride to aluminum is akin to oil and water, working like Teflon to keep the tools cutting smoothly and efficiently. The R&B drill stop collar sports a lubricated polymer bearing that spins freely and prevents marring of the receiver’s finish. The R&B end mill runs four times deeper than common imported kits and cuts three times faster horizontally at those deeper depths. Those bits also last

R&B’s Easy Jig allows you to use a a router to finish the lower instead of a drill press. Along with saving you time, this plate is extremely durable so it can easily be reused.

roughly four times longer than cheap imported tools. Every component of the kit is made in America, including the box. R&B Tactical Tooling leaves little ambiguity regarding its attitudes toward firearms freedom. The side of the magazine well of the forged 80-percent receiver sports a stylized man flashing his middle finger while saying, “Here’s my serial number!” I undertook this build using the fixtures and 80-percent receiver sold on the R&B Tactical Tooling website in concert with the Cutting Tool Kit. These components are head and shoulders above anything I have encountered elsewhere. The

materials and engineering are top flight. Drill bit depth gauges are engraved on the components, and the included instructions are straightforward and easy to understand. The R&B Cutting Tool Kit includes a 3/8-inch parabolic drill bit, a 19/64inch parabolic drill bit, a ¼-inch solid carbide end mill with chip-breaker geometry for milling aluminum, and a 5/32-inch drill bit along with the drill stop. You will need a modest shop vise, an electric drill and a router. Even if you started from scratch, these tools are not terribly expensive. A drill press makes it easier to drill the holes, but

R&B’s Cutting Tool Kit interfaces perfectly with the fixtures sold on the company’s website, where you’ll find everything you need except for power tools.

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The author’s finished his AR pistol build by outfitting it with a 9mm Stern Defense upper, a Mag-AD9 magazine well adapter, an SB Tactical Pistol Stabilizing Brace, an Ergo grip, a Holosun reflex sight and a Magpul Angled Fore Grip.

these drilling fixtures are fully compatible with a standard hand drill. You start by drilling a series of holes in the aluminum 80-percent lower receiver using the depth guide and drill stop collar. The depth guide shows exactly how deep to set the collar. When the holes are bored, you follow up with the router and the end mill to cut out the cavity for the fire controls. You’ll likely get tired of this part. Take it slow and make shallow cuts. 7075-T6 aluminum is tougher than the 6061-T6 kind and therefore takes a little longer. Be patient and meticulous and the result will be factory nice. With the fire control cavity milled out, it’s time to drill the hammer and trigger-pivot pinholes as well as the selector hole. Drill one side at a time. Pay attention to the instructions and this won’t be onerous. The documentation that comes with the gear states that you can complete the project in 45 minutes. It took me an afternoon, but it was fun. It’s important that you use cutting oil and keep the chips cleared out. Take your time and mind the instructions, and these fixtures and components should render splendid service through several builds.

AMPING IT UP We stretched our legs a bit with this project. In the Free States, a completed 80-percent receiver can be used as a foundation for everything from a longrange precision rifle to a room-clearing tactical-life.com

The final package is a soft-shooting carbine. For something extraordinary, close-combat tool that’s all but recoilless however, we built the receiver as a while remaining utterly reliable. This gun handgun and added an SB Tactical Pistol can be legally crafted at home in the Free Stabilizing Brace (PSB) to the buffer tube. States and is arguably the most efficient The PSB is the brainchild of Alex home-defense tool at any price. It also Bosco as a tool to allow injured vets to looks crazy cool. Should you want somerun a gun safely one-handed. The BATFE thing with a bit more downrange horseestablished that the addition of a PSB and power, all you need do is pop the takethe method of its operation did not change down pins, remove the mag well adapter the host gun’s pistol classification. Voila, a and drop in a short 5.56mm upper. new genre of firearm was born. We rounded out the gun with a Stern Defense 9mm upper and a Mag-AD9 LET FREEDOM RING magazine adapter. The latter is a drop-in Contrary to what you might have heard, device that snaps in place in your AR freedom isn’t dead in America. Although mag well and lets you run standard Glock in some places it’s indeed wheezing, in magazines in 9mm or .40 S&W. The others, it’s thriving. In no area of American Mag-AD9 is held in place by the host life is our personal freedom more purely gun’s magazine catch along manifest than in the private with three small setscrews to ownership of firearms. With keep everything snug. It takes the able assistance of R&B maybe five minutes to install Tactical Tooling, a lawor remove the Mag-AD9, and abiding American with a R&B TACTICAL TOOLING the host receiver can go back little mechanical aptitude rbtacticaltooling.com to 5.56mm or 300 Blackout and a few basic tools can SB TACTICAL any time you wish. craft his or her own firearm. sb-tactical.com The Stern Defense 9mm These tools are legal in STERN DEFENSE upper comes in various all 50 states. If your state getstern.com barrel lengths as well as with is so pitiful that possession either a KeyMod or M-LOK of such a gun is illegal, handguard. This upper you could even set these assembly can be had with an SD HBC9 components aside for a rainy day. When “blast can” on the snout that excises the the zombies come, if they’ll have the nasty out of muzzle blast and flash. It good grace to give you a little warning, also comes with an SD BU9 Glock-cut you could potentially craft your gun while bolt, an enhanced charging handle and a they wait. It’s a weird old world that gets forward assist. The bolt locks to the rear weirder daily, but R&B Tactical Tooling automatically after the last shot is fired. can help make it just a bit more secure.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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SIG SAUER MCX ASP

SIG SAUER MPX ASP

TESTING THREE ASP REPLICAS TO SEE HOW THEY STACK UP TO THEIR CENTERFIRE BRETHREN

BY GORDON D. SMITH

In the past few years, Sig Sauer has transformed itself into a one-stop shop, or, as the company calls itself, a “complete service provider.” To claim that title, Sig offers “a full array of products to meet any mission parameter, from handguns and rifles to silencers, optics, ammunition, airguns and accessories.” To realize that vision, Sig brought in experts in those areas to control everything from the ground up. That way there would be no concerns about quality or having the Sig name associated with these products. As part of that commitment, in early 2015, Sig introduced the Advanced Sport Pellet (ASP) airgun line, which closely mimics several of the company’s centerfire models. Each airgun goes through rigorous testing and must be

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approved by the Sig Sauer Academy before entering the market. This stringent quality control ensures that people who train with these airguns experience exceptional performance. The ASP tagline says it all: Each of these guns “shoots like a Sig because it is one.” Thus, you can train on copies of Sig firearms without spending a lot of money on ammo, for example, or even visiting a full range. Shooters can execute drills and play out scenarios with ease and relative safety. Of course, these airguns are adjunct tools to supplement training with actual firearms. Nothing can replace time at the range feeding ammo you’ll typically use.

TEST TRIO For this article, I tested ASP versions of the MCX, MPX and P320. They are made to the same exacting standards as the rest of the Sig lineup. The lineup also includes other airguns, such as a BB-firing copy of champion shooter Max Michel’s competition 1911 and copies of the tactical-life.com

P226 and P250. A complement of pellets, targets and CO2 cylinders rounds out the line. These three airguns are powered by CO2 cylinders, with the P320 using a 12-gram unit while the MCX and MPX use 90-gram cartridges. The MCX and MPX are semi-auto only and use a unique 30-round belt-fed system housed inside the magazine. That belt-fed technology was ported to the P320 pistol on a smaller scale, so it also holds 30 rounds for more fun between reloads. The MCX ASP sports a shrouded barrel with a faux suppressor. It’s an accurate copy down to the forward wrench flats. Being a .177-caliber airgun, it’s already quiet, so the suppressor doesn’t need to be functional. The MPX ASP is based on the carbine version of the centerfire MPX, with a quad-rail forend and a mock flash suppressor. Some of the controls on the airguns are also non-functional, such as the bolt assists on the carbines and the slide catch on the P320 ASP. But all the controls are in the same locations as their centerfire brethren. The airguns

To get a better feel for Sig’s three airguns, the author tested them alongside their centerfire counterparts with Captain Sven Bonnelycke of the Park County, Colorado, Sheriff’s Office (shown) as well as Sig Sauer Academy instructor Jim Meyers.

SIG SAUER P320 ASP

“THE AIRGUNS WERE ALSO DESIGNED TO WEIGH AS CLOSE TO THEIR CENTERFIRE COUNTERPARTS AS POSSIBLE, AND THEY HAVE SIMILAR TRIGGER-PULL WEIGHTS.” tactical-life.com

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were also designed to weigh as close to their centerfire counterparts as possible, and they have similar trigger-pull weights.

EXPERIENCED SHOOTERS For perspectives on using the airguns as training tools, I reached out to a couple of professionals. Captain Sven Bonnelycke of the Park County, Colorado, Sheriff’s Office has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience. Jim Meyers, a full-time senior instructor at the Sig Sauer Academy in New Hampshire, has more than 20 years of experience as a Marine Corps veteran, New Jersey state trooper and competitive shooter in the IDPA and GSSF disciplines. Please note the opinions reported here are the personal observations of these experts, and they are not speaking for their organizations. I wish to thank them for their generous donation of time and experience. Additionally, although these airguns were approved by the Sig Academy, they have not been incorporated as training tools there yet. Meyers has trained people in the use of firearms for most of his tenure. After taking a master instructor course at the Sig Academy, he fell in love with the 140-acre facility and joined the training staff. Like many children, his introduction to guns came via a Daisy airgun and later a Crosman pump on which, he said, he wore out the rifling. Those experiences left a mark on him—literally—as he still has a BB lodged in his wrist. That humble start began a lifelong interest in all firearms. Airguns have their place in firearms training, especially with kids, as youngsters are the future of any hunting and shooting heritage we hope to preserve. Meyers pointed out that lawmakers continue to pass legislation restricting firearms, but for the most part, airguns still enjoy an unfettered existence. They’re legal just about everywhere, offer a great way to introduce gun-handling skills, provide inexpensive practice time and are just plain fun when used safely. But, as with anything, there can be a downside. In this case, these airguns are so realistic that brandishing them in public can be dangerous. You must take care when transporting or carrying these airguns. Keeping pressurized CO2 cartridges out 120

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Can you tell the .177 MCX ASP from the 5.56mm MCX below? That’s the point. Sig wanted to make the airgun as authentic as possible to increase its training value.

SIG SAUER AIRGUNS SPEC BOX

MCX ASP

MPX ASP

P320 ASP

CALIBER:

.177

BARREL:

18 inches

8 inches

4.7 inches

OA LENGTH:

34.75 inches

25.75 inches

9.6 inches

WEIGHT:

7.35 pounds

6.2 pounds

35.2 ounces

Polymer

SIGHTS:

Folding

Three-dot

POWER:

90-gram CO2

12-gram CO2

FINISH:

Black

Coyote tan

$220

$200

$120

GRIPS/STOCK:

CAPACITY: MSRP:

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of direct sunlight and hot cars is also a smart move. Meyers’ bottom line? If there is a training value with an item, use it. Bonnelycke spent an afternoon with me at the range by his office. He was an early adopter of the P320 in 2014, and his office began testing the gun in April of that year for consideration as its issued sidearm. After six months of testing and evaluation that included three other competitors, the office adopted the P320, making it the first in Colorado to do so. Bonnelycke and I placed the airguns provided by Sig alongside his duty weapons for photos and also put them through some drills so he could compare them. He had no previous experience

with the Sig airguns but was familiar with airguns in general and had trained family members in safe gun-handling techniques by using airguns. When evaluating the P320 air pistol, his main observation was that its trigger reset wasn’t close enough to that of his duty sidearm. But that didn’t affect his belief that the air pistol would be useful for training in trigger control and press fundamentals. They would also be excellent for reholstering drills. However, the centerfire P320 can be adapted with various grip modules to fit different hand sizes, a feature Bonnelycke would have liked to see on the BB-firing P320 ASP. Bonnelycke’s overall opinion was that

While the coyote-tan P320 ASP (left) doesn’t offer the same modularity of the centerfire P320 (below), the grip and sights are similar, making it a great training aid.

law enforcement could benefit from purchasing the P320 ASP, and he could see the benefit for his office for training and reinforcing skills where shooters have flinching problems and cross-eye dominance concerns, and for new recruits with no previous firearms experience. He was also impressed with the MCX ASP’s accuracy and trigger. That trigger broke at 9.16 pounds and was similar to that of his duty weapon. The trigger reset was also almost equivalent to his duty weapon’s—excellent for hold and reset drills. The MCX ASP was quite accurate out to 50 yards, with plenty of power to punch through thick cardboard backings at that distance, which provides positive feedback for the shooter. The ambidextrous controls also impressed Bonnelycke, as his office has several left-handed officers and recruits. He also likes airguns for dry-fire drills and prefers them to training systems using light or laser beams that illuminate to designate a hit. He also saw possibilities and benefits with the ASP guns for night drills. The last point Bonnelycke stressed was how important it was to teach fundamentals first. He views the use of optics and other accessories as potential crutches that lead to bad habits if misused by new shooters and believes those tools should be introduced after a shooter has mastered the basics.

PLENTY OF FUN A gas to shoot (pun intended), the MPX and MCX airguns can empty their 30-round magazines in about 3.5 seconds. The rifles have integrated Picatinny rails and come with flip-up front and rear adjustable sights. The MPX ASP is also available as a package with a Sig red-dot sight, and the MCX ASP can be had with the same red-dot sight or a 1-4x24mm scope with a mil-dot reticle. It wouldn’t cost much to purchase and feed these airguns, making them attractive to police departments with limited training budgets. Regardless of whether you use Sig products, if you use an AR or striker-fired pistol, you should take a serious look at training with airguns to safely and effectively enhance your skills. For more information, visit sigsauer.com. tactical-life.com

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A true jack of all trades, Tom Fuller is a decorated veteran, competitive shooter, brand ambassador and the founder of Armageddon Gear.

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MEET THE BRAINS AND BRAWN BEHIND ARMAGEDDON GEAR BY DAVID BAHDE ZEROING IN Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the gun industry is made up of people. Much of the media coverage is political, marketing or just entertainment. Outside of celebrities, the people who make up the best parts of the firearms world can be forgotten or left out of the spotlight. Fortunately, my 10 years as a gun writer has provided me the chance to meet and work with the best in the business—people who have changed some part of the industry without compromising themselves. They work quietly, providing assistance to all they encounter. They are the true quiet professionals—respected, even loved by everyone they deal with. Most, if not all, shun the spotlight, finding the attention uncomfortable. One of those people is Tom Fuller, decorated U.S. Army Ranger, top-tier Precision Rifle Series (PRS) shooter, and founder and owner of Armageddon Gear.

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Like many of the best this country has to offer, Tom Fuller is a veteran, a very highly decorated one at that. Along with numerous awards, he is a recipient of the Legion of Merit along with a Bronze Star and five Meritorious Service medals. Tom served in six combat deployments with the 75th Ranger Regiment before retiring as a sergeant major in 2009 after 22 years of exemplary service to our country. It was part of this service, his years as a battalion sergeant major over the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, that eventually caused our paths to cross. Shortly after retirement, he went to work for Bushnell, where he helped change the nature of high-powered combat and precision rifle optics. Back in 2012, SureFire invited me to a media event. Rather than a meet and greet with guns, like most SureFire events, it was an actual training course using the company’s equipment as well as gear from other companies. This time it was a precision rifle class held at Rifles Only that culminated in shooting

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from a helicopter. Topping our rifles were Bushnell’s then-new HDMR scopes. Tom Fuller was there to represent Bushnell. He had actually designed the scope with input from real Special Missions Unit (SMU) operators. Rather than tell those using the optic what they needed, he listened to actual users to make one of the most rugged high-powered optics ever developed. It was one of the first high-powered optics (3.5-21x50mm) that was compact and

durable while offering practical reticles designed for use outside the square range. It was also priced well below its competitors at the time. A complete contradiction to what SMU operators had been issued before, which were long, heavy and not particularly dependable, the HDMR proved itself quickly. It really changed the industry, and the HDMR and similar scopes dominated PRS matches for years. It was counter to the culture at the time but exactly what

Fuller is a popular attendee at the GAP Grind, a competition started with the goal of getting more shooters into the precision game.

Tom Fuller helped design Bushnell’s HDMR scopes with input from real operators.

was needed. I still have an HDMR with a Horus T2 reticle that has been used on dozens of rifles over the years. Other companies have started to produce similar designs, mostly at the behest of the military, but this setup will benefit anyone shooting a precision rifle. All because Tom was willing to talk to those who would actually use these scopes in the field, and Bushnell was willing to keep working on it until it was just right. After spending the week with Tom, it became clear how he got it all done. Not only is he infinitely qualified, but he is also straightforward, honest, articulate and gets along with just about anyone. He is what you might call a “good old boy,” the heart of America. Tom is a devoted family man who has never lost sight of his roots. Along with being a veteran, he’s an avid hunter, fisherman and general outdoorsman. He’s at his best out in the open, and his family will pass on that legacy. I’ve been honored to interact with Tom several times since that first meeting in 2012 as a brand ambassador for Bushnell and Hornady, a competitive shooter for Team GA Precision and the eventual founder and owner of Armageddon Gear.

ARMAGEDDON BEGINS Tom started Armageddon Gear in 2012 in his garage, mostly as a way to make nylon gear for his military and law enforcement clients. Shooting for the

“…ARMAGEDDON GEAR MAKES SERIOUS EQUIPMENT BUILT TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.”

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To show off Armageddon Gear’s tough products, Fuller makes it a point to compete with a variety of the company’s shooting bags.

GA Precision PRS team allowed him to design and test his products. Initially, he made carbine and PRS slings. Then, a year later, he started to turn it into a real business. With most of the well-known nylon gear companies moving offshore, Tom wanted to create American-made products that wouldn’t break the bank. This allowed him to make tough gear whenever his military and law enforcement contacts called up and said, “Hey, can you build this?” Most companies hire an “expert” who decides what to make, and you get what you get. But just as he did with the Bushnell HDMR, Tom took input from end-users—professionals and enthusiasts alike—and produced what they wanted. This sort of interaction remains rare to this day, that personal touch and communication with the consumer. It’s collaboration and innovation at its best, and it’s what has allowed Armageddon Gear to really thrive in the marketplace. In 2013, Armageddon Gear had nine

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people sewing and a full-time cutting machine. Hiring Brenda Taylor, someone who had run a factory with 200 sewing machines before it sold out to China, really got things going. Melissa Gilliland came aboard in 2014, starting the move towards the commercial market. A well-known PRS competitor and top shooter, she built Armageddon’s social media and web-based platforms, expanding the brand throughout the country with dealers nationwide. Thus, in just a few years, Tom’s unique approach and skilled team took Armageddon Gear from a garage operation to one of the most respected manufacturers in the industry, crafting the few truly American-made nylon products on the market today.

THE ATMOSPHERE Tom Fuller brings a different atmosphere to Armageddon Gear, one that would make most companies envious.

First off, rather than market to the “tacti-cool” tough guy, Armageddon Gear targets the everyday shooter. The company’s videos and social media posts are simply entertaining, often poking fun at the industry and those in it. Spend 10 minutes on the company’s Facebook page and you’ll see just how much fun the employees have. For Tom, it’s all about the people. Every employee is encouraged to stay involved in hunting, shooting and outdoor activities, and provide input that could help drive new products or help the company grow. Armageddon’s employee get-togethers aren’t quiet, stiff-upper-lip affairs, either. Instead, they’re more like summer barbeques with harvested game, fun on the range and a family-like atmosphere. Armageddon Gear isn’t just a company. It is a family that does what it loves doing. While more than a few companies talk that same talk, Armageddon Gear actually does it and continues to grow.

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Armageddon offers both medium and large Fat Bags in a variety of colors.

“THIS INDUSTRY WAS FOUNDED BY PEOPLE LIKE THIS, AND WE NEED MORE TOM FULLERS OUT THERE.” system. I use this same case for PRS matches, and it allows me to carry my complete rifle, a rangefinder, a medical kit and everything else I need to compete. It’s long enough for both my bolt rifle and semi-auto, making it incredibly convenient. The similar CSASS case houses shorter semi-autos.

NOT FULLER HIMSELF Like other Armageddon products, the Squishy Rear Bag is proudly made in the U.S.

Armageddon’s latest adventure, Windcheater American Ale, is a great example of the fun it has with marketing. Brewed by the Omaha Brewing Company, this special beer is made available out of the “Meat Wagon,” Armageddon Gear’s restored 1967 Kaiser Jeep ambulance, after the shooting is done at major PRS matches. Once again, it’s easy to see that the company is all about having fun and building relationships.

SERIOUS GEAR Make no mistake: Armageddon Gear makes serious equipment built to the highest standards. I’ve used one of the company’s suppressor covers for the last year and can verify that it is one of the best on the market. Many Armageddon

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Every interaction I’ve had with Tom Fuller has been a pleasure. His complete professionalism and no-nonsense attitude are rare. There is no pretense; he does not change for the event or you. He is who he is—take it or leave it. Fortunately, that is an honest, hard-working man products like the Game Changer shootwho is also an incredibly well-trained marksman, an experienced and dediing bag can be found at practically every cated hunter, and a hugely successful PRS match. I regularly use the compaambassador for the PRS, GA Precision, ny’s Fat Bag and Squishy Rear Bag. Bushnell and Hornady. Tom is also a popArmageddon slings are also extremely popular along with its Competition Data ular instructor at the GAP Grind, a PRS Armband Kits. I also keep an Ultralight match designed to encourage beginners. Shooting Mat in my everyday pack, which Tom Fuller is a good guy. In dealing is with me all the time. In short, everything with him and those he interacts with, not a single negative impression Armageddon Gear makes is both useful and affordable. has emerged. At every turn, Along with an everhe will do whatever it takes to help you succeed. He growing list of products for wants everyone to expericonsumers, Armageddon ARMAGEDDON GEAR Gear also provides our ence the same enjoyment armageddongear.com finest with some tough gear. and success. This industry BUSHNELL The company makes the was founded by people like bushnell.com official carrying case for the this, and we need more Tom Fullers out there. U.S. Army’s M2010 sniper

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IN MEMORIAM

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Vincent D’Onofrio (Private Pyle)—led the charge. Modine said, “Always faithful, always loyal. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. RIP, amigo.” And D’Onofrio said, “Ermey was the real deal. The knowledge of him passing brings back wonderful memories of our time together.” Repeating the scores of quotes honoring The Gunny would take several pages, but a typical article from the Los Angeles Times tells us a great deal: “A decorated Vietnam veteran, R. Lee Ermey was an outspoken, rebellious and creative spirit who dedicated decades of his life in service to his country and to his craft as an actor and television host.” Ermey was born in rural Kansas and then spent his teenage years in Washington State, where all the wrong moves brought him into the sights of a judge, who gave him the choice of going to jail or joining the military. Luckily, the Marines took Ermey, and he embraced the rigors of discipline and training. He eventually served as a drill instructor, achieving the rank of staff sergeant, and then was mustered out on a medical discharge after a rocket attack at Da Nang severely wounded his shoulder. He had served for 11 years. His acting career began at karaoke bars in the Los Angeles area, where he perfected his drill sergeant routine. Even-

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tually, in the Philippines, he landed the role of a helicopter pilot in Francis Ford Coppla’s Apocalypse Now. Despite a wonderful performance as a drill instructor in Sidney Furie’s The Boys in Company C in 1978, nine years before Full Metal Jacket, and working as a military advisor when Kubrick began filming Full Metal Jacket, Ermey almost missed getting the part of Sgt. Hartman. Not wanting his actors to wear wigs, Kubrick filmed the second part of Full Metal Jacket first. The actors had hair in the Vietnam sequences, with the cameras first rolling as Papillon Soo Soo walks on screen to the tune of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” The Vietnam scenes were complete, and the actors had their heads shaved when it was

time to begin shooting the boot camp scenes—with Sgt. Hartman dominating every shot—in England. Kubrick told The Gunny flatly that despite his good work as an advisor, another actor had been signed to play Hartman. Disappointed, Ermey did not give up his quest. He arranged to have a film clip shot of him greeting the recruits. When he saw the clip, Kubrick relented. Ermey got the part. Ermey’s celebrated gruffness as a Marine drill instructor spilled over to many television projects and the movie Toy Story, where his voice brought to life the comic figure Sarge. As a host for TV series such as Mail Call, Lock ‘N Load and others, The Gunny was known for his no-nonsense approach to showing viewers new weapons and highlighting the skills of today’s combat-ready troops. In real life, The Gunny wasn’t gruff at all. He was a kind and engaging man, with a humorous spirit and an outgoing personality. His work as The Gunny came first, but when he had free time, he loved golf, riding motorcycles, hunting and fishing, and seeing the latest movies with his wife, Nila, whom he loved calling “Mrs. Gunny.” They went to the first showings in early afternoons in Palmdale, California, their home for many years. He even invested in a successful brewery, but other than an occasional sip of beer, he didn’t drink. “I tried it when I was young,” he said. “It wasn’t good for me.” Ermey’s work in film and television earned him the honorary rank of gunnery sergeant, bestowed in 2002 by Marine Corps Commandant General James Jones. “After the Marines retired me, I continued showing up for work on behalf of the Corps,” Gunny said. Gunny’s passing brought me a personal swath of sadness. I worked with him on his book Gunny’s Rules, with multiple interviews and two weeks of visits to his home in Palmdale. A point he stressed to me so often compels me to mention it here. For young people today, I’m sure his message would be this: Find a job. Any job. Show up for work. No bellyaching, no excuses. Stick with it until you can do better. Then move on and keep showing up for work at your new place. Semper fi, Gunny. —Lamar Underwood TACTICAL LIFE 08•09•2018

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In one movie, he became the Marine drill instructor who made America and much of the free world come to full attention, even when they were seated. In a voice that could melt paint off the walls, he instilled discipline and performance into the guts of his recruits. As Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece Full Metal Jacket, R. Lee Ermey brought the serious realities of combat Marine training to the screen with shocking realism. Nothing like it has ever been seen on film before or since. The movie is an American icon, and though Ermey acted in some 60 feature films and scores of TV shows and commercials, he is still famous as the drill instructor leering over privates catching his wrath. The movie was released in 1987 and continues to attract viewers. This past April, at the age of 74, “The Gunny” fought a battle with an old foe—pneumonia. He had skirmishes with pneumonia before, staying active until the disease shut down his busy schedule. When that happened, he went to

SALUTING R. LEE ERMEY,

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the hospital, followed doctors’ orders and regained good health. He did this more than once, always repeating his comeback from the rigors of pneumonia. But not this time. The pneumonia that attacked him at full strength in April was from a nationwide outbreak, wreaking havoc with seniors. On April 14, The Gunny’s fight with double pneumonia brought him to the UCLA Medical Center at Santa Monica, California. On Sunday morning, April 15, at 2 a.m., The Gunny could not breath. His long, amazing journey was finished. He had given everything he had to his beloved Marine Corps and to people everywhere whose lives he touched with inspiration and the value of service. Immediately after his passing, accolades about Ermey, forever The Gunny, began pouring forth from every major news organization and on social media. The two actors he tormented most—Mathew Modine (Private Joker) and —Continued on page 127

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