Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2020 i Ballistic

For this steamy “Custom Challenge,” Primary Weapons Systems (PWS) shipped a pair of MK111 Pro pistols to the coating masters at Blowndeadline and MCM Firearms to let them showcase their creativity in a head-to-head face-off. There was only one direction, and it came down to a simple question: Who wants fire and who wants ice? BREATHING FIRE We all know just how awesome fire is. Sitting by some crackling pine with a glass of bourbon and a good cigar is one of the finest situations known to modern man. Our history with this lovely entropic process is well documented, so it’s easy to understand why it warms my bones just looking at the fine creation by the crew at Blowndeadline. The color choices here were pretty basic: Crimson, yellow and…

Jay Dobyns is a 27-year veteran undercover agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). His career includes being shot during his first week of work, before even attending the academy, and again before he celebrated his second work anniversary. His most documented exploit was becoming the first federal undercover agent to be patched into the Hells Angels. Operation Black Biscuit, a two-year investigation, accounted for 55 biker arrests. But it didn’t come without great personal cost. Betrayed by the very agency he risked everything for, Dobyns was targeted for death by those he investigated, with his BATFE supervisors acting as willing accomplices. This same corrupt leadership also brought us the infamous Operations Wide Receiver and Fast and Furious. Special Agent Dobyns decided to take a stand…

There is a common expression about how history tends to repeat itself. That currently seems to be the case with the resurging popularity of pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs). They’re great for competition and defense while being fun to shoot, and they use ammunition that is definitely less expensive than most rifle ammo. Because of that, PCCs allow you to train more often with the platform of your choice, even if you still use a 5.56mm or .300 HAM’R for defensive or tactical applications. So it should come as no real surprise that Wilson Combat recently introduced the AR9X, a 9mm ARstyle firearm that accepts the same magazines that feed the company’s innovative and very popular EDC X9 pistols. I wrote “firearm” because the AR9X is available as both a pistol and…

“EUREKA!” is a Greek expression that literally translates to “I have found it!” and always seems to be followed by the obligatory exclamation point. Eureka is the official state motto of California as well—an allusion to the gold rush that first opened the Golden State to both western civilization and prosperity. Eureka is also a perfect reflection of my heart when first I tore into the parcels containing the Pac-Lite IV TSS and X-Ring Takedown TSS from Tactical Solutions, or TacSol. After a lifetime of searching, I think I have finally found the ultimate suppressor systems for .22-caliber firearms. These add-ons will make your guns quieter than Hollywood props and cooler than Steve McQueen while possessing more practical utility than anything else in your safe. INTEGRAL OPTIONS The Pac-Lite IV…

WHEN I TURNED 18, I got my first rifle: a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 made in 1944 that cost less than $100. It was big and ugly, and kicked in a way that made me wonder if Russian volley fire wasn’t somehow responsible for shifting the angle of Earth’s orbit. When I could afford it, my second rifle—the first purchase for myself—was a Zastava 7.92x57mm Mauser that the Serbs produced to support the other side in World War II. Despite being intended to point at one another, one thing these rifles have in common is that they were available in the United States thanks to Century Arms. More recently, I was afforded the opportunity of a lifetime to visit Century Arms and get a peek behind the scenes. The nondescript, 100,000-square-foot warehouse…

By and large, the kind of shooter who chooses a 1911 for a carry gun is a traditionalist—someone who prefers blued steel to polymer and the timeless Browning design to the latest European striker-fired gun. The folks at Springfield Armory know their market and, with that in mind, just introduced the Ronin Operator, a retro-styled 1911 built to provide a lifetime of rugged service and look good while doing it. Offered in both 9mm and .45 ACP, the new Ronin Operator is loaded with features that savvy 1911 shooters look for at a price that will leave Springfield’s competitors shaking their heads. When I first saw the press release announcing the Ronin Operator, I told Springfield’s marketing manager that if I was going to spec out a custom gun for…

ANGSTADT ARMS MDP-9 Angstadt Arms is well known for its innovation in the pistol-caliber carbine (PCC) market. This year, the company raised the bar with the MDP-9 pistol. This new design is unique because it combines the roller-delayed action of the venerable HK MP5 with an AR-pattern pistol that feeds from Glock magazines. The patent-pending action significantly reduces the gun’s weight and recoil. The MDP-9 is also just 14 inches long overall and weighs a mere 3.6 pounds, making it a breeze to carry and conceal. Finally the bolt is designed to lock back after firing the last round. (angstadtarms.com) CMMG BANSHEE SERIES CMMG recently expanded its Banshee series of pistols and rifles to include models in the high-velocity 5.7x28mm, which was designed in the early 1990s for FN’s Five-seveN…

What do the Mica Peak Moonshiners, the Western Torpedoes, the Calamus Vigilance Committee and the Roy Olmstead Auxiliary Rumrunners all have in common? They’re local American Zoot Shooters Association (AZSA) clubs where you can compete in imaginative shooting stages, or “capers,” with your Tommy gun, old-school 1911, Winchester Model 12 or any other classic, pre-WWII commercial firearm. If you’ve watched The Untouchables 100 times or read every Raymond Chandler novel, then AZSA matches are right up your alley, Buster. Like Cowboy Action Shooting, it’s a costumed roleplaying shooting sport, but it’s historically based in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, when the deeds of criminals and law enforcement were front-page news in American papers nationwide. This was the era of Al Capone, John Dillinger, Machine Gun Kelly, Dutch Schultz, Meyer Lansky,…

The first time I shot a target beyond 400 yards was at the helm of a semi-automatic .300 Winchester Magnum rifle. I sent a 190-grain bullet 740 yards into an IPSC silhouette. And while that’s no major feat by today’s standards, it was back in 2013, and the life-changing event instantly changed my trajectory. Before that moment, I had never really gotten into long-range shooting because I didn’t really know how to do it correctly. I simply didn’t understand all the inputs necessary for a proper return. But now I continue to pursue the discipline with just as much fervor as the day I made that rewarding shot. So, when Jason Sonju of Falkor Defense reached out and asked if I wanted to review the new Petra in .300 Winchester…

When they hear the name Benelli, most people naturally think of shotguns. I certainly do, and for me, the name is inextricably tied to Argentina and dove shooting. To bring a gun—any shotgun or rifle—into Argentina is both expensive and a hassle, so I’ve done it only twice. The many other times I’ve been down there shooting doves, I rented a shotgun. And in every instance, it was either a Benelli or Beretta. Ask any outfitter in Cordoba, and he’ll tell you they are the only guns that can stand up to the 500 to 1,000 rounds or more a day without breaking. Though the company has only been around since 1967, Benelli’s introduction of its inertia-driven semi-auto Model 121 in 1969 catapulted the company into prominence. Today, Benelli’s M3…

When Hollywood wanted to conclude the 1983 film Scarface with doomed drug lord Tony Montana going down fighting, screenwriters armed him with a contraband military M16A1 equipped with an M203 grenade launcher. His line, “Say hello to my little friend!” went down in movie history and remains fixed in popular culture 35 years later. The launcher was actually a prop, but the real combo represented the maximum firepower a foot soldier could carry short of a belt-fed light machine gun. Today, it’s common to see 40mm M203 grenade launchers riding under the barrels of M4 Carbines wherever American soldiers deploy. Back in 1969, when M203s first arrived in Vietnam slung under the barrels of M16A1s, they were brand new and heartily welcomed by troops. This marked the end of the…

Wanna feel old? Consider this: If the Holographic Weapon Sight (HWS) were a person, it would be old enough to vote. Yes, it’s true. Yet we are at a point in history where many shooters cannot recall a time when these simple yet effective devices didn’t exist. Their use has become the “new normal,” and for this we have EOTech to thank. The company’s story started as far back as 1962, when the team at the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM), formerly Willow Run Laboratories, produced one of the world’s first holograms. ERIM was a world leader in performing research and development in the areas of remote sensing, satellite imagery and battlefield surveillance for the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and the U.S. intelligence communities. Eventually, it presented the…

Private military contractor, mercenary, deniable government operative—whatever title was assigned, Ethan had beaten the odds and retired in his mid-40s. It was a young man’s game after all, and his back and knees reminded him of that fact daily. But he wasn’t going to become some lumpy marshmallow, either. Old habits die hard, and he worked out regularly. No matter how well you can pull a trigger, physical fitness always factors into your survival. Time spent in the Marines and then the NSA served him well, especially in the Middle East and the Balkans. Financially, he was secure. He still worked a day job as a contractor. The irony amused him, but he kept it to himself among co-workers. Unfortunately, an early morning phone call from his brother, Nathan, in…

Being a foodie of the first order, I found myself reading an article about Wagyu beef the other day—you know, those steaks that come from Japanese cows that are massaged every day and fed beer and sushi, all while being soothed by the strains of Mozart. Of course, I knew all of that was pure BS, but you must admit that such apocryphal rumors increase the demand and perpetuate the mystique of Wagyu. In that article, the author used the familiar “melts in your mouth” cliché to describe the taste sensation of a top-grade Wagyu steak. What that triggered for me was the sudden recall of an old TV ad for M&M candy that claimed it “melts in your mouth, not in your hand.” So what’s the connection? Well, I…

Summer is here, and that means hot range days and cool clothing. Staying comfortable while you’re training when the heat is on can be tough, so here are some of my recommendations to help keep you relaxed, fit and on target, whether your training takes you to the range, the road or the trail. 5.11 TACTICAL UPHOLDER KILT Are you man enough? Prove it! Keep your movement free and your nether regions cool this summer with the Upholder Kilt from 5.11 Tactical, which is made from a lightweight, durable, rip-stop fabric. It also has a comfort-stretch waistband and a water repellent finish. And if you haven’t hit the range in a kilt, you should really try it before you knock it—especially once the triple-digit temperatures arrive this summer. (511tactical.com) BRCC…

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own tank? Of course you have. Anybody cool enough to be clutching this holy tome has in weak moments pondered tearing about the countryside in his or her own personal tracked vehicle. Lord knows I have. Uncle Sam has a few. Since 1980, American manufacturers have churned out some 10,288 M1 Abrams main battle tanks. Adjusted for inflation, those puppies run $8.92 million apiece. I tried to figure out how much one of those 138,000-pound beasts costs to operate. The answer: A lot. However, thanks to the Utah-based LiteTrax company, you can get into your very own amphibious, go-anywhere tracked vehicle starting at around $18,900. My personal favorite is called the MuddTrax MTX, and it just drips pure, unfiltered awesome. PICK A STYLE…

The mainstream media doesn’t understand a lot when it comes to reporting on firearms, but one of the most misunderstood issues revolves around machine guns and other National Firearms Act (NFA) weapons/devices. One of the biggest misconceptions is that machine guns are 100-percent illegal to own. In reality, machine guns aren’t actually illegal, but rather items that are registered with the federal government and thus must be transferred in a fairly complex process that involves paying a $200 fee for a “transfer stamp.” There are numerous catches to this process as well. First and foremost, you have to live in one of the 37 states that don’t have their own laws banning the ownership of such NFA items. Even for those who live in a state where ownership isn’t an…

SMART FIREARMS Smart Firearms was created in 2013 out of a need to reduce firearms accidents and increase proficiency among our nation’s police officers and private citizens. These folks have created a unique non-firing training system that mimics the most common weapons on the market and is designed to break bad habits before they start A highly intuitive sensor suite located in the triggerguard audibly and visually alerts instructors and bystanders of unsafe handling. Previous models used a simple photosensor with a timer to set off the alarm anytime a finger was on the trigger for more than approximately two seconds. However, the company’s newest products utilize accelerometers and inertial reference units that tell the alarm system how the gun is oriented before it goes off. This allows for a…

Founded by Jim Fuller, the owner of Rifle Dynamics, the Red Oktober Kalashnikov Championship is designed as a way for AK enthusiasts to come together, compete, test their skills and, above all, have some fun with their favorite AKs. Held every October, the annual match coincides with the celebration of the Russian Revolution of 1917. That might seem a bit irreverent, but AK fans have great senses of humor. I know I can’t help but laugh after outshooting AR addicts at a local match with an “evil” and “substandard” AK-47. As you already know, today’s competitions are heavily AR biased. You won’t see many competitors using AKs, and if you do, the guns are heavily modified. Thankfully, a number of manufacturers have noticed, and the industry is changing. Companies like…

After more than 90 years, the classic Tommy gun is finally available in 9mm. Externally, the only visual difference between the 9mm and .45 ACP versions, besides the caliber markings, is that the 9mm uses a slightly scaled-down magazine. Otherwise, all the classic lines of this iconic firearm remain, but with a 16-inch barrel rather than the original 10-inch one. The longer barrel makes the Auto-Ordnance Tommy gun the same as any other long gun from a legal standpoint. Nothing special is needed to buy one over the counter at your favorite retailer other than the usual Form 4473 and a background check. On the other hand, if Auto-Ordnance made the Tommy gun with its original short barrel, the gun would be classified as a short-barreled rifle (SBR) requiring NFA…