Best hat…ever!
What? Are we talking about a hat? Not a top hat or sombrero, but a ball cap no less. Well, unless you’ve been in a cave (Taliban?) for the past decade, the ball cap is part of our tactical wardrobe. But..not all caps are the same. Continue reading
It’s coming up on two years since I uploaded my first MSW post. The process seemed a bit confusing, but the post went up after some help from Tim. It’s now a cakewalk. (The post was about shooting and lead “poisoning” hazards, HERE. If you haven’t read it, please do. It could use some more FB likes. 🙂 I even obtained permission from a well-known artist/chemist to include one of his nifty cartoons). There are now almost 700 MSW posts; more than 40 are mine. Continue reading
Okay…what is he talking about….
Too often it has been my experience with law enforcement shooters (and competition too) that the need to pull the trigger “now” supersedes the requirement of hitting the target. It’s like a building pressure in the mind that shooters will settle for less than an acceptable sight picture and blast off a round..or two..or three. It’s almost as if a self gratifying sound and feeling overwhelms what the process should be. Continue reading
I was recently introduced to the product line of Diamondhead USA by a teammate. I was really drawn to the VRS-T rail so I decided to set up one of my older 14.5” Colt uppers with a 13.5″ model and try it out. The rebuild also included their T-Brake and Diamondhead folding sight set. I was initially drawn to the VRS-T rail due to its triangular shape, which reminded me of my old M16A1. The rail is pretty slim and the scalloped cuts on the sides give a very comfortable and secure grip without being too aggressive to hands or gloves. The T-Brake was added at their suggestion. I’m not normally a muzzle brake or compensator fan but, I figured there was no harm in giving it a try. Installation of the rail was pretty straight forward although it does require a bit of skill and planning to do it yourself. The rail mounts to a proprietary barrel nut and also requires removal of the delta ring. Depending on length, you may also need a low profile gas block or cutting of your front sight base. The T-Brake installed easily and comes pre-drilled for pinning if that is needed for your situation. It is long enough that it will bring a 14.5” barrel over 16”. The profile is triangular and blends nicely with the VRS-T rail, making it aesthetically pleasing, if you are concerned by that kind of stuff. Continue reading
I had a fellow in a class back in the spring who showed up in head to toe multicam. He wore a shemagh, a plate carrier, Oakley gloves, and Salomon boots. He carried a state of the art LWRCi rifle, complete with BAD lever, 45 degree sights, EoTech and magnifier.
He had a very narrow stance, and when he fired more than a couple shots in a string, he would begin to rock back throwing his shots out of the 3×5 card at seven yards during rapid strings. Continue reading
People are often prone to advocate that we should do everything in training exactly as we would do it “for real.” And in the vast majority of instances, I believe their argument has merit. However, we need to adjust our behavior sometimes based on safety concerns, range limitations, and other less than real factors, such as training ammunition. Frangible ammunition has been discussed here in the past but I am here to give you another example of how we need to be attentive at the range. The photo above shows a comparison photo of the front portion of a frangible round that was recovered from a shooter’s AR style rifle. Yes, the rifle type is important here. Continue reading
Executive summary: Usually a bad idea, often a very bad idea.
[This is a follow on to prior posts, THREATENING DEADLY FORCE : MUSINGS ON “BRANDISHING” AND “WARNING” SHOTS, and “CASTLE” DEFENSE: WHAT CAN–MAY–SHOULD–MUST YOU DO]
“Can/should I hold someone at gunpoint?” A common question when the topic of guns and defensive use of deadly force is discussed. The questioner’s “gunpoint” hypothetical usually poses a home invasion, robbery attempt of the questioner, or “in progress” interdiction of someone committing a property crime, or a violent crime against the questioner or another person. The question is another one to which I respond with my smart aleck lawyer’s answer: “I don’t know, can/should you?” It lends itself to analysis similar to what I discussed in prior MSW posts on the use of deadly force — my paradigm:
CAN / MAY / SHOULD / MUST
For the purpose of this post, holding someone “at gunpoint” is not necessarily muzzling the threatened person(s), openly holding an exposed firearm in any specific “ready” position, or a mode of “display” permitted or prohibited by a state “brandishing” statute. I use the phrase here to mean the display of a firearm coupled with the express or implied threat that a failure to obey commands will result in the use of deadly force, that is, the gunpointer WILL shoot. (If unprivileged, usually considered a serious felony, such as an armed assault or assault with/by deadly weapon). Consider the following for your analysis of the SHOULD element of the paradigm. Continue reading
As first reported midweek by SIGforum.com, SIG Sauer has announced that a 10mm version of their venerable P220 will be released at the SHOT Show in January.
The fascination with a 10mm P220 first started with Bruce Gray of Grayguns, Inc, who accepted a challenge that the P220 10mm conversion “couldn’t be done”. Bruce made limited conversion runs of all steel P220 .45 ACP pistols to 10mm. This was a painstaking task as it took quite a bit to get the pistol chambered in .45 ACP to run the 10mm reliably.
The P220/10 will be have both SAO and DA/SA configurations, and will be available in 4.25 and 5 inch lengths. It will be based upon their all steel P220 Elite series of pistols as it is being reported.
Bushmaster . 308 ORC MOE Carbine. Nikon 1-4 Scope with Nikon P Series Mount. Magpul M3 PMags, Vltor Scout Mount with Surefire G2 Light, HST Sling, MDFA Kydex FDE .308 Mag Pouch.
Having been a long time user (37 years) of the M-16/AR-15 family in 5.56, I decided that it was time I tried one in the caliber that the weapon was originally designed for .308. I’m a proponent of 30 caliber weapons and the .308 and 30-06 are my favorites. While the 5.56/.223 work well within certain situations, I wanted a more versatile caliber, with the ability to penetrate barriers as well as one that has more effect on target in a defensive situation. We also have large animals here in Maine and the 5.56 is somewhat lacking in it’s ability to address those situations.(Ever have to shoot an injured Moose?) Continue reading
And in comes the next innovative product from SPD Tool, the SPD Range Rod. Continue reading
I first met Tom Allen at the SHOT show seven or eight years ago. At the time, Tom had a small-ish firearms/accessory business in Chesterland, Ohio. Tom and I made some small talk and he told me if I ever needed any SIG related stuff to give him a shout.
I got home and needed a set of sights a few weeks later, and went onto the Top Gun Supply website and ordered a set of Meprolight Night Sights for a P220. I remember I ordered the sights on Monday. They got to my door on Wednesday. Whoa. That was quick.
Over the years, I’ve watched Top Gun Supply grow into the largest supplier of SIG Sauer parts and accessories. Tom and Michelle have dedicated much to the SIG Sauer line of products. Continue reading
The “proof” that a 7.62×39 pencil was not used
I recently had a range experience that dispelled one of the greatest urban legends of the firearms world. That the 7.62x.39 AK 47 is incapable of the accuracy level of the AR-15…. or much of anything else. While that may be true in most cases, I just found that to be a myth. After much experimentation down the AK47 path, I settled on what I believe is the finest AK pattern rifle ever made. This is the Arsenal SAM7SF. Continue reading
Whether flat or rolled, they take up little space, and weigh almost nothing. Proven highly useful in everyday civilian aid, search and rescue, military, sports, and back country applications. From the sammedical website: “Built from a thin core of aluminum alloy and sandwiched between two layers of closed-cell foam, the SAM Splint can be bent into any of three simple curves, becoming extremely strong and supportive for any fractured or injured limb.” And yes, there is a guy named Sam — he’s an MD, and the company’s founder and CEO. Continue reading
I was recently going through my bookshelf throwing away some old catalogs and magazines and came across a few gems that I particularly enjoyed reading, not only because they were entertaining, but had a good amount of educational value as well. None of these books are exactly hot off the press, but if you’ve missed any of these, do yourself a favor and grab them from Amazon. Continue reading
Rite in the Rain (RITR) of Tacoma, Washington. Magic stuff. Well, not really. But definitely rain, splash, and sweat proof, and about as tacticool as you can get for something that doesn’t send rounds downrange and make noise. Some of their products have an NSN, so my guess is real operators use ’em. Continue reading