S&S Precision has developed several accessories specifically for use with the PlateFrame.
In addition to welded shoulder and cummerbund straps, they have introduced several specialists pouches made from advanced materials such as 2-way stretch and LiteLok. These include pouches for side plates, magazines, and radios, with more to come.
www.sandsprecision.com/category/products/plate-frame
We’ve written about the TigerSwan GLOCK in the past but it’s a treat to read what frontman Brian Searcy had to say about their mod choices in a recent post on M4Carbine.net.
In our training classes at the TigerSwan Training Collaboration Center, we get a lot of questions from course attendees about the TigerSwan Glock and the advantages of the items that we install in the pistols.
Off the shelf, the Glock is an outstanding pistol. It is extremely reliable, safe, easy to use and it is accurate. The modern, hi-capacity pistol holds 17 rounds of 9mm ammunition. 9mm ammunition is comparatively inexpensive to shoot (vs .40 or .45 caliber) and with expanding ammunition the 9mm has great terminal ballistics. At TigerSwan, we use the Glock 17 as our instructor pistol and as student rental pistols for the reasons cited above.
After shooting the pistols extensively, we identified a few changes that would make the pistols more accurate and much more “shootable”. When I talk about shootable, I’m referring to things that make the pistol easier to shoot such as the weight of trigger pull, the ease at which the shooter can pick up the sights, etc. The TigerSwan Gen 3, Glock 17 has the same parts installed as our instructor guns. The professional installation of select components makes an incredible difference in accuracy and shootability.
Here is a list of modifications we do for each TigerSwan Glock and the reasons why.
Wilson Match Barrel: While the off the shelf Glock is relatively accurate, it doesn’t have the accuracy required by our instructors. With the installation of a Wilson match barrel, the pistol goes from shooting 10-ring size groups to X-ring size groups at 25 yards. When I train on tactical marksmanship, I want to use a gun that I know has the ability to consistently place a shot in the x-ring. That way I know if the shot is not where it should be – it’s not the gun; it’s me not executing the fundamentals properly. Another advantage of replacing the factory barrel is it allows shooters to shoot non-jacketed lead bullets through the pistol. The Glock factory barrel has hexagonal rifling and Glock advises against shooting non-jacket lead bullets through it due to the possibility of excessive lead fouling. The Wilson barrels have traditional land and groove rifling and allow you to shoot non-jacketed bullets through the pistol which are usually more cost effective to practice with. Below are some pictures of groups fired with a stock Glock and a TigerSwan Glock. The groups were shot freestyle from the 25 yard line with match ammunition. While the accuracy comparison is not scientific – it is representative of what we typically see. I’m sure if we used a ransom rest both groups would be somewhat smaller, but the accuracy comparison would be similar.
Dawson Adjustable Sights: The stock Glock sights have an extremely low profile and can be difficult to visually pick up when you’re firing rapidly aimed shots. Another disadvantage of the stock sights is they are plastic and are easily damaged the first time you rack the slide of the pistol against your belt or equipment while practicing one handed manipulations with the pistol. The Dawson adjustable sights are made of steel and are extremely durable. You can rack them against your belt or equipment all day long and not damage them. The Dawson sights are much easier to visually pick up when presenting the gun to the target which results in faster shots on target. The advantage of adjustable sights is that it is much easier to get the gun to shoot where you aim and all you need is a small screwdriver to adjust your zero when you change ammunition. I usually have someone comment that you should never put adjustable sights on a combat gun. These days, there are adjustable sights that are just a durable as fixed sights. The adjustable sights give you the benefit of being able to easily adjust the sights with a screw driver instead of having to use a hammer and punch for windage and a file for elevation.
3.5 lb. Trigger Connector: I’ll be frank here- the trigger pull on a Glock is similar to shooting a staple gun. It has a long pull and a slight snap to it as the striker releases. The 3.5 lb. drop-in replacement connector gives an immediate improvement in trigger performance on the Glock pistol. The lighter trigger pull weight and the highly polished, nickel-plated surface make the pull smoother and more consistent. It helps the trigger reset more quickly for faster follow up shots and less temptation to jerk the trigger and compromise accuracy.
Extended Slide Release Lever: The original/stock slide release lever on the Glock is small and flat against the slide. Most people have difficulty releasing the slide, especially when wearing gloves. The small size and the flat design of the stock release make it difficult to get enough leverage to reliably release the slide. The installation of the Glock extended slide release lever solves the problems. The extended slide release lever has a much larger finger pad and a trapezoid-shaped bump that help ensure you release the slide fast, on the first try, after a reload. Saves precious seconds that can be lost making multiple swipes to release the slide and chamber the next round. Its low profile and smooth contours will not affect holster fit or snag on clothing.
Vickers Tactical Extended Glock Magazine Release: The Glock standard magazine release is too short to reliably/consistently hit and the extended Glock release is too long. Both versions have sharp edges. A slightly extended magazine release for the Glock, the Vickers Tactical Extended Magazine Release is perfect. The black plastic magazine release is molded from the same material as the factory original but is slightly extended and has rounded edges. The Vickers Tactical Extended Magazine Release was designed to prevent the magazine from accidentally being released if laid on a flat surface. It is an absolute must for anyone using a Crimson Trace Glock laser unit since the stock magazine catch is almost impossible to activate with a CTC laser in place.
The TigerSwan Glock can be ordered from our online Pro-Shop for $760. Other model Glocks can be built on request (i.e. Glock 19, 22, etc.).
Order online at: proshop.tigerswan.com/tigerswan-custom-glock-17or call our Pro-Shop for more information (910) 210-0158
Brian Searcy
President/COO
TigerSwan, Inc.
The upcoming NBC reality show ‘Stars Earn Stripes’ pairs 8 stars with trainers from military and LE backgrounds. Each episode will be a separate mission and the participants will be outfitted with some excellent tactical brands. For example, in this promotional video you can see TCI headsets paired with Ops-Core FAST helmets and FirstSpear covers. What else can you identify?
Stars Earn Stripes debuts Monday August 13th after the Olympics on NBC.
Folks have been asking for it and Edgar Brothers stepped up, placing a stocking order to exclusively offer the Talos Halfshell and Pant in the new Wolf color. Normally, Edgar Brothers is a UK deal but due to the nature of this project, these will be offered worldwide.
Arc’teryx LEAF-Talos Wolf – Edgar Bros
These No Melt, No Drip garments will be offered in sizes Small – XXLarge.
Dealer enquiries welcome, contact pmd@edgarbrothers.com.
When you consider what it costs to outfit a super hero the money we spend American troops seems like a bargain.
Whiskey-5 is a recurring Solider Systems Daily feature that asks “Who, What, Where, When, and Why” of the industry. It is intended to give you a more in-depth look at those manufacturers, trainers and individuals that make our industry unique. We have found that these basic 5 questions are the most basic keys to understanding. Past Whiskey-5s have included such industry heavyweights as Kryptek, Wild Things Tactical, ADS Ventures, HyperStealth and even Tactical Fanboy. Today we’ll be sharing an overview of Grey Ghost Gear.
Who
Grey Ghost Gear is a company that doesn’t spend much time touting the leadership team’s background. They seek credibility without chest thumping, dick measuring or tab checks, preferring to remain low key to avoid the sort of personality-driven perception that often trumps gear truth in other companies. This doesn’t mean they lack the background, to the contrary. They just prefer to let quality, flexibility and a nimble response capacity to customer’s demands establish their bonafides.
What
GGG is best defined as a ‘boutique’ tactical manufacturer, place where someone goes to get specialized gear instead of cookie cutter built kit. Make no mistake, there is some good equipment being built out there, but overall it’s mass manufactured and not absolutely focused on the end user.
Grey Ghost Gear evolved from Grey Ghost Outlet when the leadership recognized a significant void in the market. Rapid prototyping in the industry has largely gone away and massive consolidations were taking place. Many manufacturers, now frequently part of much larger organizations supplying huge contracts, have lost focus on the operator. GGG knew it could bring better, lighter weight gear to the market faster than anyone else—they could (and have) rapid prototyped it and gotten it to the end user in a quarter of the time anyone else could.
The background of the Grey Ghost team isn’t necessarily different than many other manufacturers operated or influenced by military personnel.What sets them apart is their constant active engagement with operators still using the gear on the ground. How many companies have leadership that can drop in on and attend a Designated Marksman course at Ft. Bliss, or visit a 4 star command group then have a beer with the Command Sergeant Major afterward? For that matter, how many companies remain as actively engaged with enlisted personnel via constant e-mail traffic, frequent phone/Skype calls and social media?
Grey Ghost Gear offers a way to eliminate bureaucracy and serve the shooters (and not just them). Regardless of what they say, a significant portion of the industry fails to listen to the end user. They may not ask for feedback at all, or they may ask for feedback and then fail to implement changes in a timely fashion (if at all)—this is often the case in companies with restrictive bureaucracies.
GGG does not suffer from this sort of inanity. An example of this is the LiteLok packs, which were manufactured and made available to the AO faster than anyone else, or a large scale rifle manufacturer who requested a modification to the rifle case they provide with their equipment on a military procurement contract. GGG had the change implemented and approved within 24 hours. More recently Grey Ghost was advised by men in the field of a very specific need for a low profile medic pack to be used for trauma and treatment kits by vehicle mounted medics. GGG took it from concept to first prototype in 72 hours. 72 hours after that they had accomplished the customer’s modifications. 48 hours later it was in production and they were getting purchase orders. Eight days from first phone call to ship-to-APO.
GGG is also less afraid than its competition to try new things. It makes short runs on patterns and styles and responds quickly to niche requests. They were the first company to build gear in the PenCott patterns (Badlands, Sandstorm and Greenzone and intend to use whatever camouflages don’t win in the Army selection this December short runs of specialty gear.
Future plans include distributing UK sourced Karrimor SF gear as well as manufacturing Karrimor SF here in the US so it is Berry compliant. They soon bring out a covert carry, low profile series of gear that will be truly low pro, unlike nothing else that’s out there and of course will continue developing specialized gear for unique units and missions as needed.
When
Grey Ghost Gear has been around for a little over 18 months now.
Where
Grey Ghost Gear is based in Idaho, however the equipment is manufactured at vetted local locations with stringent quality control. They’ve never had a warranty related construction repair or replacement in their entire history. GGG is also working with industry partners for offshore manufacturing options for international sales (they’ve sold supplied 16 allied/Coalition countries to date).
Why
Because the principals of the company are former soldiers with operational experience engaging the enemy. They’re actively engaged with the full spectrum military, and not just in the abstract. They work with all Tiers, literally, having sought response from Delta to mess hall cooks—true story. GGG routinely joins soldiers in MOUT sites, on the range and in classrooms, at dinner or a bar or a more visually appealing locale to hear what they have to say.
Many companies are focused (or say they are) on Tier One operators. Grey Ghost Gear doesn’t want just the snake-eaters to be using their kit. They want the guys with boots on the ground for months to afford and share the benefit of the use of their gear. As one GGG principal says, “We want an E-4, before he deploys, to be able to buy some gear from us and still be able to take his wife out to dinner.”
GGG remains dedicated to the end user and their communities. It is actively involved in the Point du Hoc Foundation, a supporter of the TACP Association and other organizations. They hope the customer loyalty earned by their philosophy continues to grow and are fully aware of the responsibility that loyalty entails. They intend to remain worthy of that loyalty or to get out of the business altogether.
We mentioned that the British military was looking to move to Brown boots for wear with their Multi Terrain Pattern uniforms last December but now it’s official. The new boots come in 5 models for different environments with two styles of each model. Lots of options there. Additionally, there are now both men and women’s sizing. And finally, Black boots will be retained for use with RAF and RAN Blues as well as ceremonial dress. What follows is the MoD’s press release.
The Ministry of Defence has signed a multi-million-pound contract for new boots for the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
Armed Forces personnel will receive a new range of brown combat boots to replace the black and desert combat footwear they currently wear.
As part of a contract worth £80 million, troops will have the choice of wearing five different boots, depending on where they are based and what job they are doing. The five types available are:
Desert Combat: worn by dismounted troops conducting high levels of activity in desert environments exceeding 40 °C
Desert Patrol: worn by mounted troops, typically drivers or armoured troops conducting lower levels of activity in desert environments exceeding 40 °C
Temperate combat: worn by dismounted troops for high levels of activity in temperate climates
Patrol: worn by mounted troops, typically drivers or armoured troops conducting lower levels of activity in temperate climates
Cold Wet Weather: worn by dismounted troops for high levels of activity in temperatures down to –20 °C.
Each of the five boot types comes in two different styles, so personnel can wear whichever one is more comfortable for them.
Different foot shapes of men and women
The improved brown boots, which have been developed to match the Multi Terrain Pattern uniform worn by all service personnel, will be made in two different width fittings, taking into account for the first time the different foot shapes of men and women.
The new boots have been chosen after months of trials involving 2000 troops serving across the world in Kenya, Cyprus, Canada and the UK. The brown boots will be rolled out to personnel in all three services later this year.
Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Peter Luff said:
“This contract will provide our troops with the high-quality footwear they need whilst on operations and back in the UK. Our Armed Forces will have more choice than ever before to make sure they are as comfortable as possible, whatever their role.”
Warrant Officer Class One Julie Lodge from the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Clothing team said:
“The boots we have now do the job well, but having footwear that is specially designed for female troops means we get an even better result, and marks a real development in the kit available to us. The new boots are very comfortable and fit so well I feel like I could run a marathon in them.
“We have had excellent feedback on the new boots from both male and female soldiers and we are buying a variety of styles to cover the full range of conditions we might encounter on operations, which means all our troops will have new boots for all seasons.”
The right boot for the right job
WO1 Regimental Sergeant Major Ian Wright of the Parachute Regiment took part in the trials and said:
“The choice offered to us with this new range of boots is fantastic as it means troops can find the right boot for the right job.
“It is important that we continue to feel comfortable in the boots that we wear and reassured that they are going to provide the right protection – and these new brown boots offer that.
“They performed well on the trials and I am sure our soldiers will be delighted with them.”
Black boots will continue to be worn with most non-camouflage uniforms and by units on parade in full dress uniform, such as Guards regiments on ceremonial duties in central London
SGT James Matychowiak, a squad designated marksman for 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment carefully scans his sector for any threats at Azikzai police station July 9, 2012, in Central Azikzai, a village cluster in Zharay district of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Matychowiak helped build the sniper hide used to observe the enemy from a safe location.
Image – SPC Tyler Meister
