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November 29th, 2012EGL SkunkyWerks PWN in Kryptek Mandrake
November 29th, 2012ExtremeGearLabs (EGL) SkunkyWerks PWN “Platecarrier With No name” PC in Kryptek Mandrake 500D sized to fit Medium size M80 black SAPI plates. Admin pocket with slotted chemlight pocket behind.
www.facebook.com/extremegearlabs
TacHacker – Unleashed Tactical Equipment Presents Hotel Room Key Hacks a Simple Fix
November 29th, 2012Our friends at Unleashed Tactical Equipment spend a lot of time on the road, just like our readers and they are concerned with the all-too-common breakins that are occurring in hotel rooms due to vulnerable electronic locks. For you road warriors, they offer this advice.
It’s seems to be making the rounds in the press this past few weeks that there’s a security issue with certain hotel room electronic key locks. We can confirm that the issue is real and the room door locks can be bypassed using a few low cost pieces of electronic trickery.
We’ve been aware of this for some time, years in fact, so we thought we’d offer up this simple suggestion against a potential surge in room break ins.
When you first enter your electronically secured hotel room take a good look at the outside (hallway) side of the door lock. At the bottom of the underside of the door lock (facing the floor) you may find a round hole approx 5mm in diameter. This is the access point used to bypass the room electronic security.
You need to plug this hole using anything to hand. I tend to use a strip of paper torn from the room stationery, formed into a tight , interference fit, roll that is then pushed into the hole. The roll of paper will gradually unravel and fill the orifice. This technique is non destructive and can be relatively easily removed by hotel maintenance staff.
Assuming someone does access your hotel room, always use the hotel or room strong box. If you don’t, your insurance probably won’t pay out.
Sleep easy.
Team UTE
Army Evaluates Maneuver Capability of Motorcycles and ATVs
November 29th, 2012
Photo – LTC Deanna Bague
During Network Integration Evaluation 13.1, elements of 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, are evaluating the mobility of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles during reconnaissance missions.
They’ve been used extensively before and during this conflict but the current evaluation focuses on their use for perimeter patrol and their ability to be used to extend the reach of command and control systems by rapidly placing eyes on areas of interest.
Blame TRADOC for just now getting around to validating the way we actually fight wars. Expect to see more of this as the Army looks to the future and decides which parts of its current capability to keep for the future.
Draft RFP Released for Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS)
November 28th, 2012Back in July, the US Army released a Sources Sought Notice for a Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System or CSASS. Now, Project Manager Soldier Weapons has consolidated the info received from industry in a Draft Request for Proposals for the new M110 carbine variant. The can be used by industry as a sort of warning order to prepare for an actual procurement by the Army.
Manufactured by Knights Armament, the current M110 is a lightweight, direct gas operated, semi-automatic, box magazine fed, 7.62 x 51mm rifle intended to engage and defeat personnel targets out to 800 meters.
According to the FedBizOpps announcement, the Draft RFP seeks the best value to “manufacture a complete system or reconfigure some or all of the existing 7.62 x 51mm M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) currently available in Army inventory.”
The Army anticipates a full and open competition for a single award Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with two options:
Option one (1) will create five (5) one(1) year ordering periods with Firm Fixed Price (FFP) delivery orders. The minimum ordering quantity for this five (5) year option is 30 DT/OT units and a maximum ordering quantity of three thousand, six hundred forty three(3,643) CSASSs. The Government will have 24 months from contract award to exercise this option.
Option (II) is for the purchase of a technical data package. The government will have 36 months from date of contract award to exercise option II. Additional delivery orders cannot be placed until the successful completion of Milestone C/TC-STD.
It is anticipated that the winning manufacturer will initially provide “thirty (30) CSASS for Developmental Testing (DT)/Operational Testing (OT) which is expected to last 2 years, (2) An additional maximum quantity of three thousand, six hundred forty three (3,643) CSASSs…”
As with all Draft RFPs there’s no guarantee the Army will actually issue a final RFP and this Draft is valid until January 14 2013 just in time for SHOT Show so that Army Acquisition officials can speak openly with industry about this weapon.
Notice that they are still talking full and open competition for remanufacturing of M110s or a completely new weapon that meets their requirements.
Grey Group Training Gives Us the Lowdown on a TangoDown Rail Mounted Front Sight Prototype
November 28th, 2012
Grey Group Training got the scoop on a new rail mounted front sight from TangoDown that is designed to accommodate top mounted lights such as the Inforce model seen in these photos. It will also accommodate the SureFire 300.
I run a top mounted X300 on one of my carbines but it has to sit in front of the fixed front sight on a Daniel Defense rail. I like having the light there with the high thumb grip but this would be better than my current setup as it would move the front sight even further out and increase the sight radius.
For more info visit community.greygrouptraining.com/2012/11/28/tango-down-prototype-rail-mounted-front-sight
McChrystal Group – Transparency Through Constant Communication
November 28th, 2012Although I never served with him, I remember CSM Michael Hall from his time as the Command Sergeant Major of USASOC and JSOC and since his retirement we’ve spoken several times as he’s worked with various defense contractors such as Colt. He’s a very personable guy and when he’s talking I want to listen. That’s why I wanted to share a post he authored for McChrystal Group’s blog. It’s entitled, “Transparency Through Constant Communication.” The article centers around this concept, “Does my boss, and two levels below me know the same things that I know at the same time I do?”
CSM Hall goes into why this is so important and gives the reader a few helpful guidelines on how to become a more effective communicator. Read the whole post at mcchrystalgroup.com/content/transparency-through-constant-communication-0.
Thanks DF for pointing this out!
Dueck Defense Expands Rapid Transition Sight Line
November 28th, 2012Dueck Defense, makers of the Rapid Transition Sight have added a couple of new options. The RTS as originally developed by pro shooter and former Marine Barry Dueck consists of removable M4-style front and rear sights designed to mount at a 45° offset so that the carbine can be rolled off the primary sight to the RTS. The Mil Std 1913 compatible RTS can be used as back up iron sights (BUIS) or for close in engagements when using a powered optic for distance shots.
Regardless of model, they all feature a common rear sight as found on the M16A2/M4 with adjustable drum as well as the same front sight tower found on those weapons. Both right and left versions are available and now they’ve introduced two new options.
This is the Fiber Optic Sightlink version. Sightlink is manufactured by Mounting Solutions Plus and incorporates a fiber optic insert in Red, Yellow or Green.
The model above integrates the Trijicon Bright & Tough Night Sights.
In addition to purchasing the RTS reconfigured with these new sight options, you could also change out the standard GI-type sight components to use these or other sight inserts.
