Columbia, S.C. (January 2, 2017)- In an acquisition that strengthens the USA made AK market, JJE Capital (PSA’s parent company) announced the purchasing of a majority equity interest in the boutique firearms manufacturer and importer Destructive Devices Industries. Palmetto State Armory CEO Jamin McCallum was quoted saying “This move will allow a concentrated effort by both PSA and DDI to continue the growth of the all American made AK-47 and its variants.” David Fillers of DDI will continue with the company as a financial partner as well as in an advisory role, he was quoted saying; “It was time to take DDI to the next level, and the best way I saw to do that was to partner with a proven industry leader.” Both PSA and DDI will remain separate entities, but will partner on R&D and compatibility in all related fields in order to pass on the benefit to the customer. This level of detail will be acquired through a joint venture between the two companies known as the “AK Excellence Center” which will be located in Columbia, SC and will focus on new developments for the iconic firearm. DDI also announced that its focus moving forward will be the US production of quality rifles. DDI will continue to stand behind all imported items that were previously sold, but from this point forward will no longer be a firearms importer. Adam Ruonala, Chief Marketing Officer of Palmetto State Armory said; “This move is a chance for two innovators of the American AK platform to come together, and with that kind of creativity at the helm, there is no telling how far this ship can go!”
Don’t forget to stop by the High Ground booth, we are located on the main floor at Booth 15166. Come by and say hello to the HGG team and check out the newest gear for 2017!
O P Tactical figured since we were getting a real warrior as Secretary of Defense, they ought to celebrate the event by offering a War Department T-shirt, complete with the original logo. For those of you unfamiliar, the current Department of Defense (Initially named the National Military Establishment) was created 70 years ago in 1947, during the post-WW II reorganization of the National Defense Act. Before that, there was a War Department and a Navy Department.
Caliber Matched Gas System™ offers improved performance and reliability for 6.5mm and .260
With the release of its new patent-pending Caliber Matched Gas System (CAMGAS) barrels, PROOF Research has eliminated the issues traditionally associated with building 6.5mm and .260 rifles on 308AR/AR-10 platforms. Until now, AR-variant shooters looking for ballistic advantages from either of these calibers were faced with excessive bore pressures that necessitated makeshift solutions such as clipping buffer springs, adjusting buffer weights, and/or relying on adjustable gas blocks, to keep their rifles functioning properly.
PROOF’s R&D team has solved the overpressure issue with gas systems tuned specifically to the cartridge/barrel-length combination. “By moving the gas port, the pressure in the bore is given time to reduce to that comparable of a .308 Winchester with a rifle-length gas system, which is what the 308AR/AR-10 system was designed around,” said Greg Hamilton, PROOF’s research-and-development weapons specialist who’s also a 3-Gun and PRS competitive shooter. “The recoil impulse is noticeably smoother, which helps keep you on target while taking advantage of a more efficient projectile. Case extraction is also easier, with less case-head smearing, so the brass is in much better condition for reloading.”
In recent years, 6.5mm Creedmoor and .260 Remington have become increasingly popular in long-range shooting competitions. The .260 in particular represents an outstanding caliber for a military counter-sniper role—out to roughly 1,000 meters—in smaller- to mid-sized weapon systems. It offers exceptional accuracy and superior ballistics over the ubiquitous .308 while dishing out substantially less recoil and enough energy to make it a legitimate contender for military and law enforcement applications.
“I’ve been using prototype CAMGAS barrels, in both .260 and 6.5 Creedmoor, in competition for almost a year with excellent results. Both rifles ran flawlessly through high-round, fast-cadence stages, firing hundreds of rounds with 100 percent reliability and zero maintenance or cleaning. From recoil to reliability, every aspect of performance was improved compared to the typical un-tuned barrel.”
Greg Hamilton, PROOF Research R&D Weapons Specialist, 3-Gun and PRS competitive shooter
PROOF Research currently offers Caliber Matched Gas System barrels chambered for 6.5mm Creedmoor and .260 Remington in three separate lengths: 20, 22, and 24 inches. Every CAMGAS barrel comes standard with an easy to install custom-length gas tube.
Here’s the release of the S&W M&P M2.0 we first mentioned last Summer.
Designed for personal, sporting, and professional use, the M&P M2.0 pistol delivers an entirely new platform, introducing innovative features in nearly every aspect of the pistol, including the trigger, grip, frame, and finish.
James Debney, President and CEO of American Outdoor Brands Corporation, the parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., said, “When we launched the first M&P polymer pistols over 10 years ago, they were a game changer for the company. Since that time, we have clearly established M&P as a leading firearm brand and built an incredibly strong family of products around it, including the market leading M&P Shield® pistols. Now, with a decade of experience under our belts, we are very excited and proud to reveal our next generation M&P pistol – the M&P M2.0. We expect this completely new product platform to clearly differentiate us from the competition and take significant share in the handgun market. Today, we are launching the 9mm, 40S&W and .45 Auto versions of our full-size design, but stay tuned for multiple new product additions and line extensions in 2017 that will establish a completely new family based on this platform. This is a key strategic milestone in achieving our vision for the Firearms Division, which is ‘To be the leading firearms manufacturer’.”
Matt Buckingham, President of the Firearms Division, said, “Our goal is to continually strengthen and grow our leadership position in firearms by meeting and then exceeding the needs, wants, and desires of the consumer. With this goal always in our minds, the new product development team at Smith & Wesson tapped into more than a decade of M&P experience, performance data, and candid feedback from professional users when designing the M&P M2.0 Pistol – and it shows. When you pick up this pistol, the first thing you’ll notice is an extraordinary grip that feels great in the hand – and that’s just the beginning. From the grip, to the new aggressive texture, to the crisp trigger and audible reset, this pistol feels and fires like a next-generation model should – and more. This is clearly one of the most advanced production pistols on the market today, and we believe it is the pistol that consumers have been waiting for. The M&P M2.0 in 9mm and 40 caliber versions is in stock at our distributor partners and is shipping today.”
Highlights of the M&P M2.0 pistol include an extended stainless-steel chassis and high grip to barrel bore axis ratio for reduced muzzle rise and faster aim recovery. The M&P M2.0 pistol further improves performance with a fine-tuned, crisper trigger, lighter pull, and a tactile and audible reset. The pistol, available in three calibers, includes an aggressively-textured grip and four interchangeable palmswell inserts for optimal hand-fit and trigger reach. The M&P M2.0 is an ideal pistol for all shooters in all conditions.
M&P M2.0 pistol Advanced by Design™
Superior Ergonomic Design
• M&P pistol’s optimal 18-degree grip angle, providing a natural point of aim
• M&P pistol high grip-to-barrel bore axis – more comfortable to shoot, faster aim recovery
• Four interchangeable dimensional palmswell grips for best-in-class fit: S,M,ML,L
• New aggressive M2.0 textured grip for enhanced control
• New front cocking serrations
Superior Controls
• Ambidextrous slide stop, reversible magazine release, and optional ambidextrous thumb safety
• Simple M&P take-down lever, for easy disassembly and maintenance
• M&P pistol sear deactivation lever – safe take-down without having to pull the trigger
Superior Finish
• Armornite® – hardened nitride durable corrosion resistant finish on barrel and slide
• Cerakote® FDE finish over Armornite® on Flat Dark Earth M2.0 slides
The M&P M2.0 pistol base model is priced within reach, at an MSRP of $599. It is available in the three most popular pistol calibers: 9mm, 40S&W and .45 Auto. The striker-fire, semi-automatic polymer pistol is available in matte black or FDE – Flat Dark Earth – finishes and includes two magazines, a limited lifetime warranty, and a lifetime service policy.
I know it seems like I’m pimping the heck out of it, but the 82nd Abn Div Small Arms Master Gunner Facebook page continues to share accurate and relevant content on the use of the M4/M16. Take for instance the info they recently shared on the USGI 30 rd Magazine Go/NoGo Gauge.
The Small Arms Master Gunner writes:
According to Maintenance Information Message #16-039, the Enhanced Performance Magazine is meant to replace the existing approved magazine (with a Tan follower) in the Army’s inventory as the old magazines become unserviceable. This does not include all the magazines that have black and green followers that are still out there from the M16 that should be turned into DRMO, not issued. But how do we know when our approved magazines are unserviceable?
PS Magazine from March of 2011 gives us the answer. There is a Magazine Go/NoGo gauge available to let you know if the feed lips are out of tolerance, and therefore likely to cause feed issues.
Picture two shows the article discussing its use and the NSN. If you have magazines that do not pass the test with the Go/NoGo gauge, they are supposed to be replaced as per PSMagazine.
The NSN for this gauge is 5120-01-574-0036. If you cannot get it through supply channels, Brownell’s also has it for sale where it is known as the AR-15/M16 MAGAZINE FEED LIP GAUGE. Picture three shows it on their website. Brownell’s also has GSA pricing, so it is possible for GPC purchase of this item.
There should at least be one of these per Arms room. Ideally, there should be one of these per Platoon, as then soldiers can diagnose their magazines as a part of their weekly PMCS. And as their magazines fail to meet the spec of the gauge, they can be turned in, and replacements ordered. This is a way around the supply NCO issuing out bad magazines. Any magazines that are turned into the supply NCO that are bad need to be marked in some way so as to leave no doubt in that supply NCO’s mind that these magazines are broken and should not be reissued.
So to sum up: Any magazine that does not look like the magazine on the left in picture 1 or a Magpul Gen3 magazine is a NOGO and should not be used, as they will cause damage to the M4 or M16 with the M855A1 EPR. Existing approved magazines should be checked for spec with the Go/NoGo Gauge regularly, and if they do not meet the spec, they should be turned into the supply sergeant for a new magazine.
I didn’t realize there was even a gauge, let alone what it looked like. These guys went a step further and shared photos to help you understand how it’s used.
Some people had questions from the feed lips tool post as to how much of a difference there was between a go and nogo. I’ve got one of the prototype tools present ton give you an example of its use.
If you look in picture one, you will see the tool on the back side of a tan follower USGI magazine.
As you can see, the nogo side is the top side, if it stops before reaching the nogo side, the feed lips are within tolerance. There is a considerable difference between go and nogo.
N-Vision Optics is proud to present our latest models of streamlined Thermal Clip-On Weapon Sights. Building upon our original TC series, the newly developed TC35A and TC50A models offer increased performance, enhanced modular design, and a considerable decrease in weight. Through a combination of optimally modified optics and superior programming, both TC50A and TC35A provide wider compatibility with day optics of various magnifications. Constructed of durable, glass filled, molded plastic, and weighing in at just 696g and 831g respectively, the TC35A and TC50A provide operators with a modular and incredibly lightweight Thermal Clip-On while maintaining first-rate, rugged construction.
The TC Clip-Ons attach in front of the day scope on a MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny rail), allowing the flexibility to use the sight on multiple weapons. The TC Clip-Ons are fully collimated to maintain boresight with the day optic, eliminating the need to re-zero, when attached or detached from the weapon. Additionally, N-Vision Optics’ Thermal Clip-Ons can be used effectively with day scopes with magnification of up to 10X or more. The sights can also be used as stand-alone thermal weapons scopes. The units feature four user-selectable reticle patterns with corresponding controls for zero, color, brightness and contrast and are compatible with a variety of weapon systems.
N-Vision Optics’ TC50A and TC35A provide operators with a significant advantage in detecting, observing and engaging targets in all conditions day or night. The TC Series Clip-Ons feature ergonomic and clearly marked, intuitive digital controls, which make it easy to operate and navigate the device via the digital user interface. In order to meet the needs of all end users, the user interface of the TC-Series can be configured in multiple languages, one of a number of features which makes N-Vision Optics’ TC Thermal Clip-Ons stand out among the competition.
See below for more key specifications:
TC35A:
Detector Resolution: 336×256
Detector Pitch 17 Micron
Frame Rate: 30/60
Reticles: 4 user selectable reticle patterns
Digital Zoom: 2x, 4x
Polarity: White hot/black hot
Dimensions (mm): 201 x 82 x 80
Weight: 696 grams
TC50A:
Detector Resolution: 640×512
Detector Pitch 17 Micron
Frame Rate: 39
Reticles: 4 user selectable reticle patterns
Digital Zoom: 2x, 4x
Polarity: White hot/black hot
Dimensions (mm): 231 x 82 x 80
Weight: 831 grams
For more information about the TC Series Clip-Ons or other products from N-Vision Optics, be sure to visit our website at www.nvisionoptics.com.
Tags: N-Vision Optics Posted in Optics, Press Release | Comments Off on N-Vision Optics Presents Latest Thermal Clip On Weapon Sight: TC35A and TC50A
During DSEI 2015 I spied a pair of outdoor Salomon X ALP MTN GTX discretely on display in the Edgar Brothers booth, which were undergoing wear trials with several European military and civil rescue organizations at the time. Salomon took feedback from those operational assessments and created a version for the Forces line.
All-terrain boot is the toughest in the Salomon Forces range
Salomon is set to launch another new shoe addition to its high-performance Forces collection when the X ALP MTN GTX® Forces becomes available on January 1, 2017.
The X ALP MTN GTX® is designed to be the one boot to get you to wherever you need to go-from the bottom of the mountain to the top…and back again. It’s calling cards are waterproofness, durability, protection and stability. Available in all black, the X ALP MTN GTX® Forces features a seven-inch upper that offers stability and protection from the elements, as well as a GORE-TEX® membrane for waterproofness.
It’s designed with a mountaineering last and a protective rubber toe cap. The 3D edging chassis gives it stability on rugged ground. The X ALP MTN GTX® Forces is the toughest and most rugged shoe in Salomon’s Forces range, allowing the user to attach crampons and push the barriers even farther. Whether you’re crossing a glacier, scrambling over loose ground or carrying, this shoes will do the job.
Now that you’ve read the press release, let’s take a look at what makes these special. To do that, we’re going to share a series of graphics from Salomon which depict key features.
The edging chassis is a single piece and key to the boot’s flex, front-to-back, and high rigidity, side-to-side.
The boot’s ability to flex while retaining edge stability, also aids with grip.
The X ALP MTN may feel more flexible to you than other mountain boots because the mid-sole is not a big slab of plastic or carbon with no flexion.
Here’s a view of the outsole.
These two graphics offer information about the outsole design.
