That is all…
Archive for June, 2016
Breaking – US Army Realizes It Can Roll Sleeves On ACUs
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016FibroTex – Multispectral Camouflage Workshop
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016Last month, Israeli company FibroTex held a Multispectral Camouflage Workshop in Bergsee, Wintenberg, Germany.
Twenty-two active operators attended the event, including snipers, recons, and mobile personnel from six major European countries.
The purpose of the workshop was to educate the troops on the ‘what’ of camouflage: camo available on the market, threats, and how to protect oneself against opposing forces using camo. The workshop also focused on re-explaining Multispectral ranges and threats – UV, VIS, NIR, SWIR, Thermal, and RADAR – and introducing SWIR capabilities and users, and how to protect against SWIR. The workshop also had the benefit of reinforcing cooperation by European SOF units, who shared and exchanged information, and contact details for future collaborations and training.
the workshop included:
· Multispectral threats presentation existing in the market today (Military & Civilian)
· Emphasizing on the latest threat – the SWIR presentation
· Operational camo lecture by ex ISTC instructor (9 years) which was held in a Cave
· “kill zone'” demo, where the attendees were entered into a ‘kill zone’ exposed to suits, op, and FibroTex’s mobile/modular system
· Day & Night spotting competition (using all devices brought by attendees)
· Handouts of all the educational material (both by hard copies and digital formats) to take back to the units
The workshop was the first of more planned for next year and beyond, with the next workshop tentatively planned for mid-February 2017. These future workshops will include Urban, High altitude, desert battle zones camouflage solutions and an operational camo seminar.
Night Vision Redux – Part 4
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016Getting to this point in the systematic evaluation of the legacy PVS-14 as a candidate device for update and augmentation going forward (aside from the surface modification), several of the known and largely unknown areas of improvements are noted for those whom focus on the device more than the average user.
Upgrades to the Hyper 14TM configuration include:
– Denser and smaller OD front windows. These are know to crack or leak due to age or warpage of the chassis itself.
– Custom designed battery module gasket in lieu of a thin o-ring. In many cases the standard o-ring does not fully make contact with or even touch the lip of the mating part.
– Fully heli-coiled surfaces to a toleranced hole. In many legacy devices the standard housing makes due with a plastic thread. The steel screw makes quick fodder of the plastic mating surface.
– Use of a patented Burke Ring, which allows the device to be disassembled or undergo maintenance without removing the entire electronic housing or image tube to replace or upgrade optics.
– Obverse interface. This addition allows the monocular to have 2 interface surfaces versus the one standard 1/4″-20 thread.
– Ruggedized Collar. If used, this titanium collar replaces the standard plastic or aluminum Objective Focus Stop Ring. As a note, some manufactures have altogether eliminated this part and mold a faux stop ring into the legacy chassis. This ruggedized replacement part now adds yet a third interface point as an orbital anchor point. Typical uses are aftermarket weapon mounts, COTI/COSI/CORI clip-on devices and dual bridge type applications.
– Shock resistance. This particular Hyper 14TM is equipped with a (patented) multi-part sleeve system that significantly dampens shock and pulse problematics. This may open up the co-use of typically problematic calibers or weapon types that put optics in the permanent OFF mode.
Many of the criteria (modularity, ruggedization, logistical easement, scalability, etc.) are already available or open the possibility of these improvements. Since many of these items are internal and not readily viewable with a functioning device, the next discussion point that does provide direct critique-interface modularity.
As you can see, the Hyper 14TM can be configured with either or both interface shoes in place. These can be added as needed for dovetail style interface as either/or, or as a set for whatever options the user chooses as a relative component(s).
These allow cross use with currently fielded digital weapon sight mounts, magnifiers, other non-relative interface equipment or forthcoming modular hardware. They can also be hastily removed to retain full use of the legacy PVS-14 family of parts such as the J-Arm and issue style weapon mount (since those parts probably cost equal or more than the new chassis, you may want to maintain them).
Night Vision Redux is a weekly series prepared with the assitance of DEP, the US subsidiary of Photonis. It is intended to educate readers about image intensification (I2) systems and ways they can be upgraded without having to purchase completely new systems.
Spritus Systems – Flag Bungee
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016I’ll file this under “interesting”. I’m just unsure of how often this is an issue. Spiritus Aystems says they created the flag bungee to be a simple yet effective tool for carrying Old Glory with you on all your operations. Currently, people are using retention bands or some other improvised means of securing their flags to their armor. This works, but is prone to failure and is unreliable. They reason that Something as important as our country’s flag deserves a much more secure means of attachment.
Their answer to this dilemma is the Flag Bungee. This kit includes three sewn double loops, a Cord Lock, and a length of adjustable shock cord.
Installation is simple: weave the shock cord through your MOLLE and the provided webbing loops, insert your flag, and tighten it down using the provided cord lock, stowing any additional length under the flag.
Looks Like The Magpul CORE Team Is Having A Great A Time In Mexico
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016
Prometheus Design Werx – EDC Short Guide Cloth
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016
For the 2016 Summer season, San Francisco based specialty outdoor products company Prometheus Design Werx debuts their EDC Short in a 4way stretch Guide Cloth. This is their uncompromising, high standard in a performance, technical, plain front, every day wear, utility field and street short. The EDC short is PDW’s flagship, noncargo style designed for today’s active EDC user in mind. A total of 11 pockets to stash and organize as little or as many EDC items in a streamlined, clean and tailored design. Pocket Clip DocksTM are found on the main hand pockets to accommodate the clips of folding knives and flashlights. Dual notwist custom made delta rings for keychain-carabiner clip points. Produced with industrial grade triple needle stitching on all major seams. Cut and sewn in California, USA.
The EDC Short will be an evergreen seasonal style for Prometheus Design Werx. They will be available in their proprietary Guide Cloth when they debut. Other technical fabrics to be introduced in following seasons.
The Design and R&D Team at PDW states:
“We wanted to create the short that we would wear every day on and off the grid. This is not a mass volume, compromised, lowest common denominator product. No corners were cut, no corporate budgeting committees to answer to, we stuck to the intelligent features we wanted, and secured the best in class materials to make this short. You will not find superfluous details or unnecessary affectations in outcome of our design process in crafting these shorts. Each feature and component serves a purpose for utility, versatility, movement, and comfort. The industrial grade construction was a bit overkill, but hell, our office is a metal shop. Our proprietary Guide Cloth is some of the most comfortable technical performance fabric we’ve ever developed, used and worn. We also made sure to produce these shorts locally in CA with skilled labor being paid a living wage. This is a pair of shorts that will be long wearing and worn frequently.”
The PDW EDC Short in Guide Cloth will be available for purchase in three colors on Thursday, June 30, 2016 at www.prometheusdesignwerx.com
Grayboe Announce the Renegade and Outlander Fiberglass Stocks
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016June 29th, 2016 –Phoenix, AZ – Grayboe is pleased to announce the release of its two flagship products, the Outlander and the Renegade. Both stocks are high quality off the shelf options for large OEM’s, distributers, custom rifle builders, and individuals looking to upgrade their existing hunting or tactical rifle stocks. Grayboe stocks are designed and manufactured with the same strength, quality, and attention to detail as custom fiberglass stocks but come in at half the price and with very short lead times.
Grayboe stocks are constructed of a proprietary solid homogenous compound of fiberglass, calcium silicate and micron sized spheres in a specially formulated epoxy matrix. Each stock is formed under high pressure and heat which creates an exceptionally stiff and high strength platform that is able to withstand all weather and shooting conditions.
Several color options are available and ready to ship. Standard paint colors include black, khaki, gray, and olive with standard Hydro-dip options of Kryptek Nomad, Mandrake, Typhon and Highlander. Additional colors, paint techniques like spider web or speckle, and specialized dipping options are available to high volume buyers. The materials used in these stocks make it possible for rifle builders to custom Cerakot these stocks to fit their specific customer’s requests.
Outlander
The Outlander is our traditional hunting stock. The Outlander is ambidextrous with a straight comb and traditional hunting style pistol grip that feels like an old friend. The Outlander is light weight and sleek for easy and efficient field carry. The slightly oversized fore end will accommodate up to a #5 barrel contour.
Barreled Action Availability
Remington 700 Long Action BDL, Sporter / Magnum Barrel
Remington 700 Short Action BDL, Sporter / Magnum Barrel (Available Summer 2016)
MSRP: $299
Renegade
The Renegade is the only authorized and licensed McMillan A5 design on the market. It uses a beavertail forearm that is wider and flatter than most stocks which makes it suitable for the bench shooter or for real world tactical deployment. Action and barrel sit lower for enhanced stability and control. The Renegade uses a trim pistol grip, helping the shooter to maintain steady rearward pressure and keeping the butt more solidly “in the pocket”. The dual purpose butt hook is fully functional for either riding sandbags or controlling the rifle with the non-trigger hand. The Renegade is ambidextrous.
Barreled Action Availability
Remington 700 Long Action BDL and DBM, Varmint Barrel
Remington 700 Short Action BDL, and DBM, Varmint Barrel
MSRP Starts at $349.
Magpul Now Shipping PMAG30 AUS Gen M3, PRS QD Footman’s Loop, and M-LOK Tape Switch Mounting Plate for the Insight PEQ
Tuesday, June 28th, 2016
The PMAG 30 AUS GEN M3 Window is a 30-round 5.56×45 NATO polymer magazine for Steyr® AUG/F88/F90 compatible weapons that features transparent windows to allow rapid visual identification of approximate number of rounds remaining.
Similar to the GEN M3 PMAG for the AR15/M4, the PMAG 30 AUS features a long-life USGI-spec stainless steel spring, four-way anti-tilt follower and constant-curve internal geometry for reliable feeding, and simple tool-less disassembly to ease cleaning. In addition, low profile ribs and aggressive front and rear texture gives positive control in all environments, and a paint pen dot matrix has been added to the bottom panel of the body to allow easy marking by the end user for identification. The easy to disassemble GEN M3 flared floorplate aids in extraction and handling, and is slimmer than factory Steyr floorplates for better fit in magazine pouches.
Durable, dual-side transparent windows allow for quick determination of approximate number of rounds remaining in the magazine. Utilizing a high visibility indicator coil on the spring and numerical markers on the magazine body, the MagLevel™ system provides positive verification with the added benefit over translucent magazines of displaying round-count even when the cartridge stack is obscured within the magwell.
Originally made for a DoD contract, the PRS QD Footman’s Loop is a machined aluminum replacement sling mount for the original PRS Stock.
Featuring a 1.25” footman’s loop for direct attachment of webbing as well as an integrated push-button QD swivel socket, the PRS QD Footman’s Loop is easily installed and adds a new degree of sling mounting versatility to your precision rifle platform.
The M-LOK Tape Switch Mounting Plate is a mount designed to attach Insight PEQ pressure pads on M-LOK compatible systems. It is molded of the same high quality polymer as other Magpul products providing light weight with rugged construction, and the M-LOK recoil lugs and T-Nuts make for an extremely secure mounting system.
A low profile design allows the user more mounting options without interfering with other equipment and it’s rounded and beveled edges provides a snag free surface.
