Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2018 i Tactical Life

DEAD-ON ACCURACY. TOP-NOTCH PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY. These are the things we all look for in our firearms, whether we use them for self-defense, duty, hunting or competition. In this special precision issue of Tactical Life, our content creators have zeroed in on the latest the shooting world has to offer for those who want to reap every ounce of accuracy and performance from their guns, gear and training. Sean Utley, the editor-at-large of sister publication Ballistic Precision, kicks things off with his custom Porsche-inspired 6mm Creedmoor. There’s companion video on tactical-life.com that features the kickass Kimberly Marie, who holds a black belt in karate, as well as live shooting from Sean’s road trip to a North American Long Range Shooter’s Association match in Texas (page 34), where everyday folks have…

The Plasan Yagu lightweight armored vehicle injects a previously unimagined capability into the special operations battlespace. Combining high mobility, air transportability and formidable firepower, the Yagu can transport special operators to their area of operations and then protect them while maneuvering downrange. Offering amazing capabilities at a modest weight and relatively reasonable price, the Yagu could revolutionize the way modern spec-ops warriors travel. Today’s cutting-edge Yagu harkens from a fascinating evolutionary family. PREVIOUS WHEELS In the early 1930s, the U.S. Army began experimenting with the concept of a bantamweight truck for use by scouts and raiders who were the early 20th century predecessors to today’s special operations forces. The resulting vehicle stemmed from a laborious developmental process and became a ubiquitous part of Allied forces in all combat theaters during…

Fifteen years ago, no one would seriously consider a semi-auto rifle for precision use. We’d spend thousands of dollars trying to get our bolt guns to break the MOA gold standard. It took a lot of effort—blueprinting the action, glass bedding, high-dollar barrels, adjustable triggers, load development. But somewhere along the way, we discovered that AR-platform rifles could easily shoot groups under an inch wide without quite so much effort. Softer recoil, quicker follow-up shots and longer service life are some of the other advantages of the AR, or modern sporting rifle (MSR). In 2017, Savage Arms began producing its own ARs. I tested the company’s MSR 15 Recon rifle in 5.56mm NATO and found it to be extremely well built and constructed with the finest materials. The gun was…

IT IS A RARE DAY THAT WE SEE A MEMBER OF THE U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITY WITH A STOCK WEAPON. These operators are well known for customizing their guns and improving their functioning. This phenomenon is not limited to the U.S., however. The pipe hitters in mother Russia have their own preferences when it comes to the AK platform as well. For instance, well-known firearms trainer Larry Vickers recently paid a visit to Russia, and video footage showed that the Russians were indeed following Western influence and adapting the venerable AK to the 21st century. Now, it is important to understand that the gentlemen at the center of the visit and subsequent custom gun builds are not just young soldiers with online shopping skills. The visit was with Spetsgruppa “A,”…

Nikon’s new P-Tactical Spur is the company’s first small red-dot sight, and it’s definitely a beauty! The company has long been respected by shooters for its quality binoculars, spotting scopes, rangefinders and riflescopes, but until now, it had never produced a miniature reflex sight. That changed this year due to increased consumer demand for red dots by competitive shooters as well as those who want “urban” rifles and PDWs for personal protection. These sights are popular because they are often superior to scopes, lasers and iron sights when targets are engaged out to 100 and 150 yards. Compared to most other sighting systems, many people find red dots provide faster target acquisitions. They also allow you to shoot easily with both eyes open. This makes them just about ideal for…

“A San Francisco cop who had a personal gun stolen from his car several weeks ago is reportedly ‘devastated’ after learning that it was used in a gang-related murder just days later,” read the first line of an article in a Bay Area newspaper in September of 2017. The article went on to say, “‘A few weeks ago, a vehicle belonging to an SFPD officer was burglarized, and the officer’s personal firearm was stolen, unbeknownst to him,’ explained San Francisco Police Officers’ Association President Martin Halloran…‘Days after the burglary, that firearm was used in a gang-related homicide.’” This is a situation no law enforcement officer would ever want to experience. Unfortunately, a cop having a gun stolen from a car—even a police car—is not an uncommon situation. A quick search…

The Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1934 regulated automatic weapons, sound suppressors and destructive devices like hand grenades and mortars. Before that time, anybody with a little money could walk out of their local hardware store with a fully automatic Thompson submachine gun or Browning Automatic Rifle without flashing so much as a driver’s license. But, thanks to the Great Depression, few people had driver’s licenses or much money. The original language of the GCA lumped handguns in with automatic weapons, intending to subject them all to the same $200 transfer tax—a king’s ransom in the day. The barrel length limitations on rifles and shotguns were codified in the expectation that folks would likely just shorten their long guns if handguns were restricted. Handguns were ultimately negotiated out of the…

PRECISION RIFLES HAVE CHANGED CONSIDERABLY OVER THE LAST several years. Early in my law enforcement career, 24-inch barrels were common on these rifles, and if you were engaging at farther distances, a 26-inch barrel might be used. You would see 22-inch barrels on lightweight hunting rifles, but anything shorter for tactical purposes was limited to “short-range” engagements. In fact, I still remember a recognized “expert” telling me that anything shorter than 22 inches was useless beyond 200 yards. Thankfully, real-world experience has debunked most of the mythology surrounding barrel length. Many agencies today are fielding .308 rifles with barrels as short as 16 inches with great success. Hunters are taking game with similar barrels at 300 to 500 yards. Barrels have also gotten lighter, like stocks and even bullets. Bullet…

“ACCURACY 1ST’S WIND COURSE IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS THAT MANY SOLDIERS RETURN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.” I had the distinct honor of attending a long-range shooting course taught by Todd Hodnett of Accuracy 1st. You may not know his name because, other than being the instructor in Magpul’s Art of the Precision Rifle DVD, he maintains a rather low profile. But make no mistake, his impact on the shooting world and our nation’s soldiers looms large. Todd trains members from every branch of our military and counts numerous three-letter agencies as clients. In addition to training at his spectacular 30,000-acre facility in Canadian, Texas, Todd travels the globe training our military units and those of our allies. Accuracy 1st also has a location in Utah that offers numerous…

Russia’s Spetsnaz operators faced new challenges after the war in Afghanistan, the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the Soviet Union. Like U.S. spec ops, Spetsnaz units are now involved in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, though they retain their traditional “hot war” missions of sabotage, surveillance and disruption. Spetsnaz units have focused on operations in Syria, Chechnya and other areas of conflict. Reportedly, these have included counter-piracy missions off the coast of Somalia. Security at the Sochi Winter Olympics also fell under Spetsnaz purview. Russian special operations units have reorganized for their current missions. In the Soviet Union, Spetsnaz units were normally under the GRU (military intelligence) with specialized Osnaz units under the KGB. Descendants of the Osnaz, such as FSB Alpha and FSB Vympel, remain under control…

There is a great fallacy in life that we all secretly know. Sure, we strive to be “above the fray” and don’t want to be known as the basic creatures that we really are. But the big fiction we cling to is that “looks don’t matter.” Now, granted, they are not the only determining factor in our ultimate opinion on things, but that first head snap is never based on anything other than looks. While this is obviously a fact in human interaction, it goes much deeper than that. An area I see it in quite often is firearms. Simply put, people like good-looking guns. When you’re sitting around at a barbecue, you simply don’t brag about your ugly guns. I openly admit that I am susceptible to head-turning guns,…

Remember that scene at the end of A Fistful of Dollars where the bad guy, Ramon, shoots Clint Eastwood in the heart seven times, but each time the Man With No Name gets back up, still alive? Eastwood finally sweeps his poncho over his shoulder, revealing that he’d been wearing a steel plate the whole time. Ramon and his goons are stunned, giving Eastwood enough time to dispatch all five of them with his Colt. This classic scene lives on today to show the tactical benefits of hidden body armor. Of course, today’s armor options have come a long way and offer higher ballistic ratings than ever before. Many still rely on steel, but more and more non-steel and soft armor solutions are hitting the market for better mobility, breathability…

The DoubleStar ARP7 is a turnkey 5.56mm AR pistol with all the bells and whistles. The 7.5-inch heavy barrel, Big Timber muzzle brake, 7-inch Cloak M-LOK handguard, low-profile gas block, billet charging handle and Ergo grip make the ARP7 a high-end tactical platform. But the Strongarm pistol brace is what really sets the gun apart. Machined from aluminum, the Strongarm weighs 4.8 ounces and provides a solid mount for shooting an AR-style pistol. It’s just 1.9 inches long and has a hardcoat anodized finish like the ARP7’s receivers. I actually got my hands on a beautiful new ARP7 for testing, and it ran like a scalded ape. The gun turns like a fighter plane and remains small enough to tuck into some of the tidiest spaces. Loud, maneuverable and mean,…

1 • 5.11 TACTICAL MISSION READY CHUKAS Whether you’re standing for hours, moving through a crowd or de-escalating a situation, 5.11 Tactical’s new Mission Ready Chukas are ready to back you up. The D30 Lite EVA midsoles and Ortholite X-25 foot beds provide maximum cushioning and all-day comfort. Need more support? The Ortholite Achilles Cuff adds to your comfort level and strengthens the heel hold. And when you need to move, the Vibram Overland high-traction outsole lets you step up without slipping. These boots are perfect for your undercover gear. (511tactical.com) 2 • ARISTOTLE ENGINEERING PRODIGY GRIPS Want to make your rimfire Ruger Mark IV pistol stand out on the firing line while enhancing its ergonomics and handling? Enter Aristotle Engineering, which is now offering three sets of Prodigy Grips.…

WHAT DOES PERFORMANCE MEAN TO YOU? Although it’s subjective, I’d be willing to bet that your thoughts went to something with higher capabilities than most. Perhaps you envisioned something that looks fast. Maybe you thought of a particular firearm or even a sports car. As gun enthusiasts, most of us are drawn to both. It’s like a mandatory part of our code. To me, Porsches are visually irresistible. They seamlessly combine both subtle and bold lines into a highly capable, focused and functional package. It appears complex yet simple and complete—not in your face like a Lamborghini or Ferrari. No, a Porsche is sophisticated, pairing subdued styling and exceptional performance together with plenty of modern flare. Porsche’s automobiles are continually evolving with new technological advancements and proprietary technologies. But in…

The sound suppressor industry has taken some serious hits over the past few years. Before Donald Trump was elected president, demand kept suppressor companies busy—they couldn’t make them fast enough. Companies were selling thousands of suppressors a month, and it could take half a year for customers to start the transfer process. But now the industry is struggling because demand has fallen. All the talk about Congress making them nothing more than “muzzle devices” available at big box stores did not help. Why dump a $1,000 on a suppressor, $200 on a tax stamp and wait for a year when you might able to buy them at Walmart in a few months? Well, that doesn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon, but suppressor companies are trying to figure out how…

Some days, the world can seem like a really small place. My brother-in-law, Jim Wilson, recently told me that he wanted me to meet a new member of his church. The guy had a common interest in guns, he said. A few days later, I was discussing 80-percent weapon builds and the new “players” in the business with my editor. Then, when my wife and I visited my brother-in-law’s church, we met Dan McCalmon—not only a fellow firearms aficionado, but also the national sales manager for Polymer80. Within days, I was building, finishing and testing a .308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO rifle using a new Polymer80 lower receiver kit—the most recent addition to the company’s other AR and Glock-like products. ENJOYING FREEDOM I drove 15 minutes to Dan’s shop to get some…

It was around 7:30 a.m. when I drove under the black steel raven straddling Gunsite Road. Writers milled around the classroom, sipping coffee and smiling about the donated Team Wendy EXFIL LTP helmets. Some tried to figure out how to turn on their FLIR ONE thermal cell phone cameras. On the white plastic tables near the back, several new optics were attached to various Ruger rifles. I wandered over to check things out—new PC Carbines, AR-556 MPRs and Precision Rifles lined up neatly, sporting the recently released FLIR products. I picked up one of the impressive-looking optics and was reminded of the scene from Jurassic Park where the boy, Tim, finds a set of night-vision goggles under his seat in the Ford Explorer and shows the lawyer. “Look what I…

Today’s world has become increasingly violent with predators stalking our streets and countryside. Whether it is a criminal attacker, terrorist or enemy, situational awareness is the name of the game, and once a threat is identified, immediate steps must be taken to attack, counterattack or effect an escape. This encounter could very well occur while you are operating a motor vehicle, in which case your “mental toolbox” needs to have some equipment with which to work. Yes, you can watch plenty of videos, but there’s nothing like getting out there and doing it, which to me is the only way I can truly “get it.” However, under the heading of “Don’t try this at home,” your best bet is to take a professional course where you can get expert instruction…

The U.S. Army has turned to VICIS, an NFL helmet manufacturer whose products are worn by such notable players as Eli Manning and Russell Wilson, to help develop combat helmets that can potentially reduce head injuries. This might sound like a strange move, since a combat helmet’s very purpose throughout history has been to reduce head injuries. Of course, there are many kinds of head injuries. Throughout much of human history, head wounds were what you could see, such as cuts, bumps and bruises. In recent years, there has been a greater focus on unseen injuries to the brain. “Prior to the 1970s, there was really no way of knowing if there was a brain injury,” explained Dr. Jordan Grafman of the Brain Injury Research and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. But…

It’s important to think about optics in terms of short-, medium- and long-range shots. A red-dot or reflex sight gives you close- to medium-range aiming capabilities and allows you to get on target fast and follow up just as quickly. For long-range engagements, you’ll need an optic designed to squeeze out shots as far away as 1,000 yards. Depending on the reticle, estimating your holdover and lead can be extremely simple. And then you have mid-range, where a red dot is not enough and a high-power scope is too much. Thankfully, there are options here, too. With all of that in mind, here are some optics for close-, medium- and long-range work. 1 • AIMPOINT COMPM5 The CompM5 is a compact red-dot sight. In fact, it’s the smallest in Aimpoint’s…