cian Sena seal Reese ceca ye HANDGUN TESTS Ce aaa PAS UE a SS PHS TAGE Haas Patan aye matey PTL LSU SUES room SOR Paes > GAS MASKS Palate Phd 2 pa M AA BES : Pan SS See LUC BT BSE pe tak eas usau aH ea eS 2 PHI attaKIMBER SPECIAL EDITION PISTOLS. UNEQUALLED QUALITY. UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE. LRM ETEIhY eer erent erry arenot compromised when unique Cre cn Cae ey Bre Serr ince Kimber Special Edition 1911salso Pores ety Een Pee Parr eens Kimber Tactical Wedge 3-dot ere Paneer reer {features inthe Sapphire and Careers ee ee erat ee ea eee Perr =f [Ove CL WHAT ALL GUNS SHOULD BE™ EEL e see ee ee eeeYOUR M4 SUPERSTOR : with one of the largest stocking inventories RA MU aS of the latest AR15, M4 and M16 Parts, Accessories and Tactical Gear! ecw" Diamondhead Folding Rear ‘ADM AD-B2 Bate $65.95 ADM T1 SOCOM Spacer $19.95 Vitor Baste MOD Centurion Arms Cé Rall 12 inch $314.00 Stock $94.95 Sight $119.00 Panel 6 inch $13.70 TangoDown short QO Vertical Grip, se973 BeMGUNFIGHTER™ Grip Mod 0 29.95 ay Defense Ms. | hoger $48.00 Geissele SSA Trigger s210 CTT Solutions Mag Cap 1° CM" Low Profle Gas Block $43.95 EOTech xP52.0 HWS $499.00 BS systems Stock $58.00 Teicon TASIRCO.Ma $122.05 GDIR.COM &: Model Mount $205.00, BOMGUNFIGHTER™ Blue Force Gear Vertical Grip $49.95 CAS Sting $45.00 SureFire X300 Ultra LeDWeapontight, (Midwest Industries Folding Front Sight $79.95 BattleComp 1.0 $149.99 CM KMR-13 KeyMod. Rail 13 Inch $269.95, IWC KeyMod. QO RL Sting Sight $99.00 BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Compensator Mod 1 Seas BM? A2X Flash Suppressor $34.95 homtail Offset Adaptive {ght Mount ‘$50.00. ee tnforce HSP WML $119.00 BEM" KMR-10 KeyMod Rall 10 Inch $254.95, ‘Midwest Industries SSK-KeyMod 12 Inch Free Float Handguard EOTech G33 STS Magnifier $549.00 Midwest Industries SPLP Rear Sight $119.95, TangoDown Sling Mount BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Compensator Mod 0 $8995 PWS FSC556 Tactical Compensator $98.95, BCMGUNFIGHTER™ YPG-KeyMod QD Vertical Grip $44.95 —. PWS KeyMod Bipod Adapter $23.95 ‘Mount $17:00 TangoDown ARC M2 Magazine s14.95 alc S735 Defense Trigger $65.00 BCMGUNFIGHTER™ 3 Buttock BOMGUNFIGHTER™ Grip Mod 3 $17.95 BCM" Enhanced “Trigger Guard Wilson Combat Tactical Trigget Unit $269.95 Vitor Carbine EMOD Stock S119.65 Pe tt ee Geissele Super Modular KeyMod 13 inch Rail MKA $350 MGUNFIGHTER™ Daniel Defense ARIS ip Mod 2 $29.95 Lite 7.0 Ral $219.00 eee Patrol fille Optic $416.00 BRAVO BE %& BravoCompanyUSA.come HUSA ee ee eee es RRO WAR LALA CRO OE era A oa TangoDown BattleGrip $35.75DECEMBER 2015 A NIGHTMARE ON SESAME STREET Training Gone Wrong A cautionary tale about vetting every firearms training outfit before committing your hard-eamed cash and valuable time to it BY DENNY HANSEN TACTICAL TAKEDOWN! Ruger SR-556TD BY DENNY HANSEN Ruger's latest is a hard-shooting, reliable carbine that makes an ideal choice for anywhere space is at a premium. (over photo by Straight 8 Photography al MGI HYDRA This big holiday prize package contains an MGI 5.56 Hydra® Rifle and .300 Blackout Barrel assembly, Hornady ammunition in both calibers, EOTech Model 612 Holographic Weapon Sight, and Blue Force Gear Padded Vickers Sling.6 BRIEFING ROOM The Overhyped Headshot BY DENNY HANSEN 16 STREET SMARTS Desert Breakdown > 5 CUSTOM COLLABORATION BY BRENT T. WHEAT BCM Gunfighter 1911 20 AGAINST ALL ODDS Bravo Company Mfg and Wilson Combat, two of Cerebral Survival the industry's heavy hitters, have collaborated SS eee ona hand-built custom 1911. BY ETHAN JOHNS 32 ENEMY AT THE GATE When Free Speech Is Made Criminal BY KURT HOFMANN OB GOOD GUYS WEAR MASKS 36 FRONTLINE DEBRIEFS Operating with a Gas Mask Righteous Debriets BY RICHARD MEURE BY SCOTT REITZ 96 GOOD GUYS WIN! 6 4 THE WOLF PISTOL BY TAMARA KEEL Custom-Built Combative Handgun 98 TRAINING AND TACTICS BY DAVE SPAULDING Cold Weather Training BY LOUIS AWERBUCK 70 PLATE CARRIERS Rig Them Up Right BE BY JEFF GURWITCH 8 MAIL ROOM Letters from Our Readers 12 LAWFUL CARRY ‘Simply Rugged Holsters BY FLINT HANSEN 38 LONG GUNS Light Machine Gun for Security Details BY LEROY THOMPSON 76 THE OTHER M&P Smith & Wesson Classic Fighter ‘M&°Ps soldier on as legitimate personal defense weapons in our digital age because they work. BY KEVIN MCPHERSON 90 THE CUTTING EDGE TOPS Team Jackal Survivor 80 MULTI-DISCIPLINE COMBAT ARTIST BY DENNY HANSEN Firearms Training 92 OFFBEAT with a Martial Arts Master Trijicon HD Sights BY TODD BURGREEN BY BRIAN TINDLE 94 GEAR LOCKER 8 4, DRY FIRE ON STEROIDS | New Products and Accessories UTM CTA Target Shooting Kit an BY EUGENE NIELSEN ‘SWATL® (SWB 1062-2365) Volume 34, Number 12, December 2015. Published monthly by Group One Enterprises, nc, 2240 Woolbright Rd, Sute 317, Boynton Beach, FL 33426, Copyright 2015 by Group One Enterprises, nc Al rights reserve. Nathng herein maybe reproduced in whole or in pat without weten permission ‘ofthe publisher Return postage must accompany all manuscript, drawings, photographs, ec, they ae tobe rtured, and Group One Enterprises, nc assumes 1 responsibly for unsolicited materi Al leters sent to SWAT. wil be treated as uncondtonally assigned for publication and copyright purposes andar subject {to SWWATs right o eat and comment editorially, SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: For subscrinton customer serie, cal (800) 673-8595, A one-year subscription is ‘$3495 12 issues), Canadian subscribers, add $15 US. funds. llther counties, add $25. hese prices represent S.WAL's standard subscriton rat and should not be confused wih special subscription ofes sometimes advertised. Change of adress: Albw si weeks advance noice and send in bot your od and new adresses, [ATTN POSTMASTER: Send change of adress to: SWAT. Magazine, P.O. 8 16226, No, Holywood, CA 91615, Peradcals postage is pal! at Boyton Beach, FL and ational maling ofices. SWAT. isrepstered inthe U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Group One Enterprises, ne Pred in the USA,THE SWAT MAGAZINE TEAM PUBLISHER chard J uct EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Demy Hansen ‘PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Kathleen Alar DESIGN DIRECTION B Bile WestPb nc. (OPERATIONS MANAGER Git Slew ‘TACTICAL CONSULTANT ‘Louis Awerbuck| ‘nmemoram ‘TRAINING CONSULTANT Pattok A. Rogers ‘LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSULTANT ‘Brent Wheat FIREARMS DESIGN AND TESTING CONSULTANT ‘Ashley Emerson, MN ‘STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS. Robbie Barman Sag 8 Photography ‘CONTRIBUTING STAFF Reuben Bolieu Todd Bugreen, Jf Hal, Fint Hansen, Ethan Jos, Seth Nadel Eugene Nelsen, Bob Prim, Rob Pincus, Jet Randal Sot et, int Smith, Leroy Thompson, Claire Wott CIRCULATION DIRECTOR (.on ONLINE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Justin Guyett ‘SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Tamara Kel ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE ily Rogers 360-204-9185, botlyeswatmag.com BRIEFING ROOM es 3Y DENNY HANSEN The Overhyped Headshot recently spent a morning walking around an indoor swap meet. 1 stopped at one table and was waiting to talk to the man who was selling ‘some guns as he talked to another customer. ‘The customer was explaining how the only shot he'd ever take in aself- defense situation was a headshot, as it would shut down the bad guy's CSN (sic). He went on to say he'd received this advice from an “instruc tor” He turned to me and asked if agreed. OK, fella, you asked. told him that in my opinion a headshot would only be effective if a bullet struck in the “T” zone—the area between the eyes and down to the nose. Many people have been struck by bullets on the forehead, only to have them skip off or circle the head. Some have not even been knocked ‘out, leaving them very much in the fight. I have personally seen a bullet ricochet off the brim ofa cap. The man operating the table had a Beretta 92 with a set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips. | asked if I could borrow it for a demonstration. After double and triple checking it to make sure it was clear, [ handed it to the customer. Stepping back and holding up my fist, I said, “This is about the size of the brain at five yards. Every time you have a sight picture, activate the laser.” I then moved my fist up, down, sideways, and diagonally. The laser never came on. In real life, the head won't be flat paper, and you won't be standing buckle-to-buckle. Instead, both you and the bad guy will likely be moving ‘The ground may or may not be fiat, and there may be obstacles in the way. I'm not saying a headshot should never be taken. Sometimes it indeed the best option. But shooting for center mass is your best bet— and center mass isthe largest piece of meat available to you. his issue comes packaged with the S.W.A.T 2016 calendar, not avail- able anywhere else. It's included as a “thank you" to our readers and advertisers for your support. The calendar contains important informa- tion such as when new issues of S.W.A.T: go on sale, US. holidays (no letters to the editor, please!), full moons, when Daylight Saving Time begins and ends, and more. We hope you enjoy itall year long, Until next time, stay low and watch your back. @) Lopny Toren SWAT EDITORIAL INFORMATION For editorial submissions, press releases or questions, contact the editor at: [email protected] DISCLAIMER Certain products represented in this magazine may be subject to profbitons, restrctons (special censing for ale, possession or intestate transport. this annoys you, Get Inolved..suppot the Bill (of Rights. of them! in he meantime, check with cal an federal autores regarding legality of purchase, possession and transport. The infomation described and pared in tis magaine is based upon personal experience ofthe autor, under specific conditions and circumstances. Due to time and space constrains, the entire auto's experience may nat be reported or aherwise verified, Nothing in hese panes shouldbe construed ‘abstiute fora manufacturer's manval ofr profesional fearms traning. This magaie, its offices, agents and employees accept no responsibly for any liblty,injries or damages arising from any person's attempt to ely ‘upon the iforiaton contained heen. Resposible shooters always Seek formal ralning. SWAT, Magazine, Publisher, staff and employees assume no responsibilty fo the opinions expressed in any Letters tothe Etc and donot vouch forthe accuracy of any facts contained in such Letters. This Secon of the magazineis made avalable {or the purpose of stimulating an exchange ofieas and information among its Readers. DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.com© iT | SPECIAL OPS 2 ~ e soiling S ew) eee Peet ee tdMAIL ROOM QUESTIONS AND KUDOS In the RUNNING THE GUN article (August 2015 S.W.A.), Denny Hansen used a U.S. PALM Defender vest. Was that their AR-15 model or the MOLLE, which he configured himself? Also did he use the carrier only, front armor, or front and rear armor during the class? Please tell Ethan Johns that I appreciated his article on using NRA BB repair center targets and the two drills he provided (TRAINING WITH A CLASSIC: BB Target Drills july 2015 S.W.A.T). I tried them at the range last week—the test {is humbling! Shots were good, but nowhere near making the time constraints. 1 was going for nine rounds in nine seconds, and the first pass was 15 seconds. Very helpful to have a benchmark to work to- ward and find a balance of acceptable accuracy and speed! Your magazine and Gun Tests maga- zine are truly the two best monthly firearms resources in print. Every month | eam something new. Great job! ‘A. Cohen, email ‘Thanks for your interest and support. My PALM Defender is indeed the AR-15 ‘model. wore it with both front and rear armor panels. We agree that the drills Ethan has written about are good skill builders. Denny Hansen YOUR SCOPE’S WARRANTY DOESNT MEAN SQUAT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. So,yurtiesope asa waranty Tati gig lp you uch when tenth bondcs an yourslesp ges apa. igor iescopes are fed by thermst power cbs, thease. ener the mast ious bogagehandes You might hares oto wor about when youre farm van bt the eal fur ilescop int be oe te Yes Ngoc iescopes ve anexelest waranty, Te best waranty thug sone youwil ners hoes WKS™1-4124 LETTERS FROM OUR READERS LIVE FREE Tam deeply troubled by the commen- tary of two readers in the August 2015 Mail Room. In my opinion, their view: points are indicative of the very real threat to freedom we face in America today. What's most troubling is that threat comes from within. Firs, Mr. Johnson from Kentucky parroted the frequently stated and grossly incorrect belief that “rights” are somehow “granted by the established authority.” Thank God Ms. Wolfe point- ced out that our rights are not granted, but endowed by our Creator. If one doesn't believe in a Creator, they can consider them natural rights. Rights granted by people are just permission that can be taken away at any time. In the very next letter, Mr. Mickel: son from Illinois asked if "you think you are above the law.” You didn’t say it, but I certainly will. Yes, I am. Any “law” that is not in keeping with the rights granted to me by my Creator, notably the right to defend myself, in this case with a firearm, is not a law at Thermos ifxope weve ever made RICE OE, om reise soe ete pam. Berl Say S3sHaen Lane Oring DISH m 207964 m Lear more atNghedpiccom ISSIR DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comP Naa la nea ALL THE TIME. 1 PU ReUSLSS CVeS Tag ga) we saa Hs ste ae PATENTED ADJUSTABLE TRIGGER: 3-7 LBS. CNC IL STN Siasnits ATE LER PPAR LD FREESE Ab COREY LWA AOE GUA aa RSL Rega Ne Ue MUS 1S teMAIL ROOM all, Simply because some polit bureaucrat tells me I cannot firearm with a barrel a certain length, or with a device braced against my shoulder, does not make it so. Sure, in doing so, one takes the chance of run- ning afoul of a tyrannical government, but that’s a choice each one of us must make and a risk we take. thas never been more obvious that tyrants can only enslave people with their help. The Holocaust couldn’thave hhappened if the Jews didn’t register themselves and willingly walk onto the railcars Neither should we willingly assist a those who would persecute or oppress us, K. Bellone, New York Thank you very much for providing us with your thoughts and feedback Tm told with regularity that the Repub- lic is on the brink of an abyss. With pa triots such as you, there is still hope it won't fall in Denny Hansen RUN, RABBIT, RUN 1 was appalled by Brent Wheat's com- ments in the October issue (STREET SMARTS: Run, Rabbit, Run). eA Met) [el 7 N a: | ALWAYS PREPARED. Introducing the new ultra-compact XC1 The formidable XC1 designed to bring all-important white light to most I can’t believe he actually advocated running away from a fight rather than. engaging the bad guys. No doubt he is also the type who runs for cover when bullets are flying rather than remain erect on his hind legs like a man and stand to fight. J. Walsh, New Jersey Thanks for contacting us and for your opinion. Outside of Internet discussions, Lam not familiar with anyone who does not recommend taking cover ifthey can. Re- ‘maining erect and motionless is great for the square range, but it’s a good way to hhave new holes put in your body on the two-way range Denny Hansen I enjoyed Brent Wheat’s October col- umn very much. As he pointed out police officers and the military are duty bound to engage the gremlins in our so- ciety, but the decision not to enter into a conflict if possible is sound advice. T would only add that not engaging may also be a good idea for an off-duty officer who has no communications or backup and may be mistaken for a bad guy by other responding officers, re- sulting in a “blue-on-blue” incident. A better choice may be to become a good witness, R. Pegler, Texas ‘Thanks for the feedback: While your suggestion for off-duty officers has some merit, in reality it is unlikely an officer would simply stand by and be a "good witness.” With few exceptions, our brave peace offi hardwired to go toward danger, not ‘away from it compact handguns—boasts a wide MaxVision Beam engineered to maintain situational awareness, while its smooth pattern, with no hot spot, was optimized for the human eye. Its incomparable beam pattern, intuitive switching, and concealable size put itn a class all by itself. Never fight blind. Get your hands ‘on the most anticipated pistol light ofthe year. 200-Lumen MaxVision Beam™ © Designed for © Weighs just 1.6 ounces © Powered by one AAA battery I Pn et 4 led compact handguns Peer eens Pemetieg rhc) ‘TWO PIECES OF SILVER I read Two Pieces of Silver by Louis Awerbuck in the September issue and ‘would just like to say thank you for re- printing Mr. Awerbuck’s column, D. Pitmon, email Thanks for contacting us. All of Louis columns contain words of wisdom, but this was one of my personal favorites. Denny Hansen © eT Write S.W.A.T. at [email protected] DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comNEW RAPID’ SAFE Fast, touch-free entry | Child-resistant design CORED ere ia) eg rd and the Rapid” safe opens a eT Ue aN VL 7a) Protection when you need it most. The patent pending RFID Pm Gc eee te Mia ea place the RFID bracelet, card or key fob over the reader, or punch in your personal keypad code and the safe springs open to present your handgdh: A traditional key is also included. SECURITY. ee ERR DU% LAWFUL a Simply Rugged Holsters Fyreone pans 0 hve the latest and greatest weapon, thinking that if t's new and costs a lot of money, it sequently turn them into a better tact cian. Ihave seen students on our range who have spent $1,500 on a pistol and extra mags, and then use a cheap ny- Jon holster that is more like a bucket to drop their pistol in, In the first place, no amount of ‘money can buy tactical skill—that only 12 | CARRY comes from training and experience. Becoming a better shot requires a lot of practice and not settling for cheaply made gear. ‘The owner of Simply Rugged Hol- sters, Rob Leahy, sent a few items my way. [have always liked Rob's work and looked forward to evaluating these. The cowboy in me always comes out when Y'm dealing with leather. ‘The holster I received is the DEF- CON 3—a nod to the fact that this hol- DECEMBER 2015 BY FLINT HANSEN ster can be worn three different ways. Tve noticed over the years that if a piece of gear claims to do a lot of differ- ent things, it usually ends up not doing anything exceptionally well. This is not the case with this holster. ‘The DEFCON 3 can be wor the waistband (IWB) or as a strong side with two different carry positions. The holster is open at the top and bottom. It is made of two pieces of leather and fitted for the specific gun being used. www.SWATMAG.com“am Private First Class Daniel Christopher Wright. lam seventeen years old. And | fired the shot that ended the United States of America.” Aa eR alee Arash eal ey-AU polyol MINN LOE IMCL Te Mae Mn tol Ela -Mola remo le MeL TAC MN e oT AMHR eM UL ay oa 1 ge le A Tata Wile AaU xe ea acne he aT eLek-oN aU eM One SMeUT-) hel too om “Cover-to-cover action, intrigue, and suspense, all with a gut-punch of an ending.” — Brad Thor, New York Times bestselling author CarCM. LAWFUL CARRY ‘Mysample was fora Commander- size 1911 pistol ‘The leather is glued and then stitched with heavy nylon thread. A second piece of leather is stitched to the upper half of the holster to add support and strength to the holster. This extra leather helps keep the mouth of the holster open to a degree. The leather on the body side of the holster comes up and forms a sweat guard, Ifyou want to wear the holster as an IWB, two leather straps are attached to the back of the holster with Chicago screws. If not worn 1WB, the straps can be folded flat against the back of the holster or re- moved entirely. For me, removing the straps was the most comfortable. If you wear the holster strong-side outside the waistband, integral slots are cut out of the holster’s body—one on the rear and two on the front, one Dual Defender pistol magazine pouch and adjustable AR magazine pouch. Pistol ‘mags are Chip McCormick Power 10+. 4 above the other. If the belt is threaded ‘through the rear slot and the top slot on the front, the holster will have a slight forward cant. If the belt is threaded through the rear slot and the bottom slot on the front, the holster will have a straight drop. Finally, the DEFCON 3 can be worn asa crossdraw holster. If you have to defend yourself and expend all the ammo in the pistol, hav- ing a reload may be as important as having the gun in the first place. Ad- ditionally, the magazine is the weak link in semiautomatic firearms. I have seen magazines from numerous manu. facturers fail on the range. No big deal ‘when paper targets present no danger, but it may be a real game changer on the street. Simply Rugged’s Dual Defender magazine pouch is made from a single piece of high-quality leather. Tension ‘on the magazines is provided by a rub- ber space and screw at the top of the pouch. Two belt straps on the rear of the pouch are spaced far enough apart to fit the belt loop on a pair of trousers between them. ‘The straps secure with snaps for easy on and off. Talso had a chance to evaluate a spare mag pouch for an AR-type weap- ‘on. This pouch is also made from a single piece of leather. It is adjustable: the rear of the pouch is held together with a piece of strong leather lace, and a tensioning device is at the bottom of the pouch. ‘he belt loop is secured to the belt with two snaps. ‘The last product from Simply Rug- ‘ged Holsters was a dump pouch. The bag portion is made of suede leather. The pouch will stay open—unlike many nylon dump pouches—thanks toa strip DECEMBER 2015 DEFCON 3 holster can be worn inside the waistband, outside strong side, or crossdraw. of very heavy leather atthe top. To attach itto your bel, there isa 1- inch strap with snap closure. And it’s just plain classy. Tonly have one complaint, and that is the snaps used to secure the pouches. I get the whole “easy con/easy off” thing butwhen I put on my gearin the morning, itstays on untill take it offat night. Snaps by their very nature, can be inad: vertently unsnapped. My person- al preference would be that the belt loops be sewn in place. Like all Simply Rugged items 1 have ever seen or used, the quality was great, and up to everything Ihave come to ex- pect from this company. @ Flint Hansen has been with the Mari- copa County Sheriff's Office (AZ) for 12 ‘years, He is an NRA and Arizona DPS certified Firearms Instructor. He has written numerous articles for SW.A. in addition to his monthly Lawful Carry column, - Source SIMPLY RUGGED HOLSTERS (928) 227-0432 wwe simplyrugged.com ‘Suede leather dump pouch is functional and adds a touch of class. Pouch can easily hold five AR magazines and several pistol mags. www.SWATMAG.comJim “THE KRAKEN” ERWiN SPECIAL OPERATIONS VETERAN wy say “a eg Penn ea asabaa | » SUB MOA ACCURACY. cae s plas ars FALKORDEFENSE.COM | [email protected] | (406) 752-4253 | MADE IN MONTANA, USASTREET SMARTS Desert Breakdown / Clone thing to pontificate, but TT Site anster'o be stn in the middle of the desert practicing your own advice. Over the past decade and a half, T’ve tried to share lessons on how to stay a litle safer when dealing with the daily dose of the sorrow known as life. One or two of those columns covered the common exigency of suffering a disabled vehicle while traveling, But I ‘must admit that, as a long-time police officer who has helped literally hun- dreds of stranded motorists, my own experiences as the stranded person were (fortunately) lacking My only major automotive break- down occurred 25 years ago while re- turning from a whitewater paddling trip. It sounds like a country-western song, but I spent a Sunday evening in the parking ot of a rural auto parts store changing a bad alternator... in spitting snow ... in the dark ... with minimal tools ... and no food after spending all ‘our remaining cash on the alternator. Since that time, I've been an auto- motive fanatic, conducting all sched- uled maintenance before it was due and carefully checking, re-checking and triple-checking all systems on the vehicle before every trip. ‘Therefore in both shock and anger, I found myself recently sitting alongside the interstate highway in the middle of the high desert east of Flagstaff, Ari- zona with a rear wheel that sounded like a garbage disposal full of marbles. 'Uh oh,’ I thought, “time to execute my ‘emergency preparedness plans for a disabled vehicle incident.” ‘Actually, I did have such a thought, but not until after shouting several very loud and exceptionally crude words, the kind that would have made my mother cry ifshe had been * + ea BY BRENT T. WHEAT shot (approximately ten miles). ‘After analyzing the problem, it seemed apparent to my middling auto: motive diagnostic skills that the noise was likely a wheel bearingor some such thing that I couldn't fix with the equip: ment on hand. Taking stock, I considered our re- sources. There were ten gallons of drinking water in sealed containers in the rear of our SUY, along with plenty of drinks and ice in the cooler. We had the necessary hats and clothing to sur- vive the heat. We had food and, most importantly, good cellular phone re- ception for our two phones. Ifthe cell phone signal had been non-existent, a Spot satellite emergency beacon was sitting in my flight bag, Personal safety wasn't a concern, as both my fiancée and I were properly armed. Current conditions were fairly be nign for the desert: shortly past noon, ANYTHING BUT STOCK MAGAZINES STOCKS SIGHTS RAILS GRIPS LIGHT/LASER MOUNTS 16 WWW.MISSIONFIRSTTACTICAL.COM (267) 704-0001 DECEMBER 2015 MISSION FIRST TACTICAL www.SWATMAG.comRUGGEDIZED. Mla REFLEX. The name says it all! tented Housing Shape | Extremely Durable | Made in the USA on’ beeen Peete dennis Versatile Sight: Applicable on Rife, Pistol, Shotgun or Carbine A ° a Brilliant Aiming Solutions™the temperature was around 95 degrees and there wasa fair wind blowing. Allin all, it seemed like we could endure for many hours with only minor discom- fortif necessary. That was my biggest concern: the fact that we were sitting somewhere be- yond East Jesus. It would take a towing company a long time to arrive once we finally located one in this wide-open, civilization-free landscape. All in all, I was profoundly aggra- vated, but the simple pre-trip prepa- rations (plenty of water, appropriate clothing, and redundant commo gear) had given us options in a potentially dangerous situation. ‘Therein lies the lesson of today’s sermon. After examining the situation, we decided to keep moving. 1 reasoned that the damage was already done, but every mile we gained toward “civiliza- tion” was a bonus. It was a bad idea. The noise and vi- bration increased significantly, but we did slowly manage to limp along the shoulder to the next exit, where we had ‘our first bit of good luck. Only two miles 18 away, gleaming through the shimmer- ing heat, was a tribal casino! Stopping in the parking lot, Ibeat my head against the steering wheel in spite of the fact that life would have been much worse sitting along the shoulder of the highway. As it was, we could go inside, have lunch, and even try our luck at the craps table. Of course, we'd then be broke down and dead broke, so ‘we opted for lunch only. Ultimately, things worked out fine. ur friend Ken Campbell, Chief Oper- ating Officer of Gunsite, picked us up two hours later. The next morning, my better half conducted all the necessary phone negotiations to get the vehicle towed and serviced. ‘One final lesson on preparedness, assumptions and attention to detail awaited me: the problem turned out to be a loose wheel. In fact, the dealer said we had been literally minutes from catastrophically losing a tire. My (used) vehicle had been recently purchased from a dealership, given a detailed personal once-over, and then taken to another independent dealer for ‘full pre-trip checkup. Obviously, none DECEMBER 2015 of those people (self included) had both- ered to check the torque of the lug nuts. Ah, the litte things. This episode might not be as dra- ‘matic as some of the incidents from my cop-shop career, but those hours in the Arizona desert might have proven just as dangerous if not for a few simple preparations. As it transpired, the only damage was to my psyche and perhaps a few teeth marks on the steering wheel. It also makes for a better column than when I was forced to use a rock to break the window of my other (locked) vehicle on a lonely 1 taintop asa storm was rolling in. ‘That reminds me of one final thing: when checking those lug nuts, make sure the hide-a-key hasn'tfallen off © Brent T. Wheat isa former SWAT office canine handler, detective, and patrol supervisor who retired after a 30-year Iaw enforcement career in the Midwest. A prolific freelance writer and photog: rapher, he is the publisher of Wildin- diana Magazine, a regionally focused ‘outdoor magazine. Hecan be reached at [email protected]. www.SWATMAG.com*& © BCMGUNFIGHTER ite i ve UAC CR AA NPL Like everything else in the last 45 years, tactics and weaponry have A undergone a continuing evolution. Current CQB techniques have the shooter maintaining a firing grip while using their non domi- nant hand in the operation of the charging handle for loading or Te ee ee Oe eae Dee ee Un ah eee ted Z Pee eke oe Re tS was that the entire operation became contingent on the sheer strength of the tiny roll pin securing the tactical latch. ‘The BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Charging Handle features internal redesigns to direct the eR ee cc meee charging handle during support hand only manipulations. This new design has a ra ee ar ee ROR Ut Re ae ace ce) up, its’ travel is limited by these flat surface backstops. With this travel limiting fea- ture, the shooter has a stronger system and a smoother operation. MOD 5 ‘SMALL LATCH \ MOD 3, 4,5 $44.95 MOD 44 $75.95 ‘The BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Charging Handle is made by Bravo Company MFG, Inc. VLTOR U.S. Patent 8104393, other patents pending, CORE ete te ee eee nen ne ete D BravoCompanyUSA.comm* Ce ee em eu ee Sem Zhe R OE e657 Be odField Survival Course has same premise as famed Jungle Survival lass taught by Randall's Adventure & Training in Peru. Now people can take the U.S. version ofthe class. BY REUBEN BOLIEU instructor Patrick Rollins said on a few occa- sions during the Randall's Adventure & Training Field Survival Class in Alabama. For years I've heard owners Mike Perrin and Jeff Randall say they should advertise their jungle survival class as a sleep deprivation and weight loss program. ‘They're finally offering one stateside now! ‘THE PLAN ‘The Field Survival Class is designed to simulate a 72-hour survival scenario, during which stu- dents learn the basic survival and navigational skills needed to self-rescue or survive until rescue arrives. They experience the hunger, sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, and gen- eral discomfort usually associated with a survival scenario, They must also learn to work together as a group to overcome mental and physical challenges. Each Field Survival Class is a litle differ- cent and is tweaked until it’s appropriate for the terrain and weather. Naturally, things evolve and new ideas are tried out, while older ones are dropped. That being said, every class starts off right, and by that mean with alittle PT (physical training). WHY So MUCH PT? I recently observed a Field Survival Class. Stu- dents were all issued an egg to take care of dur- ing the first part of the class. Ifthe egg broke, they 20 Preparing ive chickens, rabbits and fish was covered in camp, as students learned how to make traps and hunting implements needed to procure provided food. They took turns and shared workload of killing, skinning, gutting, and cooking the animals. DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comEIMITeEeESS RELIABILITY REC7 GEN II 5.56 NATO 6.8 SPC ONE PIECE PISTON ADJUSTABLE GAS BLOCK SLIM, LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN Be.RRETT. RUGGED DEPENDABILITYINST ALL ODDS had to pay for it with a little more PT. At first I was skeptical, not seeing the relevance of this type of activity in a survival class, But we do not choose our times of perill Being prepared physically is just as important as knowing basic survival skills, A stranded vehicle, a long swim to shore, a climb up a mountain, or a long night in the bush are all very tax: ing on both mind and body. The entire PT section was created to help simu: late this type of exhaustion, Hydration was stressed as well as team dynamics. Collecting dew from the early morning grass is a great way to obtain water. Students had to drop and roll around, soaking up the dew. Myriad physical activities were bestowed upon the participants un: til they were good and worn down. Carrying a life-size dummy (weigh ing about 180 pounds) around the property and through a pond was just one of the creative tasks that had to be completed before students could ‘Students float “injured” team member across pond. Water jugs and wooden poles were used to construct a litter to. ‘get student across safely. ‘Students had to float fire on a platform in chest-deep water. ‘Two students walk out of deep ond into shallower waters. 22 move on to the next activity What better way to bring people together than a pole-carrying exercise around a field? There was also a short relay race across a leech-ridden pond that was timed for a prize. PT was ei ther individual or group wide for some minor infraction, or sometimes it oc curred if the instructor was bored and Constructing a device to move a 55-gallon water drum was just one activity that required both brains and muscle, including good teamwork and leadership qualities. wanted to play with the students. There were frequent egg-checks to see who'd broken theirs, and PT was cordingly. After about two hours of PT, it was back to the c room for Power-Point and navigation training, given to get a feel for map and compass before heading over to the shelter, knife and fire skills camp. Without any snack break, students had to muscle through on to the next activities, BARE-BONES SURVIVAL Only the very basics of knife safety and use, shelter construction and selection of materials, fire building techniques, primitive spears, and traps were taught. Anything other than that was beyond the scope of the class. Down and dirty bare-bones survival skills will yerson through just about any sit- DECEMBER 2015 www.SWATMAG.comisi ie ti ia Le : a "INNOVATING DURABLE GEAR SINCE 2003 OC ie ec aa A a a rc MAXPEDITION.COM | (310) 768-0098te uation, and that was the focus. The star navigation course sentthree groups around the training property, rotating leaders and pace counters so everybody got a feel for each job. In previous classes, this task had taken some groups over ten hours. When the teams were ready to go, they were given five-gallon water jugs to carry as their water source. ‘They had tobe creative and.use tools, wood from the forest, and their brains. Upon completing the star course, the teams had to carry the dummy to the top of a rappelling tower. They were then given coordinates to where they would need to set up a camp, making shelter and fire. Classroom training and skill-build- ing continued well into the night. | saw the sun go down and soon it was coming up. More physically punishing activities were on the way At about 0500, students had a new activity to help them wake up. They were given coordinates to an area in the woods that had materials to be collected (on the way to a 55-gallon water drum. Out of two metal poles, rope, and a tire, they had to construct a device to trans- port the drum full of water back up to the classroom. This was a slow and method. ical, yet tedious, process. t only worked if they acted like a team and used their ‘most important tools—their brains! The rest of the day was spent on ‘more basic camp skills, map and com- ‘Team Building Skils 101: Lugging around this 20-foot-long telephone pole was just one extreme activity students had to endure in order to develop group dynamics. pass exercises, signaling techniques, and preparing live animals for the only food given during the class. Seemingly out of context, students were given a quick sewing lesson on making a lockstitch. They were soon stripped of their shoes and issued some canvas, foam, cordage, and a needle. ‘They would have to finish the class with the shoes they now had to make. As exhaustion settled in, they were given new coordinates for the camp they had to build from scratch, Gear was stripped and the entire group was given a pack to share. At about 0200, it was time to wake the stu- dents and send them on yet another mission, Final challenge was to construct, using minimal materials and tools, a bridge over a pond. Bridge had to support their own weight. Each team member went across slowly and was careful not to end up in the water. Student is wearing shoes he made by hand during class. 2 DECEMBER 2015 ‘The scenario was a downed airplane ina pond. The students were survivors buthad one injured member. They had to make fire and float it across with the injured member, without falling into the water. This took strong team leader ship skills to accomplish, ‘The last big activity was building a bridge across the pond using supplied materials. Students then had to get themselves and the dummy across the bridge without it coming apart or them falling in the water They did it! Stand- ing in the mud comparing mosquito bites and counting leeches was what it’s all about. Ithas been said that survivals lazy man’s game, but the Field Survival class proves it’s a thinking man’s game. Be- ing prepared for a survival experience is not just about skills, but also physi- cal and mental challenges. Randall's Adventure & Training remains on the cutting edge of survival! © Reuben Bolieu is an adventurer, writer, photographer and survival instructor for Randall's Adventure & Training. He has spent most of his life hiking and backpacking through the wildernesses of the world. A lifetime student of survival, he has studied primitive survival tech- niques from all over the world. ESE KNIVES/RANDALL'S ‘ADVENTURE & TRAINING (256) 613-0372 www.SWATMAG.com\@ aaa ~ as L: Coa « ay : len i E ii Y va z 5 ee \ hoe iN 3. A i DOESN'T MATTER WHICH PREDATOR YoU HUNIT. DARKNESS YOUR ALLY.NIGHTMARE ON SESAME STREET Training Gone Wrong | sy benny Hansen ack in 2012, a friend emailed me to say he had been asked if I would like to attend a three-day carbine class and could he forward my contact information to the instructor. My friend admitted uj front he had not attended training with this company and could not vouch for the quality of the training tthe time Iwas evaluating a Mossberg AR (ENTRY LEVEL CARBINE: Mossberg ‘Modern Rifle, September 2012 S.W.A.L.) and was hoping to get in some quality trigger time for an article. I contacted the training company and accepted the offer. was told this would be a “high intensity” course. This was good news, as Ihoped to run the Mossberg hard. To my surprise, we did not confirm zeros prior to starting to shoot. ‘TRAINING DAY 1 ‘The owner of the company showed up in ‘a Hummer covered in silk-screen graph- ics. This should have been my first clue as to the smoke and mirrors that were about toensue, 26 start at 0800, Waiting to see “if anyone ‘else shows up we did not gear up until 1030. The class started with a safety brief. ‘The lead instructor, let's call him "Be told the class there are four rules to fol- low: all guns are loaded, keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, and ‘watch your background. You read that right: he either did not know or forgot Rule Two—never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing, to destroy. ‘That was the extent of the brief. Noth- ing about gear selection, stance, lube, malfunctions, staying hydrated (this was ‘a summertime class in the Arizona des- ert), etc, ete. ‘To my surprise, we did not confirm ze- ros priorto starting to shoot. The first drill ‘was to shoot two rounds standing, two rounds kneeling, and two rounds prone at 50 yards. This was a Level 1 class and, although it had some experienced shoot- crs, nothing was said about the different kneeling and prone positions for the be- sginners who made up most ofthe class. I didn’t expect to shoot from prone on the very first drill, so had not put on my elbow pads. No big deal since the maga- zine, acting as a monopod, holds most of the weight and keeps my elbows out of the gravel. Or so I thought until Bert told ‘me to get up on my elbows under the gun. DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.combecause resting the mag on the deck will cause “jams” (even though there was no toast in sight. When Relay 1 had finished, we did not go forward to lookat or tape the targets. We were dismissed and Relay 2 came and repeated the same drill n fact, no targets were ever looked at or taped all day. Lunch break from 1130 to 1330. ‘The majority of the afternoon was spent moving and. shooting with empty gun/emergency reloads. Tac loads (reload with retention) were not taught. Besides the first drillin the morning, there was no positional shooting. We shot on the move from 50 to 80 yards. When a Tempe, Arizona SWAT officer said there was no way he'd take a 50-yard shot on the move, let alone an 80-yard shot, an assistant instructor, le’s call him “Ernie,” said it’s good for “suppressive fire.” In law enforcement or for the average citizen? Really? Since students had not been told how to shoot on the move or even the basic fighting stance, several attempt- ed to shoot Camp Perry style—bladed 90 degrees to the target—while moving. This resulted in several shoot- ers on the relay being muzzled. Of course, they had not been told about Rule 2... Ifit had not been so dangerous, it would have been a real hoot to watch them shooting on the move from this stance. They were not given any corrections or advice from the instructor cadre. Toward the end of the day and after only about 150 rounds, the guns of two students on my relay started to choke. Bert said it was likely due to bad ammo. When my relay went off the line, I asked them if their guns were lubed. They told me they had wiped all lube from their carbines and even sprayed them with degreas- er because the flyer they had received prior to class said, “dry guns work bet y i pulled their BCGs and they were as dry as Arizona asphalt. Slip 2000 EWL cured the “bad ammo” problem. Later another guy said his gun was “jamming” (still no sign of toast). He asked if would put some of the “oil stuff” on his bolt. While the gun was definitely in need of lube, the gas key was s0 loose I could lift it up and down, (He told me his brother-in-law had built it and it was just as good as, well, you know.) I always throw Ned Chri tiansen’s MOACKS tool in my bag when attending a class Although TD2 was supposed to start at 0900, we did not get close to putting rounds downrange until after 1030. {f you do not build up a sweat under your armor while training in the summer, something is wrong, and I don't mean with your health. www.SWATMAG.com | DECEMBER 2015 NG Optics such as this Aimpoint PRO with Ye MOA adjustments are easy to zero. Two clicks move the point of impact one inch at 100 yards. Double the ‘number of clicks needed if zeroing at 50 yards. An “instructor” who does not know how to zero an optic does not deserve the ttl. 27NIGHTMARE ON SEs CUT FSS eae Te Eee UE WLS COMBAT AR-16 TACTICAL TAGDER UNITS WLL RELIABLY FUNCTION AN STANDARD USI STYLE ARSTYLE Pe Coa atone eT ao Doe Toy oo aS Et Tera OF SAFETY SELECTOR. PLS ag Rtas aS tia ze UR De AUS Screws torqued and staked, and lube applied. End of problem. ‘TDI was supposed to run unt 1700, but we shut down at 1630. Bi tween starting late, ending early, and a two-hour lunch break, total ran time of “instruction” for this “high intensity” class was only four hours. iven though it was summer in the jona desert, I had not built up a sat under my armor, We were told how up at 0900 instead of 0800 the next day ‘TRAINING DAY 2 Noticeable by their absence the next ming we cott, Scottsdale pe, and a former student of Pat Rogers. (I only know this because he had a “Moosé ‘cock" patch on his plate carrier) Although TD2 was supposed to start at 0900, we did not get close to putting rounds downrange until after then, the instruc tors did no prompti onthe line, Upon my arrival, I expressed my concerns about TDI to the owner, let’s call him “Elmo’ mainly in regard to zeroing the that without tapin agnosing hits, the dril ballistic masturbation, sentially just making little holes in t dnt back in, Students did not know if they were making good hits or completely missi targets. Elmo talked with Bert, and the class was finally allowed to zero their guns. We zeroed at 50 yards. The Mossberg Al so I was good t 1 next to me hi left and four inches high (Aim nt PRO, 1/2 MOA clicks), Bert how many clicks he adjust, and Bert told him go fi and four down. Thate dis: \g with an instrue- tor, especially in front of other dents. But I was becoming more more frustrated, so I finally opened uth. T told my cla and he should be close to being tig ‘on. Bert and the student both looked ke Thad just dropped my trou- ers and defecated on the range. After 30 minutes, mak DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comGUN FIGHTERS WANTED Why is the Bravo Company > line of BCM® Rifles quickly becoming one of the: most sought after brands by those “> training for harm’s way? Br & Because of a commitment to manufacturing products for those warriors who spend their days on the two-way range. Quality of materials, quality of process, and adherence to specifications yield a product greater than the sum of its parts. BCM” builds Professional Grade Weaponry™ Safe queen curators need not apply. yr BravoCompanyUSA.comsc BravoCompanyMFG.com * Hartland, Wisconsin U.S.A. Toll Free: 1-877-BRAVO CO (1-877-272-8626) * Fax: 262-367-0989i TAG SHIELD Charred Pease TAGTIGAL GUN BELT + QR Double Lever Buckle = + 1.5" double-wall 7,000 Ib Mil-Spec webbing + Reinforced low-profile stifening system to support the weight of guns and mags www. FACSHIELD.com 30 malfunctions. NIGHTMARE ON student was finally zeroed. Time was 1140. ‘And that’s when a friend of Elmo's showed up and told him he wanted to show him his new Saiga shotgun. Leaving the class standing, Elmo and his friend went downrange to shoot it, but only after telling the class that when they came back, we would break forlunch. Heft. Needless to say, I did not show up for TDS. Thave only covered the so-called training here. I have left out pearls of wisdom from Bert during the breaks, such as, "Don’twaste your money on an Aimpoint or EOTech because any $50 sight will ‘till puta red dot on the target.” VETTING Ichas been said that any press is good press. And that is the reason Thave not mentioned the name of the company and have changed the names of the “instructors” Elmo was hoping to get positive ink, so I was not charged for the cass. If had paid, L would have de ‘manded a refund. Thave stated numerous times over the years how important tis to vet an instructor before throwing down your hard-earned cash. 1 share ths story toillustrate that po In my opinion, the best way to vet an instructor is by talking to others who have taken a class from that instructor. But take into ac- count the student's experience. For example, ithe says, "That was the best training I have ever attended,” and it is the only class he has been to, he has nothing to compare it to. Only if he has trained under at least three different instructors can his opinion be consid- ered substantive. the Intemet is a source, but be aware that some of the kudos given to an instructor or school may not be subjective, but rather from groupies or even employees of the school Check around, ask questions. Caveat Emptor. © DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comGET SOME... Weapons and Tactics Training "It's not about shooting. It's about fighting with a gun!" Pat Rogers The best rifle in the world is of no use without the proper training. Now you can get one of the coun- try’s best battle rifles and a great deal on some of Each E.G, Tactical Carbine, manufactured by BCM", includes a discount certificate to put toward carbine training with E.A.G. Tactical. E.AG. Tactical, owned by Pat Rogers, has been around over 20 yéars teaching modern day warriors how to win the gun fight and return home'safe.”E.A.G. Tactical carbine or pistol trainingiis available to mil- itary units, law enforcement departments and vetted civilians. Please see wn BravoCampanyUSA.com fr deals and expiation dites, Production of these carbines willbe mites, BCM’ EAG Tactical Carbine Package includes: > BCMP 14,5” Mid Length Gas BFH (Cold Hammer Forged) > Vitor USGI QD Front Swivel Barrel with permanently attached BCM" A2X™ Flash Hider > TangoDown PR#A Sling Mount. > Special Edition E.A.G. Serial Number Series. > VIAC Two Point MK2 Padded Sling > EA.G. Logo Laser Etched on Magwell and! Upper Receiver > VTAC Light Mount > Surefire G2 LED > LaRue Tactical 9 Inch Tactical Free Float Handguard > BCM® Magazine with Magpul Follower > TangoDown SCAR Panel Covers (three) > Slip2000 EWL: Lube and 725-Gun Cleaner Degreaser > TangoDown QD Vertical Grip-k > TangoDown Battle Grip > $200 Certificate toward training with E.A.G. Tactical > Magpul MOE Stock > Magpul Enhanced Trigger Guard (ome Restrictions Apply) > Troy Industfies/BCM Rear Folding Battle Sight ~ BCM” builds Professional Grade Weaponry™ my : pi oCowpanyUSA cowsz VUIQU NED CAIN DE QA OULU A Toll Free: 1-877-BRAVO CO (1-877-272-8626) * Fax: 262-367-0989ENEMY aT THE GATE BY KURT HOFMANN When Free Speech Is Made Criminal IN 22%, 22822,25, Army General Wesley Clark, who sought the Democratic nomination for the 2004 Presidential election, made the star- ting statement in an MSNBC inter- view that Americans who are “disloyal to the United States” should be sub- jected to internment “for the duration of the conflict” ‘The conflict to which he referred is the amorphously defined, and appar- ently interminable, “War on Terror” so this internment is likely to last a long while. Actually, as Clark rather churlishly pointed out on Twitter in response to his critics, he never said the word “internment” But he did say that we should “segregate them from the nor- ‘mal community” If that's not “intern- ‘ment,’ what isit? Are they to be herded into ghettos? And if so, and if reloca- tion to those ghettos is mandatory, is FLL TO ™ PRECISION TAC OPTICS. YOURS FOR A SONG. Precision ground, fully multi-coated lenses: for edge-to-edge clarity and a precise mil-dot reticle. Sun shade included. I's a jungle out there. Bring the right scope. STARTING AT $999-99 100% Lote Guarantee 32 that not basically “internment”? Clark also spoke—and with appar- ent approval—of the internment of “disloyal” Americans during World War I (many of whose “disloyalty” was de- fined by their Japanese ancestry). He said that “if someone supported Nazi Germany at the expense of the United States, we didn’t say that was freedom of speech, we put him in a camp, they ‘were prisoners of war” Sounds a lot like ‘nternment” to me, General ‘And it gets worse. Clark’s plan seems to call for the internment, oops, “segre- gation’ to extend not only to those who have expressed “disloyalty,” thus dem- ‘onstrating that they have been “radical- ized” but also to those who are merely deemed vulnerable to this “radicaliza~ tion.” How is that to be determined? And by whom? Clark was referring to supporters of the terrorist group ISIS, as brutally evil Pic DECEMBER 2015 a bunch as has ever existed, and so, granted, it’s difficult to come up with much sympathy for what those sup- porters are forced to endure. The thing is, one does not have to be sympathetic to ISIS supporters to categorically reject policy that calls for rounding them up and putting them in camps (or whatev- ce Clark wants to call the facilities) No decent person wants the twist- ed, toxic ideology of ISIS spewed in this country, but freedom of speech does not, cannot apply only to speech that the vast majority of us don’t find vilely repugnant. We may—and i deed must—shout it down, condemn it, ridicule it, and poke holes in any ar- guments that claim to justify it, but in nation that calls itself the land of the free, we cannot ban it. Today, the enemy is ISIS. Tomorrow, who knows? In 2011, Vice President Joe Biden described members of Congress www.SWATMAG.coma a All Del-Ton factory-built rifles come with a lifetime warranty to the original owner, exceptional customer service and offer superior quality and reliability. Del-Ton is a manufacturer of first-rate AR-15-style modern sporting rifles and your online source for parts, upgrades, optics, and accessories. All rifles and kit components are made in the U.S.A. Ask your dealer about Del-Ton products. SRR tty Seen OMA ur nus 1X9 twist Chrome-lined carrier and key Ree RR Meera HPT/MPI tested Carpenter aol | — a - reat) (2) 0E170N28337 " www.cet-ton.com {fl www. facetook.com/deltoninewho were aligned with the Tea Party as “like terrorists” Their “terrorism”? Re- fusing to raise the limit on the national debt. Yep, fiscal responsibilityisabrand of ‘terrorism’ in the eyes of some. The NRA, other gun rights advocacy groups, and individual gun rights ad vocates have frequently been branded “terrorists” and “traitors” I personally have been accused of “treason” for sug gesting to readers that they obtain in- formation about how to fabricate and use improvised explosives, for the po- tential day on which freedom fighters equipped with firearms alone are not quite enough to thwart an aspiring ty- rants plans If expressing support for ISIS is made a crime (and oddly, Clark ad- mitted about ISIS supporters that, “It's their right” to articulate that support— bbutwants them rounded up and “segre- gated” even so), then whats to stop the government from outlawing support for any other group the Administration wishes silenced? Clark is not the first—nor the most prominent—Demo Presiden- tial candidate to suggest eriminaliz~ ing thoughts and beliefS that are now deemed intolerable. Speaking at a Na- tional Council for Behavioral Health conference in 2014, Hillary Clinton said the US. must “rein in the notion that ‘anybody can have a gun, anywhere, anytime?” Must “rein in the notion” How woulda government attempt to do that? What else can it do but make that ‘notion’ illegal? ‘About a month later, she expanded on that theme. In a town hall appear- ance televised on CNN, she answered a question about her desire to ban so. called “assault weapons” and “high ca- pacity” magazines by saying, “We can- not let a minority of people, and that’s what it is—it is a minority of people— hold a viewpoint that terrorizes the ma- jority of people” Whether or not it's true that the ma- jority of people are “terrorized” by the point of view that holds that the gov- ernment has no legitimate authority to ban the very firearms most useful for defending life and liberty, so what? Viewpoints that scare people are to be made illegal? The only Constitution- ally protected free speech is that which does not make the masses nervous? What, then, is the point of Constitu- tional protection of speech ifit only ap- plies to speech that few would ever try tosilence? And so what if “it is a minority of people”? Has it become acceptable to trample the free speech rights (actu- ally, the free thought rights) of minori- ties because the majority find those thoughts frightening? How would the “justice” system prove that someone has harbored an “illegal viewpoint”? What would the penalty be? Clinton didn’t say, but anyone plan: ning to vote for her might want to ask her. And actually, Clinton herself might want to reconsider her political ambi- tions. The powers of aUS. President do not seem to be enough to satisfy her. She should probably try for the position of Big Sister. ‘These are self-described “progres- sive” politicians, but their supporters have either failed to notice, or are per- haps not bothered by, the fact that what they would have us “progress” toward is a society in which voicing impermissi- ble political positions, or even thinking them, isa crime. If that’s progress, call me a regres. sive. © ie Cae TO Se ee eee a eee ee subtlety, beeaute only tiny nuances can distinguish flawless ammunition Sm it jae Sng eer mee eee ar microscopic mistakes. But its unquestionably the biggest thi Se en? 4 DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comcee Pac as re eae ees Rr Rcuas ure ac coe eerie *& BravoCompanyUSA.cov>e Ere RR Cs a Toll Free: 1-877-BRAVO CO (1-877-272-8626) * Fax: 262-367-0989FRONTLINE DEBRIEFS Ns | BY SCOTT REITZ Righteous Debriefs TIN 22, Bison ofthe LARD inthe old days, we conducted what I would term “righteous debriefs"” I'm sure they do it today. It was a process that allowed us to learn from our mis- takes and not repeat them. Every single ‘member of an operation was given the chance to weigh in on mistakes made by himself and others during SWAT missions. Even the newly minted “SWAT- pups” had their say. The debrief was conducted after every mission, no mat- ter how long it took or at which hour it occurred. Itwas not always pretty, butit was a great process and among the fin- er examples of professionalism I have ever witnessed. At times, especially after an officer- involved shooting, departments will not admit to mistakes. If any mistakes are admitted, they may be colored by rather obtuse rationale. ‘The reasoning for shots taken, the amount of rounds fired, who observed what and when and who did what and precisely when they did itcan ultimate- ly degrade into a befuddled mess when the truth is all but ignored. A profes- sional (and the opposition in a court case) will see right through this and ob- serve it for what it truly is. In an era of instant media, this phe- nomenon becomes painfully obvious when a departmental. spokesperson misspeaks concerning an incident. The truth soon emerges and the depart ‘ment is left appearing less than profes: sional. This is especially troublesome if all parties involved are described as he- roes to the media while in truth, the in: cident was a complete trainwreck and the officers are found to have been in- competent when all the details emerge. Tam aware of one incident that played out in the media as one thing when in fact many more rounds were fired than described or necessitated, there were cross-fire incidents and of- ficers shooting at one another, and nu ‘merous other mistakes as well ‘There is a way to avoid this. When an incident occurs, a brutally honest debrief is in order. One cannot worry about assuaging feelings and egos 36 Nepotism has no place here, nor does favoritism or rank or tenure. A screw- up isa screw-up—period. If this is done professionally, any member who fouls up needs to take responsibility for their mistakes and train not to repeat the same mistake: future. Supervisors who cover for indi- viduals are not professional and should not be supervisors. Our SWAT debriefs could get beyond brutal yet hilarious at the same time. If an officer was embarrassed, he was ex- pected to simply get over it (you were in “D” Platoon, after all), carry on and learn from his mistakes. God knows I ‘made my share and then some. The real benefit was that everyone knew we were all capable of making mistakes at any point in time, which had the concomitant effect of steeling one’s resolve not to screw the pooch again. We learned from our mistakes, which is why our unit was (and is) one of the finest in the world. If you do not admit to the mistake, nothing will ever be learned and you're bound to repeat Cover-ups do not work. Nor do dis- ingenuous accolades or awards. Noth: ing is learned or gained from this. I am not a big fan of awarding the Medal of, Valor to incompetent individuals, and yet this does occur. Some might point to the fact that to admit mistakes opens fone up to future lawsuits. Newsflash, sports fans: the lawsuit is already com- ing, s0 get ahead of itand it will make it ‘amuch more defensible case. Another less discussed and yet pain- fully obvious aspect is that other units around the world ean pretty much fig- ture out the truth, In your hometown, you might get away with whitewashing an incident, but it's being discussed among units all over the world—and I mean all over the world, and white- washing does not engender much re~ spect from these other units. T have literally stepped off a plane and been queried rather pointedly about an incident that occurred mere hours before my arrival. News travels faster and faster every day. The entire world is changing and we, whether we like it or not, must change with it. If DECEMBER 2015 this is not to your liking, I suggest floral arranging or cupcake baking as a pro- fession. Nothing is more refreshing than to observe a department admit to mis- takes up front. It engenders respect from other professionals and the com- munity. We all make mistakes. No one is perfect, especially in a profession replete with unpredictable and fast- moving events. I can readily defend mistakes but cannot defend dishonesty orat best disingenuous statements. Debriefs of incidents need to be bru- tally honest, with no hold back. They must be constructive if anything is to bbe learned from them. Shortening the process has never and will never work, as the problems that exist are not ad- mitted to and therefore can never be learned from. © Scott Reitz is a 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and the director of the highly acclaimed Inter- national Tactical Training Seminars. Course information and schedules are available at their website at wwusinter- nationaltactical.com. Looking Back, a free monthly newsletter, is available by ‘email at [email protected]. www.SWATMAG.comTrusted for more than 25 years for proven durability in the toughest tactical CCU Mekal to see all that we carry. Use Promo Code FCSWAT2 to get 5% off your next online order. www.flyingcirclegear.com | 1.800.344.7242 | [email protected] On Duty. Off Duty. We've Got You Covered.” f¥OGinedgLONG GUNS Light Machine Gun for Security Details few months ago, Iran intoa friend I hadn't seen in several years, as he had been doing contract security work in Iraq and else- where. He said that on some details he had used Mis, but on others AKs, depending on what he was supplied or could scrounge. He also ‘mentioned that Kalashnikov-based weapons were easiest to acquire in most places he had been working, That is logical and has been the experience of many contractors. What I found interesting and got me thinking, though, was that he said they had used RPK Light Machine Guns (LMGs) in a lot of their motorcades. I've done a reasonable amount of shooting with the RPK and the RPK-74, so am familiar with the weapon. First, | asked him if they had RPKs or RPKSs, the latter the folding-stock version. They had the fixed-stock RPK, which is about 41 inches in overall length. The fixed-stock RPK-74 is actually slightly longer, about six inches longer than a fixed-stock AK-47 and 15 inches longer than a folding-stock AK with stock folded. (One of the most important missions of an automatic weapon for a security team is to provide suppressive fire during an evacuation under fire or during counter-ambush drills. This normally req) the operator to bring his weapon into action from the vehicle im- ‘Although it takes good upper-body strength, M249 can be fired offhand. 38 DECEMBER 2015 M249 with stock extended ‘and bipod deployed for use. www.SWATMAG.comUSED BY. tT TEAMS RICA sw : across AME Caliber-Specific Geometry Proprietary Coating Over 100,000 rounds fired by a major Firearm manufacturer with zero failures! The New 28 rd. JMAG® A CProducts i A firearm is only as good as its magazinee www.CPDmags.comLONG GUNS With stock collapsed, M249 Para may be carried next to operator riding shotgun in a trail car or team leader in the principal's car. mediately upon evacuating the vehicle. The RPK with its 75-round drum magazine or 40-round magazine is likely to bang, catch, snag, tip or other- wise impede using it from with- inavehicle or exiting with itina timely manner. One situation where the RPK would have had value was for use by a tail gunner in an SUV to light up pursuing vehicles. The other was in a support po: sition when the motorcade was stopped and a heavier weapon would be useful for interdicting an approach. But in general, a carbine that could be more read- ily deployed and fired from the shoulder would be more useful I revisited this idea ofan LMG for security details more recently when a contact in South America emailed me about wanting to up-gun the team he was on protecting the owner of various mines and factories. ‘Some of the mines were in fairly remote locations and there was danger from insurgents as well as labor unrest. He planned to get either a couple of M249 LMGs and/or M60 GPMGs. He also was attempting to negotiate for me to come do a training course, but we were quite a ways apart on money. Still, I did give some thought to how well the M249 might perform with a security team. I was surprised to discover 40 Although capability exists to use STANAG magazines with ‘the M1249, itis not a desirable option. With practice, M249 Para’s stock may be ly extended as operator exits vehicle. when I did some experimenting that it could be used, though it would have many limitations. First, I think a security team would want the Para model of the M249, The standard M249 is 40.75 inches overall and 22 pounds loaded. Due to its shorter barrel and sliding aluminum buttstock, the Para model is only 35 inches overall and about 20 pounds loaded. It Is still too heavy and bulky to deploy inside a vehicle ex- cept as a tail gun, but it can be stowed next to the front-seat operator for rapid deployment hard plastic or soft canvas box attached below the weapon and holding 200 rounds. Some readers may be aware that the M249 can also be fed from a ‘STANAG (M16) magazine. On the surface, this would seem to be an advantage for a security team armed with Mas, My feeling is: not so much! STANAG magazines do not always feed the M249 reliably. Not only that, but taking magazines away from other mem- bers of the security team to quickly run them through the M249 would not normally be tactically sound, as they will be selecting targets and engaging them with a couple of rounds, thus better conserving ammo. DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comUNLOCKING THE VAULT S.W.A.T. Vault is a sample collection of archived S.W.A.T. Magazine content going back to the early 2000s. And it’s all FREE! In-depth firearm and gear reviews m Timeless survival and prepper tips = Invaluable tactical training from the legendary Louis Awerbuck ™ Firearm mods for DIY enthusiasts m= Second Amendment coverage = Highlights from S.W.A.T’s most popular columns m Related videos = Downloadable guides = Official S.W.A.T. Magazine merchandise — by popular demand! To stay informed of archive additions, go to and sign up for the newsletter updates. Current issues are NOT IncludedLONG GUNS Ei/etta Made in USA ‘Combine the 650-lumen Elzetta Bravo ModularFlashlightwith Drop-In Flood Lens and the Elzetta ZSM-T Shotgun Flashlight ‘Mount and experience the ultimate CQB lighting system for Remington, Mossberg Winchester, and Benelli Shotguns. Elzetta Design, LLC- Coe Coretta 42 Barrels may be changed on the M249 if a spare head-spaced to the LMG is available, but that is not really a major consideration for a security team un- less entrenched and facing a serious attack. The folding bipod of the M249 is an advantage ifengaging attackers from 4 position in support of other members of the team or covering an evacuation under fire. ‘The M249’s stock may be deployed relatively quickly, allowing the operator to engage with the weapon shortly af ter leaving a vehicle. With training, the ‘M249 may be shoulder fired, but t takes fan operator with good upper-body strength. Members of security teams are generally in pretty good physical condition, so that might work, but if possible, it would be more effective to go prone using the bipod or brace the bipod on a wall or other surface for bet- ter engagement. The M249's sights are fairly usable, and the weapon is accurate in controlled bursts. If the tactical situa tion indicated the need for the M249's firepower and there were time to get it deployed, it could turn an ambush or cover an evacuatior 1 would still have problems with the ‘M249'slack of portability compared toa rifle, Md carbines in the hands of mem: bers of the security team would allow faster reaction and could still throw out a lot of bullets to break an ambush or cover an evacuation under fir. Even better, one or more members of the security team could be armed with .308 semi- or full-auto AR-type rifles with an ACOG or other optical sight. These would serve as more pow- erful weapons to break an ambush and could also fill the short- to medium range counter-sniper role. V have to conclude that a light ‘machine gun, such as the M249, could be a valuable asset to a security team facing a serious threat. But a cost/ben: efit analysis would seem to show that in most circumstances it does not offer that great an advantage for a security team. © Leroy Thompson has trained hostage rescue, close protection, counterinsur- ‘gency, and anti-terrorist units in various parts of the world, Prior to Operation Desert Shield, he trained U.S. Army pro- tective teams and hostage rescue units. He is the author of over 50 books on weapons and tactics and between 2,500 ‘and 3,000 magazine articles. DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.compag acta ONLINE AT SWATMAG.COM CALL 1-800-673-4595 MAIL IN THE COUPON Start my 1 year / 12 issue S.W.A.. subscription for only SWAT and I'll save 42% off the cover price.* - 3 years / 36 issues of S.W.A.T. Please fill out left half of this card for billing purposes, for only —half the newsstand price!* and include information below for gift address: Name Name ‘Address Adress iy State Zip Ena ware Payment Enclosed Bill Me Charge My: CIVISA © MasterCard 2 Discover Ci American Express Oo Credit Card Number [MONEY BACK ON UNMAILED ISSUES IF NOT SATISFIED! Canadian subscribers, add $15 pr year. US. unds drawn ona US. bank ‘Alter courts, ad $25 per year. Where applicable, sales taxis included in stated price, Your rst issue wil aie m6 08 weeks, “Cover pice: $4.98, Signature Exp. Date MMVYY R200SU eg er eS ee ee a the AR-15 market. What set the SR-556 apart from most other - rifles was that it used a chrome-plated two-stage piston system c ce ec setc ~~ Tn March 2015, Ruger invited a select group of gun writers to attend a conference at FTW Ranch in Texas fora first look atthe Ruger Precision Rifle (LONG RANGE? NO PROBLEM: Ruger Precision Rifle Pe cee eae eee cra) brought along the SR-556 Takedown (TD) for participants to Rory ere tenararests While the TD has its merits, Gumey explained to Perera perenne Ghigas Scan eee TS 7 mf fired the TD in both 5.36 and 3 Bere eerie Recs Teed Sr Like its predecessor, the TD uses Ruger’s patented chrome-plated two-stage piston with four-position ‘gas regulator. The two-stage piston resultsin a cleaner, Cooler-running firearm and delivers a smooth deliv- ery stroke to the bolt carrier. The default position for the gas regulator is “2 Gees eee a length of 16.1 inches and chamber optimized for both, 223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO. ‘The carbine Meee neg ne nes n Nees Mes muzzle devices, including suppressors, may be used. Sirs one eto Ree aot one-piece bolt carrier has an oversized and radiused eee ee tate ‘The trigger installed and shipped with the TD is Pee ee on ey @ _ smoother and lighter than the triggers found on eee eT cr a a See ae Se eM ent a a eM ce ce) Rene ca eee Ce ag een Petey and crisply at 3.75 pounds. ‘The TD ships with flip-up iron sights. The front is . fully adjustable for both elevation and windage, while ~ the rearsightis adjustable for windage ‘The carbine is heavier than many other AR-type rifles, Thisis attributable to the TD being piston oper- ss Pe eS Sr ea een) the rails at three, six and nine o'clock The top rail is marked T-2 to T-36, while the side PCL ae etOmae T” markings provide handy reference when reinstall www.SWATMAG.com | DECEMBER 2015Laser-engraved Ruger logo ‘on chrome-plated ‘one-piece bolt carrier. .300 AAC Blackout barrel and magazines are available options from Ruger. ing optics and other items when the rifle is broken down for transport. On my personal rifles, I mark the optic mount and receiver ‘with a fine-line paint pen. This usually results in a return to zero, or close enough that one or two rounds will re-establish zero. ‘The TD uses a six-position Magpul MOE SI stock (on a milspec receiver extension) and Magpul MOE pistol grip. The carbine ships with three 30-round Magpul PMAGs. ‘The TD comes in a nylon case very sit to the case that comes with the Ruger 10: Takedown. The main compartment features a full-length zipper that allows complete access to the interior, which has individual pockets for the lower, upper and barrel. Two zippered pockets on the outside of the case are large enough to hold magazines, a small optic, and ammo. ‘The lower pocket has PALS webbing to attach ancillary pockets. BARREL INSTALLATION ‘The upper and lower receivers are assembled in the normal fashion used by all AR-type rifles. To install the barrel, the first step is to lock the bolt to the rear. If you overlook this, basic step, you'll be rewarded with a large amount of frustration, I= 46 DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comLeft side of fully assembled rifle belies its unique qualities. ee eae ee Next (as viewed from the rear) cant the barrel slightly to the left, or about 11 o'clock. While pushing the barrel in, rotate it to 12 o'clock. You will eel and hear the barrel lock into position. ‘To remove the barrel, again lock the bolt to the rear, Pull back on what Ruger calls slid- er pads located on each side ofthe six o'clock rail. While holding the slider pads to the rear, rotate the barrel {0 11 o'clock and pull the barrel forward from the upper receiver. Sound simple? Ifyou follow the steps, itis. An available option from Ruger is a .300 AAC Blackout barrel and two Gl-type alumi- ‘num magazines. The barrel and magazines shipped with the 300 AAC barrel are clearly marked to ensure the wrong ammunition is, not chambered, ADDITIONS To keep the weight and size down, I opted touse an EOTech XPS3 holographic weapon sight. At only 3.8inches ong, itallows plen- ty of room for magnifiers, night vision, la- sers, etc i you require such items. ‘The XPS3 has 20 daylight set- tings and ten settings for Gen 1 through IIL+ night vision devic- es, It uses a single 123 battery EOTech XPS3 holographic weapon sight was utilized in the evaluation, www.SWATMAG.com | DECEMBER 2015 a7TACTICAL Wa i Four-position gas regulator and slider bar used ‘to remove barrel. Front sight (in folded position) is adjustable for both windage and elevation. Rear iron sight is adjustable {for windage. 48 ‘Standard model ships with three 30-round PMAGS. Magazines and barrel shipped with .300 AAC barrel are clearly marked to ensure wrong ammunition is not chambered. and will run 600 continuous hours at setting 12. I attached a Troy Industries QD push button on the left rail and added Blue Force Gear Vickers Combat Ap- plication sling, INITIAL EVALUATION Although the three PMAGs that come with the rifle should suffice for most ers, I wanted to make sure the TD ‘would work with a wide assortment of readily available magazines. T used magazines from C Products Defense, Fusil, Bravo Company (D&H Industries), Lancer (20- and 30-round), Magpul (20- and 30-round), ‘Tango Down, Surefire, and reconditioned USGI (new springs, anti-tilt followers). In a similar vein, all brands of an munition are not available in all areas, so I tested 26 commercial loads and one handload. To establish a baseline on veloci- ties, I began by firing ten-round strings using my PACT Inc. Professional chro- nograph. The carbine was zeroed and fired for accuracy from 50 yards. Two five-round groups of each load were fired to average the accuracy of each. >> Continued on page 88 DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comAll ral positions are marked for ease of replacing accessories. » SPECIFICATIONS >» AMMUNITION PERFORMANCE MANUFACTURER Sturm, Ruger & Co, Inc. cr) ferry eres tr MODEL —$R-556 Takedown TYPE Semiautomatic, piston operated Aguila” 62-9r. HMJBT 2,980.0 CALIBER. 5.56mm NATO/.223 Remington American Eagle S5-gt. FM 3,009 CAPACITY 30 ASYM 77-gy. BTHP Match 2,282.2 BARREL 16.1 inches, 1:9 twist Australian Outback _55-gr. Sierra Blitking 2,961.5 BOLT GROUP Chrome-plated one-piece . cone oe co Outback s st ae a Maton cass : (MUZZLE DEVICE Ruger Mini-14-type flash hider, = eae 528 threads Black Hits 55-07. FM 3,085.7 LENGTH OF PULL 11.1 to 144 inches Black Hils (60-91. V-Max 2,962.1 OVERALL LENGTH 32.75 to 36 inches Black Hills 68-gr. BTHP Match 2,667.2 WIDTH 25 inches Black Hills 75-of. Match 2,605.2 eee 2.75 inches Black Hills* 77-4. Tipped Match King 27677 ve TS Black Hlls* 77-of. Mk262 2,740.7 STOCK Si-positon collapsible Magpul MOE SL, as oes ace par tate Double Tap 55-of, Barnes TSX 3,008.8 PISTOL GRIP Magpul MOE Double Tap 55-o¢.NoslerBalsticTip 3,050.1 FINISH Manganese Phosphate/Mardcoat Federal 56-g¢ NoslerBalisicTip 2,924.2 ‘Anodized Hornady 55-0r. FM 2,937.0 Say 2000 Hornady 55-of. GMX 3.1829 Hornady 56-¢ TAP FPD 3,008.4 Hornady 60-gt Barter 29189 Hornady {60-o. TAP Urban 3.1240 Hornady 62-qr TAP FPD. 3.0386 Hornady 68-91. BTHP 27752 Hornady 75-gt BTHP Match 2,893.4 Hornady 75-6. TAP FPD 26179 yy HR. 75-gf. BTHP 27108 Summit 58-g¢ Match 2.9839 eye Cer Summit 77. Match 2,649.9 three ral covers. More Handload 60-gr. Swaged OT 2.7234 manufacturers should do this, as they save the “Denotes 5.56x45mm load hand and protect the Velocity obtained wth PACT Professional chronograph te-round tings rails from damage. wt first soroen ten fet rom muzzle. Elevation 4843 eet, 8 degrees, 77% hum www.SWATMAG.com | DECEMBER 2015 49aa yt Ua The AR-15/M16/M4 platform is undoubtedly the most modular rifle in history. Aftermarket parts run the gamut from firing pins to front sights. The platform is available in a wide range of calibers, but normally an entire upper receiver assembly is necessary to accomplish a caliber change. If you asked Santa for one rifle capable of firing two different cartridges, this Sweepstakes is for you. One lucky winner wil receive a 5:56 Hydra® Rifle and 300 Blackout Barel assembly. The Hydra rifle isthe industry leader in mult-caliber design The OCB (Quick Change Barrel) is the easiest and quickest way to ‘change barrels. Designed witha unique cam system, the bares can be changed within seconds without the use of any tols. Simply lit the retaining block, swing the cam arms down, and lift the barrel out. Drop in the .300 Blackout barrel and lock in place. You have just converted a 5.56mm into a 300 Blackout. The title and extra barel assembly come inaftted 36-inch hard case suitable for tactical operations or hunting. The 16-inch 5.56 barel has an M4 profile with AZ flash suppressor, A2 front sight base, and 1:9 twist The .300 Blackout barrels also 16 inches long but has ‘a heavy profile with a 1:10 twist and low profile-gas block. The barrels are made from 4140 chrome moly steel with M4 feed ramps. The lower recever features 2 six-postion stock and A2 pistol grip 50 For serious practitioners, iron sights on self-defense carbines are going the way ofthe dodo bird and being replaced by red dot sighs. The EOTech Model 512 Holographic Weapon Sight is the most popular holographic optic on the market. Ideal for speed and versa tty, the Model §12 runs on easy-to- find AA batteries and attaches to any ‘one-inch Weaver or MIL-STD 1913 rail, The sight measures 56x2x2.5 inches and weighs in at 11 ounces, DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comCARRYING THE LOAD Fits carr a hy sh ie receive a patent pending Padded Vickers Sling from Blue Fae GT ete Scones fo alt Nie Ser eo ie uuel mein coal io geri cases tba paleamtunce wccoarind Aoniicet iauosed areca Se ea ee Or ‘a febller Amare rere eT i coe tama nice ment sonar is snpe pa beac Pee PUD Det a Util BLUE FORCE GEAR, INC. You'll want to feed the Hydra (677) 430-2689 eis te Het wrtetoreota com £0 we have Included Hor EoTEcH, mo. nady anmuniton in bath restate conc caliber, 400 rounds in to- HORNADY MFG. co ta For the 588 bare, that oo) a eed means 200 rounds of the superb 55-grain Homady TAP FPO. Ensuring your family’s safety and security requires dependable ammu- nto. Hoa’ A FP is SEND YOUR ing st superior tactical ammuni- {phone number» email adress ton desgedspecaly or protcton om deadly teats TAP PO engineered a cee Geter lal nd consent pertomanceevey ne Doro Sapte he. 20 Bou (ise 2 ho efit cage based onthe 221 Rem- 22101 ong RS 97 ington case necked up to .308. Renowned as a subsonic cartridge for use with sup- Boynton Beach, FL 33426 pressed guns, the .300 Blackout (Whisper) from Homady is available in both supersonic POSTCARDS ONLY! NO LETTERS PLEASE Salon ee Or owe eat ne boone Swoepttes brings You Snecsies bon he SA 100 rounds ofeach: sub- ‘rw acbookcon/swatng. gern oe A ULES: Contest apn init who are eins and 110-grain_V-MAX. ‘ofthe Unites States of America andi territories. Limit Tis Horny ate asf) areas unas saeco ‘reliable performers with or ‘state and local firearms reguiatons apply. M contestant wom aspen ac i Esc artatnceth cee Serie Poe hy tote ATS pa | Meneses ey i ‘rise Decor 205. The winx wl be tage ‘am Decmber 2,201. Limi one ety pr person No purchase necessary to ent HAT Naga ese the uncontoral fh pbish winning rae an ty Inorometona mata www.SWATMAG.com DECEMBER 2015 51COLLABORATION tpg ote BO BCM Gunfighter 1911 {brt—ahand-ulinepetatin ofa pots Siarrade 6. Copperted tnd. BY ETHAN JOHNS 52 DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comWhen two companies with the reputations of Bravo Company and Wilson Combat announce they are going to collaborate ona limited edition, it’s worth paying attention. ‘The BCM Gunfighter 1911 is a steel hand-fitted, full-size Government model with a light rail and a Iaundry list of special features that set it apart. Itis, flashy in its almost conspicuously subdued black- ness, with a matte black Armor Tuff finish and. black Micarta grip panels. This is a nod to its hard use intention, fit for duty anywhere a full-size 45 is appropriate, while downplaying its full-house Wilson Combat custom provenance. FEATURES The Gunfighter’s blackness may be the first thing that grabs the eye, but the blend of features is right behind. Wilson's proprietary X-TAC checkering, is used on the slide, front strap, and mainspring, housing, setting the pistol off with a unique edge. ‘The sights are a tritium front paired with a plain serrated Battlesight rear that has a U notch, plenty of light through the notch, and no distractions, ‘The Gunfighter is available with single or ambi- dextrous thumb safeties per the customer's pref- erence, and Number 5 tested here wears a single sided, ‘The magazine release is ever so slightly extend- ed, allowing many to drop the mag without the habitual grip shift of many 1911s but with no risk of an inadvertent “oopsie” magazine release. All parts are Wilson Bullet Proof, which many ‘smiths consider the standard for durable machined steel upgrades on lesser pistols, The solid trigger breaks like you dream about, at three pounds and change. There is just enough pre-travel to let a gloved finger know it is at the wall and then a release that leaves the shooter with every opportunity for success—it is “pass it around to the buddies ‘feel that!” ” good. ‘The recoil system is traditional without any goofy guide rods, and the front end locks via the bushing system. The bushing was a precise fit that was impressive on its own with absolutely Gunfighter is a worthy descendant of this World War I Colt. www.SWATMAG.com | DECEMBER 2015 531 CUSTOM COLLABORATION 54 The recoil cycle benefited from the effortless gliding of the action, while the other features kept the 1911 anchored in hand. zero play, but still able to be removed or installed byhand. For me, the standout feature in handling the BCM Gunfighter is the silky smoothness with which it locks and unlocks. The Browning link system can very typically have two slight to pro- nounced "bumps” by hand or recoil as it cycles: ‘one as recoil causes the slide to "knock" the lock- ing lugs on the barrel backwards and down, and another as the recoil spring drives the feeding and chambering as the lugs “clunk" back into lock up. The unlocking and locking are almost imper- ceptible in Number 5. It feels like a fixed barrel that isn’t moving. The slide glides back and forth on the rails with no friction and zero play. DISASSEMBLY What surprised me was, when the pistol was apart for inspection and lubrication, the fit was actu- ally tight—tipping the slide on the frame without the barrel did nothing. One might expect from the silky travel that the two would mate together and smoothly race just with gravity, but the tolerances are impressive. Disassembled, the shooter can see just how tightly the pistol is fitted, but together and ready as it adds serious traction with no discomfort. ‘Mud tire appearance of X-TAC checkering is appropriate, for work, the pistol transforms into a testament to proper hand fitting, with uncanny smoothness. ve been issued a good number of hand-fitted na- tional match and duty 1911s, even getting “pick of the liter” in the armory on several occasions. I've also had the good fortune to shoot healthy ber of custom 1911s from other units and makers. SMOOTH OPERATOR When I say that Number 5 is smooth, it comes with plenty of legitimate comparisons to bounce it against. Over 30 hours of handwork goes into each build. It’s worth rewinding and visualizing that. ‘There's areason a true custom 1911 feels different, and then there's an additional difference between handwork by a routine smith and a shop like Wi son that is at the top of their game. ‘That smoothness was the hallmark of every shooting session with the Gunfighter. The re- coil cycle benefited from the effortless gliding of the action, while the other features kept the 1911 anchored in hand. The Gunfighter shoots just a touch softer than you might expect with hardball or +P JHPs, subjective in feel, but substantiated on the timer. Shooting it with Winchester 3-Gun 230-grai DECEMBER 2015 | www.SWATMAG.comCM star motif under Wilson BattleSight and on G10 grips sets off a sharp, serious pistol. flat points or Wilson Combat match 200-grain lead semiwadcutters causes the shooter to forget h still launching major power factor 45 goodness downrange. When a light is mounted to the this effect is accentuated, the additional wi helping tame recoil further ACCURACY on Combat builds the Gunfighter with a ich guarantee at 25 yards. That is a tall or- der that speaks to the confidence they have in the gun. However, Number 5 delivered with Wilson's 200-grain HAP JHP load. I put down a couple of groups that were right at the one-inch mark from the bench, with four of the best group's holes in £88 inch. Another standout load was Hornady’s 220-grain Training flat points, with boringly con- sistent 1.25- to 1.6-inch groups from bench, bar- ricade and slow fire. A roundup of 11 loads clus- tered their groups right on top of the front sight at an average of 1.53 inches. Tnoted an unusual consistency in point of im- pact among makers, bullet weights, and loads Across the loads, there was very litle shift in point of impact at 25 yards. This is unusual in my hands, with many of the pistols I've worked with lately having the expected shift between grain weights, and some guns having a few inches shift with dif- ferent types or makers of the same weight. The BCM 45 was noteworthy and so consistent in this regard that at this point I would almost ex- pect any in-spec load to cut the same hole. All good, but accuracy at the bench is at the kiddie table compared to what the pistol lets you wi www.SWATMAG.com | DECEMBER 2015 Wilson Combat Bullet Proof X-TAC mag well added to feel ofthe Pistol and boosted reloads, as did gently extended mag release. hit on demand. The Gunfighter earned its keep on. all drills. Probably not a surprise at this point in the story. RANGE DRILLS ‘The best example is the Ten-Shot Assault (EN- SHOT QUAL COURSE: Budget Shooting Perfor ‘mance Test, January 2014 S.W.A.L), with multiple shots on the clock at 25, 15, and 7 yards, finis on the move. The drill can be run for bests with respect to time or score as long as the shooter doesn't exceed 20 seconds or too few points. Iran for score, which for me often results in a slow time with no more points than when I hoof it. But Number 5 posted consecutive runs of 98 and 99 with the Winchester 3-Gun loads in 19 and 18 seconds respectively. A 100 would certainly be better, but 99 is a personal best at the moment. Running strings of five shots from the ready in five seconds at ten yards on a BB target yielded easy 100s, with most in the X and time to spare. ‘The 1911 gobbled up steel plates as fast as I could. put the front sight on them, besting my usual 1911 times on the plate rack. This is one of those hand- guns that allows you to deliver exactly what you are capable of with no excuses. CHECKERING, SLIDE RELEASE ‘AND MAG WELL The X-TAC checkering and BCM grips worked extremely well. The pistol was locked in place as good as with any other traction approach I've used and better than most. What was particularly good, about each was that the traction doesn’t commit the shooter to that location, allowing the hand to 55—— CUSTOM COLLABORATION 56 stick with pressure or adjust easily when desired Equally appreciated was that the X-TAC didn’t abrade, poke or otherwise end up causing pain by the end of a long training session and shouldn't require gloves or the shooter to “earn” calluses. ‘The X-TAChas a distinctive “mud tire” look that either seems cool or is off-putting depending on taste, but it works—and works extremely well. Itis ‘matched on the slide’s grasping grooves and there forme it worked, but was perhaps not much more effective than the traditional vertical serrations going back to the original M1911 ‘Two component pieces that also add to the overall pistol are the Bullet Proof slide release Hallmark feature of Gunfighter 1911 is its smooth cycling, a testament to over 30 hours of hand fitting. and X-TAC integrated magazine well/mainspring housing, The slide release has a different shape than much of what is on the market, subtle but effec: tive, The original Colt part had a pronounced con cave curve and sharp checkering and was very effective. Over the years it seems that the part has slowly morphed on many guns into a lightly grooved, sloped part that is hard to get purchase onat speed to release the slide. This is accentuated with gloves or sweaty, smaller or weaker hands. The Wilson release addresses this by removing the slope and providing the shooter a perpendicular ledge that doesn’t extend any farther, but works like a champ. The Bullet Proof mag well is masterfully blend- ed and gives a very generous opening to get the single-stack magazines in. Reloading is compara tively much more important to 1911 shooters than their 18+ shot 9mm armed brethren. Between the ‘mag well and slide release, the Gunfighter makes that substantially easier and more certain. RELIABILITY ‘The current market saturation of 1911s of every type and price has probably skewed perceptions of what is reliable and possible in the design. In the gun's first 900 rounds, the Gunfighter had one hiccup with quality magazines. This was a failure BCM 1911's exceptional trigger, bold Battlesights, and handling qualities translated to the target asin this 99 ‘on the Ten-Shot Assault, and possibles for two strings of ive shots in five seconds at ten yards. DECEMBER 2015 www.SWATMAG.comGunfighter 1911 delivered on its one-inch ‘guarantee with Wilson Combat 200-grain HAP bullets with groups such as this. {0 go completely into battery with a MagTech 230-grain jacketed semiwad- cutter target load. This resolved quickly at “Tap” ofthe immediate action cycle. A pretty small outlier: target loads in the traditional 185- and 200-gra weights cycled like a champ, as did 150, other rounds of the Maglech and all duty load profiles. With two highly reputable compa nies standing behind a signature gun that bears both logos, the shooter is the winner, getting a unique blend of fea- tures that work extremely well and are not available from Wilson Combat as a standard item. A custom hand-fitted 1911 is an anomaly in a largely disposable ori ented society. Cycling the Gunfighter, it is immediately apparent that it is different. The more you've handled 1911s, the more obvious that feeling equals days’ worth of hours in talented hands to make it right. The price reflects this and will be the elephant in the room for some. Each individual has a scale of worth and value that is unique to them. The Gunfighter isn’t meant to com pete with the average pistol Itis better viewed as a concept of what is possible in a combat 45 when the time is taken tomakeitas smooth, reliable, and accu rate asit can be allt the same time. This will have a powerful appeal to some. Thope the best names in our indus try continue to collaborate like this. © BRAVO COMPANY MEG. www bravocompanymfg.com wiLson coMBAT (800) 055-4856 ncombt.com www.SWATMAG.com | DECEMBER 2015 DTNB Te aE) C ee Cee EL Mie eee as Sm kon Pe er sc Er re() SPECIAL DIGITAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION Amat 00 pages of har-tingfrears evaluations from SWAT 204 issues al packaged int one speci issu For Android Tablets ‘and Smartphones wow satay com/andoid For led veswainagsom/Pad rE: o 7 Pet ARS ACCESSORIES BY UU EU Se) WWuU.CACTUSTACTICAL.cOoM ) SUPPLIES Beer tle fee 87Operating with a Gas Mask 'f am : is often said you should train as much as LT iscsi hen ne time comes to use it for real, everything is eee ee eee an a Ce ue ee Most law enforcement officers only train with a ‘gas mask when it is mandated, and that may only happen once a year—if at all. Private citizens who ‘own masks may never train with one. Butif you ever have to wear a mask when your life is on the line, Se ates nc ucteee ur Ree Soon after 9-11, there was a big rush to equip all Cees OUT cu Se ee ener ST eee ANC a) masks available to us, but they were not individually issued. They were used primarily for crowd control, with the only threat being CS or CN gas. But with the specter of a chemical or biological attack, we were is- sued individual masks that actually fit properly. Unfortunately, after the big push to get the masks issued and some initial training, the masks found their way into patrol bags and lockers and were soon eee ae TR cet ead agencies as well. This needs to change. Its time to eee ee ee eR Ponies Peseta All types of gas masks are available for law enforce: ment and civilian use. Ifyou have a say in what mask you oryour department will use, consider the follow- ing, Besides being an effective mask to stop chemical oe ete ONT maskis very important SOC ca eee RR can mask, had two eyelets that did not provide the user Serre RCo nN and AVON have a single face shield that increases Seana ees No matter what mask you have, your periph- eral vision will be affected, in some cases as much as 25%. This is a concern for operating in high-risk SRC Ca Te re ational awareness by being able to see what is going ‘on around you. Limited vision forces the wearer to ES ete oa es ie re used to, Pec Ser ace eR eat ability to look down is also limited. This will become Oran Ee er ce cao ‘or vest and have not practiced without looking. You cS a baNLanLt ee y’SCE Le PrayCy Above: Size and weight difference between a Chem Bio Filter (left) and a standard chemical agent is substantial. Practice with the filter you will be using. Left: Shooting fundamentals do not change when wearing a protective mask and firing a handgun. will not be able to see where your equipment, such as ma nes, handcuffs and radio, are. Another aspect of mask selection is the ability to adjust the location of the filters. Can you decide whether the filter is on the left or right side of the mask? Does the mask require two filters, oris there only a single one in the center? Are you using a mask with a PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) or op- ing with an SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus)? Both these systems require some sort of tubing leading to the mask. If you cannot change the location of the filters to meet your shooting style, you will have a hard time getting even a semi-quality sight picture, especially when using a long gun, OPERATING WITH THE MASK Once you have your mask selected, you need to train with it This includes how to don and doff the mask and ensure you have a proper seal. Make sure you are “fit tested” with the mask you are issued. If you have the wrong size mask, you ill not obtain or be able to maintain a good seal. That could let “the bad stuff” in As a member since 2002 of a Regional Terrorism Response Team that trains exclusively in gas masks, | have experienced all the discomfort a mask can produce. They can become un Peo eae OYcomfortable and cause headaches and profuse sweating. Thave seen officers become so frustrated and uncomfort. able wearing a mask they will suddenly rip it off to get some relief. Others will just break the seal and try to let in some fresh air during the exercise. This simply cannot happen in a toxic environment, no matter how uncomfortable the mask becomes, Ittakes time to get used to operating with a mask on. Your breathing patterns will be affected and you will have to learn how to control your breathing, especially if you are exerting yoursell. AAs practice for this essential skill, try wearing the mask while going through an obstacle course and see how well you do. How long can you keep the mask on before it fogs up or you start having trouble breathing? By doing this in training, you can establish a baseline of how long you will be able to effectively operate in the mask. ‘This is especially important if you are operating with an SCBA and have a limited amount of oxygen to use. A 60-min. ute bottle of air could be gone in 30 minutes or less if you cannot control your breathing. This will greatly affect your operational time ata crisis site. In fact, a growing trend among endurance athletes is to wear gas masks or similar devices while working out, to in RESET L ‘Above: Shooting a long gun requires canting i. Knowing your ‘mechanical offset will allow you to place rounds on target. Left: Operators must be familiar with their equipment because they are not abe to look down to locate items on their vests or belts. crease their lung function and lower breathing rates. ‘This would also be the perfect time to find out whether you are claustrophobic. Some people simply cannot oper- ate for any period of time while wearing a mask. They start to feel like everything is closing in on them, and they begin to panic. If this is going to happen, the training environment is the place to find out. With time and training, some officers who are affected by claustrophobia will be able to overcome the effects, Others will never be able to. COMMUNICATION Another aspect of wearing the mask that makes life more dif- ficultis communicating with your partner. Itis almost impos- sible to hear or understand someone who is yelling at you while they are wearing a mask. Their words will be indistinct and muffled. All you really get to hear are the adults from a Charlie Brown cartoon (am I dating myself here?) To overcome this, officers should use and understand some basic hand and arm signals, The signals should be sim- ple, direct and universally understood. In an actual event, this is not the time to make up a set of signals that could be misinterpreted. If your agency is forward thinking and has the money, each mask should come with a voice modulator. This attach-