Rogue American Apparel, whose mantra is “for those who live outside the wire” has some pretty motto (I say motto because the founder is a Marine, so I can’t really say hooah) stuff. It is all American made, 100% cotton 
materials and all of it is hand distressed.
Free shipping on orders $100 or more. PLUS, get an extra 20% off your order when you use code extra20 at checkout. Use it to purchase Wild Things Tactical jackets or the outrageously popular Lightweight Assault Pack. At $79 it is a freaking steal! Not only is it lightweight, but it’s also very well made. We’ve discussed this pack a couple of times. The LAP is available in LiteLok or 500D MultiCam fabric and features a unique rounded shape that makes good use of space when you are stuffing gear into it. It is also less likely to snag when going through tight spaces. Additionally, you can use the shoulder straps or stow them out of the way and connect the bag directly to your vest.
The ALL-NEW PIG Air-Flow/Comfort (AFC) Pontoons bring the popular airflow channel pads found on on the SKD PIG Plate Carrier to current and up-coming PIG designs, including the BRIGANDINE (BRIG) Plate Carrier and the PIG gRUNT Modular PC Pack. The beauty of the AFC Pontoon set is that they can be removed adjusted slightly within the limits of the carriers Velcro mounts.
When using the gRUNT Modular PC Pack as a stand-alone day pack, the AFC Pontoons provide rigidity and comfort to compliment the PIG Padded Shoulder Straps perfectly. Look for additional upcoming PIG designs that utilize the AFC Pontoons.
Made in USA! Available in Black, Coyote, MultiCam, and Ranger Green from SKD Tactical.
A short Op-Ed from BOLO Report on some recent border security issues that haven’t gotten much attention in the press. Apparently Herman Cain’s alleged philandering and the prosecution of Michael Jackson’s doctor is 
more important than the murder, rape and appalling violence now happening on both sides of the border. There is an interesting related note here.Â
As you may recall we ran a story about the shootout between Harris County Sheriff and other LEOs in the local DTF (Drug Task Force) and/or HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) and alleged Zeta gunmen in Houston. Though details are of course sketchy and remain unclear, a couple of compelling and potentially dangerous points have become clear.
1. At least one DTF member was engaged by a responding deputy and wounded. The former was in civilian attire and undercover. The latter was rolling up on a gunfight in progress with numerous long guns employed, observed a man with a weapon, challenged and shot him. Obviously there are several problems here with no easy answers. A marked officer can’t very well work undercover. OPSEC and COMSEC will prevent the HIDTA or DTF from communicating routes and operations to the LEOs on the street. It is unknown whether the DTF agent had any sort of flip panel, chain badge or other “ready” identification, but the number of fratricidal shootings we’ve seen even in high stress training scenarios make it clear that under stress such measures don’t always work. Again, no easy answer there, but our training officers and tactical supervisors need to be looking at it (without casting any blame or Monday morning quarterbacking). Enough of us are killed in the line of duty by suspects: we don’t need to do it to each other, but there are very realistic constraints that make this an extremely difficult problem to resolve.
2. The four individuals taken into custody were all sporting short, military style haircuts and no visible tattoos. More than one of our contacts in the counter-drug community have remarked on the fact that these four did not immediately look like some of the Zeta shooters that have been killed or captured south of the border. This may mean a lot or nothing, but it’s hard to believe it’s a coincidence.
STRATFOR released a short video on it, and several news agencies in the area have offered some more insight.
Borderland beat: more spillover on US soil not widely covered by the media. Did you know a Hidalgo County Sheriff Deputy was shot three times before this gunfight in Houston?
The official report on border violence compiled for the Texas Dept. of Agriculture remains inaccessible at this time on official websites. We’ll put links up if that is rectified. If not we will post it ourselves.
From Magpul –
The original Magpuls designed for 7.62/.308 magazines fit on the High Capacity MAG5-60 magazine.
This gives you an idea of how the MAG5-60 paired with the original Magpul fit in the V92 magazine pouch. These photos demonstrate why there is the additional Velcro loop tab on the pouches.
The original 7.62 Magpul is an option when you need to protect the bottom of the magazines when dropped. They are commercially available at most firearm retailers and can be purchased on the web as well.
The original Magpul can be found at www.magpul.com.
Just like here in the US, when Canadian troops and first responders are wounded, their treatment is regularly far from their hometowns. This separation from family takes an emotional toll and all too often family members come to stay closer to their wounded loved ones. This brings on an entirely different burden; financial. Honour House is a Canadian effort to provide a temporary home for families of Canadian Forces and first responders while members of these organizations are receiving medical care in the Metro Vancouver area.
Please review their site and consider supporting their efforts. www.honourhouse.ca
To win a bottle of 22nd Special Air Service Champagne, visit Intelligent Armour website for competition details, rules and how to enter.
www.body-armour-protection.co.uk/IA-Competitions
The Punch and Pull entry tool may be the next evolutionary step in manual breaching kit. It may, in fact, relegate the hallagan (which a lot of folks incorrectly call a “hooligan”) to a much more secondary role.
“A lot of tactical guys are a little iffy at first,†says the Punch & Pull’s designer, “but once they try it and see how well it works they love it. A SWAT team should have more options on an entry than a hallagan, a ram and a damn big hammer.
Originally developed in 1996, the Punch & Pull was built by Rick Lopez, a 20+ year veteran of LAPD’s D Platoon (SWAT) and Narcotics Division for use on the fortified doors their narcotics officers were encountering on drug warrants and SWAT operations. Because it causes a lot less collateral damage (and doesn’t leave quite the same amount of wreckage) than other breaching equipment he describes it as more “brass friendlyâ€.
“Its actually pretty simple,†Lopez advises. “It’s usually a two man operation. The guy with the hammer spike sets the hole in the security door, the guy with the Punch & Pull, handling it like a weapon at port arms, comes in at 45 degrees and sets it. “BAM,” it comes open, opening up the inner door for the slam man [ram carrier].†The Punch & Pull remains hooked so it’s not in the way, lying underfoot or encumbering anyone during the immediate entry.
The spike is set by the doorknob to preset the Punch & Pull’s hold. It doesn’t break the deadbolt (most times you can barely bend a deadbolt), it tears the plate open. The plate is much more vulnerable than the rest of the mechanism. That’s what the Punch & Pull busts out. (Lopez prefers to do a door peal on the doorknob side at an angle to pop the door. It puts all the tension around the doorknob.
“You don’t want to hit the center of a door with it,†Lopez warns. “Some guys did that despite being trained not…that puts the torque on the hinges. They wound up with the door right on top of them when it came off.â€
Note: if the target door is more than moderately fortified (like if it’s strongly lagged), the Punch & Pull probably won’t work. “It’s popped some lagged doors before,†Lopez says, “however they were lightly lagged. That’s why proper surveillance and intel gathering is essential prior to ever making the approach. If it’s lagged heavily in the door frame or the floor using welded bolts, you’re going to need to do a vehicle pull.â€
The Punch & Pull is in use by a number of different agencies and units, including the LAPD, Ventura County SO, DEA, FBI and several municipal departments. Rick, who is a former grunt turned ANGLICO Marine, has also provided several to units at Camp Pendleton and taught them how to best employ it.
For more information, check out www.PunchandPull.com. You can also e-mail Rick at punchandpull@hotmail.com or call him at (562) 754-3214. He is on Pacific time.
Some video featuring door peels vs. door pulls, along with some training iterations with the Punch & Pull visit Youtube.
– DR
