Innholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2022 i Tactical Life

→ It is often said that the thrill of the hunt is not in the kill but in the chase, and if you think of your most memorable hunts, you will undoubtedly recall the preparation involved. Everything from gear selection to scouting to the final stalk and even adding the last few ounces to the trigger to break your shot were important. What you harvest is the result of months and even years of planning and experience and, sometimes, luck. Of all the factors involved in a successful hunt, however, the one that you don’t want to rely on is luck. Having a dead-nuts reliable gun that is accurate and possesses adequate power for your quarry, is essential! This is even more critical for handgun hunters. When Smith & Wesson…

→ I WILL JUST BE 100 PERCENT transparent with you all, I am a tactical rifle kind of guy writing an article about a lever-action rifle. However, the first time I picked up my first Henry lever gun I immediately fell in love with the action. Something about throwing that lever is just cool in its own way. I do love the look of lever guns but have always thought they were missing that tactical ability. In theory, a lever-action rifle can be nearly as fast as a semi-auto with the right shooter behind it, and the design really makes a fantastic defense rifle. Most people don’t think of lever actions when they consider modern self-defense rifles, mostly because most people look at them as 1800’s lawman guns. They mostly…

→ “It’s a good time to be a sport bike rider.” Although I read that statement well over a decade and a half ago in a motorcycle magazine, it’s one that has stuck with me and its overall meaning. It pointed to the healthy advancement in offerings and technology in the sport bike world and reminded those who partook in the pastime, or who wanted to, that times were really good. I can’t help but think of those words as I watch the world of precision rifles continue to one-up itself as manufacturers spit out advanced and enhanced products. The Seekins HIT rifle is a perfect example. HAVAK EXPLAINED To appreciate what the HIT rifle is, you have to first understand the history of Seekins Precision. Let’s just say, I…

→ There is fun, and then there is giggle-your-head-off, committed to an asylum, fun. If you have never shot full-auto, it is like missing out on the birth of your child. BB guns are not technically firearms, so they get a lot more leeway when it comes to the law. Umarex let me borrow their Legends M1A1 full-auto replica Tommy Gun. The magazine holds two CO2 cartridges, 30 BBs and the capacity to devastate a lot of aluminum cans. Range time? Nope. I headed straight to the backyard where I strung a milk carton and a few dead soldiers on a string between two poles. Game on. The M1A1 looks and feels like a real Tommy Gun, like real wood, real steel and real history. The safety selector and auto…

→ Like many cartridges, 300 Blackout had a rocky start. Early complaints cited issues encompassing everything from function to accuracy, with a fair bit of criticism of everything in between. This is mainly because back in 2009 when the cartridge was released, the industry was just beginning to accept that people wanted AR-15s chambered in something other than 5.56. As most parts were created to handle this cartridge and this cartridge alone, many kinks needed to be worked out. During this growth period, AR parts started to be built with the consideration that they might host a rainbow of different rounds and, as a result, things began to run right. In the early 20-teens, I learned all that I needed to know about the 300 Blackout as I watched students…

→ In the shotgun world, Mossberg is the king of the hill. While not common in everyday conversation, Mossberg also makes one hell-of-a series of rifles. In fact, they are some of the nicest long guns in the industry and, in many, cases quiet gems. One of their rifles especially caught my eye years ago. The MVP series has proven itself to be a serious performer in a variety of calibers. One specific model came up on my radar recently, and I jumped at the chance to run it. It is the Mossberg MVP Patrol chambered in 300 Blackout. My first experience with this gun came at the fifth annual Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous help in Victor, Idaho. This is one of my favorite events of the year as we gather…

→ FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, I’ve been intrigued by the beauty of the western coyote. While I have only ever targeted the eastern coyote, they had little to be desired in the fur trade. The silvery, furred up coat of the western coyote used to be a prized possession in the fur market. Since those times, the fur market has not been very friendly, and the high prices these furs once fetched are a thing of the past. Despite the lack of value from a fur handling standpoint, I still looked forward to the opportunity to call this western breed of coyote. Such opportunity presented itself when good friend and fellow predator hunter Dan Flavin reached out. The plan was to meet up with Dustin Evans at…

→ Paper or plastic? Remember that simple question? I always preferred paper grocery bags as that kept my apples, oranges and cans of soda from rolling around the back of my SUV when I turned corners. Then one day paper bags weren’t available anymore. Our choice was gone, we were stuck with plastic bags and there was nothing we could do about it. That’s just the way it was! The popularity of polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols encouraged manufacturers to give the customers exactly what they were asking for. While many companies initially made 9mm alloy-framed guns, they have mostly been replaced with higher capacity, poly-framed models. It seemed to be what the concealed carry market wanted—more bullets in a lighter sidearm. SPEC BOX S&W M&P9 2.0 METAL CALIBER: 9mm BARREL: 4.25 inches OA…

IT’S A TIRED TROPE, but the Kronos armored submarine from Highland Systems looks like something out of a James Bond movie. Fast, powerful, capable and mean, the Kronos submarine is the sort of machine to set a guy apart from his peers. If you can afford to buy yourself a ride into space you might be able to add one of these to your stable. If you own the company that flies people into space you could buy one outright. If you’re just a normal guy like me, then whip up some popcorn and take a seat. We’re about to do some dreaming. The Kronos armored submarine sports a curb weight of 22,000 pounds and a payload of more than three tons. It will carry you and 10 of your…

XS SIGHTS GEN 2 ARMORER’S BLOCK Most of us know XS (xssights.com) for its unbelievably bright and easy-to-find combat sights. However, they are much more than a one-trick pony, and their Armorer’s Block boldly illustrates this. Made from 6061 T6 aluminum, this block is rugged enough to clamp down into a bench vice but won’t damage your gun’s finish. By orientating it one way or another, I was able to work on both halves of the rifle to accomplish all of the standard assembly and maintenance tasks. REAL AVID MASTER GUN VICE Not all vices are created equally, and most are not made for firearms-related work. The Real Avid Master Vice is designed to hold your rifle, pistol or shotgun appropriately without marring the finish or snapping anything off. Its…

We all enjoy checking out the latest pint-sized, polymer pocket rockets, but those hot, new firearms often come with a price that doesn’t leave much room for mortgage payments, grocery shopping or the kids’ college funds. However, there is a way of getting highly concealable self-defense firepower without wiping out your budget or compromising on effectiveness and quality. Just look beyond the new-arrivals rack at the gun store and open your eyes to the outstanding military and police surplus firearms that are available in the marketplace. The breakup of the Soviet Union is, in large measure, responsible for the widespread availability of military surplus pocket pistols today. When the Soviets dominated Eastern Europe through the War-saw Pact military alliance, they required their allies to use weapons chambered for Soviet cartridges.…

Editor’s Note: This serialized short story feature is based on a fictional military thriller series featuring Drake Woolf, the singleton operator from JSOC’s Task Force Orange. “J.T. Patten” is the pen name of a former mission support advisor to the special operations and intelligence community who has published black ops-themed novels and numerous articles under his true name covering unconventional and irregular warfare topics, all of which can be found at jtpattenbooks.com. “With all the voices in my head, I'm never alone.”-Drake Woolf, TF Orange- DRAKE WOOLF pondered as they churned through the turbulent air whether he would die on some unknown battle-ground or get blasted from the sky while on his way to meet his maker. Death from the clouds would be metaphoric but less honorable than a ground warrior’s…

→ While the .22 Long Rifle will forever remain the rimfire shooter’s staple, it has its downsides. Although adequate for small game, most wouldn’t trust it beyond 75 yards, which leaves a lot of critters well inside of the safety zone on a typical hunt. In the 1950s, Winchester realized the usefulness of a longer range .22 rimfire and quickly got to work on a cartridge that would sling bullets similar to the old standby without producing a noticeable recoil increase. The final product would go down in the history books as the .22 WMR (for Winchester Magnum Rimfire) and would affectionately become known simply as .22 Magnum. It didn’t take long for manufacturers to chamber firearms to utilize it, with more being added every year, even to this…

→ Spend some time on the range with a 1911 with a mediocre trigger and you’ll endure the experience. Swap over and send a few rounds down range with a customized 1911 with a “worked” trigger and you’ll never go back. One of the challenges of getting a better trigger pull on a 1911 is getting an experienced gunsmith with enough time to turn the job around quickly. I’m a fan of DIY gunsmithing, but some jobs, like stoning the sear surfaces on a 1911 trigger, beg for experienced hands. That was the case until Nighthawk Custom introduced their “drop-in” DTS 1911 trigger group. When the Nighthawk trigger arrived, I took it to Rich Modzelewski, the owner and gunsmith at Echo 3 Armory. The former Marine spent his GI Bill…

→ There are a number of classic guns that simply feel “right” when you pick them up. They feel more like an extension of yourself than an addition. I’m talking about the Colt .45 Peacemaker, the 1911, the Tommy Gun. Granted, a lot fewer people in modern days have had the privilege of shouldering a real .45 Thompson Machine Gun, but I can tell you from experience, when they do it, they instantly feel the connection. I was in my mid 20s the first time I picked one up and started emptying stick and drum magazines in full-auto. It was amazing. To be honest, the gun was a little too long for me, and I found it to be considerably heavier than most of the carbines I was accustomed to…

→ Guns destined for self-defense nearly always compromise something to be concealed. Tiny guns certainly have their place; however, many styles of dress don’t mandate the need for both a compact barrel and reduced grip. Ultra-slim grips pack down nicely but don’t leave much room for the entire hand, particularly for those who have larger-than-average mitts. Short barrels have their issues, too, as they typically don’t offer enough runway for a bullet to reach its full velocity potential. Furthermore, their associated dwarfed sight radii cut accuracy down to the point where landing hits outside of bad-breath distances becomes challenging. The solution lies in a full-sized pistol built with a chopped grip. Guns like these have been around for a few years but are more or less a novelty and, as…

→ If you frequent the range often, you know two main items are a must for indoors or outdoors shooting—eye and ear protection. We hear those terms all the time no matter where you shoot. Ear pro gets a lot of love in the world of range accessories, but the eyes never get much attention. Personally, I am a big believer in great eye pro due to personal experience where a gun blew apart, and pieces hit my glasses. I was luckily wearing a good pair of glasses during that experience. However, this is not always the case. I do quite a bit of outdoor shooting and normally wear sunglasses. A good majority of sunglasses are not normally ballistic rated, and a gun exploding while wearing regular sunglasses may have…

WEEK 1 DAY 1: The course begins with registration and an introduction of the students and faculties to be used over the next 10 days. Classroom material includes an overview of tactical medicine and tactical gear. Additional material includes fundamentals of team concepts, and planning and preparation of operations including building clearing. The afternoon session is in the Tactical Village and is devoted to practical exercises of slow and deliberate building clearing, preparing the students for progressing to full speed with threats that they will soon face. DAY 2: The morning is at the range with instruction on firearms safety and weapons handling. The afternoon session covers material including medical management of K9 emergencies, medical aspects of clandestine drug labs and tactical casualty care. DAY 3: The morning session consists of classroom material…

→ Twenty years ago, an aerospace industry process engineer decided that he wanted to build a rifle. But not just any rifle. As an avid shooter, he sought to design a gun that solved the biggest problems with traditional gas impingement guns—carbon fouling. With the help of his son and later nephew, he took to his garage and began working on a better mousetrap. At that moment, the garage became the first design and production lab for one of the most well-known rifle manufacturers in the world—Patriot Ordnance Factory. And the engineer behind the launch was none other than Frank DeSomma. While traditional procedure would be to refer to him as Mr. DeSomma, he was simply referred to as Frank in the firearms industry. QUICK SUCCESS Within two years. Frank…