Introducing the @tmacsinc Signature Steel Target. Click the link in the bio to buy yours. The dimensions were engineered by Pat McNamara to ensure you receive the maximum training value.
The top measures 6 5/8″ wide and the bottom at 11 1/2″, with a length of 18″. System includes the TMACS Inc Strike Face, Base, Post Top and Strike Face Bracket with Bolts. Ships unpainted. Patent Pending.
defensetargets.com/collections/systems/products/the-tmac-inc
I had recently heard that there was a new 1911 in the works by the folks at Carolina Arms Group. They are known for building high quality custom 1911s and they teamed up with Pat McNamara on the project. Most SSD readers are already familiar with Pat McNamara from TMACS Inc and Combat Strength Training. I had the opportunity to speak with both Pat McNamara and Mark McCoy from Carolina Arms Group about their collaboration on what they call the “Blaze Ops” Edition pistol:
SSD: Mark, tell me a little about yourself.
Mark: I’m the CEO and Founder of Carolina Arms Group. Prior to starting CAG I served in the Navy from 1989 to 2009.
SSD: What did you do in the Navy?
Mark: I was in the Aviation sector in repair and quality.
SSD: When did you start Carolina Arms Group?
Mark: I had been in the firearms industry from the time I left the Navy in 2009. I wanted to come out with my own high quality custom 1911 so in 2012 I launched Carolina Arms Group. The first two models I introduced were the Trenton and TC45.
SSD: Your Company is located in NC. Why NC?
Mark: We searched the Carolinas for where we would settle down and call home. We selected Mooresville, North Carolina due to its diverse background in high speed machining and close proximity to Montgomery Community College in Troy, North Carolina. My goal was to blend both senior gunsmiths and the next generation of gunsmiths for the long term growth of custom 1911 building in the industry.
SSD: One of the first things I noticed on your 1911s was the company logo on the slide. What exactly is it?
Mark: Our logo has a deep meaning to us at Carolina Arms Group. We named our logo the Carolina Arms Group Eagle “C”. The top of the logo is the American Bald Eagle which to us represents the strength, protection and freedoms that our Great Nation offers. The lower portion of the Eagle ”C” has the wing folded forward which represents the men and women that have died, that have served and continue to serve Our Great Nation that may still continue to offer us strength, protection and freedom. The name Carolina Arms Group pays homage to the Carolinas, our support of the second amendment, and that we are a highly skilled group of gunsmiths and machinists.
SSD: I gotta ask… why the 1911?
Mark: The 1911 model handgun is the American handgun of choice for many of our citizens and the most respected instructors. In my opinion, there is no better handgun that represents America. The 1911 has stood the test of time and has been designated by many authorities as the finest service pistol of all time. I was infatuated at a young age with the mechanics and design of the 1911. I carried a 1911 while I served in the U.S. Navy and currently carry one as my sidearm of choice today.
SSD: What sets your 1911s apart from the others on the market?
Mark: Every Carolina Arms Group 1911 is uniquely blended and handcrafted with the end-user in mind. We believe in quality over quantity. We take our time on each and every 1911 as if we are giving life to it. Our 1911’s are built one at a time with every part laser engraved to the serial number and crafted one at a time. It’s all about craftsmanship and reliability.
SSD: So why did you team up with Pat Mac for this new project of yours?
Mark: Because Pat is one of the best of the best in his field and he deserves the best firearms.
SSD: Mac, I’ve seen you running 1911s in the past. What attracted you to the Carolina Arms Group version?
Mac: I’ve got a friend (Jon) who works for CAG. He tagged me on social media to let me know what CAG was working on. I chatted with Mark shortly thereafter and expressed my interest in purchasing a 1911 in 9mm.
SSD: Which model did you get from CAG?
Mac: Their Trenton 9.
SSD: What was the thought process that went into the specific features of the Blaze Ops 1911?
Mac: It is essentially a replica of the 1911 I used while serving in USASOC.
SSD: Mark, what were your thoughts on the features Mac wanted for the Blaze Ops edition?
Mark: I think Pat nailed it with what he felt a 1911 should be equipped with. From the uniquely blended one piece arched main spring housing, extended mag release, cocking serrations, flat top slide, fiber optic front and rear sights and proprietary coating. The Blaze Ops edition is a well-balanced tactical handgun.
SSD: Mac, after you took delivery of the Blaze Ops pistol, what were your initial thoughts on it?
Mac: I became instantly enamored.
SSD: I saw that you ran the pistol in a recent class you taught at the Panteao facility in SC, then used the same pistol for your upcoming Sentinel video from Panteao. Now that you’ve been putting the pistol through the paces, what do you think of it now?
Mac: I shoot for a living and do not shoot much for pleasure. This gun has reignited my love for shooting.
SSD: That says a lot. I have to ask… people always comment on social media about the high prices for premium 1911s like the Blaze Ops version. What do you say to those folks?
Mac: Quality is never cheap but it is often bargained. Good isn’t cheap and cheap isn’t good. These guns are custom built with American steel and every part is made and numbered for that specific gun.
SSD: When will the Blaze Ops Edition be available for purchase?
Mark: We are taking orders now for it. There are only 25 being built and Mac has the first one, so there are 24 left. Of those, a handful are already pre-sold. We expect to start shipping them in February.
SSD: Gentlemen, thank you for taking the time out to talk about your project.
carolinaarmsgroup.com
tmacsinc.com
panteao.com
Because I’ve heard it said that ‘Holstering’ a pistol is an ‘Administrative’ move, I would argue that there is true merit in holstering a pistol the same way we draw a pistol on two different fronts.
One is that in the tactical world, we must sometimes have to deescalate and go ‘Hands On’. We must do this without taking our eyes off of the threat.
Two, when practicing a draw stroke, the best draw stroke is nothing more than holstering in reverse. This was said to me by Rob Leatham some decades ago. So, when practicing a draw stroke, why not double the amount of meaningful repetitions by holstering the same way we drew?
…Only one is in reverse.
Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)
Patrick McNamara spent twenty-two years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units. When he worked in the premier Special Missions Unit, he became an impeccable marksman, shooting with accurate, lethal results and tactical effectiveness. McNamara has trained tactical applications of shooting to people of all levels of marksmanship, from varsity level soldiers, and police officers who work the streets to civilians with little to no time behind the trigger.
His military experience quickly taught him that there is more to tactical marksmanship than merely squeezing the trigger. Utilizing his years of experience, McNamara developed a training methodology that is safe, effective and combat relevant and encourages a continuous thought process. This methodology teaches how to maintain safety at all times and choose targets that force accountability, as well as provides courses covering several categories, including individual, collective, on line and standards.
While serving as his Unit’s Marksmanship NCO, he developed his own marksmanship club with NRA, CMP, and USPSA affiliations. Mac ran monthly IPSC matches and ran semi annual military marksmanship championships to encourage marksmanship fundamentals and competitiveness throughout the Army.He retired from the Army’s premier hostage rescue unit as a Sergeant Major and is the author of T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical Shooting). He also served as the Principle of TMACS Inc.
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.
As there are techniques, there are just as many gun related gizmos, gadgets, and gimmicks. Bolt and strap on. Theatrical movements and dance steps. Tales of woe or implausible performance enhancers. Some live long and become center of debate issues while others die off quickly.
One of the things I encourage on the range is discovery or tactile learning. In other words, learn by doing vice taking one’s word for it. One can now make the determination for himself on whether to shit-can or to maintain a technique or piece of gear for he sees that it will or will not offer positive development in a gunfight.
Battlefield multipliers are often the simplest in solutions versus high tech gear or high motor skill movements. My go to Battle Rifle is a 16” BCM KMR and it’s pretty much meat and potatoes. Full length 2-point sling, good optic, good BUIs, good light.
Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)
Patrick McNamara spent twenty-two years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units. When he worked in the premier Special Missions Unit, he became an impeccable marksman, shooting with accurate, lethal results and tactical effectiveness. McNamara has trained tactical applications of shooting to people of all levels of marksmanship, from varsity level soldiers, and police officers who work the streets to civilians with little to no time behind the trigger.
His military experience quickly taught him that there is more to tactical marksmanship than merely squeezing the trigger. Utilizing his years of experience, McNamara developed a training methodology that is safe, effective and combat relevant and encourages a continuous thought process. This methodology teaches how to maintain safety at all times and choose targets that force accountability, as well as provides courses covering several categories, including individual, collective, on line and standards.
While serving as his Unit’s Marksmanship NCO, he developed his own marksmanship club with NRA, CMP, and USPSA affiliations. Mac ran monthly IPSC matches and ran semi annual military marksmanship championships to encourage marksmanship fundamentals and competitiveness throughout the Army.He retired from the Army’s premier hostage rescue unit as a Sergeant Major and is the author of T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical Shooting). He also served as the Principle of TMACS Inc.
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.
Hypothetical question; if you and I were in a gunfight at mid-range and I had to do a rifle mag change from behind cover and then move behind you with a ‘hot’ gun, would you want my rifle to be on ‘Safe’?
There is only one correct answer. It would be negligent to move in close quarters with another with the rifle on ‘Fire’.
Therefore, when we practice mag changes, whether on a bolt lock or tac reload, we should throw the rifle on ‘Safe’.
This should be a subconscious level driven task. It should be rehearsed in training for the appropriate amount of meaningful repetitions to the point of ‘automaticity’.
When I hear guys say that it is not necessary to throw the weapon on safe during a reload, I am hearing them say “I am fucking lazy.” “I do not want to perform the proper amount of repetitions to ensure that this is an intuitive level task.”
Putting the rifle on ‘Safe’ during a reload, when done right, will not slow you down so it won’t become a disabler. This can only be an enabler.
Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)
Patrick McNamara spent twenty-two years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units. When he worked in the premier Special Missions Unit, he became an impeccable marksman, shooting with accurate, lethal results and tactical effectiveness. McNamara has trained tactical applications of shooting to people of all levels of marksmanship, from varsity level soldiers, and police officers who work the streets to civilians with little to no time behind the trigger.
His military experience quickly taught him that there is more to tactical marksmanship than merely squeezing the trigger. Utilizing his years of experience, McNamara developed a training methodology that is safe, effective and combat relevant and encourages a continuous thought process. This methodology teaches how to maintain safety at all times and choose targets that force accountability, as well as provides courses covering several categories, including individual, collective, on line and standards.
While serving as his Unit’s Marksmanship NCO, he developed his own marksmanship club with NRA, CMP, and USPSA affiliations. Mac ran monthly IPSC matches and ran semi annual military marksmanship championships to encourage marksmanship fundamentals and competitiveness throughout the Army.He retired from the Army’s premier hostage rescue unit as a Sergeant Major and is the author of T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical Shooting). He also served as the Principle of TMACS Inc.
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.
I knew that Pat MacNamara’s wife was an artist, specializing in in the collage style. Although I’ve known Pat for many years, I never knew he was an artist in his own right. Together, they offer their art for sale via their Etsy shop, McNamara Artistries. It’s some great stuff, so if you’re looking for something as a gift or for the office, or mancave, check them out.
As part of range training, we usually and responsibly conduct a range safety briefing. We all know that there are four rules of gun handling. I use ‘Gun Handling’ versus ‘Rules of the Range’ as a method to subliminally manipulate the recipient. One is tactical and one is administrative. The tactical rules will appease the administrative requirements of the range.
Understanding that semantics are involved, my number one rule of ‘Gun handling’ is; “You, the individual shooter, must understand the status of your weapon system.” In a gun fight, the weapon does not belong only to you but to the person you are protecting or the guy who’s ‘Six’ you are covering. If your shit isn’t up and running, you are not only fucking yourself but the one you are protecting or the guy who’s ‘Six’ you are covering. I do not like “All guns are always loaded.”
The same can be applied to the human weapon. Know the status of your personal condition. If you can’t save someone else’s life, or can’t keep up with your partner during a foot chase, you are screwing that guy, that kid, your loved one. That life may depend on whether or not you can keep up to insure he isn’t getting his head kicked in in a dark alley.
You do not have to be an absolute stallion, but you should do your part to ensure that you have put in the effort to make ‘you’ a better ‘you’. Make incremental gains every day. The math is simple. Ask yourself, “If I cloned myself yesterday, can I kick my clone’s ass tomorrow?”
Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)
Patrick McNamara spent twenty-two years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units. When he worked in the premier Special Missions Unit, he became an impeccable marksman, shooting with accurate, lethal results and tactical effectiveness. McNamara has trained tactical applications of shooting to people of all levels of marksmanship, from varsity level soldiers, and police officers who work the streets to civilians with little to no time behind the trigger.
His military experience quickly taught him that there is more to tactical marksmanship than merely squeezing the trigger. Utilizing his years of experience, McNamara developed a training methodology that is safe, effective and combat relevant and encourages a continuous thought process. This methodology teaches how to maintain safety at all times and choose targets that force accountability, as well as provides courses covering several categories, including individual, collective, on line and standards.
While serving as his Unit’s Marksmanship NCO, he developed his own marksmanship club with NRA, CMP, and USPSA affiliations. Mac ran monthly IPSC matches and ran semi annual military marksmanship championships to encourage marksmanship fundamentals and competitiveness throughout the Army.He retired from the Army’s premier hostage rescue unit as a Sergeant Major and is the author of T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical Shooting). He also served as the Principle of TMACS Inc.
Gunfighter Moment is a weekly feature brought to you by Alias Training & Security Services. Each week Alias brings us a different Trainer and in turn they offer some words of wisdom.
