Photo of the Day: Hornady Match 308 Ammo

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Finally getting ready to do some accuracy testing on the S&W M&P 10.

Not long ago, I purchased a Smith & Wesson M&P10 .308 rifle and my initial impressions of the gun were extremely positive. It features quite a few nice features, and the aggressive price point makes it an attractive addition to the market. Most importantly, the gun actually works well. I’ve been meaning to get to the range and do some accuracy testing, but other commitments got in the way (and I really hate zeroing optics.) Hornady was generous enough to send out a few boxes of their excellent 308 for the test, so look forward to an accuracy report here.

Colt M45: A Closer Look at the Dual Recoil Spring System

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The geometry of the M45 guide rod head is quite similar to the GI version. The protrusions are the same diameter according to my digital calipers.

Recently, there has been a bit of interest regarding the dual recoil spring system included with the Colt M45 CQBP. The spring system is designed to improve the service life between replacement cycles, though the Marine Corps still specifies that the springs be replaced at 5000 rounds. This spring setup is not completely new, as a similar setup is used in the Delta Elite, albeit the guide rod in that system is polymer. So the question remains, can we expect the system to work if put into a standard 1911? Continue reading →

An Unexpected Range Lesson

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Fig.1 S&W 1911TA in unusual condition

As you can probably tell from the photo above, something is very wrong here. What you see is a .40 caliber case that almost made it out of a .45 caliber barrel. What you cannot see is the .45 bullet that is lodged in the barrel behind the .40 case. Continue reading →

AAR SIG Academy-Close Quarter Pistol Operator

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I recently attended the SIG Sauer Academy – Close Quarter Pistol Operator Course. This one day class was taught by Todd Rassa. Todd is a Sig Instructor and also has his own training company Tactical Defense Readiness Concepts. He also works for a large municipal Police Dept. I had been to SIG twice in the past for armorer classes and had been impressed with the facilities and staff. In the two years since my last visit, they have been busy. It’s almost worth the trip there just to see the Pro Shop. (Leave Your Credit Card At Home).

Continue reading →

Building the “Do it All” Carbine

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Complete upper

Since moving to Texas I have immersed myself in not only trying to learn the intricacies of Texas pronunciation of various cities and Texas terminology, but also Texas history. One of the things I have found in looking at Texas lawmen history and the gun culture here is the use of the do it all carbine. In particular, the 30/30-lever action has played a prominent role. While many legendary Texas lawmen would go to the Winchester Model 95 as the heavy problem solver, the 30/30 was sort of the day-to-day go to rifle for lawmen, ranchers, hunters, and everyday citizens for protection…a “knock around” rifle. The 30/30 has the ability to do good work on every type of game animal in the state, and also has a long history of working well on two legged vermin as well. It is a solid tool for the self sufficient Texan.

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Review: Geissele G2S Trigger

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Geissele’s new G2S trigger offers the same feel and function as their popular SSA trigger at a significant savings.

Readers of this site know by now that most of the contributors here are big fans of the Geissele High-Speed Triggers. A few weeks back, MSW writer Joe wrote a review of the Super Dynamic 3-Gun Trigger. And earlier this week, Scott Ballard reviewed the Super Tricon Trigger. The major downside to the Geissele trigger systems is that once you have one in your rifle, you want one in every one of your M4 rifles.  Continue reading →

PRO TIP: AGING EYES

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At some point (over 30 for some, 40 for many, and by 50 for most) the eyesight prescription (Rx) which corrects for the best distance vision no longer also provides a sharp handgun front sight.  For many, “progressive” eyeglasses or “multi-focal” contact lenses do not work well for shooting, and thus they are not the answer.  Here’s a suggestion for a relatively easy fix which can work for duty, competition, and everyday activities.  It’s called monovision; one eye is corrected to see close up (normally for reading), and the other to see distance.  If it is going to work for you, within one week or so you will no longer realize you are using a somewhat exotic Rx.  However,  you may experience a slight decrease in the depth perception you would have using regular binocular vision. Continue reading →

Modern? No. Service Weapon? Yes (Browning A-5 Shotgun)

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Modern? No. Service Weapon? It was.

During Rhodesia’s bush war against communist terrorists, their government contracted with Browning for several hundred shotguns. Specifically, a variant of their A-5 model a semi-auto 12 gauge. These shotguns had a full-length magazine tube fully enclosed inside a wood forearm. Its magazine capacity is eight rounds plus one in the chamber. Additionally, there is a magazine cut-off lever in the receiver. Continue reading →

Magpul Releases Their New MOE Fixed Carbine Stock

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Magpul just announced today their new fixed carbine stock is shipping to dealers and distributors. The MOE Fixed Carbine Stock is a non-collapsing stock that will fit most A5 length buffer tubes (a.k.a. receiver extensions.)  Installation is non-armorer level and does not require the removal of the castle nut. The stock weighs 8.9 ounces and has a 12.375-inch length of pull, and will be available in mil-spec and commercial receiver extension models. Initially available in black, with other standard colors to follow.

SOURCE: http://store.magpul.com/product/MAG480

Review: MagPul iPhone 5 Field Case

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MagPul’s iPhone Field Case offers a good compromise between functionality, protection, and a low profile. Here it is shown above in Foliage Green.

The smart phone has become as much of an important part of everyone’s “everyday carry” as car keys, flashlight, folding knife, and handgun. While MagPul has established itself as a household name in the tactical market, MagPul’s iPhone cases have even become a favorite of mainstream iPhone users that have no knowledge of MagPul’s “tactical” products. This is simply because it’s a great case.

One of my complaints about most of the “hard use” iPhone cases on the market is that they make the otherwise sleek iPhone into a bulky, heavy mess. Protective plastic screen covers detract from the attractive, high resolution display the iPhone is known for. For those who need extreme protection against dust and immersion in liquid, look to the LifeProof Case. For those who want good protection against everyday bumps, bruises and drops, the MagPul’s iPhone 5 Field Case is a great choice. Continue reading →

Geissele Automatics – Super Tricon Trigger

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Every once in a while we have guest instructors come in to the Academy and teach their particular take on things.  It is a nice perk of the job to be able to meet many of them and hear what they have to say on the various topics we all deal with on a daily basis.  Several weeks back Jeff Gonzales of Trident Concepts stopped in to teach their Advanced Carbine class.  Other than having taken his class and met him a few times, I barely know Jeff, so I spend my time in the background listening to the conversation.  What came up during one lunch conversation was a discussion about AR platform rifle triggers and the new design TriCon had worked out with Geissele Automatics.  The Super TriCon Trigger. Continue reading →

Alternative Carbine Training Options on a Budget

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Two excellent training tools to compensate for the ever increasing cost of .223 or 5.56 training ammunition: Next Level Training’s SIRT AR Bolt and Smith & Wesson’s M&P 15-22 .22 caliber rifle.

Thanks to the recent push by politicians to capitalize on the public’s emotions and institute further restrictions on law abiding citizens, along with the ever increasing cost of raw materials, ammunition is more expensive than ever. Around January, a 1000 round case of PMC .223 caliber ammunition was selling for nearly $2000 a case. Thankfully, costs have come down, but it is still difficult to come by, and a 1000 round case of factory training ammunition still costs upwards of $600-800. Training organizations have responded by allowing students to attend courses with .22 caliber rifles or conversion kits.

Here, we’ll take a look at a couple options that can help us maximize our training efficiency without breaking the bank on ammunition. Continue reading →

First Look: Safariland’s New 7TS ALS Holster Line

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At SHOT Show, we caught a glimpse of the new line of Safariland ALS holsters. When we stopped by to speak to Bill Rogers, he showed us the new effort. Basically, it uses modern manufacturing techniques to fix some of the complaints that the ALS system has had from the end user. The current line of 6xxx holsters, when used in a concealment role, have met the complaints that they are too bulky for detective assignments. The new 7xxx holsters fix that without compromising the durability and dependability of the ALS system. The 7xxx line is going to be available in all the model lines apparently All you have to do is just substitute a 7 in front of your favorite 6 model holster for selection of the holster that is right for you. (IE- our current issued duty holster is a 6360 ALS with the hood, and the new slimmer, lighter version will be a 7360). When we spoke to Bill Rogers in January, he stated that the price point was going to be lower than the current line of ALS. How much? That is the million dollar question at this point.

Pic of the Day- The Tactically Practical

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The Glock 34/35 series of pistols are ideal for just about any role an end user may require.  They work well out of the box, with only a few minor changes needed to make them a little better.  Shown is one of my G34’s with one of the early Apex FRE prototypes, and a most excellent set of 10-8 tritium sights.  A man (or lady) can about rule the world with that setup.  It is no wonder why this series of pistols have became favorites of police officers and competitors alike.

Springs and Cycles and Wear…Oh Crap!

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Simple to find, easy to replace yet so often overlooked, magazine springs for shotguns are very often the cause of feeding issues in shotguns.

Operating on the assumption that modern shooters who care for their equipment keep track of their round counts, most of us track the lifespan of our wear and tear parts.  In this case springs will be the main focal point.  Have you ever counted how many springs are in your gun?  Ever consider how important each one is to the proper operation of your pistol, rifle or shotgun?  I know quite a few people who have never given it a single thought.  They just figure that if it still works, it must be good to go.  Scary thought process huh? Continue reading →