SureFire

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Big News from TSD

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

As Mini Red Dot sight equipped handguns (Glocks in particular) become more and more popular, one company stands out as having gotten onboard with the concept almost from the giddy-up and that is TSD Combat Systems. Initially they modified commercial slides but began to realize that this was too costly in time and money. So, they decided to develop their own slides. The TSD Combat Systems G-17 RMR Slide is made of 17-4 stainless steel, at a thorough hardness of RC 46. It is a “drop in” slide, with no gunsmithing required for fitting.

It integrates the excellent Trijicon RMR and is offered in OD or Black Cerakote. Notice the top of the RMR sight. Many Mini Red Dots feature a convex arc around the top of the sight. If you drop the weapon and it lands on the sight, all of the shock is transferred directly into the sight. With the Trijicon RMR, the concave top features two points which can help protect the sight if dropped by mitigating the shock. Another thing we really like about Trijicon is that you don’t have to worry about batteries dying on you.

It comes complete with a Trijicon RMR, and all internals, a TSD Combat Systems Match Barrel, assembled and finished by TSD’s Technicians. It is packaged in a TSD/Pelican Case.

Interested? Check it out at www.onesourcetactical.com.

Naturally, a pistol with a mounted optic on the slide won’t fit in a standard holster. TSD recently worked with Blade Tech to modify their popular WRS Tactical Holster to accept the RMR equipped Glock. Turns out, guys who are running mini red dots on their pistol also use weapon lights. Once again, TSD and Blade Tech teamed up to make the improvements. The resulting TSD – Blade-Tech WRS RMR Equipped/Surefire X300 Light Tactical Holster System is a very specific piece of kit for a very capable pistol.

The holster is also available through One Source Tactical.

NRA Life of Duty

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

NRA has launched a new class of sponsored membership program created exclusively for America’s military and law enforcement personnel. “NRA Life of Duty” offers exclusive content as well as a great online magazine called, “American Warrior” with features sponsored by Brownell’s and Colt. Check out the latest issue here.

Additionally, the NRA is now making it possible to sponsor an NRA Life of Duty membership for those serving in military and law enforcement. A $50 membership includes gear discounts, the NRA American Warrior digital magazine, as well as $25,000 in life insurance benefits for qualified NRA Life of Duty members, plus $2,500 for family travel when a loved one is wounded. Those who wish to sponsor NRA Life of Duty memberships for men and women at home and abroad can do so by visiting nralifeofduty.tv/sponsor.

SASR WO Criticizes the AUSTEYR F88

Friday, July 22nd, 2011


Photo: Australian DoD

In a recent issue of the Australian magazine “Contact: Air, Land & Sea,” a serving Warrant Officer of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment has criticized the issue F88 assault rifle. Based on the Austrian-designed Steyr AUG, the F88 is produced domestically in Australia. Specifically, the anonymous author, writes that the weapon should be withdrawn from use.

Specifically, he mentions:

“The Steyr requires a more difficult magazine change under stress as well as diverting the operator’s eyes for a longer period while reloading, taking away valuable awareness of what is happening around him.

“The size of the butt on the Steyr is not conducive to good weapon placement into the shoulder, especially with body armour. This affects sight alignment, eye relief, cheek weld and a stable firing position with the weapon in the shoulder.

“There are a raft of other reasons, however, I will leave it there. But our soldiers, particularly our infantry, could be far better served with a new, improved, personal primary weapon system.”


Photo: Australian DoD

This isn’t really all of that big of a news flash. The SASR first adopted the M4 in 1998 after their F88s didn’t perform to expectations in 1 Squadron’s deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Thunder. However, prior to this, the unit had been modifying M16s left over from Viet Nam service to serve as carbines. Unfortunately, the guns were old and not really intended for the in-house mods and were not as reliable as purpose built guns. The Squadron’s complaints made their way back to the Australian Department of Defence who sent out a team of Infantry requirements officers. At the time, they thought perhaps they could modify the F88 to perform as well as the M4A1 SOPMOD being carried by the Australian contingent’s American counterparts. Not long after this came the Picatinny rail section add-ons for the AUSTEYR. But, ultimately, Australian special operators got their M4s and the rest of the ADF kept the F88. Since then, the issue has festered.

Regardless, it is always interesting when a service member of the SASR speaks out about operational capabilities or the lack thereof.

SORD ARAC

Monday, July 18th, 2011

Designed in conjunction with Jason Falla of Redback One, the Advanced Releasable Armor Carrier (ARAC) from SORD is a compact plate carrier, capable of holding soft and/or hard armor plates.

The cut of the ARAC allows maximum range of movement and does not hinder shooting positions like other larger armor carriers. If you’ve trained with Jason Falla, you know that mobility is a big issue for him. The ARACS includes a “Joey” pouch on the front with internal Velcro panels that will accommodate a variety of equipment options including an internal M4 triple shingle (included). Also included are are two different cummerbund options, one with top access Velcro pockets that allow for insertion of single M4 internal shingles (2 total included). The other cummerbund includes side release buckles for quick and quiet donning and doffing. Additionally, the ARAC is a releasable vest with a Teflon coated Stainless Steel cable that can be rigged for right or left hand release.

Look for it in A-TACS, MultiCam, Black, and SBC. The ARAC is available now for pre-order with a 1 September release date from PredatorARMAMENT.

Escape The Wolf

Saturday, July 9th, 2011

I keep meaning to mention this. Former SEAL Brandon Webb mentioned a book over at Kit Up! that I thought my readers should know about. Written by Brandon’s former Team Mate Clint Emerson, “Escape the Wolf” is a how-to guide detailing Emerson’s philosophy of risk mitigation by threat assessment. There’s nothing new to this stratagem in the military world, but for civilian’s and those in business, looking at physical threats in this light is new.


Go check the article out
.

Merino Demonstration

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

Mission Ready Equipment has posted a demonstration of the FR (no melt, no drip) qualities of Merino conducted by Brand Ambassador Kyle Defoor. The demonstration features an Icebreaker 150 top. We’ve long extolled the virtues of Merino and it is good to see someone begin to explain its advantages.

missionreadyequipment.com

More Info on Australian Adoption of MultiCam

Sunday, June 5th, 2011

The interim purchase of Gen 3 MultiCam uniforms is termed “Crye Precision Camouflage Uniform” (CPCU). The Australian variant will be called Australian Multicam Pattern (AMP).

Army to Offer Compatibility Check to IC Developers

Friday, May 27th, 2011

The Army has announced that they are going to offer the various vendors interested in pursuing the Individual Carbine solicitation a chance to check their candidate’s non-firing compatibility with the following “enablers”: M9 Bayonet; M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun Systems; M203A2 Grenade Launcher; M320A1 Grenade Launcher; M23 Blank Firing Adaptor; M68 Reflex Sight w/Mount; M150 Rifle Combat Optic; PEQ-15 (Laser/Light); PEQ-15A (Infrared Aiming Laser); AN/PAS-13; Thermal Weapon Sight; AN-PSQ-23 (STORM) (Multi-functional laser system); and the Grenade Rifle Entry Munition Training Round (GREM-TP) (inert round). Some of these products are expensive as well as all but impossible to source so this move is welcomed by many in the industry.

The non-firing compatibility check will be held at HP White Labs in Maryland at a date to be determined once registration for the opportunity has concluded. Each company will get 8 hours of initial time and an additional 4 if needed as follow up. The check is for attachment and detachment of the enablers only and no ammunition or batteries will be provided by the Government or allowed by the vendors.

Instructions directly from the solicitation:
“Interested vendors must register to participate by contacting Holly Gregg via email, at holly.gregg2@us.army.mil. The registration shall end ten (10) business days effective from the first day of this original posting and will be scheduled on a first come, first-served basis. After the Registration Period (23 May to 3 June, 2011) has ended, each vendor will be assigned a time slot to conduct their Compatibility check. The amount of time for the compatibility check will be the same for all vendors. Vendors are allowed to bring multiple weapons and three (3) representatives total will be enforced due to limited arms room space. The costs associated with the usage of H.P. Whites facility during the Compatibility Checks will be provided by the Government. No Government furnished property will be removed from H.P. Whites facility. Full accountability of the Government furnished property provided for this compatibility check will be maintained.”