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May 17th, 2012The BHI Gauer
May 17th, 2012We happen to love Pinzgauers and Blackheart International owns one. It has accompanied us to the range each day throughout our foreign weapons course, hauling weapons and ammunition to and fro.
Sure, I could have embedded this photo in one of the segments on the training, but this one stands out. A lot of companies own cool guy vehicles but they keep them as show pieces. The BHI Gauer is very much a reflection of the company; it’s a workhorse. As you can see, it gets used regularly.
Happy 4th Anniversary!
May 17th, 2012
Turns out, today is SSD’s 4th Anniversary! Thanks to our readers and advertising partners for making this such a great website! That is all…
SSD Needs a New App
May 17th, 2012SSD Needs a New App – And You Can Help. As many of you already know, the SSD app for iPhone is no more. We need to get a new one up and running, and we’d like to expand access to the Droid users of the world. Here’s the issue. Our old app was effectively a very specific RSS feed reader that only read our feed. iTunes no longer accepts apps like this. This means we need to offer something more. If we are going to undertake the thousands of dollars required to produce this app, we’d like it to have added value for our readers. So what we’d like to know is what kinds of functionality would you like to see in an SSD app? One thing we can tell you that we are NOT going to do is sell anything through the app. Also, if anyone has special expertise in developing Multi platform apps please let us know. Finally, if any companies are interested in sponsoring the app please tell us.
We look forward to your input in the comments section of this post on SSD. Thank you!
RPG Accidents – They Happen
May 17th, 2012
Blackheart International showed me this this battlefield recovery of an RPG7. Remember, RPG (PG-7) rounds are always armed. This is what happens when a bad guy gets shot and then falls forward. Don’t stand close to the RPG gunner.
Studio: 54
May 17th, 2012Chances are good you’ve worn a tactical or outdoor garment or used a piece of kit that the folks from Studio: 54 had a hand in. Now, they’ve combined their expertise to create Canada-based Studio: 54. According to their website they, “cover the entire scope of product development, including initial production for market launch. We work primarily with textile products to create performance driven technical garments and equipment such as backpacks, sleep systems, shelters and virtually anything else that can be assembled with a sewing machine.”
This is a great opportunity for much of the industry. Good designers are hard to find and those that can produce a quality spec pack are rarer still. The guys at Studio: 54 can do that and more. If you are in need of quality technical assistance, contact www.s54.ca.
BHI Foreign Weapons Course – Day 3
May 17th, 2012Yesterday, I had a rare opportunity to live fire a DShK (dush-kah) which is a Russian produced heavy machine gun. Blackheart International offers the only hands on, live fire instruction for heavy foreign weapons in the United States.
Day 3 of the BHI Foreign Weapons Course was all about Machine Guns…big, dangerous looking, Soviet Machine Guns. Over the course of a career, you might get to handle foreign weapons and maybe even shoot an AK, but rarely if ever do you get the opportunity to not only get into the nitty gritty of how to use and maintain them, but actually fire them as well. It’s training like this that promotes adaptability, going beyond simply demonstrating a capability to a student. Blackheart ensures you know how to do it.
Once again, we began the day with lecture paired with hands on application. Using the same methodology as previous days, our instructors gave us history of each weapon followed by a demonstration on how to make it safe, load it and maintain it. Due to the variety of machine guns we completed the lecture portion before starting a round robin with students rotating between the RPK, RPD, PKM and DShKM. In addition to the weapons themselves we also learned about accessories such as the tripods and cleaning kits. Below are examples of amazing cleaning kits provided to Russian troops with these weapons. Not shown is the DShK kit which includes a hammer!
PKM Cleaning Kit
RPD Cleaning Kit
Employment tips would come later in the day, at the range. We had one left to do before we could head out the door. After loading our DShKM links with specially produced 12.7 x 108mm ammo, we headed to the live fire range.
Once we set up the weapons, we were given the opportunity to load ammo belts and magazines and then put them to good use. The range was an unknown distance affair with various targets out to 800m. This meant that we would employ the range settings on the sights of the various weapons we had learned about during the morning’s classroom portion. Everything Blackheart does builds on what is learned previously and reinforces it.
Firing the RPK
Firing the PKM
Firing the DShKM
We all also fired the RPD.
Then, we headed back to the classroom and cleaned the machine guns. This not only provided critical maintenance but once again reinforced the day’s lessons. Due to the length of the training day, we capped it off with a written quiz on weapons nomenclature and calibers after a quick briefing on some of Blackheart’s other training courses and technologies.
Once the class arrived back at Sugar Creek Lodge, the class was surprised with a home cooked meal. Prepared by BHI’s very own Miss Carolyn, it was delicious and really hit the spot. Big thank you from all of us! It really means a lot to attend a course and be able to go back to a homelike atmosphere with all of the amenities. In addition to a great view of the West Virginia countryside, the lodge even has a workout room in the basement. Service like this allows you to concentrate on the training.
Today, we familiarize ourselves with the RPG and get some hands on time with the SDV, Moisin Nagant, and SKS.
TYR Gunfighter Belt System
May 17th, 2012
Looks like TYR Tactical has been busy. They released photos of their new Gunfighter Belt System. It’s a Cobra buckle, rigger-style with optional padding and the ability to attach MOLLE directly to your 1st line. Seen below with the padding attached.
No word yet on availability or colors but we’d say it’s coming soon.
