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Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category

Victory First Debuts Victory Wear

Sunday, January 15th, 2017

Victory First officially announced today the creation of its lifestyle brand, Victory Wear. Victory Wear, a Division of Victory First will produce lifestyle and apparel items that resonate with the “everyday carry” community.


The debut offerings feature attractive graphics on a variety of American-made T-shirts, decals, and PVC patches. The theme of all Victory Wear products focuses on mindset and preparedness to protect family, hearth, and home. If you carry a concealed pistol daily, or keep a carbine handy in your vehicle or around the house, Victory Wear is a brand designed for your the way you live your life.


Although some of the themes will be staples within the brand, most will be limited runs. While the initial run is fairly focused, there are over a dozen different themes slated for release before Independence Day.


“There are some great lifestyle brands in this industry, but most have a very pronounced military-feel to their products. As a former Marine, I love those brands, but not everyone who carries a gun is a veteran. We created Victory Wear to reflect the values and mindset of the everyday American who carries a gun to protect himself and the people he cares most about,” said Matt ‘Jake’ Jacques, owner of Victory First and Victory Wear. “If you take on the responsibility of carrying a gun every day, you’ll ‘get’ our products. They are a reflection of that mental and emotional commitment.”

Victory Wear products are available for purchase at victory-wear.com, and you can check them out on Instagram @VictoryWearables and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VictoryWearables.

AMTEC Less-Lethal Systems Signs Industry Veteran, Monica Sipp as Director of Sales and Marketing

Sunday, January 15th, 2017

Perry, Fla. (January 2017) – AMTEC Less Lethal Systems, Inc. (ALS), a subsidiary of the National Defense Corporation, the Defense Holding Company under National Presto Industries, is proud to announce the appointment of Monica Sipp as the new Director of Sales and Marketing. ALS is a product provider to the law enforcement, corrections and military markets, and in 2013 opened a state-of-the-art training facility focused on law enforcement and corrections officers.

“In the rebranding of ALS, I couldn’t be more pleased to have Monica Sipp join the team as the Director of Marketing and Sales. She is well-respected within the community that regards her as a proven, no-nonsense professional that gets the job done while having a good time doing it. She has a personality and competency in the firearms community that is unsurpassed. ALS is exceptionally fortunate to have her on board as we introduce our new products to the ALS portfolio,” M. McAlexander, President of ALS said.

Monica has 30-plus years in the firearms and law enforcement industry and previously held the position of Director of Sales and Marketing for DoubleStar. Previous to that, she held executive positions with POF and LMT as Director of Sales and Marketing and was the VP of Sales and Marketing for Armalite.

“I am thrilled to be on the ALS team. After a career on the lethal side of our business it is refreshing to be working on the less-lethal side. As part of my new responsibilities, I will be focusing on growing awareness and attendance of our 500-acre training facility, working with combat experienced spec ops operators offering both professional and civilian training classes.”

www.less-lethal.com

Frankie McRae Assumes Leading Role with Grey Ghost

Saturday, January 14th, 2017

Dalton Gardens, ID – Frankie McRae Assumes Leading Role with Grey Ghost

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“The world needs men – not grand geniuses or plausible talkers. It is not sentimentality and dreams that will save it, but acts and deeds.” (Von Doss, c. 1887)

Grey Ghost Precision takes sublime delight in making the following announcement.

Frankie McRae is now our Senior Adviser for Training and Product Development.

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McRae is a man of acts and deeds. A storied former Special Forces soldier (18D and 18Z), he has effectively been a brand ambassador – a real ambassador mind you, the way it should be – since long before it occurred to us to have brand ambassadors.

Nearly 2 years ago he completed a long and thorough review of the first GG Light rifle before we knew he was considering it (that review shared here on Soldier Systems Daily).

He put over sixteen thousand rounds through a GGP production rifle (that he purchased himself) before writing that review.

Afterward he began providing advice and insight to GG “Just Because.” He trained some of our friends and family. He was instrumental in having our rifles sent on a proving deployment to a CENTCOM combat zone (which is as best we know the first time it spoke in anger). Since then his influence on GGP has steadily grown. This is due in no small part to his incredible knowledge and experience. Now he is friend and family.

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McRae was an instructor at SFAUC (Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat) and the NCOIC of the SFARTAETC (US Army Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Target Analysis and Exploitation Techniques) course at Ft. Bragg. Over the course of his career he served with the 75th Ranger Regiment, 1st SFG(A), and 3rd SFG (A). Some of that time was spent in the assault team leader billet for F team, Troop 1 of the Combatant Commander’s In-Extremis Force (CIF/OEF-P); he was later with B-2-3 as a team sergeant and troop sergeant major with 3rd Group’s CIF. He was a Company SGM advisor to the Iraq Counter-Terrorism Force, an exchange instructor at the Israeli Counter-Terrorism School and was honored for having the highest graduation rate in SFARTAETC’s 2 decade history. He was later assigned to a special projects team with USASOC HQ R&D.

Since his retirement Frankie has developed Range 37PSR, made Raidon Tactics a premiere training organization, “deployed” all over the world as a contractor to both combat zones and disaster areas, and taken the stand as an expert witness in homicide cases involving soldiers brought up on charges for shootings during combat operations.

There are a host of reasons why McRae deserves the title Ambassador Plenipotentiary, any one of which would sufficient on its own. Unfortunately few people know what that term means (especially in our offices, where much knuckle dragging occurs), and even the few who do can’t pronounce it.

Senior Advisor for Training and Product Development will do.

We are as proud as we are elated to begin 2017 by making this official proclamation.

If you’re interested, you can learn more about McRae in this interview.

“Being born an American is a birthright. Every human has a calling. God gave us a talent. It’s our job to find that talent and help others with it. You can’t be a good American if you’re not.” Frankie McRae

Sneak Peek – Q Launches Website

Friday, January 13th, 2017

This coming Monday, <www.liveqordie.com/b> goes live, along with a catalog.

Sentinel Concepts Announces Partnership with FN for Product Development and Training

Wednesday, January 11th, 2017

Howell, Mi. – Jan. 11, 2017) — Sentinel Concepts, leading consultant and training organization specializing in the firearms industry, announces a partnership with FN America, LLC to provide input to the company’s product development as well as instruction on cutting-edge training protocols for their staff. Additionally, Steve Fisher, owner and President of Sentinel Concepts, will act as a brand ambassador for the FN brand, utilizing the company’s FN 15™ series of modern sporting rifles and semi-automatic, polymer pistols during his training courses.

“We are very excited to have Steve Fisher joining us in this role.” said Greg Livermore, vice president of product management for FN America, LLC. “Steve’s background will see him play two important roles at FN – as a subject matter expert and as a trainer for FN personnel. Our goal remains to develop the best possible platforms for our civilian and professional customers.”

FN America selected Fisher for his practical approach to training and reach within the civilian and law enforcement training communities. Fisher will transition to the FN 15 Series of rifles – the Tactical Carbine II and the DMR II for his 2017 classes. Fisher will be participating as a professional representative of the FN line of rifles and pistols and as an active member of the product development team. Consulting for manufacturers in product design and testing has long been a part of Fisher’s contribution to the industry.

“I am honored to join the FN team and represent such high quality, well designed products.” Steve Fisher said. “The team of design engineers at FN are some of the most forward thinking individual I have yet to work with in the industry and I look forward to contributing to new innovations at FN.”

That’s some pretty big news. Congrats Yeti!

Grunt Style and Core’s Shooting Team takes 5th Place in Mammoth Sniper Challenge

Tuesday, January 10th, 2017

Park City, KY- Grunt Style’s and Core’s Shooting Team participated in a 4-day precision rifle shooting competition at the Mammoth Sniper Challenge where they had an opportunity to test their skills, compete for prizes, and bragging rights.


On 8 January, in the Extreme Division, Spenser Berry and Bryan Morgan claimed 5th place and in the Open Division, Tim Jensen and Joe Caley earned 4th place.

Grunt Style’s COO Tim Jensen shared, “Despite the freezing temperatures and the vigor of the event, Spenser and Bryan showcased what Grunt Style and Core is all about: pride in self, pride in military and pride in country. I estimate that about 60% of the competitors dropped out early due to the extreme weather and the toughness of the course and its obstacles.”

“Marcus Harrison and Joe Harris of Mammoth put on another first rate long range event. We look forward to more great events with them and the Rockcastle Shooting Center”, said Grunt Style and Core Shooting Team member Joe Caley.

In addition to a great showing at Mammoth, Joe Caley and Tim Jensen co-hosted the “Rockcastle Gun Show” on ESPN KY/WWKU 1450 AM on 5 Jan 2017. “It was a great start to a great competition. It was an honor to share the stories of all the great people that make this competition one of the best around,” said Joe Caley.

espnky.com/rockcastle-gun-show-jan-5-2016

Vectronix and Optics 1 Combine to Create Safran Optics 1

Monday, January 9th, 2017

BEDFORD — Vectronix Inc. has merged with its U.S.-based research and development subsidiary, Optics 1 Inc.

The newly combined company will operate under the Optics 1 corporate trade name — Safran Optics 1.

Optics 1 Inc. will continue to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectronix AG and a part of Safran Electronics & Defense, a Safran group company.

Optics 1 has been housed at 2 Cooper Lane in Bedford since 2013, and previously operated in Manchester. The defense group, which employs 65 people in Bedford, started in the 1980s and has been based in New Hampshire for about 15 years. It has shared its current location with Vectronix.

SIG SAUER Pro Shooter Max Michel Establishes New Guinness World Record

Monday, January 9th, 2017

Last Fall I was asked by SIG SAUER to witness pro shooter Max Michel’s establishment of a new Guinness World Record at SIG Academy, near Exeter, New Hampshire. Max’s effort resulted in a new category for action-pistol shooting, with the fastest speed for hitting six target plates with a 9mm handgun. Despite it being a cold day, Max did it in 2.05 seconds as his best time in three attempts. Below, you can see him getting his head in the game with numerous dry runs.

Max Michel accomplished this feat with his full-size SIG SAUER P320 in 9mm topped with a ROMEO3 mini reflex sight, ran with SIG SAUER Elite Performance Ammunition. Interestingly, the P320 comes equipped with a ROMEO1, but Max prefers the ROMEO3.

Born and bred in Louisiana, Max Michel is a very fascinating guy. Although he served for many years in the Army Marksmanship Unit, Max has been shooting since he was a kid. In fact, he told me that he started out cleaning plates just like in the Guinness World Record and related that it was a fitting challenge, bringing him back full circle to where he started.

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“Since he began shooting at 5 years old, Max has won numerous world, national and regional titles in a variety of shooting sports disciplines,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer & Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales. “While Max’s skill and proficiency with a pistol is well known in the shooting sports world, his latest performance transcends the competitive arena and places it squarely in the public domain. There are many great shooters out there, but a Guinness World Record title adds documented validity and notoriety, elevating Max’s credentials to an even higher level of distinction.”

Max successfully engaged an official Action Target plate rack consisting of six adjacent shooting plates measuring 8 inches in diameter at a distance of 7 meters. Under the guidelines of Guinness World Records, Michel was given three attempts in which to set the world record. Witnessed by an approved Guinness World Records judge and verified by two experienced timekeepers, Michel’s attempt was also photographed and recorded on video which will be available soon from RecoilTV.

“Growing up, I remember seeing the Guinness Book of World Records and wanting to be a part of it,” said Michel. “To receive its stamp of approval and to be recognized by your peers is one of the biggest honors I could imagine. Now, after finally having the chance to achieve a world record, I consider it to be one of the major highlights in my 25 years of competitive shooting.” Michel continued, “Perhaps one of the biggest joys I’ve experienced since setting the Guinness World Record has been the feedback I’ve received from my kids. For years I’ve been telling them about certain matches, how I performed and what it meant to me, but to see their reaction when I showed them the certificate from Guinness was truly unbelievable. I’m extremely blessed to have this opportunity and I look forward to seeing how my fellow competitors and recreational shooters respond to this new challenge. I hope it encourages them to set their own records as I will certainly be ready to match their performance whenever the time comes.”

Here you can see Guinness official Jimmy Coggins presenting Max Michel his official certificate for his World Record.

As you can imagine, Max is proud of his accomplishment. It’s not only good for him, and SIG, but also for shooting sports. Consider that shooters all around the world will be vying to beat his record. Now that we’ve heard about his accomplishment, let’s see it.

As you can see, Max Michel is definitely fast. Maybe you’re faster. Look for details soon on how you can take on Max’s Guinness World Record.

Also on hand to capture the event was RecoilTV. To watch the full documentary of Max Michel’s world record performance, visit recoiltv.com.