This week’s Friday Focus looks at a very specialized product from FirstSpear, the Punisher Pack. Designed to carry the 40mm Mk 32 MGL issued to the Marines and SOCOM.
As you can see, in addition to the 6/12 platform technology, you can carry a rifle or shotgun down the side of the pack. FirstSpear makes a 6/12 SixPack 40mm grenade holder that will keep you covered for reloads.
Available in Black, Coyote, Ranger Green and MultiCam.
LA Police Gear has obtained a run of first quality, Made in the USA Wellco E163 USMC RAT Temperate Weather Combat Boots. Originally produced for a contract that was no longer needed, LAPG is selling them at closeout prices – 81% off MSRP.
In addition to the already low price, Soldier Systems Daily readers can use coupon code SolSysWellco for an additional $5 off, with no limit on the number of pairs purchasable. The coupon expires on 10/24/2014 at midnight PST.
www.lapolicegear.com/co-wellco-e163-usmc-rat-boots.html
Patriot Ordnance Factor has announced a brand new bolt action rifle, the ReVolt. Available in light (.223/5.56) and heavy (.308/7.62) chamberings, the ReVolt is completely legal for purchase in all 13 original colonies. The full release can be read below:
PHOENIX, AZ (October 2014) — Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF-USA) continues with an American Revolution in Innovation and brings out the ReVolt™. A new bolt action rifle, available in light (.223cal / 5.56mm) and heavy (.308cal / 7.62mm) variations for your shooting demands, which is legal in all 13 original Colonies.
These rifles feature a 14.5” M-LOK compatible handguard with 18.5” nitride heat-treated, deep fluted barrels. New to the market is the ReVolt™ action; a straight pull only action with feed assist chambering of the next round. The lightweight and popular Luth-AR buttstock is a standard feature on the new line.
POF-USA has maintained a focus on modularity – not only in the rifles, but also the accessories. The bolt action handle on the ReVolt™ models can be used as a tool for tightening and removing scope mounts and rail accessories. Muscle memory skills are virtually the same for this platform as a standard POF rifle, and all ambidextrous controls found in our Gen 4 series rifles are found in this loaded package. In addition to all of the fine features in our rifles, the ReVolt™ models also feature our E² extraction technology. E² extraction is a patented feature of four channels along the neck of the chamber. The channels allow gas pressure to flow backwards and push on the shoulders of the spent casing resulting in extractor life of 5X that of a standard extractor due to the push / pull action.
The ReVolt™ top end is available as a separate purchase and ships with a 10 round magazine and capture pin. This capture pin replaces the front pivot pin, permanently attaching the upper receiver to the lower receiver while maintaining the ability to “shotgun” the rifle for maintenance. The capture pin was essential in our quest to innovate a magazine fed, AR style, bolt action rifle that qualifies for ownership in all 50 states.
You can hunt with the ReVolt™ as a stand-alone weapon system or install the complete top end on your already existing mil-spec (.223cal / 5.56mm) lower half to maintain the legality necessary in owning an AR style rifle in many of the Colonies.
POF-USA accepts no compromise in the building of our product. Our line of rifles and accessories are “Patriot” designs. We will only produce that which is tough, accurate, modular, durable and true. This patriotic mission is brought from passion, authenticity, trustworthiness, rebellion, independence and objectivity.
ReVolt … Will You?
Last Week, Steve Reichert organized a charitable shooting event for the Semper Fidelis Health & Wellness Organization. Ten combat wounded Marines & Soldiers spent two days and nights on the range, going through the SRT Pistol Employment Course where they practiced skills necessary to employ their pistols under stress from concealed positions both day and night. Medal of Honor Recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer was also able to break away from his busy schedule to join the group.
The event was sponsored by the following companies and individuals, who donated:
• Heckler & Koch – P30 pistols and a sizable donation to SFHW
• Remington – provided 9mm ammunition
• Strongside Holsters – pistol/mag holsters
• High Speed Gear – dump pouches, belts, and TACO’s
• Trigger Time – hosted the class on their range
• Lloyd Wainscott – captured the event on video
• InForce – APL’s and 6VT lights
• NOLATAC – medical kit
www.semperfidelishealthandwellness.org
Magpul keeps rolling out the M-LOK Accessories with several new items.
store.magpul.com/category/M-LOK
We recently had an opportunity to speak with several representative from Program Executive Officer Soldier’s Program Manager for Soldier Sensors and Lasers about their push to remind Soldiers to use Lithium batteries with their equipment. Specifically, they are advocating the use of the L91 AA battery, which is available through the standard stock system under NSN 6135-01-333-6101 (12 per package). It is common to a wide variety of Soldier equipment including the Enhanced Night Vision Device and Thermal Weapon Sight.
There are several advantages to using the L91 AAs. Mr. Joe Pearson, PM SSL Logistics Management Division Director articulated several reasons Lithium batteries are preferred over the cheaper Alkaline models. First off, the Technical Manual calls for their use, and here’s why. Bottom line up front; L91 batteries offer improved lethality and maneuverability through decreased operational load and longer performance. Since they last three to five times longer, there is less equipment down time due to battery swaps. This increased life also results in reduced supply costs. While alkaline batteries are less expensive when you compare them one-to-one to the Lithium versions, the Lithium battery will last three times as long as the Alkaline. That’s one third the cost. Additionally, Lithium batteries are 37% lighter than Alkaline batteries resulting in less cost to the total supply chain for transportation. That means fewer aircraft in the air and fewer vehicles on mined roads. Finally, you can’t go wrong with the L91 batteries. They have a shelf life of up to 15 years.
If those reasons weren’t enough, SSG José R. Salcedo III, S3, Tasking NCO, 2-504 PIR, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division related an incident that is germane to the subject. During a 2012 vehicle patrol in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province when one of his convoy’s vehicles struck an IED. He assumed a security posture scanning for the enemy with his Thermal Weapon Sight. Specifically, he was looking for the trigger man who initiated the IED explosion. He had just checked the battery indicator about 10 minutes before which indicated he had about half of his power left. But once he placed it into operations, the screen went blank. In the moments it took him to swap batteries, SSG Salcedo fears his target slipped away. Turns out, his TWS was powered that day by an Alkaline battery. The battery indicator on the TWS is calibrated for use with Lithium batteries. Now, he only uses L91 Lithium batteries.
The image above gives you a good idea of the advantages of lithium over alkaline batteries. As you can see, their operational life is affected by temperature. According to MSG Reiko Carter, PM SSL NCOIC/Fielding OPS NCO, specific performance data based on temperature is available in each piece of equipment’s Technical Manual and they go over the data during New Equipment Training. However, there’s a lot of turnover in units and the guy who attended NET may have moved on. I think it would be a great project to produce an app that aggregates all types of equipment and battery usage data into a predictive planning tool for logistics and small unit leaders.
Please pass this info on to your logistics team if they haven’t seen it. Use of Lithium batteries won’t only save money but also increase your effectiveness and decrease your load in the field.
U.S. Tactical Supply is present at the 2014 International Sniper Competition as a sponsor.
The 2014 International Sniper Competition, hosted at Fort Benning, Georgia, brings 35 teams (70 snipers) from all over the world to participate in 10 to 15 sniper related events. The focus of the competition is to bring teams together to share battlefield lessons learned, provide training initiatives and ideas and to compete tactically and technically. Unit coaches, commanders, and spectators are also in attendance.
The competition takes place from October 20th through 24th.
www.armysniper.org/international-sniper-comp
We’ve finally received a resupply on the giveaway KCRF patches made for us by Flexsystems which we give away at trade shows. See you at a show soon!
