NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT – So pumped about the new LOWA line up for 2018. The new Elite EVO is absolutely sick!!! Z6 GTX, ZEPHYR GTX & INNOX GTX in grey…we know a few people that are gonna be excited about this!!! They will be available at our Ottawa & Petawawa locations spring 2018!
Sneak Eater Tactical’s Burro is an open-top, elastic magazine pouch. It features 4″ elastic construction with three rows of PALS webbing and comes with two Malice clips. However, you can also use one-wrap to attach it to standard belts. Although it’s designed for use with magazines (30 round, 5.56 primarily, but it will also accept AK magazines) the Burro will also carry other items like radios.
The Burro is also available for pistol magazines. Like the rifle variant, it will accommodate other items like tourniquets. Offered in Black, Coyote, Ranger Green, Wolf Grey and MultiCam.
www.snakeeatertactical.com/product/rifle-magazine-pouch
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps’ next-generation marksmanship trainer is headed to the fleet. The Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer III adds three new weapons, 3-D imagery, and enhanced training modes, giving Marines a better, more realistic training experience as they prepare for the complexities of modern warfare.
Master Sgt. Jorge Carrillo, staff non-commissioned officer-in-charge at Marksmanship Training Battalion aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, fires an M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon, one of the new additions to the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer III. The ISMT III adds three new weapons, 3-D imagery, and enhanced training modes, giving Marines a better, more realistic training experience as they prepare for the complexities of modern warfare. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Ashley Calingo)
New weapons, better graphics
The Marine Corps adopted virtual training in the mid-1990s as a way to sharpen Marines’ marksmanship skills. This first system—the Firearms Training Simulator—was designed primarily to train Marines for rifle and pistol qualifications. Over time, FATS evolved into ISMT, which added new weapons and video scenarios for Marines. ISMT III ups the ante by providing wireless connectivity to the M9 service pistol, M4 carbine and adding three new wireless weapons—the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, M32A1 Multi-Shot Grenade Launcher and M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapons.
“In the evolution of this training system, it went from a specific one to two weapon system and now pretty much covers the full spectrum of small arms weapons that are used by the Marine Corps today,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matthew Harris, ISMT III project officer in Marine Corps Systems Command’s Training Systems. “ISMT helps to build fundamentals of muscle memory for Marines so that when they hit the range, they are ready to respond to real-life scenarios.”
Harris also noted that ISMT III includes filters for the squad day optic and machine gun day optic Marines use with the M27 and M240 to alleviate the problem of pixilation when shooting in a virtual environment.
“Before, if Marines used the optic inside the ISMT, they could see all of the pixilation because the optic would magnify what’s on the ISMT screen. ISMT III incorporates a diffuser, allowing Marines to use the optic inside the simulation without the blurry pixilation of the screen,” said Harris.
ISMT III also improves the user’s experience by providing 3D graphics and imagery that is consistent with the graphic capabilities offered by most gaming systems today, said Harris.
“The old system had very rudimentary, two-dimensional graphics,” said Harris. “In the old system, if you were looking at a tree, it would look flat from any angle. ISMT III offers industry-standard graphic imagery. So, instead of having an outline of a figure, you can actually see the roundness of the shoulder, the front and back of them as he’s moving to and from.”
Marine Corps’ next-generation virtual marksmanship trainers hit the fleet Cpls. Noah Paul and Geovanni Martinez, combat marksmanship coaches and Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer operators, fire M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles at the ISMT III training range aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The M27 is one of three new weapons offered with the ISMT III. The M27 comes with enhanced squad day optics, which enable Marines to see their screens more clearly in a virtual environment. The ISMT III adds three new weapons, 3-D imagery, and enhanced training modes, giving Marines a better, more realistic training experience as they prepare for the complexities of modern warfare. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Ashley Calingo)
Enhanced training modes, capabilities
ISMT III also improves the user’s training experience with collective training mode capabilities and additional, enhanced training and judgement scenarios. The collective training mode is new to ISMT III and enables Marines to train side-by-side and work on a common objective before heading to the training range.
“Say you’re going to Twenty-Nine Palms and are going to run a range for a platoon-supported attack,” said Harris. “I can bring in a machine gun squad and have them go through—in collective mode—training to work on communication, target identification and suppression, ammunition consumption. Marines can now go through some of the minor details that they typically couldn’t do unless they went out to the range and fired live.”
Perhaps one of ISMT III’s greatest training enhancements is the addition of several authoring stations across the Corps that enable Marines—in conjunction with combat camera troops and other skilled video personnel—to film and upload their own scenarios.
“If Marines are looking for a specific training scenario that isn’t currently available, they can use the authoring station to create that scenario,” said Harris.
The 10 new judgement scenarios enable Marines to immerse themselves in realistic environments and situations—such as a vehicle checkpoint, a room clearing, gate operations or an active shooter situation. Harris said the new judgement scenarios are not just infantry-specific; they are “Marine Corps-esque” situations in which any Marine could potentially find him or herself.
ISMT III can also simulate moving targets, one of the upgraded training enhancements from previous ISMT iterations.
“One of the scenarios in ISMT III that wasn’t in the older version is that of a moving target,” said Master Sgt. Jorge Carrillo, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge at Marksmanship Training Battalion aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. “In this scenario, the target simulates movement, like it’s closing in on the shooter. In real life, the Marine closes in on the target, but you can’t really do that indoors. But because the screen simulates movement, you’re actually able to execute training as if you were doing it outside in the real world.”
“The best marksmen the military can offer”
The Corps has fielded around 200 of the 490 ISMT III systems destined for major Marine Corps bases, reserve duty sites, amphibious transport docks and amphibious assault ships worldwide. Land-based installations of ISMT III are projected to be finished by September 2018. Amphibious installations will occur concurrently, but may take more time to implement than land-based installations due to the need to retrofit the system onto designated spaces aboard each ship.
“Marksmanship is embedded in the Marine Corps,” said Carrillo. “As technology advances and weapons get better and more accurate, we need to teach Marines how to use those weapons and improve their marksmanship, so that we can continue to be the best marksmen the military can offer.”
By Ashley Calingo, MCSC Office of Public Affairs and Communication | Marine Corps Systems Command
Author: Armin Wagner
There is quite a mix up regarding waterproof and water repellent textiles. Most of the times, these terms are used synonymously. But there is a big technical difference between them, especially when the expectation is to stay dry in adverse weather conditions.
The significant difference between a waterproof and a water repellent garment is that you’ll probably get wet in a water-repellent garment, especially when exposed to rain for a longer period or under certain wear conditions.
Whereas in a garment made of waterproof textiles one should stay dry, however long and in whatsoever conditions.
Continue reading to find out more about the pros and cons of waterproof and water-repellent clothing. We’ll also explain what DWR means and how you can retain it even after multiple washes.
HOW IS THE DIFFERENCE DEFINED?
The difference between water-repellent and waterproof garments is based on the definition which is applied by the textile industry for waterproofness.
International standards define a water entry pressure of 800mm (hydrostatic water column) above which a textile material (not the finished garment) can be called waterproof. Everything below that can be called only water-repellent.
WHAT IS A HYDROSTATIC WATER COLUMN?
A hydrostatic water column describes the amount of height of a theoretical column of water, which is pressing on the surface of the fabric. So the water column always corresponds to a certain pressure.
A water column of 10 meter (= 1.000 cm, = 10.000mm) equals a pressure of 1 bar, or 100Kilopascal.
WATER-REPELLENT CLOTHING.
As per definition, textiles with a water entry pressure below 800mm water column or 0,8 bar, can be called water repellent.
This might be enough to stay dry if one is only for a short time exposed to rain or any moisture, which is not pressed onto the textile.
As water-repellent materials usually do not contain any kind of membrane of compact coating, the so-called breathability of these materials is in most cases better than the one in waterproof materials.
This is quite logic, as they have a higher air permeability and also sweat, or better moisture vapour can permeate much easier.
WATERPROOF CLOTHING.
A waterproof material, as per definition above is not the guarantee for waterproof garments.
Also, the overall design of a garment has to prevent rain to enter into the inner layers of the clothing system. That means that all closures, all seams, all edges must block any potential water entry attempts.
To prevent moisture to penetrate the seams, all seams which connect the outside of a garment with the inside of it have to be sealed with a seam sealing tape.
These seals have to be durable to washing, drying and any kind of wear and tear. They have to be durably waterproof.
As water usually finds a way to enter, wherever there is the slightest possibility to enter, this is quite a challenge.
Especially around edges, one might experience that without proper barriers, moisture can be seen wicking around them and all the way up into the inside of a garment.
Critical are the lower hems of the torso and the sleeves, but also the edges of the hood are neuralgic areas for wicking effects. To avoid this, wicking barriers have to be applied in these areas.
DOES THAT DEFINITION ASSURE THE WEARER TO STAY ALWAYS DRY?
Especially while sitting or kneeling there might occur water entry pressures, which are much higher than 800mm.
That means that depending on how the garment is used the wearer still might get wet, even though the textile is classified by the above definition as waterproof.
Therefore, most of the high-performance waterproof garments are made of textiles, which block the water entry at much higher pressures.
GORE-TEX® laminates, for example, have been tested with a very sophisticated test instrument, which applied a water entry pressure of more than 100 meters. And still, there was no water penetration through the laminate.
Read more about the performances of GORE-TEX fabrics.
Today a truly reliable and durable waterproof performance can only be achieved with membrane-based products.
In these products, the membrane is the primary barrier to any water entry.
The chemical and physical characteristics of these membranes define not only the limits of the water entry pressure but also their durability.
Especially polyester and polyurethane based membranes seem to have a tendency to get weaker over time and sooner or later their performance drops below the critical thresholds.
This might be the result of UV radiation, ageing, flexing, high or low temperatures and of course also of numerous washing cycles.
Still, the bi-component ePTFE membranes, which are used by GORE-TEX®, Event and some other brand membrane manufacturers show the best results regarding the durability of its waterproof characteristics.
But what all of the membrane systems have in common is that if they are punctured, they will leak.
In fact this is the most common reason for all failures, which we experienced over the last 20 years.
Punctures can be caused by any kind of pointed, edged objects.
Very popular are for example pine needles which cover the ground in forests, thorns of bushes, but also dirt, which accumulates over time within the fabric structure.
DURABLE WATER-REPELLENT TREATMENT.
The water-repellent characteristic is in common textile materials achieved by a thermal and chemical treatment of the fabric during its manufacturing process.
This is called a DWR, or “durable water repellent finishing.
Even waterproof fabrics have a DWR treatment, even though the waterproof component (membrane or coating) by itself is already waterproof.
As a matter of fact, when we have the waterproof performance of our GORE-TEX® gear tested, then the DWR is completely washed down, and the garment still has to be waterproof.
So why is this?
4 REASONS WHY DWR IS APPLIED TO ALREADY WATERPROOFED CLOTHING.
1. PREVENTING LEAKS DUE TO SLOPPY CONSTRUCTION WORK
Applying DWR treatment to already waterproofed garments acts as a safeguard against sloppy construction of the sort that might permit leaks to develop following heavy usage or multiple washings.
Before a garment made of GORE-TEX® can be marketed, it must pass the GORE-TEX® Performance Standard (GPS) test to prove its waterproof-worthiness.
Conditioning approval to market a product upon passage of the GPS test is unique to GORE-TEX®.
Does that mean garments will not be waterproof if made of membrane products other than GORE-TEX®?
No.
It simply means that any GORE-TEX® garment you buy will come with a guarantee that it passed a demanding test to prove it is waterproof.
In order to conduct GPS testing, we first need to wash down the initial or subsequent DWR treatment so that any construction deficiencies can become evident.
2. DWR PREVENTS WATER FROM ADDING WEIGHT
All membrane products have an upper or outside fabric layer (also called the face fabric).
The membrane is always located behind this layer.
DWR prevents the face fabric from absorbing moisture or water.
This is important because absorbed water adds weight to the garment. In some cases, the weight gain can be significant.
Good DWR treatment ensures that the garment retains its actual weight, even after hours of exposure to heavy rain.
3. DWR AVOIDS PSEUDO-LEAKAGES
Another benefit of good DWR treatment is it prevents you from feeling as if the garment is leaking.
If the face fabric becomes soaking wet, it will create a sensation of clamminess between your body and the inner fabric.
The garment might not be actually leaking, but the clamminess can make you swear that it is.
It’s a nasty effect, no doubt about it. One way to fight that feeling of clamminess is to create interior “air cushions“, by using our air/pac® inserts.
The air/pac® inserts help enormously, but only in the exact position, where you place them – and where they are designed to go is in just the most critical areas.
In all the other areas, one has to rely on a proper DWR.
4. ACTS AS A TEMPORARY PATCH OVER MICRO HOLES
Sooner or later and after you’ve subjected your waterproof garment to rugged outdoor use, the membrane will almost surely develop micro-holes.
This is hard to avoid, especially when you wear a rucksack, chest rig, or similar other gear atop your garment.
Your garment is also bound to come into contact with pine needles, sand, earth and other small particles.
From this contact micro-damage to the garment’s membrane occurs.
You can minimize the potential for this problem by washing your garment thoroughly after outdoor use.
This helps flush away particles that can become trapped within the outer fabric structure – particles that, if left alone, will tend to burrow through the membrane.
DWR is your best defence. It can act as a temporary patch over micro-holes in the membrane, thereby keeping water and moisture at bay so that you can remain dry.
However, you won’t remain dry indefinitely. The patch effect lasts only until you subject your garment to pressure.
In light of all this, is it important to apply a DWR treatment to already waterproofed garments? Undoubtedly, yes!
But is it also important to apply a DWR treatment after a routine washing?
Very possibly. Here’s why.
DWR is not permanent; it loses its integrity over time and dissipates. So it needs to be renewed after a protracted time of wearing or many wash cycles.
However, there are some things you can do prior to applying DWR that will make the treatment’s effects last longer.
HOW TO RETAIN THE DWR?
Step 1: Check the quality of the DWR treatment
You can test the quality of the DWR by yourself. Just put some water on your gear and check if the water stays round like a little drop.
If this drop flattens and spreads immediately after applied, it gets absorbed by the outer fabric, then it might be the right time to do something aginst it.
Step 2: Iron or tumble-dry your clothing
You can reactivate the initially applied DWR simply by ironing the outer side of your rain gear.
This will help you to retain a good DWR performance for some time and before using some chemicals, which might pollute the water, and might also affect the breathability of your gear.
Also what you can do is to dry the clothing in a dryer and like this reactivate the DWR treatment to some degree.
Step 3 (in case step 2 isn’t sufficient): Apply water-repellent treatment
In case you think it’s time to apply something, then my personal preference is to apply the treatment solely on the outside of the garment, instead of the washing machine procedure.
Why? I prefer that on the inside of the jacket my body sweat is spread over an as big as possible surface so that it can evaporate through the membrane and to the outside as quickly as possible.
If there is DWR on the inside of the garment, then moisture might not spread that efficient, but condensate and run down the inside of the garment.
ARE GARMENTS MADE OF WATERPROOF LAMINATES ALWAYS WATERPROOF?
Not all clothes made out of a waterproof material are 100% waterproof. Its construction significantly defines the level of waterproofness.
As a matter of fact, also a lot of soft-shell garments are based on membranes with a water column of way over 800mm.
But due to its structure, the seam of soft-shell garments are impossible to be reliably sealed.
Therefore, water will after a longer time of rain exposure enter into the clothing.
Also, mechanical damages of the membrane, which might be the result of edged objects like dirt or pine needles can perforate the membrane.
These damages have to be professionally repaired.
If you encounter a potential leakage in your Monsoon waterproof garment, then please send them back to us with a precise description where you think the leakage occurred.
We will try to locate the damage and repair it for you.
About the author:
ARMIN WAGNER
is the mastermind behind all UF PRO® products. With over 25 years of experience in the textile industry for law enforcement and military units, and after working for some of the industry’s leading companies, like W.L. Gore, Second Chance and Armour Holdings, Armin finally landed at, as he describes it, his dream job, as the head of product development at UF PRO®.
Custom cap maker Slangvel has introduced a new variant of his mesh patrol hat made by adding full ear coverage via a flap. Additionally, the underside of the brim is done in black.
He hasn’t posted these on eBay yet, so Facebook, it is.
$41.00 delivered in the USA. Paypal accepted.
A sniper rifle is only as good as you can shoot it. The result is a combination of weapon and optics, ammunition and man. We were able to admire the result of a new procurement of the Bundeswehr from SPARTANAT during a company visit in Bayreuth near Steiner Optics and then test it on the range: The Haenel RS9 is the official G29, mounted on the new Steiner Military 5-25 × 56 target telescope. The German specialists have opted for this combination. 115 weapons with Steiner optics have been successfully delivered to the Bundeswehr. They are now played by KSK and KSM.
In the course of various foreign assignments of the German Federal Armed Forces, the need for the replacement of the G22 manifested itself. A corresponding order for the acquisition of a new medium-range sniping rifle was tendered by the Federal Armed Forces in 2014. The well-established German company C.G. Haenel GmbH won this tender – the new G29 is standardly equipped with a Steiner Military 5-25×56 scope on a Recknagel Era Tac-mount.
The Steiner Military 5-25×56 features a TReMoR3 reticle and is a scope of highest optical quality that has specifically been designed for tactical and military operations. A high magnification combined with a large adjustment range extend field-relevant shooting distances beyond 1.500 meters. The 5x – 25x zoom displays the extreme versatility of these optics while the objective lens diameter of 56mm provides an outstanding visibility even in lowest light.
The TReMoR3™ reticle is all about shooting faster. It is field-proven to make wind and elevation calls possible in a matter of seconds. The reticle also allows one to accurately mil targets very quickly using the chevron 1/10 mil marks.
The Steiner Military scope has been built to defy any challenges in the field uncompromisingly. Its excellent optical performance with world-class light transmission far beyond 90%, in combination with the legendary Steiner ruggedness let this scope be the ultimate premium precision optics for any tactical and military application.
Steiner Optic
As a traditional local manufacturer, Steiner Optic from Bayreuth, Germany, evolved to be the biggest specialized producer of premium binoculars. From the 1950s onwards, Steiner Optic specialized in the field of optics to develop their products further. As a result, they can claim global leadership today and assert this position annually. Now again, Steiner Optic can look back at a very successful year. In 2016, they were able to strengthen their market position. Steiner Optic was able to increase their sales by over ten percent, thanks to increasing sales figures in Germany and abroad as well as in the military sector. Following these developments, Steiner Optic can look back at a very successful year, which motivates the Bayreuth specialists to expand their market position further and to keep their leading position in innovating and producing premium binoculars.
STEINER OPTICS: www.steiner-defense.com
HAENEL DEFENCE: www.cg-haenel.de/defence-en
SPARTANAT: www.spartanat.com
“The WTD41 (Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 41) located in Trier is the well known competence and testing center for new vehicles and engineer equipment of the German Federal Armed Forces.”
Panzer Hurra! JP
