BCM and Vickers Tactical Take You Inside The M4 Carbine. This is pretty cool.
Gunfighter Moment is a weekly feature brought to you by Bravo Company USA. Bravo Company is home of the Gunfighters, and each week they bring us a different trainer to offer some words of wisdom.
In 2007, during the height of the war against extremists in Iraq, I was a sniper with the Commander In-Extremis Force (CIF)[a] operating out of Baghdad. We conducted unilateral operations against HVTs, targeting these as part of a larger task force known as TF-16. While conducting these operations we began identifying inefficiencies in the way we executed our roles as snipers.
An immediate issue was the multitude of different weapon systems and equipment necessary to carry out our main duty during different phases of missions – as snipers, we were tasked with containing the objective prior to a raid, which meant seeking high ground and containing from the top down providing coverage for the assault force. We used .300 Win mag MK13 sniper rifles, which were cumbersome but effective against enemy personnel. However, it was impossible to assault with these weapons, meaning we had to bag them in rifle packs and use carbines to make our way to high ground – complete with accessories and combat loads of ammunition.
Our carbines utilized SOPMOD accessories – but on a 16-inch long M4 with a 6-inch picatinny rail, fitting a light, optics, BUI sights, lasers, and pressure pads as well as a universal night sight proved difficult. We had to work out how to overcome this issue, and work out a way to optimize and evolve our equipment to allow us to conduct an offset, assault a target and provide adequate coverage in and around a 300-meter area, even at night.
We began work on optimizing a Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR), chambered in 5.56mm, that not only met but far exceeded these requirements. We purchased and mounted free-floating 15-inch rails, and had the JSOC armor optimized to in order to keep a 75g Hornady round as flat as possible. In testing at Accuracy First in Canadian, Texas, we found the rifle successful at a thousand meters, after deciding on an optic setup that brought the whole package together.
After extensive testing we had a rifle that gave us a platform allowing us not only to assault, but to effectively engage targets at a distance, at night. This was put to the test on a rooftop in Sadr City in 2007 when my senior and I, a legend in the sniper community named ‘Irish,’ took a shot from a couple of hundred meters out on a maneuvering insurgent after clearing the house. I looked at him, he looked at me and we shook our heads in mutual agreement. Our hard work had paid off.
– Mike Glover
FieldCraft LLC
A former Special Forces disabled veteran with more than 18 years of military service, Mike has operated at the highest levels of Special Forces. Deploying 15 times to combat theaters, he has served in the following positions: SF Weapons Specialist, SF Sniper, SF Assaulter/Operator, SF Recon Specialist, SF Joint Terminal Air Controller (JTAC), SF Team Sgt, and SF Operations SGM.
Mike is a certified U.S. Government federal firearms instructor, and has also has trained mobility with Team O’Neil Rally School, BSR Racing, and BW drivers courses. He is medically trained every two years in Advanced Medical Trauma and continually maintains his re-certifications for consultation practices.
Considered a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in planning and executing Special Operations in a myriad of complex environments, Mike has taken his 18 years of experience and is giving the American citizen the applicable training tools and training necessary to better protect themselves and their families here and abroad.
Mike has a Bachelors degree in Crisis management and homeland security with American Military University and is pursuing his masters in military history.
Mike currently lives in northern California, where he continues to consult for the U.S. Government in security and firearms instruction.
Gunfighter Moment is a weekly feature brought to you by Bravo Company USA. Bravo Company is home of the Gunfighters, and each week they bring us a different trainer to offer some words of wisdom.
Designed by Al and Nico Salvitti with AAR input from multiple Special Operations End Users, The Colonel is a fighting knife, through and through, working around the shooter and utilizing existing muscle memory to produce an effective stabbing and slashing weapon that requires no special training to maintain effectiveness.
The Colonel is designed to be drawn the same as a handgun, while striking with the blade is the same as throwing a punch. The grip angle, which mirrors that of a pistol, allows The Colonel to sit low in the hand for positive retention.
The shape of The Colonel’s blade makes it virtually impossible for a user to stab themselves while the blade is in use, something that can happen when fighters employ stabbing motions with other kinds of blades, and miss the target.
The Colonel Blade is hand forged in Italy with American made G10 grip panels; sharpening and assembly is completed in the US. Each blade is QPPed (Quench Polish Quench), a nitrocarburizing case hardening that increases corrosion and wear resistance. Simply put, The Colonel is designed to be durable and effective.
bravocompanymfg.com/thecolonel
Hartland, WI – November 1, 2016 BCM is proud to announce the release of BCM Presents Gunfighter™ Magazine, available at stores and on newsstands today.
The BCM Gunfighter Program has supported industry-leading marksmanship and tactical applications instructors since its launch in 2013. Including Pat Rogers, Travis Haley, Pat McNamara, Larry Vickers, Kyle Defoor, Frank Proctor, Zach Harrison, John Chapman and Dave Harrington, the program is a commitment by BCM to connect end users with the best training available in the personal defense and tactics industry today.
BCM Presents Gunfighter™ Magazine is a platform for these same professionals to speak on a range of topics, from mindset to the practical application of skills in real-world settings. Also featuring articles about the origin of the KeyMod modular rail system, a brief history of weapon systems employed by US Marine Raiders during World War II, the Black Powder Graphic Novel series, the Colonel Blade and a piece on Mission 22’s War at Home Memorial, the publication is a singular destination containing some of the best knowledge and wisdom in the field today.
Pick up your copy online now at http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCMGUNFIGHTER-Magazine-2017-p/gunfighter-magazine-2017.htm
About BCM
BCM (Bravo Company Manufacturing) was founded in 2005 by a veteran United States Marine in Hartland, Wisconsin, where the company maintains its HQ today. BCM builds weapon systems that are manufactured, reinforced and tested to meet the unforgiving needs of law enforcement, military, security and peace keeping professionals in some of the most high stress environments and situations in the world.
Visit BCM online at http://www.BravoCompanyMFG.com
BCM is proud to present Episode 6 of our original series, American Gunfighter. Episode 6 features Northern Red Instructor Staff and US Army Special Operations Combat Veterans Chris Kovacik and Zach Harrison, discussing the importance of accuracy and discipline in gunfights.
Directed and produced by Jon Chang, American Gunfighter is an ongoing series produced by BCM featuring elite law enforcement and military personnel sharing their thoughts and stories about their profession and craft.
Northern Red is a Private Military Firm specializing in training elite military and law enforcement units for counter terrorism, hostage rescue and close quarter battle missions. The Instructor Staff consists entirely of US Army Special Operations combat veterans with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
BCM (Bravo Company Manufacturing) was founded in 2005 by a veteran United States Marine in Hartland, Wisconsin, where the company maintains its HQ today. BCM builds weapon systems that are manufactured, reinforced and tested to meet the unforgiving needs of law enforcement, military, security and peace keeping professionals in some of the most high stress environments and situations in the world.
bravocompanymfg.com/american_gunfighter
As many of you have heard Marine Veteran and former NYPD Detective Pat Rogers passed away last night from natural causes. His name is well known in Tactical Training circles where he continued to serve for several decades. BCM owner Paul Buffoni shared this touching tribute to his friend Pat.
He will be missed. May he rest in peace.
It is with the heaviest of hearts that I announce the passing of my Brother and my friend Pat Rogers.
Pat embodied the warrior spirit. And like all great warriors he had a big heart and it was full of love. Love for his country, love for his Brothers, and love for his family and friends.
We are definitely diminished and I will miss him greatly.
I will miss his energy. Pat would bring energy to every room he walked in with his magnetic personality. Folks would just gravitate toward him. They would come to hear a colorful story told in a way only Pat could tell, or maybe to hear a lesson from his lifetime of experience in the USMC, NYPD, or any number of his other billets. I have lost track of how many times his enthusiasm and stories would keep everyone in stiches. I have lost track of how many lessons he has taught me.
I will miss his passion. “Life is good.” Countless times he would say that to me. Whether we were at the range together in one of his classes, or on the phone when he was talking about some place Ellen and him visited together, or giving me an AAR of the last class he just finished teaching… he would close with “Life is good”. And he meant it. He made you feel better about your day just from hearing how much he enjoyed his. Pat loved life, every day of it.
I will miss his friendship. Good times or bad times Pat would always be the one to reach out to you. Whether it was to celebrate with you or lend a helping hand, he would be there. If a man is known by the company he keeps it becomes easy to see why so many loved Pat. I have been so very fortunate to meet many of Pat’s good friends and honored to call them mine as well. You would be hard pressed to find a group of higher quality individuals with the same sense of integrity, loyalty, and love that Pat displayed. A testament to our friend Pat. It has been said that- Friends are the siblings God never gave us.
I will miss my Brother.
We were recently working on a project together and I needed an expanded bio. I am going to include it here.
Semper Fidelis my Brother,
Paul Buffoni
Bravo Company
About Pat Rogers
Pat was born in Brooklyn NY in 1946.
He has worked shining shoes; delivering newspapers; pumping gas; working on a ride in Coney Island; driving a taxi; a sport parachute instructor, a photographer, and for an airline company that serviced the Far East.
He served in the active and reserve components as a United States Marine starting in 1963.
He served in the former Republic of Vietnam with 3rd Marine Division.
He was an 1811 Tank Crewman; 0311 Rifleman; 0369 Infantry Unit Leader; 8531 Primary Marksmanship Instructor; 8662 Parachutist; 5702 NBC Specialist; 5702 NBC Officer.
He served for 5 years in the Foreign Material Acquisition Exploitation Unit, and finished as Chief Warrant Officer 2.
He was a NYC Correction Officer; a NYC Police Officer, serving in Patrol; Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit; Anti-Crime; investigator in Manhattan Robbery Squad, Central Robbery Division.
As a Sgt he served in Patrol; Anti-Crime; in the Chief of Detectives Office; as a supervisor in the Technical Assistance Response Unit, and as a Hostage Negotiator.
He was decorated 54 times, to include the Medal of Valor.
He worked as an IC with the Counter Terrorism Center of OGA.
He was an SME evaluating the DOS Anti-Terrorist Assistance Program.
He was a Rangemaster at Gunsite for 12 years.
He been the principal at EAG since 1989.
He was the 464th person in the US to accrue 1000 Free Fall Parachute Jumps (USPA Gold Wings #464), the 203rd to accrue over 2000 Free Fall Parachute Jumps (USPA Diamond Wings #203) and the 131st person in the US to accrue over 12 hours in freefall (USPA Gold Free Fall Badge # 131)
He is an NRA High Master Rifle, and CMP Distinguished Rifleman.
He learns something new every day.
Larry Vickers released this video of his BCM carbine yesterday, and we thought it would be great to share as a Gunfighter Moment for those who haven’t seen it yet.
The crew at Midwest Industries sponsored a build in the Indian Project Scout Build Off. The result is the MIDWEST URBAN DIRT TRACKER, and it is cool! It is featuring MI accessories from Picatinny, KeyMod, and MLock…
Along with a ton of hand fabricated works of art. The bike was built by Rob of Indian Motorcycle of Metro Milwaukee and painted by Jason of Artistimo Custom Design.
Vote early, vote often, vote everyday up until Feb 19th.
