Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2022 i Tactical Life

If you live in an area that experiences all four seasons, then you likely are familiar with varying your carry rig to the weather. When the cold air rolls in, many CCW holders don’t mind carrying a revolver, as concealing the larger framed handgun is far easier when you don a sweatshirt, heavy winter coat or both. Often, that revolver is chambered in .38 Special, and in most cases, this cartridge provides adequate penetration and stopping power. However, it’s important to remember a would-be threat this time of year will likely also be wearing several, thick layers of clothing generating an issue for this lighter cartridge. Furthermore, if said threat walks on four legs you might as well be carrying a cap gun. The solution for those who prefer a…

The bolt-action .22 rifle has probably introduced more young people to firearms than any other type. The appeal of a well-made turn-bolt’s simple elegance is hardly limited to children. Adults like them, too. My experience shows a telescopically equipped bolt rifle is often a favorite in new shooter classes even when stacked against tactical-looking semi-autos and pistols. Top of the reasons cited by my adult students is the satisfaction of achieving a precise shot. And precision is what the Tikka T1x consistently delivers even with non-match grade ammo. Tikka rifles are made in Finland by Sako and imported by Beretta USA (Tikka and Sako are owned by Beretta’s holding company.) The T1x is chambered in .22 LR and .17 HMR and feeds from a detachable 10-round polymer magazine. OVERHEAD VIEW…

With SHOT Show 2021 being cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s event was much anticipated by industry folks across the world. While compact pistols are not new, the demand for these smaller stature handguns has spurred gun manufacturers to release a bevy of new compact models. Here we round up the ones that caught everyone’s eye. Nighthawk President 30 Super Carry Why should small guns get to have all of the fun when a new carry cartridge comes out? This uber-custom offering from Nighthawk is made by one solemn gunsmith from start to finish and features a lightened slide for the fastest cycling possible, as well as a target barrel and final fitment that devoid it of any snag points. Accents like a solid-gold beaded front sight and a…

Approximately 21.5 million Americans now have state-issued concealed carry permits. In addition, the number who carry legally in public places increases by an unknown amount when considering retired police officers carrying under HR 218 and others who carry in accordance with state “constitutional carry” statutes. Combine this with the number of active law enforcement officers and military personnel who carry handguns on a daily basis, plus those who keep guns for home-defense, and it’s clear why the market for handgun ammunition in the United States is very large, especially at this time of uncertainty. All of this has stimulated significant competition among ammunition companies to come up with new products, extend existing lines of ammunition and re-introduce older lines, often repackaging them in smaller boxes to make them more affordable.…

What if there were ways to maximize potency of your personaldefense handgun? Afterall, as a civilian or even a law enforcement officer, if a hostile situation is encountered you will most likely be dealing with it via a handgun. If only we could be “all seeing, all knowing,” we would arrange to have a rifle handy for our tactical emergencies. A handgun is a definite compromise between portability and performance when compared to a rifle. A realistic compact concealed carry handgun is even a further compromise along this continuum i.e., not your preferred full-size, compensated extended magazine blaster that you shoot Open Division with on weekends. DRUTHERS DEFINED So, what would be some of the ways to best boost your carry handgun’s capability/functionality? First, most experts would agree with seeking…

During most of 2020 and a good portion of 2021, homeowners flocked to gun stores seeking a means to protect their domicile. Nearly exclusively, these men and women were offered shotguns, particularly if they didn’t have any previous experience with firearms. Shotguns shine in this scenario, as they are moderately simple to operate, offer greater hit rates (when loaded with multiple projectile ammo) and in the right configuration are extraordinarily maneuverable inside tight spaces. Smith & Wesson is certainly no stranger to self-defense and the realm of long guns isn’t completely foreign to the Massachusetts-based manufacturer either. Shotguns, however, have always been missing from its catalog, leaving out a critical leg of the self-defense triangle. All of that would soon change with the M&P 12, an enhancedcapacity, 12-gauge pump-action shotgun…

What I have learned in my 15 years in the firearms industry is that there is always something to learn about. About two years ago, I decided I really wanted to dive into the suppressor world. I had pretty much dabbled in every other category under the firearms realm, but the NFA paperwork kept me from wanting to even think about getting into suppressors. I started doing a lot of research on the innerwebs like anyone else would do in the 2000s, and what I was finding was most of the cans on the market seem to be the same designs with different names. In fact, many companies seemed to not even make their own suppressors. Yes, some looked fancier, but all of them really were the same designs from…

Trudeau Shuns Unarmed Truckers During the trucker presence in Ottawa, Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was thanking his lucky stars that his anti-gun government banned most semiauto rifles long before such unrest raised its ugly head. “This could have been dicey if we hadn’t got all those weapons out of the hands of the peasants,” Trudeau was heard telling a close confidante. “That knucklehead down in Washington, D.C., should take a lesson and do the same before he loses control of his subjects down there.” Biden’s response was quick and decisive. “That guy up there in the uh, uh, you know the thing, uh, Canada, doesn’t understand the control the government actually has over the American people,” he said. HUNTER FOR HUNTERS Realizing that the U.S.government is never going to…

The 3rd Gen Tactical produces arguably the finest AR receivers in the world. Cut from billets of 7075-T6 aluminum, their upper receivers, lower receivers and handguards provide the foundation for the kind of rifles wielded by the gunman of distinction. Their design is superlative, and the attention to detail is simply without peer. The patented Riflespeed Gas Control System (GCS) introduces an unprecedented degree of precision into your rifle’s performance. By incorporating a metered valve system into the gas block on your standard AR rifle, the Riflespeed GCS lets you tweak your rifle for particular loads, conditions and applications. With the Riflespeed GCS installed you can adjust your rifle’s performance and recoil characteristics in ways we might previously never have imagined. Combining these two extraordinary products results in a black…

Back in April of 1981, while my classmates at the University of Arizona were spending their spring break on the beaches of Puerto Penasco, Mexico, I made a drive north to Chino Valley, Arizona, to attend the basic 250 class at Gunsite. Back then, it was called the American Pistol Institute by its founder Jeff Cooper. He helped popularize the 1911 as a defense tool, and the retired Marine Lt. Colonel was one of the first to analyze, dissect and develop training protocol to aid individuals in surviving an armed confrontation. In the years that followed, Cooper would build his shooting school into the largest and most successful privately owned facility dedicated to training responsible citizens. Starting with just 162 acres, Gunsite has grown to more than 3,200 acres today.…

I recently received Wilson Combat’s new WCR-K22 suppressor and shot the T1x with CCI Standard Velocity and Remington subsonic loads. The WCR-K22 is the only rimfire suppressor I know of that uses K type baffles, which often provide superior sound reduction over other designs. These baffles, however, are not typically used for rimfire cans possibly because of their added complexity of manufacture and greater tendency to become cemented to the tube walls from the accumulation of lead from the bullet. This problem is a recurring one with rimfire cans, but Wilson’s design keeps the baffles from touching the tube by threading them to the end caps, which also provide a gas seal. This alleviates the leading problem without needing sleeves or added parts while retaining the superior sound reduction that…

The importance of holster selection is often glossed over, especially in terms of effective concealed carry. A frequently overlooked option is the shoulder holster. Let me be clear. I am not advocating shoulder holster for every situation or stating that belt, pocket, ankle, appendix and/or inside waistband (IWB) be forgotten; just that shoulder holsters have a place in concealed carry. The Galco Miami Classic shoulder holster is a great example of the genre. Galco recently announced a Miami Classic model that will accommodate the new Sig Sauer P320 with a ROMEO1 PRO red-dot sight (or similar). The Miami Classic is a horizontal shoulder holster with two magazine pouches opposite the handgun. Modular in nature, it allows concealed carry practitioner to add tie-downs, flashlight pouch, multiple magazine orientations or even double…

Once I realized that a sling would enhance the performance of the M&P 12 bullpup shotgun, I immediately turned to Magpul. Although there are a lot of choices in this area, few manufacturers put as much attention to detail into their products as they do. The MS4 sling is built to be a multi-role piece of kit and can quickly go from single to dual-point use with its included adapters. Its signature slider easily glides up or down to adjust the sling’s overall length and stays in place without any secondary hardware or a separate locking procedure. Overall, I found it to be fast, secure and unobtrusive. For more info, visit magpul.com.…

Magnum Research made a name for itself with the Desert Eagle—a massive pistol chambered in the some of the most powerful handgun cartridges on the planet. The legacy continued with the introduction of the Biggest Finest Revolver (BFR) line, which offers massive revolvers often chambered for rounds typically reserved for rifles. The evolution continued with a custom shop offering more calibers and options than most would consider possible in a handgun. Because rifle calibers were already an offering, it only makes sense that the next step would be to offer rifles, and the Mountain Eagle line was born. Beginning with nine calibers, it wouldn’t be long before Magnum Research’s Custom Shop began offering solutions to the rifle line as well. If you can dream it, chances are Magnum Research can…

Many have heard the tenants of defensive shooting or have taken a course that discussed the most important principles. These courses usually play out by practicing a set of drills on stationary cardboard or steel targets. Hands down, this approach can help you learn and perfect your movements, but you’ll never paint the complete picture unless those targets start shooting back at you. Naturally, no training can involve participants firing live ammo at each other, so alternate methods needed to be derived. Paintball guns became the staple for this type of training (often referred to as force-onforce). However, their inherent design vaguely resembles a firearm, and they operate quite a bit differently as well. This paved the way for the invention of conversion kits that would enable real guns to…

Blackhawk now offers a new Custom Kydex Builder site built to allow users to custom design their own carry gear. Starting with an extensive library of popular carry guns, the user first selects the manufacturer and then the model of their gun. From there, they decide if they want an IWB or OWB rig, right or left hand. They can also choose whether the gun will be carrying an optic, have a threaded muzzle or if it is light bearing. Users also select the holster’s color or finish, with carbon fiber and camo just being two of the options. The easy-to-follow program prompts the user for each option. I decided to have an OWB holster built for the new Garrison. I chose a right-hand build and selected an innocuous gray…

From January 18-20, the great firearms pilgrimage once again took place. After a year off, SHOT Show was once again the destination for tens of thousands of people. While less crowded than shows in the past, it was still packed full of new and interesting products. While I did my best to take in the miles of booths, one of my favorite items to search for was new sound suppressors. After four days and 40-plus miles of walking, I have put together a collection of some of the most interesting cans for 2022. Elite Iron First up is a name longtime suppressor aficionados know and respect. Elite Iron has always been a solid producer of all things quiet, and they now have the new ASSET Suppressor. This can is an…

Ours is the most refined consumer economy in all of human history. The accumulation of wealth and the inexorable march of technology have become asymptotic in recent years. If you have the means, there is literally no limit to where you might go. Space is an obvious option, but honestly that’s becoming a bit blasé. Several companies offer a ride, and the Russians will even let you hang out on the International Space Station if the price is right. However, now that 90-year-old William Shatner has tasted the stars, even space travel seems somewhat commonplace. What’s the well-heeled adventurer desirous of something more tangible than a zero-G selfie to do? Triton Submarines has the answer. WORLD OF WATER Fully 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. The world’s…

Most reading this have seen some crazy and almost painful to witness “torture” tests on various weapons and gear—firearms, optics and other accessories pushed past the point of failure. It makes for good reading, especially when it’s not your gear getting the beat down. There is another purpose served here though, if you can see it. I’ve done a multitude of different torture/endurance tests on various firearms, optics and other firearmsrelated accessories. This started when I was a much younger deputy sheriff and was all in an attempt to see which “equipment” I could depend upon with my life. I must have trust issues, because it was more of a need to see for myself. Being that I was once a young, dumb Private E-1 Paratrooper, introducing Mr. Murphy into…

If you’ve ever wondered why there’s a maze of passageways in the Colosseum’s arena instead of a floor, it’s because you’re looking at the Colosseum’s hypogeum. The wooden floor burned and rotted away in antiquity and those passageways are essentially the backstage of the Colosseum, though in this case, it would be more accurate to call them the “understage.” The hypogeum was a major step forward in arena design that allowed theatrical versatility impossible with a solid floor arena. During an unexpected trip to Rome last July, and thanks to the efforts of my friend Stefan Matiu who operates Explore Italy Tours (exploreitalytours.com) I finally got a tour of the hypogeum despite my lack of pre-planning, Covid-19 restrictions and a surprise suspension of ticket sales due to a European Union…