Smith & Wessons M&P10 7.62mm Rifle – First Impressions

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Smith & Wesson’s M&P10 rifle features fully ambidextrous controls including magazine release, bolt catch/release, and selector lever.

At SHOT Show 2013, Smith and Wesson introduced their new line of 7.62mm / 308 caliber rifles, which feature fully ambidextrous controls, compatibility with SR-25/M110 pattern magazines, and an attractive price point. At about 7 3/4 pounds unloaded, the rifle (dubbed M&P 10) is extremely lightweight and handy. After a cursory examination at SHOT, I knew I had to get my grubby hands on one and try it for myself. Continue reading →

PHOTO OF THE DAY: LaRue PredatAR 7.62

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A couple years ago I extensively tested LaRue Tactical’s PredatAR 7.62 rifle for a feature article in Soldier of Fortune magazine. This was one of the nicest semi-automatic rifles I’ve ever had the pleasure of shooting. Despite the thin profile barrel, the rifle shot sub-MOA with Black Hills 168gr and 175gr match. I eventually added a BattleComp BABC which made the rifle very pleasurable to shoot, despite its light weight. It is no wonder why LaRue has such a long waiting list…

Combat Mindset – A Beginning

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Chance favors the prepared mind. The unprepared mind just leaves you with file not found syndrome.

I am certain that this is something that many of you have covered and perhaps even think about on a regular basis.  However, it is so important to survival that I think we should cover it again to make sure everyone is periodically reviewing their own frame of mind.

Combat mindset is a simple yet vital component of preparing yourself for an armed encounter.  It allows you to learn and store those skills necessary for the gunfight and more importantly; it enables you to apply those skills knowing you are prepared mentally for that, which must be done.  There seems to be a shortfall when it comes to training in this area. Continue reading →

Glock Armorers Course – A Review

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Recently, I traveled down to Smyrna, Georgia this week to the home of all things Glock for their eight hour armorers course. I had originally taken the course in 1996.  It was an eight hour course then, and best I remember it cost $75.  It was eight hours of assembly and disassembly.  The course wasn’t much.   As simple as the guns are, I never re-certified.

Fast forward to last November.  I told my boss I wanted to go down to the factory and take the Instructor Workshop class, and he green lit me for it.  A very nice lady from Glock Training called me back and informed me that I had to be a current armorer to be eligible for the class.  So, I said what the heck, and added a day onto my trip. I drove down with a head full of questions, ranging from recoil spring weights to extraction issue questions to a whole lot of questions about the 17T (Simunitions pistol). Continue reading →

Enter the Dagobah System with Next Level Training

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Mike Hughes shows us his “Progressor” Drill. It was actually quite a bit drier this time than last…

Those of you who have followed our articles know we are big fans of the SIRT Training Pistol developed by our friend Mike Hughes at Next Level Training. While we are always excited to check out that new piece of gear to improve our performance and maximize training potential, one of the lessons I have learned from Mike is that you don’t need fancy equipment to train effectively. Continue reading →

DARK Angel Medical Kit and Training Review

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Your DARK can come in either MIL or CIV/LE depending on if you want QuickClot and a x-ray viewable strip or not. A statement of competency and export restrictions apply for all DARK products.

As we go about our daily activities many of us find ourselves in some pretty scary situations.  Places where, should we go down and need medical help, it could be a long way off.  Even worse, what if a team-mate, student or family member went down.  Would you be prepared to help.  Many of us seek out medical training because it is the responsible thing to do and let’s face it, feeling helpless sucks! Continue reading →

Low Light Training – Part 2

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Square range low light training on a two dimensional target – a starting point. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stafford)

This is PART TWO of a two part series on low light training.  Click HERE for Part One.

Normally, during low-light training, we are on the firing line with several co-workers. Every one turns on their lights, illuminating a two dimensional target at the same distance. This turns your low-light shoot into darn near daylight. Then they shoot. They do not really get to experience the capabilities and limitations of their issued and/or chosen gear.

Continue reading →

MAGPUL’S 20LR M110/MK11 7.62 MAGAZINE

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Since the introduction of the PMAG in 2006, Magpul Industries has set the standard for reliable polymer magazines for the M16 platform. Prior to the PMAG, the best the market had to offer were from Thermold and Orlite, which were marginal at best. The use of polymer for magazine bodies have definite advantages in weight savings and durability, as seen in our Magazine Drop Test. The PMAG has earned itself an excellent reputation among end users, many of whom prefer the polymer PMAG over USGI aluminum magazines. While I believe aluminum USGI magazines have their place, the current generation PMAG is an excellent choice for a duty magazine.

Continue reading →

CARACAL F 9mm, Final Post

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Started off with a basic Caracal F 9mm. The end result, was impressive with a total of 10,000 rounds. I was actually a bit surprised at how well the finish held up on this gun. Although I did not run the gun from a holster.

I finally got the Caracal F to my goal of 10K rounds.  It took a bit of time, but the gun held up.  With the original recoil spring assembly still in place I was a bit surprised to see it run that far.  The gun itself began to run a bit sluggish right around the 8800 round mark, but I attribute that to a well worn recoil spring assembly.  There is no evidence of battering yet, but I suspect I did not do the gun any favors.  I should mention that I was using some surplus 9mm NATO ammunition so the pressures on the gun were pretty high. Continue reading →

The Admin Load – Why do we still teach it?

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The “Administrative Load” refers to a common sight on the police range.  It is loading the pistol while the pistol is still in the holster.  It involves reaching back behind your holster and inserting/removing/swapping out magazines while your pistol is still holstered.  This takes place while the shooter is still on the line, facing down range.   This nonsense got started when semi-automatics hit police ranges, and some bean counter figured that the more time that the gun remains in the holster, the less time there is for cops to shoot themselves, or each other.  Fact of the matter is that it is a dangerous practice.

Dangerous, you say?

Continue reading →

Pat McNamara’s Grid of Fire Drill

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Last December I took a combined carbine / pistol class from Pat McNamara – author of TAPS and Sentinel. During the class, we worked on an earlier version of his Grid of Fire drill. We did it with a handgun. The course works on bursts of movement – five yards at a time – in different directions, target acquisition and all of the fundamentals.

This past week, Pat posted a video showing and explaining the drill on his YouTube channel. It is a drill worth doing.

Pat’s company – TMACS Inc – and his bio can be found here: http://tmacsinc.com/

Record Keeping

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Keeping track of the round count, function issues and modifications is a must for a beauty like this one. It is just as important for every other gun you own as well.

I have been doing a lot of traveling these last few weeks teaching mostly Armorer courses at various agencies.  One thing that comes to mind immediately when I discuss their programs is how many of them are missing a significant portion of the job.  While being able to service and maintain the weapons is a primary function of the Armorer, maintaining accurate records of each item is even more important.

Continue reading →

PIC OF THE DAY: URBAN SECURED CARRY

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Oakley Panel Pack (in “New Khaki”) with GunVault MicroVault

So, you have your urban gear backpacked and off you go on foot or public transportation.  What if you must go inside premises where you will be separated from your kit (for example, it will be stowed in a locker) and your concealed handgun can’t accompany you? Check out the GunVault MicroVault with Oakley Panel Pack.

You might even be able to deploy the wire cable lanyard that accompanies some lock boxes.  The above box has one.

Firearms Safety – Why do we take it for granted?

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This installment there are no pictures.  No high speed/low drag, Crossfit fueled, SWAT laden cool guy pictures.  My apologies to Tim and Hilton for not having pictures as required. (Editor: We don’t require pictures for every post!)

Instead, I hope this article will serve as a moment of pause.

It is 2013.  Why are gun owners still negligently shooting people in their homes?  Notice I said negligently.  I am talking about the unintentional shooting of a family member or guest that usually winds up with the shooter telling the first responding officer “I thought it was unloaded”.

The liberal left tries to get everyone to equate gun control with gun safety.  They seek an emotional response by invoking, “It’s for the children”.  Fact of the matter is that their versions of gun control have nothing to do with safety, nothing to do with guns, and everything to do with control.  What I am referring to is firearms safety becoming a way of life.  It becoming organic to who you are, a thread in your DNA.

Continue reading →

Training Techniques- New Or Old?

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After being a serious student of firearms and tactics and techniques for 35 years, and an instructor for 20, I’ve come to the observation that none of what we do is really new. While we as instructors perhaps refine techniques and adapt them to new technology, have we really invented anything new?

The greats of our art, Col. Cooper, Thell Reed, Bill Jordan, Jack Weaver, etc. refined, codified, and brought our techniques to what they are today.  However, I would make the observation that some poor soldier in WWI used a technique that allowed him to live, and his buddy next to him tried something else, and he died. He then put that in his “Tactical Toolbox” and perhaps passed it on to his comrades and a technique was born. We could of course take this further back in the history of combat to the time of the cap and ball revolver or perhaps who had the bigger rock and stronger arm. Continue reading →