RE Issue 29 PDF

BUYERS
GUIDE
TANTO BLADES
PG. 58
GUN LLIFESTYL
S LE:
E: GEAR TECHNOLOG
OGY SPORT
O OU
OUTDOOR
OOR HOME
OME & PERSONAL DEFENSE
LETS TEACH OUR KIDS

FROM AN EARLY AGE
AND GET RID OF THE
FIREARM STIGMATISM.
HATTIE JOHNSON
RECOILWEB.COM
ISSUE 29
CERAKOTES NEW ELITE FORMULA

ERNEST LANGDON ON D.A. AUTOS
ZEROED IN: ALEXANDRIA KINCAID
ARE GUNSMITHS SCREWED?
PROOFS CAMGAS SYSTEM
THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN
FEMALE FIREARMS FITNESS
OLD IDAHO PENITENTIARY
Q&A: ADAM KRAUT
5.11
LOADOUT
INSERT
THE RUGER AMERICAN PISTOL IS DESIGNED WITH THE TOUGHEST STANDARDS IN MIND.
Short Takeup Trigger

with Positive Reset
Anything Else Would Be Un-American.
Designed with the latest U.S. Military standards in mind, the Ruger American Pistol is built to perform
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Recoil-Reducing Barrel Cam, Low Mass Slide,

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distributors and retailers provided input, feedback and testing in the determination of the form, function and
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a low mass slide, low center of gravity and a low bore axis to provide an unparalleled shooting experience.
Genuine Novak LoMount Carry

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Cannae and Battle Ready are both registered trademarks

of Mission Critical Designs LLC
BATTLE READY TACTICAL HOODIE & THE LEGION ELITE DAY PACK
FIREARM SAFETY
IS TOP PRIORITY
IS S U E 29
DEPARTMENTS
16
ON THE COVER
124
ZEROED IN
Alexandria Kincaid
18
DOWNRANGE
Editors Letter
186
MINDSET
Words to Live By
28
INCOMING
New Gear
200 PT
Female Firearms Fitness
40
VISIT
Old Idaho Penitentiary
50
TRANSPORT
EraThr3 F-150
58
UNUSUAL
SUSPECTS
210
WANNA TRADE
PATCHES?
226 GOING HOT
RECOIL reminds you to be safe and

always obey firearms safety rules:
1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
2. Always keep the gun pointed in a
safe direction.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger
until ready to fire.
4. Be aware of your targets foreground and background.
All contents in RECOIL Magazine
are professionally photographed
in a closed studio or range. Do not
attempt to re-create any photographs
depicted in this magazine.
PRODUCT DISCLAIMER
Prices and details for items featured
in RECOIL are set by the manufacturers and retailers, and are subject
to change without notice.
RECOIL (USPS 013-320), March/April

2017; Number 29, is published bimonthly
by TEN: The Enthusiast Network, LLC,
261 Madison Avenue, 6th floor, New York,
NY 10016. Copyright 2017 by TEN: The
Enthusiast Network Magazines, LLC. All
Rights Reserved. Periodicals Postage
Paid at New York, NY and at additional
mail offices. Subscriptions U.S. and U.S.
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in advance. U.S. funds only. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM
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FACILITIES: send address changes to
RECOIL, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast,
FL 32142-0235. Please allow 8-10 weeks
for delivery of first issue. No part of this
book may be reproduced without written
permission. This book is purchased with
the understanding that the information
presented herein is from many varied
sources for which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher
as to accuracy or completeness.
Tanto Blades
Throughout this issue you will see certain images are labeled as being
1:1 Actual Size. This designation is for the print edition of this issue.
Because of the various screen sizes on different tablets and computers,
we cannot always provide actual life size images in digital versions. We apologize if
this causes any confusion and thank you for your understanding.
50
Continued from page 8
64
IS S U E 29
FEATURES
64
NOW FOR SOMETHING

COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT
We Knew Q LLC Was Going
to Make Next-Gen ARs and
Silencers, But We Didnt
Expect The Fix
78
92
ARE GUNSMITHS
SCREWED?
Bureaucratic Maneuvering
Could Spell Doom For Some
Small Businesses
92
CERAKOTES NEW
ELITE
78
Chemistry and Artistry in

Oregon
116
100 HUDSON 9
American Innovation
116
PROOFS CAMGAS
SYSTEM
A Cure for What Ails the AR-10
0
136
100
2
VANTAGE ARMS SIX12
Scalable, Six-Shot Cylinder,
Scattergun
146
ZERO DS
Has the Electric Motorcycle
Come of Age?
154
ITS TIME THE NRA

STOPPED ACTING
ITS AGE
The 145-Year-Old Institution
Needs People Like 30-Year-Old
Adam Kraut on its Board
174
136
146
THE LONG PULL

Double Action Auto The
Pros and Cons, Plus Tips
on How to Better Shoot the
Long-Pull Trigger
174
LINE OF
DUTY
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ON THE COVER:
THE NEXT
GENERATION
IS SUE
2 9
STORY BY ROB CURTIS

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MORROW/
WATERHOUSESTUDIOS.COM
REC O ILW E B .C O M
16
COVER PHOTO BY STRAIGHT 8
AS PARENTS, SOMEONES GOT TO STAND UP,

SAYS HATTIE. ITS AN NCAA SPORT.
LETS TEACH OUR KIDS

FROM AN EARLY AGE
AND GET RID OF THE FIREARM STIGMATISM.
Wed like to thank Robby and Hattie
and his dad and uncle competed in
and ammo were always laying around,
Johnson for lending us their daughter,
benchrest matches, so long-range
says Hattie. My dad taught us the
11-year-old Jenavee, for the cover of
shooting was part of his upbringing.
safety behind them, though, and its
our Next Generation-themed issue.
The combination of a Remington
the same thing with our kids.
When we decided on the next-gen
700 under the Christmas tree and a
As parents ourselves, we can attest
theme for the first RECOIL of 2017, we
500-yard shot on a groundhog ignited
that a kids first emergency room visit
wanted it to be a tribute to the people
his ambition of becoming a military
is a right of passage. Hattie recalls her
most important to us all those
sniper. In high school, he worked at
E.R. scare when a .38 Super round
IS SUE
wholl pick up where we leave off.
the local gun shop and took advantage
went missing from the kitchen table
2 9
of slow periods to practice on the
and they feared Jenavee had swal-
indoor range.
lowed it. It turns out she didnt. But,
We spent weeks searching for the

right cover model when a friend of the
He enlisted in 97 and bounced
come to find out she was born and
between the 75th Ranger Regiment
attended her first Olympic shooting
raised by a couple of true American
and the AMU, serving as a service rifle
match in utero, its not hard to wonder
shooters.
and action pistol shooter in the AMU
if fate took an interest in Jenavees
and a sniper in the Regiment. He was
shooting career early on.
Hattie Johnson learned to shoot with
She says, even as the oldest, her
her father and began competing at age
a sniper team leader during the seizure
11, qualifying for the Junior Olympics
of Haditha Dam in 2003, where he
brothers sometimes still steal her
in her first year of competition. Laser-
was presented with a Bronze Star with
thunder on the range. Jenavee will
focused on becoming an Olympian,
V Device for his actions. Later, hed
practice positional shooting until her
she hit the range four days a week,
rack up more than a dozen titles and
back hurts.
and on nights too cold to shoot, youd
wins. Heres a few: First Place 08 and
find her in the family basement with
09 International Sniper Competition,
girly girl and a tomboy. She races
an airgun.
05 All-Army Long Range Service Rifle
motocross and puts on her own fake
Her mom says shes both a pink,
She continued to compete through-
Champion, 03 Top Team and High
eyelashes for dance and figure skating
out her teens and enlisted in the Army,
Shooter, Special Operations Sniper
competitions.
landing a spot on the prestigious Army
Competition. He now works for Q
Marksmanship Unit. A few years later,
LLC, a new firearm company based in
grew up having to hunt and fish, says
after meeting Robby on a blind date
southern New Hampshire.
Robby. Now, kids dont keep score
Weve lost a generation of kids who
and subsequently marrying him, she fi-
Jenavee was the couples firstborn,
everyone gets a trophy. But in shoot-
nally made it to the Olympics in 2004,
with Clayton, 8 years old, and Lawson,
ing, theres only one way to compete,
competing in Athens while pregnant
5 years old, following.
and thats by keeping score.
with Jenavee.
Robby Johnson started shooting at
7 with his father. They both hunted,
The Johnsons are raising their chil-
Thanks again to the Johnsons
dren as they were raised not to fear
for nurturing the next generation of
firearms, but to respect them. Guns
freedom-loving firearm enthusiasts.
when this happens after shed already
magazine suggested Jenavee. Wed
17
By now, 2017s New Years resolutions have already been
already let slide, might we suggest taking a new shooter to
broken, the festive booze supply has been depleted, and
the range?
IS SUE
2 9
youre probably tired of having to jockey for space at the
18
Our next-gen theme continues in this edition with three
gym with the folks who, like swallows to Capistrano, show
new firearms that embody cutting-edge thinking. All of
up every January to crap on the place then disappear. On
them bring something new to the table and are produced by
the national political front, now that the hubris surrounding
start-up companies in the proud tradition of American free
Novembers election result has subsided, well all get to see
enterprise and exceptionalism. If you scan through our list
whether our new president will live up to promises made on
of advertisers, youll no doubt notice that none of them are
the campaign trail. If the Hearing Protection Act is passed
actually clients of RECOIL, and Ill leave it to you to reach
and national CCW reciprocity becomes a reality, then this
your own conclusions regarding our editorial integrity, versus
could wind up being a banner year for gun owners. If not,
others in this game.
well, history is a harsh critic.

Speaking of elections, weve taken the unusual step of
Elsewhere, we profile noted 2A legal authority Alex

Kincaid and you should look for her voice to be added to the
endorsing a candidate for the NRAs Board of Directors, and
roster of experts appearing in these pages. Theres a new
you can read the Q&A that caused us to reach this conclu-
version of everyones favorite spray-and-bake firearm finish,
sion. Getting Adam Kraut, and other young people, on the
and we get to look behind the scenes at how Cerakote Elite
NRA board will go some way toward bridging the genera-
is made and tested. And we cast a beady eye over the latest
tional rift between its leadership and those it needs to
two-wheeled electric vehicle that has some very real advan-
recruit to ensure the organizations future in advocating for
tages in a SHTF scenario.
all American gun owners.

At this time every year, our team throws down the gaunt-
There are some big moves afoot at RECOIL HQ. Readers

of CONCEALMENT, our concealed-carry magazine, have
let to those who consider themselves competition, secure
been very vocal about demanding more of the same, so were
in the knowledge that whatever we do, itll take at least six
going to double the frequency at which it hits the shelves.
months before the rip-off artists can make a cheap copy
RECOILtv has a brand-new look and feel, so if youve yet to
available. We truly welcome the opportunity to improve, and
sample the videos available online, please check out some
the challenge only makes the finished product even more
of the cool content weve been working on at www.recoilweb.
kick-ass. Take our cover, for example.
com. And theres something in the pipeline thats going to
Jenavee Johnson embodies the anticipation of what this

year might bring as we introduce a new generation of shooters to the Second Amendment community. Sure, they might
have a curious obsession with their mobile devices and take
at least four pictures of themselves every day, but without
an active effort to recruit them, we run the risk of losing our
firearms rights within a couple of generations. So if youre
looking for a worthy resolution to replace the ones youve
shake up the cozy world of certain outdoor pursuits.

Welcome to 2017. I have a feeling its going to be a
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Editorial.
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12. SIDEWINDER Front/Back Sling-Pack
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MOST BAGS ARE CCW COMPATIBLE USING

OUR UNIVERSAL STICK-UP HOLSTER SYSTEM
11
12
IS SUE
2 9
28
It finally happened.
Geiselle made a singlestage trigger. Weve
been shooting one since
October, and we can sum up the
feel in one word: instant. The
break is immediate and clean.
Geiselle specs it at 3.5 pounds,
but ours breaks at 2.9. Theres
zero roll, then about a millimeter of overtravel maybe less.
Reset is authoritative and just
as fast; a couple millimeters
reengages the sear surfaces.
Gesielle uses a full power
hammer spring, so no worries
about light primer strikes that
can be an issue with singlestage triggers, even on military
primers. As far as single-stage
safety, theres a sear catch on
the hammer lobe to arrest the
hammer in case the trigger
loses contact with the primary
sear in a drop. For guys who
tried the Geissele Super 3-Gun
but went looking for something
more crisp and with less travel,
here it is.
MAKE:
Hoptic USA
SureFires compact
pistol light checks off
a lot of boxes; small,
light, rugged, easily
sourced battery, instinctive
activation. For many, thats
enough. But some folks wanted
a laser and SureFire is ready
to oblige with the XC2 weapon
light with integrated laser. To
keep the switchology simple,
the upgraded version includes
a red laser thats activated
whenever the white light is
turned on. Best of all, the size
and output is the same as the
non laser-bearing XC1. It loses
a few minutes of runtime, but it
still runs on an easily available
AAA battery for 1.25 hours.
Geeks might want to know
the laser wavelength is 635
nanometers at 5 milliwatts, but
all that means is its red and
its not restricted to military or
law enforcement use.
There are all sorts

of add-on anti-cant
devices for precision
shooters, but few are
as simple, rugged, and compact
as the Precision Bubble Level.
Since it mounts on a Pic rail
instead of clamping around a
scope, its a lot smaller and
simpler than many. And, its
also plug n play; no need to
rotate and level it to the scope
as you would on a scopemounted device. Its highly
visible, right in front of your
non-dominant eye for fast level
checks without taking your eye
off the reticle. Made from 6061
T6 aluminum, the housing will
protect the bubble level from
harsh treatment. The best part
is the price, though. The Bubble
Level is less than $30. Thats
a pretty good return on your
precision investment.
Getting caught without a set of backup

iron sights (BUIS) on
a rifle is like eating
dessert before the entre. Sure,
you can do it, but it feels wrong.
If youve got a few guns in rotation, BUIS for all of them can get
pricey. Griffins Micro Modular
Sights give you the ability to run
a single set of sights on a few
guns in multiple configurations
to suit your use. Need BUIS on a
DMR build? Put the M2 sights on
the offset bases. Lefty? Rotate
the offset plate and screw the
sights on. Running a straight
14.5-inch? Use the standard,
12 oclock M2 bases. The sights
are made from Melonited, 17-4
stainless and ordnance-grade
steels weighing 2.5 ounces.
The rear peep sight is windage
adjustable and the front uses
the familiar adjustable A2 sight
tower. Available in parts or as a
complete kit.
MAKE:
Really Right Stuff

(RRS) is a well respected player in the
high-end photographic tripod market. It entered
the shooting sports arena this
year with the introduction of its
SOAR (Sport Optics and Rifles)
line of tripods and rifle-friendly
heads and also jumped into the
optic mount aisle, with its own
mix of exacting performance
and pleasing aesthetics. RRS
claims its slightly elliptical
Adaptive Scope Tube Profile
holds scopes more securely
than traditional round rings.
The 7075 aluminum mount has
a built-in bubble level with
glow-in-the-dark backing, a
scope leveling system, optional
mount caps for adding Pic rail,
and skirted ring caps that align
the rings for easy installation
and (for the visually oriented)
eliminates unsightly air gaps
between the base and caps.
Surefire
MODEL:
MAKE:
MAKE:
MODEL:
Precision Bubble Level
Griffin Armament
Really Right Stuff SOAR
XC2
WEIGHT:
MODEL:
MODEL:
Geissele Automatics
BRIGHTNESS:
0.5 ounce
Micro Modular Sights
Uni-Block Scope Rings
MODEL:
200 lumens
COLORS:
SYSTEM WEIGHT:
WEIGHT:
Super Speed Precision
MSRP:
Black, FDE
2.5 ounces
7.9 ounces
MSRP:
Approximately $400
(not finalized at press time)
MSRP:
MSRP:
SCOPE HEIGHT OPTIONS:
$30
1.5 or 1.25 inches

0, 20, or 40 degrees
MAKE:
URL:
URL:
URL:
$185 (includes sights and both

12 oclock and offset plates)
www.geissele
ssele.com
c
www.surefire.com
www.hopticusa.com
w.hopticusa.com
URL:
$240
www.griffinarmament.com
INCLINE:
SCOPE COMPATIBILITY:
34mm bodies
MSRP:
$338
URL:
www.reallyrightstuff.com
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2 9
30
Named after a type of Roman gladiator who used two

swords, the Dimachaerus was
created by martial artist C.
Despins as a CQB folder that could stab,
slice, strike, and open quickly all
with one hand. Why? So he could wield
two simultaneously, of course. While
the large ring might remind you of the
karambits featured in Issue 28, its used
here not only for index-finger retention
but also to activate the blade in a variety of ways (check out the videos on Max
Venoms website) and to open beverage
bottles (score!). With the razor-sharp
154CM-stainless blade closed, the
Dimachaerus delivers excellent hammerstyle strikes and forward thrusts. While
the button-lock aluminum handle is Cerakoted and ergonomic, we would have
preferred G-10 scales. Plus, this unique
design requires plenty of practice if you
intend it for daily carry especially if
youre not knife-fighting trained. Still,
the box design
we dig Despins
Despins outside
outside-the-box
andd aesthetics.
The Di
Dimachaerus
h i Th
h
iis
d l i ld worthy
h iindeed.
d d
dual-wield
MAKE
MAKE:
This thing makes us giggle.

We arent suggesting anyone
buy a $50 bottle opener. But,
we love anything that will antagonize the Dude, thats stupid, I could
make that in my basement, its not worth
it, only an idiot would buy that, my $2
opener works fine, my 1911 is all I need
crowd. Is Yeti trolling? Dunno. We do
know that this is perhaps the finest hunk
of metal ever to meet the cap of one of
our Yuenglings. Performance-wise. The
little stainless-steel beast makes light
work of removing the toughest pop-tops
on the planet, and should things
turn dire at the tailgate a -pound
bottle opener doubles as a decent paincompliance tool.
MAKE:
Razors AMG line of made-inthe-USA optics gains a new

member with the release of
the Razor AMG UH-1 holographic weapon sight. Details on the new
optic were a bit scarce at press time, but
we know Vortex worked hard to eliminate
light emission from the front of the unit,
window distortion, and provide bombproof durability. Vortex says the unit will
have best-in-class battery life, running
on either a micro rechargeable LFP 123A
or a CR123 battery, and will feature
shatterproof, multi-coated lenses, a
watertight chassis, and an argon-purged
interior for reliable operation in humid or
wet environments. We should have more
details on RECOILweb.com by the time
you read this in January.
Yeti
MAKE:
Change is good, were told.

Were not sure what that
means, but we think it has
something to do with a roll
of quarters loaded up in one of Mean
Gene Leathers coin purses. This is the
kind of change that can go places other,
more conspicuous weapons cant. And, it
packs a wallop. Made of quality leather
in the USA with a brass zipper and snap,
the Hot Tamale will hold up for years and
age with grace. The purse is designed
for carry folded over a belt and is secured with a directional snap thats easy
to release in a hurry, but it wont pop off
by accident. Be a force for change.
MAKE:
Mean Gene Leather

MODEL:
Hot Tamale
MODEL:
Vortex Optics
CAPACITY:
Brick Bottle Opener
MODEL:
$10 in quarters
WEIGHT:
Razor AMG UH-1
COLORS:
0.75 pound
MSRP:
Black, five different shades of brown
MSRP:
$700
MSRP:
$ 0
$50
URL:
$36
URL:
www.vortexoptics.com
m
URL:
www.meangeneleather.com
m
www.yeti.com
m
Max Venom Product Group

G p
MODEL:
Di h
Dimachaerus
s
OAL
OAL:
10.15 inches
MSRP:
$ 0
$310
URL:
w ww.maxvenom.com
ma enom com
9
Speed
Scabbard
MSRP
76 99
Style
002
INTIMIDATOR $42 99
2.0
MSRP
Style
138
$53 99
MSRP
Style
027
Slim-Tuk
MSRP
3999
Style
137
Visit Us at Our Shot Show Booth #10962
800-GUNHIDE
631-841-6300
Dept. #RM37
431 Bayview Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701
www.desantisholster.com
10
Mystery Ranch founder

and lead designer Dana
Gleason approaches
every product as a
function-before-form project that always
manages to outperform expectations in
all aspects, be it performance, comfort,
or durability. These new Mission Duffles
look to embody the same overbuilt
goodness weve come to expect from the
Ranch. TPU-coated, 1,000-denier fabric
holds your gear while a large U-shaped
zipper provides easy access to the contents. If the shoulder strap and handles
arent going to cut it for your trek from
the baggage belt to the rental car, deploy
the hidden shoulder straps. There are
also a slew of pockets inside and one
on the outside to help you keep fresh
clothes from laundry-ready fare.
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2 9
MAKE:
32
11
The new Arcteryx Drypack

30 is a bomber haven
for your gear, no matter
what youre up against. A
725-denier Cordura laminate construction forms a completely submersible
waterproof shell that provides strength
and abrasion protection. A marinegrade waterproof zipper opens to the
main compartment thats got a Velcro
panel for customizable organization and
a smaller zip pocket for headphones
and dip. The shoulder straps are wide,
spreading out weight, and the loadbearing hip belt can be removed. Theres
even an oral inflation valve to set the
bag to float or maintain buoyancy underwater. Its a true over-the-beach assault
pack, capable of shielding anything
from a manpack radio and ammo to a
MacBook and spare skivvies.
12
13
MAKE:
BedRug
If youre sick of paying

overweight baggage fees
when you fly with your
sensitive items protected
in a hard-sided case, check out the new
line of featherweight Air cases from
Pelican. Instead of blowing half your baggage allowance on the hard case itself,
the largest, 70.5-liter Air 1615 case
(shown) weighs about 25 percent less
than a similarly sized traditional hard
case while giving up nothing in terms
of protection and features. The shell
is made from a lighter weight polymer,
while the body mold is also optimized
for weight savings compared to legacy
Pelican cases. It still has a purge valve,
easy snap clasps, padded handles and
smooth rolling wheels. Its available in a
few interior configurations.
Right turn. Slam! As that

steel target slides from
one side of the pickup
truck bed to hit the other,
maybe youre regretting passing on that
factory bed liner. Weve been there. Thats
why were interested in the new BedTred
Ultra bedliner. The base is a sort of super
dense, plastic-like surface backed by
-inch-thick, impact-absorbing (and
knee-friendly) foam. The whole waterproof,
dent-resistant, and non-slip thing comes
in four pieces, each molded to perfectly fit
your trucks nooks and crannies. BedRug
says installation is faster and easier than
field stripping a Ruger Mark III. Once in
place, youve got a flat, textured surface
thatll keep your cargo from sliding around
and wrecking your paintjob, or itself.
MAKE:
Mystery Ranch
MAKE:
Pelican
MODEL:
MODEL:
Arcteryx LEAF
MODEL:
BedTred Ultra
Mission Duffels
MODEL:
Air 1615
MATERIAL:
CAPACITIES AVAILABLE:
Drypack 30
WEIGHT:
38, 53, 90 liters
CAPACITY:
14 pounds (empty)
Engineered polypropylene surface with

-inch non-absorbent foam backing
COLORS:
30 liters
MSRP:
MSRP:
Black, Nightfall, Redwood
MSRP:
$340 to $512
$399
URL:
URL:
www.pelican.com
www.bedrug.com
MSRP:
$599
$130 to $190
URL:
URL:
leaf.arcteryx.com
com
www.mysteryranch.com
11
10
13
12
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14
IS SUE
2 9
Who knew thered be

an arms race in the
belt market? Boxer
Tacticals Apogee belt
is a American-made product that seeks
to combine pants-holding prowess with
a healthy dose of strength, style, and
adaptability. The belts heart is the
low-profile, fully machined, ratcheting
buckle. Cut the 1.5-inch BioThane belt
to fit your waist then screw the teeth
down to secure one end in the buckle.
The other end slides into the ratcheting buckle where it can be released
with one finger under the tab (try that
with a Cobra buckle.) The BioThane will
easily support a full-size pistol without
folding, yet its easily cut to size with
kitchen shears. The buckle is easily
swapped between belts of different
lengths for different uses, as well. Its
a slick, over-engineered, over-built
product and we love it.
34
15
Bleeding to death sucks.

Watching helplessly
as someone bleeds to
death also sucks. Blue
Force Gears new Micro Trauma Kit Now!
prepares us to deal with both sucky
situations. This isnt a boo-boo kit filled
with Band-Aids, aspirin, and tweezers.
No. The MTKN! is meant to deal with
serious bleeders. This tiny package not much larger than George
Costanzas wallet is meant to treat
gunshot and stab wounds. The insert
holds a bevy of life-saving gear and
slides out of its sheath from either side,
ideal when mounted at the small of the
back. A laser-cut cross displays a user
selectable red, black, or reflective/glowin-the-dark insert that can be swapped
based on the mission profile. Choose
either belt or MOLLE mount.
MAKE:
Smith Optics Elite

MODEL:
Discord
MAKE:
Blue Force Gear
MAKE:
MODEL:
Boxer Tactical
Micro Trauma Kit Now!
MODEL:
COLORS:
Apogee Belt 1.5-inch
Black, coyote brown, MultiCam, OD

green, wolf gray
BUCKLE COLORS:
16
Make no mistake, if
knowing is half the
battle, knowing how to
look good is at least part
of the other half. Get on with it with these
new shades from Smith Optics Elite line
of ballistic eye protection. Baked onto
the lenses are all kinds of performance
anti coatings, including anti-smudge,
anti-reflection, and anti-scratch. The
lenses themselves are available in a
standard gray ballistic, more exotic
polarized, and Smiths own ChromaPop+
lenses that the company says makes the
world appear sharper with truer colors
than O.G. tinted lenses. This is all on top
of Mil-spec and industrial-level protection for your peepers.
Black, brown, silver
MSRP:
BELT COLORS:
$68 ($200 with medical supplies)
Black, coyote brown, wolff grey
URL:
MSRP:
www.blueforcegear.com
f
$ 9
$99
URL:
www.boxertactical.com
b
i l
14
15
17
MSRP:
$119, $159, $229

URL:
www.smithoptics.com/us/
p
17
Stains. Whether working in the shop or the

kitchen, it doesnt
matter. Its going to happen. We are slobs. Dont lose another
garment to the gremlins. Fight back
with a snazzy apron from EraThr3. This
isnt your grammas pie-baking dainty;
its a shop-grade, waxed cotton canvas
buddy thatll break in like your favorite
pair of jeans. Wide straps and big Drings keep things comfy, and there are
a whopping eight pockets for everything
you need to keep at hand while working
on your blaster/meal/bike/biohazard
cleanup.
MAKE:
Erathr3
MODEL:
Utility Apron
COLORS:
Gray, Tan
MSRP:
$88
URL:
www.erathr3.com
16
18
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2 9
First Tactical is jumping

into the watch market
with a lineup of tactical
timepieces. First up
is the Canyon Digital Compass, which
should be a hit with those who begrudgingly use reading glasses. The face
features a non-microscopic font for the
date, big-ass numbers for the time, and
a cool second hand that reminds us of
an Atari race car circling the track. Its
water resistant up to 100 meters, and
the digital compass is a nice backup to
a lensatic compass. However, its just
a few millimeters shy of being as big
as those obnoxiously humongous Diesel
watches low-pro it is not. While the
rotatable polymer band is vented, looks
good, and has rulers on its backside, its
angular edges dig into our wrist. Still,
the Canyon is a well-built watch with
great functionality and an easy-to-read
interface. Available in black, coyote, and
olive drab. Stay tuned for a full review
in our sister publications website at
OFFGRIDweb.com.
36
MAKE:
First Tactical
19
If youre like us, you

like to shoot bullets, bourbon, and
photos. Thats why the
Freelance from Hazard 4 caught our
eye. Its a 15.4L sling bag thats made
with both types of shooters in mind. You
can swing it quickly from back to chest,
allowing quick access to your digital
Canon or your hand cannon. There are
MOLLE cutouts on the Velcro patch field
on the outside and movable dividers on
the inside. Plus, there are three external
pockets, including one thats hardshelled to protect sunglasses or other
valuables. It features a thermoformed
back, a padded sling, and multiple grab
handles for comfort. Available in black
or coyote. Now, if only the Freelance had
a slot for Mr. Jim Beam .
20
We get the feeling

that the guys at
Hults Bruk take
their time in getting
things right. After all, its only been 319
years since they opened their doors, so
there was no need to rush into adopting
newfangled designs like an American
pattern felling ax, which didnt come
onto the scene until about 1800.
Noted wilderness skills instructor Dave
Canterbury partnered with the Swedish
forge to create this magnificent example of the blacksmiths art, and after
using it to demolish several mesquite
trees, we can attest to both the quality
of its edge and the effectiveness of its
straight, 32-inch handle.
Enforcer
Hults Bruk
MODEL:
Hazard 4
American Felling Ax
MODEL:
MSRP:
Freelance
$239
MSRP:
URL:
$
$158
www.hultsbruk16997.se
MSRP:
$475
URL:
www.scottevest.com
tevest.com
URL:
www.hazard4.com
h
d4
MODEL:
Canyon Digital Compass

MSRP:
20
$140
URL:
www firsttactical com

www.firsttactical.com
18
19
21
MAKE:
SCOTTeVEST
MODEL:
MAKE:
MAKE:
21
If youre one of those

guys with an EDC list
as long as your arm
and you wish Mystery
Ranch made pants, then this might just
be the jacket for you. With the ability to
stuff an astounding amount of gear in its
30 voluminous pouches, you can stash
multitudinous iThings, as well as your
favorite gat in a quick-access, hook-andloop-lined pocket. For those concerned
with identity theft, theres an RFID-proof
storage compartment for your passport
and wallet. Best of all, theres no need to
look like youre about to embark on a fishing expedition, or do battle with nihilists.
WE HAVE YOUR
GIVE YOUR GUN THE MAGPUL LOOK

- AND SHOOT BETTER, TOO!
OVER 300 MAGPUL ITEMS IN STOCK &
READY TO SHIP TO YOU.
OLD
IDAHO
PENITENTIARY
BEHOLD, A HIDDEN GEM OF
FIREARMS AT THE J. CURTIS
EARL MEMORIAL EXHIBIT
IS SUE
2 9
STORY BY JOHN SCHWARTZE

PHOTOS BY Q CONCEPTS
40
When the rest of the nation thinks
border never hear about and dont get
Redemption. The Old Idaho Peniten-
of Idaho, potatoes might be the only
the publicity they deserve. We were
tiary in Boise, formerly known as the
things that immediately come to mind.
privileged to go behind the scenes at
Idaho State Penitentiary, served as
However, the state is not only home to
one museum in particular that firearms
the states prison from 1872 to 1973.
picturesque vacation areas and some
enthusiasts are sure to devour.
While formidable in appearance, the
of the best freshwater fishing in the
This J. Curtis Earl Memorial Ex-
state worked to preserve it as a histori-
country, but is indeed a gun lovers
hibit is an impressive assortment of
cal landmark after its functionality as a
paradise, both in legislation and recre-
weapons, some of which date back
working prison became obsolete.
ation. Before RECOIL ventured out that
thousands of years, and is tucked away
way, we got word of some locations
in what could have easily doubled
and self-guided tours to learn about
that most people beyond the states
as the prison seen in Shawshank
its lineage and walk through the
Visitors can participate in guided
The 1893
Administration
Building and main
entrance to the Old
Idaho Penitentiary
Historic Site. The J.
Curtis Earl Exhibit is
featured behind the
walls in part of the
former Shirt Factory
Building.
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2 9
42
1
corridors of one of the few remaining 19th century prisons that wasnt
demolished in favor of apartments
and strip malls. Astute readers may
recognize it from an episode of
Ghost Adventures or the movie Soda
Springs. Most features of the prison,
such as the cell houses, solitary confinement, and even the gallows where
an actual execution took place were
left essentially unaltered from when
the prison was operational.
According to Amber Beierle, site
manager of the Old Idaho Penitentiary, J. Curtis Earl was a pilot, member
of the Civil Air Patrol, had a degree
in wildlife biology, and was a Class 3
arms dealer. He spent his later years
splitting time between Idaho and
1. The 1898 Dining

Hall was designed
by inmate George
Hamilton. In 1973,
inmates started
fires and destroyed
the building during
a riot.
2. In 1975, the
historic Bishops
House was moved to
the Old Pen Historic
District from its
original downtown
location. It housed
the Episcopalian
bishop. It currently
is operated by
the Friends of the
Bishops House and
can be rented for
parties and events.
his home in Arizona. He gifted an

extensive collection of weapons to the
Idaho State Historical Society to create his legacy and, according to him,
honor military veterans.
3. Four cell houses

greet visitors to
the Old Pen. Over
60,000 people visit
the site every year.
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IS SUE
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44
1
2
1. Rare weapons
and other artifacts
from World War
I are displayed
in this dynamic
exhibit. Visitors can
also experience a
replica World War
I trench in the J.
Curtis Earl Exhibit.
Prior to his death in 2000, J. Curtis
educational outreach purposes. An
Idaho State Historical Society to find
exhibit called the Weight of War is
a suitable venue to house his mas-
another program scheduled to launch
sive collection in its entirety. It was de-
in the summer of 2017 where people
cided that the J. Curtis Earl Memorial
will be able to actually put on a
Exhibit would be built as an adjunct
backpack or hold replica items in the
to the prison, which opened in 2002.
museums collection to experience
Admission to the penitentiary also
what a solider wouldve had to carry
includes admission to the J. Curtis
during a particular war.
Earl Exhibit, so theres no extra cost to

check it out.
Visitors receive a map of the site
2. Soldiers practice
early ingenuity
as evidenced by
this anti-aircraft
machine gun. They
mounted it to a
wheel for better
range and control.
digital exhibits and oral histories for
Earl had spoken to individuals at the
You can enjoy a somewhat

chronological order of the exhibits
that arent just limited to guns.
and a volunteer at the J. Curtis Earl
Swords and fighting implements
Exhibit is there to answer questions
starting from the Bronze Age show
and explain the layout of the galleries,
the development of weaponry through
as this portion of the tour is all self-
the Middle Ages and how it evolved
guided. Lectures are held periodically
into the Industrial Revolution.
and plans are currently in place to
Even walking through the Civil
expand the J. Curtis Earl facility
War displays, one can see how the
and create a mobile app to provide
weapons were reduced in size, but

1. Swords like
these were used by
knights, sultans,
and conquistadors.
Rare Bronze Age
items can also be
viewed daily.
3. Visitors can
marvel at this rare,
mounted Gatling
gun. A miniature
model, complete
with horses,
demonstrates its
practical purpose
during the Civil War.
IS SUE
2 9
2. Experience what
it was like as a
soldier in the Great
War as you enter
this replica trench.
Other unique armor
and weaponry from
the war are also in
full view.
46
1
became more powerful as the conflict
exists anywhere else in the United
endured. Artifacts from the Spanish
States. Where else will your kids get
American War lead to a mock trench
scared straight about what prison life
built to reflect the fighting conditions
is like and enjoy an amazing cross
of WWI. There you can go right in
section of weaponry all in one? Check
and get a sense of what it looked like
out this gem of firearms in the Gem
before you heard the dreaded whistle
State for yourself, and youll see what
to go up and over.
we mean.
The exhibits continue with WWII,

Korean, and Vietnam-era weaponry.
Both the European and Pacific fronts
of WWII are acknowledged with

ADDRESS:
2445 Old Penitentiary Road

Boise, ID 83712
artifacts from the respective theaters.
HOURS:
The exhibit also honors Idahos own
Noon to 5 p.m.
Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day):
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
J. Curtis Earl Exhibit hours: Noon to 4:30 p.m.
Summer hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
servicemen and women with relics

specific to state residents who served
in various wars.
Temporary exhibits are also
periodically put on display. The
J. Curtis Earl collection is quite
extensive, and features some 2,000
pieces, so periodic rotations of the
collection help keep the experience
fresh for repeat visitors. Flash
ADMISSION:
Adult: $6
Senior (60 and older): $4
Child (6-12 years old): $3
Children 5 and under: Free
Closed most state holidays
*Free during summer months for active-duty
military and their families
TELEPHONE:
(208) 334-2844
photography and video are allowed.
URL:
Were not sure a museum like this
https://history.idaho.gov/old-idaho-penitentiary
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ERATHR3 AND HULST CUSTOMS UNVEIL A 750 HORSEPOWER

LOBBY TO INCREASE THE SPEED LIMIT
IS SUE
2 9
STORY BY JOHN SCHWARTZE

PHOTOS BY SHERI JOHNSON / ERATHR3
50
2016 FORD
ERATHR3
F-150
5L V-8 W/ WHIPPLE
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WWW.ERATHR3.COM
IS SUE
2 9
51
In this column youre typically used to
precision and letting freedom ring. Did
stance. Next stop? Submitting the idea
seeing a helping of tactical vehicles,
you know they build vehicles too?
to Fords Vehicle Image Program.
mainly done as one-offs by gun
Their latest unveiling at SEMA 2016
The program basically consists of
enthusiasts looking to make their rig
was another extension of their engineer-
design proposals for Ford to select
more shall we say ... practical for
ing expertise on four wheels. The idea
from and decide who has what it takes
this lifestyle of ours. But what if a gun
for this truck began with Jason Hulst,
to build custom vehicles with the Blue
company churned out a truck that was
cofounder and designer of EraThr3 and
Oval moniker on it. As a graduate of
as much about performance and per-
proprietor of Hulst Customs. He and his
the ArtCenter [sic] College of Design in
fection as their line of firearms were?
crew batted some concepts back and
Pasadena, California, Jason has been
Those of you familiar with the EraThr3
forth and decided to do an EraThr3-
participating in the program since 03,
name know them as a purveyor of bou-
themed truck that was all about horse-
so its safe to say Ford has faith in his
tique guns and goods thats all about
power, performance, and a low-slung
ability to showcase their products.
OREGON TRAIL
1 PAINT
MAKE:
Southern Polyurethanes
MODEL:
Show-finish black
URL:
www.southernpolyurethanes.com
2 TIRES
MAKE:
Lexani
MODEL:
LX Thirty: 295/30-26, front;

305/30-26, rear
URL:
www.lexani.com
3 WHEELS
MAKE:
Lexani
MODEL:
26-inch Monza
URL:
www.lexani.com
4 AIR-RIDE SUSPENSION
IS SUE
2 9
MAKE:
52
Hulst Customs
2 3 4 5
MODEL:
F-150 5L
The platform is a 16 F-150 XLT 5.0
2x4, and theres plenty on this truck
URL:
www.strikertrucks.com
5 FRONT BUMPER/
GRILLE
thats hidden in plain sight. The front

bumper was lowered 2.5 inches from
MAKE:
the original locale and they clayed up
Hulst Customs
MODEL:
a front bumper cover and shaped it to

how they wanted it, then laid out the
Custom Made
fiberglass parts to be installed. Heat
www.hulstcustoms.com
URL:
extractors were added to the hood,
6 SUPERCHARGER
which was also given a Wrap It Up
MAKE:
vinyl wrap treatment. The visor was
Whipple Superchargers
dropped, and a new rear bumper was
MODEL:
sculpted as well.
F-150 5.0L
URL:
Lower side rockers were made
www.whipplesuperchargers.com
from steel and added to hide any

low-hanging rails under the truck.
you could practically use the reflection
scratch-built four-link was made. On
The front end was radically modified
to watch yourself shave.
top of the rearend they did a couple
with a big-mouth grille shaped from
The trucks low stance was accom-
links to a custom cradle so you have un-
foam and molded into glass as well.
plished via some one-off suspension
inhibited movement for the adjustable
Door handles were tucked in inch,
accouterments. Up front, the shock
suspension using VIAIR components.
the keypad on the pillar moved into
towers were modified with an air spring
rearview mirror, one-off fender badges
in place and the shock was relocated
5.0L V-8, hopped up with a Whipple
created, and the beltline below the
outside the control arms. Upper control
Supercharger. A CGS Performance
windows was given aluminum trim that
arms were moved about 3 inches to
cat-back exhaust system plumbs
was all hand-shaped and polished.
keep the camber straight when it was
fumes around the spare tire and goes
Shod in Southern Polyurethanes black,
laid out on the ground. In the rear, a
through the rear bumper with custom
Powering this beast is the standard
OREGON TRAIL
Under the Striker Trucks part of
exhaust tips. The inside of the bed
surfaces of the bed as well. Its all
was adorned in leather thats a nice
sitting on Lexani Forged Monza wheels
the business, Hulst Customs designs,
complement to the factory lighting
wrapped in Lexani LX Thirty rubber.
prototypes, and manufactures vehicle
and tie-downs. The crew radiused

the aluminum edges on all the raised
The interior of the truck was given the
parts on the cars they display at SEMA,
Katzkin diamond-pleated leather treat-
and this truck was no different. If you
ment using their Zkintech series seats.
like what you see on this truck, hit up
Custom plastic adornments in platinum
EraThr3 to see if the part is available
silver were also added throughout the
for you to add to your own F-150.
truck. Youll find a Console Vault gun
Although Jason would like to add more
safe in the center console along with
touches, such as a bed lid and custom
EraThr3 dice as switches for the Aire Jax
gun racks, what theyve produced in a
manual valves to operate the ride height.
truncated time frame is nothing short of
A Kicker integrated subwoofer keeps the
mind-boggling. We look forward to see-
tunes loud and clear.
ing more of what they come up with.
1 SWITCHES
MAKE:
Aire Jax
MODEL:
Four Play / EraThr3 Dice

URL:
www.airejax.com
www.erathr3.com
2 SAFE
MAKE:
Console Vault
MODEL:
F-150 Under Front Middle Seat

URL:
www.consolevault.com
3 INTERIOR
MAKE:
Lexani
2 9
MODEL:
IS SUE
Zkintech Seats
URL:
www.katzkin.com
54
4 EXHAUST SYSTEM
MAKE:
CGS Performance
MODEL:
Cat-back Exhaust
URL:
www.cgsmotorsports.com
5 RIFLES
(Right and far left) Custom
Remington 700 AX chassis;
20-inch Creedmoor builds.
(Center) Operation Klepto
URL:
www.erathr3.com
4 5
FLIP THE PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS ON EACH KNIFE.
INTERROGATING THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS

SOG KNIVES
IS SUE
2 9
TARGA
KERSHAW
LIFTER
CRKT
TIGHE TAC TWO
CQC-7BW
FLIPPER
GERBER
EDICT
STEEL WILL
APOSTATE 1113
MAGNUM BY BOKER
SIERRA DELTA
TANTO
411:
The SOG Targa is built
in the country where
the tanto design was
born Japan. The
blade made of VG-10
steel makes a silkysmooth pivot on plastic
washers. Ambidexterity is the name of the
game, with a thumbstud on the blade and
arc lock in a thin, thin
handle. The clip can be
repositioned on either
side for tip-up carry.
411:
After a simple press of
the flipper, Kershaws
Lifter decisively springs
into position thanks to
its assisted-opening
mechanism. Kershaw
describes this blade
with the stonewash
finish as a modified
tanto, with the concave
curve of the main edge
and a shallow belly. Its
a frame-lock knife with
clip to carry the knife
deep within the pocket.
Its made in China.
411:
At the 2016 Blade Show
in Atlanta, the Tighe
Tac Two won the Best
Buy of the Year Award.
Brian Tighe designed
the two-knife series,
one a clip-point and
the other this tanto.
Opened with a thumbstud or flipper, the
blade rides on a ballbearing pivot. Press
a button lock and the
knife falls closed into
the glass-reinforced
nylon handle.
411:
The Emerson CQC-7 is
one of those iconic tactical folders. A variation
of the knife was
reportedly carried by
a SEAL when DEVGRU
dispatched Osama Bin
Laden. This CQC-7BW
Flipper opens three
ways: a thumb-stud,
Emersons patented
wave opener, and a big
ol flipper. The blades
chisel grind is in S35VN
steel and a titanium linerlock holds it in place.
Made in the USA.
411:
Gerber said it designed
the Edict specifically
for military and law
enforcement in mind. A
push on a thumb-stud
opens the 154CM blade
away from the rubberized handle. It snaps
into place thanks to its
lock-back mechanism.
The edge, tilted forward
from the handle,
gleams from the black
ceramic-coated blade.
The Edict is made in
USA.
411:
At first, the flipper
seems too small for the
4.13-inch blade. But the
ball bearings in the pivot send it circling, and
the titanium framelock
makes a hollow click
behind the 0.16-inchthick blade of S35VN
steel. One scale of the
handle is machined
from titanium, the other
G-10. The knife comes
with a certificate of
authenticity.
411:
With its swept-back
blade, the Sierra
Delta Tanto features a
modern take on a traditional tanto. Its blade
is hollow ground and
dark, seemingly left
that way from the heattreating process. The
handle is made from
G-10 and machined
into a design that resembles tsukamaki, the
Japanese art of handle
wrapping. It comes
with a Kydex sheath
and is made in Taiwan
and China.
PROS:
The lines of the blade
are a joy to behold.
The jimping on the
spine is surprisingly
comfortable.
Its thin design and
deep pocket carry
makes for an unobtrusive blade.
The knife opens
smoothly with the
thumb-stud.
PROS:
Quick and easy
opening with the
assisted-opening flipper
mechanism
With the pre-worn
blackwash finish and
$30 price point, its a
knife to be used hard.
Clip is strong and easy
to slip into pockets
PROS:
Youll be carrying an
edgy design from a
custom knife-maker.
The pocket clip is
springy and smooth.
The obtuse angle at
which the two edges
meet helps the knife
become better suited
for everyday tasks.
PROS:
Its easy to get this
knife open and ready for
action.
It can be taken apart
with simple screwdrivers.
The steep bevel plus
good steel equals an
edge to handle muscular
tasks.
PROS:
154CM steel is a good
step up from the metals
often found on lowerend knives.
The tip is ground at a
steeper angle, making it
stronger.
The tilted blade
pushes out the secondary tip where the two
edges meet.
PROS:
The handle comfortably fills out the hand.
Flat-ground blade
puts more metal behind
the edge than a hollow
grind.
When pulling it out
from a pocket, G-10
provides grip while
titanium smoothness
against cloth.
PROS:
Traditional blade profile
is better for slashing
than the abrupt angles
on other modern interpretations and has more
metal at the tip.
Full-tang knives are the
strongest because its
one hunk of steel from
tip to hilt.
No moving parts to
break
CONS:
The clean, dynamic
lines in the blade disappear in the handle. Its
not what youd expect
on a $140 knife.
Handles thin almost
to the point of being
flimsy
The clip juts out and
can scratch and snag.
CONS:
Metal is not the most
secure or insulated
handle material.
Its heavier than most
knives its size.
The curved edge
combined with the tanto
blade makes this knife
difficult to sharpen for
most users.
CONS:
The push-button lock
doesnt seem as strong
as other locks.
The tines of the clip
started to deform.
Tip is thin and the
bases steeper grind
affects cutting.
CONS:
The knife can be
adopted for left-handed
carry but will cost $25
extra.
The aggressive grip of
the G-10 eats blue jeans
for lunch.
Slight oxidization at
the tip indicates the
knife got hot when it
was sharpened, possibly
affecting heat treatment.
CONS:
The rubber portions
of the handle became
sticky in heat.
For its only way of
deploying the knife, the
thumb-stud is kinda
sharp and uncomfortable.
The handles glassfilled nylon and rubber
make it appear cheap.
CONS:
You cant open the
Apostate by pushing
on what looks like a
thumb-stud.
The squared-off flipper
was rough on the hands.
Using the edge was
like driving through
Kansas a little too
long and flat.
CONS:
The shallow finger
groove isnt the best at
stopping the hand from
sliding during forceful
stabbing.
Knife sharpened at
a high angle impedes
cutting ability
Sheath comes with
only a belt clip, limiting
carry options.
60
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NOW FOR
SOMETHING
COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT
WE KNEW Q LLC WAS GOING

TO MAKE NEXT-GEN ARs
AND SILENCERS, BUT WE
DIDNT EXPECT THE FIX
STORY BY ROB CURTIS
PHOTOS BY STRAIGHT 8 AND ROB CURTIS
What would you do if you were given
SAUER where he worked on the 716
the chance to start from scratch? Take
G2 for a Canadian Special Operations
what you knew, tap a healthy devel-
Forces contract. He had the rifle chops,
opment budget, grab a few trusted
and his boss, Ethan Lessard, Qs V.P. of
companions, and go for it.
engineering, would be helping him out.
That was day three at Q LLC.
Lessard was one of SIG SAUERs senior
With all of the companys employees
pistol engineers when he left SIG to join
sitting around a table (its a small com-
Q. He also made a few silencers and
pany, and a big table) Qs HMIC, Kevin
was one of the principals on the Honey
Brittingham, told them he wanted a
Badger design team while at AAC.
bolt gun. It has to be light and it has

to be cool, he said.
He was speaking to a room of ac-
The rest of the sliderule slingers

whod tweak the new bolt guns design
were Patrick Law, an industrial designer
complished gun guys. Engineers and
who left Accuracy International to join
warfighters meshed their experience to
Q, and Brian Mcdonald, a mechanical
map out the companys first steps into
engineer who came from SIGs stable.
the unknown. It was decided that Nick
The other side of the table had the
Schafer would take the lead on the bolt
reality checkers, Robby Johnson and
gun project, later named The Fix. Hed
Lindsay Bunch, both accomplished
worked eight years at Browning, where
military men who would provide broad
he helped give birth to the Winchester
guidance and validate the design teams
XPR. He then spent a year with SIG
ambitions. Johnson, an Army Ranger,
IS SUE
2 9
65
Theres a hole in the market, says
Two things seem worth mentioning
member of the Armys elite competitive
Robby Johnson, Qs 2IC. Theres
at this point. First, when Q came over
shooting team, the Army Marksmanship
your Savages and Remingtons under
with The Fix prototype chambered in
Unit. Bunch, a sniper with 20 years of
$1,000, then theres the GA Preci-
.308 Win for us, it was in a tiny uku-
experience using and developing preci-
sions, AIs, and Surgeons for $4,000 to
lele gig bag. Ready to spring into the
sion weapon systems within the U.S.
$6,000 with long wait times to get in
fight, the rifle fits in a space not much
Special Operations Command.
the build queue.
bigger than a skateboard. Second, Q is
The team had less than a year to
Theyd build a $2,500 production
working on a .338 Federal version of
transform a whiteboard of ideas into
rifle that does everything a $6,000
The Fix. They may deny it, but theyre
Qs flagship product, ready for its red
custom can do, and more.
just being coy.
carpet debut at SHOT Show 2017.
REQUIREMENTS
The list of must-haves included an
The Fix checks all the boxes men-
extremely crisp two-stage trigger, sub-
tioned above. Its light 6 pounds in
MOA accuracy, an adjustable folding
the long handguard configuration we
stock, end-user supportable multi-
got to play with. Itll come out of the
to be accurate, reliable, and relatively
caliber capability, standard magazine
gate in 16-inch .308 Win or a 20-inch
affordable. The team came up with a
compatibility, AR-style controls, and
6.5 Creedmoor, with more calibers to
laundry list of things they all wished they
robust accessory mounts.
follow. The action is a short, 45-de-
Aside from light and cool, The Fix was
could change about traditional bolt-ac-
Nearly everyone at Q has used and/
gree throw fed by AR-10 compatible
tion rifles. When it came time to decide
or produced warfighting gear, so its
mags and woken up by a two-stage
which ideas to implement, the decision
not surprising this crews ideal hunting
trigger. The back end features the fold-
was ambitious and unanimous.
stick appears well suited to bagging
ing stock thats adjustable for length
two- and four-legged quarry.
of pull and cheek height, and up front
All of them, they agreed.
sniper, decorated combat vet, and
the slim handguard accepts Q-sert ac-
pre-teen hands perfectly, and were sud-
cessory attachments (Qs own screw-in
denly channeling both Babe Ruth and
so far managed not to blow the face
accessory attachment system). On top,
Sho Kosugi (readers born after 1975,
off its user without Remingtons magic
theres either a short or long optic rail,
Google him). Its time to whip some ass.
three-rings-of-steel force field, were
The comparison is close, but imper-
both bridging the receiver and hand-
fect; while that whiffle ball bat gives
will also have a direct optic mount for
a hint of it, The Fix carries a lot more
Q is using an advanced, cooled
34mm scopes.
authority. Its like a carrying a 10/22
investment casting technology that
chambered in .308 Win.
gives them extremely precise control of
any other way.
The first thing Q threw out was the
time we held The Fix. Its the summer
usual tubular steel receiver. This opened
between fourth and fifth grade. Its
up a lot of internal real estate, giving
with is the ability to make very com-
Schafer and Lessard room to build their
plex shapes very inexpensively, says
crazy MicroMachines-oil-refinery-looking
Lessard. Thats one of the reasons
striker cocking assembly (more later).
why this is going to be a $2,500 gun,
The hybrid design also gave them real
not a $6,000 gun.
the neighborhood just began buzzing.

Its street ball time, and were up. We
pick up the whiffle ball bat and, for the
first time, feel that strange combination of power and maneuverability that
comes from gripping something so sized
2 9
pennies that would cost dollars to do
to describe the feeling we got the first
early evening, and the streetlights lining
IS SUE
aluminum body.
the materials shape, doing things for
THE BREAKDOWN
Were going off the reservation a bit
OK with The Fixs investment cast-
guard, adding rigidity to the system. Q
THE FEEL
66
ied, semi-auto .308 AR out there has
and balanced. The narrow grip fits our
Coming in at 6
pounds, the rifle, sans
optic, weighs barely
more than some bare
chassis systems. Accuracy Internationals
AX chassis alone
weighs 5.6 pounds,
for instance.
With the casting, what we end up
estate to use some AR-style controls

and an AR compatible grip.
Making it out of aluminum means
its light, and if every aluminum-bod-
PRINTING FOR PROTOTYPES

An innovation the consumer wont
see, but will feel at the cash regis-
NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

The flat, hooked trigger is a bal-
ter, is the use of 3D printed casting
paragraph to explain it. Schafer and
molds. Traditional casting molds take
Lessard wanted to do something very
anced linkage with a small spring that
weeks to make and require paying
different; they wanted to incorporate
provides about 4 ounces of takeup
specialty shops tens of thousands of
some features of the SIG SAUER clas-
in the first stage. Once the trigger
dollars per iteration. This kind of pro-
sic line pistols into the trigger and sear
tail makes contact with the sear arm,
cess doesnt encourage experimenta-
components. The idea was to reduce
the trigger in the prototype T&E rifle
tion. Q makes its own casting molds
the number of components in the
breaks at an incredibly clean 2.2
in-house using its Stratasys Objet30
system, so tolerances wouldnt steal
pounds. To break a shot, the sear has
Prime 3D printer. This way, the design
the triggers feel.
to overcome not only the sear spring
Instead of the six or eight parts
but a bit of pressure from the striker
not weeks, and much more inexpen-
found in a traditional bolt trigger, Q
spring. This negative sear angle adds
sively.
reduced the number of trigger linkage
a bit of safety to the trigger, since
components to just three.
the striker spring will pull the sear
teams changes can be vetted in days,
Well eventually cut aluminum

like their regular processed molds,
says Johnson, but we did this to get
the bolt, Lessard says. Tradition-
never done this before; we had never
ally you have some of this stuff in the
done this before. We made it up.
action, some of this stuff in the bolt,

and when you have two parts that are
The ignition system in The Fix merits its own book; alas weve only a few
partial trigger press.
are controlled by the same component
through the design process. Theyd
3, 2, 1
surfaces back into engagement after a
The striker and both sear surfaces
separated, that are movable between

the two, you have a lot more potential
for differences in engagement.
Q bypassed KeyMod
and M-LOK accessory
attachment systems
and chose to outfit
The Fix with its own
system called Qsert. It conservatively
rates at 600 pounds
of pullout strength.
SAFETY FIRST
Being a new animal, Q has some
due diligence to perform before releasing a rifle with an unproven ignition
system. Theyll drop test the hell out of
the gun and run other safety checks to
IS SUE
2 9
68
ensure the receiver, bolt, and shroud
testing in our past jobs, so we have a
four locking bolt lugs and one that only
will contain and redirect an overpres-
bank of experience here to draw from.
feeds the chamber. Its held in place
sure event through the magazine

well, as its designed to. Similar to
an AR-10, it also has an extra gas
tap over the extractor support pin as
an alternative way to vent gas. In the
case of pierced primer, the back of the
cocking piece will blow back into the
bolt and plug the hole at the end of
the bolt shroud.
Our test plan will follow SAAMI,
The Fix is designed

so that it can be
broken down and
reconfigured with a
T25 driver, barrel nut
wrench, and a punch.
Everything on the
gun can be done on
a benchtop or held
between the knees; no
vice needed.
The engineers tell us this bolt is
with a cross pin and easily removed for
stronger than anything theyve built
a caliber swap. If youve been this deep
prior. Though Q hasnt finalized the
in other bolt guns, the striker assem-
bolt material yet, the bolt in the T&E
bly will look familiar. But the cocking
rifle is made from C250 steel. While
piece, or cam assembly, as Q calls it, is
this is overbuilt for the .308 applica-
another story.
tion, were reminded The Fix will run
Physics and math tell us cocking a
a range of calibers with an end-user
bolt that turns 45 degrees should take
barrel and bolt head swap, so the
more force than a typical Remington
C250 sets the bolt up for magnum
700 90-degree bolt. Our feelers tell us
NATO, and in-house specs and
ammunition with proof pressures in
The Fix cocks with close to or slightly
standards for overpressure and drop
the neighborhood of 95K psi.
more force than our bone-stock 700,
testing, says Brittingham. Our confidence in overpressure is very high,

weve each blown up a lot of guns in
which is a pretty impressive feat.
GOOD JOB, BOLT

The Fixs AR-10style bolt head has
The short bolt handle isnt helping to

reduce the cocking force, but it does
ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT CARBON FIBER FOR 5.56 AND .308
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have enough leverage to work the bolt
quickly while keeping the gun svelte.
The cocking story is on the inside.
RUNDOWN
There are dozens more innovations in
The Fix, and we cant explain all of them.
That crazy collection of chutes and
But, we can give you a drive-by of the
ladders at the bolt end is the cam.
major sights.
Schafer uses three rollers that ride on
The 1.5-inch-diameter handguard is
the cocking ramps to reduce cock-
held in place primarily by a couple of
ing forces. And, yes, we said ramps.
bolts. One draws, the other pinches. Up
Unlike the 700-pattern action, The Fix
top, the optic rail bridges the receiver
uses a pair of opposing cam ramps to
and handguard and adds tension from
bring the striker straight back and hold
above. Its an effective system that keeps
it centered in the striker channel. Also,
mass low. While we arent normally big
unlike a 700, where the cocking piece
fans of super-slim handguards on heat-
is attached to the back of the striker,
producing gas guns, a bolt gun barrel is
The Fixs cocking cam assembly is
unlikely to get hot enough to bother our
a free-floated ring that rides on the
dainty mitts. In addition to the 15-inch
striker, like a bearing, and acts on a
handguard, Q has a 10-inch version cued
shoulder at the strikers end. Removing
up for ounce-counters.
the cocking piece from the strikers
We mentioned the Q-sert earlier. This
end reduces the mass of the striker,
is Qs take on handguard accessory at-
making for a faster lock time.
tachments. No M-Lok or KeyMod here.
There are a few reasons Schafer
Q-serts come directly from work the
wants the striker light and centered.
team did on SOCOMs PSR sniper plat-
First, efficiency; the lighter the striker,
form that called for accessory mounts
the easier it is to accelerate. This al-
requiring 250 pounds of pullout strength.
lows the use of a lighter spring, which
Q cold-shouldered KeyMod with justified
also means a lighter trigger. Second,
prejudice and even bypassed Magpuls
keeping the striker centered prevents
M-LOK ending up using 36 heat-
uneven, inefficient striker movement
treated, stainless steel inserts that
when its released from the sear. Third,
Schafer places at 600 pounds of pullout
bringing the striker straight back reduc-
strength. He says its likely more, but the
es the cocking force by minimizing side
real number would sound absurdly high.
loading. Fourth, the cam actually holds
The system is easy to use and more than
the striker in alignment with the sear.
strong enough to hold any accessory,
The last, and still important, feature
including Andre The Giant.
of The Fixs bolt is the way it performs in
By the time the rifle ships, Qs goal is
primary extraction. Once the bolt handle
to have every screw on the gun turn with
is up, and before the bolt begins moving
a T25 Torx driver. One driver, a barrel nut
back, the bolt lever rotates back a few
wrench, and a punch, and you can do
degrees camming against the shroud
everything from adding a rail section to
interior. This gets the bolt moving with a
swapping calibers all without a vice.
little leverage in case of stubborn brass.

So, theres a lot going on in the bolt,
The T&E gun came with a custom,

lightweight profile, .308 Bartlein barrel
and we havent even touched on the
with the chamber cut by Dave Tooley and
shroud. The Fixs bolt shroud does more
a Q Cherry Bomb silencer mount/muzzle
than normal. Like the 700, it holds the
device. The muzzle is threaded 5/8-
striker while its cocked. But the shroud
24 with a 25-degree tapered shoulder
on The Fix runs on rails cut into the
thatll accept standard muzzle devices
receiver, preventing side loading from
along with Qs Quickie mount tapered
causing binding of the bolt.
muzzle devices and silencers. We hand

sized bolt faces for The Fix, so look for
barrels and extensions to come from Qs
for each cartridge.

It was a little touch-and-go at first,
partners in anything popular, up to and
as we stomped the gas pedal a little
including short magnums.
harder than the lightweight profiled
Brittingham will only say delivery
barrel liked. Some vertical stringing had
of The Fix is set for 2017. We thought
us scratching our head until we slowed
about waterboarding him for more fidel-
to a realistic whitetail hunting speed.
ity, but thatd only slow development
Still, with the barrel hot, stressed, and
down, so settled for a quote about the
stringing, it gave groups in the 0.9 MOA
first guns being 16-inch .308s with a
region. Hunters will keep the lighter
15-inch handguard, full-length optic rail,
barrel, but competitors might look
two accessory rail sections, a Cherry
forward to a heavier profile tube.
Bomb muzzle device, and two mags.
We experienced zero bolt bind.

Working at it, we found a moment of
ON THE RANGE AND TRAIL

tightened Qs all-titanium, 11.7-ounce,
6.6-inch Trash Panda silencer on the
Cherry Bomb and left it on for the
whole T&E.
IS SUE
2 9
The barrel nut looks similar to an
72
ARs but with fewer threads, because

all its really doing is guaranteeing contact with the receiver. The pinch bolt
below locks it down with zero clear-
Test Ammo:
Black Hills Ammunition .308 Win Match
175-grain Tipped
MatchKing
Hornady Precision
Hunter .308 Win 178
ELD-X
Federal Premium
.308 Win 175-grain
Sierra MatchKing Gold
Medal Match
leverage that could make the bolt slow
We went to the mat, grouping The
a little, but it wouldnt straight-up stop.
Fix with a few cartridges. All testing
Were fans of flat triggers, so we took
was done with the Trash Panda in
right to the flat hook on The Fix. We
place, because we arent heathens,
found the hook is a great anchor point
and were shamelessly pushing for the
and serves as an index for consistent
universal adoption of suppressors. The
finger placement. The slight crown to
best holes we made came from Black
its face makes it more comfortable than
Hills 175-grain Tipped MatchKing. We
some of our favorite triggers, too. Its
measured 0.62 MOA at 100 yards with
2.2-pound break is instant and crisp
velocity at 2,399 fps.
with no overtravel and a complete ab-
We launched Hornadys Preci-
sence of creep. For further refinement,
work, and the barrel nut just drives the
sion Hunter 178 ELD-X and Federal
Q plans to replace the no-name safety
contacts into squareness. Headspace
Premiums 175-grain Sierra MatchKing
selector we used with a 45- and 90-de-
is set at the factory with a permanently
Gold Medal Match downrange, too.
gree capable selector from Radian.
set jam nut.
They opened up a hair compared to the
ance. This means the bore is doing the
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
The Fix is a modular system. The gun
industry is littered with guns left behind
by their makers. Promises of caliber conversion kits and proprietary accessories
written on matchbook covers are left,
forgotten on cheap motel nightstands.
And yes, were looking at you Remington
and your ACR.
I view it as lying to the customer,
says Brittingham. If we dont do our
part, well buy your gun back. Theres
sincerity in his claim. Its based on the
fact that Q is building the rifle system he
himself wants.
The .308 Win and 6.5mm Creedmoor
are at bat, .338 Federal is on-deck and
theres a bevy of options in the hole. Q
plans to release standard- and magnum-
We found the gun kicked a little
Black Hills, but all the ammo printed
with the can in place, and quite a bit
better than 0.79 MOA groups using a
without. Ergo, we treated the silencer
slow-fire, five-round, four-string series
as a factory installed option. Q was

still playing with the feed ramp angle
when they brought us the gun, and we
ended up running P-Mags with four coils
clipped to ease the loading force for the
first round.
We hope the Q crew looks at the mag
catch, though. It extends far enough into
the magwell that it stalls the mag on its
left feedlip and needs a bottom chamfer
for smooth mag insertion. Its an easy
fix, so we assume itll be addressed.
Slinging the gun up for a hike
through the snowy woods was a pleasure. Folded up, the can-less gun is
shorter than an Mk18; add the can and
its still an inch shorter than a 14.5inch carbine. The hinge stayed folded,
even swinging around over rocks and
moving through heavy brush.
Set for 50-state hunting with a
Hows this for

compact carry?
The Fix with optic
attached, three mags,
a can, and handful of
accessories all fit in a
ukulele gig bag.
2 9
Leupold Mark 6 3-18x and five rounds

IS SUE
in the tank, The Fix is 8.5 pounds of
74
ducing any unfamiliar paradigms to the
its $12,000 cheaper and 12 pounds
operator. It uses standard large frame
lighter than a Remington MSR.
AR platform magazines provides an
At $2,795, we know this gun isnt
AR-style cockpit, and takes your Pica-
for everyone. But, it is for everyone who
tinny rail-mounted optics and acces-
wishes they could have a $6,000 rifle
sories. Theres no expensive, propri-
for $2,795.
etary mags, no dicking with unfamiliar
The Fix represents the next evo-
controls; its like your significant other
stubby barreled east coast quadru-
lutionary step in the development of
shrunk your favorite Saturday after-
ped assassin. Add a can and bipod,
the bolt action, where the family tree
noon sweatshirt in the wash and, not
and its 10 pounds and ready for a
branched into the separate species
only does it now fit better, but you get
500-meter overwatch mission. (The
of hunting and tactical rifles decades
an apology date to boot. And, by date,
same setup on a chassis-mounted 700
ago. The Fix is their offspring. It
you know what we mean.
is more than 15 pounds.) Add options
blends the best of both platforms
for a longer, heavier barrel and bigger
the light weight of the hunting rifle
lutionary, its a historic evolutionary
calibers and The Fix will deliver quarry
with the adaptability of the tactical
step bringing the AR generation the
from the North Carolina woods to the
bolt gun.
bolt gun theyve always wanted, even if
Hindu Kush. Sure, itll presently only
SPEC BOX
go up to short magnum calibers, but
Further, it does this without intro-
While we cant say The Fix is revo-
they never quite realized it.
Q LLC
THE FIX
URL
liveqordie.com
CALIBER
CAL
CA
C
AL
A
LIBER
E
.308
308
0 Win
Wn
BARREL
B
R E LENGTH
L N T
16 inches
1
c e
OVERALL
O
E A L LENGTH
E G H
3 .25
35.25
35
5 inches
in h (26 inches
inc
i ches
h s folded)
ffol
folded
old
ded)
d
d)) (31
(3
31
inc
inches
n h
hess folded
ffolded,
oold
lded
d, w/can
w
w/can)
/ an))
WEIGHT
W
I H (UNLOADED
( N O D D W/
W SCOPE)
C
)
6.02
6
02
0 pounds
p u d (6
((6.73
73
3p
pounds
o nds w/can)
w// a )
MAGAZINE
M
G Z N CAPACITY
C P C Y
10 rounds
ACCESSORIES
Q LLC Trash Panda Silencer

$911
Knights Armament Company Precision Bipod
$437
Leupold Mark 6 3-18x44mm
$2,860
NightForce X-Treme Duty
Ultralite One-Piece MagMount
$295
MSRP
S P
$ $
$2,7
$2,795
,795
5
PRICE
R
AS
A FEATURED
F A U E
$ $
$7,298
$7,298
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UNIQUE AND ORIGINAL. BUILT FOR LIFE.

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2 9
IS SUE
78
ARE GUNSMITHS
SCREWED?
BUREAUCRATIC MANEUVERING COULD

SPELL DOOM FOR SOME SMALL BUSINESSES
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MATT STAGLIANO
Many of us think of gunsmiths as
Top: ATEis Doug Holloway is known for his

trigger improvements
in the Smith & Wesson
M&P line of pistols.
If you take your car to an auto
Thats how our recent conversation
mechanic to put new tires on, they are
with Larry Keane began. Keane is the
an auto mechanic; they are not General
senior VP, assistant secretary, and
Motors. A manufacturer is not a gun-
general counsel for the National Shoot-
manufacturers? In a recently released
smith and a gunsmith is not necessar-
ing Sports Foundation. He has been
clarification of regulations, the govern-
ily a manufacturer. We think they [the
one of many folks leading the charge
ment seems to think so. This distinc-
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls]
against the DDTCs recent guidance
tion comes with an expensive fee that
have far exceeded the statutory defini-
released in the summer of 2016 that
could drive many smaller smiths out
tion that Congress has provided. But
all but lumped every gunsmith into the
of business and change the landscape
this has been a long standing issue
category of manufacturer, thereby
of the custom firearm industry.
with the DDTC.
forcing them to potentially change their
shop-dwelling wizards who wield math

and machines to repair and customize treasured firearms. But are they
IS SUE
2 9
80
gunsmith classification and pay large

fees just to continue doing business.
Many people have obtained a Federal
Firearms License issued by the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ex-
Gunsmiths must be
meticulous record
keepers to comply
with BATFE regulations and stay out of
trouble. Holloway logs
the serial number of a
clients gun.
it meant to be a manufacturer of firearms
Under the law, registration is re-
parts. Gunsmiths everywhere, especially
quired even if the manufacturer doesnt
the Types 01 and 02, were immediately
export and even if the manufacturer
affected by the vagaries of the wording.
only makes component parts. DDTC as-
Under Keanes counsel, the NSSF
serts that the guidance merely restates
has been one of the most vocal orga-
existing DDTC policy and interpretation
around them, pursue their passion, and
nizations trying to clarify the DDTC
of the AECA and ITAR manufacturer
maybe turn a little profit. A typical FFL
regulations, which have actually been
registration requirement.
license is a Type 01 or 02, your basic
in place since 2008. Some believe
dealer, gunsmith, or pawnbroker. A Type
that it was the constant requests by
der the law, registration is required,
07 FFL is the more involved license for
the NSSF for clarification that drove
even if the manufacturer does not
manufacturing firearms. Even under a
the DDTC to issue the new guidance
export and even if the manufacturer
Type 01 FFL, theres latitude for gen-
and cause the recent uproar.
makes component parts.
plosives in order to help educate those
eral gunsmithing cerakoting a gun
According to the NSSF, the DDTC
Lets restate the major point: Un-
According to the reworded DDTC
for example. An 07 allows for manufac-
issued its guidance with the intent of
guidance, under ITAR the lines are
turing of new or specific parts.
clarifying whos required under the
significantly blurred regarding what
Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and
constitutes a violation in manufactur-
the DDTC, part of the U.S. Department
the International Traffic in Arms Regu-
ing. While ITAR typically relates to
of State, in July 2016 seemed to catch
lations (ITAR) to register with the U.S.
defense articles or defense servic-
many folks by surprise. In one sweepingly
Department of State as a manufacturer
es that are military grade, they rarely
confusing motion, DDTC seemed to re-
of defense articles, and pay an annual
involve a local gunsmith performing a
write the common understanding of what
$2,250 registration fee.
trigger job.
Which is why the guidance issued by

Machinery at the ATEi
shop in Michigan
The DDTCs latest guidance outlining actions that define a manufacturer,

requiring registration with the U.S. Department of State and the payment of
a hefty fee:
a) Use of any special tooling or equipment upgrading in order to improve the
capability of assembled or repaired firearms;
b) Modifications to a firearm that change round capacity;
c) The production of firearm parts (including, but not limited to, barrels,
stocks, cylinders, breech mechanisms, triggers, silencers, or suppressors);
d) The systemized production of ammunition, including the automated loading
or reloading of ammunition;
e) The machining or cutting of firearms, e.g., threading of muzzles or muzzle
brake installation requiring machining, that results in an enhanced capability;
So lets start at the root. What does

ITAR actually consider applicable laws
f) Rechambering firearms through machining, cutting, or drilling;
for manufacturers and gunsmiths?
g) Chambering, cutting, or threading barrel blanks; and

h) Blueprinting firearms by machining the barrel.
122.1 Registration requirements. (a) Any person who

engages in the United States in the business of either manu-
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2 9
facturing or exporting defense articles or furnishing defense
82
If you look closely at the DDTCs
Dave Laubert is a member of the
services is required to register with the Directorate of Defense
defining list, youll see many of the
American Pistolsmiths Guild and owns
Trade Controls. For the purpose of this subchapter, engaging
generally common tasks performed by
Defensive Creations based in Ohio.
in the business of manufacturing or exporting defense articles
a local gunsmith, such as threading of
With a lifetime of machine shop expe-
or furnishing defense services requires only one occasion of
muzzles or blueprinting precision gun
rience behind him, Laubert has been a
manufacturing or exporting a defense article or furnishing a
actions, would now be the basis for
successful gunsmith since 1999.
defense service. Manufacturers who do not engage in export-
registration as a manufacturer.
ing must nevertheless register.
At this point you may be saying,
By that umbrella definition, if a

gunsmith is not actually manufacturing
any parts that go into a gun, they should
be in the clear, right? Not necessarily,
Its a very big problem, he says,

This law has been in place since
Now what? Am I gonna get my gun
2008, however, they [the DDTC] never
fixed or not?
had a clear definition of what manufacturing was. It doesnt make a differ-
Dave Laubert of
Defensive Creations
ence if youre importing or exporting

or not. Ive talked to several other
because the word manufacturing isnt
gunsmiths around the country. Many
clearly defined and therefore may be in-
of them are now complying with [the
terpreted to mean many different things.
regulations] and jacking their price up
If your gunsmith recreates a hard-to-find
to accommodate it.
piece for your rare 1940s-era handgun,

is that covered under ITAR?
Something that I dont think a lot

of people are paying attention to is
Further on in the guidance, the
the trickle-down effect that is going to
DDTC notes that registration is not
affect the entire industry. Its not going
required in instances where the as-
to affect just gunsmiths.
sembler or gunsmith isnt performing
As gunsmithing services become
services that require cutting, drilling,
more expensive, he believes that itll
or machining, or that improve the
also influence what gets purchased,
accuracy, caliber, or other aspects of
such as custom-fit pistol barrels. Having
firearms operation beyond its original
to spend an additional $350 in labor to
capabilities.
fit a $150 part puts many services out
For example, adding scope rings or
of the reach of the average consumer.
new sights doesnt increase the inher-
That begins to affect component manu-
ent accuracy of the gun, but it assists
facturers and reduces availability of
the shooter by increasing accuracy.
certain parts. Its a vicious cycle.

Nobody is paying attention yet to
the years. McKeeby explains the con-
it go after gunsmiths for retroactive
that bigger picture, Laubert warns.
solidated guidance demonstrates our
payments? That could be crippling for
commitment to improving the clarity
suddenly reclassified shops that have
paperwork overhead imposed on the
and transparency of DDTCs regulatory
been doing barrel threading and action
small FFL shop, its the costs. New
requirements and reflects our broader
work for the last 15 years. If they dont
applications for manufacturers are
commitment to strengthening national
pay the retroactive fee, the owner of
currently $2,250 per year, increasing
security by protecting sensitive U.S.-
the shop could face millions in fines
to $2,750 annually thereafter. That
origin defense technologies.
and possible jail time.
With this guidance, its not just the
means your local gunsmith needs to
gave us a predictable profanity-laden
Holloway adds. Theres nothing we
his doors open, even though he isnt
rant about the very nature of these
can do about it. And its all opinion.
exporting any products and may just
regulations. Does he think that every
be threading a barrel or two every
gunsmith in the country is going to
for back pay, and they said as long as
few months. Thats a large burden for
comply with the rewritten regulations?
you start paying now, we forgive you,
IS SUE
2 9
David McKeeby, a spokesperson for
They have us under their thumb,
pay thousands of dollars more to keep
simple services.
84
ATEi machining-Jedi, Doug Holloway,
Like anything, it is going to run the
If there was some level of amnesty
most people would sign a f*cking check
gamut, Holloway says. Youre going to
today, says Holloway, Its extortion,
the U.S. Department of State, says the
have both extremes: The guys who say
plain and simple. This is a registration
guidance, as issued, should be nothing
screw you and the guys who say Id
fee. Why isnt it a $20 f*cking fee?
new to gunsmiths. However, he can
better pay this and then you have
understand the potential for confusion
the rest of the folks that are in a hold-
fices in Pennsylvania has been trying
that comes with the new guidance.
ing pattern not knowing what to do.
to clear up any confusion surrounding
The document consolidates exist-
One of the biggest issues that Hollo-
Adam Kraut, ESQ, of Prince Law Of-
the rulings by writing white papers in
ing guidance issued by DDTC in ad-
way and others note is the uncertainty
the hope of educating as many people
visory opinions on these matters over
of the DDTCs future actions. Will
as possible.
Introducing the Caracal Enhanced F, full-size striker-fired semiautomatic 9mm

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CARACALUSA.COM
REDEFINED

specific services. Maillet says. But
with starting up the business, thats not
play by the current administration to
a cost I can afford and will have to stay
take us one step closer to gun control,
away from [those services] for now.
with an assault on gunsmiths as the
Maillet was originally going to apply

for a Type 01 FFL to do basic gun-
Attorney Adam Kraut

of Prince Law Offices
(Photo courtesy of
Adam Kraut)
for manufacturing once business was
thousand cuts, and this [guidance] is
stable and flowing. He has no desire to
just one of those cuts, Kraut says.
import or export. At the advice of his
Maybe theyll be taxing ammo next
BATFE Industry Operations Investi-
week, and now you cant afford ammo,
gator, the people who interview FFL
and then the week after that they tax
applicants, Maillet filed for the 07
something else. It will be something
straight away. However with the new
more like that.

theyll do. They can go after my insur-
have been put on hold until he can
ance at some point and make it so I
nomical. And the trickle-down effects
afford the yearly registration. His entire
cant run my business here, and now
are absolutely a possibility because now
business plan had to be rewritten to
I have to build a new building. Thats
you have a new cost for a lot of people
accommodate it.
money that could have gone directly
Theres a difference between a
that may cause them to go under.

2 9
attrition, and it will be death by a
vious plans for manufacturing services
your livelihood. The penalties are astro-
IS SUE
[Gun control] will happen through
smithing and then upgrade to an 07
Maillet agrees. Who knows what
cuse, Kraut says. DDTC can destroy
first step? Kraut thinks so.
version of the DDTC guidance, his pre-
Ignorance of the law is not an ex-
86
So is there some sort of long-term
sands of parts and a small shop that
Kraut has a hard time predicting the

future. He believes everyone wants to
play by the rules, but the rules are still
somewhat vague and uncertainty
breeds fear.
I think some of the fears that a lot
of guys have is registering and then
having someone come back and look
at their business and saying, Weve
seen that you registered and thats
great, but we also see that youve been
in business for the past 15 years, and
that youve been doing this [type of
service] all along, and now were going
to levy penalties.
Despite the financial challenges
now facing gunsmiths, people are
still getting into the business, hoping
to cash in on the constantly increasing demand for guns and services.
Nate Maillet of First Due Firearms in
Sabbatus, Maine, grew up around his
dads machine shop. Providing high
quality AR-15 builds has been a dream
for years. Hes now busy getting his
brand-new shop off the ground.
I have my 07 and I will eventually
register once I start providing those
into inventory. Its a drag.
company like Glock importing thou-
Like everyone else we spoke to,

Nate Maillet of
First Due Firearms
checking the battery
connections in the
authors RMR
threads a barrel here or there. I cant
THE ROAD AHEAD

Does the Department of State have
even collect $100 from someone to
the manpower to track down mem-
do that threading service without now
bers of the Barrel Threading Mafia in
paying thousands in registration fees.
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solution, and we expect a healthy debate to continue around the issue.
Keanes final guidance maintains a
sense of urgency. Every gunsmith in
America needs to pick up their phone
and call their congressman and senator and say You need to support and
pass the Export Control Reform Act.
Contrary to what you may believe,
we dont see the future of gunsmithing as bleak. Maillets story is proof of
that. If the new guidance does stand,
we expect itll be harder to get a 700
action barreled. On the flipside, long
wait times for gunsmithing work will
provide an opening for enterprising
members of industry to bring new,
modular firearm designs to market, diverging from pre-Atomic Age hardware
requiring depot-level maintenance with
IS SUE
2 9
a human touch.
88
the DDTC, we certainly didnt get the

impression enforcement teams are rolling out to your neighborhood to check
what types of gunsmithing is happening in your community. That said, if
you were a gunsmith, would you be
willing to risk it?
Keane pulls no punches as he
discussed the regulations. This all
stems from the absurdity of including
commercial sporting firearms on the
United States Munitions List (USML),
Keane says. We have been trying for
years to get firearms and ammunition
The LeBlond Regal

Lathe is a machine
tooling heavyweight
and can cost
thousands of dollars.
This vintage model at
First Due Firearms is
considered priceless
for its build quality
and versatility in applications well beyond
gunsmithing. Money
spent on regulatory
compliance are dollars gunsmiths wont
spend on tools they
need to build their
businesses.
According to Keane, this would
The fact is that regulations, fees,
streamline the licensing process,
and vague language are part of this
provide greater flexibility for multi-year
countrys political norm, and theres
licensing, and save gunsmiths and all
no expectation thatll ever stop. What
manufacturers $2,250 a year. All this,
we can do to combat that norm is
and itll allow the State Department
analyze the problem, be more forward
to focus on tracking the production of
thinking, adapt, and overcome. As the
more consequential military hardware,
confusion around this guidance dies
such as major weapon systems, chemi-
down, the gun control debate rages on,
cal and biological agents and other
giving us all a reason to pick up a few
platforms crucial and unique to the
more blasters while we can. For that
defense of the United States.
fact alone, good small town shops and
According to Keane, there are 21
gunsmiths will continue to thrive.
categories on the USML. All have seen
and commercial sporting firearms that
adjustment, or are getting edited now.
EDITORS NOTE: Since this article was
are available all over the world off of
The only three categories that have
reported in October, the political land-
the USML and let them be licensed for
not seen any progress are ours, says
scape shifted, though the core issue
export by the Commerce Department
Keane. They are not going to move
remains. RECOIL reached out to the
and thats part of the Export Control
those categories, and even if they did
NSSF, asking if its outlook on reversing
Reform Initiative. Weve been working
theres not enough time for them to be
or altering the DDTCs guidance has
this issue for eight years.
moved by the end of the year.
changed, post-election. In brief, they
Some politicians like Congressman
Of course, we take all of this positive
explained the problem remains, but the
Steve Scalise are helping. Scalise
work toward Export Control Reform
tactics available to address the issue
introduced a bill on September 27,
with a back-breakingly large grain of
have expanded. We can and will now
2016, called House Resolution 6176,
salt. This bill is just more regulation
pursue both a legislative and regulatory
the Export Control Reform Act of
to counter the regulations that are
solution, Keane said in December,
2016, which, if enacted, will transfer
subparts of other regulations. Throw-
whereas under the Obama Administra-
export licensing for commercial prod-
ing paper at problems caused by other
tion a regulatory solution was fore-
ucts from State to Commerce.
paper tends not to be a good long-term
closed to us.
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Gray or FDE may indeed be the new
fice center replete with all manner of
black, but unless the gun comes that
custom-coated firearms and automo-
way from the factory, youll need a
tive parts. Guns and cars whats not
means to convert it from Henry Fords
to love?
favorite shade. Many simply use Krylon
consolidated talent from many other
but if you want a more durable finish
industries, and though I didnt think
youll have to look elsewhere. Cerakote
about it at first, crossover from the
has been one of the standard high-end
automotive industry makes a good
coating options for many years now,
bit of sense. A lot of time and talent
and recently theyve come up with an
gets put into high-end cars, and we
entirely new formulation: Elite.
can reap those same benefits on the
Cerakote invited us up to its facility
STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVID MERRILL
2 9
IS SUE
firearms side of the house. After all,
to check it and everything else out it
we are talking about similar require-
has going on. Cerakote is a division of
ments: corrosion resistance, longevity,
NIC Industries, and its headquarters
and lets be honest: looking good on
stands out among all of the warehous-
the rack.
es in this industrial district of White
92
Speaking of cars, Cerakote has
or another off-the-shelf spray option,
While at Cerakote we were to go
City, Oregon. Inside is even better,
over testing, manufacturing, and some
and youre greeted with a modern of-
actual application.
2016 Desert Tech, LLC. All rights reserved.
CERAKOTES NEW ELITE

process of mailing firearms, etc., how
do you know if theyre any good?
In the past this was all done via
word of mouth, but Cerakote will actually help you out in this venture: They
have a certification process. To find
one in your area, you just have to set
your browser to Cerakotes webpage.
Each certified applicator is listed,
along with actual examples their work.
With hundreds of certified applicators
around the world, theres probably one
1
For every different coating or treatment out there, there are proponents.
Internet arguments abound (albeit
not as passionate as 9mm-versus-.45
ACP). One can get the feeling that
1. The Salt Fog Test

chamber is just one
of the many methods
Cerakote uses to
extensively test their
formulations
2 9
IS SUE
prepared one at a time, in a process
2. Like a combination
of a distillery and bakery but in this case
bright orange.
their certified applicators for them.

This is beneficial for everyone
that looks a little like a combination of
involved. The profits of local brick-and-
a distillery and an industrial bakery to
mortar gun shops are razor thin. While
our untrained eye.
they might make a few dollars on guns

and ammunition, coating firearms is one
of the issues that weve seen in the
of the highest margin services that they
past with Cerakoted guns and other
can provide. Heres how it works: You go
gear such as the coating not adhering
to the webpage looking for someone who
empirical testing. On site, they have
properly, chipping, etc., were all likely
actually knows what the heck theyre
testing equipment for viscosity, density,
due to improper application. After all,
doing. In turn you travel to a local appli-
adhesion, abrasion, coefficient of fric-
you can simply buy Cerakote to use
cator for the work. The local applicator
tion, corrosion and more. Empiri-
with your own equipment and there are
buys new supplies from Cerakote when
cally valid testing is more boring than
N+1 local shops that perform services
they run out. Thats it. The local shops
like that. Unless you go to one of the
benefit the most from this arrangement,
big names in the industry to have
you dont have to ship your gun across
your gun coated, and go through the
the country, and Cerakote continues to
tions on a theme. In order to demon-
does some of the advertising for all of
and prayer. Each color is mixed and
Not to say its always perfect; many
theyre all about the same or just varia-
94
fairly close to you. Essentially Cerakote
strate the efficacy of its own product,

Cerakote breaks out science and
say, throwing a gun down a driveway,

but it offers far more valuable, and
repeatable information. You can check
3. Cerakote keeps a
sample of every batch
thats left the factory.
produce new colors and coatings.
out the test videos for yourself on their
If someone wants to become a certi-
webpage, should you find yourself
fied applicator, they have to travel up to
awake at 3 a.m.
Furthermore, the folks at Cerakote
Oregon and learn the ins, outs, and nu-
keep a sample of every batch that goes
ances of the process from the very best
out the door. While they do indeed test
at Cerakote. Its a full two-day course,
everything before it leaves the shop,
and while they cant teach someone
having a sample on-hand allows them to
individual artistry, they can make
track and eliminate any potential issues
sure that you know the exact process.
down the road. For example, if an appli-
Theyre also given access to a massive
cator has an issue with Batch X of color
library of vector graphics so they can
Z not matching Batch Y of the same,
easily re-create any number of patterns.
Cerakote can check for themselves.
Probably to give them a challenge,

I was sent up to get an abbreviated
Everything Cerakote makes is done

in house, and all of the Cerakote sent
course from their training staff. I failed
around the world is mixed by only
art in high school and have the steady
five people. This isnt a company that
hands of someone who consumes copi-
sends specifications to China or Viet-
ous amounts of caffeine what could
nam and waits for product with a hope
go wrong?
CERAKOTES NEW ELITE

To learn everything they have to
offer, youll have to take the class yourself. We can offer some tips though:
Metal preparation is the very first step,
and the most important one. You can
do everything perfectly right after,
but if you mess up on degreasing and
other preparation there is no fixing it
without starting completely over.
1. Degreasing is the
most important step
once you think
youve got it, do it
again.
2-3. Dont be afraid
to tear and restart
any poor masking. If
you have a hard time
making it level, put it
on an angle.
If you dont take the time to properly

mask your parts, it wont turn out
the way you imagine. While you
4. A steady hand
makes for an even
coat.
can probably complete a Cerakote

project in a day if you have the right
equipment, you cant complete a
Cerakote project in 15 minutes. A
little patience in the beginning will
make for better results in the end.
Practice on small parts and then
intricate parts first before moving
2 9
on to larger projects. The proper

IS SUE
methodology for getting into all of
5. Its not just guns

either. Knives and
other hard-use items
can see equal benefit
from Cerakote.
6. The fruits of our
day of labor: A set
of badass coffee
cups you wont see
these around just any
office.
a little experience.
96
Remove any masks while the parts
are still warm; any adhesive backing
In our time at Cerakote we didnt be-
the two. Youll be seeing Elite as an
able to make some badass coffee cups.
OEM coating for several manufacturers
So what about the new Elite coating? Theres a lot going on with it. It
in the days and weeks to come.

As for us, weve learned enough to
can be applied at half the thickness of
know that in the future well be dropping
traditional H-series Cerakote, but with
guns off to be coated by someone with
a lot of new advantages. Elite is harder,
more artistic talent and a steadier hand.
sports approximately 50 percent more

abrasion resistance, and is significantly
NIC Industries: www.nicindustries.com
slicker; were told it maintains the same
7. We see here among

the tricked-out guns
that deep sea fishing
reels can take advantage of Cerakote.
tos of Elite dont quite do it justice (the

black coffee cup is coated with Elite),
and its decidedly more impressive in
person where you can go hands-on.
Available colors are still limited,
One perfectly even single color coat-
and the application process is slightly
ing is much harder to accomplish
more complicated you dont want
than a camouflage or battle worn
to throw out all of your old Cerakote
pattern. Any mistake in administer-
products, but if youre coating inter-
ing is immediately obvious.
nals on a gun with tight tolerances its
probably the superior choice between
come experts by a long shot, but we were
gets harder to work with as it cools
coefficient of friction as Teflon. The pho-
the tiny cracks and crevices without

building up too much Cerakote takes
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AMERICAN INNOVATION
STORY BY IAIN HARRISON
PHOTOS BY KENDA LENSEIGNE
We first became aware of the Hudson 9 way back in August

2015, when its designer contacted us out of the blue. We
get at least one Nevah been done before email a week, so
being of a cynical nature, this one almost got consigned to
the folder labeled Stuff to do once my clone arrives.
The story behind the pistol was intriguing, however, and
the early prototypes looked goofy enough to suggest that
there might actually be some solid logic and reasoning
behind its design. If the production gun fulfills the promises
made by the one we shot
shot, it might just change our expectations when it comes to handguns.
g
IS SUE
2 9
101
0
HUDSON 9
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
a way station en route to a full line of

models based on a common platform.
The Hudson 9 is a curious blend of
Lets deal with the more familiar as-
the familiar and the novel. Pick it up

1911 that sits in every good Americans
we delve deeper into what makes it
present on the slide and they follow the
safe. That grip angle and feel are so
tick. Up top, a set of Trijicon HD sights
grip angle while tapering to the rear,
very familiar, and the linear trigger is
provides a means of getting rounds on
and a serrated striker retaining plate
unmistakable. Its bore axis is lower
target and while the front sight on our
completes the aesthetic. The muzzle
than any JMB design could hope to be,
supplied test gun was a fat .144-inch
end is rounded and beveled, and at-
wide, Hudson staff tell us the ones on
tention has been paid to ensure the
dealer shelves will be a little thinner
pistol is as snag-free as possible. All
for a more precise hold. The rear sight
steel surfaces are treated with a QPQ
features a U-shaped notch and ser-
black nitride process. It appeared that
rated rear surface that blends well with
considerable care had been lavished
the back of the slide. A square front
on them prior to hitting the salt bath
surface provides plenty of real estate to
as tool marks were almost completely
snag a belt or boot heel for one-handed
absent and a deep, matte finish was in
operation, and theres a serrated sight-
evidence.
this? And whats with that lump in front

of the trigger guard? An all-steel frame
means it sits heavy in the hand, though
field stripping reveals a removable chassis much like that found in the most
recent polymer guns; clearly, this is not
2 9
supposed to be the final version, merely
IS SUE
Front and rear racking grooves are
pects of the Hudson 9s makeup before
A striker-fired 1911? What sorcery is
the top end, breaking only for the ejection port. So far, so good.
and its instantly reminiscent of the
though, and theres no hammer. Whoa!
102
ing plane that runs continuously along
The Hudson 9 checks

all the boxes we like
in a handgun. Good
sights, fantastic trigger, easily accessible
controls, and comfortable in the hand. Its
looks might scare
some traditionalists,
but the craftsmanship
is entirely old-school.
TWO SECONDS
TO ATTACH.
TWO DECADES OF RADICAL
SCIENCE AT
ITS CORE.
An elite rie and carbine

silencer, it fast-attaches to an
array of host rearms within
seconds. Secured by the 90
Tooth Ratchet Taper Mounting
system, its Inconel bafe
core and fortied blast bafe
deliver exceptional signature
reduction. See it at AdvancedArmament.com.
Fully-welded, 718 Inconel bafe

core minimizes back pressure
and heat degradation.
Re-designed blast bafe features

2x the impact-absorbing
thickness and strength.
Fast-attach 90 Tooth Ratchet

Taper allows secure installation
and removal in 2 seconds.
HUDSON 9
Controls follow the conventional U.S.
strap is comprised of two major sub
veloped by the chemical conversion of
release (reversible for lefties) and
assemblies. Unlike the 1911, these
propellant powder into expanding gas.
ambi slide-release levers. Above the
dont play any role in the guns safety
The law of conservation of momentum
beavertail lies a small plug which al-
system, nor do they power the firing
dictates that theres a force equal to
lows the user to add a manual thumb
mechanism. The faux beavertail safety
that generated by the bullet and gases
safety should they wish to augment
simply provides protection from slide
applied in the opposite direction, and
the one present in the triggers face.
bite (more of which later), and what
its this force that causes the slide and
Unlike most, this one is hinged at the
looks like a mainspring housing gives
barrel to move rearward against the
bottom of the blade and runs the full
the shooter an opportunity to make the
recoil spring.
height and width of its surface, so
pistol more closely fit their hand. While
theres no separate nubbin to rub the
the initial production versions will
slide unlock, with the slide continuing
pad of your trigger finger. A 1911-sized
be flat and milled from G-10 like the
rearward to eject the empty case. At the
trigger guard runs interference on the
grip panels, there are plans to make
end of its stroke, the slide hits a recoil
bang switch and while its no smaller
replacements in different profiles.
face causing it to stop suddenly, after
military for over a century, it appears

petite compared to others. It does,
however, feature a generous undercut
which positions the hand a little higher
IS SUE
2 9
on the frame than might otherwise be
to contain the enormous pressures de-
pattern, with a push-button magazine
than the pistol thats served the U.S.
104
Like a 1911, the Hudson 9s back-
the case.
Note position of
barrels camming
surfaces: forward and
either side of the usual
location. This allows
the recoil spring to
be shifted lower for
greater control.
After a short distance, the barrel and
which the recoil spring takes over and
INNOVATION
throws it back whence it came, picking
Most semi-automatic handguns in
up a fresh round en route and slamming
serious calibers employ some version
it into the chamber. As the slide returns,
of a short recoil operating system.
whatever camming surface employed to
In it, the barrel and slide are locked to-
previously unlock it comes into play and
gether at the moment of firing in order
the process is reversed.
HUDSON 9
The genius who came up with the
Lets look at the firing cycle. There
locking systems employed by the vast
are three components to any recoil
majority of handguns currently in
impulse felt by the shooter. Theres
service was, of course, none other than
the initial reaction to the bullet and
mitigated by grip, while the third is a
propellant heading down the barrel,
function of slide mass and velocity
the second smack felt when the slide
a lightweight slide sent into battery by
slams into the recoil surface and the
a weak recoil spring has far less influ-
third, a reverse impulse when it locks
ence on the muzzle than a battering
up. All three disturb the gun in our
ram powered by a steam catapult.
John Moses Browning, which should

be the default answer in any game
of firearms Trivial Pursuit. In them, a
swinging link and fixed cam surface
(in the case of the 1911) or a kidneyshaped cam track and pin (in just about
The combination of
narrow beavertail, low
bore axis, and steak
knife slide serrations
removed skin from
about one third of our
testers.
everything else) located right under the

chamber are used to raise and lower the
barrel into engagement with set of lugs
in the slide that mesh their opposite
numbers in the upper barrel surface.
The only major improvement over the
years has been the Petter modification,
which eliminates the hard-to-machine
locking lugs in favor of a barrel block
IS SUE
2 9
that locks into the ejection

port.
j
p
106
ence over both split times and where
Takedown pin sits

flush with the left
side of the frame,
enhancing the overall
snag-free design.
Theres light showing
between the slide
and the frame. Thats
because we wrecked
the gun prior to its
photo shoot. Oops.
hand and increase the amount of time
their shots end up.

The second impulse can likewise be
The Hudson 9 addresses two of
it takes to fire subsequent shots. We
these impulses through crafty design,
can reduce the effect of the first by
while using best practices to reduce
taking as high of a grip on the gun
the effect of the third. The pistol has
as possible, reducing the amount of
an impressively low bore axis, achieved
leverage it has on our skeleton. This is
by moving its locking surfaces forward
why pistols with a low bore axis have a
of the trigger guard. In a conventional
theoretical advantage over those that
design, the camming surfaces that
tower above our index fingers. We say
control barrel locking are stacked on
theoretical, because as always, the
top of the trigger area, and theres a
shooter
s oote has
as by far
a the
t e biggest
b ggest influu
limitt to how
o much
uc moving
o g metal
eta you
KITANICA.NET
U.S.A. made high performance tactical and outdoOR Apparel
JACKETs - Pants - fLeeces - SHORTS - belts - shirts- hats
HUDSON 9
can stuff in this area. In this case,
instead of putting the locking mechanism under the chamber, it resides
alongside the barrel. Of course, you
still need a recoil spring, so this is
shifted lower also to the front of the
SIGs 115-grain ball

ammo was used for
testing purposes.
Using it, we were able
to make easy hits on
8-inch MGM steel
plates at 50 yards.
trigger guard, which accounts for the

guns unusual profile.
ROUNDS DOWNRANGE AND

PROTO PROBLEMS
To evaluate the new pistol, we
rounded up a few shooters of different
abilities and experience levels, along
with a collection of contemporary
pistols to serve as a benchmark and
rolled out to Cowtown Range.
2 9
IS SUE
perhaps the best trigger of any striker-
the 1,000-round mark. They were well
fired pistol weve shot to date. To get
bore serial number 06, and we were
aware of the issue and the Hudson
anywhere close, youd need to turn
warned there was still a ways to go
engineers were working long hours
over your credit card to the guys at
before it was ready for primetime. We
to correct it by revising the design.
Apex and even then, theres no guar-
always note any problems found in
We also noted an issue with erratic
antee the reset would be as short and
any pre-production samples, with the
ejection from the ammo we used in
it wouldnt have that linear action that
expectation that theyll be corrected
the test. Previously, the SIG 115-grain
1911 aficionados geek out over.
before any finished product hits dealer
FMJ rounds had been exceptionally
shelves as youd expect, a complex
consistent in everything wed shot
comparison to our benchmark Glock
machine that has to contain a small ex-
them through, so wed venture that
34, its no slouch in the bore axis de-
plosion in the users hand will likely not
there was still some tweaking to do in
partment, sight recovery is faster, and
this department.
the gun feels less bouncy. All that
The prototype we received for testing
108
would cause them to break at around
spring fully formed from its creators

mind. There will be bumps in the road.
Specifically, Cy Hudson (the man
behind the machine) cautioned that a
problem with the chassis locking lugs
We shot the new kid

against the collection
you see here. In terms
of recoil management,
only the steel-framed
CZ SP01 came close.
Recoil management is very good. In
energy has to go somewhere, however,
SECOND IMPRESSIONS
That trigger. Like a 1911 with a
rollover break, the Hudson 9 has
and the Hudson delivers it straight into

your palm the closest analog we
could come up with is a cross between
the HK P7 and an Open division racegun, as the slide cycles and recovers so
quickly. It seems violent, but the sights
track straight up and down, allowing
the shooter to break the second shot as
soon as they can reset the trigger.
As predicted, the pistol started
making a rattling sound just as we got
down to the last few boxes of ammo
in the case. This is why we cant have
nice things. A tailgate post mortem
revealed the source of the sound to be
its locking lugs, which had fractured
at a prominent and easily fixed stress
riser. The assembled test team let
out a collective groan, as the better
shooters had just gotten to grips with
HUDSON 9
to crop up), then the Hudson 9 is
going to make quite the impression in
USPSA Production division. Assuming its slide can be inlet for a red dot
sight, then it will likely dominate Carry
Optics, too. In its current configuration, the steel frame renders it a bit
heavy for most people for concealed
carry, but once a polymer version is
available itll shine there also. In the
meantime, those who want to carry
something slim, high capacity, and a
bit out of the ordinary have another
option.
Its always refreshing to see
American innovation is alive and well,
particularly in an unknown, startup
the pistols timing and were ripping off
If the engineering team can fix prob-
company. We wish the Hudson team
lems that have already been identified
well, and look forward to the success
might have contributed to its demise.
(along with any others that are bound
of their baby.
IS SUE
2 9
full-auto-sounding mag dumps. Which
SPEC BOX
110
HUDSON MFG.
MFG
HUDSON 9
CALIBER
A B R
9mm
mm Luger
L ge
BARREL
A R L LENGTH
E G H
4.125
2 iinchess
OVERALL
V R L LENGTH
L N T
7.8
8 inches
h s
WEIGHT
E G T (UNLOADED
U L A E W/
W SCOPE)
S O
34
4 oouncess
MAGAZINE
A A I E CAPACITY
A A T
15
5 rounds
ooundss
M R
MSRP
$ $1
$1,147
14
147
U L
URL
www.hudsonmfg.com
www
hudsonmfg
hud onm g com
2 9
IS SUE
112
FROM
SCRIBBLES
TO SHOOTING
AN AMERICAN TALE
STORY BY DAVID MERRILL
This working relationship didnt
If youre gun people like us, no doubt
Hudson, Cys business partner and
youve spent some time scribbling in
spouse, chimed in. In many small
happen by accident. Cy and Lauren
notebooks thinking what the ideal
businesses in the gun industry, a wife
first met back in 2008 while they were
rifle or pistol would look like. Usually it
holds a token position; what became
both in the service, and later married
goes no further than that, but if it does
immediately and abundantly clear is
in 2010. Eventually Lauren left and
one may end up in the back toolshed
that this was no such endeavor. Cy has
became a federal contractor while Cy
in an attempt to make a one-off or two
the imagination, and Lauren brings the
remained. This arrangement allowed
that will never quite match what you
more practical to the table.
them to see each other occasionally,
came up with on paper. But what if

you could do more? What if you could
take that scribble, refine it over time,
and then create a full production gun?
This is the case with Hudson Manufacturing.
Sitting across the living room from
me is Cy Hudson, a young Army
veteran. Hes talking animatedly and
gesturing with his hands. Hes about
to show me the very first version of the
H9. Its heavy, clunky, and unrefined
to a point where most would probably
not move forward. But where many
would be discouraged, he only saw
potential. Enlarged 3D printed models
of the new sear design is brought out.
I had questions, and then Lauren
Just like James Bond,

an awful lot of meticulous planning was
done over martinis.
KRISS VECTOR GEN II CRB ENHANCED

AVAILABLE IN PP.45ACP AND 9X19MM
TOOLLESS CALIBER INTERCHANGEABILITY
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SUPER V RECOIL MITIGATION SYSTEM
Explore more KRISS Vector models and calibers, visit: www.kriss-usa.com/recoil
*GLOCK is a federally registered trademark of Glock, Inc.
Aside from literally shooting a Red

Coat during the American Revolution,
and sales teams, and even a training divi-
I can hardly think of anything more
sion. Hudson Mfg may be a new compan,
American than taking a scribble and a
but they sure arent acting like one.
prayer and turning it into a full-bore,

production handgun.
Nothing is created from a vacuum of
2 9
IS SUE
place in the Hudsons suburban Texas
course. The Hudsons thought about all
home. With the coffee area and bar
of the handguns they enjoy shooting, like
in the kitchen serving as the battle
1911s, and CZs, Glocks, and SIGs and
space, and the living room as an area of
wrote down their favorite parts. It had to
contemplation.
have a real 1911-feeling trigger instead
Though Iain put the preproduction
of the add-ons so many use. The bore
model through its paces, I had the op-
access needs to be incredibly low, and it
portunity to do some banging with one
couple would like. They decided that
needs to have the reliability of the best
of the many prototypes. Testing would
no matter what they did in the future,
striker-fired options on the market today.
take place at a lonesome range down
While you may just now be hearing
a country road. I was impressed with
about the H9, this is something that has
the trigger and the bore access as it
firearms retails business catering to
been in the works for many, many years.
turns out, the bore axis would be further
the military out of their house in 2013.
Its rare that an outsider gets a close-in
lowered and the trigger improved even
This experience effectively demon-
view of a fledgling operation, yet weve
more with a later version. Youll also
strated that they could indeed mix
been following Hudson Mfg from nearly
some some minor control tweaks if you
business and family, all while learning
the very beginning. If we were talking
checkout the photos by comparison. Un-
firsthand the inner nuances of BATFE
about a new cellphone accessory or
fortunately I wasnt able to shoot whats
requirements and regulations. It was at
other widget, perhaps there would be a
lovingly referred to as the Brick, but
Kickstarter or other crowd funding. In this
I sure am looking forward to the full
case, it was all about obtaining their own
production model that youll be able to
dedicated manufacturing facilities com-
get your hands on at SHOT Show.
With that in mind they launched a
It didnt all start that way, of course.

The majority of the work once took
but not as much as a young married
it would be together.
114
plete with a testing range, engineering
this point that the old drawings came

into play, and they realized the dream
could someday come to fruition.
Were sure theres a

saying about those
who shoot together,
stay together.
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Following the demise of the original
for the 10-inch barrel of the CAR15
AR-10 in 1960 and its subsequent
carbine variants, subsequently used
runaway success when the design
in the M4. It wasnt until the 21st
was reincarnated by Colt as the 5.56
century that further refinement of the
AR-15, the first of Stoners direct im-
gas system led to the adoption of the
pingement guns never got much in the
mid-length and, more recently still, the
way of development time and dollars,
intermediate-length gas system.
as compared to its little brother. When
rifles gas system is the engine that
ment in the early 1990s and resurrect-
drives its action and picking the wrong
ed the 7.62 gun as the SR-25, a highly
one is like throwing a 1.6-liter, four-
refined logistics chain had already
banger under the hood of a Lambo, or
been in place for a quarter century.
shoehorning an LS1 into a Vespa. There
With so many spare parts already
IS SUE
2 9
STORY BY IAIN HARRISON

PHOTOS BY STRAIGHT 8
AND WHITE CLIFF PRODUCTIONS
116
Why should this matter? Well, your
the great man joined Knights Arma-
are lots of variables to balance; moving
on the shelves, there was an assump-
the gas port closer to the chamber
tion that whatever he came up with
on a long-barreled gun provides not
would use existing parts whenever
only much more pressure, but also in-
possible. At the time, two gas system
creases the amount of time the system
lengths were prevalent; the rifle-length
is pressurized, as it takes an additional
one present on the M16A2, and the
few milliseconds for the bullet to reach
carbine-length version developed
the muzzle once its past the port.
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2015

About five years ago, I built a 22-
Conversely, drilling the gas port closer to the muzzle decreases the pressure it sees, as well as reducing the
time under the pressure curve. Once
youve arrived at the perfect combination of gas port diameter, and distance
from the chamber (or dwell time) for
IS SUE
2 9
one particular caliber, barrel length and
118
Greg Hamilton, a
Weapons test specialist for Proof Research
has 10-plus years in
the firearms industry
with some of the best
and most recognizable
names in the accuracy
business.
theres been some significant improve-
inch barreled .260 Rem AR-10, using
ments to the large frame platform
the best technology available at the
in the past half decade. The most
time, figuring that the combination of
significant change Proofs engineers
high ballistic coefficient bullets, low
made was to shift the gas port 2
recoil impulse, and 21 rounds on tap
inches closer to the target. By doing
would be the perfect solution to any
so, they took account of the slower
long-range problem. Despite its adjust-
burn rate of powders typically used in
able gas system, the rifle cycled more
the .260 Rem, which generate peak
violently than a comparable .308 gun
pressures further down the bore and in
and the telltale case head swipe on its
a rifle-length gas system result in the
ejected brass indicated the bolt was
problems Id encountered previously.
opening when there was still residual
Further refinements can be found in
bore pressure. Resorting to the usual
the rifles Lantac Dragon muzzle brake
Band-Aid fixes of a heavier buffer
and the same companys enhanced
and recoil spring reduced, but never
bolt carrier group. The E-BCG is a work
eliminated the problem, so when Proof
of art. Coated in proprietary UCT nickel
Research announced their Caliber Spe-
boron, it gleams like the bumper on a
cific Gas System, or CAMGAS, I figured
56 Chevy and is slicker than snot on
it was worth a look.
a Teflon doorknob. AR-10 bolts have
Built on a Mega Arms .308 receiver
traditionally been plagued with the twin
ammunition type, expecting the same
set and equipped with Proofs signa-
problems of primer flow and slam fires,
formula to work when you change all
ture carbon-fiberwrapped barrel, the
with the second of these addressed by
three variables is asking a lot.
test gun showed that unlike the AR-15,
the addition of a firing pin spring (itself

In order to compare the old and new
guns head to head, comparable SIG
Optics, variable first focal plane scopes
Proof
Research
CAMGAS
Barrel
System
ies of magazines stuffed with PRIME
the Proof Research .260 Rem work
130-grain HPBT match ammo. After a
symbiotically in a way my old AR-10
couple of rounds to get on paper, both
couldnt manage. The use of a longer
rifles were shot for groups at 100 yards
gas system in particular solves the
CALIBER:
and the old AR-10 turned in a respect-
biggest headaches of timing the car-
.260 Rem
able average group size of 0.65 inch,
rier group and turns the large frame
BARREL:
measured with calipers. The Proof
rifle into a vary controllable tack
TWIST:
Research gun shot 0.50-inch groups
driver, able to make use full use of the
1:8
repeatedly, which is remarkable consis-
6.5mm diameter bullets ballistics.
4-groove cut
WEIGHT:
2 9
IS SUE
120
locations pierced primers are a thing

of the past due the smaller tip radius
and correspondingly reduced hole in
the bolt face.
The biggest difference between the

two rifles, however, was in terms of
MSRP:
their ability to stay on target through-
URL:
reducing its diameter at non-critical
tency for factory ammunition.
2.8 lbs CF
3.6 lbs SS
$940
the spring, but lightening the pin by
It would seem then, that the combination of components selected for
RIFLING:
took a different approach, eliminating
for the carbon-fiber barreled gun.
were mounted up, and both variet-
22 inches
cursed with a short service life). Lantac
session left with a distinct preference
out the string. The AR-10 bucked and
www.proofresearch.com
shuffled, while the Proof/Mega combo
COMPLETE RIFLE
AS SHOWN:
recoiled straight back. At longer
$3,183
ranges, the ease with which it was
FEATURING:
possible to spot strikes through the
Mega Arms MATEN

Receiver Set:
$900
Lantac E-BCG Heavy:
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Lantac Dragon Brake:
$160
Magpul PRS GEN3
Precision-Adjustable
Stock:
$255
scope meant for instant corrections

in case of a miss, and a second round
was on its way as soon as the trigger
could be reset. Its not until you shoot
both guns side by side that the difference becomes acutely noticeable and
anyone who shot them at our range
Proof Research is giving this gun to a

RECOIL reader. Details in our CAMGAS
article on RECOILweb.com.
124
IS SUE
2 9
YOU CAN DEFEND YOURSELF, BUT WHO WILL DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO DEFEND YOURSELF?
ENTER TRIAL LAWYER AND PRIVATE PRACTICE OWNER ALEX KINCAID, A SECOND
AMENDMENT PROPONENT AND THE AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK DESIGNED TO HELP FIREARMS
OWNERS EDUCATE THEMSELVES TO BECOME THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
STORY BY MIKE LANDERS
PHOTOS BY Q CONCEPTS
Whoever said experience is the best
to gun rights, the 317-page bible is
lot to do with why she has seen and
teacher clearly hasnt met Alex Kin-
the culmination of Alexs law career
defended so many owners who did not
caid. She is a trial lawyer, with nearly
as a Second Amendment special-
understand that they were in violation
two decades of experience. She is a
ist, written as an easy-to-digest
of law within their actions. When I
frequently requested public speaker,
guide in succinct chapters aimed at
teach the legal classes, the joke is
and legal analyst for radio and televi-
owner education. I want to reach
not whether or not you break a law,
sion having appeared on Fox News. She
as many gun owners as I can, says
its how many laws youve broken?
is a staunch defender of the Second
the daughter of a law enforcement
Thats the level of confusion thats out
Amendment, primarily because first
officer. Stop and think. I hope they
there, explains Kincaid.
and foremost, shes a firearms owner.
will remember reading things and say
As a trial lawyer, she shares a
The combination of the last two give
maybe I cant do this, I should look it
certain kinship with owners who
way to Alexs latest title, published
up, or I better ask what the laws are
may not understand everything they
author, as she has recently completed
in my home state.
should regarding the laws within
an incredible book called Infringed.

Billed as the gun owners guide
Alex believes the inconsistencies

of gun laws from state to state have a
their particular state. When I was

prosecuting, I had threats made
THE LAWYER AND THE TEACHER

against me. I would have to walk from
the courthouse, which was a gun-free
zone. I remember feeling so vulnerable
because I couldnt carry a gun inside
the courthouse.
Channeling that vulnerability made
Alex understand some owners dont
know exactly where and when they
are permitted to carry by law, or what
level of extent the law will protect
them in a situation of crisis. With so
many laws simply based on things like
transportation of firearms, and sales and
possession, Kincaid seeks to educate
owners about laws that seem more
destined to impact common citizens
than criminals. We shouldnt be making
criminals out of gun owners, says
Kincaid, with a taut emphasis betraying
her years in front of a jury.
IS SUE
2 9
Due to her strong conviction
126
in the Second Amendment and

her commitment to the firearms
community, Alex has dedicated her
life to education, offering specialized
legal advice for owners through
her private practice, Alex Kincaid
Law. She has affiliated herself with
grassroots organizations like the law
enforcement-oriented CCW-Safe and
has a partnership with Orchid Advisors,
which helps gun owners and gun-based
At home on the
ranch in Idaho with
husband, Eric,
and dogs Spot and
Stuka.
RECOIL: Why did you want to write
that because as I paid attention to
Infringed?
their questions, I figured out that their
Alex Kincaid: After I went into
questions would actually be parallel to
private practice, most of my clients
what most people would ask. Most gun
tended to have the same issues,
owners seem to have similar concerns
concerns and questions about what
and questions.
working online and getting feedback
their rights were as a gun owner and
You did a great job of taking some very
from Infringed, and she has a YouTube
what they could and couldnt do with a
high-level information and making it
channel with a new show called The
firearm. I wanted to reach beyond the
a concise read. How did you approach
AK Show, which will keep her followers
states where I can practice law and try
the language of the book?
up to date on the gun control news,
to help educate as many gun owners
and will also feature interesting topics
as possible. The book is an attempt
to try and sound intelligent and spew
beyond the law. I hope this will be a
to try to help people understand this
case law and statutes, so while I was
way that Infringed can live on the
super complex area so that they dont
writing, I had to break it down a bit; I
book gives the basics, but the show
end up losing their gun rights, which I
actually started writing it one way and
will help people stay current, says an
have seen.
ended up throwing it out the door and
enthusiastic Kincaid. The Idaho-based
Given the complexity of varying laws,
starting over. My goal was to make it
lawyer took some time to sit down with
how did you choose what went into the
digestible. Its so complex, I tried to
RECOIL to explain why she is so com-
book and what didnt?
give it some interesting titles, put it
businesses to become aware of laws

and regulations they must follow.
She spends countless hours net-
mitted to defending those who are just

trying to defend themselves.
AK: I think lawyers have a tendency
AK: I think my clients and my
in words that people use when they
students gave me the roadmap for
ask me the questions, and make the

In her home office,
where Infringed
was written; FN FS
2000 with white
Cerakote.
change or when did that psychology

change in your life?
AK: I grew up in a law enforcement
household, and my dad was in law
enforcement for about 30 years, which
is why I grew up with guns. When I
decided to go to law school, which
was in high school, I wanted to do the
prosecution side of things because I
believe in law enforcement and saw
a lot of the stories he went through. I
am affiliated with the Fraternal Order
of Police, and that is contrary in the
minds of some gun owners, especially
in the minds of the hardcore Constitutionalists they dont respect
that. I dont go down that path; I am a
heavy Second Amendment advocate,
but I also have a huge respect for law
enforcement and part of my practice is
2 9
helping them.
IS SUE
When I went into private practice,

it was with the idea that I was going
to help people avoid the courtroom,
because I saw so much in the criminal
128
chapters very short, but at the same
year and a half where I forced myself
time, help people spot the issues. Ive
to find the time to spend nights and
been a trial attorney almost my whole
weekends to write it, because that was
life and with the book I realized, I am
the hardest part. I started it with big
talking to the jury; Im not talking to
long chapters, lumping a lot of stuff
the judge, Im talking to the jury. I
together, and I got about a third of the
wanted to be able to explain it to the
way done with it and threw it out the
perspective of someone who did not
window and started over. I realized it
having any formal legal education.
was too much information, and I had
How long did it take and when did you
to break it up so that people could
first get the idea to write the book?
actually pull the right information from
AK: It took years of listening to
the chapters.
people, to gun owners to finally get
Initially, you were a prosecuting attor-
the idea that, hey, I can reduce this
ney and now in many ways, you are on
to something I can send around the
the defense side of things in terms of
country; then probably about a year of
giving people the knowledge to protect
outlining and thinking about it and a
themselves. How did that psychology
WWII collection
includes a 1939
Mauser K98k with
original Reichsadler
insignia; American and German
helmets, including
a German helmet
found near
Bastogne with a
hole in it, and a
Panzer IV shell.
justice system that I thought could be

avoided if people just paid attention
and did things a different way. My
community was primarily seniors; we
had a lot of retirees moving to the
Oregon Coast from California. I saw a
ton of elder abuse, some of the people
who came through my door were law
enforcement officers I worked with
and gun owners who knew I was
IS SUE
2 9
a Second Amendment advocate,

and they wanted legal advice now
that I wasnt in a government office
anymore on gun-related issues and
self-defense issues.
So yeah its defense work in a
Shooting an MCM
Firearms custom
full-auto 5.56
with Leupold LCO
optic and Gemtech
suppressor on a
hillside at her Idaho
home.
way; its gun related and its Second

Amendment related, and in my eyes,
ITS EASY TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHATS GOING ON

AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT THE WORST GUN LAWS
THAT WE HAVE SEEN PASSED ACROSS THE COUNTRY
FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS HAVE NOT COME FROM
CONGRESS THEYVE COME FROM THE STATE
HOUSES. YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHATS
GOING ON IN YOUR OWN STATE.
its the side of justice and protection
With so much in the media about
of people who are in the right and not
law enforcement and private citizens
the other way around. I had a number
and gun rights, how do you prepare
of people asking me how they could
yourself when youre working on cases
put me on retainer if they needed me.
mentally in terms of not getting at-
It started me down the whole path
tached to a side, but really sticking to
of wanting to help people prepare
the Second Amendment and believing
and not wind up in the government-
in what you believe in?
controlled court system after a crisis
Courtesy Fox News
130
AK: Sometimes I do get attached
happened. My practice has always had
to my side, which helps me be a little
this element of education to it, but
more passionate [laughs] I cant say
the cases that are criminal defense
that Im always neutral because I have
cases are cases where I am defending
gotten to the point where I enjoy the
gun owners or representing law
luxury of picking and choosing my
enforcement officers.
cases, which you can do in private
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practice and not as a prosecutor. I do
take on cases that I feel passionately
about and that I know I should win for
Cover of Infringed.
Can be purchased at
www.alexkincaid.com.
couldve avoided issues with just a

little more knowledge about the laws.
I think back to when I was a college
the client. Theres one person I can
student with a firearm, I didnt know
discuss; he had come back from Iraq
anything about the laws. I knew I had
years ago, he was a soldier who was
a gun for self-protection, but did I
blown apart, with a broken back, had
understand when I could actually pull
walked around the desert for 100 days
the trigger? Absolutely not.
with his equipment on, which actually
Unfortunately this is pretty com-
kept his back together.
mon, in the sense that there are many
When he needed multiple surgeries,
owners who think, Well, if someone
the V.A. decided, We are gonna
breaks in my house and tries to kill
revoke his gun rights because he
me, Ill shoot back, but they re-
needs a fiduciary. I still battle on
ally dont understand when they can
the Internet with people who think
actually take human life and defend
the statistics that have actually
themselves. The state line issue is one
been founded by Congress in their
of the biggest issues I see, whether
investigations that our veterans

What about other aspects of the Second
with your gun, thats when people get
discriminated against, and losing their
Amendment in the courtroom? How
in big trouble.
important is the full understanding of it
The inconsistency of gun laws seems
to a trial for a defense attorney?
to be a primary cause for confusion in
IS SUE
2 9
gun rights there are people out
132
youre transferring or just travelling
are being treated poorly, being
there who think these scenarios are all

made up and arent true and they are
100-percent true!
I lived this story with my client who
came to me after trying to fix this on
his own for a year, and it took up two
years to get it straightened out, so I
cant say that I am neutral in any way
with the cases that I take on [laughs].
I hope that most people will try to get
educated on the gun laws so that they
never need me, but I cant say that I
am always neutral.
EDC
Kimber Pro Carry
II 1911 with
custom wood grips
depicting Lady
Justice
Kimber Solo 9mm
(her EDC)
Spyderco locking
folding knife
(Delica 4)
Can Can
Concealment thigh
holster
Miss Concealed
Hidden Heat
waistband holster
AK: When Im making recommendations for a self-defense attorney,
this country.
AK: The bottom line problem is
Ive gotten into arguments with other
that the gun laws are not inherently
lawyers who have tried to scold me for
immoral or criminal conduct; they
suggesting that a good self-defense
are restrictions on things we would
lawyer is going to also be an advocate
do every day with our gun. If you pull
for the Second Amendment. If youre
the trigger into a crowd of people
anti-gun, youre not going to fight as
and shoot somebody, you know thats
hard for your client, if you are passion-
wrong; you violate the speed limit; you
ate about the right to self defense, you
know thats wrong, you steal you know
will fight that much harder.
thats wrong, but driving with your
We live in a time where there are
legal AR from your home state into
lawyers and judges who dont even
another state, or driving with certain
understand the gun laws because
ammunition from one state to another
theyre so complex, Ive seen them
state; youre not hurting anybody,
over and over again give the wrong ad-
youre not intending to hurt anybody,
vice, make the wrong decisions, and if
you dont even stop to think about it
you have someone who doesnt even
and thats the problem.
believe in that kind of protection, why
Explain what you mean by backdoor
would you want that person on your
gun control?
side when there are other options?
AK: We have out of control gun
Do you have a percentage or a guess
control and that is the struggle. Laws
of how many trials youve seen that
that are punishing behavior that is not
a person could have avoided serious
intended in any way to cause anybody
penalties, had they just known a small
any harm and doesnt all by itself
detail?
cause anyone harm if someone is
AK: The percentage is heavily

weighted in favor of people who
not a criminal, but they let a license

expire, why not just let them renew
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the license? If they take a gun into
the airport and are a law abiding
citizen and not a criminal, and obviously didnt mean to do it, why isnt
the $3,000 fine enough? Isnt that a
deterrent?
If Im prosecuting a case, and its
costing taxpayer money, is there a
benefit to doing this? If there isnt then
why are we going after somebody? To
me, its backdoor gun control. The
field is full of anti-gun prosecutors
who hate guns, and they dont think
people should have guns, and they
use this opportunity to take guns away
from people, because the minute its a
crime its backdoor gun control and
people are losing gun rights.
What do you think is the biggest
obstacle to gun ownership rights
IS SUE
2 9
education?
134
AK: People are scared; I think thats

the problem. They dont know where
to get the answers and that feeds the
fear, they know there are a lot of rules
out there, but they want to have a
firearm for protection and they dont
know where to get the answers and
the education. So much of the training
available revolves around how your
gun works, how to use it, and how to
hit the target, but there isnt an equal
amount of training about what the
rules are that will help you be a lawabiding gun owner and avoid winding
up in jail or on probation, Thats what I
see missing, and we are trying to bring
that through the book and speaking
and classes. Im getting asked more
and more to come to different places
and teach or talk.
How can we help change society?
AK: One thing is to turn the
attention toward the criminals and the
terrorists, and away from law-abiding
ALEX
KINCAID
OCCUPATION:
Private
Practice Law
HOMETOWN:
Moved quite a bit,
but identify most
with my current
hometown of
Emmett, Idaho
HUSBAND:
Eric E. Kincaid
EDUCATION:
J.D. University
of Idaho, College
of Law
ALMA MATER:
U.C. Davis
(B.A. German, B.A.
Psychology, minor
in music)
DOGS:
Stuka the German
Shepherd, Spot the
Border Collie
FAVORITE
QUOTE:
Trust everybody, but
cut the cards.
Ronald Reagan
FAVORITE
MOVIE OR TV
SERIES:
Band of Brothers
FAVORITE
FIREARM:
Tikka T3
FAVORITE FOOD:
Street tacos
the criminal justice system is nothing
that path, I think we always have to
short of a revolving door, people go in
look to the next generation to make
and they come out, then go back in, so
the change. If youre going to have a
URL:
www.alexkincaid.com
we have a problem that is not related
gun or you know someone who wants a
to gun owners or gun laws. If you start
gun, you have to understand what the
COLLECTIONS:
Mauser K98, Tikka T3,
a collection of ARs
including Ambush
Tactical (AMTAC)
SBR suppressor and
MCM Firearms Brocks
Liberty Bell cerakote
pattern, FN PS90, FN
F2000, M1 Garand,
Kimber America Solo
Carry
in your home state and get involved in
rules are nowadays or you can wind up
grassroots Second Amendmenttype
in trouble. You could potentially face a
organizations or organize one, now
misdemeanor or a felony and you could
were going to start making some
end up losing your rights to ownership.
progress!
If you dont know what your state laws
What about firearms education?
are, you better learn them and if you
AK: We can bring firearms
want to change them then youd better
education into the youth of our
get involved and change them because
gun owners because they arent the
country. We are seeing more and more
you can! Weve seen that in the states
problem. If you focus on the true
youth shooter camps, shooting ranges
where people are organized and the
problem, then those people will be
popping up for school-age children,
gun owners come together you can
eliminated or locked up and kept
competitions popping up for young
still make the difference and you can
away. Unfortunately, we know that
kids, college students embarking on
help other people.
2 9
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136
SCALABLE,
SIX-SHOT CYLINDER,
SCATTERGUN
STORY BY JASON DAVIS
PHOTOS BY JAKE SWANSON AND
ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ
We all know that sound when a typical

yp
removable six-round cylinder, this new
12-gauge pump action shotgun takes
weapon system works off of a pull of
a round from the magazine tube and
the trigger, rather than the shooter cy-
shoves it into the chamber. For some
cling a typical fore-end back and forth.
folks it means freedom; for others it
Caleb Crye and Gregg Thompson,
instills apprehension, which may not
joint owners of Crye Precision, recently
be a bad thing. That sound is com-
formed Vantage Arms in Nashville,
pletely absent with the new SIX12
Tennessee, to bring this vision of a
Modular Shotgun. Loaded from a
compact, rotary-magazine scattergun
137
I S SUE
2 9
VANTAGE ARMS SIX12
138
8
to market. The initial design and input
Getting into the core of the weapon
came from years of collaboration with

military, law-enforcement, and shooters throughout the world who felt a
need for this modular-type weapon.
What they ended up creating is
highly compact system thats able to
Two shotguns, same

guts. Ditch the bullpup
stock and screw on a
short barrel, and the
SIX12 plays well with
an SBR.
ment the user finds themselves in,
and the design behind the SIX12,
and unlike the speedloaders found
the designers wanted a gun that was
in three-guns Open division, cylin-
compact, reliable, and modular. This
ders will fit into many of the pouches
led to the use a revolver action that
that you likely already own. Should
allows the overall gun to be very short
the shooter need one round for door
theres no bolt that has to travel
breaching and another for a vehicle
be mounted to a rifle, or configured
rearward and take up space behind the
assault its as simple as swapping the
as a standalone full-length shotgun,
round. And reliability is aided by the
cylinders via an under-mount lever that
a compact breaching gun, or even as
action being purely mechanical and
is at the bottom of the weapon.
a fully integrated suppressed weapon
not reliant on either a gas system or
system. Once in front of the end-user,
the user to shuck the fore-end.
Now, you might think that the typical cylinder gap problems conventional
the shotgun can be used for anything
Unlike in a typical handgun, the
from blowing open doors to hunting to
cylinder is removable so the user can
a bigger drawback when it comes to
home defense, though wed guess the
reload very quickly. This also allows
lighting off a 12-gauge round. Youd
majority of sales will be to guys who
rapid switching between different
be correct. In the 19th century, the
need to get into a building quickly.
types of rounds for whatever environ-
Russian Nagant revolver sought to
revolvers must contend with might be
VANTAGE ARMS SIX12

overcome this by using cartridge cases
each trigger press rotates the cylinder
with the support hand while its in a
that protruded from the front of the
and engages the collar system to the
firing grip on the most lethal of the
cylinder, and which were pressed into
barrel for final lock-up before releasing
two, a breacher can transition instantly
engagement with the barrels forcing
the striker. Following the trend of remov-
between weapon systems, should a
cone when the pistol was cocked.
able chassis systems in handguns, the
threat present itself. With the ability
serialized part of this system is its strik-
to quickly swap cylinders, its a simple
employs a neat collar system that con-
er assembly and all other components
matter to swap in loads specific for the
nects or engages the firing chamber
are thus regarded as non-firearms.
environment and based on your imme-
The SIX12 riffs on this theme and
The manufacturer offers three ver-
diate needs, such as vehicle interven-
for a couple of different reasons. First-
sions of the weapon system. The first
tion or less-than-lethal munitions. Not
ly, nothing will be emitted in the space
is a compact, standalone breaching
having to pump the fore-end is a bonus
between the cylinder and the barrel,
shotgun, the second an under-barrel
in the event of a dud primer, as the
as may be the case with a traditional
addition to a carbine, and the third is
user doesnt have to activate a lever in
revolver, pretty important in a bullpup
a bullpup, which can be configured
order to unlock the breech; they simply
as an integrally suppressed variant
pull the trigger to get to the next round.
and the barrel. This system is unique
with a 2-ounce payload. Secondly, the

weapon cannot be fired until the collar
system docks with the barrel, acting as
an added safety feature.
Getting into the trigger system, the
SIX12 is double-action, and it will fire a
round as fast as you can pull the trigger.
Although its a long, fairly heavy pull,
Looking like it crawled

off the pages of a
DeWalt catalog, the
minimalist breaching
configuration is the
right tool for fixing
stubborn locks and
hinges. Bob Vila is
looking at an endorsement deal. Honest.
through the addition of a dedicated

can. Pretty trick.
When affixed to a rifle (itself a
One of the most appealing features

of the gun when its underslung is that
the shooters support hand rests com-
simple procedure, so long as a 6
fortably just ahead of the cylinder. A
oclock rail is present) theres nothing
user doesnt have to change their grip
major to change on either the host or
and on a work carbine, should they
gg is operated
p
the SIX12. As the trigger
need to switch
and go to the S
SIX12,
i
12
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IS SUE
2 9
VANTAGE ARMS SIX12
142
all it takes is an extension of the index
finger onto the trigger of the shotgun
and theyre in business.
For the recreational shooter or
hunter, the shotgun can be decked out
This could be the

ultimate southpaw
shotty. Now right
handers can experience the frustrations
of their wrong-handed
brothers.
While the wood stocked version is
portunity to work with and manipulate
cool, the one that really rustles our
a few of its different configurations:
jimmies is the integrally suppressed
the standalone, suppressed, and one
variant. Working with SilencerCo, the
affixed to an AR platform. A personal
folks at Vantage Arms were able to
disclaimer Im a police officer and
design around the Salvo 12 shotgun
work in a law enforcement environ-
depending on wants and needs. Due
suppressor, at the request of some of
ment, so the likelihood of me truly hav-
to the fact that the weight is to the
the end users the development team
ing to use every configuration based on
rear, its closer to the shooter and is
worked with. The suppressor can be
my livelihood are slim, but I still like
less tiring to carry in the field it
fully utilized, due to the collar system
having the ability to evaluate each and
also helps with target transitions as
sealing off the barrel/cylinder gap as
every modular option here.
the SIX12 is a very fast-swinging gun.
the shooter pulls the trigger. When was
Operating the trigger with the support
the last time you saw a suppressed
that needs a little training to mas-
hand does, however, take some getting
revolver? Exactly. Theyre almost
ter. For anyone whos spent most of
used to. Barrel swaps are a simple
impossible to effectively suppress, as
their adult life shooting conventional
affair loosen one screw, slide out
gas escaping from between the forcing
firearms, manipulating the trigger
the old barrel, and slip in the new, so
cone and cylinder defeats the purpose,
with the support hand is somewhat
theres nothing more complicated than
but if you can come up with a way to
unusual to say the least. In the most
in traditional designs. Want a shorty
overcome this obstacle, then a sup-
likely applications, this is less of an
for home defense? The bullpup layout
pressed revolver is quieter than any
issue, as shots are likely to be made
allows an 18-inch, non-NFA-barreled
other type of repeater due the almost
at contact distance, but as a hunting
shotgun to take up way less space, then
complete absence of action noise.
shotgun, its going to take some time
with black polymer or wood furniture,
should you want to take it hunting, its

a simple process to change it out.
So how does the SIX12 system

shoot? Fortunately, weve had the op-
The trigger definitely is something
to get comfortable with it. If youve

got a double-action revolver, then
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VANTAGE ARMS SIX12
start shooting weak-handed to build

2 9
up muscle memory. Once you get the

IS SUE
we have the ability to reduce noise we

should take it, not only from a tactical
shortest available SIX12 barrel works
perspective, but from a health and
perfectly with my carbine. If adopted,
safety one also. This complete system
the new shotgun will result in change
would be a great addition to a patrol
a great setup. The shorter the barrel,
in tactics, as the breacher is no longer
unit, as it takes up little space and
the better. If its going to be used
relegated to the back of the stack once
offers the advantage of taking a few
for breaching this is a great system
hes taken car of the locks.
decibels off a shot to save the hearing
back into the shoulder.

On an AR or an M-16, I think this is
due to the fact that you can use the
SPEC BOX
huge fan of suppressors, and anytime
as both are in your hands. I use an
piece of cake, and recoil is straight
system, without having to transition,

11-inch rifle setup for work and the
hang of it, ripping off six shells is a
144
See that funny-looking

piece of alloy left of
the cylinder? Thats
the serialized heart
of the system and
the only part thats
considered a firearm.
The suppressed configuration,
of both the officer and any bystanders.
underslung SIX12, breach a door and
employing the Salvo can is also useful,
Now, if we can just get the Hearing
immediately enter with a lethal weapon
especially as a standalone unit. Im a
Protection Act passed into law ....
VANTAGE ARMS
SIX12
URL
www.six12.com
CALIBER
C
ALIBE
A B
12 gauge
BARREL LENGTH
22 inches standard (various available)

OVERALL LENGTH
26.5 inches standard

(various configurations available)
WEIGHT
MSRP
$ $1,800
4.5 pounds (rifle mounted)

7.2 pounds for full-length standalone
MAGAZINE CAPACITY
6 round removable cylinder
HAS THE ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE COME OF AGE?

STORY AND PHOTOS BY IAIN HARRISON
It wasnt so long ago that electric bikes
narios envisioned in our sister publica-
were easy to dismiss. Who in their right
tion, RECOIL OFFGRID.
IS SUE
2 9
mind would want to throw a leg over
146
It doesnt take too much in the way of
something that resembled a Huffy with
mental gymnastics to imagine an event
a washing machine motor bolted to it?
that throws our fragile, just in time
After all, the mental image of fat girls
distribution system into chaos. If refiner-
and scooters didnt enter the national
ies suddenly stop producing the lifeblood
vernacular for no reason. We spent 500
of our transportation arteries, then those
miles on board the Zero DS, and now
MREs you put away for a rainy day just
were not so sure. For some users, an
became a whole lot more valuable, as
electric motorcycle would prove to be a
the shelves of the local grocery store will
huge advantage, particularly in the sce-
be stripped bare in a couple of hours.
Colt revolvers earned their place as an icon in American history, and

now they will forge a new chapter in Americas future. The Colt Cobra
features one of the finest double action triggers available today. The fiber
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COLT.COM 800.962.COLT
FACEBOOK.COM/COLTFIREARMS
@COLTFIREARMS
ZERO DS
Likewise, with the contents of the
underground tanks at your neighborhood gas station. Should the power
grid go down for a prolonged period
(EMP, cyber attack, or plain old cascading failure due to antiquated infrastructure take your pick), then well
see just how many meals away from
societal breakdown we really are. Having transport that can operate independent of 21st century infrastructure
is certainly appealing, and an electric
bike coupled with a photovoltaic solar
generating system allows you to do just
that. Getting bored with sitting around
waiting for societal collapse? Hop on
the DS and go for a hoon.
As I pulled the key out of the Zeros
master switch (there is, after all no ignition on an electric bike), my buddy
IS SUE
2 9
greeted me with a nod and an approv-
148
ing, Hey, good-looking bike. It wasnt

until wed exchanged further pleasantries that I pointed out the lack of an
exhaust and waited for the other SIDI to
drop. Holy shit, is that thing electric?
Hows the ride? Well, were pleased to
report that the rides pretty good.
LIVING WITH THE ZERO DS

One of the first adjustments you have
to make regards the lack of either a
Forget any preconceived ideas about

it being the Prius of
bikes. The Zero DS
looks the part and
offers 60 HP and 81
lb-ft of torque.
clutch or gears. Theres nothing for your
power pack and the upgraded Power
left hand or foot to do, and on numer-
Tank, we managed around 100 miles
ous times I caught myself pulling in a
before needing to recharge, which is ac-
phantom clutch lever and stabbing a toe
complished by simply sticking one end
at non-existent cogs. Instead, theres
of a power cord into a wall outlet and
nothing but pure, seamless torque all
the other into the socket in the bikes
the way from standstill to triple digits.
frame. No special hardware required.
Once manufacturers started putting
Running around town, rather than blast-
high-performance motors in electric
ing down freeways almost doubles your
bikes, there was a spate of high-side
range, as the benefits of regenerative
accidents where riders grabbed a
braking come into play.
handful of throttle and the bike then
Most Japanese dual sports arrive in
gave exactly what they demanded. This
the United States with their suspen-
resulted in spinning up the rear tire,
sion set up to accommodate the more
whereupon the rider would wind off the
petite riders from the land of the rising
power, the tire would grip, and the bike
sun, and can be overwhelmed when
would launch the rider into the weeds.
asked to cope with supporting a corn-
These days, power delivery is managed
fed American. Not so with the Zero.
by a computer, and you can select just
Its suspenders are definitely oriented
how aggressively it comes on tap by
toward pavement use (the designers ac-
means of either the dashboard menu or
curately predicted thats where the bike
an app.
will spend 95 percent of its time) and
Power is stored in lithium batteries,

and in our test model, we opted for the
provide plenty of feedback.

The USD Showa forks are adjustable
additional range offered by a second set
for preload, rebound, and compression
of cells. Between the standard Z-Force
damping and while they wouldnt be out
ZERO DS
of place on sport bike, theyre a little
stiff for sustained off-road thrashing.
Brakes are strong and linear, benefiting
from assistance offered from the bikes
motor when it switches to generator
mode. Overall ergonomics are roomy
and comfortable if the battery pack
would allow it, a 300-mile day wouldnt
be a chore, though the lack of wind
protection leaves the rider feeling like
theyve been sparring with Pat Mac after
30 minutes at highway speeds.
Showa 41mm rear

shock is adjustable
for rebound, compression, and preload.
Charger cord plugs
into the frame.
If loud pipes save lives, then the Zero

DS might just be the most dangerous
bike in the world. Its hard to get used
to the almost complete absence of noise
and there were many times when wed
pull into an office parking space and be
strolling past the front desk before the
receptionist looked up from their Face-
IS SUE
2 9
book feed. Figuring this might just be
150
the bikes strongest suit in a post-apocalyptic world, one night we disconnected

the headlight wiring harness and taped
off its display, then spent an interest-
Aluminum wheels
betray its street
focus wed like to
see some old-school
wire spokes for offroad use.
ing couple of hours cruising around

on NODs, completely blacked out and
almost silent apart from the crunch of
tires on gravel. Stealth mode level 10.
The Zero DS and its ilk offer an interesting alternative to solvent-powered
motorcycling. Although theyre not at
production levels that allow them to
compete on price with a regular dual
sport, theyre getting there. While other
electric vehicles are dependent on dedicated charging stations, here theres no
such restriction, and the ability to re-
Dashboard displays
power delivery profile,
as well as remaining range. We found
ourselves glancing
nervously at it on
longer rides.
charge from either a solar array and battery bank or a generator could be a huge
benefit in a grid-down scenario. Theres
little doubt that well see more EVs of
all types in the coming years, especially as battery technology (and range)
advances. No, were not about to swap
our entire fleet of two-wheeled gassers
for electric bikes, but this one plugs a
capability gap, and thats enough to get
the wheels turning ....
Zero Motorcycles: www.zeromotorcycles.com
Front binders are

J-Juan asymmetric
two-pot calipers tied
to a Bosch Gen 9
ABS system. Despite
the 450-pound curb
weight of the DS plus
its extra battery pack,
they had no problem
stopping it.
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THE 145-YEAR-OLD
INSTITUTION
NEEDS PEOPLE LIKE
30-YEAR-OLD
ADAM KRAUT
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2 9
ON ITS BOARD
STORY BY RECOIL STAFF

PHOTOS BY JOHNNY DANGER
PHOTOGRAPHY
154
Love or hate the National Rifle Association, there is arguably no national
organization thats done as much for as
long to protect and expand your rights
as a shooter.
Eligible members will elect the NRAs
76-person board of directors this spring.
If youre a life member, or have been
a member for five or more consecutive
years, youre eligible to vote, and in
doing so, help define the organizations
path through its leadership.
The board members, serving threeyear terms, define the direction the
organization takes on issues of interest
to American gun owners, as well as
those that affect the organization
itself. Were talking about the way the
NRA gets behind U.S. Supreme Court
nominees and national concealed-carry
legislation to the selection of exhibits
the NRA museum displays and the direction the NRAs dozens of education
and outreach programs take.
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2 9
ADAM KRAUT
156
While there are 76 board mem-
specializing in firearm issues and the
bers, its safe to say the majority are
manager of Kings Shooter Supply in
bring to the NRA if elected to its board
older, well-established white guys.
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Its hard
of directors. What follows is an edited
This explains why the NRA pumps the
as hell for an outsider (that is, someone
version of our exchange.
memberships dollars into traditional,
not put on the ballot by the boards own
one-handed, timed-fire pistol matches
selection committee) to get elected. So,
RECOIL: Whats your position on the
while its slower to adopt more modern
we at RECOIL want to make sure fellow
repeal of the Hughes Amendment to
competition formats, such as three-gun
NRA voters recognize at least one of
the Firearm Owners Protection Act of
and other practical shooting disciplines.
the non-establishment candidates on
1986?
that ballot youll get in the mail. We
Adam Kraut: I would like to see the
NRAs ability to remain relevant in its
know and like Adam and think he rep-
Hughes Amendment be repealed so
efforts to protect our gun rights while
resents the younger attitudes the NRA
that individuals like myself are able
promoting the safe use of firearms is
so desperately needs to understand in
to purchase or make machine guns.
to make sure its leadership reflects the
order to continue to effectively support
Id love an MP5, M16, and a few
outlook of its membership.
American firearms owners.
other machine guns. Who doesnt like
We think one of the keys to the
To that end, wed like to introduce
RECOILs editorial board pitched a
30-year-old Adam Kraut. Hes a lawyer
bunch of positional questions to Kraut
in an effort to understand what hed
machine guns, other than people who

havent shot them?
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D I O P T I C A L U S A . C O M
S I G H T
EAGLE 1
Mod:
ADAM KRAUT
Where do you believe the NRAs legislative priorities should lie?
AK: There are four big things I would
like to see the NRA tackle. The NRA
should pursue the Hearing Protection
Act, national concealed-carry reciprocity, funding federal firearms relief
determinations, and push to revisit
the sporting purposes exception thats
made a number of guns and ammunition unable to be imported.
Whats the biggest threat to the
Second Amendment and what can the
NRA do to combat it?
AK: I think the biggest threat will be
the complacency amongst gun owners.
When there is a president such as
Obama or a candidate such as Hillary, people are more inclined to get
IS SUE
2 9
involved, but when things are good and
158
appear favorable, the surge to push for

gun rights seems to relax.
Fear mongering is not a tactic that
I like to see employed, regardless of
the circumstances. The problem, like
anything political, is finding a way to
get people involved. The conversation
needs to change from defending gun
rights to advancing them and getting people excited to be part of the
process.
Many proponents of the Second
Amendment are calling for the abolishment of the BATFE. Do you agree or
disagree? Why?
AK: I would like to see the ATF disbanded. Im not particularly a fan of
government regulation. ATF has had a
troubled history and a lot of questionable judgment calls on any number of
matters.
The question then becomes who
regulates the firearms world? I guarantee if ATF were to be disbanded the
regulations would not simply disappear
overnight. Likely, it would end up with
FBI running the show, which may or
may not be a bad thing.
ADAM KRAUT
Gun-Free-Zones: Should there be any
limits on Americans ability to carry
lawfully owned guns in any location
they choose?
AK: Property rights have been one
of the most coveted rights here in
the United States since the founding
of the country. The Second Amendment was not designed to regulate
property owners, but rather prevent
the government from infringing on a
preexisting right.
With regard to governments attempting to regulate the carrying of
a firearm on property owned by it, I
dont believe they should be able to
outright ban it.
Is there such a thing as sensible gun
Adam Kraut
laws? If so, explain.
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2 9
AK: If the question is being coined
160
HOMETOWN:
West Chester, PA
in the context of restrictions, I dont

think so. Freedom is a scary thing,
isnt it? While Im not for the government mandating people do something,
Id think a sensible gun law would be
AK: The NRA has to fix its public
AK: The NRA is continuing to invest
something where it required some sort
image. Its currently viewed by many,
in the next generation of shooters with
of education on safe gun handling, etc.
even gun owners, as an organization
grants, etc.
For all these cries of sensible gun laws
that is extremist. The way the media
from those opposed to guns, they sure
paints the NRA in its description of
an outreach of firearms education
dont seem to be offering any solutions
it, you would think it was some kind
programs in schools. Starting with
that might have an impact on acciden-
of terrorist organization. The fact
Eddie Eagle for the younger kids, to
tal deaths like education.
remains; the NRA is an educational
safe firearms handling when they get
organization first and foremost.
older and a revitalization of firearms
What are your thoughts on the barrage
I want to see this strengthened with
shooting sports with the high school
of requests for money by the NRA of
Both Tom Selleck and R. Lee Ermey
its members?
are up for reelection this year. Do you
AK: The NRA needs money to oper-
have the mustache or eyebrows to
at summer camp and the ammo (and
ate. It is the reality of running any
challenge either of these men for their
likely the guns) were purchased with
organization. There is an overhead to
seats?
funds from the NRA. As with every-
running the organization before you
AK: I probably lack the facial hair to
thing, the next generation is going to
get into the other expenses it has. The
compete, but to be fair, Tom Selleck
be the ones the torch gets passed to.
fact of the matter is that the requests
has 41 years on me and R. Lee Ermey
We might as well give them the tools to
for donations works, and I do not see
has 42 years on me. Thats a lot of time
be ready to take it.
the organization stopping those any
to grow such well-known facial hair.
aged kids.
I learned to shoot in Boy Scouts
PERSONALLY OWNED
FIREARMS:
Mix of shotguns, rifles, and
handguns. I love my AR-15s;
I swear theyre reproducing
in the safe.
EDC:
Glock 19 in a PHLster
Skeleton Gen 2, Snake Eater
Tactical IWB magazine
pouch, Boxer Tactical Zenith
Belt, Benchmade Griptillian
FAVORITE PASSAGE IN
THE USC:
16 U.S.C. 1a-7b
FAVORITE FILM:
Blazing Saddles
LAST BOOK READ:
The Founders Second
Amendment by Stephen
Halbrook
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Eagle Scout
INSTAGRAM:
@theadamkraut
TWITTER:
@Kraut4NRA
time soon.
What is something the NRA is doing
You can find this complete interview
What is something the NRA needs to
absolutely right, something successful
on RECOILWEB.com. Also, check out
fix? Not a minor tweak or an adjust-
and appropriate for the current socio-
Kraut on The Gun Collectives Legal
ment. A full-blown repair.
political climate?
Brief at www.theguncollective.com.
FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/
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URL:
www.adamkraut.com
2 9
IS SUE
164
FROM DILLINGER
TO OMAHA BEACH,
THE THOMPSON STILL
STANDS AS AN ODE TO
FIREPOWER INNOVATION
STORY BY JAMIE SLAUGHTER
PHOTOS BY TERRA PICCIRILLI AND 2NDAPHOTOGRAPHY
General John Thompson worked
nately for the Central Powers, Thomp-
The Thompson evolved over time.
diligently from 1915 to 1918 to create
son did not get his invention perfected
The 1919 Thompson (an extreme rarity
an automatic weapon that was small,
in time.
on todays market) was produced in
Nor was Thompsons new weapon
very limited numbers. The first pro-
fire. There was certainly a market for
the first of its kind. The German MP18
duction model Thompson, the 1921,
it in Europe. The Western Front was
was the first proper submachine gun to
established the Thompsons fearsome
awash in blood, grime, and destruc-
enter service in any numbers. However,
reputation. The 1921 and its extreme-
tion, and, worst of all, stalemate. The
the MP18 is now an obscurity. Few
ly high rate of fire at 1,200 rpm was
close-quarter fighting that occurred
people know about it. The Thompson
brutally effective at close range, even
when one side actually made it to the
or Tommy Gun, Chicago Typewriter,
when saddled with the cumbersome
enemy trenches was medieval; clubs
Trench Broom, or any number of other
50- or 100-round drum.
and knives were often used more than
nicknames for the series of weapons
long unwieldy rifles. John Thompsons
is legendary. Its one of the few fire-
may no longer have been at war on a
compact automatic weapon would be
arms even the most junior aficionados
national level, but brushfire wars were
perfect for this environment. Fortu-
can identify from a black silhouette.
rampant. The Thompson won its spurs
ergonomic, and had a high rate of
In the 1920s and 1930s the world
TOMMY BOY
December 7, 1941, changed every-
in conflicts such as the Irish War of Independence and the Mine Wars in the
thing. The United States was at war
rear sight was replaced with a simple
United States (an excellent research
and it needed to expand its military
L leaf protected by a set of rabbit
topic for those of you concerned about
rapidly. The Thompson was highly
ears. The charging handle was moved
your rights). The Prohibition Era filled
desirable, but it was complicated and
from the top of the receiver to the right
in the blanks on its effectiveness and
time consuming to build. The U.S.
side. The barrel fins were removed.
ultimately sealed its reputation.
military wanted its firepower and ef-
The compensator was eliminated. The
fectiveness, but had to find a way to
slots allowing the use of the drum
make it more efficient to build and
magazine (which was questionably
field. The M1A1 Thompson was the
effective for combat use anyway) was
ultimate result.
removed. The buttstock was fixed.
By World War II, several countries,

including the United States, Great
Britain, and, believe it or not, France,
used the Thompson. The 1928
Thompson was the most prevalent at
the time with a slower rate of fire at
about 800 rpm and a compensator
fitted as standard. However, the 1928
was complicated and time consuming to build. The mechanical delayed
blowback principle on which it operated was made possible by the Blish
Block system. The 1921 and 1928
IS SUE
2 9
were products of their age when even
166
exterior. The finely machined Lyman
military rifles looked opulent by our

modern standards.
The M1As front

sight is vastly
simplified compared
to the beautifully
machined (though
largely ineffectual)
Cutts compensator
found on the 1928
version.
The M1A1 offered a number of
The greatest changes were internal.
simplifications over earlier models.
The M1A1s bolt was far easier to ma-
Many of these are easy to see from the
chine, and was now a simple blowback
Minimalist
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TOMMY BOY
design. The bolt on the M1A1 also
military 1928 will put you back on the
areas across Europe, the Thompson
had the firing pin permanently fixed
current U.S. market.
was a fearsome opponent.
The Thompsons reputation was
to the bolt face. The resulting firearm
furthered in British service. While only
design, the Thompson was still a time-
States throughout the remainder of
one Royal Marine Commando unit
consuming gun to manufacture. During
World War II, alongside many 1928s,
used the M1 Garand to any extent dur-
the course of World War II, additional
and a few 1921s converted to 1928
ing World War II, virtually all of them
research and development resulted
models, now generally referred to as,
used Thompsons. British infantry
in the M3 Grease Gun which, with
21/28 overstamps.
loved the Thompson, and it served
little imagination, one might describe
The Thompson in all of its variants
everywhere they did, including north
as an American STEN, being a mostly
served on virtually every front during
Africa and Italy. The Jewish Brigade
sheetmetal alternative to the primarily
World War II. Large numbers of 1928
was said to have fumed after they
milled Thompson. By late 1944, the
Thompsons were even sent to the
were told to turn in their Thompsons
M3 and the Thompson were serving
Soviets and were used to some effect.
for STENs in Italy.
side by side.
However, many of these went unused
While shot placement was and is
and, about a decade ago, large num-
still the arbiter of effectiveness in in-
the Thompson. Many U.S. units kept
bers came into the U.S. as parts kits
capacitating an enemy, the Thompson
Thompsons in their TO&E for some
was slinging out 230-grain bullets,
time. The Thompson was used in
almost fully twice the mass of most
decreasing numbers after World War
period 9mm Parabellum bullets at
II, but the USA and its allies fielded
123 or 124 grains, at 800 rpm in
it to some extent through Vietnam
the 1928 and about 650 rpm in the
and beyond. The U.S. Navy had some
M1A1.
M1A1 In the jungles of the South Pa-
Thompsons aboard ships as late as
cific
and wooded
ifi and in
i street fights
fi
t e 1970s.
9 0s
the
in mint condition except, of course,

for the chopped receivers. I recently
handled another one of these Soviet
IS SUE
2 9
Thompsons in Slovenia, again in mint
168
Despite efforts to simplify its
was ubiquitous and served the United
condition, except fully intact and operable with a $500 price tag compared
to the $30,000
,
or so a transferable
Although many
machining steps had
been eliminated by
the time WWII rolled
around, that receiver
still started out as a
25-pound bar of SAE
1141 pre-hardened
steel.
World War II did not spell the end of
IS SUE
2 9
TOMMY BOY
170
the long rifle, the 73 Colt, the 73 Win-
Hollywood loved the Thompson

as well, and it still does. While
chester, or the 1911, the Thompson
Hollywood loves to tell us how evil
certainly deserves a place on the bal-
guns are, and how we (the lessers in

their eyes) should be happily disarmed,
Hollywood has done nothing but
M1A1
Thompson
CALIBER:
.45 ACP
lot. Its dependability, durability, and

brutal effectiveness in close quarters
from the streets of Chicago to the
OAL:
ruins of Cassino earned it a place
legendary guns, such as the Thomp-
32 inches
in firearms history. While more mod-
son. Films such as Road to Perdition,
10.5 inches
increase the publics fascination with
and The Untouchables showcased the
BARREL LENGTH:
ACTION:
ern SMG/PDW designs, like the Uzi,

MP5, and now MP7, have sprung
Thompson in its Prohibition Era envi-
Air-cooled blowback
ronment. Other films and series such
650 to 700 rpm
man would consider turning down
as Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and
WEIGHT:
a Thompson for close-quarters
Saving Private Ryan, also prominently

feature the Thompson.
While it is certainly debatable what
the most American gun might be,
RATE OF FIRE:
10.6 pounds
up over the years, only a foolish
CAPACITY:
fighting, and in the hands of a
20- or 30-round
magazine
skilled opponent, only a com-
EFFECTIVE RANGE:
plete idiot would disrespect it
Up to 150 m
because of its age.
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2 9
IS SUE
174
DOUBLE ACTION AUTO

THE PROS AND CONS,
PLUS TIPS ON HOW TO
BETTER SHOOT THE
LONG-PULL TRIGGER!
STORY BY ERNEST LANGDON
PHOTOS BY SHIN TANAKA
Nobodys perfect! Before reading this

article, take a moment and remember
the time you accidentally dropped
your phone, stubbed your toe on the
wall that had to have moved, or made
a mistake that you thought was right.
Yes, youre human it happens.
When it comes to handguns, the extra
margin of safety in the traditional
TM
VZWEAPONSOLUTIONS.COM
THE LONG PULL

double action semi-automatic handgun
double action trigger pull, but its by
(DA Auto) is driving its resurgence. Far
no means an insurmountable task.

The long first trigger pull is too dif-
from it being a handicap, many of the
ficult for an accurate first shot. No, the
a DA Auto. The truth is that holstering
are using double action/single action
long first trigger pull isnt too difficult
a DA Auto with its hammer back isnt
(DA/SA) handguns in national and
to achieve an accurate first shot; with
much different than holstering many
world practical competition, against
correct training and technique it can
striker-fired guns on the market. Look
guys running the latest striker-fired
become second nature. The first pull
closely at the inner workings of many
handguns. Is that pure coincidence? I
is longer, which requires the shooter to
striker-fired pistols and youll see that
dont think so.
stay focused on aiming the gun and the
most of the newer, most popular striker-
intent of the first shot. Not only does
fired guns have a fully cocked striker,
fired handguns and double action
this decrease the odds of anticipating
essentially making it a single action gun
autos, lets take a look at the pros and
the first shot, but it often results in bet-
with no external safety apart from the
cons of a DA system and some the of
ter accuracy than a single action pull.
one in the trigger face. You know, the
Its hard to train people to de-cock
one that gets disengaged if you shove
the reasons Ive chosen to stick with

a DA Auto. Then well discuss ways to
before holstering. We dont want them
it in a holster with a bit of your shirt in
master that long pull trigger, and what
holstering with the hammer back. Lets
there ....
to look for in a DA pistol.
take a step back here. So we believe we

can train people to always keep their
THE CONS
IS SUE
2 9
Common reasons people choose not
time. This same standard should be applied to your manual of arms training for
top Production division competitors
With a clear division between striker-
176
and we train to that standard all the
to use the DA auto include:

I dont want to train to use two
trigger pulls. You have to make it a
point to focus on training for that first
Langdon training a
group of civilians
and law enforcement personnel at
a class hosted by
Performance Firearms
Training.
finger straight and outside the trigger
THE PROS
Confidence under extreme stress.
guard unless theyre ready to shoot, but
Lets face it the first shot is the one
supposedly teaching them to de-cock is
that usually gets people in trouble. Ive
too difficult? Most trainers believe that
traveled the world, training shooters
carbines and 1911s should be put back
with varying skill levels. I still have to
on safe if youre not actively engaging,
tell people all the time, Keep your fin-
THE LONG PULL

ger straight! Even the elite and most
well trained shooters often need this
reminder. Most of the guys I work with
consider themselves to be well-trained,
yet when I say finger straight at the
ready, they have to look down at their
A sexy example of a
full custom Wilson
Combat Beretta 92A1
build. Features a
shortened barrel with
recessed crown, carry
bevel, and ARMORTUFF finish.
own hand to realize Im talking to them.

In structured force-on-force training,
its alarming to see the number of people who put their finger on the trigger
when they get scared and amped up.
Under extreme stress, people resort to
putting their finger on the trigger when
they shouldnt, and the phenomenon of
finger checking is well documented.
The distance of the trigger travel is
what helps keep people out of trouble
with a DA gun.
Aggressive to the trigger, with
confidence! The first shot with a DA
IS SUE
2 9
handgun has an advantage for most
178
practical, real world shooters. Once

the decision has been made to shoot,
a shooter can be really aggressive to
the trigger and start pulling it much
earlier in the presentation to the target
than would be possible with a singleaction or striker-fired gun. For me, the
biggest difference is that I have confidence that the gun wont fire before
Wilsons G conversion makes the

slide-mounted safety/
decocker lever function like Berettas
G models as a
decocker only. Anyone
whos unintentionally
put their 92 on safe
when manipulating
the slide may appreciate this modification.
Additionally, the single
side Wilson lever
dispenses with the
ambidextrous lever on
the right side.
Im ready. Real success with a DA gun

comes from combining the presentation of the pistol, aiming the gun, and
pulling the trigger at the same time.
The last part of the presentation to the
target combines aiming and pulling
through the rest of the double action
trigger pull. With a single action or
striker-fired gun, I have to wait until
the last millisecond of the presentation and aiming to start pulling the
trigger. Getting on the trigger early on
a striker-fired mechanism leads to bad
things happening.
Complete control of firing mechanism
when holstering. For years, Ive taught
shooters to put their strong thumb on
the hammer when holstering a DA Auto.
This accomplishes two things:
You know and can feel that youve
The front strap is

hand checkered,
with clearance for a
SureFire DG pressure
switch. Note the
ultrathin Wilson
Combat G10 grips,
great for those who
find the 92 too chunky.
IS SUE
2 9
THE LONG PULL
180
de-cocked the gun when you holster.

You have total control over the hammer and the firing mechanism.
If anything gets into the trigger
guard, youll feel the hammer move
long before the gun fires, allowing you
the opportunity to stop and fix the prob-
Real success with

a DA gun comes
from combining the
presentation of the
pistol, aiming the gun,
and pulling the trigger
at the same time.
after pull. A consistent trigger leads
to accelerate at the end of the pull to
to faster and more accurate follow up
finish and get to the shot. For proper
shots no matter the shooter.
double-action trigger control, you want

to focus on stroking the trigger. Keep a
TRAINING FOR SUCCESS WITH

THE DOUBLE-ACTION SHOT
One of the first things to learn is
constant, consistent speed.
WHAT DO I LOOK FOR IN A

DOUBLE-ACTION AUTO?
lem before something bad happens.
trigger finger placement. The double
With the popularity of appendix carry,
action trigger pull often requires the
many people have switched back to
shooter to put more trigger finger on or
is where the trigger pull breaks. The
double action handguns for this type of
past the trigger than you would with a
point at which the trigger breaks in
carry due to the added safety a hammer
1911-type single action. When learn-
double action mode and single action
fired gun provides. Ive personally been
ing to pull a double action trigger, try
mode should be as close as possible.
on the range when someone holstered a
sticking more trigger finger in and past
This allows you to train your trigger
striker-fired gun with a shirt in the trig-
the trigger, providing more leverage for
finger to go back to the same spot to
ger guard, ending with a loud noise and
you to pull the trigger straight to the
release the trigger and cause the gun
a trip to the ER.
rear. Test this in dry fire, with the goal
to fire, whether in double action or
of the hammer falling with no move-
single action. Some DA autos release
ment of your sight picture at all.
the hammer in double action mode
Better trigger pull after the first shot.

One of the reasons that many people
love the DA Auto is that after that first
The key is to pull through the double
One of the key features in a DA Auto
at a much earlier point in the trigger
shot, you have a great single action trig-
action trigger at a constant speed.
pull than in single action mode. This
ger. The triggers on traditional DA/SA
It can be very fast, but it needs to
causes an excessive amount of over-
handguns have crisp, consistent trigger
be consistent. The trap that many
travel in double action and makes the
pulls each time in single action, while
DA Auto shooters fall into is trying to
shooter hunt for the trigger prep point
most striker-fired guns have a spongier,
finish the DA pull by speeding up at
in single action. I believe this makes it
less consistent pull for every shot the
the end. We start to pull the trigger
much harder to learn to shoot well with
way they break isnt as consistent pull
smoothly and consistently, and then try
such a handgun.
THE LONG PULL

same place double- and single-action.
When you come back to the trigger for
the second shot, the trigger is in the
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
same place. You dont have to search
Ernest Langdon has 12 years active duty as a U.S.
for it. Thats why you can transition
Marine and 19 years in the firearms industry. His
from double to single so easily with a
duties in the Marine Corps include participation
Beretta. There are also many other
in military operations all over the world, including
great DA Autos out there in many differ-
Panama, Cuba, Philippines, and the Persian Gulf. He
ent sizes, shapes, and calibers.
served as the Chief Instructor of the Second Marine

Division Scout Sniper School and the High Risk
GIVE IT A TRY
Personnel Course as well as the Platoon Sergeant
The reason the double action auto came
of a Close Quarters Battle (CQB) and Designated
into existence was to give users a more
Marksman (DM) teams and a Scout Sniper Platoon.
forgiving trigger option in a semi-auto

pistol. Users, mainly law enforcement
Ernest is a graduate of 40 formal shooting schools
and the military, wanted the capacity
and four anti-terrorism schools with instructor
and shootability of the single action
certifications from the FBI, NRA, US Army, US
auto with the safety of a revolver. I think
Marine Corps and is a California POST Certified
those reasons still stand true today
Firearms Instructor. Langdon has accumulated
and the DA Auto is still a very safe and
over 1,500 hours of formal instruction on the use
logical answer for many users. At the
of firearms since 1985. Hes also a graduate of
very least, its worth a try. It might even
US Army Ranger School, Navy SCUBA School, US
Wilson, president and owner of Wilson
make you a better more, well-rounded
Army Airborne School, US Army HALO School, and
Combat says, If you look where the
pistol shooter by practicing on a DA
both USMC Scout Sniper School and Scout Sniper
trigger is when the hammer falls on a
auto, no matter what gun you ultimately
Instructor School.
Beretta, the trigger is in basically the
choose.
One of the reasons Ive chosen to

run the Beretta 92 platform is that I
feel it has the best double action pull
and the closest release points for both
IS SUE
2 9
double action and single action trigger
182
pulls. In his new book, Gun Guy, Bill
One reason Langdon

favors the Beretta 92
is that the positions
at which the trigger
breaks in double action and single action
modes are very close.
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IS SUE
186
R R
A
RA-
R
RIOUS ABOUT
MINDSET AND
ATTITUDE,
LAYING DOWN
SOME TRUTH
AND WISDOM.
READ UP.
STORY BY PAT MCNAMARA
The topic of mindset is subject to

interpretation. To me, mindset and attitude are synonymous. Ones mindset
can be cultured, matured, and adjusted. The definition of mindset is a
mental attitude, disposition, or mood
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reviews of the latest gear, gadgets, and supplies.
WORDS TO LIVE BY
Years ago, I fell into despair, as many
Americans do, due to some life-altering
events. The lens through which we view
life can become distorted by domestic
issues, financial strife, and overwhelming workloads. As a result, your mindset
and attitude may end up in the crapper.
For me, it was a combo platter, and my
darkness, masked by a lot of faking,
lasted for more than a year.
For one, I missed the camaraderie
of being a part of a unit with such a
level of intimacy with those surrounding you that cant be found in many
places. That was coupled with a horrible support mechanism on the home
front. When I found myself in a dark
place, my self-diagnosis, with a little
help from a Google search, concluded
that I was depressed. My prognosis,
IS SUE
2 9
naturally, was that depression is for
188
pussies. I know now that depression

is very serious and shouldnt be taken
lightly, but thats what I plugged into
my pea brain at the time.
I nearly capitulated to darkness. But
something reminded me that life isnt
objective. I knew that I couldnt simply
go with the flow. Life is malleable.
My remedy was to go for a run not
across Greenbow County like Forrest
Gump. I just went out and burned up
the pavement for a bit. I knew I needed an attitude adjustment. I needed to
adjust my mindset the mindset that
was already engraved in my hard drive.
I just had to dig into the recesses and
adjust it. My timing was out of whack
a bit, and I wasnt running on all eight
cylinders.
Some time back, I was a part of a
small group of individuals who had the
mindset that there was and there is
no second place. It wasnt shouted in
some lame mantra nor was there any
chest pounding. Its a fundamental
mindset that resonates with certain
people or groups of people. That mindset had become an ember, and I just
needed to set fire to it again.
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WORDS TO LIVE BY
However, were all hardwired differently. Not all of us can put our minds
to achieving a grandiose task of epic
proportion and succeed at it. Not all of
us can light a match that ignites dark
and scary thoughts either. Regardless,
theres fire within us all that allows us
to be whom we want to be. We can
choose our own paths.
But following through and delivering is another story. Not only can a
bad sequence of events put you in a
downer of a mood, but it can spiral to
the point where you question your selfworth. Dont look where you dont want
to go. Before you buy a ticket to the
pity party, remember that the world is
bigger than you and we are.
The mind navigates the body. In
other words, how you think will deter-
IS SUE
2 9
mine your attitude and mindset. The
190
brain intuitively tells the body what to

do mindset, to what degree.
My mindset has directives that give
me direction. I have jotted down some
of these directives below. Im willing to
bet that you and I will parallel on some.
Maintain condition yellow. Stay out of
the white. Stay switched on instead of
switched off.
Take the stairs instead of the escalator. Take my own path and stay away
from the sheeple.
Workout several times a week because a strong body equals a strong
mind. My mindset preprograms how
and what Ill attack in the gym the day
before I get there.
Never be late, light, or out of uniform. If Im not early, Im late. And
if Im late, please come look for me
because Im probably face down in a
ditch somewhere.
The best way to get out of an
altercation is not to be there in the
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WORDS TO LIVE BY
someone elses life, or to kick someones ass.
Check my anger. Though I will not be
victimized, I should exercise keen intellect instead of rage when avoiding being
victimized by some dumb c***. Mind
you, there are a lot of them out there.
And theres no cure for being a c***.
Ill try at all costs to defuse a situation
before I crush a dipsh*ts windpipe.
Limits begin where vision ends. We
cannot outperform our self-image.
Positive mental attitude goes a long
way in training and in day-to-day life.
competition, and I can do better at
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
anything than anybody. Is that true?
Pat (Mac) McNamara
No. It doesnt have to be true.
has 22 years of special
2 9
My mind says that everything is a
IS SUE
operations experience,
Dont rest on my laurels. Whats done
192
13 of which were in the
is done. Yesterday doesnt mean shit
U.S. Armys 1st SFOD-D
unless you can perform tomorrow.
(Delta). He has extensive
experience in hostile
Dont underestimate anyone. Looks
fire/combat zones in
can be deceiving. Cunning and moxie
the Middle East and
rule the day.
Eastern Europe. He trains

individuals at basic
Dont be a dick. It doesnt resonate
first place. But when things escalate,
Treat my lady like the queen that she
Ill put a fist through the face of the
is. Worship the ground she walks on and
antagonist who closes the gap.
make sure shes satisfied before I am.
I will not draw my pistol with the
Do whats right instead of doing the
and advanced levels
well. Id rather have assets than li-
of marksmanship and
abilities.
combat tactics. Based

on his wide-ranging
My mindset reminds me that my
experience, McNamara
positives outnumber my negatives. I
emphasizes a continuous
look forward to every tomorrow and
thought process and
remember whats good about the past.
accountability, utilizing
intent to merely aim and give warning.
right thing. Innately, human beings
We shouldnt data dump the bads
a training methodology
If Ive made the decision to draw, Im
know right from wrong. We should be
from yesterday, but learn from them.
that is safe, effective,
dropping the hammer with precision
good to others and do whats right
Fail quickly. When sh*t doesnt go our
and combat relevant. He
and lethality.
instead of doing the right thing to ap-
way, we need to learn from the past,
retired from the Armys
pease someone of some higher power.
prepare for the future, and perform in
premier hostage-rescue
the present.
unit as a sergeant
Drive like the roads are a chess match.

There are a lot of pawns on the board.
Train on the range with an objective and

with intensity. Perform at the next level.
My mindset allows me to be intro-
Attitudes and strong mindset can
major and is the author
be contagious. A negative attitude can
of T.A.P.S. (Tactical
adversely affect those around you.
Application of Practical
Shooting) and Sentinel.
spective and to recognize my faults
Dont plan to fail by failing to plan.
Conversely, you can spread positivity
and weaknesses. It states, You can
Be prepared for whatever may come.
by emitting a kick-ass pheromone of
probably do better.
I need to be prepared to save my life,
badassery.
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WARNING!
IS SUE
2 9
The exercises and

content expressed in
this column are for
illustrative purposes
only. Consult your
physician before
trying any physical
activity or nutritional
plan. RECOIL and
its contributors are
not responsible for
any harm or injuries
sustained while
attempting these
techniques.
200
Women are getting more and more
A PRIMER ON EXERCISES THATLL HELP YOU

MAINTAIN ACCURACY AND REDUCE FATIGUE
STORY AND PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA DAWN SMITCHKO
There seems to be endless information

out there for men on how to increase
better shape youre in, the longer you
involved in shooting sports, but
stay on the range and being fit in-
resources are limited for us. Being
creases your likelihood to perform at a
a female shooter can present some
high level, says Julie Golob, a multiple
issues men may not have. Women
World and National Shooting Cham-
have smaller frames than men, and
pion. When asked how she goes about
for the most part, many women do not
training, she responded, As an action
weight train or do manual labor nearly
shooter, my goal is to shoot through
as much as men (sorry to be so broad
stages as quickly as I can. I train hard
with this statement, but this is what
enough to work out so that I dont feel
Ive witnessed during my six years in
fatigue while I am shooting so I can
the fitness industry.)
perform my best when competing.
I decided to dig around a little to get
No matter what form of shooting
their range performance, but what
some of the leading experts opinions
you do, each type presents its own
about for women in particular?
on fitness and shooting sports. The
trials.
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THE
EXERCISES

BENCH REST SHOOTING/SILHOUETTE/SHOTGUN
Youre going to have better perfor-
in order to prevent fatigue. In addi-
mance and longevity behind the firearm
tion, being fit will help you increase
if your body is working properly, Hanna
agility, quickness, and reduce the risk
ing as well as hunting, but in order to
says. Youre going to have more suc-
of injury.
get some more insight on the fitness
cess if you understand athletic body
as it relates to combat, action, and
movement, especially when it comes to
Ive come up with upper body, lower
other forms of shooting applications,
the competitive realm.
body, and core exercises that address
I am familiar with bench rest shoot-
I reached out to some professionals

from within the industry.
Position, action, and combat shoot-
Combining all of the factors above,
and strengthen these particular areas.
ing all require tons of movement and
All of these exercises are beneficial
mobility. Both agility and stamina are
no matter what type of shooting you
tor in defensive tactics, expandable
imperative for achieving maximum per-
participate in. Id recommend doing
baton, defensive tactics, firearms and
formance, and therefore, muscles in
these exercises twice a week in order
fitness for the SIG SAUER Academy.
your legs need to be properly trained
to see the most results.
Hanna Bilodeau is a certified instruc-
UPPER BODY
1. Rotator Cuff Cable Rotations
For this exercise, you will stand parallel with the
cable machine and use the handle attachment.
Adjust the cable so it is about elbow height. Bend
IS SUE
2 9
your arm at a 90-degree angle and turn your arm
202
out and in.

What it does: This exercise is going to keep your
rotator cuffs strong to protect against injury while
shooting. It will help to strengthen the muscles
in your rotator cuff, making it easier to stabilize
your firearm.
Do three sets of 12 reps per arm

2. Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Grab a pair of dumbbells and sit on a bench with
a 90-degree angle. Make sure your back is completely straight and flat against the back of the
bench. Lift the dumbbells up to your shoulders.
This is your starting position. Press upward until
your arms are straight then lower back down to
your shoulders. This is one repetition. Make sure
in the bottom position you pause for one second
and get a good, deep stretch.
What it does: This will work your mid shoulder,
which is an essential part to any type of shooting.
For bench rest, shoulder strength is imperative for
consistent shoulder pressure. For position/practical
shooting, holding up a firearm for any length of time
can burn out your shoulders pretty quickly. This
exercise will also help increase muscular endurance.
Do four sets of 10
THE
EXERCISES
CORE
Core training is one of the most important parts of strength training. Your core muscles stabilize
and protect your spinal column, which is the essential part of movement. Having a stronger core
will help build more back support reducing likelihood of injury and increasing mobility.
1. Hanging Leg Raises
You can do this while hanging from
a pull-up bar or you can use one
of the special pieces of equipment
where you raise yourself up with
your forearms. Straighten legs
completely. Lift them straight out in
front of you until your legs are about
naval height, then lower back down.
This is one rep. If you are doing this
hanging from a pull-up bar, youre
going to notice that you swing a lot
TAKE IT UP
A NOTCH
In addition to weight training,
cardiovascular exercises can
also improve your performance
and endurance. When I asked
NRA instructor Kristy Titus how
she trains, she told me that she
participates in cardiovascular
activity to lower heart rate
and improve cardiovascular
endurance. She goes on to say,
A heart with a high number
of beats per minute does not
recover quickly. This can be
detrimental to stamina in shooting sports.
while doing it. Part of the challenge
Try adding in two to three cardio

sessions per week. Set it up
like this:
5-minute warm-up
150-second full out sprint
45 seconds moderate pace
Repeat the 15-second/45second alternation 15 times
5-minute cool down
IS SUE
2 9
is keeping your body from moving
204
throughout the exercise, which will

be easier as you strengthen those
muscles.
What it does: This exercise targets
your lower abdominals, which is
often the most neglected part of
your core.
Do three sets of 15 to 20 of these.

This setup can be adapted to
any form of cardio: biking, elliptical, treadmill, etc.
2. Frogs
Start seated on the floor with
your hands flat to either side of
your butt. You may need to start
with your hands further back
on the floor if you are having
trouble balancing. Extend your
legs straight out in front of you,
then bring them back in to your
chest. This is one rep. Your feet/
legs should not touch the floor
throughout the entire exercise.
What it does: This will hit your
mid and upper abdominals
which also contribute to overall
agility and spine support.
Do four sets of 10.
ROOKIE
MISTAKES
The biggest mistake I see
women make is not lifting
heavy enough because they
fear getting bulky. It takes
many, many years of hard,
heavy lifting to make a female
bulky. Make sure you are going
as heavy as you can while still
maintaining good form for all of
these exercises in order to get
the most out of them!
THE
EXERCISES
LOWER BODY
Lower body is perhaps most important for when it comes to agility. When youre moving quickly on your feet from stage to stage, having
strength in your lower body will help speed up your movements as well as prevent injury. When I asked Julie Golob what she feels working the
most when she is training, she responded, At the end of long or intense training sessions, I feel it in my legs from squatting and pushing off.
1. Squats
Ah, squats, the best exercise in the world! To perform these properly,
your feet should be shoulder width apart, toes straightforward. Place
the bar on a comfortable part of your traps behind your neck. Now
when you squat, think about breaking at the hip first, not the knee. So
think about pushing back with your butt until your legs are forced to
bend. Throughout the entire movement, try to make sure your knees
do not go your toes. Your knees should be right over your ankles as
much as possible. Make sure you go deep enough at least to parallel! On the way back up, think about squeezing your glutes and pushing up through your heels.
What it does: Squats are arguably the best exercise for lower body.
They work your quads, glutes, and their supporting muscles. Strength-
IS SUE
2 9
ening these muscles will give your legs more endurance so they dont
206
tire out as quickly. Strengthening these muscles will also enable you to
better navigate obstacles, increasing agility.
Do four sets, with reps numbering 12, 10, 8, and 6.

2. Step-Ups
For this exercise, get a box or use a bench with a comfortable height. The better you get at these, the higher
the box you will be able to use. Grab a pair of dumbbells and let them hang at your sides throughout the
whole movement. Start with one leg up on the box, and
step up until your leg on the box is straight. The most
important thing to think about when performing this
exercise is not to push off with the foot on the floor to
lift yourself up. Focus on using whichever leg is up on
the box to pull you up. Trust me, it changes everything
when you do it this way. Do the exercise on one leg,
then switch to the other.
What it does: This exercise is the best for working your
stabilizer muscles. It requires a lot a balance and you
may even notice your leg shakes a ton while you perform it. Working these stabilizer muscles will greatly reduce risk for injury especially in the knees and ankles.
Do three sets of 10 per leg.

Am I promising you will be the next world champion by following this program? No. But following it will improve your range performance, and maybe even make you look good doing it!
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Samantha Dawn Smitchko is an IFBB

Figure Pro and was 2014 NPC Nationals
Figure Champion. She is also a certified
personal trainer through the National
Academy of Sports Medicine. She has
worked in the firearms industry for the
past three years and is a passionate
long-range hunter and shooter.
www.samanthadawnsmitchko.com
www.facebook.com/sdsmitchko
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COLORS:
TM
Black, Coyote, Wolf, Kryptek , MultiCam , OD
$49
COLORS:
PRICE:
$107 ($120 padded)
PRICE:
$45 (unpadded)
COLORS:
Black, Coyote, Wolf, Foilage, MultiCam,

KrytptekTM., OD
PRICE:
$62
The patent-pending Vickers Combat Applications Sling has revolutionized the

way we carry automatic rifles. Developed
with industry friend, expert, and former
1st SFOD-Delta operational member Larry
Vickers, it incorporates key features from
real-world experience that makes the sling
effective and durable the choice sling
requested by name. The Vickers Sling
has been our most popular product of all,
with service in every branch of service here
at home, as well as several foreign militaries. As with all Blue Force Gear products,
the Vickers Sling is made with excellence
in the USA, is Berry Compliant, and carries
a limited lifetime warranty.
The Standard AK Sling was designed from

the ground up to be the perfect sling for
the worlds most prolific small arm to
match the qualities of the AK simple,
durable, functional, and economical. If
you have been long dissatisfied with the
issue canvas strap or cant seem to get
commercial slings to fit right, this sling is
for you. The Standard AK Sling comes with
a Molded Universal Wire Loop threaded
onto the front of the sling. As with all Blue
Force Gear products, the Vickers Sling is
made with excellence in the USA, is Berry
Compliant, and carries a limited lifetime
warranty.
The Vickers Cobra Sling is toughest sling

available, combining the Vickers Sling with
metal hardware and an AustriAlpin COBRA quick release buckle. The all-metal
sling features steel triglides, a machined
aluminum adjuster, and the sewn-in
quick release kit. The patented COBRA
buckle is a safe, load-bearing buckle are
individually load tested to 11kN or roughly
2,400 pound-force more than one would
ever need in a rifle sling. As with all Blue
Force Gear products, the Vickers Sling is
made with excellence in the USA, is Berry
Compliant, and carries a limited lifetime
warranty.
Dedicated single-point sling that is both

fast and comfortable. The UDCTM Sling has
2-inch inline padding, similar to the Padded Vickers SlingsTM for extra comfort that
ends in two sections of bungee. The bungee
has a travel of approximately 2 inches,
enough to absorb shock from movement or
transitions, but short enough to reduce the
risk of facial injuries or sagging weapons.
The overall length is adjustable, ambidextrous, and compatible with use over
body armor. As with all Blue Force Gear
products, the Vickers Sling is made with
excellence in the USA, is Berry Compliant,
and carries a limited lifetime warranty.
Rail
Mounted
Fixed Loop
(RMFL)
PRICE:
$33
Universal
Wire Loop
PRICE:
Starting at $25
ULOOP
PRICE:
$12
Universal
Wire Loop
w/Push
Button
Socket
PRICE:
The Rail Mounted Fixed Loop (RMFL) allows a quiet, secure sling
mounting loop to railed forends. Machined from aluminum and
hard-coat anodized, the RMFL provides a solid and silent sling
loop on MilSpec 1913 handguard rails (may require minor fitting
on others). This Rail Mounted Fixed Loop is issued with the USMC
M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, and is also approved for use with
the M4, M4A1, and M16A4.
The most versatile sling attachment points made. A flexible nylon-coated

stainless steel wire allows for a sling attachment through eyelets, loops,
slots, or any other opening that the wire fits through. The UWL is available in two sizes: a 6.25-inch length and one in 3.25-inch for different
applications. CNC machined from 6061-T6 aluminum billet. Nylon-coated stainless steel aircraft-grade cable is installed with ball-shank ends.
The result is a sling adapter with limitless uses. Quieter and stronger
than traditional hook attachments and wont wear through eyelets.
The ULoop brings a level of versatility that is unmatched by any

other sling hardware. Code named the Uber Loop, its a quickdetach version of our popular Universal Wire Loop, offering even
faster and easier installation, especially on smaller eyelets found
on HK, SIG, and FN weapons. The ULoop can be installed almost
anywhere through eyelets, holes in railed handguards, and on
KeyMod rails. Theres no need to have multiple sling attachments. The ULoop replaces all hooks, clips and connections.
Combines the unparalled versatility of the UWL with a push

button socket milled in to the sling loop. This allows for the
attachment of slings with push buttons directly to the UWL. The
patent-pending Universal Wire Loop allows the attachment of
a Vickers Combat Applications Sling to almost every weapon,
regardless of eyelets, loops, slots, rails, or attachment points.
$35
RED
Swivel
PRICE:
$35
Burnsed
Socket
PRICE:
$14.75 molded
$22 Aluminum
The RED Swivel is a true emergency quick release swivel that allows
the user to quickly free himself from his weapon for emergency
egress and other times when the user must untangle himself from
his weapon. The patented RED Swivel, or Rapid Emergency Detachment Swivel, replaces standard push-button sling swivels with a
pull-knob emergency release swivel that fits any standard pushbutton sockets, sockets inset in popular handguards and stocks,
the Burnsed Socket, or the Rail Mounted Push Button Socket.
The Burnsed Socket is a standalone part that turns a Vickers Combat

Applications Sling into a 2- to 1-point convertible sling when used in
conjunction with any push button. The Burnsed Socket was designed in
2005 as a key piece of hardware for the patented SOC-C Sling.
Also shown: Sling Sleeve: $6 Slings are essential for gun fighting,
but a pain in the gun safe, arms room, or backseat of your car if not
stowed properly a serious potential snag hazard. The Sling Sleeve is
a 5-inch-long tube of military grade elastic that holds your sling neat
and snag-free, but remains ready for instant deployment.
SPONSORED BY
PO BOX 853
POOLER, GA 31322
PHONE: (877)-430-2583
BFG Wallet
COLORS:
Black, Coyote, Wolf, OD,

MultiCam
PRICE:
$65
Blue Force Gear proudly offers you a wallet worthy of your

Always Better lifestyle.
A slim profile keeps you fast and light, while offering the
ability to carry all of essential daily items whether home or
abroad. The exterior is crafted entirely from our proprietary
ULTRAcomp, the same high-performance laminate we use
to build battle gear for elite commandos. Accented entirely
by BFG-Blue nylon thread that is subtle yet refined much like
the woven Blue Force Gear label on the inside that shows
everyone you know good gear. As with all Blue Force Gear,
it is made with excellence in the USA and carries a limited
lifetime warranty.
Crime, terrorism, active shooters. You cant

get through a day without hearing about another tragedy. Blue Force Gear believes in being prepared for anything. With that in mind,
we developed the Micro Trauma Kit NOW!.
Lightweight at less than 10 ounces, small at
6x3 inches and contains critical treatment
supplies to treat most of the most traumatic
injuries experienced. Belt or MOLLE attachment versions this is the most compact,
complete, well-designed IFAK available.
1) QuickClot Combat Gauze

2) HyFin Vent Chest Seal (2 seals included)
3) Cleer Medical Trauma Bandage 4-inch Flat Pack
4) Decompression needle
5) Six 2x9-inch Frog Tape
6) Size 28 Nasopharyngeal Airway
7) Heavy Duty Medical Gloves in tan (1 pair)
MicroTKN
PRICE:
$68 ($200 filled)
4
7
PRICING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. PLEASE SEE WWW.BLUEFORCEGEAR.COM FOR

F LATEST PRICING, INCLUDING SALES AND SPECIALS.
Jedburgh PackTM
COLORS:
Black, Coyote, Wolf, MultiCam, OD

PRICE:
$140
The Jedburgh PackTM is constructed

with the same attention to detail
that is found in every piece Blue
Force Gear. The Pack is built using
military grade materials and
features ULTRAcomp the same
unbelievably tough material in use
by the worlds most elite warriors.
The bottom of the pack is made of
a single piece of ULTRAcomp that
is water and abrasion resistant
protecting the pack from continual
use on rough surfaces such as
concrete and rocky ground while
keeping your contents of the pack
dry and clean.
Also pictured:
Dapper Organization System
www.blueforcegear.com/gear/
dapper-organization
ULTRAcomp
Pocket Holster
AVAILABLE:
SIG 238; SIG 938, Ruger

LCP and LCP II, GLOCK
G42, Kimber Micro, M&P
BODYGUARD
New from Blue Force Gear, the
ULTRAcomp Pocket Holster
designed with ULTRAcomp
High-Performance Laminate the
same material developed for Special
Operations Forces. This pocket
holster is the thinnest and most
durable pocket holster available
today. This holster is the answer
for those who are tired of the bulky
one-size-fits-all approach to their
EDC. The ULTRAcomp Pocket Holster is designed to uniquely fit your
CCW safely and securely without
the added foam not necessary for
todays purpose designed pocket
pistols.
SPONSORED BY
PO BOX 853
POOLER, GA 31322
PHONE: (877)-430-2583
Cuff Belt Pouch
Baton Belt
Pouch
Single Pistol
Pouch
Black, Coyote, Wolf,

MultiCam, OD

MultiCam, OD
BELT POUCHES https://www.blueforcegear.com/gear/belt

1
High-Rise TenPepper Spray

Speed M4 Pouch Belt Pouch
Belt-Mounted
Dump Pouch

MultCam, OD

MultiCam, OD

MultiCam, OD
COLORS:

MultiCam, OD
PRICE:
PRICE:
PRICE:
$68
MicroTKNTM was designed
to hold essential lifesaving
gear with minimal size in
mind. Sometimes bigger
isnt better. Perfect for
everyday carry, for LE,
prepared citizens, or in
low-profile mission sets.
The inner carrier can be deployed with one hand or one
finger from either the left
or right side by pulling the
BLIPTM featured pull tabs.
The MicroTKNTM consists
of two main components
the outer MOLLE or beltmounted pouch utilizing
the Ten-Speed technology,
and a removable insert that
keeps medical supplies
organized.
COLORS:
COLORS:
$24
$32
$39
The High Rise M4

Belt Pouch combines
the combat-proven
Ten-Speed militarygrade elastic with a
belt attachment system
anyone can use. The
High Rise M4 Belt Pouch
holds one M4 magazine
or similar sized item
higher up on the belt for
maximum concealability. The High Rise
M4 Belt Pouch attaches
to the belt on regular
everyday pants, riggers
belts, or duty belts with
a hook and loop attachment system.
The Pepper Spray Belt

Pouch holds common
pepper or OC spray
canisters (Mk3 sized
or 4H x 1D) in a
slim, low-profile belt
mounted pouch. Built
with combat-proven
500d Cordura with an
ULTRAcomp hook and
loop top flap. The front
flap incorporates the
ball detail a small
ball sewn into the flap
that enables the pouch
to be opened with
gloved hands, in the
dark, or in cold damp
environments.
The Belt Mounted Dump

Belt Pouch brings the
redefining Ten-Speed
Ultralight Dump Pouch to
your belt. While not in use,
the pouchs bag portion
stays folded under TenSpeed elastic, making it
extremely compact. When
needed, a simple pull on
the bottom tab deploys a
bag big enough to hold 10
M4 magazines. The stowed
pouch is small enough to
be mounted to belts, and
eliminates the potential
snag hazard created by
bulky bags which have the
tendency to flop around.
MicroTKN
TM
COLORS:
PRICE:
COLORS:

MultiCam, OD
PRICE:
$30
The Belt Mounted Cuff

Pouch holds a set of
cuffs for undercover
or plain clothes use.
The Ten-Speed military
grade elastic holds one
set of linked or hinged
handcuffs secure with
a metal snap at the
top of the pouch. The
Cuff Pouch mounts to a
regular pants belt or a
duty belt up to 2 inches
wide. The hook and
loop attachment can be
mounted on either side
of a belt loop to keep
the pouch from rotating.
COLORS:
PRICE:
COLORS:
PRICE:
$22
$20
The Baton Belt Pouch

holds a standard
extendable baton for law
enforcement officers or
concealed carry users. The
Baton Belt Pouch attaches
to belts on regular everyday pants, riggers belts or
duty belts with a hook and
loop attachment system.
The attachment system
is split so the pouch can
be attached on both sides
of a belt loop to keep the
pouch from rotating. The
hook and loop attachment
are able to be removed so
the pouch can be mounted
horizontally on the belt.
Whether worn on a duty

belt or under CCW clothing,
the Ten-Speed Pistol
Pouch securely holds a
single pistol magazine and
allows fast accessibility.
The pouch uses a hook and
loop closure to attach to
belts up to 2 inches wide.
No sharp edges or hard
corners. The front of the
pouch is constructed with
military-grade elastic sewn
to ULTRAcomp. Will hold
a double-stack magazine
up to and including the
HK45, lights (as shown
above), multitools, or other
similar-sized items.
WOW SUPMOERVECOR'SUPDOONLLY
n
ITEM 60497/93888 show
096
61899/62399/63095/63 097
63098/63
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capacity
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ITEM 61256/61889/60813 shown
6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV

HORIZONTAL SHAFT
GAS ENGINES
How Does Harbor Freight

Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools
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We have invested millions
of dollars in our own
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labs and millions more in
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And we can sell them for a
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Come visit one of our
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44", 13 DRAWER
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MODEL
Hanna Ferraez @hannaferraez
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jorge Nuez @jorgehnunez
HAIR & MAKEUP
Liza Macawili Ramos @lizamakeup
PISTOL
Kimber @kimberamerica
TLE/RL II, .45 ACP
HOLSTERS
Safariland @safarilandgroup
ALS Optic Tactical Holster for Red Dot Optic
Elite Survival Systems @elitesurvival
Tactical Thigh Holster
BELT
Elite Survival Systems @elitesurvival
Cobra Riggers Belt
IS SUE
2 9
GLOVES
Mechanix Wear @mechanix_wear
Recon
226
THE NEW
HOLDS UP TO
32
ROUNDS!
DD MAGAZINE
THE ONLY MAGAZINE BUILT TO THE SAME EXACTING

STANDARDS AS OUR BEST-IN-CLASS RIFLES.
+ 32-ROUND CAPACITY
in the same size magazine as
industry-standard 30-round magazines
+ IMPROVED FEED LIP DESIGN

for optimized feeding and reliability
+ CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCED
lightweight polymer construction
+ TEXTURED GRIP
for all situations
Visit DanielDefense.com for more information, and see

the new DD MAGAZINE at your local Daniel Defense dealer.
+ ENHANCED ANTI-TILT FOLLOWER

for reliable feeding
+ EASY TO DISASSEMBLE
for cleaning
+ IMPACT-ABSORBING
baseplate design for long-lasting durability
+ SNAG-FREE DESIGN
+ PATENT PENDING
PRESENTED BY 5.11 TACTICAL & THE CREATORS OF
HOW DO YOU
MEASURE
UP
TO PEOPLE PROTECTING
THE COUNTRY?
PG
P
G. 24
24
A PEAK INTO THE DIGITAL

WORLD OF TOM CLANCY
PG
G. 08
08
-MASTER YOUR ACCURACY

WITH ONLY 100 ROUNDS
-KITTING OUT YOUR
BUG-OUT MOTORCYCLE
-RANGE ESSENTIAL GEAR
WHAT TO CARRY WHEN YOU MIGHT

BE THE FIRST RESPONDER
PG.. 18
PG
C
CASE
3: DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY
NUCLEAR SECURITY
E
FORCE
The Department of Energy has
FLETC Agility Run 18 seconds
barricade, draw and kneel
Sit-ups (60 seconds) 35
to one side of the barricade
These standards favor the
(shooters choice) and fire two
ability to project explosive power
rounds 10 seconds
The DoE handgun standards are
a well-trained and highly discreet
in a hurry, which is handy to have
army of men and women charged

ar
when youre protecting precious
incredibly thorough. They cover ev-
with one of the most unique security
cargo that may be ambushed at
erything from contact distance to the
missions our country has to offer: the
any time by attackers determined
outside edge of what most of us can
physical protection of weapons-grade
to get their hands on radiological
do with a pistol. There is a complete-
nuclear material both in storage and
material.
ly separate course for low-light qualification, with adjusted time hacks
in transit. This force is comprised

of both credentialed federal agents
Select Pistol Standards, DoE Protec-
for semi-autos and revolvers. The
and certified contractors, with both
tive Force
nuclear security force has access to
a static and mobile component. The
From the 3-yard line, draw and fire
a wide array of weapons to discharge
static force guards nuclear power
three rounds 3 seconds
their duties.
plants, storage facilities and research
laboratories around the country. Their
two rounds to the body, one round
mobile counterparts drive trucks,
to the head 5 seconds
vans, and specially built tractor-trail-
From the 25-yard line behind a bar-
importantlyyour training logs. The
ers that transport this material
ricade, draw and kneel to left side
next time youre up for a challenge,
between sites for various purposes.

Select PT Standards, DoE Protective
Force
Vertical Jump 22 inches
CONCLUSION
Take a look in the mirror ormore
of barricade and fire two rounds,
or just want to see where you stand,
reload, move to the right side of the
run these drills and see how you
barricade (still kneeling), fire two
stack up against those who carry
more rounds 12 seconds
their guns in the name of freedom
From the 50-yard line behind a
and justice for all.
511TACTICAL.COM
27
BY CHRIS DENISON
PHOTOS BY CHRIS DENISON
AND 5.11 TACTICAL
A CRASH COURSE IN TWO-WHEELED

OVERLAND TRAVEL
Just as a firearms usefulness is

almost entirely dependent on the
LOADOUT
Nine times out of 10, a good four-
While serious preppers will love the

idea of checking their traps aboard
competence of the shooter behind
wheel-drive truck will make a better
an iron pony, shooting enthusiasts
the trigger, so too is a motorcycle an
bug-out vehicle than a motorcycle.
can also appreciate the benefits
incredible tool when placed in the
But what about your tricked-out Ford
of motorcycles. For example, we
properly trained hands of a knowl-
Raptors inability to split lanes in
routinely ride off-road to access a
edgeable operator. Back in RECOIL
gridlocked traffic, climb impossibly
top-secret, deep desert, 360-degree
Issue 10, we showed you the value
steep hills, or boondock through the
shooting range. Getting the steel
of a two-wheeled steed as a bug-out
wilderness on a single-track trail?
targets out there on our backs was a
bike when head honcho Iain Harrison
28
WAIT, WHY A MOTORCYCLE?
These are just some of the venues
chore and a half, but the benefit of
rode his Suzuki DR650 from the
in which motorcycles are superior to
live-fire leapfrog drills without having
gridlocked heart of Los Angeles to
four-wheeled vehicles. Compared to
to worry about curious campers
the relative safety of the unpopulated
traveling on foot, bikes allow you to
wandering downrange made the extra

effort more than worthwhile.
Arizona desert. Here, wed like to
cover more ground faster, and while
expand on that theme to giving addi-
carrying vastly more weight than you
tional insight; namely how to properly
can haul on your own back. Simply
PICK A BIKE, ANY BIKE
integrate an off-road motorcycle into
put, motorcycles are not the end-all,
your arsenal of tools without making
be-all of bug-out vehicles, but there
tempted to drop top dollar for the
an overly noticeable dent in your
are numerous scenarios in which bikes
latest and greatest two-wheeled
ammo budget.
are the perfect option.
machines, but shiny accessories
Aspiring off-road riders are often
and fancy styling count for very little
every single modification you make
the wide, hard-sided saddlebags
when your bikes engine is locked
has to go through the tires, so a good
and go with something smaller
up when its fancy electronic fuel
blend of durability and performance
(Giant Loop and Wolfman Luggage
injection wont burn watered-down,
is essential we like Dunlops AT81
are two companies that specialize
third-world gas. In fact, many older
tire for precisely this reason.
in making compact, tough baggage
motorcycles make better additions
Now is also a good time to get a
thats purpose-built for use on a
to a shooters garage than newer
high-end tire pressure gauge (spend
bike). In a pinch, its also not hard to
models due to their wider availability,
the extra money; they are worth it),
strap a small pack to the subframe
simplicity of design, and relatively
and familiarize yourself with proper
just above the rear fender. Still, a
lower buy-in.
tire pressure; a good rule of thumb
simple backpack worn by the rider is
Online research on the topic of
is 13-15 PSI for most off-road riding
perhaps the best way to go in that A)
quality long-distance adventure ma-
applications, although youll want to
you wont be fighting the weight as
chines will refer you to the Kawasaki
air down for slow/soft terrain and air
much and B) if you have to ditch the
KLR650, the Suzuki DR650, and
up if youre anticipating high-speed
bike in a hurry, you still have your kit!
anything made by KTM. For illustra-
hits that could threaten to bite an
tive purposes, weve chosen to high-
inner tube.
One common misconception about

dirt bikes is that you need to get
All well-prepared riders know the
the suspension modified to suit your
air-cooled machine that is worthy
value of packing spare parts, but only
weight and ability. While this is often
light the Honda XR600R, a durable,

of being likened as the iron-sighted
the savviest of motorcycle pilots know
true, manufacturers spend mega dol-
AR-15 of the dual-sport realm. Honda
how to properly pack these spares on
lars on making their stock suspension
has claimed the overall victory at the
the bike itself. Most motorcycles have
setups perform well, and many bikes
legendary Baja 500 and 1,000 more
extra room in the airbox that allows
work perfectly fine in stock form for
times than any other manufacturer.
for things like replacement clutch
the average rider. In order to optimize
levers or an extra brake pedal to be
the handling, though, you should
SETUP 101
Lets say youve done your home-
zip-tied to the subframe. Similarly,
learn how to adjust the suspension
the front fender is a great spot to
clickers so as to get the most out of

your machine.
work online, selected the right bike
store an extra inner tube for the tire.
for your preferences and budget, and
You may also be able to sneak a
have taken delivery of a lovingly used
backup throttle cable in underneath
off-road machine. As soon as you (or
the handlebar pad.
Dialing in a bike is a lot like doping

a rifle, but instead of windage and
elevation, you have compression and
rebound. When in doubt, start at
a qualified mechanic) have checked
One item you definitely dont want
the bike over top-to-bottom to make
to leave home without is a proper air
mechanical zero and go a few clicks
sure that it is in good working condi-
pump; a lightweight, hand-operated
at a time (clockwise typically equals
tion, there are a handful of things you
bicycle pump will do the trick for
stiffer/slower), putting in a few test
can do to prepare for the demands of
adjusting tire pressures over varying
miles on each setting. If youve got
long-range off-road travel. To begin
terrain. Newer four-strokes typically
half a brain in your head, youll get
with, we highly recommend setting
dont require spark plug changes, but
the hang of it sooner than you think.
the suspension sag in the rear shock
some benefit from backup fuel filters.
absorber; a good baseline is 100-
Bikes such as the XR600R can also
we love Fasst Companys aftermarket
105mm of sag (with the rider on
go a frighteningly long time without
Flexx Handlebar, which essentially
board), although you should stick to
an oil change, but in an emergency
adds extra suspension to your bike
a taller rear end if you plan to pack
scenario a backup clutch could be as
by absorbing hard hits rather than
lots of gear.
Next, get your mitts on a quality
set of off-road tires. Dont worry about
Most stock handlebars are junk;
valuable as a spare firing pin if you
transmitting them to your wrists.
smoke the stock unit in really rough
These are a must for long days in the
terrain.
saddle. A high-capacity fuel tank is

also a great idea, and is preferable
DOT approval; monster knobbies are
Packing a motorcycle can be a
essential for safely climbing big hills
tricky affair, as every pound that you
to packing auxiliary cans on the bike.
and, more importantly, safely de-
add to the bike will likely negatively
Check out www.justgastanks.com for
scending steep grades. Keep in mind
alter the machines handling. Skip
a good selection.
FIELD
EXPEDIENT
TIRE FIX
If you nd yourself
stuck in the middle
of nowhere with
a at tire and no
replacement inner
tube, you can stuff
the offending at
tire with shrubs,
branches, bushes,
leaves, grass, and
other greenery. Its
not a permanent x,
but by lling the tire
with enough material
and riding a bit more
conservatively youll
be able to continue
without doing
permanent damage
to the wheel.
511TACTICAL.COM
29
GPS
A good GPS unit is

worth its weight
in gold when
navigating off-road
on a motorcycle.
We recommend the
Garmin eTrex series;
the unit itself is
outlandishly durable
and the function is
extremely natural.
Mount this unit on
your handlebar
(RAM mounts are
the preferred setup
for most adventure
riders), taking
special care to be
sure that it doesnt
interfere with the
normal function of
the bike (particularly
the front brake line).
case scenario option; the best course

of action is to keep a sidearm nearby
at all times, even when cooking,
sleeping, and answering natures call.
While its also wise to make camp
away from common trails and roads
in a place where your cooking fire
isnt visible from miles away, many
riders often fail to realize that a bike,
much like a car, should be combat
parked. You should leave the key off
to preserve the battery and the fuel
petcock off to prevent the carburetor
from flooding, yet the bike needs to
be parked in a manner in which you
combines six invaluable hex drive and
could jump on it and go in a moments
ous thought to adding some guards to
hex socket tools into one. Beyond
notice dont block yourself into any
your bike the engine, brake discs,
this, a sturdy adjustable wrench, two
area that would require an Austin Pow-
drive train, and frame rails are all fair-
to three tire spoons, and a handful of
ers 18-point turn to get out of. Also,
ly exposed to the elements. Whatever
burly zip-ties (which double as flex
avoid the temptation to rig a clothes-
you decide to install, take into account
cuffs!) will get you out of a multitude
line, hammock, or lean-to pole to any
the weight you are adding, and be
of off-road maintenance situations.
part of the bike, all of which would
Finally, you need to give some seri-
your hands! Simple flag-style plastic

hand guards will do, though wed
Imagine youre sitting underneath
When moving during the day, a

quiet exhaust system can mean the
the stars by a crackling campfire,
difference between sneaking through
busters to keep your trigger finger in
in the absolute middle of nowhere,
an area unseen and attracting a ton
one piece in the common event of an
enjoying an MRE after a long day in
of attention. Hands-down the best
TOOLS OF THE TRADE

A lot of fuss is made about which
tools are essential to the off-road rid-
LOADOUT
CAMP SECURITY
recommend Acerbis full-wrap bark-
impact with a tree, branch, or rock.
30
render a quick departure impossible.
sure to include something to protect
the saddle. Suddenly, three violent
exhaust silencer in the industry is
escaped convicts emerge from the
made by FMF, which produces a Q
shadows and begin shaking you down
Stealth muffler for most modern ma-
for the keys to your bike.
chines that reduces the overall sound
Campground security when
output by several decibels without
ers pack. While tools are a frequent
traveling by motorcycle is arguably
sacrificing performance (in a lot of
violator of the ounces equal pounds
even more critical than when using
cases, bikes actually run better with
mantra, the good news is that the
a four-wheeled vehicle in that you
quieter exhaust systems). For night-
multitool thats already in your first-
are completely exposed, your gear
time travel, its not too difficult to
line gear loadout will suffice in taking
must be removed from the bike to
rig a switch into your headlight wires
the place of about five or six weighty
be unpacked, and theres nowhere
that cuts both the headlight and the
tools. Motion Pro, a household name
to mount anything belt-fed. As such,
taillight completely; weve ridden
in off-road circles, makes a titanium
steps must be taken to remain vigi-
under the light of the moon multiple
wrench set that can withstand a seri-
lant and safe. One strong recommen-
times, and while you cant safely haul
ous beating, yet weighs next to noth-
dation is to pack a small jump bag
butt, you can certainly cruise down a
ing; these are essential for all modern
that attaches to the outside of your
road or trail without cartwheeling.

Depending on how much room you
motorcycles, as multitool pliers arent
pack and is never out of arms reach.
sufficient to remove and reinstall
In it, youll want enough survival gear
have on your pack, wed also recom-
bolts. Another gem from Motion Pro
to allow you to escape and evade for
mend adding an emergency blanket
is its Combo Y-Drive Wrench, which
24 hours. Of course, this is a worst-
and some camo netting to your kit; the
thermal blanket can be tossed over a
Its completely reasonable to map
er, there are some obvious similari-
bikes engine to cut its heat signature,
out a GPS route that gets you out
ties that should not be ignored. An
while a medium-sized chunk of cam-
of your neighborhood and up to the
expensive but mechanically neglected
mie netting can hide the bike in a mo-
family cabin without hitting any major
motorcycle is about as useless as a
ments notice, if necessary. Dark-col-
roads; in a TEOTWAWKI situation,
fancy holographic reticle that wont
ored plastic is nice, but a can of dark
youd have so much on your mind
hold zero. Furthermore, good riders,
spray paint will also do the trick.
that youd be pretty thankful to have
much like good shooters, are not
your GPS telling you which river bed
the product of dollars spent; rather,
GEAR UP
to take under the freeway.
commitment to training and diligence
Theres a saying in off-road circles:
Additionally, a GPS is an awesome
in acquiring new knowledge are what
Dress for the crash, not for the
way to create waypoints for favorite
makes a great rider or shooter. Above
ride. You should be prepared to hit
shooting spots in the desert or simple
all, riding motorcycles is an incredibly
the ground each and every time you
routes back to camp through the woods.
fun hobby that simultaneously sup-
swing a leg over your bike. Helmet
Naturally, standard rules apply; always
ports your survival skills. If thats not
and eye-protection are considered
have a map, compass, and a general
a win-win, we dont know what is!
mandatory, although you can get
understanding of your area of operation
away with an open-face design and
(AO) as a backup, but dont neglect a
good safety glasses if you dont want
little practice time with a good GPS unit
to go full coverage. Be aware that any
it could save your proverbial bacon
helmet will alter your cheek weld with
on the worst day of your life.
your rifle, so youll want to practice

shooting with your helmet on, as well
as taking it off in a hurry.
Sturdy boots are also key, but
THE TWO-WHEELED DEAL

Although the physical differences
between a motorcycle and a rifle
purpose-built motorcycle boots are
are about as vast as the difference
horrible to walk in; your standard work
between a cricket and a cheeseburg-
or hiking boots are OK for low-speed

riding as long as the soles are durable. Ditto for gloves; wear what you
shoot in. It goes without saying that
youll want durable pants and a longsleeved top, but a word to the wise:
dont draw attention to yourself. Get
some low-key earth tone gear from
5.11 Tactical and keep yourself (and
your valuable stuff) off the radar.
LAND NAV
When negotiating rough terrain on
a bike, its not just enough to think
youre going in the right direction;
fuel requirements leave little room
for error on a motorcycle, and you
have to know, without a shadow of a
doubt, that you are heading toward
your destination. We recommend
buying a good GPS unit and learning
how to navigate with it while you ride.
511TACTICAL.COM
31
MASTER
YOUR
MISSION
Combining functional design and resilient

construction, the Apex Pant is a next-gen
cargo pant that exceeds expectations in
any role. Gear up with pockets for keys,
your phone, wallet and magazines. Built
rugged with a TeflonPKUJCPFQWT
Flex-Tac stretch fabric.
APEX PANT
AS FEATURED IN
511TACTICAL.COM
CONTENTS
003 EDITORS LETTER
004 LESS AMMO,
MORE BULLS-EYES
Ammo Shortages Got You
Down? Heres How You
Can Economize Your Range
Sessions
008
014
008 GHOST GONE WILD

Authentic Equipment and
Firearms Bring Hardcore
Realism to Tom Clancys
Ghost Recon Wildlands
014 RANGE ESSENTIALS

Master Your Loadout
004
018 024
018 INCREASED-THREAT
IFAK
With Random Violence Making
Headlines, Carrying the Right
First-Aid Gear is Essential
024 A MILE IN THEIR

SHOES
A Comparative Look at Fitness
and Firearms Standards for
Professional Sheepdogs
028 STEEL HORSES

A Crash Course in TwoWheeled Overland Travel
ON THE COVER
5.11 GEAR:
Defender-Flex Pant (coming May 2017),

Maverick Assualters Belts, Hex Power Tee
GUN:
DAE Defense Wolverine .300 BLK PDW,

US Optics SR4c
028
EDITORS LETTER
Thanks to the guys at 5.11 Tactical for helping make this the
fattest issue of RECOIL yet. In the latest of our joint collaborations, theyve sponsored 32 pages of additional content for
your delectation, and like previous efforts, theyve resisted
the urge to smack you upside the head with in-your-face
marketing. Instead, experts such as our friend Chris Denison
give you an in-depth guide to prepping your two-wheeled
steed for backcountry adventures. Were glad to have Chris
along for the ride, as the level of experience he brings to the
subject of motorcycling with firearms is second to none.
Regulars at Recoilweb.com will no doubt be familiar with
Kerry Davis AKA Pocket Doc, who likewise is acknowledged
as an expert in his field. Lets face it, the chances of most of
us ever having to use our defensive firearms is mercifully low.
The same cant be said for encountering a medical emergency. If you follow Chris advice and take your motorcycle into
the boonies, then youd better be equipped both mentally
and physically to take care of injuries. As someone whos
had to ride 30 miles out of the mountains with open leg
trauma, I can personally attest to the value of duct tape and
hemostatic gauze.
While we all like making noise and turning live into brass,
there are times that wringing the most out of limited resources are both necessary and appropriate. Regular contributor
Nick Saiti returns to explain one of the drills hes used over
the years to become one of the top competitive shooters in
the country. Were not saying that youll become a five-time
USPSA Grand Master if you take his advice, but youll certainly improve your trigger control and ability to put rounds
where you want them.
Once youre confident in your weapons skills, why not
see where you stand in relation to some of the dedicated
men and women who wear uniforms in defense of this great
nation? Tom Marshall outlines the standards used by Border
Patrol, USMC Force Recon, and the Department of Energys
Office of Secure Transportation, who are the guys guarding
nuclear assets. Having competed against some DOE security
personnel, I can say without hesitation that theyre some of
the best-trained shooters youve never heard of.
So pour yourself a cold one, settle in, and catch up on
some quality reading, courtesy of the good folks at 5.11.
Iain Harrison
511TACTICAL.COM
LOADOUT
LESS AMMO,
MORE
BULLS-EYES
AMMO SHORTAGES GOT YOU DOWN? HERES HOW
YOU CAN ECONOMIZE YOUR RANGE SESSIONS
BY NICK SAITI
PHOTOS BY DANNY DANGELO AND 5.11 TACTICAL
of further restrictive gun legislation, it
damentals. I first learned about the
oil crisis of the 1970s. People waited
has once again sparked the fear of gun
dot drill from my shooting mentor,
an absurd amount of time at gas sta-
grabbers and the possibility of ammo
gunsmith, and great friend who hap-
tions for a chance to fill up, and even
shortages. Imagine every post-apoc-
pens to be a former world and nation-
My dad told me stories about the great
then you could only get 10 gallons.
alyptic movie you have ever seen,
al champion. Matt Mclearn claimed to
Rationing affected daily life; drivers
just substitute ammo as the precious
have picked up the drill years ago on
had to be conscious of how much fuel
commodity that people fight for. For
the range from another shooter. I still
they were using. It was odd that dad
those who want to be the hero of the
think its part of some ancient far-
would never sacrifice the trip to the
movie, we are at an impasse. How can
east secret written on a scroll passed
ball game, but we never had enough
shooting skills be developed, while still
between worthy shooters. I feel like
gas for the visit to the in-laws. People
holding onto that treasured ammo?
Im in on the secret, besides I like my
were bewildered that a substance so
version better.
important to daily life seemed to dry
a few rounds. I always considered
up at the snap of a finger.
many of those rounds to be wasted,
ably the most important key to basic
but I did learn an important lesson.
marksmanship. Trigger control can be
Most of us can make the argument
The main focus of the drill is prob-
that our guns are as much part of our
You do not need a million rounds
defined as the ability to activate the
lives as our cars, and in some cases,
sent downrange to be a good shooter,
trigger without altering the direction
more. Im not ashamed to say Ive had
but it definitely helps if you want to
of the muzzle. Basically dont move
more money in guns inside my car
be a great one. Unlike my college
the gun while the shot goes off. This is
than the car was worth. This genera-
girlfriends, practice is more about the
such a simple concept, yet so hard to
tion has had its first real taste of fire-
quality than the quantity. With this
master. Just think back to the time you
arms and ammunition shortages after
concept, I learned the hierarchy of
lined up the sights ever so carefully,
the 2008 presidential election, then
pistol shooting. Thats not to say that
mashed on the trigger, and the shot
even worse after Sandy Hook. Just like
one technique is more important than
ended up somewhere low left. You saw
cars, guns need fuel. I still have some
another, but some techniques need
the sights dead center, but thats not
5.56mm fuel Im too proud to shoot
to be learned before progression can
where the shot went. Trigger control is
because of the crazy price I paid. It
be made to others. You must build a
not the most fun thing to practice. It
has become more of a family heirloom
foundation of good skills. These are
falls into what I call the vegetables of
that I will pass to my kids along with
the fundamentals of shooting.
shooting. They dont always taste the
my comic book collection.

5.11 Thunderbolt
Half Zip Apex Pant
Over my shooting career I have shot
Even though the recent election may

have a positive impact on the passage
In the quest through the wasteland,
best, but they are so good for you. If
I came across a drill that is invaluable
there were a secret to good shooting,
when it comes to some of these fun-
trigger control would be it.

511TACTICAL.COM
SET UP
The drill is easy to set up and, with
Dot #1
For the first dot the shooter draws
the round count being just under
the gun and shoots six rounds. This
100, it wont diminish the secret
is a good gauge to measure the rest
stash. In the beginning, the target is
of the dots when you are finished.
set at 5 yards. Perfect distance for
If the shooter cannot accomplish a
all you entitlement hipster types. You
tight group here, there is no need to
get instant gratification (or disap-
go any further. Group shooting is a
pointment). A shot timer is recom-
must-have skill for a great shooter.
mended, but not imperative.
Spend the time and ammo learning
One USPSA-style target works
how to break a shot and shoot a
perfectly, but any target that has
group before moving on. This is also
enough room for the dots will work.
a good opportunity to see where your
You are shooting at 10 1- to 2-inch
gun is hitting at this distance.
dots either painted or taped on the

target. The first dot is separate from
the others and is used as a baseline.
Dot #2
The second dot, the shooter draws
The other nine are set up equally
six separate times with one shot each.
spaced in three rows of three. I have
This will test the consistency of the
even gone as far as making a tem-
draw stroke. Again, you are looking
plate for mass-producing the finished
for the tightest group possible, not
product. Take a target, cut the holes
necessarily the fastest shot on target.
accordingly, place the template

over a fresh target, and use spray
paint to create the dots. In a pinch I
Dots #3 and 4
The shooter will draw six separate
have even used bits of tape, as you
times and shoot one round on dot 3,
only need reference points. Number
then one round on dot 4. This will
the dots (1 through 10) from top to
test the shooter ability to transition
bottom and left to right. This is so
between the two dots. On this part
you know what to do on which dot.
be careful not to break the second

shot too early or too late resulting in
THE DOTS
Initially the emphasis is on
shots to the left or the right of the

aiming point.
accuracy, not speed, but once you

get the hang of the basic drill you
can step on the gas. A shot timer
Dot #5
The shooter draws six separate
can be used as a starting point and
times with one shot each, but this time
later to measure speed, but for now
strong hand only. For most shooters
focus on controlled shooting at an
this will be right hand only. The trigger
easy pace. The goal is to shoot the
control gets harder with the use of only
tightest group you can with the dots
one hand, so pay close attention to the
being the aiming point. The size of
trigger and shot placement.
the group is more important than the

placement. Dont be too concerned if
you are hitting the dot as long as you
LOADOUT
Dots #6 and 7
can shoot a tight group. The intent
times. Each time place two rounds on
is to put the rounds through the
dot #6, then transition and put two
same hole. The name of the game is
rounds on dot #7. This is similar to
trigger control.
the dot 3/4 cycle except for the addi-
tion of the follow up shots. Basically
END RESULT
draw, shoot two on dot 6, transition,
Initially, this was a humbling ex-
shoot two more on dot 7, and repeat.
perience. When I first attempted this
This will test the ability to manage
drill the target area looked like Swiss
recoil along with the transition. Make
cheese. There were holes in places
sure to the follow up shot hits the
there should not have been. After a
same spot as the first shot.
few repetitions a pattern started to

emerge. Shots formed discernible
Dot #8
groups. Progress. Something unexpected started to happen. The target
times with one shot. The difference
began to speak. It would tell me if
this time is using support hand only.
I was inconsistent with my draw or
The tricky part here is transferring
broke shots where I didnt intend to.
the gun from the strong hand to the
By paying attention to every shot on
support hand. The trigger control
the dot, I could figure out what I was
gets even harder with the support
doing wrong. If you could understand
hand, as most are not accustom to
what you are doing wrong you can
it. If this drill is vegetables, dot 8 is
remedy the issue. I learned how to
brussel sprouts. Yuck!
learn how to shoot. This Zen-like

statement proves my theory of ancient
Dots #9 and 10
scrolled secrets.
After you have mastered the drill
times. Each time, place two rounds
you can add difficulty by changing
on dot 9, then perform a reload/mag-
the distance or even use the timer to
azine change and transition to put
add the element of speed to the mix.
two rounds on dot 10. Draw, shoot
If you want to get better dont just
two on 9, reload, shoot two on 10,
throw rounds downrange like I did.
and repeat. This tests the ability to
Pay attention to where the shots are
get back on target after the manip-
or arent going, but more importantly
ulation of the gun during a reload.
understand why. The target will tell
Dont forget you are still working on
you everything you need to know, you
transitions and follow-up shots. While
just have to be able to listen. This is
all this is going on trigger control and
definitely trigger control 101 and
making one big hole is the key.
the tuition cost is only 84 rounds.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick Saiti has been a world-class competitive

shooter for over 10 years and is a 4 division
USPSA Grand Master. As impressive as he is
to watch behind an Open division pistol, hes
currently third in the nation in the sport of
three-gun. Considering himself a professional gunslinger he happily imparts his unique
perspective and knowledge teaching at
www.secretweapontraining.com.
511TACTICAL.COM
AUTHENTIC EQUIPMENT
AND FIREARMS BRING
HARDCORE REALISM TO
TOM CLANCYS GHOST
RECON WILDLANDS
BY PETER SUCIU
IMAGES COURTESY UBISOFT
LOADOUT
terrorists and in many ways the
One of the first titles was a shooter
Clancy had created one of the most
so-called Ryanverse has become a
inspired by Clancys novel Rainbow Six,
enduring franchises in modern fiction
mirror of our real scary world.
which involved the exploits of an inter-
Before his death in 2013, author Tom
national counter-terrorist team. Unlike
with his character Jack Ryan, the CIA
Clancy was also a visionary that
analyst who would rise to the highest
saw that there was potential in the
other run-and-gun first-person shooters
office in the land. What began with
world of electronic entertainment for
of the era, this title required tactical
The Hunt for Red October in 1984
this level of gritty realism. Twen-
planning, and rewarded patience and
spawned a successful series that
ty years ago, Clancy, along with
preparation. It has been suggested that
could rightfully be called a think-
partner Doug Littlejohns, founded
it was this game that introduced the
ing mans spy thriller. Ryan was no
Red Storm Entertainment, a video
terms one shot, one kill and tango
James Bond and he never relied on
game development studio devoted to
down into the gamer lexicon, but more
fancy gadgets or gizmos, and instead
making more compelling and complex
importantly it included accurate fire-
of super villains the threat was from
video games that featured realistic
arms instead of blasters, railguns, and
rogue nation states, drug cartels, and
storylines and settings.
the all-too-ubiquitous BFG.
In 2000, Ubisoft, which had been
Clancys Ghost Recon has not only
the publisher for Red Storm Enter-
porate authentic sounds (recorded
featured authentic weapons, but the
tainments video games, purchased
by the game designers) of actual
developers have strived to include
the studio and continued to develop
firearms. Just as the Ryanverse has
the actual equipment and gear that
games with even more realism. At
been grounded in reality, so too has
is now being used by Americas Spec
the time Red Storm was working on
the Ghost Recon series for most
Ops teams.
a little game called Tom Clancys
of its run. Since 2001 there have
Ghost Recon, a military-themed
been six sequels, along with several
passionate players that appreciate
shooter that allowed players to take
expansions, released for the PC
the close attention to detail while
Ghost Recon is a series with very
the role of Ghosts, members of a
as well as a couple of console-only
offering a challenging, well realized
fictional squad of the United States
titles including 2010s Tom Clancys
narrative, says Dom Butler, lead
Special Operations Forces from Delta
Ghost Recon Predator, a PlayStation
game designer at Ubisoft Paris,
Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Special
Portable-only title, and the 2011
which has taken point on developing
Forces Group.
Tom Clancys Ghost Recon: Shadow
the latest titles in the series. We
Wars turn-based tactics game for the
want to keep these dedicated fans
Nintendo 3DS.
happy while opening the series to
The 2001 game, which would go

on to win multiple awards, including
Game of the Year from several video
10
also among the first games to incor-
Apart from the 2012 Tom Clancys
game magazines, was notable for not
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, which
only focusing on real-world exploits,
was set in 2025 and featured
but also for introducing character
near-future technology, including
newcomers.
INTO THE WILD

For the upcoming Tom Clancys
classes something common today
optic camouflage, this franchise has
Ghost Recon Wildlands, which will be
in such rival franchises as Activisions
been firmly grounded in the modern
released on March 7, 2017, the focus
Call of Duty and Electronic Arts
day. Unlike the rival series, notably
will be on a fictional modern-day con-
Battlefield series. Ghost Recon was
Call of Duty and Battlefield, Tom
flict in Bolivia where the vicious Santa
LOADOUT
Blanca drug cartel has taken over the
This clear and present danger
cooperative mode where the players
country. This is a significant break
could only happen in one of the very
must work together against com-
from those other games that typical-
few countries where coca grows natu-
puter-controlled villains. This too
ly have relied on West versus East
rally, says Couzian. With Wildlands,
is a departure from more twitch
military showdowns, and in this way,
we are taking Ghost Recon in a fresh
based shooters that give those with
is true to the works of Clancy, which
and exciting new direction. This
better eye/hand coordination, not to
highlighted that dangers today come
massive open world allows us to offer
mention the best CPUs and graphics
from more than nation states.
players the tools and opportunities
cards, an advantage over other play-
to act and evolve as true Spec Ops
ers. Fast reflexes will never hurt in
video games has always been about
soldiers, with the gripping objective
any game, but working as team and
the what if? scenario, said Eric
of taking down a drug cartel.
coordinating efforts is required to ac-
The philosophy of the Tom Clancy
Couzian, creative director at Ubisoft
The story should appeal to tradition-
complish the missions and hence win
Paris. While doing our research for
al video gamers, but also to fans of
the game. This emphasis on squad-
Ghost Recon Wildlands, we noticed
TV shows such as the Netflix original
based play is also designed to make
how drug cartels were gaining power
Narcos, and of course Clancys own
for a better social experience and is
and notoriety over the years.
book/movie Clear and Present Danger.
closer in reality to how real Spec Ops
The team then worked with experts
Just as Clancy highlighted the
teams operate in actual missions.

Indeed, teamwork and commu-
in the field, which led to this devel-
need for teamwork in such novels as
opment of a truly amazing story and
Rainbow Six and others, where the
nication are key to completing your
compelling what if scenario. In this
lone wolf approach is avoided, so too
mission when you play co-op, says
case it is what if a Mexican drug
does this video game series, which
Couzian. We believe that the most
cartel seized the coca production of
rewards teamwork.
exciting feelings come from thriving
an entire country and turned it into a

narco-state?
Tom Clancys Ghost Recon Wildlands was designed with a four-play
in situations where adaption is key,

and situations where your ability to
511TACTICAL.COM
11
improvise is critical. In Ghost Recon
version, secondary support or all-out
Global Marketing at 5.11. And having
Wildlands we push the players to be
assault, we have them covered with
authentic 5.11 gear in this game will give
creative. And here comes the fun: you
wide array of vehicle types, weapon
our brand visibility to a new generation.
create your own unique experience.
types and personal upgrades.
When you play in this open world, you
will look at the real-world origin and
have a wealth of possibilities and even
sible, and everything that the Ghosts
effectiveness of in-game tactics and
more when you play with friends!
wear will resemble actual items used
equipment. After watching, audiences
While this game makes a leap to

fiction with its Bolivian setting, the
look of the game is grounded solidly
in the field, including shirts, vests,
will gain a new level of appreciation for
jackets, even backpacks and pouches.
Ubiosfts focus on authenticity, says
What they wear is based directly off
5.11s Director of Media Eric Katzenberg.
in reality as the developers at Red
our talks and the advice we received
Storm Entertainment turned to tac-
from military advisors, explains Butler.
out is that the Ghosts wear not only
tical apparel and equipment maker
Through the intermediary of our friends
military equipment, but also civilian
5.11 Tactical to get key details right.
at Ubisoft San Francisco dedicated to
clothing, which allow them to blend in
the partnerships, we were really happy
with the environment. This is an im-
title is one where the fiction on the
to have the 5.11 brand whose military
portant a concept that has allowed the
screen is as close to reality as possible.
and tactical products are designed to
game developers to recreate a behind
resist to the harshest conditions.
the lines look.
The result in this latest Ghost Recon
To make sure that we reflected

the adaptive nature of real Special
12
The equipment is authentic as pos-
The video series we are producing
5.11 is proud to work closely with
One important fact that Butler called
We tried to create real Spec Ops
Operations soldiers in the field we
Ubisoft on this game release. Aside
soldiers surviving in the Bolivian no
have made sure that the players will
from having our product in the game,
mans land, notes Butler. Theyll
be able to build their Ghost exactly
5.11 media is producing a four-part
have to choose their equipment
how they want, adds Butler. Wheth-
series where real-life operators meet the
according to the environment and use
er they want to focus on recon, di-
gaming world, says Willem Driessen, VP
lightweight, quiet, and durable gear.
LOADOUT
LOCK AND LOAD

A key to any good military-themed
shooter is having an arsenal of di-
to better understand the weapons rate

of fire, weight, recoil, or sound work.
No matter how detailed pictures
verse weapons oftentimes offering
can be, holding a weapon, examining
gamers even more options than
its parts up close, firing it, gives you
actual soldiers in the field. The team
a different perspective on the models
behind Tom Clancys Ghost Recon
youre about to create, notes Zorca.
Wildlands made sure to provide more
From here the weapon model is
than 50 customizable weapons, and
imported in the game editor where
ensuring that these firearms have
the testers make sure the weapon
the right look and sound as their
is rendered correctly; animations
real-world counterparts takes a signif-
and handling are working fine and
icant amount of research.
the special effects are being played
The weapon creation process in

Ghost Recon Wildlands is a central
element in the games development,
correctly; and finally that the weapon

is being showcased.
Close inspection is necessary
explains Mihai Zorca, technical director
throughout the process added Zorca,
at Ubisoft Bucharest, who oversaw this
who explained that when looking at
aspect of the games production. In
a weapon model, the first thing that
order to let the player handle the most
one might subconsciously notice is
realistic weapon possible, many pas-
the proportions and the spaces.
sionate and dedicated teams from Paris
Im not only talking about the large
and Bucharest collaborated on this sub-
main shapes of the weapon, but the
ject. These teams are made of game
hundreds of little details, including
designers, gameplay programmers, FX
screws, holes, indents, hinges, rings,
artists, and sound designers.
locking mechanisms, etc., that are
Getting the details right involved
each laid out with a certain technical
far more than just scanning photos,
or ergonomic purpose on a real weap-
and it began with research that was
on, he adds. Nothing is random! So
done by the games designers.
we pay really close attention to these
They collect all the information
spaces and proportions when we
they can find about any given weapon
create our models, and that gives us a
thanks to multiple sources and
solid and authentic working base.
especially our regular contacts on
Once the weapon is finally ren-
the Ubisoft Authenticity team at Red
dered in game, its model is sent to
Storm Entertainment, added Zorca.
the weapon constructor for approval,
Information about the weapon,
in order to make sure authenticity is
including version types, dimensions,
guaranteed. From there it becomes
caliber, manufacturing materials,
one model among thousands in the
coating, moving parts, compatible
game, but one that firearms and
attachments and interior parts was
shooting enthusiasts are likely to
provided, and they also gather true
notice and appreciate.
weapon demonstration videos.

Of course it is more than just reading about the weapons. To understand
It is this level of attention that has

allowed the Ghost Recon series to stand
out in terms or realism and authentic-
how the guns felt meant that the de-
ity, and much of this can be owed to
velopment team headed to a shooting
the vision of Tom Clancy himself. Even
range to try the game weapons in real
though he has left us, his vision lives on
conditions. This allowed the developers
through games like this one.

511TACTICAL.COM
13
RANGE ESSENTIALS
WWW.511TACTICAL.COM
URBAN SNIPER BAG
Who doesnt need a good rifle bag?
packed, you can completely transform
In the case of 5.11s Urban Sniper
the USB into a shooting mat with
Bag, you get more than you bargain
bipod stops. And dont worry about it
for, but exactly what you deserve. The
getting the bag soaked when you lay
USB can be worn like a backpack
it on terra firma. The water-resistant
with the removable yoke shoulder
outer shell and polyurethane black
straps that store away in a dedicated
coating will keep everything nice and
pocket. And while a customizable,
dry, and the foam padding will keep
web-equipped front compartment
you comfortable when prone. Add
allows tons of space for your ammo,
camo/foliage material to the webbing
optics, and range goodies, the adjust-
on the sides if youd like. Oh, and
able lash points and tethers help keep
scribe your name on the WriteBar
everything from spilling out. Once
so no one confuses yours with theirs
youve got your rifle and gear un-
when youre at the range.
MODEL:
Urban Sniper Bag

SIZES:
42-inch, 50-inch
COLORWAY:
Black, Sandstone
MSRP:
$179.99 to $184.99
RANGE READY BAG

Created by range instructors and
professional shooters, 5.11 left no
stone unturned to create the perfect
range bag. Bringing more than one
pistol? Segregated, padded storage is
incorporated into the design. Carrying
lots of ammo we hope? A drop-down
flap stores eight magazines and a
tote will help you police up your spent
casings. Thirsty? Integrated hydration
MODEL:
storage is at the ready. Thinking you
Range Ready Bag
cant fit everything you need in one?
DIMENSIONS:
Pack up all your ear pro, eye pro,
9.5 H x 17.5 L x 10.5 D

(inches/main compartment)
optics and other necessities in the
COLORWAY:
roomy side pockets. Bring your wife
Black
MSRP:
$99.99
or a buddy, throw your gear into one

bag, and off you go. Theres more
than enough space to go around.
14
LOADOUT
WOMENS RAVEN RANGE TIGHT

Youll no longer have
the dilemma of clothing
that looks too tactical for
everyday wear or looks great
for everyday wear, but isnt
functional enough. 5.11
met with the right people
to come up with something
that provides the best of
everything. Ladies, slip on a
pair of these Raven Range
Tights, and youll wonder
why no one thought of these
sooner. The Ponte di Roma
fabric sounds fancy, and it
is. Its stretchable, smooth,
figure-conforming abilities
will keep you looking good
while at the range, gym, or
hanging out at home. With a
wide elastic waistband with
belt loops, moisture wicking
properties, and abrasion-resistant panels that protect
from the wear of a belt and
holster, theres nothing else
you could ask for in the way
of utilitarian practicality. An
ankle length inseam of 26.5
WOMENS RANGE QUALIFIER

The stylishness doesnt end there. 5.11 prides
inches ensures a full range
itself on not designing anything in a vacuum. They
of movement. Its yoga
tapped all the right input to create the Womens
pants meets range apparel.
Range Qualifier the perfect blend of efficiency and

innovative taste. This range bag can accommodate
multiple pistols and accessories. It comes with a lockable main compartment, fold-out admin panel, and
removable ammo tote. With six magazine slots, Velcro
and zippered closures, and
1,100 cubic inches of storage
MODEL:
Womens Raven
Range Tight
COLORWAY:
Black, Tundra
MSRP:
$89.99
MODEL:
Womens Range Qualifier
space, as well as an adjustable
DIMENSIONS:
shoulder strap and grab-and-go
8.75 H x 13 L x 10.25 W
(inches)
handles, youve got an organization and aesthetics all in

one. Practical enough for the
range or even as a gym bag.
COLORWAY:
Black, Storm
MSRP:
$79.99
511TACTICAL.COM
15
RANGE ESSENTIALS
WWW.511TACTICAL.COM
SINGLE PISTOL CASE

Whether youre looking for a discreet carry bag for your EDC gear, or
just want a simple solution to a day
at the range with your home-defense
pistol, the Single Pistol Case is ideal
for off-body CCW carry. Its wraparound locking zipper and lay-flat design allows for quick retrieval of your
firearm. The fully padded interior,
MODEL:
isolated compartment for your pistol,
Range Ready Bag
and elastic straps hold your mags and
DIMENSIONS:
accessories securely and accessibly.
8.75 H x 11 L x 1.75 D
(inches/main compartment)
COLORWAY:
Black, TAD OD, Sandstone

MSRP:
$29.99
Write your name on the exterior name

tape for easy identification. At only
30 bucks, its hard to believe youre
getting so much, so inexpensively, but
then again, its 5.11 gear.
VTAC MK II 42
DOUBLE RIFLE CASE
If its got the Viking Tactics and
5.11 name attached to it, you may as
well just call it a blessed bag because
its been given the proverbial blessing
more than once. Its been tested,
refined, tested again, and refined
again to bring you functionality galore. Lets start with the laser-cut web
platform so you can easily attach and
arrange your pouches. Moving into
the loop-side surface, you have an
additional platform for accessorizing
with MOLLE or SlickStick patches
and gear. A padded divider and yoke
straps enable you to carry it like a
backpack and keep your rifles from
banging into each other.
MODEL:
VTAC Mk II 42 Double Rifle Case

DIMENSIONS:
12.5 H x 44 L x 3.25 D (inches/main compartment)

COLORWAY:
Black, Sandstone, Double Tap

MSRP:
$179.99
16
LOADOUT
HARD CASES
Whether its your rifle, pistol, camera equipment, or any
other fragile and highly personal items, you can be sure
that no one will care about
it as much as you do. That
being said, it makes sense
to protect those investments
with a 5.11 hard case thats
sure to outlive roaches. They
simply thought of everything.
Its crushproof, dustproof,
and idiot-proof. With fully
submersible watertight load
protection and temperature
defense from -70 to 160
degrees F, these cases have
a copious amount of certifications that exceed current
Department of Homeland
Security, airline, and Mil
standards. Patented trigger
release latches and a stackable design will keep your
equipment safe from even the
most careless couriers, even if
TAC A2 GLOVES
Gloves are like guns. There isnt one that
does everything, but you always have a
you happen to be the biggest
favorite. The TAC A2 glove is the most pop-
clutz of all of them. Includes
ular glove in 5.11s arsenal. The patented
cubed foam insert.
TacticalTouch fingertip design provides the

tactile sensitivity you need while shooting
MODEL:
Hard Case
or hammering away on your smartphone.
DIMENSIONS:
The breathable stretch nylon back panel will
varies
keep your hands cool and dry, while joints,
COLORWAY:
palm pads, and a thumb saddle all rein-
Double Tap
MSRP:
forced with leather will protect your hands
$104 to $209
from injury. Clean the

sweat off your brow with
MODEL:
TAC A2 Glove
the integrated wipe on
COLORWAY:
the thumb. Comfort and
Black
dexterity all in the palm

of your hand.
MSRP:
$29.99
511TACTICAL.COM
17
18
LOADOUT
INCREASEDTHREAT IFAK
WITH RANDOM VIOLENCE MAKING HEADLINES,
CARRYING THE RIGHT FIRST-AID GEAR IS ESSENTIAL
STORY BY KERRY DAVIS

PHOTOS COURTESY DARK ANGEL MEDICAL AND 5.11 TACTICAL
Its a beautiful day and theres not
currences emphasize the importance
chest are, in most cases, treatable.
a cloud in the sky as you and your
of having, on our person, some sort
Ninety percent of gunshots to the
family enjoy an afternoon at the local
of medical equipment what we will
head are immediately fatal. With
farmers market. The air is filled with
call EDC medical. Its a helpless
non-penetrating head trauma the key
the sounds of merchants and cus-
feeling to know that someone needs
is try to control the bleeding with
tomers chatting about organics and
help and be unable, due to a lack of
hemostatics and pressure dressings,
childrens laughter rings bright and
preparedness, to render much-need-
elevate the head slightly to reduce
clear. In an instant, it all changes.
ed and, quite possibly, life-saving aid.
intracranial pressure, and keep their
The atmosphere is shattered by a
Now, more than ever, we need to
airway open.
In the event of an explosive de-
several ear-splitting explosions as the
have the tools necessary to save a
shock waves roll over your body, con-
life at our disposal, so that were an
vice, such as the Boston Marathon,
cussing you with over-pressure. Then,
asset to society rather than a liability
extremity injuries are very common.
over the screams of the victims, you
a by-doer instead of a bystander.
Random acts of violence that dont
hear multiple muted pops as a tidal
However, to be a true force multiplier,
use conventional weapons, such as
wave of terrified people spread out
we need to know what to carry on us
the runaway truck in France, caused
from the epicenter of the violence,
at a bare minimum, and how, when,
all kinds of extremity injuries, head
eyes and mouths agape with abject
and why to use it so that we can
trauma, and crush injuries.
horror, blood splattered on their
safely, effectively, and quickly assist
The biggest thing is, you dont
bodies and faces pale with the shock
and injured individual, which may be
know what youll have to deal with
of what has just happened.
yourself or a loved one.
until it happens, right? So its
You look around, panicked, for your
This begs the question of what an
best to prepare by getting first-aid
children, whom you swear were right
individual should have on them in
training from a reputable instruc-
by your side a few moments before.
order to effectively render aid in an
tor beforehand, and carry the right
Over the sounds of chaos, you hear a
emergency situation.
equipment to deal with injuries com-
forever changed.
COMMON INJURIES
terrorist events. For purposes of this
THE TIME CHOOSES YOU
the types of injuries youll likely be
the application and treatment fun-
dealing with during a random act of
damentals, but rather delve into the
mon to increased-threat areas and
plaintive cry of, Daddy! Your life is

First of all, its important to know
Tragedy strikes when we least ex-
article, were not going to get into
pect. We have myriad examples just
violence. When it comes to events
essentials youll likely need to hafe
by doing a simple Internet search of
like mass shootings, we see a large
on hand in a situation similar to the
recent mass-casualty events here in
number of thoracic injuries and head
aforementioned examples. Heres
the USA and abroad. These tragic oc-
injuries. Gunshot wounds to the
what you need to carry and why.

511TACTICAL.COM
19
Gloves:
WHAT SHOULD YOU CARRY?
Lets keep this simple. If its wet,
ible injuries, which are attributed
sticky, red, and it isnt yours, dont
to 50 percent of the 80 percent of
1. Nitrile gloves
touch it without gloves. The risk of a
hemorrhagic injuries. They can be
2. Tourniquet
blood-borne pathogen is high enough
controlled through various means of
3. Hemostatic gauze
its recommended that anyone and ev-
compression with the most visible
4. Pressure bandage
eryone carry at least a couple of pairs
example being the tourniquet.
5. Occlusive dressing (chest seals)
of nitrile gloves in their kit. You dont
We would recommend the following items:
want latex gloves the last thing you
There are quite a few tourniquets

commercially available, but only a
Other items that could be added (depending on how
want to do is render aid on someone
select few have had any kind of sci-
much real estate you have) are things like
and then have them go into anaphy-
entific studies performed on them to
lactic shock due to a latex allergy.
judge both their safety and efficacy,
6. Mylar blanket
so do your due diligence. If its Com-
7. Nasopharyngeal airway
Tourniquets:
8. Chest decompression needle

(if trained and certified/licensed)
9. Duct tape
8
The reason theres a caveat for a chestt decompression needle being used by a licensed
nsed
individual is despite common training in
the military its considered an advanced
ced
practice in the civilian sector. If its carried
ied by
an unlicensed individual in the event of an
a incii idividudent and given by them to a licensed indi
i al, then thats a logical train of thought.
20
these are what we call compress-
LOADOUT
You first have to keep blood in
mittee on Tactical Casualty Combat

Care-recommended, then its a prov-
the body because its science! The
en one, such as the CAT (Combat
main concern with many of these
Application Tourniquet), SOFTT or
types of attacks are hemorrhagic
SOFTT-W (Special Operations Forces
injuries where the wounded indi-
Tactical Tourniquet-Wide). Purchase
vidual will succumb to by bleeding
one, two, or three with a proven
out, or exsanguinating, in medical
track record of saving lives and ease
terms. According to TCCC (Tactical
of use.
Casualty Combat Care), that number
What a tourniquet does, when
is somewhere around 80 percent. In
applied appropriately to a limb, is
blast injuries, where a large number
essentially stop all of the blood flow
of extremity injuries are common,
at a point above the injury through
size of the limb, you may need more

than one tourniquet as they act, not
only through compressive force, but
also by the surface area thats being
om
compressed. Check out the feature
design5 6/istockphoto.c
compressive force. Depending on the
Youre Not Bulletproof in Issue 3

of CONCEALMENT for more info on
tourniquet application.
Also, if a particular tourniquet is
chosen, buy an extra one to designate as a trainer and use it for
application of a tourniquet and any
practice. If you use the tourniquet
injury in these areas can be a direct
from your actual EDC during practice
threat to the life of the injured.
sessions it can degrade its strength.
These junctional injuries could
There are several tourniquets avail-
benefit from the application of a
able out there that also have a desig-
hemostatic gauze. Like tourniquets,
nated blue trainer model available.
there are several types of hemostatic
Its highly advisable to purchase one
gauze on the market and there are a
of these or, in the case of utilizing a
smaller number that are recognized
standard tourniquet as a trainer, mark
and approved by the Committee on
it to indicate that it is being used as
Tactical Combat Casualty Care. The
trainer so as not to get it confused
mechanism of action of these types
with your real world tourniquet. Its
of hemostatic is based on the type
even more advisable to practice as
of hemostatic that is impregnated
much as possible with your trainer
into the gauze material, which is like
to become as quick and efficient as
standard packing gauze.
possible.
Some of these types of hemostatics act with the bloods natural
Hemostatic Gauze:
clotting capability and activate a
While tourniquets are proven
couple of clotting factors earlier than
to stop life-threatening bleeds on
they normally would while others act
compressible injuries, we also have
independently of the bodys natural
to be concerned about injuries that
clotting capabilities. Either way,
are deemed as non-compressible.
the result is, if the gauze is utilized
These types of injuries are usually in
correctly, a robust clot directly at
what are called junctional areas of
the source of the bleed with the
the body where large vessels meet
gauze adding compression inside the
(the base of the neck and top of the
wound cavity.
shoulder, the armpit, and the groin).

Non-compressible injuries are also
As with tourniquets, just having

this material in your med kit doesnt
in an area we call the box, which
make you prepared, it only makes you
is the area from the collarbone down
equipped. To be truly ready, you must
to the belly button and all the way
train with this material and, again,
around the body. This area has a
like with tourniquets, there are train-
significant amount of life-supporting
ing versions of this material available.
organs and large vascular structures
The time to learn to use your med kit
that cant be compressed through the
is before you have to use it.
FINDING THE RIGHT FIRST-AID COURSES
If youre looking to expand your skillset, look into learning skills that will
benet you anywhere. CPR/AED/rst-aid courses are something that should
be in the toolbox of any prepared individual. Why take one of these classes?
Well, for starters, youre statistically more likely to use the skills learned
in these classes than you will a concealed carry rearm. Plus, it transfers
anywhere here in the USA without any reciprocity worries.
The classes are usually half day to full day and are relatively inexpensive.
Certications last two years with the current American Heart Association classes. As far as taking it a little further with a Tac Med-style class, well, there are
several alternatives out there, but only a few are available to the civilian market.
Check out training from reputable places like Dark Angel Medical and
Lone Star Medics, as they have a solid reputation and stay current with best
practice treatments so you know youre getting the latest information. If you
can nd a TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) or TECC (Tactical Emergency
Casualty Care) course, they are worth the money and are sponsored by NAEMT
(National Association of EMT) afliates throughout the U.S.
If you want to do a medical/shooting course, check out SIG SAUER
Academys Bullets and Bandages series of courses. They take you from
the classroom to practical application on the range and in the shoot house
with force-on-force medical scenarios. More than anything, seek out solid
instructors and organizations, as your money will be well spent.
511TACTICAL.COM
21
Occlusive Dressing (Chest Seals):

In the box where we have so
positive pressure air from the atmosphere is pulled into the chest cavity
many life-supporting structures, our
and collapses the lung, not to mention
main concern, aside from the hem-
the bleeding which will occur in this
orrhage, is with air gaining entrance
very vascular area. What do we use for
without natural means. That is to say
a chest seal? Well, youre in luck be-
through a penetrating injury like a
cause there are quite a few very good
gunshot, stab, shrapnel, or any other
seals on the market. Like with pressure
type wound that interrupts the integ-
bandages, they range in size from the
rity of this, otherwise, closed system.
very large to the compact, but they are
IIf the box has a hole poked in it,
all good at doing one thing keeping
our first priority is to seal it up and

o
outside air from entering the thorax
we can do that through the use of an
through an unnatural opening.
cclusive
chest seal.
oc
c
W look for wounds on the front,
We
P
Pres
Pr
res
essure B
Bandage:
d g :
ck,
bac
c and sides, and if theyve pen-
The other miscellaneous items you
etratted
t the thorax (look for difficulty
can add to your kit to personalize are
rapid breathing, bloody

breatthing,
t
dependent on a couple of things: how
bubblles from wounds, coughing up
much you want to spend and how
blood) then we need to get them

blood),
much space you have. If you can fit
sealed up.
the other essentials mentioned and
The reason for this is that our lungs
know how to use them, by all means
If a hemostatic
agent is used, it
h
expand via negative pressure and if
add them to your self-assembled or
will need some sort of reinforcement
the
t e pleural
p eu a space (where
( e e the
t e lungs
u gs
preassembled
some
p
easse b ed first-aid
st a d kit.
t See so
e
from a compression bandage. These
live
i iin the chest)) iis breached, then
p
p
i
examples
off preassembled
IFAKs in
bandages can also be utilized without

a hemostatic agent being present
to help control moderately bleeding wounds. There are several very
popular and effective ones available
on the market, from the very large to
the very small. Basically, a compression bandage is a length of elasticized material with an absorbent
pad attached to it that puts focused
and direct pressure directly onto the
wound in the hopes to stop bleeding
without acting as a tourniquet.
Some of these bandages have had
focused pressure devices added to
them, so that even more pressure is
directed to the source of bleeding. Its
very important to mention, however,
that they can be applied too tightly
and its imperative to constantly
reassess the injured individuals
circulation below the wound when one
of these bandages is applied.
22
KEEP THIS IN MIND
LOADOUT
have put in the time and research to
5.11 Tactical UCR

Slingpack
put together a quality-made kit.

Most important of all is, get trained.
Period. Solid medical training is one
of the most valuable self-defense
courses you can take. You dont do
anyone any good if you carry a kit that
you dont know how to use. Seek out
reputable trainers and get familiar with
the inner workings of your kits components and also, improvised items
which, in a pinch, can be utilized.
There are Tactical Combat Casualty
Care and Tactical Emergency Casualty
Care courses held throughout the U.S.
This training will hopefully give you
the confidence necessary to use that
kit should you need it and may also incentivize you to seek out further training. The combination of the right kit,
right training and right mindset is very
formidable and, in a tragic situation,
our EDC Med Kits article in Issue 4
incident. Piece together a kit or buy
give you the winning edge. The time
of CONCEALMENT.
one ready made from those who
chooses you. Will you be ready?
The old adage of you get what

you pay for is very true with the EDC
medical kit. Its a good idea to go to
reputable dealers for these products
and do your research to find whats
the best fit, literally, for you, as it
will do you no good to have a kit in
your automobile when you need it in
your pocket. Dont cheap out and buy
third-party med kits or first-aid items
off eBay or Amazon. Go directly to the
source for potentially life-saving products. Counterfeit items are out there.
Be sure you know what the latest
versions of products are, such as the
CAT (the Gen 7 is the most current).
There are small belt-mounted kits,
kits that fit in your pocket, kits that
fit in a bag, and kits that fit on your
ankle. Even cell phone pouches can
be repurposed as small, inconspicuous kits for medical gear. The kit that
Kerry Pocket Doc

Davis, founder of Dark
Angel Medical, is a
registered nurse who
has specialized in critical
care and emergency
medicine. He is a veteran
of the USAF where he
served as a ight medic
on an Airborne Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison
Team at Pope Army Air
Field (formerly Pope Air
Force Base) at Ft. Bragg,
North Carolina, as well
as a Medical Readiness
Instructor at Ofcer
Training School, Maxwell
AFB, Montgomery,
Alabama, where he
worked as a paramedic.
In addition to Dark Angel
Medical, he is a part-time
instructor at SIG Sauer
Academy in Epping, New
Hampshire.
darkangelmedical.com
is attached to your body is the best

kit to have in the event of a tragic
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
5.11 Tactical UCR Thigh Rig

511TACTICAL.COM
23
A COMPARATIVE LOOK AT FITNESS

AND FIREARMS STANDARDS FOR
PROFESSIONAL SHEEPDOGS
BY TOM MARSHALL
Everyone has training goals. Some
Unfortunately, the reality of bud-
of us want to get bigger. Some of
gets, time constraints, and pass-per-
us want to get smaller. Some of us
centage statistics all play a part in
want to put boot to ass for God and
developing both physical and marks-
country. There are thousands of sol-
manship training curricula. Command-
diers, law enforcement officers, and
ers and administrators must balance
security agents who have to be ready
these practical constraints against the
Border Patrol was founded in 1924,
at any time to face down the threat
desire to train our nations shooters to
charged with walking the perimeter
The United States Customs and
of lethal force from crime, insurgen-
the best of their abilities. Were going
of both the continental U.S. and its
cy, and terrorism.
to examine highlights from some of
territorial waters. As of 2012, the
these programs from a variety of units
Border Patrol employed more than
and agencies.
21,000 agents. In addition to the
So how do first responders keep

their edge against unpredictable
24
CASE 1: U.S. CUSTOMS AND

BORDER PATROL
threats at home and abroad? In some
Our information is coming from a
parts of the military, its known as the
combination of open-source research
Canada and Mexico, the Border Patrol
Big 4 shoot, move, communicate,
and, in some cases, first-hand
also guards 2,000 miles of territorial
and medicate. Were going to look
accounts from current or former
water around the Florida peninsula
at two of those four: shooting and
shooters in these organizations. Well
and the island of Puerto Rico.
moving. Both are vital for self-defense
talk a little bit about each groups
nearly 6,000 miles of land border with
They are known for operating in
and the protection of the community/
makeup and mission set then well
some of the most isolated, unforgiving
nation at stake. There are, practically
give you some highlights from their
terrain that the law enforcement pro-
speaking, an infinite number of ways
marksmanship and physical fitness
fession has to offer. They ride SUVs,
to skin this cat. Ideally, every unit and
training programs. You can check
ATVs, horses and fly helicopters. Some
agency should design their training
these standards against your own
of their larger individual missions
programs to be the most effective
practice regimen and see how you
include Operation Gatekeeper (Califor-
based on their mission set.
might fare.
nia), Operations Hold the Line (Texas),
LOADOUT
Phototreat/istockphoto.com
and Operation Safeguard (Arizona).
you can try to keep up with BORTAC
(70 percent). BORTAC agents must
Never heard of those on TV? Neither
the Border Patrols full-time tactical
maintain 342/360 (95 percent). We
had we, but those ops resulted in
unit. In addition to high-risk law
dont know what target they use, but
nearly 364,000 arrests, along with the
enforcement within the U.S., they also
the points will work out on an IPSC
seizure of 5,900 pounds of cocaine
have been known to deploy to South
silhouette with standard 5-3-2 zone
America to train friendly security forces
scoring. Here are some highlights:
and 2.2 million pounds of marijuana.

Want to train like the watchdogs of the
or assist in high-threat extraditions.

Select Pistol standards, U.S. Customs
border? Try some of these exercises

Select PT Standards, BORTAC
and Border Patrol
Select PT Standards, Border Patrol
1-mile run Maximum time: 11
From the 1.5-yard line, draw and
Agents
minutes
fire three rounds 3 seconds
1-mile run Maximum time: 13
300-meter dash Maximum
minutes
time: 56 seconds
two rounds, switch to weak hand
220-yard dash Maximum time:
6-mile ruck march, 45-pound pack
only, fire one round 6 seconds
46 seconds
Maximum time: 90 minutes
You have to have both aerobic and
In terms of marksmanship, BORTAC
two rounds, reload while kneeling,
anaerobic capability if youre going to
uses the same pistol course as their
fire two more rounds 12 seconds
be hiking up and down the mountains
Line watch brethren. Theyre simply
From the 25-yard line behind a barri-
of the southwest, only to have to chase
required to hold a higher standard.
cade, draw and fire four rounds from
a guy at the top whos running for his
The entire course is 72 rounds, with a
strong-side of barricade, then kneel
life or trying to kill you. For those of you
maximum of 360 points. Agents must
and fire four more rounds 30
studs who scoff at these time hacks,
qualify at a minimum of 252/360
seconds (Bonus: repeat weak side)

511TACTICAL.COM
25
Corps requires of those Marines assigned to Force Recon companies:

Select PT standards, USMC Force
Reconnaissance
8-mile ruck march, 50-pound pack
2 hours
Pull-ups (from a dead-hang) 20
3-mile run 18 minutes
As with the conventional Marine
Corps PT test, the name of the game
here is endurance. These tasks are
not only physically demanding, but
mentally taxing. If youve ever marched
more than 1-mile with a pack that
wasnt loaded evenly, or where the
straps werent cinched just right, you
CASE 2: U.S. MARINE CORPS

C
Even among the military services,
Corps
your psyche.
From the 200-yard line, 5 rounds
ight, the Marines are (in)famous

rig
sitting, 5 kneeling, 5 standing
Select Rifle Standards, USMC Force
for their skill behind a rifle. From

fo
20 minutes
Reconnaissance
Belleau Wood to Baghdad, Chosin to
From the 300-yard line, start
From the 100-meter line, station-
Kunar, the Marine Corps has been
standing, drop to prone and fire 10
ary, fire two rounds from the stand-
the frontline of some of Americas
rounds 1 minute
ing, kneeling, prone (six rounds
most vicious battles. If you want to
From the 500-yard line, 10 rounds
total) 12 seconds
train like a leatherneck, try a couple
from the prone 10 minutes
of these drills:
In a time when most organizations
ary, fire five rounds from prone
have shifted their carbine programs
(drop to prone from standing)
Select PT Standards, U.S. Marine
to favor closer targets with faster par
10 seconds
Corps (age group 27 39)
times, the Marine Corps rifle qual
Pull-ups (untimed) Minimum
places an incredible importance on
ary, fire five rounds from supine
required: 3
long-range marksmanship. These
prone (drop to supine prone from
Crunches (2 minutes) Minimum:
quals are shot on E-type silhouettes
standing) 10 seconds
45
with a maximum score of 350. A 250
3-mile run Maximum allowed
is required to pass. Weapon used is
ary, fire five rounds from simulated
time: 29 minutes
an M16A2. Just remember, you can-
cover, (shooter will run 50 meters
not rest the magazine on the ground
to barricade/simulated cover then
fitness assessment, with the run
at any point during this qual. Oh, and
begin shooting) 20 seconds
focused more on endurance than
its shot entirely with iron sights.
These drills place much more time
speed. If you break down the min-
LOADOUT
know the sheer anguish this places on
alll lethal and capable in their own
This is an excellent all-around
26
Select Rifle Standard, U.S. Marine
The Marine Corps Force Reconnais-
stress on the shooter than the entry-lev-
utes-per-mile pace of the minimum
sance Companies are the USMCs spe-
el rifle program. Theyre also meant to
standard, its not particularly fast.
cial purpose units, tasked with both
be shot with an ACOG-equipped M4, as
A 29-minute 3-mile is just under
deep reconnaissance and direct action
opposed to an iron sighted A2. Target is
10 minutes per mile. Even at this
missions far behind the forward edge
E-type steel. Great emphasis is placed
pace, 3 miles stresses both the
of battle. They operate in small teams,
on rapid position changes. Moving and
physical endurance and mental for-
collecting information about enemy
shooting, shooting with an elevated
titude required by the Marine Corps
activity in locations that conventional
heart rate, and shooting from cover are
mission set.
forces cannot reach. Heres what the
also addressed here.

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BUYERS

LETS TEACH OUR KIDS

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226 GOING HOT

RECOIL reminds you to be safe and

RECOIL (USPS 013-320), March/April

Continued from page 8

NOW FOR SOMETHING

Chemistry and Artistry in

ITS TIME THE NRA

THE LONG PULL

Mechanix Wear Tactical Specialty gloves are designed to protect

TACTICAL HAND PROTECTION

STORY BY ROB CURTIS

COVER PHOTO BY STRAIGHT 8

AS PARENTS, SOMEONES GOT TO STAND UP,

LETS TEACH OUR KIDS

AND GET RID OF THE FIREARM STIGMATISM.

Wed like to thank Robby and Hattie

and his dad and uncle competed in

and ammo were always laying around,

Johnson for lending us their daughter,

benchrest matches, so long-range

says Hattie. My dad taught us the

11-year-old Jenavee, for the cover of

shooting was part of his upbringing.

safety behind them, though, and its

our Next Generation-themed issue.

The combination of a Remington

the same thing with our kids.

When we decided on the next-gen

700 under the Christmas tree and a

As parents ourselves, we can attest

theme for the first RECOIL of 2017, we

500-yard shot on a groundhog ignited

that a kids first emergency room visit

wanted it to be a tribute to the people

his ambition of becoming a military

is a right of passage. Hattie recalls her

most important to us all those

sniper. In high school, he worked at

E.R. scare when a .38 Super round

wholl pick up where we leave off.

the local gun shop and took advantage

went missing from the kitchen table

of slow periods to practice on the

and they feared Jenavee had swal-

lowed it. It turns out she didnt. But,

We spent weeks searching for the