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It’s No Longer A Rumor – S&W M2.0 Is Confirmed

December 19th, 2016

Back in August, Soldier Systems Daily broke the story on a trademark filing from Smith & Wesson hinting towards a brand-new version of the S&W M&P pistol line dubbed ‘M2.0’, that we filed under rumor mill.

Well, it’s a rumor no longer because The Firearm Blog found, just recently, Academy Sports had a listing for the new M2.0 pistol line on their website, including this product description:

The Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 9mm Semiautomatic Pistol features an M&P M2.0 trigger and includes both a control-enhancing grip texture and 4 interchangeable palm swell grip inserts. This striker-fired pistol also includes a corrosion-resistant Armornite finish and boasts a steel-white dot front sight and steel-white 2-dot rear sight.

Features and Benefits

Semiautomatic, striker-fired action with a 17-round capacity

Corrosion-resistant Armornite finish

Aggressive grip texture

4 interchangeable palm swell grip inserts

M&P M2.0 trigger

Steel-white dot front sight and steel-white 2-dot rear sight

Important Product and Safety Information

We recommend the use of protective eyewear whenever using or near the use of this item.

What’s in the Box:
Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 9mm Semiautomatic Pistol

The pistol itself looks ‘sharper’ and ‘more aggressive’ to our eyes when compared to the original M&P pistols, if that makes any sense; Admin described it as “less Glock, more SIG”. No mention of the full-length guide rails our original source hinted at, but the new trigger is confirmed, and the inclusion of new grip texture and palm swell grips is a plus. It also features the new ‘M2.0’ logo in a fairly low-key position, rearward on the side of the pistol’s slide.

Considering you can’t find the listing on Academy Sports’ website any longer, it’s likely this was an unintentional leak, which makes sense considering SHOT Show is a scant month away. Expect to see more info on the new M2.0 line when SHOT Show 2017 rolls around.

www.smith-wesson.com

Tags: Smith & Wesson
Posted in weapons | 21 Comments »

You Never Know Where They’ll Show Up

December 19th, 2016

Posted in KCRF | 2 Comments »

International Spy Museum – Secret Ops Of The CIA Calendar

December 18th, 2016

This is something I never thought I’d see available for open purchase.

The International Spy Museum is offering the 2017 SECRET OPS OF THE CIA Calendar which features art created to depict declassified operations.

www.spymuseumstore.org/cia-2017-calendar

Tags: International Spy Museum
Posted in History | 8 Comments »

Cub Cubs – Little Critter Hoodie

December 18th, 2016

When I saw this photo, all I could think of was Max and the Wild Rumpus from “Where The Wild Things Are”. Now, thanks to Cub Cubs, your child can get in on the action as well.

Made in the USA from Polartec, the zipper front Little Critter Hoodie features cute little ears on the hood and a Velcro patch on the left sleeve for morale patches, as well as two handwarmer pockets at the front.

Offered in Obsidian Zinnia Pink, Black, or Wolf Gray, kids sizes Small – XLarge.

cubcubs.com/products/little-critter-hoodie

Tags: Cub Cubs
Posted in Clothing, Off-Duty | 2 Comments »

History Channel – The Selection: Special Operations Experiment

December 18th, 2016

History Channel has introduced a new series called, “The Selection: Special Operations Experiment” which stars my friend Tyler Grey. So far, I’ve watched the first episode but they have already aired the second.

The eight episode, unscripted series follows those with no military background as they are coached by SOF Veterans who put them through event after event which are modeled on those used for SOF assessment and selection programs.

www.history.com/shows/the-selection-special-operations-experiment

Posted in Media | 17 Comments »

SSD Saturday Night At The Movies Presents “Go Tell The Spartans”

December 18th, 2016

This movie should need no introduction for fans of Vietnam-genre war movies. Starring Burt Lancaster, “Go Tell The Spartans” is based on former war correspondent Daniel Ford’s novel “Incident at Muc Wa” about a Special Forces Detachment in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Posted in Media | 8 Comments »

SPARTANAT – Gear Made in in Germany: Tactical Watches by BOMBFROG

December 17th, 2016

Dirk a German Navy EOD Technician (Masterchief). His passion are watches. The result is BOMBFROG. He offers small charges of tactical and reliable watches for every mission. We talked to Dirk Assmann about BOMBFROG.

SPARTANAT: Dirk you are an active duty Navy EOD soldier, in civil life BOMBFROG. How did you started making military watches?

Dirk Assmann: I am an Navy EOD Technician since 21 years now and before I joined the Navy I was a big fan of pratical watches. After I finished dive school I got a IWC Porsche Design issued. A watch I had to use. Technically a complete desaster. It looked pretty, but keeping the time was not possible. As a dive supervisor I am responsible for my men. If my watch or I fail during dive operations or demolition, dead will be around. I needed an accurate watch and started making my own. This lead us to our brand.

SPARTANAT: What is characteristic for a good watch?

Dirk Assmann: You need to make a difference. Watches for land based operations need different functions than watches for dive operations. The perfect watch on the ground is a digital watch with a lot of useful tools. As a survival specialist you learn a lot at that school, but being country side as an civilian guy, you would love to have a compass, altimeter, count down or stopp watch function. At dive operations you don´t need all of that. You need a watch with a clean face and good lighting. You need to rely on the accuracy even in dark water

SPARTANAT: What models does BOMBFROG offer? What is your target group of customers?

Dirk Assmann: We get new watch models from year to year. We are very proud of that fact that we still grow, even that we are a small family operated business. You can view all our watches on our website. This year we made our first digital watch (DW-15). The response on that watch is awesome. Our target group service men and women who work in the Law and enforcement, Security or military branch. We also focus on outdoor and dive addicted people, who are looking for an affordable reliable watch.

SPARTANAT: You customize your watches. Who is wearing BOMBFROG watches?

Dirk Assmann: We personalize watches for our customers. This starts with the case color, goes over the face style and ends with a personalized case back. The biggest numbers on personalized watches are sold to different SWAT, police and military units around the world. As an example I can tell that we delivered to US Navy Seals, US Navy EOD Technician, SWE Army EOD, BEL Army EOD, SEK Berlin, Kampfschwimmer, Minentaucher, MEK Hamburg.
It is important to know, that this sold watches were not ordered officially by the governments. They were ordered by members of the units.

SPARTANAT: In private: What are you wearing yourself? What is the mother of all tactic watches?

Dirk Assmann: I am switching between 2 watches. During my day to day work I wear the DW-15. If I do my job in 150 feet deep water, I wear my BT25 version 4, because I need a watch I can rely on for 100% .

Name: Dirk Assmann
Alter: 43 years old
Job: Minentaucher (Navy EOD Technician)
Family: Married, 4 kids
Hobbys: Eishockey / Inline Skaterhockey

BOMBFROG in the INTERNET: www.bombfrog.eu

SPARTANAT: spartanat.com

Tags: Bombfrog, Spartanat
Posted in International, Watches | 23 Comments »

Gunfighter Moment – Ken Hackathorn

December 17th, 2016

9x19mm Pocket Rockets

It is all the rage these days to pack small pocket size compact 9x19mm pistols. Nearly every manufacture offers one in the lucrative CCW marketplace. Most are good, some acceptable, and a few terrible. Competition between handgun vendors pretty much insures that only quality pistols last very long in the marketplace. Two pistols that seem to have captured wide acceptance the American market are the Smith & Wesson Shield and the Glock 43. Both are really good choices.

I own samples of both and have to admit that while I was not really excited by the Glock 43 when it first was introduced, after taking possession of one, I am now a big fan of the G43. What has gotten my attention is the fact that these really small compact pistols have very reduced slide travel, and extremely fast cycle time. The result that they can be ammo sensitive if you choose to feed your pocket rocket +P or +P+ 9x19mm ammo. Understand that really hot ammo can speed up slide velocity to the point that the slide is moving faster than the magazine can feed the next round up to the proper position in the feed lips for proper function. The result can be a bolt over base feed way stoppage or even the slide closing on an empty chamber.

Based upon my observations, I will select only standard velocity 9x19mm JHP ammo. Do to the real short barrels of these pocket blasters, many folks think that going to a real high velocity round will make up for a lost in impact velocity do to low velocity in a 2″ barrel. The barrel on these little guns may be listed as three inches or so, but remember that includes the chamber; actual bore length is much less. Ammunition makers have went to great lengths to provide hollow cavity bullets that expand properly in flesh-like mediums, but this is very much a function of velocity. Slow a 9x19mm down because of a very short barrel, velocity suffers and expansion fails as well.

So, ammo selection is an issue with these little ‘pocket rockets’. Select yours carefully and most important, test fire the ammo you select in your pistol to insure that it works the way it is supposed to when you need it.

– Ken Hackathorn

Ken Hackathorn has served as a US Army Special Forces Small Arms Instructor, Gunsite Instructor, and NRA Police Firearms Instructor. He is currently an FBI Certified Firearms Instructor, Certified Deputy Sheriff with Washington County SO, Ohio, and a SRT member and Special Response Team trainer. Ken has trained US Military Special Operations forces, Marine FAST and SOTG units and is a contract small arms trainer to FBI SWAT and HRT.

Ken has provided training to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and been active in small arms training for the past 25 years. He has written firearms related material for Guns & Ammo, Combat Handguns, Soldier Of Fortune, and currently American Handgunner and contributed to at least six other gun/shooting journals. Ken was also a founding member of IPSC and IDPA.

Gunfighter Moment is a weekly feature brought to you by Bravo Company USA. Bravo Company is home of the Gunfighters, and each week they bring us a different trainer to offer some words of wisdom.

Tags: Gunfighter Moment, Ken Hackathorn
Posted in Gunfighter Moment | 14 Comments »