SureFire XC3

Two US Army Soldiers Win Bronze Medals at Shotgun Skeet Nationals

June 22nd, 2023

Spc. Samantha Simonton and Staff Sgt. Hayden Stewart both earned Bronze Medals at the USA Shooting 2023 National Skeet Championships in Hillsdale, Michigan May 17 -22.


SPC Samantha Simonton, a marksmanship instructor/competitive shooter with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Shotgun Team.

The competition pitted the Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Shotgun Team against more than 60 top skeet athletes from around the United States, including Olympic medalists.


SSG Hayden Stewart, a marksmanship instructor/competitive shooter with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Shotgun Team.

The Championships required each competitor to shoot 10 qualification rounds of 25 targets before the top six were selected to move forward into a Final.

Simonton, a Gainesville, Georgia native, fired off four perfect rounds of 25 and four near-perfect rounds of 24, ending with a total of 241 hits, which was just one hit less than Austen Smith and Dania Vizzi, the Gold and Silver Medalist, respectively.

Stewart, a Columbia, Tennessee native, impressively completed seven of his 10 qualification rounds perfectly, and the remaining three rounds were very strong, missing only one target per round. The Soldier’s near-perfect total score of 247 hits was unfortunately not enough to win the Gold Medal though since many other competitors were shooting near perfect too, said Stewart.

“That match was brutal. I’ve never seen scores that high in the United States before.”

Stress is typically high at National Championships, but this year there was even more pressure since the competition also served as Olympic Trials (Part 1) for the Paris 2024 Games. Not only that, the scores also determined the teams for the upcoming World Championships, World Cup Italy and Pan American Games. Knowing this, Stewart said he really needed to rely on his training in both shooting and resiliency.

“During my rounds, I was telling myself to trust my training and give every shot 100 percent. The three targets I missed, I knew what I had done wrong and made minor adjustments to hit it next time.”

The adjustments worked and Stewart claimed the Bronze Medal behind civilians Connor Prince and Vincent Hancock, who won the Silver and Gold Medals respectively. With only one point separating the top six athletes, a few shoot-offs were required to determine the medals. During all this intense competition, Stewart said all he could do was focus on his shot process.

“I honestly didn’t know what the scores were until the last round. I was focusing on what I needed to do to hit my next target.”


SPC Samantha Simonton, a marksmanship instructor/competitive shooter with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Shotgun Team.

That focus allowed Stewart to qualify for the U.S. National Skeet Team along with fellow USAMU teammates: Simonton and Staff Sergeants Dustan Taylor, Christian Elliott and Mark Staffen.

The National Championship scores were combined with the 2023 Tucson Selection scores to select both the World Championship and World Cup Italy Teams. Taylor, Elliott and Simonton earned spots on these teams.


SSG Dustan Taylor, a marksmanship instructor/competitive shooter with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Shotgun Team.

Taylor’s score, in combination with past performances, qualified him for the Pan American Skeet Team as well.

Getting five of our six Soldiers on the National Skeet Team was something to be proud of, said Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrery Holguin, the USAMU Shotgun Team Chief who is a 2008 Olympian.

“Staff Sgt. Stewart’s 247 and Staff Sgt. Staffen’s 246 are HUGE scores in Olympic Skeet, especially considering the first two days of the competition were cold, wet and windy.”


The International Shooting Sports Federation Italy World Cup is in Lonato July 8 -17. The ISSF World Championships is in Baku, Azerbaijan August 14 – September 1.

The Pan American Games are in Santiago, Chile October 20 – November 5.

By LTC Michelle Lunato

PROOF Research Greg Hamilton and Nightforce Optics Sean Murphy Score Another Team Win at the Tactical Games Sniper Challenge

June 21st, 2023

The two-day event, held outside of Bozeman, Montana, was a new challenge and competition for the dynamic duo.

Columbia Falls, Mont. (June 2023) –The Tactical Games Sniper Challenge was a new competition for PROOF Research®’s Weapons Test Specialist Greg Hamilton and Sean Murphy of Nightforce Optics, but it did not slow down their winning streak. The duo took 1st Place Team at the Tactical Games Sniper Challenge which took place outside of Bozeman, Montana at the TacTic Range, from June 10 – 11, 2023.

The challenge tested the teams’ target recognition, ranging, wind calling, non-standard shooting positions, problem-solving, and physical stress management. The challenge also used time-plus scoring, emphasizing speed as a component during engagements, with hefty penalties for targets not hit, or failed to be engaged.

“The Tactical Games Sniper Challenge was a new event for us that required a lot of preparation due to the shooting and physical components,” Murphy explained. “We chose the Conviction rifle due to its precision capability in a lightweight package for carrying across multiple miles of Montana hills. The performance of these rifles was as expected, delivering precise shots on target and allowing us to excel.”

Murphy shot as primary using a PROOF Research Conviction 6mm Creedmoor rifle and Greg Hamilton shot as secondary using a PROOF Research .223 Conviction rifle. The Conviction rifle combines PROOF’s patented carbon fiber barrel with their laid carbon fiber stock resulting in a superior lightweight, robust, long-range tactical system. It features an adjustable cheekpiece, near vertical grip, standard low-profile flush cups, and a wider forearm to accommodate an EFR mount.

PROOF Research is a well-known brand within the precision rifle community and is one of the leading barrel brands used by champion competitors in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and National Rifle League (NRL). Developed to enhance mission success for our warfighters, PROOF Research’s carbon fiber barrels are designed for long-range accuracy, performance, and reliability under any environmental condition.

Find out more about PROOF Research barrels and rifles at proofresearch.com.

Direct Action Rope Bag

June 21st, 2023

Rope Bag is designed for tactical operations involving rappelling, such as on buildings or from a helicopter. This bag can carry up to 30 meters of rappelling rope.

Made from durable Cordura® 500D fabric, this bag is equipped with an adjustable carrying strap attachable to either a belt or a rappelling harness. The bag can be additionally stabilized using included side straps to comfortably attach it to the leg.

The main compartment can be easily accessed and the rope efficiently coiled using a zippered top closure. The rope is pulled from the bag via an elastic-finished opening that ensures both easy access and smooth rope operation. A Velcro®-closed loop at the bottom of the bag provides a secure attachment for the rope end. There are three drains at the bottom of the bag to remove water and dirt from the inside.

Key features:

–        durable and resistant to tearing with Cordura® 500D

–        attachable to a belt or a rappelling harness

–        packs up to 30 m of rappelling rope

–        wide range of adjustments for maximum fit and comfort

–        easy to handle and use, even in challenging situations

Tech specs:

weight: 362 g

dimensions: 15 x 39 x 13 cm

eu.directactiongear.com/en/rope-bag

Warrior East 23 – Forgeline Solutions

June 21st, 2023

Forgeline Solutions has introduced an in-line change to their Nano Low Loft Pant, adding full-length side zips to assist in donning and doffing.

Units and agencies can procure products seen at Warrior East by contacting ADS, Inc.

Warrior East 23 – Oakley

June 21st, 2023

Laser protective lenses in the visible and IR wavelengths are now available for the HNBL (pronounced Hannibal), M Frame, and M Frame Alpha.

In addition go laser protection, you also get all of the impact protection you expect from Oakley.

Units and agencies can procure products seen at Warrior East by contacting ADS, Inc.

2023 Warrior East

June 21st, 2023

If the impressive signage is any indication, this year’s Warrior East is going to be awesome! But seriously, I peaked inside and there is loads of cool stuff with lots of new vendors as well as the brands we all know and love.

BlueBird Aero Systems Unveils MagiCam: Field-Proven Hi-Rez Tactical Mapping Solution – Day & Night

June 21st, 2023

[Hepher Industrial Park, Israel, June 21, 2023] – BlueBird Aero Systems, a leading innovator in unmanned aerial Tactical systems (UAS) technology, proudly introduces MagiCam, a groundbreaking 3D Hi-Rez Large Area Mapping capability integrated with the renowned autonomous UAV, the WanderB-VTOL. This cutting-edge system revolutionizes large-scale mapping operations with its advanced Imaging payload, Smart features, stealthy operation and top-of-the-line actionable products.

MagiCam offers impressive specifications and delivers unmatched performance: It provides a projected footprint of up to 40 km2/hour (2D) and up to 12 km2/hour (3D) when flying undetected at 500 meters altitude, ensuring exceptional speed and efficiency. With a 3.2cm/pixel Ground Sample Distance (GSD), the system guarantees clear and detailed imagery, while its scalable processing time delivers quick results within hours of landing. Equipped with a uniquely designed gimbaled camera, MagiCam scans the area and captures multiple geo-tagged high-resolution images for precise mapping and 3D data. It also excels in detecting and marking changes between sorties, enabling users to track alterations over time, enhancing situational awareness and decision-making.

The mapping mission is planed using intuitive interface and executed autonomously by the UAV, ensuring seamless operation.

In defense applications, MagiCam provides valuable 3D and tactical information for combat units and facilitates target positioning for smart munitions. It enables near real-time terrain and hostile situational awareness, aiding informed decision-making. The system also contributes to battle damage assessment (BDA), operational mission planning, high- accuracy measurement tools, and mission preparation 3D databases. Optional inclusion of IR thermal mapping adds versatility for night operations.

The MagiCam payload* features impressive specifications, including a 103 MP sensor, a 5-look projected image footprint, nadir imaging capabilities, an onboard processing computer, and high-speed storage in an amazing weight of 1500 grams. It supports geo- tagging and includes a calibrated lens for precise data processing.

BlueBird presents a comprehensive tactical mapping solution with MagiCam, combining high-resolution 2D and 3D mapping capabilities with autonomous, simple and undetected operation. The system excels in providing extensive coverage per flight hour, ensuring efficient mapping operations. Equipped with powerful intelligence analysis tools**, MagiCam enables advanced data analysis and interpretation, further enhancing its value.

*Payload developed by WaldoAir from Panama City Florida. WaldoAir is the main supplier of 3D mapping payload for FEMA and the Civil Air Patrol.

**Processing of images, creation of 3D database and the smart tools supported by Skyline Software Inc. software and are used by the US army geospatial centers and many other organizations around the world.

“We are thrilled to introduce MagiCam, a game-changing tactical 3D mapping solution,” says Ronen Nadir, CEO & Founder at BlueBird. “This innovative system redefines the boundaries of large area mapping, delivering exceptional 3D products, accuracy, efficiency and capabilities never seen before. MagiCam’s integration with our WanderB-VTOL UAV further enhances its capabilities, providing customers with an unparalleled solution for their mapping needs.”

www.bluebird-uav.com

Blue Force Gear Exhibiting at ADS Warrior Expo East

June 21st, 2023

Blue Force Gear will be exhibiting at ADS Warrior Expo East on June 21–22 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Reps will be on hand to talk about Blue Force Gear products. Stop by Booth #607 to meet the team and check out the latest from Blue Force Gear.