Innholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2022 i Tactical Life

If you’re a Dallas Cowboys fan, when you see the number 22 you think of Hall Of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. If you’re a firearms enthusiast, you think of fun and functional times at the shooting range or popping critters in the woods. With many kinds of ammunition still very hard to find, available ammo quite expensive and runaway inflation making expendable income for range visits increasingly harder to come by, it’s a good thing that manufacturers have—whether intentionally or not—made 2022 the year of the .22. With a good .22 pistol or rifle and a couple of bricks of ammo, you can shoot all day for what just a few hours of shooting centerfire rounds would cost you. Fortunately, more and more firearms manufacturers are offering full-size .22…

For years, I avoided the world of suppressors. I did so mainly out of laziness because I didn’t want to deal with the NFA paperwork, and I was totally against paying a $200 tax just to own a device that is quite literally a muffler for your gun. I loved shooting suppressed but just couldn’t bring myself to make the leap. Well, in late 2020 when the world was shut down and I was bored out of my mind, I decided it was time to dive headfirst into the land of sound suppression. I know most of you probably have tried to forget about that time in our history, but I honestly have grown to kind of embrace it. One of the worst problems for gun owners during those crazy…

1 Browning Buck Mark Plus Vision Black/Gold Suppressor Ready The Browning Buck Mark Plus Vision Black/Gold Suppressor Ready is a good-looking .22 LR pistol. Its good looks are based on the mix of a black frame and a gold Cerakote barrel. The gun features a green TruGlo/Marble Arms fiber-optic front sight, a gold-plated trigger and a superb black radial ported muzzle brake. The gun uses straight blowback, recoil-operated engineering. The barrel runs 5.88 inches long and is suppressor ready. The gun’s hexagonal-cut sleeve encapsulates the narrower diameter barrel. The gun’s weight is minimal at just 27 ounces and is 9.9 inches long overall. The pistol has many ergonomic touches. The slide even features protruding grip wings behind the serrations for easier racking. The Picatinny rail slide top, thread protector and trigger’s…

The pistol-caliber carbine (PCC) divisions in competition exploded several years ago. Easier to aim, faster to shoot, higher magazine capacities and less felt recoil meant everyone who tried it, loved it. USPSA even allows you to shoot PCC in place of pistols at their matches. So what is the problem? Direct blowback is the problem. AR-15s are gas operated and have rotating locking lugs that keep the bolt in battery until after the bullet has exited the barrel. This means the bolt carrier group (BCG) slides back into the buffer tube in a controlled manner. Direct blowback doesn’t have that. When the gun goes “bang,” the BCG rockets back like a bat out of hell. We increased the weight of the BCG, increased the strength of the buffer spring and…

One afternoon in 2015, I found myself at Patriot Ordnance Factory visiting with Frank DeSomma about various projects he was working on. In the middle of the conversation, he stopped, grinned at me and said, “Come here, I want to show you something.” For the few on Earth that are not familiar with Frank, he was, at his core, an innovator. With this as the base, I was curious to see what was in the back of the vault. He turned and handed me a rough but functional prototype for a 9mm subgun. The gun was dubbed the PSG and was a work in progress. Well, many times projects like these get mothballed because of other projects, and that was the case with the PSG. That is until now. POF-USA…

Over the years I have participated in numerous firearms competitions. They provide a challenge that just cannot be replicated during most training. Competing against others for placement or to improve yourself just makes you a better shooter. More importantly, you get to mingle with like-minded individuals that are welcoming, helpful and positive in a fantastic family atmosphere. Due to time constraints, my interest has waned for pistol or multi-gun, but precision rifle matches still hold interest. After decades behind a precision bolt rifle for duty, testing and training, they remain fun, but it’s the “gas gun” or semi-auto that holds my interest. I ran a Modern Outfitters MC7 (AR-10) chambered in 6mm Creedmoor for matches. It is light, reliable, low recoiling and incredibly accurate—just costly to run during training. Match…

Months before the world laid eyes on the 6mm ARC, we all had a chance to shoot it at the Athlon Outdoors editorial Rendezvous in the firearms-friendly state of Idaho. At that event, Hornady’s then marketing communications manager, Neal Emery, challenged shooters to push this plump little 6mm, AR-15-length round out to distances in excess of 1,000 yards. Back at the lunch tent, every—and I mean every, writer—was describing his or her success at achieving hits at extended ranges despite the gusty midwestern breeze. Aside from beating the wind, the target we aimed at was a simple 10x10-inch DOA plate, which is sub-MOA at that distance. So, the cartridge is not only resilient to wind displacement, it is unbelievably consistent to boot. While these two qualities sit at the top…

Earlier this year, I received the sad news that acclaimed artist and illustrator Dick Kramer, one of our favorite contributors to The Armory Life, had passed away at the age of 83. While I was fully aware of his work over my more than two decades in this industry, I had not had the pleasure of working with him until relatively recently. Upon taking the reins of TAL in late 2019, you can imagine my surprise when I learned the father of the VP of Marketing for Springfield Armory was the very man we are discussing here. “Wait a second, your father is the Dick Kramer, the guy that has done just about every iconic illustration for the gun industry as long as I have been working in it?”, I…

In August of 2021, former VP sleepy Joe Biden banned the importation of Russian ammunition with nothing more than the swipe of a pen…mind you, this was months before the Russian army ever set foot into Ukraine. With that move, the 7.62x39 market is now tracking for utter disaster sometime around 2023. It’s hard to believe, but there will soon be a time when steel-cased AK fodder will cease to exist, at least on this side of the pond. Unfortunately, as that is the situation, this issue’s “Ammo Match” is devoted to the exploration of alternative 7.62x39 options that can keep your guns running and leave you with a pile of brass cases that are ready for reloading. THE GEAR Whenever 7.62 Russian is mentioned, Kalashnikov’s famed design is the…

Randy Luth put the first rail on an AR-15 rifle. He also showed the planet how to hunt with a Modern Sporting Rifle. Randy is one of the most quietly influential people in the modern gun world. In addition to being a gun-bodging savant, he is also a really nice guy. Randy’s company Luth-AR offers a bewildering range of gun parts and accessories. His custom barrels, receivers, fire controls, forearms and sundry widgets reliably make good guns better. With the introduction of the new Modular Chassis Assembly-22 (MCA-22), Randy’s company is delving into the rimfire world. “THROUGH HIS REFINED TACTICAL GLASS, THE MAN SAW THE FACE OF EVIL INCARNATE.” PRACTICAL TACTICAL The chiseled CAG operator settled in behind his customized precision sniper rig as the rest of the world faded…

Eli Whitney (1765-1825) is best known for his cotton gin (cotton engine), which efficiently removed seeds from high-country cotton, making it profitable. Another great accomplishment was Whitney’s milling machine for removing metal stock unsuitable for lathe turning. Here, Whitney reaped considerable benefit by using them in his own factories where he pioneered, although possibly did not originate, the idea of interchangeable manufactured parts. Firearms production in the 1700s comprised skilled gunsmiths beginning with wrought iron, then removing all metal that did not look like a firearm. Because of standard designs to work from—and forges, lathes, grinders and hand tools to work with—these handmade parts were of like pattern, but seldom of exactly like dimension. Replacing even simple parts required skillful hand-fitting by a gunsmith or armorer. Individually made parts were…

In October of 2021, Springfield Armory surprised the industry by introducing the SA-35, an improved copy of the venerable Browning P-35 Hi-Power. I immediately contacted Springfield and purchased one for editorial review and testing. I was fortunate to receive my sample the same week as the release. MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS Springfield was quick to point out that the SA-35 is not an exact copy of the Browning design. Rather, it is an updated and improved version of the classic design. The SA-35 comes with a great trigger, excellent sights and lacks the magazine safety. Springfield also finishes the SA-35 with an attractive and functional matte blue finish. They also upgraded the magazine capacity by using a 15-round magazine and even beveled the magazine well. The majority of original Browning parts and…

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in a firearms production facility? How are various firearms produced and, what if any, are their quality control measures? These are seriously legitimate questions, and hopefully, I will be able to answer some of them and more as you read on. Century Arms started in 1961 as a typewriter repair company in Montreal, Canada. One day, a person walked in the door and traded the owner a couple of rifles in lieu of the money owed for repairs. The owner then stuck the rifles in the window with a “For Sale” sign, and to his surprise, they sold that same day. So, he bought a few more and then sold those as well. I’m sure you can figure out where…

BERETTA APX A1 Based upon Beretta’s original APX that passed MHS testing for the U.S. Army, the new APX A1 combines form, function and fortitude to create a pistol with a competitive feature set. These include a best-in-class trigger, optics-ready slide, tritium front sight, and ambidextrous slide release and mag release. Ergonomics shine with the inclusion of three different sized backstraps, while the extended beavertail and high undercut triggerguard give a higher-tang grip for a natural shooting position and recoil control. The pistol is available with 10-, 15- and 17-round magazines. (beretta.com) F.A.B. DEFENSE ULTIMAG Glock magazine users can now squeeze one more available 9mm round in their Glock 19 and 17 pistols with F.A.B. Defense’s Ultimag. Constructed of heavy-duty materials for years of use, the magazines come with a…

Every year, the firearms industry launches a variety of new guns for the market. It is usually a spectrum of new blasters that range from high-end bolt guns and ARs to special shotguns and pistols. While small themes have appeared in the past, they have been centered on a small sector of the industry. That changed this year, as multiple companies decided to hop on the .22 rimfire bandwagon. In the past, these guns were not anything new, and each year we saw a new plinker hit the market. This year though, we have seen major companies build serious guns chambered in our beloved .22 LR. They are well designed and, in almost all cases, designed to mimic a full-size gun in their lineup. The benefits of this design are…

In my opinion, the .22 LR is the most underrated cartridge ever to grace the firing line. Often dismissed for its lack of power in hunting or defensive scenarios, the .22 can be a prime target round, even at unheard-of distances. Many shooters are under the impression that this little rimfire is reserved for 50-yard use. However, in the right gun, it can be stretched out much farther. PLINKER REIMAGINED Savage Arms has been making “the right gun” for several years, and it is dubbed the B22. When I first picked up the then-new bolt action, I printed some amazing groups up close and even lobbed some out farther than I would have ever thought that day. While the rifle was a tack driver, it had a few flaws that…

In the firearms and training world, there are end-users and what I call super end-users. Traditional end-users are typically in the civilian market. Their ultimate use of a product is based around the preparation for a self-defense scenario or just enjoyable range work. Super end-users, on the other hand, are those who choose products because they are mission-critical and will help them deal with ongoing lethal threats. The residents of this category are those in the military and law enforcement. While more people think of actual firearms in this sense, it also applies to training equipment. A company that embraces this concept is ZF Technical in Virginia Beach, Virginia. They have developed an advanced and portable interactive steel target system that is unlike anything I’ve seen before. SEAL-DESIGNED TARGETS ZF…

EXTREMES. THEY ARE BENEFICIAL AND DETRIMENTAL. For instance, take political extremes. They are almost always detrimental. I say almost, reserving room for error in my judgment. Performance extremes are almost always beneficial. Whether we are talking about cameras, computers, guns, cars or the like, performance is what we typically want and need in many cases. The only detriment of performance is if the operator is incapable of exploiting the performance safely and competently. LET’S ROLL Last spring, a colleague and I met at an Arizona manufacturer’s facility to look around and get to know them a bit. This company makes off-road vehicles of sorts—ones with extreme capabilities—and we would get a taste of just how capable shortly after arriving at TOMCAR and talking with founder and CEO Ram Zarchi. He…

One of the most important steps you can take as a precision rifleman is engaging in relevant training and learning the skills and techniques necessary for proper rifle manipulation and shot execution. If you haven’t done this, you’re selling yourself short. I’ve attended several “intro” classes and I never fail to learn something new or be reminded of concepts I’ve let slip. Last year, I spent time familiarizing myself with the Modern Day Sniper website and curriculum while preparing a piece on its two instructors, Caylen Wojcik and Phillip Velayo. After experiencing the space, I felt it was necessary to attend one of their in-person classes. Velayo informed me they’d be holding a class at Heart Mountain and having been there once before, I knew I had to attend. It’s…

Born in Texas in 1920, it wasn’t Owen Baggett’s dream to serve in the military. Instead, he was a drum major with the Hardin Simmons University Cowboy Band, graduated in 1941 and took a job in New York City working on Wall Street. The money was good in investment securities, but his life would take a dramatic turn within the year. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Owen, like many other young men his age, felt compelled to serve his country. Baggett joined the Air Force and graduated on July 26, 1942. By war’s end, he was one of more than 8,000 men who had completed pilot training at the New Columbus Army Flying School in Mississippi. Baggett was stationed in India with the 7th Bomb…