Soldier Systems

Blue Force Gear has got a lot going on. Recently Stephen Hilliard came on board and brought with him his design expertise in nylon gear. Already available are two unique products; the Tourniquet NOW! Strap and the Ten-Speed Mag Pouch.

Designer Stephen Hilliard designed the Tourniquet NOW! Strap in order to replace the expedient rubber band system used to attach tourniquets to load carrying equipment. The strap is simple and folds the tourniquet at the ready. The Tourniquet NOW! Strap is available in Coyote Brown, Foliage Green, and Camo Green.

BFG developed the Ten-Speed Mag Pouch after owner Ashley Burnsed saw a bicyclist with his water bottle in an elastic carrier. Weighing in at three ounces, and most of that is BFG’s new MOLLE-compatible attachment system, the pouch’s open topped body is manufactured from elastic and designed to provide positive retention of magazines or other items such as flash bangs. It is truly a specialist item that closes flat when not in use. Current variants are available with a dark olive green body edged in Multicam.

In addition to those tactical nylon accessories, the gang at Blue Force Gear has several other products lined up for release over the next couple of months.

Finally, Blue Force Gear is expanding their relationship with Larry Vickers beyond just slings and introducing a line of 1911 parts called Vickers 1911 gear. Although not yet available for sale on the site, a Hammer, Sear, and Disconnector kit should be up by the end of the week in both standard and slotted styles.

For more information contact Blue Force Gear.

Photos from Blue force Gear.

Leading off their press release with, “SCAR 16S and SCAR 17S As close to USSOCOM as you can get without enlisting.” FNH USA announced that the plan to begin selling semi-auto commercial variants of their Special Operations Combat Assault rifle in early 2009. The 16S is chambered in 5.56X45mm NATO (223 Rem.) and the SCAR 17S fires the 7.62X51mm NATO (308 Win.). Both rifles feature ambidextrous controls and are finished in Flat Dark Earth.

Both 10 and 30 round magazines will be available as well as a full line of accessories. Additionally, many weapons accessories developed for the M16 family are compatible with the SCAR although we fully expect purpose designed items to hit the market soon. In fact, we already know that a magazine has been especially designed for the SCAR by TangoDown LLC.

For more information check out FNH USA’s website.

When rolled the KitMat takes up no more space than an issue GI cleaning kit but offers so much more. When unfolded, the KitMat integrates two pouches for maintenance tools, a cleaning mat and an innovative feature to secure small parts during maintenance to ensure they won’t be misplaced. The mat measures 24″ x 19″ and the entire KitMat is manufactured from 1000D Cordura. At one end are two pouches for cleaning tools as well as the Velcro parts retention area. At the other end is an elastic cord used to secure the KitMat for storage.

As you can see, when rolled up for stowage, the KitMat is just a little larger than a 30 round magazine.

Unlike other cleaning kits, it has an integral cleaning mat. You don’t always have the advantage of a clean table or workbench to clean your weapon so this feature is much appreciated.

The KitMat has an ingenious feature that secures small parts under strips of Velcro.

The KitMat is a well thought out addition to any shooters range bag and available in UCP, Foliage Green, Black, and Sewer Green. However, I personally would not recommend the Black as so many weapon parts are also Black and any advantage the cleaning mat offers in keeping track of your parts will be offset by the lack of contrast. To order contact EMDOM.

Pictures courtesy of Emdom.

Technically it’s Camo Form® Self -Cling Camouflage, but most everyone just refers to it as Camo Form Tape. Whatever you call it, it works. As you can see in the depiction below, the Camo Form® is very effective at visually camouflaging your equipment. What you can’t show in a picture is that it also improves noise discipline by cushioning equipment. It also protects the finish and function of gear.

One roll will take care of most of an individual’s requirements (2″ wide x 144″ (4 yds) long). Camo Form is self-clinging and not affected by moisture. What’s more, it gives smooth items a little grip so that they don’t slide.

Available in Mossy Oak® New Break Up®, Mossy Oak® New Shadowgrass®, Mossy Oak® Obsession®, Mossy Oak® Brush®, Universal Camouflage, Digital Woodland, Digital Desert, 3-Color Desert, Woodland, Snow & more.

Photos courtesy of McNett.

CJ Weapons Accessories is owned by Retired Marine Master Sergeant Jon Morgan. He introduced the Mk-16 at SHOT 07 in Orlando so its been kicking around for a couple of years. It is used by quite a few folks but hasn’t gotten the exposure it deserves.

The multi-tool style MK-16 Combo Tool is a compact (4.5″ X 2″) alternative to an armorer’s toolkit. While it does not include everything needed to conduct maintenance on the M-16 family of weapons, it is a great option for forward deployed personnel who are limited by space on what they can take with them. Tools include: Screw driver, Bore cleaning pull-through rod, Bolt pin punch, Broken shell extractor, Bolt carrier carbon scraper, Bolt face carbon scraper, A1 rear sight tool, A1 and A2 sight adjusting tools, Bolt carrier key cleaning brush, M4 nut wrench, and Receiver pin punch.

You can watch a video demonstration of the Mk-16 from Brigade Quartermaster below.

The Mk-16 is Made in the USA and available from Brigade Quartermaster.

Image courtesy of CJ Weapons.

Does your “Spidey Sense” ever tingle as you feel that someone is constantly watching you or maybe get the “heebie jeebies” and feel like a sniper is glassing you as you ride down the road in the gunner’s hatch? Well there is a way to find out if it is true. Torrey Pines Logic offers a family of technologies that detect aided visual surveillance. For example, an observer with binoculars or a sniper behind a PSO-1 scope.

For more information contact Torrey Pines Logic.

Max Tactical developed the Guardian Tactical Muzzle Cap to keep dust and water away from the inside of barrels. Since there is an issue muzzle cap that costs about ten cents a piece, one wonders why a company would develop a product to do essentially the same thing for 50 times the money. The reason is actually pretty simple. It does it better, and it does it on a wider variety of flash hiders than just the M16 family birdcage.

First and foremost, the TMC prevents dust and water from fouling the barrel. It also does a better job of protecting both men and equipment from damage caused by an inadvertent barrel tap while riding around in armored vehicles. Manufactured from non-toxic TPR (Thermal Plastic Rubber), its unique design allow you to remove the cap from the muzzle while keeping it attached to the barrel. The four ribs are flexible and the cap will hang out of the way below the barrel when not in use. However, for high rates of fire (in excess of three magazines) the TMC will melt. Designed to fit to most NATO rifles including the M16/M4 series, FN FAL, L85 Series, AUG, M249 Series, G3, G33, G36 Series, and Famas. When not removed before firing, the TMC will fly 10 - 20 feet and the thin material at the muzzle will not alter accuracy at 50 yards. One of the major deficiencies of the issue cap is that the remnants can be difficult to remove, especially after it has been expended whereas the Guardian TMC’s body and material provides a solid grip even when hands are wet.

The guardian Tactical Muzzle cap is available in Black and Tan. To order contact Max Tactical. Attention deployed personnel; Max Tactical will send a free Guardian Tactical Muzzle Cap to you. All you pay is $2.00 for shipping to your military address.

Photos courtesy of Max Tactical.

With the E-FECT, Gerber has succeeded in combining all of the tools critical to operator level weapons maintenance of the M-16/M-4 family of weapons into one package. Designed to fit into the butt stock of an M-16, the tool features a 4 & 5 pin sight adjustment tool, a curved pick, nylon brush, flathead driver/scraper, a pin punch, and a multi-angled scraper. Like the excellent line of Gerber Multi-tools, the weapons maintenance toolheads all lock into position except for the sight adjustment tool which is held captive by a magnet. Leveraging a long-term partnership with Otis, all of the E-FECT’s toolheads come from the extensive Otis family of cleaning kits and are replaceable. The E-FECT will be released around SHOT Show.

Photo from Marine Corps Times.

Previously, we’ve covered Blackheart’s excellent M16/M4 Handbook by Mike Pannone. Blackheart has been in the business of training people and developing outstanding training materials for years. One of their flagship products is their line of weapons manuals. Individual volumes in this ever expanding series cover US, Allied and Threat small arms (with the Mk 19 and RPG-7 thrown in for good measure). Authored by Blackheart’s staff of former Special Forces personnel, all of the manuals feature step by step instruction, clearly written with numerous illustrations. Each manual consists of Operations, Maintenance, Immediate Action, Use of Accessories, Manufacturer Markings as well as Ammunition information. We keep an entire set of these manuals in our reference library. Considering the amount of Soviet Bloc weapons we all are running across these days, you should seriously consider getting a set as well.

Currently available are: Makarov Pistol, PPSH-41 Submachine Gun, AK-47/74, PKM Machine Gun, DShk 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun, RPG-7, HK-69A1 Grenade Launcher, M2 Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun, M203 Grenade Launcher, M79 Grenade Launcher, MK19 MOD3, 40mm Grenade Machine Gun, and MAG58/M240 Machine Gun.

All of the training manuals can be found on this page. Many of them are also on GSA.

Also, to celebrate the end of the fiscal year in style, Blackheart will be open from 8 AM to Midnight the 27th, 29th, and 30th of September. When you order, don’t forget to pick up a calendar.

Photos courtesy of Blackheart International, LLC.

Blackwater Manufacturing has released a new swinging target set designed for small caliber weapons. It’s great for plinking with a .22.

Each kit contains:
1) TARGET
2) TARGET ARM
3) TARGET PIN
4) LEG
5) LEG MOUNT

Three additional target sets are available. One example is below.

Blackwater offers an excellent warranty. Should a part break under normal use within the first year after purchase simply ship the defective part back and they will send a replacement part.

For more info contact: BLACKWATER TARGET SYSTEMS